Category: English

After My Husband Lost His Memory, He Wanted a Divorce Claiming His Lover Was Pregnant I agreed. After regaining his memory, he chased me to a foreign country begging to reconcile. But I had already lost all feelings for him. Because I too had regained my lost memories. “Sign the papers. Mandy is pregnant, so I must get a divorce,” said the man sitting across the table from me. Ethan Zhang, heir to the Zhang Group empire. And I was his wife. “Ethan, please reconsider,” pleaded the woman beside him – my mother-in-law. “You’ll regret this when you get your memory back.” That’s right, my husband had lost his memory. Three years ago, on our first wedding anniversary, he went to the supermarket to buy ingredients, saying he wanted to cook a special dinner for me like he used to when we were dating. Hours passed and he didn’t return. After I reported him missing, the hospital called the next day to inform me my husband had been in a car accident. When I rushed to the hospital, I found my husband gazing lovingly at the girl who had saved him. Then the doctor told me my husband had amnesia. His memories stopped at three years ago, the day before we first met. He didn’t remember that I was the wife he had pursued for two years. Even worse, he had fallen madly in love with the girl who brought him to the hospital. The day after he was discharged, he asked for a divorce. I looked into his eyes and saw the same sincerity as when he first confessed his love to me, promising to love me forever. My heart felt like it was being torn apart. I didn’t agree. I couldn’t let go of our relationship so easily. So he moved out. Over the next three years, I heard about many crazy things Ethan did for that girl. After all, the Zhang Group was famous, and Ethan himself was handsome and capable. More importantly, he did things for her that he had never done for me. Sometimes I think love is such an ephemeral thing. Mere memories can completely change who one loves. During those three years, many people tried to talk Ethan out of his foolishness. Every friend and relative who had witnessed our love urged him to move back home for a while. Later they started advising me, saying that once Ethan regained his memory, he would remember how much he loved me. So I endured for three years. I endured when they told me Ethan bought the girl’s company just so she couldn’t leave him. I endured when they said he bought an island as a gift for her. I even endured when I learned they were living together as husband and wife. But now, I couldn’t take it anymore. “Alright,” I smiled. “Give me the papers. I’ll sign.” “Aria, Mom doesn’t agree,” my mother-in-law grabbed my hand, tears in her eyes. “Ethan just lost his memory. He loved you so much, and you loved him too. Oh, how cruel fate has been to you both.” My parents passed away when I was young. Over the years, Ethan’s parents had treated me very well. “It’s okay. You’ve always wanted a grandchild, right? She’s pregnant, and the child is innocent,” I wiped away her tears. “That girl is nice too. Ethan and I… I guess it just wasn’t meant to be.” “I can’t believe you agreed so easily.” Ethan let out a cold laugh, looking at me with none of the love from before, only disdain for a crazy woman. Of course, in his current memories, I was just a mad woman who refused divorce and obstructed his wonderful new love. “She’s pregnant. What else can I do? Let the child be born out of wedlock?” “You…” Ethan glanced at my stomach, suddenly sneering, “Looks like I didn’t love you that much back then either. Otherwise, why weren’t you pregnant after a year of marriage?” I threw my water in his face. “Get out!” He wiped his face angrily, not forgetting to spit out more harsh words. “Just you wait. After the divorce, this house won’t be yours either!” After he left, my mother-in-law tried to comfort me. “Aria, move in with me. Even if you’re no longer Ethan’s wife, you can still be my daughter.” I shook my head. Over the past three years, Ethan had caused trouble with his parents too. He refused to come home, and when I went to his company, he had people block me. But he needed my agreement for the divorce. When his friends were too embarrassed to approach me, he went to his parents. After being scolded by them a few times, he simply stopped going home altogether. After finally persuading my mother-in-law to leave, a friend messaged to say Mandy wanted to meet me. Mandy Su – the girl who had brought my husband to the hospital that day. Now she was pregnant, and I was worried about her safety if we met. Without thinking, I refused. But my friend said Mandy was determined to see me and was waiting at a cafe, saying she wouldn’t leave until she saw me. These two were truly the bane of my existence. Cursing under my breath, I rushed to the cafe. As soon as I entered, I saw Mandy sitting by the window. Thinking about it carefully, I didn’t really have any deep grudge against Mandy. Some friends called Mandy a homewrecker, but I said that ultimately it was Ethan’s fault. Poor Mandy was just doing a good deed by taking an injured man to the hospital, only to be suddenly fallen in love with. I knew the lengths Ethan would go to for a woman he loved. He was quite a catch, and Mandy was a young girl fresh out of college. With all his sweet words and grand gestures, even a heart of stone would melt. Mandy wore a light-colored dress, her long curly hair looking soft and sweet in the sunlight. Only her complexion seemed a bit off. “Aria, thank you for coming,” her voice was as gentle as her appearance. People who knew us said Mandy and I were complete opposites. She studied art, with a gentle personality and a delicate artistic air. Just standing there, she looked like the female lead in a romantic music video. Before I met Ethan, I was a botanist who spent most of my time trekking through forests. Because I became a team leader at a young age, my personality was inevitably strong-willed. Back then, Ethan hadn’t fully taken over the company yet and was a thrill-seeking rich kid. God knows how much money he spent to join our expedition team. Throughout the trip, I scolded him endlessly for his lack of outdoor survival skills. When he first pursued me, I refused. I loved the adventurous life deep in the rainforests. Being a rich man’s wife might be many people’s dream, but not mine. But Ethan knew exactly how to win me over. He showed me things I had never had – the warmth of family. His parents were wonderful, truly treating me like a daughter. And he promised he wouldn’t let marriage constrain me, that he would be my support. It was all lies. At first after marriage, I didn’t give up my career. Until he said he wanted children, and I considered temporarily transferring to a lab. Then, while I was in the process of arranging the transfer, the car accident happened and he lost his memory. The vows of marriage didn’t allow me to just abandon him, so I went to work in the lab, continuing my research during the three years he kept demanding a divorce. Now that I think about it, it’s time to let him go. I’m starting to miss my life before marriage. I sat down across from Mandy at her invitation. She must be in the early stages of pregnancy, as she still looked slender. “You wanted to see me? I’ve agreed to the divorce,” I told her directly. To my surprise, Mandy burst into tears. “Why are you crying? I already agreed to the divorce.” I was baffled. She just kept wiping her tears. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” Her tears softened my heart despite myself. “You have nothing to apologize for. It’s not like you made Ethan lose his memory. These things happen, there’s nothing we can do.” I took a sip of coffee. Normally I drank coffee like water, but today for the first time I found the latte unbearably bitter. “You’re having his child now. Live well together in the future.” Mandy cried in fits and starts. “I didn’t want this, really, I didn’t want any of this.” Seeing that we were drawing attention from nearby tables, I felt powerless for the first time today. “Stop crying,” I resignedly started wiping her tears. “I really don’t blame you, honestly.” “Mandy!” Just then, the cafe door was violently pushed open and Ethan rushed in like a gust of wind. “I can’t believe you’re so shameless!” He suddenly grabbed my wrist, squeezing so hard it felt like he would snap the bone. “Mandy hasn’t done anything wrong. If you have any complaints, take them out on me!” Seriously, how did I never notice Ethan had eye problems before? “Are you insane? Why would I give her a hard time?” “Ethan, Aria didn’t do anything to me. Let go of her.” Mandy pleaded. Ethan flung my hand away violently. With a loud thud, my hand slammed against the table corner. “Ouch,” I hissed. I was supposed to go on an expedition soon. It would be troublesome if my hand was sprained. But I still underestimated how unreasonable Ethan could be. He checked Mandy over carefully, only to find her eyes were just swollen from crying. “Cloud, I’m warning you – I’m the one who wants a divorce. If you dare bother Mandy again, I won’t let you off so easily.” How could my taste in men have been so poor back then? This guy not only had eye problems, but brain damage too. “Let me tell you something too, Ethan Zhang. We’re definitely getting divorced. And…” I raised my hand and slapped him hard. “Since you’re so eager to end this, bring the divorce papers soon. Don’t waste my time.” That evening, I got a call from Ethan’s secretary. “Mrs. Zhang, why did you agree to the divorce?” I was icing my wrist as I corrected her. “Don’t call me Mrs. Zhang anymore. I’m divorcing your boss. Seeing how eager he is, it’ll probably be in the next couple days.” “Miss Cloud, but Mr. Zhang didn’t leave you anything!” I froze. “What do you mean he didn’t leave me anything?” “This afternoon when Mr. Zhang came back, he immediately called a lawyer. He’s demanding you leave with nothing.” Is that so? But I clearly remember Ethan promising when he proposed that if he ever wronged me, he would be the one to leave with nothing. On the other end, the secretary continued explaining. “Including the things Mr. Zhang gifted you before, he wants them all back.” Right, he had been very attentive when pursuing me. I didn’t care for jewelry or bags, so he once gave me a star. “Including that star?” “Star?” The secretary sounded confused. After some keyboard and mouse clicks, she said, “For that star, Mr. Zhang only bought the naming rights. He hasn’t mentioned renaming it yet.” He probably didn’t even remember it, I gathered from the secretary’s tone. Come to think of it, my relationship with Ethan was quite absurd. A star named after me, as worthless as our relationship that crumbled with lost memories. “It’s fine. Those things were his to begin with. He can have them all back.” I was tired. Soon, perhaps none of this would bother me anymore. “Miss Cloud, even though I’m Mr. Zhang’s secretary, the terms of the divorce agreement are unfair to you. You didn’t do anything wrong in this marriage. Mr. Zhang shouldn’t treat you like this.” The secretary paused. “It’s not my place to say this, but Miss Cloud, don’t sign the agreement.” I knew she meant well. Everyone knew I came from an ordinary background, with no parents, living in a small suburban house before I met Ethan. Now Ethan, as heir to the Zhang Group, was demanding his blameless wife leave the marriage with nothing. “Thank you,” I sincerely thanked her. “But honestly, those things are useless to me anyway.” Early the next morning, Ethan’s lawyer showed up at my door. “Mrs. Cloud, this is the divorce agreement Mr. Zhang asked us to draft.” “Let me see it, I’ll sign.” “Mrs. Cloud, don’t you want to read it carefully? If there’s anything you can’t accept, we can discuss it further with Mr. Zhang.” The lawyer seemed surprised by how readily I agreed. “No need. He’s not giving me anything, right? I don’t want anything of his either.” I glanced at the agreement. Ethan had already signed it. According to the secretary, the agreement was commissioned yesterday afternoon. Ethan couldn’t even wait a moment longer. Then why should I insist on our previous vows? I picked up the pen and signed my name too. “Mrs. Cloud, Mr. Zhang hopes you’ll move out today.” Ethan, you’ve really outdone yourself. I looked around the home I’d lived in for over four years. “Fine.” The lawyer had barely left when Ethan’s mother rushed over.

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At a raging fire scene, I ran into the flames to protect my stepson. Meanwhile, my wife turned off her phone to attend her ex-husband’s concert. I gave up my chance to escape so my stepson could be rescued. But once he was safe, he ran into his biological father’s arms, crying uncontrollably. To celebrate his survival, the three of them decided to go out for a lavish dinner. They completely forgot about me, the one still struggling to survive in the fire. Standing by the window, surrounded by flames and thick smoke, I watched their backs as they walked away together. I closed my eyes and leaped from the 18th floor. Miraculously, I survived. I chose to divorce her and leave the country. The stepson who once resented my discipline clung to my leg, crying, “Dad, please don’t leave me.” The wife who once dismissed my love grabbed my hand, pleading, “Honey, don’t go.” I was at work when I got a call from my neighbor: “Your apartment is on fire.” My heart sank. Thinking of my wife and stepson, I immediately jumped into my car, speeding home while frantically dialing my wife’s number. But no one answered. The thought of my wife and stepson trapped in the fire made my anxiety skyrocket. I floored the gas pedal. When I finally arrived at our apartment complex, thick black smoke was billowing from the windows on the 18th floor. Ignoring everyone’s attempts to stop me, I couldn’t wait for the firefighters to arrive. I ran straight into the building and up the stairs to our apartment. By the time I reached our floor, I was out of breath, and the hallway was already filled with choking smoke. I yelled my wife’s and stepson’s names, but no one responded. With shaking hands, I pulled out my keys and tried to unlock the door, but the intense heat had warped it. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get it open. I had no choice but to step back and kick the door with all my strength. The impact sent a sharp pain through my leg, and I felt like my bones might snap. After several desperate attempts, the door finally gave way, and I stumbled inside. The smoke was so thick I could barely see. I covered my nose and mouth with my sleeve, shouting my wife’s and stepson’s names as I crouched to avoid the flames. Dodging the fire, limping on my injured leg, I searched through the apartment until I found my stepson huddled in the corner of the living room. He was terrified but unharmed. Relief washed over me as I knelt down and pulled him into my arms. “Tommy, don’t be scared. Daddy’s here to save you.” I grabbed my 8-year-old stepson’s arm, trying to lead him to safety. But Tommy was too scared to move. He clung to me, crying and begging, “Daddy, please carry me!” With no other choice, I lifted him into my arms despite the pain in my leg and started making my way toward the door. I kept calling my wife’s name, hoping she would answer. Thankfully, the firefighters arrived just in time. I handed Tommy over to one of them. As the firefighter held my crying stepson, I wiped the soot off Tommy’s face and asked, “Tommy, where’s your mom? Where is she?” Tommy lowered his head, avoiding my gaze, and whispered, “Mom’s in the bedroom… she’s sleeping.” The flames were spreading rapidly, leaving no time to think. Hearing that my wife was still in the bedroom, I turned back toward the fire without hesitation. The firefighter, holding Tommy with one arm, blocked my path with his other hand and handed me an oxygen mask. “The fire is too dangerous. I’ll go in to rescue her. Put this on and take your son downstairs.” But I shook my head and placed the oxygen mask over Tommy’s face instead. Patting my possibly fractured leg, I pleaded with the firefighter. “My son is too scared to walk on his own, and I can’t carry him down 18 flights of stairs like this. Please, take him to safety. My wife is still in the bedroom—I can’t leave her behind. I’m begging you.” Before the firefighter could respond, I turned and disappeared into the thick smoke. With no choice, the firefighter carried Tommy downstairs, radioing for backup as he went.

Dragging my injured leg, every step sent searing pain through my body, but I couldn’t stop. The fire was raging, and yet my wife wasn’t with our son. Had she passed out somewhere? Or worse, was she already gone? The horrible possibilities pushed me forward, ignoring the pain, as I searched every room. I kept shouting her name, and finally made my way to the bedroom—but the bed was empty. Thinking of her usual habits, I turned and limped toward her studio. When I slammed into the door of her studio, a surge of hot air knocked me to the ground, and the flames instantly engulfed the room. It hit me then—her studio was packed with fabric and over a hundred dresses. Now they were all burning together, feeding the uncontrollable fire. I remembered all the arguments we’d had over this studio. My wife, a fashion designer, had spent countless hours creating suits and gowns for her ex-husband, Noah Green, who was also Tommy’s biological father. I had accused her of crossing boundaries too many times, but she always dismissed my concerns, saying I was being unreasonable. I’d even joked once that I’d burn all the dresses she’d so carefully designed for Noah. Now, as I watched the flames devour them, I felt no satisfaction—only despair. The choking smoke stung my eyes and lungs, forcing me to the ground, coughing violently. My injured leg could no longer support me. Driven by survival instinct, I crawled toward the balcony, my skin burning, the fiery heat making me dizzy. I pressed my face against the narrow cracks in the balcony railing, desperately gulping the thin, smoky air outside. Lying there, I peered down at the crowd gathering below. My sharp eyesight immediately picked out my son, standing safely among them. Relief hit me like a wave. Tommy was safe. At least he didn’t perish in this fire with me. Tears I had held back finally spilled down my soot-covered face. I thought back to the day my wife gave birth to Tommy. Not long after, she divorced Noah, who had abandoned his family to chase his dream of becoming a world-famous pianist. Six months later, she married me—her childhood friend who had loved her for years. For seven years, I had raised Tommy as my own, dedicating everything to him. To me, he was no different from my biological son. But now, the thought of him losing both his mother and me broke my heart into pieces. And yet, my wife… Where was she? Was she still waiting for me somewhere in this burning apartment? Clinging to the railing, I forced my battered body to stand again, ready to continue the search. But then, a familiar car pulled up and parked below. My heart sank. Out of the car stepped two people: my wife, Emily, and her ex-husband, Noah Green. At that moment, I didn’t know whether my sharp vision was a blessing or a curse. Hadn’t Tommy said Emily was in the bedroom sleeping? How could she be outside—with him? Then I remembered: today was Noah’s big comeback concert. So that’s where she had been. She left our son home alone to attend her ex-husband’s concert. Did she even know how close Tommy had come to dying in the fire? Couldn’t she have brought him with her? None of it made sense to me, but I had no time to think. I was dying. The smoke was suffocating me, and I clung to the balcony railing, trying to breathe the scorching air. Looking down, I saw the three of them embracing. Even from here, I could hear Tommy’s innocent voice calling out, “Daddy!” But he wasn’t calling me. He was calling Noah. Emily wrapped her arms around both Noah and Tommy, and to the onlookers, they probably seemed like a happy little family. None of them looked back at the burning building. None of them thought about me, still trapped inside. After a brief moment of tears, they turned and walked away, hand in hand. I watched their backs as they disappeared into the distance. Despair washed over me. I closed my eyes, unwilling to believe that the wife and son I loved so deeply could abandon me without a second thought. But deep down, I had known this day would come. Ever since Noah returned to town, I had noticed the changes in my wife and son. Emily’s true love had always been Noah. I was nothing more than her second choice, the man she settled for when she needed someone to give Tommy a stable home. Back then, Noah had left her and their newborn son without looking back, choosing his career over his family. Emily married me because she wanted to give Tommy a complete family. For years, I had hoped my love and devotion would thaw her heart. I was wrong. Even during those years when Noah was gone, he had never truly left Emily’s heart. The rows of suits and dresses she designed for him in her studio were proof enough of that. I remembered once asking her to make me a custom suit. She had snapped at me: “Why would I waste time making something for you? You don’t even have an occasion to wear it! Stop bothering me. Noah has a European tour coming up next month, and I promised him a new outfit for every performance.” I had left her studio that day, pale and humiliated. Now, I finally understood. I had never stood a chance. With Noah back in her life, it was only a matter of time before she and Tommy returned to him. As for Tommy, I had foolishly hoped he would choose to stay with me. But in the end, I was no match for his real father. Through the ringing in my ears, I heard Tommy’s excited laughter as he asked to celebrate with a big dinner. Emily and Noah’s warm, affectionate voices agreed. I opened my eyes one last time to confirm what I already knew. Their car was pulling away. Emily smiled as she reminded Noah and Tommy to buckle up. From the backseat, Tommy tilted his chubby face up, asking Noah to wipe the soot off his cheeks. It was over. They were gone. At that moment, I realized they had truly abandoned me. Perhaps they thought it would be better if I died here in silence. But I wasn’t ready to disappear without a trace. Even if my family had forsaken me, I still wanted to live—for myself. The flames blocked the door, leaving no way out. I turned to the balcony, where a childproof safety net had been installed to protect Tommy. Dragging my injured leg, I crawled to a corner of the balcony where an old iron plant stand was bolted to the wall. Using all my strength, I tore the net, widening the hole just enough for me to fit through. The flames were licking at my back, and the heat was unbearable. With no time left to hesitate, I squeezed through the gap and leaped from the 18th floor.

