Category: English

At the gala, I pressed my wine glass against Lucas’s bobbing Adam’s apple. “Why so quiet now, Mr. Seasons?” I teased. Lucas tilted his head away from the brim of the glass, avoiding the spilling wine. “Please behave yourself, Ms. Wilson.” Back home, Lucas’s cyborg knelt obediently at my feet to change my shoes. I raised my hand and slapped him across the face. He immediately offered his other cheek, his puppy-like eyes reflecting the ceiling light. “Do you want symmetry, Mistress?” he asked, nuzzling my calf affectionately. His wet, red tongue circled my palm. I withdrew my hand uncomfortably. He caught my wrist and pressed me against the cabinet. “Does it have to be Lucas? Can’t it be me, Mistress?” “Even if you have my body, you’ll never have my heart!” The young man beneath me, bearing a striking resemblance to Lucas, had tears in his eyes and a defiant expression on his face. That’s right, this was Lucas’s stand-in that I had found. I had asked him to imitate Lucas’s attitude towards me for authenticity. But at that moment, I suddenly lost interest. I got up swiftly, tossed him a check, and told him not to contact me again. He scrambled to his feet, wiping his face haphazardly. The silk robe slipped from his shoulder, revealing faint pink bite marks on his collarbone. “Sister, I’ve remembered everything you taught me…” he said, his voice trembling as he knelt by the bed like a wet puppy. He seemed about to say something to make me stay. “How much do you want?” I rubbed my temples, seeing his shocked expression. He was being so clingy and refusing to leave. Could it be that he actually liked me, rather than the check not being enough? He had indeed done well in every aspect. But he had done too well, like a puppet on strings. It made it hard for me not to feel disgusted when I was sober. Not at him. But at myself, for my dark desire for Lucas. And… at Lucas, for his hot and cold treatment of me. The young man, instead of naming his price as I had expected, clutched the check from the bed and rushed out of the room. I let out a small sigh of relief. As long as he didn’t cling to me, it was fine. Emma happened to come looking for me. She first surveyed my expression. Then her eyes darted to the messy bed sheets: “Wow, Olivia, you’re ruthless. I almost drowned in that kid’s tears at the door.” I wrapped the silk robe tighter around myself: “He was trying to imitate Lucas’s cold face, and it annoyed me. But when he doesn’t imitate, he doesn’t look like him anymore. It’s frustrating.” “You were the one who insisted on finding someone who looked like Lucas in the first place,” Emma said. She suddenly leaned in and poked my waist. “What’s this? Always restless for the unattainable?” I shuddered sensitively at my lower back: “Get lost.” “Seriously,” she lit a cigarette and held it between her lips, “what do you see in Lucas? He always has that deadpan expression.” “I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “There are just a few moments when I really like him, but most of the time, he’s just… meh.” Emma suddenly slapped my thigh: “I got it! What you need is a Lucas-themed merchandise that you can beat up without talking back—” “My brother said they’re developing a cyborg project recently.” She mysteriously gave me an official website link. “Why don’t you try customizing a Lucas cyborg to bring home?” I carefully read the content on the webpage several times. Finally, I clicked the “Apply for Appointment” button. A pop-up window informed me that I didn’t have the qualification for testing. Emma scratched her head awkwardly: “Ah, maybe it’s not open to the public. Want me to put in a word with my brother?” I threw the tablet back into her arms: “And let your brother know I want to create a cyborg of his best friend?” “Wrong! It’s a 24/7 on-call youthful version of CEO Lucas!” I shook my head: “Forget it. I’ll ask someone if I can buy a test qualification.” The late-night transfer notification sounded, and I smirked at the purchase agreement. An encrypted clause flashed at the bottom of the agreement: This product is equipped with an emotional reflection system. If abnormal pain feedback is triggered, immediate destruction is recommended.

The cyborg arrived faster than I had imagined. In just a week, it was standing in my living room. I looked him up and down, legs crossed. This face was like it had been peeled right off Lucas’s. But something felt off, I couldn’t put my finger on it. I could clearly feel he was different from Lucas… “Mistress.” When he lifted his head, the third button of his white shirt popped open. Well, maybe I just liked Lucas’s face, not him as a person. This cyborg was much more pleasing to the eye than Lucas himself. “Come here,” I crooked my finger at him. He obediently crawled to my feet on his knees, his tight uniform accentuating his well-built physique. “Do you know who you are?” I lifted his chin with the tip of my shoe. “Say something nice.” “Woof.” He suddenly nuzzled my ankle, offering his neck to my palm, his warm breath tickling my wrist. “I’m Mistress’s puppy.” This kind of address was a bit embarrassing… I suddenly gripped his earlobe hard. The man before me trembled, his eyelashes quivering. I walked towards the bathroom, my silk robe trailing behind me. “Change the bed sheets to the ice silk set.” Even with the shower at full blast, it couldn’t wash away the heat in my chest. Through the frosted glass, I could see his silhouette stretching taut as he made the bed. “Does Mistress prefer to sleep on her side or back?” he asked through the door crack, his voice as sticky as melted chocolate. I yanked open the bathroom door, water droplets splashing on his face: “You talk too much. Want to come in and scrub my back?” He took half a step back and turned away. The way his ear tips flushed red was fresher than Lucas. How strange, can a cyborg feel shy? I chuckled and slammed the bathroom door shut. “Go charge yourself.” In the steamy bathroom, I could hear his muffled voice from outside: “Mistress, puppies don’t need to charge. They just need to eat.” Well, quite advanced then. After showering, it was naturally time for bed. “You can leave now.” I kicked the back of his knee while drying my hair. He unexpectedly hugged my leg and nuzzled it. “Mistress, can the puppy sleep on the carpet in Mistress’s room?” The residual water on my leg was evaporated by his body heat. I gripped the back of his neck: “Lucas himself doesn’t have such thick skin.” When he looked up, his collarbone knocked against my knee, and he suddenly let out a muffled groan. I stared blankly at the reddening skin—this cyborg was made quite realistically, it could even bruise.

