Category: English

My “friend” suddenly announced he had a girlfriend. The caption read: “I’m not good with words, I just want to see you.” In that instant, my SnapChat exploded. All our mutual friends bombarded me with messages: “Claire, isn’t Felix’s girlfriend supposed to be you?” Indeed. Why wasn’t I Felix Harper’s girlfriend? (1) Before I could process what was happening, Felix sent me a message: “So, what do you think? Isn’t my girlfriend pretty?” Each word felt like a knife twisting in my heart. My hands were shaking so much I could barely see the screen through my blurred vision. He must have grown impatient waiting for a response because he sent another message: “My girlfriend knows we’re close. I don’t want her to get the wrong idea, so maybe don’t come find me for a while.” I read his messages over and over, then threw my phone aside and burst into tears. All these years, everyone knew I loved Felix. Everyone except Felix himself. He always thought I was just his best friend. His family without the blood ties. In this world, if we’re talking about who knows Felix Harper best, I, Claire Bennett, would say I’m second to none. I know he likes his egg pancakes without green onions, his beef noodles without cilantro, his winter hoodies without hoods, and that his sneakers are half a size bigger than his regular shoes. I’ve made all his literature notes since we were kids, and when he first started college, I bought him his first set of formal wear. I used to be so proud of how much space I occupied in Felix’s life. I thought no other girl could leave as many traces in his life as I had. I thought there was just one small step left between us. One opportunity that would make it all fall into place naturally. But I never got that opportunity. Instead, I got the fact that Felix now had a girlfriend. He kept chattering away on SnapChat, telling me how great his new girlfriend was. How she surprisingly liked green onions and cilantro, and now he liked them too because she did. He shared pictures of the hooded sweatshirt she bought him, saying he loved it so much he’d wear it every day. He even mentioned how cute it was that she bought him sneakers that were too small. Every word felt like it was erasing my past. Finally, he sent me one last message, “My girlfriend says if you could bring us some condoms, she’d believe we’re just friends. Claire, hurry and bring them over!” He attached the address of a hotel. His audacity with me was entirely my own doing. Since childhood, I’d always given him whatever he wanted. If he asked for the stars, I’d have built a ladder to fetch them for him. Even his mom said there wasn’t another person in this world who’d be as good to him as I was. It was precisely because I was so good to him that he took such liberties. He took me for granted. I wiped away my tears and actually went. When I arrived, he was already impatiently waiting. As soon as he opened the door, he snatched the condoms from my hand, giving me a dirty look: “Claire, what took you so long? My girlfriend almost got suspicious!” He didn’t even give me a chance to speak before slamming the door shut. Before the door closed, I caught a glimpse of the girl. She was wrapped in a towel, her hair loose, water droplets still clinging to her skin. I saw Felix eagerly walking towards her, about to embrace her… Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. I didn’t want to look so pathetic in front of Felix, so I tried to cover my mouth, but I still couldn’t hold back a sob. Suddenly, I felt like a complete joke. I wiped away my tears and tried to message him in as calm a tone as I could muster: “Felix, I won’t bother you anymore.” After sending it, I blocked him. Felix and I had known each other since we were in diapers. After more than twenty years, there were too many memories. Just the photos of us together took up over 30GB of my phone’s storage. I deleted them all. Not just that, I even deleted all those childish photos we’d taken together years ago from my social media accounts. I made up my mind. From today on, I would no longer love Felix Harper. (2) The next day, after class, Felix cornered me. He looked at me, exasperated, as if I was being unreasonable. “Claire, what’s your problem?” I admit, it’s impossible to forget someone you’ve loved for so long overnight. Seeing him again, my heart still ached a little. I pretended nothing was wrong and acted like I hadn’t heard him. He was clearly getting impatient. “You’re making Mia really uncomfortable. She thinks she’s the reason we’re not getting along.” I looked at him, feeling a bitter taste in my mouth, unable to say a word. I could only quicken my pace to leave. Felix cursed behind me, “Damn it, Claire, are you getting too full of yourself? Making such a fuss just because your bro is dating someone. Mia was right, you’re acting like a possessive bitch. Don’t tell me you actually like me?” I stopped in my tracks and turned to look at him. Suddenly, I had the urge to lay it all out. “What if I said yes?” “Huh?” Felix awkwardly rubbed his fingers, seemingly caught off guard by my response. “I was just kidding. Uh, I gotta go. We’ll talk later, okay?” For the next two months, Felix didn’t contact me, and I didn’t reach out to him either. I heard he’d been getting pretty serious with his girlfriend. They even signed up for a travel group, planning to go on a trip during summer break. My friends were indignant about this and messaged me to complain: “Doesn’t Felix have a heart? How can he be so public about it? Doesn’t he worry about hurting you?” I paused for a moment before replying: “Let him be.” It would get better slowly. While Felix was flaunting his relationship, I cried silently in pain several nights. But I forced myself not to think about it, not to ask about it. Later, I truly stopped thinking about it. I started focusing on my studies, keeping myself busy every day. Then one day, my roommate informed me that I was featured on the university’s confession wall. The confession was simple: “Claire Bennett from second-year Economics, I, Mason Callahan, have decided you’re the one for me.” Well… To be honest, it was a bit underwhelming. Who still uses these cheesy, domineering pickup lines these days? I didn’t take it seriously at all, thinking it was just someone’s prank. But what I didn’t expect was that Mason Callahan really did start pursuing me aggressively. Because of what happened with Felix, I was extremely averse to the idea of dating, so I was very cold towards him. But he never got discouraged. In fact, he seemed to become more determined with each rejection. At first, every time I came out of the library, I’d see him waiting there, always holding a cup of my favorite cheese grape tea. He’d hand it to me as soon as I came out. At first, I refused to accept it, but he didn’t get upset. He just smiled and said, “But senior, I’ve already bought it. It’d be such a waste.” “If you really don’t want it, why don’t you just transfer me the money?” And just like that, he successfully got my SnapChat contact. I thought giving him my contact might be troublesome, but he was very considerate. He’d only occasionally like or comment on my posts, rarely actively disturbing my life. Gradually, I even started to get used to it. After a while, when I tried to transfer him money for the milk tea again, he refused, giving a very reasonable explanation: “We’re so familiar now. Treating you to a cup of milk tea is just what I should do.” Reading this message, I found myself sprawled on my bed, laughing uncontrollably. I never thought this kid would be so good at pursuing girls. He handled the boundaries between men and women just right. I started to enjoy interacting with him. After all, who doesn’t like a good-looking guy who knows how to treat a girl right? As I got to know him better, I found out that Mason’s college entrance exam score was actually over 30 points higher than our university’s admission line. I couldn’t understand it: “Then why did you come here?” He seemed a bit embarrassed for once, scratching his head: “Because the person I like is here.” The atmosphere suddenly became a bit awkward. I coughed uncomfortably: “With 600 points, you don’t seem like someone who’d write that kind of confession.” This time, he was even more embarrassed, a blush quickly spreading across his face. “That was posted by my roommates. They were just messing around.” Mason is very good-looking, a bit more than just conventionally attractive. Growing up, the most handsome person I’d ever seen was Felix. But looking closely, Mason seemed no less attractive than Felix. As I stared at him for a while, I suddenly realized that I hadn’t thought about Felix for quite some time. He seemed to have really disappeared from my life. Mason started to occupy my time. Every day, he’d find new ways to cater to my preferences. I didn’t like eating breakfast in the cafeteria, so he’d wake up two hours early to buy me breakfast from my favorite store. It wasn’t just me; even my roommates benefited. Every time he brought something to my dorm, he’d bring a portion for my roommates too, making sure everyone got a share while ensuring mine was always the best. If I posted on social media in the morning saying I wanted to go out, by afternoon he’d be dressed up ready to take me on a suburban outing. When I casually mentioned wanting to eat a strawberry cake, that evening I received a strawberry cake he’d bought. It had the logo of “South Family Rice Shop” on it. This shop was near my home. I looked at him in surprise: “When did you go buy this?” Mason looked a bit embarrassed, still catching his breath: “I went as soon as I saw your post. I was playing ball with my roommates in the afternoon and saw it a bit late. I almost didn’t make it in time.” This shop had always been popular. It had been there since I was little, but the owner was someone who really knew how to live. Every day, without fail, he’d close shop at 5 PM, regardless of whether there were still customers or not. The reason I knew this so well was because I’d passed by their shop countless times, but never bought anything. Their prices were about a third higher than other places. Even my mom only bought me one on my birthday each year. I couldn’t bring myself to buy one, but I always craved it. Every time Felix saw me looking, he’d pat my head and comfort me like a child: “Don’t look anymore, little one. Big bro Felix will buy you one next time.” But I waited year after year, and it never happened. Every time, he had an excuse. He’d spent all his allowance, or he didn’t have time to go buy it, and so on. Back then, I believed him. Now, looking at the small 6-inch strawberry cake in Mason’s hands, I suddenly felt my eyes getting warm. So, if someone really wanted to buy it, it only took two hours. So this is what it feels like to be cherished. I couldn’t help but cry. Mason immediately panicked, “Don’t cry! I really was playing ball and didn’t see your message, or I would have brought it earlier.” “When I got there, the owner was about to close. I had to beg him for a while before he agreed to make one for me.” “Claire, please don’t cry.” He looked so pitiful, seeming like he wanted to wipe my tears but didn’t dare. He was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. His reaction made me laugh. I took the strawberry cake and asked him: “Mason, you really like me, don’t you?” “Of course!” He rolled his eyes, exasperated. “I wouldn’t spend two hours buying a cake for a girl I didn’t like.” Hearing this, I smiled slowly: “Then remember this. From today on, you have a girlfriend.” (3) Mason and I got together. The very night we started dating, he posted a photo of me on his social media with the caption: “Let me introduce you to my girlfriend.” I was planning to pretend I hadn’t seen it, but he had tagged me, so I had to reluctantly reply: “Hello.” Immediately after, I received a private message from him: “Ms. Bennett, I suggest you watch your words.” I pondered for a moment, then also posted a photo of him with the same caption: “Let me introduce you to my boyfriend.” Within seconds, Mason was grinning in my comment section. He said: “Hello, girlfriend.” I was a bit speechless: “How is this any different from what I said?” He replied: “Of course it’s different. The key is ‘girlfriend’.” I couldn’t help but smile, my eyes crinkling. My friends all sent me messages congratulating me. Suddenly, I received a friend request from Felix. After thinking for a moment, I figured since I had accepted Mason, there was no need to cut ties with Felix completely. After accepting his friend request, Felix sent me a message, “You’re dating?”

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Six months after my death, Liam called me. He cursed me for being unreasonable, ungrateful, and accused me of cheating. Everyone advised me to initiate the divorce and even spoke up for the other woman, urging me to let them be together. “Don’t you all know? Our classmate, Nora, died in that accident.” Crash! The glass in Liam’s hand slipped and shattered on the floor, spilling red wine everywhere. At a reunion, a college classmate revealed that I had died in a plane crash. Liam went mad, but I just laughed. I came from a well-off family and was a firm believer in staying single. Having children was the furthest thing from my mind. But when a rival company dealt a severe blow to our family business, I had no choice but to become a sacrificial lamb in a business marriage. Watching my father’s hair turn increasingly gray, seeing the sudden wrinkles covering my mother’s face, and witnessing my sister tirelessly drinking and negotiating business deals day and night, I finally nodded in agreement. A once-staunch single was about to be forced into marriage. The marriage partner had been pre-selected by my parents. He was the new CEO of Anderson Group. In the past, Anderson Group wouldn’t have been considered a match for us, but now that my family had fallen on hard times, a partnership with the Andersons could revitalize our family business. I met the new female CEO of Anderson Group once before the wedding. It was then that I discovered she was actually Liam, a classmate from my university department. Apparently, after his mother passed away years ago, his father had also recently died, leaving him to take over the entire group. Liam seemed to have known beforehand that I was his intended partner. He smiled at me, and the first thing he said was, “I’ve secretly liked you since university.” Because of this statement, I felt a little less resistant to this arranged marriage.

Our wedding was incredibly grand, mostly funded by Anderson Group. Even the house and car we lived in were bought by Liam, who even made sure to add my name to the property deed. “This will be our little home from now on,” he said, holding my hand with a face full of happiness. Soon after our marriage, with Anderson Group’s help, our family business quickly revived. The two large enterprises complemented each other, developing even better than before. My life with Liam was also very happy. He told me not to worry about business matters and to focus on developing my hobbies. With him at the helm, I felt at ease and tried to enjoy life. Although I wasn’t used to it at first, I gradually adapted. This lifestyle continued for six years. Just when I thought the rest of our days would pass by peacefully like this, Stella returned to the country.

I didn’t know who Stella was, but I had heard Liam’s friends mention her at previous gatherings. They said Stella was beautiful and smart, and had studied at a prestigious university abroad. At the time, I was sipping red wine on the side, listening to them reminisce about the past, finding it quite interesting. Until they started wondering if Stella had found a boyfriend yet, saying she might even be married by now. Liam suddenly spoke up to stop them. The others immediately changed the subject, as if those words had never been spoken. That was the first time I felt something was off. From what I knew of Liam, he was definitely angry just then. Even though his face remained expressionless, I could hear the anger in his voice. He was furious. Was it because he didn’t like the topic? Or because he didn’t like the main character in this topic? I didn’t pay much attention at the time, but today I finally understood why Liam was so angry then. It was because he couldn’t bear to hear that Stella might be married…

Starting last month, Liam began to come home less frequently. At first, he would return home very late at night. Then it progressed to not seeing him for four or five days at a time. This time, he hadn’t been home for a whole week. Every time I called, it would take a long time for him to answer. Sometimes, the call would be directly hung up or go unanswered. Initially, I still believed he was working overtime, but with the same excuse repeatedly, even a fool wouldn’t believe it anymore. Finally, today, I couldn’t stand it and secretly went to his company. Sure enough, he wasn’t there. Then I called his secretary, who hesitantly gave me the name of a couple’s restaurant. I had a bad feeling about this. In the end, I saw Liam and Stella intimately embracing each other at the hotel. They were holding hands, snuggling close and whispering to each other. I walked directly towards them, but I froze when I saw that face that could easily be mistaken for mine. I also ignored Liam’s momentary panic and embarrassment upon seeing me. After what seemed like an eternity, Stella walked towards me with a smile. She extended her hand and said, “You must be Nora. Thank you for taking care of Liam for me all these years.”

That night, I still brought Liam home. We were silent the entire way. After entering, I first asked the housekeeper to rest, then sat with Liam on opposite sofas. The man who once loved to stick close to me now clearly didn’t want to be near me. Why is that? Maybe because I’m just a substitute, a stand-in for Stella. Perhaps because I had caught him red-handed, Liam didn’t try to hide anything and directly proposed divorce. “You don’t need to worry about the company. I’ll set up a fund and give you $20,000 every month.” But I just kept looking at him without saying a word. Liam kept checking the time, not noticing my gaze. Right, he had promised Stella earlier that he would definitely go back to accompany her tonight. He finally couldn’t wait any longer: “Nora, just tell me what you want. I’ll fulfill whatever I can. I just hope you can let me be with Stella. She’s finally back after so long, I can’t bear to lose her again.” I was stunned. What did he take me for? How could he treat me like this? In the end, I couldn’t bring myself to say these words out loud. Forcing myself to stay calm, I asked, “I just want to ask one thing. Did you only agree to marry me because I look like her?” Liam glanced at me. “Yes.” “So when we first met, and you said you had liked me since university, that was a lie too?” I clenched my fists. Liam neither confirmed nor denied it. “I did notice you in university.” So he had only noticed me. Of course, suddenly seeing someone who looked so much like the person you love, anyone would take a second look. So everything, all of it, was fake. The happy life we had, it was all just him projecting his longing for Stella onto my face. Humiliation, anger, at that moment, my heart was filled with a mix of emotions.

