Category: English

Jack’s childhood friend turned into a social media influencer while I was away. She snuck into my room when I wasn’t home, guessed my computer password, and copied all my paid novels onto her phone. Then she posted them online for free. Overnight, she gained tens of thousands of followers. The next day, when I confronted her, she smirked and said, “What’s wrong, old lady? Jealous that I’m making money now?” Jack walked in just as Lily and I were in the middle of a heated argument. Well, to be more accurate, Lily was the one doing all the yelling. I realized she was like a madwoman from an asylum – completely impossible to reason with. “If you can write stories as a side gig, why can’t I promote them?” she sneered. “What’s wrong, old lady? Jealous that I’m making money now?” My initial anger at her accusations gradually turned to stunned silence as I listened to her increasingly unhinged ranting. Lily used to be Jack’s neighbor and in his words, was just an innocent, lively young girl. After graduating, she moved to our city for work. Being new and unfamiliar with the place, she had come to stay with him. My newly purchased apartment had two bedrooms. Jack suggested letting Lily stay temporarily until her internship ended in a few months. “Lena, it’ll be three months max. Just think of it as doing me a favor,” he pleaded. At first, I refused. After all, who wants to live with a stranger? But then I reconsidered. When I first moved here, I had no one and went through many hardships. If I could help someone else out, why not? It was only for three months after all. I didn’t even charge her rent. Little did I know I was inviting a wolf into my home. One time Lily’s laptop broke down when she urgently needed to revise a proposal. She was in tears, so I softened and lent her my computer. Afterwards, I forgot to change the password. Who knew that would plant the seeds of disaster? Seeing Jack arrive, Lily immediately transformed into a sweet, demure girl – a complete 180 from her nasty attitude just moments ago. She lowered her slightly damp lashes, sniffled, and said softly, “Jack, there are so many novel promotion accounts online. Why is Lena picking on me specifically? Doesn’t she want people to promote her work?” Jack was silent for a moment, his brow furrowed. “Normally, social media influencers don’t post an author’s entire work. That’s quite…” He paused, searching for the right word. “…disrespectful.” Hah. I laughed bitterly. So unethical behavior is just “disrespectful” now? Hearing this, Lily hung her head and mumbled, “Okay, I was wrong then.” She took a deep breath and when she looked up again, she was back to her innocent, carefree persona. With a bright smile, she chirped, “Let’s go get dinner! My treat, as an apology to Lena.” Apology? Who does she think she’s fooling? I sat on the couch and smiled at her. “Lily, first you need to delete all the videos. Then return the money you earned from the views to me. Finally, post a public apology statement.” “That would be a real apology.” Lily stared at me in disbelief, her voice suddenly rising. “Lena, you’re going too far!” Going too far? How ridiculous. I pulled up the videos from my phone gallery and handed it to her expressionlessly. Instantly, Lily’s face froze. Jack, not knowing what was happening, curiously leaned over to look. Soon his brows furrowed, a deeply disappointed expression on his face as he glanced at Lily, seemingly at a loss for words. The videos showed all of Lily’s misdeeds in my room when I was away. Not only did she steal my manuscripts, she also wore my clothes, used my skincare products, spat on my bedsheets and pillowcases, and even took my jewelry. At first when I noticed things amiss, I had suspected Lily but had no proof. Who knew that just three days after installing hidden cameras, I’d capture so much incriminating footage? Lily’s face turned beet red with shame. She looked at Jack with teary eyes, shaking her head. “I… I didn’t…” But she couldn’t come up with any excuses. In a fit of rage, she deleted the video and tossed the phone onto the couch, glaring at me defiantly. I savored Lily’s smug expression with amusement, speaking slowly. “No worries, I have plenty of backup copies. Lily, if you don’t meet my demands, I’ll have no choice but to hand this over to the police. After all, there’s clear evidence of theft.” I paused, then added, “That Cartier necklace wasn’t worth much, but is it really worth getting a criminal record over?” Lily was utterly humiliated and furious. Biting her lip, she had no choice but to delete the videos, return the money she’d earned, and post an apology statement under my increasingly impatient gaze. As for the Cartier necklace, Lily claimed she had already sold it on eBay for $50. …Well, no matter. She can just compensate me for the full price then.

When Lily moved out, she sneered that I was obsessed with money. I lazily raised an eyebrow, replying nonchalantly, “Still better than being brainless like you.” She glared at me fiercely, at a loss for words. Not long after, Lily posted on Instagram. The photo showed her on a balcony at dusk, gazing into the distance. Her delicate profile was bathed in the fading light, hair gently blowing in the breeze. It had a tranquil, poetic quality. The caption read: “Grateful for the shelter. Looking forward to what’s ahead.” I knew that balcony all too well – it was at Jack’s place. An indescribable chill ran through me. It was nauseating. If that’s how it was going to be, why bother dumping this idiot on me in the first place? Utterly ridiculous! I coldly texted Jack asking what the hell was going on. Moments later, Jack called. He sounded flustered. “Lena, Lily had to move out so suddenly and couldn’t find a place. I couldn’t just let her end up on the streets.” It sounded like he was blaming me for kicking her out. I asked, “Are there no hotels?” Jack sighed softly. “It’s not safe for a young woman to stay at a hotel alone. Lena, Lily’s young and naive. She knows she was wrong. Just let it go, okay?” I was speechless. One loved stealing, the other loved twisting words. These two really did have a future together. “Jack, Lily may be five years younger than me, but even five years ago I would never have done what she did. And I certainly wouldn’t be living with someone else’s boyfriend.” I paused, then said, “Let’s break up.” There was silence on the other end. I lost patience and hung up. Actually, I’d been planning to end this relationship for a while now. Lily had paid me back $3000 in total. I knew full well who had really given her that money. But I didn’t care anymore. Whatever, money in my pocket was what mattered most. Good riddance to trashy men. Jack and I had been introduced by our parents. His dad and my dad were classmates. At a reunion, they discovered their kids were working in the same city and both single, so they exchanged our contact info. Jack and I got to know each other for a while before becoming a couple. He gave me the impression of a jade stone sealed in a box – plain and dull, occasionally glimmering. But after this incident, I saw clearly that the so-called “jade” was nothing but shards from a shattered beer bottle – ugly and stained. I know no one’s perfect. So I could accept Jack’s weak personality and indecisiveness. But I couldn’t accept how he completely stood by when I was being bullied. Even with evidence right in front of him, he didn’t say a single word in my defense. And I definitely couldn’t accept that deep down, he favored another woman. Call it stupidity or favoritism, I didn’t want to entrust myself to a man like that. After we broke up, Jack called me many times and sent lots of long messages. Just looking at them made my eyes hurt. I never responded and blocked him directly. One night I got a call from an unknown number. The person on the other end seemed drunk, slurring, “Lena, did you… hic… did you find some rich guy?” I was stunned for a moment, then laughed mockingly. “No, I just don’t like men who are too short. In any sense of the word.” Jack choked, then angrily hung up. He knew full well why we broke up, but admitting fault was too difficult. Shifting blame was so much easier. Recently I took on a new project at work. Our whole team was working around the clock, practically day and night. It wasn’t until half a month later that we finally wrapped things up. I stretched lazily in the office, feeling immensely relieved. Thinking of the year-end bonus made me break into a smile. Suddenly my phone buzzed. It was a photo from my friend Samantha. In an upscale restaurant, Jack and Lily were acting intimately, gazing at each other with eyes full of endless affection. “Lena, you were right to break up! That scumbag moved on without missing a beat! It’s so gross I can’t even eat!” To be honest, I felt completely calm. It was like watching random strangers on the street – not a ripple of emotion. I replied: “Whatever. You can’t hold onto someone who wants to leave. And those who stay won’t go anywhere.” I strolled down the street. The night wind surged fiercely yet tenderly, blowing away the last warmth of late summer. It also bid farewell to a relationship that was never meant to be mine. At least, that’s what I thought.

The project was completed beautifully. Our boss, understanding how hard the team had worked, gave us a few extra days off after we finished wrapping things up. I had been so exhausted that I was sound asleep at home when I was suddenly woken by loud knocking. I opened the door to find Jack. His eyes were rimmed with red, his expression dazed. He reeked of alcohol. Leaning against the doorframe, he looked down at me and smiled. “Lena, long time no see.” I eyed him warily. “What are you doing here?” But Jack didn’t answer. He tried to come inside, but he was so drunk he could barely stand. I kicked him out without hesitation. I slammed the door shut. Outside, Jack’s voice came through like a dog barking. He kept yelling for me to open the door, to see him, to give him another chance to start over. Drunk words, sober thoughts. A man who seemed so honest and steady on the surface was actually a fickle playboy at heart. I couldn’t help but feel grateful I’d gotten out of that mess in time. It was 11:30 PM. The neighbors were all asleep. Jack’s hoarse voice echoed in the hallway like an curse, shattering the night’s peace. I warned him, “If you don’t leave, I’m calling the police!” There was a moment of silence outside, then his dismissive voice: “Hah, I don’t believe you.” Fifteen minutes later, the police arrived. … When Lily came to pick Jack up, he was already half sober, hanging his head in silence. Lily glared at me with disgust. “Lena, are you some kind of ghost or succubus? Why are you still trying to seduce other people’s boyfriends?” I couldn’t help but laugh. “If your boyfriend hadn’t shown up drunk in the middle of the night begging me to take him back, forcing me to call the police, why would you be here picking him up from the station?” “You…!” Lily bit her lip hard, shooting a disappointed look at Jack before turning her anger back to me. “Keep dreaming! He just came to settle accounts after you scammed him out of so much money!” I froze. The police officer frowned. “Scammed?” Lily snatched Jack’s phone and pulled up records of all the money he’d spent on me over the past six months. Gifts for various holidays, meals he paid for, travel tickets, hotel bookings… all sorts of odds and ends. “Lena, since you’ve already broken up with Jack, shouldn’t you return everything you owe? Don’t take advantage of my boyfriend!” The police officer’s expression was hard to read. He glanced at me, his eyes conveying either sympathy for my situation or relief that I’d gotten out of it. I smiled bitterly and shook my head, immediately pulling up my own records of purchases – men’s belts, watches, wallets and more that I’d bought from high-end stores. “You’re right, we should settle accounts.” Just a quick comparison of the prices made it clear who owed who, without even needing a calculator. Lily was furious, especially when she realized the suit jacket and shoes Jack was wearing were ones I’d bought. Her face turned an ugly shade of purple. She took a breath, then sneered, “So you were the one throwing yourself at him.” Jack, that rotten piece of wood, finally spoke up. Looking at me, he nodded. “That’s right, she was.” I didn’t want to waste energy arguing. I also didn’t want to get involved in this mess anymore. I accepted the officer’s mediation, but before leaving, I asked for a copy of the police report. As I came out, the streetlights on both sides had gone dark. The night curtain was being pulled back, revealing the faint white of dawn. Lily had thrown Jack’s shoes and jacket in the trash. He stood by the road waiting for a ride in his socks and shirt, shivering from the cold. As I passed by them, I overheard Lily making a few sarcastic remarks, all aimed at me. Even though it was clearly the man who had shown up uninvited, she blamed me instead. I wasn’t sure if she was deluding herself or just blind to the situation. As for Jack, he neither refuted nor agreed, remaining silent with a complex expression. I quickly got in my car and left. Even looking at them for another second made me feel sick to my stomach. Besides the childhood bond, what Jack liked most about Lily was feeling adored and depended on. It gave him a sense of superiority he never got from me.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “294897”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #重生Reborn #校园School #浪漫Romance #擦边Steamy #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic #玄幻Fantsy

As I was about to go to bed, I habitually unzipped Jack’s pants, only to catch a faint whiff of cigarette smoke. He rarely smoked, except for the occasional post-coital cigarette after we made love. We hadn’t seen each other for two months due to business trips. When I tried to wrap my arms around his neck for a kiss, he pushed me away listlessly: “My back hurts. Not tonight. Let’s just sleep.” Looking at the man snoring beside me, I frowned. My instincts told me that Jack was having an affair, and the girl was young enough to drain all his energy. My name is Rachel Lewis, I’m 28 years old, and my husband Jack is 12 years older than me, having just turned 40 this year. Due to our age difference, I called him “honey,” and he often said that having a young wife like me made him look good when we went out together. I would just smile it off. When we first met, I was an outstanding college intern at the International Jewelry Exhibition, while he was already a suave small business owner. Attracted by his successful and elegant demeanor, we fell in love almost at first sight. Now, five years into our marriage, I’m a “daddy’s girl” with a son, financially well-off, and seemingly happy. At 40, time had turned him into a paunchy middle-aged man with deep nasolabial folds. After giving birth, despite the care of high-end beauty salons and wellness centers, the stretch marks on my body were hard to eliminate, and I was no longer as youthful as before. “This is how marriage is. After the passion fades, it slowly transitions into a familial relationship,” I comforted myself, gradually shifting my focus to taking care of our son and my career. Jack still treated me the same as always, never forgetting to send gifts for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, and birthdays. On our wedding anniversary, he had the housekeeper deliver a Cartier diamond rose gold necklace, claiming it was a limited edition. “Only two were available in the city, and I pre-ordered one for you,” he said, hugging me from behind and kissing my cheek, his stubble tickling my neck. Jack chuckled softly, feeling aroused, and promptly pinned me down on the office desk. I pushed him away, blushing, “What are you doing? We’re in the office…” He nibbled on my earlobe, unusually eager, like a young man again, “Then let’s go to the room.” After years of marriage, Jack rarely showed such urgency. My office had a small resting area where I would occasionally take short naps when tired. He picked me up and carried me behind the curtain, while the entire company outside remained oblivious to the intimate scene unfolding in the small alcove. Jack’s technique was skillful. Suddenly, he leaned close and whispered in my ear: “Rachel, I…” After he said something, my face immediately turned bright red. Due to work requirements, I often wore black stockings, but Jack had never shown any particular interest in them before. That day, he was exceptionally passionate, almost to the point where the employees downstairs could hear us. If he hadn’t been stimulated by something, Jack, being over forty, shouldn’t have been so fired up. I vaguely remembered him taking a pill midway through. When I asked what it was, he said it was a painkiller. Jack had a herniated disc, and he would take painkillers whenever it flared up. But after that time, I found a thin aluminum pill wrapper on the floor. I clearly saw the words “Viagra” printed on it. The purpose of this drug was self-evident. But why did he carry Viagra with him? And why did he lie to me? This incident planted a seed of doubt in my mind. Two months later, the jewelry exhibition co-hosted by our company was about to open. As a member of the organizing committee, I was swamped with work, while Jack had disappeared without a trace. When I called him, he made excuses about entertaining clients. Finally, I managed to get his location and went to the hotel where he was staying in the neighboring city. “Honey!” I hugged his neck, pretending to be overjoyed, and pulled him into the room. “Mm, I missed you,” Jack said, his demeanor unchanged, though I clearly noticed his fatigue. He lowered his head and touched my necklace. That limited edition Cartier necklace he had given me. “Honey, only when you wear it do I think it’s the most beautiful,” he smiled sincerely. As I was about to go to bed, I habitually unzipped Jack’s pants, only to catch a faint whiff of cigarette smoke. He rarely smoked, except for the occasional post-coital cigarette after we made love. We hadn’t seen each other for two months due to business trips. When I tried to wrap my arms around his neck for a kiss, he pushed me away listlessly: “My back hurts. Not tonight. Let’s just sleep.” Looking at the man snoring beside me, I frowned. My instincts told me that Jack was having an affair, and the girl was young enough to drain all his energy. Taking advantage of his deep sleep, I secretly picked up his phone. Although Jack was a small business owner, he was somewhat out of touch with the times, using an old-fashioned BlackBerry phone. He conducted business negotiations through his male assistant, who would then use a smartphone to guide him in communicating with others. I closed his phone, expressionless. The keypad phone was clean, with no messages or call records. It seemed I would have to work on his trusted assistant to get information. The next day, I borrowed the assistant’s phone under the pretext of checking some design plans. He was very cautious, “I’m sorry, Mrs. Lewis, but Mr. Lewis instructed that due to business confidentiality, only he can look at his own phone.” I smiled lightly, crossing my arms: “Business confidentiality? I’m the boss’s wife, what secrets could there be between us? I just want to look at a file.” The assistant pursed his lips, still unwilling to give me the phone. I frowned and casually said: “Then I’ll call Jack now. I’ll have him fire you right away for being such a disrespectful assistant to his wife.” The assistant finally handed me the phone reluctantly, and I did indeed only look at work-related emails in front of him. After about ten minutes, I nodded calmly and returned the phone to him. As I left the assistant’s office, my palm held a small USB drive. Just moments ago, while looking at the files, I had discreetly plugged it into the phone and copied all the information, covering it with my hand. Back home, I immediately opened my computer to check the records. I found that the chat records on the messaging app were all normal. So why was his assistant being so secretive? I didn’t believe it, so I casually clicked to switch accounts. Sure enough. The assistant had even opened a separate account for Jack, with the ID “Can’t escape your eyes in this flowery world.” Very fitting for a sleazy middle-aged man. He had a group chat called “The King no longer holds morning court,” which was full of lewd conversations with his unsavory friends. Jack’s last message in the group was: “These young ones, they really drain my Viagra supply. My old back can’t take it anymore.” In the gallery, I also found dozens of scandalous screenshots. They were one-sided screenshots Jack had taken of video chats with a friend using a Hello Kitty avatar: In the small window in the upper right corner was Jack’s greasy, wrinkled old face, while below was a dimpled young girl with a flawless body. I gripped the mouse tightly, etching the girl’s face into my memory, and scrolled through their chat history: “Daddy, you’re so amazing. An old war horse still eager for battle (rose)(smile)” “Haha, your little waist is still the best. My herniated disc can’t handle it…” Things hadn’t deviated from my suspicions. My face darkened, and I scrolled faster and faster. Heh, interesting. A college student working part-time? Currently interning at our company, doing menial tasks like serving tea and water. She kept saying it was “compensated dating” with Jack, providing him with emotional comfort while he gave her some financial support. I never thought this “support” would end up in bed. Among the new summer interns at our company, I looked through the HR files and my gaze stopped on a familiar ID photo. That delicate face matched perfectly with the girl Jack was chatting with in the screenshots. I narrowed my eyes, locking onto a name next to that photo: Bella Baker.