Early in the morning, I smelled the aroma of breakfast. I got up and washed lazily, only to see Lucas gently holding my toothbrush by the bed. Damn, I saw a ghost first thing in the morning. Oh, no. This should be the cyborg I bought. I was a bit confused from sleep. Hmm, the little cyborg is quite considerate. He even knows how to make breakfast. I was very satisfied and decided to give him a five-star review later. As the little cyborg was putting dewy roses in a vase, the doorbell rang frantically. Emma rushed in carrying bags of stuff. “What the hell? Lucas, why are you here?” She pointed at the little cyborg and laughed uncontrollably. “And wearing a freaking pink apron? Have you gone crazy?” I couldn’t stand it anymore and interrupted her. “This is the cyborg produced by your company.” “Oh…” She carefully examined him for a full circle, “Hey, but I remember last month when I went to the factory, those cyborgs still looked like silicon dolls…” She reached out and plucked a hair from the little cyborg’s head: “Damn, no way, is it this realistic? Such a big technological progress in just a short month?” “Olivia, are you sure you didn’t bring the real Lucas here to fool me?” I’ve had enough. If I could get the real Lucas, why would I order a cyborg? “Mistress, she doesn’t seem to like your puppy.” The little cyborg crouched at my feet, covering his plucked hair with a hurt expression. Emma spat out a mouthful of tea: “Damn, Olivia, I really underestimated you. You’re into such kinky stuff in private?” “I haven’t even asked you yet, is this cyborg from your company proper?” I laughed angrily: “I haven’t input any commands yet, he came with these factory settings.” Emma awkwardly rubbed her nose: “No way, my brother can’t be this perverted…” “Oh well, forget it. Look what good stuff I brought you!” She excitedly opened up the pile of things she brought. I only took one glance and felt my face burning. I immediately averted my gaze. “What… what kind of stuff did you bring!” “Hehe, I was worried they wouldn’t be useful.” She smirked, “But since this cyborg is made so realistically, the things I brought will definitely ensure your happy life together!” I stuffed everything back into her arms. “Go, go, go, take these things and leave quickly. I don’t need that function!” “Tch.” She walked out while looking back and shouting, “I’m not laughing at you, what’s there to be embarrassed about!” The little cyborg’s wet eyes stared at me: “Mistress, the puppy can…” “Shut up, you can’t!” This face is really unfair… He tilted his face slightly upwards: “Does Mistress really not need it?” I fled back to the bedroom, leaving the little cyborg outside the door, using my cold hands to cool down my burning cheeks. I could faintly hear the little cyborg laughing downstairs. God, don’t be fooled by this cyborg!

Last time with that stand-in was considered an amicable breakup, after all, he accepted my breakup fee. So I didn’t block his contact information. Who knew I would receive a text message from him. [Can we meet? Sister, I want to have dinner with you.] Tsk, a bit troublesome. I carelessly tossed the phone onto the bed. Oh well, it’s just a meal. Let’s see what he wants to do. Seeing me dressed up, the little cyborg came forward and asked: “Is Mistress going out? The puppy can accompany Mistress.” If we ran into acquaintances outside, I wouldn’t be able to explain clearly. So I refused him and told him to take care of my garden at home. But clearly, I underestimated the little cyborg’s level of “loyalty”. When Alex carefully cut the steak and handed it to me, I saw the little cyborg’s figure flash by. He disobeyed my order? This moment of distraction was noticed by Alex. He followed my gaze: “What is Sister looking at?” “Nothing, why did you ask me out?” The young man’s beautiful almond eyes rippled with moisture: “Sister, can you not abandon me… I mean, I can pretend to be whatever you like…” “That check last time was for five million, right? Not enough?” I frowned. “I don’t want money! I just want to be with Sister!” Alex gently hooked my fingertips. “I didn’t cash that check, I can return it to Sister…” Before he could finish, someone interrupted. “Excuse me, sir, please mind your manners.” The little cyborg glanced at his face with disgust. Alex hurriedly wiped the wine splashed on his wrist watch, clearly mistaking my little cyborg for Lucas himself. “So this is why Sister doesn’t need me anymore?” The young man’s voice was filled with disappointment. “Mm.” I didn’t explain, but went along with it instead. Sorry Lucas, I’m borrowing your name for a moment! Alex’s fork clattered onto the porcelain plate. It was then that I noticed he was wearing a moon-white turtleneck sweater today, which made the bite marks on his collarbone look like red plum blossoms on snow. “Sister…” He had just opened his mouth when the little cyborg interrupted. “Do you need me to help you make an appointment with a dermatologist?” The little cyborg suddenly took out his phone, “Scar removal injection or laser?” When did this little cyborg learn to be so sarcastic? Alex’s knuckles turned white as he gripped the knife and fork. He suddenly threw his head back and gulped down half a glass of red wine. As his Adam’s apple bobbed, the wine trickled down his chin into his collar: “Sister… you clearly liked me that night.” I was poking at the salad on my plate when I heard this. I sneered: “What, are you trying to settle accounts with me now?” The little cyborg rolled his eyes and snorted coldly: “Seductive fox, always putting on an act to seduce people.” Alex was young after all, and was stung red-faced by these few words. I picked up my bag and stood up: “I’ll treat today.”