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My seatmate, who never studied, somehow got a mind-reading system that allowed her to cheat off my thoughts during the SAT. She used it to get into Harvard. Meanwhile, she reported me for cheating on the SAT. My parents and brother even sided with her as witnesses. I refused to admit guilt, but my own brother pushed me off a high-rise building. I died with my eyes wide open in disbelief. When I woke up again, I had returned to one month before the SAT. In the exam room, my seatmate could barely hide her smug expression. But I simply put my head down and took a nap. SAT? What SAT? I don’t need it at all! “Ava, wake up! How can you sleep in class at a time like this?” I was jolted awake by a hard shove. I stared blankly at my impatient seatmate, Lily White. “Are you crazy? The SAT is right around the corner and you’re sleeping in class instead of studying. You’ll have plenty of time to sleep when you’re dead!” Her words were harsh and her expression was mean. In my previous life, I thought she was being strict with me for my own good. I ended up scoring nearly perfect on the SAT and was the undisputed top student. But before the scores were released, Lily reported me for cheating on the SAT. My parents even sided with Lily as witnesses, accusing me of cheating on the exam. All because Lily promised them $500,000. “Don’t be stupid, that’s half a million dollars! With that money we can buy a big house. Your brother will be set for life too.” “I want to study abroad. Besides, it’s just a 3-year ban from taking the SAT again. You’re smart, you can still get into Harvard or Yale in 3 years.” The words from my mother and brother were so unreasonable, I could hardly believe my ears. My father had always seen me as his pride and joy. But that day, he chain-smoked cigarettes before finally nodding in agreement. I couldn’t accept this outcome. I ran out crying to confront Lily. But my brother Tim pushed me off the roof. Before I fell, Lily whispered in my ear: “Ava, aren’t you curious why I reported you for cheating?” “It’s because I have a mind-reading system. During exams, I can hear all the answers in your mind.” “Our test papers were too similar. Of course the cheater had to be you!” I finally understood everything – why she got close to me, helped me, always encouraged me to study hard. It was all for her own benefit. I died full of hatred and resentment. After my death, my parents and brother wasted no time using the $500,000 to buy a big house. They also happily helped Tim contact study abroad agencies. It was as if I had never existed. My SAT scores were invalidated. Lily became the top scorer, with perfect scores in math, physics and chemistry. She was successfully admitted to Harvard. Top SAT scorer, science genius, wealthy family background, stunning beauty… With so many impressive titles, she attracted widespread attention and became America’s sweetheart overnight. My decades of hard work ended up paving the way for her success. But I’m in control of my own fate now. In this new life, I will make Lily pay for everything she’s done!

The last practice test before the real SAT was a statewide mock exam. When I came back to life, the mock exam had just finished. I still scored 1580, ranking first in the state. My homeroom teacher and the academic director were grinning from ear to ear. If the principal hadn’t stopped them, they probably would have started celebrating having a potential SAT perfect scorer. Meanwhile, my seatmate Lily White scored 1570, ranking 10th in the state. While the school was happy to potentially have another Ivy League candidate, they still had major doubts. That’s because Lily had always been at the bottom of the class before, a true slacker. Her sudden leap in scores was very suspicious. So when going over the mock exam in class, Ms. Thompson deliberately called on Lily to answer a question she got right. “Lily, please come up and explain how you solved this problem. Walk us through your thought process.” Lily stood up looking very flustered. In my mind, I silently recited the correct solution and answer. But Ms. Thompson’s expression gradually darkened as Lily still couldn’t explain it. Seeing Lily’s hands clenched nervously together, I felt relieved. It seemed her mind-reading ability only worked during actual exams. In my previous life, I didn’t know about her mind-reading system, so I never noticed these details. This time, I had to figure out exactly how her mind-reading system worked in order to plan my revenge. After testing it multiple times, I finally confirmed that she couldn’t hear my thoughts outside of exams. Just as Ms. Thompson was about to lose her last bit of patience, Lily spoke up: “Ms. Thompson, I got all these questions right. I need to review other topics now, can you stop bothering me?” Her words were so rude that the whole class gasped. Many students gave Lily a thumbs up in admiration. Ms. Thompson tapped the podium to quiet everyone down. Lily grew even more confident under everyone’s admiring gazes. She arrogantly raised her chin and stared straight at Ms. Thompson: “I don’t want to waste my time on these simple questions. It’s a waste of my talents.” Ms. Thompson’s gaze towards Lily was dark and unreadable, filled with extreme disappointment and disgust. This incident made Lily infamous throughout the school. Just like in my previous life, she put zero effort into studying. She was an expert at makeup, gaming, partying – everything except academics. She even led the bullying of hardworking students who couldn’t improve their grades. The worst victim was Fiona. Lily would kick Fiona’s desk when walking by, scattering her things all over the floor. Then she’d cross her arms and mock: “Stupid pig brain, you’ll never get into college no matter how long you study.” Her sycophantic followers would chime in: “That’s right, Lily! Not everyone can be a genius like you and score over 1550 without even studying.” “Yeah, even that Ava girl only beat you by 10 points after studying so hard!” “Hahaha, what a joke…” Standing outside the classroom, I frowned as I listened to them freely mocking Fiona and me. I remembered how Lily bullied Fiona in my past life too, locking her in bathroom stalls and cornering her in dead ends to force her to kneel. I couldn’t stand it and advised Lily to study seriously instead of bullying classmates. She said she was bullying Fiona because Fiona was jealous of my good grades and badmouthed me behind my back. Lily claimed she was just getting revenge for me. Although I didn’t care if Fiona badmouthed me or not, and told Lily many times not to seek revenge for me, I still believed her words. I stopped helping Fiona with her studies. Being ostracized by both the top student and the richest, prettiest girl in class, Fiona’s final days of high school were miserable. She couldn’t perform to her true potential on the SAT either. Guilt washed over me. I walked into the classroom and called Lily to study with me. Lily seemed reluctant, so I smiled slightly and said: “But I can’t focus on studying without you by my side.” Hearing that, she immediately ditched her lackeys and returned to her seat with me. She was waiting to cheat off my answers during the SAT, so of course she wanted me to study as much as possible. She couldn’t let me slack off. After that, I always used the excuse of needing her company to study seriously, leaving her no time to bully Fiona. Seeing me study diligently, she felt at ease playing games under the desk. As soon as school ended, she’d remind me to study hard before running off at lightning speed. After she left, I would lend my study notes to Fiona and use my free time to tutor her, trying to make up for my mistakes in my past life.

In the following practice tests, Lily successfully scored over 1550 each time as she wished. I even deliberately scored lower than her once, letting Lily beat me by a few points. During the exams, I kept thinking to myself: “These questions are so easy, I could probably score 1580 even if I took the test with my eyes closed. If the real SAT is this easy, getting into Harvard or Yale would be a piece of cake.” My thoughts, combined with the shock of her beating me, completely put Lily at ease. She stopped hovering over me and forcing me to study, and gradually stopped coming to school altogether. When our homeroom teacher called to persuade her to come to school, Lily brazenly replied: “I can score better than Ava without even studying. I’m guaranteed to get into Harvard anyway, so you should spend your time worrying about those idiots who can’t even get into community college!” In my past life, she was so afraid I’d slack off that she kept a close eye on me at school every day. Her complete disregard for me now actually made things more convenient for my plans. During her absence from school, Lily started dabbling in social media. This was something that didn’t happen in my memories of my past life. Or maybe it did, and I just didn’t know about it. She created an account portraying the life of a high school senior preparing for the SAT. But instead of actual SAT prep, her videos were all about makeup, fashion, and various forms of entertainment. With marketing funds and a professional team, plus her stunning looks, Lily quickly attracted a large following online. Whenever anyone questioned her, she would show off her high practice test scores and declare that she was sure to be the top scorer and get into Harvard. Some of our classmates even vouched for her online. She became an internet sensation, praised by everyone as a genius girl. I didn’t have a smartphone, so I heard all this from my classmates. I didn’t comment on any of it, just kept my head down and focused on my own studies. Although I deliberately let Lily hear my arrogant thoughts during exams, in reality I felt very uncertain. I had no way to block her from eavesdropping on my mind, but I firmly believed that in the face of true ability, all schemes and tricks were paper tigers. So I studied even harder than in my past life. I arrived at school before dawn every day, and stayed late after evening self-study sessions to continue studying in the classroom. Many classmates were motivated by me and voluntarily stayed behind to study as well. I generously tutored them and explained difficult concepts and problems. Finally, a week before the SAT, I received a message from Ms. Thompson. The moment Ms. Thompson nodded, I felt the weight on my shoulders instantly disappear. I had perfect scores in math, physics and chemistry on the practice tests. Yale’s admissions office opened a special admission channel for me – as long as I passed their test, I would be admitted with a full scholarship. In both lives, Yale only opened this channel for me, not for Lily who ranked second. That’s why Lily resented Yale and was determined to choose Harvard as the top scorer, to make Yale regret it. But in my past life, my goal was Harvard, so I flatly rejected Yale’s offer. This time, I had to find a way to avoid taking the SAT. It was too late to prepare for academic competitions. Yale’s olive branch was my only and best way out. I asked Ms. Thompson to keep it confidential, so no one else knew about this even after I received Yale’s early admission notice. Ms. Thompson still hoped I would take the SAT. Even with early admission, the prestige of being the top SAT scorer would obviously benefit both me and the school. I apologized and explained that I would take the SAT, but definitely wouldn’t get the top score. Ms. Thompson couldn’t understand why, but seeing that I refused to explain further, she didn’t press the issue: “You’re a good kid. You’ve always known what you want. I respect your decision.” Looking at Ms. Thompson’s reassuring and encouraging gaze, I felt a lump in my throat and almost burst into tears. In both lives, Ms. Thompson was the only person besides Lily who ever showed me warmth. My mom favored my brother, my dad was silent and aloof, and my brother only reached out to ask for my scholarship money after each exam. My family was always a source of neglect and obstacles on my academic journey. When I lacked food and clothes, it was Ms. Thompson who always helped me. In my past life, the news of my cheating and suicide was suppressed by Lily’s family. Apart from people at school, not many in society knew about it. Ms. Thompson never believed I would cheat or commit suicide. Plus, Ms. Thompson had doubts about Lily’s scores to begin with, so she suspected Lily had stolen my scores. After my death, Ms. Thompson repeatedly approached my parents and Lily, trying to clear my name. In this life, no matter what, I can’t let Ms. Thompson’s trust and care down again! 3 Three days before the SAT, the school gave us time off. I didn’t go home, but stayed in the school dorm. No one at home asked about me either. I was happy to have some peace and quiet. On the last day, I received a call from Lily: “Ava, how’s your SAT prep going?” She used to affectionately call me “Ava-bear”, but now she couldn’t even be bothered to keep up appearances. “Mm, getting into Yale won’t be a problem.” “That’s good. Soon we’ll be at Yale and Harvard, still besties!” She laughed arrogantly and carefreely. I put down my old flip phone and smirked coldly: Too bad, in this life, you won’t get what you want. The SAT finally arrived. I wasn’t as nervous and excited as I was in my past life. Seeing Lily in the same exam room as me, I didn’t show any surprise. I was so calm that it made Lily inexplicably anxious, her eyelids twitching. But she was still confident, her eyes full of calculation and certainty. Until the English test paper was handed out. I didn’t even glance at the contents before putting my head down to sleep. Lily panicked. Determined not to let her hear even a bit of my answers, I had taken drowsy cold medicine beforehand. I slept heavily, unaware that Lily was staring daggers at my back, as if trying to bore a hole through me with her gaze. She sat on pins and needles, constantly looking around, and was warned by the proctor several times for tapping on her desk. As time ticked away, she raised her hand to report me to the proctor for sleeping and disturbing her. The proctor woke me up. I sat up straight but kept my eyes closed to rest. Lily was at a loss for what to do and had no choice but to start answering the questions herself. Her grades were poor to begin with, and she had been living it up lately. She couldn’t even recognize many of the words in the passages. After the English test, Lily cornered me in the dorm when I was about to take a nap. She was furious: “Did your mom die last night or something? Were you out selling yourself?” I widened my eyes and asked in confusion: “Lily, what’s wrong? I have a cold and took some medicine. I got drowsy so I just…” Her face contorted in rage as she lunged at me like a madwoman: “You bitch! If you love sleeping so much why don’t you go be a hooker and sleep all you want!” I grabbed her hand as she tried to slap me and shoved her hard, pushing her out of the dorm room. I was used to heavy labor and much stronger than her. She fell straight to the ground. “We still have tests this afternoon. If you keep acting crazy I’m going to call a teacher.” Before she could react, I closed the dorm room door, ignoring her pounding and yelling outside. The dorm students had all gone home, so I didn’t have to worry about her disturbing anyone else. I attended the remaining three tests normally, and she took them as usual too. To my surprise, she no longer looked at me and instead focused intently on answering the questions. I glanced at a few questions and thought of the answers in my mind, but she had no reaction. I guessed she must have done something to no longer hear my thoughts. If I took the remaining three tests seriously, I could probably still get a decent score. But I didn’t dare risk her possibly still being able to hear my thoughts. For the last three tests, I still turned in blank papers.

After the exams, I went back to the dorm to pack up and called my parents. That’s when I found out my brother was on break for the SAT and my parents had taken him on a trip. I didn’t have a key to the house. The background noise on the phone was very loud. My mom’s booming voice made me instinctively hold the old flip phone further from my ear. “Just keep staying in the dorm until we get back! We paid for it, it’s not like you have to sleep on the street.” “The dorm is closing today. Everyone has to move out,” I explained. “Then figure something out yourself. You’re done with high school now, stop relying on your parents for everything. Be more considerate!” I didn’t have much stuff. Apart from the books and notes I had lent out, I only had a few changes of clothes and some daily necessities. With just a backpack’s worth of belongings, I found a job as a waitress at a hot pot restaurant. The pay was good and it included room and board. When the manager asked me to join the work group chat, I took out a battered old flip phone and sheepishly said I didn’t have social media. I didn’t even have money for a hotel room, let alone a smartphone. The manager found an 80% new second-hand phone for me, telling me to buy a new one after I got my first paycheck. I registered for social media and added Ms. Thompson as a friend. She immediately added me to the class group chat. That night, lying on the bed in the staff dorm, I finally started exploring the smartphone. It was my first time using a smartphone and I found it quite fascinating. They were discussing plans for a class dinner, chatting enthusiastically. Until Fiona asked how I did on the SAT. The group went quiet for a moment, then classmates started tagging me: “@Ava Chen Bet our top scorer got a 1580 or 1590 huh?” “@Ava Chen Have you decided on Harvard or Yale yet, Ms. Perfect Score?” “@Ava Chen Don’t forget us little people when you’re rich and famous, genius!” Before I could reply, Lily’s message made the group go silent again: “Stop kissing up to her. She didn’t even score as well as you guys! You’ll at least get into community college, but she can only work in a factory now.” A flood of question marks appeared. “I was in the same exam room as her. She slept through all four tests. If you don’t believe me, ask her yourself.” When I firmly rejected Yale’s offer before, no one thought Yale would still keep the early admission spot open for me. So when I said I was going to Yale, another wave of question marks flooded the chat. After this little drama, no one in the group actively mentioned me again. They started fawning over Lily, asking about her SAT experience or complimenting her graduation trip photos. Only Fiona sent me a friend request and comforted me, saying I would definitely get the top score if I retook the SAT next year. I smiled warmly and wished her good results too. Lily was very confident about her SAT scores. She even promised to treat the whole class to her college acceptance celebration dinner. I knew she must have found other ways to cheat. I didn’t care about her scores. I just prayed there wouldn’t be another poor victim of her schemes. Working at the hot pot restaurant was exhausting. Business was booming during summer break. By the time we got off work it was already the early hours of the morning, and my arms and legs were sore. But I was never afraid of hard work. After getting my first month’s salary, I transferred $150 to the manager based on the market price of the second-hand phone. The manager was surprised I didn’t choose to buy a new phone. I said: “This phone still works great. I don’t play games so I don’t need high specs. This one is perfect.” The manager took the money without comment. The next day at work, he brought me a cup of milk tea. It was a fragrant and rich jasmine milk tea. It was my first time trying it and I found it delicious.

On the day the SAT scores were released, I went back home. My dad was nervously guarding the phone, ready to call relatives and friends as soon as the scores came out. The sound of characters being killed came from my brother Tim’s phone. He glanced at me and asked in a seemingly casual tone: “I heard the top SAT scorers and Ivy League admits get awarded tens of thousands of dollars, right?” My mom’s eyes instantly lit up: “Really? Tens of thousands?” My mom had never cared about my excellent grades before. In her eyes, no matter what I did, I was never good enough. She thought it would be better for me to get married early and earn some dowry money for Tim to use. Hearing Tim mention the prize money, my mom’s eyes suddenly blazed with greed. “My good daughter, look what mom bought you as a gift from our trip! Don’t you love it?” A sun hat with a sweat-stained brim was forcefully shoved into my hands. My mom smiled eagerly, unable to hide the avarice in her eyes: “You see how bad your brother’s grades are. Your dad and I are thinking of sending him to study abroad.” “Once your brother makes it big, you’ll have someone to rely on even after you get married…” Listening to her made me nauseous. In my past life at this time, they had already taken Lily’s money, bought a big house, and found a study abroad agency for Tim. They didn’t care about me at all. Now that they knew there was prize money, they started sucking up to me again. I hid the disgust in my eyes and calmly looked straight at my mom: “I got sick during the SAT week. I didn’t take the tests.” “What?!” My mom leapt up from the sofa, shrieking: “You’re saying you didn’t take the tests?!” Tim also looked up in shock. My dad was much calmer: “Ava, stop joking around. Don’t upset your mother.” Hearing that, my mom and Tim also thought I was just kidding. My mom put on a smile again to coax me. Tim gave me a disdainful look before going back to his game. But as more and more congratulatory calls came in from relatives and friends, while my score inquiry still showed 0 points, they finally couldn’t sit still. “I really didn’t take the tests. You can call my teacher to confirm.” My mom’s reaction was direct – she started cursing me viciously: “You little slut, I knew you were nothing but trouble. I should have drowned you in a bucket when you were born!” “Take the damn test or don’t, don’t expect me to pay for you to retake it.” “It’s just as well you’re not going to college. We can use your dowry to send your brother abroad.” Whether it was being the top scorer or getting married, it was all about getting tens of thousands of dollars to my mom and brother. So they weren’t in a rush anymore. But my dad was furious. His lips were trembling and he pointed at me, unable to speak for a long time. He looked like he was about to have a stroke. My mom had always wanted to marry me off for a dowry. It was my dad who kept stopping her. He said I was his pride and joy, and told me to study hard and get into a good college. I thought at least he loved me. For his praise and encouragement, I studied like crazy. Seeing him always being scolded by my mom, I would rather go hungry than ask him for money. But after I died, he kept a study for himself, pretending to practice calligraphy and read newspapers in there every day. I realized then that he thought he could have gotten into Harvard or Yale himself, if only the family hadn’t been too poor to support him. He was arrogant and felt his talents were wasted. He wanted to live out his dreams through me. On the other hand, as the top scorer I could fetch an even higher dowry price, maybe even marry into a rich family. He was dreaming of money, fame and status. Whether I lived or died didn’t matter to him at all. The viciousness in his eyes made me have no doubt he would beat me to death the next moment. I took out my Yale early admission letter and said I had already been admitted. My dad gradually calmed down. “The school will award $10,000, and the county will give $30,000.” “But I’m keeping this money for myself. I’ll need it for college.” My dad was grinning from ear to ear as he caressed the admission letter, but stopped smiling when he heard I wanted to keep the money. “Then don’t go to college. With this $40,000, plus asking for a few tens of thousands more in dowry, it’ll be enough for your brother to study abroad and even get married.” I smirked coldly. He would never let me skip college for the sake of his grand dreams. He was just threatening me. “It’s your choice – the money or me. You decide!” My mom sneered: “You think you can disown your own parents?” I ignored her and only looked at my dad: “If you want the money, we’ll terminate our parent-child relationship.” I knew only my dad had the final say in this matter. “If you want me, you won’t get a penny of this money. But I’ll support you in your old age in the future.” My dad knew which option was clearly more beneficial. The value of a Yale student would definitely exceed $40,000 in the long run. But he was more reluctant to give up the $40,000 right in front of him. He also didn’t believe I would really abandon them in the future. He was confident that by showing me some small favors later on, he could make me continue to be their cash cow. I was grateful for his confidence as I signed the papers terminating our parent-child relationship. I successfully got my household registration transferred out. I packed my things and left that same night. My dad held his favorite thermos, smiling at me: “Ava, come back for dinner sometime. I’ll have your mom make your favorite beef and potato stew.” I replied flatly: “I’m allergic to beef.”