When I first met Jack, he was in his early thirties, an elegant and scholarly elite. Now, I thought he should have completely lost his appeal to young girls, but unexpectedly, he still attracted trouble. Jack, who was starting to gray and show signs of balding, with a slight beer belly, was the type who exuded sleaziness with every belch. What did this girl see in him? Was she attracted to his age and poor hygiene, or his three-bedroom apartment? I sneered sarcastically and continued to compare the chat records with the HR files. Bella Baker came from a poor family background and claimed to be working her way through school. She appeared to be a frail and introverted country girl, but her ambition was sky-high, dreaming of marrying into wealth and living a life of luxury. They had been intimate for about two months, which meant he had just gotten a taste two months ago. No wonder he was so vigorous that time in the office. He was clearly stimulated by his new conquest. In their chats, she often hinted at the topic of divorce. Bella Baker said naively: “Daddy, I’m willing to give you three more children. We can name them ‘Do Re Mi’, just like musical notes.” She’s really a fake innocent romantic little green tea bitch. And Jack actually responded with the most classic “sober scumbag” lines: “I have a wife, what children are you talking about giving me?” “What we’re doing now is called an affair, not love. Bella, you need to be clear about that…” The young girl still persisted, bringing it up at every opportunity. I couldn’t help but laugh coldly. Playing mind games with me, a seasoned professional, her wall-digging tactics were quite amateurish. Meanwhile, Jack kept evading and brushing her off. I knew that Jack didn’t dare mention divorce to me, and he was just playing around with her. Business circle relationships are like this. The company’s largest shareholding belonged to Jack and me, and we had invested all our efforts into it. It was a delicate balance. He couldn’t leave me, but he had violated my emotional bottom line – infidelity. My eyes noticeably darkened. I never thought that one day I would have to use the strategies I used against competitors in the workplace on my own husband. Since you betrayed me first, don’t blame me for being merciless. … The jewelry exhibition was proceeding as scheduled. I managed it discreetly while secretly observing this pair of cheaters. Jack had a new red Hello Kitty lighter among his personal items.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “294913”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #魔幻Magic #擦边Steamy #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring

After the business marriage, I found myself with a 4-and-a-half-year-old son. Before meeting him, I had resigned myself to a life of indifference—foreseeing a future where my husband would remain cold and distant, and my stepson would ignore me, painting a picture of a “tragic” existence. But the moment I saw that little cutie, his small hand tugging at my clothes and his tentative voice calling me “Mom,” I was utterly undone. In that instant, my hardened resolve crumbled. I turned to my husband, eyes filled with a desperate plea. “After the divorce,” I asked softly, “can I keep the child?” When the company ran into trouble, my father didn’t hesitate to arrange a business marriage for me with a wealthy man who already had a son. I was more than satisfied with this arrangement.. After all, as a devoted singleton, the prospect of avoiding the burdens of motherhood was a blessing. The man was a workaholic CEO, leaving little room for personal involvement, and his son was primarily cared for by a nanny. I figured I could just lay back and relax since my husband is a CEO—I wouldn’t even have to raise the kid. The wedding was a subdued affair, marked by its simplicity and the scant number of guests. As anticipated, the child was nowhere to be seen. The moment the ceremony concluded, my new husband, ever the workaholic, dashed off to his office. He left behind a brief, detached message: “The company is swamped. I won’t be home for a few days.” “Steven is already at home. You should get to know him better when you return.” Steven Zach, that’s the name of my stepson. With my parents divorced and my relationship with my father distant and strained, I left behind almost everything from the house. I took only a pendant necklace—a small, sentimental relic—before stepping into the unknown.

“Mrs. Zach, the young master is waiting for you in the living room.” Miss Flint greeted me cheerfully as soon as I entered. I couldn’t help but bristle at the thinly veiled challenge. So, he’s setting the stage for dominance right from the start? I mused with a steely resolve. Whatever trials awaited, I steeled myself to face them head-on. After all, how daunting could a child possibly be? But… Who is this adorable little cherub sitting on the sofa? So tiny! So precious! So endearing! Lost in a daze of wonder, I watched as the baby wobbled towards me. With a voice as soft as a whisper, he said, “Auntie Clara… this is… a gift from Steven… for Auntie.” He extended a pink teddy bear towards me, its softness almost overwhelming in its contrast to his tiny form. Despite being larger than him, he clutched it with all his might, determined to give it to me. “Wow! Thank you, sweetie! I love it! Your name is Steven, right? I’m your mom now, so you can call me ‘Mom,’ okay? After all, we’re a family now.” Wow! He’s absolutely irresistible—so precious, so heartwarming! I felt an overwhelming urge to scoop him up and envelop him in a hug. This charming child, who radiated pure sweetness, was clearly neglected by my inattentive husband. The injustice of it all struck me deeply. This little one, my stepson, had been left to navigate a rough world without the care he deserved. In that moment, I made a silent vow: from now on, he would be my son, cherished and protected under my watchful care. Little Steven seemed surprised by my words. His thin little body trembled, his fair little face turned red, and he nervously tugged at his shirt, carefully saying, “M-Mom?” After saying that, he shyly lowered his head, stealing glances at me. Oh my goodness! Forget the father—this precious child is mine to care for! I cleared my throat and seriously nodded. Then I turned to Miss Flint, who had been standing by, and said, “I’ll take care of the child, you can go about your business.” “Yes, Mrs. Zach.” The feeling was nothing short of exhilarating! I suppressed my bubbling joy as I scooped up the little cutie in my arms, the weight of his tiny form a comforting burden. Clutching him securely with one hand, I held the pink teddy bear. I had visited this villa a few times before the wedding, and each visit had left me awestruck. Nial Zach’s residence was nothing short of a masterpiece—a six-story marvel, boasting three elevators and two charming gardens. The grandeur of the decor was almost overwhelming, a testament to both wealth and taste. I took Steven to the room Nial had prepared for me and placed the teddy bear next to the pillow. “Steven, I’m sorry I didn’t prepare a gift for you, but this pendant necklace is very important to me. Can you help me take care of it?” “I’ll watch over it every day,” he promised. I put it on him, and he seemed very happy. “How about tonight you sleep with Mom, and tomorrow Mom will take you to preschool, okay?” I lowered my voice, speaking gently. If my best friend saw me now, tenderly cradling this little one, she might think I’d been possessed by some gentle spirit. “Okay,” he murmured softly, his voice a sweet whisper that melted my heart. Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t notice the brief stiffness on his soft, adorable face. That night. “…And so the little fox lived happily ever after with its mommy.” As I whispered the final line of the story, I gazed down at the tiny angel who had drifted into a peaceful slumber. Just then… the phone rang suddenly. I was so startled I nearly dropped the phone and hurriedly hung up. Hearing Steven’s steady breathing, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. I quietly left the room, found a place where Steven wouldn’t hear me, and called back. “Clara Williams, you dare hang up on me?” Wendy Silver’s voice crackled with fury through the receiver. “I was with my son just now. Besides, it’s my wedding night; why are you calling at this ungodly hour?” I said, exasperated. “Yeah, right. Everyone knows your husband isn’t home—he went to work right after the wedding.” “Wait! What did you just say? Son? When did you have a son?” Wendy sounded shocked. I frowned. “He’s my husband’s son, but now he’s my son too.” It’s normal that she didn’t know; I only found out when I was informed I had to marry Nial Zach. Nial kept this child well-hidden. But now that the news is out… “And stop being so dramatic.” “But you don’t even like kids!” Wendy’s voice dripped with incredulity. “I know you’re all alone on your wedding night, so I was calling to comfort you.” Wendy said casually. How was I supposed to know the little dumpling would be so cute? Though I thought this, I didn’t say it out loud. “Alright, what’s up?” “You have to come to the reunion this Saturday. That little ‘fake sweet’ will be there too. Remember—dress to dazzle and make her fade into the background! Show them who truly shines!” Just hearing Wendy’s tone, I could almost feel the fury seething through the phone. Her voice was a sharp, barely-contained snarl, and I could vividly imagine her face twisted in a mask of pure, unbridled rage. I chuckled, attempting to soothe her simmering anger. “Alright, alright, it’s been years; I’ve long forgotten about all that.” Wendy huffed, her frustration palpable even through the phone. After a few more terse exchanges, we finally ended the call. I stood by the fifth-floor window, gazing out at the sprawling city below, my mind lost in a daze. Suddenly, I remembered that summer after high school graduation. 3 In high school, Wendy Silver, Sarah Payne, and I were particularly close. After the college entrance exams, at a group dinner, the school heartthrob suddenly confessed to me. Everyone was watching and making a fuss, and I got so annoyed that I outright rejected him. But what I didn’t know was that Sarah had been secretly pursuing him for a long time. Because I rejected him, the heartthrob, out of spite, turned around and got together with Sarah. People said she only got with him because of me. And just like that, our relationship deteriorated. I thought we wouldn’t see each other after going to college. But to my surprise, even though we weren’t at the same university, she still spread rumors about me, trying to make me miserable. But she and the heartthrob didn’t last long; he soon cheated on her. I heard she’ll be at the reunion this Saturday too. “Ahh! So annoying!” I ruffled my hair in frustration. But then again… It’s been so long; maybe she’s forgotten. With that thought, I relaxed. The next few days, I stayed home with Steven. Apart from dropping him off and picking him up, I spent my time designing. I’m a renowned fashion designer, and surrendering my career for marriage? That would be a betrayal to my very soul. The vibrant threads of my creativity weave through my life’s fabric, and to abandon it now would be nothing short of an artistic death. Lately, the little cutie has been a wellspring of inspiration, igniting my creativity like never before. Not designing would be a disservice to my identity! 4 That Saturday morning, a serene smile graced my lips as I watched Steven, lost in his world of building blocks. His innocence was a balm for my soul. Yet, the thought of the faces I would encounter that afternoon brought a heavy sigh to my lips, I couldn’t help but sigh. Why am I heading to a class reunion instead of a parent-teacher conference? Steven’s innocent gaze, filled with concern, cut through my brooding thoughts. “Mom, are you unhappy?” I gently rubbed Steven’s chubby little face, “Mom has a reunion to attend this afternoon. Can you stay home by yourself?” After spending the past few days together, Steven had grown closer to me. “Can I come too? I’ll be very good.” Thinking of who would be at the reunion, I declined. His bright eyes dimmed immediately. “Alright, I’ll wait for Mom at home.” A wave of guilt crashed over me. How could I leave him alone when I knew the kind of neglect he faced from his father? Bringing him along shouldn’t be a problem. After all, I could keep an eye on him. It felt like a betrayal to leave him home alone, especially when his father seemed to ignore his needs so often. “You can come. How about Steven keeps Mom company?” “Okay~” The instant I saw his eyes light up with pure joy, I breathed a sigh of relief. Yet, an unsettling feeling crept over me—why did it seem like I had just been outsmarted? The reunion was in full swing by the time we arrived. As soon as we stepped into the private room,, it had already started. “Isn’t this Clara? Why are you so late? Come on, we’ve been waiting for you.” As soon as I entered, I was noticed. So much for quietly sitting in a corner. I smiled and greeted them, seeing Wendy wave at me excitedly. I held Steven and walked over. This caught everyone’s attention. “Clara, who is this…?” After sitting down, I placed Steven on my lap. Seeing the bottles and cans of alcohol on the table, I frowned. “He’s my son.” Then I looked at the waiter and asked softly, “Do you have any drinks suitable for children?” “Yes, we do.” After settling Steven comfortably in my lap, I shot a sharp glance at Wendy. “Stop staring like that; you’ll scare my son,” Wendy chuckled, “Your son is so cute! Does he need a godmother?” She said mischievously. “Get lost.” I looked at her disdainfully. We ate and chatted. Soon, a strong perfume scent wafted over. The next second, Steven let out a sneeze, his tiny body shaking slightly. At that exact moment, a voice pierced through the clamor of the room, sharp and dripping with scorn. “Clara, I heard you recently married a man with a child. Are you really that desperate? You’re not planning to become a—” Though she didn’t finish, I knew what she meant. “Sarah Payne! Who do you think you’re mocking?” Wendy’s temper flared instantly as she glared at Sarah.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “294575”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #玄幻Fantsy #狼人werewolf #擦边Steamy #励志Inspiring #现实主义Realistic #校园School #后宫Harem

Substitute, substitute – just a replacement for his true love. His true love was coming back, and I was supposed to gracefully exit. Who knew the obsessive male lead would try to force me to stay. His eyes flashed red as he spoke coldly: “Run away again, and I’ll have a cage made just for you.” I rolled my eyes. “This is a society of laws, you psycho.” But when I got home after finalizing the divorce, I saw a giant golden cage in the living room! I gasped. Was it too late to run now? That’s right, I was playing a role. The kind where you step into an over-the-top romance novel to help the original female lead fulfill her wishes. The original Aria had been a substitute for billionaire CEO Dominic Thorne for five years, falling hopelessly in love with him. She even schemed against his true love, Ethan White, just to win Dominic’s heart. In the end, she fell ill from despair and passed away quietly. I scoffed at this. If a man doesn’t work out, just find another one. But the original Aria was determined to hang onto Dominic Thorne. Her dying wish was for me to win Dominic’s heart. And then crush it! Trample it! Destroy it! Clearly, when love becomes an obsession, people go a bit crazy.

I stepped into the story three months before Ethan White was due to return. As soon as I opened my eyes, I heard a husky, suppressed voice say, “Shut up. Don’t make a sound. Your voice doesn’t sound like his.” I thought to myself, I haven’t even said anything! Then I realized something was off… Oh crap… we were in bed! Well, talk about perfect timing for my arrival. Whatever, since I’m here, might as well enjoy myself. I closed my eyes, ready to fully experience whether the male lead was any good. Suddenly, a stinging heat spread across my backside. Dominic had actually spanked me. “You’re being disobedient today. This is your punishment.” “Count.” Help! Why didn’t anyone tell me this male lead was a pervert? I gritted my teeth, thinking about my mission – win his heart, then crush it mercilessly! At that moment, I deeply understood the original Aria’s feelings. Swallowing my shame, I stammered out the count: “One.” “Smack!” “Two.” “Smack!” “Three.” … Meanwhile, I was forming a plan in my mind. Step one, to win someone’s heart, you first need to make them feel sorry for you. Sympathy is the precursor to love. I inwardly smirked. Feeling sorry for a man is the beginning of misfortune. Dominic Thorne, just you wait. Apart from counting as Dominic demanded, I didn’t say another word. I just let tears well up in my eyes, on the verge of falling but not quite. I stared at Dominic, my face full of grievance. But he remained unmoved. If anything, his movements became even more forceful. I could barely stand it and accidentally cursed out loud. Crap, I’d broken character before even getting started. Dominic suddenly froze. “…” Silence. Silence filled the large bed tonight. He sat up, gripping my chin, and said coldly, “What did you say? Say it again.” You bastard. But outwardly, I could only pout weakly and pitifully, “I didn’t say anything…” As for what happened after that… I don’t want to remember.

