Category: English

For the 999th time, my attempt to seduce the esports tycoon ended in failure. We’ve been married for five years, yet he’s never touched me. I even need his permission for a simple kiss. I always thought he was asexual, uncomfortable with any physical contact. That is, until I received a private video of him in bed with someone else. In the video, the man’s body moved rhythmically, while the woman beneath him wore a cosplay outfit of his favorite game character. His usual cold demeanor was gone, replaced by a look of desire. “Baby… you’re so beautiful…” he murmured. That’s when I realized he wasn’t asexual. He just didn’t love me. After he rejected my advances once again, I said nothing. I simply left the divorce papers and walked away. Later, Lucas Graham stood outside my apartment building. As he watched me walk hand-in-hand with another man, his eyes slowly filled with tears. The screen of my phone was still lit, and I hadn’t yet recovered from the shock of what I’d just seen. In the video, the man’s lean waist moved rhythmically. The dim light cast shadows on his face, adding a touch of lust to his features. The woman beneath him wore elaborate, seductive makeup. Her cosplay outfit was torn to shreds, hanging off her chest, hinting at their previous passion. I had never seen Lucas Graham like this before. His eyes, fixed on the woman, were blood-red and filled with a hint of madness. Who would have thought that the cold, seemingly asexual esports god would be so wild behind closed doors? I shifted my gaze to the scented candle burning on the bedside table and let out a bitter laugh. I had gone to great lengths to win Lucas over, even spending a fortune on aphrodisiac essential oils. I’d even added ylang-ylang to my shower gel for its reputed arousing effects. I felt a lump in my throat and had to swallow hard to keep from crying. When I first met Lucas after college graduation, his cold face and unapproachable demeanor made him seem like an unreachable flower on a high cliff. But the colder he was, the more it sparked my desire to conquer him. The more he pushed me away, the more determined I became to make him my boyfriend. I even made a bet with him: “In three years, I’ll definitely make you fall in love with me.” I pursued him relentlessly, using every trick in the book. My closet was bursting with sexy lingerie, but Lucas remained unmoved. Then, a year later, he suddenly proposed to me. I thought my efforts had finally paid off. I was so touched I couldn’t even speak. But only now do I understand. Marrying me was just a way to suppress the scandal of him sleeping with his fans. I was nothing more than his shield. Lucas came home late that night. Although he maintained his usual cold facade, I caught sight of the hidden red marks on his neck. From the moment he entered until he reached the bedroom, he didn’t even spare me a glance. Just as the door was about to close, I called out to him. “Lucas, do you remember the bet I made when we first met?” Lucas’s brows furrowed instantly, his impatience evident. “I’m very tired today. I don’t have time for your nonsense.” “If you’re bored, go find a job. Stop being so paranoid.” I fought back the lump in my throat. “When we first met, I bet you that if I couldn’t make you fall for me in three years, I would…” But before I could finish, Lucas’s phone rang, interrupting me. He glanced at the caller ID and immediately answered. Whatever was said on the other end made his face, for the first time, show a panicked expression. “Wasn’t she fine this afternoon? How did she suddenly relapse?” “I’ll find a match as soon as possible!” Lucas threw on his jacket and rushed out. As he passed the couch, he suddenly stopped. “I remember you’re O negative too. Come with me for a matching test.” Lucas didn’t give me time to react, yanking me off the couch. The temperature difference between day and night in spring was significant. I was only wearing a thin nightgown when Lucas pulled me out of the house. By the time we reached the hospital, my hands and feet were purple from the cold, and I couldn’t stop shivering. Lucas, on the other hand, was anxiously talking to the doctor, not sparing me a single glance. It was a passing nurse who couldn’t bear to see my state and gave me a blanket. “She has the same blood type as Evelyn. As long as she’s a match, we can take as many stem cells as we need.” Several nurses immediately surrounded me, inserting a needle into my skin. The anesthetic quickly took effect. In my hazy state, I saw Lucas’s cold face. “As long as it can cure Evelyn, I don’t care if all her stem cells are drained.” When I woke up again, there was a piercing pain in my lower back, and the IV in my hand had backflowed. Across from me, Lucas was tenderly moistening the lips of the woman lying in bed with a damp cloth, occasionally looking up to check the IV drip. The gentle tone he used to comfort her was something I had never heard in our three years together. It was then that I realized, a heart that doesn’t love me can never be warmed, no matter what I do. I pulled out the IV needle from my hand, hissing in pain. Seeing me awake, the smile instantly vanished from Lucas’s face. “Don’t think acting weak will make me feel sorry for you.” “It’s just stem cell donation, not like it’s going to kill you.”

The color drained from my face, and when I opened my mouth, my dry, cracked lips split painfully. Evelyn quickly wrapped her arm around Lucas’s. “Lucas, don’t blame Aria,” she said softly. “Even though the doctor said it was a minor procedure, you took 500ml of stem cells from her at once. How could she recover so quickly?” She leaned on Lucas’s shoulder, appearing weak and fragile. But the look in her eyes as she gazed at me couldn’t hide her hostility. I lifted my hospital gown, only then noticing the numerous needle marks covering my body. Normally, donors give a maximum of 200ml, but Lucas had taken 500ml from me in one go. No wonder I felt so weak when I woke up. A bitter smile tugged at my lips. It seemed I had been fooling myself all along. I was nothing more than a choice he made after weighing the pros and cons. Lucas picked up a fruit knife and started peeling an apple for Evelyn, speaking casually. “To prevent Evelyn from relapsing in the future, we had to take a bit extra.” “Besides, stem cells regenerate in a few days. Don’t be so stingy.” Seeing his nonchalant attitude, I felt a stabbing pain in my chest. Excessive stem cell extraction could lead to blood clotting disorders, and in severe cases, even blood cancer. Yet my life and death meant nothing more to him than a casual remark about being prepared. Fearing I might vomit if I looked at him and Evelyn any longer, I decided to go home that very day. Lying in bed, I stared at our wedding photo on the wall and let out a sarcastic laugh. If I was going to leave, I might as well make a clean break. I booked a flight for three days later, but after waiting half a day, I still hadn’t received the confirmation code. Just as I was wondering what was wrong, Lucas called. His voice was uncharacteristically tense. “Aria, why are you booking a flight?” I used to book Lucas’s business flights, so the phone number was automatically filled in with his. “I’ve been feeling down lately. I’m going to visit a friend for a few days.” “Well, be careful-” But before Lucas could finish, a woman’s fragile voice came through the receiver. “Lucas, my head hurts so much…” Lucas hung up without a moment’s hesitation. In his heart, I had always been last on the list. The next day, when I returned home, I found the master bedroom door wide open, with Evelyn lying on the bed in her loungewear. Seeing me return, she lazily raised her eyes, adopting the air of the lady of the house. “Welcome back, sis.” Lucas emerged from the kitchen upon hearing the commotion and explained in a deep voice, “Evelyn is still recovering. It’s more convenient for me to take care of her here.” “You don’t mind me making this decision, do you?” I shook my head and smiled. “Not at all.” A flash of surprise crossed Lucas’s face. He lowered his gaze, carefully examining my expression. Seeing no signs of displeasure in my words or manner, he finally relaxed. In the past, I had been possessive of him. Even if he exchanged a few more words with a female server, I would sarcastically comment on it, let alone allow a woman to move in and live with him. I gathered my belongings from the master bedroom. Apart from my daily clothes, I threw away all the lingerie and scented candles I had bought to seduce Lucas into the garbage bin downstairs. Even the crystal pendant he had bought me when we first got together went into the trash. Lucas strode over, his brow furrowed in anger. “Why are you throwing that away?” I continued packing my suitcase, “Shouldn’t broken things be thrown away?” Broken things should be discarded, just like spoiled feelings. Lucas nodded slowly, seeming to agree. “If it’s broken, throw it away. I’ll buy you a new one later.” With that, he dove back into the kitchen to make soup for Evelyn.

I had just finished packing my suitcase when I noticed a figure standing in the doorway. “I advise you not to embarrass yourself. If you’re smart, you’ll divorce Lucas.” “Stolen love will never last.” “You probably don’t know this, but I’ve known Lucas for longer than you have.” She slowly approached me, her contemptuous gaze making me extremely uncomfortable. “You don’t think I secretly filmed that video I sent you, do you?” “There’s a folder named ‘ERO’ on Lucas’s computer E drive. It’s full of videos he recorded himself. He says they’re all proof of his love for me.” I looked at Evelyn’s superior expression and let out a scornful laugh. “If he loves you so much, why didn’t he marry you?” “As long as I’m here, you’re nothing but a mistress who can’t see the light of day.” Evelyn seemed to be angered by the word ‘mistress’. She grabbed my hair violently. “Are you proud of being Lucas’s shield?” “So what if you’re Lucas’s wife? Has he touched you in the two years you’ve been married?” “You think you’re worthy of competing with me for Lucas?” She slammed my head against the bedside table. My eyes were covered in blood, and I was in too much pain to fight back. Just when I thought she was going to continue assaulting me, she grabbed my hand and suddenly slapped herself with it. “What are you doing?!” Lucas’s angry shout came from the doorway. He pushed me away and, upon seeing the handprint on Evelyn’s face, he turned to glare at me fiercely. “Is this how you show you can’t accept Evelyn?” “At first, I really thought you had changed and become sensible. I didn’t expect you to pull these tricks behind my back.” “How many times do I have to explain to you that Evelyn and I are just friends? Can you stop being so paranoid?” My face was covered in tears and blood. Faced with his fury, every muscle in my body tensed up. Evelyn fell weakly into Lucas’s arms. “Lucas, don’t blame Aria. This is all my fault.” “I shouldn’t have come here to bother her… I’ll leave right now if it means you two can make up!” Evelyn shot me a triumphant smile from Lucas’s arms. When I met Lucas’s angry eyes, my heart sank to the bottom. “I didn’t hit her…” “Enough!” Lucas slapped me to the ground. “You vicious woman, how dare you lie!” “I’ve been too lenient with you!” He dragged me up from the floor, ignoring my bleeding forehead, and locked me in the stairwell. “Stay in there and reflect on what you’ve done wrong. I’ll let you out when you’ve figured it out!” The stairwell was dark and cramped, without a hint of light. I have claustrophobia and am terrified of being alone in enclosed, dark spaces. But even though I shouted until my throat was raw and scratched the door until my fingers bled, Lucas showed no signs of softening. After what seemed like an eternity, the housekeeper finally opened the door from the outside. She threw a bag at my head. “Mr. Graham has taken Miss Rose to a gala. The temperature’s dropping tonight, and he’s worried Miss Rose might catch cold. He wants you to bring this coat to her.” I opened the bag. The coat was a limited edition from last month’s Paris Fashion Week. Just one of its cufflinks was worth over a million dollars. “Alright.” I took the bag and went back to my room to get my packed suitcase and documents. Then I went to the study to find the file Evelyn had mentioned, copying all its contents. As I passed the housekeeper on my way downstairs, I said quietly, “When Lucas returns, tell him I’ve left him a big surprise in the study.” Then, without looking back, I took a taxi straight to the airport. Only when I was seated on the plane did I dare to let out the frustration I had been holding in my heart. Three years. It was time to end this dysfunctional love. At the gala, Lucas waited for over an hour but didn’t see me. He called me countless times, but every call went straight to voicemail. He drove home and frantically questioned the housekeeper. “Where did my wife go?” “Did she act strange before she left?” Scared by Lucas’s behavior, the housekeeper answered truthfully. “Mrs. Graham went to your study before she left.” “She also said… she left you a gift.”

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At the annual party, just as my husband was about to announce our relationship, his intern deliberately put up the wrong photos. Instead of our wedding pictures, the screen flashed sweet, intimate shots of him and the intern. I stayed quiet for a moment, then casually stepped aside, giving them the spotlight. I even raised my glass and offered a toast, wishing them a lifetime of happiness. But the intern shattered her glass, her eyes brimming with tears. “Ms. Ashford, you know I’m allergic to alcohol, yet you still pushed me to drink. Are you really wishing me well, or trying to hurt me?” That night, my husband called an emergency meeting. I thought he would have my back, but instead, he tore into me, accusing me of bullying the new hire, questioning my character, and threatening to take away my year-end bonus and commission to make it up to her. The room fell silent, and everyone stared at me. I just smiled calmly and said, “Wow, with a sense of humor like that, it’s a shame you’re not on stage.”

The moment I finished speaking, Callum Huxley’s expression darkened. Without warning, he grabbed a pen from the table and threw it at me. I didn’t move quickly enough, and the sharp tip grazed my right cheek, leaving a long, painful cut. Gasps filled the room. Elowen Marlowe, the intern, looked at me with concern, though a hint of satisfaction flickered in her eyes. I endured the pain, lifting my gaze to Callum, but he simply glanced at me before turning his attention elsewhere. His voice was cold, his words cutting. “Sylvie, you’ve been making trouble for the new hire. Take this as a lesson and don’t do it again.” I almost laughed. He had a real talent for twisting things around. Earlier, when he called the emergency meeting, I’d held on to a small hope that he would defend me. Instead, it was clear this meeting was only to pacify Elowen. Callum’s words hung in the air, and soon, I felt eyes on me, sympathy from some, judgment from others. One of my colleagues, someone who had always been supportive, spoke up, “Mr. Huxley, Elowen doesn’t even have an alcohol allergy. At the last department gathering, she drank more than anyone else…” Before she could finish, Callum slammed his hand on the table, cutting her off. He turned to look at me, his expression cold and unwavering. “Ellie isn’t lying. You’ve been targeting her, rallying people against her. Anyone who defends Sylvie can forget about their bonus.” The room went silent. Elowen, ever the actress, managed a small, knowing smile before speaking, her voice sweet and innocent. “Callum, don’t blame Sylvie. I’m sure she’s just upset because you gave me her project. If I had known it would upset her this much, I wouldn’t have taken it. Sylvie, if you feel that strongly about it, I’ll give it back to you. And as for my mother’s medical bill, I’ll find a way to handle it.” I felt a pang of frustration. Not long ago, Callum had taken pity on Elowen, thinking her struggles in the city alone were too much to bear. He’d handed over a project I had already put most of the work into, leaving her to finish what was easy. I’d objected, but he called me heartless. “Ellie has a sick mother and needs support. Can’t you be a little more understanding? And besides, you’re the one who hired her. You should be looking out for her.” It was settled, and though I’d been reluctant, I’d eventually given in to avoid further conflict. Now, here was Elowen, pretending to offer the project back with a smile, but it was obvious she had no intention of following through. And Callum, as always, bought into it. He fixed me with an icy gaze, his voice sharp as he spoke, “It’s just a few projects. Do you really have to be this petty? How can someone so selfish even work here? You’re more than capable. Why make a big deal out of it? You don’t need these projects, but for Ellie, they’re her mother’s medical bills. Can’t you show some compassion?” I couldn’t help but feel the sting of his words. “I’m capable, yes. But that doesn’t mean you can just use me however you like. Elowen’s problems aren’t mine to solve. Why should I be the one to pay for them?” At my words, Callum’s brow furrowed, and his tone turned icy. “Sylvie, after all this time, is money all you care about? When did you become so… cold? So ruthless?” I stared at him, the words feeling like they came from a stranger. He used to say my practicality was charming, and that I had the instincts of an entrepreneur. Now, apparently, that very trait was something he despised. It was funny, in a way. When love fades, even your strengths turn into weaknesses. When I stayed quiet, Callum assumed I was agreeing with him. He raised an eyebrow and spoke down to me with that same familiar superiority. “So, you’ve accepted it, huh? Realizing you were wrong? Don’t bring up the project again. This was your fault from the start. Apologize to Ellie, write an apology, and get her to sign off on it. Then we’re done with it.” One of my colleagues, someone I’d always gotten along with, gently tugged at my sleeve and whispered, “Sylvie, just do what Mr. Huxley says. You don’t need to throw away your future over this.” I let out a dry laugh. The whole office thought Callum and Elowen were a couple, but they had no idea that the man constantly giving me grief was my husband of six years, the one I had secretly married. Over the years, Callum had used the company’s growth as an excuse, never wanting to go public about us. I had hoped that the annual meeting would finally bring that moment, but Elowen ruined it. I’d always been good to her. When she couldn’t find a job, I hired her, trained her, and helped her when she needed it. And this was how she repaid me… a backstabber. As I wasn’t responding, Elowen’s eyes started to well up. “Sylvie, why aren’t you saying anything? You really do hate me, don’t you? Fine, I’ll just quit. If I’m such a bother, I’ll leave.” She wiped her tears, sniffling as she turned to walk away. “And for my mom’s medical bills, I’ll just sell my kidney or something…” Callum quickly grabbed her, and before I could react, he slapped me across the face. “Sylvie, are you done yet? Is it not enough to drive Elowen to the edge? Is that what you want?” The sting from the slap was sharp, and the cut on my face that had barely healed was reopened, blood starting to seep through. I held my cheek, glaring at Callum. For years, I’d helped him build this company from scratch. To get investors, I waited outside their offices in a snowstorm, standing out there all night, only to end up with a fever for a week. Back then, Callum had been full of concern, promising that when he made it big, he’d never forget me. Now that he was successful, he was using that power to control me. Callum saw the look in my eyes and, without a hint of remorse, spoke coldly, “What are you staring at? Sylvie, listen carefully. If you keep pushing Ellie, don’t say I didn’t warn you. I’ll fire you.” I chuckled bitterly. Callum thought I was giving in, and his tone softened. “Alright, apologize to Ellie, and I’ll let it go. We won’t make a big deal out of it.” If this had happened a few years ago, I would have swallowed my pride, and apologized even though I knew it wasn’t right. But not now. I laughed coldly, then slapped him right back across the face. “This one’s for you. As for firing me? I don’t need you to do that. I’ll quit right now.”