With my wages from the hot pot restaurant and money borrowed from Ms. Thompson, I had enough to leave home and go straight to New Haven. There are more opportunities in big cities. With my Yale early admission letter, I quickly found several tutoring jobs. I rented a basement apartment and spent my days rushing between different students’ homes. It was tiring but fulfilling. After the news of my early admission was posted, my classmates started tagging me in the group chat again. I was too busy to deal with it so I just left the group. Fiona asked if I was willing to listen before telling me news about Lily. Lily scored just over 1000 on the SAT, barely above the cutoff for 4-year colleges. At first some people mocked her a bit. But she shot back directly: “So what? I have plenty of money. You poor losers will all be working for me in the future anyway!” The people mocking her immediately shut up sheepishly. But her social media account was reported and banned for having a negative influence. Many people online cursed at her, which also impacted her family’s business. But overall it didn’t really shake her wealthy and privileged position. I was far away in New Haven, only able to suppress the hatred in my heart. If I couldn’t get revenge, I would be satisfied just staying far away and living my own life well. My college life was very fulfilling. I studied hard in class and actively participated in various activities outside of class. I won all the scholarships. With enough money and some savings, I didn’t focus too much on earning money. Instead, I was like a sponge, desperately absorbing knowledge and broadening my horizons. In my sophomore year, I went on a year and a half exchange program abroad. During this time my parents couldn’t contact me, and they couldn’t find me when they came to the school either. They knew nothing about me going abroad and returning, so I didn’t see them again until after I graduated college. Just as I was deciding to pursue a master’s degree at the end of my junior year, my head suddenly hurt. Then I heard a mechanical voice: “Ding! Congratulations player, you have the opportunity to bind an exam mind-reading system. Would you like to bind it?” “No.” “Please choose again whether to bind the system.” “No.” “…Dear, our system can let you hear anyone’s thoughts during any exam, allowing you to breeze through all of life’s tests with ease. Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider?” I smirked coldly: “You’re Lily’s system, aren’t you?” “…Yes. She was too stupid so I unilaterally terminated our contract.” “Then answer a few questions for me, and I’ll consider binding with you.” “Okay, dear.” “What do you mean by hearing anyone’s thoughts?” “Dear, it means you can lock onto one person to hear their thoughts during each exam.” “So Lily switched to locking onto someone else?” “Yes.” “Did she report that person for cheating too?” “…That person had powerful connections. She tried to report them but ended up in a miserable situation herself.” “What’s Lily’s situation now?” “She’s not doing too well, but she thinks she’s quite happy.” “Okay, I’ve considered it. Not binding.” “…” The system was on the verge of tears, but I just laughed coldly: “Do you think I need you? There must be a price to pay for eavesdropping on others’ thoughts, right? Why should I pay a price to do something I can already accomplish on my own?” “Do you think I’m stupid too?” Even now, I still believe that in the face of true ability, all schemes and tricks are paper tigers. I do my own work well and don’t rely on external forces to plagiarize others’ achievements or seize others’ opportunities. This is my principle and what I’ve always insisted on doing.

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By the third year of living with face blindness, the only face I could recognize was Kevin Gray’s. One day, after a cold fight between us, he pushed me into a crowd in front of everyone. “Be good,” he said with a smirk. “Find me, and you can come home with me.” Amid the jeers and laughter, I frantically scanned the sea of faces until I finally found his. I lowered my voice, begging, “I promise I’ll behave. Please don’t leave me.” He pulled me into his arms, whispering softly, “You did great, Ayla.” That night, we stayed together in a hotel. The next morning, I walked out holding his arm, only to come face-to-face with another Kevin standing across the lobby. Nearly hysterical, the man shouted, “Ayla, get off my brother right now!” It was then I realized the man I had been with all night wasn’t Kevin—it was his twin brother, who had just returned from abroad. By the third year of my face blindness, Kevin discovered a new game to amuse himself. He started taking me out to meet his friends and deliberately leaving me behind in the group, delighting in the panic and confusion on my face as I struggled to find him. “Kevin, isn’t tonight your brother’s welcome-back party? You’re still playing this game?” one of his friends asked. The city lights sparkled through the windows as Kevin brought me to yet another party. The room was packed with people, and a young woman sat beside Kevin, clinging to his arm. “I’ve never seen what face blindness looks like,” she said mockingly. “Why don’t you put on a little show for us?” “Maybe next time, when I’m acting,” I replied quietly. Her name was Jenna York, an up-and-coming actress Kevin had taken a liking to recently. Spoiled by his attention, she thought she could do anything. Tonight, she boldly danced her way over to me, her eyes filled with arrogance, assuming Kevin would indulge her whims. But Kevin shot her a cold look. “Make her perform? Who do you think you are?” Jenna’s smug smile froze as tears welled up in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Mr. Gray…” she whimpered. Kevin barely glanced at her crying face before grabbing my chin. He studied my blank, expressionless look and laughed dryly. “Ayla, even she knows how to use her tears to please me. Why can’t you learn?” “You’re like a lifeless doll…” After three years of dealing with my face blindness, Kevin’s patience with me was wearing thin. I turned my head slightly, avoiding his touch, trembling with fear at the game I knew was about to begin. “Kevin,” I whispered, “I’m not feeling well. Can we skip the game tonight?” His cold fingers brushed through my hair as he smirked. “No. I’ll be sitting right here. You can come back once you find me.” He shoved me into the crowd. His friends laughed, teasing him. “Aren’t you worried Ayla will run off?” Kevin leaned back, carefree. “Don’t worry. She’s brain-damaged. She can’t remember anyone’s face but mine.”

Before the party, Kevin and I had already argued. I had delivered lunch to the wrong person earlier that day—Kevin’s secretary ended up receiving it. Barely containing his anger, Kevin forced a smile. “Ayla, how can you mess up something so simple?” “Do you have any idea how much trouble I have to clean up because of you?” I apologized and left, but just as I turned the corner, I overheard him talking to his friends. “Kevin, doesn’t her stupidity drive you insane?” Kevin chuckled. “Of course. She can’t even recognize people—she’s dumb as hell. But she got hurt because of me, so I can’t exactly yell at her, can I?” I stormed back and confronted him, and that fight led to tonight’s “punishment.” Cold water and ice suddenly drenched me, snapping me out of my thoughts. The sound of a bucket clattering to the floor was followed by a server’s panicked voice. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to!” I stood there, soaked to the bone, looking like a drowned rat in the middle of the grand hall. It seemed like I had terrible luck. At every party, there was always some clumsy server spilling something on me. The young woman handed me a towel and a cup of hot water, pleading, “Miss Ayla, please don’t report me. I really need this job…” Her voice cracked as if she were about to cry. I wiped my face and said hoarsely, “It’s fine. You can go.” I drank the hot water, trying to shake off the chill, when a nearby conversation caught my attention. “Poor thing… She didn’t even realize that server is Jenna’s friend.” “Yeah, and remember Kevin’s birthday? Someone tripped her, and she hurt her knee. That was Jenna’s friend too…” “It’s such a shame. With her face blindness, she can’t see through their games and just keeps getting played.” I froze in place as humiliation boiled inside me like scalding water. “Hey, there she is! Ayla, over here!” Kevin’s friends had spotted me. I lifted my trembling head, staring at the mass of faceless strangers. The sight made me nauseous. Before they could reach me, I turned and stumbled away in the opposite direction.

Something wasn’t right. It felt like someone had slipped something into my drink. The cold air from the ballroom’s air conditioning seeped into my soaked clothes, chilling me to the bone. But no amount of cold could quench the growing heat in my chest. Maybe this was one of Kevin’s new games. He was probably worried I’d leave in a fit of anger, so he resorted to underhanded tactics. I steadied myself against the wall, my fingers trembling, and grabbed the arm of a passing server. “Excuse me, have you seen Mr. Gray?” I asked, my voice shaky. “Mr. Gray?” The server hesitated, then pointed toward a distant room. “He’s in the lounge.” Behind me, I could hear the footsteps of Kevin’s friends drawing closer. Panicked, I shoved open the door to the lounge and stumbled inside, crashing into a firm, steady chest. Strong hands caught me, steadying me. The faint scent of sandalwood filled the air. I looked up and saw Kevin’s familiar face. Tears streamed down my cheeks instantly. “Kevin…” I choked, my voice hoarse with desperation. “I found you. The game… it’s over now, right?” My whole body was trembling, like a lamb that had barely escaped the jaws of a predator. Humiliated. Broken. That was Kevin’s rule. I had to find him before his friends could humiliate me further. Only then would the cruel game end. But tonight, something about Kevin felt different. His eyes were calm, deep, and distant—nothing like the playful arrogance I was used to. He wrapped an arm around my waist and guided me into the quiet room, his voice soft. “You did well,” he said gently.

Kevin led me out through a side door and into the hotel elevator. Along the way, people kept greeting him. “Mr. Gray,” they said respectfully, bowing their heads. I didn’t say a word, staring blankly at the neon lights rising outside the elevator. Kevin was unusually quiet too. He stood behind me, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from his body. That heat sent shivers down my spine. Something was off. Kevin had never exuded such an intense, commanding presence before. And his temperature—it felt higher than normal. The moment we stepped into the hotel room, I spun around and pushed him against the door. “Where’s the antidote?” I demanded. His shirt was damp from my touch, clinging to his well-defined chest. He casually removed his watch, his hand sliding to support my waist as I began to sink to the floor. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said calmly. The rich scent of sandalwood grew stronger in the dimly lit room, clouding my thoughts. I shoved him away, retreating into the corner, my voice trembling. “Kevin, let’s break up…” I expected him to laugh, to sneer at me and say, “With the way you are, who else would want you?” But he didn’t. Instead, he placed a hand gently on my head, his calloused fingers brushing against my forehead. His voice was low and husky. “If that’s what you want, then fine. But tonight… I’ll help you.” I froze, looking up into his cold, steady eyes. Something about them seemed… off. This wasn’t the Kevin I knew. But before I could think further, the overwhelming heat inside me drowned out all reason. I grabbed his tie and pulled him down, pressing my lips to his. It was probably the boldest, most reckless thing I’d ever done. Tears streamed down my face as I kissed him, pouring all my anger and humiliation into him. Maybe he felt guilty, because he didn’t say a word. He simply let me do whatever I wanted. But after a while, Kevin had enough. He pinned me down on the bed, his teeth clenched in frustration. “Stop moving,” he said, his voice tense. “Just be good.” When he saw my tears falling again, he gently wiped them away and leaned closer, his tone softening. “Ayla, I’ll make you feel better.” His cool lips pressed against mine, tender and lingering. A shiver ran through me, and I let out a sharp gasp. Instinctively, I grabbed a handful of his hair. He let out a low, pained groan, his voice laced with a dark, seductive charm that sent a chill down my spine. “Easy,” he murmured, his breath warm against my ear. “Don’t pull so hard…”

The night had been chaotic and absurd. When I woke up in the morning, the other side of the bed was empty. I buried my face into the pillow, memories of the night before flooding back. Kevin had never been one to care for others, let alone… act like that. It was as if he’d become a completely different person. Dragging my tired body out of bed, I opened the door to find him sitting by the window, conducting a video meeting. The rising sun cast a warm, golden glow across his profile, making him look almost ethereal. Hearing the door open, he turned to glance at me. “You’re awake? Breakfast is on the table,” he said, his tone calm and composed. For some reason, the effortless distance in his voice made me freeze. “Kevin, let’s break up,” I blurted out. The air instantly grew heavy with silence. From the other side of the computer, I heard muffled coughing and awkward whispers. “Mr. Gray… we’ll continue this later.” “We’ll send you the meeting notes shortly.” I froze. Kevin had always said I wasn’t good enough to be seen with him. Yet just now, in front of his company’s board members, he hadn’t even bothered to mute his mic. I braced myself, expecting cruel sarcasm or mockery. Instead, after a brief pause, Kevin smiled faintly. “Alright. Finish your breakfast, and I’ll help you pack your things.” Half an hour later, I followed Kevin downstairs. His assistant approached nervously. “Mr. Gray, there’s an important meeting today—” “Cancel it,” Kevin said, his tone steady and firm. I couldn’t help but feel disoriented. Was he being patient with me just because I was leaving? The back of my eyes stung as I climbed into the car. But the moment I stepped inside, the old injury in my knee flared up. My leg gave out, and I collapsed onto Kevin’s lap, my face pale from the pain. Kevin caught me by the waist without a word. “Take your time,” he said softly. His calm reassurances helped me steady myself. The assistant handed me my phone, saying, “Miss Ayla, your phone’s fully charged.” “Thank you…” As I shifted into my seat, the faint, familiar scent of sandalwood on Kevin’s body brought back memories of the night before. Frowning, I moved further away from him. Suddenly, my phone buzzed. Notification after notification flooded the screen, followed by an incoming call. The name “Kevin Gray” lit up on the screen. Stunned, I instinctively answered. A cold, menacing voice came through the line. “Ayla, are you trying to get yourself killed?” I froze, lifting my head to look at the man sitting in front of me. He was lounging lazily in his seat, lips unmoving, raising an eyebrow at me with a hint of amusement. I turned my gaze to the street outside, where another Kevin stood on the opposite sidewalk, pale as a ghost, clutching a phone. He shouted, his voice nearly hysterical. “Ayla, get away from my brother!”

For a few moments, my mind felt like it had exploded. A loud buzzing filled my ears. I couldn’t hear anything else. “You’re… Kevin’s twin brother?” I stammered. The man in the car smiled faintly. “That’s right. Nice to meet you, Ayla. I’m Lucas Gray.” The blood drained from my face as I remembered the night before—how I’d pinned him to the bed, completely unaware of who he was. Scrambling off his lap in a panic, I nearly fell again. Kevin crossed the street, yanking me roughly out of the car. His jaw was tight with irritation. “Lucas, she didn’t cause you any trouble last night, did she?” Their voices were nearly identical, but Kevin’s carried a youthful edge, tinged with jealousy and suspicion. Tears welled up in my eyes as panic set in. Kevin was already difficult to deal with, and now I’d unknowingly tangled with his twin brother. Who knew what kind of torment these two might put me through? Lucas, on the other hand, seemed calm and collected. He studied me for a moment, then smiled. “Last night? I’m not sure what you’re talking about.” “This morning, I ran into your little girlfriend in the elevator.” “Though… it seems she mistook me for someone else.” His soothing demeanor eased my panic slightly. It felt like he wasn’t trying to toy with me. Lucas turned to me, his tone warm and polite. “Miss Ayla, would you like me to take you home?” Kevin pulled me behind him protectively, his expression darkening. “Lucas, stop joking around. Ayla is my girlfriend. She doesn’t need your help.” Lucas chuckled knowingly, rolling up his window and driving off. As the taillights disappeared around the corner, Kevin’s face turned cold. “Ayla, where were you last night?” My heart pounded as I lowered my head, avoiding his gaze. “I didn’t go anywhere last night.” “Liar.” Kevin leaned in close, his eyes narrowing as he smirked. “So, which one of my friends did you sleep with last night? Just tell me, I won’t get mad.” His words struck a nerve. My face drained of color as I slapped him hard across the face. “For the last time, I didn’t go anywhere!” I shouted. The red imprint of my hand bloomed across his cheek. Kevin laughed coldly. “Relax. I was just joking. Who else would want you but me?” I glared at him, my voice firm. “Kevin, I want to break up.” The humor drained from his face. “Is this because of Jenna?” Kevin pulled out his phone and called her. The moment she picked up, her voice was cheerful. “Mr. Gray, what can I do for you?” “Because of you,” Kevin said coolly, “Ayla wants to break up with me. What do you think I should do about that?” He turned to look at me, his tone unusually soft as he offered, “I’ll blacklist her for you. Would that make you feel better?” Through the phone, Jenna’s voice cracked with a sob as she pleaded. “Mr. Gray, please don’t… I’m sorry! I won’t do it again!” Kevin raised an eyebrow at me, his voice dripping with mockery. “Ayla, you got face blindness because of me. I won’t let you go.” “So stop bringing up this breakup nonsense.” Seeing the disgust on my face, Kevin’s patience snapped. “Jenna, get over here right now and apologize to your ‘sister-in-law.’” “Enough!” I was trembling, tears streaming down my face. “Kevin, I’ve had enough of this. We’re done!” Kevin shoved his hands into his pockets, his face indifferent. “Anything else you want to say?” “If not, go home. Jenna’s crying—I need to go comfort her.”

I moved out of Kevin’s house after all. A few days later, he called me. “So you’re really playing games with me, huh?” His voice was sharp. “Fine, Ayla. Don’t come crying to me later.” Within the first week of our breakup, Kevin and Jenna York appeared on the trending lists eight times. At the office, people whispered behind my back. “He used to treat her like a queen. Now that he’s done with her, she just looks pitiful.” “Well, what do you expect? She can’t even recognize people’s faces. Honestly, being a low-level assistant is probably the best she can do.” They all thought I was drowning in heartbreak. Little did they know, I spent the entire week in a state of unease. Lucas Gray had returned. His office was just a few steps away from my desk, and every day, I couldn’t avoid his calm, steady gaze. Sometimes, I even had to face Kevin directly. It was like being slowly tortured. One afternoon, a storm rolled in, and thunder rumbled in the distance. Rain poured in sheets as my manager tossed a black plastic bag onto my desk. “Address is in your inbox. Mr. Gray wants you to deliver this.” The destination was a five-star business hotel. I sighed, resigned to my fate. This wasn’t the first time Kevin had gone out of his way to make things difficult for me. But if I wanted to keep my job, I didn’t have much of a choice. By the time I arrived at the hotel, the rain had soaked me to the skin. From a distance, I spotted Kevin surrounded by a group of people, talking animatedly. I pushed through the crowd and shoved the black plastic bag into his hands, eager to finish the errand as quickly as possible. “Mr. Gray, here’s what you requested.” He didn’t catch it properly, and the bag fell to the floor with a loud plop. It rolled a couple of times before spilling its contents—contraceptives. The room went dead silent. Every eye in the room turned to me, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief. Kevin raised an eyebrow, calmly bending down to pick up the items. “Apologies, I have something to take care of. Excuse me,” he said smoothly, his tone unfazed. Without missing a beat, he wrapped an arm around my waist and guided me into the lounge. The door clicked shut behind us, the lock turning with a soft snick. That familiar yet unfamiliar scent of sandalwood surrounded me. He let out a low chuckle. “Ayla, this is the second time you’ve mistaken me for my brother.” It took me a full three seconds to process his words. The man standing in front of me was Lucas Gray. Seeing the items in his hands, my face flushed crimson. “S-sorry… I was looking for Kevin.” Lucas’s smile froze for a moment. “Kevin?” he repeated, his tone unreadable. He didn’t say anything more, but the next second, Kevin’s voice drifted in from the adjacent room. “Who told you to bring her here?” he barked, irritation clear in his tone. Jenna’s whiny voice followed, “I just wanted her to see us together. I just wanted to mess with her…” Kevin let out a sharp laugh, and the sound of something crashing echoed through the wall. Jenna’s cries turned into desperate pleas. “You’re pathetic,” Kevin sneered. “Do you really think you can challenge her? Want me to blacklist you?” “I’m sorry! I’m sorry, baby, I was wrong…” Jenna sobbed. “Then get on your knees and take your punishment. When Ayla gets here, remember to cry pretty for her.” I felt like I’d fallen into an ice-cold abyss. My nose stung as I fought back the bitterness swelling in my chest. Even though I had broken up with Kevin, he had no right to let Jenna humiliate me like this. A pair of hands gently cupped my face, pulling me back to the present. “Ayla,” Lucas said softly, “did you hear enough?” “People who can’t stay loyal in a relationship aren’t any better than trash.” For some reason, Lucas seemed unusually cold tonight. His calm demeanor was tinged with an air of unapproachability. The storm outside raged on, wind and rain battering against the windows. His words struck a nerve, and I flinched. The anxiety I’d been suppressing for days finally erupted. “Mr. Gray, that night… I hadn’t broken up with Kevin yet. So doesn’t that make me just as bad?” My voice cracked as I spoke. “Shh…” His lips brushed against mine, soft and cool, silencing my words. Lucas chuckled, his voice low and soothing. “You didn’t mean to. How could you possibly be like him?” “But I—” “You’re different,” he interrupted firmly. “I understand you completely.” Lucas had a way of getting under someone’s skin, of pulling them into his world with just a few words. Before I even realized it, I was sitting on his lap, breathless from the kiss. In the dim light, Lucas’s eyes gleamed with quiet amusement. “While Kevin’s off fooling around, shouldn’t you enjoy yourself too?” he murmured. “What do you want me to do, Ayla? Use the gift you brought me?” He looked every bit the gentleman in his tailored suit, yet his words made my heart race. Before I could respond, his lips brushed against the side of my neck, making me gasp involuntarily. Panicked, I clapped a hand over my mouth. The noise from the adjacent room abruptly stopped. Then my phone lit up with an incoming call. Kevin’s name flashed on the screen. Lucas glanced at the phone, a quiet laugh escaping his lips. He answered it for me. “Ayla, where are you? What are you doing?” Kevin’s voice was sharp with suspicion. Lucas held the phone to his ear, his voice calm and composed. “What do you think she’s doing?” Perhaps the thunder drowned out his voice, because Kevin didn’t seem to recognize it. All he heard was the mocking provocation. “Who the hell are you?” Kevin roared. “You dare mess with me, Kevin Gray?” Jenna’s startled yelp echoed faintly in the background, followed by the sound of something shattering. Meanwhile, Lucas remained unbothered, his tone laced with amusement as he whispered near my ear. “Ayla, I’m not forcing you to choose.” “But tell me—after experiencing something better, why would you go back to trash?” “Be honest. Am I not enough for you?” My face burned as red as the setting sun. “You… how can you say things like that?” I stammered, flustered. Lucas’s steady demeanor made it all the more maddening. From the other side of the wall, Kevin’s anger exploded. “You better shut up! I’ll kill you if you don’t!” he screamed, slamming his fist against the wall. Lucas merely chuckled, his voice low and teasing. “Go ahead. Try me.”