I left, before dawn the next day. I moved to a small house I had bought on a whim in the suburbs two years ago. This was a place only I knew about, Liam didn’t know, so he wouldn’t come to bother me. I blocked all his contact methods, and anyone related to him was also blocked. I won’t divorce him, at least not now. Not because I still can’t let go of him, but because I don’t want Stella to move into the house and replace me so quickly. I don’t want them to become a couple so soon. For a whole week, I lived very comfortably, with no one to disturb me. My parents called, but after hearing the truth, they unwaveringly chose to stand by my side. They also comforted me, telling me not to worry about the family, saying that Ning Corporation is now stronger than it was a few years ago. A weight was finally lifted from my heart, but what I didn’t expect was that on the eighth day after I moved out, someone still found me. That person turned out to be my brother, Neil. My relationship with Neil was quite good. In the past, I always protected him, and he would make porridge for me when he drank too much and his stomach hurt. But today, Neil looked at me with a serious face, his eyes carrying a hint of dissatisfaction. I invited him in and asked what had happened. My first reaction was that something had happened to our parents or the family company. Had Liam started to move against the family because he couldn’t find me? “Nora, you should divorce Liam, right?” “What?” I didn’t expect my brother’s first words to be this. “Nora, you don’t know, Stella has had it very hard all these years. She just wants to be with the man she loves now. Can you let them be together? Please? Consider it a favor to your brother.” Neil’s attitude was very humble. He had never said the word “please” to me before, but today he said it, and it was for that woman. I looked at him in disbelief and questioned him: “Neil, do you know what you’re saying? That Stella interfered with my marriage, and now you’re here begging me on her behalf? Begging me to step aside for her? Neil, have you gone mad?!” Neil’s face showed a hint of embarrassment, but he still tried to persuade me: “Nora, I know, I know all of this. Liam is just a scumbag, he doesn’t deserve you. So after you divorce, I’ll definitely help you find a better man. You don’t need this Liam anyway. But Stella only has this one love in her life, so can you please give Liam to her?” At this moment, I felt that the brother in front of me was very unfamiliar. When did my brother stop standing on my side and start standing on my enemy’s side? I shook my head, not wanting to say anything more to him. I pointed at the front door, asking him to leave: “Just go! I won’t divorce now, and you don’t need to say anything more.” “Nora…” “I said go!” Maybe my attitude was too harsh, but Neil finally left. However, when he reached the door, he still said: “I’ll come back, Nora. Think about it carefully.” I have nothing to think about. I’m not doing charity work, voluntarily making way for them.

After Neil left, the more I thought about it, the stranger this whole thing seemed. I unblocked the number of one of Liam’s good friends from my phone’s blacklist. This person was his childhood neighbor, and maybe because she was a woman, she was the one I got along with best among Liam’s circle of friends. She also seemed to dislike Stella. I dialed the number, and it was quickly answered. “Nora, you finally showed up. I was heartbroken for a long time after you blocked me,” Tina’s wailing voice came from the other end of the phone. But I had no time for jokes with her. “Tina, do you know if anything happened between my brother and Stella?” “Your brother? Neil?” “Yes.” I told her about Neil coming to ask me to divorce Liam to let Stella be with him. Tina on the other end of the phone burst into laughter, “Hahahahaha, I didn’t expect that after so many years, your brother is still such a lovesick puppy. He’s really good at self-delusion!” “What do you mean?” “Actually, your brother and Stella met at a competition once. It seems your brother really admired Stella’s talent and fell in love with her at first sight. Liam found out about this later and wanted to go beat up your brother, but Stella stopped him. After that, the two of them just stayed out of each other’s way. Stella went abroad after high school graduation. I don’t know if she kept in touch with your brother during that time. But your brother is quite a few years older than you, right? He’s never had a girlfriend and never showed any intention of getting married. Looks like he’s still waiting for someone~” Tina teased on the other end of the phone. I was shocked. I never expected that my brother would like Stella, and even stayed single for so many years because of her. How charming must Stella be to make my brother say such things to his own sister even now?

After hanging up the phone with Tina, I realized I couldn’t stay here anymore. I immediately packed my luggage and changed my residence again. I never thought there would come a day when I would be forced to run around by my own brother. I decided to go to another state. Coincidentally, one of my college classmates was working there. Although we weren’t in the same department, she was one of my few good friends. But because I got married, we gradually lost touch. The last time we met was several years ago. I felt quite sorry towards her and prepared to go find her and apologize properly. After contacting my friend, I boarded a plane to the other state that evening. But I didn’t expect that trip would become the last journey of my life. The next morning, news of a major plane crash was everywhere, almost all news media were devoted to this news, and social media was also flooded with it. In an instant, all the families of the victims rushed to the scene. Because I had lost my ID, they couldn’t contact my relatives for a while. Only my friend Tina, who knew about my whereabouts, came to the airport after seeing the news. It was she who helped identify my body remains, and she who helped retrieve the only phone fragment that could be found.

So I floated in mid-air, watching Tina secretly wiping her tears. Even though it was because of me that we hadn’t met for so many years, seeing her like this now, I really felt very guilty in my heart. But now I was already dead, just a soul floating around, with no way to give her a hug or comfort her. Soon a ghost official came. I thought he was coming to take me away, but unexpectedly, he told me that the karma of this life hadn’t been resolved yet, so he wouldn’t take me to reincarnate for now. I asked him how to resolve it? He said it depended on my own fate, then he patted me, saying he would send me to the side of the person with whom I had the deepest karma. My vision went black, and when I opened my eyes again, I found myself in the house where I had lived for nearly seven years. At this moment, Liam, who should have been at work, was at home, holding Stella, the two of them entwined on the sofa. I felt a bit sick instantly, but more than that, I felt they were desecrating the expensive custom-made sofa I had ordered. They cuddled for a while, then Liam let go of Stella. Stella seemed a bit unsatisfied and pounced back onto Liam, asking somewhat pitifully, “Liam, can’t we yet? Don’t you love me anymore?” Looking at her like that was really disgusting. Liam was also stunned for a moment, but in the end, reason seemed to overcome emotion. He comforted Stella, saying he would divorce as soon as possible, and then immediately marry Stella. So it was because Liam was still married, and he didn’t want Stella to be labeled as the other woman. How considerate and gentle. Maybe it’s because I’m dead now, in a state of a wandering soul, my heart doesn’t seem to hurt as much anymore. I just find all of this very laughable. “Okay, then when the time comes, we’ll start from the living room to the bedroom, from the bedroom to the kitchen…” “Alright, whatever you like,” Liam smiled and hugged her, using the tone he used to speak to me to tease Stella.

Time flew by, and more than a week had passed. I didn’t know why I always followed Liam; I couldn’t leave his side on my own, I could only go wherever he went. During these six months, I saw that apart from eating, sleeping, working, and coaxing Stella, he was frantically calling me, but without exception, my phone was unreachable. I heard him cursing at the busy tone on the phone. He cursed me for being unreasonable, ungrateful, said he shouldn’t have married me in the first place, shouldn’t have helped my family, and even accused me of having another man outside and not coming home. But what he didn’t know was that when he was cursing me, I was right across from him, watching him, watching his handsome face reveal a fierce expression, spitting out the most vicious words. Maybe it’s because I’ve really become a ghost, my heart seems to have disappeared along with it. Hearing these words, I wasn’t very angry, I just thought he was too noisy. After that, he went to find everyone who might have had contact with me, including my parents and my brother Neil, but everyone said they didn’t know my whereabouts either. Because Tina initially thought I had run away from home, and she didn’t have my family’s contact information, in her anger, she didn’t tell my parents that I was already dead. And Liam didn’t know about my relationship with Tina, so he didn’t go to her to find out what had happened. Now everyone probably thinks I ran away quietly to avoid divorce, right? No matter what they think, I don’t care anymore.

Recently, Stella’s mood doesn’t seem to be very good. She started frequently asking Liam when he could divorce me, where I had gone, when they would get married. At first, Liam would patiently comfort her, coax her, promise her that he would resolve these issues as soon as possible, but as the frequency increased, Liam’s patience was also exhausted. The last time was yesterday. When Stella asked again, Liam yelled at her, saying he was very troubled, that he had many things to do, and couldn’t always spend time looking for me. “So can you calm down? I said I would marry you and I will definitely do it. Now we can’t find Nora anywhere, and if I don’t divorce her, I’m still married. At worst, after two years of separation, I’ll file for divorce. So can you stop asking?” Stella probably never dreamed that this man who always said he loved her, who even forced away his legal wife for her, would one day yell at her too. At this moment, I was floating behind Liam, watching all of Stella’s expressions. It was quite funny, but I have to say, Stella is indeed beautiful. Even when she’s this angry, she’s not ugly. Liam realized his mistake and quickly went to hug Stella, softly coaxing her, but Stella just kept a cold face. One was coaxing, the other wasn’t accepting it. This scene was really boring, but I had no way to leave, I could only float in place watching this pair of “star-crossed lovers”.

Today I finally got to go somewhere new because Liam brought Stella to attend a banquet. It was originally a reunion for our university department, but Liam still brought Stella along. He really didn’t care about my face at all. The moment he entered with Stella, the originally lively crowd suddenly fell silent. Everyone unanimously looked at them. Some people were full of curiosity, some felt disgust, some were thinking about how to curry favor with Liam, but there was also a group of men whose gazes were on Stella. However, these people were all glared back by Liam. He really was protective. When everyone had arrived, the student union president from university days raised his glass and said some words to liven up the atmosphere. Everyone else also raised their glasses. After three rounds of drinks, the people at the scene had basically loosened up. Everyone was chatting in their own groups, it was quite lively. “Hey, do you know about that plane crash half a year ago?” “Who doesn’t know? It dominated the headlines for a whole week.” “My distant uncle’s whole family was on it. It’s really tragic. My uncle was quite good to me, it’s such a pity…” “Yeah, a whole plane full of people, it’s too tragic.” “But I really didn’t expect this kind of thing would happen to one of our classmates…” The topic was led to the plane crash that caused my death, but unexpectedly, a classmate suddenly came out with this sentence. This statement made everyone very concerned, and they hurriedly asked what he meant. “Don’t you all know? Our classmate, Nora, died in that accident.” Crash! The glass in Liam’s hand next to me slipped and shattered on the ground, making a crisp sound. The red wine inside spilled all over the floor.

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I was the hot teacher. Every student’s dream girl. But the guy I helped? He doped me up. As I mumbled “honey” in a daze, his hands went where they shouldn’t. Later, he bragged. Spread our videos everywhere. “Dream girl? Ha! I’ve had her. Nothing special.” Just like that, I fell from grace. My husband left. My parents became outcasts. The school fired me. The cyberbullying crushed me. I jumped from the school roof. Then I woke up. Back to the day that guy first came to our class. There I was. Standing in front of my senior class again. Same old boho dress. White sandals. Looking good as ever. Still the young, gorgeous lit teacher. We got a new kid. Charity case. His first day. He shuffled in. Everyone stared. Whispers broke out. “Jesus. He looks like a horror movie extra. Talk about a letdown.” “Not to be mean, but I might puke. For real. Sorry.” He limped in. Face full of acne scars. Huge nose. Mole the size of a quarter underneath. “H-hi everyone. I’m new. Hope we can get along.” His eyes never left me as he stammered. I couldn’t breathe. Ethan Rivers. A name I’d never forget. Not in a thousand lifetimes. Last time, I pitied him. Stood up for him against bullies. Bought him clothes. Taught him confidence. Then one stormy night, he followed me home. Stupid me let him in. He spiked my drink. I lay on the couch. Called for my husband. His shaky hands unbuttoned my shirt. Then I blacked out. Helpless. Next day, I woke up bruised. Ran to the cops. But he’d vanished. For days, I was a wreck. Jumping at shadows. Then I saw it. High-def video. Every group chat. Caption read: “Dream girl? Please. Had her. Nothing special.” It was me in the video. Whimpering. Sobbing. Begging. The internet exploded. See, I’d gone viral before. Some candid shot. They called me “The Girl Next Door”. “The Unattainable Dream”. #DreamTeacherSeducesStudent #DisgraceToTheProfession He never owned up. Just hid in the shadows. Giggling like a creep. Sending anonymous texts: “Ms. Summers, we’re both in the gutter now. Be with me. I’ll treat you right.” I couldn’t take it. The online lynch mob. So I climbed to the school roof. And jumped. Three months pregnant. From everyone’s dream to public enemy number one. Rock bottom. But now? Standing at that podium again? Watching him in the back row? I felt fate shifting. My chance for payback. He looked up. Thick accent: “‘The bubbling spring is voiceless in its flow; In shadow of the trees, a fountain plays.’ Ms. Summers, I’m… I’m Ethan. Ethan Rivers.” The class lost it. “Dude, seriously? You know our teacher’s Ms. Olivia Summers, right?” He froze. Then flashed a shy smile.

Our eyes met. Chills down my spine. I played it cool. This time, he knew nothing. I could stop it all. “New kid. Anyone want to sit with him?” He’d started late. Already twenty. Built big. Face like it went through a meat grinder. Dead silence. No volunteers. Then Megan, class rep, raised her hand. “Ms. Summers, I’m class rep. I should set an example. I’ll sit with him.” Megan’s face? Kind. Honest. Just like I used to be. I shot her down cold: “Heard your grades sucked before transferring. Don’t want to hold Megan back. Take that empty seat in the back.” Plenty of spots open. I’d picked the worst option. He looked shocked. Like he couldn’t believe I was throwing him under the bus. Ethan’s lips twitched. He mumbled: “How… Ms. Summers looks so nice. Why’s she picking on me too?” Every word made my skin crawl. After class, I bolted to the staff room. Back soaked in sweat. Didn’t even notice as I chugged scalding tea. Mind racing. Quit now? Run? I’d fought hard for this job. Sleepless nights studying. They never switch teachers in senior year. Not with finals coming. Why give it all up because of him? I sat there. Dazed. Until home time. Michael picked me up. Waited half an hour in his car. Saw me coming. Rushed to open the door. Pulled me close. “Babe, you look terrible. What’s wrong?” His familiar warmth. I lost it. Sobbed like crazy. We’ve always been solid. Last time, we fake-divorced. To protect me from the hate. Moved to a new city. Fresh start. Later, when he saw how broken I was? He went after Ethan. Knife in hand. But Ethan used his grandma as a shield. Michael got played. Bled out on the street. Now? Looking at his handsome face? No tragedy yet? I wiped my tears. Forced a smile. “It’s nothing. Just feeling off. Let’s go home.” Michael wasn’t buying it. Dragged me straight to the hospital. Couldn’t talk him out of it. An hour later, rush blood test results. I was pregnant. Turns out, I was already carrying Michael’s baby. When he found out? Michael swept me up. Spun me around. “Babe, this is amazing! We’re having a baby!” “Hope it’s a girl. A mini-Olivia. Beautiful and sweet like you.” I smiled through tears. Made a silent promise. This time? I’d protect our happiness. No matter what. Next day, I went to class as usual. Voice still hoarse. Brought a clip-on mic. Loud voice drowned out my messy feelings. Didn’t even look his way. Just taught like normal. Few quiet days passed. Then Thursday afternoon. Just finished my last class. Heading to the staff room. Group of girls blocking my path. Helping Ethan along. He’d been roughed up. Reeked of toilet water. Bruises everywhere. Limping worse than ever. But I knew better. This poor-me act? Just a mask. Hiding the monster underneath. He was strong. Never fought back. Let the bullies have their way. Never made a sound. Long, dirty nails. Left hand a mess. Skin peeled off his index finger. Nasty wound. “Ms. Summers! Ethan got beat up! His finger’s skin is falling off! What do we do?” Girls in our class. Always playing hero. Standing up for the underdog. Ethan gave me puppy dog eyes. Nose scrunched in pain. Oily sheen made me want to gag. “Help me, Ms. Summers… please.” I was about to brush them off. Send him to the nurse. Then Jenny, our class monitor, spoke up: “Ms. Summers, don’t you have a first aid kit in your office? Nurse’s office is so far. Maybe we could patch him up real quick?” I paused. Looked at his pleading eyes. His bleeding finger. Bell rang for next class. I nodded. “Alright, come with me. Rest of you, get to class.” Ethan’s lips curled. Barely noticeable smirk. He followed me to the office. Class time. Place was empty. Casual as can be, I opened the first aid kit. Took out tweezers and gauze. “Sit down. I’ll bandage you up.” Wind rustled the curtains. Seashell wind chimes tinkled softly. I gently cleaned his wound. He suddenly blushed. I asked, “What’s wrong?” “Ms. Summers, you’re… you’re really pretty.” Ethan’s face turned red as a tomato. Stammering out the compliment. Then his eyes glazed over. Staring at my collarbone. While he was distracted, I smiled. Plunged his whole finger into the bottle. Raw, bloody finger. Now submerged in nearly full bottle of medical-grade ethanol CH3CH2OH. “Gotta disinfect properly, right?” He was horrified. Trying to pull away. Face twisted in pain. “It hurts! Ms. Summers, it really hurts!” But I kept smiling. Grip tight on his wrist. Wouldn’t let go. Bottle’s narrow opening practically swallowed his finger. Held it there. Until blood turned the whole bottle red. He’d bitten his lip bloody. Eyes bulging. Staring at me in shock. For the first time, I saw real hate in his eyes.