“What? You’re quitting?” Callum stood motionless, his gaze hardening, a flicker of irritation passing through his eyes as if he’d forgotten about the slap I’d just delivered. Elowen’s smile stretched wider, but her tone was dripping with insincerity. “Sylvie, don’t take what Callum said to heart. He was just angry. You’re not getting any younger, and with how tough the job market is, if you quit, you won’t find another job like this. I don’t mean to be blunt, but you can’t throw away your future like this.” Her words seemed to strike a nerve, and Callum’s expression hardened, his jaw tightening as if he was trying to keep his frustration in check. “Sylvie, are you really going to make this harder than it needs to be?” I remained composed, my gaze unshaken. “I’m not making things difficult. I’m just being clear. Since I’ve already made my decision, could you return the bonuses and commissions you withheld? If not, I’ll have no choice but to pursue legal action. And about the injury on my face, let’s settle the medical expenses.” Callum’s features twisted with frustration, his eyes narrowing as his patience wore thin. “Sylvie!” I didn’t waste another moment on him. I pulled out my phone, preparing to contact a lawyer. When Callum saw I was serious, he reluctantly transferred the money, his lips curling into a sneer as he did so. His voice, however, still carried the weight of condescension. “Sylvie, how did you become like this? I’m truly disappointed.” In the past, a remark like that would have made me second-guess everything, wondering if I had done something wrong. I would have apologized, begging for forgiveness, and trying to make things right. But now I didn’t care anymore. The money was in my account, and as for Callum, his opinion no longer mattered to me. My feelings for him had long since faded. Callum, still expecting an apology that never came, shot me a look of disbelief, his brows furrowing as he stared at me in frustration. “Sylvie, you’re hopeless!” He stormed off, dragging Elowen behind him, his anger radiating in every step. Once they were far enough away, I contacted HR and submitted my resignation. They approved it online but informed me I needed a physical resignation letter signed by Callum. I printed out the letter, knowing I’d need to get his signature when the opportunity arose. After everything was set, I took a cab home. This time, my decision was final. I was done with Callum. I immediately called my parents and told them everything that had happened. “Mom, Dad, I can’t stay with Callum anymore. I’m moving back home.” They didn’t scold me. Instead, their voices were full of concern and understanding. “Of course, we support you. Your mom and I will be waiting for you.” Their warmth brought a surge of relief, and for the first time in a long while, I felt truly at peace. From the start, my parents had warned me about Callum, but I had been too stubborn to listen. Now, I knew they had been right all along. It wasn’t too late to change. I would no longer live for him. From now on, I would live for myself. After hanging up, I quickly bought a ticket to return home. Callum and I had been married for years, but we never officially registered our marriage. Thank goodness we hadn’t, or leaving wouldn’t have been so simple. This time, it was I who turned the page, choosing to close the chapter on him once and for all.

When I arrived home, I quickly packed my things. I had lived here for six years, yet the majority of what I owned could be tucked into a single suitcase. Most of the belongings in the house were Callum’s. He often spoke about how all his money went into the company, leaving us struggling. Over the years, I had cut back on my own needs to buy him expensive gifts, while my clothes, worn and faded, remained long past their prime. Once my things were packed, I couldn’t bring myself to leave the wedding photo hanging on the wall. I took it down and discarded it, along with the trash. After disposing of the trash, I didn’t head home immediately. I made a stop at a jewelry store, planning to sell the ring Callum had given me when he proposed. It felt like the right way to close the chapter on everything we had shared. The saleswoman looked at me with surprise as I handed over the ring. “Are you sure you want to sell it?” This was the ring Callum had saved for two years to buy. He had promised me that once he was more stable, he would replace it with a bigger, more beautiful one. But those promises never materialized. Over the years, I had watched him buy luxury items for others, while I was left with nothing. With a deep breath, I removed the ring and nodded. “Yes, I’m sure.” Just as the associate took the ring, I heard a familiar voice. “Callum, you’ve been so good to me and my mom.” Looking up, I saw Elowen, Callum, and her mother. Callum was busy picking out jewelry for them, his eyes lighting up every time they expressed interest in something. Without hesitation, he had the store pack it all up. The sight made something inside me tighten. I remembered when the company went public, and I had asked Callum for a new ring. He dismissed me, saying I was being materialistic and that we didn’t have the money for it. He promised me he’d buy jewelry for me once the company was stable. But after six years, that promise had never been kept. He had always been stingy with me, yet here he was, freely spending on Elowen and her mother. The realization hit me hard. Money followed love. That much was painfully clear now. And then I watched him allow Elowen’s mother, whose hands were covered in sweat, to touch him without a second thought. My mind drifted to the time my mother came to visit. After spending hours in the kitchen, tired and sweaty, she had asked Callum to pass her a plate. He had looked at her as though she were beneath him, then washed his hands several times as if she had dirtied them. I was snapped from my thoughts by Elowen’s voice, dripping with sarcasm. “Wow, what a coincidence, Sylvie. I didn’t think we’d run into you here. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were following us.” Callum, as usual, took the bait. His gaze hardened, and he glared at me. “Sylvie, what’s your deal now? Are you really stalking us?” I kept my tone calm, my words measured. “I’m not stalking anyone. I’m here to sell jewelry.” He shot me a quick, dismissive glance, not even noticing the ring was gone. Clearly, his attention was elsewhere. “Well, since you’re here, you might as well sign this,” I said, pulling out my resignation letter and pen. He barely looked at the document before signing it, then pulled me aside. “You’re not fooling anyone,” he muttered. “Let me guess. This is your way of making up for everything, right? A gift to win me back? What is it this time? A house? A car?” I realized then that every time we had a falling out, I had always given him something, hoping it would fix things. This time, Callum would be disappointed. What he had just signed wasn’t a gift. It was my resignation letter.

Before I could speak, Elowen’s mom, Sarah Marlowe, moved between us, studying me with a discerning eye. “Who is this?” Elowen immediately jumped in, a smirk on her face. “She’s just someone who runs errands for Callum. She even delivered documents for him earlier.” I could see the disdain flicker in Sarah’s eyes as she looked me over. Her judgment was clear, and yet, Callum said nothing. He stood by, detached, letting them humiliate me without a word of protest. He tugged at my sleeve, lowering his voice. “Elowen’s mom has a weak heart. I promised Elowen I’d play along and act like her boyfriend in front of her. Don’t ruin this for her.” In the past, I would have reacted, raised my voice, argued, or demanded respect. But today, I wasn’t going to waste my energy. I was leaving soon, after all. Just then, Callum’s phone rang. It was his assistant, informing him of a critical meeting that required his immediate attention. He was about to respond, but Elowen grabbed his hand, her tone laced with innocence. “Callum, you promised you’d spend the day with my mom shopping…” I expected Callum to refuse. After all, he’d always placed business first. I recalled a time when I asked him to pick up my mom from the station, and he refused, claiming work was more important. I had to rush back myself. But surprisingly, Callum nodded without hesitation. “Don’t worry. I always keep my promises.” He turned to me, a small, almost condescending smile playing on his lips. “Sylvie, if you cover the meeting for me, I might make it up to you by celebrating our sixth anniversary.” His words hit like a punch to the gut. I remembered our sixth anniversary all too well. He had promised to meet me after work, but I had waited for hours, only to discover he was with Elowen, celebrating her birthday. That incident had led to weeks of silence between us, a wound that never quite healed. The idea that he would now offer to make it up to me felt hollow. Had he made this offer a year ago, I might have eagerly accepted. But now, all I could feel was indifference. “I’m sorry,” I replied, my voice even. “I have other things to do.” Elowen, seizing the moment, spoke up with mock sweetness, “Sylvie, it’s already after hours. What could you possibly have to do? Don’t tell me you just don’t like us. If that’s the case, we’ll leave right away, no trouble.” The tension in the air was palpable. Sarah, sensing something was off, started to show signs of distress. “Wait a second. Didn’t you say she was just running errands for you? Elowen, are you hiding something from me? Are you and Callum really a couple, or is this all a lie?” Callum quickly turned to comfort Sarah, then pulled me aside, his face hardening. “Sylvie, I’ve told you a hundred times. Ellie’s mom can’t handle any stress. Why do you keep pushing it? I thought you were being more understanding, but you’re still being completely unreasonable.” I gave a calm, measured response. “I really do have things to take care of. I need to go home and grab my stuff, and I’ve got a bus to catch…” Callum’s expression grew darker. “So now you’re using leaving as some kind of threat? I’ve been way too soft on you. I promised Ellie and her mom I’d spend the day with them. You have to go in my place, or don’t blame me if I fire you without a second thought.” His strictness had always been the same, even when I was sick and needed time off. But when it came to Elowen, he’d bend over backwards. A single sneeze from her, and he’d give her a week of paid leave without question. He thought I would fold like I always had, but this time, I remained calm, pulling out the resignation letter he had signed earlier and handing it to him. “Callum, even if you’re the CEO, you don’t have the right to order me around. Because just now, you did sign my resignation.” He looked at the letter in shock, finally realizing what he’d just signed. His face went cold. “Are you serious? Is it because I spent time with Ellie and her mom? Or because I spoke up at the meeting? Or maybe because I let Elowen take your spotlight?” He knew exactly where my frustrations lay but chose to feign ignorance. I didn’t have the energy to argue any longer and started to walk away. But as I moved, the store clerk accidentally knocked my ring off the counter, sending it rolling toward Callum. “This is?” Callum bent down, picked it up, and when he saw the familiar engraving and our initials on it, he froze, staring at it. “Sylvie, this is the wedding ring I gave you, isn’t it? You… you sold it?” Before I could respond, my phone rang. I picked it up, but my finger slipped, hitting the speakerphone button instead. My mom’s voice immediately came through the speaker. “Sweetheart, when will you be here? Your dad and I are already on our way to pick you up.” Callum’s expression shifted, panic flashing in his eyes for the briefest moment before it was quickly replaced with a colder, more controlled look. “So this is your plan? Going back home? Sylvie, if you keep acting like this, there’s no way I’m making an official announcement with you.” Every time he wanted something from me, he used the threat of the official announcement to control me. In the past, I had longed for it, always giving in. But now, with my decision made, I no longer cared. I gave a small, almost imperceptible smile, and with a calm voice, I said, “Then we don’t need an official announcement. After all, we never even got the marriage certificate. We were never really a married couple.” “You’re being ridiculous. We’ve been married for six years. How could we not have a marriage certificate? Sylvie, enough with this childish behavior.”

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My brother killed a police officer while driving drunk, but my whole family is forcing me to take the blame for him. Mom said, “Your brother has always been sickly. What’s wrong with helping him serve a few years in prison? It’s not a big deal. Why are you being so selfish?” Dad yelled, “How did I raise such an ungrateful child? If you had locked your car properly, your brother wouldn’t have been able to take it for a joyride!” My fiancée even threatened me, “If you don’t take the fall for Adam, I’ll break up with you! He’s always been fragile, and now he’s crying his eyes out. Don’t you have a heart?” I refused to accept it, but my family threatened to kill themselves if I didn’t comply. In the end, to repay my parents for raising me, I committed suicide instead of my brother. 1 When I saw my spirit floating next to my mother, I finally realized I was dead. At that moment, the police were staring sternly at my parents: “Let me ask you one more time, it was your older son, James, who drove drunk, assaulted an officer, and fled the scene, correct?” My father immediately nodded: “His mother and I can both testify that he was driving that day! It’s just like him to do something like this!” Fearing the police might not believe them, my mother quickly chimed in: “Yes, yes! It was definitely him. That child has always been a liar, bullying his brother. He’s no good!” With just a few words, the police closed the case. Witnessing this scene, I felt an indescribable bitterness and heartache. The moments before my death flashed before my eyes. Adam had stolen my car and driven drunk. When he was stopped by a traffic officer, he was so brazen as to run over the officer, killing him on the spot. When my parents found out, their first reaction wasn’t to blame him, but to call me and order me to take the fall. How could I agree? If I agreed, my life would be ruined! Why should I go to prison for him? But as soon as I refused, my parents, who had been speaking to me nicely on the phone just seconds before, immediately changed their tune. Mom said, “Your brother has always been sickly. What’s wrong with helping him serve a few years in prison? It’s not a big deal. Why are you being so selfish?” Dad yelled, “How did I raise such an ungrateful child? If you had locked your car properly, your brother wouldn’t have been able to take it for a joyride!” My fiancée, Emily, upon hearing the news, even called to threaten me for my brother’s sake: “If you don’t take the fall for Adam, I’ll break up with you! He’s always been fragile, and now he’s crying his eyes out. Don’t you have a heart?” To force me to comply, my parents even threatened to jump off a building, leaving me, the ungrateful child, to live with the guilt. But little did they know that Adam’s crime wouldn’t just result in a prison sentence. He had intentionally run over a police officer, killing several officers. The crime was so severe that he would either face the death penalty or life imprisonment! In the end, to repay my parents for raising me, I committed suicide instead of my brother. I died, and they should all be satisfied now.

With a sense of resentment, my spirit floated to where my brother Adam was. At that moment, in the car parked in front of our house, Adam was looking at my girlfriend Emily with a pitiful expression: “Emily… I should go to prison. If I suffer, James will be happy, right? I don’t want you to be hated by him because of me…” Seeing him like this, Emily’s heart melted, and she pulled him into her arms: “Adam, don’t say such silly things! It wasn’t your fault, and besides, you’re not well. What’s wrong with James taking your place in prison? He’ll be fine!” Adam’s tears started to fall. “James will definitely hate me. What if he tries to run me over with his car to get revenge?” Hearing his fake, pitiful words, the anger in my heart was about to erupt. He always used these low tactics to slander me, creating a weak persona to gain everyone’s sympathy. But they always believed him wholeheartedly. Slowly, I, the innocent one, became a selfish liar in their eyes, while he became the victim of my daily bullying! Sure enough, Emily immediately got angry. “If he dares to try and run you over, I’ll make sure he goes back to prison! People like him will get what’s coming to them sooner or later!” Hearing this, Adam finally relaxed and leaned against Emily. “Emily, you’re so good to me.” Emily’s expression softened again as she turned to him. “Don’t worry, I won’t let him bully you.” Watching this scene, the anger in my heart had turned into bitterness and self-mockery. Was this the girlfriend I had always cherished and cared for? How ridiculous. That evening, my parents returned home from the police station. As soon as they entered, my mother, her face streaked with tears, hugged Adam: “Adam, your brother has agreed to turn himself in. The police have accepted our report. You poor thing, you’ve suffered so much, but you don’t have to be afraid anymore!” A flash of triumph and excitement crossed Adam’s eyes, but it quickly turned into fake concern: “Mom, it’s all my fault. I’m the reason James is suffering. Even if he bullies me every day like he used to when he gets out, I’ll endure it.” Upon hearing this, my parents, who had been smiling just moments ago, became furious: “He bullies you every day! That beast, doing such things behind our backs!” “We were right to force him to go to prison! I can’t believe we raised such a heartless, ungrateful child. We must have sinned in our past lives!” My girlfriend also chimed in, “Hmph, I’ll break up with him as soon as he gets out of prison. Someone like him can’t even compare to a kind-hearted child like Adam!” These words were like poisoned daggers piercing my heart. I had to struggle to keep my emotions from falling apart. The scene of the four of them happily together undoubtedly told me that I had always been the unwanted one.

That night, the first thing the family did was to erase all traces of my existence. They said that leaving the belongings of a bad seed like me would bring bad luck. My father even posted on social media, distancing himself from me, his murderer son in prison. My girlfriend moved in, saying she wanted to atone for my sins by taking care of my brother. Watching everything this family did, my heart turned ice cold. Was this the family I had given my life to repay? What was I to them? A sense of helplessness washed over me. This house, everything in it, was bought with money I had scraped together through hard work. Now, not only was Adam the owner, but I, who was still paying the mortgage, wasn’t even worthy of entering this home anymore. Just then, the silence in the room was broken by a phone ringing. Emily took out her phone and looked at the caller ID. It was Mark, my best friend from college. He had always disliked Emily, saying she didn’t deserve all the love I gave her. I hadn’t listened to him. Now I knew how much I regretted that. Emily frowned but still answered the call: “What’s wrong with you, Mark? Why are you calling me?” As soon as she finished speaking, Mark’s voice roared through the phone: “Emily, James is dead! You killed him for that beast, do you know that? He jumped to his death!” The deafening voice came through, making Emily feel dizzy. Before she could speak, my mother snatched the phone: “Who are you calling a beast? What trick is Adam trying to play now? Hasn’t he had enough?” “Always lying to get our attention! Tell him for me, stop using such despicable methods. I’m disgusted on his behalf!” Mark laughed bitterly: “Fine, fine. He’s despicable, he’s full of lies. You don’t deserve to be his family. You’d better not regret this!” At this moment, Adam seized the opportunity, putting on a tearful expression and shouting: “Mark, I know James asked you to bully me. It’s okay if I’m bullied, it’s all my fault. I made James unhappy! But please don’t scold Mom and Dad, don’t be angry with Emily. I’ll do anything…”

As soon as he said this, my parents and Emily’s eyes turned red. My mother hugged him tightly, crying and calling him a good child, asking how he could be so understanding. My father grabbed the phone and shouted, “Tell that ungrateful James to serve his time well in prison. Let him sit there until his black heart turns white. I don’t have such a beast for a son!” Mark sneered. It seemed he had experienced the tragedy of my life in this family. After a few seconds of silence, he laughed coldly and said: “Just you wait!” “I will definitely uncover the truth and make sure you beasts get the punishment you deserve!” “I will clear James’s name!”