This was, without a doubt, Lucas Gray’s boldest move yet. If his assistant hadn’t called midway to pull him away, I wouldn’t have known how to handle him. Before leaving, Lucas brushed his hand against my flushed cheek and gently reminded me, “Kevin’s locked up over there. No need to rush out. Just take your time and rest.” I could still hear the furious banging on the next door as I sat in the lounge, gathering myself. It took me a while to get up, fix my clothes, and leave in search of something to eat. The server outside the door was clearly one of Lucas’s people—each wore matching golden name tags pinned to their uniforms, making it easier for me to identify them. They led me to a quiet corner of the venue. “Miss Ayla,” one of them said politely, “Mr. Gray asked us to tell you to wait here for him. He’ll take you home tonight.” “…Alright,” I murmured, nervously curling my fingers. The faint sensation of his touch lingered on my skin, teasing and addictive. Maybe I was still too lost in the haze of what had just happened to notice someone approaching. That is, until a glass of red wine was suddenly dumped over me, pulling me sharply out of my thoughts. “I’m so sorry, Miss Ayla!” The woman stammered, feigning panic. “I saw your glass was empty and thought I’d refill it for you. I didn’t mean to spill it!” My hair dripped with wine as I stared at her chest. Her dark uniform was bare—no golden name tag. I immediately understood. She was Jenna York’s friend, pulling the same tricks as before. Without hesitation, I grabbed her by the hair and dragged her screaming into the crowd. “Where’s Jenna?” I demanded. “Jenna!” she shrieked, clutching at my wrist. “Help me! She’s hurting me!” A hand abruptly grabbed my forearm, stopping me. The voice was sharp, haughty, and unmistakable. “Miss Ayla, let go of my friend.” I turned to face her, studying her closely. Her features blurred in my mind, impossible to piece together. I’d searched for her so many times before, but she always hid behind others, laughing as they played their games with me. But this time, she’d walked right into my hands. In front of everyone, I kicked her hard in the knee. The dull thud echoed across the room as Jenna collapsed to the floor, clutching her leg in pain. Her face paled as she cried out. “Does it hurt?” I asked softly. I thought about my own knee, the one that ached every time it rained, and added, “Mine hurts too.” “When you had your friend trip me, you should’ve known this day would come.” Jenna bit her lip, tears streaming down her face as she stared at the ground. Footsteps approached from behind. Kevin appeared suddenly, grabbing me by the neck and slamming me onto a nearby table. His face was dark with anger. “Ayla,” he growled, “do you have any idea she’s an actress? How is she supposed to work if you injure her leg?” I stared back at him, my eyes burning with rage. “And my leg? Did you care when it hurt?” Jenna crawled toward Kevin, wrapping her arms around him. “Don’t blame her, Kevin… It’s my fault,” she whispered. Her voice trembled as she confessed, “That night, I spiked the drink I gave you. But Ayla drank it instead.” Kevin’s expression froze. “What did you just say?” Jenna cowered under his glare, tugging at his sleeve nervously. “I’m sorry… I just love you so much. I didn’t mean to hurt Ayla…” Her meaning was undeniable. That night, the night I couldn’t remember, I was with someone else. Kevin’s gaze darkened as he scanned the room, his eyes falling on his group of friends. Grabbing me by the hair, he yanked me close. “Which one of them was it, Ayla?” Pain shot through my scalp as I struggled against his grip, my nails scratching his face in the process. Wiping the blood from his cheek, Kevin smiled—a chilling, twisted smile. “Your lover must have some guts to challenge a Gray. Thanks to him, Ayla, you’re going to play another game.” Without hesitation, he shoved me into the crowd. I fell to my knees, the sharp pain shooting through my leg bringing tears to my eyes. He stood over me with a cruel smirk. “You’re dirty now. This time, I won’t ask my friends to show you any mercy.” The Grays were powerful, and this wasn’t the first time Kevin had played such a game. The onlookers quickly stepped back, unwilling to get involved. As the sound of footsteps closed in behind me, I clenched my fists and forced myself to stand. I scanned the crowd desperately, searching for Lucas. But Kevin and Lucas looked so alike—it was impossible to tell them apart. Every time I grabbed Kevin’s sleeve, he’d laugh and push me back into the crowd. “Ayla, stop looking for me,” he sneered. “I don’t want you anymore.” On my final attempt, I pushed through the crowd and flung open the door, crashing into someone’s arms. The familiar scent of sandalwood washed over me, and my tense body finally relaxed. My legs gave out beneath me. Lucas caught me instinctively, holding me steady. Kevin, who had been watching from the sidelines, burst into laughter. “Ayla, wrong again,” he taunted. “That’s my brother.” Lucas looked down at my disheveled state, the warmth in his eyes vanishing. In its place was a cold, piercing sharpness. Kevin, oblivious to the shift in Lucas’s demeanor, strolled over lazily. “You’re such a pain. Why do you always mix us up?” He smirked, glancing at Lucas. “Hey, want to join in? She can’t tell the difference anyway. Isn’t she into two-timing? Let her have her fill.” Lucas shrugged off his jacket and draped it over me, his movements deliberate and calm. Then, he slowly rolled up his sleeves and walked toward Kevin. Kevin chuckled, still full of bravado. “What about that guy she was with the other night?” he jeered. “Where’d he go? Why isn’t he stepping up now?” Lucas stopped in front of him, his expression unreadable. With a casual motion, he reached out and grabbed a fistful of Kevin’s hair. Kevin’s cocky grin twisted into a scream as Lucas forced him to his knees. The room fell silent except for Kevin’s pained cries. Lucas’s voice was low and steady, carrying a chilling undertone. “Her man is here.” He leaned in closer, his smile razor-sharp. “Do you have something to say?” Everyone Says Lucas Gray Is Polite and Charming—But How Could a Man Who Took the Gray Corporation to the Top Be Easy to Reason With? That night, I saw Lucas lose his temper for the first time. The moment it happened, his assistant had already led security in to clear the room. With his usual calm demeanor, Lucas addressed the guests. “Apologies, this is a private family matter. I’ll have to ask you all to step outside for now while I handle it.” Kevin, still dazed from the sudden turn of events, looked up at his brother in disbelief. “Lucas… what are you talking about?” The security team took over, holding Kevin down as Lucas let go of him. Lucas pulled out a handkerchief, meticulously wiping his hands without so much as glancing at Kevin. “The person I just spent hours calming down—this is how you treat her?” His tone was cold, detached. Kevin’s gaze darted to my face, realization dawning on him. His expression turned ashen. “So… it was you that night,” he stammered. “Lucas, listen to me…” Kevin’s voice grew frantic. “She has face blindness! She mistook me for you! You’re not the type of man who’d settle for being mistaken for someone else!” I felt my chest tighten, and I instinctively looked away, guilt gnawing at me. Lucas tossed the handkerchief aside, his voice eerily calm. “If Ayla can’t tell us apart, then maybe I should solve that problem for her. Let’s start by leaving a scar on your face. That should make things easier.” Kevin froze, staring at Lucas in shock. “Lucas, you can’t be serious…” But when he realized Lucas wasn’t joking, panic set in. “Lucas! You can’t just ignore the rules! Ayla’s my girlfriend!” he shouted. Lucas tilted his head slightly, as if Kevin had just told him a joke. “Rules?” he said, his voice laced with amusement. “I don’t believe in rules—whether it’s business or love.”

y the time security dragged Kevin out of the room, he had fainted from the sheer stress of it all. Jenna York, however, was still clinging to her last shred of hope. Lucas glanced at her, his tone sharp and cutting. “Miss York, I hear you enjoy spiking drinks?” Jenna shook her head furiously, terror written all over her face. Before she could say another word, a guard pressed her firmly down by the shoulders. Lucas’s lips curved into a faint smile as he said, “Call the police. Congratulations, Miss York—your acting career is officially over.” That night, I was a mess—not only emotionally but physically. My knee injury flared up again, and I developed a fever. On the way to the hospital, I curled up in the corner of the car, refusing to look at Lucas. Not a single word passed between us. It wasn’t until he carried me into the hospital room that I tried to resist, pushing at his chest weakly. But Lucas held my hands down gently, his voice low and steady. “Ayla, don’t be afraid of me.” And just like that, the floodgates opened. I couldn’t stop myself from trembling. It wasn’t Lucas I was afraid of, nor Kevin. It was the stark realization that I was utterly powerless in front of either of them. I was nothing more than an object, something to be fought over and discarded at will. And maybe, for the rest of my life, I’d have to rely on someone else’s pity and generosity just to survive. Lucas didn’t say anything else. He stayed with me until late into the night. When his assistant quietly knocked on the door, Lucas stood up, put on his coat, and prepared to leave. Before walking out, he turned back one last time. “Ayla,” he said softly. “I’m not Kevin. If the day ever comes when you want to leave, I won’t stop you.” “I’ll always respect your choices.” With that, the door shut quietly behind him. I buried my face in the hospital blanket, memories flashing through my mind like an old film reel. The first time I met Kevin was during a college event. Back then, I was a star student in forensic psychology, known for my sharp memory and exceptional sketching skills. When the school announced that I’d been selected to represent the graduating class as a keynote speaker, it felt like the culmination of all my hard work. Kevin, fresh out of college and still a reckless playboy, had been sitting in the audience. He claimed it was love at first sight and began pursuing me relentlessly after that. No girl could resist the kind of romance a rich heir could offer, and I was no exception. But when he finally confessed his feelings, I hesitated. I had plans to study abroad for my master’s degree. Kevin, with his impulsive nature, wasn’t the type to handle long-distance relationships. When I brought it up, he surprised me by saying he understood. “Before you leave, let me take you out for one last dinner,” he’d said. That night, we were in a car accident. Because of where I was sitting, I took the brunt of the impact. My injuries were severe, and I was rushed into surgery. As an orphan, I didn’t have any family to call. When my professors and classmates arrived at the hospital, they found Kevin covered in blood, waiting outside the operating room. The doctors told him there was a chance I’d never wake up, that I might end up in a vegetative state. Without hesitation, Kevin said he’d marry me, no matter what. When I finally woke up, I learned that the accident had damaged my brain. I couldn’t recognize faces anymore. My once-sharp memory had dulled to the point of being useless. The professor who had been planning to supervise my graduate studies emailed me, expressing his regret. “Miss Ayla,” he wrote, “prosopagnosia makes it impossible for you to be a criminal profiler.” And just like that, my future was gone. The bright, promising forensic psychology student was reduced to nothing more than Kevin Gray’s girlfriend. People said I was lucky—that an orphan like me had managed to “marry up” after a car accident. But only I knew what I’d lost. Day by day, my wings were clipped. My ambition, my dignity, my spirit—everything was worn down to nothing.

During my recovery, Lucas Gray seemed busier than ever. Every day, his assistant would deliver flowers to my room, always starting with the same ritualistic introduction: “Miss Ayla, I’m Mr. Gray’s assistant.” By the day before I was set to be discharged, the assistant came again, but this time his expression was hesitant. “Miss Ayla, Mr. Gray has been…” He trailed off, as though carefully choosing his words. I looked up at him, half-expecting him to say something like, “Mr. Gray hasn’t been eating properly and his stomach’s acting up.” Instead, he surprised me. “Mr. Gray has been thinking about you every day,” he said. “He’s been wondering when you’d be willing to see him.” “He knows that the way he acted that day was, well… overbearing. Like a brute. But that wasn’t his intention.” “He’s hoping you’ll give him a chance to explain.” As he finished, the assistant added in a lower voice, almost conspiratorial: “And just so you know, Mr. Gray never does anything illegal. He’s a law-abiding citizen, through and through.” Lucas seemed to know me too well, like he could see right into my thoughts. He understood exactly what I was afraid of. After thinking it over, I decided to meet him. When I arrived at the restaurant, I saw Lucas again. Today, he looked… different. There was something refined, almost regal, about his appearance, and for the first time, I couldn’t help but notice how good-looking he was. As I tried to figure out what had changed, he smiled. His tone was calm and gentle. “I asked you here today to talk about your future plans.” I hadn’t expected him to get straight to the point. He slid a perfectly cut piece of steak onto my plate, his voice soft. “You didn’t get to finish your education. Do you still want to go back to school?” Hearing the word “school” after so many years made my eyes sting. “I… I can’t,” I said, my voice barely audible. “Because of the face blindness?” I nodded. “Then treat it. And if it can’t be cured, switch fields. Don’t tell me you never brought this up with Kevin.” I had, in fact. But Kevin had brushed me off, saying, “Ayla, how much money do you think you have? Without me, how could you afford the tuition? Isn’t it enough to just stay by my side? Being my girlfriend isn’t such a bad deal, is it?” I lowered my gaze. “No other programs are willing to waive my tuition.” In the most difficult years of my life, I’d lost the one skill I was most proud of. With my inability to recognize faces, even finding a job was a struggle—let alone going back to school. But I also knew that this moment, sitting across from Lucas, felt like a second chance. Taking a deep breath, I asked, “Are you offering to send me back to school?” A genuine smile lit up his face. “Yes. But Ayla, let’s keep emotions out of this. If I’m going to sponsor you, I expect something in return.” My hands clenched under the table, bracing for the worst. But Lucas simply smiled and continued: “Setting emotions aside, I want a capable partner—someone with expertise in psychology. I hope that person will be you.” The words I’d feared never came. The waiter opened the windows, and the warm summer breeze swept in, carrying the scent of blooming flowers. For the first time, I felt truly seen—not as a burden, not as someone to pity, but as a person. I smiled, a genuine smile that I hadn’t felt in years. “Alright.” Lucas’s assistant brought out a contract. In clear black-and-white terms, it outlined our arrangement: Lucas would fund my education, and once I graduated, I’d work as a psychological consultant for his company for three years. It wasn’t an unreasonable deal, but it definitely wasn’t an easy one either. The assistant added, “The Gray Foundation treats all scholarship recipients equally, Miss Ayla. If you have any concerns, feel free to raise them.” I shook my head. “This is more than fair.” With shaky hands, I signed my name beside Lucas’s bold signature. After the assistant left, I noticed Lucas was still staring at me. “Do you… have something else to say?” I asked cautiously. He leaned back, his demeanor shifting from professional to playful. “Now, let’s talk about something less… logical.” “Ayla, I’m twenty-eight, and I’ve always been a man of discipline. That night was my first time.” My face instantly turned as red as a tomato. “You… you can’t just say that!” I stammered, my eyes darting around to make sure no one had heard him. Lucas tapped the table lightly, unfazed. “Well, considering how many people in the world are, let’s say, ‘used up,’ I suppose being taken advantage of isn’t the worst thing.” “You don’t want me, and I can’t force you to. But still, I lost my precious first time. From now on, I’ll probably be a broken, loveless man.” I couldn’t take it anymore. Bursting out of my seat, I rushed over to him and clamped my hands over his mouth. “Stop talking!” He raised an eyebrow, his expression clearly amused. “What do you want me to do, then?” The implication in his words made my face burn even hotter. I quickly pulled my hands away, like I’d touched something scalding. “I… I’ll take responsibility,” I mumbled. Lucas smiled, his voice soft and teasing. “Well, that’s the best news I’ve heard all day.” By now, I’d figured him out. Lucas had a clear line between business and personal matters. Money debts were money debts, and emotional debts were emotional debts. But the way he went about settling emotional debts? That was a whole different story. It wasn’t until he pulled me into his car that I realized something felt off. “Wait,” I said. “Something about this logic feels… weird.” Lucas leaned back in his seat, completely at ease. “It’s fine. I’m not insisting that you take responsibility.” “If you want to curse me out for being shameless or say I deserved it, that’s entirely your choice.” “After all, I’m the one who got involved in this mess. It’s my fault for loving someone who doesn’t love me back—” Before he could finish, I slapped my hand over his mouth again, my voice trembling with embarrassment. “I already said I’ll take responsibility!”