But he didn’t know. This time around? I was a psycho. All sunshine and rainbows to everyone else. Pure evil to him. His injury was bad. School nurse sent him to the hospital. Next few days, Ethan came to school. Hand all wrapped up. Tried hard in my class. Always raising his hand. Answering questions. I ignored him completely. Even when he won first prize. School computer competition. Brought glory to our class. I didn’t say a word. His eyes changed. From eager to dark. Once came to ask me directly: “Ms. Summers, why don’t you ever notice my efforts? No matter how hard I try?” I swiveled in my chair. Didn’t even look at him. If kindness only bred betrayal? This time, I didn’t mind being the villain. As long as I could protect myself. “Because you don’t deserve it. Some things can’t be changed by trying. Like your disgusting inner self. Even uglier than your face.” Even now, I had good reason to say this. Few days ago. On my way home from work. Caught him torturing a stray cat. By the time I found them? Little white cat was already dead. Scalded by boiling water. He’d smiled and said, “This stuck-up cat scratched me. How could a cat be better than a human?” Now, Ethan glared at me. Hate in his eyes. Hands clenched under his sleeves. I didn’t care. Kept giving him the cold shoulder. Even the head teacher noticed. Frowned as he reminded me: “Olivia, teachers should treat all students the same. We shouldn’t be harsh on special cases. Should give them extra care.” But I didn’t hold back. Said right in front of Ethan: “What’s so special about him? He has hands and feet. He’s mentally sound. If we give him special treatment, is that fair to the other students?” He started to hate me. Spread rumors. Said I had a wild private life. That I was seducing the principal. That sort of thing. But on the surface? He’d still flash me a grin. Say hi when he saw me. As autumn turned to winter, Ethan started wearing shabby coats. Ripped jeans. Stuck out like a sore thumb. I’d heard he was orphaned young. Raised by his grandma. Spoiled rotten. On my 25th birthday, I won the city’s Outstanding Teacher award. Double celebration. I had a great rapport with my students. This was the job I’d always dreamed of. Several students chipped in. Bought me a huge, gorgeous bouquet. I accepted with a big smile. “Megan, Jenny, you both made top ten in the recent mock exam. Didn’t you two want to be desk buddies before? I was worried you’d chat too much and fall behind. Now, go for it.” “Travis, your literature score’s looking up. Try to shift some focus from science and math to memorizing more poetry. Easy points, right?” As I was chatting with the students, I spotted an uninvited guest in the crowd. Ethan had brought me flowers too. Whether by accident or design, it was a single white rose. Petals crushed and oozing sap. Hideous. “Ms. Summers, I saved up my allowance for a week to buy this for you. You have to like it, okay?” He held it out to me. Hope shining in his eyes. My smile vanished. In front of all the teachers and students in the office, I picked it up with a tissue. Dropped it on the floor. Wrinkled my nose in disgust. “Filthy.” Ethan’s lips quivered. But he bent down. Picked up the flower without a word. Walked away. The dark look in his eyes sent chills down my spine. But I didn’t look back. I wasn’t afraid of his hatred. He always preyed on those weaker than him. Cowered before the strong.

Michael had earned a black belt in Taekwondo. In his spare time. I’d picked up some self-defense moves from him. Just in case. When I got home, my husband was waiting. Massive bouquet of roses. Voice soft and loving. “Happy birthday to my award-winning teacher, my beautiful Olivia!” Despite my excitement, I put on a sour face. Feigning disappointment. Sure enough, over our candlelit dinner, Michael brought it up. His upcoming research trip abroad. “This research opportunity is crucial for my career. Babe, I’m afraid I won’t be able to take care of you for these two months.” He sighed. My adamant refusal took him by surprise. I knew he wouldn’t believe in time travel or reincarnation. So instead, I said: “Michael, I had this awful dream the other day. After you left, someone broke into our home. And… and tortured me. When you came back to avenge me, knife in hand, they killed you instead.” “Our family of three was destroyed. But the culprit got away scot-free.” “That’s impossible. We live in a society governed by law. Are you feeling okay? You seem a bit unstable lately.” He clasped my hand. Concern etched on his face. In the end, after my relentless pleading, Michael decided to stay. Gave up his research opportunity. Out of worry for me. I felt guilty about hindering his career. But it was getting close. That stormy night when Ethan would break into my home and ruin everything. Even though my attitude towards him was completely different this time, I couldn’t risk fate playing a cruel joke on me. I remembered clearly it was on a Friday. Ethan had followed me after school. Begged me to let him in to escape the rain. But tonight, Michael was stuck in traffic. Couldn’t make it home after work. After several unanswered calls, I started to get anxious. Soon, Michael sent me a text. “Honey, accidents everywhere due to heavy rain. Highway’s jammed. Can’t get back. They’re not letting us use phones. Don’t wait up, okay?” By 10:30 PM, still no knock at the door. Rain coming down harder. Drowning out my chaotic thoughts. My taut nerves finally relaxed a bit. Finally feeling sleepy. Body covered in cold sweat. Decided to take a shower and go to bed. Hot water felt good on my skin. In the bathroom mirror, I saw my reflection. Delicate features. Straight nose. Big doe eyes with long lashes. Hint of sensuality. I caressed my still-flat belly. Michael always said I was beautiful. He wasn’t bad looking himself. Our baby would surely be a little angel. Lost in thought, I grabbed a towel to dry off. Just then, in the steamy mirror, a dark, grinning face appeared behind me. Limping closer. It was Ethan! Sheer terror washed over me. This wasn’t a hallucination. He’d cracked my home security system. In my past life, when I’d let him in to escape the rain, he’d seen my door code. This time, to avoid bad luck, I’d changed the locks. Even installed a reinforced security door. Only my fingerprint and Michael’s could open it. Had all my precautions been for nothing? Was I doomed to relive this nightmare? A cold, mud-caked hand reached in. I screamed, but my waist was suddenly gripped tight. Another hand sliding upwards. “Ms. Summers, it’s raining outside. I’m so cold. Can you… can you hold me?”

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After discovering I was the vicious female supporting character in an entertainment industry novel, I immediately dumped the devoted male second lead and ran away. I chose to raise pigs in the south. Successfully expanded the pig farm into a large-scale operation, attracting a reality show to film there. But why are the male lead, female lead, and my ex-boyfriend all participating?! They’re gathered around me discussing postpartum care for sows. Yet netizens are saying, “Algar’s eyes are glued to Celestine, those two must have something going on!” Damn it! How can your eyes be so sharp! When I signed the contract, I said I only needed to raise pigs and be a pig, living an idle life waiting to die. But after working for a while, I discovered the pig farm was becoming more and more famous, attracting a reality show to film there. The boss saw a business opportunity and forcibly inserted me into the show as a resident NPC, a pig farming instructor. Early in the morning, the production team barged into my home with their equipment. I took off my face mask, tidied my hair, and waved at the camera with a look of utter despair. “You’re saying this is the pig farming instructor???” “Oh my god! She’s so beautiful, I love her! Come to sister’s arms!” “Is this deliberately hyping up an ordinary person? How else would a pig farm have such a goddess?” I looked at the barrage of comments and smirked. As the vicious female supporting character, I didn’t want to get involved in the entertainment circle either. Yes, that’s right, I know I’m currently in a Mary Sue sweet romance novel set in the entertainment industry. A film emperor dotes on a small-time actress, helping her reach the pinnacle of becoming a top actress. In it, the small-time actress is a natural charmer, with the male lead, second male lead, and third to seventh male leads all falling for her. My boyfriend Algar is the most devoted second male lead to the female lead. There’s only one vicious female supporting character in the whole story – me. Despite having stunning looks, I’m completely overshadowed by the female lead. Feeling resentful, I constantly cause trouble. Algar and I had been deskmates since middle school, classmates all the way. He protected me, I liked him, we were the school’s perfect couple. But in the year we graduated from university, Algar met Celestine from the acting department, and everything changed. He couldn’t stop talking about Celestine. Celestine was a bit muddle-headed, but beautiful and kind-hearted. Celestine was perfect in every way. I was fuming as I listened. On my birthday, Algar abandoned me on the roadside for Celestine, and I finally exploded. In the original story, I chose to create a fake account to slander Celestine as a homewrecker who seduced other people’s boyfriends. After being found out, Algar had a huge fight with me. Algar and I grew apart, and I became even more resentful towards Celestine. Celestine became a rising starlet in the entertainment industry. I stole her roles, made snide remarks about her plastic surgery, and deliberately sabotaged her safety harness. In the end, Algar broke up with me and joined forces with the film emperor to protect Celestine. Later, I went crazy and threw sulfuric acid at Celestine during a roadshow. Algar pushed me down the stairs. I died with my eyes wide open.

The day I awakened, I laughed at this ridiculous plot. If Algar fell for someone else, I would just slap him once and kick him to the curb. I wouldn’t have the patience to engage in a catfight with Celestine. Besides, Algar, falling for someone else? That’s purely a joke. To put it nicely, he was aloof; to put it bluntly, he was antisocial. He barely knew anyone at school besides me, probably not even the homeroom teacher’s name. And every day, besides drawing, he just clung to me. All his free time was spent buying me food, doing my laundry, saving seats for me, accompanying me to movies, and taking walks with me. He didn’t even have time to meet Celestine. I originally thought I had just had a nauseating dream. But not long after the start of senior year, I really saw Celestine. She truly lived up to being the female lead, with a natural halo. Even in a crowd, she was the most eye-catching, smiling and waving at Algar, calling him “Brother Dusk.” My heart skipped a beat, and an ominous feeling welled up. But I still suppressed my anxiety, pretending to be angry and telling Algar to stay away from Celestine. Algar cupped my face, gave me a kiss, and happily agreed. But he ran into Celestine more and more often. His gaze lingered on Celestine for longer and longer. Algar himself didn’t even notice that he had ignored my warnings, and started talking about Celestine all the time. “Why do you insist on being friends with Celestine?” I held back from questioning him. He hid his smile and said he’d tell me later. The sourness in my heart and fear of the future could no longer be suppressed. I had nightmares of Algar pushing me down the stairs. Until my birthday, when Algar received a call from Celestine, left me on the roadside, and walked away. I was utterly desperate. Since I couldn’t change fate, I might as well run! I sent Algar a breakup message and fled overnight. To a place where no one could find me. Using all I had learned, I became a researcher at a nationally renowned large-scale pig farm. Focusing on pig research, making piglets whiter, prettier, and more delicious. Who would have thought. Because I raised pigs so well, it attracted a reality show to film there. I still couldn’t escape my predetermined fate. So I’ll just lie down. Only if I lie flat enough can the gears of fate roll right over me! I took the production team on a tour of the pig farm. When I returned to the recording room, everyone had already arrived. Seeing the people before me, my heart pounded wildly. Wearing a black T-shirt and jeans with an expressionless face was Algar. Beside him with long straight black hair, wearing a white dress and a flower-like smile, was Celestine. And leaning lazily to the side listening to Celestine talk was the film emperor, Miles. Celestine saw me and jumped up: “A new person has arrived! Come, come!” She was lively and coquettish, and everyone turned to look at me following her words. Algar’s gaze seemed to be laced with ice, freezing me stiff and at a loss. The barrage of comments went wild. “All handsome men and beautiful women, a feast for the eyes!” “Our Willow is so cute, so sweet, so beautiful!” “The film emperor’s doting expression, I ship it so hard.” “But the famous painter Algar seems to have a very good relationship with Celestine. He was invited by Celestine to participate in the show. I ship the Steadfast Couple!” “Ahhhh! They look good together no matter how you look at it. I’m fine with either the Steadfast Couple or the Fame Couple!” Bitterness welled up in my heart, but I forced a smile. Celestine walked over and grabbed my hand. Algar revealed a smile, but there was no smile in his eyes. I shuddered. Looks like he’s really angry.

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During my sophomore year, I became infamous in the worst way possible. My best friend Zoe asked me to meet her at a hotel. I went, and from that moment, I plunged into a bottomless abyss. Not only did I lose the most precious thing to me, but I was also stripped, photographed, and humiliated. Those obscene photos were sent to every single one of my classmates and professors. Everyone said the student council president had sold herself for money. In an instant, I became the hottest topic on everyone’s lips. My parents couldn’t bear the pressure of public opinion and divorced. My mom, feeling utterly disgraced, took her own life with an overdose of pills. After that day, I was forced to transfer schools, undergo plastic surgery, and change my name. I’ll never forget Zoe’s smug face that night. All of this was her doing! I couldn’t let her get away with it. I worked tirelessly to get into the same university as Zoe. I sold the house my mom left me and packaged myself as a rich girl to infiltrate her social circle, pretending to be her best friend. I heard her boyfriend was from a wealthy family in the city, filthy rich and incredibly handsome. The key was that he was head over heels for Zoe. He was my first target, and also the first “gift” I would give to Zoe. Approaching such a high-quality, devoted man was difficult, but I had to try! Soon, my opportunity came. On Zoe’s birthday, she had a fight with her boyfriend and refused to answer his calls. So he called me instead, “Aria, is Zoe with you?” I said, “Yes.” Her boyfriend hesitated, “Zoe and I had a misunderstanding. She won’t take my calls. It’s her birthday tonight, and I want to surprise her. I need your help.” “How can I help?” “Can I borrow your key?” Zoe came from an ordinary family but pretended to be rich, claiming she couldn’t stand living in the dorm. To get close to her, I had gritted my teeth and rented a large apartment off-campus with her. “What do you want to do?” I asked. “I want to set up a surprise at your apartment. I’m going to propose to her tonight.” My heart sank. How could a vain, evil woman like Zoe marry a good man like Marcus? Back in sophomore year, she had come up with that despicable plan to ruin me just for the title of student council president! If she could marry into a wealthy family, where was the justice in this world? “Okay, I’ll help,” I agreed quickly, while an evil plan began to form in my mind. Zoe’s birthday party was booked at a bar near the school. I made an excuse about being stuck in traffic, turned around, and went back to our shared apartment. From a distance, I saw Marcus standing at the entrance of our building, with a large cardboard box at his feet. He was tall, about 6’2″, wearing a black T-shirt that showed off his fit physique. He had on a black baseball cap that partially hid his incredibly handsome face. Despite his casual attire and lack of expensive accessories, he couldn’t hide his unique, aristocratic aura. I ran up to him with a smile, “Have you been waiting long?” He didn’t say much, his eyes dark and bright, “Not long.” I led him back to the apartment and helped him set up the romantic proposal scene. During a break, I took a few bottles of beer from the fridge and slipped something into one of them before casually handing it to him. The alcohol content wasn’t high, just a brand commonly drunk at bars. He glanced at it and downed it in one go.

I sat on the cardboard box and took a sip, “What do you like about Zoe?” Marcus seemed thirsty and finished the entire bottle in one breath. He lowered his head slightly and placed the empty bottle by his feet, “She’s kind and cheerful.” “Pfft…” I spat out my drink. This guy might be good-looking, but was he blind? Zoe and “kind and cheerful” were worlds apart! She was vicious, vain, dark, and would stop at nothing to get what she wanted. I would use the filthiest language in the world to describe her! And use the most despicable methods to get my revenge! “What’s wrong?” Marcus looked up at me, his eyes deep and dark, slightly intoxicated, with an indescribable sexiness. “You really have good taste!” I got up and went to the balcony. Following Marcus’s instructions, I made an urgent call to Zoe, telling her to come home early because of an emergency. When I returned to the living room, as expected, Marcus had passed out on the sofa. I shook him, and he was truly unconscious. I hesitated, standing there unable to act. Marcus was a good man, and I shouldn’t have dragged him into this conflict. But then I thought of Zoe’s vicious fangs, and I shuddered. “Marcus, I’m not doing this to hurt you, but to save you.” I steeled my heart and stripped off his clothes, laying him on the sofa. “I hope we can play this act well.” I disposed of the beer bottle he had used, tore my own clothes, and pinched myself all over until I was covered in bruises. I even slapped myself a few times until my face was swollen. Only then did I stop and send Zoe a message, “Zoe, come back quickly, save me! Marcus has gone crazy!” My phone was instantly flooded with calls from Zoe. I smashed my phone to pieces.

