Category: English

At the age of 18, I rushed into a burning building to save Jack from a raging fire. As a result, I became disabled from the waist down. In a dilapidated rented apartment, he proposed to me with a plastic ring from a soda can. “Emily, I only want to marry you in this life.” After we got married, he became known as the “internet’s most romantic artist” for sketching a portrait of his “disabled wife”. His fame skyrocketed, and his artwork sold for thousands of dollars. But ten years into our marriage, I discovered a portrait of his first love in his study. He looked at me coldly as I broke down: “If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t be living such a good life.” “Besides, you have no self-respect. You let yourself be tricked by a plastic ring. You’re so worthless, how can you compare to Sophia?” Later, I fulfilled his wish and let him be with Sophia. But Jack broke down, clutching my wheelchair and sobbing: “Emily, don’t leave me. Didn’t we promise to be together forever?” 0 Last night, my husband got drunk and fell asleep in his study. When I went in to clean up this morning, I found a stack of sketches. It was a thick pile, some old and some new. The one on top even had tear stains on it. I recognized the woman in the photo. It was Sophia, his unattainable princess from years ago. I held back my tears, trying hard to tell myself not to overthink and to trust Jack. But the small line of text beneath the portrait shattered my last delusion. “My wife, Sophia.” There had been signs all along. In recent years, Jack had been coming home later and later, often smelling of unfamiliar perfume. Except for Jack’s fans who believed he “doted on his wife”, everyone around us knew the truth. Jack had long lost any feelings for me. In his heart, there was only room for his unattainable first love. I stared at those words, tears silently falling. Where did that leave me? What was I to him? It was late at night when Jack finally came home. As soon as he walked in, he pointed his camera at me sitting in my wheelchair, looking disheveled. “Hey everyone, want to know what it’s like to spoil a disabled wife?” He pulled out a bouquet of roses from behind his back and said in a gentle tone: “Honey, today marks 3,666 days since we met. I bought these roses for you.” I had been crying all afternoon and looked a mess. I wasn’t even wearing a bra. I tried desperately to avoid his camera lens, feeling embarrassed. “Jack, please stop filming… I’m begging you…” He frowned slightly, a flash of displeasure crossing his eyes, before turning the camera away. “Sorry everyone, my wife is a bit upset today. But you know, mood swings are understandable for someone with a disability.” He picked up some sketches from the table and explained to the camera: “These are my new works. As always, my love for my wife inspired them. Starting bid is $9,999, grab them while you can!” He saw my tears but turned away without a care. All the questions I wanted to ask got stuck in my throat. “The secret to success is ‘loving your wife’! Those who love their wives will prosper! Even though my wife is disabled, I’ve never looked down on her!” His words struck my heart like hammers, the pain unbearable. Looking at his back, I felt like the person before me was a complete stranger. 0

The next day, the video Jack filmed last night was trending again. The title read: “What’s it like to spoil a disabled wife?” The thumbnail showed me in my pajamas, hair disheveled, slumped in my wheelchair. My face was pale and sickly, with sunken eyes that looked almost deranged. Looking at my haggard appearance, I felt like what little self-esteem I had left was completely trampled. Now the whole world knew I was a disabled person dependent on others. Since becoming disabled, I had always tried to live like a normal person, not wanting to burden Jack in any way. But never had I been more acutely aware than at this moment. I was a helpless cripple. That image of myself disgusted even me. “Oh my god, Jack is so loving! This is true love – he can even kiss a face like that!” “What blessing did this woman cultivate in her past life to marry such a good husband!” “Ahhhh I want to buy 100 of his paintings! Don’t fight me for them! Since I can’t marry a quality man like Jack, I can only console myself by buying his art!” “I’ll take them all! Those who love their wives prosper, Jack deserves to make money for being so devoted to his wife!” “Am I the only one who thinks this woman is ungrateful? She’s already disabled, yet still gives attitude when Jack is so good to her. Why burden others if you don’t know how to appreciate them…” Seeing this top comment, my hand gripping the phone suddenly clenched tight. It’s not like that! It’s not like that at all! I wanted to scream, to argue back, but no one would believe me or care. Yes, I was alone and paralyzed, drifting through this world like a floating weed. Jack was so good to me, yet I was still unsatisfied. But who knew that my paralysis was because I rushed into a fire to save him when I was 18? No one knew. No one cared. 0

At noon, I brought a thermos of food to Jack’s company. But when I got to the entrance, I was stopped by the receptionist. “Miss, you can’t enter the company without an appointment.” I saw the contempt hidden in her eyes, my heart aching. How ironic that the receptionist at Jack’s company, who was famous online for “doting on his wife”, didn’t even recognize me. With no choice, I could only call Jack. It took a full half hour before the call went through. The receptionist gave me a disdainful look and said: “You can go in now.” Before I could get far, they started gossiping without trying to hide it: “So that’s Jack’s crippled wife? She looks like that? Jack has such poor taste.” “I know, right? She can’t compare at all to the lady upstairs. I don’t know how a great guy like Jack ended up marrying her.” “You don’t know? Jack doesn’t even want to answer her calls…” Sitting by the elevator, their discussion came clearly to my ears. The overwhelming shame and humiliation nearly drowned me. I knew the receptionist actually did recognize me. She just didn’t want me to disturb Jack and that “her” upstairs. But I still came up anyway. After all, Jack’s “devoted husband” persona not only affected my life, but also deceived many others. I didn’t want to continue this charade anymore. In Jack’s office. A beautiful, refined woman and a tall, handsome man were dancing the waltz intimately. The music played softly as their figures intertwined, the room filled with an ambiguous atmosphere. Until I knocked on the door. Seeing me, the woman’s beautiful brows furrowed in displeasure: “Jack, I didn’t realize you were so henpecked. Your wife even chased you all the way here.” The man smiled helplessly, his tone indulgent: “Sophia, you know all that stuff online is fake.” “There are no real feelings between me and her.” He was no longer trying to hide it. Sophia was satisfied, but still sneered: “Some people don’t know when they’re not wanted. They just have to shamelessly push themselves where they’re not welcome.” As she spoke, she “accidentally” stomped her sharp stiletto heel onto my foot. The pain was excruciating. My right hand suddenly lost its grip, and the thermos fell to the ground. “Bang!” The scalding, greasy chicken soup spilled all over me. My thighs were instantly burned red. I bit my lip hard, tears rolling down my face. But Jack didn’t even glance at me. He was crouched by Sophia’s feet, wiping the oil stains off her high heels. “Oh no, how annoying. You got my new heels all dirty.” “I don’t care, Jack, you have to buy me another pair.” She pouted unhappily, acting coy with the man. At the same time, she swept a haughty, disdainful look at me in the wheelchair. My whole body trembled, though I didn’t know if it was from the intense pain or from grief. I only knew that in this moment, the young man who had lived in my heart for so long seemed to have died.

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I gave up my identity as the heiress of a tech giant to spend ten years with Jack Simmons, struggling through the early days of our startup. Finally, we developed the world’s most advanced AI capable of predicting everything. But on our wedding day, Jack, now the world’s top AI engineer, fled the ceremony because NORA predicted I would betray him. The AI claimed only Rachel, his junior from college, was his lucky star who could help him achieve great success. As guests mocked and ridiculed me, Rachel sent intimate photos of her and Jack. “Jack said he never loved you. He only agreed to marry you because you were so clingy,” Rachel texted. I immediately blocked them both, broke up with Jack, and kicked him out of the company. Later, when he discovered my true identity as the world’s richest heiress, his eyes turned red with regret… He knelt before me, begging me not to leave him. “Lily Greene, so your husband ran away from the wedding to cuddle with another woman?” On the hillside dotted with luxury vacation villas, the guests who had received the news focused their attention on me like ultraviolet rays. My gaze, however, was fixed on a spot at the foot of the hill that no one else seemed to notice. There stood my groom, Jack Simmons, intimately embracing another woman. Just fifteen minutes ago, he had been standing beside me, holding my hand, ready to complete the ceremony. As the ring was about to be placed on my finger, a phone rang. Jack looked down at his phone amid the puzzled gazes of the guests. The next second, he ran down the hill. “Lily, Rachel says NORA has predicted the outcome of our marriage. NORA says…” “You will eventually betray me.” “And my destiny is Rachel. With her, I’ll become the world’s richest man.” Leaving me with these words, he turned and left, abandoning me to face all the ridicule alone. Within minutes, everyone received the news of Jack’s whereabouts. He had abandoned me, his new bride, and was now drinking with another woman in the hills. Jack held Rachel tightly in his arms, and in the heat of the moment, kissed her. In an instant, all the memories of the past and the sudden loss exploded in my mind, shattering and raging. Then, my gaze instantly dimmed, like a star fading after burning out. My expression was caught by the guests, who gasped and couldn’t help but show their disdain. “Isn’t that today’s groom? Why is he kissing another woman?” “It seems that even the rich and powerful Miss Greene, who carefully chose a genius developer, can’t escape being cheated on.” There was silence as someone hesitated, noticing my blank stare. “Should we go call him back?” “Forget it. He’d rather cuddle in front of the bride than come back to finish the ceremony. He clearly doesn’t love her.” “Let’s go. What’s there to see in a clown’s wedding?” The cool mountain breeze stirred by the departing crowd sucked away all the warmth from my body. My body was chilled, and so was my heart. I don’t know how long I sat in the empty wedding venue before I finally got up and walked to my car at the bottom of the hill. Just as I closed the car door and was about to start the engine, I heard footsteps. Jack had caught up, casually opened the passenger door, and sat down. Our eyes met, and he took my hand, putting on a coy act. “I’m sorry, Lily. I just went to verify the data with Rachel.” Verify the data? Did that require kissing an intern? And had he forgotten that before he was hailed as the world’s top AI engineer… At fourteen, I had graced the cover of Time magazine for my AI research. It was my fascination with his passion for AI that had attracted me and led me to start this company specifically for him. My heart was utterly exhausted, and I was too tired to expose his lies. Seeing my expression, Jack finally reacted: “You saw everything just now?” “Yes.” “Alright, why that expression? It’s not like Rachel just called me for a drink. No need to look like that. I’ll make it up to you with another wedding later.” Another wedding? “If the results are already out, why do you still want to have a wedding with me?” With no emotion in my voice, I slowly withdrew my hand from Jack’s. In the past, I would have argued hysterically, reminding him that I had developed the first half of NORA. I knew better than anyone whether NORA would make such a prediction. But now, I was tired. I didn’t want to argue anymore. I just wanted to end this relationship with Jack. “What do you mean you don’t need it? What are you upset about now? I’ll definitely do what I promised you!” Jack angrily retorted: “Yes, the prediction says you’ll definitely cheat on me.” “But who am I? The world’s top AI engineer. Do you think I’d believe that so easily? Besides…” Jack looked at me, a smile playing on his lips, his tone certain: “You can’t live without me, can you? So I had to come back.” A bitter taste spread on my tongue. I forced a smile: “Well, I should really thank you then.” He glanced at me, hesitated, then continued. “However, you need to apologize to Rachel for questioning the data and her earlier.” At that moment, anger surged in my heart. No wonder he, who always believed unquestioningly in AI data, said he wouldn’t easily believe it. I said coldly, “Jack Simmons, after doing such a dirty thing right in front of me, why should I apologize?” “And…!” I got up, opened the car door, and threw the keys at him. Then I said to him, word by word: “You know how I’ve treated you all these years. Don’t you understand at all why this baseless prediction came about?” Jack’s face flashed with discomfort, quickly replaced by anger. “Lily Greene! Can you stop making things up?!” “I’ve told you so many times that Rachel is just my junior. Are you so dirty-minded that you see everyone else as dirty?!” “NORA can’t be wrong! It’s never been wrong! If you don’t apologize, forget about this wedding! I won’t give you another chance!” “We’ll see if you regret it when I become the world’s richest man!” I coldly watched his angry outburst, feeling a weariness I had never experienced before. It seemed he had truly forgotten that when we got together, I had given him the newborn AI NORA and told him that AI shouldn’t be blindly trusted, as there was a risk of human intervention. And his talk about becoming the world’s richest man? Saying I shouldn’t regret it? Jack Simmons, my Greene family has long been the world’s richest. What you fantasize about was within my reach from birth. Laughing weakly, I threw my ring down the cliff. After meeting Jack’s shocked gaze, I turned and got into another car. As I started the engine, I heard him throwing a tantrum behind me. “Lily Greene, don’t you dare come back crying and begging me to marry you!” “I knew my NORA couldn’t be wrong. A woman like you is just fickle and bound to betray me!!” I stepped on the gas and drove away. Never again, Jack Simmons. I’ve done enough foolish things. This time, I’m truly exhausted.