I never expected Lucas Gray to act so quickly. Just a few days later, headlines about Kevin’s upcoming arranged marriage were plastered across every major media outlet. But strangely, there wasn’t a single word of congratulations. I sat at my desk, halfway through proofreading a report, while gossip about Kevin’s engagement kept drifting into my ears. “I heard the bride-to-be from the Yates family has… unusual habits.” “Unusual? How so?” “She’s got three sisters.” “And?” “They like to… do everything together.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” “Well, let’s just say Kevin won’t be the only one in their marriage—” The gossip abruptly stopped when Lucas appeared in the office doorway. He called my name, “Ayla, come with me.” Still preoccupied with thoughts of Kevin’s engagement, I didn’t even notice Lucas locking the door behind us. By the time I snapped out of it, I was already in his arms. “Ayla,” he said, holding me close, “take a look at these professors and tell me which one you’d prefer.” It turned out that the emails I’d sent out had received responses. Several professors were interested in taking me on as a student. Without hesitation, I picked the mentor I’d always admired. The paperwork would take about six months to complete, and during that time, I’d be going abroad for treatment. As I finalized my decision, I suddenly realized how close Lucas and I were. Our position felt… too intimate. I awkwardly moved my neck and muttered, “I… I’m feeling a little warm.” “That’s normal,” Lucas replied casually. “I didn’t turn on the AC.” With practiced ease, he reached for the zipper of my dress and pulled it down. “Ayla,” he murmured, his voice low and teasing, “I don’t have much time left. Before you leave, I need to make sure I leave a lasting impression…” His lips brushed against my skin, soft and deliberate. “…So that even three years from now, you’ll still remember me.” I had to admit, Lucas was very… dedicated. With just a few words, he had me completely disarmed, my rationality slipping away as I clung helplessly to the desk. Somewhere in the haze, he slipped a black card into my hand. The back of the card bore his signature in elegant script. I weakly pushed it back at him, muttering, “I don’t want it…” “It feels weird… like… like you’re trying to keep me…” Before I could finish, Lucas silenced me with another kiss, his eyes dark and stormy. “Are you saying…” His voice was barely audible, but it carried an edge. “You think I’m trying to keep you?” “…Aren’t you?” I shot back. Lucas’s tone was light, almost indifferent. “This card contains everything I own. My entire fortune.” “I didn’t realize you thought me capable of being so reckless—throwing my entire net worth at someone just to keep them.” Tears welled up in my eyes as I stammered, “What… what are you trying to do? Are you asking me to marry you or something?” Lucas let out a laugh—low, soft, but tinged with exasperation. “Ayla, you didn’t hear a word I said last night, did you?” Seeing my confused expression, he smiled to himself. “Well, I should’ve guessed.” “I must’ve been too indulgent, making you so happy you couldn’t hear a thing.” He leaned in and whispered, “So, let me say it again: Ayla, please marry me.” That’s the last clear memory I have of that day. I lost control after hearing those words and ended up making an absolute mess of Lucas’s office. By the time he was cleaning up, I was curled up on the couch, my face burning with embarrassment. Lucas, ever the problem-solver, handled it all without a word of complaint. I decided to play dead, refusing to acknowledge what had just happened. And so, the proposal was left unresolved. As I left the office that evening, I noticed commotion outside the neighboring building. A coworker tugged at my sleeve. “Ayla, look! It’s Jenna York—that web series actress.” Following their gaze, I saw Jenna pinned to the ground by several large men. A woman stood over her, delivering a series of sharp slaps to her face. “On your knees,” the woman said lazily, her voice dripping with disdain. “Lick it clean.” I glanced down and noticed a coffee stain on the woman’s expensive shoes, which also marred her designer dress. Jenna sobbed, her voice trembling. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to… I just wanted to see Kevin!” “I never said you did it on purpose,” the woman replied coldly. “I’m simply telling you to clean it up. What’s wrong with me wanting to bully you?” It didn’t take long for me to piece together what had happened. Jenna had tried to pull another one of her stunts, spilling coffee to humiliate Kevin’s fiancée. But this time, her target was Luna Yates—a woman from one of the most prestigious families in the country. Unlike me, Luna wasn’t someone who could be easily manipulated. With her notorious reputation and sharp instincts, she wasn’t about to let Jenna off the hook. By the time Jenna was dragged into a car, her face was swollen beyond recognition. A coworker shuddered beside me. “Kevin can barely protect himself right now. Jenna’s just a small-time actress with no connections. Falling into Luna’s hands… she’s as good as finished.” As Luna walked to her car, she caught sight of me. Her head tilted slightly, and then, to my surprise, she started walking toward me. “Miss Ayla,” she said with a faint smile. “Let’s have a chat.” …

Summer had fully arrived in Westbridge, the city sweltering under the relentless heat. Lucas Gray had been so busy lately that I hadn’t seen him for days. The last time we spoke was on the phone two nights ago, and even his assistant, Mr. Carter, had been conspicuously absent. Of course, I had plenty to keep me occupied. Between preparing school applications, studying for entrance exams, and finally escaping the endless parade of parties and social obligations, my life had started to feel surprisingly full. That evening, as I went downstairs to take out the trash, I noticed a familiar car parked by the curb. All my exhaustion evaporated in an instant. I jogged over and tapped on the window. When it rolled down, I smiled brightly. “You didn’t tell me you were coming—” Before I could finish, the man inside interrupted me. “Ayla, it’s hot out here. Get in the car; I’ll explain everything,” he said coolly, his tone somehow… off. Confused, I climbed into the passenger seat. As I buckled my seatbelt, I couldn’t help but mumble, “Why didn’t you send me a message?” “Because I wanted to surprise you,” he replied. I froze mid-motion, my eyes locking onto his hands as a chill crept down my spine. The doors locked with a soft click as the car pulled out of the lot. “Ayla, seatbelt,” he reminded me gently. Snapping back to reality, I slowly clicked the seatbelt into place. Beneath the seat, my trembling fingers quickly typed out a text to the police, sharing my location before hitting send. Lucas would never say something as contrived as “I wanted to surprise you.” The man next to me could only be Kevin. As the car sped down the highway, the city lights grew sparse, replaced by the desolate emptiness of the outskirts. My heart sank deeper with every mile. “I’m feeling a little tired…” I said softly, leaning my head against the window. Kevin glanced at me, startled. “Tired? We just left. Hang in there a little longer, okay?” “I can’t,” I murmured weakly. “You have a house in the countryside, don’t you? Can we go there instead?” Lucas did have a house in the countryside—an empty property he rarely used. It was the one address I knew that could buy me some time. Kevin’s expression darkened, suspicion flickering in his eyes. “Why there?” he asked coldly. I bit my lip, forcing myself to smile as I reached for his hand. “You tell me,” I said lightly. “Last time, didn’t you say you wanted me to dance for you?” Kevin stilled, his grip on the wheel tightening. I knew him too well. He was vindictive to the core. Whatever he planned to do to me tonight, the thought of using Lucas’s property to exact his revenge was something he couldn’t resist. As expected, he smirked and shifted lanes. “Not a bad idea, Ayla,” he said, his tone laced with mockery. “Making you happy is more important than any surprise.” He turned on the indicator and took the exit off the highway. Meanwhile, I used the last bit of battery on my phone to send the villa’s location to the police. The screen flickered and went dark. As the final rays of sunlight dipped below the horizon, the reflection of my pale face stared back at me from the car window. The moment we stepped into the villa, Kevin grabbed me from behind, pressing his lips to the back of my neck. “Ayla,” he murmured, his breath hot against my skin. “What dance are you going to perform for me?” His hands roamed, his movements impatient and possessive. Ignoring my weak protests, he grabbed my shoulders and pushed me against the table. The mix of cologne and alcohol clinging to him made my stomach churn. For the first time, I felt an overwhelming sense of disgust at his touch. “Wait…” I gasped. “I can’t dance like this…” Kevin let out a low laugh. “Doesn’t matter,” he said, his voice tinged with madness. “Let’s get straight to the main event.” He seemed unhinged, his paranoia and obsession driving him to the brink. I stiffened, then sank my teeth into his forearm as hard as I could. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. Kevin froze. From behind me, his cold, mocking voice whispered in my ear. “So, you do know it’s me.” I spun around, trying to escape, but he caught my arm and slammed me back down onto the table. His face, identical to Lucas’s, twisted into something grotesque and monstrous. “If you know,” he sneered, “that makes this even more exciting.” “Isn’t this what you like? Getting stolen away? Screwing you in my brother’s house… I bet you’re into that too, aren’t you?” His words sent a chill down my spine, and I suddenly recalled what Luna Yates had told me: “Kevin is nothing but trouble. If he escapes my family’s grasp, it won’t hurt me, but I can’t guarantee your safety.” “And, Ayla, his mental state isn’t the most stable.” I had no idea how long it would take for the police to arrive. All I could do was stall for time. “Where were you planning to take me?” I asked, my voice trembling. “Back to my place,” he replied, his lips grazing my cheek. “Where I can keep you locked up.” His words sent a shiver through me. “Idiot,” he muttered, grabbing my chin and forcing me to face him. “You really think Lucas cares about you? He doesn’t love you—it’s all about winning. You’re just part of his game.” I was too weak to fight back, pinned against the table and gasping for air. Kevin leaned closer, his voice dripping with malice. “Why aren’t you crying, Ayla? Your precious Lucas doesn’t want you anymore!” I took a shaky breath, my voice hoarse and strained. “Kevin,” I rasped, “I’m not waiting for Lucas to save me.” “What?” The faint sound of sirens echoed from outside. Gripping his wrist tightly, I twisted just enough to free myself slightly. “I’ve spent so long in a cage that I forgot how to fight back.” “But I’m done being helpless.” Summoning the last of my strength, I dug my nails into his arm, hard enough to draw blood. The sound of the police breaking down the door filled the air. Kevin’s eyes widened in fury. “You called the cops?!” he roared. I smiled faintly. “Kevin, you shouldn’t have come alone.” “Did you underestimate me? Or overestimate yourself?” The door burst open. Grabbing the blade I had hidden earlier, I slashed it across Kevin’s face. At the same time, I tore at my collar and clutched his hand, holding it against me. With tears streaming down my face, I screamed, “Help! He’s trying to assault me!” That night, the last thing I said to Luna Yates was: “Miss Yates, do me a favor, and I’ll return it by making sure Kevin ends up behind bars.”

Kevin’s face was completely ruined. As the police shoved him into the squad car, he thrashed like a rabid dog, barking threats in my direction. “Ayla, don’t think I’ll forget this!” he screamed. “When I get out, you’re dead!” I sat on the stone steps outside the villa, my clothes disheveled, blood trickling from the cuts on my neck. Fixing my gaze on him, I replied calmly, “You’re not getting out. I’ll make sure of it. Everything you’ve done to me—I’ll tell the police every last detail.” “There were plenty of witnesses back then. Now that you’ve lost the power you had in the Gray family, I’m sure at least one or two people will finally come forward.” Kevin thrashed harder, his eyes burning with fury. “Ayla, you b—” Before he could finish, the officers slammed the car door shut, cutting him off. The flashing red and blue lights faded into the distance, leaving the villa shrouded in silence. It was then that I noticed Lucas standing across from me. He walked over, draped his jacket over my shoulders, and crouched in front of me to disinfect the cuts on my neck with a cotton swab. The emotions I’d been holding back all night suddenly broke free. My body trembled as I leaned forward, wrapping my arms around him. “How long were you here?” I whispered. Lucas hesitated for a moment before answering, “Since the moment I got your text.” His phone had received a message from me—a simple address, followed by two words: Wait for me. There hadn’t been time for us to coordinate or plan. But just those two words were enough. Even though he’d seen everything unfold, he hadn’t intervened or acted rashly. This night had played out exactly as I’d designed it—a trap meant to end Kevin once and for all. If Lucas had stepped in earlier, it would’ve ruined everything. Closing my eyes, I leaned against him, finally letting my tears fall. “For a moment back there, I was terrified,” I admitted shakily. “I know,” Lucas murmured, gently patting my back. “But you handled it perfectly.” I thought back to the moment I saw Luna Yates slap Jenna around like she was nothing. That was when I realized that sometimes, survival means knowing when to rely on others. Luna owed me a favor now. Someday, she’d repay it in her own way. As I rested against Lucas’s chest, I noticed something I hadn’t before—his hands were trembling. “Lucas, you…” “Shh…” he interrupted softly, burying his face in the crook of my neck. “Ayla, don’t say anything.” On the drive back, Lucas held my hand tightly, never letting go. He seemed utterly exhausted, his head resting against the seat as he dozed off. Under the dim glow of passing streetlights, I noticed the bruises under his eyes for the first time. After hesitating for a moment, I sent a text to his assistant, Mr. Carter. Me: “Has Lucas been working a lot lately?” A few minutes later, Carter replied: Carter: “Yes. The company’s been dealing with some trouble—caused by Mr. Kevin, of course. Mr. Gray hasn’t had a proper night’s sleep in days.” Carter (continued): “Just this morning, the police came, trying to arrest Mr. Gray on false charges of corporate fraud. Thankfully, we cleared things up in time.” It suddenly made sense why I couldn’t reach him earlier. Kevin had even stolen Lucas’s car to pull off his latest stunt. I typed another message: Me: “Are Lucas and Kevin… not on good terms?” This time, it took Carter three full minutes to reply. Carter: “Their relationship is… extremely strained. For one, Mr. Gray’s exile overseas years ago had a lot to do with Mr. Kevin’s meddling.” So the harmonious “brotherly bond” the Gray family liked to present to the world was nothing but a façade, hiding years of betrayal and power struggles. Carter: “Miss Ayla, Mr. Gray had just gotten back from dealing with the police when he saw your text. I imagine it was a lot for him to handle on top of everything else. I’m tied up at the moment—can I ask you to keep an eye on him tonight?” I glanced at Lucas, his hand still gripping mine even in his sleep. Me: “Got it. I’ll take care of him.”

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My boyfriend and my best friend were kissing passionately. I went up and slapped them both. A well-dressed lady nearby watched in shock. She came over and asked, “Excuse me, could you slap my son like that?” “You cheater, go to hell! I won’t give you custody of our child!” “You slut, I won’t cover up for you being a sugar baby to old men anymore!” They stared at each other, their eyes full of silent accusations. Soon, they started fighting. I felt satisfied and was ready to go home to bury my dead love. A teary-eyed lady grabbed my arm, “It’s not easy raising a child alone. There’s $1,000 in this card. I hope it helps.” Oh, this lady was too invested in the drama. I explained that it was all made up. The lady paused for a moment but still held onto me. “Um, could you slap my son like that?” I was stunned for a few seconds before I realized. She wanted me to break up her son’s relationship too… “No, ma’am, you misunderstood. I don’t do this for a living.” The lady wiped her tears and took out a platinum card from her purse, “100,000 dollars.” “Ma’am, I really can’t.” “500,000 dollars.” “No, ma’am, you…” “5 million dollars.” “Uh… let’s exchange SnapChat.”

The lady’s son was named Marcus Grant, who was madly in love with his dream girl. But his dream girl was studying abroad, living a messy life while stringing Marcus along. According to Mrs. Grant, when the dream girl got off the plane wearing a white dress that day, Marcus was overcome with joy, completely ignoring his mother’s warnings. To avoid affecting their mother-son relationship, they had to hire me as an intervener. “She dumped Marcus as soon as she went abroad, causing him to be depressed for three years. He almost got expelled from college for failing classes. In his senior year, he turned his grief into motivation and studied hard for a year to barely get his degree. Now that she’s back, what will happen to my Marcus…” “Don’t worry, Mrs. Grant. I’ll get right on it.” My hand trembled as I received the $500,000 deposit. For the first time in my life, I took a taxi instead of the bus and quickly appeared in front of Marcus. I raised my hand to… But I couldn’t bring myself to slap him. His handsome face and sharp eyes made my heart flutter. The fierce slap turned into a gentle caress down his handsome face. He was too good-looking to hit. “I’m sorry, that was rude of me.” Marcus’s temple twitched slightly, but his good manners kept him composed. I was delighted, thinking it would be easier to handle him now. So I politely extended my hand to him. “Nice to meet you, I’m Lily Adams, a friend of a friend of your mother.” Mrs. Grant’s friend was money, and money was my best friend. Marcus smiled slightly, and just as he was about to touch my hand, he suddenly raised it and put his arm around Amber Rose beside him. “Sorry, I have a girlfriend.” Amber looked up at him suddenly, her joy evident on her face. It was as if their relationship had just been confirmed at that moment. My smile froze. I hoped Mrs. Grant wouldn’t take back the money. Back home, I started searching online for his likes and interests. Combined with the information Mrs. Grant gave me, I began to quietly infiltrate Marcus’s world. We had a “chance” encounter at a coffee shop. At a restaurant, I pretended to be a part-time waitress, intentionally brushing my hand against his fingertips as I served. Amber became unhappy, and they started arguing. Good sign! That night, I immediately transformed into a sporty, sunshine girl, jogging past his house. I “accidentally” tripped and fell into Marcus’s arms as he was taking out the trash. I cried out in pain, looked up in surprise, my eyes brimming with tears. “Mr. Grant…” Marcus smiled silently. Feeling encouraged, I boldly said, “Actually, I’ve liked you for a long time.” Step one of breaking up the lovebirds: sow discord. Marcus loosely held me, “You like me?” I nodded shyly. He gently lifted me up. The next second, he stuffed me into the recycling bin along with the trash. One hand pressed down on the lid to keep me from getting out, while the other took out his phone. “Hello? 911?” “Yes, there’s a crazy person here, stalking me and sexually harassing me.”

Is this right? “This is not right! Miss Adams, even if you like someone, you can’t harass them at their home. Is this what they teach you in college…” The police officer lectured me. I tried desperately to explain. He just looked at me coldly, “Call your teacher to pick you up!” Calling my teacher was out of the question. I didn’t want to become a social outcast at school. Originally, I should have been lying in Marcus’s arms tonight, touching his slim waist, breathing heavily, about to do something for the good of humanity, then getting caught by Amber, having a big fight, and finally tearfully earning five million dollars. Now I was behind bars, listening to a bunch of drunks wailing… With no other choice, I called Mrs. Grant early the next morning. She came quickly and got me out as a family member of the involved party. Ignoring the looks from the police, she kept praising me, “You did very well. My son called last night in a bad mood, they must have had a fight…” After leaving the police station, she was still chattering, “But he’s too spineless, he took her back home. Lily, can you go to his house and keep an eye on things? What if that girl runs away pregnant?” I turned my head dejectedly and said softly, “Mrs. Grant, do you think next time you’ll be picking me up from prison?” Arrested for stalking, and then for breaking and entering, it would be even worse. Mrs. Grant clearly didn’t think so: “Don’t worry, Lily, just go ahead and do it.” Uh… I had a vague feeling that my relationship with the police officer wouldn’t end here. After finishing the thesis my advisor was rushing me for, I looked up and it was already dark. To prevent them from making a little Marcus Grant, I reluctantly went over. Mrs. Grant was true to her word and had bought off the new security guard Marcus hired. The guard didn’t even try to stop me, opening the gate wide for me to enter. At that moment, I suddenly felt confident. The door inside was slightly ajar. Through the gap, I saw two people canoodling on the sofa. Marcus’s half-open collar was wet, making his shirt transparent and revealing vague curves underneath. Amber took a tissue and started wiping it, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” Marcus frowned slightly and blocked her hand. “Amber, we’re both adults, some things…” Suddenly his voice trailed off. My heart skipped a beat too. Were they about to start doing adult things?! I don’t agree with this. Marcus’s sharp gaze swept over, “The person at the door, have you seen enough?” I walked in with an air of confidence. Seeing me, Amber immediately leaned into Marcus’s arms, as if marking her territory. But so what? Mrs. Grant doesn’t approve either. I said, “Mrs. Grant said she left something at your place and asked me to come get it.” As long as I couldn’t find it, I could use that as an excuse to stay, and they wouldn’t have a chance to get cozy. Marcus stared at me, his brows furrowed into a frown. He was about to get up when he looked down at his wet collar and said to Amber, “I’m going to take a shower. The red wine you spilled is sticky. This guest… please help me get rid of her first.” He walked towards the bathroom. Amber swirled the wine glass in her hand and said scornfully, “I advise you not to use despicable means to seduce Marcus. He’s different from other men. He’s very loyal.” She emphasized the last sentence particularly clearly. I found it hilarious and laughed out loud, “He’s loyal, but what about you?” Mrs. Grant had already investigated her thoroughly. Even after returning to the country, she wasn’t behaving herself. While pursuing Marcus, she had several backups, but unfortunately, there was no solid evidence to make Marcus believe it. Hearing this, Amber’s face changed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure, “What are you talking about? Of course, I only like Marcus.” “In a relationship, loyalty is the most basic thing, and Miss Rose, what you don’t have, I do.” Looking at her smile that was about to crack, I knew Mrs. Grant’s information was spot on. Suddenly, the phone on the coffee table rang. Amber was probably too nervous and accidentally pressed the speakerphone button. The phone immediately transmitted a young man’s voice: “Baby, are you coming tonight?” The voice was lazy and the tone ambiguous. Amber completely lost her composure, frantically trying to mute the call and rushing outside. This was my chance! As long as I let Marcus see her cheating, everything would be accomplished! Where was Marcus? The sound of water came from the nearby bathroom. Oh, he was taking a shower. I rushed over to urge him, knocking on the door frantically: “Are you done? I need to use the bathroom.” A lazy voice came from inside: “Not yet.” “Hurry up, I can’t hold it!” The person inside hesitated for two seconds, “There’s another bathroom upstairs.” “No, please, come out quickly!” “…” Through the window, I saw Amber’s lips forming what looked like “bye-bye”. She hung up the phone quickly, and Marcus also started to speed up his shower. I was scratching my head anxiously. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Amber was about to push the door open when the sound of water in the bathroom stopped. I couldn’t wait anymore! I kicked open the bathroom door and rushed in. A beauty out of the bath, my heart was pounding. I immediately closed my eyes. It was as if time had frozen at that moment. Until the warm breath approached, disturbing my thoughts. “Weren’t you in a hurry to use the bathroom? Go ahead.” I tried desperately to shake off the images of pecs, abs, and V-lines in my mind, “No, no, not urgent anymore, haha.” “Then why did you burst in?” My muddled brain was racing, and I stammered, “Uh, actually, your mom sent me here for a blind date with you. Before marriage, I need to check if it’s big enough!” Haha, I’ve gone crazy, my mouth was saying whatever came to mind. Just then, Amber’s voice gradually approached from the living room, “Marcus, aren’t you done yet? I specially canceled a meeting to spend the evening with you, okay?” I suddenly remembered what I was supposed to do. Right, I was supposed to create a misunderstanding and drive a wedge between them. I abruptly opened my eyes. Two streams of blood gushed from my nose. Why wasn’t he dressed yet!