The next morning when I woke up, I was alone in the big bed. Dominic was nowhere to be seen. I gingerly tried to get up, my body aching all over. But for the sake of my mission, I gritted my teeth and got out of bed. Dominic is a wealthy CEO, very busy most of the time. I, as his substitute, had nothing to do except wait for his beck and call. This wouldn’t do. How could being a substitute be considered a proper job? It’s not like Dominic was paying me benefits or insurance. So, I decided to find a job first. Hmm, self-reliant people are the most beautiful. A regular nine-to-five wouldn’t work. What if Dominic called and I had to skip work to be his substitute? I’d easily get fired. I went to a bar, or more accurately, a gay bar. There were all kinds of men inside. I thought this job would be pretty good. I said I wanted to be a resident singer, and the owner pointed to the high stage, telling me to perform a song. This was easy for me. I took a few steps onto the stage and gave them a song and dance performance. The music was deafening, and the colorful lights flashed dizzily. I danced passionately on stage. The audience went wild, with many people shouting and some even trying to climb up to hug me. Lost in the performance, I took off my jacket. The short T-shirt underneath barely covered my waist, revealing glimpses of skin with each movement. Then I flashed a smile at the audience and tossed my jacket down, causing an uproar. Of course, I didn’t notice that Dominic, drinking with friends in a private booth, had already darkened his face. Whatever, with so many people in the audience, who was he to judge? When the song ended, I thought the owner would be satisfied, but he looked anxious instead. I asked in confusion, “What’s wrong? Was the atmosphere not lively enough? Should I do another song?” The owner quickly waved his hands and grabbed me, looking troubled. Before he could speak, I heard a familiar voice. “It seems I was too gentle last night.” Dominic leaned lazily against the counter, holding a glass of wine. He took a sip, then walked closer. His breath tickled my face. I lowered my eyes and said softly, “I don’t know how to do anything else. I can only do this kind of work. I’m sorry.” Dominic impatiently said, “Haven’t I given you money?” “But… but,” I bit my lip, a stark contrast to my wild performance earlier, “What if you don’t want me someday?” A faint wetness glazed my eyes, making them sparkle even more. I continued, “I heard people say Ethan White is coming back…” “Tch, so you’re looking for a backup plan?” Dominic laughed, “Finding a new sugar daddy in my own establishment? What kind of person do you take me for?” “No!” I quickly refuted, then looked up directly at Dominic, my eyes filled with an intense love that couldn’t be dissolved, “Actually, I know this place belongs to you. I… I…” “Why are you stammering? Spit it out!” So I continued, “I just thought, after you don’t want me anymore, if I work here, maybe someday when you come… I could see you from afar.” Dominic’s hand holding the wine glass paused. He seemed a bit irritated, “You like me that much?” I didn’t answer, but reached for the glass in his hand. He didn’t give it to me, instead pulling me into his arms and bringing the glass to my lips. I took a small sip, then turned my head and kissed him lightly, laughing softly, “Sweet.” Dominic’s eyes darkened, his hand on my waist tightening. Seeing his expression, I pressed on, hugging his neck. Though my voice was clearly reluctant, I pretended to be calm, “Don’t worry, I know I’m worlds apart from Ethan White. After he comes back, I’ll leave quietly. I won’t bother you two.” “But before he returns, can you… can you love me a little more?”

It turns out that acting weak and pitiful always works on men. Dominic didn’t let me work at the bar. Instead, he arranged for me to work at his company as his assistant. Tch, now we’d be seeing each other all day, every day. I went to work with him every morning and returned home together every evening. I completed every task exceptionally well, proving myself smart and capable. I could clearly feel that Dominic was no longer as cold towards me as before. Oh, and I secretly learned a bunch of cooking tutorials, bringing homemade lunches to eat with him. “I know you don’t eat onions, ginger, garlic, or soy sauce. I’ve been careful about all that. Try this sandwich, how is it?” I looked at Dominic with hopeful eyes. Step two, to capture a man’s heart, you must first capture his stomach. Imagine, who wouldn’t be moved by someone who cooks for you every day? Dominic sat on the couch, glanced at the lunchbox, and asked, “You made this?” “Yes, I watched some tutorials. The taste should be okay. Try it and see if you like it?” I said, then quickly added, “It’s fine if you don’t!” Dominic raised an eyebrow, “You commute with me every day, and you’re not free at night either. Where did you find time to watch tutorials? You weren’t slacking off at work, were you?” I hurriedly explained, my face slightly flushed, “Of course not! I… I watched them after you left at night.” Damn, he keeps me up so late every night! I can only stay up even later to watch tutorials. Dominic pulled me onto his lap, his large hands gripping my waist tightly. He said, “Then I won’t leave from now on. I’ll stay and make sure you don’t stay up late.” I immediately put on a delighted expression, “Really?” He used to go back to his own room to sleep after… well, you know. I’ve never even been to his room, only staying in the guest room. Dominic nodded, his magnetic, deep voice sounding by my ear, “Mm, come sleep in my room.” Sitting on his lap in broad daylight discussing this kind of topic inevitably led to some thoughts, inevitably led to some sparks flying. His hand slowly moved down, caressing from my waist to my butt, even trying to explore further. I felt a certain part of him changing, let out a soft gasp, and pushed against his chest with a red face, “Let’s… let’s eat first.” Dominic laughed out loud. I rarely saw him laugh so purely before, and was momentarily stunned. Damn, this face really is male lead material for a dramatic romance novel! “Alright, let’s eat first,” he was unusually gentle, but his next words revealed his true nature, “Then I’ll eat you.” He finished the sandwich in a few bites. When I asked if it was good, he said it was delicious, but his eyes were fixed only on me. Heh, men.

He went into the rest room for a moment, and when he came out, he had a tie and a black box in his hand. I thought, oh no, and the next second, Dominic blindfolded me with the tie. “Be good, we’re going to play a game of Red Light, Green Light today.” “…What?” Dominic took my hand and led me to the large office chair behind his desk. He picked me up and set me on the desk. “The rules of the game are, when I say the command, you must immediately freeze in whatever position you’re in. No talking, no laughing, no moving, no making a sound.” His hand caressed my throat, and I couldn’t help but swallow. I heard him chuckle, then he continued, “If you move or make a sound, you must accept a punishment.” He leaned down and whispered in my ear, “Understand?” I nodded obediently. He then took my hands and placed my palms flat on the desk, saying “Then the game begins.” I thought he would immediately call out the command, so I tensed up. Being blindfolded made me a bit nervous, losing my sense of sight. But Dominic didn’t say anything for a while. He kissed me. First on my blindfolded eyes, then the tip of my nose, and finally my soft lips. The kiss was brief. It was replaced by his fingers. “Mmm…” My tongue was like a small fish between his fingers, slippery and playful. I could even feel the lines on his fingertips, though that was probably just my imagination. His fingers were long with distinct knuckles. I couldn’t help but inwardly grumble, why did they have to be so long! I could only open my mouth slightly to breathe in more air. At that moment, Dominic suddenly called out the command. !!! I froze. He just had to call it now of all times! Saliva was about to uncontrollably drip out, but I couldn’t move or make a sound. Damn it, perverted Dominic! This is too embarrassing. And while I couldn’t move, Dominic could! His other hand started roaming everywhere. The enemy was too cunning. I ultimately lost. I couldn’t help but bite down on his fingers, mumbling accusingly, “You’re bullying me…” Dominic didn’t mind being bitten. He gently pulled his hand away, took out a tissue to wipe the corner of my mouth, and smiled mischievously, “You broke the rules. You have to accept punishment.” I raised my hand to hug his hand before he could pull it back completely, gently kissing it with my lips, and looked at him pitifully, asking in a small voice, “Can the punishment be lighter?” But Dominic didn’t answer. He took off his own tie and then embraced me, tying my hands behind my back. Only then did he say, “For the first time, it can be.” I moved my wrists a bit. The tie was tied quite tightly. Then Dominic started unbuttoning my shirt, but not with his hands. Mm, he lowered his head and came closer, using his agile lips. The faint dampness was like wind and clouds, elusive and intangible. Although I couldn’t see his expression, my heartbeat shamefully quickened. Ah, men! They’re all the same at their core. I scorned myself. When he unbuttoned my chest, I couldn’t help but think, if my hands weren’t tied, as a normal man, I’d really want to press his head down hard right now, making him show a vulnerable and confused expression because of me. But alas, now I was at his mercy. I got lost in my thoughts, a bit distracted, until Dominic kissed a certain spot and then called out the command. I jolted! He’s doing this kind of thing again! I closed my mouth tightly, determined not to move or make a sound, not giving Dominic any chance to torment me. Unfortunately, things don’t always go as planned. When Dominic used his teeth to gently grind, I really couldn’t control myself and let out a moan. Dominic then let go of me, laughing happily, “That’s the second time. What should I punish you with this time?” “I’ll give you a pair of little butterflies.” I was stunned. What little butterflies? I heard Dominic seem to open a box and take something out. While I was still guessing what he had taken out, a sudden pain shot through my chest. Ah ah ah ah ah damn it! I know what Dominic took out now! What kind of decent person keeps these things in their office?! Dominic adjusted a bit, then gently flicked with his hand. The metal butterfly wings clinked together, making a delicate sound. He praised, “Beautiful.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “294591”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #玄幻Fantsy #狼人werewolf #擦边Steamy #励志Inspiring #现实主义Realistic #校园School #后宫Harem #重生Reborn

I Accidentally Group Messaged My Hotel Room Number to My Seven Boyfriends Right now, seven men are crowded at my hotel room door, glaring at each other furiously. Some saw me as a replacement for their lost love. Others saw me as just another conquest. The one thing they had in common? They each gave me $50,000 a month. I was the plaything of six men. For three months, they toyed with my feelings, humiliated my dignity, and exhausted my body. And all I got out of it was a measly million dollars. I was tired. I decided to pull one last con, then block them all and go back to my hometown to get married. As I was packing my bags, boyfriend number one, Henry Thompson, messaged me saying his dad wanted to meet me. He was being pressured by his family to get married and always used me as an excuse. He’d use me and toss me aside, throwing money in my face, saying I shouldn’t get any ideas – he’d never be with someone as low-class as me. How charming. I loved guys like that. Riding my bicycle, I arrived at the restaurant and saw our reserved table. I spotted him from behind. Fully committing to the act, I snuck up behind him and gently hugged him. I whispered in his ear: “Baby, I’ve missed you so much.” I even nibbled his earlobe for good measure. The strong body in my arms shuddered. “Lucy, I’m over here.” A cold voice spoke from beside me. “The person you’re hugging… is my dad…” Now it was my turn to shudder. Face blindness. I’d hugged the wrong person. I quickly let go of his dad, apologizing profusely: “I’m so sorry sir! I didn’t realize!” His dad’s ears were turning red as he tried to keep a straight face, but his eyes were unfocused: “It’s… it’s fine!” I put on my most charming smile: “You look so young sir, exactly like Henry! I… I couldn’t tell the difference…” His dad was clearly flattered, fighting back a smile as he turned away: “R-really?” I nodded vigorously: “Absolutely! Sitting next to Henry, you two could be brothers! Anyone would be confused!” His dad couldn’t hold back his grin anymore: “Young people these days are so flattering…” Henry couldn’t take it anymore and glared at me: “Shut up!” I obediently closed my mouth and sat down next to him. “Dad, this is my girlfriend, Lucy Evans,” he said halfheartedly, taking my hand. “So please stop trying to set me up with other girls!” His dad straightened his collar, instinctively blurting out: “She seems nice…” But then he remembered his mission and put on a stern face: “She’s not good enough for you!” “Sir, we truly love each other,” I said, gripping Henry’s hand tightly. “I’ll take good care of Henry for the rest of my life.” His dad pulled out a card from his Hermès bag and tossed it in front of me. “$500,000. Leave my son!” “Dad, Lucy would never leave me for a mere $500,000,” Henry said confidently, glancing at me with a smirk. “She’s madly in love with me. Even when I treat her like a dog, calling her whenever I want and tossing her aside, she still clings to me. How could $500,000 possibly…” “I accept!” I snatched up the card and tucked it away. Then, facing Henry’s murderous glare, I said seriously: “Henry, I know I’m not good enough for you. I’ve always felt insecure… You’re always calling me poor, calling me low-class…” Henry froze, his angry expression suddenly tinged with guilt. He hurriedly tried to explain: “I… I was just joking around. I’ve never actually looked down on you. I…” I cut him off, wiping away nonexistent tears: “I know you’re a good guy. Maybe we’re just… not meant to be…” I clutched the card in my pocket and slowly stood up: “Henry, I hope you find someone better… Goodbye.” He reached out, trying to grab me: “Don’t go…” If I didn’t leave now, what if his dad changed his mind? I ran out of there like a bat out of hell.

As I was happily riding my bike, fingering the new credit card and daydreaming about how excited my mom would be back home, a Ferrari pulled up next to me. “Lucy, wait a second.” The window rolled down. It was Henry’s dad. Crap, did he change his mind? I started pedaling furiously. Damn, I couldn’t outrun a Ferrari. “Lucy, why are you running? I… I haven’t told you the PIN for the card yet!” Oh, right! I stopped, and he got out of the car, standing in front of me. “841012,” he said, eyes downcast and face slightly red for some reason. “It’s my birthday. Can you remember it?” Before I could respond, he added: “Or… we could exchange SnapChat info and I’ll send it to you…” I felt obligated to agree, so I obediently added him. “My name is Harrison Thompson. Could you… save it in your contacts?” he asked, seeming conflicted. Something felt off about him. “How do I spell it?” I asked. “I’ll write it for you.” He reached out with his long, elegant fingers and gently took my hand. Using his warm fingertip, he slowly traced out each letter on my palm. He kept his head down, leaning in close. The collar of his suit fluttered in the breeze. A gust of wind brought the scent of his cologne! It was faint, but distinctly masculine! My heart suddenly started racing. Shocking – he was wearing men’s cologne! Damn, he was smooth! Alarm bells started ringing in my head. The dad of a bad guy was probably no saint either. I needed to be on guard. I pulled my hand back and responded coldly: “Got it.” But he seemed somewhat anxious: “I’ve been divorced for a long time. I raised Henry as a single father. You know, many times, at night, all alone… You’re single now too, so maybe… maybe we could just chat sometime…” I waved him off: “We’ll see.” I had ridden about halfway home when it suddenly started pouring rain. My phone rang. Boyfriend number two. He said he was drunk and needed me to pick him up. I sighed. Might as well break up with him today too. When I arrived at the karaoke bar, drenched from the rain, I opened the door to find him with an arm around two models, laughing it up with his rich friends. “See? I told you she’s like a loyal dog. All I have to do is call and she comes running.” One of his friends smirked at me: “Is she really that obedient? Hey sweetheart, take off your clothes. Let’s see those abs.” I immediately teared up, gritting my teeth: “I’m a human being. How can you humiliate me like this…” He grinned smugly: “She only listens to me.” His friend said: “I’ll give you $1500 to take off one item of clothing.” I promptly tossed my sock at him: “Sure thing, boss. That’ll be $3000.” No way I was passing up easy money. I took out my contacts too – another $3000. But he got upset, jumping up to grab my hand as I reached for my hair tie. His eyes were red: “You’d sell your body for a few thousand dollars?” My mom was sick and needed a huge sum for medical bills. If you’d just give me the money, I’d sell my body, sell a kidney, whatever it took. I wiped away a tear: “I know you’re tired of me. Let’s just consider this our last meeting. Let’s break up…” He was the one who humiliated me, yet he was the one getting upset. Made no sense. With a loud crash, he smashed his wine glass on the ground and pulled out several wads of cash, throwing them in my face. “Lucy Evans, you think you can break up with me? You’re nothing but a dog to me!” He’d always had a bit of a sadistic streak. He roughly pinned me to the couch, his long fingers wrapping around my throat. I didn’t understand why he was rewarding me. But I channeled my inner actress and let a few tears fall: “I’m sick. I’m dying…” He froze for a moment, his expression cycling through a range of emotions. His lips trembled as he struggled to speak. His eyes were filled with pain. “Lucy… I…” “You should drink less. It’s bad for your health,” I cut him off, bending down to pick up the money piece by piece. “After I’m gone, Gabriel Mitchell, take care of yourself…” He was stunned for a moment, then blinked: “Who’s Gabriel Mitchell?” Me: …… Crap! I mixed up his name with boyfriend number three! While Gabriel was still processing, I grabbed the money and made a run for it. Behind me, I heard Gabriel’s furious voice: “Lucy Evans! I won’t forget this!!!” Whatever, it was my last con anyway. Once I went back to my hometown, how would he ever find me?