With that, he hung up the phone, while my parents continued to curse at the silent device. Emily softly comforted Adam: “Adam, don’t be afraid. Even though James’s friends are no good, I will protect you!” Adam wiped his tears: “Emily, you’re so good to me. If it weren’t for you all, I don’t know what James would do to me…” “It’s my fault. I must have done something wrong for James to hate me so much.” I coldly watched him. From childhood, it had always been him playing the victim, slandering me in various ways. Now it had somehow become my fault. But my parents didn’t see it that way. My mother went to the kitchen to start preparing dinner: “Anyway, he’s already in prison. He can’t come and bother us anymore. We can finally have a few years of peace!” Bother? When I heard that word, I was momentarily stunned. So, to this family, I had always been an unwelcome disturbance? Thinking back to the barely concealed looks of disgust on my parents’ faces every time I came home. It turns out they had never considered me part of the family in their hearts. Only I had been foolishly giving my all. At the dinner table, my parents kept piling food onto Adam’s plate, neglecting their own. Adam quickly stopped them: “That’s enough, Mom and Dad. It’s too much, I can’t eat it all.” Only then did my parents stop, putting down their chopsticks and smiling tenderly at him: “Eat more. You’ve lost weight from the shock of the past few days. You need to regain your strength.” Adam agreed, then put down his chopsticks and hesitantly said: “Mom, Dad, I’ve learned my lesson from this incident. It all happened because I wasn’t familiar with James’s car. If I had my own car, this wouldn’t have happened.” “I want to buy a car. I’ve already found one online, it’s only $30,000!” Hearing this, my parents’ hands paused mid-air, as if considering the feasibility of this request. Seeing their reaction, Adam immediately said with guilt: “I’m sorry, Mom and Dad. I shouldn’t have such thoughts. I’ve already caused you so much trouble…” This trick always worked. My mother immediately made the decision: “It’s just a car, what’s the big deal! Your brother is in prison anyway, his car is just sitting there unused. We’ll sell his car and buy you a new one.” Emily quickly nodded: “Yes, yes! If there’s not enough money, I’ll cover the rest. I haven’t touched any of the engagement money James gave me, it’s all for you to use!” Adam looked troubled and said: “Won’t James be upset when he gets out…” Emily quickly interjected: “Of course not! You’re overthinking it. We’re helping him get rid of the accident car, he should thank us!” With the conversation having reached this point, no one had the appetite to continue eating. My parents took out their phones and comforted Adam: “Don’t worry, Adam. We’ll call the prison right now and ask where your brother kept his car keys. We’ll take care of it today!” Adam said, “Mom, Dad, there’s no need to rush,” but the smile he couldn’t suppress betrayed him. After the call connected, my parents quickly put on serious faces: “Hello, we’re looking for the prisoner James Chen.” The prison staff politely replied: “Please wait a moment, we’ll connect you right away.” The group wore expressions of assured victory, waiting for me to obediently tell them where the car keys were. Unfortunately, this was just their assumption. When the phone was picked up again, the confused voice of the staff came through: “James Chen? Didn’t he commit suicide by jumping off a building a few days ago? The body has already been taken away. Don’t you know?” These words struck my parents like lightning, their expressions instantly freezing. They gripped the phone tightly and asked: “Officer, is there some mistake? Could it be someone with the same name?” The staff member laughed coldly: “A mistake? Do you know where this is? There’s only been one James Chen in this prison for the past six months. He’s dead, understand?” The sound of the phone falling to the ground was clearly audible. It was only at this moment that they learned the truth. That I was already dead.

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“Professor Qin, I’ve made my decision. I’ll join your pharmaceutical research institute and continue studying medicine.” Professor Qin chuckled, “Your wife loves you so much. Will she agree to let you go abroad for academic research?” “This is my own decision. It has nothing to do with her.” “Alright then. When can you arrive?” “In a week.” “Good, I’ll be waiting for you to report in.” “By the way, Professor Qin, that amnesia drug you developed before – does it still need a test subject?” Professor Qin’s voice turned serious, “What do you mean?” “Please mail a dose to me. I’ll test it.” When this call was made, it was 9:30 in the morning. Lucas leaned against the headboard. The space beside him was already empty. From the guest room next door came faint sounds of intimacy. “…Miss me?” “I only get to see you once a month. The time always passes so slowly.” “Heh,” the woman giggled coyly, “Shall we do something wild today then?” “Keep your voice down. Don’t wake Lucas.” “It’s fine, he slept late last night. He won’t wake up now.” “Mmm, you’re so naughty…” Lucas was very familiar with this man’s voice. His name was Henry, the college student Lucas had been financially supporting for four years. On the first of every month, he would come to the house. Lucas would give him that month’s living expenses and check on his studies and living situation. Each time, he would stay in the guest room next to the master bedroom. Lucas had even helped arrange a graduate advisor and internship for him. He just never expected this male student’s ambition was not to become independent, but to directly steal his wife. Since that’s how it is, he might as well give her to him. Lucas changed his name to Ethan. And had already reapplied for new identification documents. Ethan – to hide away. Once unfaithful, never to be used again. He would disappear from her world forever, then drink the amnesia drug and forget her completely. The intimate sounds from the guest room finally ceased. Lucas lay on his side, pretending to still be asleep. After a few minutes, the mattress beside him dipped slightly. Then a slender, pale arm draped over his waist. Lucas fought back the pain in his heart and pushed that arm away. Sophia acted like she had just woken up, mumbling, “Honey, you’re awake?” Lucas felt nauseated hearing her call him “honey”. “Mm, get up soon. You’ll be late for work.” Sophia rolled over and hugged him tightly from behind, planting a kiss on his chin. “I’m so tired. Stay in bed with me a little longer.” Lucas just wanted to laugh coldly. After being “wild” with Henry all night, of course she’d be tired. He said sarcastically, “What, didn’t sleep well last night?” Sophia nodded vigorously, “I dreamt an evil dragon stole my husband away. I fought through thorns and brambles to find you, searching all night. Even after waking up I still feel exhausted.” “No dragon would steal me away.” But I will leave on my own. And I definitely won’t let you have a chance to find me. Sophia glanced at the clock. “It really is getting late. We should get up.” She quickly showered and got dressed, then knelt by the bed and kissed him. “Lazy bones, don’t sleep anymore. Get up and wash up. I’ll go make breakfast.” After Sophia left, Lucas brushed his teeth vigorously. Her kissing Henry’s mouth then coming to kiss him only made him feel disgusted. When he went downstairs, two people were already seated in the dining room. Sophia sat in the main seat, with Henry to her left. He wore a white tracksuit, looking pure and refreshing. Seeing Lucas come down, he sweetly said, “Morning, Lucas!” Lucas grunted in response. Henry chuckled, “Breakfast is ready. Come eat!” Lucas sat down at the table. Sophia blew on some porridge to cool it, then placed it in front of him. “Careful, it’s hot.” Henry watched enviously from the side. “I’m so jealous. You take such good care of Lucas.” Lucas forced a smile. “She takes good care of you too.” Didn’t she just take very good care of him last night? All the way until this morning. Sophia laughed lightly, “It’s different. I take care of you because you’re my husband, the man I love most in this life.” “Then what about Henry? Why do you care for him?” “Because he’s the one you’re supporting. You said he’s like a little brother to you, so he’s my little brother too.” “Is that so.” Lucas took the bowl of porridge from Sophia’s hands. “No need to blow on it. I’ll let it cool on its own if it’s too hot.” Sophia sensed something was off in his attitude. She took his hand in hers, bringing it to her lips for a kiss. “What’s wrong? You seem unhappy this early in the morning. Is the breakfast not to your liking? Tell me what you want to eat and I’ll make it again for you.” Lucas pulled his hand away. “Sophia, do you love me?” “Of course,” Sophia said. “Everyone knows I love you.” “Then do you think a woman can love two men at the same time?” Sophia’s brow furrowed slightly. “True love is only for one person. It doesn’t allow for any impurities.” Lucas told her very seriously, “If one day you have a change of heart, please tell me directly. I will step aside and wish you well. But please don’t deceive me. My feelings are precious and also don’t allow for any impurities.” Sophia smiled, “Don’t worry, I’ll only ever love you in this life. No man can replace you.” “What if someone did replace me?” “That’s impossible.” Lucas said, “If I find out you’ve deceived me, I will leave you and forget you forever.”

Sophia smiled and said, “That day will never come. I won’t give you a chance to leave me either.” With that, Sophia moved to embrace him again. But Lucas was now extremely averse to her closeness. Because her body still carried faint traces of a sickly sweet scent. The kind of scent left behind after a man and woman spend the night together. Lucas stood up. “I’m going to get a spoon.” Sophia immediately got up too. “I’ll get it for you.” “No need, I can do it myself.” Lucas went to the kitchen and turned on the faucet. He used the sound of running water to mask his sigh. It wasn’t that he was inadequate. It was that her past self had been too wonderful. So wonderful that just thinking of those days when she loved him passionately made his heart ache. Growing up in an orphanage from a young age, enduring bullying and cold stares, he had been forced to harden his heart. He originally had no plans to date or marry, preferring to let clients drink him under the table rather than ask others for help. But then Sophia appeared. She rescued him from those people, declaring “This man is mine now.” At first Lucas thought she would just humiliate him like those capitalists. But Sophia did nothing of the sort, only gently telling him: “Go home and get some good sleep. Forget all the unpleasant things from today. Tomorrow is a new day.” After that, she began frequently appearing in his life. Sometimes coming to his company on business, or “coincidentally” running into him at a coffee shop. Sweet and adorable, but anyone could see she had feelings for him. However, their marriage was still opposed by Sophia’s parents. Lucas didn’t want to affect her relationship with her family, so he told her they should break up. But Sophia just firmly held his hand and said, “No breaking up. I’ll take you with me.” Later she started her own business from scratch, even enduring her parents’ suppression and coercion. She bore it all, drinking herself half to death in the process. Until later, when they were in a car accident together. At the critical moment, Sophia pushed him out of harm’s way. She and the car were hit by a large truck and sent flying off the road. The car rolled violently before catching fire. Sophia was burned half to death, falling into a coma. Only when Lucas spoke to her by the bedside would she show any reaction. It was at this time that Sophia’s parents finally understood how much their daughter loved Lucas. They finally relented and agreed to their marriage. Lucas cherished this hard-won marriage dearly. He cherished this woman who loved him to the bone even more. He just never imagined that after only three years of marriage, her heart would stray and her eyes would turn to another man. “Honey, is everything okay? Why were you gone so long?” “It’s nothing.” Lucas wiped the tears from his face, turned off the faucet, and prepared to go out with the spoon. But his hand trembled and the spoon fell to the floor. As he crouched down to pick it up, he accidentally saw the secret hidden under the dining table – Henry was wearing the new sneakers Lucas had bought him. His toe was gently caressing Sophia’s calf, then gradually moving upwards – knee, thigh, and further in… A delicate white hand smacked him lightly. “Behaving naughty again?” “What are you afraid of? Lucas hasn’t come back yet.” “Be good, don’t make trouble in front of Lucas. Later we’ll go out…” Lucas deliberately made a loud noise, and the two quickly settled down. He returned to his seat. The two of them acted as if nothing had happened. Sophia picked up some food for him. “Honey, eat more vegetables. It’s good for your health.” Henry still looked like an innocent little brother, gazing at him enviously. “I hope I can find a wife as virtuous and gentle as sister someday.” Lucas said coldly, “You will.” Henry didn’t catch his hidden meaning, still complimenting them. “That’s impossible. Sister is the best woman in the world. I don’t have that kind of luck.” Lucas said, “You do.” Just then, Lucas’ phone rang. “Hello, Mr. Xu, you have a package.” This time, Sophia was even quicker than him. She rushed to open the door before him and received a document envelope. She looked at the sender. “Southern Airlines International Business Department…Honey, did you buy plane tickets? Where are you going? How come I don’t know about this?”

Lucas said, “I just redeemed a gift with my points.” Sophia patted her chest in relief. “You scared me. I thought you were going to leave me.” Lucas took the envelope from her hands. “You haven’t betrayed me, so why would I leave you?” Sophia smiled. “That’s right, I only have you in my heart.” In the past, hearing these words would have moved Lucas deeply. But now, he felt nothing. “Honey, what gift did you redeem? Let me see.” Lucas refused. “It’s nothing, just a small commemorative coin.” “Southern Airlines has commemorative coins?” “Mm.” Lucas went back to his bedroom and opened the envelope. Inside lay a plane ticket to London departing in a week. He had bought it under the name “Ethan”. His phone also showed the shipping information for an international package – The amnesia drug Professor Qin sent him would arrive in about a week as well. Seven days later would be the time for him to leave her completely. From downstairs came Sophia’s voice: “Honey, are you not feeling well?” “I didn’t sleep well last night. I’m a bit tired and want to rest some more.” “Okay, you get some good rest then. Henry has class this afternoon. I’m going to the company and will drop him off at school on the way.” Lucas responded with a simple “Okay.” Lucas didn’t sleep. He went to the second floor window and looked outside. Sophia was holding Henry’s arm like a happy little rabbit. Henry opened the passenger door for her. As Sophia got in the car, Henry stole a quick kiss on her cheek. She directly hooked her arms around his neck and kissed him back. From cheek, gradually sliding to lips. Then lower… Lucas didn’t see the scene after that. The two got in the car. He could only see the car constantly shaking and rocking. When the car finally drove away, Lucas let out a sigh of relief. He began packing his clothes. Professor Qin told him that after drinking the amnesia drug, he would forget everything from before. After packing his clothes, he wrote notes categorizing them, as well as his various daily necessities and habits. Finally, he went to a jewelry processing store. He took off his wedding ring and handed it to the clerk. The clerk accepted it nervously. “Sir, do you want to exchange this ring for another style? But this looks like a wedding ring, it’s part of a pair. Does your wife need to exchange hers too?” “No,” Lucas said. “Melt it down.” “What?” “I said, melt it down.” “Alright…” Half an hour later, Lucas left holding a small red velvet box. When he returned home, he ran into a frantic Sophia rushing out. There was a crowd of people inside the house. Police, bodyguards, and the household staff. Sophia’s eyes were red. The moment she saw him, she tightly embraced him. “Honey, where did you go? You scared me to death…” She hugged him so tightly Lucas could barely breathe. Finally the police smiled and said, “Ms. Zhu can finally relax now. Mr. Xu is back.” The maid also said, “Mr. Xu, when the madam came back and didn’t see you, and saw that you had packed all your clothes, she thought you had left. She was so frightened she lost her soul.” “Yes, Mr. Xu. Just now Ms. Zhu was telling us to contact the best private detectives. She said if we couldn’t find you we’d all be fired.” Sophia held Lucas like a precious treasure. “Honey, where did you go? Are you hurt? Were you hungry or cold?” Lucas calmly put some distance between them. “I just went out for a walk.” “But your phone was turned off.” Lucas took out his black-screened phone to show her. “It just ran out of battery.” “Then what about the packed clothes in the room?” Lucas said, “Those clothes are all old styles. I was planning to donate them.” Sophia finally let out a deep breath. “As long as you’re not leaving. Honey, promise me you’ll never leave me, okay? I would really go crazy.”

The commotion finally ended. As the police were leaving, they smiled and said to him, “In all my years handling missing persons cases, I’ve never seen such a devoted woman as Ms. Zhu. Cherish her well, and don’t make her worry in the future.” Sophia stood protectively in front of him, a bit unhappy at others criticizing him. “Lucas just went out for a walk. My worrying is my own business, it’s not his fault.” The police could only smile wryly. “Alright, alright. As long as Mr. Xu is fine, that’s what matters. You two focus on living your lives well together.” Lucas apologized to the police and saw them out. Sophia stayed glued to his back the whole time, not leaving his side for a moment. She noticed the jewelry box in his hand and her eyes lit up. “Honey, did you go buy new jewelry?” Lucas said, “This is a gift for you.” “A gift for me?” “Yes, your birthday is in a week. It’s your birthday present.” “Thank you honey! Can I open it and take a look?” Lucas said, “Wait until your birthday to open it.” A week later would be Sophia’s 26th birthday. And his flight was departing at 5am that morning. By the time she woke up and opened this jewelry box to see the platinum melted into a small lump and the lonely diamond inside, he should have already taken the amnesia drug and flown out of the country. They started with this ring, so they would end with this ring too. Over the next few days, Sophia seemed afraid he would disappear again. She canceled all her work and stayed home with him every day. She cooked for him, watched TV shows with him, or they would go for walks in the park together. Lucas had the illusion that they had really returned to when they first got together. So in love, so loyal, with eyes and hearts only for each other. But the constant stream of messages on his phone shattered all the beautiful illusions. [Henry: Lucas, I saw you that day.] [Henry: I know you saw me and sister having sex in the car. But what you don’t know is that we’ve been together since four years ago when you first started supporting me.] [Henry: I’ve been her man since I was 18. I don’t want to always just call her sister.] [Henry: Lucas, you gave me money for school, let me see a broader world, experience greater things, and also meet the best woman in the world.] [Henry: She can’t bear to leave me. You’ll see.] After that was a video. The video was long, one hour and forty minutes. Seeing the length, Lucas already guessed what this video was. While Sophia went to buy him water, Lucas played the video. In the cramped car, Sophia’s face was contorted with desire. She was pinned against the car seat backrest by Henry, in pain yet ecstasy. Henry traced circles on her chest with his fingers, asking suggestively, “Doing this, aren’t we wronging Lucas?” Sophia just giggled. “A woman’s sex and love can be separate. I truly love him, but I also truly can’t live without your body.” “So I’ll just be nameless and without status forever?” “I can give you anything except status.” “What if I want you to have my child?” Sophia thought for a moment, then said, “Then don’t wear a condom today. It’ll feel better.” Lucas couldn’t watch anymore. He closed the video. When Sophia returned, she was holding a bottle of water. “Honey, here you go. I had the owner heat it up specially. Your stomach isn’t good, you can’t drink cold water.” Lucas took the water. It was indeed quite warm, almost hot to the touch. Sophia cupped his face with her warm little hands, frowning slightly. “Why is your face so cold? And you look a bit pale. Honey, are you not feeling well?” Lucas turned his face away, avoiding her hands. “It’s nothing. I just saw a video that made me feel a bit sick.” “In the future if you come across videos that make you uncomfortable, just swipe past them. Don’t watch.” “Mm, I won’t watch anymore. I’ll never watch again.”

