Category: English

In the ten years since the apocalypse hit, I’d awakened my spatial powers and become the toughest supply hunter our base had. During one mission, I put myself in harm’s way to save my boyfriend, only to be swarmed by zombies. But instead of helping, he just ran, taking my best friend, Briar, with him. Three months later, I fought my way back, covered in blood and fury. I kicked open the War Council chamber doors, only to see Briar. She was wearing my combat uniform, distributing supplies like she owned the place, like she was the deputy commander. The moment she saw me, Briar shrieked, instantly defensive. “You’re supposed to be dead! How are you even *here*? Are you infected?” She scoffed, a smug look on her face. “Fine, out of old mercy, I’ll let you stew in the isolation zone. You need to see how things work now. This is *our* base now.” “Oh, and don’t even *think* about causing trouble. I’ll be the first to gun you down like a zombie.” I ignored her, my eyes locked on the water bottle clipped to her belt. She instinctively shielded it, then flaunted it at me. “What are you staring at? Never seen a spatial water bottle before? My boyfriend gave it to me! The water inside can purify your body.” Hah, a spatial water bottle? That was just a little trinket I’d casually conjured, a mere *trick*. That measly bit of water? It was just some of the cheapest healing spring water from my spatial dimension. Briar really thought she’d found a treasure, but she had no idea – the *real* riches were still far beyond her grasp! I snatched the bottle from her belt, unscrewing the cap. “My space. You really think you’re worthy?”

Briar’s face drained of color. She shrieked, trying to grab it back. “What are you doing! Give it back!” I tilted my head back, chugging the water down in one go. “Ahhh—” A sigh of pure satisfaction escaped me. “My water. Still tastes so good.” “Cassidy! You absolute psycho!” Her piercing scream drew a crowd from outside the War Council chamber. Footsteps pounded closer, and a tall figure appeared in the doorway. It was Jax, my ex-boyfriend. When he saw me, his face just… froze. For a split second, it was like his perfect facade cracked. “Cassidy?” Briar found her anchor. She instantly threw herself into his arms, sobbing. “Jax, she’s back! She stole the water bottle you gave me and drank all the water!” “She must be infected! That’s why she’s acting so violent, so completely unhinged!” Jax held Briar close, his shock twisting into wariness, then pure disgust. “What are you doing back here?” “This is my home. Why shouldn’t I be back?” I shot back. “Your home?” Jax sneered. “You’ve been missing for three months. You were declared dead weeks ago. Your pension, your room, your position – Briar’s inherited all of it.” “Now, you’re just an unknown returnee. You have to undergo examination.” He waved his hand. “Guards! Take her to the isolation zone!” The combat team members hesitated. They were my former teammates. I’d helped them out countless times. One of them, a guy named Milo, couldn’t help but speak up. “Captain, Cassidy… she doesn’t look infected.” Jax’s face clouded over. “What? Are you defying my orders?” “She vanished into a zombie horde for three months. Who can guarantee she’s 100% clean? What if she’s carrying a new virus and infects the entire base? Are *you* going to take responsibility for that?” Milo fell silent, looking down. “I’ll go myself.” I tossed the empty water bottle to the ground. “Jax. Briar.” I called out their names, making sure they heard every word. “I clawed my way out of that horde once, and I’ll do it again. You two better pray I *am* infected, because if I’m not…” As their faces contorted in ugly expressions, I turned and walked towards the isolation zone. Behind me, I could hear Briar’s voice, thick with feigned tears, yet brimming with triumph. “Oh, Jax, I’m so scared. She looked terrifying just now. What if she comes back for us?” “Don’t worry, I’ve got you. A washed-up power user like her won’t be stirring up any trouble.” Washed-up power user? They thought my spatial powers were just that little water bottle?

The isolation zone was the farthest, most desolate corner of the base, fenced off with barbed wire. It housed suspected infected individuals and exiles banished for severe crimes. I was shoved into a dilapidated metal shack, the heavy door clanging shut and locking behind me. I found a relatively clean corner, slumped down, and closed my eyes, trying to conserve energy. Later that night, the shack door creaked open a crack. Milo slipped in, clutching two hard, black loaves of bread and a bottle of water. “Cassidy, you need to eat something.” He pressed the items into my hands. “I’m sorry, Cassidy, we…” “It’s not your fault.” I cut him off. “Jax is the captain now. You’re supposed to follow his orders.” Milo sighed. “Cassidy, you don’t know what Captain Jax and Briar said after you went missing.” “They told everyone you willingly charged into the horde to cover our retreat, detonating all your explosives, going down with the zombies.” “The base even held a funeral for you and declared you a hero. Everyone was heartbroken.” “Captain Jax… he really looked devastated, holed himself up for days. It was Briar who finally coaxed him out. Then, he started telling everyone – and himself, I guess – that he had to be strong, to carry on your legacy, to lead the base in your honor.” “That’s how he convinced himself, and that’s how he convinced everyone else. Now, they all believe they got together to inherit your will. Briar smoothly stepped into your position as deputy commander and even moved into your room.” “And Jax? He handed over *all* my gear, *all* my supplies, to her.” I gnawed on the dry, hard bread. So, in their version of the story, I’d become a great sacrifice. My death, a stepping stone for their love and power. “Cassidy, you need to be really careful now that you’re back,” Milo warned. “Captain Jax… he’s like a different person. He’s got a lot of animosity towards you.” “I know.” “And Briar, she’s the toast of the base right now. Everyone sees her as the new hope, believing she’s carrying on your legacy.” Inheriting my legacy? Not even close. Milo shared more about the base’s changes over the past three months, then left. I swallowed the last bite of bread, feeling the energy flow through my body. The healing spring water was still working its magic; my injuries were mending. Now, all I needed was an opportunity. An opportunity to walk out of here, head held high, and reclaim everything that was mine.

The next day, the iron door of the isolation zone was kicked open. Briar sauntered in, surrounded by a crowd of sycophants. Finally, her gaze landed on me. “Well, well, if it isn’t our great hero, Cassidy.” The other prisoners in the isolation zone shrank into the corners, not daring to utter a sound. I leaned against the wall, eyes still closed. My blatant disregard infuriated her. “Cassidy, I’m talking to you! Are you deaf?!” She stalked over, looking down at me. “Don’t you dare think you can be as arrogant as before. Now, you’re nothing but a suspected infected prisoner, a captive. Your life is in my hands.” She pulled a dagger from her waist—my dagger. My initials, CL, were still etched into the hilt. She used the tip of the blade to lift my chin. “Do you know? Since we were kids, everyone only ever saw *you*! Now, it’s finally *my* turn!” “Jax is mine, the deputy commander position is mine, your room, your glory – it’s *all* mine!” “After we ran that day, Jax was so riddled with guilt, so much pain. It was *me*, I was by his side day and night, comforting him, helping him through it until he finally pulled himself together.” “He said he must have been blind to ever have fallen for a butch, battle-hungry woman like you.” “He said *I* was the woman for him. Gentle, caring, and capable.” “Are you done?” I finally opened my eyes, looking at her with cold indifference. “Done? Get lost.” Briar’s face turned an ugly shade of green. “You… you dare talk to me like that!” “I came here today to tell you one thing.” She gritted her teeth. “Jax, and everything you once had, is mine now. You came back, but you can’t change a thing.” “Oh really?” I scoffed, a faint smile playing on my lips. “Briar, do you truly believe you have everything?” “You’re just a thief, a pathetic worm who clawed her way up through lies and betrayal.” “You!” Briar raised the dagger, ready to strike. But I was faster. My hand shot out, seizing her wrist, the one clutching the dagger. With a sickening *CRACK*, her scream ripped through the air as her wrist snapped under my grip. The dagger clattered to the ground. “Ahhh—! My hand!” Briar cradled her broken wrist, writhing on the ground in agony. The people who came with her were frozen in terror; no one dared to step forward. I picked up the dagger from the ground. “Stolen things, eventually, have to be returned.”

Jax stormed in shortly after, a squad of his men hot on his heels. When he saw Briar’s horrific state, his eyes practically bugged out with rage. “Cassidy! You audacious bitch!” But his raised hand froze mid-air when his eyes met my utterly cold stare. The team members behind him exchanged uneasy glances. Jax took a deep breath, forcing down his fury, and managed a cold, twisted smile. “Cassidy, you’re still as impulsive as ever.” He turned to the fearful prisoners in the isolation zone, his voice rising. “You all saw it. Cassidy disappeared for three months and came back changed, extremely aggressive.” “But I, Jax, am not one to forget old ties.” “How about this, I’ll give you a chance.” He looked at me. “The base urgently needs a batch of medical supplies, especially those gene-enhancement serums from Central Hospital.” “I know you’re strong. If you’re willing to participate in this mission, atone for your actions, and succeed, I can overlook everything and grant you your freedom.” “Of course, the mission is extremely dangerous. A mutated Alpha zombie has taken root in that hospital.” His words plunged the entire isolation zone into a dead silence. Central Hospital. Alpha zombie. That was a recognized death trap. He was clearly sending me to my death. Briar, clutching her broken hand, wore a venomous yet triumphant expression. She knew. Jax was trying to get rid of me. “Jax, don’t let her off that easy! She broke my hand!” Briar shrieked. Jax patted her back reassuringly, but his voice was cold. “She’s a dead woman walking. Why bother with her?” He looked at me again. “Well? Cassidy, this is your only chance.” “I’ll take it.” I replied. Jax’s face registered surprise, then his smile twisted into something grotesque. “Very good. I hope you don’t disappoint me.” He ordered someone to take away the still-wailing Briar, then turned and left. His back radiated arrogance. He thought he’d set a trap. But he had no idea, I was waiting for one too. Central Hospital, mutated Alpha zombie? Perfect. Time to test my new skills from the past three months. The sky was overcast on the day of our departure. We, the ‘cannon fodder’ from the isolation zone, were assigned to the very outer perimeter of the convoy, armed with rusty knives and short spears. Jax stood on the roof of an SUV, delivering a pre-mission pep talk.

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When someone from my ancestral line reaches the peak of emotion, a unique, soft fur sprouts from the tip of their tailbone. Legend says, if a man can pluck one, his fortune will multiply. For seven years, Caleb plucked countless strands of my fur. His wealth exploded, multiplying beyond measure. He was always overcome with desire for me, obsessed to his very core. Until the day he became the richest man in the entire city. That’s when I accidentally walked in on him and that heiress, tangled together, dripping with sweat. When I angrily confronted him, he just scoffed back: “You honestly thought I loved a freak like you? I kept this ‘thing’ for over a decade, just for the money, obviously.” Caleb gloated to Cassandra, as if showing off a prize: “This fur is gold, trust me. I became the richest man in the city by sleeping with her. And the best part? She just melts into a puddle, and her power activates…” Afraid Cassandra wouldn’t believe him, he pulled out our intimate videos, threatening to force my power to activate right then and there, just to strip me of more fur. That day, I fought back until I was bleeding and bruised, only to be abandoned at the hospital. Meanwhile, Caleb spent the entire night with Cassandra in our bedroom. The next night, he came home reeking of her sickeningly sweet perfume: “Cassandra’s so pure-hearted, and it’s just a few measly strands of fur she needs. Do you really have to be so petty?” “Her mom is sick; she needs thirty million. The fur I got yesterday was sold at auction for sky-high bids. Hurry up and pluck a few more for me. Don’t be so unreasonable!” I smiled and said, “Okay.” But he didn’t know that every single strand of my power-infused fur, once love turns to ashes, carries a curse.

“…Softer… Caleb… Tell me, isn’t my body… softer than Elara’s?” Cassandra’s sickly sweet voice floated through the air. Caleb buried his face in her neck, mumbling a reply: “Little vixen… don’t ruin the mood by talking about her…” Cassandra let out a playful laugh. “But it’s true!” Her eyes, hazy with desire, glanced towards the doorway, as if only just noticing me standing frozen there. “Ah! Caleb, someone’s there! Someone’s watching!” Caleb’s movements suddenly stopped. He lifted his head, breathing heavily. When he saw it was me, the lust on his face instantly curdled into annoyance. “Get out.” My feet felt rooted to the spot. I wanted to turn away, but I couldn’t move an inch. He pushed Cassandra away, rolling off the bed. He grabbed a bath towel from the floor and wrapped it around his waist. He spoke softly to Cassandra, “Baby, you go outside first.” Cassandra pouted, slowly making her exit. The sickening perfume, mixed with the acrid scent of their intimacy, churned my stomach. Seven years… This was the man I had loved for seven years, the man I had given my entire heart and soul to. Caleb saw that I hadn’t moved and clicked his tongue in irritation. “Good, you’re back. Cassandra’s mother is sick and needs thirty million.” His eyes held nothing but naked demand. “Yesterday, I put your fur up for auction, and people were desperate for it, bidding sky-high. Hurry up, give me a few more strands!” The bloodied scars from where he’d forcibly plucked my fur last time hadn’t even healed. Before, whenever he wanted to pluck more strands, I’d practically beg, trying to sweet-talk him into waiting until it grew back a bit. I’d even use my body to smooth things over, just to escape the immediate pain, risking a few harsh words in return. I tried to reason with myself, but my body wouldn’t obey. For seven years, I’d been by his side, from a struggling medical student to the city’s wealthiest man today. In that moment, an overwhelming wave of exhaustion washed over me. I was suddenly just… tired. “Okay.” Caleb froze, surprised by my compliance. “That’s more like it,” he said. “Once we have kids, I’ll make you my wife publicly.”

Leaving the house, I went to see Grandma Eleanor. “Grandma,” I said, my voice barely a whisper. “I want to leave.” Grandma Eleanor looked stunned. “Elara? Is Caleb acting up again?” I shook my head. My fingers unconsciously brushed against the tip of my tailbone, where a barely perceptible rough patch remained. “The fur is connected to my very essence. Forcibly plucking it is like draining my lifeblood, shortening my lifespan.” “Caleb has been insatiable all these years, plucking far too much.” “I… I might not be able to have children anymore.” The old woman’s hand trembled fiercely as she clasped mine. “Elara… you two have supported each other through so many years. Can’t you…” Grandma Eleanor’s voice was filled with a desperate plea. Before she could finish, Caleb’s call came through. “Grandma?” Caleb’s voice echoed from the phone. From his end, Cassandra’s provocative giggles almost pierced my eardrums. Grandma Eleanor’s lips trembled, words caught in her throat. Caleb said impatiently, “No wonder that creature wasn’t making a fuss today. So she went to you to demand status?” His voice was full of contempt. “The ungrateful thing. If it weren’t for your kindness back then, nursing her back to health, she wouldn’t even be here to make demands now!” “Just ignore her.” The call ended. I returned home, intending to pack my things. Pushing open the bedroom door, I saw Caleb standing in the bathroom, hand-washing a woman’s underwear. Lacy, sheer… definitely not mine. I stood in the doorway, speechless. He was a doctor; he’d always been a germaphobe. When we were intimate, if the blood from my plucked fur got on his clothes, he’d get agitated, strip them off, throw them in the trash, and shower for at least half an hour. Coming back to reality with a jolt, Caleb saw me. He dried his hands as if nothing was wrong. “Elara,” he said. “You’re back?” He reached out to embrace me. In the past, I would have wagged my tail and clung to him, but today I sidestepped, avoiding his touch. He paused, then blocked the doorway. “Will you just stop acting up, Elara? Grandma Eleanor just scolded me. She said you… you can’t have children anymore?” “Elara,” he reached out and gripped my shoulders. “I really only slept with Cassandra today because I want a child so badly.” He leaned closer. “Please, forgive me this one time, okay?” His other hand slid unbidden to my lower back, attempting to lift my nightgown. “Let’s just let nature take its course, try again? What if…” Once, I’d feared Caleb like this. His hot-and-cold treatment would make me feel like a fool, spiraling into self-doubt. But now, I didn’t care anymore. Caleb’s familiar touch now only filled me with revulsion. “Don’t you feel disgusting?!” I ripped his hand away. The tenderness on Caleb’s face faded. “Elara, you’re really pushing your luck, aren’t you?” He didn’t even bother to pretend anymore, his voice turning commanding. “Tomorrow night, Mr. Davies and Mr. Thompson are coming over for a party.” “Do you know how popular your ‘fortune fur’ is in this circle? Several big shot investors are desperate for it!” “Just giving them the fur isn’t enough anymore. Some are calling it fake!” “Tomorrow, you must cooperate fully. I’ll record a more ‘detailed demonstration’ for them!” His words pierced my heart. Watching him loom over me, his hand reaching under my nightgown, I screamed in a崩溃大吼: “You want the fur?! Fine, take it! Just don’t touch me, you make me sick!” The scent of his perfume made me dizzy, sick to my stomach. My fingers plunged towards my tailbone, seizing the soft fur without mercy, and yanked hard! A ripping sound, then a blinding, bone-deep pain. I shoved the blood-stained strands of fur into his hand. “Get out!” Caleb just watched me in silence, his eyes holding a chilling calculation that I couldn’t decipher. Just then, his phone rang. “Cassandra? What’s wrong?” He turned and walked away, his voice filled with uncontrollable joy: “Pregnant?! That’s amazing!!” “When our son is born, the entire Shen Corp will be his!…” I glanced at the bleeding wound and lowered my head, laughing through my tears. Caleb had no idea his good fortune was about to run out. If I plucked five consecutive strands of this special, cursed fur—the fur that only grows after love has died—everything he gained through me would be systematically stripped away.