Driving down the hill, I went to another villa of mine to change clothes. The next day, as soon as I entered the company, I met my assistant. “Draft a resignation letter for Jack Simmons…” Before I could finish, a figure walked towards me as if she had been waiting. It was Rachel Thompson, who had been intimate with Jack yesterday. As she approached, she spoke smugly, “Good morning, Lily. I’m so sorry, Jack kept me up all night, that’s why I’m late.” Even though I had let go, I still felt sick to my stomach. Jack and I met during our studies abroad, with vastly different family backgrounds. This man used to be focused solely on his work, never socializing. Initially, I was attracted by his intense focus when coding. Later, to protect Jack’s pride, I concealed my identity as the Greene heiress. I chose to squeeze into a 600-square-foot apartment with Jack instead of living in the sprawling mansion my mother bought for me. For ten years, I spent my youth accompanying him as he developed NORA, the AI whose first half I had written. He was good to me too. The usually cold and taciturn Jack would confidently promise to give me a perfect wedding in front of others. But everything changed after his junior, Rachel Thompson, appeared. He wouldn’t allow me near their development team, and our wedding was postponed again and again. After my persistent nagging, he finally agreed to hold the wedding. Just when I thought I had finally reached a happy ending… He made me the laughingstock of everyone because of some vague, untested AI prediction. Following his hurt came Rachel’s shameless provocation. Thinking of this, I looked up with a slight smile. “Rachel Thompson, your development team is just one project in my company. If you…” She didn’t hear the rest. I had never threatened her so coldly before. Caught off guard, she stammered a couple of retorts before leaving. After she left, my assistant fumed, “Rachel Thompson acts so recklessly now, relying on being Jack’s junior.” “Ms. Greene, were you just about to process Rachel’s resignation?” I shook my head, “No, process Jack’s resignation.” My voice wasn’t loud, but everyone present turned to look at me. My assistant reflexively blurted out, “What?” I lowered my head and chuckled. So all these years, it was common knowledge that I loved Jack so pathetically. That’s why he was so confident in running away on our wedding day. After all, who didn’t know that I was Jack Simmons’ devoted puppy? Willing to give up my identity as a billionaire’s daughter to personally accompany him in starting a business, even secretly investing billions in resources without letting him know. Iron-fisted and ruthless in the company, yet completely indulgent towards him. No matter how busy, I would still do his laundry and cook for him every day. But faced with this love, he once coldly snorted in front of everyone: “It’s her honor to be good to me, the world’s top AI engineer.” Back then, I was still complacent, feeling content just to be by his side. But now I realize how pathetic I’ve been for the past ten years. Thinking of this, I coldly continued to my assistant, “Sever all ties between Jack Simmons and our company.” “Investigate the cause of NORA’s malfunction. From now on, Jack Simmons has no connection to our company.” “He’s fired.” After dealing with Jack’s resignation, I went to the “home” Jack and I shared.

As a company shareholder, besides firing Jack, I also needed to settle the matter of leaving him with nothing. So I had to find Jack to sign the papers. But looking around, I didn’t see Jack anywhere. I could only go back to the bedroom and start packing my things. But before I had packed much, I heard the front door open. Then a series of indescribable sounds arose, followed by… My whole body trembled. I got up and walked to the bedroom door. The two were kissing passionately on the sofa. Jack had his back to me, completely unaware, while Rachel clung to his embrace, her eyes meeting mine. Her breathless moans grew louder, her cries both seductive and pitiful. “Jack, honey, is this okay? Lily is still your fiancée. Won’t she be angry if we do this in your home?” Jack seemed to hear a joke, his wandering hands growing bolder. “Fiancée? So what? She’s just a puppy! Does she dare to get angry?” “Besides, after being with the same face for ten years, I’m so tired of it!” “Angry? No way! I just need to crook my finger, and she’ll come running back, yapping!” I clenched my fists tightly, my stomach churning violently with nausea. Ten years of memories, from our first meeting to getting together, all our little moments together. At this moment, with his few words, they instantly shattered into millions of sharp blades. The mirror of beautiful memories was smashed, turning into piercing dust that stabbed every cell in my body. The pain was unbearable. In the end, it all turned into a dead numbness. I had imagined I would be heartbroken when we broke up, but I never thought that in Jack’s eyes, I was just this kind of existence. Forget it. The Jack Simmons I fell in love with ten years ago, that coding genius, is long dead. I made a sound, clearing my throat. Jack, who had his back to me, finally noticed. His whole body trembled. After hearing the noise, he whirled around. Seeing it was me, his face flashed with panic and terror before settling into barely concealed smugness. “Now you know to come back and apologize?” Seeing no reaction from me, he pushed Rachel out of his arms and looked around. His gaze finally landed on the suitcase, “Yesterday you drove off and talked about breaking up. Weren’t you acting tough? What happened to that spirit?” “Let me tell you, if you want my forgiveness, it’s not just about apologizing to Rachel anymore.” “You also need to promise that you’re ignorant and will never interfere with our development team’s affairs again. All the company’s funds need to be transferred to the development team!” He stuck out his neck, inadvertently revealing the red marks on it. I suppressed the nausea in my heart, too lazy to argue. “I won’t do it, and I have nothing more to say to you.” I threw on a coat and slapped the voluntary stock transfer agreement on the table onto his body. “Remember to read and sign it. Trust me, you have no other choice.” Jack didn’t look at it. I don’t know what he misunderstood, but his voice behind me grew more arrogant. “Weren’t you so brave, throwing away the ring? Now you know to come back and grovel?” “It won’t be so easy for me to forgive you now. Who told you to offend Rachel? How about this, pack a red envelope with 20 or 30 million dollars.” I was amused by his righteous attitude. If it were before, I would have definitely complied. Forget about a mere 20 or 30 million, I would have given him my life. But now, I didn’t stop walking. Pulling my suitcase, I opened the door and left. I thought I had expressed myself clearly enough. After all, besides leaving with my suitcase, there was also that stock transfer agreement on the table. But unexpectedly, he still misunderstood. Not looking at the stock transfer agreement, he thought I was still obedient to him like before. He believed taking away my suitcase was just to give him and Rachel some space. So the messages he sent became even more arrogant. [What, now you believe in AI’s predictions? Realizing I’ll become the richest man in the world, so you’re starting to suck up to me?] [Lily Greene, I know you have some money, but compared to my future, what does it amount to? Now that you’ve come to your senses, shouldn’t you think about how to properly apologize to me?!] I didn’t divorce Jack, I just sent him a dismissal notice. My assistant also told me that my father, who was abroad, would be coming to Shanghai in the next few days to discuss the company’s return to the Greene Group. By then, I would take NORA and preside over the Greene Group, finally revealing myself to the public as the world’s richest woman. But I still didn’t expect that two days later, Jack would barge into my CEO office, bringing Rachel along. Seeing the front desk security trying to stop them, Jack angrily shouted: “You dogs dare to stop us? Lily Greene is my lapdog, do you want to be fired?”

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I’m the fake heiress, and Natalie Young is the real one. This is what my mom told me herself. But what she doesn’t know is that the DNA test Natalie showed her was actually forged by my dad. My name is Sophia Evans, and I was originally the sole heir to the Evans Group. But in the year I turned fifteen, my mom suddenly brought home a girl about my age. She said, “Sophia, this is Natalie. Do you know? She’s my biological daughter. I’ve been waiting for so long, and she’s finally come home!” My mom, with tears in her eyes, looked at Natalie with immense guilt. “Natalie, it’s all my fault. I let you suffer for fifteen years out there.” “Don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you from now on.” Natalie was wearing high-end designer clothes, but her face was expressionless. She wasn’t even wearing lipstick. Her bare face made her small, delicate features look even more pitiful. I, on the other hand, was wearing an ordinary T-shirt and jeans, also without makeup. From a young age, my parents had always taught me to keep a low profile and not reveal our family’s circumstances to others. So, for fifteen years, even though I was the only daughter of the Evans Group, I lived no differently from ordinary people. None of my classmates knew about my background. Unlike Natalie, who had a father who spoiled her unconditionally. Whatever was fun, pretty, or useful, as long as she wanted it and he could afford it, she got it! I didn’t understand it before, but later I figured it out!

This wasn’t the first time I’d seen Natalie. Because, like me, she attended the same prestigious private school. I got in on my own merit. She got in on someone else’s. We were in the same class, but our relationship was like fire and water. Because the top student she had her eye on didn’t like her. And that top student had come to me several times for help with his studies. Seeing all this, Natalie couldn’t stand me even more. At school, rumors about me spread like wildfire. Ridiculous things like a high school girl picking up garbage and collecting recyclables! Or a high school girl trying to hook up with rich men but getting mocked instead! There was even a rumor about a high school girl from a family that favored boys over girls, getting beaten black and blue by her parents every day! In short, there wasn’t a single rumor that was even remotely credible. However, these fabricated rumors were deeply believed by most of the students. Natalie had always given off the impression of being a rich heiress. She came to school every day with exquisite makeup, wearing expensive jewelry on her wrists and fingers. Everyone thought, how could someone as rich as Natalie casually belittle a girl from an ordinary family? But I knew these rumors were all spread by Natalie. I also knew she had always disliked me. However, I never imagined she would have the audacity to brazenly walk into my home. Especially now, as she’s cuddling up to my mom and giving me a provocative smile. Very well! I smiled back at her, silently saying, “Since you want to play, let’s play this game to the end!” Then, I calmly got up and returned to my room.

Under the mattress in my room, there was a little secret that no one knew about. I locked the door and lifted the mattress directly. It was a photo from five years ago. In it were my dad, Natalie, and a woman I had never seen before. My dad and that woman stood on either side of Natalie. All three had the same smile, radiating happiness. It made people believe without a doubt that this was a real family. Among them, Natalie and my dad’s smiles were strikingly similar. Even the upward curve of their mouths was at the same angle. It made their blood relation undeniable. I thought, perhaps it was because Natalie looked so much like my dad that my mom believed her so easily! Bang bang bang! “Sophia, open the door!” my mom called from outside. I instinctively hid the photo back in its place, making sure there was no trace of disturbance before opening the door. “Mom, what’s wrong?” Outside, my mom was holding Natalie’s hand, looking at me with a troubled expression. Seeing my mom hesitate to speak, Natalie pretended to be hesitant and tugged at my mom’s sleeve, saying in a pitiful voice: “Mom, why don’t I just go back to my previous home? This way, big sister won’t be angry!” ??? I was full of question marks. What was Natalie up to now? “Go back where?” My mom patted Natalie’s hand, indicating that she should rest assured. “Natalie, your home is here. Don’t worry, as long as I’m around, no one will drive you away!” “As for Sophia, you’re the older sister. I haven’t mistreated you in these fifteen years. It’s just that now that Natalie is back, you should pack up your things and move to the guest room!” “This room will be kept for Natalie from now on!” After rattling off all this, my mom didn’t even look at me before turning and leaving with Natalie! Huh! So they’re already starting to squeeze me out? This is getting more and more interesting! Looking at their retreating figures, I started to feel strangely excited and expectant. I wonder what kind of reactions everyone will have when the truth comes out!

I didn’t want to announce everything to the world so quickly. After all, I hadn’t yet accumulated my own strength. So, before I had enough power, it wasn’t time to reveal all the cards. I took one last look at this room. From now on, it wouldn’t belong to me anymore! After packing my luggage, I carefully placed that photo at the very bottom of my suitcase. Dragging my suitcase to the living room, I saw Natalie still cuddling up to my mom. Mother and daughter both had red-rimmed eyes. I directly interrupted their heart-to-heart. “Mom, I’ve packed my things. Natalie can move in anytime.” Seeing me come out so readily with my suitcase, my mom looked a bit embarrassed, but still said: “Sophia, don’t blame mom. You were originally from an ordinary family. You’ve enjoyed the good life in our family for so long, and your dad and I have never treated you like an outsider.” “Now that Natalie is back, mom hopes you can give way to her more. After all, she just came back and hasn’t had an easy life like you have.” The way she said it, it was as if I had lived such a good life and Natalie had suffered so much! “Mom, don’t worry! I’ll definitely take good care of Natalie.” I agreed directly, and my lack of crying or fuss actually made my mom’s expression a bit stunned. “Sophia, mom knows you’re a good child. Don’t worry, in the future, mom will still treat you like her own child.” I nodded noncommittally, ignoring Natalie’s smug expression, and directly dragged my suitcase into the guest room. A child without a mother is like a blade of grass! In my previous life, I had seen this clearly early on. That’s right! I’ve been reborn! In my previous life, I lived to be twenty years old. I always thought I died accidentally, but during the years my soul was wandering, I discovered that my living self was just a joke. Because I wasn’t their biological daughter at all. My biological mother was the daughter of the richest man in City B. Under someone else’s instigation, she eloped with my biological father. Both my parents were very capable, building up a business empire in City C from scratch in just a year or two. Because of this, they incurred the jealousy of others. The year I was born, my parents were overjoyed. To ensure I would be provided for all my life, they planned all their assets early on and even made a will stating that I would inherit 80% of their property when I turned eighteen. But who would have thought that on my first birthday, they would all be killed, leaving only me to mistake the enemy for my father. Later, somehow, one day while wandering, I accidentally fell asleep, and when I opened my eyes again, I had returned to when I was ten years old. So, not long after I was reborn, I found ways to take that photo I now treasured. It’s just a pity that it’s not yet time for this photo to appear. I couldn’t help but smile ruefully.