That evening, Sophia took him to the seaside. The crowd around them was bustling. Sophia circled her arms around him as they walked forward, afraid others would bump into him. Suddenly, a dazzling firework exploded in the sky. Then a second, and a third. Countless fireworks lit up the entire night sky. “Wow, is some rich person proposing? It’s so beautiful!” “So many fireworks, did they buy up all the fireworks in H City?” “How romantic! If someone was willing to set off so many fireworks for me, I would love them for a lifetime!” Hearing this, Lucas smiled wryly. Young girls were indeed easy to deceive. A firework display was enough to make their hearts flutter and casually promise a lifetime. But he wasn’t so easily fooled. Sophia said a woman’s sex and love could be separate. But for him, they couldn’t. Although Sophia said she loved him, betrayal was betrayal. He could never forgive it. “Honey, look—” Sophia pointed at a firework that had just exploded in the night sky. It was an English letter. S. Then O, P, H, I, A. SOPHIA. Then a big pink heart. After that was L, U, C, A, S. LUCAS. Sophia whispered in his ear, “Honey, I love you forever. Let’s be together forever, grow old together, okay?” Before Lucas could speak, Sophia had already knelt down on one knee in front of him. She shouted loudly for everyone to hear: “Sophia loves Lucas, for life, for all lifetimes, never changing—” Applause immediately erupted around them. Mixed with exclamations and praise from girls. One girl even boldly asked, “Handsome, did your girlfriend just propose to you?” Sophia smiled and denied it. “We’ve been married for four years.” “Then is it your husband’s birthday today? Or your anniversary?” “Neither.” “Then why such a big production? What’s the occasion?” Sophia looked at Lucas, her gaze burning. “I just want my husband to know how much I love him. He hasn’t been very happy lately, so I wanted to cheer him up.” Another round of praise erupted from the crowd. Lucas received envious looks from everyone. But only he knew – His wife had been unfaithful for four years. She had held another man’s hand, kissed another man’s lips. Over these four years, they had tumbled in bed together countless times. A little girl gave him her glow stick. “Big brother, this gift is for you. I hope you and big sister will be together forever.” Lucas asked Sophia, “Did you arrange for the little girl too?” Sophia said, “No, the little girl must have been moved by our love and thought our relationship was beautiful.” Lucas returned the glow stick to the little girl. “Thank you, but big brother can’t accept your gift.” The little girl didn’t understand. She tilted her head and asked, “Why?” Because big brother and big sister’s love isn’t beautiful at all. It’s full of lies, betrayal and concealment. This kind of relationship shouldn’t be admired by innocent children. It’s not worthy. Sophia comforted the little girl. “Thank you. Go find your mom and dad now.” The little girl said, “Big sister, you must have a little sister with big brother, okay? Big sister is so pretty, the little sister would definitely be pretty too.” Sophia chuckled. “Okay, big sister will try her best.” Back by his side, Sophia said half-jokingly, “Honey, let’s have a daughter?” Lucas asked her, “Do you want children that badly?” “I actually prefer just the two of us, but don’t all you men hope to pass on the family line?” “Is that Hen—” Lucas almost said Henry’s name. He really wanted to confront Sophia face to face about what exactly her relationship with Henry was, if she would continue having a physical relationship with him in the future, if the three of them would always coexist. But out of the corner of his eye, he saw the kiss mark on Sophia’s neck. It was left by Henry several days ago. So many days had passed, yet it still hadn’t faded. He averted his gaze, not wanting to look or ask anymore. At this point, he didn’t want to argue like a madman with his unfaithful wife on the street. He had his pride. Since she couldn’t change, he would be the one to change. Drink the amnesia drug, go to a city where no one knew him, and start a completely new life. Sophia asked him, “Honey, what were you just saying? You said ‘Is that…’” Lucas shook his head. “I was saying, many men think that way, but I don’t.” “You don’t want to have a child with me?” “Mm.” “Are you afraid that after the child is born, it will take away my love for you? Don’t worry, even if we have a child, you’ll still be the person I love most.” “Let’s go back.” “Are you angry? I’m sorry honey, I said the wrong thing. If you don’t want children then we won’t have any. We can be DINKs and keep living just the two of us. That’s good too.” Lucas’ footsteps faltered. That day she and Henry had been going at it for an hour and forty minutes in the car. Maybe she was already pregnant by now. But unfortunately, it wasn’t his. “Honey, what’s really wrong…” Ring ring— The phone rang. Sophia glanced at it and answered with some irritation. “Didn’t I say not to call me these few days, I’m with my husband…” The other person said something, and Sophia’s eyes flickered. “Fine, I’ll come over now.” She hung up and said to Lucas, “Honey, there’s an urgent matter at the company I need to deal with. Can I call you a car to take you home?” Lucas said, “I’ll call a car myself. The company matter is important, you go quickly.” “My husband is so good. Then I’m going. Send me a message when you get home so I know you’re safe.” Sophia hurriedly drove off. Lucas did indeed call a car. But he didn’t go home. He told the driver, “Follow that car up ahead.” Sophia’s car stopped in front of the hospital. Henry immediately embraced her. He took off his own jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

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I couldn’t sleep from excitement when I found out I was adopted. My adoptive mother, Mrs. Johnson, looked at my dark circles with disdain as she hugged the newly found biological daughter, Chloe, in her arms. “I know all the tricks you adopted kids play – sabotage, playing the victim, using the benefits and education we’ve invested in you to suppress my real daughter. Let me tell you, I’m not that brainless. None of those tricks will work.” I didn’t argue with her. I quickly packed my bags to find my birth parents. A year later, they came looking for me again, begging me to come back home with them. The year I turned seventeen, my adoptive father, Mr. Johnson, brought a skinny girl to us and told my adoptive mother, “This is our biological daughter. There was a mix-up at the hospital when she was born.” The girl, Chloe, looked malnourished with her sallow complexion and short stature. She timidly hid behind Mr. Johnson, cautiously observing everyone in the family. Mr. Johnson placed the DNA test results in front of us. “Chloe has been living in an orphanage for the past seventeen years, enduring all kinds of bullying.” Mrs. Johnson’s hands trembled as she held the test results. She then rushed to embrace Chloe. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. It’s all our fault. You’ve suffered so much all these years.” I stood there, stunned by the scene unfolding before me. The people who had always criticized me in the name of love, who had made me feel worthless, who had told me to die if I couldn’t bring home another trophy from the next competition – they weren’t my real parents? As I watched them hugging, confessing, and crying, I felt an unexpected sense of relief wash over me. Just then, my adoptive brother Jack rushed back from the office. “Sister,” he called out. I turned to look at him, but he pushed me aside and walked straight to Chloe, patting her head. “My dear sister, you’ve suffered so much all these years.” I fell backward, my forehead hitting the corner of the table and starting to bleed. Damn, the whole family was full of drama queens. They huddled together, chatting for a long time before finally remembering my existence. “Lily,” they called. “I’m here,” I replied, covering my bleeding forehead with my hand. I ran to Mr. Johnson, forcing myself to smile. “I’m happy that my sister has come home too.” In truth, I wasn’t happy at all. But my adoptive father had taught me from a young age that a lady from a wealthy family must always maintain her composure. If he ever caught me showing any negative emotions, I would face severe punishment. Mr. Johnson didn’t show any particular expression. He simply ordered, “Give your room to Chloe.” I maintained that stiff smile and politely asked, “Then where should I…?” Jack glanced at me impatiently. “Isn’t there an empty room next to the housekeeper’s? You can move there.” I nodded in agreement, smiling. That night, I couldn’t sleep because I was too excited. According to the usual plot, shouldn’t they be kicking me out now? I still had over a hundred thousand dollars in my account, all earned from various competitions. Finding my birth parents shouldn’t be a problem. The next day, when I appeared with dark circles under my eyes, Jack rolled his eyes and laughed. “This trick is so old-fashioned, it’s laughable.” Speechless. What a thick-headed guy. Mrs. Johnson looked at my dark circles with disdain as she hugged the newly found biological daughter, Chloe, in her arms. “I know all the tricks you adopted kids play – sabotage, playing the victim, using the benefits and education we’ve invested in you to suppress my real daughter. Let me tell you, I’m not that brainless. None of those tricks will work.” I took out the suitcase I had packed the night before. “I won’t bother you anymore. I’m going to find my birth parents.” Before they could react, I dashed out, hoping they wouldn’t try to stop me. When I found my birth mother, she was watering flowers in the yard. She looked older than my adoptive mother, with streaks of gray in her hair. I stood at the gate, the word “Mom” that I had rehearsed in my mind for so long stuck in my throat. As if sensing my presence, she looked up at me. In that instant, I forgot how to breathe. I saw tears rolling down her cheeks as she ran towards me, her arms wrapping around me like vices, afraid I might disappear again. “Lily, is it really you?” she asked, her voice trembling. Lily? That must be my real name. Her tears fell on my neck, cool and wet. I hugged her back. “Mom, it’s me.” Mom pulled me into the house. She didn’t ask how I found her or how I had been living all these years. She just kept staring at my face, as if trying to etch every detail into her memory. She smiled, but tears kept flowing from her eyes, impossible to wipe away. “You must be hungry. Sit down for a bit, I’ll make you something to eat,” she said. I sat quietly, looking around. The living room was small and shabby. The walls were bare except for a single photo of a newborn baby hanging in the center. The person who helped me find my birth parents had told me that my birth parents were originally quite well-off. But after losing their child, they quit their jobs to search for me full-time, using up all their savings and even selling their house. I asked, “Is that my photo?” Mom paused while cutting vegetables. “Yes, it was taken right after you were born.” Then her voice noticeably dropped. “We only have that one photo from over ten years ago. It was all our fault for being careless. We’re so sorry.” I walked over and hugged her shoulders, comforting her softly. “It’s okay. We still have many, many years ahead of us. We can make up for lost time.” “By the way, I didn’t say anything earlier. How did you know I was your daughter?” Mom smiled and lovingly patted my head, simply saying, “A mother’s intuition.” Mom called my dad, who rushed back covered in sweat, his clothes dirty and torn, with injuries on his face. When Dad saw me, he was so excited he didn’t know what to do. He spread his arms wanting to hug me but didn’t dare come closer. I went forward and hugged his waist. “Dad.” His voice choked up. “Don’t hug me, don’t hug me. I’m dirty.” Mom had finished cooking and urged him, “Hurry up and wash your hands for dinner. Look at you, all disheveled. What happened?” Dad scratched his head and smiled sheepishly. “I was so excited, I wasn’t paying attention and tripped over some rebar at the construction site.” I bit my lip, trying to contain my emotions. What a normal, loving family! As Dad took off his dirty, torn jacket, a piece of paper slipped out of his pocket. I picked it up and saw it was a lottery ticket. Dad said, “Yesterday, I passed by the lottery store and a coworker insisted I buy a ticket. It’s all a scam, how could anyone win so easily?” The ticket hadn’t been scratched yet, but it was already crumpled. I thought, since he bought it anyway, might as well scratch it and see. So I leaned over the table and used my fingernail to scrape off the coating line by line. When the numbers were fully revealed, I froze. After seeing the numbers clearly, I almost dropped my water glass. The ticket had won. And it was the first prize – five million dollars. That night, I was too excited to sleep again. The doorbell rang while Mom was busy in the kitchen. She said that today was the anniversary of finding me a year ago, so we should celebrate every year on this day. I wanted to go help her in the kitchen, but Mom wiped the sweat from her forehead and pushed me out. “You’re always so tired from studying. Go rest. If you’re hungry, eat some of the snacks on the table. We’ll have dinner when your dad gets home.” The table was loaded with my favorite dried fruits and pastries. I stuffed my mouth full and asked with a muffled voice, “Why is Dad coming home so late today?” Mom chuckled, “He insists on preparing a special gift for you. He’s being all mysterious about it.” Just as Mom finished speaking, there was a knock at the door. “Dad’s home!” I cheered and ran to open the door, but I froze when I saw who it was. A elegantly dressed woman pulled me into her arms and started crying. “Darling, I’ve finally found you. Come home with us.” My adoptive mother had found me! My adoptive father standing next to her wiped a tear from his eye and handed me a box of cake. “This past year, your mother and I couldn’t eat or sleep well, always thinking of you. We’ve opened another bakery for you. Come back with us, the shop is yours.” My heart sank. Although a year had passed, seeing them again still filled me with fear. I handed the cake back to my adoptive father and glanced back at my mom who was making my favorite cola chicken wings in the kitchen. “My name is Lily now, so don’t use the wrong name.” My adoptive parents were stunned for a moment. I took a step back to keep my distance from them. I remembered how much I loved sweets as a child. When I got first place in a school exam, my adoptive parents opened a bakery as a reward. But later, when I failed in a competition, they angrily destroyed the bakery. This family with such unstable emotions. I smiled slightly. “I don’t like eating these anymore. Besides, my mom made my favorite dishes, and I want to save room to eat more.” My adoptive father’s eyes reddened. He suddenly gripped my shoulders. “After you left, I realized you were the most obedient and sensible child in the family. Chloe is petty and not very bright. She struggles to learn anything. You’re more like our child than Chloe is.” “You’re our only precious daughter. No one can change your position in our hearts.” Still so self-serving! I replied, “Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, you’ve got it wrong. Chloe is your biological daughter.” My adoptive father froze, his lips trembling. “What did you call me?” My adoptive mother’s face was covered in tears. She stepped forward to hug me, but I dodged her. “Mrs. Johnson, if you have something to say, please say it quickly. My mom is waiting for me to have dinner.” My adoptive mother grabbed me, refusing to let go. “We’ve really reflected on ourselves this past year. Come home with Mom and Dad, okay?” “Also, let’s go take a family photo now, just the four of us.” I shook my head and forcefully pulled away from my adoptive mother’s grasp. Originally, our family used to take a family photo every year, but on the day Chloe returned, she smashed all the family photos. My adoptive parents didn’t blame her. Instead, they took her to take new family photos – without me. I stepped aside, revealing a huge family photo of me with my birth parents hanging on the wall. “Mrs. Johnson, there’s no need. I already have one.” My adoptive mother could no longer hold back her tears and buried her face in my adoptive father’s chest. My adoptive father still refused to give up on me and continued to persuade, “You weren’t with them since you were little. How well do they know you? They didn’t watch you grow up, so they can’t possibly love you as much as we do.” I was about to retort when my mom, having finished cooking, called out to me: “Lily, who are you talking to? Don’t stand at the door, come in and sit down.” I was about to send them away when my mom walked over. To my surprise, she warmly invited them in: “The food is ready. Come in and have a bite.” And so, the three of us awkwardly sat at the dining table. My mom hospitably served them: “These are all my daughter’s favorite dishes. See if they suit your taste.” My adoptive mother didn’t answer. She just kept staring at the photo of me as a child on the wall. After moving to our new home, my mom had hung up that photo again. At the time, I told her that having one family photo was enough, but my mom absolutely refused to take it down. My mom followed her gaze and gave a warm smile. “That’s my daughter when she was little. Isn’t she adorable?” “My daughter is so considerate now. Whenever she’s home, she always insists on helping me with housework. She’s doing well in her studies too. Her teachers all praise her.” When did I ever insist on helping with housework? Every time I tried to help, she always found a reason to send me away. My grades were just average. Last year at the parent-teacher conference, the teacher only praised me once for making progress, but my mom took it to heart and couldn’t stop bragging about it to others. I understood. Mom loved me, so in her eyes, I was perfect no matter what. I remembered more than a year ago, when I was still in that prestigious school. As my birthday approached, my adoptive parents asked what gift I wanted. “A Cartier bracelet,” I had answered excitedly. But on my birthday, I messed up a project. My adoptive father angrily took out the bracelet and smashed it on the ground, shattering it instantly. My adoptive father grabbed my collar and shouted, “You can’t even handle such a simple task, and you still want to celebrate your birthday? No dinner tonight. Go and reflect on your mistakes.” I was so scared that I burst into tears. My adoptive mother stood by, watching coldly, and disappointedly muttered, “So weak. You’re not worthy of being my daughter.”