As soon as I left the restaurant, I was hit by a cold wind and shivered. He unbuttoned his coat and wrapped me in his embrace. The warm scent of sandalwood instantly filled my nostrils. I struggled to lift my head, but was pressed against his chest: “Mistress’s heart is beating so fast.” “Mistress kept staring at his neck earlier.” His canine teeth grazed my earlobe almost imperceptibly. “The puppy can be bitten too.” I shook him off and put on a cold face: “Why did you come out without permission?” The little cyborg froze in place, lowering his head and refusing to speak. I had no patience and directly opened the car door to leave. In the rearview mirror, I could still see him standing there watching me leave. His coat billowed in the wind, really looking like an abandoned large dog. In just two short days, I had already gotten used to the little cyborg’s company. That’s very bad. At night, I couldn’t sleep and remembered he hadn’t come home yet. Just as I opened the door, I saw the little cyborg curled up by the doorway with his head hanging low. “Can Mistress not abandon me…” His shirt was covered in dirt, and when he looked up, there were a few scattered rose petals in his hair. “I only have Mistress.” “Get in.” I tossed the door access card. His eyes suddenly lit up as he stumbled to his feet. Damn, I’m actually going soft on a cyborg. It must be because his face is too unfair… “Weren’t you quite capable of stalking me? Why act pitiful now?” Although I felt a bit sorry for the little cyborg, my words still came out harsh. The little cyborg grabbed my wrist and pressed it to his chest. An incredibly strong vibration transmitted from his chest cavity. I have to say, the craftsmanship of their company’s cyborgs is excellent, even recreating the heartbeat so realistically. “It hurts here, Mistress.” The little cyborg drooped his eyelids pitifully, looking like he was about to cry. Tears rolled down his lashes. “Can Mistress not hate the puppy?” My fingertips sank into his damp clothes, the pulsing under my palm growing faster. “The puppy knows he was wrong. The puppy will never do anything to make Mistress unhappy again…” His pleading eyes were filled with my reflection. He buried his face in my lap, but sneakily nuzzled into my chest. “Mistress, touch it. The puppy’s heart hurts so much.” He guided my hand inside his shirt. As my palm touched his warm skin, I suddenly withdrew my hand. He chuckled as if he had succeeded. Fine. After all, he’s just a cyborg programmed to love me. The meaning of his existence is to love me. What bad intentions could he have? I finally gave in. “Sister.” He nuzzled my nose and murmured, his wet eyelashes brushing across my face. This form of address made me shiver all over like an electric current. “The places that fake touched…” His fingers slid down from my collarbone, “Do they need to be disinfected?”

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When my parents divorced, they fought over who got to keep my little sister. As for me, they couldn’t get rid of me fast enough. In the end, I was handed off to my dad. My mom, clutching my sister’s hand, stood by and sneered as she watched my father slap me across the face. “Hit her harder,” she said with a smirk. “Beat her to death and save yourself the trouble of raising her.” That was the day I moved into my father’s new home and met his new wife. She scooped me up the moment I walked through the door. “From now on, I’m your mother. Got it?” Years later, I bought her a villa and a luxury car. Meanwhile, the woman who gave birth to me was lying in a hospital bed, weeping as she begged me to save her. I smiled as I gently pried her fingers off my wrist. “Just die in peace, will you?” My parents had been divorced for less than six months when my father remarried. She was three years younger than him and divorced, too. On the day of the wedding, my father locked me in a storage room and warned me, “You cause any trouble, I’ll beat you to death.” When the guests had left and the house quieted down, I slipped into the kitchen. While making myself dinner, I accidentally knocked over the kettle. Boiling water splashed across my chest. I screamed. The next moment, the opposite door creaked open, and a woman rushed in. “What happened? Where did it burn?” She scooped me into her arms. She smelled nice, like something faint and floral. “You must be Yara, right?” I nodded, eyes darting to the dried fruits on her bed. My stomach growled, but I didn’t dare take any when she offered. “Please,” I whispered, “don’t tell my dad.” “Why not?” “The bottle broke… He’ll hit me.” She paused for a beat, then said, “I won’t tell him.” “I don’t believe you. Let’s pinky promise.” She held out her pinky. “Deal.” I devoured the food like a starved animal. She watched me for a while, then laughed softly. “You know who I am?” I shook my head. “Starting today, I’m your mom.” My hands froze. My mind instantly flashed through every fairy tale I’d ever read—Snow White and her evil stepmother, Cinderella and her scheming one. I was doomed. I stared at her like a deer in headlights. Then she frowned. “What’s on your pants?” Panic surged. I scrambled off the bed, only to see a dark stain soaking through the sheet. Mortified, I dashed for the bathroom. She caught me by the arm. “Why aren’t you using pads? You’re on your period.” My face went crimson. It felt like being slapped. “Don’t say that word!” “What word?” “That… that one.” She blinked. “You mean period? What’s wrong with saying it? Didn’t anyone teach you?” I said nothing. She studied my face, and something in her expression changed. The first time I got my period, I ruined my pants. One of my classmate’s moms told me it meant I was growing up. She said it was something to celebrate, that maybe my own mom would make me something special for dinner. I went home excited. Before I could speak, my mom slapped me so hard my ears rang. She kicked me to the floor and yelled loud enough for the neighbors to hear. “Whoring around all day with your ass on display, trying to get some man’s attention, huh? If you want it that bad, just forget school! Go dance at a club and see which idiot takes you in!” I clutched my pants, stammering some kind of explanation, but she cut me off with another slap. “Who’s going to wash that? Me? What do you think I am, your maid? You need to be disgusting every damn day, don’t you?” I was ten that year, and I spent the rest of that day kneeling on the bathroom floor. “Mom, I’m still bleeding…” “Bleed all you want. What do you want me to do about it? Get out of my sight, you filthy little thing.” I had never used pads. Whenever I had a period, it was a nightmare of humiliation. Every month, I shoved tissues in my underwear and hoped it would be enough. If I used too many, she called me selfish. If I bled through, the boys at school would whistle and jeer. My mother would sneer. “Acting like some tragic virgin princess? Please. You were born to be cheap.” Later, I found out she’d taken her anger out on me that day because my sister had a sore on her face, something that would mess up a shoot they’d scheduled. That night, my stepmother taught me how to use a pad for the first time. She said it wasn’t something to be ashamed of. Then she hugged me tight and looked me in the eye. “From now on, I’m your mom. Got it?”