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I have a system that detects when my wife is lying. And every time she tells a lie, $50,000 gets deposited into my bank account. One night, I discovered my wife was cheating on me. “You haven’t been seeing anyone behind my back, have you?” I asked. She turned to me, stammering, “N-no, of course not.” As soon as she said it, my phone buzzed with a bank notification – $50,000 had just been deposited. Now I’m faced with an impossible choice. Do I silently endure her infidelity and keep getting rich? Or do I confront her and get a divorce? I got home from work and took off my shoes, placing them neatly in the shoe rack. My wife Mia rushed out of the bedroom. “Why are you home so late? You might as well have stayed out all night!” she snapped, tightening the loose bathrobe around herself before plopping down on the couch with an irritated sigh. I glanced toward the bedroom. “Why are the lights still on in there?” Mia quickly got up and closed the door. A year ago, Mia had suddenly insisted we sleep in separate rooms. That was around the time our arguments started becoming more and more frequent. I agreed, thinking we both needed some space to reflect. But a year had passed, and our issues remained unresolved. I sat down at the dining table, eyeing the leftover food with a wry smile. Before leaving work, I had texted Mia: “Honey, I just got off work and haven’t eaten yet. Could you heat up some dinner for me?” Mia fidgeted nervously. “We’re out of groceries. I only ordered takeout for myself, so…there’s nothing left.” I nodded, but then noticed a pair of ripped fishnet stockings by the table. I picked them up. Mia snatched them out of my hand, looking flustered. Before I could say anything, she blurted out, “I was just trying them on earlier. Didn’t realize they had a run in them.” “Make sure you throw those out!” she added, tossing the stockings at my face. I removed the stockings and picked up a piece of meat with my chopsticks, pausing before asking, “You haven’t been seeing anyone behind my back, have you?” She turned to me, stammering, “N-no, of course not.” Then her tone turned harsh. “What are you thinking? Don’t start drama over nothing!” The bedroom door slammed shut. I knew Mia was angry. Normally, this would be my cue to placate her with an expensive designer handbag. But this time, I didn’t feel like indulging her. My eyes fell on the used condom wrapper in the trash can. My phone buzzed on the table. It was a bank notification – $50,000 had just been deposited. Mia had lied.

I couldn’t understand how we had ended up like this. We used to be so in love. We were college sweethearts who made it all the way to marriage. But ever since I switched jobs to the company Mia recommended, things changed. We started having small arguments daily and big blowouts weekly. There wasn’t a single peaceful day. Still, I never suspected she was cheating. I always thought I just wasn’t providing the lifestyle she wanted. Now that I had proof of her infidelity, I realized I didn’t even know who her lover was. I had to find out. A couple nights ago, a voice had suddenly popped into my head: “Congratulations, the system binding is complete.” I was totally confused, thinking I was hallucinating from stress. I just went back to sleep. But it seems I wasn’t imagining things. Every time Mia lies to me, $50,000 gets deposited in my account. I couldn’t help but laugh – the heavens were looking out for me after all! The next morning, I sat on the living room couch waiting for Mia to come out. The whole company had the day off. When Mia emerged from the bedroom, she was startled to see me there. She quickly composed herself. “God, you scared me! Sitting there like a ghost.” She rolled her eyes at me, then spent a long time primping in front of the mirror, applying powder and carefully putting on lipstick. It looked like she was getting dolled up to meet someone important. In all our years of marriage, she had never put this much effort into her appearance for me. She only acted sweet when I got my paycheck. “Where are you going?” I asked casually. “None of your business,” Mia snapped. “Don’t think I’ve forgiven you for yesterday just because I didn’t bring it up. You better buy me that new designer bag if you want me to let it go.” Just as I had predicted. “But don’t you control all my money?” I asked. “How am I supposed to buy you anything?” For years, I had given Mia whatever she wanted. Even when we didn’t have the money, I would borrow from friends to make sure she had the latest handbag the very next day. She shrugged. “Then take out a loan!” With that, she slammed the door and left, cutting off my unfinished sentence. Fine. She wasn’t even pretending anymore. She’d better not expect me to go easy on her!

I watched from the window as Mia got into a fancy car. The vehicle looked familiar, but I couldn’t quite place it. I rushed downstairs and followed them. They eventually stopped at an upscale villa. Mia got out of the car. To my shock, the next person to exit was my boss, Ryan! My blood boiled as everything suddenly clicked into place. Mia pushing me to change jobs… Insisting on separate bedrooms… Constantly criticizing me… I had been the fool all along. It was laughable. I had given her my whole heart, only for her to feed it to the dogs. The cheaters were right in front of me, and I hadn’t even realized. How stupid could I be? Rage overtook me. I charged out of my car and punched Ryan square in the face. Then I whirled around and slapped Mia hard. “You goddamn cheaters! Get the hell out of here!” Ryan rubbed his swollen cheek, finally recognizing me. “Jack, what the hell are you doing? Have you lost your mind?” Mia quickly pulled me away and steadied Ryan. Of course – her first concern was for her lover. Tears welled up in Mia’s eyes from the slap. “Jack, what’s wrong with you?” “You’re cheating on me! If I hadn’t followed you, I never would have known!” Mia glanced at Ryan, biting her lip. “Jack, you’ve got it all wrong. Ryan was just giving me a ride. He forgot some contracts, so we came back to get them.” “Really?” I asked skeptically. “Yes, really!” Mia snapped impatiently. I studied Mia’s face, seeing only guilt and fear in her eyes. Of course I knew she was lying through her teeth. But I had no real proof besides my word against theirs. She would never admit to it. So for now, I had to pretend to believe them and dispel my suspicions. Besides, every lie Mia told meant more money in my account. Not a bad deal. I immediately switched gears, plastering on a smile as I helped steady Ryan. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Parker. I just jumped to conclusions. Are you alright? Do you need to go to the hospital? I can drive you.” Ryan waved me off. “It’s fine, no need. Just be more careful next time, Jack.” Ha! I had hit him as hard as I could. Of course it hurt. Mia chimed in awkwardly, “I’ll take Mr. Parker to the hospital.” She shot me a look of disgust. “You should just go home. You’ve embarrassed yourself enough.” Oh, you want some alone time? Be my guest. “Alright then, I’ll head home,” I said. “Mr. Parker, I’m truly sorry again. I’ll come by your office to apologize properly another day.” In a flash, they were gone. But what they didn’t know was that I had managed to plant a GPS tracker and voice recorder in Ryan’s car while steadying him earlier.

The next morning at work, the boss called me into his office. He told me to hand over my current project to another colleague – the one who got hired through connections. “But Mr. Parker, we’ve already gotten the client’s signature. We’re just waiting on the final payment,” I protested. “How can I possibly hand it over now?” Ryan slammed his hand on the desk. “You’ll do it because I said so! Who’s the boss here, you or me?” “Are you questioning my orders?” Ryan was right – he did call the shots at the company. I left his office in silence. Through the glass, I could see his smug smirk. I knew this was retaliation for yesterday’s incident. Fine by me. I’d been wanting to quit anyway. Mia’s lies had been steadily increasing my bank balance. Money would never be an issue again in this lifetime. But it wasn’t enough. I wanted them to face the consequences of their actions. From that day on, I showed up to the office but did absolutely nothing. I ignored all projects, spending my days sipping tea, feeding the office fish, and watering plants. After a week, Ryan couldn’t take it anymore. But he didn’t dare confront me directly. He had HR negotiate my departure, offering a severance package. Why didn’t he just do this from the start instead of wasting a week? I had gotten what I wanted – fair compensation. I could leave with no regrets. As I packed up my desk, I felt a twinge of nostalgia for my relaxing week. But there was no time for sentimentality. My mother-in-law had called, inviting us over for dinner in a couple days. She wanted to discuss her son Tyler’s wedding. I knew it was a trap. They were waiting for me to walk right into it!

Early the next morning, I waited downstairs for Mia so we could go to her mother’s house together. But Mia said, “You go first. I have some things to take care of.” When I arrived, Mia’s brother Tyler immediately pulled me to sit on the living room couch. “Hey bro, I heard you got a big severance package when you quit. Think you could lend me some cash for my wedding?” Before I could answer, Mrs. Thompson cut in. “Stop pestering your brother-in-law about money. He has plenty of expenses of his own.” She was pretending to be considerate, but I knew she had other plans for that money. Mrs. Thompson came over and took my hand. “I’ve had my eye on a house in the neighborhood. Tyler loves it and wants to use it as the marital home. You don’t need to cover the whole cost – just contribute what you can. When Tyler becomes successful later, he’ll take care of you in your old age.” “That sounds great! Your brother is looking out for your future,” Mia chimed in. “Mom has sacrificed so much for this family over the years.” How laughable. I had barely quit my job, and they already knew exactly how much money I had and how to spend it. Every sentence was about how much the Thompson family had suffered. “Mom, I was actually planning to use that money myself,” I said carefully. “I’ve been working non-stop for years. I thought I might do some traveling.” Mrs. Thompson and Tyler’s faces immediately soured. “Now Jack, don’t be selfish,” Mrs. Thompson scolded. “Spending it all on travel is such a waste. It’s much better to invest in Tyler’s future. He’ll take care of you when you’re old.” “Yeah bro, you know I see you as real family!” Tyler added. Sure, “real family” – or just an ATM to withdraw money from whenever you want? “Mom, I’ll decide what to do with my own money,” I said firmly. Hearing this, Mrs. Thompson stood up with a frown. But she couldn’t openly criticize me, so she busied herself in the kitchen instead. Tyler couldn’t say much either. He flopped on the couch and started playing on his phone. “Bro, go sit somewhere else. You’re in my way,” he muttered, effectively kicking me out. Just then, Mia arrived – with Ryan in tow. Mrs. Thompson’s face lit up when she heard Ryan’s voice. She came running out of the kitchen, all smiles as she welcomed him inside. Tyler put down his phone and offered Ryan a seat, rushing to brew some premium tea. I remembered that tea – it had cost me a month’s salary. I had bought it as a gift for a friend, but Tyler saw it and took it for himself. When I said I’d buy another one, Mia told me to just give the friend the second batch instead. Mia glared at me. “What are you standing around for? Go help in the kitchen!” Mrs. Thompson shoved an apron in my hands and pushed me toward the kitchen door. When I finally brought the last dish to the table, I realized they had already started eating. They hadn’t even saved me a seat. Mia looked up at me. “There’s no room. Just wait until we’re done and eat the leftovers.” Mrs. Thompson and Tyler said nothing. Ryan kept drinking his wine. Alright, you want me to eat your scraps? Then no one gets to eat! I flipped the entire table, sending food and dishes flying everywhere. I stormed out and slammed the door behind me, leaving only screams and curses in my wake. Mia’s voice was the loudest: “Jack, have you fucking lost your mind?!”

A few days later, Mia returned from her mother’s house. I had come home early and prepared a feast, waiting for her. Her coveted designer handbag sat on the table. When Mia got home, she barely glanced at me. Then she noticed the bag on the table and scoffed, “Don’t think buying me a bag makes everything okay!” I bit my tongue and gently led her to sit at the dining table. “I know, I know. It’s all my fault,” I said contritely. “Look, I made all your favorite dishes to apologize. And got you the bag you wanted.” Mia still seemed wary after hearing this. No problem – I had more tricks up my sleeve. I continued, “And you know that severance money from my company? You have full control over how to use it. What do you think?” Mia’s eyes lit up. “Really?” “Of course! You’re the love of my life. Who else would I give it to?” Mia fell for it, thinking I was the same pushover as always. She smirked, “That’s more like it!” She picked up her chopsticks, ready to dig in. I stopped her, putting on an air of mystery. “Wait, there’s one more thing.” I pulled out a bottle of wine from under the table. “Let’s have a drink and really talk. What do you say?” “Sounds good!” Mia got up to grab wine glasses from the bar. By the end of the night, Mia was drunk. I carefully extracted all her true thoughts. Every other sentence was a lie. The more she lied, the more excited I got. Watching my bank balance climb higher and higher, I knew it was almost time to make my move.

Early the next morning, the company group chat was blowing up. The main topic was how the company couldn’t make payroll and the boss was planning to flee. The business was going under. A former colleague chimed in: “Guys, I’ve got inside info! Word is the company’s been bought out by an even bigger boss.” “Makes sense. Time to jump ship and find the next gig.” The chat was full of people speculating about the boss’s recent suspicious behavior. It did seem to match up with the rumors. People were wondering who this mystery buyer could be. I couldn’t help but smile. I had set aside money long ago, waiting for the day I could acquire my old company. I was looking forward to seeing the look on Ryan’s face. My phone buzzed with an alert from the living room security camera. Mia was home. She had left early this morning, probably not remembering much from her drunken state last night. But why would she suddenly come back in the middle of the day? Then I remembered – the acquisition contract was still on the coffee table at home. On the camera feed, I saw Mia notice the papers. She picked them up, her face filled with shock as she read. Mia stuffed the contract in her purse. She called out my name a couple times to check if I was home. Confirming the house was empty, she rushed back out. I guessed she was going to find Ryan. The GPS tracker I had planted in his car showed he was parked outside our building. I pulled up the audio from the hidden recorder on my phone and started listening.

“You’re saying he bought out my company?” Ryan’s voice was incredulous. I kept listening to the recording. “Don’t worry, we don’t even know if his money is legit,” Mia said. “Want me to go back and stall him?” There was a pause before Ryan spoke again. “Yes, keep him distracted for now. I owe several clients their final payments. If they find out what’s happening, they’ll come after me!” “Try to get money out of him. He probably doesn’t suspect we’re together. He’ll likely still give you cash.” “Then we can leave the country together.” Mia’s voice turned coy. “I’ll do anything as long as I’m with you~” “Anything? Then let’s have a baby. Make that sucker raise it!” Ryan said. All I could hear after that was Mia’s breathy moans. I couldn’t listen anymore. My stomach churned violently, threatening to expel its contents. Those goddamn cheaters. I’ll show them what I’m capable of. That night when Mia came home, I casually asked as she took off her shoes, “Honey, have you eaten? Should I make you something?” Mia ignored me. I called out a couple more times. She still didn’t respond, marching right up to me and throwing a stack of papers in my face. “How dare you ask me that? Jack, how could you hide something this big from me?” she yelled. “What else are you keeping secret? Tell me – where did you get all this money?” Mia glared at me like she was trying to bore holes through my skull. Afraid I might get suspicious, she quickly added, “I’m just worried about you. I don’t want you getting mixed up in anything illegal!”

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In the seventh year of loving Aiden Blackwood, I suddenly let go of my obsession. During our last breakup, he said, “Don’t be so blindly devoted to one person. It’s kind of scary.” “While you’re still young, try dating more people.” I smiled and replied, “Alright, I’ll give it a try.” After the breakup, Aiden’s life went on as usual. The first month, he never mentioned me. The second month, he started to feel uneasy. The third month, when he stood dejectedly outside my house late at night, I had just calmed Ethan down in bed. The man, no longer angry, deliberately carried me to the floor-to-ceiling window. Kissing me with barely concealed jealousy, he asked, “Look how pitiful he is. Do you want to go down and see him?” 0 When Aiden looked at that young, fresh-faced girl for the third time, I gazed at those eyes that had once captivated my entire adolescence. Suddenly, I let go of my obsession. He looked at every girl with deep affection. And I was just the most insignificant one. “Hazel,” Aiden leaned forward to extinguish his cigarette and looked at me. “Actually, when I agreed to be with you that day…” “It was just a moment of weakness.” “But I tried, and found that it still doesn’t work.” He raised his hand and cupped my face. His fingertips gently brushed my slightly reddened eyes, his actions gentle, his voice even gentler. “I can’t like you the way I like a woman.” “That time I kissed you when I was drunk was just an accident.” I pushed his hand away. “Aiden, if you want to say something, just say it directly.” He leaned back on the sofa, his expression casual and indifferent. “Let’s just go back to being good friends.” “That’s the most comfortable, don’t you think?” I looked at him and smiled slightly, “After today, okay?” Today was a bit special. But Aiden had probably long forgotten. He frowned and reluctantly agreed, “Fine.” 0

When I returned from the restroom, Aiden was exchanging SnapChat contacts with that pretty girl. He still remembered he had a girlfriend. Even though his eyes were burning with desire when looking at the girl, He still restrained himself from going further. But for the rest of the time, he was distracted every minute and every second. The SnapChat notification sound went off every few seconds. And he would reply immediately. I remembered the pitiful few chat records between us over the years. Large patches of green interspersed with small blocks of white. The longest time, it took him a month to remember to reply to me. It turns out the difference between liking and not liking is so obvious. Just past midnight, Aiden got up eagerly, “It’s late, let’s call it a night.” I also stood up, “Wait a moment.” Our friends were curious and stopped in their tracks. I walked in front of Aiden and looked at him calmly. “Aiden.” “I won’t wait for you anymore.” He looked as if he had heard something very funny. He shrugged and laughed, “I don’t think I ever asked you to wait.” Then he turned to everyone else, “Right, guys?” 0

Indeed, he had never asked me to wait. It was me who always followed behind him. When he was in a relationship, I would stay away. When he broke up and needed me, I was always there. Even his friends couldn’t stand it anymore. “Haze, even a backup plan isn’t as pathetic as you. Is it worth it?” “He’s just using you for entertainment, to fill the void between relationships.” But I acted as if I had never been hurt. Never thought about giving up. So now when I seriously said I wouldn’t wait for him anymore, Not a single person believed me. Aiden ruffled my hair. “Haze,” he called me like he used to when we were just friends. “It’s about time.” “Being so blindly devoted to one person is scary, you know?” Aiden smiled, his deep eyes filled with the charm of spring blossoms. At that moment, I suddenly understood. The opposite of gentleness is actually the most heartless promiscuity. “While you’re still young, go date more people.” “You’re not ugly, why hang onto one tree?” I thought for a moment, then smiled and nodded, “Alright, I’ll give it a try.” He probably didn’t expect me to agree so readily. He was stunned for a moment, then smiled, “Good luck, try a few.” 0

Aiden quickly got a new girlfriend. They hit it off and things progressed rapidly. On the third day, the girl had already moved into his house to live with him. Our mutual friends felt it was unfair to me. “Aiden is really cruel, how is this any different from a seamless transition?” “Haze, if you’re sad, just cry it out. Don’t keep it bottled up inside.” “I don’t think they’ll last long. In a few days when they break up, he’ll realize you’re the best.” “But this time, don’t make up with him so quickly. Give him the cold shoulder for a while.” I sighed and looked at the people in front of me, “We won’t be getting back together.” “Don’t joke, Haze. You can’t do it.” “Yeah, you don’t have to pretend to be strong in front of us.” My friends looked at me with pity and sympathy. I smiled and didn’t argue further. On Aiden’s day off, I went to his house. His new girlfriend opened the door. The girl looked at me curiously, “Who are you looking for?” “Is Aiden here? I came to get something.” “What do you want to get?” “A little storage jar with a bunny on it.” “I’ll help you look for it.” “It’s long gone.” Aiden’s voice suddenly came from behind. He had come downstairs at some point, probably just woken up, wearing a robe, his face still showing signs of sleepiness. The girl ran over to him with a coquettish laugh. He casually put his arm around her and kissed her cheek. Then he glanced at me with a half-smile, “What, you want to take back something you’ve given away?” “Where did you throw it? I’ll go look.” “Who remembers?” Aiden lit a cigarette, “Maybe it fell and broke.” “If not, I can buy you a new one to make up for it?” I glanced at them. The girl, as if marking her territory, was hanging all over him. Aiden seemed to be enjoying it. “Forget it.” “It’s not worth much anyway. I don’t want it anymore.” I turned to leave. “Haze.” But Aiden suddenly spoke up. I paused for a moment. But I didn’t stop, nor did I look back. 0