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When I was five, my mom and I were killed in a car accident. The mastermind behind the accident? My dad—and my mom’s best friend. After collecting two massive insurance payouts, they got married and began their happily-ever-after. Sometimes, that woman would shiver with fear. “What if the dead mother and daughter come back as ghosts to haunt us?” she’d ask. My dad would chuckle and call her superstitious. But what they didn’t know was that I wasn’t dead. And the living me would be far more terrifying than any ghost. It was a stormy night when I was five. I’d eaten a slice of cake from my mom’s best friend, April Frost, and suddenly started vomiting and running a high fever. Panicked, my mom decided to drive me to the hospital herself because the family driver wasn’t home, despite the heavy rain outside. On the most desolate stretch of road, a truck slammed into our car, flipping it over. Two people got out of the truck—a man and a woman. The man was my father. The woman was April Frost. April had been my mom’s best friend since college. After her divorce, she’d claimed she had nowhere to go with her son, so my mom had taken them in. I still remember how April cried back then, clutching my mom’s hands. “Megan, you’re the kindest person I’ve ever met. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” But tonight, April leaned into the wrecked car, her face expressionless, and coldly declared, “Megan’s dead.” My dad, always a coward, stood nearby, pale and muttering to himself, “Dead is good… Only with her dead can we be together…” April was about to agree when something caught her eye. “Wait,” she gasped. “That little brat isn’t in the car!” My dad froze. The two of them peered into the wreckage, searching. Not far away, hidden in the bushes, I pressed my hand over my mouth, trying not to make a sound. Just before she died, my mom had used the last of her strength to push me through the shattered car window. “Josie, run,” she whispered. Now, through the downpour, I could hear my dad’s voice. “She’s just a kid. Maybe we should let her go?” “No way,” April snapped. “We can’t leave loose ends. She’s five—old enough to talk. Do you want her to rat us out?” “Find her. She couldn’t have gone far in her condition.” A flashlight beam swept through the bushes behind me. I crawled forward, desperate to get away. Rain pelted my feverish body like cold, sharp stones. Branches scratched my skin, but I didn’t care. I had only one thought: I had to survive. Because only if I survived could I avenge my mom. I don’t know how far I crawled, but eventually, I reached the edge of a raging river. Behind me, I heard April scream, “There! She went this way! Look at the tracks!” I had no other choice. I threw myself into the water.

The case was quickly closed. A truck driver, exhausted from working long hours, had crashed into Megan and her daughter’s car. Megan died on the spot, while her daughter, Josie, fled the scene in panic and accidentally fell into the river. Because of the heavy rain that night, the river was swollen. Josie’s body was never recovered, and it was assumed she had been swept out to sea. The road’s surveillance cameras had been broken for months. A terminally ill truck driver was paid to take the blame. Four years later, I was officially declared dead. My mom and I had both been insured for enormous sums of money, with my dad as the beneficiary. With two massive payouts, my dad’s failing business suddenly turned around. A stroke of luck (or maybe sheer audacity) propelled him to become one of the wealthiest men in the fictional city of Riverpoint. He married April, and she became the picture-perfect trophy wife, flaunting designer bags, watches, and jewelry on social media. They even had another child, giving her son from her first marriage a sibling. Together, the four of them were the portrait of a happy, thriving family. April, ironically, was deeply religious. She made generous donations to temples every year and collected blessed prayer beads to ward off evil. My dad, on the other hand, loved playing the philanthropist. He often appeared on TV as a “self-made success story” and a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs. Look at them, Mom. You once taught me that bad people always get what they deserve, that karma would take care of them, and that I should always be kind. But I’ve grown up, and I’ve realized that saying is no more real than Santa Claus. If I want revenge, I’ll have to get it myself. And so, twelve years after that car accident—long enough for everyone to forget it ever happened— I came back.

“Hi, everyone. My name is Joanna Sterling.” On my first day at Riverpoint High School, I introduced myself to the class. The window reflected my image: dressed in a school uniform, my long hair tied neatly into a ponytail, my face pale but striking. The only imperfection was a faint scar at the edge of my eyebrow—a souvenir from the car crash twelve years ago. The classroom buzzed with whispers. “She’s so pretty.” “Isn’t she from some orphanage? I heard she’s a straight-A student.” “Oh my god, she’s like one of those tragic but beautiful heroines from a TV show!” “We even have a male lead to match her, right? What do you think, Finn?” The boy they were talking to was sprawled out in the back row, wearing limited-edition sneakers and chewing gum. Tall, handsome, cocky, and dripping with wealth, he was every inch the bad-boy heartthrob straight out of a teen drama. At the mention of his name, Finn Frost lazily glanced up, his gaze sweeping over me briefly before landing on my chest. “Nope,” he said loudly. “Not my type. She’s barely a B-cup.” The entire class burst into laughter. All eyes turned to me, waiting to see how I’d react. Would I blush in embarrassment? Cry? Look helpless? Instead, I calmly walked over to his desk, glanced at his notebook, and read his name written in the corner. “Nice to meet you, Finn Frost. I’m your new seatmate.” I smiled politely and added, “By the way, I have straight A’s in every subject. If you don’t understand something, feel free to ask me.” For a moment, the room went silent. Then the class erupted into cheers and whistles. Finn tilted his head, surprised, and gave me a second look. I stared back at him, my expression calm, though my heart burned with rage. He didn’t recognize me. But I had never forgotten him. Twelve years ago, when he and his mom first moved into our house, he’d thrown a tantrum demanding oranges. My mom had peeled him one, but after one bite, he’d spat the juice all over her shirt. The juice soaked through her thin summer blouse, and Finn had stared at her chest, laughing. So yes, Finn Frost. I’m genuinely glad to meet you again. Because you’re just as awful as you were twelve years ago.

A week into the school year, everyone knew I had a crush on Finn Frost. Plenty of classmates came to warn me about him, recounting story after story of his bad-boy antics. The so-called “Prince of Lakeside”—as everyone jokingly referred to him—was notorious for dating a different girl every month, only to dump them without a second thought. Girls had cried, begged, and even gone so far as to harm themselves over him. Finn, however, never looked back. But I ignored all the warnings. My attention was solely focused on Finn. After basketball practice, he’d come back to the classroom to find his favorite orange sea-salt sports drink waiting for him on his desk. When the teacher scolded him for not doing his homework, he’d later discover that I’d quietly done it for him after finishing my own. At the time, Finn was dating a beauty queen from the neighboring vocational school. Three weeks in, he grew tired of her and dumped her coldly, leaving her in tears. One day after school, Finn found himself cornered in an alley by a group of guys. When I arrived, the leader of the group was already raising a metal pipe to strike Finn. “Think your money makes you untouchable? I’ll beat the crap out of you, you scumbag!” Just as the pipe was about to come down on Finn, I threw myself in front of him, shielding him with my body. The pipe slammed into my back, and I collapsed into Finn’s arms. “Joanna!” I heard Finn’s panicked voice in my ear. The gang leader, realizing he might have gone too far, quickly called off his crew, and they ran off. Finn tried to chase after them but ultimately returned to help me up. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice unusually gentle. My hair was a mess, and I was in too much pain to stand, but I still managed to ask, “Are you hurt?” When he shook his head, I gave him a faint smile. “That’s all that matters.” Then I passed out. … When I woke up, I was in the hospital. Finn was sitting by my bedside. When he saw me stir, he ran a hand through his hair, visibly frustrated. “It was that witch Emily! She sent those guys after me. Just wait—I’ll make her pay!” I shook my head weakly. “It might not have been her. Think about it—there are so many girls you’ve dumped. Any one of them could’ve wanted revenge.” Finn froze, realizing I had a point. After a moment, he looked at me with a curious expression. “All the girls I’ve dated… doesn’t that bother you?” I lowered my gaze. “Of course it does.” “Then why are you still so nice to me?” I nodded slowly, my voice barely above a whisper. “Because I care about you.” How could I not care, my dearest Finn? Your sneakers, your watches, your extravagant spending on girls—all of it came from the blood money my mom’s insurance paid out. For twelve years, I’ve kept photos of you and your family on my nightstand, carving countless knife marks into them. Finn smirked and ruffled my hair. “What a little simp. You’re gorgeous, and yet here you are, chasing after me.” He pulled something out of his bag and tossed it onto my lap. It was an invitation. “Alright, fine. I’m single now, so let’s give this a shot. My birthday party’s next weekend. Come by—and wear something nice.” The invitation had his home address on it. That house was purchased with the insurance money from my mom’s death. It had round-the-clock security at the gates, making it impossible for anyone unauthorized to enter. But with this invitation, I’d have no trouble getting inside. “I’ll be there,” I said, clutching the invitation tightly, my voice trembling with excitement. Finn laughed. “Look at you. So easy to please.” I didn’t care what he said. After leaving the hospital, I walked into a deserted alley. In the shadows, the gang leader who’d attacked Finn was waiting for me. I handed him a wad of cash. “Good job. I’ll call you if I need you again.” Once he left, I pulled out the invitation and ran my fingers over it, over and over. A surge of joy filled my chest. Dad. April. It’s been twelve long years. We’re finally going to meet again.

Early Saturday morning, I arrived at Finn’s house. The other guests hadn’t shown up yet—the only people there were the housekeepers, busy decorating the living room with flowers and balloons. I had dressed with extra care that day: a sleek off-shoulder black dress that highlighted my pale skin, my hair elegantly pinned up, with pearls adorning my hair, neck, and wrists, shimmering softly in the light. When Finn saw me, his eyes lit up. “Wow, simp! You really cleaned up today.” I subtly dodged his outstretched hand and lowered my gaze, bowing slightly to the man standing behind him. “Good morning, sir.” Finn blinked in surprise and turned around. Behind him was a middle-aged man with a large belly, dressed in an expensive silk robe, his face clouded with suspicion. The housekeepers greeted him respectfully. “Good morning, Mr. Lee.” In my heart, I greeted him too. Hello, Dad. Mr. Lee pushed past the housekeepers and strode toward me, his sharp eyes scanning my face. After a moment, he turned to Finn. “Who’s this?” For a split second, my heart skipped a beat. “My classmate,” Finn said casually. My dad sneered. “Classmate?” He turned back to me, his gaze narrowing. “Don’t think I don’t know who you are…” I lowered my eyes, feigning nervousness. Then he said, with a heavy dose of scorn, “You’re Finn’s girlfriend, right?” Relief washed over me silently. Everything was going according to plan. It had been twelve years since I’d last seen him. I was no longer the little girl he had tried to kill. My appearance had changed so much that he didn’t recognize me. I shook my head, my voice small and frightened. “No, sir… that’s not it…” He snorted. “Whatever. This isn’t the first time you’ve dated someone, Finn. I don’t care what you do, but keep your girlfriends out of my sight.” With that, he turned and walked away. Finn muttered angrily under his breath, “Stupid old man.” I said nothing, already calculating my next move. So far, everything was progressing as expected. Finn would get me into this house, but if I wanted to stay, I’d need another plan. And I’d already thought of one. I helped the housekeepers decorate the living room for a while as more classmates began to arrive. When Finn was distracted greeting them, I slipped away and made my way upstairs. I set my sights on the room at the far end of the second floor—the one my dad had just entered. From behind the closed door, I could hear his angry voice shouting.

“I’m paying you a fortune every hour, and this is what you’ve done with my son?!” When I reached the door, a stack of test papers flew past me, scattering across the hallway. Each score was shockingly low—20s, 30s at best. Inside the study, my dad was berating a young woman who looked like a college student. “A so-called Ivy League graduate, huh? You can’t even handle tutoring a little kid. People like you are nothing but trash when you get out into the real world!” He was on a roll, and the girl was already sniffling, barely holding back her tears. Next to her sat a young boy, idly dragging a ruler across the desk with a blank expression. That was Liam Frost, my dad’s only son with April Frost—Finn’s half-brother. Seeing my dad about to leave the room, I quickly ducked into the shadows of the hallway. After he stormed out, the girl followed shortly after, tears streaming down her face as she walked. I stepped forward just in time, offering her a tissue. “Are you okay?” She was at her most vulnerable, and my small act of kindness caused her to break down completely. She vented through her sobs: “That kid is a little demon! I tried to teach him something, and he flipped my skirt! When I told him to stop, he kicked me in the knee—look at this bruise!” She lifted the hem of her pants slightly, exposing a nasty purple mark. Gripping my hand, she begged, “You’re not here to tutor him too, are you? Don’t do it. No amount of money is worth dealing with that monster…” I murmured a few comforting words until she left. Then I quietly slipped into the study. Inside, Liam was lounging on the desk, holding a kitten in his arms. He was using a lighter to singe the end of its tail. The kitten let out a sharp, pitiful yowl. When he saw me, he smiled, his eyes roaming over my face, chest, and legs. “Oh, look. Another new tutor. Not bad—definitely prettier than the last one.” His smile was like the slimy skin of a toad—disgusting to behold. But I simply smiled back. “Liam, you really shouldn’t be scaring off your tutors like that.” He froze, surprised. “You know my name?” While he was distracted, the kitten wriggled free from his grasp and bolted out of the room. I walked over to the desk and picked up his workbook, speaking in a soft tone. “Not only do I know your name, but I also know you’re a very special kind of genius.” For a moment, Liam looked stunned. Then his face lit up with excitement. “Really? But all the teachers at school say I’m not normal.” He wasn’t wrong. I’d done my research on Liam Frost. He had XYY syndrome—a rare chromosomal condition linked to heightened aggression, violent tendencies, and antisocial behavior. April had known about his condition during her pregnancy. But she chose to keep the baby anyway. It wasn’t out of love. At the time, she’d just moved into my family’s house and was plotting to kill my mom and take her place. She needed this baby, someone to tie my dad to her forever and turn him into her accomplice. April forged a clean prenatal test result to show my dad, hiding Liam’s real diagnosis. Now, at ten years old, Liam’s violent tendencies were impossible to ignore. He was notorious at school for his behavior—once throwing a younger classmate out of a second-story window, breaking several of the boy’s bones. But to my dad, Liam could do no wrong. He dismissed his son’s behavior as “typical boyish mischief.” “Boys are supposed to be a little wild,” my dad would say. “It’s a good thing he’s so full of energy. He’s strong and spirited—that’s what matters.” I gently patted Liam’s head. “Don’t worry about what other people think. They just don’t understand you. “Your dad loves you, but even he doesn’t fully get you. That’s why he keeps hiring these tutors—to try and ‘fix’ you. But someone as brilliant as you doesn’t need to waste time on boring stuff like schoolwork.” Liam frowned. “But Dad said if my grades don’t improve, he’s canceling our trip to New Zealand.” I leaned in, lowering my voice conspiratorially. “Good grades don’t come from studying. “Cheating on tests, bribing teachers—those are the real rules of this world.” Liam’s eyes lit up, his pupils practically sparkling with excitement. “I like you, big sis.” As he spoke, his hand brushed against my leg. I swallowed the wave of nausea that rose inside me and forced a warm smile. Half an hour later, my dad returned to the study. What he saw left him speechless. Liam was sitting obediently at the desk, diligently practicing his spelling as I dictated words to him. Smiling, I handed my dad a test paper. “Liam’s incredibly smart. I only needed to explain this once, and he aced it.” My dad looked down at the test—nearly a perfect score. He was skeptical, but the handwriting was undeniably Liam’s. (And of course, it was. Unlike the other tutors who tried to teach Liam, I’d simply handed him the answers to copy.) “The other tutors were terrible—I couldn’t understand anything they said,” Liam chimed in, pointing to me. “But Joanna makes it so easy to learn! Dad, I want her to be my tutor from now on. No more hiring anyone else!” Overjoyed by Liam’s sudden “improvement,” my dad readily agreed. “I won’t interfere with you and Finn anymore,” he told me. “Teach my son well, and you’ll be rewarded generously.” After he left, Liam turned to me, narrowing his eyes. “What’s this about you and my brother?” I met his gaze calmly, smiling faintly. “Nothing. We’re just classmates.” Liam relaxed. “Good. I hate that idiot. Always sucking up to my mom, trying to steal her attention from me.” “Don’t worry about him,” I said soothingly. “You’re the real heir to this family. Everything your dad has will be yours someday.” A wicked, excited gleam appeared in Liam’s eyes. “Does that include you?” I kept my smile steady, my voice soft and even. “Of course.”