The saying goes: if you act like a loyal dog long enough, you’ll eventually get everything. I happily ran out of the karaoke bar, about to go find my bike, when I unexpectedly bumped into a tall figure. What a coincidence – boyfriend number three, Lucas Wilson. His pale skin made him stand out in a crowd, and his handsome face always seemed somewhat aloof. But right now he was tightly gripping a woman’s arm, his voice choked with tears: “Why did you lie to me?! What did I do wrong? Why did you go find other men…” The woman shoved him to the ground: “You’re so annoying. If it weren’t for your money, who the hell would want to date a little boy like you?” Lucas fell to the ground, mud splattering all over him. He didn’t cry or speak, just stared at her intensely. I rushed over and kicked the woman, sending her stumbling back into several bicycles. “Well well, so you’re the new little girl he found? I didn’t realize you were so loyal.” She got up, ready to come argue with me. Boyfriend number four was a muscle freak who always forced me to lift weights with him. As a girl, I wasn’t too worried about taking on another woman. I easily restrained her arms and shoved her away again before letting her leave. Lucas was still crouched on the ground staring at the sky. I sighed and bent down to help him up. But he slapped my hand away: “I don’t need your help! You think I’ll like you if you do this? Who asked you to interfere?! Just go away!” Ungrateful brat. I remembered the first time I met him. He tossed me a card: “Be my girlfriend. I’ll give you $50,000 a month. You in?” I was stunned: “Huh?” The boy looked extremely impatient: “Are you deaf?” I suspected he might be a human trafficker, trying to lure in naive, innocent girls like me. But my poor body couldn’t resist taking the card. I heard my mouth moving on its own: “Baby.” “Good girl.” He nodded in satisfaction, grabbing my hand and smirking at the girl chasing after him, “See? Even if you don’t like me, plenty of others do. $50,000 – I’d give that to a stray dog before I’d give it to you!” Not only was I not offended, I chimed in: “That’s right!” He just gave me $50,000 out of nowhere – he could call me a dog if he wanted. Hell, I’d bark a few times if that’s what he wanted. The girl’s face darkened as she gritted her teeth: “You’d stoop so low as to be with that kind of cheap girl? Does she deserve $50,000?” The boy was clearly annoyed and immediately transferred another $50,000 to my account: “She’s worth whatever I say she’s worth. Who are you to question it?” I looked at that girl with tears in my eyes. There’s kindness everywhere in this world. What a good person – want to insult me some more? After that, I became Lucas’s go-to tool for pissing off ex-girlfriends. Whenever he broke up with someone, I’d stride over shamelessly to collect my payment. The more insults I got, the more money I made. It was awesome!

But I was planning to break up with all of them today, so naturally I didn’t have a friendly expression. “Oh, goodbye then.” I turned to leave. But he grabbed my leg. “Lucy, are you… are you abandoning me too?” He sat on the ground, looking lost and deeply hurt. I sighed and slowly crouched down. His eyes lit up for a moment: “I knew it. Only you, Lucy…” SLAP I smacked him across the face. He was stunned. “Are you fucking brain-dead? Is dating all you can think about?” I finally vented all my pent-up frustration, laying into him: “For fuck’s sake, you go through 31 girlfriends in a 30-day month. Haven’t you been scammed enough? That lovesick brain of yours is so rotten even zombies wouldn’t eat it!” “And how old are you anyway? An 18-year-old little boy dyeing his hair blond – you think that looks good? And those clothes – I can practically see up to your thighs. If you weren’t a guy, people would think you were working the street corner!” “You’re so young but you’re not focusing on anything good. Running off to nightclubs with women in the middle of the night – have you finished your homework? What are your test scores? Do you even remember Newton’s laws?” “Your poor parents were so unlucky to have such a wasteful brat!” My tirade left him completely dumbfounded. He forgot to cry and just stared at me with his big eyes. After a long while, he finally stammered: “Lucy, you’re so mean… You’ve never yelled at me before…” “Just looking at you pisses me off.” I stood up, about to walk away. “Let’s not see each other anymore…” “I’m sorry…” Unbelievably, an apology came out of his mouth. “Don’t leave me, please…” He hugged me from behind, pressing his body tightly against my back. “My… my parents got divorced. They just give me money but never pay attention to me…” Lucas choked up. “From now on… will you look after me?” His voice was like a helpless kitten, pitifully hard to refuse. “It’s… it’s late. You should go home,” I said, my throat feeling dry. “I need to find a hotel…” “Then I’ll come too…” he said. I kept reminding myself not to trust men’s lies. All men in this world are terrible, always taking advantage of innocent, honest girls like me. But my mouth moved on its own, just like when I first met him: “Okay.”

Lucas held my hand as we walked into a hotel together. “Why is your face so red? Did you catch a cold in the rain? Do you have a fever?” I asked. “N-no fever,” he said. His face was bright red as he avoided the receptionist’s eyes. The hand I was holding was drenched in sweat. “So, I’ll book a room then,” I said, also feeling nervous. “Should I get… two beds or… or one big…?” Steam seemed to be rising from his damp head as he looked down in a panic: “Y-you choose! I… I need to step outside for a bit!” With that, he ran out like a startled rabbit. He was still such a naive, easily fooled boy when it came to love. As an upstanding person, I certainly wouldn’t take advantage of him. So I took a deep breath and righteously told the receptionist: “One king bed, please. If he asks, make sure to say it was the only room left!” The receptionist gave me an “ok” sign with a knowing look. … After showering and changing into a bathrobe in the room, I lay on the bed feeling a bit nervous. But over an hour passed and he still hadn’t returned. Damn it! I knew I couldn’t trust men’s lies! But I still couldn’t help sending him a message: “Where did you go?” A second later, he video called me. On the screen, Lucas was clearly in a hair salon. His hair had been dyed back to black, revealing a pure, sunny face that looked quite youthful. “Lucy, do you… do you like me better this way?” he asked shyly. He kept his head down, his face still flushed. He was just… illegally cute! I nodded vigorously. “Then… then I’ll head back now,” he said, brushing his hair to reveal a glimpse of his pale neck. “What’s the… the room number?” As soon as he finished speaking, he got too embarrassed and quickly ended the video call. I wiped the drool from the corner of my mouth, rushed out to check the room number, and hurriedly sent it to him. Lying back on the bed, I started examining the little items on the nightstand, debating whether to try one out first. Yes, I, at the ripe old age of 26, was encountering these for the first time. How embarrassing. But before even 10 minutes had passed, there was a knock at the door. I jumped up and ran to open it with a giddy smile: “How did you get here so fas…” Halfway through my sentence, my smile froze on my face. Why was it… Gabriel? “I was in the area and got your message, so I came over,” Gabriel said with a cold smirk, looking down at me. “Why aren’t you smiling anymore? Is the cancer flaring up, making it hard to smile?” His icy gaze looked like he wanted to kill me. I gulped and silently picked up my phone. A string of new message notifications with red dots lit up the screen. Help! I had accidentally group messaged the hotel room number! To a list called “One Big Happy Family”… With exactly seven people in it.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “294607”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #玄幻Fantsy #狼人werewolf #擦边Steamy #励志Inspiring #现实主义Realistic #校园School #后宫Harem #重生Reborn #魔幻Magic #惊悚Thriller

I have a superpower. After killing someone, I can gain their memories from the past three years. Before my college interview, I killed my genius boyfriend and successfully got into university. When did I first discover this ability? It was when I was nine years old, the year my parents divorced. I stayed with my mom. I liked my mom, but truthfully, I preferred my dad. I often snuck out to see him and play together. But one day, when I went to find him, I caught him kissing another woman. My parents had always been discreet around me, so this was the first time I’d seen a man and woman kiss. The woman’s lips were bright red, as if they could devour someone. I felt angry. Even at my young age, I understood that my dad had done something wrong, which led to their divorce. Dad was the bad guy. Furious, I ran into my dad’s car and threw a bunch of marbles inside. The marbles got stuck in the brake pads, causing the brakes to fail. The woman was knocked unconscious, and my dad died on the spot. The police checked the security footage and found that I had put the marbles in the car. But a nine-year-old child knows nothing and isn’t criminally responsible. Plus, having lost my father, I was sobbing uncontrollably, completely devastated. No one blamed me. Everyone thought I was pitiful. But as I cried, my mind was suddenly filled with new memories. In these memories, I saw the woman’s face. It turned out that my dad had been cheating for a long time. I saw arguments between my mom and dad, saw my dad stealing money from home. I saw the woman and my dad in intimate moments, saw them disgustingly making love. I threw up. Mom and the police thought I was crying so hard that my body couldn’t take it. Only I knew that I was disgusted. At such a young age, I had seen two animals in heat.

Unexpectedly, my sadness dissipated quickly. What lingered was the disgust. At the same time, I realized something different about myself. As a child, I didn’t dare speak about it. As I grew older, I didn’t want to. It wasn’t until I was much older that I realized what this ability truly meant. In middle school, I was in the same class as Emma, the girl next door, and we were close friends. We went to and from school together, inseparable to the point where we even went to the bathroom together. Our teacher jokingly called us conjoined twins. Emma didn’t have the best personality, but she was very pretty, much prettier than me. I sometimes heard people say, “There’s the princess and her maid.” I didn’t mind much, but Emma always seemed pleased. I thought this was one of the reasons she was so close to me. People are often reluctant to be outdone by those close to them. Emma liked feeling superior to me, which in a way showed that she truly considered me a close friend. I was very good to Emma, to the point where she became somewhat dependent on me. Emma’s grades were always better than mine, except for French. So I always helped Emma with her French homework, writing it neatly for her. As the French class representative, I would often help the teacher grade quizzes in the office. During these times, I would secretly change a few of Emma’s answers, adding some points to her score. Until the teacher discovered this. The French teacher didn’t blame me for changing the grades, but instead scolded Emma. The French teacher had always disliked pretty girls who loved to dress up, and given Emma’s poor French grades, the teacher disliked her even more. “You never focus on your studies, always up to these tricks!” “Girls like you will never amount to anything.” Emma’s eyes immediately turned red. She pushed her desk away with a bang and ran out of the classroom. The French teacher initially scoffed, but as Emma didn’t return, she began to worry something might happen. After teaching for a while, she couldn’t help but ask me to go check on Emma. I knew where Emma was. She was in the storage room next to the third-floor tea room. Whenever Emma was upset, she would curl up in there. I gently opened the door of the storage room, squeezed inside, and crouched next to Emma. Emma didn’t look at me, and I didn’t look at Emma. I understood her; she didn’t want me to see her in such a vulnerable state. After sitting for a while, Emma spoke. “I don’t like Mrs. Thompson.” Mrs. Thompson was our French teacher’s name. “I don’t like Mrs. Thompson either,” I said in solidarity. Hearing my childish response, she couldn’t help but laugh a little. “Let’s go back,” she said. “Okay.” Emma and I grew closer and closer. But sometimes, you have to admit that when it comes to studying, some people just have a natural talent. I had tried hard, but I really didn’t have a knack for academics. Emma and I spent almost every day together, studying for the same amount of time. But Emma’s grades kept improving, steadily rising in all subjects, and even her French was catching up to mine. Sometimes she would offer to tutor me, but I couldn’t understand a thing. Mom would often compare me to Emma, and I didn’t want to disappoint her. I only had Mom. Seeing my grades not improving, I started to get anxious. A vague, dark thought appeared in my mind. What if I killed Emma? If I killed Emma, then I would have her memories. There are many things you shouldn’t think about. Once the thought appears in your head, it never goes away. I had an idea. Just last year, the school had installed new air conditioners with excellent cooling. Many seniors joked that the school only installed air conditioning after they graduated. Emma was quite short and always sat in the first or second row. I, on the other hand, sat in the fifth or sixth row. As summer approached, the school gradually turned on the air conditioning. I often complained about how hot it was and would walk to Emma’s desk during breaks. While talking to Emma, I would casually turn the air conditioning to 16 degrees Celsius on full blast. When the bell rang, I would leave. Sometimes Emma would remember to adjust it back, sometimes she wouldn’t. So Emma often sat through entire classes in the cold air. A few days ago, I had gone shopping with Emma. I told her my mom asked me to stock up on cold medicine and asked if she needed any. “Why buy cold medicine in the middle of summer?” she asked. “My mom says I’m always in air conditioning at home and school, and then I’m all sweaty outside. The big temperature difference makes it easy to catch a cold, so she told me to buy some medicine just in case.” Emma hesitated, thought it made sense, and bought the same medicine as me. Seeing Emma blow her nose and complain of a headache, I knew my chance had come. After school, Emma and I walked home together as usual. “Let’s sit on the grass by the river for a bit,” I suggested. We often relaxed and chatted there after school, so it wasn’t unusual. I pulled Emma along, deliberately choosing a spot visible to the nearby convenience store’s security cameras. I told Emma to open her backpack. Emma opened it to find two bottles of alcohol, seemingly high-proof. She took the bottles out of her bag. “Ta-da! A surprise for you!” I exclaimed. “We’re about to become high school students. Don’t you want to try it?” I turned my body slightly, using my hair to cover my mouth. I understood Emma. She was a girl with a rebellious streak deep down. Emma’s parents had always been quite strict with her. She hadn’t had the chance to do anything wild, but she had always wanted to. Emma held the bottle in her hand, then passed one to me. I turned around, pretending to suddenly have second thoughts and look a bit scared. I waved my hand, “Maybe we shouldn’t? Emma, won’t your parents be angry?” Hearing this, Emma’s rebellious side came out even more. “It’s fine, let’s just try it!” she insisted. I made a hesitant expression until Emma forcefully handed me one of the bottles. We talked about many things. We discussed the recent exams, our future, the French teacher we disliked, and the evening sunset. She apologized to me. She said sometimes she couldn’t help but treat me like a sidekick. She said I was her best friend, forever and always. I said yes, I was. Seeing that it was about time, I patted Emma’s shoulder and said we should head home. I hadn’t drunk much alcohol, mostly just pretending to sip. Emma, on the other hand, seemed quite drunk, stumbling as she stood up. I had found out beforehand that Emma’s mom was on a business trip recently, and her dad worked night shifts. Emma would be alone at home. I looked at Emma. “Emma, bye-bye.” “See you tomorrow.” “Oh, right,” I said, smiling at her. “You have a bit of a cold today. Remember to take the cold medicine when you get home.” Emma nodded with a smile. In the glow of the setting sun, her eyes seemed to hold a gentle flame. I calmly returned home, had dinner with my mom, and finished my homework as usual. Then I peacefully fell asleep. The next morning, I woke up with a splitting headache. I found that my mind was filled with new memories. I knew I had succeeded.

Emma was dead. When Emma’s mom returned home that night, she found Emma collapsed in the living room. By the time they got to the hospital, it was too late. After investigation, the police concluded it was poisoning caused by taking cephalosporin antibiotics and alcohol at the same time. In an era when the internet wasn’t as developed, we middle school students weren’t aware of this common knowledge. Except for me, who had three years of my father’s memories. Everything went too smoothly, even beyond my expectations. I had considered many possibilities. Emma might not have taken the medicine as I suggested. Emma might have called for help in time after feeling unwell. Emma’s mom might have returned home early and stopped Emma. And so on. The fact that it went so smoothly, doesn’t it mean that even God was on my side? As Emma’s best friend and the last person to see her alive, I was called to the police station to give a statement. I was a minor, so a parent needed to accompany me. Looking at the police officer, I appeared very scared. Mom comforted me. “It’s okay, the officer just wants to ask you a few questions.” “That’s right, little girl, don’t be afraid. I just want to ask you a few questions,” the officer reassured me. They didn’t really think a little girl like me could do anything. “According to the deceased’s mother, the deceased didn’t usually drink alcohol, but you two were drinking outside that day,” he said. “Why is that?” I looked a bit scared and glanced at my mom. Mom patted me encouragingly, indicating that it was okay, just tell the truth. “Emma said she wanted to drink that day, wanted to feel excited, and suddenly took out two bottles of alcohol from her bag,” I said. “I didn’t want to drink at first, and I tried to persuade Emma not to, but who knew…” As I spoke, tears started falling uncontrollably. The officer nodded. The security footage indeed showed Emma forcefully handing me the alcohol. The officer asked a few more innocuous questions, then let me leave. The case was ultimately classified as a tragedy caused by a girl’s momentary rebellion combined with a lack of common knowledge. Emma’s death was even used as a cautionary tale within the school. I organized my thoughts and felt like I had discovered a new world. It turned out that Emma’s brain contained so much knowledge. My grades improved dramatically, making my mom very happy. I was happy too. On exam day, I performed normally and achieved the good grades I had hoped for. Mom sold our house and bought a new one near the school. My new bedroom was big, with a large window, and I even had my own study. During the summer break, I frantically previewed the high school curriculum. So when high school started, my grades were pretty good. But I knew this wasn’t a long-term solution. I didn’t have a talent for studying; I wasn’t smart. Even with Emma’s solid knowledge base, I would fall behind later. Last time, luck played too big a role. This time, I needed to carefully plan my high school life.