Natalie and I were both in our first year of high school. In the school bathroom, Natalie cornered me with her two little followers. “Sophia Evans, I didn’t expect you to be so thick-skinned!” Natalie signaled her two followers to grab my arms, then strutted up to me arrogantly. She patted my cheeks. “I wonder if your skin is as thick as the city walls?” “Why don’t I cut it open and see?” Natalie mischievously scraped my skin with her long fingernails. I turned my head and looked at her contemptuously. “Natalie Young, do you have the guts?” Natalie’s hand paused, and her expression suddenly became interesting. “What wouldn’t I dare to do?” As if to prove it, Natalie immediately pulled out a small knife used for sharpening pencils from her pocket and waved it threateningly near my face. “Sophia Evans, tell me, if I cut up your pretty little face that seduces people, will Chris Thompson still favor you?” Chris Thompson was the top student in our class. I knew Natalie had always had a crush on him. However, Chris was only focused on his studies and didn’t pay any attention to Natalie, who had poor grades and didn’t like studying. The cold touch of the blade was pressed against my delicate facial skin, but I remained expressionless and stretched my neck to whisper in Natalie’s ear. “Natalie Young, if you don’t want me to expose your true identity right now, you’d better not provoke me!” “What exactly do you know?” After all, she was still young. Natalie’s face changed dramatically, and she unconsciously took two steps back. “Are you sure you want me to say it here?” I chuckled softly. Natalie hesitated, not daring to answer me. Her two followers looked at each other, unconsciously loosening their grip on me. I easily broke free. Walking to Natalie’s side, I whispered in her ear. “Isn’t your true identity that you’re the daughter of the mistress?” “What?” “Or did you think only your real family knew this secret?”

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My husband’s mother had been out in the fields when she accidentally stepped on an old landmine from the battlefield. The community police asked me to find my retired husband, who was a bomb disposal expert, to defuse it, but I shook my head and refused. In my past life, I ran 6 miles to town to save her, dragging my husband, who was on a date with his first love, out of the restaurant, begging him to save her. She was safely rescued, but his first love was dragged into an alley by her ex-husband and beaten to death. My husband praised me for what I had done in front of others, but on the anniversary of his first love’s death, he used the very landmine he had unearthed to blow me to pieces. “Why wasn’t it you who died? Go to hell and apologize to Sarah!” This time, my husband finally had a pleasant dinner with his first love. But when he learned what had happened at home, he was driven mad with regret. ***** “Mia, don’t come any closer, stay away from me!” Hearing the familiar voice, I suddenly opened my eyes. Standing before me, my husband’s mother, Ella Clark, was crying but still insisted on pushing me away. “I’m getting on in years, and I’m not as nimble as I used to be. If this landmine goes off, I don’t want to drag any of you into it.” Upon hearing this, the police quickly pulled me back. “Mia, isn’t your husband a retired bomb disposal expert? Where is he? Get him here quickly!” Hearing the repeated urgings, I tightly clenched my hands, barely holding back tears. “He went to the town with Sarah. If I go get him, he probably won’t come back…” The neighbors who had followed the police came to a halt upon hearing this, all looking awkwardly at each other. The affair between my husband, Samuel Clark, and Sarah Harris had already caused a huge scandal in town. Today was our wedding anniversary, yet he took all the money from home, saying he needed to buy Sarah some skincare and take her to the fanciest restaurant for dinner. The atmosphere around me was heavy. A young neighbor, seeing my troubled expression, sighed, “Mia, don’t worry. We’re quick. We’ll find him and bring him back! “Take care of his mother, and leave it to us!” Without waiting for the police to speak, the group of neighbors dashed off. I lowered my gaze, finally accepting the truth of my rebirth. Of course, Ella was aware of the disgraceful things her son had done and looked at me with a face full of worry. “Mia, Samuel’s actions are my fault. I didn’t educate him properly. I’m so sorry for you. “When he comes back, I’ll make him sever all ties with that little slut!” My throat tightened with sorrow, and I couldn’t hold back the tears. Even though Sarah had dumped Samuel twice, he still wanted to drag me down with her over a made-up accusation. “How could such a man ever sever ties with Sarah?” I thought. Just as we comforted and encouraged each other, the neighbors, covered in sweat, came running back. Everyone’s eyes turned toward them. But behind them was nothing. Samuel hadn’t come. Breathless and furious, the neighbors finally spoke up. “Samuel seems to be out of his mind, shopping for skincare and clothes with that shameless Sarah at the mall!” “We tried everything to get him to listen, but the bastard just wouldn’t believe us!” “Do you know what he said? He said we were sent by Mia to try to trick him into coming back, claiming Mia wanted to save money for herself and was lying to him!” “How can there be such a son in the world? His mother stepped on a landmine, and even if he has doubts, he should come back immediately to check on her!” “And that Sarah, what a piece of work! She had the nerve to make us out to be Mia’s lovers with just a few words. It’s maddening! How can someone be so shameless?”

After venting their frustrations without holding back, the neighbors suddenly remembered that Samuel’s mother was standing right in front of them. Tears streamed down Ella’s face, her eyes clouded with sorrow. Her lips trembled for a long moment before she barely managed to speak, “Did that ungrateful man really say that? “Mia, in this life, I owe you an apology. I’ve ruined your life. I’m useless, but I’ll use this life to make it up to you.” She was so overwhelmed by the shock that she was on the verge of breaking down. Under the heavy silence of the onlookers, I gritted my teeth and said, “Ella, this isn’t your fault. It’s Samuel. He’s lost his way. I’ve never blamed you! “If it weren’t for you feeding me when I was little, I’d have starved to death long ago. I don’t want you to apologize. I want you to live a good life!” When I was very young, my parents died in a flood. I was alone. It was Ella who adopted me, giving me food and raising me until I grew up safely. Years ago, Samuel was in a relationship with Sarah. But Sarah, dissatisfied with Samuel being just a bomb disposal soldier with no future, left him a letter and ran off with a wealthy man from the town. Since then, Samuel was deeply hurt and turned to me for comfort. Ella had always liked me for being hardworking and capable, urging me to agree to marry him. I married Samuel with gratitude in my heart, but then Sarah returned. Samuel wanted a divorce, but Ella firmly opposed it. The whole town was talking about it. With Sarah’s instigation, Samuel believed it was me who was causing trouble, and he hated me for it. To get back at me, he and Sarah would go to town every day, eating and drinking without care, wasting money recklessly. My emotions were in turmoil, but I forced myself to comfort Ella. Seeing she finally calmed down, I reached out and took her rough, weathered hand. “Ella, your health isn’t good. You won’t last much longer. “Let me switch places with you, okay?” As soon as those words left my mouth, the crowd that had come to help erupted in protest. “Mia, think this through. This is a landmine left from the battlefield. If something goes wrong, even if you survive, you’ll be left crippled. Your whole future will be ruined!” “You’re so young, and you can read. Don’t risk your future like this!” Ella’s tears wouldn’t stop. “Mia, I raised you, but it’s only because your parents saved me from the flood all those years ago! “I’m old, and if I die, so be it. Don’t make things worse!” I held onto her hand, refusing to let go. “I can’t just watch you die. If you won’t switch, I’m not going anywhere. We’ll both be blown to pieces together!” After my pleading and threats, Ella finally agreed to switch places. The community police, seeing they couldn’t convince me, moved back with the crowd for safety’s sake. Back when Samuel and I were close, he’d once told me about how a teammate in his unit had to replace someone who stepped on a landmine. I carefully taught Ella the steps, moving my foot gingerly. It wasn’t easy. My legs felt like they were going to give out. But now, I was beyond caring. The only person who had ever been kind to me was Ella, and I couldn’t bear to watch her get hurt. After a long, painful silence, Ella and I successfully swapped places. She wiped her tears and looked at me, stamping her foot in frustration. “Mia, wait here. I will personally go and get that bastard back!” Seeing that I had actually swapped with Ella, the neighbors’ eyes were filled with admiration. The neighbors who had just caught their breath now spoke up again. “We’ll take you there. You need to teach Samuel a lesson. He’s gone way too far!” The group quickly helped Ella down the road, disappearing from sight. I stood in silence with the community police, waiting for what felt like an eternity before they finally came back.

However, just like last time, they still hadn’t brought Samuel back. As soon as Ella saw me, her legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the ground. “Mia, I’m so sorry. That ungrateful man, he has no humanity!” Seeing Ella cry so uncontrollably, the neighbors couldn’t hold back their anger. “Samuel’s gone mad! He doesn’t even trust his own mother!” Hearing their angry complaints, I barely pieced together what had happened in town earlier. Apparently, after buying the skincare and clothes, they had gone to a restaurant. As the neighbors arrived, they were feeding each other and exchanging sweet nothings. Seeing Ella, Samuel immediately threw down his fork. “Mom, can you stop following Mia’s crazy antics? She sent someone to say you stepped on a landmine. If you really stepped on a landmine, how could you have walked all the way to town like this? “I just wanted to have a meal with Sarah. Can’t you leave me alone?” Ella was furious. She flipped the table and tried to drag Samuel back. Seeing Ella’s expression, which seemed genuine, Samuel finally started to believe a little. But just as he was about to leave, Sarah grabbed his other hand. “I know Mia doesn’t like me, can’t stand how Samuel is always with me, but Mrs. Clark, you can’t joke about things like this. “The battlefield’s been cleared so many times, how could there still be landmines?” As a result, no matter how much Ella swore and pleaded, Samuel wouldn’t believe her. Ella, enraged, tried to strike Sarah, but Samuel blocked her and walked away without sparing her a glance. Hearing this, the police’s face turned pale. At that moment, my hope was completely shattered. Our village was remote, and only Samuel had the skills to defuse bombs. If he didn’t come, I had no way out. I stood from dawn until dusk, and Ella fainted from crying several times, only to be forced back home by the neighbors to rest. In the middle of the night, I could barely feel my legs anymore. My body felt numb and heavy, and I knew I couldn’t hold on any longer. With tears in their eyes, the neighbors looked at me as I spoke in a hoarse voice, “Please, get me some paper. I want to write a farewell letter.” The police, fighting back tears, sent someone to get it, and my neighbors rushed off, also crying. Just then, a row of torches suddenly lit up in the distance. “Is this where the landmine was found? We’re a trained team, and we’ve brought in a bomb disposal expert!” Everyone rushed to greet them. I felt as though I had been given a second chance at life. My body went weak, and I nearly fell to the ground. The neighbors, concerned for my safety, rushed up from either side to support me. “Mia, hang in there. Who cares if that idiot Samuel won’t come, there is someone here who will save you!” “Mia, you’re kind and beautiful. There’s always a way out!” They had spent the whole day with me, filled with worry and fear. There was finally hope. Their faces lit up with joy. But as the team approached, everyone’s smiles froze. “Samuel?” Samuel looked at me, equally surprised. “Mia, have you lost your mind? “You’ve made such a scene just to get me back, even bringing my leader into this mess!” Beside him, Sarah, wearing new clothes, smiled provocatively. “Mia, Samuel and I really don’t have anything between us. Is this your way of getting the leader to punish him? “You can’t always be so reckless. Don’t you care about your husband’s future?” As Samuel listened to Sarah, his face twisted in anger. He reached out and grabbed me. After standing for an entire day and night, my body was completely exhausted. As Samuel suddenly grabbed me, I lost control and lurched forward. The neighbors screamed in panic, and the community police rushed forward without hesitation. At that moment, their movements seemed to slow down, and the last thing I saw was Samuel’s expression of utter disgust. In the final second, I closed my eyes, thinking, “We’ve lived two lifetimes as a married couple with hearts far apart. And today, we die together. Fate is a cruel thing.” Free Point

The explosion that everyone expected did not happen. The scene was eerily quiet. I didn’t know how long it took, but I finally mustered enough strength to open my eyes. That was when I realized that a man was holding onto my legs with all his might. My body felt numb. My upper body was leaning forward, and my legs were firmly pressed down by him, yet I was still standing there as if nothing had happened. A few military officers reacted first, hastily helping the man up. “Mr. Foster, have you gone mad? This is a real war zone, a deadly minefield!” “How could you be so reckless? If it had exploded, what would you have done?” The man, Luke Foster, was cursed out thoroughly, but he didn’t care. “Then what do you suggest I do? This is an innocent life, how could I just stand by and watch her die right in front of me?” As he spoke, everyone’s gaze turned toward Samuel. Samuel was unnerved by their stares and looked helpless. “Are you all idiots? How can you all be so manipulated by this woman? “I’ve been here before. I’ve cleaned this place. There are no landmines here! “Mia, stop acting, apologize, and explain to everyone now!” He said through gritted teeth, and Sarah, standing beside him, looked utterly innocent. “Mia, doesn’t everyone in the village know you’re jealous of me? You’re just making up excuses to get Samuel to come back! “Now that you’ve gotten what you wanted, can’t you just admit it?” I nearly died, and I was still in a daze. Seeing that I refused to speak, Sarah began to cry. “Mia, it’s my fault, is that enough to make you happy? “I shouldn’t have gone to town with Samuel, I shouldn’t have made you jealous. I’ll leave, is that okay with you?” With that, Sarah turned to walk away. Samuel clenched his fists tightly and pulled her back. “Sarah, you didn’t do anything wrong, it’s all this woman’s fault. “Mia, I married you because my mom forced me to. How long are you going to keep holding onto the title of my wife?” As he spoke, he reached out to grab me, but his hand never made contact. Instead, Luke seized his wrist. “Mr. Foster, you’ve been deceived by this scheming woman! “This woman is a master of manipulation. I’ll file for a divorce immediately. This doesn’t concern you, so just leave.” Luke’s face was cold as he gritted his teeth. “Samuel! Even if she’s not your wife, even if there’s only a one-in-a-million chance, even if this landmine is a dud, human life is at stake. You have to save her first! “Have you forgotten the values you were taught in the military?” He then shifted his gaze to Sarah. Sarah, frightened by the coldness in Luke’s eyes, took a step back and weakly collapsed into Samuel’s arms. “Samuel, I see it now. “No wonder so many people are willing to act with Mia. It’s all because of him.” Although Sarah didn’t make it explicit, everyone present understood her insinuation. A few young neighbors couldn’t hold their temper any longer and immediately spoke up for me. “Sarah, I think you’ve lost your mind. Every time you open your mouth, you spread lies.” “Mr. Foster is someone we met on our way here. This is our first time meeting him today. There’s no relationship!” “Stop dirtying everything with your own filth. If you’re trash, don’t think everyone else is too!” This statement didn’t spare Sarah any dignity, and she burst into tears right there.