Zoe sensed something was wrong and rushed back. I huddled in a corner of the sofa, crying hysterically, my body covered in wounds. Clothes were strewn all over the floor, torn underwear hung on the bar counter. Even an idiot could see what had happened between Marcus and me. “Aria, what happened?” Zoe’s expression was rigid, her face pale. “Zoe…” I threw myself into her arms, crying and sobbing, “Marcus… Marcus assaulted me!” Heaven knows how satisfying it was to spit out those words! Zoe’s body shook violently, her eyes fixed on Marcus. “Marcus, wake up, how much did you drink?” Two classmates shook Marcus. Everyone knew Marcus couldn’t hold his liquor, but they’d never seen him this drunk before. Marcus woke up, confused by the scene before him. “You bastard!” Zoe broke down and slapped him, “Bastard!” I picked up my phone, wrapped myself in clothes, and ran out crying. Zoe’s family was ordinary, she used her looks to hook rich guys. Marcus was the highest caliber man she could ever hope to catch. She wouldn’t let go easily. Sure enough, I had barely run downstairs when Zoe chased after me, “Aria!” I stood by the roadside, pretending to shake as I dialed 911. My phone was intentionally broken, unable to turn on, thus delaying the police call and giving Zoe ample time to expose her true nature. “Zoe…” I turned to her for help, “Let me use your phone. I need to call the police. I must call the police. I won’t let that beast get away with this!” Zoe’s face was pale and serious. She gripped my hand, “Aria, calm down.” “How can I calm down? I can’t calm down! Do you know what he did to me?” I cried as I spoke, “He tore my clothes, kissed and touched my body, and then… then violently assaulted me. I want that scumbag to go to jail! If you protect him, we can’t be friends anymore!” My words deeply affected Zoe. Her eyes turned cold and vicious, her eyes red with jealousy. She forced an eerie smile on her pale face, comforting me, “I’m not protecting him. I’m worried about your reputation. Calm down for a couple of days. I’ll talk to Marcus and get to the bottom of this, I’ll give you an explanation.” That smile shouldn’t have appeared on her face, yet she wore such a chilling expression. I knew she was going to make her move against me. Everything was under my control. So, I started to add fuel to the fire, stimulating Zoe even more intensely.

The news that Marcus and I had “slept” together spread like wildfire on the campus forum. The information was spread by my childhood friend, the more outrageous and salacious, the better. I wanted to make Zoe suffer, to infuriate her. Even if she wanted to call me a slut, she couldn’t find a reason. She had to rack her brains to cover up for her rich “rapist” boyfriend. It must have been like swallowing a knife, cutting her tongue, but having to swallow it whole. Afterward, I moved back to the school dorm, and Zoe moved back too. She kept a close eye on me, ostensibly accompanying me out of friendship, but actually afraid I’d report to the police and ruin her dream of marrying into wealth. The day after moving back to school, I received a message from Marcus. “Aria, let’s talk.” “Let’s talk off-campus. I don’t want to be seen at school.” “Alright.” I knew Marcus liked to wear black, so I chose a long black T-shirt, wore a black cap and mask, wrapped myself up tightly, and had my childhood friend stake out to take photos in advance. As soon as I left the school gate, I saw Marcus’s Maybach parked across the street. I opened the car door and sat in the back. He looked somewhat haggard. Looking at me through the rearview mirror, his expression was cold and complex. He seemed to want to say something but hesitated, “Where to?” My eyes were red and swollen, my long hair messy, looking very haggard. “Let’s just talk in the car.” The car drove aimlessly around the city. I actually felt quite guilty towards Marcus, but when I thought of my deceased mother, I hardened my heart again. I couldn’t tell Marcus the truth. He had swallowed Zoe’s poisonous bait, the love potion had already infected him. If I told him everything, he might not believe me and would alert Zoe. At that point, I would be beyond redemption. The time wasn’t right yet. Soon, the silent atmosphere was broken. He turned his head and looked at me. He said, “Aria, I’m very sorry about what happened that night. I don’t usually drink that much, but one bottle of beer shouldn’t have knocked me out. Zoe and I have been analyzing it, and we’re wondering if something strange might have happened.” My heart skipped a beat. I hadn’t expected Marcus to suspect me. I suddenly burst into tears, “What do you mean?” Marcus hesitated, “Don’t you think it’s strange? Could someone have…” “What are you suspecting?” I interrupted him, crying, “I don’t want money, I don’t want anything from you, we have no connection. What reason would I have to do that?” “That’s not what I meant.” “To clear yourself of the rape charge, why are you trying to smear me?” Marcus drew a sharp breath, seemingly unable to bear me using such a dirty word to describe him. His face turned ashen, and he unconsciously gripped the steering wheel tighter. “If that’s the case, let’s go to the police station to talk! I still have the underwear with bodily fluids from that night!” I angrily got out of the car and started walking back. Marcus chased after me and grabbed my arm, “Aria, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” I struggled desperately. “Maybe I drank too much and it went to my head. I might have mistaken you for Zoe.” Marcus finally gave in, but his eyes were filled with sorrow and anger, “I’m sorry, I sincerely apologize to you. I can compensate you! Any amount!” “What good is an apology? What good is money?” I sobbed on his shoulder, “What kind of person do you think I am?” This scene was being photographed by my childhood friend, and the photos were simultaneously uploaded to the school forum. I guessed the forum must be in an uproar. Today, I had deliberately worn matching outfits with Marcus, got into his car, and now was photographed with Marcus pulling me, me crying in his arms. Anyone looking at the photos would think Marcus was pestering me. I guessed that when Zoe saw these sneaky photos, she would want to kill me. She wouldn’t pity me, the “assaulted and harassed” victim. She would only see me as an obstacle to be eliminated. The torment and cruelty she once gave me, I would now return to her bit by bit! “Marcus, Zoe and I are good friends,” I said. “I don’t want to mention this incident again. I don’t need compensation, and I won’t report to the police.” I further gained his trust, “For the sake of my reputation and Zoe, let’s just pretend nothing happened, it was just a misunderstanding.” Marcus’s distrustful expression eased a bit, and he suddenly looked at me with deep remorse. I waved my hand, not wanting to talk anymore, and called a taxi back to school. I actually didn’t want to hurt Marcus, nor did I want to entangle with him. Zoe was like a parasite sucking his blood. To remove Zoe, Marcus would inevitably experience pain. He was an innocent victim. I should be the one apologizing. Back at the dorm, Zoe greeted me with red eyes and a smile, as if nothing had happened, “Aria, where did you go?” “Just went for a walk.” Zoe hugged me comfortingly, “I was so worried you might do something stupid. Tonight, my friend is having a celebration party. Why don’t you come along to take your mind off things?” Back in sophomore year, she had used the same excuse to call me to the hotel. What was meant to come, couldn’t be avoided. Everything was a cycle. She was finally going to make her move. Only this time, she was the prey, and I was the cunning hunter.

I hadn’t been lurking around Zoe for so long without learning anything. I knew everything she said and did, who her connections were, all like the back of my hand. Although Zoe acted reserved and elegant in front of Marcus, she was actually quite wild. Back in sophomore year, she was already buddying up with people from the streets, calling many gangsters her “brothers”, with a wide network of connections. Even after getting into a prestigious university and moving to a new city, she still had quite a few “brothers” from the streets. I sent the address of the celebration party to my childhood friend, who made preparations in advance. The party was at a nightclub in the city center. The private room was dimly lit and filled with smoke. It was full of shady characters – some shirtless men were playing cards, while others were swaying to the loud music on the dance floor. “Sister Zoe’s here,” said a tall, thin man in the center, raising his hand holding a cigarette. Zoe patted my shoulder and said with a smile, “Brother Jake, I brought a friend to hang out.” Several men turned their heads to look at me, their gazes unabashedly lustful. I instinctively turned to leave. Zoe pushed me into the room. “Zoe, why are you pushing me?” I asked her. The moment the door closed, she seemed to transform into a different person. She sneered, “Aria, drop the act now, will you?” I pretended to be confused, “What do you mean?” Zoe slapped me hard across the face, her face dark, “We’re both old foxes here, why are you playing dumb with me?” She hit me with tremendous force. Before I could steady myself, she slapped me several more times, as if unleashing all the anger she had been holding back for days. I staggered and fell to the ground, tasting blood in my mouth.

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On the night of my 80th birthday, my husband of 55 years stabbed me 10 times, each blow fatal. After the final stab, he finally let go with satisfaction. The knife clattered to the floor. “Rachel Lee, I’m finally free of you,” he said. Pain spread throughout my body. I had no strength left to cry out. Bright red blood flowed from my heart onto the floor, staining my favorite floral jacket. Gabriel Gray stood before me, hunched over, carefully wiping the blood off the knife with his sleeve. At 81 years old, his movements were unsteady. I wanted to remind him that the blood left on his sleeve would still be evidence and he’d be convicted anyway. But I didn’t have the strength to open my mouth or lift a hand. Perhaps it was a final moment of clarity before death, but I saw visions of Gabriel at different ages before my eyes. 10-year-old Gabriel, 20-year-old Gabriel, all the way up to 81-year-old Gabriel. They all smiled at me and gently called me “Rachel.” But behind those smiles was a cold knife, piercing my heart. As I felt my body growing colder, Gabriel and I’s life together flashed before my eyes like a montage.

Gabriel and I had indeed been entangled for a lifetime. By the time I was ten, I was already the little girl who followed Gabriel around everywhere. Although we weren’t in the same elementary school, every holiday I would shamelessly go to Gabriel’s house to do homework together. Perhaps it was because my resentment was too strong, but after death my soul began to drift through various scenes of my interactions with Gabriel. Although I could only watch helplessly as everything unfolded, fortunately I could now hear Gabriel’s inner thoughts. Before my eyes was a little girl chewing on her pen and staring blankly at a difficult problem. She looked to be about 10 years old. Across from her sat a boy diligently working on his own problems. This was 10-year-old me and 11-year-old Gabriel. “Gabriel, how do you do this one? Can you teach me?” “I” finally gave up on the difficult problem and looked at the boy across from me with pleading eyes. He didn’t say anything. The air fell into a brief silence, but at that moment I heard his inner voice: “So annoying. She still can’t do two-digit addition and subtraction at this age. Why is she pretending?” Hearing those words, I froze in place. In my memories, the young Gabriel had been like a gentle older brother. Those harsh words would never have come out of his mouth. I had grown up without a father’s love, so I was more likely to show my vulnerable side to a boy my age. Seeing the boy hadn’t responded, the girl continued speaking. She pushed her workbook in front of him with a pitiful expression. “I really don’t know how to do it. I’m not lying.” “Just do your homework quietly,” the boy still didn’t look up at the girl. “So annoying. I wish she would leave already.” At the same time, I heard his inner voice speaking again. The scene ended with the girl leaving with red-rimmed eyes, her backpack slung over her shoulder. What had seemed like a heart-warming moment ended with such an abrupt and careless conclusion. The “stage” was now empty, with both the male and female leads gone. But as an audience member, I still couldn’t process what I had seen. Because I clearly remembered that I really had been stuck on those two-digit addition and subtraction problems back then. I never imagined Gabriel had been so annoyed with me even then. So why did he agree to my requests?

After a moment of silence, I could feel my soul being forcibly torn away. The white light became a vortex that swallowed my soul whole. When I came to, the first thing I saw was the asphalt road in front of the school gates. It was early summer then. The cicadas were buzzing loudly. The shadows of the evergreen trees dappled our bodies. Everything seemed too beautiful to be real. Gabriel was a year ahead of me. At this time we were in high school. “Gabriel, how are your studies going lately?” he asked. That day, my voice suddenly became halting and stumbling as I answered his question. I forgot what I said in the middle, but I ended with “I like you.” That day I confessed to Gabriel. But after hearing it, Gabriel only responded with an expressionless “Mm” and said nothing else. He was known for being a cold, aloof top student at school. So when I heard that “Mm”, I was overjoyed. He usually wouldn’t even acknowledge me, so maybe I had a chance? That’s what I thought. But now I heard Gabriel say in an impatient tone: “Can you stop following me around all the time? You’re like a fly.” I didn’t understand. I had only asked him one question. How had it turned into this? Although I couldn’t feel any physical pain, the place where my heart should be still ached. But the young woman before me was still immersed in her supposed happiness, coyly asking Gabriel: “So how have you been lately?” We rarely saw each other since Gabriel had moved. The young man paused in his steps. A gust of hot wind blew past him. I caught a glimpse of a blush on his face. “Fine,” he said. But I heard another cold voice in my ear saying: “It would be even better without you.” The young woman also stopped walking. Just as she was about to pull out the chocolate hidden behind her back, she was interrupted by a male voice. The owner of the voice slung his arm around Gabriel’s shoulder and said: “Come on, let’s go study.” Gabriel’s eyes lit up at that moment. Without responding to the girl behind him, he was about to link arms with his friend and leave. The girl’s beautiful confession had been abruptly cut off. Still unwilling to give up, she timidly asked: “Can I come find you during summer break after exams are over?” “Sure,” Gabriel’s retreating figure replied. The world froze again. At the same time, that cold voice appeared again: “This should get rid of her, right?” I was stunned for a long time. I never imagined that the man I had loved for nearly 70 years actually hated me so much. Thinking back on everything I had done, I still couldn’t find a reason for Gabriel to hate me.

Click-clack. The previously shattered world reassembled itself. This time we were at a college class reunion. At this point, “I” was being pressured by friends to play Truth or Dare. My luck wasn’t great – I kept drawing “Truth” cards. Having a crush on Gabriel seemed to be my secret. Even after four drinks, I still wasn’t willing to reveal it. When the wine glass pointed at me again, the cheering from the others seemed even louder than before. My best friend grabbed my hand. “We agreed, you can’t drink five glasses in a row.” I clutched my phone, my head a bit fuzzy from all the alcohol. The “Dare” I drew was: Call the first person on your contacts list and tell them “I’m drunk, can you come pick me up?” The ringing of the phone had everyone on edge. “Hello? What’s up?” It connected! Gabriel’s cool voice came through. Even though I knew Gabriel didn’t like me, my non-existent heart still skipped a beat as a disembodied soul. My friend nudged me and mouthed: Say it! Only then did I speak up coyly, my voice tinged with real drunkenness: “Gabriel, I’m drunk. Can you come pick me up?” My face visibly reddened. I was about to say something else when my friend snatched the phone and hung up. According to her, this was the way to hook someone – just enough ambiguity to be intriguing. Sitting on the couch, I clutched my phone tightly, my heart pounding. I wasn’t sure if Gabriel would come. Gabriel was a surgical resident who had just graduated two years ago. It could be said this was his busiest time. In the end, Gabriel didn’t come. The one who came was Luke, his classmate who had competed with him for top of the class. “No, don’t go with him.” When I saw Luke’s face, the defenses I had carefully built up suddenly crumbled. I tried desperately to grab myself, but my hands just passed through my body over and over. Only then did I realize I truly couldn’t do anything.

Unable to face the pain directly, I wanted to see what Gabriel was doing at that moment. Why did Luke come when I had called Gabriel? I floated out about two meters before being forcibly pulled back. After several attempts, the result was the same – I came to a conclusion that I couldn’t leave my past self. I didn’t want to watch the next scene. I crouched down and covered my head in pain, but I couldn’t block out the sounds. Accompanied by the noisy voices, painful memories were awakened. Images automatically floated through my mind. “She’s so pretty, how could Gabriel not want her?” Luke carried my half-drunk, half-conscious body out of the bar. As he looked me up and down, his hands started roaming over my body. “Ah! What are you doing?” My drunken self felt something groping my body. I opened my eyes to find a strange man trying to molest me. Luke gripped my hand tightly. I had no way to escape. I could only use my last bit of reason to take out my phone and dial Gabriel’s number. “Gabriel! Help me!” That pale, desperate cry for help was truly the only action my past self could take to help herself at that moment. At this moment, it was as if I had overcome my inner demons. I stood up and coldly watched the scene. Luke snatched the phone and tossed it aside. “Gabriel doesn’t even want you anymore. Why are you still calling him?” I floated over to their side, looking at my half-unconscious self who was in shock. I reached out to wipe away her tears, but my hand passed through her face again.