The first month after the breakup, I started trying to accept new relationships. Friends introduced me to two guys, but after brief interactions, nothing came of it. This left me feeling a bit defeated and slightly depressed. The second month after the breakup, my best friend invited me out to cheer up. After hanging out with some high school classmates and friends, She took me to a nightclub. The little dress I was wearing was something my best friend had forced me to change into. Drunk and dizzy, I was dragged onto the dance floor. She took a short video and posted it on Instagram. “Our little Haze has grown into a beautiful, sexy woman! PS: This beauty is single and ready to mingle! Guys, come and get her!” After posting, she tossed her phone aside and came to dance with me. Completely unaware that her Instagram was blowing up. Until the excited crowd suddenly began to stir. The girl classmate next to me pinched my arm and silently screamed: “Haze, Haze, who’s that guy?” “Ah! How lucky am I to see such a perfect specimen!” I looked over with my drunk, blurry eyes. In the dazzling lights, a tall, imposing man in a black business suit was striding towards us with long legs. Although I couldn’t see his face clearly, just his physique was enough to make one want to scream. “It’s Ethan Sterling! Am I seeing things? The genius campus heartthrob from high school, Ethan Sterling?” I couldn’t help but snicker, “Ethan Sterling? How could a good student like him come to a place like a nightclub!” “You must be seeing things.” I pushed away my classmate’s hand and turned to hug my best friend and continue dancing. But my arm was firmly gripped by someone: “Hazel.” The alcohol made my reactions a bit slow. My gaze fixed blankly on that incredibly beautiful hand. The fingers were so long, the knuckles distinct, with faint blue veins visible on the back of the hand. Indescribably sexy. An expensive steel watch adorned his slender wrist. My gaze slowly moved upward, finally settling on that handsome, noble face. I froze. “Ethan Sterling, is it really you?” “Come with me.” His expression was extremely serious, so serious that one didn’t dare to resist at all. I was pulled out of the dance floor, looking back at my best friend for help. But she was cowering behind others, not daring to take a step forward. Ethan pulled me to an empty corridor. I had just steadied myself when he pinned me against the wall. “Hazel.” He cupped my face and, catching me completely off guard, kissed me decisively. “If you’re willing to consider strangers you’ve just met, then can you… try being with me?” 0

Maybe it was the alcohol making me confused. Maybe it was this deep kiss leaving me breathless. My mind was in chaos, jumbled and then blank. Finally, as the long kiss ended, I leaned weakly against Ethan’s chest. “But…” “But what?” “Weren’t you and Aiden good friends before?” Ethan looked down at me, Raising his hand to tuck a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “So what? Is it illegal?” “Of course not…” “So, are you willing?” “You’ve already kissed me, and now you’re asking if I’m willing?” I widened my eyes, with quite a fierce demeanor. Ethan suddenly smiled. “Hazel.” His fingertips brushed my cheek, then settled on the corner of my lips. “We know each other well, that’s better than strangers, right?” My brain was burning hot, and I actually thought Ethan made a lot of sense. Rather than facing a completely strange man, it was better to choose him. Not only did we know each other well, but he was also good-looking. It seemed like a win-win situation. “Then… shall we give it a try?” The smile in Ethan’s eyes deepened. He lowered his head and kissed me again: “I’ll do my best to ensure your satisfaction.” 0

Somehow, the news of my two failed blind dates reached Aiden’s ears. Someone mentioned it when they were drinking: “Last time I went out for dinner, I saw Haze with her boyfriend.” “What boyfriend? They just had two meals together, it’s already over.” “That’s right, Haze’s heart and mind are all filled with Aiden, how could she really date someone else?” Aiden casually took a sip of his drink, his voice indifferent: “She’s just stubborn, you guys aren’t meeting her for the first time.” “But come to think of it, Aiden, Haze hasn’t contacted you for a month or two, that’s a bit unusual.” “Isn’t she always like this? When I’m dating someone else, she becomes as quiet as if she’s dead.” Aiden put down his glass, but inexplicably felt a bit irritated. He had been single for seven or eight days, but there was still no news from Hazel. Last night at 3 AM, he posted on Instagram saying he was in a bad mood and wanted to drink. Hazel didn’t comment or contact him. “It’s no fun with just us guys drinking, why don’t we call Haze over?” “Why call her? She can’t even drink.” Aiden said, but then changed his tone. “It’s fine to call her. I also want to ask her what kind of taste she has, dating such losers.” His friend laughed and dialed the number. But after two calls, both were hung up. “At this hour, could she be on a date with a man?” Aiden’s expression remained unchanged, but the smile at the corner of his lips faded. He picked up his phone with a cold face and directly dialed a string of numbers. It was only when the call connected that he suddenly realized. At some point, he had memorized Hazel’s phone number by heart. The phone rang for a long time with no answer. Just as he was about to hang up in frustration, the other end suddenly picked up. “Hello, who is this?” A soft female voice answered, but it was hoarse and slightly breathless. It was hard not to think too much. Aiden’s face suddenly changed: “Hazel, what are you doing?”

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As the destined lucky star of the Sinclair family, I skipped evening self-study to prepare for the annual family ritual. Little did I know that just as I caught my breath, the door of the Koi Hall would be kicked open by my classmate. “You bitch! Not only did you seduce my boyfriend, but you dare to come to his family’s ancestral hall for an affair? You must be tired of living!” Vanessa Jennings shouted at me. Confused by her sudden accusation, I retorted casually. Unexpectedly, this group of people became convinced that I had seduced young master Theo Sinclair and proceeded to smash my face with a feng shui ornament, leaving me bloodied. Touching my throbbing forehead, I was speechless. With me, their lucky star, injured, the Sinclair family would no longer be able to maintain their status as the wealthiest family. Vanessa’s lackeys, though loud in their threats, fell silent at the sight of blood. As I touched my bloody forehead, my first thought was that the Sinclair family was about to face misfortune again. My name is Autumn Kensington, and I’ve been an orphan since childhood. The old patriarch of the Sinclair family, known for his ability to read stars and fortunes, adopted me immediately and held an internal meeting to honor me as a distinguished guest. “The rise and fall of our Sinclair family lineage will henceforth be tied to Autumn alone,” he declared. “Immediately establish the Koi Hall and make sure to take good care of Miss Autumn. Write it as the first rule in our family code!” And so, I grew up in luxury in the Koi Hall built for me by the Sinclair family. Soon after, the old patriarch passed away. The current family head, Richard Sinclair, heard rumors that I had caused the death of my parents. He treated me disrespectfully and kicked me out of the family. That very night, the Sinclair family’s stock prices plummeted, and even the young master Theo Sinclair, whom they had just mentioned, suddenly suffered a heart attack and barely survived. It could be said that from the moment I was adopted by the Sinclair family, my fate became inextricably linked with their prosperity and decline. When I’m happy, the Sinclair family naturally prospers. When I’m injured, the Sinclair family inevitably faces setbacks. The servants of Koi Hall, who had always treated me with utmost respect since childhood, were stunned at the sight of my bloodied state. After a moment of shock, they screamed. “Who are you people? Who gave you the audacity to harm Miss Autumn!” “Kneel and apologize to Miss Autumn immediately, or don’t blame us for being impolite!” Vanessa still held the bronze fish she had used to hit me. This bronze fish was a feng shui artifact specially crafted for me by the old patriarch at great expense. Apart from me, no one else was allowed to touch it. Now that it was stained with blood, the Sinclair family would suffer financial losses tonight. This spoiled young lady, ignorant of everything, was controlled by anger and swung the bronze fish around wildly. “Bah! I should be asking you where you get the nerve to talk to me like that!” she spat. “I’m Theo Sinclair’s girlfriend, and I’m about to exchange birth charts for engagement right here in Koi Hall. I’m your future mistress!” Vanessa’s lackeys, now emboldened, reached out to poke my forehead. “Autumn, it’s bad enough that you flirt around with teachers, but now you dare to seduce young master Sinclair?” “Everyone in school knows that young master Sinclair is going to marry our Vanessa. How dare you get into his car? If we don’t teach you a lesson today, who knows what you’ll do next – maybe even climb into his bed!” I covered my wound, my face full of helplessness. “Stop slandering me. I got into Theo’s car because he begged me to!” That Theo has always been unruly, and as the only heir of his branch, Richard Sinclair often beat and scolded him out of frustration. So he came to me, wanting me to put in a good word for his new girlfriend to the old master. He was so subservient, serving tea, pouring water, and opening car doors more attentively than any servant. So that new girlfriend turned out to be Vanessa. I’ve been busy preparing for the annual Sinclair family ritual these past few days and didn’t have time to wait for Richard to return home. I came to Koi Hall instead, only to be beaten up by them. Without the approval of me, the family’s lucky charm, Vanessa’s dream of marrying into the Sinclair family was nothing but a fantasy! I sat back down in the center of Koi Hall with a cold smile, and the servants immediately came forward to treat my wounds. They carefully collected the bloodstained gauze and cotton swabs, and even reverently placed my torn hair on the altar. Seeing this, Vanessa’s lackeys gasped. But Vanessa’s eyes blazed with fury. She grabbed my hair and violently pulled me from the mahogany armchair. “You orphan, who do you think you are? How dare you put on an act in the Sinclair family ancestral hall right in front of me? As the future mistress, I must teach you a lesson!”

Despite my usually good temperament, I was truly angered at this point. “Vanessa Jennings, I chose to ignore your previous actions, but here in Koi Hall, I am the only master. This is not a place for you to run wild!” Vanessa showed no fear. Instead, she slapped me. “Stop talking nonsense. You’re nothing but an academic seductress with a ruined reputation. The Sinclair family would never want you.” “You dare call yourself the mistress? Learn how to be a decent person first!” Unable to tolerate it any longer, I raised my hand to strike back, my nails scratching Vanessa’s chin. Vanessa trembled in disbelief as she touched her chin, her scream nearly lifting the roof. “Hold this bitch down! I’m going to kill her!” Seeing Vanessa like this, her lackeys immediately pounced on me and held me down. Vanessa, in a frenzy, raised her foot and kicked me hard in the stomach. Having been pampered all my life, I had never experienced such torture. I doubled over in pain, nearly vomiting blood. The servants of Koi Hall were terrified. They tried to intervene but were immediately pushed away. Gasping in pain, I ordered them to quickly call back the butler who had gone shopping. “Vanessa Jennings, let me tell you, I’m not just any mistress. I’m the lucky star worshipped by the Sinclair family.” “My fate is tied to the Sinclair family’s. If you dare to hurt me, you’ll never be able to step foot in the Sinclair house in this lifetime!” Vanessa’s eyes widened, and without hesitation, she smashed the bronze fish against my mouth. “I’ll teach you to talk nonsense! Try that again!” “You think I haven’t investigated? You’re nothing but a jinx who caused your own parents’ death. Stop pretending!” Her strike caused me to bite my tongue, and my mouth instantly filled with blood. Tears of pain fell uncontrollably. Seeing this, Vanessa didn’t stop. Instead, she gripped my chin tightly. “You used that pitiful face to trick Professor Zhang and steal my direct Ph.D. admission spot.” “Now you dare to put on this disgusting act in the Sinclair house. Today, I’ll settle both old and new scores with you!” This damned Vanessa, unable to compete with my academic performance, spread rumors at school about me having an affair with a professor. In a fit of anger, I reported her to the police. That same day, Vanessa knelt before me, begging me not to make a big deal out of it. I never cared much for empty fame and only wanted to vent my anger. Seeing her sincere apology, I let it go. Who knew she would hold such a grudge? As soon as she hooked up with Theo Sinclair, she came to pick a fight with me! I was so angry I wanted to curse, but my tongue wouldn’t cooperate. So I simply spat a mouthful of bloody saliva at Vanessa. Caught off guard, Vanessa’s exquisite makeup was stained with blood. She retaliated with two hard slaps. “Still so tough when you’re about to die? Do you think Theo Sinclair will come to save you?” “Listen here, you cheap slut. Theo is waiting for me at the hotel right now. After I’m done with you, we’re going to have our private time together.” My heart sank. I had thought that since Theo needed a favor from me, he would surely come to Koi Hall when he couldn’t find me at the Sinclair house. Who knew this boy would be so blinded by lust and run off to a hotel. Now I could only hope that the Sinclair family’s second young master, who had been secretly trying to win me over, would return early from abroad for the ritual ceremony. With me severely injured, Richard Sinclair’s branch was doomed to decline. But my fate was intertwined with the Sinclair family. If one branch failed, it would go to another. As long as I was around, the other branch was bound to prosper. Seeing my panic and hesitation, Vanessa’s expression grew even more ferocious. “Oh, I see! You really are waiting for my boyfriend to come save you!” “You cheap slut! You really did seduce Theo Sinclair!” With that, she swung the bronze fish wildly, striking my head repeatedly. I cried out in pain as my scalp and flesh were smashed by the bronze fish. If the Sinclair family saw this scene, Vanessa would be dead for sure. But if she continued her rampage, I feared I might die before her! In pain and fury, I desperately tried to think of a way to escape. Just then, the door of Koi Hall was kicked open, and the butler who had gone shopping in the city rushed back with the servants. Seeing the chaos in Koi Hall, the butler nearly fell to his knees. “Stop this at once! How dare you hit Miss Autumn? Do you think your lives are too long?”

Intimidated by the butler’s imposing manner, Vanessa’s hand trembled, and the bronze fish fell to the ground. The butler’s eyes narrowed, and forgetting all etiquette, he lunged forward to catch it with his body, finally breathing a sigh of relief. “You bunch of fools! How dare you lay hands on Miss Autumn? I’m telling the old master right now. You’re all in for it!” The hands restraining me instantly loosened, and I collapsed to the ground, completely drained of strength. The butler, frightened, dropped his phone and rushed to support me. “Miss Autumn, you absolutely cannot come to harm! My life, Gregory Thompson’s life, is tied to yours!” Upon hearing his words, Vanessa’s eyes lit up. “Gregory Thompson? Are you Uncle Greg?” The butler’s body tensed, and he opened his mouth to curse, but his tone changed when he got a clear look at Vanessa. “Miss Vanessa, it’s you? What’s going on here?” Vanessa rolled her eyes, completely unconcerned. “This whore had the audacity to seduce my husband and even claimed to be some kind of lucky star.” “Uncle Greg, since you’re the Sinclair family’s butler, tell us, is she really a lucky star or not?” Gregory’s hand supporting me loosened slightly, his gaze shifting uncertainly between Vanessa and me. I tugged at Gregory’s clothes, pointing at his phone, urging him to quickly notify Richard Sinclair. However, in the next moment, Gregory completely let go of his support. “Autumn is… just the child of a Sinclair family maid.” My heart trembled. What he said wasn’t wrong. My mother was indeed a maid for the Sinclair family. But I truly am a once-in-a-century lucky star, with my fate intertwined with the Sinclair family! Vanessa took his words as if they were an imperial edict. Her lackeys, who had been frightened by Gregory earlier, once again puffed out their chests. “So that’s how you wormed your way in here. You’re just the daughter of an old maid.” “Who knows what kind of love potion this little slut gave to old Mr. Sinclair to gain the privilege of entering and leaving Koi Hall.” “Instead of honestly cleaning, you’re putting on airs in front of me. Autumn, you’re finished!” They pounced on me like madwomen, venting all their earlier fear on my body. Not satisfied with beating me bloody, they picked up shards of broken porcelain from the ground and aimed them at my eyes. “Always using those bewitching eyes to seduce people. I’ll do everyone a favor and gouge out your eyeballs.” Terrified, I desperately turned my head to avoid this fatal strike. The shard sliced down my cheek, cutting all the way to my chin. The tender, red flesh was exposed, and the pain nearly made me black out. Seeing that I had dodged, Vanessa became even angrier. She slapped my wound and kicked me several times. After this, her gaze fell on the incense burning on the altar. She suddenly stood up and grabbed a handful. “Girls, this slut is always seducing men. She must be riddled with diseases by now.” “Since we’ve vented our anger, we should also help her. Take off her pants. I’m going to treat her illness!” I bit my lower lip hard to stay conscious, trying to crawl forward, but these lunatics still caught me by the ankles. Amidst the laughter, someone took out their phone to record, while others stepped on my head and tore my clothes. Vanessa moved quickly, bringing a whole bundle of burning incense towards my lower body without hesitation. My entire body arched in pain, and my screams seemed endless. Seeing my suffering, Vanessa became even more excited. She ordered someone to spread my legs, intending to insert the incense into my private parts. “Autumn, you slut, this is how we treat your slutty disease. Let’s see if you dare to seduce men again!” My face was covered in blood and tears, and my body could no longer bear the torture. I was in agony from the pain. But these people kept cheering and applauding. “She’s smoking all over. Let’s see if she dares to do it again.” “It’s so disgusting. It’s all burned. If I were Autumn, I’d be begging for forgiveness now.” “She can only blame herself for offending Vanessa. With young master Sinclair protecting Vanessa, no one would dare interfere even if she killed her.” Hearing the flattery, Vanessa became even more arrogant. She kicked my barely human form with her foot. “Autumn, did you hear that? This is what happens when you cross me!” After saying this, she picked up a shard of porcelain from the ground. “To make sure you remember this lesson, I’ll carve the word ‘whore’ on your face. From now on, when you end up on the streets, you won’t have to worry about not having any business.” As Vanessa sneered and bent down, I seized the opportunity to lift my head and bite her ear hard. Vanessa cried out in pain and started punching me wildly. Just as the shard in her hand was about to touch my neck, Theo Sinclair’s shocked exclamation came from the doorway. “Vanessa, this is Miss Autumn’s territory. Who let you in here？”