My sister was beautiful, with big eyes and smooth skin. We were blood-related, but you’d never guess it. She started modeling when she was still in diapers, earning good money and soaking up everyone’s attention like a little sun goddess. I’d heard it more times than I could count. “If only Tracy had been born first… there’d be no need for Yara.” Even our names made it clear who mattered. When Tracy was born, my parents tore through baby name books, even consulted a fortune-teller to make sure she had the perfect name, one that promised her happiness, success, and good luck. Me? They just randomly named me Yara because I never mattered to them. During the divorce, they both clung to one of Tracy’s arms and nearly came to blows over her custody. “Tracy, honey, come with Mommy. I’ll buy you the prettiest princess dress and take you abroad!” “Don’t listen to your mother. Daddy loves you most. I already bought you a new house!” They bickered while the judge awkwardly took my hand and asked, “So… who wants custody of the elder daughter?” Both of them stepped back. One mumbled something about financial strain, the other claimed they weren’t nurturing enough. In the end, Tracy went with Mom. She nearly grinned from ear to ear. Dad, furious, slapped me across the face. “You cursed thing! I should’ve drowned you the day you were born!” Mom just stood there laughing. “Hit her harder! Kill her if you want, saves you the trouble of raising her.” So I curled up into a tight ball and kept my mouth shut. I learned early—no talking meant fewer beatings. But when my stepmother came into the picture, things started changing. She brushed my hair, made me breakfast, and walked me to school. She even bought me new clothes. For the first time in years, my fingers weren’t cracked and bleeding from winter frost. Mom’s side of the family didn’t take it well. “She’s just pretending,” Grandma sneered. “All stepmothers are gold-digging witches. Mark my words. She’s just after that man’s money.” Once, I defended Ella, my stepmom. Grandma grabbed her cane and whacked me across the legs. “Ungrateful little brat! That woman’s only been here a few days, and you’ve already forgotten your real mother? No wonder nobody wants you!” Another time, Ella took me shopping, and I wandered off. A car hit me. I had five stitches in my scalp. When I opened my eyes, the woman who hadn’t texted me all year was bawling beside my bed. “Oh, my poor daughter! It’s all my fault. I’m so sorry…” I shoved her away. She looked startled for a second, then turned on Ella. “You bitch! You dare hurt my child? Think you can just steal my family? You better explain yourself today, or I swear…” Her whole clan was with her, yelling and spitting, demanding answers. I stepped in front of Ella. “I tripped. It wasn’t her fault.” Mom wrapped her arms around me, twisting me toward the crowd. Her perfume clung to my skin like poison. “Look what she’s done! She’s traumatized the child so bad she’s lying for her!” I shook her off. “Are you done performing? What are you filming for this time?” Her expression froze. She glanced around in a panic and noticed that the photographer was long gone. It was all for show. Tracy had recently caught a talent scout’s eye, and Mom couldn’t risk the public seeing her as a neglectful parent. She wanted to use Ella as a scapegoat to boost her own image. Too bad I wasn’t playing along. “I’ve just been busy lately… You know I still care about you,” she mumbled. “Yeah? Then you can pay my hospital bill. It’s six hundred bucks.” She twisted her fingers, started crying about how hard it was raising Tracy alone and how heartless I was for asking. But sunlight caught the emerald bracelet on her wrist, glittering like it had its own spotlight. Ella had stayed quiet the whole time. Then she stood, took the bill, and smacked it against Mom’s face. “I paid it. Now get out.” Mom shut up real fast.

Ella wasn’t rich. If she were, she wouldn’t have married a loser like my dad. He controlled all the money in the house. Every time I needed to pay for class materials, he’d glare at me with those deep, spiteful eyes, yank a few crumpled bills from his wallet, and slap them onto my head. “School, school, school! All you do is ask for money! Raising you costs more than raising a damn pig! “Why the hell should I spend my money on you? Figure it out yourself next time. Can’t pay? Then get your ass to the factory and work!” While I stressed about every meal and every bill, Emilio Hanks found me. He tossed a few bills my way like breadcrumbs. “Hey. Wanna make a deal?” He was a year below me, a known troublemaker. He once punched a pregnant teacher so hard she lost her baby. His parents barely blinked; they just wrote a nearly million-dollar check and called it a day. Rich kids. They were untouchable. He had a thing for my sister Tracy. But they’d had a fight and hadn’t spoken for days. Now he wanted to use me to make her jealous. I glanced at the money; it looked like over a thousand. For me, it was a small fortune. When I crouched down to pick up the cash, he looked at me like I was a dog accepting scraps. “So? Easy money, right?” “What exactly do you want me to do?” He smirked. “Write some poetic apology letters. Then fold a thousand paper cranes with ‘Tracy, I love you’ written on them. Maybe grab lunch with me a few times.” “Not enough.” “What?” I slipped the bills into my pocket. “Letters, cranes, lunch… These are all separate charges. Negotiate properly.” He hesitated. I egged him on. “What? Don’t tell me you don’t really love Tracy.” His face flushed with pride and rage. “Screw it. Here!” He threw three grand at me. Sure enough, a few days later, Tracy couldn’t sit still anymore. When she saw us chatting, her lips trembled. She looked like she wanted to claw my face off. One afternoon, my dad blew up my phone, asking me to drop something off for Tracy. No one was in the classroom, so I shoved the bag into her desk and left. The next morning, she stormed into the teacher’s office, crying like the world was ending. “Yara,” she sobbed, “you can hate me all you want, but how could you steal that money?”

Tracy was a class officer. She’d lost three thousand bucks, money meant for the class book fees. I asked for the security footage. The teacher sighed. “Sorry, system’s down. Been under maintenance all week.” Tracy looked at me, eyes glistening. “It’s okay, Yara. If you just admit what you did, I can help pay it back. And… please don’t hang out with Emilio anymore. What if something scandalous happens…” The room fell silent. My biological mom burst in first. She didn’t even ask questions. She charged at me and kicked me square in the chest. “You filthy slut! It’s bad enough you’re throwing yourself at boys, and now you’re corrupting your sister too?” Tracy flinched back, looking perfectly innocent. “Did I say something wrong? But I really did see Yara and Emilio in the woods yesterday…” My mom shrieked, “Don’t be afraid, Tracy! She’s trash. Her dad doesn’t care, so today I will teach this bastard a lesson!” I stood up, laughing hysterically. “Yeah, I’m trash. I’m the bastard. I’ve got a mom who gave birth to me but didn’t raise me. Might as well be dead!” “What did you say? You cursed me, you little whore!” My mom lunged again just as the office door slammed open. Ella stepped inside and pulled me behind her like a lioness defending her cub. “I’m Yara’s legal guardian. You want to scream at someone, scream at me. What kind of grown-ass woman only knows how to beat up children? Not afraid of karma?” “Oh yeah? Let’s talk about karma then! What about the money Yara stole?” Ella crouched beside me and brushed a hand over my cheek. “Sweetheart, is it true?” I shook my head. My mom lost it again. “She’s lying! She’s just like her father, garbage in, garbage out!” “Where’s the proof?” Ella asked. “I saw it with my own eyes!” Tracy jumped in. Ella’s gaze pinned her to the wall. “Really? So whatever you say must be true? Then I could say you stole it. How would that feel? “You’re smart, Tracy. But too much scheming isn’t clever. Don’t assume everyone around you is stupid.” Then she turned to my mom. “And you. I could sue you for beating up my girl without any evidence! Besides, you teachers just stood there watching while a child was assaulted. What the hell are you even here for?” The homeroom teacher gave a fake smile, trying to defuse the situation. “Well, there’s no proof either way, so maybe we just… drop it?” “I have proof,” I said calmly. Free Point I released the video and watched my mother’s face cycle from pale to crimson, like a balloon filled too tight, just waiting to pop.

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My wife was a well-respected pharmacologist. To spend what she thought were the last days with her first love, who had been diagnosed with cancer, she deceived me into taking a drug that wiped out my memory. During that time, she left her job to become his caretaker and even held a lavish wedding with him. Six months later, the hospital revealed that the cancer diagnosis was incorrect. But by then, I couldn’t remember her at all. In a panic and filled with regret, she confessed, “He was just a part of my youthful past; you are the only husband in my heart!” The door opened, and a young woman dressed in simple white entered. Upon seeing me on the sofa, her brow furrowed with impatience, “Didn’t I tell you not to wait up for me?” I responded with a faint smile, “You’re back so late; were you at the hospital with him?” Although phrased as a question, my tone was certain. Adeline’s first love had cancer and was not expected to live much longer. So, she had been leaving early and returning late to be with him. She even began cooking for his health, something she had never done before. But she seemed to forget, “Today is my birthday. I’ve been waiting for you.” Following my gaze, Adeline noticed the spread on the table. Her eyes briefly showed guilt, quickly replaced by anger, “Why are you being so petty! Asher is my first love, and he’s dying. What’s wrong with spending more time with him? Don’t forget, if I hadn’t broken up with him, I wouldn’t have married someone like you!” Indeed, I had been the one to push for our marriage. Adeline didn’t love me; she married me only because Caspian chose to go abroad. Unable to handle a long-distance relationship, she married me out of spite. Thinking of this, my heart felt tight, as if gripped by an invisible hand. Before I could say anything more, Adeline angrily slammed the bedroom door shut. In the darkness, I let out a bitter smile, picking up the “divorce agreement” from the coffee table to look at it again. Perhaps it was time to end this twisted marriage. … 10 PM. Before sleeping, Adeline knocked on my door—we had reached the point of sleeping in separate rooms after three years of marriage. She stood at the door in pajamas, still the vision that haunted my dreams, holding a glass of milk. “It’s late. Drink the milk and get some rest.” “Declan, I was wrong about earlier. I promise, after I accompany Asher through this, we’ll live well together. Just two months, two months…” I was surprised by her sudden change in attitude, moved by her words about living well, and didn’t notice the complex emotions in her eyes. As I finished the milk, I felt more and more dizzy. Adeline helped me to bed and tucked me in. Before I closed my eyes, I heard her say, “Forget me for now, just for two months…” Forget her? What did that mean? Soon, her actions answered my doubts. She took a pill from her pajama pocket, unwrapped it, and put it in my mouth. I wanted to stop her, but my body was too weak to resist, forcing me to swallow the bitter pill. As my consciousness blurred, a tear fell on my face. It was hers, and I keenly sensed it wasn’t shed for me. Indeed, “This is the latest drug from my lab. It can make someone temporarily lose memories of specific people, with no side effects. Declan, don’t blame me. I just want to fulfill a youthful dream. With you is life.” Living with me meant that Caspian was her love? I wanted to ask her, but I couldn’t utter a word, only letting the memories of her gradually erase from my mind. Chapter 2: Adeline’s Wedding The next morning, I was woken by an urgent phone call: “Son, open the door. Mom is outside.” I opened the door to see Mrs. Vaughn looking displeased, “I heard you had another fight with Addie?” “Who’s Addie?” She gave me a big eye roll, “You two always argue and then make up. Pretending not to know her isn’t funny. Let me tell you, Addie’s job keeps her busy. It’s just a birthday; what’s the difference with whom you spend it?” She waved a lunch bag, “I made lunch for you and Addie. Eat yours and take hers to her at work.” My mom kept nagging, but I was baffled—I’ve been single forever. How could I have a wife suddenly? Maybe my mom was getting senile? And if I was married, why didn’t my house show any signs of a woman’s presence? The bedroom was empty except for a bed, the wardrobe had only my clothes. Even the bathroom had only one toothbrush and toothpaste. I wandered around the house, finding no evidence of another resident. Just then, my mom pushed me in frustration, “Fine, I’ll call your wife myself.” Middle-aged Mrs. Vaughn pulled out her phone and quickly dialed my so-called “wife”: “Addie, it’s me.” “Hello, Auntie,” a cold and unfamiliar voice answered. Before my confused mom could ask, she explained, “I already divorced Declan, just yesterday. If you don’t believe me, the divorce papers on the coffee table will prove it.” I suppressed my shock, took the phone, and asked directly, “Since you say we’re divorced, when did it happen, and why?” So many questions weighed on my mind, but I picked the two most important. She was silent for a long time before speaking coldly, “Because of differences. I’m busy and career-oriented, and you want a housewife to serve you. Naturally, we parted ways—” “Nonsense!” My mom threw down the lunch box, angrily interrupting, “Adeline, you can say anything about my son, but don’t accuse him of wanting a maid. Have you ever cooked, done laundry, or cleaned the house in three years of marriage? If anything, he’s been the househusband!” I raised an eyebrow. Were we really married? Adeline seemed stung by my mom’s words and hurriedly ended the call with “I have things to do.” But my mom wasn’t done, rolling up her sleeves determinedly, “Something’s off with Addie. She’s hiding something from us. Son, I’ll find out and let you know.” A few days later, she dragged me from work to the city’s largest church. It seemed a wedding was happening there, beautifully decorated with many cars outside. As I looked around, I asked, “Mom, whose wedding is this? It’s pretty romantic.” I didn’t notice Mrs. Vaughn’s face darken. She gave me another eye roll. “Your ex-wife is marrying her new lover. That man doesn’t have long to live, and she wants to be with him in his final days. I brought you here to see her true colors, so you won’t foolishly pine for her again!” The wedding soon began. Chapter 3: He’s Just Your Lapdog I watched as a woman in a white wedding dress, guided by the priest, solemnly vowed, “I do. Rich or poor, in life or death, I will face hardships with him.” The man, Caspian, tearfully placed the ring on her finger. The crowd erupted in applause, celebrating the couple. But I was lost in thought. Adeline’s words were typical wedding vows, yet they stirred an old memory in me— In my memory, it was also a church scene. But Adeline’s expression lacked today’s shyness and joy. Her gaze at me was cold, as if looking at someone insignificant. If Mrs. Vaughn said we were once married, then the divorce must have been because she didn’t love me, right? If I didn’t love her, why would my heart ache like this? During intermission, I went to the restroom and saw Adeline and Caspian, now in reception attire. Adeline seemed surprised to see me, her guilt turning to anger. She let go of Caspian’s hand, ” Declan, didn’t I warn you that we’re divorced? Why are you following me? Your actions only make me hate you more!” Her voice was loud, drawing curious glances from passersby. “Addie, ignore him,” Caspian said soothingly, “He’s just your lapdog, struggling to accept your marriage to me.” I was stunned by their audacity, but I shot back, “Seriously, how can you be so shameless? I haven’t even accused you of cheating during our marriage or seducing a married woman, and you’re accusing me? The most important thing in life is a conscience.” I prolonged the last sentence, watching their faces darken. Eventually, Adeline pulled Caspian away angrily, tossing a parting shot at me, “Declan, don’t even think about getting me back!” “I wouldn’t want to.” Returning to my seat, I lost interest in the spectacle and left with my mom. Just as I was about to drive home, my phone rang.