The party was held in the villa’s largest banquet hall. Mr. Davies, cigar clamped between his teeth, his gaze lingering on me: “Mr. Shen, a recording isn’t much fun, is it? We need Miss Elara here, let us guys get a feel for the real thing!” Mr. Thompson immediately chimed in, “Exactly! Caleb, let Miss Elara demonstrate!” Caleb’s smile stiffened. He instinctively glanced at me. “Mr. Davies, Mr. Thompson,” “Elara… isn’t feeling well. She probably can’t demonstrate…” Mr. Davies slammed his hand on the table. “We’re signing contracts, injecting capital, and we just watch?” Mr. Thompson squinted at Cassandra beside Caleb. “Is Mr. Shen getting soft? Well, then, let Miss Cassandra here join us for a few drinks!” As he spoke, he reached out for Cassandra. Caleb shot up, his face ashen, pulling Cassandra protectively behind him. My heart plummeted into an icy abyss at that moment. Sure enough, Caleb only hesitated for a few seconds before his gaze shifted to me. “Elara, you go.” Caleb walked up to me and said in a voice only I could hear: “Stop making that face! Cassandra is kind and pure. If those dirty hands touch her, she’ll never recover!” “You’re different. Who cares who you sleep with? Aren’t you just a natural-born… pleasure-giver? Just make sure these gentlemen are well-entertained tonight, make them happy.” “If you can persuade them to add more investment…” He paused, then dangled the one promise I used to desperately crave. “If you succeed, I’ll make you Mrs. Shen.” “After all, marrying into the Shen family is quite a step up for you, isn’t it? If you show off your real talents, you’ll feel better about yourself, right?” After he walked away, arm around Cassandra, Mr. Davies eagerly tried to wrap his arm around my waist. “Miss Elara, Mr. Shen’s recording was amazing, it made us all so excited! Quick, show us how you activate your power and grow your fur…” I suppressed a wave of nausea, my voice trembling. “Gentlemen… just like this… how boring? How about… how about we play something more exciting?” Mr. Davies narrowed his eyes. “Oh? How exciting?” “I… I know a special method,” I licked my dry lips, a hint of allure in my eyes. “With some special alcohol… and incense… Elara can serve you better.” It was late night. The heavy stench of alcohol mingled with an cloyingly sweet, suffocating fragrance. Mr. Davies, Mr. Thompson, and several other burly men were now sprawled on the floor, snoring loud enough to shake the entire room. My back pressed tightly against the wall, trying to calm my trembling breath. I gritted my teeth, hatred boiling within me. Caleb… just three more days… My phone vibrated. I checked the new message. “Your blood type is highly compatible with patient Louis, who is awaiting a kidney transplant at our hospital. Please reply by phone as soon as possible…” Tears immediately welled up. Grandma Eleanor was old. After her sudden kidney failure that day, I had decided to repay her kindness before I left! A few days later. I lay on the operating table. Seeing a familiar face, I wasn’t afraid anymore. Caleb himself was going to perform my kidney removal surgery. The operating room was crowded, and if he dared to take my life on the spot, he wouldn’t escape responsibility afterwards. While waiting for the anesthetic to take effect, he asked: “Why do you want to donate a kidney?” I knew Grandma Eleanor hadn’t told him about her condition because she was afraid he’d worry. Since I had already been successfully matched, there was no need to hide it anymore. Before I could finish explaining, I drifted off. Where I couldn’t see, his eyes were cold. In the past two years, my biological parents had found me, and Caleb only assumed I was doing this for my own family. That’s why he specifically inquired about my surgery, just so he could personally perform it. I don’t know how long passed before I groggily opened my eyes, the anesthetic not yet completely worn off. I heard Caleb’s conversation with the doctor:

“…Failed? Didn’t you say the mechanical kidney has a high success rate abroad? How am I going to explain this to Elara?!” Caleb’s voice suddenly rose. “Do you know what day tomorrow is?! Shen Corp Bio-Tech’s IPO launch event! Global live broadcast!” “And you’re telling me now that she’s dead?!” My heart plummeted. Not because of his outburst, but because of that phrase, “she’s dead.” The surgery… failed? What about Grandma Eleanor? I couldn’t believe my ears! “Mr. Shen, this is a medical malpractice…” “Shut up!” Caleb roughly interrupted. “I’ll pay you double, just keep this quiet! Especially don’t tell Elara!” “Just tell her the surgery was a success and her grandma is recovering at the sanatorium!” The doctor outside meekly agreed. Footsteps receded from the door, and Cassandra’s delicate sobbing floated in. “Should we really have used Elara’s kidney to ‘bless’ our dog? I mean, that ‘expert’ said it would bring wealth to our baby, but what if he was lying…?” “Stop talking nonsense!” Caleb’s voice was irritable. “The expert was right. Her unique lineage guarantees wealth. It’s just one kidney; it’s worth a lifetime of prosperity for our son. It’s a bargain.” I struggled to crawl to the door, my lips trembling with rage. “Caleb, you’re insane!” “Grandma Eleanor’s kidney failure means she could get a transplant right away! And you did this for that wretch… you…” Both of them outside jumped in shock. Caleb’s eyes blazed with fury. “What are you talking about?!” “Grandma Eleanor’s always been perfectly healthy! Are you always thinking about her inheritance? You’re absolutely evil!” “I’m not! Grandma Eleanor, she…” Cassandra shrieked, cutting me off. “Elara! You can’t have kids, and now you’re cursing Grandma Eleanor to die!” “…No wonder heaven wouldn’t let you get pregnant. It was afraid you’d give birth to someone as malicious as you are!” I trembled with rage. Caleb held Cassandra tighter, looking at me with disdain. “Elara, you really are crazy. So your poor old grandma from the countryside died, huh?” “Fine! Tomorrow, at Shen Corp Bio-Tech’s IPO launch, I’ll make you my wife publicly! Is that enough?!” “The expert said it would cleanse you of all that bad luck. So you’d stop talking nonsense!” “And it’ll show everyone how charitable the Shen family has been with you, our foster child!” After saying this, he couldn’t be bothered to look at me again. He carefully helped Cassandra leave. As Cassandra turned her back, her eyes held an unreadable expression. The hospital room door slammed shut. My lips slowly curved into a tearful smile. Tomorrow night. That’s when your nightmare begins. The next day, at the city’s wealth forum, Caleb stood backstage. Suddenly, his phone vibrated. “Hello?” he answered impatiently. “Mr. Shen!” his assistant almost cried. “About the funeral…” “I’m busy right now!” Caleb cut him off directly. “Just find some ditch and bury that old woman from her family!” He quickly hung up. The assistant called repeatedly, the phone buzzing in Caleb’s hand. He casually turned his phone off and tossed it onto the sofa. As the press conference was about to end, Caleb walked out, his arm linked with mine. Everyone praised us as a perfect match, saying Mr. Shen’s had his secret beauty hidden away for years, and now he’s finally decided to show her off! Just then, my image suddenly appeared on the massive 4K surround screen. My clothes were disheveled, and I was surrounded by several burly men: “Gentlemen, how about we play something more exciting?” “I know a special method, that can help Elara serve you better.” The camera suddenly cut to a more private, even more indecent scene. Every detail of me writhing under a man, groaning softly, was captured in perfect clarity. My face was shown in extremely high definition, while the men on top of me were always cleverly hidden in the shadows. The entire banquet hall fell silent instantly, then exploded into chaos! “How many men has she… slept with?!” “Is she some kind of… escort? Has Mr. Shen been duped?” Caleb’s mother, a socialite who rarely bothered with anything, now had wide, furious eyes. She delivered a resounding slap across my face: “You disgusting wretch! I will never allow you to marry into the Shen family!” Filthy insults filled the hall: “So promiscuous, she must be riddled with diseases!” “Damn! She’s definitely trash, whoever touches her is cursed!” The waves of ridicule from below grew louder and louder. After a long silence, Liam’s voice was hoarse, but firm: “No matter Elara’s past, or what she becomes in the future, I, Liam, will marry no one but her in this lifetime.” “I love her, and I will love all of her.” The sounds of pity and curses from below continued for a long time: “Mr. King is young and promising, but it’s a shame he’s completely blinded by love.” “Exactly, that promiscuous woman, probably riddled with diseases, is she even fit to step foot in the Shen family home?” Caleb’s eyes were firm and determined as he tried to slide a ring onto my finger. I ripped my hand away, grabbing the microphone in front of me. “You want to marry me, but have you even asked if *I’m* willing?” Caleb’s face instantly darkened. He tried to snatch the microphone from me. “Elara! Are you crazy?! Assistant! Get Mrs. Shen out of here first!” I sidestepped his hand.

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I was Anya Callahan, heiress to the rich Callahan family, engaged to the man who was supposedly devoted to me, Jasper Hayes, and blessed with a sweet and innocent-looking stepsister, Willow. Then, overnight, I started hearing their thoughts. Jasper held me close, his voice soft and tender, “Anya, I only love you.” [This idiot. Just get her family’s heirloom into my hands, and I’ll dump her so fast.] The next day, I donated the heirloom to the National Heritage Museum. Then, I grabbed all the property deeds under my name and ran straight to the story’s biggest villain, Sterling Thorne. “Brother, I’m homeless. Can you take me in?” I froze in Jasper’s embrace. The crisp cedar scent on him mixed with the stench of his true thoughts, making my stomach churn. [Why isn’t she agreeing yet? Usually, a few sweet words are all it takes. What’s taking her so long today?] Jasper saw my lack of reaction, tightening his arms around me, his voice growing even more affectionate. “Anya, what’s wrong? Don’t you trust me?” His handsome face was etched with a perfect show of hurt, his eyes overflowing with what seemed like deep affection. If his thoughts weren’t scrolling like a news ticker in my head, I would honestly believe he loved me to his very core. Beside us, Willow chose that moment to tug at my hand, her tears streaming down her face like a heartbroken angel. “Sister, please don’t blame Jasper. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t even exist; I’m the one who caused trouble between you two.” She cried so genuinely, as if I were some kind of wicked witch. [Hurry up and fight! The nastier the fight, the better! Once Anya gets kicked out, I’ll be the Callahan family’s only young miss! Jasper will be mine, and everything the Callahans have will be mine too!] So that was it. Turns out, I wasn’t living in some fairytale billionaire romance. I was living inside a massive scam. I was the villainess destined for ruin in this story, existing only to use my stupidity and arrogance to highlight the protagonist, Willow’s, kindness and resilience. In the end, they’d team up to destroy my family and leave me to a miserable death. But now, I’d transmigrated, and as a bonus, I’d gained a unique gift: the ability to hear people’s true thoughts. I stared at the disgusting, conniving duo performing in front of me, my stomach churning. I violently shoved Jasper away. In his stunned gaze, I raised my hand and slapped Willow hard across the face. *Smack!* The sound echoed, crisp and loud. The living room fell silent instantly. Willow clutched her cheek, staring at me in disbelief, tears spilling like broken beads. Jasper reacted first, pulling Willow behind him and glaring at me, enraged. “Anya! Have you lost your mind?! Why would you hit Willow?!” [Good hit! That’s exactly what we need! Richard will hate her even more now!] Jasper’s thoughts mirrored his furious expression, but the reasons for his anger were entirely different. I sneered, pointing at Willow. “She deserved it.” “You…” Jasper spluttered, choked with rage. Willow, however, peeked out from behind him, shaking her head as she sobbed. “Jasper, don’t blame Sister. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have made her angry…” [Yes, just like that. Keep scolding her. The harsher you scold, the more Dad will pity me.] I watched her sickeningly sweet, innocent act and could only find it hilarious. “Alright, enough with the act,” I said, glancing around. My gaze landed on the antique painting on the wall, which was supposedly a family heirloom. “Isn’t this what you wanted?” Jasper and Willow’s breaths hitched simultaneously. Jasper quickly suppressed the greed in his eyes, frowning. “Anya, what are you talking about? I just love you. This has nothing to do with your family’s things.” [How did she know? Did someone spill the beans? No, I have to keep her calm.] I couldn’t be bothered with their nonsense anymore. I walked directly towards the painting. “If you want it, you’ll have to earn it,” I turned back, flashing them a dazzling smile. “Otherwise, I’d rather burn it to ashes than let you get your grubby hands on it.” With that, I turned and headed upstairs, leaving two ashen-faced figures in the living room. Back in my room, I locked the door. All the strength seemed to drain from my body, and I slid down the door to the floor. My heart was still pounding. Not from fear, but from the immense relief of escaping and the boiling rage within me. What they truly wanted was the treasure map hidden behind that ancient painting.

In the original story, they sweet-talked me, and I傻乎乎地 (stupidly) handed the painting over to Jasper. He then used the treasure to rise as a rising star among the city’s elite. After that, he dumped me cold and rode off into the sunset together with Willow. As for me, after they’d drained me of everything, they conspired to have me committed to a psychiatric hospital. This time, I wouldn’t let them succeed. I pulled out my phone and dialed a number. “Hello, is this the National Heritage Museum? I have a family heirloom that I would like to donate to the nation, free of charge.” There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by a voice, surprised yet restrained. “Ma’am, are you sure you want to donate it without compensation?” “Absolutely,” I said calmly. “Tomorrow morning at nine, I’ll be waiting for you at home.” I hung up, deleted the call record, my mood strangely calm. Since you two want it so badly, I’ll send it somewhere you can never touch. The next morning, I specifically chose a vibrant red dress and applied exquisite makeup. Downstairs, Jasper and Willow had already arrived, sitting on the sofa with my parents, Richard and Eleanor. When I came down, Jasper immediately stood up, his face showing the perfect amount of concern. “Anya, I was too impulsive last night. Please don’t be angry anymore.” [This stupid woman. I have to get that painting today.] Willow, her eyes red-rimmed, spoke timidly, “Sister, I’m so sorry…” [Just hand over the painting already, I can’t keep this act up.] My father, Richard Callahan, glared, slamming his hand on the table. “Anya! Apologize to Willow and Jasper!” [This ill-mannered girl. If it weren’t for her grandfather’s shares, I would have kicked her out long ago.] My mother, Eleanor, wiped her tears. “Anya, how could you become like this? Willow is your sister!” [My sweet Willow is suffering. Anya is such an ungrateful viper.] This family was truly a picture of perfect harmony. I smoothed my dress and sat opposite them, as if I hadn’t heard my father’s outburst. “Dad, Mom,” I said, smiling. “I’ve invited some very important guests today. You should really watch your behavior, or you’ll embarrass the Callahan family.” Richard paused, bewildered. “What guests?” Jasper and Willow exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with wariness. Just as I finished speaking, the doorbell rang. I got up to open the door. Standing outside were several elegantly dressed middle-aged individuals in uniforms. The leader extended his hand to me, his voice filled with excited restraint. “You must be Ms. Callahan? I’m the director of the National Heritage Museum. Thank you so much for your support of our national cultural preservation efforts!” I smiled and shook his hand. “You’re too kind. It’s the least I could do.” The four people in the living room, upon seeing the IDs pinned to the visitors’ chests, instantly turned pale. Especially Jasper. He stared at me, his eyes practically spitting fire. [She actually donated the painting?! This lunatic! How could she?!] Willow was also dumbfounded, covering her mouth, trembling all over. [It’s over, it’s over, my billionaire dream… No, there’s still a chance. She must be lying!] My father, Richard, was the first to react. He shot up, pointing at me, his lips trembling with rage. “Anya! You… what have you done!” I turned back, my smile even brighter. “Dad, I donated the family heirloom to the nation. This is a truly honorable act, a boost for national pride. You should be proud of me.” The museum staff clearly hadn’t anticipated such a tense, hostile scene and looked a bit awkward. Ignoring my father’s murderous glare, I stepped aside. “Please come in, gentlemen. The painting is right there on the wall.” The director and the experts carefully took down the antique painting and began their on-site appraisal.