I set my sights on Jack. He was the top student in our grade and my classmate. Jack was as brilliant as his name suggested. With his handsome looks and academic halo, he was never short of girls who liked him. And I was so ordinary. It seemed we would never have any connection. Through observation and online searches, I discovered Jack’s most frequently used chat app. It was a very niche app. The app featured anonymous chatting and didn’t have message notifications. I scoured through almost all of Jack’s posts for analysis – he was a sunny and lively boy from a well-off family; he had low blood sugar and often carried sweets; he seemed to enjoy reading classic novels and mystery novels. I changed my profile picture on the app to a beautiful jasmine flower, Jack’s favorite flower. I didn’t directly add Jack as a friend but slowly built up my account. I started sharing daily posts regularly, shaping myself into someone with similar interests to him. After a while, my account had a few followers and no longer looked like a zombie account. “What do you think Makoto was thinking when she killed Yukio?” I posted out of the blue. It was a plot point from Riyoko Ikeda’s “Virgin Mary.” Jack hadn’t mentioned reading this book in any of his posts, but I had seen him reading it in class. There was no response to the message after I sent it. I waited patiently. A day later, I received a response from Jack. “Protection and fear, I guess.” “Hello, how did you know I was reading this?” “Fear? Do you think Makoto was afraid of Yukio?” I ignored his second question. “I think Makoto was afraid of past memories.” Realizing I had no intention of revealing my identity, Jack didn’t pursue it further. We continued chatting about our interests. At first, it was just one or two sentences a day, and I would quickly withdraw after getting a response. As time passed, Jack found that I was a book enthusiast with interests very similar to his. Our chat times gradually became longer, moving from books to movies. Until one day, Jack asked me: “You’re really interesting. I’d like to know how old you are? Which city are you in?” I didn’t respond. For several days, I didn’t reply to any of Jack’s messages. He sent many messages, apologizing for his intrusive questions. About a week later, I finally responded to his message. “If you want to know me, come to the rooftop of the teaching building tonight.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “294623”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #重生Reborn #校园School #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic

As I opened my eyes, I found myself on the Isle of Wight, alongside four girls from Wellington High School who had bullied me. They had taken over the only house on the island, waiting for me to throw myself into the sea. But only I knew that the only way to escape was to use the rules to eliminate the others. “Day one: anyone who doesn’t have a shower today will be the first to be eliminated.” “Let the game begin.” This was the note I just found in a message in a bottle. I stared at the note, lost in thought. Today, we five were deposited on this island. The only silver lining was the two-storey cottage, which, of course, was commandeered by Chloe and her gang. Even after taking over, her sidekick, Sophie, came up to me, pretending to be sweet, and said, “Sorry, there are only four rooms. You might want to look for other buildings on the island.” I couldn’t tell if she was serious or just taunting me. But this island was barren; apart from the cottage, there was nowhere else to go. Staying here would mean starving to death, freezing, or possibly being swept away by the waves. But I knew they were hoping I’d just throw myself into the sea. I was seriously considering it when my legs dipped into the icy water, and I felt something cold brush against me. It was the message in a bottle I mentioned earlier— Its appearance felt oddly timed, and I couldn’t help but glance at that cottage. At that moment, the girls who had tormented me were likely inside, laughing. Back in school, Chloe had led her group in surrounding me, wrinkling her nose and fanning the air in front of her. “Ugh, you smell so bad! Why don’t you wash?” “Such a poor smell, how can you get rid of it?” Then they dragged me into the toilet under the pretense of washing away the poor smell, dousing me with two buckets of cold water. The cold was bone-chilling. My legs were shaking, and soon, Chloe came over and slapped me across the face twice. If I went to borrow their bathroom, wouldn’t it be… I could already imagine the humiliating taunts they’d hurl at me. Standing at the edge of the island, I watched the sunset paint the horizon, finally gathering my courage to walk to the cottage door.

The door swung open to reveal Emily, who looked surprised to see me. “What? There’s no room for you here!” She laughed and was about to close the door when I stuck my hand in the frame. “Can I have a shower?” A strange expression crossed Emily’s face. I recognised that familiar smirk in her eyes. Then she turned and shouted towards the interior, presumably to Chloe and the others, “Look who wants to have a shower!” The room fell silent for a moment before erupting with laughter like thunder. I stood outside, feeling the breeze snake around my exposed skin. I should’ve seen this coming… Just as I was about to turn and leave, Chloe’s voice came from behind the door: “Let her in!” “That poor smell definitely needs a wash.” The door swung wide open, and I entered, greeted by Emily’s mocking gaze. “You can use the public bathroom at the corner upstairs,” Jessica pointed out. I nodded and hurried up the stairs. The laughter from downstairs didn’t stop; I could vaguely hear their remarks. “Make sure you clean yourself well before you set off.” A chill ran down my spine… What did the elimination entail? Would it mean “setting off”? I felt a surge of vengeful satisfaction. After a quick wash, I didn’t dare linger. I rushed downstairs, and the four of them seemed puzzled by my haste. Jessica blocked the staircase, frowning as she scrutinised me from top to bottom. “Can’t you even wash properly? You’re down so quickly.” “Should’ve said, we could’ve helped you wash,” Emily chimed in with a laugh. “Enough.” I was shocked that this stopping remark came from Chloe. “You go to the island’s edge and see if any boats pass by. Maybe you can get in touch.” So they wanted me to help. I nodded, keeping my head down as I left the cottage. As the door closed behind me, my heart raced. If the rules were real, when would the elimination take place?

I sat at the island’s edge as darkness fell. The sea looked like a vast black hole under the night sky. I shivered, wondering if I might pass out from the cold. In the distance, I heard a shout: “Lucy!” I turned to see Chloe and the others running towards me, but Jessica was nowhere to be seen. Just as I felt a pang of curiosity. Chloe and her group reached me, and she raised her hand and slapped me hard across the face. I felt a ringing in my ears. “Jessica is dead; you did this, didn’t you?!” A strange sensation surged within me at the news. I covered my face and looked up. “What happened to her?” Sophie, likely shaken by the recent events, lost her usual bravado in front of me. “She said she was going for a shower and didn’t come out for ages. When we checked on her, she was already dead.” “She was the last one to wash?” “Yes.” A fire ignited in my chest. The rules were real.

“Because Jessica said today that you wouldn’t wash, you killed her!” Chloe yelled. Her accusation reminded me that Jessica had been the first to act when they doused me with water in the toilet. Feigning deep thought, I replied, “I didn’t have the means to kill her.” “But I heard some islands can be quite cursed.” The sea breeze whipped fiercely, and I noticed the fear flashing in their eyes. I lowered my head at the right moment. “Since she’s dead, it’s fine for me to stay in her room, right?” They opened their mouths, seemingly in disbelief that I dared to occupy a room where someone had just died. Before they could respond, I turned and walked back into the cottage. I dragged Jessica’s body outside in front of them. Jessica showed no signs of having been beaten, her complexion was not discoloured; she looked as though she had simply dropped dead. “Maybe she just stayed up too late?” I said it casually, not knowing if they’d believe me. After dragging Jessica outside, I returned to the cottage, my stomach growling audibly. “Is there anything to eat?” Emily looked somewhat reluctant, but now that Jessica was dead, we had become allies of fate. She pointed to the snacks on the coffee table. “That’s all there is.” The coffee table held only half-eaten snacks; did the cottage not even have basic staples? I nibbled on some, lost in thought.

The next day, while they were still asleep, I made my way to the island’s edge. Following yesterday’s routine, I submerged my legs in the sea, and upon feeling the message in a bottle, I quickly picked it up. “Day two: food supplies are hidden in the forest.” “Day two: no eliminations.” I looked at the dense trees behind the cottage, nervous about encountering unknown creatures. But eyeing the demands on the note, I steeled myself. I didn’t run into any beasts, so I easily retrieved a pack of noodles and a box of eggs to take back to the cottage. Chloe was stunned, her eyes wide. “Where did you get that?” “From the island’s edge; someone left it there.” Jealousy flashed in their eyes as I placed the items in the fridge. As I closed the fridge door, I remarked, “If you want to eat, you’ll have to cook it yourselves.” Noodles and eggs. That’s another story. One day, I brought noodles with eggs for lunch, and they laughed at me for bringing “poor food,” then, in front of everyone, they dumped my meal into the bin. Emily stood nearby, arms crossed, and joked, “Eating bin scraps is the same as what you made. Why don’t you try it?” That day in the cafeteria, my humiliation was exposed before the entire school. I wondered if they remembered that day about the noodles and eggs. But thinking of them now having to eat what they once derided as “bin scraps” brought a sense of satisfaction.

In the following days, I took advantage of their sleeping hours to sneak outside. Unfortunately, the messages in the bottles had not contained any elimination for several days. As I watched my noodles dwindle, I’d return to the supply area, picking up another pack and lying about having found it at the island’s edge. Days passed like this. In this isolated environment, Chloe and the others’ attitude towards me softened somewhat. I sometimes wondered if the bullies I once knew were the same people standing before me now. Until one day, as usual, I ventured into the forest. But that day was different. Branches behind me rustled as if something had brushed against them. I turned cautiously, spotting the branches swaying; perhaps it was a small animal. Thinking nothing of it, I walked towards the supply hut. Inside, there were many supplies, yet I only took the eggs and noodles. As I walked out with my loot, I was suddenly enveloped by three dark figures. It was Chloe and her two friends. A wave of fear surged through me. If they had been following me the whole time, they must have seen me at the island’s edge retrieving the message in the bottle. Chloe’s face twisted with rage, as though she could devour me whole. Emily pushed me to the ground as I stumbled. Chloe crouched down and locked eyes with me. “So this is the food you’ve been getting from the island?” She raised her hand and slapped me across the face again. “You’re trying to hog all the food, aren’t you?” Another slap landed on my other cheek. “I knew it; you’re not so generous after all.” With that, Chloe’s hand found my throat, gripping it tightly. As I struggled for breath, my legs kicked out helplessly. She had never changed; she was always the one who bullied me. This predicament only temporarily tied us together; we would never be friends. Just before I could fully suffocate, Chloe let go. I knew she was still afraid of killing someone. Once I could breathe again, I held my neck and gasped for air. “I was just afraid everyone would eat all the food at once.” I forced myself to sit up, still uncomfortable. “Honestly, that’s how it is.”

Emily supported Chloe, her eyes cold as they gazed at me. “Then let me ask you, how did you find this place?” “When you locked me outside, I had to find somewhere to stay.” “You looked for a place to stay in the forest?” I shrugged, “The island’s not that big; I almost considered diving into the sea.” As soon as I said this, I realised I might have gone too far. The three of them had bullied me for a long time, and I was just making a joke, but they might have genuinely hoped for something darker. I stepped back slightly. Sophie, who hadn’t spoken until now, took a step forward, her expression devoid of emotion. Just as I thought she would side with Chloe, Sophie shook her head at her. “Everyone is on this island; let’s not complicate things.” Chloe shot me an angry glare, unwillingly turning to leave. Emily followed behind, grabbing four or five instant meals from the fridge before joining Chloe. Back at the cottage, they had heated the meals, and the aroma of rice filled the air. I clasped my stomach, realising I hadn’t eaten yet. Seeing my actions, Chloe raised an eyebrow, reverting to her old domineering self. “Lucy, you’re not eating anything today; this is your punishment.” “Survive today, and I’ll forgive you. How about that?” Emily wore a smirk, clearly having fanned the flames in Chloe’s mind. Suddenly, I felt a surge of rebellion, disregarding their objections and marched straight to the fridge, grabbing a meal. “Hey, what do you think you’re doing?” Emily placed her hand on the meal, trying to snatch it from me. In the tussle, the meal ended up on the floor, rice scattering and sticking to the ground. “Have you lost it?” Emily huffed, stamping her foot and crushing the rice. Chloe watched our scuffle with narrowed eyes. “If you want to eat, you can get down on the floor and clean it up.” She raised her hand and slammed my head down onto the floor. I shot my head up, feeling a sense of defiance for the first time. But looking at Chloe and Emily with their arms crossed, and glancing at Sophie in the distance, I realised I was outnumbered. What was it if I didn’t eat for a day? I wouldn’t starve to death. I bolted outside, unable to suppress the anger swelling within me. At that moment, it felt like a switch had flipped in my mind—I thought of a place. I reached the island’s edge, the sea calm and serene. There were still no signs of any boats. I knelt by the shore, reaching into the water, hoping to salvage something. When my fingers brushed against a familiar cold object, I felt elated. “Day six: the last person to eat will be eliminated.” Seeing the familiar elimination made my heart soar with joy.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “294640”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #重生Reborn #校园School #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic

In my past life, my sister insisted on going to the Peak District for an outdoor painting trip. Despite my concerns for her safety, I couldn’t change her mind, so I had no choice but to accompany her. Unexpectedly, we encountered two villagers who tried to force us back to their village. I fought to hold them off, allowing my sister to escape while I was knocked unconscious and taken away. I thought my sister, having managed to escape, would go to the police or tell our parents to come rescue me. But she didn’t. She was afraid of letting our parents know that my misfortune was because of her. So, while I endured humiliation in the depths of the forest, she continued to enjoy her once beautiful life, even receiving more love from our parents because of my disappearance. Years later, when I finally escaped and returned home, I found that my place had long since vanished. A life of illness caused me to die early in my childhood home. But then, I found myself reliving that day when she was about to set off on her painting trip.