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I woke up after being in a coma for three years. Upon awakening, I discovered that my boyfriend had a new fiancée, and my parents had a new daughter. “Aria, let’s not bring up our past relationship anymore. It’s embarrassing. We were young and foolish back then,” Jake said dismissively. “Sweetie, during these years when you were gone, Chloe has been the one supporting us through everything,” my parents cooed. Seeing the smug smile on Chloe’s face, I inwardly sneered. In my previous life, after learning everything, I couldn’t accept it and went mad. I crashed Chloe and Jake’s engagement party and was thrown out. As soon as I left the ceremony venue, I was hit by a car and died. After my death, my parents and Jake only briefly mourned for me before focusing all their attention on Chloe. This time, looking at Jake, who seemed a bit at a loss by my hospital bed, I nodded. “We can break up, but I want compensation!” “What?” Jake seemed not to understand and asked me again. I smiled slightly, “Three years ago, I saved your life. Otherwise, you’d be the one lying here.” “Three years of time, plus your life – name a price and pay me back!” Jake was stunned for a while, then said coldly, “I know you resent me, but why degrade yourself like this?” I laughed coldly, “What do you mean by degrading myself?” “I saved your life back then. Are you trying to brush off these three years so lightly?” Jake pursed his lips and shamelessly said, “We were in love at that time. I remember all the good things you did for me.” Seeing him like this, I couldn’t help but laugh. What a dog! He’s trying to avoid paying. No matter how many times I relive this, he’s always so infuriating. In my previous life, I had just woken up when I heard from Jake about how he and Chloe fell in love at first sight. At that time, my memories were still stuck three years ago, when our love was at its peak. We were traveling together, and Jake carelessly didn’t watch where he was going and was about to be hit by a car. I was blinded by love and pushed him away, ending up in a coma myself. Three years had passed, and everything had changed. I couldn’t accept that I had risked my life for Jake, only for him to find a new love during these three years. I cried and made a scene, acting hysterically like a madwoman. As a result, they became increasingly impatient with me. On the day I was discharged from the hospital, it happened to be Jake’s engagement day. I rushed to their engagement ceremony and caused a huge scene. Everyone thought I had gone mad, including my parents. They had security throw me out. Ironically, as soon as I left the ceremony venue, I was hit by a car and died. Laughably, the car was carrying the 999 roses Jake had ordered for Chloe. After my death, Jake and Chloe had no more obstacles and lived happily together. My parents acted as if they never had a daughter like me, doting on Chloe as if she were their own. This time, I no longer yearn for their attention. I want to live well for myself. Of course, before that, I need to take back what belongs to me. “Jake, spare me your bullshit about feelings. If you really had feelings for me, you wouldn’t have a new love.” “Three million dollars to buy your life – that’s not too much, is it?” “Or I could post this story online and let everyone judge for themselves whether I’m being unreasonable or if you, Mr. Jake, are being heartless and ungrateful!” I said the last four words slowly, successfully making Jake’s face turn blue with anger. Three years ago, I was a genius girl, admitted to a top university without exams. Jake could never compensate for my three years. Jake thought he had me under his thumb, that I wouldn’t dare to disobey him. Even if I was cheated on, I would have to swallow my pride. But I’m determined to shame him. “Aria, I know you can’t accept this for now, but don’t worry, we’ll still be the best of friends in the future, just with one more person to care for you.” “Chloe is a great person. She and I will take good care of you from now on.” Jake’s shamelessness left me speechless. Before I could speak, the hospital room door was pushed open. “Aria, you’re finally awake!” Chloe exclaimed, her eyes red with apparent emotion as our gazes met. I have to admit, she’s really good at acting. “Yes, if I hadn’t woken up, my home would have been stolen completely,” I replied. Hearing this, Chloe immediately explained, “That’s not true. I never intended to compete with you for anything.” Still putting on airs like a cheap actress. So low-class. I smiled slightly and said coldly, “It’s fine. If you’ve taken it, you’ve taken it. I don’t care anyway.” “As long as Jake gives me what I deserve, I wish you both happiness.” After I spoke, Chloe looked at me in disbelief. “You… you’re… not making a fuss anymore?” The last part she said very quietly. But because all my attention was on her, I still heard it. Thinking of a possibility, I couldn’t help but smile. It seems she has also relived this once. I pretended not to understand and asked, “Jake said you’re about to get engaged. What’s the use of me making a fuss?” I stared at Chloe without blinking, and a flash of smugness crossed her face. Indeed, things are different from my previous life.