By the time I returned to the living room, Finn Frost’s birthday party was winding down. “Where the hell were you?” Finn grumbled. I smiled lightly. “Touching up my makeup.” I had, in fact, reapplied my makeup to perfection. Under the bright party lights, my skin seemed to shimmer like it had been dusted with gold. Finn was momentarily mesmerized, his gaze trailing over me. Unable to resist, he draped an arm around my shoulders, his hand lingering on my skin. When I tried to push him away, he tightened his grip, his breath tickling my ear as he laughed. “What’s the problem, little simp? I’m your boyfriend, aren’t I? Can’t I touch what’s mine?” I lowered my gaze, giving him a reluctant smile tinged with discomfort. Finn mistook my reaction for shyness and laughed even harder, teasing me in front of everyone. What he didn’t realize was that, across the room, a pair of cold, menacing eyes were watching us intently. Liam Frost. Before anyone could react, Liam moved. He charged straight at Finn, slamming into him with the full force of a 12-year-old running at full speed. Finn, despite his size, was caught off guard and toppled backward, crashing into the coffee table. “What the f—” Finn started, but he didn’t get the chance to finish. In a blur of movement, Liam climbed on top of him, straddling him with surprising strength. “You think you can mess with my stuff? I’ll kill you!” Liam screamed, raising something in his hand before stabbing it down into Finn’s hand. It was a pen. The sharp tip pierced Finn’s hand, and blood mixed with ink as it splattered everywhere. Finn howled in pain, his scream echoing through the living room. But he wasn’t about to go down without a fight. With a grunt, he drove his elbow into Liam’s face, sending the boy flying off him. “Crazy little bastard!” Finn roared, his voice filled with rage. Liam hit the floor hard, his body convulsing for a moment before he spat out a mouthful of blood—and with it, one of his teeth. But Finn wasn’t done. Ignoring the blood streaming from his injured hand, he stormed over to Liam and kicked him viciously in the stomach. “You want to die, huh?! Is that it?!” The living room erupted into chaos. Partygoers screamed and scrambled to get away. A housekeeper shouted, “Where’s Mr. Lee? Someone get Mr. Lee!” By the time my dad arrived, Finn had Liam pinned to the ground, his fist raised to strike again. “What the hell are you doing?!” my dad bellowed as he rushed into the room. He kicked Finn off Liam and scooped his son into his arms. “Liam, Liam, wake up!” Liam’s face was a bloody mess, his nose and mouth dripping crimson as he whimpered weakly. “Call 911!” my dad shouted, his voice trembling with fury. He shot Finn a murderous glare. “Wait right here, you little shit. You’ll pay for this!” Finn, held back by two of my dad’s bodyguards, raised his injured hand. “He stabbed me first! That psycho stabbed me with a pen!” My dad didn’t care. “He’s twelve! He doesn’t know any better! And you beat the crap out of him like this?!” In my dad’s arms, Liam sobbed weakly, his voice trembling. “Dad loves me more than him… That’s why he’s mad… He takes it out on me…” My dad’s face darkened with rage. He carried Liam out of the room, shouting orders to the staff as he went. The bodyguards and housekeepers followed, leaving Finn behind. Finn stood there, shaking with fury. Grabbing a fruit bowl from the table, he hurled it at the retreating crowd. “What the hell are you all looking at? Get out of here!” The remaining partygoers scattered in fear. When he turned and noticed I was still there, his glare deepened. “Why are you still here? Get lost!” I didn’t move. Instead, I walked up to him and gently patted his back, my voice soft and soothing. “Your dad’s being so unfair to you. I mean, even if Liam is his biological son, he shouldn’t treat you like this.” Finn’s jaw clenched, his hands trembling with suppressed rage. Everyone outside this house saw Finn as a spoiled rich kid, the golden boy of a prominent family. But inside these walls, the distinction between stepchild and biological child was painfully obvious. I’d hit a nerve. “He treats that little psycho like he’s a treasure,” Finn spat. “Like he’s some kind of prince. And me? I’m nothing.” I sighed, feigning sympathy. “It’s because this is his empire. He’s a Lee, and you’re a Frost. Blood always matters in the end.” Finn’s shoulders stiffened. His voice was a snarl. “You don’t know anything! If it weren’t for my mom, he’d be bankrupt by now. This whole empire? It should’ve been ours!” I nodded, pretending to agree. “Exactly. Everyone knows your mom saved his business. If it weren’t for her, he’d have nothing. But isn’t it funny how people forget? Once they’re on top, they bite the hand that fed them…” My words trailed off as I watched the anger in Finn’s eyes grow darker and darker. Mom, I still remember the time you bought me crickets when I was little. I thought it would be fun to put them all in the same box, but by the next morning, they were all dead. I cried so much that day. You told me they needed to be kept separate, or they’d fight each other to death. I’m not that little girl anymore. I’ve learned how to make my “crickets” fight—and I’ve discovered there’s nothing more satisfying than watching them tear each other apart. Which one do you think will fall first? While Liam was in the hospital, I stayed at the mansion, keeping Finn company. As the only person by his side during this rough patch, Finn’s trust in me deepened quickly. One night, he even said, “Joanna, when I inherit everything, I’ll marry you.” Feigning surprise and gratitude, I replied, “I don’t care about the money. As long as I have your heart, I’m happy.” But every night, when Finn pressed me to stay, I insisted on going home. “My mom’s waiting for me.” Finn frowned. “Mom? I thought you were an orphan.” I smiled. “I meant my foster mom.” At first, he didn’t believe me. “You’re lying. You’ve never mentioned her before.” But soon, a sleek white car pulled up outside the mansion. A graceful woman in a silk dress stepped out and waved. “It’s late, Finn. Joanna needs to come home. She’ll see you tomorrow.” Reluctantly, Finn let me go. As I climbed into the car, the woman glanced at me in the rearview mirror. “Back to Bluefield Academy?” Bluefield Academy was where I’d grown up—a semi-charitable institution that had taken me in after I was pulled from the river. The woman who saved me was Nora Sinclair, the academy’s director. Quiet but powerful, she had connections everywhere. Every piece of information I needed for my plan, she had uncovered for me. As exhaustion weighed on me, I longed to return to my little room at Bluefield and sleep. But I knew I couldn’t. My revenge was far from over. Rest would have to wait. “Take me to the hospital,” I said.

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When I was having my beach wedding with Ethan, he received a call from Mia. As the officiant asked “Do you take Olivia to be your lawfully wedded wife?”, he refused in front of all our family and friends. “I do not. I will never marry such a vicious woman! I was blind before! She doesn’t deserve me!” He slapped me hard across the face and pushed me down. I tumbled down the five-foot-high steps, my body bloodied and battered, barely clinging to life. It was the hotel staff who rushed me to the hospital. When I regained consciousness, the doctor delivered devastating news. I had miscarried my early pregnancy, and I was diagnosed with locked-in syndrome in critical condition! Just as I was about to contact Ethan, I saw a video Mia posted of him proposing to her on a snowy mountain. Having narrowly escaped death, I called my birth parents. “Mom, Dad, I’m willing to go abroad and live with you!” The doctor’s cold voice still echoed in my ears: “Locked-in syndrome, the condition is very serious.” In one month, I lost my baby. Diagnosed with a terminal illness, late-stage locked-in syndrome. I lay in the hospital bed, my body aching from the fall down those five-foot-high steps. He had also slapped me across the face. Ethan, my newlywed husband, a doctor. Living with me, yet he never noticed anything wrong with my health. With trembling hands, I picked up my phone. On the screen was Mia’s radiant smile, a snowy mountain, a diamond ring, a proposal. Meanwhile, I was lying here, tubes all over my body, wasting away. For a week, he hadn’t come to see me. On SnapChat, his last message was “Baby, I finally married you” on our wedding day. Along with videos sent by people gloating over my misfortune, showing how he insulted me at the wedding after receiving that phone call. I used to cook for him, iron each of his shirts meticulously, and give up my chance to study abroad for him. Now, for another woman, he had tossed me aside like garbage. My phone vibrated. It was my adoptive mother calling. “Olivia! Where the hell are you? Get your ass back here right now! Look what you’ve done to Mia, you shameless bitch!” “If Ethan hadn’t traveled so far to find Mia, our real daughter might have been killed by you!” The barrage of insults felt like daggers piercing my heart. Once, they had cherished me like a precious jewel, saying I was their most beloved daughter. Ethan was the husband they had chosen for me since childhood, and we were once deeply in love. But ever since Mia, their real daughter, came back, he became a different person. I learned that my parents were actually my adoptive parents. Everything had changed. They had once tried to stop our wedding, but Ethan had insisted on marrying me despite me being the “fake daughter”, saying he loved me. Who would have thought that one phone call from Mia, their real daughter, would change everything? And now, in their eyes, I had become a despicable criminal. I silently hung up the phone, tears silently rolling down my cheeks. The home I once knew, I could never return to again. I dialed the number of my birth parents overseas. “Mom, Dad, I’m willing to go abroad and live with you.” The joyful voices on the other end were like a ray of sunshine on a winter’s day, warming my cold heart. I gave myself only one month. One month to leave this place, apply for a visa, and hand over my work. One month to say goodbye to the past completely and finalize the divorce. It was also my final deadline for Ethan and this family. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Olivia, you need to start over. Your life shouldn’t be controlled by anyone else.

I returned to the home Ethan and I shared. The locks had been changed. My documents and clothes were all inside. I went to my adoptive parents’ house across the street. “You little bitch! I’ll beat you to death! If Ethan hadn’t gone to save Mia, our real daughter might have been killed by you!” “How dare you show your face here? Go die somewhere!” My adoptive mother screamed, grabbing an ashtray and hurling it at me. Blood trickled down my forehead. I was still reeling from the shock of the miscarriage and locked-in syndrome diagnosis. The intense pain made my vision go dark. “How dare you bully my daughter! You ungrateful wretch, we raised you for nothing all these years!” My adoptive mother was hysterical. Mia? What had I done? I leaned weakly against the wall, my whole body trembling. My adoptive mother lunged at me, grabbing my hair. Punching and kicking. I was trampled on the ground like a stray dog. Once, she had gently brushed my hair so tenderly. Once, she said I was her most beloved daughter. There was a commotion outside. Ethan and Mia had returned. Mia saw me and shrank back, trembling, hiding behind Ethan. “Sister, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, please, stop forcing me! Please, I’m begging you, I’ll kneel down for you!” She wanted to kneel before me? I looked at her in bewilderment. What had I done to her? “I didn’t, I don’t know what she’s talking about!” I clutched at Ethan’s shirt. He shook off my hand, his eyes full of disgust. “Olivia, you’re really despicable! You won’t even admit what you’ve done! Fine, I’ll show you, so you can die with a clear conscience! We’re going to call the police!” He took out his phone and played a surveillance video. A group of men were tearing at Mia’s clothes, their vulgar language unbearable to hear. Mia was crying and struggling. Then, Ethan rushed in with some people. In the video, those men specifically said they were acting on my instructions. He also showed my bank transfer records. Once, he had held my hand, saying he would protect me for life. Once, he had tenderly kissed my forehead, saying I was his one and only for life. But now, Ethan threw the phone in my face. “Get lost!” He was cold and heartless. I collapsed on the ground, my whole body cold. Blood and tears mingled together. Blurring my vision. I stumbled to my feet. Looking around at this home where I had lived for over twenty years. The walls used to be covered with family photos of all of us. And my beloved garden swing. Mia had only been back for a year. Everything had changed. This home was now filled with all her favorite things. The family photos I had once been so proud of were now replaced with photos of them, as if I had never existed. I looked at Ethan. “When are we going to file for divorce?” “I need to go back and get all my things and documents now!” His eyes were still full of hatred. “I can’t wait to divorce you!” “Since you’re back now, take your things and get out of my world!” He comforted Mia while walking towards the villa across the street. He opened the door. The overwhelming scent of roses hit me. I had severe pollen allergies that could be fatal! He knew that! I gasped for breath at the doorway, my locked-in syndrome making it difficult to move. Gone was my former nimbleness. I held my breath and went inside, wanting to quickly gather my things. I entered the bedroom, but all my belongings had vanished. Mia’s glamour shots hung where Ethan and I’s wedding photo used to be above the bed. The closet was filled with her clothes. It seemed that during my hospital stay, she had already become the lady of the house. On the bedroom sofa were unused condoms and lacy lingerie. Once, our wedding photo had been displayed there. Once, this place had been filled with our sweet memories. My heart felt like it was being stabbed. I could only pretend I hadn’t seen it. After this month I would really be leaving. I opened the closet. Fighting back nausea. I opened the safe and took out my documents, but there were no property deeds or anything like that. “Where are my things?”

Ethan sneered, “You have the nerve to ask for things?” “Haven’t you done enough to hurt Mia? That house will be your compensation to her! It originally belonged to Mia’s parents anyway, you were just a cuckoo in the nest!” Hearing this, Mia put on an innocent act and simpered from the side. “Sister, it was Ethan who asked me to move in. If you mind, I can move out right away!” I looked at her coldly. “No need, I should be the one to leave. I wish you both a happy life together.” I looked at the harsh terms of the divorce agreement. Everything that once belonged to me was being taken back. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly at myself. I was the real joke all along. After signing the divorce papers, Ethan turned away in disgust. “Take your things and get out now!” “I don’t want to see you for another second!” I looked around. This place was once my home. Now it felt like a cold prison. I took my documents and stumbled out of the villa. Once, this was the love nest Ethan and I shared. Now, it had become my hell. I had just reached the doorway and was leaning on the doorframe when my pollen allergy made my vision blur and breathing difficult. My phone was buzzing frantically with countless message notifications. Before I could check them, the vice president of my company called. “Ms. Sullivan, quick, check the trending topics!” “You’ve been accused of plagiarizing Mia’s latest jewelry design!” Plagiarism? I hurriedly opened social media. The label “plagiarist” was plastered all over me. I clicked on the widely shared images. But those were clearly my works! My painstaking designs had now become Mia’s original creations! In the comments, everyone was cursing at me. The former praise had now turned into slander. My stomach churned and I vomited a mouthful of blood. The bright red blood stains stood out starkly against the white floor. I turned to look at Mia. She still had that innocent expression. “How did you get my designs!” I demanded. “Sister, what are you talking about? I know you hate me, but how can you falsely accuse me? I designed these myself!” “I spent so long working on these sketches!” As she spoke, her eyes welled up with tears, on the verge of crying. I looked at Ethan. There wasn’t a hint of surprise on his face. As if everything was within his expectations. Once, he had treasured me above all else. Now, he coldly watched my suffering. Once, we could talk about anything. Now, he was filled with disgust towards me. Once, this home was my safe harbor. Now, it was my hell. I nearly fainted. I gripped the doorframe tightly, barely managing to support myself. Once, I was a jewelry designer praised by all. Now, I had become a plagiarist despised by everyone. Once, I had a happy and loving family. Now, I had nothing. Looking at everything before me, my heart turned to ashes.

“You told her my design ideas, didn’t you?” I confronted Ethan. He scoffed dismissively: “I couldn’t be bothered to look at your designs.” “You had ill intentions yourself, plagiarizing Mia’s work, and now you’re trying to frame her.” “You’re truly despicable!” I staggered forward, wanting to confront Mia. But Ethan pushed me away forcefully. My locked-in syndrome made it difficult to move. I fell to the ground hard. Once, he had protected me so carefully, afraid I would get hurt. Now, he pushed me down without hesitation. I struggled to get up, watching them throw all my belongings out of the villa. Tossed outside like garbage. My medical records had fallen out of my bag at some point and Mia picked them up. She pushed open the door and shouted accusingly. “Sister, whose child did you get pregnant with and abort? Did you betray Ethan! And this locked-in syndrome? How did you get that?” Ethan came out when he heard. He took a look and his eyes turned vicious. “Olivia, I haven’t touched you in a long time. You actually got pregnant with someone else’s child behind my back!” “Stop pretending. This trick of yours, trying to make me come back to you, keep dreaming! And locked-in syndrome? You really know how to act! You dare bring fake medical records you bought online to fool me, a doctor? You’re utterly disgusting!” With that, he took Mia’s hand and went back inside. Once, this was the love nest I had carefully decorated. Now, it was my burial ground. He continued to disbelieve me as always. He even slandered me, saying the child was conceived from an affair, forgetting that night. That time he came back from a business trip, had some drinks, and made love to me passionately all night long. It took me a while to recover. I picked up my suitcase containing the few belongings I had left, and step by step, left this heartbreaking place. Once, I had laughed and smiled here. Now, I was leaving with a heavy heart. Countdown: Two weeks. I needed to wrap up all loose ends before leaving this city. I returned to the company to resign. Online, the abuse towards me showed no signs of stopping. Moreover, Mia had held a press conference, revealing the design sketches. Ethan had also testified that I had plagiarized. “I can testify that Olivia plagiarized Mia’s designs! I’ve also divorced her!” All the rumors and slander came crashing down like a tidal wave. Once, I was a design genius praised by all. Now, I had become a plagiarist despised by everyone. The cyberbullying instantly engulfed my life. My phone was bombarded with abusive calls. I didn’t dare turn it on. At the company, people sent me dead rats and other nasty things. Once, I had countless fans, with flowers and applause everywhere I went. Now, I was cursed by thousands, hated by all. Countdown: 10 days. My condition suddenly worsened. Breathing became increasingly difficult. My vision grew blurrier, movement more labored. The doctor had said this disease was incurable. If I stayed positive, I might live a bit longer. If I gave up on treatment, the condition would rapidly deteriorate. Once, I had a healthy body and a bright future. Now, I was terminally ill, with not long to live. I lay shivering in the cold rental apartment. Once, I had a warm home. Now, I was homeless. I clutched my design sketches tightly. They were my last pride, and also my last pain. Once, I had been so proud of my designs. Now, my designs had become evidence of my crimes. I closed my eyes weakly, tears silently falling. I no longer had the strength to prove I wasn’t a plagiarist, because I had no evidence left. Countdown: 5 days. I dragged my body that could collapse at any moment to the place where we grew up. There, he had protected me countless times, fought for me, cooked for me for the first time. His traces were everywhere. Countdown: 3 days. I went to my childhood home. Back then I didn’t know I was adopted. My parents had once cherished me like a precious pearl, afraid I would melt if they held me in their mouths. They had accompanied me for every exam, always encouraging me. All the memories felt like they had happened just yesterday. Countdown: 1 day. At the time Ethan had specified, I arrived at the civil affairs bureau to officially file for divorce. He came with Mia. I couldn’t be bothered to ask if he was going to marry Mia as soon as we divorced. I no longer cared. I just wanted to be free. But as soon as we finished the paperwork and came out, we were surrounded by a crowd of reporters and angry fans, pushing and cursing at me. Meanwhile Mia put on a tearful act. “Don’t hurt my sister! You can’t hurt my sister! My sister didn’t mean to plagiarize my work, she’s the most important person to me, please don’t hurt her!” Her act was so convincing even Ethan believed it. I collapsed to the ground, my vision blurring. Just before I blacked out, I heard a familiar voice. “Make way! The patient has locked-in syndrome and is going into shock! Quick, make way, we need to get her to the hospital! Dr. Ethan, call 911 now!” “Are you sure? Locked-in syndrome?” Ethan asked again in disbelief. “Dr. Ethan, my father-in-law diagnosed Ms. Sullivan himself. How could there be a mistake?” the other person said. “How could this happen…”

My whole body was in excruciating pain, my consciousness floating in darkness. I vaguely heard a clamor of voices, crashing into my eardrums like waves. Then, I saw light. In the blinding light, I saw my birth parents, tears streaming down their faces. “My child, you’ve suffered so much!” My mother hugged me, sobbing like a child. My father’s eyes were red as he stroked my hair over and over. I lay weakly in the hospital bed, tears silently falling. Once, I thought Ethan was my support, my future. Now, I was like a bird with broken wings, lying alone in a cold hospital bed. A strange man appeared in my line of sight – handsome, sunny, wearing a white coat. “This is Chris, the son of my old friend. He’s an expert in this field, and we specially asked him to rush back from abroad,” my father introduced. Chris smiled gently and began examining me. Outside the door stood a crowd of doctors. Even the hospital director had come. “Dr. Chen, what do you think…” the director asked respectfully. Chris pondered for a moment. “The situation isn’t too bad. There’s still hope.” I felt like I had grasped a lifeline, a glimmer of hope lighting up in my eyes. Once, Ethan had cared for me so tenderly. Now, he had pushed me into the abyss. “We’ll take you abroad for treatment, using the best medical resources,” my mother said firmly. I gripped my mother’s hand tightly, feeling a long-lost warmth. Once, the Foster family was my home. Now, I was returning to my real home. “Olivia, do you have anything else to say?” A cold voice came from the doorway. It was Ethan. He stood at the door, his face pale, his expression complex. “Get lost.” I used all my strength to spit out those words. Once, I had loved him with all my heart. Now, I just wanted him to disappear from my world. Ethan staggered, unwilling to turn and leave. His appearance made my parents very wary. I gestured for them to stay. I needed to talk to him alone. His eyes were blank. He seemed to want to ask something, but didn’t dare open his mouth. “Want to ask why I have locked-in syndrome?” “Or do you want to ask whose child I was carrying?” He looked shocked. “The child was really mine?” “What’s going on with your locked-in syndrome?” “How did you suddenly get this disease?” His eyes were full of curiosity. Once, he had been so attentive to me. Now, he scrutinized me like a stranger. “I started falling for no reason a year ago.” “I didn’t pay much attention then.” I smiled bitterly. “Remember that time? I fell and you mocked me, saying how could a grown woman trip like that. Have you forgotten?” “You’re a doctor, and you’ve been with me for so many years, but you never noticed, did you?” “Because during that time, you were always accompanying Mia, weren’t you? How could you notice me?” Once, he had treasured me above all else. Now, Mia was all he saw. “As for the child, you’ve forgotten yourself.” “You came back from a business trip drunk and made love to me all night, then turned around and said you hadn’t touched me in a long time?” “Did you mistake me for Mia?” I calmly recounted these painful and ironic events. But he said: “I really didn’t know it was like that, I…” Once, he had made me countless promises. Now, even an explanation was so weak and powerless. A phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID. “Mia, don’t cry, I’ll be right there, stop crying.” He left the hospital room without looking back.