“Artists cannot do without inspiration! Sitting at home will never lead to great works! You and Mum and Dad, with your business-minded ways, will never understand!” My sister, Lily Summers, clutched her easel in one hand and her train ticket in the other, defiantly shouting at me. “I’m not trying to stop you from going on your trip, I just think you shouldn’t go to such a remote place.” As I approached her, my previously resigned and indulgent expression suddenly darkened. Lily didn’t notice; she was still throwing a childish tantrum at me. “I’ve finally discovered a place no one has ever been to, and you want to stop me! You can’t stand the thought of me being better than you or becoming famous!” My heart trembled as I took in the scene before me: the youthful and shorter Lily, my own agile legs, and our somewhat old-fashioned home, all conveying one truth. I had returned to the very day my sister wanted to go on her outdoor trip! In my previous life, she had acted just as foolishly, insisting on visiting that desolate area. My pleas had fallen on deaf ears, and in the interest of her safety, I had to force her to agree to let me accompany her. Little did we know that we would soon encounter two locals. The greedy gazes of the two men shifted back and forth between Lily and me as they edged closer. I knew something was terribly wrong. I quickly handed my phone to Lily so she could call the police, while I relied on my limited martial arts skills to fend off the two men. But I was no match for the sturdy farmers, and in her panic, Lily couldn’t even make the call. I found myself pinned to the ground, desperately urging her to run. In that moment, Lily reacted quickly, clutching her easel, bag, and my phone before vanishing without a trace. At that time, I believed she had escaped, and we would both be safe. I fought desperately to stop the two men from pursuing her, only to be beaten unconscious. When I awoke, I found myself trapped in a dark, damp cellar. I couldn’t see anything, only hearing the scurrying of mice, the buzzing of insects, and the chilling laughter of men. I lost track of time in the cellar, but gradually, through the beatings, I learned to disguise and submit. Eventually, I discovered from those men that I had been imprisoned for four years. Four long years, with no one searching for me. I couldn’t understand why. Eventually, due to my extreme submission and my pregnancy, I was allowed to emerge from the cellar. Seven years later, seeing the sun again brought tears to my eyes, and I broke down sobbing. For I saw in the mirror a version of myself I had never known. My filthy, long hair, a swollen body barely covered in rags, emitting the same stench as those men while heavily pregnant. In the following days, under the strict watch of the villagers, I gave birth to child after child. Then, in a daily cycle of resignation, I finally found my chance to escape. I dropped my hoe, ignoring the sounds of my babbling children behind me, and sprinted through the fields taller than I was. Sharp stones cut into my feet, but I didn’t stop; thorny plants pierced my skin, yet I pressed on without slowing. At that moment, I selfishly thought I should have made this mad dash for freedom years ago. After successfully escaping, I encountered kind people in the town who provided food and drink and took me to the police, who then brought me to my parents’ new address. It was a grand detached house with a garden in a thriving city. The house was bright and sunny, with two housekeepers tending to their duties. My sister was barefoot on the lawn, arranging her paintings and occasionally flashing a cute smile at her wealthy boyfriend. But in an instant, that smile turned to panic when she saw me. She clearly hadn’t expected my return. Nor had our parents. After embracing me and weeping, they finally realized I was no longer the daughter they had once been proud of. By then, I was nearing middle age, had given birth to seven or eight children, and bore the weight of illness that made me appear older than my parents. Meanwhile, they had risen from the middle class to the upper class, and even Lily, who had little talent, had opened a small gallery and had a caring wealthy boyfriend. Everyone around me seemed to have a bright future and dignity—except for me. I pointed at Lily and revealed the truth to everyone, telling them how I had ended up in this situation, but years of harsh captivity had left me stammering and incoherent. No one believed me, or perhaps no one wanted to help. My parents continued to believe Lily’s story: that I had gone off travelling without being cautious and had been kidnapped. They thought I was now mentally unstable, which was why I was accusing her. A few days later, they decided to send me back to my childhood home. During holidays, they would only see me briefly, and I could only receive treatment for my illnesses at poorly equipped small hospitals. In the end, my parents tragically died in a car accident. I had no money for medical care. As my health deteriorated, Lily finally appeared before me. Lily, carrying the latest luxury handbag, had brought along the very family that had abducted me and the seven children I had given birth to. She urged me to go along with their ways, to love and be loved by them. Finally, she gleefully confessed, “Mum and Dad are proud of your business talent. They’ve only built their fortune using the resources you left behind. If they knew I was the reason you were captured, they would hate me forever. So, when I escaped, I knew I had to keep them from knowing the truth.” “But I never imagined you would be so clever as to return and expose my lies. Even though no one believes you, just thinking of my fiancé knowing I have a filthy sister like you makes me sick. According to the law, if Mum and Dad unexpectedly die, a portion of the inheritance would go to you! How dare you pollute my life so casually!” As she spoke, she forced my weak hand to sign a waiver of inheritance rights before driving away in her flashy car. I collapsed to the ground, wracked by pain and hatred, crying until my tears ran dry. Little did I expect that when I opened my eyes, I found myself back on the day Lily had insisted on going for her outdoor painting trip.

“I don’t care, I don’t care! I’m going! I have a feeling I’ll find a lot of artistic and life opportunities there!” Lily was still begging me. I snapped back to reality and asked with a semblance of a smile, “Really? Are you so sure?” Lily nodded, pulling out her phone to show me a strong male photographer’s profile, who had taken a stunning set of photos in the Peak District a few years back. He claimed the locals were very friendly, living a simple life far from modern society. Simple? I couldn’t help but snicker internally; it was likely just a façade of “simplicity” for strong men. Lily persisted, urging me to agree. “Just let me go! I have a feeling if I don’t go, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life!” I frowned at her words. “But I really can’t trust you to go alone.” Lily’s eyes sparkled with delight as she realized she had a chance. “You’re just worried you want to come with me…” I interrupted her, “Mum and Dad’s company has something going on today; I can’t go with you, but I can call a few of your friends from college. You’re all studying art; it would be safer for you to go together.” Over the years, I had seen through Lily’s jealousy; it was easy to push her toward despair. Sure enough, Lily’s expression changed, her voice rising, “I don’t want to! I didn’t go out with them during the last training, and their grades are better than mine; they must have laughed at me! I’ve finally found a place they haven’t been to; if I take them, I won’t stand a chance next time!” At that point, Lily’s determination was unwavering: “If you won’t go with me, I’ll go alone! The photographer said the locals are friendly, and if anything happens, I can ask for help. Just don’t tell my friends where I’m going! I won’t forgive you if you do!” With that, Lily ran out the door with her easel, pretending to be afraid I would stop her. I stared at the closed door, feeling defeated, and slumped to the floor, taking some time to collect myself.

I didn’t linger at home; instead, I put on my coat and took a taxi to my parents’ small business, which was still in its early stages. My father, not yet old and never one to show disappointment in me, smiled widely upon seeing me and invited me to sit in his office chair. “Just in time! Help me strategise; is this project worth pursuing?” My hands tightened, my fingertips digging into my skin. Sometimes, I had to admit a harsh truth: they didn’t love me as much as they loved Lily and her friends. Their affection stemmed from my talent for business and the connections I brought to the family company. If they truly loved me, I would at least have the freedom to have my own interests, like Lily, even without talent or excellent grades. “Penny for your thoughts?” Dad nudged me. “Have a look at this.” I glanced down at the tender document in my hands, nodding after a quick scan. “This is a blue-ocean project; I discussed it with a few of my university friends, and they say it has great potential. You mustn’t miss this one, Dad!” In my previous life, he had missed this opportunity, and years later, I returned to find him lamenting the loss. Mum, reviewing the accounts, looked up at me with satisfaction, and I smiled back. I had no intention of letting Lily get away with things, nor did I want them to be happy. I needed this company to pave the way for my future. Dad rushed out to instruct the team to get started, and I followed, giving them some useful direction. When I returned to my office, Mum came over with a smile and peeled a lychee for me. Just as she offered it to me, she suddenly asked, “Where’s Lily? Is she still lazing around painting at home?” I shrugged. “I took a nap, and when I woke up, I was the only one at home. I don’t know where she went.” Mum didn’t doubt my words, but her worry prompted her to reach for her phone to call Lily. However, Lily quickly hung up, refusing to answer. Perhaps she was afraid I would tell our parents, who were trying to bring her home. After a few more failed attempts to contact her, Mum sighed and sent a concerned text before shaking her head, saying, “I was going to ask her to come home early for dinner. Let her be; she probably won’t achieve anything, and it’ll be another outdoor painting trip to the mountains where she’ll just get eaten by mosquitoes.” I nodded in agreement with her assessment. Mum continued, “Later, I’m off to a spa with some friends, and your dad has a social engagement. Can you manage to eat something?” I didn’t care about the double standards; I just smiled at her. “Sounds good, Mum.”

Here’s the translation and localization of the provided passages into a natural and interesting British context: In my past life, my sister insisted on going to the Peak District for an outdoor painting trip. Despite my concerns for her safety, I couldn’t change her mind, so I had no choice but to accompany her. Unexpectedly, we encountered two villagers who tried to force us back to their village. I fought to hold them off, allowing my sister to escape while I was knocked unconscious and taken away. I thought my sister, having managed to escape, would go to the police or tell our parents to come rescue me. But she didn’t. She was afraid of letting our parents know that my misfortune was because of her. So, while I endured humiliation in the depths of the forest, she continued to enjoy her once beautiful life, even receiving more love from our parents because of my disappearance. Years later, when I finally escaped and returned home, I found that my place had long since vanished. A life of illness caused me to die early in my childhood home. But then, I found myself reliving that day when she was about to set off on her painting trip. “Artists cannot do without inspiration! Sitting at home will never lead to great works! You and Mum and Dad, with your business-minded ways, will never understand!” My sister, Lily Summers, clutched her easel in one hand and her train ticket in the other, defiantly shouting at me. “I’m not trying to stop you from going on your trip, I just think you shouldn’t go to such a remote place.” As I approached her, my previously resigned and indulgent expression suddenly darkened. Lily didn’t notice; she was still throwing a childish tantrum at me. “I’ve finally discovered a place no one has ever been to, and you want to stop me! You can’t stand the thought of me being better than you or becoming famous!” My heart trembled as I took in the scene before me: the youthful and shorter Lily, my own agile legs, and our somewhat old-fashioned home, all conveying one truth. I had returned to the very day my sister wanted to go on her outdoor trip! In my previous life, she had acted just as foolishly, insisting on visiting that desolate area. My pleas had fallen on deaf ears, and in the interest of her safety, I had to force her to agree to let me accompany her. Little did we know that we would soon encounter two locals. The greedy gazes of the two men shifted back and forth between Lily and me as they edged closer. I knew something was terribly wrong. I quickly handed my phone to Lily so she could call the police, while I relied on my limited martial arts skills to fend off the two men. But I was no match for the sturdy farmers, and in her panic, Lily couldn’t even make the call. I found myself pinned to the ground, desperately urging her to run. In that moment, Lily reacted quickly, clutching her easel, bag, and my phone before vanishing without a trace. At that time, I believed she had escaped, and we would both be safe. I fought desperately to stop the two men from pursuing her, only to be beaten unconscious. When I awoke, I found myself trapped in a dark, damp cellar. I couldn’t see anything, only hearing the scurrying of mice, the buzzing of insects, and the chilling laughter of men. I lost track of time in the cellar, but gradually, through the beatings, I learned to disguise and submit. Eventually, I discovered from those men that I had been imprisoned for four years. Four long years, with no one searching for me. I couldn’t understand why. Eventually, due to my extreme submission and my pregnancy, I was allowed to emerge from the cellar. Seven years later, seeing the sun again brought tears to my eyes, and I broke down sobbing. For I saw in the mirror a version of myself I had never known. My filthy, long hair, a swollen body barely covered in rags, emitting the same stench as those men while heavily pregnant. In the following days, under the strict watch of the villagers, I gave birth to child after child. Then, in a daily cycle of resignation, I finally found my chance to escape. I dropped my hoe, ignoring the sounds of my babbling children behind me, and sprinted through the fields taller than I was. Sharp stones cut into my feet, but I didn’t stop; thorny plants pierced my skin, yet I pressed on without slowing. At that moment, I selfishly thought I should have made this mad dash for freedom years ago. After successfully escaping, I encountered kind people in the town who provided food and drink and took me to the police, who then brought me to my parents’ new address. It was a grand detached house with a garden in a thriving city. The house was bright and sunny, with two housekeepers tending to their duties. My sister was barefoot on the lawn, arranging her paintings and occasionally flashing a cute smile at her wealthy boyfriend. But in an instant, that smile turned to panic when she saw me. She clearly hadn’t expected my return. Nor had our parents. After embracing me and weeping, they finally realized I was no longer the daughter they had once been proud of. By then, I was nearing middle age, had given birth to seven or eight children, and bore the weight of illness that made me appear older than my parents. Meanwhile, they had risen from the middle class to the upper class, and even Lily, who had little talent, had opened a small gallery and had a caring wealthy boyfriend. Everyone around me seemed to have a bright future and dignity—except for me. I pointed at Lily and revealed the truth to everyone, telling them how I had ended up in this situation, but years of harsh captivity had left me stammering and incoherent. No one believed me, or perhaps no one wanted to help. My parents continued to believe Lily’s story: that I had gone off travelling without being cautious and had been kidnapped. They thought I was now mentally unstable, which was why I was accusing her. A few days later, they decided to send me back to my childhood home. During holidays, they would only see me briefly, and I could only receive treatment for my illnesses at poorly equipped small hospitals. In the end, my parents tragically died in a car accident. I had no money for medical care. As my health deteriorated, Lily finally appeared before me. Lily, carrying the latest luxury handbag, had brought along the very family that had abducted me and the seven children I had given birth to. She urged me to go along with their ways, to love and be loved by them. Finally, she gleefully confessed, “Mum and Dad are proud of your business talent. They’ve only built their fortune using the resources you left behind. If they knew I was the reason you were captured, they would hate me forever. So, when I escaped, I knew I had to keep them from knowing the truth.” “But I never imagined you would be so clever as to return and expose my lies. Even though no one believes you, just thinking of my fiancé knowing I have a filthy sister like you makes me sick. According to the law, if Mum and Dad unexpectedly die, a portion of the inheritance would go to you! How dare you pollute my life so casually!” As she spoke, she forced my weak hand to sign a waiver of inheritance rights before driving away in her flashy car. I collapsed to the ground, wracked by pain and hatred, crying until my tears ran dry. Little did I expect that when I opened my eyes, I found myself back on the day Lily had insisted on going for her outdoor painting trip. “I don’t care, I don’t care! I’m going! I have a feeling I’ll find a lot of artistic and life opportunities there!” Lily was still begging me. I snapped back to reality and asked with a semblance of a smile, “Really? Are you so sure?” Lily nodded, pulling out her phone to show me a strong male photographer’s profile, who had taken a stunning set of photos in the Peak District a few years back. He claimed the locals were very friendly, living a simple life far from modern society. Simple? I couldn’t help but snicker internally; it was likely just a façade of “simplicity” for strong men. Lily persisted, urging me to agree. “Just let me go! I have a feeling if I don’t go, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life!” I frowned at her words. “But I really can’t trust you to go alone.” Lily’s eyes sparkled with delight as she realized she had a chance. “You’re just worried you want to come with me…” I interrupted her, “Mum and Dad’s company has something going on today; I can’t go with you, but I can call a few of your friends from college. You’re all studying art; it would be safer for you to go together.” Over the years, I had seen through Lily’s jealousy; it was easy to push her toward despair. Sure enough, Lily’s expression changed, her voice rising, “I don’t want to! I didn’t go out with them during the last training, and their grades are better than mine; they must have laughed at me! I’ve finally found a place they haven’t been to; if I take them, I won’t stand a chance next time!” At that point, Lily’s determination was unwavering: “If you won’t go with me, I’ll go alone! The photographer said the locals are friendly, and if anything happens, I can ask for help. Just don’t tell my friends where I’m going! I won’t forgive you if you do!” With that, Lily ran out the door with her easel, pretending to be afraid I would stop her. I stared at the closed door, feeling defeated, and slumped to the floor, taking some time to collect myself. I didn’t linger at home; instead, I put on my coat and took a taxi to my parents’ small business, which was still in its early stages. My father, not yet old and never one to show disappointment in me, smiled widely upon seeing me and invited me to sit in his office chair. “Just in time! Help me strategise; is this project worth pursuing?” My hands tightened, my fingertips digging into my skin. Sometimes, I had to admit a harsh truth: they didn’t love me as much as they loved Lily and her friends. Their affection stemmed from my talent for business and the connections I brought to the family company. If they truly loved me, I would at least have the freedom to have my own interests, like Lily, even without talent or excellent grades. “Penny for your thoughts?” Dad nudged me. “Have a look at this.” I glanced down at the tender document in my hands, nodding after a quick scan. “This is a blue-ocean project; I discussed it with a few of my university friends, and they say it has great potential. You mustn’t miss this one, Dad!” In my previous life, he had missed this opportunity, and years later, I returned to find him lamenting the loss. Mum, reviewing the accounts, looked up at me with satisfaction, and I smiled back. I had no intention of letting Lily get away with things, nor did I want them to be happy. I needed this company to pave the way for my future. Dad rushed out to instruct the team to get started, and I followed, giving them some useful direction. When I returned to my office, Mum came over with a smile and peeled a lychee for me. Just as she offered it to me, she suddenly asked, “Where’s Lily? Is she still lazing around painting at home?” I shrugged. “I took a nap, and when I woke up, I was the only one at home. I don’t know where she went.” Mum didn’t doubt my words, but her worry prompted her to reach for her phone to call Lily. However, Lily quickly hung up, refusing to answer. Perhaps she was afraid I would tell our parents, who were trying to bring her home. After a few more failed attempts to contact her, Mum sighed and sent a concerned text before shaking her head, saying, “I was going to ask her to come home early for dinner. Let her be; she probably won’t achieve anything, and it’ll be another outdoor painting trip to the mountains where she’ll just get eaten by mosquitoes.” I nodded in agreement with her assessment. Mum continued, “Later, I’m off to a spa with some friends, and your dad has a social engagement. Can you manage to eat something?” I didn’t care about the double standards; I just smiled at her. “Sounds good, Mum.” That night, I sat alone at home, unboxing a beautifully crafted cake I had bought, complete with a candle on top. I clasped my hands together, and after a few seconds, I blew out the candle. I didn’t wish for anything; I was simply grateful for this second chance at life. As I cut a slice of cake, the sweet flavour danced on my tongue. Just then, I heard wedding celebrations in the neighbourhood, and the sound of firecrackers seemed to cheer my new beginning. Having finished the cake, I checked the time and finally picked up my phone to call Lily, only to hear the message that her phone was switched off. I persisted, trying a few more times, while simultaneously dressing and calling my parents who were busy with their engagements, but to no avail; no one answered. Half an hour later, dressed and anxious, I stood on the street, waiting for Lily’s return. All the neighbours in the area witnessed my efforts.