The atmosphere in the living room was thick enough to cut with a knife. Richard’s chest heaved with suppressed fury. Eleanor wept incessantly. Willow and Jasper looked as though their souls had been sucked out, their faces ashen. Soon, the experts delivered their verdict. “Ms. Callahan, this is indeed an authentic work by the former master, Master Xu, *Autumn Mountain Journey*. Its market value is estimated to be at least nine figures. And yes, there’s something hidden in the back lining of the painting… it appears to be a map?” The expert’s words were a heavy hammer, striking Jasper’s heart. [A map! It really was a map! That b*tch Anya! She ruined everything for me!] I watched his twisted face, a wave of satisfaction washing over me. The donation ceremony went smoothly. The director personally presented me with a certificate of honor and a banner. Reporters snapped countless photos of me. “Ms. Callahan, your spirit of selfless dedication is truly admirable and an example for us all!” “Indeed, to have such foresight at such a young age, Mr. Callahan has certainly raised his daughter well!” The reporters’ words made my father’s face change from white to green, then to purple, a truly spectacular display. He wanted to erupt but was constrained by the cameras, managing only a smile uglier than a cry. “It’s… it’s nothing…” After seeing off the museum staff and reporters, as soon as the living room door closed, Richard’s palm swung towards my face. “You ungrateful daughter!” I had anticipated it, dodging aside. His slap missed, making him tremble with even greater rage. Jasper also finally shed his pretense. He rushed forward, grabbing my shoulders and shaking me forcefully. “Anya! Why would you do this?! Do you have any idea how important that painting was to me?!” [I’ll kill her! I swear I’ll kill this woman who ruined my future!] I felt dizzy from his shaking but still met his gaze with a cold sneer. “How important? More important than your life?” Willow cried out, rushing to pull him away. “Jasper, don’t be like this. Sister surely didn’t mean to…” [What do I do? What do I do? Without the treasure, will Jasper still want me? No, I can’t lose him!] “Get off me!” I flung her hand away, my gaze as cold as ice. “Stop your sickeningly sweet act. It’s disgusting to watch.” Eleanor shrieked, rushing over to embrace Willow, who I’d pushed to the floor. “My Willow! Anya, you viper! She’s your sister!” I looked at this family, twisted and deceitful, and my heart finally turned to stone. “From today onwards, I am cutting all ties with the Callahans.” I pulled out the documents I’d prepared earlier from my bag and slapped them onto the table. “This villa was left to me by my grandfather. My name is on the deed. Now, all of you, get out of my house immediately.” Richard’s eyes turned red as he stared at the photocopy of the property deed on the table. “You… what did you say? This is the Callahan family’s house!” “It’s written in black and white,” I said, looking at him coldly. “If you can’t read, I can invite a lawyer to read it for you.” [This little b*tch! When did she get her hands on the property deed?! No, she can’t have this villa!] Eleanor was also dumbfounded, clinging to Willow and wailing, “Anya, how can you be so heartless? Where are we going to live?” [Without this huge villa, how will I face all those wealthy ladies?] It was laughable. They were never worried about me, only about their own lavish lives.

Jasper’s face was utterly grim. He had always believed that everything belonging to the Callahan family would eventually be his, but he never expected I had already pulled the rug out from under him. “Anya, were all those years of our relationship fake?” He tried one last desperate attempt to salvage the situation, his voice trembling slightly. [Keep her calm first. As long as she still loves me, there’s still a chance. Once I’m back on my feet, I’ll deal with her properly!] “Relationship?” I laughed as if I’d heard the biggest joke. “Jasper, are you even worthy of talking about relationships?” My gaze was so cold it made his heart tremble. “Anya, don’t you dare regret this!” Richard pointed at me, enraged, spitting out threats. “My biggest regret is ever meeting any of you,” I delivered my final ultimatum. “I’m giving you three hours. If you’re still here after three hours, I’m calling the police and reporting you for trespassing.” With that, I didn’t spare them another glance. I grabbed my car keys and walked out of that suffocating house. The sunlight outside was a bit harsh. I drove aimlessly through the streets. My phone vibrated furiously on the passenger seat. I didn’t even need to look to know it was calls from them. I simply turned it off. The world went silent. But what next? Where should I go? The original plot had been completely derailed by me. Jasper had lost his biggest advantage, and he wouldn’t just give up. Given Richard’s temper, he would definitely try every trick to reclaim the villa. While I had some ability to protect myself, facing their combined suppression, I was ultimately outmatched. I needed backup. A powerful enough backing that would make Jasper and the Callahans wary. A name flashed through my mind. Sterling Thorne. The biggest villain in this book. A ruthless, vengeful maniac. He was also Jasper’s mortal enemy. In the original story, Jasper had barely managed to gain an advantage over Sterling thanks to the treasure. Now, Jasper’s wings had been clipped by me. And I held secrets about all of them that they didn’t know. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. I turned my car around and headed towards the tallest, most prominent building in the city center. Thorne Enterprises Headquarters. Thorne Enterprises’ security was even tighter than I’d imagined. The young lady at the front desk, with a professional smile, politely stopped me. “Miss, do you have an appointment?” “I’m here to see Sterling Thorne.” “May I ask your name?” “Anya Callahan,” I stated my name, watching her dial an internal line. Sure enough, a few seconds later, she shook her head apologetically. “I’m sorry, Ms. Callahan, Mr. Thorne is not seeing visitors today.” An expected answer. Someone like Sterling Thorne wouldn’t be accessible to just anyone. I didn’t insist, merely looked at her calmly. “Please try again. Tell him I know where the ‘New Energy Project Proposal’ that Jasper has been searching for is.” The receptionist’s expression flickered with hesitation, but seeing my resolute gaze, she dialed again. This time, as she listened to the phone, her face changed slightly. After hanging up, she looked at me with a mix of curiosity and a hint of reverence. “Ms. Callahan, Mr. Thorne will see you. Top floor, CEO’s office.” Riding the private elevator straight to the top floor, the doors opened to reveal a man in a black suit, his expression cold and imposing. “Ms. Callahan, I’m Mr. Thorne’s assistant, Mr. Hayes.” “Hello.” Mr. Hayes led me down a long corridor and pushed open a heavy black wooden door. The office was astonishingly large, with a wall-to-wall window offering a panoramic view of the entire city. A man stood with his back to me, gazing out the window. He wore a perfectly tailored black suit, his figure as tall and straight as a pine tree. Just his back exuded an aura of untouchable intimidation. He slowly turned around.

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So, you accidentally swapped lives with an ancient emperor. How do you survive 30 days without getting yourself killed? It’s actually pretty simple. Just three steps: Step one: Facing the dreaded ‘bedding’ ceremony? Bluff your way through using high-minded, statesman-like rhetoric to deflect the crisis. Step two: Confronted by scheming ministers in court? Dismantle their old-world schemes with modern project management strategies. Step three: Forced into a royal wedding with another woman? Don’t panic. Just… improvise. And guess what? I survived, came back in one piece, and even brought a ‘Beginner’s Guide to Imperial Revolution’ with me. You’re welcome. **Chapter 1: Trapped as a Tyrant – Waiting to Die** The world glitched. A crazy new game called “Life Swap” popped up, letting you trade lives with anyone. It went viral, totally blew up overnight. All you had to do was scan your face and upload your ID, then boom – you’d switch identities with someone for a set amount of time. I jumped right in, couldn’t wait. **[Match Found. Identity Swap Successful.]** The game’s notification barely faded. And then, I was soaking in a steaming hot bath. The white marble tub was carved with intricate patterns, rose petals floated on the surface, and the air hung heavy with a decadent, exotic incense. Around me, a circle of maids knelt, trembling, only daring to peek at me from the corners of their eyes. Is this some kind of VIP millionaire experience pass? A thrill shot through me. Just then, a flood of chaotic memories slammed into my mind like a tidal wave. The ancient Empire of Veritas, the third year of Emperor Julian’s reign. Julian, a notorious tyrant, known for his unpredictable rage and a body count higher than the palace walls. The identity I’d swapped into? The infamous young tyrant, renowned for wiping out entire families on a whim! “Your Majesty…” From outside the chamber, a sycophantic yet subtly mocking voice spoke up. It was Master Bellamy, the chief steward. “Lady Seraphina, your most favored consort, is ready. Shall we bring her in to assist you with your bath?” My mind exploded. I instinctively shot up from the water. Warm water streamed off my body, and I looked down, instantly frozen with shock. It was still *my* body! Fair skin, delicate curves—all the undeniable features of a woman, made even clearer by the steamy air! Damn this game! It only swapped identities and locations, not bodies! “Your Majesty?” Master Bellamy’s voice held a hint of confusion. I was terrified out of my wits. If he walked in and saw the Emperor’s sacred body had turned into a woman’s, I’d probably be tortured to death on the spot. “Get out!” Thinking fast, I forced my voice low, imitating the tyrant’s muffled roar from the memories. “I’m feeling under the weather today, and I have no desire for bloodshed. Get out!” Master Bellamy outside clearly froze for a second, then actually seemed to relax, chuckling obsequiously. “Your Majesty is truly merciful! This servant was foolish. So… by imperial decree, shall Lady Seraphina be beaten to death and cast out of the palace?” What?! My scalp prickled instantly. A human life, dismissed so casually by him. I couldn’t let him follow the tyrant’s logic any further. “Silence!” I slammed my hand onto the water, sending a huge splash flying. My voice trembled with fear and anger, but to them, it sounded like the prelude to a terrifying rage. “I’ve changed my mind! From this day forward, I will not harm women! Dare to question my will again, and I’ll have your tongue cut out!” This statement, completely out of character for the tyrant, clearly stunned everyone outside the door. After a long, chilling silence, Master Bellamy’s tearful kowtows echoed. “Your Majesty, please forgive this lowly servant! I deserve death! I will never dare again!” Listening to their scrambling footsteps retreating. My legs went weak. I collapsed back into the bath, letting the warm water cover my shoulders. Staring at this female body hidden beneath the Emperor’s robes, I sank into unprecedented despair. This damned tyrant experience pass? It started on hell mode! **Chapter 2: Imperial Court – A Battle of Wits** The next morning, I was practically dug out of the imperial bed by the palace staff. Layers of heavy, intricate robes felt like a suffocating cage. Worst of all, to conceal my female figure, I had to bind my chest tightly with long strips of cloth. Every breath felt painful and constricted. Pale-faced and wobbly-legged, I was finally carried to the morning court. In the Imperial Throne Room, hundreds of officials knelt, chanting, “Long Live the Emperor!” I sat on the high throne, my legs trembling. “Any petitions? Otherwise, court is adjourned—” The steward’s announcement had just finished. When a middle-aged man in sumptuous royal robes, exuding an air of authority, stepped forward. He was Duke Silas Thorne, the all-powerful Regent, and by blood, the Emperor’s uncle. “Your Majesty,” his voice was booming, filled with immense pressure. “The northern barbarians are restless, and our border defense funds are critically low. I believe the most pressing matter is to increase taxes by thirty percent to replenish the national treasury and assert our nation’s might!” The entire court fell silent. I immediately sifted through the original Emperor’s memories. The treasury wasn’t empty at all. This old fox was trying to seize an opportunity to line his pockets and, incidentally, test me – the puppet Emperor who had changed so drastically last night. Isn’t this just a corporate stress test? A cold smirk touched my lips. I suppressed my nervousness and spoke. “Uncle, your words are flawed. A forced tax increase would be like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs, only inciting rebellion among the people. The matter of the national treasury should prioritize increasing revenue and cutting expenses.” “Increasing revenue? Cutting expenses?” The Regent’s eyes flashed with disdain. “Tell us, Your Majesty, how do you propose to increase revenue, and how do you propose to cut expenses?” Here we go! That’s what I was waiting for. I cleared my throat, ready to unleash my modern-thinking combo. “Increase revenue?” I leaned slightly forward, my voice not loud, but clear, echoing through the grand hall. “Firstly, thoroughly investigate all illicit salt and iron mines across the land, bringing all their profits under state control. Secondly, transform the royal hunting grounds into a major trade hub, levying transit taxes on all passing merchant caravans. My hunting grounds won’t lie fallow for free.” At these words, many officials’ faces subtly shifted, clearly agitated that their interests were being touched. I ignored them, pressing on, “As for cutting expenses, it’s even simpler!” My gaze swept across the room, my voice low, laced with my carefully mimicked tyrannical edge. “Firstly, downsize the Imperial Harem. Three hundred consorts out of three thousand are quite enough. The rest shall be given severance pay; those who wish to return home may do so, and those who wish to remain in the palace may serve as maids. All their allowances shall be halved!” “Secondly,” I shifted my focus, my eyes locking onto the Regent. “Reduce the stipends of the Royal Clan! Uncle, as the head of the Royal Clan, you should lead by example for our Empire of Veritas. Your stipend, for instance, shall be cut by half, as a clear demonstration, won’t it?” This was a direct hit, a dimensional reduction attack that struck directly at Duke Silas’s most vulnerable point. He never dreamed that this puppet nephew, whom he’d always manipulated, would dare to turn the knife on him. “Your Majesty! Absolutely not! This goes against ancestral law!” The Regent’s face turned ashen, finally cracking under pressure. “Ancestral law?” I slammed my hand onto the armrest of the throne. “Is ancestral law meant to keep the common folk well-fed, or to let you bloated, corrupt parasites gorge yourselves?! I say, what needs changing most are these very ancestral laws that enable your corruption!” My words left the Regent speechless, his face flushing a deep purple. Meanwhile, a few old ministers in the ranks, long suppressed by him, now had eyes that blazed with an astonishing light. Their gazes, initially contemptuous and numb, had transformed into disbelieving awe and respect. I tasted the sweet nectar of power for the first time, but I also clearly felt it. When the Regent lowered his head, the look he shot me was filled with undisguised murderous intent. **Chapter 3: The Empress Dowager’s Feast – A Perilous Trap** My unusual behavior quickly reached the Imperial Harem. The Regent’s elder sister, the current Empress Dowager Beatrice, couldn’t sit still. Under the guise of caring for my health, she arranged a perilous trap disguised as a feast in the warm pavilion of the Royal Gardens. Inside the pavilion, incense swirled, and soft music played. The Empress Dowager sat regally at the head of the table, surrounded by a group of alluring consorts. “The Emperor has been toiling for the nation lately, he’s grown quite thin.” The Empress Dowager smiled warmly at me, but her eyes held a malicious glint. “Come, my consorts, let us toast His Majesty properly, to ease his fatigue.” No sooner had she spoken than a svelte consort, holding a wine cup, melted against me, her breath like exotic perfume. “Your Majesty, I toast you…” The heavy scent of her perfume and her warm body sent shivers down my spine. I stiffly pulled away, terrified that the tightly bound cloth across my chest would burst open. “I… I don’t care for heavy perfumes.” I mumbled a clumsy excuse, then grabbed a cup and downed its contents in one gulp. Another bolder consort directly picked up a pastry and tried to feed it to me. “Your Majesty, try this…” I practically scrambled away from her. My repeated rejections made the atmosphere in the pavilion grow increasingly strange. The Empress Dowager’s smile slowly faded. Finally, she revealed her true intentions. “Oh dear,” the Empress Dowager sighed softly, her face full of concern. “The Emperor keeps refusing. Is His Majesty perhaps unwell? I hear there’s a Physician Alistair Finch who recently arrived in the palace, whose legendary technique of pulse diagnosis is truly remarkable. Regardless of gender—” “Oh, no, regardless of condition, he can discern it instantly. I specially invited him to examine Your Majesty.” As her words fell, an old man with a goatee emerged from behind the screen, his eyes sharp. “This humble servant, Physician Finch, requests to take Your Majesty’s pulse.” My heart instantly plummeted. Pulse diagnosis by thread? Isn’t that like an ancient x-ray or ultrasound! Once he got a reading, my faint female pulse and the constricted breathing from my bound chest would definitely give me away! Treason, punishable by the harshest death! Even though I was technically the Emperor, the premise was that I had to be the *real* Emperor. Cold sweat instantly soaked my inner robes. My hands and feet felt icy, my mind a blank. What do I do? What do I do?! Just then, my gaze swept across the room and suddenly landed on a young palace attendant, Leo, kneeling in a corner, holding a fruit platter. A consort accidentally bumped him as she turned, and the platter crashed to the ground, sending fruit scattering everywhere. The chief steward next to him immediately stomped on his hand, cursing loudly. “Clumsy fool!” Leo’s face contorted in pain, but he bit down hard, not letting out a single sound. While everyone else was gloating, watching me, the Emperor, make a fool of myself. Only he, even with the agonizing pain of his crushed hand, looked up quickly at me. In his eyes, there was no fear, only the bitter resentment of being bullied, and a desperate plea for help. My heart suddenly leaped. A crazy, desperate plan instantly formed in my mind. **Chapter 4: The Vault Burns** Just as Doctor Finch, twirling his thread, was about to touch my wrist – that split second of ultimate suspense. “Insolence!” I slammed my hand onto the table, the throne rattling with a loud bang. I pointed at Leo, the young attendant who had dropped the platter, and roared with all my might. “How dare you! To be so disrespectful in front of the Empress Dowager and my beloved consorts, and to disturb my royal presence! Take him away, execute him at once!” This furious shout was filled with the unpredictable, unhinged fury of the original Emperor. Everyone was startled by this sudden resurgence of my tyrannical nature. The Empress Dowager even revealed a satisfied smile. What she wanted was this incompetent Emperor, ravaged by wine and women, utterly devoid of initiative. Not the wise ruler who dared to challenge her brother in court. Leo was dragged away by two guards. When he looked back at me, his eyes were full of despair and confusion. I forced back my inner apology, then stood, bowed to the Empress Dowager, and said impatiently. “This clumsy servant has ruined my mood! I need to change my clothes!” With that, I brushed past everyone and strode out of the warm pavilion. But I didn’t return to my private quarters. Instead, I shook off the pursuing stewards at a corner, took a shortcut, and ran desperately towards the Royal Penitentiary, the department in charge of punishments. When I arrived, breathless, the executioner’s blade was already raised high. “Stop!” The blade halted less than an inch from Leo’s neck. In the dark, damp woodshed of the Royal Penitentiary, I personally untied the ropes binding Leo. He knelt on the ground, still shaking from the shock. “Do you want to live?” I stared into his eyes, cutting straight to the point. “If you want to live and become my confidant, do something for me.” Leo snapped his head up, his eyes blazing with intense light. I leaned in close, whispering so only he could hear. “Go set a fire. Burn down Duke Silas Thorne’s private chambers, the Obsidian Vault, where he stores his official documents. Make sure it’s as big a scene as possible, but don’t harm a single person!” The despair in Leo’s eyes instantly transformed into surprise, then a fierce resolve. Anything to stay alive. He kowtowed deeply, then vanished into the night without a word. I quickly tidied my appearance and returned to the banquet, pretending nothing had happened, continuing to play my part with the Empress Dowager. Less than fifteen minutes later. “Fire! The Obsidian Vault is on fire—!” In the distance, flames blazed, painting half the night sky crimson. Alarm bells rang throughout the Imperial Palace. I erupted in fury, pushing away Doctor Finch, who was still trying to take my pulse, and pointed at the commotion outside. “There’s chaos in the capital, assassins must be at work! What are you useless quacks doing here, trying to take credit! Guards! Protect the Emperor!” I seized the opportunity to wrest temporary command of the Imperial Guard from Duke Silas’s loyalists. At the same time, under the pretext of searching for assassins and imposing a city-wide lockdown, I confined all of the Empress Dowager’s and Duke Silas’s informants within the palace, successfully deflecting the medical crisis. I had just caught my breath in my chambers when Leo, smelling of smoke, stumbled in. Behind him, a breathless messenger, just arrived from the border, rushed in! The messenger dropped to his knees, his voice hoarse: “Report—! The northern barbarians have torn up the peace treaty! Thirty thousand troops are amassed outside Serpent’s Pass!” “The barbarian princess has issued an ultimatum: she demands to marry the Empire of Veritas’s War God, our Emperor, on the battlefield in two days! Otherwise, she will raze the city!” I shuddered, turning sharply to look outside. The unsettling smirk that had played on Duke Silas’s lips just before his confinement flashed in my mind. I instantly understood. This was no mere diplomatic marriage. This was a death trap he had set, one I could absolutely not escape! How could I, a woman, marry a warrior princess known for her strength, in front of thirty thousand soldiers from two nations?! At the same time, on my phone—the interface only I could see—the cold notification rang again: **[WARNING: High-Risk Quest Triggered. Time Remaining: 72 Hours.]** **Chapter 5: Battlefield Negotiation** I had no choice. Two days later, on the battlements of Serpent’s Pass, the north wind cut like a blade. I wore heavy golden armor, and underneath, still that suffocating chest binder. Amidst the mournful wails of my officials, lamenting their Emperor’s sacrifice for the nation, I walked alone to the highest battlements of the fortress. Below, the barbarian army stretched as far as the eye could see, a dark, ominous mass, their murderous aura reaching the sky. At the front of their lines, a magnificent warhorse carried a woman in crimson battle armor. Her posture was as straight as a pine, her face cold and stunning, and her phoenix-like eyes were sharp. Even from a hundred paces, I could feel the hardened, battle-forged aura emanating from her. She was Princess Anya Volkov, the legendary warrior princess of the northern barbarians. “I heard the Emperor of Veritas is just a sickly man who hides in his palace, playing with women,” she began, her voice clear and carrying across the entire battlefield. “Is he truly worthy of marrying me, Anya Volkov, on the battlefield? Worthy of being called a War God?” Her words were laced with undisguised contempt. I didn’t get angry. Instead, I took a deep breath, employing every negotiation trick I’d learned in my previous life, and spoke loudly. “Princess, you claim this is a marriage alliance, but in truth, you seek to gauge our strength. If I were truly a sickly man, marrying me would mean you’d be a widow in all but name, and the world would mock you.” “If I am not a sickly man, then you would be subservient, living in my shadow. No matter how you look at it, Princess, this deal offers you nothing but losses, doesn’t it?” My words clearly startled Anya. She hadn’t expected me to so directly expose her intentions. I pressed my advantage, adding more. “The real beneficiary of our marriage would be my Regent, who schemes to see me disgraced.” “And if we go to war, the beneficiaries would be the neighboring nations, who eagerly await our mutual destruction. Princess, we are both pawns in a larger game. Perhaps, we should discuss a third move on this chessboard?” “A third move?” A flicker of interest appeared in her eyes. “Please, Princess, enter the fortress for a discussion!” I called out, “I, the Emperor of Veritas, guarantee that not a single hair on your head will be harmed!” “Alright!” She was surprisingly bold, tossing her weapon to her deputy and riding alone towards the fortress. In the secret chamber of the fortress, only the two of us remained. Under Anya’s scrutinizing gaze, I said nothing, laboriously removing my heavy armor. Then, right in front of her, I slowly, layer by layer, pulled off the binding cloth that had made it so hard for me to breathe. When my female features were fully revealed to her. The battle-hardened warrior princess, for the first time, showed a look of sheer astonishment. “Now, we can talk about a real partnership.” I looked into her shocked eyes and said, word for word, “I am a woman. Princess, to have established yourself among the northern barbarians, you must understand the difficulties women face in positions of power.”