Samuel was heartbroken. In front of everyone, he pulled Sarah into his arms to protect her. “Enough! Are you all done yet? “From the beginning, the only person I’ve ever loved is Sarah. If it weren’t for Mia constantly stirring things up and my mom forcing me to marry her, I never would have married her!” To defend Sarah, Samuel publicly belittled me, leaving me utterly disrespected. If this had happened before, I would have been devastated and tried to explain myself endlessly. But after narrowly escaping death twice, my mindset suddenly changed. Whether Samuel loved me or not no longer mattered. I had saved Ella with my own life, almost died at his hands, and no matter how much debt I owed, it was paid back. I remained silent while they argued loudly. Samuel was convinced I was acting. Seeing everyone standing up for me, he pointed at me, demanding that I admit my fault. “Mia, you always talk about repaying kindness. Why aren’t you doing that now? “Today, if you admit that you were just acting, I’ll consider the debt repaid. I won’t use your money again from now on. Isn’t that enough?” I listened to his words, and my heart grew colder. Samuel spent all his salary on Sarah, yet it was never enough. To provide a good life for Sarah, Samuel had begun eyeing the small savings I had slowly accumulated. I didn’t eat meat, didn’t buy vegetables, didn’t buy new clothes, and the little bit of money I saved was taken by him to spend on another woman. Naturally, I wasn’t happy. Yet every time we argued, Samuel always managed to force me into submission. “Mia, don’t forget who raised you. “You ate my family’s food, use my family’s things. Don’t you think you owe us something?” “If it weren’t for me and Ella taking care of you, do you think you’d still be alive to argue with me here?” ***** Every time he brought this up, I would be left speechless. “But Samuel, when the flood came, my parents died saving your family!” I thought.

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My husband, Declan Mercer, and I had been married for three years. Because his pregnant new lover, Tessa Ralston, wasn’t satisfied with the pressure I used while massaging her feet, Declan crushed my wrist under his foot. The fracture damaged my nerves. As a violinist, I could barely lift my phone anymore. Declan, however, dismissed it nonchalantly. “Stop acting spoiled. As the sister of a murderer, your only purpose is to serve us and atone.” Three years ago, Declan’s sister, June Mercer, had no chance of survival after a car accident. My younger brother, Jasper Granger, had a congenital heart defect and needed a heart transplant. To get the family’s signature for the organ donation, I married Declan, bringing a wedding gift worth over a million dollars, and became completely obedient to him. However, ignoring my injured hand, Declan still wanted me to make nourishing soup for his new lover. Then I got a message from my mom. [Jasper committed suicide. Come home quickly!] Instantly, I could no longer hold my phone steady. The debts had all been paid. It was time for me to leave.

“If it weren’t for the fact that you need to take care of Tessa later, I would’ve completely ruined your hand for what you did to her.” Declan’s new lover, Tessa, knew I was a violinist and thought my nimble fingers would be perfect for massaging her feet. I was unwilling, but Declan threatened to go to my brother’s school and spread the word that he was a murderer’s sibling. Stifling my disgust, I massaged Tessa’s feet. Her sudden shriek made Declan think I was intentionally hurting her. Afraid I would bully Tessa in the future, Declan directly stomped on my hand, breaking it as a lesson. My husband Declan was reprimanding me while talking to Tessa on the phone, completely oblivious that my injured hand could no longer hold the water glass steady. “Declan, you sound so fierce. You’re going to scare the baby in my belly,” Tessa cooed over the phone. Declan immediately softened his voice as if protecting something fragile. “Sorry, I lost my temper again. I’ve got to work on that. For you, I will.” Then he turned and ordered me, “What are you spacing out for? Go make Tessa her tonic soup!” At this, the hand that I had been gripping tighter and tighter suddenly lost its strength. The exact words Declan once said to me were now being directed at Tessa. Every time we argued and got heated, Declan would quickly apologize, reflecting on his own quick temper. Declan had told me to voice any dissatisfaction. He promised he would change. He had sworn that regardless of the reason, he wouldn’t let me suffer as long as I married him. But the promise remained unfulfilled. Influenced by his mother, Declan came to believe that my family orchestrated June’s car accident to get the heart for my brother. He started treating me like a servant, stayed out all night, and openly brought other women home. He even brazenly told me his mistress was pregnant. Declan casually gave to someone else the affection that once belonged only to me. The way Declan looked like he wanted to crawl through the screen to comfort Tessa absolutely tore my heart apart. Seeing I didn’t react, Declan snatched my phone away. The sudden jolt made me drop the glass I could barely hold, and it shattered at Declan’s feet. His shoes were soaked. Declan roared furiously, “It’s just a hand injury! Can’t even hold a cup? Are you useless now?” Declan grabbed my wrist, ready to continue his tirade, but then he saw the faint bloodstains seeping through the gauze. He hesitated for a second, then his brow furrowed, his voice softening considerably. “Is it that serious? Why didn’t you say so?” I had told him many times, but Declan just thought I was being dramatic. I wanted to explain, but the pain in my hand made it difficult to speak. I dug my fingernails into my palm, trying to distract myself from the throbbing ache when Declan’s hand suddenly covered mine. A ripple disturbed the stagnant water of my heart, and I couldn’t help but recall fleeting moments of warmth with Declan. Before Declan could speak, Tessa’s voice came through the phone again. “Declan, I think the heating is broken. I’m so cold.” Declan sprang up like he’d been electrocuted. Even as I held his hand tightly, he slipped away without hesitation. Looking at the blood steadily seeping out, I finally understood. The Declan I once knew was gone forever. Jasper had killed himself. I didn’t owe them anything anymore. It was time for me to leave.

I booked my ticket for the next day. When Declan returned the following day, I was preparing to send the cat away for transport. Declan frowned slightly, “Didn’t you love that cat? Why are you sending it away?” This cat was originally a gift from Declan, and he had adored it at first, too. But one time, Tessa came over, stepped on the cat’s tail, and got startled. After that, the cat became a thorn in Declan’s side. To prevent the cat from ending up in a pot, I had knelt outside in the snow one night, apologizing over and over. Inside the room, the sounds of their panting occasionally escaped while I held the cat, going from screaming apologies to passing out from hypothermia. I also got sick and missed an important competition I had been preparing for for half a year. The memory made my throat tighten. I cleared my throat several times before my voice sounded normal again. But before I could answer, Declan changed the subject. “Good riddance, anyway. Tessa’s heating is broken, so she’s moving in with us. Better to get this beast out of the way before it hurts someone.” My hand grooming the cat faltered at this, and the little cat let out a pitiful meow. I stroked the cat’s head, steadying my emotions, and said, “We should probably throw away those photos of us together, too, so Tessa doesn’t get upset seeing them.” Since I was leaving anyway, these things needed to be dealt with. I acted understanding, but Declan’s expression darkened. He stared intently at me, unable to read my thoughts, so he changed the subject again. “These junk trophies of yours might not even be worth selling for scrap!” I looked up and saw Declan pointing at my trophies. I had learned violin since the first grade, all for these honors. This display cabinet was even designed by someone Declan hired, and he had assembled it himself. He once said having such a talented wife was his pride. After Tessa appeared, everything changed. My heart felt brutally crushed. Seeing Declan reach for the trophies, I immediately stood in front of the cabinet. Declan shoved me aside irritably. “What if these scratch Tessa? “Your family already took a life. You won’t even spare an unborn baby?” I explained to Declan, for what felt like the hundredth time, that June’s death was purely an accident. Declan completely ignored my explanations, only accusing me and my family of being lowly and guilty, insisting I should toil to atone. During the argument, I was hit on the head by a trophy. Declan cursed that I deserved it, but his hands stopped moving. He had just reached out to wipe the blood from my forehead when he saw me squat down to check if the trophy was damaged. Declan irritably pulled his hand back and turned away, planning aloud as if nothing happened. “We need to put more flowers here. Tessa likes them.” Declan forgot I was allergic to pollen. I wiped the dust off the trophy without a word. The next second, Declan remembered himself but snapped back viciously, “Don’t you know you’re allergic to pollen? Why didn’t you say anything? Gonna wait until everything’s set up just to cause a scene?” I had become immune to Declan’s volatile moods. Wiping away the blood, blurring my vision, I said coldly, “It doesn’t matter. Do whatever you want. I won’t be living here anymore.”

Declan paused for a moment, then sneered, “Don’t want to take care of Tessa, so you’re trying to run away? “Don’t even think about it. This is what you owe our family. You’re supposed to slave away for me!” I retorted, “No, I’m going home…” Declan’s phone suddenly rang. He gave me a long, unreadable look, then walked away without hearing me out. A few minutes later, I received a transfer notification from him. The note said: [If you’re that bored, go buy some new clothes. Tired of seeing the same two outfits. And if you don’t want your brother getting isolated at school, don’t even think about running home.] I wanted to explain to Declan, but remembering I needed to request leave from the orchestra, I put my phone away. Then, I saw Tessa’s new social media post. [So what if I’m a little moody during pregnancy? He still has to spoil me.] The accompanying picture showed Tessa telling Declan she wanted grape-flavored oranges. Declan expressed his shock, but instead of finding her request unreasonable, he just told her to wait patiently. The next picture showed a large plate piled high with orange peels filled entirely with grape pulp. Then Tessa said she suddenly didn’t feel like eating them, and Declan praised her for knowing not to eat cold things, calling her sensible. My stomach churned as I looked at the screen. Once, before a performance, when I was hit with sudden, unbearable abdominal pain, I asked Declan to help me buy medicine. He had said dropping me off was already enough trouble and told me to stop being dramatic and just endure it. He left me pale-faced and went to play pool with his friends. My performance suffered greatly, and the collaborators were furious, almost terminating the contract. It was only through my desperate pleading, citing my previously excellent performances, that they let me stay. Arriving at the orchestra hall, I ran into Declan and Tessa, who were passing by. Declan casually asked, “Didn’t you say you had no concerts? Why are you here?” I told him truthfully I was requesting leave. Declan smiled with satisfaction. “Good. You know you need to take leave to care for Tessa. It seems you haven’t forgotten your duty.” I couldn’t be bothered to explain. I tried to walk away but was blocked by Tessa. “Hollis, you are so nice! But I’ve never heard music in a place like this before. Can your coworkers play something for me?” I wondered, “Everyone is busy. Who has time to entertain her?” I reached for the other door, trying to go around them. Declan thought I was going to attack Tessa and shoved me straight down the stairs. “Tessa’s pregnant! How can you be so vicious?!” I fell to the ground, touching the dull ache at the back of my head. The image of Declan’s expected hateful glare stole my breath. He could abandon all trust in me for someone he’d known less than half a year! Tessa immediately feigned shock, shrinking into Declan’s arms. “No wonder you’re a murderer, attacking even an unborn child.” Declan suddenly realized he’d pushed me too hard. He wanted to help me up but couldn’t bring himself to push Tessa away. In the end, he just stared at me without saying or doing anything. A passing colleague stopped in shock. Tessa immediately added, “Didn’t you know? She deliberately ran someone over to dig out their heart!” A colleague I wasn’t on good terms with immediately seized the opportunity. “Money really lets you do whatever you want, huh? No wonder her skills have slipped so badly, yet she still gets to stay in the orchestra.” I couldn’t take it when they insulted my family. Staggering to my feet, my vision blurry, I grabbed Tessa’s collar. My voice was hoarse as I tried to explain. Amidst Tessa’s terrified screams, Declan grabbed my hand but didn’t push me away this time. “You lunatic, calm down! Or else I’ll make sure your brother…” Declan lost his patience, resorting to his usual threats. He yanked my arm and slammed me against the wall. Unable to bear the false accusations any longer, I raised my voice, interrupting Declan, “Make my brother what? Let the whole world know what he did. Ask him why he wasn’t the one who died?! Well, now he’s dead! He’s dead. Are you satisfied now?!” Silence fell after my words. Declan’s mouth hung open, unable to form a single word. He stared blankly for a long time before speaking, “Are you serious…”