A force kicked Luke flying. He let out a cry of pain. Only then did I see the man approaching in the moonlight. When Gabriel arrived, Luke had already stripped me down to my underwear. “Gabriel, are you crazy…” “Get lost.” Gabriel dismissed Luke with one word. Gabriel looked at me, who had fallen into a deep sleep. He took off his coat and gently wrapped it around me before carrying me away. The scene froze again, leaving only a mess on the ground. The second half was like rewatching a movie. I focused on finding various details I hadn’t been aware of at the time. Like my dependence on Gabriel. Like my trust in Gabriel. Like how I couldn’t hear Gabriel’s inner voice. From when Gabriel entered until he left, I could only hear that one word: “Get lost.” Perhaps the situation was too urgent and he didn’t have time to think. The world reassembled once more. The clock ticked. This time we were at a wedding. I was holding Gabriel’s arm, my face filled with happiness. “Gabriel, we’re finally married.” This was 3 years after that drunken night. After I sobered up, I confessed to Gabriel again and he agreed. 3 years had given us time to stabilize our careers. The day before, I had proposed marriage and Gabriel had gone to get the paperwork done the very next day. I knew Gabriel was a workaholic, but I didn’t want him working too hard, so I suggested to him: “Gabriel, can you come home for dinner in the future? And don’t work yourself too hard.” Gabriel just frowned slightly, then his expression smoothed out again. After a long while, he finally spoke: “Okay.” I happily held Gabriel’s arm tighter with one hand, while holding up our marriage certificate to look at in the sunlight with the other. “Gabriel, do you think if my past self knew I really married you, she would be impressed with me now?” The sound suddenly stopped. The scene paused on the marriage certificate backlit by the sun. I didn’t know what this scene was for. I only knew that I truly couldn’t hear Gabriel’s inner voice anymore. In those few seconds when he frowned and was silent, my world was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The next few scenes had very short time intervals between them. The clips were also very short, with similar content – me quietly waiting for my husband after making dinner, and the doorbell ringing as Gabriel arrived home on time. Over these 55 years together, Gabriel could absolutely be called a dutiful, responsible husband. He was considerate to his wife, successful in his career, and never philandered. It’s just that this wife could have been anyone. Until Gabriel stabbed me to death, we had never been intimate or had children. The familiar white light flashed. A table and two people appeared before me. The lights were dimmed, with only candlelight flickering. This was Gabriel’s 30th birthday. I was very afraid of childbirth. My only relative, my mother, had also passed away from cancer. There were no direct relatives left to pressure me about having children. Gabriel’s mother had gently brought up the topic of having children multiple times, saying it would be good to have someone to take care of us when we were older. This time, I brought it up: “Gabriel, do you like children?” I had cut my steak halfway. I put down my utensils and looked at Gabriel’s face in the dim candlelight. Gabriel swallowed his bite of steak. “I don’t like them.” I hadn’t noticed before when I was blinded by love, but now I really felt Gabriel’s manners were too good. I could clearly see the disgust on Gabriel’s face for a split second before he looked up. Perhaps seeing my probing expression, that disgust was replaced by indifference. He could even hate my breathing, yet he still responded to me, not letting me feel he didn’t care about me, giving me enough dignity and fantasy. The play had just reached its climax, and the actors continued performing. I lowered my head, not daring to look at Gabriel’s eyes. “Then is it okay if we don’t have children?” There was no response. I lowered my head in shame. Soon, I felt a force on my shoulder, then a hand caressing my face. Gabriel bent down, his breath tickling my ear: “If you don’t like it, we won’t have any.” “I’ll talk to my mom about it.” I happily grabbed his large hand, pulling us even closer together. “Mm, thank you Gabriel. Happy birthday.” As if to repay him, I made him a promise: “I’ll celebrate every birthday with you from now on.”

I The final scene was of interlocked hands, like a couple deeply in love. I stared intently at the image, not noticing any flaws. After that day, Gabriel’s mother never brought up the topic of children with me again. I had thought Gabriel was respecting my wishes, but now it seems he probably couldn’t wait to be rid of me. But why didn’t he divorce me and instead lived with me until we were 80? A piece of information flashed through my mind. It wasn’t that I couldn’t hear Gabriel’s inner voice anymore, but that my words no longer provoked any reaction from him. He didn’t even feel disgust towards me anymore. The scene before me blurred, then came back into focus. Surprisingly, it was 81-year-old Gabriel wiping the knife. This was when I went to get the cake! Gabriel was alone at home. He sat in front of the coffee table, carefully wiping the knife. Each movement was very gentle, as if he was handling some precious treasure. The knife gleamed as he polished it, reflecting his wrinkled face. This time I could hear Gabriel speaking again. “My darling, my precious darling.” “My darling, my precious darling.” He seemed to have gone mad, repeating this phrase over and over. The door opened with a click. I had just picked up the cake from the floor when I was startled by the gleaming knife in Gabriel’s hand. “Gabriel… there’s a knife here to cut the cake.”

I walked forward slowly and with difficulty, holding the cake. I didn’t understand why he had suddenly picked up a knife. Gabriel didn’t speak, but approached me step by step with the knife. In his mind, he was still saying: “My darling, my precious darling.” Watching this scene sent chills down my non-existent spine. Until Gabriel pushed my physical self to the ground and plunged the knife straight into my heart. As a surgeon, Gabriel aimed precisely to kill me. But his advanced age seemed to have weakened his strength. He pulled out the knife, bright red blood splattering onto his face. Gabriel paid no attention to it and raised the knife again, stabbing viciously into the same spot. After ten stabs, the old woman lying on the ground had long since stopped breathing. Only then did Gabriel let out a sigh of relief. He slowly stood up, supporting himself on the sofa. The knife clattered to the floor in the pool of blood. “Rachel Lee, I’m finally free of you.”These words he spoke aloud.

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Mom came from another world. She was a “player” sent here on a mission. After winning Dad’s heart, she chose to stay here forever. We were happy, for a while. Then Dad fell for his secretary. “If you see her again, I’m leaving,” Mom warned. Dad scoffed. “Where would you go? You have no family here.” He thought he had her trapped. But when she really left, Dad lost it. I pushed open the bedroom door. Mom lay still on the bed. She looked asleep. “Mom?” I called softly. No response. No hug. Nothing. I touched her nose. No breath. My mom was gone.

Mom once told me she was a “player” from another world. She completed her mission and chose to stay. Her eyes sparkled when she said it. I didn’t get it then. “What was your mission, Mom?” I asked. She squeezed my hand. “To make your dad fall for me and have you, Lily. You’re my greatest gift.” She kissed my cheek. Said she’d never regret it. But Mom stopped smiling like that after Dad’s affair. Everyone said he’d dump us soon. I hugged Mom tight. I thought: Even if Dad doesn’t want her, it’s okay. Mom still wants me. She’ll stay forever.

Usually, Mom helped me dress and brush my teeth. “Lily, you’re ten now. Aren’t you embarrassed? What if your friends knew?” I’d pout. “They’d just be jealous that my mom loves me so much.” But now Mom was gone. I had to do it all myself. At breakfast, Mrs. Davis, our housekeeper, asked, “Why isn’t the missus up yet?” “Mom’s sleeping,” I said. Mrs. Davis was the nanny Mom hired. Paid ten years upfront to care for me. We never had help before. Mom did everything. My mom was Superwoman. After chores, tucking me in, and time with Dad, she’d study law for an hour each night. Prepping for the bar exam. Dad didn’t get it. “Why bother? You’re busy enough. I support you. Just relax.” Mom shook her head. “James, this is my dream.” Her eyes shone. She looked so beautiful. I think Dad thought so too. He’d pull her close, nuzzling her neck. Mom would blush and push him away. “Lily’s still here.” I knew they were about to play their “game” – one they never let me join. I wanted to beg to play just once. But Dad’s eyes fell on me. “Lily, out.” I lost my nerve and left. Dad was usually good to me, but I hated that look. It made me agree to things without thinking. Things were good for a while after that. Dad encouraged Mom’s bar prep. Stayed up late with her. But the day before the exam, he took her IDs and locked her in. Only brought me home after it was over. Mom’s eyes blazed. “James, I’ve been preparing for a year! Do you know how important this is?” Dad held her tight. “Emily, I’m sorry. It’s for our family. I want you home where I can reach you. Lily feels the same, right?” His eyes turned to me. I remembered what he’d said earlier. “If Mom becomes a lawyer, she’ll always be traveling. Meeting clients. She might forget you. What if she falls for someone else? She could leave us all behind.” It terrified me. I didn’t want Mom to leave. I tugged her hand. “Mom, don’t be mad. I don’t want you to go either.” Mom looked at me. All fight drained from her. She went limp in Dad’s arms. After a long silence, she said, “This is the last time.” Dad smiled, satisfied. Things went how I wanted. But seeing Mom’s dim eyes, I felt uneasy. Had I done something wrong?

After dinner, I watched Mom quietly. At ten, I understood death. But I wasn’t scared. Mom said she came here at eighteen. In her world, she was on life support. When she finished her mission, the “system” gave her two choices: go home or stay. She wanted to see her mom but couldn’t leave Dad or baby me. So she stayed. I once asked, “Mom, will you stay with Lily forever?” “Of course,” she said. I held those words close. Now, I just tapped her nose. “Mom, you liar,” I whispered. The doorbell rang. Not Dad; he hadn’t been home in ages. I heard Ms. Wilson outside. “Lily, open up. I’m here to take you home. I’ll be your new mom.” I yelled back, “Go away! You’re not my mom. You’re a homewrecker!” After quitting the bar, Mom devoted herself to us. We were happy. I thought we always would be. Then Ms. Wilson showed up. Dad’s new secretary. Always fumbling things. Dad complained about her constantly. I was confused – if he hated her, why not fire her? But he came home later and later. Sometimes not at all. Ms. Wilson appeared in Dad’s social media. Once, shopping with Mom, we spotted them at the mall. Mom dropped a vase. Dad looked over, panicked. He let go of Ms. Wilson and tried to chase us. But Mom scooped me up and ran. That night, they fought. I hid, listening to Dad’s excuses. He claimed he was just helping Ms. Wilson. Said she was like a sister. It sounded so fake. In my class, Billy called girls his “sisters.” Everyone said he was playing around. Mom laughed coldly. She told Dad, “If you see her again, I’m leaving.” Dad got angry. “Where would you go? Who do you know here besides us?” Dad knew Mom was from another world. She gave up going home for him. She had nowhere else. I remember another time Dad made Mom mad. She stormed out with her bag. I begged Dad to find her. He just read his paper. “Where else could she go?” That night, Mom came back, eyes red. She held up a bag. “James, I bought dinner.” My favorite dumplings. Dad’s too. I ate happily. Then I saw Mom quietly eating old bread. I lost my appetite. I thought, if Mom had family here, she’d go to them. But her family was in another world. She had nowhere to go. Dad used this to control her.

Ms. Wilson knocked for a while, then stopped. I thought she left. An hour later, I heard someone picking the lock. The camera showed a strange man. I got scared. Mom said to find an adult if strangers came when I was alone. I ran to Mrs. Davis in the kitchen. “Someone’s outside. I don’t know them.” She grabbed a knife. We waited by the door. The lock opened. Ms. Wilson stood there smiling. She paid the locksmith. Mrs. Davis said, “Ms. Wilson, how could you do this?” She replied, “Lily, your dad asked me to get you. You wouldn’t see me, so I had to do this.” She reached for me. I bit her hand hard. “I won’t go with you,” I shouted. “Give up!” She screamed. I tasted blood. I let go. She pushed me down and stormed off. My hand got cut. Mrs. Davis brought the first aid kit. Even though she bandaged me, I said, “Mom, it hurts.” But my mom couldn’t hear me anymore. Before, Mom was always with us. Now she was gone. I realized what missing her felt like. I remembered Chinese New Year when I was six. Dad took us to the family dinner. It was full of relatives. Uncles, aunts, grandparents. So lively. But only Mom was there with me. She cooked everything herself that day. We ate while she was still in the kitchen. The uncles told Dad, “You married a great woman.” Dad smiled proudly. Mom brushed her hair back, wiped flour off her face, and smiled shyly. When she finally sat down, most food was gone. I said I was full and sleepy. She ate a few bites and took me upstairs. At the stairs, Mom stopped and looked back. I looked too. Grandparents giving out money, uncles talking work with Dad, aunts playing cards. They were all family. Mom stared for a long time. I asked, “Mom, what’s wrong?” She looked at me. Behind her was noise and light, but her eyes were so sad. “Lily, what do you think Grandma is doing now?” So my mom missed her mom too!

Mrs. Davis finished bandaging me. She frowned at Mom’s room. “It’s almost dark. Why hasn’t she woken up?” I said, “Mom’s tired. Let her sleep.” She sighed. “It’s been days. The master hasn’t checked on her.” Dad hadn’t been home in ages. He said he was on a trip, but he took Ms. Wilson on vacation. Ms. Wilson showed Mom the photos. Told her to divorce Dad. Mom’s eyes went red. She’d wanted to go there for so long. She always asked Dad, but he was too busy. Now he took Ms. Wilson instead. Mom showed Dad the photos. His face changed. He said they were fake. Photoshopped. Mom’s eyes filled with sadness. “James, what did you promise when we married? To love only me, be good only to me.” “Why else would I stay here?” Dad said, “Haven’t I been good? A million-dollar house, expensive jewelry, designer clothes. I’ve given you everything.” “Isn’t that enough?” Mom shook her head. “You just don’t get it.” She threw out all his stuff. Dad felt embarrassed. Said he wouldn’t come back. From that day, he really moved out. Soon after, Ms. Wilson’s place caught fire. She moved in with Dad. When we heard, Mom didn’t cry. She just hugged me. She said she now understood. People change. Love changes. Vows only count when made. She realized too late. No use regretting now. 8 That night, I did everything myself. Brushed my teeth. Washed up. Then I climbed next to Mom and hugged her. Even though she was stiff and cold, having her there made me happy. I once asked Mom about her mother. Mom said her mom was strict. Always scolding and hitting her for not doing homework. I frowned. Didn’t understand why Mom would miss someone like that. Sometimes Mom had nightmares. She’d call for her mom, not Dad. Her tone changed. “But when I got leukemia at sixteen, she never yelled again.” “She quit her job, sold our house, stayed with me in the hospital every day.” “My mom loved me very much too.” She sounded proud and sad. I knew Mom never forgot her mother. She was just a girl when she came here at eighteen. The day she found out about Dad’s vacation, Mom cried alone by the window. She said she shouldn’t have been blinded by love. Giving up everything, even her mom. Now she could never see her again. 9 Mom actually asked Dad for a divorce once. A month after he moved out, she called him home. Dad came in a black suit. Hair gelled. Looking extra handsome. Mom made a big dinner. Dad said smugly, “Thought it through?” I sat happily, hoping they’d make up. But Mom put down her chopsticks. “James, let’s divorce.” I knew what divorce meant. Mom and Dad apart forever. Us rarely together. Dad’s face changed instantly. “Olivia, divorce over this? Is it necessary? I won’t do anything with Rachel. I still love you. Can’t you understand?” Mom said, “This isn’t small to me. You broke your vows. Betrayed our love. How can I understand?” Dad panicked but got angry. “Where would you go if we divorced? Who do you know besides us?” Mom choked up. “I’ll meet people. I’ll wash dishes or mop floors. I’ll survive with Lily somehow.” Dad laughed coldly. “Go ahead and try.” He turned and left. Mom sent out job applications. All rejected. She kept trying. Hundreds, thousands of times. Until someone told her, “Mrs. Jiang, your husband spread the word. No one dares hire you.” A lawyer came with papers. “This shows your assets versus Mr. Jiang’s,” he said. “In a custody battle—” He pushed up his glasses. “You have no chance.” Mom went pale. I clutched her clothes, scared to speak. Soon, all Dad’s relatives came. They surrounded Mom. Interrogating her. “James is such a catch. You still want to divorce? You won’t find better.” “So ungrateful. What did he see in her?” Mom said coldly, “Stop. I want the divorce.” Someone softened their tone. “Olivia, think of the child. How sad she’d be if you divorced.” Mom’s face softened. They pounced. “Children need a healthy home.” “It’s all for the child. What can’t you endure?” Someone pushed me to Mom. “Lily, do you want your parents to divorce?” “You’ll be motherless if they do.” I burst into tears. Hugged Mom tight. “Mom, please don’t leave Dad. I can’t lose you.” Mom looked at me blankly. Her eyes watered. “Forget it,” she whispered. Like a sigh. Mom gave up. I thought this would keep her forever. I didn’t know some birds can’t be caged. Their feathers shine with freedom.

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I never imagined I’d be able to share sensations with my boyfriend of three years. This morning, I greeted him as usual and tilted my face up for a kiss. He instinctively dodged, his eyes filled with barely concealed disgust. He’s just turned twenty-one, not even graduated from college yet. At this vigorous age, he’s starting to reject my touch. He got up, took his phone, and went to the bathroom right in front of me. Moments later, muffled groans of pleasure came from inside. My heart grew colder by the inch. I sat numbly on the bed, listening to the sounds of washing up from the bathroom. I watched Chase rummage through the closet for clothes, spray on some cologne, check himself in the mirror repeatedly, then hurry off to class. Throughout it all, he didn’t spare me a single glance. I picked up Chase’s tablet from the bedside and scrolled through his chat history with an online store. Customer Service: Handsome, it’s been a while since you last shopped here. We’ve got new items in stock. Chase: Not buying anymore. I have zero interest in her now. I’m only 21, and she’s 35, almost 36 – an old woman. I feel sick just looking at her wrinkles. Can’t even get it up. Customer Service: … Customer Service: That can’t be right. You used to buy from us quite often. You said you loved your girlfriend. Chase: Anyway, I feel nothing for her now. I used to think she was low-maintenance, understanding, never dramatic. She took care of everything and always apologized first when we argued. Now it all feels so dull. Being with her, I don’t feel like I’m in a relationship at all. When I find my ideal young and cute girlfriend, I’ll buy from you again. The message showed as read, but there was no reply. I turned off the tablet, feeling dizzy. I grabbed my hair hard. I laughed at myself. I had discovered this chat last night. It was crystal clear, yet I still foolishly tried to test him this morning, only to humiliate myself. He doesn’t love me anymore. He’s disgusted by my aging. His ideal girlfriend must be the girl in the photos he looks at before pleasuring himself in the bathroom. I fell back onto the bed, surprisingly without a trace of tears. After all, for a woman my age, crying and breaking down would be undignified.