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I heard my husband found another girlfriend. My friends urged me to catch him cheating. I just smiled and refused. Because I also had a boyfriend to take care of. Lucas hated me and didn’t like me being around him. After enduring various humiliations from him, I got the hint and prepared to move out. I had money, and I had a man. I just didn’t expect my mother-in-law to suddenly call me back to the family house. She smiled and held my hand. [Hazel, you and Lucas just need a child. Everything will be fine once you have a baby.] I pulled my hand away. Have a child? How is that possible? Even if I wanted to, Lucas would definitely tell me to get lost if he knew. My mother-in-law seemed not to notice my attitude and grabbed my hand again, still smiling. “Hazel, Mom knows you’ve been wronged these three years.” “I’ve already scolded him harshly. Don’t worry, he’s sincerely repentant this time. You two should spend more time together, and everything will be fine once you have a child.” “Give him one more chance, just one! Okay?” After speaking, my mother-in-law called out towards the door. A cold-faced man walked in reluctantly from outside. My mother-in-law glared at him and continued to persuade me. “Lucas is just a bit cold, but he still cares about you. Look, as soon as I mentioned you wanted a divorce, he came running back.” Lucas sat on the sofa, his brows slightly furrowed, revealing a hint of displeasure. He looked up and glanced at me. His eyes were cold and indifferent. The chill in his gaze made me shudder. “I, I don’t think that’s necessary, Mom. You know, feelings can’t be forced.” Forcing it would only lead to bitter results! At first, I was trapped in a corner, unable to see clearly. Now, with the fog cleared, I knew that leaving was the best solution. My mother-in-law’s voice took on a worried tone: “Hazel, you know that parents’ greatest wish is for their children to be happy.” After saying this, she looked up at me. Seeing that I didn’t respond and remained silent, she thought I was starting to waver: “Six months, try to get along with Lucas for six months.” “It’s not about time…” “Two months.” “Mom, Lucas and I really can’t go on, we…” “Hazel.” My mother-in-law’s smile completely disappeared, her tone carrying a hint of pressure: “Do you remember our first meeting three years ago?” With that one sentence, all my words were swallowed back. Debts must be repaid, and favors are hard to return. On this matter, I would never have the right to speak. Pursing my lips, I sighed softly: “Alright, Mom. Two months it is.” Only Lucas and I were left in the room. “Don’t overthink it. I didn’t ask my mom to do this.” I stood up and moved to sit on the sofa opposite Lucas. This position was a bit further from him. He looked up and scoffed lightly. “What are you pretending for? Do you think I believe you? Hazel, even if it’s two months or two years, my feelings for you won’t change. I hope you won’t humiliate yourself again.” “Mm, I understand.” I’ve heard such words too many times; I’m numb to them now. Perhaps because I was too calm this time. A strange emotion flashed in Lucas’s eyes, but it quickly returned to normal. “Good that you understand.” Seeing that I wasn’t paying attention to him anymore, just typing on my phone. He seemed a bit displeased. “Hazel, you know I don’t love you, right? You know I have a girl I like outside, right? Are you feeling uncomfortable about it?” Noisy and childish. What he said used to hurt me, but now it just annoyed me. After finishing editing the text. I walked to the printer. Soon after. I sat back on the sofa with two pages of paper, keeping one for myself and pushing the other across the table to Lucas. “See if there’s anything you want to add.” Lucas seemed to take an eternity to read that single page. After a while. He frowned and asked me: “What do you mean by this?” I said calmly. “A mutual agreement, for two months, we don’t interfere with each other, and we don’t cross any lines.”

My marriage to Lucas was arranged entirely by his mother. One was secretly happy, the other resented it. On our wedding night. Lucas stood at the bedroom door with a look of disgust. He said: [Hazel, I really underestimated you. Women like you, playing the sympathy card is your tactic, right? Getting close to my mom, getting close to me, then becoming Mrs. Gu.] [I will never like you, so you might as well give up on that idea.] After saying that, Lucas left. The next day, photos of him spending the night at a hotel with some female celebrity were leaked. The marriage was sensational, and so was the affair. The one who falls in love first loses. I cried, I made a fuss, I even begged pitifully. The result was only more humiliation from Lucas, his new flame, and his friends. When he forcefully pressed me down, he sneered: [Hazel, why are you pretending to be a chaste woman? Isn’t this what you’ve been wanting me to do to you?] Afterwards, he threw an agreement at me. [I’ve already given you what you wanted. Sign this, and from now on, we’ll live our separate lives, and neither of us will bother the other.] After slapping him, I signed it without hesitation. Not for any other reason, just afraid he might act like a beast again. I completely gave up on Lucas. It was like a sudden enlightenment. I no longer cared about which girl Lucas was seeing, nor did I focus all my attention on him. All I cared about was the balance in my bank account. That balance that increased every month. Money I couldn’t spend, a husband who never came home, and a caring boyfriend. How did I not understand this before! “If you don’t have anything to add, just sign it.” Although we’re married, we both have our own affairs. We should still avoid suspicion where necessary. I understand this principle. Looking up, I met Lucas’s dark eyes. He just stared at me like that, his gaze unclear and complex. I knew he probably thought this was another one of my tactics. “Don’t worry, I’m sincere. If you don’t believe me, you can have someone look it over for you.” “I don’t have any other intentions towards you anymore.” Lucas immediately frowned, his deep voice repeating my words. “You don’t have any other intentions towards me anymore?” I smiled: “Mm, not anymore.” After a long while. “I can sign, but it needs some changes.” I poured myself a cup of tea. Normal. Lucas was probably just worried the agreement wasn’t strong enough and wanted to add a few more conditions. He threw the paper back on the coffee table and leaned back against the sofa. “What do you mean by ‘can’t bring people home’? If I don’t bring them home, should I go to a hotel instead, and let my mom catch me?” “If you can’t stand seeing me sleep with others in front of you, go tell my mom, don’t ask this of me.” I looked at him in surprise. He meant he wanted to bring people home to sleep with. Thinking of that scene, I pursed my lips and said coldly: “Change that request.” “No changes. Either you don’t interfere with how many women I bring back, or I won’t sign.” To be honest, this request was a bit too much. I don’t have a hobby of watching live porn. Nor do I want to appreciate others’ most primitive activities. Just thinking about the quiet home suddenly filled with chattering women and fancy tea. It made me sick. “Well, do you agree or not?” “Do you really have to do this?” He nodded with a smile: “That’s right, this is my only request.” Our eyes met. Lucas’s aggressive gaze reminded me of that night. Humiliation, fear. Taking a deep breath. “Fine.”

The sofa was a mess. Black lace underwear, torn black stockings. There was even a condom with suspicious fluid on the floor. The smell was depressing and nauseating. My chest felt tight. A good home now looked like a seedy place. Lucas was too outrageous. Bang bang bang. I knocked hard on Lucas’s bedroom door. The one who opened the door was a scantily clad, sleepy-eyed girl. When she saw me, she was like a startled little rabbit, hiding behind Lucas, her watery eyes blinking: “Lucas, I’m scared.” Scared my ass. What did I do to scare you? Lucas held her in his arms, his tone displeased: “Hazel, apologize.” ??? The girl snuggled closer to Lucas, her voice barely audible: “Lucas, it’s okay if sis doesn’t want to, don’t be angry with sis because of me.” She looked up at me again, timidly opening her mouth: “S-sis, don’t be angry, it’s okay if you don’t apologize, I’m fine.” Wait. This made me laugh out of anger. “What did I say? From beginning to end, I didn’t say a word, right? What are you two acting out here?” Lucas’s face didn’t look good: “Then why did you come here so early in the morning?” Damn. I almost forgot the main point. I told Lucas to pay attention to hygiene in the future and clean up in time. After all, this is my home, the home I spent money and effort to decorate. After hearing this, Lucas pulled the quilt down a bit, revealing his bare upper body. He raised an eyebrow: “What? Jealous? Can’t take it already?” “I told you before, Hazel, you’re just pretending too much. You’re clearly not over me, but you’re acting all magnanimous. Feeling uncomfortable now? You should…” Lucas seemed to not understand human language, talking on his own. My frown deepened. The deeper I frowned, the more smug he became. There was a disgusting feeling like my hand had been licked after slapping him. Forget it, I don’t want this house anymore. As I was about to leave, Lucas called out to me. “Are you going to find a place to cry in secret again?” I stopped in my tracks. In the past, whenever I saw Lucas with other women, I would secretly wipe away tears. Now… I waved my phone at him. “Busy.” Lucas clearly didn’t believe me: “Just keep pretending.” Until I put the call on speaker, and a deep, captivating male voice came through. “Sis, when are you coming to keep me company?” The smile on Lucas’s face froze. He stared at me intently, and after a while, he squeezed out a few words. “Hazel, how dare you!” Dare what? Dare to find a man? Or dare to cuckold him? The atmosphere was tense. But his dear little sister couldn’t read the situation and pretended to be surprised: “Ah? Lucas, what does sis mean?” I smiled at her. “It means exactly what you think it means. He’s just like you, he likes numbers.” I replied to Jason’s message in front of Lucas. Then politely closed their bedroom door. As I left, I only heard the muffled sound of something heavy falling on the floor.

At the entrance of the Prosperity Hotel. Jason tilted his chin slightly, his delicate features carrying a hint of mischief. He hugged me tightly, his tone a bit aggrieved: “Sis, I haven’t seen you for days.” I ruffled his hair to comfort him. Persuading good people to be bad, persuading bad people to be good. It’s a hobby of people who have too much free time. Jason was the bad boy I persuaded to be good. Not for anything else, just for his good body, good looks, and good skills. Entering the hotel lobby. The more I looked, the more familiar it seemed. Then I thought of the hotel’s name. I turned to look at Jason: “Do you know who owns this hotel?” He said he didn’t know. I said it was my husband’s. After hearing this, Jason covered his mouth with both hands, looking surprised: “Ah? Really?” I nodded. He lowered his head, grabbing my arms with both hands, his words full of apology. “Then, won’t big brother find out? If big brother gets angry with sis because of this, I’ll feel very guilty.” His expression was too exaggerated, obviously intentional. It doesn’t matter, no one dislikes it when they’re the object of a flirt’s attention. If Jason wants to put effort into pleasing me, what’s wrong with that? I smiled and said it’s fine, I’m going to get divorced anyway. Jason then said resentfully: “Big brother really has no taste, not like me, I only like sis.” The elevator door opened. Jason’s hand hovered over the door frame, letting me enter first. “Wait.” Looking back. Lucas came running over, out of breath. I didn’t know how he had followed us here. Lucas steadied his breathing, his gaze fixed on Jason’s and my interlocked fingers, his expression suddenly cold. Jason wasn’t to be outdone. He switched hands to hold mine, his other arm around my shoulders, his tone lazy. “Sis, who is this?” “Lucas, my husband.” Lucas’s eyes were like knives, looking as if he wanted to stab Jason to death. He stared at Jason, but his words were directed at me. “Honey, don’t you think you owe me an explanation?” This was the first time he had called me that, emphasizing the word “honey” heavily. I took a deep breath and pulled my hand out of Jason’s grasp. Looking up, I met Lucas’s eyes. “Jason.” “My boyfriend.”

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On the day of my daughter Skylar Cooper’s sixth birthday, I was having an appendectomy in the hospital. I begged my husband, Oliver Cooper, to pick her up from school, but he refused on the grounds that he had to attend a transnational meeting. “Ms. Anderson, Skylar fell off a building at school! She…” I was so shocked that I couldn’t hear the teacher’s voice on the phone. I pulled out the IV tube in my hand and rushed to the school, but I was still too late. Skylar was on the verge of death and said, “Mom, I miss Dad. Can you ask Dad to come and see me?” She was so badly injured that her face was unrecognizable, and she was covered in blood. I held her body and cried bitterly. At this time, the campus screen was showing the news. [Oliver, the richest man in Enilota, held a press conference and announced the return of Kayla, the young lady of the Watson Group, and the two rekindled their old love.] Before Skylar died, she only longed to see her father, but he ignored us while hugging his ex-girlfriend! I was shaking all over. Finally, I dialed his phone number and said, “Oliver, is this the urgent meeting you left Skylar for?” His tone showed undisguised disgust. “Melissa, are you crazy? Skylar is safe at school, but Kayla is sick and needs me more!”

“Oliver, you bastard. Let’s get a divorce!” I roared with all my remaining strength and smashed my phone. The school called an ambulance, and the medical staff arrived soon. Looking at the doctor, I pleaded like a madwoman, “Doctor, please save my daughter. She’s only six years old. She’s a child!” I couldn’t help but break down and cry. The doctor just sighed and said that the girl couldn’t be saved and asked me to accept the loss. They carried Skylar onto the stretcher. I just watched her gradually disappear from my sight, as if she had never appeared. At that moment, I rushed forward desperately, trying to snatch her body back, but I fainted due to exhaustion. When I woke up again, I was in the mortuary of the hospital. Skylar’s body had already been dealt with. I was so desperate that I couldn’t shed any tears. “I’m sorry, baby. I shouldn’t have brought you into this world.” When she was buried, her body had already been cremated into ashes. It was pouring heavily under the dim sky. I suddenly remembered the beginning of this tragedy. I met Oliver on a rainy afternoon. That year, he failed the SAT, and his family went bankrupt. He was alone on the street, drinking his sorrows away. But I knew that what made him the saddest was the betrayal of his ex-girlfriend. Because of the bankruptcy, his ex-girlfriend, Kayla Watson, completely abandoned him and chose to go abroad, pretending that she was going for further study. At that time, he was very desperate. No one knew that I had been secretly in love with him. Once, he had been like the bright moon in the sky, making me look up to him. Now that he was down and out, I just hoped that he could be happy. I quietly got close to him, hoping that he would cheer up and regain his confidence. Finally, from the age of 18 to 28, it took me a full ten years to move him and help him return to the peak of his life and revive his family business. In these ten years, I didn’t live a single day for myself. I worked hard, just wanting him to fall in love with me. Ten years later, we got married. I thought he loved me, but the reality shattered all my hopes. Oliver had always only loved Kayla, even when I was pregnant with his baby. When I gave birth to Skylar, I had a difficult labor and severe bleeding. I hoped he could take care of me, but he said coldly that I was an adult and since I chose to have a child at an advanced age, I should take responsibility for myself. It was he who said he wanted to have his own child, so I took the risk to give birth to Skylar. After we had our daughter, he never once took care of her in six years. I was used to being humble, and he enjoyed being loved. This marriage and love that spanned sixteen years was just my wishful thinking. But today was his daughter’s birthday! He refused her request without hesitation, went on a date with Kayla, and said that Skylar was safe at school. But Skylar was dead, leaving this world with the regret of wanting to see him just once! I shouted in my heart, “Oliver, you are a devil!” I hated him so much! Then, I thought, “Why should Skylar die a miserable death on a rainy night while they are acting like a loving couple in front of all the celebrities in the city?” I fell awkwardly in the rain, covered in mud. I limped forward in despair. At this moment, I just wanted to avenge my daughter.