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I snapped a photo at the high school reunion of my ex-boyfriend with his arm around his fiancée as they announced their engagement. Just as I was about to hit send on a message to his mother saying “They look perfect together. Congratulations on getting what you wanted,” my wrist was suddenly grabbed tightly. “Oh, still in touch with my mom, are we?” Ethan glared at me, his expression dark. “What, didn’t get enough money out of us yet?” An eerie silence fell over the room. I looked up, my face pale. The music had stopped at some point. All eyes were on me. Everyone knew I had abandoned Ethan for money. The year he loved me most, I took $2 million from his mother Evelyn and left him without a backwards glance. He was furious at his mother’s meddling and went on a hunger strike, nearly destroying himself. His friends, barely concealing their disgust for me, came one by one to plead Ethan’s case. I refused to see any of them. Later, when Ethan’s life was in danger, his mother called me as a “last resort,” begging me to talk some sense into him. When I appeared before him, he clung to me desperately. Though he had wasted away to skin and bones, his grip was painfully tight. “Olivia, you came back. You still love me, don’t you? I knew it—” The joy in his voice was unmistakable. I coldly pushed him away and played him a voice recording and showed him a text message. The recording was of his mother asking me to see him, with me naming my price of $300,000. The text was a bank transfer confirmation for that amount. He stared at me in bewilderment, then violently shoved me away as realization dawned. But he used too much force and fell out of the bed, coughing painfully. “Olivia, get the hell out!” he spat out each word venomously as he lay crumpled on the floor. I left without looking back, just as he asked. Somehow, word of this incident spread. From that day on, I became the laughingstock of our town. Those who knew the story said I loved money more than anything, that I was heartless. Others claimed I had never loved Ethan at all, that I had only been after his family’s wealth from the start. No one cared about the truth… Later, once Ethan recovered, he entered into an arranged marriage with Sophia, the pampered daughter of a wealthy business tycoon. I received no less than ten invitations to his engagement party. They were all from his friends, of course. As per my “agreement” with his mother, I had completely vanished from Ethan’s life. But over the years, I kept tabs on everything he did. I knew he and Sophia went to study abroad together in America, even living together. I knew he completed a dual JD/MBA program at Harvard and Kennedy School in just two years. I knew that as soon as he joined his family’s company, he handled several extremely difficult cases brilliantly, earning the respect of even the most skeptical senior executives. I knew that although he and Sophia hadn’t officially married yet, they were already calling each other’s parents Mom and Dad… I didn’t go out of my way to find this information. His friends seemed to take perverse pleasure in keeping me updated on his accomplishments. They say a good ex should fade quietly into the background like they’re dead. But Ethan’s friends seemed determined to keep dragging me into the spotlight. As if proving how successful Ethan had become would somehow prove how foolish I had been. This high school reunion was the first time I had seen Ethan face-to-face in the three years since we broke up. Tomorrow I would be starting a new chapter of my life, far away from here. From now on, he would remain in his lofty world of wealth and status, while I retreated to my humble life in obscurity. Before coming here tonight, I had called his mother to make a final request. “You can go, but remember what you should and shouldn’t say or do,” was her curt response. I had agreed. Officially, I was here as Alex’s date to the reunion. But in reality, I had come hoping to verify some medical records with an old classmate who specialized in nephrology. There were some things I needed to know before I could find closure… I had anticipated Ethan’s scorn and cold shoulder. I had braced myself for the taunts and mockery of our former classmates. What I hadn’t expected was for Ethan to turn this reunion into a pre-wedding celebration. As the center of attention, he and Sophia played drinking games and flaunted their affection, completely at ease. The atmosphere was festive. No one was tactless enough to bring up the past. I managed to get the answers I needed from my classmate. Alex got held up chatting with some old friends, so I waited a bit longer than planned. Who would have thought that in the brief moment it took to snap a photo and type out a text, Ethan would materialize in front of me out of nowhere. Dragging me into the harsh spotlight of everyone’s scrutiny.

“So what if you’ve gotten enough? And what if you haven’t?” I raised an eyebrow at Ethan challengingly. “Is the great Mr. Shen offering to make up the difference?” “Olivia, three years apart and you’re still as cheap as ever!” He looked down at me coldly, his beautiful eyes filled with contempt. His words cut like a knife, piercing straight to my heart. I studied him through the hazy lights. He used to shine so brightly, a beacon of sincerity in this duplicitous world. Now he stood there in an expensive suit, still strikingly handsome, but his eyes were like bottomless pits. When he looked at me, there wasn’t a trace of the tenderness from years ago. I jerked my wrist, forcing him to step closer. “Manhandling other women in front of your fiancée – who’s really the cheap one here?” I shot back at him with the same venom as always. Except where we once exchanged words of love, now we traded barbed insults. Ethan seemed to snap out of it. He roughly let go of my hand and grabbed some wet wipes from the table, frantically scrubbing his hands. The insult couldn’t have been clearer. I didn’t want to stay a moment longer. I caught Alex’s eye and stood up to leave. But Ethan stepped in front of me, blocking my path. “Sweetie, come here. Let me introduce you to someone.” He called out to Sophia, his tone suddenly gentle. “Who’s this, babe?” Sophia minced over and clung to Ethan’s arm, leaning against him coyly. She was as sweet as her name suggested – cute and clearly pampered since birth. “She’s very special,” Ethan said to Sophia, but his eyes were fixed on me. “This is my ex-girlfriend, Olivia. The one who dumped me for $2 million.” His voice wasn’t loud, but it was enough for everyone to hear. The atmosphere in the room instantly changed. An overwhelming sense of humiliation washed over me. I kept my face impassive, quietly hiding my trembling hands behind my back. Tonight I could feel pain, I could laugh, but the one thing I absolutely could not do was show even a hint of weakness. “Is $2 million really that much? The necklace you gave me cost $10 million.” Sophia’s delicate fingers lightly traced the dazzling diamond necklace around her neck. She had matching earrings dangling from her small, perfect ears. “$10 million? That’s eight figures!” “She’s basically wearing a house around her neck!” Gasps of amazement rippled through the crowd. Followed by sneers and mocking laughter. Laughter at me for giving up such a handsome, wealthy boyfriend for a mere $2 million. Crunch Someone in the crowd crushed an empty beer can. Startled by the sound, I turned towards its source. Alex was casually playing with the mangled can, a wry smile on his face. I shook my head slightly at him, signaling him to stay calm. But Ethan suddenly let out a low chuckle. He pulled out a thick wad of hundred dollar bills from his pocket and tossed them carelessly into the air. “Olivia, I’ve got more money than I know what to do with.” “But you don’t deserve a cent of it.” The bills fluttered down, landing on my face, my body, scattering at my feet. “You’d better hold on tight to such a good boyfriend, little girl.” I forced a smile through the rain of judgmental stares. “Oh, I will.” Sophia looked up at Ethan adoringly. Their loving gazes met. “Aww, they’re so sweet together!” “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” Someone started the chant and soon the whole room was demanding they kiss. Ethan suddenly grabbed Sophia’s waist and dipped her onto the couch, bending down to kiss her passionately. The crowd went wild. They were making out right in front of me, mere feet away, bathed in the pulsing lights. The room was filled with cheers and whistles, but all I could hear was deafening silence.

I threw up violently in the bathroom. When I came out, I immediately spotted a tall figure lurking in the shadows. People were coming and going from the nearby private rooms. The flashing lights illuminated his face, revealing a storm of anger. It was Ethan. My body reacted before my mind could catch up. I spun around and ran. I was fast, but Ethan was faster. I had barely taken a step when he grabbed me by the shoulder. “Running away from me? Feeling guilty?” His grip was painfully tight. I tried to shake off his hold, but it was useless. “Guilty about what?” I laughed hoarsely. “I just didn’t see any point in catching up with you.” “Olivia, you hang around under my nose all night and now you say that? Isn’t it a bit late?” His voice was ice cold. “What do you mean ‘hanging around under your nose’? Am I not allowed to attend my own class reunion just because we broke up?” I straightened my back and turned to face him, slapping his hand away. “If that’s the case, why were you hiding in the bathroom throwing up?” He grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him. “Pregnant with someone’s baby? Or just disgusted?” The memory of him kissing Sophia flashed through my mind, making my stomach churn again. I had to use all my willpower not to throw up right there. “Didn’t eat much, but you sure threw up a lot,” he commented lazily when I didn’t respond. His words stung, making my eyes burn with unshed tears. “Ethan, we’re over. What the hell do you want from me?” I shoved him hard, but he caught my hands and pinned me against the wall. “I should be asking you that,” he leaned in close. “If you disappeared, why come back now?” The disgust and hatred in his eyes were unmistakable. My blood ran cold. I let out a bitter laugh. “What answer do you want to hear? That I can’t forget you and want to rekindle our love? Or that I regret everything and I’m begging for your forgiveness?” He didn’t say anything. He really did seem to want some kind of explanation. “Of course it’s—” “She came with me.” Before I could finish, a man’s amused voice cut in. A few steps away, Alex stood with his hands casually in his pockets. Who knows how long he had been watching from around the corner. “Bros before hoes, Ethan. You’re crossing a line here.” He added nonchalantly. “You… what do you mean?” Ethan’s voice suddenly shook. “I mean Olivia is my girlfriend now.” “I’m a year older than you, by the way. What, you’re allowed to have a fiancée but I can’t date?” Alex lazily rolled up his shirt sleeves. He looked ready to throw hands if Ethan didn’t let go of me soon. “You two are really… together?” Ethan’s gaze returned to me. Even in the dim light, I could feel the intensity of his stare. “Need us to make out to prove it?” I smirked coldly. “Do whatever you want…” Ethan released me and walked away. Alex let out a low whistle, a sly, victorious smile playing on his lips. My carefully constructed mask crumbled. I slumped against the wall and closed my eyes wearily. “I told you not to come. Now look what happened – you brought this on yourself.” Alex grumbled irritably. I opened my eyes and looked at him. “Some things can’t be delegated to others.” When he found out I was meeting with our doctor classmate, he had offered to ask on my behalf. I refused. Because I needed to hear the truth for myself. “You can fool yourself when it comes to feelings, but you can’t fool others.” Alex stepped in front of me, leaning one hand against the wall by my head as he looked down at me. “Liv, I’ve waited for you for seven years, and you’ve never given me the time of day.” “Just now when he was publicly humiliating you, I wanted to punch his lights out but you wouldn’t let me.” “Is he really so great that you’re still pining for him after three years apart?” Though his words were harsh, his tone was filled with poorly concealed pain. I wrapped my arms around his waist and buried my face in his chest. He noticeably stiffened. “Alex, some protection has nothing to do with love. There aren’t many second chances in life.” “Back then, I refused to see him even when he was begging. Showing up today was bound to upset him.” “If cursing me out a bit makes him feel better, I’ll take it. It’s my fault for coming here with an agenda.” I patiently explained. “Did you find out what you needed to know?” Alex sighed. I nodded slightly. “Then let’s go.” He ruffled my hair. “I’ll go get the car and meet you out front.” “Okay.” I reluctantly let go of him. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a figure quietly slip away…

On the drive home, Alex was unusually quiet. He didn’t speak, and I had no desire to talk either. “Remember your promise – I’m taking you tomorrow.” Just as I was about to get out of the car, he suddenly locked the doors. I wanted to refuse, but seeing the stubborn look in his eyes, I changed my mind. “Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten.” I smiled reassuringly at him and gave him an “okay” sign. Only then did he unlock the doors. As Alex’s car roared off into the distance, I stood lost in thought. He and Ethan used to be best friends. They grew up together, closer than brothers. Before I started dating Ethan, Alex had publicly given me a love letter. When I rejected him, he brazenly declared he “wouldn’t give up until the Yellow River ran clear.” After Ethan and I got together, Alex started dating too, but his relationships never lasted long. I thought his interest in me had just been a passing fancy. But he gradually withdrew from Ethan’s life and mine, eventually becoming estranged from Ethan. I had assumed our paths would never cross again. But when my family hit hard times, it was Alex who stayed with me through countless difficult days and nights at the hospital. He even acted as a smokescreen, successfully getting Evelyn to lower her guard against me. Apart from my parents, I have two regrets in the first half of my life. One is letting Ethan down, and the other is not being able to return Alex’s love… The night grew colder, the wind stinging any exposed skin. I wrapped my scarf tightly around my face and turned towards the apartment building. A car’s hazard lights suddenly flashed a short distance away. In the glow of the streetlights, I could make out the driver. It was James, Evelyn’s trusted chauffeur. I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. They really were relentless. I quickened my pace and got into the passenger seat. “What is it?” “Miss Olivia, please pack your things. We’re leaving tonight.” His voice was as gruff as ever. “Wasn’t the train ticket for 6am tomorrow?” I turned to look at him. “Is Mrs. Shen so impatient she can’t even wait one night?” He said nothing, just placed his phone on the center console. It was on speaker, mid-call. “Does Miss Olivia have a problem with this arrangement?” Sophia’s voice came through the speaker. Arrogant and domineering, completely different from her demure act earlier. “I wouldn’t dare.” I frowned slightly, smiling. “I just want to know if this is Mrs. Shen’s idea or Miss Jiang’s?” “Does it matter?” She let out a derisive snort. “Whoever’s idea it is, Miss Olivia just needs to know that Mrs. Shen will only feel at ease once you’re gone.” She paused. “And so will I.” Remembering the figure I glimpsed leaving earlier, I let out a mocking laugh. One encounter and she was already on guard against me. And me? What had I done to deserve this? “I’ll go, then.” I couldn’t be bothered to argue. I got out of the car and headed upstairs. I had already packed most of my things. What was left were just everyday items. After finishing up, I zipped my suitcase closed and took one last look around. This apartment was bought by my parents. We had lived here for over 20 years. Every corner held traces of our family. But now everything had changed. Even the property deed had been transferred. I left the keys on the shoe cabinet by the door, locked up, and headed downstairs with my suitcase. As the car drove towards the highway, I opened my phone to send a farewell message to the new owner. My eye caught on the unsent message from earlier. I no longer felt that urge to challenge Evelyn. I put my phone away and gazed out the window, silently saying goodbye to this chapter of my life. The city lights illuminated the inky night sky. Skyscrapers stretched as far as the eye could see, neon signs glaring. This city had been home to countless lonely souls, had witnessed the joys and sorrows of so many lives. But it was no longer a place where I belonged…