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Two months into college, my daughter got pregnant. For her future, I persuaded her to have an abortion. Afterward, she smoothly graduated and landed a high-paying job, becoming the pride of our small community. Yet, at the peak of her success, she brutally pushed me into a deep, abandoned quarry, leaving me to drown. That’s when I realized the child she’d carried was from a wealthy heir. All these years, she’d blamed me for every hardship in her life and career, resenting me for destroying her chance at a rich wife’s life. Now, I’m back to the day Delilah confessed her pregnancy to me. This time, I agreed to let her keep the baby. If she’s not willing to be her own person, then she can be a lapdog, hidden in the shadows. “Mom, I need to tell you something.” Watching my daughter standing there, so meek and hesitant, it hit me – I’d been reborn. It was hard to reconcile the sweet, obedient girl in front of me with the vicious monster who pushed me into that well. The suffocating terror of the water, it felt like it was just seconds ago, still clinging to me. I struggled to control my emotions. “I’m pregnant.” Delilah spoke, cautiously watching my expression. When I didn’t react too strongly, she let out a quiet breath of relief. “It’s up to you if you want to keep it or not.” “Really?” My answer made Delilah look up in surprise, a flicker of almost imperceptible joy in her eyes. “You’re an adult now. It’s time to take responsibility for your own life.” Though I felt a pang of regret for the daughter I’d meticulously raised for over a decade, I had no use for someone utterly devoid of gratitude. In my previous life, Delilah knelt before me, tears streaming down her face, telling me she was pregnant. The news hit me like a bolt from the blue. But I quickly calmed myself and asked if it was consensual. She stammered, unable to give a clear answer, making me think she’d been assaulted. Only when I threatened to call the police did she admit she had a boyfriend and it was consensual. Seeing her eyes brimming with tears, ready to spill, I couldn’t bear to scold her. I told her it wasn’t the right time to have a baby, that she should finish her studies first, then consider what came next. Under my persuasion, Delilah had the abortion. Afterward, she excelled in her studies, found a high-paying job right after graduation, and became a powerful career woman, with both fame and fortune at her fingertips. But later, she blamed all her life and career setbacks on me. If I hadn’t made her get rid of the baby, she’d be a rich wife now, free from all these injustices, she’d claimed. Finally, after just one critique from her boss, she drove almost two hundred miles back home and, without hesitation, pushed me into the well and drowned me.

“I want to keep this baby.” Delilah looked at me with newfound determination. “If you’ve decided, then that’s that.” In my previous life, after learning about Delilah’s pregnancy, I investigated the man. His scandalous reputation was already public knowledge, no investigation needed. The trust fund baby was named Blake Kingston, an utterly unwelcome illegitimate child. Years ago, the CEO of Kingston Holdings had donated his genetic material. Blake’s mother, desperate, found a way to acquire it and successfully became pregnant. She wanted to use this method to get money from the Kingston family. But the Kingstons weren’t so easily fooled; they immediately called the police. Yet, Blake’s mother, her ambition unwavering, her greed still burning, went live on social media, condemning the Kingston family. The Kingstons immediately released evidence, and Blake’s mother was subjected to a massive wave of cyberbullying. Even under such circumstances, Blake’s mother insisted on giving birth to him, believing an opportunity would eventually come. But she never imagined the opportunity would arrive so quickly. When Blake was three, the head of the Kingston family died in a car accident, and Blake, as the only male descendant, was brought back to the Kingston estate. Perhaps it was his inherent malice. Even with meticulous upbringing, Blake remained an incorrigible playboy, wild and reckless. He left a trail of broken hearts everywhere, and Delilah was just one of them. I knew he wouldn’t take responsibility for Delilah, especially given the vast social chasm between them. Since Delilah wanted to try her luck with a man who radiated pure malice, then as her mother, I had to support her. Watching Delilah still harboring hopes for happiness, I felt a pang of pity. “If you change your mind about this baby, I’ll take you to have an abortion.” This was the biggest concession I’d offer, her last chance. “I won’t abort him.” Delilah refused me flatly. Although I had expected this answer, I couldn’t help but feel my heart grow cold.

“So, what’s your plan now?” I cut off Delilah’s blissful musings. “I’m going to find my boyfriend first. We’ll get engaged, and after the baby is born and can walk, we’ll get married.” “Then the baby can even attend Mommy and Daddy’s wedding! It sounds so perfect.” Delilah imagined their future life, a genuine smile spreading across her face. Watching her, I calmly saved the audio recording. With my apparent approval, Delilah impatiently rushed off to find Blake Kingston. After she left, I took a few days to rest. After all, you need to be well-rested to truly enjoy the show! Sure enough, just a few days later, Delilah’s tearful call came in. “Mom, he doesn’t want this baby!” Before I could even speak, her sobbing, choked voice poured through the phone. I subtly twitched the corner of my mouth, fighting hard to keep my emotions in check. “Come home.” When Delilah returned, she recounted the events of the past few days. It turned out that when Delilah went to find Blake, he didn’t even remember who she was. Delilah desperately tried to prove she was his girlfriend but was humiliated and then thrown out by security. Yet, she didn’t give up, staking out every place Blake might pass through daily. Finally, she irritated the ruthless man. He immediately tried to force her to the hospital for an abortion. But they underestimated Delilah’s determination to climb up the social ladder. She fiercely struggled free from those who were trying to drag her away and fled to her rental apartment, not daring to leave for days. After spending the last of her meager money, she finally thought of me, her mother, and called. Delilah, her voice tearful and broken, recounted her ordeal of the past few days. Her eyes, still wet, held a mixture of hurt and bewilderment. Perhaps my calm reaction disappointed her; she looked at me with questioning disbelief. Realizing my response was too flat, I quickly adjusted my expression, forcing out a sympathetic wince. “Mom, what should I do?” Seeing the emotion she desired appear on my face, she continued. “You found your own boyfriend, you chose to sleep with him, and you chose to have this baby. These are your choices.” I looked at Delilah’s pathetic, half-dead expression and felt nothing but annoyance. What sin had I committed in my last life to have a daughter like this? “I’ll give you two choices: either you get rid of this child, or I give you five hundred thousand, and from this day forward, you are no longer my daughter.” Five hundred thousand was the most I could afford, but it would also serve as a good buffer against any future threats from her. “I want the five hundred thousand.” Not a moment of hesitation. “Good.” “I’ll find a lawyer in a few days to finalize the agreement.” “Mom, I’m so sorry. I have to do this for my baby.” That face, desperately trying to look sad, didn’t shed a single tear. All I saw was a crumpled, ugly grimace.

With the help of my lawyer friend, Mr. Miller, I successfully severed ties with Delilah. Oh, I can’t call her daughter anymore. I should call her Delilah. All these years, to better care for Delilah, I had been forced to give up the work I loved. Now, I finally had time to pursue my true passion. I immersed myself in the fulfillment my work brought me. I loved this life. I’d rather be an inconspicuous little sapling than a clinging, parasitic vine. I thought my upbringing would make my child such a person, but I never imagined she aspired to a different life entirely. Now, she was off chasing her life, and I would pick up mine. I reopened my design studio. The sketches I’d made in my spare time before, I brought them to life. What I hadn’t expected was how popular these designs would be. I posted my work on social media platforms and they quickly gained traction. I even felt a surge of uncontrollable excitement; I thought after all these years, I had lost my passion for these things. I was ecstatic, yet filled with gratitude. Just as I was basking in this newfound satisfaction, my former good daughter, Delilah, came knocking. “Eleanor, isn’t this your daughter?” My colleague, Maya, forwarded a video to me. In the video, Delilah was rambling on, introducing her relationship with me. The comment section was filled with nothing but praise. “No wonder they’re mother and daughter, both so talented.” “The little lady’s mom’s work is seriously amazing.” “Like mother, like daughter.” … I forced myself to watch the entire video, suppressing a wave of unease, then immediately called Delilah. Half an hour later, Delilah arrived at my studio. I no longer bothered to hide my emotions; my displeasure was plain on my face. “Ms. Delilah, I believe we’ve already severed our relationship, haven’t we?” I glanced at Delilah’s slightly swollen belly. “Besides, if anything were to happen to your child while you’re here, I wouldn’t be able to bear the responsibility.” Delilah probably hadn’t expected the mother who once doted on her to be so heartless. Her eyes quickly welled up with tears.

“Mom, are you really going to disown me? I’m your only child. Who will take care of you when you’re old if you don’t acknowledge me?” Did she really think I cared? Big deal if I ended up dying alone on the street someday; it would scare others, not me. “I must ask Ms. Delilah to delete the video immediately and apologize to me personally.” I warned Delilah sternly. Without a doubt, her misdeeds would soon spread, and this would definitely impact my brand. The sooner I distanced myself from her, the better it would be for me and my studio. Delilah probably hadn’t expected me to be so resolute. She looked on the verge of tears. But I knew that Delilah’s appearance was not what it seemed. “Ms. Delilah, you have three days to resolve this matter. Otherwise, I will file a lawsuit against you.” Seeing my unyielding stance, and knowing she was in the wrong, Delilah finally left in a fit of rage. Delilah deleted the video as I demanded, but she didn’t apologize. Out of consideration for our more than ten years of mother-daughter history, I didn’t pursue legal action. But this nearly ruined my studio. After Delilah left, I finally had a few more peaceful months. I calculated the time; Delilah was probably due to give birth soon. With the continuous growth of my studio, I also bought myself a car and a house. Just as everything was moving in a positive direction, Delilah delivered a swift kick to the gut.