Lily’s disappearance nearly drove Mum to the edge. At first, she thought Lily was just being wilful and would return in a couple of days. But after half a month, she could no longer deceive herself. I approached Mum, gently patting her shoulder in comfort. “Mum, don’t be too upset. Dad and I have already contacted the police; if there’s news, they’ll let us know.” Although I said this, with society as it was, finding a girl who voluntarily ran off to a remote place would be no easy task. Dad chimed in, “Exactly. Don’t worry too much; Lily usually takes off with some cash for a few days. She’ll probably be back before we know it. Don’t stress out, Summer; you’ve been working hard too. Don’t let her worry about her sister and the company.” Mum pushed me away, pointing a finger at me. “Tell me the truth. Did you two have a fight that day? If she hadn’t argued with you, why would she disappear for so long?” Disappointment washed over me. “Mum, how could you think that? If my sister and I had fought and she had run off in a panic, I would have told you! I love her just as much as you do!” Mum ignored my protests, her hands trembling as she did her nails. “If you loved her, you wouldn’t have let her disappear! Useless. You two don’t care about Lily! She’s only just in her third year at uni and hasn’t experienced the harshness of the world. What if a bad man tricks her?” I stood frozen, remembering how in my previous life, Lily mimicked my mother’s attitude when I had gone missing. Back then, Mum had said, “Summer’s too clever for anything to happen. Maybe she’s off with a boyfriend; your dad’s just worrying for nothing.” “To be honest, aren’t you more concerned about the company’s operations? Lily, don’t follow your dad’s worried face; you’ve both lost weight.” Heh. In the dead of night, I got up to get some water and noticed the study door was still ajar. I stood at a distance, quietly listening to their conversation. “Darling, I have to be honest with you. They’re both different to me. When I had Summer, I was forced by your mum, while with Lily, we were doing well, and I wanted to raise her like a delicate flower.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “294656”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #重生Reborn #校园School #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic

On my wedding day with Zack Wilson, his “best friend” Mia appeared before me with a huge pregnant belly. She looked at me with tears streaming down her face: “Olivia, you already have everything. Can you please let Zack go? I… I’m already carrying his child…” I ripped off my veil and threw it to the ground, my demeanor full of contempt. Turning around, I saw the panic in Zack’s eyes. I thought to myself, he must have remembered our agreement – If anything went wrong with this wedding, all his assets would become mine. Zack and I had known each other for five years, from campus to the wedding dress. Countless people envied our love. We were a perfect match – from similar backgrounds, both talented and good-looking, a match made in heaven… I had heard such praise countless times, but I never took it to heart. Because I knew Zack had someone else in his heart. He and Mia had known each other for ten years, five years longer than me. Strangely, he and Mia always referred to each other as “bros”, as if their relationship was so pure it hadn’t been tainted by a hint of romance. Later, they were admitted to the same university and the same major. But for some reason, in his freshman year, Zack pursued me – someone from a different department. At that time, I still had some fantasies about campus romance. Zack was handsome, good-tempered, and polite. So, in the second month of his pursuit, I agreed to date him. After a blissful week together, I noticed there was someone very odd around him. Mia – a girl with an ordinary pretty face and short hair. On one hand, she called me “sister-in-law”, but on the other hand, she would drape her arm around Zack’s shoulders and say, “You’re amazing! You found such a beautiful girlfriend so quickly. Do you have any secret techniques you can teach me?” Mia was a head shorter than Zack, so when she put her arm around his shoulders, her mouth naturally came close to his ear. They were so close they could feel each other’s breath. It was extremely intimate, but Zack seemed completely used to it and didn’t mind at all. The first time I saw it, there was naturally a second and third time. I couldn’t understand why Zack still had such an intimate female friend after getting a girlfriend. At first, I thought I was overthinking it and brought it up with him privately a few times. To my surprise, Zack’s answer left me speechless. “Mia and I have been best friends for five or six years. We’ve always been like this. I can’t distance myself from her just because I have a girlfriend now. That would be an insult to our pure friendship!” I also talked to Mia about it. Her response made me think she was an idiot. “What are you talking about? Zack and I have been best friends for so many years. How did that turn into some sappy romance in your mind? Romance is only suitable for Zack to have with girls like you!” Mia hesitated a bit at the end. It seemed difficult for her to call someone taller than her, with a more mature face and a womanly figure, a “girl”. Fine, if that’s your pure friendship, I won’t get involved. I quickly broke up with Zack.

I originally thought we could part ways amicably and hopefully never see each other again. Who knew this jerk Zack wouldn’t agree to break up? “Are you out of your mind? I’ve said break up, break up, break up. Why do you still come to my classroom building to wait for me every day?!” “Ha! It’s one thing if you came alone,” I pointed at Mia and voiced my deepest confusion, “but why did you bring your so-called best friend? Are you brainless? Can’t you think for yourself and need her to give you advice on everything?” My outburst showed how angry I was. Zack pretended to be an honest guy and scratched his head. “I, I thought since you’re both girls, she might understand your emotions better, so I…” Mia chimed in from behind him: “That’s right, please don’t misunderstand him…” “Get lost!” I was in the middle of a PE class at the time. In the heat of the moment, I hurled the basketball I was holding hard at Zack. Fate is the most magical thing in this world, and ill fate is no exception. When my parents took me to apologize to Zack, what a coincidence, the two families actually knew each other. “Oh! Is this Olivia? You’ve grown so big! When you were just a tiny little thing, I held you in my arms. Do you remember Uncle Wilson?” It turned out my dad and Zack’s dad had been best friends since college. If the Wilson family hadn’t gone overseas to start their business, Zack and I might have gotten together even earlier! But my mom’s expression when looking at Mr. Wilson was a bit strange. She hid behind my dad’s back, unusually silent. My foolish dad didn’t notice anything amiss. After some polite chitchat, Zack and my relationship quickly became known to both families. “Olivia, my son is just awkward and doesn’t know how to treat his girlfriend well. If he does anything to upset you, feel free to teach him a lesson.” “Here,” Mr. Wilson flicked Zack’s injured forehead, “That’s what he deserves. Let him learn his lesson. But -” His tone changed, “Don’t miss out on your perfect match over some unworthy people!” I stood in the hospital room filled with the strong smell of disinfectant, staring at Zack who was smiling foolishly at me with annoyance. Was I blind before? How could I have thought this guy looked decent? He looks just like his dad! I looked at Mr. Wilson again. Handsome, gentle and refined, polite… but his gaze – Was staring at my mom like a venomous snake! That night, I went to my mom’s room to find her. She was sitting in her huge luxurious bedroom, silently crying while looking at the moon. “Mom, what’s wrong? You didn’t say a word during dinner. That’s not like you at all.” My dad had gone out for a business dinner again. Now in this mansion, I was the only one who could have a heart-to-heart talk with mom. “It’s nothing,” Mom wiped away her tears and smiled at me, “I just remembered some sad things from the past. Don’t worry about me. Go to bed early, don’t you have an 8 am class tomorrow?” I took Mom’s hand and said gently, “Mom, I saw everything today. Mr. Wilson -” Mom’s whole body trembled and she immediately interrupted me: “No, don’t say it!!!” Later, I only left after watching Mom fall asleep.

Zack and I got back together, under the strangely enthusiastic matchmaking of his father. I don’t know if his dad said something to him, but Mia started appearing around us less and less frequently. Valentine’s Day came, and Zack ordered a big bouquet of roses for me. “Thank you!” I leaned into Zack’s arms with a shy expression, then gently kissed his cheek. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mia staring at us wistfully. Tears were streaming down her pretty face. Huh, was she crying while watching us from afar? My gaze fell on the roses in my hand again. I had told Zack before that I didn’t like roses. So who liked roses and suggested buying them? “Olivia, I bought two movie tickets. It’s the latest sci-fi blockbuster. Want to go see it?” I lowered my head submissively and said softly, “Sure, you can plan this date however you like.” Zack hugged me and spun me around happily, grinning like an idiot. “Olivia, you’re the best!” I looked towards where Mia had been standing earlier. She had left with red eyes. In the dim cinema, Zack went to buy popcorn and I left the flowers at the front desk. Turning around, I ran into Mia at the corner. Huh, unexpected, yet not surprising. She was with a group of guys who usually hung out with Zack. “Is this Zack’s girlfriend? She’s gorgeous, like a goddess!” The group stood across from me, teasing and catcalling. Mia coolly blew her bangs out of her face. “Are you and Zack here to watch a movie too? Which showing are you seeing?” Just then, Zack came back. What a coincidence – the two groups had tickets for the same showing, with seats right next to each other. Mia casually took the popcorn from Zack’s hands and distributed it to the other guys. “Share some popcorn with us~ The movie’s about to start and we don’t have time to buy any.” With that, the group went into the theater laughing and joking. Zack held the only remaining box of popcorn, looking at me cautiously. “Why are you looking at me like that, Zack? Let’s go in, the movie’s about to start.” I took his hand and walked in. The dim lighting hid my eye roll.

Whether intentional or coincidental, Mia’s seat was right next to Zack’s. Mia smiled and held the popcorn, “Hehe, we can all go get dinner together after the movie.” I stared blankly ahead, not wanting to engage with her. Maybe this was the type of movie they usually liked to watch together. Towards the end, Zack was huddled with that group whispering and discussing. As for me, I was yawning from boredom. Seeing them chatting happily, I decided to take a little nap. Who knew that when I opened my eyes again, even the end credits had finished playing. Our group walked out, with Mia enthusiastically discussing the plot with Zack. The two of them got more and more engrossed in their conversation, and soon they were walking far ahead of us. Leaving me to awkwardly stare at Zack’s group of friends behind us. Maybe my silence made them think I was upset. Some tried to tell jokes to cheer me up, others bought me bubble tea and snacks. “Don’t take it personally, Olivia. Mia and Zack have known each other for so long that they have similar interests and hobbies. When they start talking, they can go on for hours. None of us dare to interrupt.” I replied kindly and understandingly: “I know, they’re close childhood friends after all.” It took Zack half an hour to realize he had left me alone with his group of friends. He quickly ran back and sincerely apologized to me. “Olivia, I’m so sorry, I -” I waved my hand, cutting off his excuses. “It’s fine, it’s fine. You and Mia probably haven’t seen each other in a while, right? Taking some time to chat is no big deal. I’m not that petty.” I handed the snacks and bubble tea back to his friends and intimately linked my arm with Zack’s. “Zack, I’m hungry. Let’s go eat!” I swear, I had never used such a coquettish voice to talk to anyone in my life. Of course, the effect was excellent! Zack’s face turned bright red. His group of friends were quite lively, with one witty comment after another, all teasing us. Only Mia stood to the side clenching her fists, her eyes slightly red, without saying a word. A stark contrast to her talkative and lively demeanor earlier.

In the private room, I only knew Zack well. But Mia kept getting the group to toast Zack and make him drink. Some of the guys seemed to feel guilty, glancing in my direction when they toasted. I understood. It seemed Mia had asked them to get Zack drunk. Still, she did have some skills. So many people were willing to listen to her. Well, they had all known each other for much longer than they’d known me. After drinking too much, Zack suddenly hugged me and started kissing me sloppily. “Olivia, Olivia, you’re so beautiful. I like you so much.” I smiled and used my palm to block his alcohol-laden lips. “My dad really likes you too. He said I must marry you.” I laughed coldly to myself. What sweet dreams that old man Wilson was having. Zack tried to pucker up and kiss me again, but Mia suddenly came forward and pulled him away. “Zack, stop it. Olivia doesn’t want you to kiss her.” I don’t know how Mia managed it, but somehow Zack’s lips ended up planted on her mouth instead. She made a big show of pushing Zack away. He fell back into his chair, and the cold water on the table splashed all over his head. With a loud splash, he sobered up halfway. Mia’s eyes welled up with tears that threatened to fall. She looked at me, then locked eyes with the confused Zack for a long moment. Then she ran out of the room like the wind. Zack touched his lips, then chased after Mia in a panic, as if he was riding on wheels. “Haha! Don’t take offense…” His group of friends continued to play the role of peacemakers. I sincerely responded to their awkward toe-curling expressions. “How could I blame Zack? It was all an accident.” After I said this, I felt everyone’s gazes on me were full of shock. They were probably surprised that I loved Zack so much I’d even give up my dignity. Oh no, they might also think I was crazy. We ended up sitting in the room waiting for an hour before Zack finally brought back a tear-stained, messy Mia. They must have gotten enough of the cold air outside, as they both seemed quite calm and even maintained some distance, walking in one after the other. “Zack, you’re back. Let’s go home!” I didn’t care at all whether anything had happened between the two of them. I only knew it was dark and time to go home to sleep. The group of friends saw the two return and hurriedly said goodbye. I guess they couldn’t stand the atmosphere either. I called a taxi and invited Zack to ride with me. Yes, our two families lived in the same direction, not far apart. Zack looked at me, then hesitated and looked at Mia. Then, as if making some big decision, he called out to Mia: “Mia, don’t take what happened today to heart. It was all my fault for drinking too much. In the future! We’ll still be best friends!” I got into the taxi first and rolled my eyes without holding back. Did the alcohol go to his brain? Before Zack got in, I quickly composed myself and put on a gentle expression. “It’s okay, it’s okay. Don’t worry Zack, I called a taxi for Mia too~”

After that incident, things suddenly became awkward between Zack and Mia. Although Zack accompanied me to class, he always seemed lost in thought, his eyes unfocused, often wearing a conflicted expression. While I was seriously taking notes in class, I spared some attention to observe him. I wonder what he was agonizing over. Did he trade all his intelligence for good looks? Under the double attack from me and Mia, Zack was under tremendous pressure and ended up losing a lot of weight. Oh my! It really “broke my heart”~ So I took him to eat at the cafeteria every day to replenish his nutrition. I passed him eggs, beef, chicken breast. All while wearing a concerned expression. “Zack, are you too tired from accompanying me to class lately? You’ve lost so much weight. Eat more, otherwise it breaks my heart to see you like this.” He smiled at me wearily and fondly pinched my fair, jade-like cheek. “Olivia, you’re so good to me!” I immediately gave him a shy expression in return. I became increasingly good to Zack and clung to him more and more. He also became more and more dependent on me. But for some reason, he always seemed to have Mia on his mind. After I had monopolized Zack’s time for a while, Mia finally couldn’t stand it anymore and came to find us. Our duo cleverly became a trio. For every major class, I brought two “bodyguards”, and even the professors frequently glanced in our direction. One time when the three of us were shopping at the mall, we ran into Zack’s dad. Mr. Wilson was dressed in a suit, tall and handsome, the picture of elegance. “Oh, it’s Olivia! Out shopping with Zack? See anything you like? Uncle Wilson will buy it for you.” Then, as if he had just noticed Mia, he said, “Why did you bring someone else along on your date? How can you two enjoy yourselves like this?” Mia stood next to Zack, nervously fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. “Uncle Wilson, I… I’m…” I stepped forward, closer to Mr. Wilson. “What can we do? The girl has a crush on Zack and insists on following us. At least after Zack and I break up, she can take over, so Zack won’t be too lonely.” After I said this, all three of them stared at me in shock. Mr. Wilson’s tone became anxious and uneasy. “What? Olivia, you want to break up with that idiot Zack?” Zack couldn’t believe it. “Olivia, don’t you love me the most? You, you actually thought about breaking up?!” Mia was shocked, her cheeks flushing red with embarrassment. “Olivia Tanner, what nonsense are you spouting… what do you mean ‘take over’? Who are you insulting?” Mia pointed at me, looking like I had bullied her terribly. Mr. Wilson raised his hand to slap her. “Who are you pointing at?!” Zack rushed over to save Mia from his father’s hand. “Dad! What are you doing hitting people?” “Is it because of her? Huh?! I’m asking you, is it because of her? Olivia is such a wonderful girl and you don’t appreciate her, insisting on being with this kind of woman instead.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “294672”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #重生Reborn #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #浪漫Romance #玄幻Fantsy