The venue of the press conference that Oliver held for Kayla was in the busy city center. With my hair in a mess, I came to the entrance of the venue. I looked like a homeless person who didn’t fit in. The passers-by were all talking about me, but I turned a deaf ear. Skylar was dead, and I didn’t care about anything. At the press conference, Kayla and Oliver were snuggling closely together. All the media were taking pictures of them and widely publicizing their love story. I rushed forward and slapped Oliver in the face. He was stunned. When he saw it was me, he immediately roared angrily, “Melissa, are you out of your mind? Do you know where this is?” I shouted in pain, “I am crazy; that’s why I fell in love with a scumbag like you!” Oliver frowned and said unhappily, “Are you done? You inexplicably said you wanted a divorce on the phone, and now you’re causing trouble here. Do you really want to get my attention so much?” The guests and reporters at the scene didn’t expect such a thing to happen. They stopped paying attention to Kayla and turned their cameras towards me instead. Kayla was very angry, but she forced a fake smile and came over, saying, “Melissa, long time no see. I’m back in the country after all these years, and Oliver took the time to accompany me. Don’t be angry.” Her tone and her smile were as if she was saying that Oliver had always been her man, and I was nothing. “Never mind. My husband is a perfect match for you. I’m giving him to you,” I said calmly. All the reporters at the scene were shocked. For them, this was a huge piece of news. The richest man, Oliver, was actually married and having an affair during the marriage. He warned me in a low voice, “Melissa, can you have some sense of propriety on such an important occasion? Kayla is still sick. It’s not easy for her to come back to the country. Stop acting up.” Sixteen years had passed, and he was still willing to protect the woman who had abandoned him in the first place. I felt disgusted even to explain one more word to him. Pushing Oliver away, I limped towards the stage. I wanted to expose them completely. Skylar was dead, and I wanted to take revenge on them. Once, I would be jealous if he even glanced at another woman. This time, I didn’t care at all that he was embracing his ex-girlfriend. He seemed to anticipate what I was going to do and chased after me to stop me. “Melissa, you’re already a mother. Be mature! Have you thought it through about getting a divorce from me? Don’t you think about Skylar? How selfish you are!” He actually still remembered Skylar! I raised my hand tremblingly, wanting to slap him in the face, but he grabbed my hand. He said, “I just didn’t buy a birthday cake for Skylar. Instead of coming here to make a scene, you should go and buy one for her! When I finish here, I’ll go back!” I couldn’t hold back my tears. Seeing me crying, Oliver said impatiently, “Kayla has suffered alone abroad for sixteen years. This time she’s back, I have to spend more time with her. Skylar is very sensible and will understand me. Don’t be angry, okay?” This was Skylar’s father. Even if he had paid the slightest bit of attention to her, he would have known that Skylar had fallen off a building and that Skylar was dead. Maybe he only cared about Kayla. “It’s too late.” I broke free from his hand and felt disgusted. “What? I can promise you that I’ll spend one day a week with Skylar from now on. Are you satisfied? Stop making trouble!” Oliver made a promise for the first time in sixteen years. I said, “Put away your hypocrisy! Oliver, you don’t deserve it! I said I wanted a divorce! I wish you and your ex-girlfriend never be happy!” It was all too late. It was the end for me and Oliver. “Oliver, is Melissa crazy? Why don’t we send her to the hospital? She spoils everyone’s good mood,” Kayla held Oliver’s hand and leaned against him, saying. Seeing how abnormal I was, Oliver nodded and asked the security guards to take me away. But he didn’t expect that I already had a plan. I shook off the security guards forcefully and, under the gaze of everyone in the hall, scattered the marriage agreement between me and Oliver and the photos of their affair all over the hall.

“Mr. Cooper, is what this lady said true?” “Are you really in a secret marriage and even have a six-year-old child?” “What’s the relationship between you and Ms. Watson?” But before Oliver could answer, Kayla fainted. I saw her wink at me. She was faking it again. “I won’t answer private questions. Kayla has fainted. The press conference is stopped today. She can’t be hurt in any way!” Oliver stopped the commotion and said coldly to me, “Melissa, it’s too much of you to deliberately stimulate Kayla like this!” After that, he pushed me aside, picked up Kayla in a hurry and rushed to the hospital. He said to his assistant, Yohan Anderson, “Yohan, send Melissa home and buy a birthday cake for Skylar. She’s grown up now. Let her take care of Melissa and don’t cause any more trouble.” I returned to our home, Maldiary Villa, in a daze. Looking at everything familiar in front of me, I missed Skylar desperately. But Skylar had already gone. I couldn’t help but twitch and cry. Just then, the person in charge of the cemetery suddenly sent me a message: [Ms. Anderson, something terrible has happened. Skylar’s grave was destroyed!] I stood up in horror and rushed towards the cemetery regardless of everything. When I got there, Skylar’s grave had already been dug up, and standing beside it were Oliver and Kayla. Kayla asked the bodyguard to throw Skylar’s urn out in disgust, and then she carefully put the body of a cat into the grave. The small urn was knocked over by the roadside, just like Skylar’s broken body. She really would never come back! I shouted, “What are you doing? I’m going to kill you!” They were all scared by my crazy behavior. Kayla let out a scream and hugged Oliver tightly. Oliver said, “Melissa, what’s wrong with you? Why did you follow me here? Didn’t I ask you to go back and celebrate Skylar’s birthday?” I laughed so heartbreakingly. He had destroyed his daughter’s grave with his own hands. “Oliver, what right do you have to talk about me? When Skylar was most helpless, where were you as her father? You were sleeping with your ex-girlfriend and humiliating your wife!” Kayla’s face turned red with anger because of my words. “Melissa, what have I done to you? You’re slandering my innocence. I will sue you for defamation!” “You can just go ahead!” I looked at them as if they were a pile of garbage. I shouted, “Go away! Both of you! You don’t deserve to be here!” I threw the cat’s body away forcefully, and then, little by little, I carefully picked up Skylar’s scattered ashes. Kayla let out a terrified scream. “Ah! Oliver, she actually threw our precious son away! Will was the birthday gift you gave me, the boy we raised together. How could she…” She looked on the verge of tears, as if she couldn’t stand the shock and was about to faint at any moment. Oliver quickly held her up tenderly and said to me, “Apologize to Kayla and Will!” Looking at Kayla’s tear-stained face, he dragged me down and forced me to apologize. I felt a sharp pain in my knee, but it couldn’t compare to the pain in my heart. Because the little bit of ashes was blown away by the wind. I sat on the ground in despair. “Oliver, my heart hurts so much! Didn’t you say Melissa is gentle and sensible? She’s just jealous of me! Since she doesn’t like me, then I’ll leave…” Kayla tried to provoke Oliver. He grabbed my shoulders and questioned me, “Melissa, Will’s death has already made Kayla so sad. Why can’t you leave her alone? Stop that! You want a divorce, right? Fine! From now on, Skylar will live with me. You don’t deserve to be her mother! She’ll be the happiest girl in the world!” I laughed loudly and said, “Fine!” Hearing Skylar’s name, I looked at Oliver sorrowfully and said, “Oliver, do you know that Skylar is already dead? The ashes you scattered just now were hers. Why does my poor baby have a father like you? If there’s a next life, I’m sure Skylar will stay far away from you and me.” “Melissa, stop talking nonsense! Just because I didn’t take Skylar to celebrate her birthday, you’re even cursing her!” Oliver completely lost his patience and kicked Skylar’s urn hard. The ashes spilled all over the ground.

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I caused the death of my sister-in-law, making my brother hate me for 6 years. During these 6 years, his most frequent words to me were “go die.” He spared no effort in humiliating me and even adopted a sister right in front of me. He allowed this sister to bully me, made me kneel on broken glass for photos, and even forced me, already in the late stages of stomach cancer, to drink 9 full bottles of vodka before stripping naked to dance for her birthday celebration. I didn’t resist. Until the last day of my life, I gave my death as a birthday gift to my brother. Brother, can you forgive me this time? “Aria Night, have you lost your mind?” My best friend Jasmine’s choked sobs echoed through the hospital room. “You only have 3 days left to live, yet you’re telling me you’re going to find the people who killed your sister-in-law?” “Your brother is just a despicable coward. How could he blame you for what happened back then?!” Hearing Jasmine’s outburst, I struggled to sit up on the hospital bed, fighting against the excruciating pain. I managed a weak smile. “Don’t blame him. From beginning to end, I was the one at fault.” My brother had hated me for 6 years because I caused the death of my sister-in-law, Sophia Evans. She was my brother’s first love. They had a great relationship and never argued. Sophia was very gentle. Every time we met, she would buy me lots of gifts, keep me company, help me study, play games with me, watch movies, and go shopping together. The phrase she repeated most often was: “Our little Aria is the gift Ethan gave me, the best girl in the world~” I also felt that Sophia was the gift my brother had given me, the best sister-in-law in the world. But I caused the death of the world’s best sister-in-law. On my brother’s birthday, it was a cold, rainy night. Sophia accompanied me to buy the Lego set my brother had always wanted. To surprise him when he got home from work, I took Sophia through a shortcut, a small alley I often used. I don’t remember what happened next. I only remember waking up in the hospital, where my brother slapped me 12 times. I’ll never forget his bloodshot eyes that day, filled with hatred and pain: “Aria Night, are you even human? Why did you do this to her?” “Sophia loved you so much, how could you be so heartless? You knew she was afraid of the dark!” That’s when I realized I hadn’t been mistaken – there were 12 drunk men in that alley. When they saw us, they had evil intentions and rushed at us. I was knocked unconscious, but Sophia, to protect me, offered herself to them, begging them to let me go. But those beasts, after abusing her, stabbed her 33 times. Her thigh bone was brutally broken, and the tears in her lower body couldn’t even be stitched up. That night, I knelt in the morgue, staring at Sophia’s body, unable to process what had happened. After that, my brother changed completely. He started drinking heavily and rarely came home. He used to dote on me the most, but now, the things he said to me most often were: “Aria Night, why haven’t you gone to hell yet? If you go to hell, Sophia can rest peacefully in heaven!” “Aria Night, do you know that Sophia couldn’t even close her eyes when she died?” “Don’t you hear her crying in your nightmares? How dare you still live until now?” Yes, it was my fault. If Sophia hadn’t accompanied me that day, I wouldn’t have taken the shortcut home, and we wouldn’t have encountered those men. My brother’s hatred was justified. I deserved it. The long-term guilt and remorse led me to develop severe depression, but I didn’t dare to die. I hadn’t found the gang that killed Sophia yet. Only after finding them would I have the courage to face my sister-in-law. Half a month ago, the private investigator I hired finally got back to me: Those 12 men had committed crimes elsewhere and were now hiding in B City. Coincidentally, half a month ago, I was also diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer. This was the last chance given to me by fate. I had to personally avenge Sophia, give my brother closure, and do right by my sister-in-law. Once this was done, I could finally be at peace.

When I returned home, I found all my belongings thrown downstairs. Looking up, I saw Rachel staring at me haughtily. “This room is mine now. Take your trash and get out!” I glanced at Rachel. She was the sister my brother Ethan had adopted. When she first came to our family, she was timid. But after seeing how my brother often humiliated me, her attitude towards me changed. I was about to take my things to the storage room when something in the trash caught my eye. I quickly picked it up – it was my necklace, with its pink gemstone now shattered. My mind went blank. Sophia had bought me many things, but after her death, my brother took away everything she had given me. He said I didn’t deserve to keep Sophia’s gifts. This gemstone necklace was the only memento I had left, and I cherished it dearly. Now Rachel had smashed it. Angrily, I held up the necklace and looked at Rachel. “Who gave you the right to throw away my things?” But Rachel just rolled her eyes. “My brother said everything in the house is mine. I can throw away whatever I want!” “This was a birthday gift from my sister-in-law!” I said, emphasizing each word. But Rachel didn’t apologize. Instead, she became even more arrogant. “So what? I’ll throw away what I want! Besides, your sister-in-law is dead, what’s there to commemorate?” “Anyway, I’m not blood-related to your brother, so I can definitely be his wife in the future! Come on, call me sister-in—Ah!” I couldn’t hold back anymore and slapped Rachel hard across the face. “Aria Night, how dare you hit me! Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell my brother?!” As my anger rose, I was about to hit her again when a strong force pushed me away. I crashed into the window, knocking over a huge vase. Shards flew everywhere, leaving bloody scratches all over my face. When I opened my eyes, I saw my brother Ethan glaring at me furiously. “Aria Night, have you become so lawless that you’re bullying family members now?” I suddenly looked up. “Brother, she insulted Sophia first—” “Brother, I shouldn’t have wanted Aria’s room. If she hates me, I’ll leave right away!” Rachel interrupted me, crying as she spoke. She was about to leave when Ethan held her back. He looked grim. “You’re my sister. Who dares to make you leave?” My heart clenched painfully. Before I could say anything, Ethan turned his gaze to me: “It seems that when I’m not around, some people forget their manners. If that’s the case,” he paused, “you’ll kneel here all night. You can get up when Rachel is in a better mood tomorrow!” Hearing this, Rachel’s eyes filled with glee and arrogance. “Well then, I’ll do as brother says~ Sister, you—” A dull pain began to spread in my chest. I glanced at Ethan, whose eyes were filled with coldness. I knew that anything I said would be useless, so I simply knelt down on the glass-covered floor. Ethan’s expression grew even colder as he looked at me. He snorted and went upstairs. The glass shards were extremely sharp, and my knees and legs immediately started bleeding profusely. Rachel took out her phone and snapped many photos of me. After making a face at me, she went upstairs. The room quickly fell into darkness. The cold seeped into every inch of my body. The pain in my stomach surged again. I trembled, trying to reach for my pain medication, but I couldn’t hold on and passed out. I was jolted awake by cold water being thrown on me. Opening my eyes, I saw Ethan looking at me coldly. “Stop playing the victim. You didn’t feel sorry when you got Sophia killed or when you bullied Rachel!” He looked at me with disgust. “Today is Rachel’s birthday. I’ve sent you the address. Your job is to make her happy.” “Aria Night, do you think I’ll forget what you did just because you act remorseful and guilty?” Ethan laughed coldly. “Drop that fake, disgusting act! You owe Sophia too much, and it’s still not enough!” I watched Ethan’s retreating back and muttered with a bitter smile: “Brother, it won’t be long now. Soon, I’ll be able to repay everything.” Only one day left.

I had only two doses of pain medication left. I injected both into my arm. After cleaning myself up as best I could, I limped into a taxi. By the time I arrived at the bar, Rachel’s birthday party had already started. All the guests were Rachel’s friends, but to my surprise, Ethan was among them. In the past, he would only give me a contemptuous look on my birthday, saying he wouldn’t hang out with us kids. But now, he was here for Rachel… A bitter, sour feeling spread through my chest. When Rachel saw me, she pretended to be friendly and walked towards me. “Sister, I’ve been waiting for you for so long! Come on! My birthday wouldn’t be perfect without you!” She pulled me to the center of the room and introduced me to her friends: “This is my sister. She used to be an amazing dancer! I was so jealous!” Rachel’s friends all looked at me with mischievous grins, their eyes full of ill intent. For some reason, I had a bad feeling. The next moment, one of the guys spoke up, “Rachel, since your sister can dance, why don’t you have her dance to celebrate your birthday?” “Yeah!” another girl chimed in. “We want to see something sexy! Like those hot girls dancing at clubs!” I clutched my clothes tightly and looked towards Ethan, who was sitting in the middle. But he hadn’t glanced at me once, only gazing lovingly at Rachel. “Sister, my friends all want to see. Can you please do it for my birthday? Help me save face~” Rachel said with an arrogant smile, pouting at me. “Hey! We need some drinks to get in the mood before dancing!” Nine bottles of vodka were suddenly placed in front of me. The guy winked at me, “Come on, sweetie. Drink these, and you’ll dance even better. Don’t be shy, we’re all very open-minded here!” “Sister, you don’t want to, do you?” Rachel frowned, looking at me timidly. With her back to Ethan, only I could see the malice in her eyes. “Then… brother, maybe we should forget it. This is too much to ask of her,” she turned to Ethan, pouting. “It’s my fault for getting too excited. I forgot that she really dislikes me.” Rachel turned to look at Ethan, acting coy. Ethan finally looked at me, but his expression was indifferent, as if everything had nothing to do with him. “Aria Night, have you forgotten everything I told you to do?” I clenched my fist slightly, picked up a bottle of vodka, and started drinking. The burning sensation of the alcohol hit my stomach immediately. The pain was unbearable, making the two doses of pain medication I had taken earlier seem useless. But I didn’t stop. Amid the cheers of Rachel’s friends, I continued drinking. By the time I finished all nine bottles of vodka, my vision was blurry. “Take it off! Take it off! Take it off!” Even though I was drunk, I could still feel the immense humiliation. But Ethan continued to act as if he couldn’t see anything. The dull pain in my heart had turned to numbness. I shook my head and started taking off my outer clothes, layer by layer. The cheers from Rachel and the others grew louder. The guys in the room even started recording. Just as I was down to my underwear, a bottle suddenly shattered by my feet. The air in the room instantly froze. I blinked hard, trying to regain some clarity, only to meet Ethan’s disgusted gaze: “You’re embarrassing yourself and ruining Rachel’s party! Get out!” I felt as if I’d been granted a reprieve. Stumbling, I left the room. The strong vodka and the intense pain in my stomach were making me more and more clear-headed. I wanted to go to a pharmacy to buy some painkillers, but I couldn’t hold on and passed out again. This time, I woke up in the hospital, but Ethan was sitting beside me. “Brother…” I said softly, but Ethan cut me off coldly. “If you’re awake, go home. Don’t waste my money here!” “You’re just drunk. Stop acting like you’re dying. It’s disgusting!” Ethan’s cold voice made me swallow the truth I was about to reveal. So, he had always thought my condition was just an act. Even in the hospital, he couldn’t be bothered to have me examined… “Brother,” I spoke with difficulty, clinging to my last shred of hope: “What do I have to do for you to forgive me?” Ethan laughed coldly, his eyes full of cruelty. “Aria Night, haven’t I answered you enough over the years?” “I’ve told you before, if you die, I’ll forgive you immediately!” With that, Ethan turned and left. “Alright, I’ll fulfill your wish, brother.” Looking at his retreating figure, I whispered softly.

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