I got up quietly and washed up. Near noon, I started receiving birthday messages from various brand websites I’d registered with. Only then did I remember – today is my birthday. I stared at the wilted, yellowing hydrangeas on the coffee table, now attracting fruit flies. In a daze, I recalled that three years ago today, 18-year-old Chase was the first to say he loved me. Back then, Chase had just started college. He was being bullied at his part-time job at my company when I stepped in to help him. His eyes sparkled as he looked at me with admiration, following me around, constantly calling me “big sis”. It annoyed me so much that I had no choice but to take him under my wing. Back then, Chase was pure and sincere. He would always steal glances at me, quickly looking away when I caught him, pretending nothing happened. Only his ears would slowly turn red. When other interns tried to flirt with me, Chase would get anxious, staying close to me like a little wolf guarding its territory. Occasionally, when we had accidental physical contact, he would blush and sit still for hours, too embarrassed to move. On my 32nd birthday, he showed up with a huge bouquet of my favorite hydrangeas and a birthday cake. The young man’s gaze was shy yet brave and persistent. He said he loved me. I told him our age gap was too big and that I needed to think about it. For the next few days, Chase visibly became anxious and lost weight. When I finally said yes, the joy in his eyes was almost overflowing. He hugged me tightly, his low voice swirling around my ears like a vow, “Vera, from now on, every birthday of yours will be our anniversary. I’ll always be with you to celebrate.” … My phone kept ringing with birthday wishes from family, friends, and even colleagues flooding in. Only the pinned chat with Chase remained silent at the top. Silent as if that boy who loved me three years ago was just a figment of my imagination. I got up and threw the wilted flowers from the vase into the trash. Rotten, spoiled things shouldn’t be kept anymore. The same goes for flowers and people.

I tidied up a bit and left for work. Everything changes, except for the work I’ve poured my heart and soul into, and the balance in my bank account. While working overtime late at night, my young assistant suddenly pulled out a box. “Ms. Vera, I’ve been so busy I almost forgot the iPhone you asked me to buy for you.” She glanced at her watch and tilted her head with a smile, “This is your birthday gift to yourself, right? Good thing it’s only 11:55 PM, still before midnight. Just in time.” “Happy birthday, Ms. Vera!” I smiled and took the box, turning it over in my hands. I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Chase’s chat remained silent on my phone, as if today was just another ordinary day in the countless boring days we’ve spent together. This phone wasn’t my birthday gift. It was the third anniversary gift I had prepared for Chase. Before leaving work, I sent Chase a message. “Come home early after class tomorrow. I have something to tell you.” “Is there anything you’d like to eat?” After a while, he replied with two words: “Whatever.”

I sat in the car all night. I opened Chase’s chat, staring at the word “Whatever” for a while. Scrolling up, there were many more green bubbles than white ones, with occasional transfers of thousands or tens of thousands for his pocket money. Most of the time it was me talking, often asking what he wanted to eat, where he wanted to go on weekends, or sharing work-related stuff. Chase would either reply “Whatever,” or “Mm,” or not reply at all. Scrolling further up to chat logs from half a year ago, almost all the messages were from me, with Chase’s replies few and far between. I sighed softly and unpinned his chat. Even without his rant to the online store, his boredom and indifference towards me were obvious. … I watched the sky change from pitch black to the first light of dawn. After Chase left for school, I returned to the small apartment we shared. I had bought this apartment near his school when we first got together. Chase’s dirty clothes were strewn haphazardly on the sofa. I stuffed them into the washing machine, checked the time, then went to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Braised fish, yu xiang eggplant, and sweet and sour ribs – all Chase’s favorites that I had specially learned to make. Maybe I was distracted, but while washing the knife, I sliced off a chunk of my finger. Blood immediately flowed everywhere. When Chase came home from school, I was tightly wrapping my finger with tissue paper. He didn’t look at me, just glanced at the dishes on the table and frowned. He sat down matter-of-factly and picked at the food. Perhaps to him, I was just like this table of dishes he had grown tired of. “Chase…” Chase was eating while replying to messages on his phone, the corners of his mouth curved in pleasure. He just grunted in response without looking up. “I’m going out for a bit.” The wound was quite deep. Blood quickly soaked through the tissue paper, staining my white top red. Looking at this mess, a wave of grievance welled up. My voice carried a hint of tears. “Chase…” I hoped Chase would look up at me for once. But his response was still just a low “Mm.” I sniffled and went to the pharmacy downstairs for treatment. The young pharmacist was startled. “Ma’am, the wound is too deep. I can bandage it for you, but you should really go to the hospital.” I shook my head and left. The moment I opened the door upon returning home, a sweet, coquettish “Senior, you’re so capable” echoed in the living room. Chase hurriedly paused the voice message and looked up at me somewhat unnaturally: “Where’s my blue shirt? I want to wear it tomorrow.” Then he went back to eating. The mirror in the entryway reflected my red, swollen eyes and pale, sallow complexion. Suddenly, I felt like crying. I took a deep breath to compose myself and sat down across from Chase. “Yesterday was our third anniversary. What gift would you like?” Chase’s phone on the table kept buzzing. I glanced at it – the contact was simply saved as “Junior,” simple yet intimate. Must be the young, vibrant girl of his dreams. Chase quickly flipped his phone over, sounding irritated, “I don’t know. I don’t want anything.” I took out the phone box. “I’ve prepared a gift for you – the latest iPhone model you’ve been wanting.” Chase’s eyes lit up. Just as he was about to reach for it, my phone rang. In the quiet living room, my mother’s loud voice was exceptionally clear. “You’re almost 40, an old maid! I think that Gu guy is not bad. Make time to meet him. When are you going to get married? You keep saying you have a boyfriend, but I’ve never even seen him!” I instinctively looked at Chase. He lowered his eyes guiltily. After briefly dealing with the call, I saw Chase firmly push back the phone box I had offered him. He took a deep breath, eyes downcast, not daring to look at me. I smiled and took back the box. “If you don’t want the gift, that’s fine. Are you full? This meal was to commemorate our third anniversary, and it’s also our farewell dinner.” I looked into his eyes and told him word by word: “Chase, let’s break up.”

Chase was stunned at first, then visibly relaxed. “Okay.” His answer was quick and decisive, as if afraid I might change my mind. He stared into my eyes, his tone tinged with guilt: “I don’t love you anymore. I never thought about marrying you.” “You can think I’m a jerk, but I just don’t love you anymore.” “I’m sorry.” I lowered my eyes, not wanting to look at him anymore. When we first got together, I had asked Chase, “I’m fourteen years older than you. I’ll age quickly. You won’t love me anymore in the future.” Back then, Chase hugged me, kissed the top of my head, and smiled, “They say love is like nurturing a flower. A woman who is loved won’t age. From now on, I’ll tell you I love you a thousand times every day, so you won’t grow old, Vera.” After that day, Chase always said he loved me. It became a self-fulfilling prophecy. When he stopped saying he loved me every day, I aged in his eyes. Chase, who used to always have “I love you” on his lips, now spoke of not loving me with such resolution and coldness for the sake of breaking up. I found it somewhat amusing. Suddenly feeling a sense of tearing apart, I could only nod calmly, “It’s all over.” Chase seemed surprised by my calmness.

My breakup with Chase was very peaceful. He awkwardly took a suitcase, intending to pack his things, but came out of the room empty-handed moments later. I sat on the sofa, fidgeting with the box in my hands, feeling like laughing. Almost everything he owned was bought by me. What did he have to pack? He glanced at me quickly, leaving with an almost inaudible “I’m going.” He ran out of the apartment as if escaping. I looked around the room. From the gaming computer to the socks in the drawer, everything was filled with traces of Chase. Scattered around were the speech drafts I had helped him write for the English speaking contest I had encouraged him to join at school. On the computer were the slides I had stayed up all night to prepare for his school’s publicity department. And the clothes I had bought for him whenever I saw something suitable. Those slides were saved on a USB drive that I had rushed to deliver to his school when I realized he had forgotten to take it. That day, Chase hung his head, his tone somewhat agitated, “Who asked you to come find me at school!” He snatched the USB drive and turned to leave. The boys around him laughed and teased. I don’t know what Chase said, but one of the boys turned and waved at me with a grin, his voice clear and loud: “Goodbye, auntie!” I shook my head in annoyance. I found some garbage bags and stuffed all these odds and ends into them. After cleaning up, the apartment felt empty. Unnaturally tidy. I collapsed onto the bed, feeling drained, staring blankly at the ceiling. The surroundings were eerily quiet, with the ticking of the wall clock exceptionally clear. I picked up my phone. Chase had updated his status. “I’m finally free. Ending what’s wrong to pursue what’s right.” Just now, at 2 AM, he updated again with just three words: Can’t sleep. I blinked. He must not be used to the dorm, I thought. After all, in the past, as soon as he complained about noisy roommates or hard dorm beds, I immediately rented him an apartment. Whenever he called me “Vera,” I would solve all his problems. Lost in thought, my phone vibrated, showing several transactions on the joint account I had set up for Chase. I unlinked the joint account and froze the supplementary credit card I had given him. After doing all this, drowsiness gradually overcame me. I turned over and fell into a deep sleep.

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On Valentine’s Day, my husband said he wanted to try something exciting and took me to an immersive role-playing club. The NPC assigned to accompany me was a beautiful young woman. While she was performing an intimate scene with my husband, she cried with tears streaming down her face. I thought it was just acting. But she was actually crying out for help. Not long after the New Year, Valentine’s Day arrived. It was also the fifth anniversary of my marriage to Liam. Unlike other couples whose lives tend to become mundane after marriage, Liam and I still maintained the excitement and passion from when we were dating. The secret to keeping this passion alive was twofold: money and our pursuit of “novelty” in our sex life. We were both people who pursued an exciting life, so we were used to living in our own world and hadn’t planned on having children yet. However, this couldn’t hide the signs of fatigue I started showing as I entered my thirties, while his desires remained strong. That day, after work, I was cooking in the kitchen when he loosened his tie and seductively wrapped his arms around my waist from behind. After years together, he knew all my sensitive spots, and I quickly succumbed to his teasing. “Baby, let me take you somewhere tonight. You’ll love it,” he whispered mischievously in my ear. I nodded, blushing, then remembered something and tilted my head to ask him: “Oh, Liam, your mom called today. She said she envies others who have grandchildren. We’re both thirty now, and I’m not opposed to having a child. If you want…” “I don’t want children,” he immediately cut me off, his tone somewhat impatient. “Honey, didn’t you say you’d agree to get the contraceptive implant in a few days? How about it?” The contraceptive implant Liam was referring to involved inserting a hormone-releasing device under the skin of a woman’s arm for long-term birth control. I had once suggested he get a vasectomy, but he said that would rob him of his manly pleasures. I wasn’t sure about remaining childless forever, so I had been hesitant to get the implant. “Alright. I promise I’ll make an appointment at the hospital in a few days,” I nodded reluctantly. He was excited, hugged me, and kissed me once, urging me to get ready quickly so we could go out and celebrate Valentine’s Day together. The place Liam mentioned took a full hour and a half to drive to. It was in an entertainment district far from the city center. At 9 PM, the neon lights were particularly eye-catching. As soon as we entered, a hostess smiled and handed Liam a number tag: “Mr. Wright, you’re here.” The hostess’s attentive manner suggested she was quite familiar with him. Had my husband been here often before? Seeing my confusion, Liam explained that he had come to scout the place in advance for this Valentine’s Day surprise. “This is my second time here. I really wanted you to experience it,” he said excitedly, squeezing my hand. With the staff’s introduction, I learned that this was an immersive role-playing club, featuring real-life immersive scenarios with multiple players and NPCs teaming up. Due to its “ultra-realistic” nature, the prices were quite expensive, and it operated on a VIP membership basis, only accepting member users. The scenario Liam had booked was called “Rose Island,” telling the story of a domineering male lead who held a young woman named Eva captive on a deserted island for 365 days, forcing her to fall in love with him. It sounded incredibly intense right from the description. I eagerly followed my husband inside. The space was vast, with over a dozen NPCs and fellow players. Screams from women could be heard from the adjacent room. Suddenly feeling a bit unnerved, I wondered if it was really this realistic. Seeing my hesitation, a staff member suggested: “How about this? We’ll arrange for an NPC to act out a scene with Mr. Wright first, and you can watch from the side.” Liam looked at me inquiringly. I nodded, “Okay, honey, you go try it first. I’ll see how it’s performed.” As soon as I finished speaking, the actress playing Eva slowly walked out. She was fair-skinned and beautiful, wearing a sky-blue spaghetti strap dress that slightly revealed her cleavage. Her voluptuous figure was eye-catching. Upon seeing us, she immediately put on a timid expression. She truly seemed like the shy young girl from the script. “Mr. Wright, shall we begin?” she asked coyly. “Alright, honey, let me show you how it’s done,” Liam nodded, his eyes involuntarily fixed on her snow-white chest.

I suddenly felt uncomfortable. The young woman had a slender figure and looked only eighteen or nineteen years old. A woman’s intuition made me feel wary, but I still watched as my husband walked in. Through the glass door, I could clearly see the progress of the game inside. All the NPC actors were very professional. My husband was particularly engrossed in his role, as if he truly was that all-powerful mob boss. When it came time for an intense scene, he and Eva had a conflict. Then, Liam pinned her down on the wild ground. This was a scene with just the two of them; all other NPCs had left. The dim lighting made it difficult to discern what was really happening inside. I stared intently at the man and woman entangled before me. The woman’s snow-white legs were flailing wildly in the air. Terrifying cries for help rose and fell. “I’ll teach you to run, I’ll teach you to run. Try to escape again and I’ll break your legs, understand?” And my husband’s savage roar seemed so real, as if he was truly in character! “Please, help me…” The young woman seemed to notice my presence and struggled to look at me, her messy hair clinging to her damp skin. That pitiful look seemed to be begging me for help. Because the performance was so realistic, I desperately called for the staff to yell “Cut!”, but the staff said that once it started, it couldn’t be stopped. Flustered, I went straight to the main power switch and pulled it, cutting off electricity to the entire club! I don’t know what happened in the pitch-black fifteen minutes that followed, I only heard a woman’s mournful whimper from inside. When Liam came out, he still had a look of unsatisfied desire and complained to me: “Honey, why did you cut the power? What’s the rush?” I said, “Your acting was too realistic. I got scared watching it, so I asked them to call cut, but they wouldn’t stop.” Soon after, the young woman came out too. Her eyes were red and teary, her clothes disheveled, and even her legs were trembling. I couldn’t help but suspect, did they actually do something real in there? So I hurriedly went to stop her: “Are you alright? Are you hurt?” Now I could clearly see her name tag, which read “Rose.” Rose looked at me with slight surprise: “No, it’s all in the script. Mr. Wright was quite into his role.” Looking at her calm demeanor now, so different from her terrified state behind the glass door earlier, I was confused. I watched Rose walk straight to the back, her eyes meeting my husband’s for a brief moment before she quickly looked away as if shocked. Because I had arbitrarily cut the main power to the club, many players were forced to interrupt their scenarios and came demanding compensation. As a result, I had to pay the club a significant amount. While I was apologizing and compensating at the club, Liam was smoking in the corner. But he never smoked usually. I was all too familiar with that habit – it was a post-intimacy smoke. This Valentine’s Day was extremely unpleasant for me, and I had no interest in even having the candlelit dinner, ending the night abruptly. My husband and I had a total annual income of over $200,000, and we lived in a detached house as our marital home. Our financial situation was quite comfortable. Logically, living the most carefree life of a wealthy housewife, I should have turned a blind eye to his behavior. But I had a severe aversion to infidelity in relationships. That night, as soon as I closed my eyes, I kept imagining those miserable screams, tossing and turning unable to sleep. Liam blamed me for not being able to handle the game and started giving me the cold shoulder, staying out for several days in a row. Feeling dejected, I went to talk about this with my best friend. My friend told me to relax. “Men are always looking for new thrills, aren’t they? Besides, you said it was a legitimate role-playing club, so there shouldn’t be anything illegal going on.” I sighed and told her that I had contacted the hospital about the contraceptive implant procedure, hoping it would ease the tension between my husband and me. “It was Liam who insisted. The doctor advised me to think it through, given that I’m still young and whether I’m sure I never want to have my own children.” My friend was surprised, saying it’s rare for a man with normal fertility to think that way. She suggested I communicate with my husband again. My heart sank. Was he just avoiding responsibility, or did he really not want to have a child with me? Recently, Liam often didn’t come home at night. I secretly linked his Uber emergency contact shared location and bill sharing. As a result, I discovered that he had several long trips of over ten kilometers during his work days, as well as multiple large transfer records. The places he went were almost all large shopping malls. I was suspicious and planned to confront Liam that night. When he came back, he gave me a big hug and brought me a diamond necklace with a three-carat diamond. “Happy birthday, baby. You even forgot your own birthday, but luckily I went to various malls in advance to pick out a gift for you,” he said with a grin. I frowned, feeling a twinge of guilt and gratitude. So he had been to all those places just to pick out a diamond for me. That night, our intimate time was very harmonious. He seemed to have studied a lot of materials and developed quite a bit of new knowledge. Before falling asleep, I casually opened my phone. To my surprise, I found that he had quietly turned off all the location sharing and other settings I had set up, changing them to private.