The car kept driving further and further out of the way. It wasn’t until I recognized the familiar estate that I realized James had brought me to the Shen family home. “The madam wanted to say goodbye to Miss Olivia in person.” James parked the car and politely opened my door. “Is that really necessary?” I didn’t budge. I had only been here a handful of times, but each visit was unforgettable. And not in a good way. I had no desire to set foot here again. “I’m just following orders,” he looked at me steadily. “Please don’t make this difficult for me, Miss Olivia.” I sat stubbornly in the car, locked in a stalemate with him. The cold night air seeped in, dispelling the warmth of the car heater. I shivered. “The young master doesn’t live here anymore,” he added after a long pause. Only then did I get out of the car. I was led through the grand entrance and into the receiving room, where I found Evelyn watching financial news on TV. Though nearly 50, her skin was still smooth and youthful. Illuminated by the crystal chandelier, she seemed to glow. “Here’s your ID. James will escort you to the station.” She lowered the TV volume and handed me an ID card after I sat down across from her. The photo showed a girl who looked somewhat similar to me. “You really went to great lengths to cover my tracks, Mrs. Shen.” I smiled. “When will I get my real documents back?” “After Ethan marries the Jiang girl.” She slid a new phone across the table to me. “Until then, I hope Miss Olivia will behave herself.” I immediately understood her meaning: she was confiscating my phone. My throat suddenly felt tight. It wasn’t enough to withhold my household registration and ID. Now she wanted to cut off all my connections too? “And if I refuse?” I clutched my phone tightly through my clothes. This phone was a gift from Ethan five years ago. It was part of a matching couple set. It had started to lag and crash lately from overuse. I had so many precious memories stored on it that I couldn’t bear to replace it. Even a small scratch made me anxious… “I don’t want anyone coveting my future daughter-in-law’s husband.” She pushed the new phone towards me again. “Miss Olivia, don’t make me use force.” With one sentence, she made the relationships and her stance crystal clear. Knowing I had no way out, I reluctantly took out my phone and placed it on the table. “James, take care of it.” She gestured. James picked up the phone, removed the SIM card and snapped both in half, then crushed the phone with his bare hands. I watched helplessly as my phone was destroyed beyond repair. “Thank you for your cooperation, Miss Olivia.” Evelyn nodded in satisfaction. “If you’re thanking me for obediently following your orders these past three years, I accept.” My gaze swept over the mangled remains of my phone. “But if you’re thanking me for my powerlessness to refuse just now, there’s no need.” “Life is long, Miss Olivia. You’re still young – you need to learn to look forward.” She raised her chin and instructed James, “It’s late. Take Miss Olivia to the station.” “Yes, ma’am.” James responded. I got up silently and headed for the door, my head bowed. James hurried ahead and stuffed the new phone into my hand. I accepted it numbly. “Olivia—” Just as James was about to open the door, Evelyn spoke again. I turned back like a puppet on strings. “Stay alive. No one wants to fight over a dead person.” She sat with her arms crossed, radiating authority. I let out a humorless laugh. All these years, she had treated me like a thief, guarding against my every move. Now she destroyed my phone before I left, paranoid that I might reconnect with Ethan. But Ethan was far too proud. After being hurt by me multiple times, how could he possibly look back? The most ridiculous part was that after doing so many despicable things, she could still bring herself to wish me a long life… “Understood.” I responded coldly and walked out past James. As soon as the door opened, I froze in my tracks. Ethan was standing right outside. He stood tall and straight, his breathing steady. But those dark eyes burned with a quiet intensity.

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I had been with Lucas for ten years. I tattooed his favorite jasmine flower on my collarbone. He finally agreed to marry me, but he was keeping an 18-year-old girl on the side. Before the wedding, he indulged in a countdown to breaking up with her. He went bungee jumping with her, skiing, and watching the Northern Lights in Iceland. But he didn’t know that I didn’t have much time left. I booked a flight to leave the country, donated all his assets, and removed the tattoo. While he was counting down the days to our wedding, I was planning my escape from him. On the day I was diagnosed with stomach cancer, the young girl Lucas was keeping on the side came to find me. “I know I’m the other woman,” she began, her sincerity terrifying. She bit her lip, “Sister, I know you’re getting married soon, but—” “Lucas doesn’t love you anymore.” “I’ve been with him for a year. We’ve slept together 78 times, 53 times in hotels, 21 times at my place.” “And four times at your house, in your bed.” She looked at me directly, “If Lucas still loved you, I wouldn’t exist.” I found it amusing. I lit a cigarette and looked at her through the smoke, “Anything else? Go on.” So she took out her phone and played a video for me. The angle was discreet, as if secretly recorded. The girl was crying in Lucas’s arms, “Even if you’re marrying her out of responsibility, can’t you not let me go?” Lucas pushed her away and threw a credit card at her, “Find a stable man. Being with me isn’t good either, it’s too dangerous.” “No!” She clung to his waist, pouting, “I’m not afraid of danger.” “Can’t you not let me go?” “Lucas, I won’t be a burden to you, I absolutely won’t.” Lucas paused. His gaze swept over her face, momentarily lost. Then he leaned in to kiss her.

I stubbed out my cigarette. The young girl had just turned eighteen, her face full of collagen, truly innocent. And, the moment I saw her, I knew. She looked a lot like me. Very much like Aria at eighteen. “You’re right about one thing. If Lucas still loved me, you wouldn’t exist.” I stood up, my abdomen actually hurting a bit. I leaned on the table for support, not showing it. “But I advise you not to get in too deep. Lucas doesn’t love you, nor does he love me.” “He only loves the Aria in his memories.” The pure, beautiful Aria who died on the path of helping him rise to power. “In a few years, he’ll find a new replacement. By then, you’ll be worse off than me.” Actually, I was lying to her. I was about to die, how could she possibly be worse off than me? At most, she’d just be dumped when Lucas got bored of her.

I had been with Lucas since I was eighteen. I grew up without parents, and the grandmother who raised me passed away when I was fifteen. That’s when Lucas appeared. He pursued me intensely. Spending money like crazy, as if he wanted to offer me the best of everything in the world. Lucas was handsome and gave me a sense of security. I fell for him quickly. On my nineteenth birthday, he coaxed me into my first time. That night. From pain to ecstasy. I became completely one with him. The next day, Lucas took me to meet his group of brothers. I had never been in such a situation before, timidly clinging to Lucas’s sleeve, softly greeting people with him. Their gazes as they sized me up were full of mockery. “Lucas, why did you find such a young girl?” “She’s too innocent, she’ll hold you back.” At that time, I didn’t know what they meant by “hold you back”. I couldn’t help but retort quietly, “I won’t.” “I won’t be a burden to Lucas.” Definitely not. But later, as I gradually became exposed to Lucas’s environment, I understood what kind of life he was living. It could be described as dancing on the edge of a knife. To avoid holding Lucas back, to be able to stand by his side, I had to force myself to fit into that environment. Ten years. I cut my hair short, dyed it, started smoking, got tattoos. Even accumulated countless scars on my body. Because I was tough enough, I accompanied Lucas to climb to the position of second-in-command of the underground forces in the north of the city. But Lucas didn’t seem happy. Countless nights. He would hold me in his arms, his fingers brushing over the scars on my body, then leaning in to kiss them. “Aria.” He buried his face in my chest and sighed, “I still prefer the you from back then.” And I would always pause before pushing him away and lighting a cigarette. Laughing and cursing, “Lucas, you’re really ungrateful when you say that.”

Lucas came home at dawn. I was lying in bed, actually not asleep. Just staring into the darkness with open eyes. Until Lucas pulled me into his arms. “Not asleep yet?” He leaned down to kiss me but missed. After a moment’s pause, he suppressed his temper and hugged me, “Who upset you? I’ll go cut them down, okay?” “Lucas.” “Mm.” The room was so dark I couldn’t see his face. But I could smell the jasmine scent on him. “Let’s break up.” Lucas’s movements froze, then he let go and lay down beside me, “What’s wrong now?” He impatiently pressed his brow, “You’re not a little girl anymore, why are you being so dramatic?” “What break up,” he laughed, “Aria, you’re not young anymore. Who would marry a wife who smokes, drinks, has tattoos, and is tougher than a man?” My chest ached. I pressed hard on my heart, but couldn’t suppress the fine pain. Last year when my arm was stitched, I was allergic to anesthesia. Twelve stitches, sewn raw, I didn’t make a sound. But Lucas’s few words of drunken truth made my eyes red. “Lucas,” I couldn’t help but want to ask him, “If I had a terminal illness, would you…” “Aria.” He interrupted me, his brow furrowed with impatience, “Stop asking such boring questions.” “If you really had a terminal illness, I’d accompany you in suicide, okay?” He pressed his brow, “I’m busy with the wedding and business lately, I don’t have the energy to humor you. Don’t act up.” As he spoke, his phone suddenly rang. Lucas irritably hung up. But the other party called again. After this back and forth a few times, Lucas got out of bed with the phone, “Speak.” A girl’s crying came through the receiver, not very clear. Lucas cursed, “F*cking troublesome.” Despite calling it trouble, he still hurriedly left. “There’s a problem with business, I’m going to deal with it.” “You go to sleep early, don’t wait for me.”

My wedding with Lucas was set for the third day of next month. A simple wedding. I never told Lucas about my illness. Terminal stage, basically incurable. I also never told Lucas that I had no intention of marrying him at all. I could accept everything about Lucas. Except betrayal. Just thinking about him holding another woman in his arms, kissing her brow and eyes, searching for traces of my younger self in her, made my stomach churn. Utterly nauseating. I had been with Lucas since I was eighteen, exactly ten years now. Now, the doctor said I only had about half a year left to live. By that calculation, I had wasted nearly half my life on him. For the little time I had left. I just wanted to be Aria. I booked a flight out of the country, wanting to see the world I loved but had never seen while I still had the strength. And the flight was also set for the third day of next month.

Early in the morning, I crossed off another day on the calendar. Ten days left until I leave the country. I heard the door open behind me. Lucas came in wrapped in wind and snow, took off his coat, and came over to hug me. He still didn’t like my short hair. His gaze followed mine to the calendar, Lucas looked at the heavily circled date of the third next month and laughed, gently pinching my face, “Can’t wait to marry me?” He counted, “Ten more days.” He buried his face in my neck, “I’ll make time these two days to dye your hair back to black with you, and get some hair extensions?” “You’ll be beautiful at the wedding.” “No need.” I looked at the calendar expressionlessly, “Not many days left.” “Short hair is fine too.” Lucas was silent for a while, “Mm.” He let go of me and picked up the coat draped over the chair, “There’s a lot to do for the wedding, and Old Three’s place was just trashed yesterday. I’m busy lately, I won’t be coming back for now.” Lucas stared at me as he spoke. As if waiting for me to give in. Waiting for me to say okay, come with me to dye my hair, to get long hair extensions. But I just looked back at him coldly. “Go then.” “After all, only ten days left.” Lucas said nothing, turned and stepped into the night. Never looking back.