After Delilah gave birth, she began staking out the Kingston Holdings building daily, even before she was barely recovered from childbirth. She would yell to anyone who passed by: “Blake Kingston of Kingston Holdings, abandoning his child and their mother!” “Blake Kingston of Kingston Holdings, abandoning his child and their mother!” … This behavior quickly spread across social media platforms, causing quite a stir. Kingston Holdings’ stock plummeted. Out of desperation, they had no choice but to call the police. But Delilah remained unfazed. After multiple police warnings, she changed her strategy. She stopped appearing outside the Kingston building and instead started live streaming online. She thought this would make Blake Kingston back down, but she greatly underestimated his ruthlessness. Although he was also an unwelcome illegitimate child, this didn’t evoke any sympathy from Blake; instead, it reminded him of his own shameful past. Blake’s name used to be different, but even after being brought into the Kingston family, he was still looked down upon. When it came to any interests or benefits, he was always the one sacrificed, which is why he was given a name that reflected being ‘abandoned’ or ‘forgotten’. Over the years, anyone who dared to look down on Blake had been quietly dealt with. Delilah’s current actions were just like his mother’s years ago. Some internet users even found videos of Blake’s mother from over twenty years ago. The shadow of being scorned had hung over him for years. Delilah’s actions successfully infuriated him. To deal with a woman like her, Blake had countless methods; after all, countless girls came looking for him downstairs at the company every day. But I never imagined that I, too, would become a target of his revenge. I arrived home from my studio to find Delilah kneeling at my doorstep, drawing stares and whispers from passersby. I avoided her gaze, walked straight to my door, and started to open it. Just as I was about to close it, she violently slammed her hand against the doorframe.

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My sister, Chloe, got pregnant before she was married. She gave birth to a boy in a small, private clinic and then just vanished. The doctor from that clinic showed up at our door, following the address she’d left, and thrust the baby into my arms. My parents pleaded with me, practically on their knees, begging me to raise the child. I had no choice. A single woman, never married, I had to grit my teeth and raise the baby. Life was a constant struggle. Every penny for food, clothes, and a roof over our heads came solely from me. I finally managed to raise the child, but that’s when Chloe reappeared. She showed up with a rich guy, loaded with a chunky gold chain around his neck. The moment she stepped through the door, she grabbed my son and started crying, claiming I was petty and jealous, that I’d stolen her child and caused their mother-son separation for years. My son, influenced by her words, immediately cut ties with me and acknowledged her as his real mother. My parents also cursed me for being nosy and kicked me out of the house. Our neighbors gossiped, spreading rumors that I’d abducted the child and was a wicked-hearted sister. No one believed me. Filled with utter despair, I ended it all, jumping from the rooftop. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day my sister gave birth.

It was still dark, just before dawn, when a frantic pounding echoed from our front door. I jolted awake, my heart hammering like it wanted to burst from my chest. Last time, it was at this exact hour. That shady clinic doctor had stormed our house, banging so loudly he woke up everyone in the entire block. He’d publicly shoved the baby into my arms, pointing his finger right in my face and yelling that I’d abandoned my child without a second thought, that I was heartless. Only later did I find out it was my sister, Chloe’s, baby. My parents had pleaded with me, practically on their knees, saying that since I wasn’t planning on getting married anyway, I should just keep the child. I, fool that I was, had softened and agreed. The result? That child ruined my entire life. I was filled with burning resentment. Now, hearing the knocking again, my scalp tingled with dread. I scrambled out of bed, rushing to the door in three strides. The moment I opened it, that face appeared again – the old Dr. Miller from the clinic. “Aria Scott, you abandoned your child after giving birth. Do you know that’s a crime?” The neighbors were already peering out, some even stepping out in their slippers to gawk. I glared at him, not even thinking, and instantly threw my slipper right at his face! “You disgusting old man, trying to frame me? Do you believe I can flatten you right here?” “Me? I haven’t even been on a proper date, how could I have a kid? Have you ever seen a woman who just gave birth capable of beating someone up like this?” “Look at me! Do I look like I’ve ever been pregnant?” My barrage of questions and insults made him stumble backward, his face turning green. That’s when Aunt Carol from across the street spoke up: “Yeah, Aria goes to work on time every day. Who here ever saw her belly swell up?” “Could he have made a mistake?” “Isn’t that the doctor from that small clinic on the corner? I heard he doesn’t even have a proper license!” I put my hands on my hips, raising my voice even higher: “You old fossil, running an unregistered clinic and still daring to frame me? I’m calling the police right now!” At the mention of police, he immediately panicked: “I… I’ll leave, alright?!” I lunged forward, grabbing the hair at the back of his head: “Trying to run? No way!” I pulled out my phone and dialed: “Hello, 911? There’s someone selling babies here!” “Don’t lie!” He stomped his foot in desperation. I glared at him: “When the police get here, if you don’t explain everything clearly, I’ll tear down your pathetic clinic!” Heaven gave me a second chance. All the humiliation I endured in my previous life, I was going to settle it all today! When the police arrived, Dr. Miller’s face was bruised, and he was holding a newborn baby whose umbilical cord hadn’t even been fully cut. I stood there in my pajamas, one slipper still clutched in my hand, my eyes red. All the neighbors were gathered at the door, chattering and explaining what happened. The police examined the child, confirmed it was a newborn, and frowned at the doctor: “Alright, explain yourself. What’s going on?” “This… this is the patient’s information. The address listed is hers, and the name matches,” the doctor stammered, pulling out a medical record. The officer glanced at it. It indeed showed my address and the name “Aria Scott.” I scoffed, crossing my arms: “I don’t even know this person. Someone used my name to give birth and now wants me to take the fall?” As soon as I finished speaking, my parents pushed their way through the crowd. “Aria, dear, since you’re not getting married anyway… why don’t you… just keep the child?” I turned to them, my voice as cold as ice: “Dad, Mom, what you’re saying is truly chilling. A child of unknown origin, how can I just take him in?” “Who knows what his biological parents did? What if they were drug addicts or criminals, and the child carries diseases or addiction issues? Me, raise him? And raise an enemy?” My parents were stunned into silence by my retort. The doctor’s face turned ashen, and he directly shoved the baby into my arms: “Your family’s problems are for your family to solve! This child is Chloe’s, let her raise him herself! If I’d known your family was this troublesome, I would’ve rather died than come to this door!” The entire scene instantly went silent. Everyone’s eyes widened. Turns out, this baby was my sister, Chloe’s!

“You’re lying! Just now you said the child was mine, and now you’re saying it’s Chloe’s? Can you prove it? You want to shove a child into our family without any evidence? Officer, I suspect this man is involved in child trafficking!” With that, I pushed the baby straight back into his arms, then turned and crossed my arms, looking like it had nothing to do with me. My mom, standing nearby, gasped in alarm: “Aria! What are you doing?!” “Dad, Mom, don’t be so naive. There are so many scammers out there, specializing in these kinds of tricks!” Aunt Carol also stepped forward: “Old Mr. and Mrs. Evans, you can’t just talk nonsense. The doctor clearly said the child was Aria’s at first, and now he’s saying it’s Chloe’s. Isn’t that contradictory?” “Exactly! Who can guarantee this child isn’t just some random kid he picked up from somewhere?” The doctor panicked, suddenly standing up: “I, Dr. Miller, have been practicing medicine for years, and I’ve never lied! What would I gain from deceiving you?” “Just last night, your sister Chloe herself came to my clinic, begging me to deliver her baby!” “She even left her cell phone with me as collateral!” Saying that, he pulled a phone from his bag. I focused my eyes – it really was Chloe’s. My parents were both stunned. The evidence was right in front of them; the child was indeed Chloe’s, no mistake about it. The surrounding neighbors erupted in chatter: “Oh my, Chloe gave birth at such a young age? Whose is it?” “Who knows, she’s always appearing and disappearing mysteriously, wearing baggy clothes. Who would’ve thought she was already pregnant!” “Probably got tangled up with some shady guy, and this is the fallout!” “You all shut up! My daughter is pure and innocent!” My mom, furious this time, yelled at the crowd, “Whoever spreads rumors again, I’m not done with them!” Dr. Miller sneered: “Hmph, Chloe herself instructed me. After giving birth, she wanted me to deliver the baby to your house, for her sister to raise. Officer, I even have a handwritten note from her here!” He pulled out another letter, revealing it to everyone. But in my previous life, there was no such letter. Back then, when Chloe returned and cursed me, Dr. Miller had even added fuel to the fire, insisting I’d stolen her child, driving me to desperation until I died an unjust death. This man was utterly wicked! Dr. Miller grunted: “I knew I shouldn’t have gotten involved in this mess. Cursed my luck!” The police officer looked at the situation, sighing: “This is a family dispute; it’s hard for us to intervene too much.” I grabbed the officer’s arm: “Officer, this isn’t just a family matter! Can you really conclude that my sister gave birth and then ran off, just based on a cell phone and a letter?” “What if she’s been dead in your clinic all this time? And you’re just trying to brush it off?” The officer listened, thought it made sense, and immediately took Dr. Miller with him, heading straight to the clinic for investigation. My parents also followed. I took the opportunity to quickly pack my luggage. I was never staying in this house again. Just as I stepped out, a neighbor saw me: “Aria, where are you going?” “I’m moving out. I can’t stay here. What if they really dump that kid on my parents, and then I’d end up raising him anyway?” “Why should I take the fall for a child Chloe made herself? I’m not even married yet. If my future partner’s family finds out, they’ll think I’m promiscuous. My reputation would be ruined beyond repair!” Everyone nodded in agreement: “That makes sense! Aria, think of yourself, hurry and go!” “Oh, Chloe, she’s too bold. She gave birth, and now she’s gone!” “Maybe that doctor did something shady, and she’s been gone for a while!” “It can’t be that bad…” I couldn’t be bothered to listen to their gossip. I grabbed my bag and left. By the time my parents returned home, I was already settled in my company’s dorm. Not long after, my mom’s call came through. I answered the phone, and her anxious voice came from the other end: “Aria! Where did you run off to?!” In the background, a baby was wailing. I calmly said: “I’ve moved out.” “How could you leave? What about this child if you’re gone?!”

It seems my mom and dad went to the clinic and confirmed that the child was indeed Chloe’s, and Dr. Miller really did help Chloe with the delivery. But I just couldn’t understand why they kept bothering me. “Mom, what does this child have to do with me? I didn’t give birth to him!” “Right now, the most important thing is to find the child’s biological father. Anyway, I have to go to work, gotta hang up!” After hanging up, I went to work as usual. As soon as I sat down, Brenda from the office secretly came over and whispered: “Aria, do you have a boyfriend? Want me to set you up with someone?” I was about to decline, but then I had a change of heart. “Sure, Brenda, who are you setting me up with?” “My nephew. He’s three years older than you, was in the military, and after he retired, he opened a small restaurant. He’s honest and hardworking!” “How about we all have lunch together and you meet him?” I immediately agreed. Brenda was so happy she couldn’t stop smiling and quickly pulled out her phone to call her nephew. In my previous life, raising the child alone had exhausted me. Brenda saw it and helped me find a lot of side jobs, always urging me to find a dependable man. But back then, I was afraid the child would suffer if I dated, so I never dared. Looking back now, I was truly foolish. At lunch, I met Leo. We chatted during the meal, and I felt good about him. We added each other on SnapChat and decided to see how things went for a while. Brenda came back and asked how it went. I nodded: “He seems nice. We’ll try it out.” She clapped her hands in delight: “I knew it! If it works out, he’ll definitely treat you well! I’ve watched that boy grow up, he’s hardworking and has a good heart!” I felt a little embarrassed, my face flushing, which only made Brenda even more excited. From then on, Leo and I started dating. Half a month later, my parents hadn’t contacted me, and I hadn’t gone home either. Unexpectedly, my mom actually showed up directly at my company. I was busy that day when the security guard suddenly called: “Aria, come down quick! Your mom just dumped a kid in our guard booth! He’s screaming his head off, come get him!” My mind went blank: “What kid? I’m not married, where would I get a child? Don’t talk nonsense!” I deliberately spoke loudly so the entire office could hear me. The security guard helplessly said: “How should I know? Just come down and see for yourself!” As soon as he hung up, everyone stared at me. “Aria, what’s wrong?” “Not sure. The security guard said someone pretending to be my mom dropped a baby at the entrance!” Brenda gasped in surprise: “There’s such a thing? That’s ridiculous! Come on, let’s go see together!” “Yeah, is someone trying to extort you or what?” “Aria has a kid? I never saw her pregnant!” “Could she have secretly had a baby years ago? Who knows what these young people do nowadays!” Hearing these words, even Brenda started looking at me strangely. I feigned a clueless expression, pretending I knew nothing, and she couldn’t spot any flaws. At the guard booth, everyone was stunned when they saw the infant. Brenda breathed a sigh of relief: “How is this possible! Aria gave birth to this? This baby isn’t even a month old!” “Exactly! If he were any older, Aria would be tainted forever!” “This is just plain immoral, trying to frame someone?” “This is ruining someone’s reputation!” I scoffed internally. The security guard also shook his head: “That person said she was your mom; how dare I stop her!” I immediately said: “Check the surveillance cameras! I want to see who did this!” Looking at the footage, I didn’t recognize the person who brought the child. I immediately made up my mind: “Call the police! That’s not my mom at all, and I don’t know that woman either!” Everyone was still a bit hesitant, so I spread my hands: “This is an abandoned infant! I work in sales; I’ve handed out hundreds of business cards. Who knows who might impersonate my family? I don’t want to take the blame for raising someone else’s child!” At that, everyone agreed, and the police were called. When the police arrived, they took the child. I even specifically asked: “Where will this child go?” “Where else? If we can’t find the biological parents, he’ll have to go to the foster care.” Hearing that, a huge weight lifted from my heart. In this life, I would absolutely never again raise a child for that ungrateful wretch!

No sooner had the police left than my mom’s SnapChat message arrived. “Aria, your sister has contacted us. She says she’s working out of town. We’re too old to take care of him, so please, just raise him as your own.” I immediately replied: “Mom, what are you talking about? I have a boyfriend now, and when I get married, I’ll have my own children. I absolutely won’t take this child!” I didn’t mention what happened today, and she didn’t ask, so I just pretended it never occurred. Leo was truly good to me. Six months later, we got engaged. On our wedding day, my parents and relatives all came. Afterward, we applied for a transfer to a branch company, and his restaurant moved with us. From then on, except for holidays, I rarely went back to my hometown. Even when I did go back, I’d visit briefly and leave quickly. Later, I gave birth to a daughter, and two years after that, a son, making our family complete. My son, Ryan, was brilliant from a young age. At fifteen, he was accepted into an accelerated program at a prestigious Ivy League university. The news delighted our entire family. Leo was especially proud. He decided to bring the whole family back to our hometown to host a celebratory banquet. All our relatives and friends came, even my parents rushed over. Ryan, though only fifteen, was tall and looked like an adult, about the same height as my daughter. My parents, however, mistakenly thought this child was Chloe’s. My mom grabbed his hand and patted it: “If Chloe knew her son was so accomplished, how happy she’d be!” “Mom, it’s such a happy day, why bring up Chloe? Has she come back?” My mom’s eyes immediately darted away: “No! She hasn’t!” “Oh, she hasn’t come back to see you two for so many years. Has something happened to her? I heard that once a person goes missing, they’re usually never found.” Over the years, the neighbors had talked a lot about Chloe. I also spread the word when I was out, telling everyone that Chloe had abandoned her child and never even came back for the holidays. Everyone had long assumed she had disappeared. But only I knew that my parents had been secretly in touch with her all along. Now, hearing me say this, my mom’s face instantly changed, her voice sharp: “What nonsense are you talking about! Chloe is alive and well!” The entire room suddenly fell silent, everyone looking over. My mom’s face flushed, utterly embarrassed. I chuckled, taking over the conversation: “So, Mom, you actually still have contact with her? Then why doesn’t she come to see her own son?” “Well, abandoning your own flesh and blood, she’s probably not doing well. Forget it, it’s a joyous day, I won’t mention her anymore.” My mom visibly relaxed when she heard that. She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but finally closed it. The last flicker of hope in my heart completely died. In my previous life, when the child she had raised became successful, Chloe came back. This time, I knew she would come too. As for when, I no longer cared. Because my son was accepted into the accelerated program, a teacher from the university was there, and reporters were present. Everyone’s eyes were focused on our table. Ryan, as the guest of honor, was invited to the stage. When he stood up, my parents didn’t even realize – this child was only fifteen. And the “illegitimate child” they constantly mentioned, the one Chloe had abandoned, if he were alive, he’d be almost eighteen this year. They completely missed this point, instead constantly checking their phones, waiting for news. I smirked, gripping Leo’s hand tightly. We exchanged a knowing glance. On stage, Ryan spoke loudly: “I owe my acceptance into this prestigious university primarily to my mom. Without her support and companionship, I wouldn’t be where I am today.” “Mom, come up here!” My son waved at me. I smoothed my dress, just about to walk forward, when suddenly a sharp shriek cut through the air: “She’s not your mom at all! She has no right to stand there!” As soon as those words came out, the entire room fell silent. Everyone turned in unison towards the source of the voice. I, however, felt a wave of relief – she’s finally here.