My heart skipped a beat. There was definitely something fishy going on. To resolve my doubts, on the weekend, I suggested going to that role-playing club again with my husband, and we invited a few friends along. This time I chose a normal scenario, a suspense thriller, which was noticeably cheaper than the more intense scenario we had picked before. While our friends were all enjoying themselves with great interest, he kept yawning. I leaned close to him and asked quietly: “Honey, don’t you love role-playing games the most? Why aren’t you participating properly? Our friends are all here accommodating you.” Liam looked at us apologetically. “I’m sorry, I might be too tired from work these past few days. I also stayed up late last night finishing a PowerPoint presentation.” This was clearly a lie. I had seen him fall into a deep sleep right after dinner yesterday, snoring like a log. He also got up late on Saturday, so there was no reason for him to be tired. Unless this ordinary role-playing game simply didn’t stimulate his sensitive spots, leaving him uninterested. If so, his usual excitement threshold must be quite high. My expression darkened. I excused myself to go to the bathroom, asking a staff member to take my place and continue playing. Stepping out of the dim room, I walked into the main hall. This was where Liam had played the intense scenario before. To give players a more thrilling experience, they had set up these transparent curtains, adding a sense of shame under public view. Inside, I saw Rose. This time she was playing an NPC in an ancient Chinese scenario. Her shoulders were half-exposed, with makeup simulating injuries on her shoulders and neck. She wore a rabbit mask on her face. I glanced at the script in the staff member’s hand. The scenario was called “National Beauty,” with unspeakable lines below. It was indeed another intense scene. Several men dressed as soldiers approached her, seemingly about to abuse this weak woman. They sneered: “Your Highness, even if we die, we can only die in your bed.” The lead man reached out to remove the jade hairpin from her head. The hairpin was sharp and directly cut through the ribbon on her chest. Rose was left with only a crimson undershirt, her eyes red as she sobbed slightly: “Please, gentlemen, don’t do this…” She inadvertently turned her head and gave me a deep glance. The rabbit mask was roughly pulled off, and that look was terrified and helpless. One man after another came before her… The lights suddenly dimmed, and the curtain was drawn. I couldn’t see clearly what happened next. I only heard Rose’s extremely shrill cries amidst the background music of thunder and lightning. My curiosity grew deeper and deeper, with several questions swirling in my mind, refusing to dissipate. Online, I found out that this role-playing club was a legally registered business and shouldn’t have any illegal operations as I had imagined. But its form, different from other role-playing clubs, and Rose’s reaction that day still made me suspicious. On a day when Liam was working overtime at the company, I lied about going to the hospital for a blood test before the contraceptive implant procedure. In reality, I had secretly taken his VIP membership card and went to the role-playing club by myself. To prevent the staff from tipping off Liam, I deliberately wore a mask. When asked about my preferred scenario type, I hesitated for a moment before finally choosing a script involving a black man, with a theme of forced love. The staff member smiled and asked if I wanted the hidden service. “What do you mean?” I frowned. “Many career women come here to relieve stress, and they often choose the hidden version of this scenario. It’s more expensive, though,” she explained, being mysteriously coy. “Trust me, you’ll definitely like it.” I steeled my nerves and paid nearly triple the price. I was determined to see what the catch was. To conceal my identity, I kept the mask on when entering the venue. Soon, the black NPC who was to act with me came out. His name was Jack, tall and strong, looking exactly like the image on the “Mr. Clean” kitchen products. The man wore only a pair of shorts, his muscles rippling, dark and robust. Even the veins on his arms seemed to be pulsing. My eyes involuntarily moved downward, and when they reached his tight shorts, I couldn’t help but blush. Black men’s clothing sizes were indeed larger. After familiarizing ourselves with the script content, several NPCs entered the room with us. I had requested a fully enclosed room without the glass window. After going through the basic content of the script, we reached the intense scene I was most curious about. My heart was pounding as I watched the other NPCs leave, leaving only me and the black man locked in the room. “Baby, you’re so sexy, I am coming!” His breathing noticeably heavied, and before I could react, he lifted me up against the wall. “Help!” I cried out in shock, but I was no match for his strength. The fabric on my shoulder was violently torn. As my skin was exposed to the cold air, I couldn’t help but shudder. A feeling of shame ran from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. I wanted to escape, but he held me tightly, his rough palms touching my waist and exploring upwards.