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My wife sent me to a military training camp on a remote island, intending to turn me into a bodyguard for her ex-boyfriend. Little did I know, this “camp” was a living nightmare. Trapped on the island, I was caged like an animal, beaten mercilessly, and even forced into breeding programs. When I finally found a chance to call my wife for help, she dismissed my pleas, thinking I was exaggerating: “If you can’t handle this much, how can you protect Daniel?” Unable to bear the humiliation any longer, I made the desperate decision to end my life by jumping into the sea. Only when my wife learned of my death did she realize the gravity of her mistake. Panicked and grief-stricken, she knelt by the shore, crying and begging for me to come back – but it was too late. “Quick, strip him and take him to the breeding room. The people inside can’t wait any longer,” the man said with a lewd grin that made him look like a demon. I stood frozen, not daring to resist as they tore off my clothes. The man nodded approvingly at my submission, his hand snaking around my waist like a cold, venomous serpent. “You’re a natural breeding stud. If the boss hadn’t chosen you, I might not be able to resist tasting you myself,” he said, yanking on the iron chain around my neck and dragging my naked body out. Everyone around stared at me with malicious intent. I tried to act oblivious, mechanically following behind the man. He led me to a sealed room. The men and women inside lunged at me like wolves spotting prey, their eyes glowing with hunger. I could no longer suppress my terror. I screamed and thrashed, desperately trying to escape. But it was useless – countless filthy hands dragged me back. I don’t know how long it lasted. Eventually, I was tossed to the ground like a broken rag doll. My body was covered in bruises, not an inch of skin unharmed. I stared at the ceiling with lifeless eyes. Why? Why did I have to endure such suffering? Who could save me? Perhaps heaven heard my prayers, as I suddenly spotted a phone on the floor. My heart, which I thought had died, started beating again. If I could just call my wife Sarah, I might be saved! I crawled painfully forward, grabbed the phone, and dialed the number I knew by heart. My voice was hoarse from disuse, but the strong will to survive made me struggle to explain my situation. “Sarah, I’ve been kidnapped to a remote island. This place is hell, they-” Before I could finish, Sarah impatiently cut me off. “I’m the one who sent you there. It’s just a military training camp, isn’t it? Stay put and train well. When you come out, you’ll be Daniel’s bodyguard. I don’t trust anyone else around him, only you are suitable.” My heart, which had just started beating again, sank to the depths. It was my own wife who had sent me to this hell. And all of this was just so I could be her ex-boyfriend’s bodyguard! I desperately tried to convince myself that Sarah just didn’t know the true situation here. If she knew, she would surely rescue me. “Sarah, this place is for rich people to indulge their twisted desires. They treat people like animals here. I’ll die if I stay. Please, call the police and save me.” Sarah scoffed on the other end of the line. “James, how can you come up with such a ridiculous excuse? It’s just a bit tough at the military camp, and you’re acting like you’re dying. How are you going to protect Daniel in the future? Just stay there obediently. I specifically chose this island so you wouldn’t have a chance to escape!” I tried to explain further, but then I heard Daniel’s gentle voice in the background. The next thing I knew, the call had been disconnected. My heart shattered completely. Despite the summer heat, I felt a chill throughout my body. This was the woman I had loved deeply for years. I lost all will to live, lying on the floor like a soulless shell. When the man came back, he sneered and forced himself on me again. I lay there, unresponsive. After he finished, he spat on me in disgust. “Damn, you’re like a corpse.” I had no reaction to his curse. As they were taking me back, I gazed at the distant sea. I thought I heard a voice whispering in my ear. Come, come to the embrace of the ocean. The sea can wash away all filth and take away all sins. Somehow, I found the strength to break free from the man’s grasp and ran desperately forward. I don’t want to live like an animal anymore! I don’t want to be anyone’s plaything! Looking at the clear blue sea, I jumped in without hesitation. A faint smile of relief played on my lips. In the last second before losing consciousness, I could feel sharks tearing at my body. Perhaps it was because I had unfinished business, but when I regained awareness, I found my soul had returned to my wife Sarah’s side. I saw Sarah, who had always looked at me with disgust, now tenderly feeding Daniel fruit. “Daniel, your fans are too crazy. I can’t believe they hurt you. Don’t worry, when James comes back, I’ll have him be your bodyguard.” My heart filled with desolation. If Sarah and Daniel were strangers to me, I might have praised her for being such a considerate lover. But Sarah was my wife. I was her lawful husband. Years ago, when Sarah’s family faced a crisis, Daniel abandoned her and cut off all contact to go abroad. It was I who stayed by her side through those difficult times. For six whole years. I thought I could warm her heart. But just one month after Daniel returned, all of Sarah’s attention was focused on him. I had argued and fought about it before. All I got in return was Sarah’s cold response: “There’s nothing between us. Believe it or not.” Now, for his sake, she even sent me to that demon island. Sarah, after learning of my death, will you feel even a shred of regret? Daniel’s eyes flashed with triumph, but his tone seemed hesitant. “Sarah, James is your husband after all. He probably doesn’t want to be my bodyguard. The training must be very hard.” Sarah’s face was full of disdain. “I’ve already sent him to the island for training. Whether he wants to or not, he has to do it.” “How hard can it be in there? When he comes back, we’ll let him rest for a few days and he’ll be fine.” “Besides, he just called me. He seems to be having a great time in there!” How hard can it be? Being treated like an animal inside, chained 24 hours a day, beaten mercilessly at the slightest provocation. Even… even becoming a plaything for those people! They fed me the most potent drugs. They surrounded me, watching me writhe in agony on the ground, attacking me with the vilest language. “Say it! Say it loud, you’re a breeding pig!” “Are you mute? Just say it, and we’ll give you the antidote.” Even as a disembodied soul, remembering those hellish days made my pupils constrict and my body tremble involuntarily. Yet in Sarah’s words, a casual “let him rest for a few days” seemed like some great kindness to me. But to me, it all meant nothing now. I was completely free. Daniel asked curiously, “Sarah, what did James say when he called?” Sarah didn’t even look up, focused on peeling an apple. “He said he was being abused in there. A grown man can’t even handle this much hardship and tries to trick me with excuses. I won’t believe him.” My heart was pierced with countless needles of pain. In six years together, Sarah seemed to have never understood me. I had never lied to her. Perhaps it was because she didn’t love me, so she didn’t care how I treated her. Daniel jokingly looked at Sarah. “Sarah, what if James wants a divorce when he comes back?” Sarah’s face instantly turned cold. “He wouldn’t dare! I won’t agree even if he dies!” I didn’t understand. Sarah clearly didn’t love me, so why did she react so strongly to the mention of divorce? Shouldn’t she be eager to divorce me and marry Daniel? Daniel’s eyes flashed with a hint of malice: “Sarah, I was just asking. After all, James loves you so much. I’m afraid he might get angry when he finds out you sent him for training because of me.” Sarah snorted coldly: “So what if he knows? He stays at home all day doing nothing, almost like a useless person. Being your bodyguard is perfect for him. I wouldn’t trust anyone else.” Sarah, have you forgotten everything? I once had my own career too. When your family’s company was in trouble, I decisively gave up everything to come to your side and help you day and night. Even now, I still handle some company affairs. But in your words, I’ve become a useless person who does nothing. How absurd. All these years of dedication were just my one-sided love, it seems. Sarah carefully fed the apple to Daniel. “Next time there’s danger, let James take the hit for you. You’re an actor, your face can’t afford to be injured.” It’s always like this. Ever since Daniel came back, he’s always been Sarah’s top priority. When I was sick with a high fever and wanted her to keep me company, she said she had to attend a banquet with Daniel and had no time.

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My 10-year-old son reported me for watching obscene videos. He pointed at me angrily and said, “Mom’s life with you must be miserable!” What he didn’t know was that this video was captured by the hidden camera I had installed in the bedroom. The pixelated protagonists were my wife and her lover. After the police arrived, my wife also rushed home. Her eyes were red-rimmed as she said, “Honey, I never thought you were this kind of person!” I let out a cold laugh and said, “Since the police are here, let’s talk about the divorce.” “Dad, why are you watching this kind of video?!” A voice suddenly sounded behind me, and I whipped my head around. Ten-year-old Liam glared at me angrily, “If I hadn’t snuck in quietly, I wouldn’t have known you were watching this kind of video!” I quickly closed the video and was about to explain, but he took out his phone and dialed 911 right in front of me. “Son, you’ve misunderstood. It’s not what you think.” He gritted his teeth and said, “Mom’s life with you must be miserable!” Hearing these words, I felt as if I had fallen into an icy pit. Aria and I had known each other for three years and been married for twelve. From the beginning, we had agreed to be a DINK (Double Income, No Kids) family. It wasn’t until her belly gradually swelled that she came clean with me. “Honey, I’m sorry. I changed my mind. I want to have a child of my own, so I… tampered with the protection.” When both sets of parents found out about this news, they all pressured me to keep the child. After Liam was born, I slowly began to experience the feeling of being a parent. For this son, I can say I held nothing back. Now, he wouldn’t even give me a chance to explain. Seeing this scene, besides anger at my wife’s infidelity, I felt more heartbroken. “Ding dong—” The doorbell rang abruptly. Liam hurried to open the door and pointed at me angrily, “Officer, I want to report my dad for watching that kind of video!” The two police officers who came looked at me and said, “As a parent, you’re not setting a good example for your child. Instead, you’re making the child warn you.” Before I could speak, Aria rushed home in a hurry. Seeing her return, Liam went forward and hugged her arm, “Mom, Dad was secretly watching that kind of video!” Aria looked at me with disappointment all over her face, “Honey, have I not been good enough that you had to watch those videos?” She’s such a good actress! When we first got together, Aria told me she liked buying bags. She said she wanted to fill a whole closet with bags. To fulfill her wish, I worked like crazy. My colleagues joked that I was working harder than a workhorse. After Liam was born, I quit my stable job against my parents’ wishes and started a business with a friend. In the early stages of the startup, we had cash flow problems. Aria sent me a link to a handbag. [Honey, I want this.] I tried to appease her: [Once this project is secured, I’ll buy it for you.] [Caleb Frost, you can’t even afford a bag. You’re so useless!] That night, to secure the project, I drank with the client bottle after bottle until I was nauseous and vomiting. When I finally bought that bag, wanting to surprise her, she didn’t even glance at it. She said, “That bag is already out of style. Honey, I want this one. I know you’re so good, you’ll definitely buy it for me.” Only when I bought bags for Aria would she say such sweet words to me. They were the most insincere words, but I had been fooled by her for so many years. Thinking of this, I trembled with anger. “Officer, please check my dad’s phone quickly.” Liam urged from the side. I laughed coldly and said, “Aria Sinclair, do you think I should let the police see the video?”

In all these years of marriage, I had rarely called her by her name. Aria looked at me coldly, a hint of mockery at the corner of her mouth. “Caleb Frost, you dare to do it but not admit it? Did I make you watch that kind of video?” Since she said that, I didn’t need to consider her face anymore. “Officers, there’s a child here. Why don’t we move to the bedroom?” Aria muttered, “You didn’t think about the child when you were watching it.” At that time, I was so overwhelmed with anger that I hadn’t noticed Liam coming in and opening the door. As soon as we entered the bedroom, Aria crossed her arms and said in a disgusted tone, “Caleb Frost, you watch these videos behind my back. Have you also been seeing other women behind my back?” I was stunned for a few seconds, not expecting her to turn the tables on me. Originally, I had pixelated the faces of Aria and her lover out of consideration for our marriage. Now it seemed there was no need for that at all. I opened the computer and asked Aria again, “Are you sure you want me to play it?” She frowned impatiently, “You’re so indecisive. How did I ever fall for a man like you!” I smiled and clicked play. The moment the faces appeared, Aria lunged forward like a madwoman to shut off the computer. The two police officers beside us were at a loss for words, “What’s going on here?” I looked at the guilty-looking Aria and slowly said, “What I was watching wasn’t obscene videos, but videos of my wife cheating with another man.” As soon as I finished speaking, Aria screamed, “Caleb Frost, shut up!” I spoke calmly, “Since the police are here, let’s talk about the divorce.” “Divorce?! You want to divorce me?” Aria looked at me in disbelief. When I first got together with Aria, I would rush to do part-time jobs after work. I finally bought her the bag she had always wanted but couldn’t afford. The moment she got the bag, she looked at it in disbelief, “This bag is so expensive, can it be returned?” At that time, I only thought her expression was cute and wanted to be even better to her. Now I just felt utterly disgusted. The two police officers were caught in the middle and looked a bit uncomfortable, “This is a family matter between you two. Try not to say these things in front of the child.” Seeing the police leave, Liam looked confused, “Mom, why wasn’t Dad arrested?” Aria glared at me fiercely, “Son, if Dad and Mom get divorced, who do you want to live with?” Without thinking, Liam blurted out, “Of course with Mom!” Hearing this answer, Aria seemed to have gained the upper hand. I only asked one question, “Do you like him?” Hearing this, Aria’s face turned shy, “Jasper is a thousand times better than you. What can you do besides give me money?” I was almost laughed with anger. If I didn’t work, who would support the daily expenses of this family? Which of Aria’s bags didn’t start at over a thousand dollars? Which of Liam’s school fees, extracurricular classes, and tuition fees didn’t start at over ten thousand? I took a deep breath, “Let’s get divorced. You leave with nothing.” “What?!” Aria shrieked, “Caleb Frost, what gives you the right to make me leave with nothing?” I sneered, “Aria Sinclair, you cheated first. Since you don’t want my money and only want that man’s love, I’ll grant your wish.” Aria was speechless for a moment, “Fine, let’s divorce. Caleb Frost, don’t regret it!” Seeing Aria and me at daggers drawn, Liam actually reached out to push me. “Don’t bully my mom!” At this moment, something broke in my heart. As a man, not only had my wife cheated, but my son didn’t understand me either. The happy family I had always believed in was nothing but an illusion. After saying this, Aria ran to the bedroom to pack her things. I watched her stuffing those bags into her suitcase, afraid of leaving even one behind. Take them, take as many as you can. The more you take now, the more you’ll have to return.