In my previous life, at this time, Chloe was still a pitiful little white flower. She would never have shown such an expression. It seems things have become interesting. “Aria, you just woke up, don’t think too much. Even if you’re angry with me, you need to take care of your health first.” Jake was still the same, full of verbal concern but unwilling to actually bleed when it came to money. However, this time he doesn’t get to decide. Unlike my previous life, I’ve learned my lesson this time. No crying or making a scene, only well-wishes. So after staying in the hospital for three days, I was taken back to the family house to recuperate. My parents only showed their faces at the beginning to express their concern, then went off to do their own things. These past few days, I’ve become fully convinced that Chloe has also been reborn. Only this time, she’s too eager. As soon as my parents left, she invited Jake and some friends over for a gathering at the house. The pretext was to celebrate my awakening. Everyone was standing, while I sat in a wheelchair. “Aria hasn’t fully recovered yet, so everyone please take extra care of her today,” Chloe requested, acting like a caring big sister. Seeing this, the others’ eyes darted between Jake, Chloe, and me, all with a look of anticipation for drama. And I had no intention of disappointing them. “Jake, have you thought about what I said to you the other day?” I asked. Hearing this, the gossip in everyone’s eyes burned even more fiercely. A flash of impatience crossed Jake’s face. “Aria, there’s a limit to being willful. There are so many people here today, do you really want to make a fool of yourself?” I sneered, “If anyone’s going to look foolish, it’s you.” “Three years ago, I saved your life. Otherwise, you’d be the one in a coma.” “Now you have a new love by your side, and I’m not pestering you further. I’m just asking you to pay for this life. Is that too much?” “Three million dollars to buy three years of Mr. Jake’s life – that’s not too much, is it?” The information was a bit overwhelming, and everyone couldn’t help but gasp. “Aria, how can you be so greedy? Your behavior is really unsightly,” Chloe looked at me with apparent heartache. “If it were me, even if I lost my life for Jake, I would do so willingly.” Seeing her act like a holy white lotus, I felt my eyes hurt. “Then why don’t you pay the three million for him? You’re willing to give up your life, so this bit of money should be nothing, right?” Chloe was choked by my words and glared at me fiercely before quickly putting on a tearful expression again. “Aria, I know you’re doing this to embarrass me. It’s my fault for not controlling my heart and falling in love with Jake. You can do whatever you want to me, but please don’t hurt Jake, okay?” As she finished speaking, Chloe’s face was already covered in tears. Anyone who didn’t know better might think I was bullying her. In fact, that’s exactly what Jake thought. He pulled Chloe behind him and looked at me with disgust, saying bluntly, “Aria, I’ve already made it very clear to you. I don’t love you anymore, and no matter what you do, you won’t attract my attention.” I sneered. I don’t understand who gave him such a big face. “Jake, don’t flatter yourself. I just want what I deserve. Or are you saying that the life of the great Mr. Jake is worthless?” “Even ordinary families know to repay kindness. Don’t tell me Mr. Jake wants to be ungrateful, forgetting the lifesaving favor of an old flame just because you have someone new?” My voice was full of sarcasm. The others couldn’t help but whisper among themselves. “It seems Aria is quite pitiful, saving Jake’s life only to be dumped.” “Three million really isn’t much. Aria is being quite civil about it. If it were me, I’d probably have torn this scumbag and his mistress apart by now.” “Chloe doesn’t seem like a good person either. Look at her low-class behavior.” … Hearing this, Jake’s face turned ashen. “Aria, that’s enough!”

“If it’s just about money, I’ll give it to you. After this, there will be no relationship between us. Don’t regret it.” I clicked my tongue twice and directly sent him my account number. “Then let everyone here be a witness. Transfer the money to me now!” I pressed him step by step, angering Jake greatly. He immediately called his assistant to transfer money to me. Unfortunately, he hadn’t inherited the family business yet and couldn’t come up with that much money. Looking at the one million dollars in my bank account, I clicked my tongue twice and couldn’t help but mock him, “You can’t even come up with three million, yet you have the nerve to two-time. I really look down on you.” “Stop talking nonsense.” Chloe couldn’t hold back anymore and pointed at me, cursing furiously, “At that time, the doctors had determined you wouldn’t wake up. Did you expect Jake to remain celibate for you?” I clicked my tongue twice and looked at Chloe with disdain, “Put away that hideous expression of yours. It’s too ugly to look at.” Chloe’s face froze, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. That look was so ugly it hurt my eyes. Jake hugged her lovingly and looked at me angrily, “I’ll transfer the rest of the money to you tomorrow. From now on, we have no relationship whatsoever. Don’t regret it.” I sneered and said without hesitation, “Whoever regrets it is a bastard.” A round of applause sounded from the crowd. Our eyes met, and Alex was clapping while looking at me with a half-smile. Seeing this, I pursed my lips and started to maneuver my wheelchair to leave. But before I got far, Alex caught up with me. “Three years in a coma and you’ve grown a brain?” he asked teasingly. Hearing his mocking voice, I felt my eyes sting. Alex, the eldest son of the Jiang family, had always been sharp-tongued and relentless since childhood. I thought he disliked me, but it wasn’t until my previous life, when I died, that I realized the truth was quite different. After my death, I discovered that Alex was actually a softie with a hard exterior. He ruthlessly sought revenge against my parents and Jake for my sake. Not only did he drive them to desperation, but on my death anniversary, he went mad and crashed into them, killing them all… Thinking of his final painful appearance, my heart ached. “Yeah, after sleeping for three years, my brain should be fully developed,” I tried to respond lightly, but by the end, I couldn’t help but choke up a bit. For all the time we had lost. Alex pursed his lips and continued pushing me forward. “Alex, do you need a wife?” Looking at the moonlight tonight, I asked casually, “How do you think I measure up?” Alex looked at me seriously, “Are you serious?” “Don’t go chasing after Jake in a few days, wanting to live or die for him.” His tone carried not only arrogance but also a hint of grievance. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t worry, I won’t.” The next morning, looking at the marriage certificate in my hand, I was completely dazed. I didn’t expect Alex to be so eager. Last night after our conversation, he took me back to his place, and early this morning, he took me to the registry office. “We’ve already got the marriage certificate. It’s too late for regrets now.” Seeing me in a daze, Alex directly snatched the marriage certificate from my hand. I smiled slightly and grinned at him, “I won’t regret it!” Before I could continue speaking, my phone suddenly rang. “Aria, wherever you are, come back immediately!” It was my father’s call. Judging by his tone, he didn’t seem to have good intentions. “What’s wrong?” “I extorted money from Jake yesterday. My dad probably wants me to go back to face the music.” “Then let’s go back. I want to see who dares to give Mrs. Jiang a hard time.” Just as we reached the living room door, I sensed an unusual atmosphere inside. As soon as we entered, a cup shattered at my feet.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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