I’ve become the antagonist in this story, but I’ve stopped trying. The reason? The novels in this world are just too good. After being transported into this classic CEO romance novel, I became addicted to reading and couldn’t stop. I never bothered the main couple again. But after I gave up, everyone else seemed to follow suit. The passionate CEO and the innocent girl only talked about sex, not love. The evil mother-in-law decided to mind her own business and went on a shopping spree around the world… Even the devoted second male lead became a big shot and got married young. And guess what? I’m his wife. Oh boy, the plot has completely fallen apart. When I arrived in this world, the future CEO Jasper Sinclair, in his early twenties, had just started to fall for the stubborn and pure-hearted Dahlia Frost. He was constantly trying to impress her. My first scene as the antagonist, Seren Thorne, was supposed to be confronting Dahlia, looking down on her and taunting, “You have nothing to offer. You’re not good enough for Jasper. Stay away from him in the future…” This was meant to trigger Dahlia’s rebellious nature, pushing her and Jasper together. But now that I, Seren Thorne from the real world, was in this body, I couldn’t bring myself to taunt anyone! To hell with the original plot! “Seren, when are we going to confront Dahlia and warn her to stay away from Jasper?” one of my sidekicks asked. Ah, the classic brainless followers of the antagonist had appeared. “Confront her for what? If Jasper likes her, how is that her fault?” I rolled my eyes and retorted. My two sidekicks were stunned. One of them asked, “Seren, don’t you like Jasper? How can you stand this?” “Who said I liked him?” Hearing my question, they looked even more confused. After all, I had been revolving around Jasper my entire life. “My parents are always traveling, and my sister is so domineering. I just wanted to find a brother figure who could spoil me. How does that count as liking him?” That’s right, Seren Thorne was just a self-centered young lady. I wasn’t going to break character. “But… aren’t we going to do anything about Jasper pursuing Dahlia?” the other sidekick hesitated before asking. “Do what? Should I write him a love letter and buy roses to help him chase her?” I said sarcastically. “Pfft.” A stifled laugh came from behind us. “Who’s eavesdropping? Come out!” I was startled. A tall, handsome young man stepped out from behind a large willow tree. His skin was fair, with defined brows and bright eyes. Despite his striking features, his demeanor was gentle and non-threatening, creating an intriguing contrast. Callum Reeves? The legendary second male lead who was supposed to be constantly at odds with me and in love with Dahlia? I had always preferred the gentle, refined type of male characters, whether before or after being transported into this novel. Callum was the epitome of this type. Now that he was standing under the tree, he looked like a perfect 2D character come to life. The sunlight filtering through the branches cast a dappled pattern on him. He only needed to stand there silently to outshine everything around him. My heart involuntarily began to beat faster. “Miss Thorne, I wasn’t eavesdropping,” he said with a slight smile. “I’ve been here since early morning. You’re the ones who came later.” “I’m sorry, we didn’t mean to disturb you,” I apologized reflexively. As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt the atmosphere freeze. Looking around, I saw their surprised expressions and felt dumbfounded. Oh, my misplaced politeness. It seemed that I hadn’t fully adjusted to this arrogant young lady’s identity yet, causing my character to crumble so unexpectedly. Feeling my face heat up, I quickly excused myself and dragged my two sidekicks away from this awkward situation. In my haste to leave, I completely missed the intrigued look in Callum’s eyes as his smile faded.

The entertainment industry in this world was highly developed, with web novels flourishing in particular. There were all kinds of genres, including mature content. Many well-written stories had excellent character development and plot twists that kept me hooked. As an avid reader arriving in this world, I felt like a mouse that had fallen into a rice bin. I had money, free time, and even a housekeeper to take care of me. My parents were always traveling, and my sister lived near her company. As for me, I was unsupervised. Whenever I didn’t have classes, I would rush home, sprawl on my bed, and stay up all night following various authors’ works. Especially “Thousand Mountains” on the Storylove platform. In an era dominated by exaggerated styles, she upheld the banner of traditional romance novels. Her character development, plot progression, sweet moments, and heart-wrenching scenes had me constantly oscillating between feeling giddy with happiness and crying my eyes out. I became her die-hard fan, not only showering her with all the virtual gifts I could afford, quickly becoming her top supporter, but also breaking my usual habit of only focusing on the text itself—I joined her fan group and chatted enthusiastically there. After staying up late for a long period, immersing myself in the online world, I looked quite haggard when I finally returned to reality. It was Jasper who dragged me out to drink with him. “You refuse to see me and end up looking like this. She’s been avoiding me more and more these days,” he said, downing glass after glass of alcohol in confusion. “What are you girls thinking? I really can’t understand either of you.” It seemed that without me, the villainess, stirring up trouble, Jasper and Dahlia’s relationship had become quite rocky. It had been two months, hadn’t it? They still hadn’t officially become a couple. Thinking back to the original story, they were supposed to be madly in love after about a month, envied by everyone around them. “Stop, stop, stop, Jasper. I really only see you as a brother. I didn’t end up looking like this because you’re having relationship troubles,” I said. I didn’t want to drink, so I poured myself a soft drink instead. “I just found your dating situation interesting, and after hearing some classmates discuss the plot, I went to read some web novels. Who knew I’d get so hooked that I couldn’t climb out of that hole?” “I stayed up late for a long time reading, so I look a bit haggard. It really has nothing to do with you two.” “As for what Dahlia is thinking, I really don’t know, but I wholeheartedly support you two dating.” My stance on not interfering with the main couple’s love story had to remain firm. As the official couple, they would surely end up together, so there was no need for me to be the villain. “What dating? It’s been so long, and no matter what I do, she still won’t accept me,” he said, becoming more dejected as he spoke, continuing to drink glass after glass. His words became fragmented, with only Dahlia’s name occasionally being clear. I wasn’t sure what their current issue was, and I didn’t dare to speak carelessly. I just sat quietly beside him, keeping him company. He was the only son of the Sinclair family, and he had genuinely treated my original self like a sister for so many years. I couldn’t just abandon him at a time like this. His phone rang, flashing Dahlia’s name. “What? Dahlia has a high fever and is in the hospital? I’ll be right there.” Seeing that he wasn’t very sober, I took his phone, asked for the location, and then drove him there. The call hadn’t been hung up, and I could faintly hear Dahlia repeatedly calling Jasper’s name. The comforting voice coming from the phone was clear and low—it must have been Callum. Jasper, sitting in the passenger seat, was quite drunk and kept calling Dahlia’s name. It was ridiculous. They were just one with a fever and one drunk, yet they were acting like star-crossed lovers, like Romeo and Juliet torn apart. They truly lived up to their roles as the protagonists of a passionate CEO romance novel. After sending him into the hospital room, watching them calm down as soon as they embraced each other, Callum and I looked at each other awkwardly, the uncomfortable atmosphere continuing to build. We barely knew each other, yet neither of us could leave at a time like this. We were literally two third wheels, helping to build up someone else’s love story. He poured a glass of water and handed it to me, nodding slightly as he introduced himself in a low voice, “Callum Reeves.” I took the water, smiled at him, and replied, “Seren Thorne.” This could be considered our formal introduction. He returned my smile before walking to the hospital bed, wringing out a towel to wipe Dahlia’s face. His expression was very calm, and he didn’t seem to mind Jasper’s status as a love rival, taking care of him just as attentively. The bedside lamp cast a soft halo of light around him. That calm and serious expression kept drawing my gaze to him. I said I would stay to help take care of them, but in the end, I just assisted him a bit. Later on, I couldn’t stay awake and fell asleep on the hospital table. When I woke up, I found a thin blanket draped over me. I have to say, Callum really knows how to take care of people. Whether it’s his words or actions, he’s always gentle and appropriate, truly deserving of the title “gentleman.” I couldn’t help but wonder, with such a childhood friend by her side, how could Dahlia fall for the domineering and moody Jasper?

After that night, Jasper and Dahlia officially got together. Their relationship caused quite a stir in our elite university. After all, it was like a Cinderella story come to life, naturally attracting attention. However, I, who originally had quite a significant role in their love story, completely gave up. I never actively approached them anymore. Because those two were synonymous with trouble. Unexpectedly though, Callum and I became closer. Because there were many conflicts between Jasper and Dahlia, but they always reconciled in a strange way, I found it quite astonishing. Sharing my thoughts with Callum, who had a similar position in this relationship, became a rare pleasure. Moreover, Callum was about to graduate, had extensive knowledge of various web novels, had contact with many authors, and was even starting his own web novel publishing company. This gave us even more topics to discuss. I had subtly asked him about “Thousand Mountains” several times, but each time he just smiled without saying anything and changed the subject. I had no choice but to give up. From any perspective, getting along with Callum was an extremely relaxing thing. He had high emotional intelligence and was always gentle and polite, almost never letting my words fall flat. How could there be such a gentle person in this world! My days passed leisurely between attending classes, reading novels, and chatting with Callum. But these beautiful days didn’t last long. Suddenly one day, my parents who had been traveling around the world and my sister who had been so busy at work that she was barely visible, all appeared at home, giving me a big shock when I entered the door. “Dad, Mom, Sis,” I complained, “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back?” “You little brat, do we need to report to you when we come home?” My mom, who was still charming despite being in her fifties, rolled her eyes at me. I went over and hugged her arm, swaying it gently as I called her “Mom” in a sweet voice, but she immediately pushed me away. “Don’t try that with me.” “Seren,” my always serious father spoke up, and I immediately became serious too. “It’s been a few months now, have you figured out your true feelings for Jasper?” When Jasper was pursuing Dahlia, I had shut myself away for two months reading novels, and my haggard appearance had scared them terribly. Fortunately, I later adjusted my schedule and returned to a normal appearance, which finally convinced them that I had just found a new hobby, rather than being lovesick over a boy. “I’ve figured it out, Dad,” I replied seriously. “I’m very sure that I only see him as a brother, with no romantic feelings. We should cancel that engagement.” That’s right, Jasper and I had a childhood engagement. Although we had only exchanged tokens, we had both acknowledged it. Now that we felt it wasn’t suitable, we needed to meet with both families face-to-face to dissolve it. Jasper was never a detail-oriented person. Even though he was already in a relationship, this hidden danger still needed me to take the initiative to eliminate. My sister, Celeste, came to my side and stroked my head, “No matter what choice you make, we will always be your strongest support.” The tip of my nose tingled a bit. Before my transmigration, my parents had died early, and for so many years, I had been drifting alone, even unfortunately dying suddenly at my advertising copywriting workstation. I had never had this feeling of having someone to back me up. Now that I had suddenly transmigrated and gained it from them, I naturally couldn’t be as reckless as the original owner. The original Seren had constantly brushed against the law for the sake of so-called love, eventually dying in a foreign land, causing a good family to fall apart. The two families set the time for this Saturday evening. After saying goodnight to my family, I returned to my room. I opened my phone and saw that Thousand Mountains had updated. In addition to the consistently updated angst novel “Eastern Mountains and Rivers,” her recently started randomly updated “Falling into the Trap” was surprisingly sweet. The fan group was all guessing that the author had started dating in real life. Because she had never written two books at the same time before, and they were all set to update at fixed times. This time there was such a big exception, it must be because she had met someone she really liked. Ah! After reading her update and sending some virtual gifts, I hugged my pillow and rolled around on the bed a couple of times. I also want to have a sweet love like Thousand Mountains. After silently indulging in my fantasy, I lay on the bed ready to sleep. Somehow, Callum’s face, always wearing that gentle smile, appeared before my eyes. I suddenly woke up, sitting bolt upright, and started to question my life. Oh no, could it be that I’ve talked to him so much that I’ve actually fallen for him?

Time flew by, and soon it was Saturday evening. My family and Jasper’s had always been close friends. Although they were a bit regretful about not becoming in-laws, they still politely annulled the engagement. After all, you can’t force these things. However, after everything was settled, Jasper’s mother’s face visibly darkened. But this anger was clearly directed at Jasper, not really related to me. Alright, no matter what, from now on I was completely out of their tumultuous love story. The anxiety that had been buried in my heart since I arrived in this world finally dissipated. I was no longer the villainess in someone else’s love story, but myself—Seren Thorne. They were still inside exchanging pleasantries, so I excused myself to use the bathroom and went out for some air. I hadn’t been standing by the window for long when Jasper also came out, standing beside me and lighting a cigarette. The smoke swirled, blurring his expression. “I should thank you this time,” he spoke first. “If I had brought it up, and my family found out about Dahlia, it probably would have turned into a huge mess.” “No need to thank me,” I replied, “I’m doing this for myself too.” Seeing the questioning look on his face, I added, “I think I like someone too.” He raised an eyebrow and smiled, “The little girl has grown up. Do I know this person?” I felt a bit embarrassed by his question, “Oh come on, I don’t even know if he likes me yet!” “When I actually catch him, you’ll know.” “If you like someone, you should chase them quickly. Otherwise, you might miss your chance forever,” he said, ruffling my hair and smiling, “I’ll be waiting for your good news.” I nodded. After all, Jasper was a childhood friend who had grown up with me like a brother. Without the major conflict of drugging and kidnapping Dahlia from the original plot, he still retained that affection for me as a sister. “Let’s go back, or they’ll start to worry,” he said. Feeling that enough time had passed, I followed him back to the private room. Just before I entered, I thought I caught a glimpse of Callum’s profile. Was he here today too? I was puzzled for a moment before pushing the thought to the back of my mind. His publishing company had just started, so he probably had a lot of social engagements. It wasn’t strange for him to be here. The dinner finally ended, and having accomplished something big, I didn’t want to do anything when I got home. After washing up, I just sprawled on the bed reading novels. “Eastern Mountains and Rivers” updated punctually at 7 PM. I hadn’t had a chance to read today’s new content yet, but it seemed like it was approaching the end. In just 3000 words, it made my heart ache. After sending the usual virtual gifts, I quickly went to read “Falling into the Trap” to soothe my emotions. Who knew that after I reread the previous chapters, a random update suddenly dropped. I excitedly continued reading, but ended up feeling sour to my teeth. What’s going on? Although it wasn’t abrupt, the style had changed drastically. I quickly ran to the fan group to check, and found everyone “hahahahaha”-ing. I couldn’t help but laugh too. They were all as sour as I was. “Wah, who exactly is this person?” “So sour, so sour. I can smell the vinegar from the author all the way from overseas!” “I’m envious. The author is really putting her heart into it.” “What should we do? The author has finally tasted the bitterness of love, but I just want to laugh hahaha…” “I advise that person to be sensible and come out to explain clearly. Don’t let the author keep feeding us vinegar!” “Give us back our sweet author!” I also followed the trend and posted. Just then, Callum sent me a message.

“Are you asleep?” he asked. “Not yet,” I replied. “I saw someone who looked a lot like you at Ming Fu Restaurant tonight.” “That was probably me. I was there tonight too.” “I see.” I stared at that “I see,” not knowing how to respond for a moment. Did he want to chat with me or not? He must want to, right? But I couldn’t guess what he wanted to say to me. So I sent a cute emoji and didn’t say anything more. After switching back to the fan group chat, I continued to chat with them, joining in their dramatic pleas for the author to update more, although it usually never worked. I had just typed a few messages when an account named “Thousand Mountains” popped up. The group instantly exploded, and I quickly took a screenshot for posterity. After the group calmed down a bit, Thousand Mountains posted a question: What should I do if the person I like seems to still have feelings for their childhood friend who’s now in a relationship? “Ah! Is this why your update today was so sour?” “Although it’s not very nice, I really can’t help laughing.” “Now it’s your turn!” In other types of novels, being extremely objective and calm in narration might be a good thing, but in traditional romance novels, it inevitably made the author seem a bit cold and detached. Thousand Mountains had always positioned herself as an outsider, analyzing this world in her writing. Since her debut a few years ago, she had always maintained that composed demeanor. But recently, she suddenly seemed to have become a bit love-struck, with a drastic change in style. The fan group had been speculating that she had tasted the bitterness of love, suddenly being pulled into the mortal world. Today’s question seemed to confirm these rumors. “Have you confessed?” someone asked. “No,” Thousand Mountains replied quickly. “Why don’t you confess first?” I chimed in.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “294689”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #重生Reborn #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #浪漫Romance #玄幻Fantsy #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic #校园School #擦边Steamy