Not long after Aria left with Liam, my parents called. As soon as I answered, my mom started persuading me, “Caleb, Aria brought Liam to our place. There’s no grudge between husband and wife that can’t be resolved overnight. Just talk it out.” I was a bit surprised. She didn’t go to find that lover Jasper but went to my parents instead. I spoke firmly, “Mom, we must get divorced. Aria admitted herself that she only loves my money, not me as a person.” “Caleb Frost, you’re talking nonsense!” Aria’s voice came through the receiver, “Caleb Frost, are you even a man? I ruined my figure to give you a child, and it hasn’t even recovered properly yet!” Back when Aria was pregnant with Liam, she had severe morning sickness. I saw it with my own eyes and felt the pain in my heart. As long as she said a word, I never said no. In the middle of the night, if she wanted grapes, even if it was pouring rain outside, I would brave the storm to go from door to door looking for them. But what did I get in return? “Aria Sinclair, don’t forget I have the video.” After saying this, I heard my mom’s voice on the other end of the phone. “Aria, wake up!” I hung up the phone and found a reliable lawyer through a contact. Aria had cheated during our marriage, so the marital property should be equally divided, but personal property couldn’t be divided by the other party. After marrying me, Aria became a full-time housewife. In all these years, I could count on my fingers the number of times she cooked. Sometimes when I came home late from business dinners, she would look at me with disgust, “You stink of alcohol. You’re not allowed in the bedroom tonight!” She was used to enjoying life without working for it, used to being pampered. Well, the taste of hitting rock bottom would surely be unforgettable for her. The next day, when I went to get the divorce agreement, I received a call from Aria’s mother. “Caleb Frost, you’ve upset Aria so much she’s in the hospital. If you’re still a man, come to the hospital and see her!” Of course I would go. This good show couldn’t go on without me. I slowly walked into the hospital room. Aria was leaning against the headboard, surrounded by three elders, looking pale. Seeing me arrive, my mom came over and reproached me, “Caleb, quickly apologize to Aria.” Mrs. Sinclair looked at me with hatred in her eyes. I let out a light sneer, “I’ve already drafted the divorce agreement.” Mrs. Sinclair snatched it first, and when she saw the property division, she shouted at the top of her lungs, “Caleb Frost, you’re not human! How dare you make Aria leave with nothing!” “Leave with nothing?” My mom frowned slightly, “Caleb, what exactly happened between you and Aria?” I looked coldly at Aria, “You won’t say it? Do you want me to show them the video?” Aria’s lips quivered, “I’m pregnant.” This sentence was like a stone thrown into a calm lake. Mrs. Sinclair seemed to have found her backbone and started questioning me, “You, Caleb Frost! Aria is pregnant with your child, and this is how you treat her? Are you even human?!” My parents also joined in. “Caleb, pregnancy is no small matter. Your father and I have also quarreled for so many years.” “You said you wanted to be childless before. If it weren’t for Aria, we wouldn’t have a grandson. You can’t divorce.” No wonder Aria went to my parents first. So this was what she was waiting for. I took out my phone, found the video, and prepared to play it. Afraid my parents would be shocked, I planned to just let them hear the audio. The next second, Aria said, “I’m pregnant, but the child isn’t Caleb’s.” [Truncation point] “Aria, what are you saying!” Mrs. Sinclair pushed Aria, “If the child isn’t Caleb’s, whose could it be?”

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I had been in a relationship with Adam Walker for seven years. Whenever a girl clung to him, he would give me a diamond ring to prevent any misunderstandings. Over the years, my jewelry box was filled with various diamond rings he had collected from around the world. Each one was priceless and unique, sparkling brilliantly under the light. A few days ago, he once again slipped a 6-carat pink diamond onto my finger. I knew he had spent $13 million to have it custom-made. Looking at that shimmering pink stone, I smiled self-mockingly: “Adam, let’s break up.” Adam had just returned home after closing a deal in New York when he slipped a diamond ring onto my left ring finger. A 6-carat pink diamond. It was a limited edition high-end custom piece, worth $13 million – an astronomical sum. But my stomach churned, and I felt sick. I took out the anti-inflammatory medication prescribed by my doctor and swallowed two pills. Adam placed the back of his hand on my forehead, his tone worried: “Are you sick?” “Didn’t we agree to go to the concert a few days ago? I’ll book the tickets right away. Once you’re feeling better, I’ll go with you.” I shook off his hand. “Forget it.” “But that’s their final concert, there won’t be any more after this.” I had planned for this concert a year in advance, told him the date, and he had promised to accompany me. But on the day of departure, he said he had to go negotiate a business deal and couldn’t make it. Adam’s brows furrowed, his face full of guilt. “I’m sorry, I really know I was wrong. I promised you something and couldn’t follow through. But this project was hard-won by our partners, I had no choice but to go.” We had been dating for seven years, and everyone thought he cherished me like a precious gem. He was particularly mindful of my feelings. Every time, whether it was his fault or not, he would be the first to soften and apologize. His remorse often made me wonder if I was being too harsh. “Olivia, I’ll buy you their collector’s edition CD right now. Don’t be angry, okay? Whatever you want me to do in the future, I’ll agree to it.” Just as he finished speaking, someone sent him a text message. He went to the kitchen to get some food, and took the opportunity to reply to the message while there. When he came out, his expression wasn’t quite natural. “Our partners have come to inspect the project site, I need to receive them personally.” I tugged at the hem of his shirt. “The CEO loves lotus pastries, so I brought some you made for him in the kitchen. It’s a gesture of hospitality. Be good, wait for me to come back.” With that, he went to the bedroom to change into a suit and sprayed on some fresh cologne. I couldn’t find any traces in his phone left on the coffee table. All chat records from every app had been thoroughly deleted. It seemed like I was being overly suspicious. But in his private TikTok collection, I saw a beautiful and delicate girl. Her smile was like a coquettish cat, her eyes sparkled like stars, as beautiful as the deepest flame in the dark night, with features similar to mine. The first few videos on her profile were all shot in New York. In her videos, she was tightly holding a hand wearing the same couple’s ring as mine. In her pinned video, she was wearing the pink diamond ring Adam had given me, and wrote: [Pink diamonds are too tacky, I asked my darling to throw it away and buy me my favorite blue Heart of the Ocean instead. Holidays should be spent with the man you love most. Love you.] I recorded the video with my phone and sent it to my best friend, then deleted all viewing records. Before he came out of the bedroom, I put his phone back in its original position and placed his polished leather shoes by the entrance. Another diamond ring was added to my jewelry box.

Whenever he attracted bees and butterflies, with girls pursuing Adam, he would be afraid I’d misunderstand and search for all kinds of exquisite diamond rings to give me. He told me that I was his girlfriend of many years, and although he hadn’t done anything wrong, he only wanted to reassure me and make me understand that I was the only one in his heart. He loved me, and it was something that all the money in the world couldn’t compare to. He hoped to buy me all the most precious diamond rings in the world to make me happy. The large jewelry box was filled with 136 diamond rings. Seven years, and I never imagined he had been afraid of my misunderstanding 136 times. As I was lost in thoughts of the past, my best friend immediately called me on video chat. Adam hadn’t gone out for business at all, he was just in the underground parking lot of my apartment complex. Soon, he strode with long legs towards the girl from the TikTok video. The girl jumped with joy, smiling radiantly as she threw herself into his arms. He lovingly lifted her chin and leaned in for a passionate kiss. In the dim parking lot, the light cast a hazy glow. The handsome man and beautiful woman embraced silently, as if time had frozen in that moment. She stood gracefully, her long hair cascading down her shoulders like a waterfall, her eyes as clear as autumn water, her luscious lips slightly parted. If he wasn’t my boyfriend, I would have thought they made a perfect match. After lingering for a long time, Adam finally let her go reluctantly and pulled out a red jewelry box from his pocket. “You said you like gold jewelry, I brought this especially for you. You’ll definitely be surprised.” “Thank you, the company team building event tomorrow night is so important. I wonder if I can wear it there?” The girl tentatively probed. “Of course.” Adam stood tall and straight as a pine tree, his deep eyes full of tenderness. “Just don’t damage it, this is only borrowed. After the banquet is over, I have to return it to Olivia Thompson.” My breath caught in my throat. I did indeed have a lot of gold jewelry, and I couldn’t tell which piece he had taken. The girl leaned into his arms and began to act coquettishly. “I understand, you don’t need to remind me all the time.” She clung to Adam’s arm as they entered the elevator, her voice soft and sweet: “Adam, I don’t know why my chest has been feeling uncomfortable lately. When we get upstairs, you must help me check what’s wrong.” They took the elevator up. My friend walked to the elevator and started recording the floor numbers. The elevator stopped on the 8th floor, while my apartment was on the 9th floor. By the time she climbed the stairs to the 8th floor, she could only hear the sound of keys turning in the lock outside, but couldn’t capture any images of people. “Adam, is it because your girlfriend doesn’t cool you down enough, so every time you see me, you’re so eager…” An ambiguous atmosphere lingered in the air. Adam let out a muffled groan, tinged with displeasure. “Chloe Davis!” The girl panted heavily: “Okay, I get it, can’t talk bad about her behind her back, right…” Urgent gasps echoed throughout the hallway, but ceased abruptly the moment the door closed. My friend didn’t have a key, so naturally couldn’t go in, and could only wait outside the door for my response. My face was pale, and my hand holding the phone trembled uncontrollably. “Olivia, do you want to wait until they come out and see where the girl lives?” “No need, it was too dark in the parking lot earlier, I couldn’t see clearly what style of gold necklace it was. Did you take any photos or anything?” “I did, but the girl put it away, so I didn’t capture the gold necklace.” My heart clenched painfully, and hot tears slid down the corners of my eyes as I curled up tightly on the sofa. Chloe Davis. There was a time when Adam wouldn’t allow anyone to mention her name.

Adam’s good friend told me that he once had a deeply loved soulmate named Chloe Davis. She was gentle and virtuous, but for some reason, Adam’s mother strongly disliked Chloe and wouldn’t allow them to be together. Eight years ago, Chloe’s father forced her to marry the CEO of a well-known company in Paris. During the wedding, Adam’s mother saw Chloe crying her eyes out in Adam’s arms in the rest room, their clothes disheveled. Chloe even said that as long as Adam’s mother agreed, she would immediately cancel the engagement and elope with Adam. Adam’s mother was furious and drove her son home, forbidding him from seeing Chloe again. Chloe settled abroad, got married and had children. Adam was in a daze for an entire year, and only managed to heal his wounded heart after seeing me, whose appearance was similar to Chloe’s. Ironically, it wasn’t until this moment that I realized I was nothing more than a substitute for Chloe. Now that the real deal had appeared, wasn’t it time for me to gracefully exit? I held the pink diamond up to the sunlight and examined it again and again. Such a precious diamond ring was indeed worthy of Chloe. When Adam returned to my bedroom late at night, he thought I was asleep. The strong smell of alcohol stung my nostrils, followed by the sound of his snoring. His phone was on silent, but the screen lit up again and again with several incoming messages. Scrolling to the top, Chloe asked how he was doing and suggested he sleep at her place if he was drunk. Adam: [Absence makes the heart grow fonder, it’s better if you keep thinking about me.] Chloe: [So tell me clearly, do you want me to think about you as a person, or think about your body?] [Both. Tomorrow night’s company team building event, I’ll take you to see the empire I’ve built for you.] Bitterness welled up in my heart. Two weeks ago, Adam told me about the company team building event and said he would take me along to introduce me to the employees as the future boss’s wife. But yesterday he said the team building event was canceled. In fact, the event was still happening, he just didn’t want to go with me. Their team building location was set at a luxurious KTV on Flower Stream Road, and I arrived as scheduled. The company had been established for two years with numerous employees, but none of them had truly met me before. Adam entered amidst cheers, reluctant to let go of the shy Chloe’s hand beside him. Her chestnut-colored hair cascaded down her back like seaweed, her fair skin glowed even more radiantly under the lights, her delicate features were exquisitely beautiful, and the teardrop mole at the corner of her eye gave her an air of cold allure. Paired with that exquisite gold necklace, she exuded an aura of nobility. The employees whispered among themselves, all discussing how beautiful the future boss’s wife was. I couldn’t help but approach as well. In the dim lighting, no one paid attention to me in my black formal dress. The moment I clearly saw the necklace around her neck, my pupils constricted sharply. That was… my mother’s keepsake! I rushed forward in one swift motion, throwing my drink directly in Chloe’s face. Before she could react, I kicked her to the ground. “Who gave you the guts to steal my necklace? Take it off and give it back to me right now!”

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