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My stepbrother despised me. But I always clung to him. He’d pay me two thousand dollars to not walk home with him after school, and twenty thousand to transfer out of his class. But every single time, I’d find a way back to him. After senior year finals, he wired a huge sum of money to my account, his voice icy. “That’s five million. Go study abroad. Just don’t ever show up at my house again.” My eyes burned. I dropped my gaze and whispered, “Okay.” Yes! He finally fell for it. I almost walked in on Mason kissing a poor student. In the dimly lit private room. He leaned back on the corner couch, looking worn out, his eyes closed. His sculpted features were obscured by shadows. A girl in a white dress stood beside him, hands braced on either side of his head, leaning in tentatively, inching closer. I suddenly pushed the door open. She jumped back, startled, and spun around to face me. Her eyes were wide and wet, like a startled deer. “Chloe, I…” I walked past her, straight to Mason. “The driver’s here to pick me up. My dad said I should bring you home too.” He grabbed his jacket from beside him, throwing it on as he followed me out. It was late, and the corridor was mostly empty. He closed the door behind him but didn’t leave. He just leaned against it, casually. “She almost kissed me.” “…” I kept quiet. A hint of irritation flared in his voice. “She’s really shy. It took her a lot of courage to even do that.” I unlocked my phone, showing him the time and my stepfather’s message. I explained softly. “My dad really did tell me to pick you up on my way.” He glanced at it, giving a dismissive grunt. “Oh.” “I’m an adult now. I’ve finished finals. He can’t control me anymore. Your tattling won’t work.” The flickering club lights shifted, illuminating his face. His cheeks were flushed. He was drunk. I clutched my sleeve, my voice barely audible. “But…” He cut me off abruptly. “Go home by yourself.” “And—” His fingers tapped a few times on his phone. “Here’s five million. Go study abroad. Don’t ever appear at my house again.” “Let’s just never see each other again.” “Chloe, I really hate you.” He never wanted to see me again. My eyes instantly burned. I dropped my gaze, biting back a choked sob. “Okay.” Mason turned and walked back into the private room, slamming the door shut with a bang. I checked the numbers on my mobile banking app. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I crouched down, clamped a hand over my mouth, and let out silent, joyful giggles. Yes! He finally fell for it.

Mason had hated me for a long time. He thought my mom and I were only after the family’s money. Well, he was a smart one. When he was fourteen, he put two fake spiders in my bed, trying to scare me into leaving his house. I cried my eyes out. My stepfather, to console me, gave me more allowance. Seeing the money, I cheered right up. When I was sixteen, Mason and I were assigned to the same high school. He didn’t want to be in the same class as me, and he definitely didn’t want my dad to yell at him and then comfort me. So he skipped all the usual steps. “Twenty thousand.” “Switch out of this class.” Freshman year, I left. Sophomore year, I was back. He never specified a time limit. When I walked back into the classroom with my backpack, Mason’s face was dark. The guy in front of him grinned. “Mason, your sister’s really persistent.” Mason’s voice was cold. “She’s not my sister.” Everyone around us exchanged knowing glances and chuckled. Mason looked at me, his brows furrowed. “What exactly will it take for you to just disappear from my sight?” My eyes reddened. “Do you really hate me that much?” He held up a number with his fingers. I bit my lip. “My bad, I must have walked into the wrong class today.”

That’s when I saw the business opportunity. Mason was seriously rich. His mom, living abroad, had already paved every path for him. He’d play golf, and I’d be there as part of the “atmosphere crew,” fetching his water and jacket. He’d confront me about it. I’d look up at him, my eyes wide and starry. “I just admire you, big brother. Is that not allowed?” He’d transfer money to me. “Go shop if you’ve got nothing to do. Just stop bothering me.” So, I’d happily accept. I clung to Mason for over a year. Everyone knew he had a stepsister, and they even joked about us, saying next time they’d come visit him in therapy. Eventually, Mason just stopped bothering to explain. He just kept telling me to take the money and leave. But I wasn’t about to leave my personal ATM. For Mason’s eighteenth birthday, he drank a lot. When he came home from the hotel, I was there, one hand holding a hangover soup, the other helping to steady him. I hoped he’d be so drunk he’d accidentally add an extra zero to a transfer. He squinted, looking down at me, and then suddenly said, “Chloe, you’re really cunning and manipulative.” There was a hint of mockery in his tone. My foot, mid-step on the stairs, froze. Being insulted required additional compensation. He suddenly gripped my waist, his hand shutting off the lights in one smooth motion. I was pressed against the spiral staircase railing, his lips on mine. My vision went dark in an instant. Only his face, magnified, filled my view. His breath was a storm. I gasped, pushing him away abruptly. The bowl in my hand clattered to the floor, rolling down the stairs. My stepfather called from upstairs, “Chloe, what happened?” I suppressed my trembling voice, crying out in a wounded tone, just like always, “Mason’s drunk! He’s throwing a fit and even broke my bowl!” Mason stood silently, leaning against the railing in the dimness, his gaze downcast. My stepfather sighed. “He’s just like that, gets crazy when he drinks. Don’t mind him, go back and rest. I’ll help him.” I fled back to my room. Three in the morning. Mason messaged me. [I’m sorry.] [I couldn’t see clearly. I thought you were someone else.] It was the first time he’d ever apologized to me. But it felt like an insult. He attached a transfer. I didn’t accept it, and I didn’t reply.

I later found out who that person was. One of Mason’s many admirers. Grace, the poor student who was always in the top ten of our class. She was shy and timid, only daring to look up at him from afar. And Mason, of all people, had noticed her. He said, “She’s just like Chloe, always looking pitiful.” “Who’s she trying to fool?” He hated me, but he seemed to enjoy Grace’s helpless act. After school, I was waiting in the car for him to come out. But then I saw a girl in a school uniform following him. The car door opened. He didn’t get in. He was holding her backpack and raised an eyebrow at me, casually. “Get out.” I froze for a second. Grace carefully reached out, grabbing his arm and shaking it gently, her voice soft. “It’s okay, Mason.” “I can go home by myself.” Mason didn’t budge, his voice growing colder. “I’m taking her home.” “I’ve transferred the money to you. Get a taxi.” Why didn’t he give me enough to just buy my own car? Never mind. Best to quit while I was ahead. I nodded, feeling humiliated, biting my lip and gripping my backpack straps, obediently getting out of the car. It was dusk, and the crowds were thinning out. I stood alone by the roadside, staring at my shoe tips, tears silently falling. Only after his car drove off in the opposite direction did I wipe away my tears and open Mason’s message. 20,000? Good thing I didn’t check the message in front of him. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to cry so convincingly. Mason’s five million came too late. I hadn’t prepared for the IELTS in advance, so I had to cancel most of my travel plans and parties, holing up in my room to memorize vocabulary. Mason was throwing a party downstairs with his friends.

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The day the zombie apocalypse hit, our school was rehearsing a stage play. Brittany, the queen bee who played the elf, got healing powers. The background extra, who played a tree, became invisible to zombies. Liam, my childhood sweetheart playing the knight, could skewer zombies like shish kebabs with his long sword. … They all stared at me, a makeup artist, holding nothing but ordinary makeup brushes. So, I was abandoned. Later, when our paths crossed again, their team of powered individuals watched me get swallowed by a zombie horde, each one cracking sarcastic jokes. But I used my makeup brushes to turn zombies into my own superpowered army, instantly turning the tide. You guys are gods, but I’m the one who *makes* gods. **1.** When bad luck strikes, even cleaning up makeup backstage can get you attacked by a zombie. I was tackled onto the dressing table, screaming for help, my voice raw. But the stage, which had been so noisy just moments before, was now as silent as a tomb. My will to survive finally kicked in. I cried and fought, luckily managing to wrap a prop chain around its mouth. My hands shook like a leaf as I pulled back the curtain, ready to bolt, only to see a group of perfectly made-up people staring silently in my direction. When they saw it was me, they looked genuinely surprised. “Rose, you can’t even lift a water cooler bottle, and you beat a zombie?” Brittany, the queen bee, playfully punched her updo, a smirk playing on her lips. “Looks like I lost that bet again. The zombies had like, a ninety-nine percent chance of winning. How did they lose? My luck is just the worst, seriously.” Alex, the student body president, chuckled and chimed in, “A bet’s a bet. For the next two days, you’re my shadow, ensuring my safety when I’m fighting zombies.” “Ugh! Lucky you! I’m the most valuable healer now, everyone’s begging for my help.” My heart instantly sank. I’d thought everyone was dead. After all, when the zombies first broke out, the screams and wails on stage were non-stop. I’d even felt guilty for surviving alone. But they had just stood by, using my life as a damn bet! “You were all here? So, you intentionally left me to die? Why?” Everyone stared at me in silence, as if my question was utterly ridiculous. Brittany gave a light laugh. “If we didn’t push you, you wouldn’t have known you could defeat a zombie, right? So, what’s your power, Rose?” I was shocked and confused, instinctively retorting, “What power?” “No way?” She gasped. “You only beat that zombie because you got lucky?” Seeing me still standing there dumbfounded, her smile widened, becoming even more radiant. “Alright, I’ll be merciful and show you.” She walked over to a classmate with a scraped arm, gently placing her hands on the wound. The injury healed at a visible rate, then vanished without a trace! The classmate touched his smooth arm, his voice filled with awe. “Brittany’s power is healing. She’s the core member of our little team now!” I stood there, stunned, watching them show off their various abilities. The strongman classmate who played the bouncer threw zombies hundreds of feet away. The classmate who played a stone wall was impervious to blades. Alex, the student body president playing the king, just gave orders, and all the background extras sacrificed themselves to save him… Their golden auras were so blinding I could barely keep my eyes open. “We figured it out. Everyone got powers based on the roles they played in the drama club production.” “This proves we’re the chosen saviors, picked by fate!” Finally, everyone turned to look at the makeup brushes in my hand. After an eerie silence, they burst into laughter, sharing a knowing glance, their voices dripping with mockery. “Rose, you seriously plan to fight zombies with *that*? Aren’t you just going to be dead weight?” “Makeup brushes aren’t bad, though. You can poke zombies’ eyes with them, then they won’t see you!” “Brittany won’t be able to save anyone else if she’s too busy saving just you. How’s she supposed to be useful?” “Why don’t you volunteer to stay behind and cover our retreat? At least you’d be somewhat useful then!” **2.** My face went ghostly pale. I looked out the window at the dense swarm of zombies, feeling like I’d fallen into an ice pit. How could a normal person like me cover the retreat for a group of superpowered individuals? That was a death sentence. I looked at Liam with pleading eyes. We’d been childhood sweethearts for twenty years. My parents had even saved his entire family from a house fire. He wouldn’t just leave me to die. Sure enough, his brows softened, and he started to plead on my behalf. “Maybe Rose’s power just manifested later. Let’s give her a chance, okay? I can’t leave her here to die.” Someone immediately shot back, “Then *you* stay behind and protect her! But don’t forget, even if you can pierce three zombies with one sword, you can’t defeat the horde outside. Are you really going to give up your life for a useless person?” “Oh my god, seriously! The apocalypse is the worst with dead weight and overly soft heroes. You don’t fear a godly opponent, you fear a teammate who’s a total liability.” “What if you accidentally stab Rose while fighting a zombie? That would be hilarious.” Alex, the student body president, was always the peacemaker. “Let’s not call anyone useless. We’re all classmates. Liam’s right, what if Rose’s power is just late to awaken?” I looked at him gratefully, then heard him continue, “So, why don’t you go outside and find a zombie right now to trigger your potential? Or you can stay here in the school, there might still be a glimmer of hope.” He smiled sweetly at me. But a shiver ran down my spine. Only then did I realize that Alex had always been this kind of two-faced person during my days of being excluded by classmates. How could I forget? How could I forget that this very group of people had just tried to kill me! I grabbed Liam’s hand, clutching it like my only lifeline. “Liam, save me! Don’t leave me alone!” But Brittany stretched out her arms to Liam. “Liam, we need your combat power. Don’t be too soft-hearted in the apocalypse, okay? Do you want to see me exhaust myself trying to save her?” Liam didn’t let go. The two sides were at a standstill. The zombies outside grew more agitated. Someone began to pull out their weapon, pointing it at us. “Stop acting like a hero! Either stay or go, don’t waste our time here!” “Exactly! We don’t *need* you! To be honest, with dead weight like her, your combat power is even worse than mine.” “Alex, let’s go! If we drag this out any longer, all the zombies in the school will surround us!” Liam was torn, still trying to explain for me. “Rose is really good at long-distance running. She definitely won’t slow us down.” “So, you’re saying she’ll abandon us and run for her life in a crisis? We absolutely cannot let that kind of ungrateful wretch come with us!” “No, I mean…” Before he could finish, someone unexpectedly flung open the auditorium doors. The zombies, seeing a group of living people, their eyes glowing green, surged in like a tide. Everyone unleashed their powers to fight them off. In the chaos, Alex shouted, “Charge!” Everyone bolted outside. Someone shoved me, and by the time I reacted, I was behind everyone else. Liam turned back to look at me, his pupils shrinking. “Rose!” He wanted to save me, but Brittany suddenly shrieked, “Liam! Help me! The zombies are grabbing me!” Even though everyone else ran towards Brittany after hearing her cry for help, Liam hesitated. He looked at me, then at Brittany. My heart clenched instantly. I struggled, running towards him. “Liam! Save me!” Just as I was about to grab his hand, he pulled it back. “Rose, I owe you. I’ll repay you in the next life!” Then, he turned his back and ran towards Brittany without a second glance. **3.** I stood there stunned, unable to believe he would do that. Twenty years of childhood friendship, plus saving his family’s lives from a fire… and he said he’d repay me in the *next* life? If he wouldn’t save me in *this* life, what was he going to repay me with in the next?! I was trembling with rage. But the immediate priority was to get away from these zombies. Though most of them had been drawn away by the others, a few stragglers were still around. Seeing me, they shrieked and lunged. I picked up a spear from the ground, trying to overcome my fear, and thrust it into their chest. *Splat—* The zombie’s head exploded with a single blow. Its rotting body toppled onto me, and I finally reacted, screaming and scrambling backward. “Can you stand up?” A gloomy guy looked down at me, his voice hoarse. It took me a while to remember he was a classmate who always lurked in the corner of the classroom. I think his name was Caleb. Caleb, like me, was an outcast. We were also the only two people who weren’t in the drama club production. The difference was, I was disliked by a lot of girls for being too close to the popular Liam. He, on the other hand, was cold and arrogant, offended a lot of people by being a loner, and was subjected to silent treatment. “Th-thanks…” He extended a hand and helped me up. “I was worried these guys would use me as a human shield, so I pretended to be dead and observed them. Heh, just as I thought…” “Zombies aren’t human. Stabbing their hearts does nothing. You have to go for the head, understand?” “Got it! Got it!” I nodded repeatedly. He turned and started disposing of the bodies. I cautiously ventured, “Um… Caleb, are we, like, allies now?” After a few minutes, he just gave a faint “Hmm.” I sighed in relief and eagerly started helping him. But when I knelt down to look, I nearly fainted from fright. Caleb was collecting zombie blood in a glass bottle! “What are you collecting that for?” My voice trembled. Caleb glanced at me, calmly saying, “To mask our scent. You didn’t see the situation backstage earlier, but zombies use their noses to detect humans, not just their eyes.” “If we coat ourselves in their blood, we can fool them and get out safely.” I see. Despite the disgust, the thought that it was for survival pushed down my urge to vomit. After collecting the zombie blood, I took out my portable makeup brushes and started applying it to Caleb. The fishy smell of blood and decay went straight to my head. I painted and gagged. Caleb was a tough cookie, though; he didn’t even change his expression. If his eyelashes weren’t subtly trembling, I would’ve thought the person in front of me was already dead. “Alright, later you can just smear some zombie blood on yourself.” Caleb opened his eyes, and I was shocked to see his pupils had turned white! “Caleb, what’s wrong with your eyes?” I hadn’t even put colored contacts on him! A thought flashed through my mind. I snatched the spear from Caleb’s hand and leaped away. The next second, Caleb lunged at me, trying to bite. He had turned into a zombie! Cold sweat poured down me. I cursed the heavens for being so unfair. Not only did I not have a power, but my freshly-made ally turned into a zombie! The problem was, Caleb hadn’t even said he was injured! Was this just a conspiracy to keep me from living?! Caleb didn’t give me a chance to react and lunged again. I dodged while aiming the spear at his head. But killing someone sounds easy; doing it is a whole different beast. Aside from the blood all over his face, Caleb looked exactly like a human. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it! Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a prop water tank on the stage. A lightbulb went off. I jogged, luring Caleb towards it. As he lunged, I used all my strength to tackle him down and hold him underwater. *Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle—* Caleb was submerged, the blood he’d just had on his face swirling in the water. He was still struggling. I hardened my heart and pressed down harder. Caleb slowly stopped moving. I finally let out a breath, collapsing weakly to the side, about to lament my unfair fate. Unexpectedly, Caleb suddenly convulsed, then gripped the edge of the water tank and climbed out. **4.**

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After the girl he put on a pedestal fell to her death, my stepbrother hated me for ten years. Even after I used despicable means to completely claim him. He never truly forgave me. Until, in a fit of pique, I ran off abroad and got caught in a riot. But my brother, without a moment’s hesitation, shielded me, taking the bullet and dying. His last words, whispered in my arms, were: “I spoiled you.” “I truly regret… becoming your brother.” Everyone called me a lunatic. They said I was the one who destroyed my brother, a man of integrity, upright and self-controlled. So, I knelt on those long stone steps for fifty years. Begging for a chance to start over. This time, I would complete him. All I wanted was for him to live a life of peace and happiness. “Stella, just look at the things you wrote! Don’t you feel sick to your stomach?!” “How could you… have such thoughts about your own brother?!” That voice, so familiar, so cherished, echoed in my ears. My eyes snapped open. I saw Julian holding my diary, his face blazing crimson with fury. That diary was filled to the brim with my— Desires for him. But at that moment, I felt no shame from being exposed. Instead, I burst into grateful tears. I had truly been reborn. Reborn to the first time Julian and I ever argued, the moment he discovered my forbidden feelings for him. My brother, vibrant and alive before me, made my body tremble uncontrollably. It was too good to be true. He was alive. Julian noticed my strange reaction. The fire that had been burning in him immediately died down by half. He pointed to the floor. “All of this… take it and burn it.” In my previous life, after hearing those words, I became completely hysterical, grabbed him by the collar, and kissed him. Julian, his eyes wide with shock, fled in a panic, slowly distancing himself from me. And all my obsessive desires, fueled by that outrageous kiss, broke through their chains. Making me hate Lena, the girl who stole my brother, even more. Leading to all the tragedies that followed. So this time, I furiously wiped the tears from my face. And picked up the box full of diaries. “Okay.” “I’ll go burn them.”

My diaries chronicled more than a decade of my life with Julian. My mom and Julian’s mom were best friends. But my mom was a total romantic, always blinded by love, and she ended up marrying a monster who abused her. When I was five, my mom passed away despite all efforts to save her. My dad, a chronic alcoholic, fell into a ditch on his way to turn himself in to the police and died. Julian’s Aunt took me in. And then she passed away when Julian and I had just started middle school. From then on, it was just Julian and me in the large villa, with only a few house staff. Julian was only a few months older than me. But I was a complete magnet for trouble, and Julian was always like a miniature adult. So, from childhood, he followed me around, cleaning up my messes. Julian’s Aunt was always very busy with work. And the housekeepers and nannies often took days off. When I had a terrible stomach bug, he stayed by my side all night while I was hooked up to an IV. When I got into a fight, he always had my back. When it stormed, he’d grab his pillow and blankets and squeeze into my bed with me. Even when Lena fell to her death because of me. Julian hated me to his core. But when the riot broke out, he still didn’t hesitate for a second, stepping in front of me to shield me. My brother was perfect in every way. Except his love for me was family. My love for him… it felt like a sin I couldn’t confess. In my previous life, Mrs. Davis was inconsolable when she heard about Julian. Mr. Peterson, though, he pointed a finger right at my face and screamed, “Stella, you’re nothing but a jinx, a curse! Are you only happy when everyone around you is dead?!” I remembered Julian’s last words to me: “I spoiled you.” “I truly regret… becoming your brother.” He regretted it. Actually, I regretted it too. The secluded monastery tucked away in the northern hills was rumored to grant wishes, to answer prayers. I wanted to ask for a next life where Julian would never meet me again. But perhaps I was too wicked. The abbot refused to see me. So, I knelt year after year. The dark, mottled stains on those stone steps? Each one was a mark of my forehead, a desperate plea. From my youth until my hair turned white. Finally, when I was frail and old. The abbot agreed to see me. He said: “What has already happened cannot be changed, but perhaps there can be a new beginning.” “You are his fated hurdle. If it’s not resolved, all your efforts will be in vain.” Then, he slipped a small silk pouch into my wrinkled hand. “It will guide you to the moment of your rebirth.” When I woke again, the pouch clutched in my hand told me it wasn’t a dream. This time, I wouldn’t repeat the same mistakes. I would pay any price, as long as my brother was safe and happy.

The next day, when we went to school, neither of us mentioned what had happened the night before. A suffocating silence hung in the car. When we got out, Julian finally broke the quiet. “You hurt Lena a few days ago. Go apologize to her today.” His tone was stiff, almost forced. It was as if he expected me to throw a tantrum again before he even spoke. But I just nodded calmly. “Okay.” Julian looked at me with a hint of surprise. But in the end, he didn’t say anything more. During lunch break, as promised, I went to find Lena to apologize. But after searching around, I found her with Julian. The bustling afternoon was warm and bright. Lena giggled, playfully tapping Julian’s chest. The next second, her eyes flickered over to me, and she immediately cowered behind Julian, clutching her bandaged hand. Julian’s arm instantly shot out, shielding her. “What are you doing here?” His voice was slightly distant. He’d already forgotten he’d told me to come apologize that morning. It wasn’t really my brother’s fault for being on edge. I truly was a lunatic. I had an almost savage possessiveness over Julian. He was handsome, and kind. Plenty of girls liked him. And I’d scared every single one of them away. I interpreted Julian’s silent consent as: *He has feelings for me too*. Just like in my previous life, I’d put something in his drink. Forcing him to cross a line. He resisted my touch, yet I could discern a twisted pleasure in his fragmented gasps. But I’d ignored that it was just an uncontrollable physical reaction. Lena was special to him. Even ten years after her death, Julian still hadn’t forgiven me. I forced down the bitter pang that threatened to overflow in my heart and let out a shaky breath. Then, I gave Lena a deep, abrupt bow. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have hurt you a few days ago, and I shouldn’t have publicly insulted you and humiliated you.” “Can you… forgive me?” Lena cautiously glanced at Julian. Seeing he said nothing, she finally replied, “It’s okay. Don’t worry about it. I forgive you.” I straightened up, meeting Julian’s eyes. They churned with an emotion I couldn’t quite decipher.

In my previous life, there was another reason I hated Lena. More than once, I’d seen her acting close with Brock, the school bully and my brother’s archnemesis. Brock had a terrible personality and loved to trip Julian up. I seriously suspected Lena was sent to deceive my brother’s feelings, so I targeted her at every turn. This time, no matter what the truth was, I had to find out. I needed to put the two people who were meant to be together back on track. So, I started clinging to Lena, telling her how remorseful I was and how much I wanted to be her friend. At first, she was wary. But when she saw I genuinely had no ill intentions, she let her guard down. I casually probed her, “What do you think of my brother?” A blush crept up Lena’s ears. “Julian, he… he helped me a lot. And he really loves small animals. He used to feed the stray cats around here all the time and even got them spayed and neutered.” “I think he’s incredibly kind.” Sure enough. They loved each other back. Lena was actually pretty amazing. Her family wasn’t well off, but she was incredibly diligent, studying on a scholarship. She was the picture of a resilient girl from a humble background. My brother was handsome, the top of his class, and had a large inheritance left to him by Julian’s Aunt. Anyone looking at them would say they were a perfect match. Even though I’d long known this, my stomach still twisted with jealousy. That evening, Julian knocked on my bedroom door for the first time in ages. He didn’t dare to come in. The last time, it was because he’d suddenly walked into my room that he discovered my shameful thoughts. I spoke first, “I’m just looking at schools to apply to, nothing else…” Since my rebirth, I’d felt Julian was constantly distancing himself from me. Even without that kiss, he couldn’t accept that the sister he’d raised liked him *that* way. And even without that kiss, I couldn’t let Julian go. He cleared his throat unnaturally. “Why haven’t you been coming home with me lately?” I was a bit surprised he was asking about that. *Because I need to quickly get used to life without you*. I silently replied in my head. Even today, I was thinking of finding a school far away from Julian. Anyway, he and Lena had good grades, so they’d definitely go to the same university later. As for me, the further from him, the better. I casually threw out an excuse. “Lena and I actually get along pretty well, so we agreed to go home together. We can chat.” As soon as I said it, even I didn’t quite believe it. Julian stared at me intensely, making my scalp prickle even more. I stiffened my neck and challenged him, “Am I… bothering you two?” He frowned, then tapped me on the forehead. “What are you thinking? Of course not.” Then, he raked a hand through his hair, slightly agitated. “Forget it, you… it’s good to make more friends.”

Today, I walked home with Lena as usual. She’d opened up to me quite a bit, and I wanted to figure out the real reason for her fall in the previous life. Everyone thought I had pushed her off the building. Even Julian believed it. After all, I had a long history of acting out. But I hadn’t. I hadn’t even touched a single thread of her clothes. She just started crying and jumped. I wondered if something terrible had happened to Lena’s family, causing her to think of taking her own life. “Lena, if anything’s wrong, you have to tell me. If you’re in trouble, let me know, I’ll help you fix it!” Lena first froze, then her eyes welled up. She *was* in trouble. Just as she was about to speak. Suddenly, a group of thugs burst out from the alleyway beside us. They looked menacing, brandishing metal pipes they’d apparently ripped off school desks. I’d learned some self-defense when I was little and managed to hold my own against them. Lena, however, wasn’t doing so well. Seeing a pipe about to land on her, I didn’t think twice and shielded her. Then, my vision went black. When I woke up again, the back of my head and my back throbbed with a burning pain. I was covered in mud, but the scene before me was so shocking I couldn’t even register my own pain. Lena lay naked beside me. “Hey, Lena, what happened to you?” My voice trembled. Without thinking, I frantically searched for my phone. I just wanted to reach my brother as fast as possible. But my phone was shattered, completely unresponsive. Just then, a blinding light suddenly shone on my face. I instinctively lowered my head, squinting my eyes. The piercing wail of police sirens tangled with Julian’s furious shouts. I felt a force shove me away, sending me stumbling against a nearby step. “Stella, I really thought you’d changed, but I guess you were just biding your time for today, weren’t you?!” Julian’s eyes were bloodshot. I stared at him blankly, only then realizing. He’d misunderstood. “Julian, no, it wasn’t me.” Julian scooped Lena into his arms. “You’re holding your phone and saying it wasn’t you?! Delete all those photos, I’ll deal with you when we get home!” I watched his retreating back numbly, tears welling up in my eyes. “It really… wasn’t me…” Finally, all the strength drained from my body, and my vision blurred into darkness once more.

I dreamed of the previous life, when Julian had been just as angry with me. When Lena fell to her death, and I was taken in for questioning. Julian hit me for the first time. A loud, stinging slap. “How could you do something like this…?” “I’m so disappointed in you.” “I wish I never had a sister like you.” His eyes held an emotion so profoundly sad, it was almost serene. I couldn’t blame him. After all, only Lena and I were on the rooftop that day. No one would believe that a graduating student with a bright future would just jump off a building for no reason. But even if Julian didn’t believe me. He still found me the best lawyer. There were no security cameras on the rooftop, no direct evidence proving I pushed Lena. Besides, my fingerprints weren’t found on her body. But there was still the possibility that I had incited Lena to jump. Ultimately, the incident was ruled an accident. Julian paid Lena’s mother a large sum of money. But she still came to the school every day, causing a scene. So, Julian proactively took me out of school. I truly ruined his life. If it weren’t for me, what a brilliant life he would have had. No matter how the outside world speculated about the incident. For Julian, his sister had killed the person he loved. From that day on, there was no going back. I woke up with a jolt from my dream. Before my eyes was my familiar bedroom. Julian was sitting by my bed, looking haggard, dark circles under his eyes. When he saw me wake up, a glimmer of light appeared in his eyes. Then, he hugged me tightly.

It turned out, Lena had woken up before me. She recounted the entire story. I had been knocked unconscious while saving her. The group of thugs had taken pictures of her and fled. Julian held me, his body trembling uncontrollably. He kept repeating apologies. “I’m so sorry, Stella, I’m so sorry.” “It’s my fault for misunderstanding you.” “I didn’t take good care of you, and I accused you without a second thought. You should hit me…” His trembling was obvious and clear, and his body heat seeped into me, making my eyes well up with warmth. Days of accumulated grievances burst forth. My tears and snot plastered all over Julian’s shirt. “Julian! It’s all my fault!” “If I hadn’t been such a mess before, you wouldn’t have doubted me!” I desperately shook my head, wanting Julian to believe my promise. “I’m truly sorry. I’ll never cling to you and make things difficult again!” “I’ll never yearn for you like that again. I just want to be your sister, always your sister!” I felt my brother’s body stiffen for a moment. Then, his hand gently patted my back. We hugged like that for a long, long time. It was as if all the previous distance between us had simply vanished. Julian brought over a bowl of porridge from the side. “Eat something first.” He tied up my hair and grabbed his jacket. “I’m going out to buy you your favorite tarts as an apology.” “Wait for me to come back. I have something important to tell you.” I gazed at Julian obediently, sensing something was different about him. As if he’d made some kind of decision. But I waited a long time, and my brother never came back. Instead, I first received a message from Lena. 【Stella, please, come find me on the school rooftop.】 【Only you.】 【Please…】

I ran out of the house like a madwoman. Why was it still happening? The abbot’s words echoed in my mind. *What has already happened cannot be changed.* Was I truly unable to change anything? Then what was the point of me being reborn?! But Lena’s message to me was different from the previous life. In my previous life, she’d sent me a taunting message. Lying that she and Julian were secretly meeting on the school rooftop. This time, though, it was different. I felt like the truth was within reach. On the rooftop, Lena was crying, just as she had in the previous life. “Lena, what the hell are you doing?!” *Does this building just have to be jumped off of?!* Lena looked at me, then dropped to her knees with a thud. “Stella, I can’t escape this. The people who hurt us that day were Brock’s men. They took so many photos and videos of me… I’ve been trapped for so long.” My blood immediately rushed to my head. “You knew this? Then why didn’t you tell the police? You’re the victim! It’s not your fault!” Lena screamed, looking completely on the verge of a breakdown. “It’s no use, Stella!” “I fought back, but it was useless…” “They threatened my mom and my younger siblings. Brock’s family has serious connections, we can’t go against him at all.” “He’s a monster. He’s always been toying with us. He wants to ruin Julian, that’s why he tried to get to him through you.” “I’m so sorry. You and your brother have both been so kind to me.” “Don’t come near me. As long as you don’t touch me, they won’t find any evidence on you.” “Julian cares about you so much, he’ll find a way to protect you, no matter what.” “But if I don’t listen to Brock, my family won’t have a chance to live. If I die, maybe it’ll blow up and get enough attention.” “I only ask one thing, please, after I die, look after my family, just for the sake of our short month of friendship…” I didn’t let her finish. I rushed forward, grabbed her by the collar, and pulled her to her feet. I could only hear my own roar echoing. “Then do you know what will happen to my brother after you die?! He’ll spend his entire life mourning you!!” It was only then that I realized I was a complete mess, tears streaming down my face. Lena stared at me blankly. The small silk pouch in my pocket *clattered* onto the floor. It lay there quietly. I vaguely remembered the warmth that had spread through my palm the first time I held it. *If I’m Julian’s fated hurdle.* *Then without me, he’d be happy, wouldn’t he?* …So, that’s what it meant. I finally understood. “So, we just need to make a big scene, right?” I turned and ran towards the edge of the rooftop. At first, it was a light, floating sensation. Then, a heavy, plummeting feeling. I chose the abyss. So I fell into the abyss. *Thud—!* A deafening sound, followed by a piercing shriek. It shattered the quiet of the night. At the same time, Julian, who was just a street away from the school, was so startled by the sudden loud noise that he almost dropped what he was holding. It was the last box of tarts. The bakery he usually went to was closed. He’d gone to several places before finding this newly opened one near the school. The crowd around him gradually grew louder. “Someone died!” “Someone jumped! A female student!” Julian turned his head, looking towards the school. He suddenly remembered the sharp pang he’d felt in his chest when he heard that loud thud.

Julian, as if compelled by some strange impulse, walked towards the school. He was never one to be curious about crowds. But that day, a voice inside him seemed to say: *You should go see.* He saw Lena. She was crumpled on the ground, crying, calling Stella’s name. *Why would she call Stella’s name?* Julian’s heart pounded with growing dread. He couldn’t control his hands, desperately pushing through the crowd. The person lying on the ground. He couldn’t *not* recognize her. No matter what she looked like, he would know her at a glance. But his sister should be lying in her room right now, waiting for him to come home with tarts. She shouldn’t. She shouldn’t be lying there, broken and shattered, on the ground. Lena confessed everything. She cried, saying she had killed Stella. “When I was injured before, I deliberately framed her. That day, she came to find me, furious, and I intentionally placed a cup near her. She accidentally knocked it over and broke it, and I pretended she pushed me and cut my arm.” “She actually believed it. She even apologized to me, even though she was the only one who ever treated me like a friend…” Julian stared at her blankly, it took him a long, long time to find his voice. “What did she say, in the end?” “She said, if I died, you would mourn me your whole life.” Julian felt as if someone was choking him, making it impossible to breathe. He finally realized: The one who killed his sister, was himself. Julian still clearly remembered the day he told Stella to burn the diaries. She stood in the yard, burning them and wiping away tears. His heart twisted with pain. He told Mrs. Davis to call Stella back inside. But he found himself uncontrollably walking towards the pile of ashes. There was one diary that hadn’t completely burned. He stomped out the flames. Inside, the elegant handwriting was something he had taught her, stroke by stroke. *Would Julian be disgusted if he knew I loved him?* In that moment, he felt nothing else mattered. He shouldn’t have blamed her. He had no right to blame Stella. In this world, no matter what mistakes Stella made. His own sin was far greater. He was just too afraid to take that step. If one day, Stella no longer loved him. If she saw a better, wider world. If men out there made her realize her brother was actually insignificant. Then they wouldn’t even be able to be siblings anymore. The step he took would damn him forever. That night, he even had a twisted thought: *It would be better if he and Stella had a blood relation.* At least that way, there would be an indelible mark between them. He was terrified. So, when he realized Stella hated Lena. For the first time, he didn’t distance himself from someone his sister disliked. He thought, *just let Stella give up on me.* She would grow up eventually. She would leave him eventually. But when Stella had been unconscious for several days, then woke up crying and apologizing, saying she was a jerk. He just wanted to say: *He* was the jerk, a thousand times worse than her. Not only that, he was a coward. Letting Stella bear the burden of their shared sin alone. Julian finally understood. He would tell Stella: *It’s fine. We can just go somewhere no one knows us.* But it was his moment of hesitation that made him lose his sister forever. … By the time Julian came back to his senses. He had already handled Stella’s funeral. That small urn held the person he loved most. She was so lively and active. How could she bear to stay in such a cramped space? His senses seemed to return belatedly. Thousands of razor blades seemed to sprout from his internal organs. He desperately dry-heaved. The blades sliced his esophagus, his throat. But nothing came up. He could only spend his days in Stella’s room. It was the only place in the world that still carried her scent. He didn’t know how much time had passed. His life had ended the day his sister died. Behind the wall, Mr. Peterson and Mrs. Davis were incredibly anxious. “We’ve found so many therapists, but nothing helps!” “He looks like he’s lost his soul. I heard that monastery in the northern hills is very spiritual…” I didn’t expect to wake up again. In a dimly lit rented apartment. There was an admission letter. The name on it was “Stella.” I had been reborn into a body with the same name.

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Ever since my wife got pregnant, strange things have been happening around our house. Our bathroom was constantly swarming with spiders. And my wife’s behavior grew increasingly bizarre. She started keeping secrets, her temper flaring up at the slightest provocation. One night, while I was asleep, she *savagely* bit my neck, coming terrifyingly close to severing my artery. Chloe frantically explained it was just hormones, unbalanced by the pregnancy. I stared at the thick black hair covering her legs, not entirely convinced. The next day, she secretly left for her family’s remote estate. I discreetly hired a private investigator, only to discover she’d been hiding something from me for *three whole years!* Deep in the night, an urgent call of nature stirred me awake. Still groggy, I tried to get up, but something fuzzy and round was pressing down on my chest. I couldn’t budge it. I grabbed my phone for light and nearly screamed. All grogginess vanished as I tumbled off the bed onto the floor. Right there on the bed, staring back at me, was a spider the size of a dinner tray. Its eight glowing green eyes were fixed on me, and my heart nearly stopped beating. I scrambled to my feet, desperate to escape the room. But the next second, the world spun, and I blacked out. “David? What’s wrong, David?” Still hazy, I felt someone shaking me. My face drained of color as the memory of that horrifying spider flashed back. “A spider! A giant spider!” “David, what spider? Did you have a nightmare?” Chloe quickly got out of bed, her face etched with worry, gently stroking my cheek. Seeing her kind, beautiful face, I slowly calmed down and immediately recounted what had just happened. “David, you must be stressed about my pregnancy, worrying about me and the baby. It’s just a nightmare.” Her explanation made sense, and I nodded. After all, where in the world would you find a spider the size of a dinner tray? But the dream felt so incredibly real, like I was truly there. Just as I was about to drift back to sleep, I noticed Chloe’s arms were covered in thick, dark hair! Chloe caught my gaze and hastily explained, “David, it’s probably just my hormones, unbalanced because of the pregnancy.” I nodded, though her hormones seemed to be *wildly* out of whack. She clearly needed some extra nutrition. The next day, I bought a live rooster, planning to make her some nourishing chicken soup. But when I took the knife to the bathroom to butcher it, the rooster was *gone*! And the bathroom was thick with spiderwebs, like a scene straight out of a horror movie, or a giant spider’s nest. It felt like spiders were suddenly *everywhere*. First my dreams, now the bathroom. But I kept the house spotless – how could there be so many webs? As I wondered, I noticed a puddle of feathers on the floor, some with skin still attached. But the chicken meat itself had simply vanished. “Was this chicken… eaten by a spider?” I shook my head immediately. Impossible. A spider big enough to kill a rooster would have to be the size of two hands, and there’s no such thing in the world. But where did the chicken meat go? I was about to ask Chloe when I got close enough to smell it: a strong, metallic scent of blood coming from her mouth! A flicker of panic crossed Chloe’s face. She quickly explained, “David, my gums are bleeding, pretty badly. I was just about to get some medication for inflammation.” Ah, that made sense. Pregnancy was hard, women developed all sorts of issues. My heart went out to her, and my worries about the chicken completely vanished. The vanished chicken remained an unsolved mystery. I cleaned the bathroom’s spiderwebs thoroughly, but found no spiders. Where were these webs even coming from? It wasn’t just the bathroom. Lately, there were webs on the bed, the couch, even in the kitchen – and *lots* of them. This had never happened before. It felt like ever since Chloe got pregnant, one strange thing after another kept happening. That night, Chloe stared at me, her eyes unblinking, swallowing constantly. “David,” she purred, “you smell so good. I just want to devour you.” I thought she was trying to be intimate, so I bit back my urge and said, “Sweetheart, we’re in a delicate stage right now. What if we hurt the baby? It could lead to a miscarriage, and we don’t want that—AHH!!!” The words were barely out of my mouth when a searing pain shot through my neck. Chloe was sinking her teeth deep into my neck, a monstrous growl rumbling from her throat. I cried out in agony, scrambling away from Chloe and clamping my hand over my neck. I flipped on the light and gasped in horror – my neck was bleeding, and she had nearly bitten a chunk of flesh right out of it!

Chloe scrambled out of bed, her face pale with terror as she saw my bleeding neck. Tears streamed down her face. “I’m so sorry, David! I don’t know why… I just felt so drawn to your body…” Seeing her so distraught and remorseful, I sighed deeply, unable to blame her. It had to be those pregnancy hormones, throwing everything out of whack. I comforted her for a moment, then quickly stopped the bleeding as best I could before rushing to the emergency room. The wound treatment took forever, and I must have drifted off to sleep at some point. When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed. A surge of panic hit me. I hadn’t been home all night! Chloe must be frantic with worry! I quickly grabbed my phone to call her, but just as I did, I saw a message from Chloe: “David, I’ve gone back to my family’s estate to rest during the pregnancy. Please, don’t come looking for me until after the baby is born.” Apparently, Chloe felt her emotions were too unstable for the pregnancy, so she called her mother for help. Her mom suggested she return home to recuperate. My blood ran cold. Most rural houses are built to face the sun, but my mother-in-law’s place was nestled deep in the shadows, and its structure was incredibly peculiar. The house was perpetually damp, dark, and sunless. Living there long-term would make anyone sick, let alone a pregnant woman! It was absolutely *not* a good place for Chloe to rest. I was about to call and urge her to reconsider when my mother-in-law called *me*. “David, dear,” she said, “I haven’t been feeling well lately, a bit overwhelmed. Could you possibly come stay and help care for Chloe for a while?” I first asked about her health, then suggested bringing Chloe back home. But Martha insisted, “David, don’t you worry. I had a carpenter specially renovate a room – it’s airy, sunny, and absolutely perfect!” After much hesitation, I agreed. Two and a half hours later, I arrived at Martha’s place. Martha greeted me with a warm, almost *too* warm, welcome. To be honest, she always unnerved me. She just had this unsettling, eerie vibe. Her face was chalk-white, as if dusted with flour, her eyes were unnaturally dark, and her nails were long and sharp. Honestly, she looked like something out of a gothic horror film. Chloe heard the commotion and rushed out, her eyes wide with shock when she saw me. “David, I told you *not* to come!” I told her exactly what Martha had said. Chloe’s emotions flared. She whirled on her mother, furious. “Mom! How *could* you? Are you trying to kill him?!” Martha’s voice softened, almost pleading. “Chloe, I’m doing this for your own good. If you want a safe delivery, you *need* him.” Their exchange sent a chill down my spine. A dark premonition washed over me. “Chloe, what do you mean, ‘kill me’? What are you two talking about?” Chloe’s face crumpled, a flicker of panic in her eyes. She quickly explained, “I was afraid the same thing would happen again… What if I bit you to death…” Her words made my neck throb, but I didn’t think much of it. She hadn’t meant it, after all. I sighed in relief and told her not to worry. Chloe looked like she wanted to say more, but under Martha’s stern gaze, she finally lowered her head. Once Martha had left, Chloe pulled me aside, her voice urgent and serious. “David, you *have* to leave! Right now!” I thought she was still feeling guilty about the night before, so I held her gently. “Sweetheart, don’t worry, I—” “It’s not that!” Chloe cut me off. A look of deep torment crossed her face. Finally, she met my eyes, her voice sharp and resolute. “I can’t explain. But if you don’t leave, we’re getting a divorce!” The word ‘divorce’ hit me like a lightning bolt. I never imagined she’d use that to force me away! Why on earth would she do that? I couldn’t shake the feeling Chloe was hiding something big, and her recent behavior had been undeniably strange, though I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was off. And Martha… she was increasingly unsettling, always looking at me with a calculating gleam in her eyes. Facing Chloe’s stubborn expression, I finally nodded, agreeing to leave. I immediately drove away. But just as I reached the village exit, a spider, twice the size of a dinner tray, suddenly blocked the road. Its eight blood-red eyes were fixed on me, unblinking. I slammed on the brakes, terrified. By the time I wrestled the car under control, the spider had vanished without a trace. I frantically scanned my surroundings, but there was no sign of it. Was I… just too stressed? First the nightmares about spiders, now hallucinations?

My mind reeled, filled with doubt and fear. My gut screamed that something much deeper was going on – and it definitely involved Chloe. So, I decided to hire a private investigator to discreetly follow Chloe and Martha. Barely half a day later, the private investigator sent me a video. The moment I clicked play, my blood ran cold, freezing in my veins! On screen, a disheveled woman was tearing into a live chicken, devouring it raw like a wild animal. My blood ran cold. The face was gentle, beautiful… it was my wife, Chloe! My sweet, gentle Chloe! She was eating with terrifying relish, sucking and slurping like she was drinking juice. In moments, the entire chicken was gone, leaving only a pile of feathers. My face was ashen, my fingers trembling uncontrollably. This *couldn’t* be just pregnancy hormones. What pregnant woman would transform into a ravenous, bloodthirsty monster? That speed of consumption was utterly inhuman! Suddenly, I remembered the chicken that had vanished days ago. I’d only found feathers then. Could it be… could Chloe have eaten *that* chicken raw, just like this? My phone buzzed again. It was the second video from him. When I saw what was on screen, I nearly dropped my phone, my heart pounding. The second video showed: A hunched figure was slowly approaching a plow cow. But the horror! It wasn’t a human head she wore, but a massive, fuzzy spider’s head! Its barbed front limbs wrapped around the cow’s neck, and its gaping maw bit down with sickening force. The sturdy cow collapsed instantly, frothing at the mouth. Then, the creature suddenly *smiled*. Its monstrous head began to melt, slowly shifting into a familiar human face – Martha, my mother-in-law! Martha seemed to notice something, and her eyes glared intensely at the screen. “David! You goddamn ruined me!” The video cut out with the detective’s terrified scream. I stared at the black screen, trembling uncontrollably, cold sweat slicking my skin. My entire world had just shattered into a million pieces. I couldn’t believe it. Martha… was a spider demon! Which meant Chloe was too. The night before last, when she bit my neck and said she wanted to ‘eat me,’ she wasn’t flirting – female spiders devour their mates after conception. It’s an instinct ingrained in their very genes! She actually *wanted* to eat me! My hands shaking, I reached for my phone to call the police, but then a chilling breath brushed against my neck. “My dear son-in-law…” a chilling whisper slithered into my ear. “Who are we calling, hmm?” I slowly turned my head. Hovering right behind me was a black widow spider, twice the size of a dinner tray. Its mandibles dripped with viscous fluid. And that voice… it was undeniably… “M-Martha?” My vision swam, and I passed out cold. When I woke, I was encased in a sticky cocoon, lying in a damp, web-filled cavern. Two enormous black widow spiders loomed before me. One, slightly smaller, had eight glowing green eyes – the very same spider that had been on our marital bed that terrifying night! It scuttled towards me, its segmented legs clicking against the ground. “C-Chloe?” I choked out, my voice trembling. The spider froze. All eight eyes constricted, revealing a flash of agony and struggle. I stared at the black widow, trembling violently, cold sweat drenching my back. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed that the woman I’d shared a bed with for three years was such a massive spider demon. She had hidden her true nature so incredibly well. Female spiders, after conceiving, instinctively devour their mates. It’s their very nature. Now, wrapped tightly in sticky silk, imprisoned in this dark cavern, my heart hammered. Was she… was she going to eat me *right now*?

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298447”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #惊悚Thriller