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The night was bitterly cold, and no matter how fast I ran, they would find me. “Fucking bitch.” I had to wait until their fury subsided as they hurled insults at me. Time dragged on. After nearly an hour, the last one spat at me and left. Shivering, I curled into a ball. I tried to summon happy thoughts, but nothing came. Since my parents left me at the pack, kindness was a stranger. The Alpha refused to let me go, no matter how many times I begged. The pack used me as a punching bag. Even though my wolf healing abilities were strong, I believed it only fueled their hatred. Not even the Alpha could heal as quickly as I did. I took a deep breath, feeling the heat in the air. It would end soon. One month later I sat with my wrists bound, the sounds of wailing filling the air. This wasn’t a miracle. The entire pack had tried to escape the massacre. I kept my eyes low, but I couldn’t help but notice the lead attacker standing near my Alpha’s fallen monument. Pathetic, my Alpha groaned on the ground. The man with his foot on the Alpha’s chest caught my attention. I licked my dry lips, eyes tracing from his head to his torso. He wore nothing but trousers and boots, his massive chest bare, scarred, but without ink. That scent—I knew it well. Why would he attack our pack if he was one of us? “You,” he commanded, pointing at the men. I followed his gaze to William, who was dragged to the center where the attacker waited. They’d tried to escape, but it was futile. He wasn’t alone. Men just as imposing surrounded him, smirking. The women were roped together, the men shackled. I hated being tied up, the restraints biting into my wrists. My breath caught as the man—now clearly the Alpha—drew a blade and plunged it into William’s stomach, driving it up to his heart. Blood pooled, and I had to look away before it made me sick. “You think your Alpha will save you?” He sneered, glaring at the others. “He’s weak, groveling on the floor like a coward.” I dared to glance up as he pounded his fist against his chest, the sound echoing like thunder. “You’ll pay,” he growled, scanning the crowd before signaling one of his men. They grabbed me—resistance was pointless. My pack wouldn’t save me. But they lifted me gently, one of them supporting my back as they led me to Charley. My pulse raced as they released me. I stood, waiting for his verdict, praying for a quick death. The ropes fell away. I stared at Charley, searching for a sign, but his expression was unreadable. His eyes, nearly black, bored into mine. Long brown hair framed a face that was both cruel and captivating. He flicked the blade, offering me the handle. “Finish him.” My wolf quivered in fear. “What?” “You heard me.” He kicked the moaning Alpha, curled up like a coward. I’d seen my Alpha beaten, but I knew he was no leader. He had ordered my own thrashings, and I had endured. William laughed, his voice cutting through the tension. “Well, well, I’m surprised.” Charley’s gaze never left mine. “Do you think I don’t know what this man has done?” He leaned in, his breath hot on my face. “I smell you. It’s alright, kid. I’m used to driving women wild. You’re not the first, won’t be the last.” “I won’t kill him.” “Why not? He’s tortured you for years. Has he broken you so much that you won’t seek revenge?” “How do you know?” “Why do you think I came here, Susan?” His voice was dark, persuasive. “I’ve seen it all. These monsters stood by, doing nothing, or helped in your suffering. You must avenge yourself—kill them.” William had always been different, sharp senses setting him apart even in foster care. He could hear whispered conversations from feet away. He was always prepared for an attack. Years of survival had hardened William. He’d learned to hunt, to adapt, to thrive. But being an Alpha? It was a burden he never wanted. Rogue wolves were dangerous, and he was their leader, whether he liked it or not. He caught my scent, his wolf growling with a need he couldn’t ignore. Mates were powerful, binding—but he didn’t want one. He’d bedded plenty of eager women, both human and wolf, but none made him feel this way. He noticed the mark on my neck, burned into my skin before my first shift. The Mark of the Unwanted. It was a curse, a brand that would repel other packs. Fury ignited in him. How could they do this? William had never seen a wolf heal so quickly. What took others weeks, I managed in hours. It stunned him, and his desire flared, his body betraying his restraint. “No,” I whispered, stepping back from the sword. His eyebrows shot up. “No?” “I won’t.” He threw his head back and laughed. “You won’t kill those who made your life hell?” “No.” “Do you understand these monsters hurt you?” “I’ve seen it all,” William growled, kicking the Alpha again. Hatred burned in his eyes, rare even for him. “Stop,” I pleaded. William seized the back of my neck, pulling me against him. His wolf craved me, the urge to claim overwhelming. As his lips brushed my neck, he struggled to control himself. “I had to watch them hurt you,” he murmured, voice thick with desire. “Never fighting back made you a coward. I know why you didn’t stop them—the Alpha commanded you to take the beatings like a good bitch.” “He won’t live for what he did to you.” “I don’t want his death on my conscience.” I stood before him, battered, branded, healing right before his eyes. My strength was undeniable. “Please, I want to leave without hurting the pack.” “Leave?” “I’ve begged him to let me go, but if I kill him, I’ll be trapped here forever.” William hoisted the Alpha, his legs shattered, unable to fight back. With a cruel grin, William gripped the man’s crotch, knowing he could rip it off with ease. “You can leave and never return.” For the first time, I smiled as William dropped the Alpha to the ground. “I can leave?” “Yes,” he said. “Go. Run.” I didn’t hesitate. I bolted. William branded every face that had ever hurt me with a flaming rod. This pack would bear the mark of shame and rejection forever. A month later, I walked into my tiny apartment, singing as I locked the door. Freedom had never felt so good. The place was small—just one bedroom, a bath, and a little kitchen. But it was mine. For the first time, I slept peacefully, breathing deeply without fear. I thought about William often. The crazy man. Even late at night, I imagined him nearby. Sometimes, I was sure I could hear him or feel his presence. Rogue wolves were always a threat without the pack, and I knew the dangers. But the peace was worth it. After my shower, I wrapped myself in a towel, my stomach rumbling as I headed to the kitchen for some spaghetti. I grabbed a knife, turning around—only to see William. My heart pounded at the sight of him. The knife slipped from my hand. “Why are you here?” “I came to check on you.” “You followed me?” William stepped closer. “I guess I stalked you. Your scent—it’s even more intoxicating now.” “Why are you here?” “Didn’t you miss me?” I stayed silent. He chuckled, pressing his body against mine. “That’s fine. No need to say it. Your body speaks for you.” “How did you get in here?” “The beast in me has many skills.” “And you’ve mastered invading privacy. I should’ve known.” He chuckled. “Don’t lie. Your pussy got wet the moment you saw me.” “I just want to sleep.” He grumbled, squeezing my ass. How could I want him? But I let him. I whimpered as his cock pressed against my core. His lips grazed my shoulder, teasing my neck. It took just one flick of his finger to drop the towel. Would he hurt me? The thought made me queasy, but his groan said otherwise. His brown eyes gleamed, filled with hunger. Was this real? William looked at me like he wanted to devour me. “I planned to take this slow, but I need a taste.” He scooped me up, carrying me to the bedroom. I lay helpless as his eyes roved over me, his hands sliding up my thighs, so close to my pussy. I didn’t stop him. I wanted him. My mind went blank as his fingers brushed my clit. “Oh, fuck,” he muttered. He stroked, gliding over me. “Now, let me taste.” I didn’t think pleasure could be greater until his lips met my clit. His tongue was pure bliss, sending me spiraling into ecstasy. But he’d waited too long. His cock strained against his trousers, his wolf desperate to claim me. Still, he held back, sliding his tongue over my clit, teasing until he smelled my arousal. Then he took me, riding me hard, filling me with his come and my own virgin blood. He reveled in my surrender. William kissed my clit, drawing out my orgasm, then swiped his tongue over my breasts before kissing me deeply. “And you have one tasty pussy.” I tried to push him off, but he was too strong. “You intrigue me.” He breathed deeply, sensing my wolf near. “Why?” “How long have you healed so quickly?” “Did you watch me?” “Yes. I was near your woods. I smelled you, saw what they did to you. They punished you for nothing.” “I did something wrong.” “Yet you heal in hours, but their marks remain in your mind.” “I’m fine.” “Now you’re lying. I hate liars.” “I’m being honest. I just want to forget. This was my chance to live my dream. I begged to leave.” “For how long?” he pressed. “No need to tell you.” “Why does it matter?” I shot back. “You know why.” “Get off me.” “Why? You like me on top. You like it.” I growled. “This is my apartment. I didn’t invite you.” “You’ve got a nice pussy.” “Don’t say I intrigue you. You could have any woman.” “But Susan, we both know no other woman will do for me. You’re my mate.” “We’re not mates.” “No? Then why do you get wet every time I’m near? I’m hot, but you ignored all the other guys around you.” “You never hurt me.” “Yes, but the body wants what it wants. We’re not human. You crave me, calling out in the night. Your body’s heat says it all. It wants me.” “Why did you demand he free me?” He grumbled. “I have no intention of taking anything from you. I’m yours, and you’re mine. You can’t change that.” He inhaled deeply. “I can feel your heat.” “What?” “You’ve never felt heat?” “I don’t know what you mean.” He smirked. “We’ve got a lot to discuss. But first, that lasagna isn’t going to eat itself, and I’m starving.” His stomach growled as he got out of bed. “What are you doing?” I asked. “See you in the kitchen. You grabbed a salad at the store. I’ll make it while you think, then we’ll talk.” He glanced at my body, struggling to hold back a groan. Full moon’s coming—wouldn’t be long now. A woman in mating heat was a dangerous thing. My wolf demanded his presence, the last few months a torturous build-up. Soon, his wolf would claim his mate. Humming, he headed to the fridge. The meager items inside were enough for supper—his mate needed good food. He chopped lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumber with surprising ease. I quickly changed into sweatpants, glancing in the mirror before heading to the kitchen. Seeing William so at ease in the kitchen shocked me. He looked up, catching me staring. “You like what you see, little wolf?” Something under my skin itched. I grabbed a cold water bottle, pressing it to my neck. It helped, but not enough. William appeared behind me as I closed the fridge, his cock’s firm ridge brushing my back. “I know exactly what you’re thinking.” His voice was dark, knowing. “Don’t doubt me.” My wolf whimpered. I breathed deeply and stepped away, already missing his touch. “Dinner’s ready, my lady,” he said, carrying a salad dish. My body began to burn. “Have you experienced mating heat?” “No, and women only bear heat with their mates.” He chuckled. “Your wolf’s not quiet.” “Tell me,” he pressed. “How did you feel with my lips on your pussy?” Arousal surged between my thighs. “It’s impossible. You’re not my mate.” “Would you really say that? I’m amazed you’ve held on after everything they did to you—so stubborn. I half expected to find you at the pack’s edge, fighting yourself.” “I know what they did. I felt their pain.” William cut the lasagna in half before serving me. I devoured it, confused by my need, my hunger, my thirst. “I don’t understand why you let them live,” he said, his eyes darker than usual. “Revenge is natural, but you didn’t want it. Why?” “I’ve seen their marks.” “You noticed their tattoos?” “You want to examine my whole body?” “No, that’s unnecessary,” I replied. “Not a problem.” William shed his shirt and pants. He didn’t wear boxer briefs, and I couldn’t help but notice his firm cock before looking away. “Don’t mind me, dear. I’m yours.” “I don’t understand,” I whispered, the need overwhelming. I avoided his gaze as he approached, mocking. “My placid little wolf has some strength after all.” “I don’t know what you’re doing to me, but stop.” “It can only be stopped by giving in. You know that, but you resist. Why?” “I want you gone.” “Why?” “This isn’t your flat, and I’ll call the police if you stay.” He chuckled darkly. “How could you threaten innocent people when you can’t even harm the pack that tortured you?” “If you say I’m your mate, you’ll leave because I ask.” His grin disappeared, replaced by something darker. He stepped closer, his cheek brushing my neck. “One day, you won’t be able to push me away. I hope you’re ready for that day.” His hand gripped my neck, but I didn’t feel fear. Not until he leaned in, kissing me with a force that ignited every nerve. Then, just as abruptly, he pulled away, leaving me breathless as he walked out the door, shutting it behind him with a finality that made me flinch. I collapsed against the wall, hugging my knees, pulse racing. The heat that had flooded my body ebbed away, leaving me cold. If William brought the heat, it meant he was right. He was my mate. But why didn’t he claim me? Why didn’t he do it in front of my pack? “You’re in a mood,” Leon remarked, glancing up from his game. “Not in a mood.” “You’re practically vibrating. I’ve known you long enough to recognize when you’re struggling to control your anger.” In human society, letting rage take over was dangerous. He could kill or scare others in this state. “It’s nothing,” William muttered. Leon didn’t buy it. “It’s that woman again.” He sniffed the air, returning to his game. “I can smell her on you. Maybe try using the front door next time, or court her like a human.” William scoffed. “You mean meeting them at a pub?” “A drink isn’t worth it to wolves. The smells alone are foul.” He paused the game and looked up. “You look crazed again.” “You’re too into that game to notice.” Leon didn’t flinch. “You’re too busy avoiding claiming your mate. Does she even know she’s going into heat because of you?” William’s roar echoed through the room. The frustration, the need, the battle within him to keep from taking what he knew was his, all came to a head. Leon met his gaze calmly. “You’re losing control. She’ll feel it soon enough. What will you do then?” William clenched his fists, jaw tightening. “I’ll handle it.” “You’d better. Before she finds out the hard way.” “Want me to set up the castle?” “No.” William’s voice was sharp. The castle was a fortress, perched on a remote island, accessible only by aircraft. He hated flying, but he’d bought the place as a gamble. A secluded sanctuary, perfect for a mated pair. Their solitude would protect them. No one would hear their battles, their hunts, or their lovemaking. The idea had been intoxicating when he first realized what having a mate would mean. Someday, he wanted to call it home. “Think she’d like it?” Leon asked, watching William’s brooding expression. “What now?” William snapped. “Her heat risk goes up every time I’m near. If human guys start responding to her, things will get bad.” “Just pointing out the obvious. Is it working?” William’s jaw clenched. “I have all the answers.” But if men responded to her, his control would slip. The beast inside him would emerge, and if that happened, humanity would be wiped out. He liked his spotless record—never killed anyone, despite what the alphas thought. They didn’t understand him, and that was how he preferred it. He had learned long ago that money spoke louder than anything else in this world. And he’d made sure to have plenty of it. “You getting coffee?” Leon asked, as William poured himself a cup, the dark liquid swirling in the mug. “Why are you here?” William’s voice was a low growl. He didn’t need coffee to stay awake; he rarely slept since he’d met her. The dreams of demons haunted him, and he hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep in ages. “Does she know you sneak into her room at night? Cuddle her to keep the nightmares away?” William’s roar echoed through the room, vibrating with barely contained fury. “So, she doesn’t know, and you didn’t tell her.” Leon paused his game, a smirk playing on his lips. “I’m surprised.” “Mates don’t need to be told everything,” William growled. “The start’s always rough. I enjoy a challenge, but I didn’t realize how much.” “Why keep me around then?” “Maybe for the fun. You’re probably the only one I haven’t killed yet. Plenty tried, though. Remember?” Unfortunately, it was true. Leon had been found by William at eighteen, bleeding and crawling up a steep slope. He had been thrown over the edge by a group of men who thought they’d seen the last of him. William, only twenty-one then, had murdered them, taken their things, and hidden Leon in a remote cabin, treating his wounds. It was the first time William had seen the brand of the unwanted—a mark that filled him with rage every time he saw it. When William had seen it on my neck, he’d felt that same fury. I tried to hide it with makeup or a scarf, but he’d noticed. Leon, on the other hand, had wanted to kill his tormentors. I was different. I didn’t crave revenge like the others. William glanced at Leon, who had gone still. “Don’t go back to that day,” William said, setting down his coffee. He moved closer, resting a hand on Leon’s knee. Leon shuddered at the touch. “They—” “Don’t think about it. You’re alive, they’re not.” William’s grip tightened on Leon’s neck. “I sent them over the edge alive. You know that.” “Why didn’t she want them dead? Why didn’t she want them all killed?” “I don’t know,” William replied, his voice thick with frustration. Leon’s eyes darkened. “I’ve been there, William. They beat me, they hated me. They tried to break me. My transition was agony because of them.” “I never healed like her,” Leon continued. “Her life must have been hell. But she healed so fast.” “I know,” William whispered, his voice tense. “I know.” Leonabruptly stood, saying, “I need to go for a walk.” They have experienced this numerous times. Leon was too hurt by his background to recover. He let it take control, and he had to run or walk it off. “Are you okay?” Wiliam asks. He couldn’t accompany him. Leon needed solitude. “I’ll be fine.” William sipped his coffee, trying to find calm. After pouring a second cup, he set it down and headed to her flat. He locked the door behind him and copied her key, returning it during her busy lunch. In the bedroom, he found me sobbing, nightmares haunting me. He lay beside me, wrapping his arms around me. The full moon was coming, and her flushed face told the story. Work had been brutal. Surrounded by men, young and old, all vying for victims. No one stopped me from leaving work. I kept my head down, but men bumped into me, leaning in to touch and smell me.  panic took over when i returned to my flat. I gasped . He looked arrogant and crossed his legs. “Why are you here again?” “I stayed in case something interesting happened today.” He showed her a watch on his wrist,. Wolves hardly noticed time. “you’re four hours early. Any reason?” “i had to leave town. ” William caught my wrist and pulled me into him. Arm heat subsided. “You know what happens.” “The first full moon away the pack. Only that. This is what they warn about.” He snorted. “Oh, please. That rogue nonsense again?” I tried to leave, but he stopped me. “If you were rogue, you wouldn’t have been with all those men today. I get your struggles.” Confused and angry, I snarled, “You did something to me!” “I did nothing. My presence affects you.” I tried to hit him, but he laughed and grabbed my hands. “Violence won’t help.” “I can’t stay,” I said. “You’re not leaving alone.” “Why?” “I need to do this alone.” “Are you stubborn?” “Yes. I need to show I’m not their prey anymore. A month of this is all I can handle.” I didn’t fight back as he dominated me. His kisses were irresistible. I struggled but gave in. I needed him. William lifted me, and I wrapped my legs around his waist, craving his touch. Surprised by the intensity, I tore off his shirt, and he fell onto the bed. I straddled him, kissed his neck, and stroked his firm cock. “You’re hard,” I said, momentarily halting as I regained my composure. I pulled away, but William stood up. “No,” I tried to shut off my feelings, but it was impossible. His touch burned my back, and I recoiled. I bolted from the flat, not looking back. I had to escape, find peace. Apologizing to someone I bumped into, I ran into the busy street, men’s eyes devouring me. Darkness fell quickly. Sweat coated my skin. I stopped abruptly in the woods, its artificial scents jarring. William found me there, calm. “Done running?” he asked. “Leave me alone,” I snapped. “Why? Think you’re crazy?” “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” “I’ve been alone too. No one kicked me out. I’ve never lost control. I haven’t killed anyone.” “You have a pack,” I retorted. “They kept you down.” “I met my first wolf at twenty-one. His pack was trying to kill him. I took him in. I grew up in foster care, alone until then. I’m telling you the truth.” “Why?” “Because wolves would flee if they knew the truth. Strong packs need strong members.” William had fought the alpha role. He sought out the unwanted. Rumors of his resistance were well-known. He looked at me. “We’re bonded by mating heat. You’re not crazy. I promise.” I hugged him, sobbing. “I just want freedom and a mate. Someone to love me.” William’s beast roared inside him. He held me tightly, knowing his pack was the only protection I had. “We’ll go to the cabin tonight. First turns away from the pack should never be alone.” “Have you helped many?” I asked. “More than you’d think. Evil exists everywhere,” he said, tucking my hair behind my ear. “Sorry for earlier.” “For riding you with our clothes on?” I flushed. William smirked. “I’ll remember you’re a virgin despite your attitude.” “Does everything seem like a game?” I asked. “No, not everything. One day, you’ll trust me. I won’t bite until you ask. I only kill those who need it.” He touched my cold hand and called Leon. “Bring the car,” he said, giving the location. Leon pulled up and William helped me into the car. As we drove to the cottage, he told me Susan had already moved my things. I nestled into William’s side as Leon and Susan greeted each other. “Are you okay?” Leon asked. “I’m fine.” William said, “She’s not rejecting me. She’s just unsure.” Leon, dealing with his own sorrow, understood the struggle. Wolves bond deeply, their emotions setting them apart. Packs are meant to connect. Leon said, “The pack’s got your back every step of the way.” “Will you help her?” “Leon, you know her pain. Mating heat is agony. She needs a leader. It might not be me.” Leon sighed. “You undervalue yourself.” “I want to be prepared for everything. She’s confused by mating heat, thinks she’s losing her mind. She’s hurting in ways I can’t even grasp.” I added, “You don’t have to stay by my side.” I was exhausted. At the cottage, I fell asleep immediately. The next morning, I felt a chill. William cooked breakfast. The smell made her hungry. i recalled waking up to find William wrapped around me and wanted to be less dependent. “Why wouldn’t I stay with you?” “Don’t you have more important things to do?” “Being with my mate is everything.” The word “mate” hit me hard. I rubbed her chest, feeling anguish. The mating bond was still absent. “Stop overthinking,” William said. “You need to get used to the pack.” A knock at the door made her jump. “It’s fine,” William said, opening the door. Three more people entered, followed by Leon. There were two women and four men. Most had scars like hers. “Hello,” one man said. “Introduce yourself so she can learn your names.” “Ashley,” the short, brown-haired woman said. “Rainy.” “Peter.” “Texts.” “Nice to meet you all,” I said, glancing at Texts. “Is that a nickname?” “No, miss. It’s my real name. They denied me a nickname, so I’m called Texts because I like texting.” He smiled. “Best day of my life being found by this pack.” William chuckled. “Don’t get too comfortable. He takes in all the strays.” “Not true. I don’t house anyone. They find me, not the other way around.” “We’re just the unwanted,” Rainy said, nodding at my neck. “That mark must be painful.” “It is,” I said, tears welling up. “They all are,” William said. “It never stops.” Leon added, “We all have stories. Doesn’t make the pack sound like a great place to live.” “Yeah, but ours is the exception,” Texts said. “We live among humans, like spies. No one knows who we are.” Ashley muttered, “Be careful with him. He thinks he’s got the next big thing.” “I could,” Texts said. “And be a giant pain in the ass,” Ashley replied. The group chuckled. “What? We need to be inclusive now that the miss is here. Right?” Texts asked. Everyone looked at me. “What?” “What kind of drama shots do you like?” Texts asked. “Er, I don’t know.” “You’ve never watched drama shots?” “I didn’t have money for a TV . I didn’t think watching by payment was worth it.” “Ah, your pack is terrible.” Texts said. The pack laughed. “Enough,” William said, handing me a plate. “You’ll join us for night.” I took the knife and fork, waiting. “You can eat,” William said. “I can wait.” “Is that a pack rule?” Ashley asked. “You can’t eat until everyone else?” Her palm trembled. “We won’t starve you,” Rainy said. “Eat before it’s cold. Alpha cooking is important.” I cut mushrooms, dipped them in tomatoes, and ate. “Good food,” I said to William, biting into a sausage and moaning. Everyone laughed. “Honestly, I was a street rat. William helped me out and then left. I didn’t want to stay in my old life. My pack was cruel, starved me for fun,” “He’s the shit.” “Ew,” Ashley said. “Can’t you say something nice about him?” “Fine. He’s dog bollocks,” Liam replied. I laughed, not quite understanding but not questioning it. I relaxed, enjoying breakfast and watching them. They felt like family. William prepared tea and sat back, feet up, hands behind his head, smiling. “Now this is life. Cabin, pack, peace.” “Some of the pack?” I asked. “Yeah, there are more of us,” Rainy said. “The others are busy working,” Ashley added. “We’d need a bigger place otherwise.” “Are you guys staying here?” I asked. “Yes,” they said. “Oh.” “Don’t worry. We won’t undercut you,” Leon added. “We’ll be nearby, just in case.” I nodded, still adjusting to the pack’s constant presence. “Do you want to explain your deal?” Leon asked, bringing a tray of coffee. “My deal?” I asked. “We all have a vague idea why we’re unwanted. What’s your story?” Leon pressed. “We don’t need to dive into that,” William added. “I’m just… weird,” I replied. Everyone moved to the sitting room. William stood by the window, arms folded. “A freak?” Texts asked. “What does that mean?” I grabbed a knife from the kitchen, stabbed it into the table, and cried out. The pain was relentless. “What the fuck?” William rushed to me, and the pack intervened. I yanked the knife out, holding it up to show them my recovering body. “A freak.” Breakfast had gone smoothly until my outburst. William asked everyone to leave for a bigger cabin. “Holy fucking shit,” Texts said. “Did you see that?” “I saw,” Rainy said, arms crossed. “She calls herself a freak? Does she realize her strength?” “Is this common?” Texts asked. “It’s rare,” Rainy said. “I knew one in my old pack. They were revered. Their healing delayed aging.” “Wait,” Leon said. “You’re saying she could be much older?” “She looks about twenty,” Rainy replied. “But it could be longer.” “How old was your elder?” “About two hundred. Time slows down after they mature.” “I saw what they did to her,” Ashley added. “She didn’t resist.” “Because she was ordered not to,” Leon said. “Alpha’s rules are law.” “She’s damaged,” Rainy said. “And she’ll be a fucked-up woman.” I was nervous during dinner. “You want us to do what?” Peter asked. “I want you to stay back while Susan adjusts. We should keep our distance,” William replied. “Is hiding the heat normal?” Ashley asked. “Not sure,” Rainy said. “In my old pack, the elder was revered. I’ve never seen such pain.” “I’m heading back. Don’t stray far, and if you hear cries, stay alert. Rush in if they’re mine.” William entered, seeing me on the couch, my wound already healed. “Sorry I sent your pack away,”I said. “You didn’t send them away,” William reassured. “They worry about you.” “They call me a freak.” “They don’t. They’re concerned.” I shrugged. “I’m fine.” “‘Fine’ doesn’t explain stabbing yourself.” “All gone, like it never happened.” “No scar doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.” He was furious at my wrongdoers. “You bruised.” “They faded eventually.” “Did your healing abilities annoy them?” “Yes,” “They hated that nothing they did could last.” William paced, then drank heavily. “Does it help?” “Nope, but it stops me from killing everyone,” he said, throwing back another drink. “I need to walk.” “I’m coming with you.” “Please, let me go alone.” “No,” he said, drinking more. His body metabolized the alcohol quickly. “Fine. Do what you want.” I stormed out, and William followed a minute later, tracking my scent. He found me by an ancient tree and tackled me. I gasped as we fell to the ground. He kissed away my tears, then nuzzled me. “William?” “I know your needs,” William said, tearing my jeans with his claws. He spread my thighs, touched me, and focused on my clit with his tongue. I begged and rocked against his face, crying out his name. He held my ass tight, savoring every drop of me. “Thanks,” I gasped. “That’s just the start, baby,” he grinned. The next morning, I watched him sleep, remembering his touch and the heat between us. I was anxious about the pack’s absence—did they dislike me? William woke, catching me staring. “I can feel you thinking all the way from here.” I blushed. “I didn’t know you were awake.” He smirked. “I didn’t want you to think I was just admiring your tits and imagining what I could do between them.” His fingers traced my thighs, making me moan. I closed my eyes, feeling his passion. “No,” I whispered. “Why stop?” he asked, his touch persistent. “I want to give you something,” I said, straddling him. “I’m a virgin. Only you have been with me.” “I’m the only man you’ll ever be with,” he assured. “Let me please you,” I offered. “Get off me then,” he said, eager to make love. “I want to taste you,” I said, lowering myself cautiously between his legs. “Don’t bite,” he warned. “Touch me first.”

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