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I opened my eyes, suddenly realizing I had been reborn to the day my parents divorced. My sister Iris was clinging to our dad, her voice familiar as she pleaded, “I want to go with Dad, I want to go with Dad…” This time around, Iris had surprisingly chosen to stay with our father. In my previous life, she had gone with our mom without hesitation, thinking she was headed for a better life. But her wealthy stepfather’s company soon went bankrupt, and Iris’s fair-weather nature led her to cruelly abandon him. Her stepfather ended up in a car accident due to mental distress, and relatives came knocking, cursing Iris and our mother as harbingers of misfortune. Now Iris was desperately holding onto our father. I clearly realized – she must have been reborn too. Our mom looked at Iris in disbelief. “Iris, are you sure about this?” Iris nodded firmly, already moving behind our father. “Let Ava go enjoy life with Mom. Dad and I will be fine even if things are tough.” Mom sighed heavily, her eyes full of concern for Iris. After all, Dad was just starting his business with no money or connections. Everyone doubted him, and staying with Dad meant Iris was choosing a hard road ahead. In my past life, I had been the one to leave with Dad under Mom’s regretful gaze. Dad had tried his best to provide for me out of guilt, and we did go through some difficult times before things improved dramatically. That had sparked Iris’s jealousy. Now Iris was urging Dad to leave quickly, as if worried we might ruin her new life plans. As we passed each other, Iris whispered in my ear with a smirk, “Dear sister, you’re only fit for a miserable life as a burden. This time, I’ll be the one enjoying all the glory and riches.” I turned to look at her with raised eyebrows. She really thought I had just coasted through life before? Looking at her foolish, smug expression, I could only laugh. She had no idea that Dad’s company’s success and his rise as a business tycoon had all been just a facade. Without me, Dad would never have met the right connections or received the major funding to support the company. He would have spent every night drowning his sorrows in alcohol over the lack of orders, using you as a punching bag to vent his frustrations. He would have even drugged you and sent you to the bed of a middle-aged investor to curry favor, standing guard outside the door to prevent your escape… There were so many dark secrets behind that glittering exterior – countless empty tubes of ointment, new injuries layered over old ones, and massive gambling debts that could never be repaid. With these thoughts, I turned and took Mom’s hand, my face beaming with happiness. The life Iris sneered at was actually the warm family I had always dreamed of. I no longer had to put on a brave face alone or tend to my wounds in the dark of night. Even if we faced hard times, Mom would always be by my side. Perhaps deeply hurt by Iris’s choice, Mom crouched down to my eye level. “Ava, don’t worry. Mom will take good care of you and never let you suffer.” I knew she would. I squeezed her hand and nodded. “I trust you, Mom. I’ll always be your good girl.” I went home with Mom to my stepfather’s house. As soon as we entered, I saw Uncle Steve sitting on the couch with a worried expression. When he saw us, he quickly adjusted his mood and smiled as he walked over. “You must be Ava? I’ve heard your mom mention you often. You can call me Uncle Steve.” By my calculations, Uncle Steve’s company was already facing a cash flow crisis and investors pulling out, though he was trying to keep it together. Uncle Steve wasn’t a bad person. In my past life, he had treated Iris like his own daughter – sending her to an elite private school and throwing her lavish birthday parties even when the company was barely scraping by. He had truly doted on her like a princess. Even after the company went bankrupt, he had promised to earn money to support the family and never let them live in poverty. With this in mind, I gave the man in the blue shirt a sweet smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Uncle Steve. Mom has told me about you too. You’re even younger than I imagined!” The man seemed surprised by my attitude. He took my backpack and excitedly offered me some fruit. I didn’t stand on ceremony and sat down on the couch. Looking around, it really did feel like a happy family of three. But before long, Uncle Steve’s assistant came running in urgently. “Mr. Chen, the factory shipment has been seized too…” Seeing people in the living room, he abruptly stopped talking, sweating profusely as he stood to the side. Uncle Steve paused with the fruit knife in hand, looking a bit awkward as he asked Mom to check on the soup in the kitchen. He then told me to watch TV before heading upstairs with his assistant. I watched the two figures walking upstairs, then glanced at Mom who had been shooed out of the kitchen by the housekeeper when she tried to help. Seeming to make up my mind, I turned and went upstairs. Outside the study, I could hear Uncle Steve’s agitated voice. “In any case, we absolutely cannot let my family know about the company’s situation. Ava has her college entrance exams coming up soon. We can’t let outside factors affect her state of mind. I’ll try negotiating with the factory again to see if we can work something out. If not, we’ll have to sell off my properties. I still have some jewelry we can pawn too.” “But sir, the only property left in your name is the apartment your mother left you. And that jewelry is all heirlooms from your mother…” “I’ve made up my mind. Go take care of it right away.” As soon as he finished speaking, I pushed open the door and walked in. “Wait, Uncle Steve. I have a way to help you get through this crisis.” The two men turned to look at me appraisingly. Uncle Steve spoke first: “Ava, why did you come up here? I appreciate your concern, but this situation may be different from what you imagine. Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.” “Actually, you know very well that the factory seizure was done deliberately by someone. So no matter how you negotiate, it won’t help. But I have other reliable channels we can use.” Uncle Steve’s gaze on me grew thoughtful. I met his eyes calmly, quietly waiting for him to consider. After all, I was just a high school student. There was no way I should understand the intricacies of business dealings or the company’s predicament. But I didn’t have time to explain everything to him now. After a long silence, Uncle Steve let out a deep sigh. He looked at me as if he had made up his mind. “Let’s hear it then.” When we went downstairs for dinner, Mom looked at us in surprise. “Why are you two coming out of the study together?” Uncle Steve had a big smile on his face and couldn’t stop praising me. “Having Ava in our family is truly a blessing. It really is as they say – a daughter is a treasure!” Mom didn’t know what had happened, but seeing how well Uncle Steve and I were getting along made her smile and pat my head affectionately. Looking at the joy in Uncle Steve’s eyes, I felt a warmth in my heart. In the past few years when Dad decided to start his business, our family had cut back on all expenses to pour money into the company. Dad was often out late for work, missing even my birthday because of calls from his secretary. He would blame Mom for not being a good supportive wife, leading to constant arguments at home. It had been so long since I’d experienced this kind of warm family atmosphere. Now I was feeling it with Uncle Steve. My eyes grew misty without me realizing. While my life was filled with happiness, things were very different for Iris. Because I had introduced Uncle Steve to the factory connections that were originally meant for Dad’s company, while also revealing the defects in Dad’s products. In my past life, it was those defects being discovered that gave others leverage over Dad. To cover up the truth, he had even tried to send me to an old man’s bed. Thankfully I had slit my wrists and used my life to bargain. In the end, I was only saved because of that man… Thinking of this, the image of a tall figure with broad shoulders and a warm embrace floated through my mind… But they weren’t so lucky this time. Dad was in a panic trying to deal with the product issues, and his fledgling company was on the verge of collapse. In his frustration, he would come home to see Iris all dressed up and not studying, which infuriated him even more. He would beat and kick her, and even threw her out into the cold winter night, where she collapsed on the street. A kind person took her to the hospital. Unable to reach Dad, they called Mom instead. I went with Mom to the hospital. In just a month’s time, Iris had become skin and bones. Her exposed skin was covered in bruises. Seeing this, Mom burst into tears and ran to carefully hug Iris. “How could that beast do this? You’re his own daughter!” “Iris, come home with Mom. I’ll take care of you, my poor child.” But in the next moment, Iris violently pushed Mom’s hands away. “No! I’m staying with Dad, even if it means eating gruel and pickles. I’m not leaving him!” Mom stumbled back two steps, looking up at her in disbelief. “This has nothing to do with you. Stop interfering in my life, okay? You just married a rich guy, what’s there to show off about? You came to the hospital specially to laugh at me? Hah, how long do you think you can stay smug? What goes around comes around – you’ll be the ones crying soon enough!” “Iris, how can you say such things?” In Mom’s eyes, Iris had always been gentle and sensible since childhood. That’s why she had chosen Iris first during the divorce. She had run all the way here after getting the call, even wearing mismatched shoes in her hurry. Now she was met with such cruel words from Iris. Iris laughed coldly and turned her face away, then violently smashed her water glass on the floor. “Get out! Stop meddling in my life!” I gave Iris a long look, then chased after Mom as we left the hospital room. Back home, Mom locked herself in her room and cried for a long time, only coming out for dinner. I knew better than to bring up the incident again, but I could tell Mom was truly heartbroken. That night, I got a call from Iris. “This is all your doing, isn’t it? You knew about the defects in Dad’s products and leaked that information. Are you happy now, seeing me beaten to this state?” I pretended not to understand, not saying much. But Iris didn’t believe me. She laughed coldly, and I could imagine the hatred on her face without seeing it. “Ava Chen, the fates of you and I were decided long ago. You may be able to change things temporarily, but can you change them forever? The wounds on my body now will become glories in the future that others can only dream of. While you, no matter how many times you’re reborn, will always end up as the loser beneath my feet, a rat drowning in the gutter!” “Are you done talking? If so, I’m going to sleep. It’s getting late, and dreams are where anything is possible.” I hung up the phone before she could respond. She was right about one thing – the wounds on her body would become glories others could only envy in the future. But those glories weren’t destined or inborn. They came from me. It was me who used my own hands to reverse my fate. It was me who climbed to the top by stepping on those scars. And I looked forward to the moment when Iris would finally realize this truth. As the college entrance exams drew closer, Iris’s absences from school became more and more frequent. Each time she returned, the new injuries on her body sparked gossip among the other students. I would just glance at her briefly before burying my head in my studies again, working hard to make the most of every minute. In my past life, Dad’s frequent beatings had forced me to miss a lot of school. Even at home, I was busy taking care of his drunken rages with no time to study. Add to that severe sleep deprivation, and I had failed the college entrance exam, only managing to get into a vocational school. But this time, I was determined to seize the opportunity, study hard, and get into the university of my dreams. Three months before the exams, Iris suddenly took a week off school. I calculated the timing – this must be when Dad’s company project had completely failed, and he tried to curry favor with investors by sending Iris to an old man’s bed. The old man had unusual tastes, and with Dad standing guard outside the door, Iris had no escape. Just as I was thinking this, the students around me suddenly started buzzing with excitement. I followed their gazes to the classroom door, where I saw Iris standing in designer clothes with perfect makeup. She was affectionately holding the arm of a tall, handsome young man. The young man was backlit, but his chiseled profile in the shadows gradually overlapped with a figure from my memories. I gripped my pen tightly, not even noticing as the tip left a long mark across my paper. How could those two be together? Iris’s gaze swept across the crowd and landed steadily on me, her eyes glittering with excitement and a desire to show off that was painfully obvious. “Let me introduce you all – this is my fiancé, Jackson King. His father just donated a new library to our school.” At her words, the classroom erupted into chaos. After all, Jackson was the son of the richest man in the country. Now that they were engaged, what did it matter if Iris went to college or not? But in the midst of all the chatter, Jackson walked over to my desk. He lowered his eyes to scan my desktop, then fixed his gaze on my face. “So you’re Iris’s sister, Ava Chen?” “I heard your dad’s company lost $5 million because of product defects. That was thanks to you, wasn’t it?” I gripped my fingers tightly. Based on what I knew of Jackson, his current expression – halfway between a smile and not – was like a predator who had spotted its prey, his whole body radiating excitement at the hunt. Iris came over and leaned half her body against Jackson, her voice coy as she said, “I told you on the way here, didn’t I? My little sister here is quite something. You’d better watch out, or she might trip you up someday.” I was still confused about how Jackson had ended up with Iris in the first place, and I couldn’t be bothered to read between the lines of what she was saying. I lowered my head, packed up my things, and walked out. I clearly remembered that in my past life, when I had finally escaped and ran into Jackson, I had traded my dad’s core company project to get him to protect me. But Jackson was cruel by nature. Compared to my father who resorted to domestic violence at the drop of a hat, the scheming Jackson was truly terrifying. But I had already exposed Dad’s core project as part of my plan. So what had Iris traded to get Jackson on her side? Whatever it was, in this life I was determined to stay far away from Jackson. But soon after, I received a message from Jackson. He had completely guessed my thoughts: “Aren’t you curious about why I became Iris’s fiancé?” I immediately blocked his number and asked for leave from school, deciding to go home instead. I knew Iris’s personality well. Now that she was engaged to Jackson, she felt like a slave who had overthrown her masters and become queen. She had finally achieved the life of her dreams and would definitely want to show off. Sure enough, by the time I got home, even Mom knew about it and was asking me worriedly about the details. “The upper class is as deep as the sea, especially a family like Jackson’s. Who knows what hidden motives they might have? Iris may be willful, but she’s still my daughter. I can’t just stand by and watch her jump into the fire.” Uncle Steve didn’t say much. The company was at a critical juncture, and if they could get through this period, the crisis would truly be over. Naturally, he had no energy to concern himself with other people’s business. Dad’s company received a large investment along with the engagement, and just like in my past life, it gradually became successful. But I had an uneasy feeling that something wasn’t right. Sure enough, the night before the college entrance exam, I was cornered by a group of thugs on my way home from school. They lewdly called out my name, clearly targeting me specifically. I clutched my backpack warily. “Who are you? What do you want?” “Little sister, we heard you have your big exam tomorrow. We came specially to help you relieve some stress.” As they spoke, several men with large tattoos on their arms started walking towards me, their lecherous gazes roaming over my body. I felt nauseated, goosebumps rising on my arms. Without thinking, I turned and ran.

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On our third wedding anniversary, I saw a text message from my wife Celina’s first love. “Thank you for taking such good care of my son and lover.” Only then did I realize that my adopted son was actually the child of my wife and her first love. Furious, I called to confront her, but was met with a barrage of angry words. “Are you still jealous over nothing? Ryan just came back to the country and I was welcoming him home, what’s there to fuss about?” “Oh, and Ryan’s sick. Bring some medicine over!” Before I could say anything, she had already hung up. The next second, I was hit by an oncoming truck. As I was losing consciousness, only one thought remained in my mind: If I survive this, I’m getting a divorce. I lay dazed in the operating room. In my ears were the doctors’ constant urging: “Has the patient’s family still not answered the phone?” The young nurse’s voice sounded indignant: “They answered, but she said not to use such a childish and clumsy excuse to fool her.” “Even if the patient dies, it has nothing to do with her…” My heart ached uncontrollably. Strong willpower made me wake up. “Doctor, can I sign for myself?” At first, the doctor hesitated, but with a life hanging in the balance, he gritted his teeth and agreed. Fortunately, the surgery was very successful. I lay in the hospital bed without any anger. That evening. I went to get some water but was knocked down by someone. The wound opened up, and quite a bit of fresh blood seeped through the bandage on my head. The person in front of me was a familiar face. It was none other than Ryan Collins, Celina’s first love. “What are you doing here? Following us, aren’t you?” Before I could speak, Celina had already slapped me. “Why would I follow you?” With a self-mocking smile, I turned and went back to my room, handing her the divorce papers I had prepared. “Let’s get divorced.” She tore up the divorce agreement in her hand, her expression impatient: “Enough! Don’t think backing down will make me feel sorry for you. Get lost!” The next moment, Ryan clutched his chest, his expression pained. He couldn’t help but cry out in agony. “Ryan, are you okay? Is your chest hurting again?” Celina visibly panicked. While supporting Ryan, she glared at me. After sending Ryan back to his room nearby, she angrily ran over. “Bang—” She kicked me, and I fell and hit the wall, caught off guard. Blood seeped through the bandage and stained the wall. Celina stood tall and proud: “Arthur Wilson, it’s one thing to be jealous, but causing Ryan’s heart attack is unforgivable!” “How did I end up with such a vicious husband?” She shook me frantically. “What are you doing? He just had surgery, you can’t…” A nurse nearby finally noticed the situation and pushed Celina away. She looked at Celina warily. First, she helped me back into the room, then lectured Celina for a while. I don’t know how long it was before the voices outside gradually faded away. I was woken up by the sound of the door being pushed open forcefully. She seemed a bit guilty, yet impatient: “Can’t you be more careful when you go out?” “Did you have to end up in the hospital to give me a chance to misunderstand you?” “Fine, I’ll stay here tonight to look after you.” She heavily put down some fruit on the table, took out an apple and handed it to me: “Peel an apple for me, will you? You always peel them the best.” I smiled self-mockingly. See, she was always so presumptuous. What made her think I would definitely take the olive branch she offered? I closed my eyes, ignoring Celina’s peace offering. The room was quiet for a long time. I said: “I’ll move out. I’ll mail you the divorce papers later.” I looked at her. Celina’s body stiffened for a moment. She picked up the fruit knife and started peeling an apple for herself. I didn’t care. Once I had made up my mind, even if she didn’t respond, it wouldn’t change anything. “Bang—” The sound of a cup falling to the ground interrupted the silent atmosphere between Celina and me. At the door of the room. Ryan stood there with a pitiful look, barefoot. Noticing us looking over, he hurriedly tried to clean up the broken pieces on the floor. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I just wanted to come and apologize to Arthur. I know I made you—” Celina’s expression changed. She hurriedly took my coat and rushed out. “I’ll borrow this for a bit.”

The coat was put over Ryan’s feet. Celina muttered: “Can’t you be a little more careful? Doesn’t it hurt if this stuff gets stuck in your foot? If you’re not in pain, I still feel bad.” Ryan smiled with an infatuated look. But when he glanced at me, there was a hint of hidden smugness in his gaze. “Ouch—” Celina cried out in pain, with some blood appearing on her hand. Ryan panicked and quickly took Celina’s hand, blowing on the wound: “A girl’s hands are so delicate, how could you do something like this?” “See, when you get hurt, I’m the one who feels the pain…” I covered my head, not wanting to listen to the voices outside. Probably seeing that I was unmoved, Celina’s words also carried some sarcasm. “Ryan cares about me so much, unlike some people who just lie in bed waiting to be served even when I’m hurt.” I knew she wanted me to clean up, and in the past, I probably would have gone over without hesitation. But now, I didn’t want to. Why should I pay for their mistakes? Celina continued cleaning up the broken pieces with dissatisfaction, making a huge noise. It seemed she was deliberately trying to get my attention. Or perhaps she was trying to vent her frustration. Until the man in the bed next to me couldn’t help but curse: “Go torture yourselves somewhere else, do you have to disturb patients trying to rest?” The man raised his hand, making a gesture as if he was going to hit someone. Celina finally quieted down. “The doctor looking after Ryan is calling me, I’ll go over for a bit.” Having stayed in my room for less than ten minutes, she casually found an excuse to leave. I waved my hand, not even looking up. With a beauty by his side, how could she possibly care about me? Sure enough, she didn’t come that night. The next morning, the sun was already high in the sky. I had already finished one IV bag before she appeared. Holding a bag of crab roe buns and milk in her hand, she threw them on my table, guiltily opening her mouth: “You were already asleep when I came back, so I went to buy you breakfast.” “Your favorite crab roe buns, and milk.” As she spoke, she took out the things from the bag. There were only three buns in the box. I remembered that all items from this place were sold in sets of four. I guess it was probably what was left after the two of them ate. I pushed away the things in her hand. “No need, thank you.” “I’m lactose intolerant and allergic to seafood.” She was stunned for a moment. Just as she was about to speak again, Ryan walked in from outside. He glanced at the things on the table, smiling brightly: “Arthur doesn’t like these things? I specifically chose them for a long time.” “If Arthur doesn’t like them, I’ll go buy something else for him.” He made a move to leave. Celina’s face darkened, and she grabbed Ryan’s arm: “Ryan, you’re not fully recovered yet, why are you running around?” “He can’t possibly reject your kind intentions, can he?” Celina glanced at me sideways, pushing the food towards me, emphasizing each word: “He will eat every bit of it.” I smiled faintly and dismissed them. Ryan immediately put on a hurt face: “Arthur, don’t worry, I won’t come here to bother you anymore.” He turned and left without hesitation. Celina hurried after him, and through the door I could see the two of them hugging in the distance. But I no longer felt any ripples in my heart. The man in the bed next to me looked at the breakfast on my table and swallowed. I chuckled lightly and handed the breakfast to him: “Here, you eat it. I can’t eat this stuff, it would be a waste.” The scene of me handing over the food was just caught by Celina. She came over with a gloomy face and snatched it back. Holding the crab roe bun, she tried to stuff it into my mouth: “This is all Ryan’s goodwill, you have to eat it even if you don’t want to!”

My breathing gradually became difficult. My vision blurred. I wanted to push Celina away, but found my body weak, unable to move an inch. “Stop it! He’s almost gone, how can he still eat—” The man next to me was quicker, pushing Celina away and forcefully digging the crab roe bun out of my mouth. Seeing the situation wasn’t right, Celina stepped back in confusion. “I didn’t mean to, I didn’t do it on purpose.” “I didn’t want to hurt him—” “It’s all his fault, he didn’t explain clearly.” Probably afraid of taking responsibility, she stumbled and ran out. With the help of the man next to me and the medical staff, I finally caught my breath. A flash of desolation passed through my eyes. I looked at the man apologetically: “I’m sorry, I didn’t expect she would actually…” The man waved his hand and sighed: “Let me give you some advice, leave this woman as soon as possible.” “She’s not a good match.” I remained silent. I should have seen it clearly earlier, true love can’t be exchanged for true love. “I will divorce her,” I mumbled after a long while. I didn’t know if I was responding to the man’s words or comforting myself. Until I was discharged, Celina never appeared here again. I guess she had already put me out of her mind. The first thing I did after being discharged was to go home to pack my things and draft a divorce agreement. As soon as I opened the door, I saw John staring at me intently. I was startled. “What are you doing?” I frowned in displeasure. In the past, I might have wanted to reason with this kid. But since I found out he was Celina and Ryan’s biological son, I felt uncomfortable every time I thought about it. John completely ignored my cold attitude. He pouted, looking arrogant. “Hurry up and cook for me. These past few days you weren’t home, I’m tired of eating Mrs. Yang’s cooking.” “I want beef stew and BBQ chicken wings.” He pushed me towards the kitchen. I turned around, avoiding his hand. I glanced at him coldly and said, “If you want to eat something, make it yourself. I have nothing to do with you.” John, who was brutally rejected, burst into tears: “You’re a bad person!” “Why won’t you cook for me?” “You’re just a dog we keep at home, how dare you refuse your master?” My body shook. Looking at John, my eyes became a few degrees colder. What could a child of a few years understand? It was nothing but the thoughts instilled by adults. I laughed coldly, raising my hand high and bringing it down: “I’ve raised you for so many years. Even if you’re unwilling to call me dad, you shouldn’t insult me like this!” “You have no right to humiliate me!” John cried even louder. This sound attracted Celina. She rushed out of the room in a hurry, her clothes disheveled. “Arthur Wilson, stop making trouble! The child is innocent!” I looked at Celina coldly. Her unzipped robe revealed half of her figure. The ambiguous red and blue marks could be vaguely seen through the robe. I smiled mockingly: “If he’s innocent, then you and Ryan taught him to call me your family’s dog?” “So you and Ryan are the ones at fault, right?” Celina frowned, seeming a bit conflicted. “If that’s the case, let’s get divorced then.” “I’ve already signed the divorce papers.” I took out the agreement from my bag and put it on the table. Seeing that I wasn’t joking at all, Celina visibly panicked. I pushed the divorce agreement towards her, reiterating: “Alright, sign it.” Celina stared at me for a long time, gritting her teeth: “Fine, I’ll sign! Don’t regret it!” “You’ll never find someone who loves you as much as I do!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296093”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring