Category: English

When my wife underwent artificial insemination for her cancer-stricken first love, I left a divorce agreement and walked away. Before leaving, I commented on their sweet photo on social media: “Let’s divorce. I’m making room for you two.” A minute later, she called, “Ethan, how can you be so selfish? Can you bear to let him die without an heir?” I laughed coldly and replied, “I don’t love you anymore. It has nothing to do with me.” But she became anxious. On our wedding anniversary, I asked my wife to come home early. Her usually cold expression showed a brief surprise before she silently nodded. That night, I prepared dinner and cake, waiting for her on the sofa until dawn. She never came home. Zoe Pei and I had been married for five years, but we were husband and wife in name only. She was the only daughter of Pei Group, the future heir. As for me, I was just an adopted son Grandpa Pei picked up from an orphanage twenty years ago. I met Zoe when I was eight years old. It was my first time being brought into the Pei family by Grandpa Pei. Years of living in ordinary circumstances made me feel out of place in such a grand house. Every move I made was cautious, careful not to upset anyone. Despite this, Zoe gradually helped me integrate into the family, taking care of my fragile self-esteem. To this day, I still remember when Old Mr. Pei told me to marry Zoe. I was overjoyed, thinking it would be worth it even if I died that day. Although everyone around me said I wasn’t good enough for her, I still plunged headfirst into the relationship. After all, who would pass up the chance to hold the moon in their arms? I sat on the sofa, silently watching the clock on the wall strike midnight, but there was still no news from Zoe. I couldn’t help but call her, but all I got in response was a cold electronic voice. Just as I was about to go out to find her at the company, Leo sent me a photo. In the picture, Zoe was hugging Leo, who was wearing a hospital gown. They looked intimate. Like a loving couple. Below the photo was a message from Leo: “Sorry, Ethan. I’m sick, and Zoe is keeping me company. The hospital needs to be quiet, so I muted her phone.” Leo’s message shattered my last bit of hope. I should have known all along that Zoe never loved me. I always knew that Zoe was never my moon. It’s just that for a moment, the moonlight really shone on me. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly at myself, mocking how long I had clung to the title of her husband. So long that I had become complacent. I didn’t reply. I just silently walked into the kitchen and reheated the already cold food. I swallowed this bitter dinner bite by bite, along with the cake. In fact, I had long understood that Zoe loved Leo. Leo was her first love from her teenage years. One was a beautiful and well-mannered heiress, the other a campus celebrity. And I was just the Pei family’s adopted son, hidden in the shadows. No matter how you look at it, they should have been a couple, but Grandpa Pei didn’t agree to their relationship. After Leo left heartbroken, I was able to pick up this bargain. On my eighteenth birthday, I wished that Zoe would look at me once more, and later she married me. Now, at twenty-eight, I only ask that she let me go in the little time I have left. At the same time, I’m letting myself go too.

A year ago, Leo, who had been missing for a long time, suddenly reappeared. Unlike before, his still handsome face now had a sickly pallor. After learning that he had cancer, Zoe began to devote her entire heart to him. Every day after work, she would go to the hospital to take care of him. I, who was already insignificant in her eyes, became completely invisible to her now. Occasionally, I would call Zoe to come home for dinner, only to be met with her cold rebuke. “All you think about is these trivial matters. Do you know how much Leo is suffering alone in the hospital?” “Honestly, why couldn’t it have been you who got this disease? It’s a waste for Leo to suffer like this.” Before I could answer, she would hang up. Sometimes, even Zoe’s gaze towards me carried a hint of resentment. Perhaps she hated me for agreeing to Grandpa Pei’s marriage arrangement back then, hated me for driving Leo away. But no matter what she thought of me, it no longer mattered. Because, just as she wished, I had been diagnosed with bone cancer six months ago. I had been hiding it from Zoe, afraid she would think I was trying to gain her sympathy by appearing weak. Ironically, even God seemed to think I was redundant. In these six months, my condition had rapidly deteriorated. The chemotherapy that was once a month became twice a month or even more frequent. The pain that seeped into my bones tortured me constantly. But I still persevered. I wanted to live a little longer, to see my moon once more. Until that day, right after chemotherapy, trembling in pain on the hospital bed, I saw Leo’s social media post. “Thank you to my angel for bringing me a little angel when I needed companionship the most.” Accompanied by a sweet photo of the two of them. At that moment, I only heard a boom in my mind, my heart feeling like it was being wrenched. Even the lingering pain from the chemotherapy couldn’t compare to the pain in my heart at that moment. The girl I had loved for over ten years, my wife of five years. She was having a child for another man. Nothing could be more heartbreaking than this. I knew it was time to let go. I drafted the divorce agreement. Zoe rarely came home these days, and I wouldn’t pretend to be pitiful to trick her into coming back. So, I chose our wedding anniversary as a reason to ask her to come home. To tell her about the divorce decision, and also to tell her that my time was running out. I didn’t expect that I had underestimated Zoe’s indifference and overestimated my position in her heart. I cleaned up the dining table, went back to the bedroom to pack my meager belongings, and left with nothing. I had entered the Pei family with nothing, and now leaving, I naturally couldn’t take anything with me. Thinking about how I had spent my entire life seeking a proper home. Now, as I was about to die, I realized that being clean and unencumbered was quite good too. After doing all this, I left the house keys along with a copy of the divorce agreement on the dining table. I sent Zoe a message. “The divorce agreement is on the table. I’m making room for you two.” Then I turned off my phone, closed the door, and left without looking back.

Half a month later, I came to the hospital to complete this month’s last chemotherapy session. On my way to deliver the medical report. I happened to run into Zoe accompanying Leo for a checkup. “Pregnant?” I asked casually. “No, Zoe is just accompanying me for a checkup. Thanks to her, I’ve recovered so quickly,” Leo explained, seeing my unfriendly expression. “That’s good, congratul-” Before I could finish, Zoe, who had been holding Leo’s arm, interrupted me. “Ethan, what are you doing? Why aren’t you answering your phone?” “And what’s this about divorce? Who allowed you to divorce? Are you planning to leave with nothing?” “What, now you’ve come to the hospital to win me back? Are you trying to play the victim?” Zoe’s barrage of questions made my already unclear mind feel even worse. Thinking about the upcoming chemotherapy, I didn’t bother with them anymore and walked straight into the doctor’s office. “Mr. Cheng, this is your last chemotherapy session for this month.” “Given your current condition, we suggest you start inpatient treatment after this session.” The doctor’s expression was grave. Combined with my current physical state, even I understood. My time was running out. I nodded, telling the doctor I wanted to think about it and finish this chemotherapy session first. After arranging with the doctor, I walked out of the office, preparing to enter the treatment room. Zoe grabbed me at the door. Leaving Leo looking at us with reluctant eyes. “Ethan, what are you doing? Are you serious?” Zoe crossed her arms, her usual dismissive gaze showing a hint of confusion. “What else? At this point, what reason do I have to lie to you?” I waved my hand wearily, just looking at her calmly. “Then why didn’t you say anything? Dragging it out until now, are you waiting here to make me pity you or-” “Do you remember our wedding anniversary half a month ago? I wanted to tell you that day, but where were you?” Zoe’s expression was shocked when I suddenly interrupted her, as if she couldn’t believe it. In fact, this was the first time in my life I had ever interrupted her. In the past, I would have been happy for an entire day just for having an extra word with her, but now I only found it annoying. Her words were either constantly ignoring me or endlessly mocking me. She really thought the world revolved around her. Although I hadn’t received the divorce certificate with Zoe yet. In my view, since I had drafted that divorce agreement, we had already become strangers. Suddenly realizing this, I felt that I was actually colder than I had imagined. Once I decided I had no relationship with someone, I thoroughly cut off everything with them. Be it relationships or emotions. The deeper my love for Zoe had been, the more indifferent I felt towards her now. At this moment, the nurse from the chemotherapy room called my name, asking me to come in for treatment. Hearing this, I turned to leave. Seeing me about to leave, Zoe hurriedly said, “What about my grandfather?” With these words, I immediately understood her meaning. Back then, Grandpa Pei had used the Pei Group heir position to threaten her into marrying me. Now that I wanted a divorce, I naturally had to give Grandpa Pei an explanation. “Don’t worry about that, I’ll explain everything to him.” After saying this, I left directly, not looking back at her once. In the past, I always watched Zoe’s retreating figure. Now, I no longer needed to.

After the chemotherapy, I stared blankly at the ceiling of the hospital room as usual. The color was so white it made me feel cold. It reminded me of the morgue where my adoptive father’s body was kept twenty years ago. Everything there was equally hopeless. As far back as I could remember, the only person by my side was my adoptive father. My adoptive father made a living as a taxi driver. The neighbors all said he was a bachelor approaching thirty who still hadn’t found a wife. And I was an orphan abandoned by my birth parents from birth. At that time, I was just a baby, thrown like garbage at my adoptive father’s doorstep. Seeing that I was as pitiful as him, he took me in. For the next eight years, it was just me and my adoptive father relying on each other to survive. Although life was tight then, those were some of the few happy days in my impoverished life. Perhaps it was destined that I shouldn’t have lived a peaceful life. When I was eight, my adoptive father went out to work a night shift in the rain and never came back. I only remember being led by a group of people in white coats into a very cold place. My adoptive father’s cold body was lying there stiffly. No matter how heart-wrenchingly I cried, he wouldn’t get up and hold me like he used to. Gently patting my back, telling me not to cry, that everything would be alright. After my adoptive father’s death, the neighbors avoided me like the plague. I became an orphan once again, entering the orphanage as my final destination. The long night was hard to endure, but the sun would always rise as usual. On the second day after I entered the orphanage, Grandpa Pei personally came to take me back to the Pei family. “Child, what’s your name? Would you like to come with me?” “My name is Ethan, meaning peace.” Ethan means long-lasting peace, to be safe and sound for life. My adoptive father hadn’t read much, I only heard him often murmuring in my ear that as long as one lived peacefully, it was good enough. After I finished speaking, he gave me a smile. That smile made me feel like my adoptive father had returned. It was also this smile that made me plunge headfirst into a world that didn’t originally belong to me. It was in this world that I met the person I would chase for most of my life. When we first met, Zoe was wearing a pure white princess dress, sitting at the grand piano in the center of the spacious living room. Her fingers, white as jade, continuously played beautiful notes. At that moment, I gazed at her as if entranced. Perhaps seeing my gaze was too intense, Zoe looked at me and walked over with a smile. “Are you the new friend Grandpa mentioned? Hello, I’m Zoe Pei.” “Zoe means ‘like’ or ‘love’, you know!” As she spoke, she reached out her hand to hold mine, leading me to tour every corner of the Pei house. At that time, I didn’t ask for anything, didn’t want anything, just a home, just love. Even if I died, I didn’t want to be abandoned again. Thinking of this, I unconsciously gripped Zoe’s hand tightly. Like a drowning person clinging desperately to the only lifeline nearby. In the days that followed, Zoe became like my little shadow, following me wherever I went. In her words, I was the only one in this family willing to play and have fun with her, her best companion. We absolutely couldn’t be separated. And so, Zoe and I grew closer and closer. Sometimes, the colder a person is, the more they want to get close to something warm. Zoe was gentle and passionate, like a ray of sunshine illuminating my originally barren life. When I was with her, I always felt a long-lost sense of peace and tranquility. So, I will never forget what she once said to me: “From now on, this is your home, and I am your family.” But now, hearing these words, I only feel extremely bitter.

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My son was murdered while buying a birthday cake for his father. That evening, Jake’s childhood friend posted on SnapChat: “Someone with a mango allergy insists on eating the mango cake I bought.” Fighting back tears, I called Jake to come see our son one last time. “Can’t you stop bothering me? Emma rarely comes back to celebrate my birthday with me.” As a crime scene cleaner, Jake personally cleaned up the cake shop where our son was killed. “Look at other people’s kids, remembering their dad’s birthday. My ungrateful brat is just like his mother, only knows how to ask for money.” With a heart turned to ashes, I decided to divorce him. “Think about Kevin. A child without a father’s love will never be happy.” After slapping him, I dragged him to kneel before our son’s ashes. “Ma’am, we need you to come to the police station. There’s a body here for you to identify.” The moment I received that call from the police, my mind went blank. Just half an hour earlier, my son Kevin had snuck out, saying he wanted to prepare a surprise for his dad. I checked my phone. The first message was from Kevin: “Mom, I’m buying a birthday cake for Dad. I’m going to give him a big surprise tonight!” With trembling hands, I tried calling Kevin’s phone. No answer. I tried again… still no answer. I don’t even remember how I got to the police station. After giving them Kevin’s name, the officer sighed. “Do you know Kevin Zhang?” he asked. I nodded numbly. “He’s my son. What… what happened to him?” “I’m sorry,” the officer said, gesturing for me to come inside. As we entered, I noticed the sign on the door: Morgue. The officer lifted a white sheet. I forced myself to look. And then I collapsed to my knees. On the cold metal table lay Kevin, his face and neck horribly mutilated. But it was unmistakably my little boy. “Has… has the killer been caught?” I asked through gritted teeth, tears streaming down my face. “Yes, we’ve apprehended the suspect,” the officer replied. Okay. At least they caught the monster who did this. “Can I take Kevin home now?” I asked. The officer nodded. “You may.” With shaking hands, I pulled out my phone to call my husband Jake. We should at least bring Kevin home together. The phone rang for a long time. He hung up on me three times before finally answering on the fourth try. Before I could speak, Jake’s irritated voice cut in: “Can’t you take a hint? Emma came all this way to celebrate my birthday with me. Can’t you just leave us alone for once?” Emma? Jake’s childhood friend. Ever since Jake and I got married, Emma had constantly needed his help for every little thing. And Jake was always eager to solve her problems. Especially after Kevin was born, when Emma left the country out of jealousy, Jake felt that Kevin and I had driven away his dear friend. The officer’s eyes held even more sympathy now. A female officer came over and helped me up. “Ma’am, we can drive you and your son home.” But I couldn’t let Kevin go without saying goodbye to his father! This was his dad, after all. I called Jake again. This time he picked up quickly. “Olivia, do you have nothing better to do? Emma and I are just having a normal get-together. If you keep bothering me, don’t blame me for getting angry.” I lowered my voice. “Kevin’s been in an accident. You need to come.” I couldn’t bring myself to say the word “dead.” “Oh come on, you’re using Kevin as an excuse again? Everyone knows you two are always scheming together.” Before I could respond, I heard a woman’s voice in the background. “Jake, I’m scared to cut the cake. Can you help me?” The call disconnected again. I saw Emma’s latest post on Instagram: “Someone with a mango allergy insists on eating the cake I bought. 🙄” The photo showed a mango cake, along with a selfie of her and Jake. My legs went weak. The female officer had to support me to stand up straight. “Don’t be scared, Kevin. Mommy’s taking you home,” I whispered. I brought Kevin home and began preparing for his funeral. Jake never came home that night. The next morning, on the way to the crematorium, Jake finally called me. “Make some pumpkin soup and bring it to the hospital. Make extra – Emma wants some too.”

My hand shook as I gripped the phone, too angry to speak. After a long pause, I managed to say: “Jake, don’t you dare regret this.” I suddenly felt that Jake didn’t deserve to be Kevin’s father. As I watched Kevin being pushed into the cremation chamber, I couldn’t hold back anymore. I crouched down and sobbed. From a young age, Kevin had been so understanding. He knew his father wasn’t very attached to our family, so he always behaved well and never asked Jake for anything. This time, he had snuck out on his own just wanting to use a cake to improve his relationship with his dad. At the parent-teacher conference a week ago, I could sense how envious Kevin was of the kids whose fathers attended. But now, it was all gone. As I carried Kevin’s ashes out, a light drizzle began to fall. Not long after I got home, I received a call from the cemetery. “Ma’am, I’m sorry but the plot you reserved this morning has been sold to someone else for a higher price.” What? I had carefully chosen that spot for Kevin. “But I already paid a deposit. How can you sell it to someone else?” I protested. The person hemmed and hawed before another voice came on the line. “Listen lady, money talks. We’re paying more, so naturally we get priority. Besides, you didn’t sign a contract, so it doesn’t count.” I knew that voice all too well. It was Jake. “Jake, let’s just forget it. We can find another spot for my uncle. No need to insist on this one,” I heard Emma say in the background. I took a deep breath. “What about honoring agreements? I paid a deposit. You can’t do this.” Jake was still comforting Emma. “Your uncle is my uncle too. I’ll make sure this gets taken care of.” How touching. The cemetery staff sounded uncomfortable. I really didn’t have the energy to argue, especially not with someone connected to Jake. I just wanted Kevin to rest in peace. “Ma’am, we can compensate you, or you can come by this afternoon to choose another plot?” the staff member offered. “Fine,” I agreed. We’ll just find another spot. The funeral preparations continued. Jake’s parents had both passed away, so his family couldn’t help. I called my parents and asked them to come assist with the arrangements. My parents hugged me tightly when they arrived, and we all cried together. “Oh sweetheart, you’ve been through so much,” my mom said. I had moved far away when I got married. Jake had knelt before my parents and sworn he would take good care of me. And now… I took a deep breath. “Mom and Dad, can you please go to the funeral home and set up the memorial? I need to go to the cemetery first.” When I arrived at the cemetery, the staff came out personally to greet me. As soon as I entered, I locked eyes with Emma in the distance. She immediately grabbed Jake’s hand and hurried away from the cemetery. Her expression suggested she knew something. I composed myself and chose a new plot for Kevin. After finishing up, I ran into Jake on my way out. “Olivia, are you following me?” he demanded. I let out a cold laugh. “Follow you? To watch you and your little friend being all lovey-dovey?” “How many times do I have to tell you, Emma and I are just friends. She’s all alone here – what’s wrong with me helping her out?” “Fine, go ahead and help your dear friend then!” I snapped before walking away. As I was leaving, I thought I heard Jake mutter something. About cleaning up the cake shop crime scene. Oh right, I’d almost forgotten – he’s a crime scene cleaner. So… Would he be cleaning up the cake shop where Kevin was murdered? When I got home, everything was ready at the funeral home. The funeral would be tomorrow. I had no friends or relatives here. Just a few of my parents’ relatives had come. “Damn that bastard Jake! He won’t even come to his own son’s funeral?” my uncle fumed.

I looked at my uncle, my meaning clear. “Once this is over, I’m divorcing him,” I said. “That still doesn’t excuse him from attending his child’s funeral. What kind of father is he?” My uncle stood at the entrance and started making phone calls. I stared at Kevin’s black and white portrait, tears falling uncontrollably. He was only six years old. How could fate be so cruel? It started raining again. My dad stood next to me holding an umbrella. I clutched Kevin’s portrait throughout the entire funeral. Jake never showed up. I had tried to contact him, but he had blocked my number. I couldn’t even send him a message. I didn’t know any of his friends to reach out to. I had just brought the urn home when Jake finally called. Looks like he unblocked me. “Olivia, what kind of scene are you trying to make? Haven’t you embarrassed me enough? Telling all your relatives our family business – you’re just taking advantage of the fact that I don’t have anyone to back me up, aren’t you?” Taking advantage? If that was my goal, I wouldn’t have married him without asking for any dowry, and even contributed over $10,000 of my own money when we got married. Now in his eyes, I’m the one taking advantage. “I don’t know what my uncle said, but you should come home when you can. I need to talk to you about something,” I said. “No way, I don’t want to deal with your relatives. They all look down on me anyway.” How ridiculous. If they really looked down on him, why would I have quit my job to focus on our family? Only later did it become “useless housewife” in his eyes. He hung up on me again. Fine, he’s probably still cleaning up at that cake shop. I’ll go find him there tomorrow to explain the situation. Coming to this place filled me with dread. All I could think about was how Kevin looked when he died. He was always so afraid of pain. I can’t imagine how terrified and desperate he must have felt in his final moments. The shop was cordoned off, so I could only wait outside for Jake to come out. I could clearly hear the voices talking inside. “Did you guys hear? The kid they killed was only 6 years old. Apparently he was buying a cake for his dad’s birthday when he ran into the killer.” “Tsk tsk, look at that kid, still remembering his dad’s birthday. My ungrateful brat is just like his mom, only knows how to ask me for money.” That was Jake’s voice. So in his eyes, Kevin had become the ungrateful one. “Aw, they just don’t understand your work.” Jake chimed in: “Exactly! My wife even tried to get me to switch jobs. Not at all understanding like Emma. Only Emma supports me behind the scenes.” What a joke. Why did I ask him to change jobs? It was all for Kevin’s sake. During a school survey, Kevin had proudly described his father’s job as a crime scene cleaner as noble and selfless. The result was endless bullying and ostracism. The other kids at school called him unlucky and said he smelled like death. No one wanted to be his friend. Kevin never dared tell Jake about it. If I hadn’t accidentally discovered him crying alone in his room one day, I never would have known either. That’s the only reason I suggested Jake change jobs. Of course Emma would support him – she wasn’t affected by it at all. “Hey, I heard the security footage is still around. You guys brave enough to watch it?” someone asked.

I wondered how Jake would react if he saw the victim was Kevin. “Ugh, that’s disgusting. I heard the killer even smashed out the kid’s teeth. It must be a bloody mess. I don’t want to see that and have nightmares.” That’s right. Sometimes my little Kevin didn’t even have any teeth left. An hour later, Jake finally finished work. He seemed surprised to see me waiting outside. After saying goodbye to his coworkers, he pulled me over to a nearby alley. “What are you doing here?” he demanded. “Let’s get a divorce,” I said. “Are you crazy? Is this about Emma again? How many times do I have to tell you, it’s not what you think.” As we were talking, Emma suddenly appeared. She immediately latched onto Jake’s arm and smiled at me. “Sister-in-law, you’re just too jealous. If I really wanted Jake, do you think you’d stand a chance?” How sweet of her to say. I was about to respond when my phone rang. “Ma’am, we need you to come to the police station again. There’s been a development in the case.” After hanging up, I turned to leave. Jake grabbed my wrist. “Where are you running off to? Did Emma hit a nerve? You really are just a jealous shrew.” I yanked my hand away and slapped Jake hard across the face. “Watch your mouth. I don’t have time for your nonsense right now.” I rushed to the police station. The officer offered me a glass of water first. “So, have you or your family made any enemies recently?” he asked. I thought about it. I hardly ever left the house, let alone made enemies. I barely even saw anyone. So it had to be related to Jake somehow. But given Jake’s unusual job, I’d never heard him mention conflicts with anyone. Suddenly, Emma came to mind. I remembered the look in her eyes at the cemetery. I nodded. “My husband has a mistress. Does that count?” The officers exchanged glances. “It could.” “What’s going on? Did the killer say something?” “Well, we have reason to believe Kevin’s murder was a contract killing.” A contract killing. Kevin was so young. Who could be so heartless? “Why didn’t you tell me this before?” I asked. The officer looked embarrassed. “I apologize. It was an oversight on our part.” The rest of the details were confidential, so the police couldn’t share more with me. When I got home from the station, I was surprised to find Jake there. He was lounging on the couch with his legs crossed, seemingly unaware that our son was missing. “Where’s Kevin? Out playing again?” he asked casually. Unbelievable! I set down my things. “Now you care about your son? Where were you before?” “What’s that supposed to mean?” “Jake, let’s get divorced,” I said. I took a deep breath. I would just have to accept that Kevin no longer had a father. More accurately, Jake didn’t deserve to be a father. Seeing how serious I was, Jake started to panic. He smiled and took my hand. “Don’t be ridiculous. We’ve been married for so many years. You can’t throw it all away over this little thing with Emma.” “Oh, so you do remember how long we’ve been married,” I said with a bitter laugh. “Then please, just agree to the divorce. Don’t make this painful for both of us.” Jake came up and hugged me from behind. “How can you bear to divorce me? Don’t you want Kevin to have a father? Do you want him to be bullied for not having a dad?” SSo he did know that kids without fathers get bullied. I turned and grabbed Jake by the collar, dragging him to Kevin’s room. “Look closely. These are your son’s ashes.”

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Two months after our wedding, my husband Lucas suggested we split all our bills equally. Living expenses, supporting our parents, social obligations, raising children – everything was to be split 50/50. I accepted. Later, he couldn’t handle it himself. He begged me to support him! I kicked him out. “Get lost, you jerk!” My dad fell ill. The doctor informed me that after deducting the health insurance coverage, we still needed to pay over $15,000 for the surgery. I regretted buying a new car just last month. I called my husband, Lucas. “Honey, can you lend me $15,000? My dad needs surgery.” “We agreed to split our expenses equally, remember? We’re each responsible for our own families,” Lucas replied, his tone colder than that of a casual acquaintance. I gritted my teeth, trying to stay calm. “I said ‘lend.’ I’ll pay you back!” “I don’t have it. Figure it out yourself.” He hung up without even a word of concern. Furious, I threw my bag onto the chair. What a piece of trash I had chosen! “Amelia, did you manage to borrow the money?” My mom asked, having heard the commotion. “Yes, don’t worry!” I lied. Left with no choice, I called my boss at work. “Boss, I have about $10,000 in commissions from last quarter that haven’t been paid out yet. I was wondering if I could get an advance.” “What happened?” he asked. I explained my dad’s situation. “Alright, I’ll make an exception. If you need more, I can lend you some personally.” Seeing $15,000 deposited into my account, I covered my face and cried. What had marriage given me? Nothing but a mess. The respect and trust I earned through my own hard work and perseverance were worth so much more.

Four years ago, I married Lucas. I was blinded by love, captivated by his good looks since college. Even though my parents objected, thinking Lucas wasn’t reliable enough. Even though Lucas’s family didn’t offer a bride price, I thought love was priceless. Even though I had to bring a house as a dowry, I was willing. But after the wedding, he proposed splitting all our expenses equally. Living expenses, supporting parents, social obligations, raising children – everything was to be split 50/50. I was shocked and didn’t understand. Although we both worked and had our own incomes, I had never asked him for living expenses. We just lived casually. Occasionally, I would pay for utilities, he would pay for gas. I would buy groceries, he would buy daily necessities. I didn’t like to fuss over details and never calculated who paid more. But Lucas kept a little notebook, recording every expense. After two months, I guess he felt he was losing out. But aren’t couples supposed to weather storms together? Did we need to be so calculative? Lucas, however, had his arguments to convince me. “Many people in Western countries do this. It’s progressive and can reduce conflicts.” “But it feels like we’re business partners, not a married couple,” I protested. “Marriage is about choosing the most suitable partner. Besides love, we need to think long-term.” I started to reflect on our dating process, realizing I might have spent more. But I had never calculated it. Since that was the case, I decided to give it a try. From then on, Lucas recorded every bill, and we split them equally, accurate to two decimal places.

A year later, I got pregnant. I had severe morning sickness and had to stay at home after six months of pregnancy. I applied for unpaid leave from work, as my maternity leave hadn’t started yet. Lucas’s face was very dark during that period. I thought he was worried about my health, but it turned out he was concerned about my income. “We agreed to split expenses, remember? You haven’t been paid for months, and I can’t help you,” he said. I frowned. This was even harsher than settling accounts between siblings. Seeing that I didn’t respond, Lucas hurriedly explained. “You still have some savings, right? It should be enough for a few months.” I made a list including formula, diapers, baby clothes, bottles, strollers, and more. “We need to buy all these. It’s a significant expense. You buy them first, and I’ll pay you back later.” Lucas’s frown deepened. He clearly hadn’t planned for this. “It’s so expensive. I don’t have money either.” “Where did your money go?” I asked. Lucas glared at me, displeased. “We agreed to split expenses, remember? We don’t interfere with each other’s spending.” “Split, split! So for having a baby, should I be pregnant for 5 months, then hand it over to you for the next 5 months? I had to take unpaid leave to have this baby, and you don’t consider me at all. You just keep talking about splitting!” Lucas looked at me incredulously. “I can’t help you with childbirth. It’s not that I don’t want to.” “But you can help with the expenses, and you won’t?” “We agreed to split, didn’t we?” I grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. “Get out! If you won’t cover it, I’ll just starve. We can all starve together!” Lucas muttered dissatisfaction as he slowly left the room. I heard him making a phone call in the next room. “Mom, can you transfer me $5,000?” “Isn’t my salary card with you?” “Amelia has severe morning sickness, and I need to cover some expenses. She’ll pay me back later.” “She’ll definitely pay back. Once she starts working again, I won’t cover anymore. I’ll make her pay.” As I listened, my heart grew colder. Lucas had given his salary card to his mother. No wonder he never said where his money went. Now he needed $5,000 and had to ask his mother’s permission. What a calculation! He treated me like an outsider. What if we had a conflict that led to divorce? Our marital property would be divided, but he wouldn’t have any money!

I turned and contacted my mom, giving her my salary card too. My mom didn’t want to take it at first, but I insisted. “Did you have a fight with Lucas? You two should get along, especially now that you’re pregnant.” “No, nothing like that. He’s very filial, and he taught me to be filial too. Just take it, I know what I’m doing.” My parents kept my card but used it to buy me lots of nutritional supplements, a crib, and baby blankets. I also sold my stocks and funds at an opportune time and opened a new account under my mom’s name. I could be carefree when I didn’t care, but I could also be meticulous when I did. Lucas finally noticed that I had changed my account and password. “You changed your bank card password?” “Yes, why are you trying to log into my bank account? Aren’t we splitting everything?” Although we had been splitting expenses, we knew each other’s account numbers and passwords. I was cautious, worried that if one of us suddenly died or had an accident, the other wouldn’t know how much money was left or which bank it was in. “No reason, just wanted to plan. Thinking of buying a bigger car. It’ll be convenient when we have a child.” I nodded. I actually had the same plan. “Let’s wait until I start working again. I’m worried about money these few months.” Lucas keenly noticed my issue. “Did you sell all your stocks?” “Yes, I ran out of money.” “What about your salary card?” “It’s with my mom.” Lucas’s face changed immediately. “Why did you give your card to your mom? How are we going to live? I’ve already covered so much, I can’t cover anymore.” “I learned from you. Didn’t you give your card to your mom? For several months before, I covered a lot for you too.” Lucas paced back and forth, grabbing his hair, very anxious. He clearly hadn’t planned for this. After pacing for a while, he finally thought of a solution. “How about this, from now on, we’ll settle accounts every month. No more covering for each other.” See, this is my husband. Even credit cards are paid off the next month, but my husband wants to settle immediately.

I finally gave birth to a big, healthy boy. It was a natural birth, which saved quite a bit of money. Lucas was very happy. His parents also came to the hospital to see me and their grandson. “Good, very good. Take good care of Amelia, she’s been through a lot,” my mother-in-law said, then ran off faster than a rabbit, afraid I’d ask her to help with my postpartum recovery. Lucas didn’t react immediately. “Your parents will help with your postpartum recovery, right?” “Let’s hire a postpartum nanny. We’ll split the cost.” “I don’t have money for a nanny. Isn’t your mom retired? She’s free anyway.” “What about your mom? Isn’t she free at home too? Why did she run away?” Lucas sighed reluctantly. “She’s not in good health. It wasn’t easy for her to raise me. Besides, my sister-in-law is also pregnant with twins. My mom needs to cook for her.” “Your mom never cooked a single meal for me when I was pregnant.” “Why bother about that? You wouldn’t have liked her cooking anyway.” Lucas stopped arguing with me and went out to take a call. I actually really didn’t like my mother-in-law’s cooking, but I just wanted to make a point. When I’m generous, you nitpick with me. When I nitpick, you talk about being generous. Hmph, such double standards. In the end, my mom compromised. She moved in with me to take care of me and her grandson. Lucas was quite happy about it. He moved into the study, living just like before he became a father. When I asked him to change diapers, he frowned and said he didn’t know how. My mom quickly came over. “I’ll do it, I’ll do it!” When I asked him to prepare postpartum meals, he again claimed he didn’t know how. My mom looked up recipes online herself. “I’ll do it, I’ll do it!” “Mom, we agreed to split expenses. You’re helping me, not him. He should be doing these things!” My mom glared at me, her eyes conveying many meanings. “We’re all family.” Lucas found an excuse to back down and hurried out to buy groceries. “Mom, if you spoil him like this, when my recovery is over and you go back, this child will be left to me alone.” My mom sighed. “You should have opened your eyes before marriage. After marriage, you make do with what you have. You’ve got it backwards.” I was choked up by my mom’s words, unable to argue back. “I really want to get a divorce!” “Don’t think like that. You’re in postpartum recovery now, your hormones are dropping, it’s easy to get depressed. Wait until you can take care of yourself and feel better, then you’ll be able to handle things. We can’t let Tommy be born into a family without a father.” I looked at the sleeping baby. He was so cute. Ah, I couldn’t bear it.

Days dragged on, and finally Tommy was 3 years old and started preschool. I finally got some relief, bought a new car, and everything seemed to be back on track. But then my dad fell seriously ill. When life is smooth sailing, you can’t see the good and bad in people around you, whether they’re human or beast. But once you encounter storms, the ugliness of human nature appears. I never expected Lucas wouldn’t help at all. “My mom and I don’t have time to take Tommy to preschool. We need to go to the hospital. You take him.” “It’s not my month, remember? You figure it out. Next month is my turn.” I really wanted to curse. Even my colleagues were willing to switch shifts to help, but he completely ignored the situation. Even if he were just a relative, just a friend, he would at least offer money or effort, or some words of comfort. But he completely distanced himself, as if my dad were a stranger. This time, I truly saw through him. Since you’re heartless, I’ll be ruthless too. What goes around comes around. Don’t let it come back to me.

Unexpectedly, this karma came back quickly. Three months after my dad was discharged, my mother-in-law fell. Lucas called me urgently. “Amelia, my mom is in the hospital. Go there quickly.” “Why should I go to the hospital? I’m at work.” “I’m busy, about to board a high-speed train. Go to the hospital to pay the bills. My mom fell.” “We split expenses, remember? Handle it yourself.” I hung up the phone. Lucas kept calling back, but I kept hanging up. Lucas sent me voice messages on WhatsApp. “Amelia, that’s my mom. You can’t be like this. You’re her daughter-in-law. Can’t you go take care of her?” “Three months ago, how did you treat my dad? That’s how I’ll treat your mom.” I quickly replied and then muted my phone. After a while, my father-in-law called. “Amelia, your mother-in-law is in the hospital. We need to pay the bills.” “Why don’t you ask your son? Why are you calling me?” “He’s on a business trip.” “I’m busy too. We split expenses, remember? We agreed I don’t take care of your family, and he doesn’t take care of my parents.” “What split expenses? Nonsense. I don’t understand that. Come pay the bills quickly, or if something happens to your mother-in-law, it’s on you.” I hung up the phone directly. I took time off work, feeling that if I stayed at the company, I might get cornered. Sure enough, after work, my colleague called me.

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On the night of my birthday, Jack opened the gates of the amusement park for me. The park, usually closed at night, was lit up like daylight. I had always believed that wishes made on the Ferris wheel were more likely to come true, as if the sky could hear them more clearly. I stepped into the Ferris wheel cabin, but Jack let go of my hand. His phone rang. I glanced at the screen – the caller ID read “Lily.” “I’ll just take this call. When you finish your round, I’ll come up and join you,” he said, looking up at me with an indulgent smile on his face as he gazed at the screen. I lowered my eyes, feeling dejected, but nodded obediently. When the Ferris wheel reached its highest point, I clasped my hands together and closed my eyes to make a wish: I hoped that after Jack and I got married, Lily would disappear from our lives forever. Even though I knew this wish might be asking too much of the heavens. Jack had two childhood friends – me, his fiancée since childhood, and Lily, an orphan who had grown up in his family. She had always been like a little tail following us around since we were kids. As we grew up, she constantly had “Brother Jack” on her lips, and Jack was always at her beck and call. It made me, his fiancée, feel like the third wheel intruding on their relationship. Although I no longer had any hope for him, our families’ arranged marriage was set in stone long ago. As I was lost in thought, suddenly there was a loud “clang,” and the cabin shook. The Ferris wheel had malfunctioned and stopped! I was still about ten feet from the ground. I could see Jack sitting on a bench, his fingers tapping the screen of his phone, the light from it illuminating the brilliant smile on his face. He must be video chatting with Lily, or watching her livestream. Only for Lily would he show such a pure and doting smile. I was mesmerized by the sight. But then he put away his phone, stood up, and turned to leave. He walked briskly towards the exit of the amusement park. I panicked and started banging on the glass door of the cabin, calling out his name loudly, until I watched him get into the white Porsche Cayenne parked at the entrance and speed away. I stared blankly as tears rolled down my cheeks. If only he had looked back once, he would have seen that I was trapped in the malfunctioning Ferris wheel. My purse with my phone, my coat, and my birthday cake were all still in his car. I couldn’t even call for help. As the night grew colder, I could only curl up in the corner, hugging my arms, praying that the staff coming to work the next day would find me early. The amusement park was brilliantly lit – it was specially decorated to celebrate my birthday. Now it all seemed like a joke. That night, I came to understand many things. An arranged marriage doesn’t need deep love between husband and wife. Both parties are united for the sake of benefits. As long as we don’t interfere with each other’s lives, it’s enough. Once I realized this, I suddenly felt lighter all over. The next day when I returned home, I had dark circles under my eyes and looked exhausted. Mom called me to have breakfast, but I wearily shook my head, only wanting to go back to my room to catch up on sleep. She stopped me and said with an awkward smile, “So… did you have fun with Jack yesterday?” “Mm, it was fine.” She hesitated, then said tentatively, “Well… Mom knows you young people like to have fun, but you still need to protect yourself and take precautions. If you get pregnant before the wedding, it won’t look good in your wedding dress.” I was stunned. “I know, Mom.” How could I possibly be pregnant when we hadn’t even kissed in a long time? When I woke up from my nap in the afternoon, I used the house phone to call Jack, asking him to bring back the things I had left in his car last night. After all, it was boring without my phone. He was silent for two seconds, as if just remembering that he had left me alone at the amusement park. Regretfully, he said: “Bella, I’m so sorry. Last night I… I suddenly had something come up and had to leave early. I forgot to tell you.” I replied flatly, “Mm, I know.” His tone lightened considerably as he said, “I knew you wouldn’t be mad at me. Next year I’ll definitely throw you an even bigger birthday party to make up for it.” “So can you have someone bring my bag to me now?” I asked. He said he would have his driver bring it right over. I waited for half an hour, then he said to come pick it up myself, that he wanted to apologize to me in person. I had no choice but to drive over to the Wilson house. Laughter could be heard coming from the kitchen – it was Jack and Lily baking a cake together. Jack dipped his finger in some frosting and smeared it on Lily’s nose, laughing exaggeratedly as he said, “Little… kitty… cat.” “Stop it~” Lily chased after him, playfully hitting him. No matter how you looked at it, they were the perfect couple. I leaned quietly against the doorframe, not wanting to disturb the two of them, but the flour they were tossing around irritated my nose. As I coughed, they both turned around at the same time. The scene froze for two seconds.

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The day my wife Emily went to fulfill a ten-year promise with her high school sweetheart, I left a divorce agreement and walked away. Before leaving, I commented on their photo together on social media: “Wishing you a lifetime of happiness. I’m stepping aside to make room for you two.” A minute later, Emily called. “Jack, we’re just fulfilling an old promise. Why are you being so selfish?” I laughed coldly and replied, “I don’t care about you anymore. There’s no need to explain anything to me.” But she became frantic. The day Emily went to fulfill a ten-year promise with Nathan, I left a divorce agreement and walked away. Before leaving, I commented on their photo together on social media: “Wishing you a lifetime of happiness. I’m stepping aside to make room for you two.” A minute later, Emily called. “Jack, we’re just fulfilling an old promise. Why are you being so selfish?” I laughed coldly and replied, “I don’t care about you anymore. There’s no need to explain anything to me.” Emily was at a loss for words. Just as she was about to say something, I hung up with a loud click. I could guess what she wanted to say – probably accusing me of making a fuss over nothing, insisting that she and Nathan were just old friends who hadn’t seen each other in years. Hah, friends. More like friends who shared a bed. Emily had never been patient with me. Seeing that I dared to hang up on her, she immediately sent me a question mark. I slowly typed back, “Emily, find time to sign the papers and finalize the divorce. Then you can be with Nathan forever.” I don’t know if Emily truly didn’t want a divorce, or if she was just angry that I was the one to bring it up first. She sent me a long string of insults, ending with the declaration that she would absolutely never divorce me, and that I should give up on the idea. In the past, if Emily had said she would never divorce me, I would have been over the moon. Now it just made me sick. How could someone be like this – refusing to let me go while secretly fooling around with an ex? Seven years. I thought even a rock would have warmed up by now. But I learned that some people’s hearts are harder than stone.

Emily and I fell in love in college. We survived the “graduation breakup” curse and eventually got married. Seven years have passed since then. We worked hard to build a life together in this unfamiliar city, going from renting and taking the subway to owning a home and car. For someone like me without grand ambitions, this was already the best life I could imagine. But for some reason, the happiness that once came so easily now seemed impossible to find. In college, both Emily and I had limited spending money. We were both from rural areas, and our families weren’t well off. If we wanted to buy something or pay school fees, we had to be very frugal. Saving money was important, but so was earning it. Whenever I had free time, I would work part-time jobs. Combined with the scholarships I earned each year, we managed to get by without too much hardship. Emily had a younger brother, so her allowance was even tighter than mine. Whenever Emily’s meal card ran out of money, I would add funds for her. I was terrified of her going hungry. Looking back now, I was just a pathetic fool. Near graduation, Emily fell ill. She cried and told me she didn’t know what to do. Without hesitation, I gave her my savings. But when I tried to help her contact the hospital, Emily anxiously stopped me. “Jack, I’ve had this condition since I was little. There’s an old Chinese medicine doctor back home who can treat it. It’s just that the herbs he uses are expensive…” I was naive enough to believe her flimsy excuse. Emily said she didn’t want me to worry or see her sick, so she wouldn’t let me visit her even once. After we got married, Emily told me that because of that illness, her health wasn’t good. So I let her stay at home while I went out to earn money. Even then, I didn’t let Emily do much housework. I cooked, and she just had to set the table and eat. I earned money, and as soon as I got paid each month, I transferred it to her account. Emily didn’t even need to spend time sweet-talking me, because from the beginning I felt I owed her. I thought my background wasn’t good enough, and that Emily was suffering by being with me. Over seven years, my love for her only grew more intense and irrational. And Emily came to see my devotion as something she was entitled to. But now I realize, to Emily I was just an ATM, a tool she could use. After all, how could Emily not have money for medical treatment when she had Nathan supporting her behind my back? And that year, Emily wasn’t sick at all. She went home to have a baby.

I discovered Emily’s affair with Nathan six months ago, during Chinese New Year. Because this winter was especially cold, my company gave us an early holiday. Emily and I followed our usual custom of returning to our respective hometowns for the New Year. This was Emily’s idea after we got married. Emily said the holiday travel rush was too crowded and tiring. She didn’t want me to suffer through that. As long as we sent gifts, that was enough. Plus, I was an only child and her brother was away at school. It was more filial for us to each keep our own parents company. At first I thought Emily was being considerate, so I agreed with her idea. It wasn’t until I discovered Emily’s affair with Nathan that I realized it wasn’t about going home to be filial – it was to keep me from finding out about her dirty secret. That day, Emily went home first. I followed right after her, buying a ticket for the next high-speed train to surprise her. This year I had discussed with my parents and told them I would spend New Year’s Eve at Emily’s home, then visit them after the holiday. Believe it or not, in seven years of dating I had never been to Emily’s hometown. Whenever I brought it up, she always found excuses to put it off. So this time I simply didn’t tell her I was coming. After getting off the bus, I trudged through the snowy village with my luggage, taking one careful step after another. Just as I reached the village entrance, I saw two older women in headscarves sitting on a doorstep chatting. “Can you believe the daughter from the Jiang family still hasn’t married that Sun boy, even though their kid is so big now?” “Tsk, don’t you know? Emily has a husband in the city. I heard he’s quite well-off. The Sun and Jiang families have bad blood, so even with a child the Jiangs won’t let their daughter marry into the Sun family.” “But I heard the Suns have come into money recently. The two families might reconcile for the sake of the child.” Emily? When those two words entered my ears, they set off a storm in my heart. Could they be talking about my wife Emily? By the time I came to my senses, icy snowflakes had already frozen on my eyelashes and eyebrows. I moved my stiff hands and feet, continuing towards the Jiang family home according to the address. I had never visited in all these years, but I often bought gifts for Emily’s parents. Actually, Emily’s parents had always looked down on me. They thought their daughter was beautiful and accomplished, deserving of someone better. Why did it have to be me? Emily even threatened to cut ties with them to marry me, kneeling in the rain for a whole day before they finally agreed. Because of this, I was even more devoted to Emily. Thinking back on it now, I shook my head. Yes, Emily loved me so much – how could she possibly do anything to betray me?

When I arrived at the Jiang family’s door, I could hear lively conversation inside. I was holding gifts and about to push open the gate when someone came out. It was Emily and a little boy, followed by a man. I looked closer – it was Nathan, Emily’s “good friend.” For a moment I froze in place. What was he doing here on New Year’s Eve? The sun was setting, and they hadn’t noticed me standing outside. I was debating whether to go in when Emily suddenly spoke. “Nathan, our son says he wants to build a snowman. Why don’t you play with him for a bit?” Emily’s words stopped me in my tracks. Son? I stared unblinkingly at the three of them standing close together. Only then did I realize the little boy looked eerily familiar – it was the child Nathan had posted photos with on social media. Why was Emily calling him son? Before I could react, Nathan suddenly stepped forward and pulled Emily into his arms. “What’s the rush? Won’t we have plenty of chances to play with him in the future?” “Emily, I can finally stand by your side openly now. I’m willing to wait for you to get divorced and come back to me. Our family of three can be reunited soon.” The little boy jumped up and down happily beside them, shouting loudly: “Daddy and Mommy are hugging, how embarrassing!” Hearing the child’s words, Emily blushed slightly and leaned gently against Nathan’s chest, her face full of tenderness. “Nathan, I’ve missed you too. If it weren’t for my parents’ opposition back then, how could I have separated from you?” “Even our son – I can only come back occasionally to see him. I feel so guilty.” Emily sighed. “Back then you gave me money for college, but I ended up marrying Jack. Nathan, I’ll make up for all the time I’ve wasted in the future.” Emily’s voice was as gentle as ever, and her words were clear and articulate. But why couldn’t I understand when they were put together? It felt like someone had taken a knife and carved open my chest. The pain made it hard to breathe. I realized that my eager journey to surprise Emily had turned me into a fool in an instant. I don’t remember how I left that night. I only recall that the fireworks were bright, and the journey back was very cold. I checked into a random hotel in town and started to process everything that had happened that day. I knew Nathan. The first time I learned about him was from Emily’s phone. That time she told me she was going to a high school reunion, and Nathan would be there. She even openly told me about him and had us add each other as contacts. It was precisely because of Emily’s frank attitude that I never suspected anything. But now that I think about it, what great acting. I opened Nathan’s social media and saw he had posted many photos with the child, occasionally showing glimpses of the mother’s clothing or shadow. The most recent post was of their family reunion dinner that night. Nathan said he had finally gained his mother-in-law’s approval. After learning about his relationship with Emily, looking at these photos made me feel increasingly ridiculous. Here was a family of three secretly flaunting their happiness, while I stupidly wished them well like an idiot. The instant noodles in my bowl had congealed into a lump. I took two big bites and found them unpalatable. In college, to buy gifts for Emily, I had lived frugally. Even instant noodles seemed like a luxury then. On the rare occasions I ate them, they tasted amazing. But now, taking another bite, they were just salty and disgusting. The next day, I woke up early. My mind was in chaos. I didn’t know whether to leave or confront Emily directly. Actually, even now I didn’t know what I was still hoping for. I had witnessed Emily and Nathan’s intimate scene with my own eyes, but I still clung to one last shred of delusion.

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Every time Alexander cheated on me, he would transfer $500,000 to my account. After three years of dating, I had already achieved several of my financial goals. This time, he transferred $1 million to me. I accepted the money and immediately packed my bags to leave. By the time he found me, I had already become a teacher. Alexander looked at me with disdain, “Stop fooling around. What could you possibly teach them?” I casually made up an answer, “Of course, I’ll use my personal experience to teach girls how to find rich, generous husbands who are rarely home!” He completely lost it, his eyes turning red as he questioned me, “Lily, am I just a teaching tool to you?” “Of course not!” I replied. Before he could feel relieved, I added, “At best, you’re a failed case study, because you always come home…” After being with Alexander for three years, I had achieved several of my financial goals. I successfully transformed from a poor college student to a young wealthy woman. It wasn’t because he loved me so much. It was because every time he cheated, he would transfer $500,000 to me. One can’t reject money just for the sake of dignity, right? So I diligently played the role of a love-struck girlfriend by his side. Many people in our social circle laughed at me. They thought that even if I caught Alexander in bed with another woman, I would turn a blind eye and continue to stay with him. I wholeheartedly agreed. If they knew that the price of being the most cheated-on person was getting several million dollars, they would surely think I was lucky. Compared to all that money, being cheated on was just water under the bridge. However, this time was different. I received $1 million at once. I was a bit conflicted. Unlike most cheating men, Alexander came to see me very frequently. He also had high demands. Although we always used protection and had regular check-ups, I still couldn’t help but worry. Deep down, I found him somewhat disgusting. A man shared by so many women – I couldn’t bear to think how dirty he might be. Looking at the transfer notification on my phone, I was torn. On one side was a job with an astronomical salary but the constant risk of disease; on the other was a free life without any more payouts. My eyelid twitched suddenly. I seemed to see a future version of myself, infected with a dirty disease, my body oozing with pus. One can’t risk their life just for money, right? Besides, I was already a young wealthy woman with millions in my account. I could easily do what Alexander did – keep a few young lovers, turn the tables, and be the boss myself. As for work, I’d figure something out! My life was more important. So I decided – I would leave him! I had made up my mind to leave, but I couldn’t depart just yet. First, I hadn’t received my diploma yet. Second, I planned to sell the jewelry and bags Alexander had given me. Each gift was compensation for emotional damage. If I couldn’t take them with me, I would be truly restless. The gifts filled an entire display cabinet, and I didn’t know where to start. While I was lost in thought, Jessica sent me a video clip. She had been secretly in love with Alexander for years but never expected me to snatch him away. So she had always disliked me. The video was dimly lit, clearly taken in a private room. Alexander sat in the middle of a group, with a girl in a white dress next to him. Her features were very similar to mine. However, her eyebrows and eyes were gentle, with downturned corners, making her look lovable. My eyes, on the other hand, were slightly upturned at the corners, sharp and aloof. They were playing a game, and the bottle on the table pointed at the girl next to Alexander. The punishment was to kiss someone of the opposite sex at the table. Everyone started teasing them. The girl giggled and hid in Alexander’s arms. “Sophia is shy, don’t force her,” he said, clearly protective. “Come on, Alex, don’t be a spoilsport,” someone said. The next second, Alexander cupped the girl’s face and gently kissed her. The video ended there. Jessica sent another message. [Lily, Sophia is Alexander’s true love. You can’t compete with her. You should break up with Alexander while you can.] After a while, she awkwardly added. [I’m not warning you out of kindness. It’s just that I despise Sophia more than I dislike you.] I couldn’t help but be curious, [Who exactly is this Sophia?]

She quickly replied with a long message. It seemed she had prepared this information, just waiting for me to ask. After skimming through it, I found that these two had a romantic entanglement worthy of a prime-time soap opera. Sophia, originally named Sophie, was the daughter of the Zhou family’s housekeeper. She was the same age as Alexander and grew up with him. You could say they were childhood sweethearts. On Alexander’s 18th birthday, Sophia offered herself as a gift to him. When Alexander’s parents found out, they were furious. They immediately fired the housekeeper and gave Sophia’s family a large sum of money to send her abroad. Before leaving, Sophia secretly went to the police station to change her name. She left a letter for Alexander and then disappeared without a trace. [The old Sophie is dead. From now on, there’s only Sophia, living with your name.] Alexander was depressed for quite a while after this, until he saw my face, which was 80% similar to Sophia’s. The little flame in his heart reignited. Sophia. I silently mouthed this name. Alexander had indeed protected her well. In all the years we had been together, I had never heard this name. The only clue was Alexander’s username on SnapChat. “Starting anew” When we first got together, I once asked Alexander why all his usernames were this. He narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze falling into space as if reminiscing about something. After a while, he finally spoke. “Starting anew, naturally hoping that the stories in life will be better than my expectations.” At that time, I didn’t catch the deeper meaning in his words. I just thought that Alexander, who seemed to care about nothing, actually had such delicate thoughts. Now everything had a reasonable explanation. Sophia, Starting anew. All he wanted was for his story with Sophia to be better than he expected. One million dollars – only Sophia was worth him giving double the price. My chest tightened, and tears suddenly poured out. Actually, I had rarely cried for Alexander anymore. If I had to cry every time he cheated, I’m sure my tears would have dried up long ago. But this time was different. I had truly loved Alexander. But his feelings for me were just using me as a substitute for his true love. When I met Alexander, I was only 18 years old. I had come from a small town in the Midwest to study at the best university in New York City. After performing a dance at the freshman welcome party, I had just returned backstage when I received his friend request. He pursued me for half a year, and almost everyone knew about it. But my reputation wasn’t great. There were always people gossiping behind my back at school. “That Lily from the Literature Department, she thinks she’s so pretty that she can keep Alexander waiting.” “With the Zhou family’s status, how could Lily, a poor student from some small town, ever be good enough?” “If Alexander was pursuing me, I would have agreed long ago.” “Just watch, I bet you Lily is just playing hard to get. She’ll give in within a month.” Alexander helped me deal with these voices, publicly declaring his love online. [I’m the one shamelessly pursuing Lily, but I haven’t succeeded yet. Please don’t scare away my future girlfriend, everyone!] I was too young then and mistook him for a savior rescuing me from public opinion. I mistook gratitude for love and agreed to his pursuit. But I overlooked the fact that if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have been caught in the whirlpool of public opinion in the first place.

It wasn’t until three years later, today, that I finally realized Alexander was just using me as a substitute. The passionate first love of my youth turned out to be nothing but an empty dream. I wallowed in melancholy for a while, but quickly snapped out of it when I saw my bank balance. That’s when I realized Alexander hadn’t come home tonight. In the past, he never stayed out overnight. Even if he played with other girls until dawn, he would always come back to sleep with me. I had always secretly complained that he was disturbing my beauty sleep. Today, not waiting for him made me even angrier. Damn Alexander, not coming back and not even giving me a heads up, making me wait for nothing. But thinking about it, it made sense. After all, Sophia was his true love. How could she be treated like other girls? I was glad to be free of the trouble and decided to go to sleep first. In my drowsy state, someone hugged my waist from behind. It was Alexander. “Honey, why didn’t you wait up for me tonight?” he complained, nuzzling my neck from behind. He was quite drunk and not entirely lucid. I pretended to turn over and pushed him to the floor. After a dull thud, Alexander passed out. I jumped out of bed and angrily kicked him twice. Not wanting to stay in the same space with him, I went back to the living room sofa. His phone was on the table, and a message notification popped up, like Pandora’s box calling to me. I couldn’t resist opening it. It was from Sophia. [Alex, I’m home! Thank you for sending me back.] There was only one page of chat history, a message Alexander had sent not long ago. [Sophia, don’t listen to their nonsense. Lily can’t compare to you at all.] [I’m just playing around with her. You’re the one I truly love!] Perhaps Alexander’s friends had joked about how Lily and Sophia looked similar, upsetting her. I laughed bitterly at myself. Alexander, is disparaging me your way of showing Sophia how much you care? When Alexander sobered up, he returned to his cold demeanor. He showed no intention of explaining the million-dollar transfer. Looking at his calm and indifferent face, I felt utterly deflated. After careful consideration, I still asked, “Why was it a million dollars this time?” Perhaps he would tell me the truth. “I thought about how you’ve been with me for so long. If not for your contributions, at least for your efforts.” His tone was casual, as if he was just appeasing a pet throwing a tantrum. I lost my patience and laid it all out, “It’s because of Sophia, isn’t it?” He finally looked up at me, “How do you know about her?” “Never mind that. Since your true love is back, let’s just break up. We can part on good terms.” “Don’t be ridiculous, Lily. Sophia and I are just friends.” “Friends? What kind of friends kiss each other?” He stared at me for a few seconds, then chuckled, “So you’re jealous.” “I kissed Sophia last night to help her out of an awkward situation. Don’t overthink it.” I was utterly speechless, “Don’t be so full of yourself. I said I want to break up, do you understand?” Something about this statement seemed to anger Alexander. He suddenly stood up, “Lily, stop acting up!” “Everything you eat, wear, use, and live in now – which of it isn’t bought with my money?” “Even if we were to break up, it’s not your place to bring it up!”

I was stunned. So this was how he defined our relationship. Alexander also realized he had said something wrong. He walked over and ruffled my hair, “Come on, don’t be upset. I was wrong earlier.” After saying this, he ignored my emotions, put on his coat, and left. I sat dumbfounded on the sofa, completely unable to understand his thinking. He clearly had someone he loved, yet he still came to pursue me. When I fell for him, he kept other women outside. Now that his true love had returned, and I voluntarily stepped aside, he was still dissatisfied. He didn’t love me, but he wouldn’t let me go either. I thought for a long time but still couldn’t understand Alexander’s logic. I could only conclude that he was “cheap”. Eating from his bowl while eyeing the pot, and still wanting to take away the leftovers. He might be cheap, but I was definitely going to break up. After the unpleasant parting with Alexander, he didn’t contact me for a week. Not having to serve my sugar daddy, I had plenty of time on my hands. I packed up everything in the house and sent it to a second-hand luxury store, not even sparing the vases and ornaments. They gave me a very satisfying figure. Looking at the increased numbers in my bank account, my resentment towards Alexander vanished into thin air. Who could be dissatisfied with a god of wealth? To successfully run away with the money, I decided to mislead Alexander a bit. I turned and posted a heavily edited selfie on social media. I deliberately deepened the shadows under my eyes, making me look 90% similar to Sophia. Caption: [I don’t need a lot of money, I just want a lot of love.] This move pleased Alexander, and he messaged saying he would come home tonight. The worker who had been on a week-long break returned to her job, feeling slightly uncomfortable. When Alexander entered the door, he was shocked by the scene before him, “Was the house robbed?” In the huge mansion, only a few pieces of large furniture remained, everything else had been cleaned out. I walked up to him and skillfully took off his suit jacket, “No, I just felt annoyed looking at everything, so I had Old Wang take it all to sell.” “Then go pick out some new things in a few days, use my card.” I hooked my arms around Alexander’s neck, “Have a drink with me?” He was about to agree when his phone suddenly rang. One glance, and he hurriedly answered. I caught a glimpse of the contact name on the screen, “Sophia” “Lily, there’s a problem at the company, I need to go deal with it.” I held him back, “Alexander, can’t you stay?” “Don’t be difficult, this project is really important.” I didn’t insist. I let go of his hand and stared at him for a long time, “Go then, be safe on the road.” I had my own agenda. After all, he was someone I had loved deeply in my youth. I wanted to say a proper goodbye at the end of our story. But when it came down to a choice, I became the option he gave up. Looking around this house I had lived in for three years one last time, I finally felt no attachment. I got on a plane leaving New York City directly. As soon as I got off the plane, I saw my dad waiting at the arrival gate. His hair had turned completely gray, his eyes searching anxiously for me. I ran over and stood in front of this small, tanned old man. “It’s good you’re back, it’s good you’re back. Are you leaving again this time?”

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For years, Macbeth Watkins and I had been entangled in a clandestine love affair. Since he was my so-called uncle, we had kept our relationship a closely guarded secret. At the engagement party with my childhood friend, I was struck by the news that he was planning to marry his ex-girlfriend, Sabina Stevens. Disregarding the stares of the crowd, I hurried to his house in a frenzy. Though I didn’t find him there, I inadvertently overheard a revealing conversation between two maids. “Macbeth is really doting on Sabina now, even more than he did with Lainey Stone.” “You bet. Back then, it was Lainey’s father who broke them up.” “He’s been secretly with Lainey all this time, maybe just to get back at her dad…” I stood there, thunderstruck, unable to process what I had just overheard. Before I could even begin to make sense of it all, Macbeth walked in with a woman by his side, Sabina. It was my first time seeing her in person, though her name was far from unfamiliar to me. I knew she was Macbeth’s ex-girlfriend, but I never imagined their breakup had been orchestrated by my father. The revelation hit me like a tidal wave, leaving me breathless and disoriented. He noticed me standing there, frozen, and his expression turned icy. He pulled Sabina closer and introduced her to me, his voice cool and detached. He said, “Lainey, this is Sabina, my fiancée. We’re gonna marry soon.” I was utterly devastated, my voice trembling with disbelief as I managed to ask, “Macbeth, what am I supposed to…?” He cut me off before I could finish, his eyes cold and distant, a stark contrast to the man I thought I knew. He exclaimed, “Enough. Today, we’re welcoming the future lady of the house. Sabina and I just want to enjoy the moment without any distractions. Unless you’ve got something important to discuss, you should leave for now.” Before I could even process what was happening, Sabina gently took my hand, her smile warm and unassuming, and uttered, “Come on, Macbeth. She didn’t mean any harm. Don’t be so hard on her. So you’re Macbeth’s niece, right? I’m going to be part of this family now. Looking forward to getting to know you.” Her tone was gentle, but the look in her eyes was sharp enough to devour me whole. Ignoring the venom in her gaze, I turned stiffly, ready to make my exit. But before I could take a step, she burst into tears and threw herself into Macbeth’s arms, her sobs echoing dramatically through the room. Then she said, “Macbeth, does your family not like me? Maybe… maybe I should just leave.” He pulled her closer, his voice softening with concern. He then turned to me, his tone firm but laced with an unspoken plea, and yelled, “Lainey, are you deaf or something? Sabina said hi. How about showing some respect and at least saying hello? What’s wrong with you?” It was the first time he had ever raised his voice at me since I moved into his villa. Back then, he promised he would always protect me, and he truly did. Throughout all those years of love at first sight and being together, he treated me with nothing but tenderness. He never let me suffer the slightest grievance, let alone dared to scold me. He spoiled me so much that even I began to believe he would always treat me this way. But today, for Sabina, he broke that promise. His furious voice echoed through the entire villa. I bit back my tears, stubbornly meeting his gaze, refusing to say a word. Then, with a sharp crack, a harsh slap landed across my face. The maids standing nearby shot indignant glances, their eyes filled with silent outrage. Having been in the Watkins family for so long, I had developed a bond with them that went beyond mere employer and servant. They knew all about the relationship between Macbeth and me, and now, they couldn’t bear to see him side with an outsider to hurt me like this. Sabina, noticing the disapproving glances from those around her, let out a soft, pitiful sob. Her voice quivered as she spoke, “Macbeth, just drop it. Don’t break everyone’s heart just for me.” In the end, he didn’t dare to push me too far. Instead, he immediately turned his anger toward the maids, venting his frustration on them. He shouted, “Lainey lacking manners is one thing, but what’s with your attitudes? Who taught you to act like this? Guards, hit them. Maybe that’ll teach them to remember their place.” The bodyguards behind him immediately sprang into action, their batons raised high before coming down hard on the maids. The agonized screams that followed echoed through every corner of the villa, a harrowing scene that was almost too much to bear. “That’s enough.” Unable to bear seeing them suffer because of me, I pleaded with a trembling voice, my words choked with desperation. I carried on, “Sabina, I’m sorry. It’s my fault. Please, just let them go. I’m begging you.” I knelt on the ground, pleading desperately, my appearance a complete mess. For a brief moment, a flicker of pain crossed Macbeth’s eyes, but in the end, he raised his hand, signaling the bodyguards to stop. He surveyed the chaos in the house, his gaze cold and commanding as he looked down at everyone, and exclaimed, “You all better remember today’s lesson. From now on, Sabina is the lady of this house. If anyone disrespects her, this is what’s gonna happen.”

The maids were punished; some were injured, and others were bruised. I tended to their wounds, my hands trembling as I applied the medicine, afraid to press too hard. One of the maids noticed the red mark on my face. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she whispered, “Honestly, it’s just crazy how Macbeth used to dote on you. How could he just change like that overnight? And now, for that Sabina, he not only went off on us but even laid a hand on you. Guess he really can’t get over her, huh?” Hearing this, tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. He was utterly consumed by his love for Sabina, unable to let her go all these years, and now he was even marrying her. So why did he bother coming into my life in the first place? Macbeth and I weren’t related by blood. He was my father’s most trusted friend, my uncle by title. A man of principle and tradition, yet I fell for him the moment I laid eyes on him. When I threw caution to the wind and confessed my feelings, I was prepared for his stern rejection, for him to cut me off entirely. Instead, he took my hand, his eyes filled with tenderness, and promised to take care of me for a lifetime. I moved into his villa, and to outsiders, it simply seemed like a close family relationship. He claimed he didn’t care about gossip or what others thought. He asked me to give him a little more time. And then he would declare his love for me to the world. I believed him. But what I waited for wasn’t his declaration but his betrayal. Numbly, I got to my feet and stepped out of the room. Downstairs, Macbeth was celebrating with Sabina, as if the earlier events had never happened, as if nothing had changed. My heart turned to ash. With trembling hands, I dialed my father’s number. Through the phone, I murmured, “Dad, I know I messed up. Is the engagement with the Hayes family still on the table?” With a sigh, he said, “Lainey, I admit I was wrong to arrange the engagement with Cairbre Hayes behind your back. But I’ve known that kid since he was little. I know him inside and out. I’d never steer you wrong. Even after you walked out on him in front of everyone, he didn’t bat an eye. He said he’d wait for you to come back.” I froze for a moment, caught off guard. On the other end of the line, my father talked again, his voice earnest and pleading, trying to reason with me. He uttered, “Anyway, I’m just glad you’ve come around. This time, don’t you dare run off again. I promise you this. No more secrets, not even about the wedding date. We’re gonna do this right, give you the wedding you deserve, and make sure no one looks down on you.” A wave of warmth washed over me, and I agreed without hesitation. As I glanced around the house one last time, I finally made up my mind that it was time to leave. Early the next morning, the clamor of construction work buzzed through the house, grating on my nerves. Frowning, I made my way downstairs and found Macbeth directing workers, and overseeing the renovations. Sabina caught sight of me, a smug grin spreading across her face as she spoke, “Oh, I hope we didn’t disturb your sleep. Blame Macbeth. He insisted on redoing the whole place just the way I liked it. Pretty much everything’s been remodeled. Hope you don’t mind.” Well, none of this mattered to me anymore. Then, in a calm and steady voice, I said, “No big deal, as long as you’re happy with it.” Sabina’s expression froze, her mouth opening as if to say something. But before she could, Macbeth stepped in. He took her hand in his, his presence cutting through the tension, and drawled, “Let the workers handle the renovations. This afternoon, I’ll take you to try on your wedding dress.” Overcome with excitement, Sabina pressed a lingering kiss to his lips. I watched them, lost in their own world, and felt a bitter smile tug at the corners of my mouth. Without a word, I turned and headed back upstairs to finish packing. Not long after, Macbeth pushed open the door to my room, following close behind. “You mad?” The moment he noticed me packing my things, his face darkened with alarm as he asked, “Look, I know this is sudden, but I’m marrying Sabina, and whatever was between us is over. But you’ll always be my niece. Lainey, just stay here in this house. I’ll treat you the same as I always have.” A bitter laugh escaped me as I stared at him in disbelief, and then I scoffed, “How can you even say that with a straight face? You’ve got no shame. I’ve got my own home, and I’m leaving. For good.”

Seeing how coldly I responded, he suddenly broke into a smirk and sneered, “Lainey, you can’t live without me. The fact that you ran away from your engagement proves you still love me. But Sabina, she’s different. I can’t live without her.” As soon as he finished speaking, Sabina’s voice called out from outside, and he hurried off without another word. I took a deep breath and quietly continued packing my things. When I arrived home, my father’s face lit up with relief and joy as he chirped, “I get that you two are close, but Macbeth’s about to get married. It’s not really appropriate for you to keep staying there.” Though my mind was filled with questions, especially about how my father had driven Macbeth and Sabina apart, I simply nodded, promising I wouldn’t bother him again. In the days that followed, I threw myself into preparing for the upcoming wedding. When my father handed me the freshly printed invitations, he said, “Since you’re close, why don’t you deliver his invitation yourself?” My face fell. I wanted to refuse, but I couldn’t risk my father suspecting anything about our relationship, so I agreed. When I returned to Macbeth’s villa, I noticed the maids had all been replaced. The renovations were nearly finished, and everything felt unfamiliar, almost unrecognizable. Every corner of the house seemed foreign now. Ignoring the unease settling in my chest, I stepped into the living room, only to freeze in my tracks. There, on the couch, Macbeth and Sabina were lost in a passionate kiss, completely oblivious to my presence. I was about to drop the invitation and leave when Sabina caught sight of me. She shrieked, “Ah!” Her face flushed crimson as she buried herself in Macbeth’s arms. He, on the other hand, looked frustrated, his expression tinged with guilt and discomfort when his eyes met mine. He scoffed, “So you finally decided to come back, huh? Now that you’ve had your fun these past few days, try not to run off again. Just behave yourself, alright? After all, Sabina wants you at the wedding to see how happy we are.” I pushed down the unease in my chest, not in the mood to argue, and simply handed him the invitation, saying, “My dad told me to give this to you…” But he left it hanging, refusing to accept it. “What is it?” “A wedding invitation.” “Whose?” “Mine.” His head snapped up, and our eyes locked. The icy detachment in my stare seemed to hit him like a sharp jab. For a moment, he hesitated, then slowly reached out and took the invitation. After a brief look, he let out a quiet laugh and said, “Lainey, stop messing around. I’ll explain everything about Sabina and me later. But you don’t have to fake a wedding invitation just to get under my skin.” I dodged his hand, unsure of what he was getting at. Sabina’s eyes landed on the invitation, and her expression shifted to one of stunned disbelief as she spoke, “Lainey, so your wedding is on the 8th too?” It all clicked in an instant. So, our wedding was on the same day. No wonder he thought the invitation was fake. He probably assumed it was just some petty trick of mine, born out of jealousy. But there was no point in explaining further. I turned to leave, only for Macbeth to step in and block my way. He exclaimed, “Sabina mentioned that you girls probably have a lot in common. She’s been having trouble finding the right wedding dress and was hoping you could help her pick one out.” I couldn’t help but laugh, already forming a biting retort in my mind. However, Sabina abruptly lunged at me, her voice ringing out in alarm as she spoke, “Watch out.” The chandelier, freshly installed, came crashing down from above, right where I had been standing. She shoved me out of the way, taking the brunt of the impact, and collapsed, unconscious. But the floor, cluttered with sharp tools and nails from the renovation, became a minefield. My legs were impaled, the pain so intense that I let out a blood-curdling scream. Macbeth snapped into action, but his first instinct was to scoop up Sabina, who lay motionless. I was trapped, my legs immobilized, every inch of my body screaming in agony. As I watched him carry her away, panic surged through me. Driven by sheer survival instinct, I screamed at the top of my lungs, “Macbeth, help me, please.”

He paused, his gaze locking onto the blood soaking the ground around me. His face hardened, a serious, almost pained look replacing his usual calm, and he said, “I’ve already called 911. I don’t know how bad your injuries are, so I can’t risk moving you. Just hang in there. The paramedics will be here soon, and they’ll take care of you. Sabina’s unconscious. I have to get her to the hospital now.” I watched his retreating figure, tears streaming down my face as the pain consumed me. My vision blurred, fading into darkness until I finally passed out, overwhelmed by despair. Even as I woke up in the hospital, that same suffocating feeling clung to me, refusing to let go. I slowly opened my eyes, my body numb and heavy, as if disconnected from myself. In a daze, I could faintly hear Macbeth speaking with the doctors, their voices distant and muffled. “Kirsten Chapman is a bit of an eccentric, but he’s incredibly talented and one of the best in his field. This year, he chose our hospital for his only clinical surgery.” “Mr. Watkins, to be honest, if you weren’t the largest shareholder here, we wouldn’t have even considered giving this opportunity to you.” “This is a one-time chance. I think it should go to Lainey, given how severe her injuries are. Sabina’s brain damage is serious, but with long-term rest and proper treatment, she can stabilize over time.” “Lainey’s fall injuries are treatable, but her legs are full of sharp tools and nails. If she doesn’t get this surgery soon, the damage could become permanent, and she might never walk again.” The thought of never being able to stand again jolted me awake, panic surging through me. I mustered every ounce of strength to push myself up, only to collapse back onto the bed, weak and trembling. The noise caught Macbeth’s attention. He stood in front of me, his expression a mix of guilt and heartache. Tears streaming down my face. With my voice breaking with desperation, I begged, “Macbeth, I can’t lose my legs. You know what that would mean for me.” Before I got together with him, dance was my greatest passion. But my father, Tedros Stone, wanted me to take over his dull, monotonous business. He even sent Macbeth, someone I was close to, to convince me to give up the art I’d spent years mastering. “Lainey, can’t you just dance at home?” He whispered, “I’ll be your only audience.” I reluctantly agreed, stepping away from the stage for good, though a part of me always carried that regret. Now, struggling to sit up, I clutched at his sleeve, desperation in my grip. Just as he was about to make his decision, the doctor suddenly called out, “It seems like there’s something wrong with Sabina. I need to go check on her.” At those words, Macbeth sharply pulled back, his voice icy and unfeeling as he spoke, “I’m sorry, Lainey. But her condition has to be my top priority right now.” The flicker of hope in my eyes died out completely. I could feel just how severe my condition was. Every ache and numbness screamed the truth. If the doctor had said only Kirsten’s surgery could save me, then I would have believed it. After all, his clinical procedures were legendary, something even the wealthiest and most powerful couldn’t easily secure. Years ago, my father might have been able to pull strings, even if it meant spending everything we had. But now? It was really difficult. Macbeth had been given this rare opportunity, and he chose to save Sabina instead. With that, he shattered any last hope I had left. I lay in the hospital bed, my eyes empty, like a hollow shell of a person, devoid of feeling. Out of guilt, Macbeth stayed by my side, tending to me. My father called, his voice filled with concern and urgency as he asked, “Lainey, Macbeth told me you got hurt. What happened? Cairbre heard the news too. He was in Sparkletown picking out your wedding dress, but now he’s rushing back. Your wedding’s in a week. Let’s not have any more surprises, okay?” Before I could react, Macbeth’s hand clamped down on my wrist. He stood there, his expression stormy, and snapped, “What wedding?” I ended the call without a fuss, pulled my hand free, and replied, “Nothing important. I was just letting my dad know I’m okay, and we ended up talking about your wedding.”

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I offered to exchange my life for Gabriel Foster’s mother with the kidnappers. But they went back on their word and killed her on the spot. My own sister, Chloe Collins, reported me as the mastermind behind it all. As a result, I was sentenced to five years in prison. My parents, both politicians, felt I had disgraced the family name by going to jail and disowned me. Gabriel Foster, however, treated me the same as always, telling me with deep emotion: “Aria, I believe in you.” Until I overheard his conversation with his friends outside a private room. “Gabe, when are you planning to avenge your mom? Isn’t it time that bitch Aria gets what she deserves?” “In seven days, I’ll release the video of her moaning beneath me to the public. I want everyone in the city to see just how slutty Aria Collins really is! I’ll make sure she’s run out of town for good!” My blood ran cold. Seven days later was supposed to be our wedding day. Those intimate videos taken in moments of passion would become his final blade to stab me with. Gabriel Foster, I won’t give you the chance. Before then, I’ll get those videos back and disappear from your world forever!

I returned home with a heavy heart, only to find my front door plastered with pornographic cards. The woman in the cards was me, with my face swapped using AI. I trembled in fear, my whole body shaking uncontrollably. Then, I frantically tore down those cards with all my might. But I didn’t know that those maliciously face-swapped pornographic images had already spread far and wide. My sister Chloe, who had righteously turned me in before, called. “Sis, how do you like those little cards? Gabriel specifically told me to find a sexy model, one that matches your reputation.” “Don’t you think so? You mastermind!” I should have guessed long ago who was really behind all this. So, in seven days, those videos secretly recorded by Gabriel were going to be spread to the world in this way? Gabriel Foster, I didn’t realize you hated me this much. Too heartbroken to grieve, I frantically searched for Gabriel’s laptop. Those videos must be stored there. Unfortunately, the computer was password-protected. I tried all his usual passwords but couldn’t unlock it. I finally gave up. I opened my phone and booked a flight to Melbourne for seven days later. A few minutes later, customer service called. “Hello Miss Collins, the flight seven days from now at noon may be delayed due to heavy fog. Would you like to change your flight?” “Yes, please change it to an earlier flight.” Gabriel Foster, who had just walked in, happened to hear this and anxiously asked: “We’re getting married in seven days. Where are you going?” “I’m just booking a flight for a friend. Where else would I go?” “That’s good. Aria, I’ve been busy preparing for our wedding these past few days and may have neglected you. After we’re married, I’ll make it up to you in every way.” Looking into those seemingly sincere eyes, I couldn’t tell how much of Gabriel’s words were true and how much were false. Composing myself, I nodded casually. Then Gabriel slipped his hand inside my shirt, his lips teasing my ear. He knew exactly where my sensitive spots were. But the desire he aroused in me only made me feel more ashamed. Trying to suppress my emotions, I pushed him away forcefully. “Gabriel, I’m not feeling well today. Another time.” Gabriel froze for half a second, then gently let me go.

Early the next morning, Gabriel and I went to the bridal shop we had booked long ago to try on wedding dresses. As soon as we walked in, I saw the mocking looks from the staff. Someone whispered: “That woman looks just like the one on those cards outside the neighborhood yesterday.” “I heard the man next to her is Gabriel Foster, that famous businessman in the city.” “This Mr. Foster must be so blind to be fooled by such a gold digger. Looks like he has no idea.” I stood there speechless. The next second, Gabriel waved over his assistant. “Fire all those gossiping women. Also, look into what’s going on with those cards, who did it, and chop off their hands!” I looked at Gabriel in confusion. For a moment, I even thought this might not have been his doing after all. After quickly trying on the wedding dress, Gabriel said he had some business to take care of and let me go back first. In the car, I realized I had forgotten my keys at the bridal shop. Hurrying back, I saw Chloe standing next to Gabriel. She was wearing the wedding dress I had just ordered. She smiled innocently. “Gabriel, do you think this dress looks better on me or Aria?” “Of course on you. That mastermind bitch isn’t even fit to be your maid!” Chloe’s smile deepened. “Were you satisfied with those cards yesterday? Gabriel, now we just have to wait for our wedding in seven days. Once you release all those videos at the ceremony, Aria will truly be ruined for good.” So, in seven days it would be their wedding? And I was just a condiment in all of this? This was all Gabriel Foster’s idea. He wanted to utterly destroy me. How could a person be so patient, nurturing love for three years, all for an elaborate scheme to frame me. My heart felt like it had been ripped out, the pain unbearable. Whenever I was sad, I would always go to the little courtyard my grandmother left me to clear my head. This time, I went there without hesitation. But as I approached, I saw the yard full of construction workers and the house being torn down. My tears finally fell uncontrollably. I cried and asked them: “Who are you? Why are you tearing down my grandmother’s house?” They didn’t answer, continuing to chop down the cherry tree my grandmother had planted especially for me. I couldn’t help but hug the cherry tree. “Don’t cut it down! Who are you people?” “Miss, don’t obstruct our work. The owner hired us to demolish this place, said he’s building a new house for his wife. That cherry tree you’re hugging is going to be made into furniture for the lady.” “Who told you to come?” “We don’t know the details, just that the surname is Foster.” Foster? Was it Gabriel Foster again? A few years ago, my dad had given him this courtyard as a birthday gift. Gabriel knew this was the only thing my grandmother left behind. He had promised me he would protect this house with his life. But he broke his promise after all. He personally destroyed everything, truly going all out to please Chloe. When Gabriel came looking for me, I was curled up in a corner crying. He stroked my head tenderly. “I’m sorry, I forgot to tell you. This old house is too run-down and no longer meets city standards for old buildings. It has to be demolished and rebuilt.” I knew these were all his excuses. Years ago, Chloe had wanted to tear down the house and rebuild it. Back then, I fought tooth and nail to stop her from getting her way. I never expected Gabriel would secretly make the decision for her. But it doesn’t matter. I’m leaving soon anyway. With the house gone, my last attachment is severed. From now on, there will be nothing left here to tie me down.

Perhaps out of guilt, Gabriel suddenly became much more attentive after that day. He came home on time every day to make soup for me and bought me limited edition handbags. If it weren’t for the secret hidden in that laptop, I would have almost believed he had truly fallen for me. Seeing me staring blankly at the laptop, Gabriel waved his hand in front of my eyes. “What’s wrong? Do you have something on your mind?” “No, I’m just a bit tired.” I shook my head, making up a random excuse. “Are you nervous about getting married soon? I’ll take you out tomorrow to relax.” The next day, when we arrived at our destination, I realized Chloe had come too. I glanced at Gabriel. His eyes darted away, then he quickly gripped my hand tightly. “I didn’t know she was coming. James must have brought her.” James came over smiling to greet us. “I brought Chloe. Surely you won’t mind, sis? After all, you’re sisters. It’s only right for a sister to attend her sister’s bachelorette party.” Chloe nodded with a smile. “That’s right, sis. We’ll always be sisters. As your little sister, I truly wish you happiness.” I didn’t know what game they were playing today, but my instincts told me things weren’t as simple as they seemed. After the party started, those guys pulled Gabriel outside. I saw them discussing something, with Gabriel looking very reluctant. But in the end, he seemed to nod. Then they all left the room. Only Chloe and I were left in the room. With everyone gone, Chloe finally showed her true colors. She looked at me mockingly, her smile becoming grotesque. “Aria, Gabriel has prepared a big surprise for you later. I hope you enjoy it.” With that, she left too. The empty private room held only me. A sense of foreboding suddenly arose in my heart. Soon after, several drunk men barged into the room. The bearded drunk in the lead said: “That bitch wasn’t lying. The lady in here really is a beauty. Come on boys, let’s show her a good time.” Seeing these drunks, I finally understood. Gabriel’s reluctant expression earlier was because of this. He may have hesitated. But he still nodded. He agreed to their proposal. Watching the drunk men lunge at me, I trembled in fear, crying out for help. “Help! Someone help me!” But the people outside had all been sent away by them. No one responded to my cries. I watched as they tore my clothes to shreds, my pale purple bra exposed. Just as that man was about to grab my chest, I steeled myself, ready to bite my tongue and end it all. But the next second, the door was kicked open. It was Gabriel who had returned. He stood across from me, like a deity descending from heaven. I looked at his bloodthirsty eyes, unable to understand the meaning behind his loss of control. In a flash, he flew at the drunk man in front of me and kicked him to the ground, then knocked down the other two drunks with his fists. He seemed to use great force. His knuckles were bleeding, impossible to tell if it was his blood or the drunks’. Then he took off his jacket and draped it over me. He gently kissed my hair. “I’m sorry I was late.” Then he glared fiercely at the drunks on the ground. “Chop off all their hands and feed them to the dogs!”

Everyone present was stunned. This was all his idea, so why was he now acting so devoted? Who was he putting on this show for? I was too exhausted to think about it. I wearily leaned against his chest, letting him carry me home. Back home, he carefully bathed me and changed my clothes. I just lay on the table, not saying a word. Gabriel worriedly stroked my head. “It’s okay now, Aria. Everything’s fine.” With red eyes, I asked him: “Gabriel, can you promise me one thing?” “Of course. Not just one, I’ll promise you ten things.” “Alright. I want to use your laptop later. I want to check if what happened earlier has been leaked online.” “It won’t be. Anyone who dares leak it, I’ll chop their hands off myself.” I lay on the table silently again. Gabriel finally told me his laptop password. I never expected the password to be the anniversary of when we started dating. That night, after he fell asleep, I secretly opened his computer. He must have forgotten to log out of WeChat. All the messages from his group chat with his buddies popped up. “Gabe, what do you mean? Didn’t we agree to let those drunks have their way with Aria? We had the cameras all set up, just one step away.” “Gabe, don’t go soft now. Our plan only has two days left. Don’t tell me you’re going to chicken out of releasing the videos.” “Yeah, Chloe’s waiting backstage. If you don’t release these videos, are you really going to abandon Chloe and marry Aria?” Below was Gabriel’s reply an hour later: “The original plan continues. I won’t back out.” Even though I was prepared, when I saw that “I won’t back out”, I felt like I had fallen into an icy abyss. Seeing the folder named “Aria’s Secrets”, I opened it with trembling hands. Sure enough, all the videos Gabriel had carefully recorded over the years were in there. Without hesitation, I right-clicked and pressed delete. Then I went to the recycle bin and permanently deleted the files I had just trashed. Watching the videos disappear, my heart finally calmed. Gabriel Foster, you no longer have anything to hold over me. The next morning, Gabriel specially made my favorite breakfast wraps. He gently kissed my forehead, as if I was his most precious treasure. “Aria, we can’t see each other the night before the wedding. I’ll be waiting for you at the ceremony tomorrow.” I smiled and nodded. After Gabriel left, I threw out everything in the house related to me. The wedding photos on the wall, the clay dolls we made together, all the gifts I had given Gabriel. I opened the trash can and tossed them all in without hesitation. On the wedding day, I took my suitcase and headed to the airport without looking back. Before boarding, I posted one last update on social media: “From now on, we go our separate ways. Gabriel Foster, farewell forever!” Then I took out the SIM card from my phone and casually tossed it in the trash… Meanwhile, Gabriel had been waiting at the wedding venue for a long time. Someone tapped him on the shoulder.

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I’ve been married to Lucas for three years, only to suddenly discover he has had a girlfriend for eight years. When I proposed divorce, he cried and told me he had a mission to complete. “Emma, we can’t divorce. I’ll die!” “If we’re not married for at least four years, I’ll die!” What mission? This is absurd! I sneered at him and filed for divorce anyway. Later, I really saw his obituary on social media. Today is our wedding anniversary. Lucas and I had agreed to have dinner at this restaurant. The waiter enthusiastically ushered me to the private room. Just as I was about to push the door open, I heard his sneering voice, “If it weren’t for completing the mission, would I have married her?” “A woman who’s been used by other men, would you want her if I gave her to you?” I don’t know who he was talking to on the phone. The speaker was on, and a teasing voice came from the other end, “I’ve been envying your wife’s figure and looks. If you don’t want her anymore, why not let us brothers have some fun?” He slowly blew out a smoke ring, and even more offensive words came out of his mouth, “She’s no better than any prostitute out there.” “Once you’ve tasted her, you’ll realize she’s nothing special.” He spoke carelessly, as if I were an object that could be discarded at will. The waiter had tactfully left long ago. I stood at the door, listening to his tone that didn’t sound like a joke, my eyes rimmed with red. I let go of the hand that was about to push the door, not even having the courage to confront him. In the end, I went home in a daze. Lucas had pursued me for three years. When he learned that William Shen was going to break up with me and get engaged to the real heiress Cindy Lin, he disregarded his boss’s scolding and resolutely broke his appointment with a client to hold an umbrella for me in the pouring rain. “If he doesn’t want you, I do!” “Emma, look back. I’ve always been here.” I was stunned by his sudden appearance, and the tears I had been holding back could no longer be controlled, falling along with the heavy rain. In the following days, he took care of me wholeheartedly, helping me get over the breakup. He would drive me around, and appear by my side immediately whenever I felt sad. To confess to me, he rented the largest electronic screen in the city center. Declaring his love for me to the whole world. He said, “Emma Lin is the best Emma Lin in the world. I, Lucas Lu, will have no one but you!” That day, in front of our friends, he said he would give me the happiest life. So, we got together under the witness of our friends. During our relationship, he kept his promise to me. His kindness to me made all our friends envious. In the fourth year of our relationship, he and his friends carefully planned a proposal for me. When he asked if I was willing to face the future together with him, my eyes welled up with tears. Without saying anything, I extended my hand. He was overjoyed, and I cried tears of happiness. We stood in the middle of the crowd, accepting everyone’s blessings. After marriage, his care for me became even more meticulous, from daily meals to hospital stays when I was sick. Even outsiders couldn’t find any fault. Let alone me. The moment I opened the front door, looking at the empty room, the sadness in my heart intensified. I dragged myself to the sofa, and my phone screen lit up at the right moment. “Baby, have you arrived?” “I ordered your favorite lobster.” I nestled tiredly on the sofa, recalling what Lucas had said in the restaurant. A woman who’s been used… no better than a prostitute… Every word stabbed my heart, almost drawing blood. Even though I heard it with my own ears, I couldn’t believe these words really came from his mouth. The person who was so good to me that he would give his life for me. I’d rather believe these were drunken ramblings. But they say drunk words are sober thoughts, and he was clearly so sober… My eyes unconsciously reddened again and again, tears falling like broken strings, seeping into the sofa and disappearing. I took a deep breath, wiped away my tears, no longer wanting to let this matter occupy my mind. I forced an ugly smile and replied to his message, “Baby, I think my period came. My stomach hurts so much. I’m already home now.” “I’m sorry, I should have told you earlier.” He quickly replied, “You don’t need to apologize. My baby’s health is the most important.” “Wait for me at home, I’ll be there soon. I’ll make you some ginger tea when I get back.” He was always so understanding. It only takes 20 minutes from the restaurant to home, but it was more than an hour later when he got home. He hurriedly pushed the door open, carrying my favorite seafood porridge. “Babe, I got held up a bit on the way, so I’m a little late.” “But I packed some seafood porridge for you.” He proudly placed the porridge in front of me and opened it, then handed me a tulip. I looked at the porridge and flower in front of me and smiled weakly. But my mind was in turmoil. He patted my head and turned to the kitchen, “You eat the porridge first, the ginger tea will be ready soon.” The moment he went in, his phone screen lit up. A notification from a food delivery app. It was a cake, delivered to an unfamiliar address, with a bouquet of flowers. The note said “Love you forever.” My mind exploded in that instant. I asked hoarsely, tentatively, “Lucas, did you buy cake and flowers for someone else?” He reflexively denied, “No, of course not.” The screen darkened, and my heart sank a few degrees. So all this wasn’t my misunderstanding? “I bought it for you, silly. I thought you couldn’t eat cake during your period, so I had the order sent to someone else.” He came out with the ginger tea, a gentle smile on his face, “If I really had it delivered here, could you resist eating it?” I stared at his face, trying to find any flaws. But there were none. He disguised it well.

I smiled sweetly, “I thought you had another woman outside.” His expression seemed to freeze for a moment, but before I could be sure, he returned to his gentle self, lightly tapping my head. “What are you thinking? How could I have another woman? You’re enough for me in this lifetime, Emma Lu.” With that, he kissed my forehead again and again. In the past, I would have believed him without a doubt. But today, I had heard him disparage me with my own ears. I remained calm, acting as usual, giggling as I pushed him away, “Go wash up, you stink!” After he left, I picked up his phone and opened the messaging app. This was the first time I had ever checked his phone. It was clean, nothing suspicious. But it was too clean. Finally, in his payment records, I found an unusual expenditure. Every month, he would transfer money to this account, for five years. Seeing the name on the account, I remembered a person I had seen earlier. Opening her profile, I quietly noted down the phone number displayed. By the time he came out, the phone was back in its original position on the table. He glanced at me, his expression inexplicably flustered, but quickly returned to normal, “Baby, did anyone message me?” He was wiping his hair, pretending to ask casually. I feigned ignorance, got up and looked at his phone, “No.” The next day, on what should have been a workday, I took a day off. After Lucas left for work, I dialed the number I had noted down last night, “Hello?” The other end responded, the voice gruff, a man. I suppressed my pounding heart and exhaled, thinking, thankfully it’s not her. But the next moment, his question plunged me into an icy abyss. “Are you here to rent an apartment?” I couldn’t control my trembling voice, and just managed an “Mm.” “You’re in luck, a tenant is just moving out. You can come take a look.” “Don’t worry, our security is very good. This tenant who’s moving out has lived here for five years!” He was enthusiastically promoting the place, and when I heard “five years,” everything seemed to fall into place. Why Lucas often worked overtime. Why he always smiled stupidly while looking at his phone. Why it took him an hour to get home yesterday when the restaurant was so close. It turned out that while I was being kept in the dark, while he was being good to me, he had another woman. And they had been in contact for five years. I took a deep breath, suppressing the emotions about to burst forth, “Can I come take a look later?” After he agreed, I hung up the phone. The tears that had been welling up in my eyes broke free, and I could no longer control myself from crying out loud. After a long while, I composed myself and called my best friend Sophie to go with me to the address the man had sent. Seeing my distress, Sophie asked what had happened. I told her everything about Lucas, and she angrily asked, “So what are you going to do?” I laughed lightly, “Everything needs evidence.” We arrived at the address the man had given and followed him to the apartment that was about to be rented out. Standing at the door, watching the man’s back as he knocked, I suddenly felt as if time had frozen. I gripped Sophie’s hand tightly, but still couldn’t help sweating. I still hoped, deep down, that this person didn’t exist. The moment the door opened, my eyes stared blankly at the person who opened it. “Here to see the apartment?” he asked proactively. I frowned and looked at Sophie, who also looked confused at me. Was this whole thing really just me misunderstanding Lucas? After viewing the entire apartment, I pretended to be dissatisfied and walked out. Sophie exchanged a glance with me, “Landlord, do you have any other apartments?” The landlord hesitated, “There is one, but the tenant went out this morning. I’d have to ask if they’re willing to let us in to view it first.” We nodded, saying we could wait, and he went to call the tenant. “Sophie, I think I really misunderstood him. How am I going to explain to him?” I nervously held her arm, my face full of worry. She told me to relax, that everything would turn out fine. The tenant agreed to let us view the apartment, and we casually looked around. Thinking that after this viewing, I would go home and make a loving dinner for him. All these years, he had always been the one cooking for me. The times I cooked for him could be counted on one hand. The landlord was introducing the layout and lighting to us. Finally, afraid we wouldn’t rent, he told us, “A young woman lives here. All in all, she’s been living here for five years.” Five years? This number made me extremely sensitive. Our previously jovial expressions now turned solemn. Sophie casually asked, “She looks quite pretty. She must have a boyfriend, right?” The landlord chuckled, “Of course! It’s always her boyfriend who pays the rent. I even have his WeChat in my phone.” He took out his phone and showed us the chat history with Lucas, full of money transfers. I froze in place, my mind in chaos. Sophie was the first to react, “Are you sure this is her boyfriend?” The landlord looked disdainful, “Of course! He always comes during the day, rarely seen at night!” His voice suddenly lowered, “This girl is probably a mistress! What couple has a boyfriend who’s never there at night, right?” My eyes were already red. I felt like a walking corpse as Sophie supported me. I lowered my head, silently wiping away tears, then forced a smile, “Can we take some photos? We’ll discuss it when we get back.” The landlord happily agreed. Sophie looked at me worriedly. I squeezed her arm and said softly, “Now we have solid evidence, don’t we?” It’s not all bad. I took photos of the room’s layout, and secretly took a photo of the girl’s picture.

When I got home, Lucas had already prepared dinner and was waiting for me. “I’ve made dinner, come eat quickly.” The phone screen lit up. It was the landlord. “Miss, the apartment you viewed later can be moved into the day after tomorrow. You should decide quickly.” I replied, “How can it be so fast?” “The tenant today went out to buy a house with her boyfriend. They said they’ve already decided and will move out by the day after tomorrow at the latest.” “Okay.” I sneered as I looked at Lucas, who was still busy. Now he’s washing clothes and cooking for me, but during the day he went out to buy a house with his mistress. How wonderful. Lucas saw my expression and moved me to the dining table, kissing the corner of my mouth, “Is my baby unhappy today?” I looked at him for a while before speaking, “I went to your company to find you today, but you weren’t there.” Lucas’s expression visibly stiffened. I continued to press, “You weren’t at work? Where did you go?” His smile had already gradually disappeared, but the next second it rose again, “I went out to meet a client today. Why did my baby come to the company to find me?” I smiled lightly and hugged his waist, snuggling into his arms, “Nothing, I just missed you.” I took out my phone and flipped to the photos of the apartment I had taken in the afternoon, “Sophie and I went to look at apartments this afternoon. What do you think of this one?” I handed the phone to him. His smile became particularly uncomfortable, but his tone was still gentle as usual, “Why are you looking at apartments?” I spoke softly, carefully observing his expression, “Sophie said she wants to renovate the one she bought, so she needs to rent one temporarily.” He nodded casually and handed the phone back to me, “This one is not bad.” I smiled and flipped to the girl’s photo to show him, “I saw this girl when I was viewing the apartment. She’s quite pretty, so I couldn’t help but take a photo.” He glanced at it, his expression evasive. His hand shook a little as he served me food, “She is pretty, but my baby is prettier.” I smiled and put away the phone, “Let’s eat.” This was the most silent meal we had had since we got together. That night, when he wanted to be intimate, I coldly pushed him away, “Have you forgotten? I’m on my period.” He retreated sheepishly, holding me tightly in his arms. The day after tomorrow is my birthday. As usual, I would celebrate with Sophie first and then come home to celebrate with Lucas. But on this day, Sophie and I went directly to that community. We stood outside the community, watching Lucas and another woman laughing and kissing passionately. Sophie was about to rush over to confront Lucas, but I stopped her. We followed them to their new community where they were moving. To my surprise, Lucas was so bold as to buy a house in the same building as ours. How loving. I deliberately returned home at ten o’clock as before, after celebrating my birthday with Sophie. When I got home, I didn’t turn on the lights. I sat on the sofa in the dark, waiting for Lucas to come back. Lucas came back at half past ten. When he saw me sitting on the sofa, he was startled. The next moment, he returned to normal, just like before, holding a cake in his hand and a bouquet of tulips I liked. “Baby, I’m back! Happy birthday!” I looked at his performance quietly, chuckling, “Thank you.” I accepted the cake and blessings as usual. He sang me a birthday song, turned off the lights, and let me make a wish. I closed my eyes and made a wish for a long time. When the candles were about to go out, Lucas started to urge me, “If you take too long, it won’t come true.” I blew out the candles and spoke in the darkness, “Lucas, would you be as good to other women as you are to me?” When Lucas turned on the lights, I saw his panicked expression again, “Baby, what are you talking about?” He pinched my face, “You don’t seem to be in a good state lately. Is it because of your period?” I couldn’t control my emotions anymore and slapped his hand away, “Lucas, have you had enough of this act? How long do I have to play along with you?” His expression froze, and he stared at me blankly, his eyes panicked. “Are you going to confess yourself, or do you want me to say it?” Seeing him not speaking for a long time, I sneered and stood up, taking out a report from my bag and throwing it in his face. “This is the pregnancy test report I saw in your car yesterday.” ———-This is the cutoff point———-

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I had finally accepted Lucas’s proposal after his 99th attempt, believing he would fulfill his promise to marry me. But on the eve of our wedding, he not only called it off at the last minute, making me a laughingstock, but also abandoned me to go on a stargazing trip with his childhood sweetheart Tiffany. I begged him to honor our engagement. Instead, he forced me to go rock climbing barehanded and catch 520 fireflies, all to make Tiffany smile. It was an absurd romantic gesture that I was coerced into. When a mudslide suddenly hit, he left without a second glance, carrying Tiffany in his arms. I was trapped on a cold, steep cliff for three days and nights without food or water, my body temperature dropping dangerously low. My body froze, and so did my heart that once loved him. Even when Lucas later apologized profusely, I could only respond with a bitter laugh. “Stop pretending. You disgust me.” I was hanging from a dead tree halfway up the mountain. The violent impact from falling off the cliff left me in excruciating pain. I couldn’t move, with broken bones all over my body. Only the taste of blood in my mouth kept me barely conscious. “We found her!” When I was discovered, Tiffany was livestreaming my rescue. She hugged my battered body while crying, her manicured nails digging into my wounds that were deep enough to see bone. “Chloe, you’re so reckless! How could you gamble with your life like this?” “Don’t leave the campsite on a whim just because you’re upset. You’ve not only broken Lucas’s heart, but also wasted public resources.” “This time, I’m donating $2 million to the disaster-stricken area on behalf of the Lu family. I hope it can atone for Chloe’s sins.” After her repeated gentle persuasion, Lucas reluctantly picked me up in his arms. He was extremely reluctant to have any physical contact with me. My body was left suspended in mid-air, like a piece of garbage he found repulsive. A clap of thunder sounded. It seemed to pull me back to those three desperate days. Fear made my stomach churn violently, forcing a trickle of blood from the corner of my mouth. Lucas’s expression changed abruptly, and he immediately let go of me in disgust. “Are you addicted to acting now?” Looking at me trembling on the ground, he impatiently called for someone to put me on a stretcher. “Chloe, stop pretending.” “It’s your own fault for being unreasonable, insisting on joining our stargazing trip without even basic safety awareness.” “Look at the stupid thing you’ve done, causing me so much trouble.” The more he spoke, the angrier he became. “It was Tiffany who went to great lengths to contact the rescue team for you, praying for your safety every day.” “You’ve wasted manpower and resources just to save your worthless life. You’ll never be able to repay her.” I curled up, staring at the countless wounds on my body as tears streamed down my face. The fireflies that were meant to witness their love almost became witnesses to my death. Their hypocritical kindness crushed my dignity and innocence bit by bit. My tears seemed to spark a flicker of complexity in Lucas’s eyes. He clicked his tongue and took off his jacket to drape over me. “Alright, you’ve overacted. You look ugly when you cry. Aren’t you usually good at holding back your emotions?” For the first half of my life, I had compromised and endured everything just to marry him. But in those short three days of being lost, my heart had turned to ashes. I no longer wanted to survive falling off a hundred-meter cliff. I didn’t want to be a desperate, clingy girlfriend anymore. I refused to beg on my knees for his love. My battered body was punishment for loving him. The love I had accumulated over the years was worn away along with my broken bones and spilled blood. When I woke up again, I was alone in the intensive care unit. My body was full of various instruments and tubes. The doctor said there were thirty steel nails embedded in my body. Tiffany came in arm-in-arm with Lucas, fussing over me. She was holding a bowl of yam and cilantro porridge that I hated most, like leftover slop. It was as if they were the loving couple, not us. Tiffany raised my hospital bed, wanting to feed me the porridge herself. Sensing my resistance, Lucas grabbed my chin, forcibly prying open my mouth. The scalding porridge rolled down my throat. I struggled desperately but knocked over the bowl. The intense burning sensation left my entire arm red. “Who allowed you to waste Tiffany’s kindness?” With that, Lucas picked up the bowl and smashed it against my head. Wet strands of hair stuck to my forehead. Compared to the torment of waiting to die slowly, this humiliation was nothing. I peeled off the rice grains and vegetable leaves from my head, stuffing them into my mouth without missing a single one. Lucas looked at me with disgust, throwing a wet wipe at me. “Chloe, are you a beggar? How revolting.” I chewed mechanically. Taking in Tiffany’s provocative smirk from the corner of my eye. They had candlelit dinners. Meanwhile, I had gnawed on tree bark just to stay alive, even swallowing insects raw. Staying alive had become a luxury. In the end, I was the one covered in scars, I was the one bearing the brunt of rumors and slander. Perhaps the only thing I had damaged was their secret love affair.

The nurse came in to change my dressings. Lucas immediately ordered her to disinfect the room. He fanned his nose in disgust, telling me to change into clean clothes. While looking for clothes, I accidentally found the wedding photos I had secretly cherished. In the photo, Lucas wore a rare smile. During every moment I was on the verge of collapse while trapped on the cliff, This photo had always given me strength. But now, it was nothing more than a thin piece of paper. After changing, I stumbled back to the ward. The VIP room originally booked for me by Lucas’s grandfather had been given to a regular crowded ward after Tiffany’s exaggerations. The noisy, cramped space was filled with endless complaints and crying. This time, I didn’t make a fuss. I just silently dragged my injured body back and forth. As I was almost done moving, Lucas stopped me. Beside him were Tiffany and his best friend Chris. My once close friend looked at me, the fallen dog, with mockery all over his face. Chris spoke with sarcasm, “Well, well, you survived a near-death experience and you’re still alive?” I clutched the rough hem of my clothes, feeling a deep, stinging pain in my heart. When we first got engaged, they had mocked me for being delusional. I never argued back, even humbly trying to please the Lu family’s housekeeper. But what I thought was loving the whole family for Lucas’s sake was just wishful thinking in his eyes. The thunder and rain were all blessings he bestowed upon me. His slightest smile could make me give up everything. A slight frown from him could also drag me into the abyss. Chris found a news article and handed it to me. “You’ve been pestering Lucas for so many years, but he never had you in his heart. Now that this news is out, even Lu Corporation’s stock price has been affected. How could he accept someone with such a bad reputation as his wife?” “Luckily Lucas was wise enough to call off the wedding and stay away from a jinx like you. I advise you to know your place and stop getting between Tiffany and Lucas!” Seizing on my weakness, those who already disliked me became even more vicious. They twisted the facts, deciding I was the culprit. Threatening the interests of Lu Corporation, destroying Lucas’s love. No one blamed Lucas for suddenly calling off the wedding. No one was outraged that Tiffany was pursuing a man who was engaged. And no one cared if I was in pain during those three days. I trembled all over. Meeting Lucas’s cold gaze, I instantly crouched down covering my head. “I’ll be good, don’t abandon me.” I knelt at his feet trying to beg for mercy. But Lucas pulled his leg away. One step and I would have rolled down the stairs, the pain of falling off the cliff overwhelming me again. “Save me!” “Chloe, you…” There was no expected pain. Lucas had pulled me into his arms. He pushed me away with some frustration, his tone icy: “I’ll marry you.” I was stunned. Lucas was convinced I would be grateful. So he tried every means, even ruining his own reputation, to break off the engagement. How could he possibly want to marry me now? I opened my mouth but couldn’t speak. But he smiled coldly: “We won’t register the marriage. It’s just for show.” “To control public opinion and make the stock price rise.” Tears instantly gushed out. He wanted to pretend to be deeply in love. To stand on the moral high ground and gain a good reputation before bowing out. In his eyes, I was trending gossip, a tool to be used. But never his wife. Before he finished speaking, Tiffany smiled coyly, “Lucas, you’re so bad.” She walked in front of Lucas, fixing his tie. Casually playing with her hair, revealing the huge diamond ring on her ring finger. I lowered my eyes and swallowed the bitterness in my throat. I no longer had the strength for hysterics.

Chris kept taunting me viciously. Insulting me to no end. I looked at the crimson seeping through my bandages, walking past them to go downstairs and check out of the hospital. I wanted to hide away, not wanting to endure the cold hospital and indifferent Lucas anymore. He wouldn’t give me the sense of security I needed most. Just let me fend for myself. At the stairway landing, Lucas grabbed my wrist. “You’re half crippled now.” “If you leave me and check out, how many more people do you want to harm?” I pried his fingers off one by one. Three days ago, I was barely clothed and starving, dangling precariously halfway up the mountain. Listening to wolf howls, too afraid to sleep, terrified until dawn. At my most desperate, I even thought about jumping off the cliff to end it all. From beginning to end, I was the one covered in scars, I was the one bearing the brunt of rumors and slander. Perhaps the only thing I had damaged was their secret love affair. Seeing my resistance, Lucas irritably pushed me against the cold, hard wall. “Stop being so delicate, okay? Be a good girl and listen. I can give you anything except love.” “Why can’t you be more considerate of me like Tiffany? Is that so hard?” “If you keep acting like this, you might as well have died at the bottom of that cliff.” His increasingly harsh words were like a curved blade. Slowly cutting open my deepest fears. The back of my head hit the wall hard, my pupils gradually losing focus. My hands weakly pounded on his shoulders as I kept repeating, “Let me go.” Lucas was annoyed and picked me up in one motion. But he didn’t know that my determination to get away from him had reached its peak. In my desperate struggle, I collided head-on with a nurse’s treatment cart. I fell among countless shards of broken glass. My wounds reopened, a bloody mess. The clean clothes I had just changed into were in tatters again. “Chloe!” Lucas was startled and carefully tried to reach out to help me up. But I lay on the ground gasping for breath, only managing to stand with difficulty with the nurse’s support. My avoidance made a murderous aura emanate from him. “You hate me touching you? Then why did you desperately beg me to marry you?” “Now you’re even playing hard to get?” I was dizzy, my ears ringing. His malicious speculations shattered the rose-colored glasses I had for him piece by piece. The light that had kept me alive went out. I could gather 520 fireflies for him, even if it wasn’t for me. I could obediently stay put, even if he didn’t come to rescue me first. But I couldn’t accept that he never even thought about finding me. So I’m tired, I don’t want to love anymore. “Chloe, I’m very disappointed in you. How did you become like this?” I didn’t understand where the pain in his eyes came from. This question should have been for me to ask him. I vaguely remembered five years ago, when my mother was on her deathbed. After donating a kidney to Lucas’s grandfather, her only wish Was to secure my engagement to Lucas. He personally carried my mother’s coffin, silently wiped away my tears, and held me in his arms like a treasure. “No matter what happens in the future, I will never abandon you.” But in the face of the raging mudslide, My tears dried up once again. All because Lucas had broken his vow.

My emotions completely collapsed. I remembered my mother’s dying wish for me to be happy. Then I thought of how desperate and lost I was on that rainy night. I hugged myself tightly, my eyes red-rimmed. “It hurts so much, Lucas.” “Why didn’t you save me? The cliff was so dark and cold. I won’t cling to you anymore, just don’t leave me alone.” “I’ll give you back to Tiffany, please don’t abandon me.” “Stop torturing me…” He looked at my shaking shoulders, unable to say anything harsh. He couldn’t help but soften his tone. “Chloe, I’m right here. I didn’t abandon you. What’s wrong?” “Didn’t you jump off the cliff yourself to get sympathy?” Lucas carried me back to the Lu mansion and called for a private doctor to take care of me. He carefully used a cotton swab to moisten my lips. “If you don’t want to stay in the hospital, then come home.” “Tiffany and I are both here. She’s sensible and will take care of you.” “I’ll let bygones be bygones for what happened before, but why are you so afraid?” I suddenly felt a bit wronged and choked up, ready to explain. But before I could open my mouth, a graceful figure affectionately leaned against Lucas. Tiffany pressed her bleeding fingertip to his lips. “Lucas, I cut my finger while making food for Chloe.” “Can you blow on it for me?” Lucas’s furrowed brow showed his distress. “You should have let me do it.” I looked at him in disbelief. Lucas was a male chauvinist who never stooped to cooking because of his privileged upbringing. If I had cut my finger, he would probably just scold me for being clumsy. I closed my eyes in despair. Lucas tucked me in and sighed. Seeing this, Tiffany suddenly spoke up: “Chloe, Lucas and I grew up together. I can tolerate your resentment towards me given your engagement.” “But last time during the camping trip, that was the company’s new project. We were just doing a site survey.” “You shouldn’t have thrown a tantrum, stolen supplies and hidden in the mountains, then jumped off the cliff before we arrived.” “Because of your scandal, Lu Corporation lost hundreds of millions in revenue. Can you take responsibility for that?” After her embellished account, Lucas snorted coldly, a self-mocking smile on his face. “I almost fell for your tricks again.” “Tiffany, don’t bother with her. This kind of scheming woman will bite you harder the nicer you are to her.” A sense of powerlessness washed over me. I wanted to argue with red-rimmed eyes. But I could barely choke out a complete sentence through my sobs. “She’s lying…” Lucas raised his hand high. Even my crying became shaky with fear. My eyes brimmed with tears as I bit my lip hard, refusing to let them fall. He swept everything off the bedside table with one motion. After staring at me deeply for a moment, he left without looking back. Only my whimpers remained in the large guest room. I covered my chest as large teardrops fell on my face. Hearing him gently comforting Tiffany through the wall, I laughed bitterly, “Lucas, let’s end this.” “I don’t want to love you anymore.” I found the agreement Lucas’s grandfather had once given me. I signed my name. ———-This is the cutoff point———-

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