Category: English

Recently, I’ve had this unsettling feeling—like I’m not alone in the house. I’m a professional haunted house tester, and this is my final five days in what is known as the “most haunted mansion in the country.” But today, when I woke up, my live stream’s comment section exploded. 0″Two grand a night—stay for 30 days. Do you dare?” When my dad needed an expensive medical procedure, and all I could think about was how to make quick cash, I took the offer without hesitation. Dare? Of course, I dare. Who wouldn’t take that kind of money? To make the most of it, I started live streaming my stay. On the first day, viewers tipped me like crazy, even asking me to check every room in the mansion. There was nothing unusual. The place was dusty, the faucets were slightly rusted, and it was clear no one had lived here for a long time. “Boring. This is supposed to be the most haunted house? Nothing creepy at all.” “Yeah, are you sure you checked every room?” The comments kept coming, and I felt a little guilty. I smiled awkwardly and said, “Guys, I swear I’ve checked everywhere. Nothing strange to report.” “Maybe the ‘haunted’ thing is just a gimmick.” I lied to them. There was one room I hadn’t checked—the one right next to mine. It wasn’t because I was scared of what might be inside. The door wouldn’t open. I knew my audience too well: the more a door refuses to open, the more they’ll insist I break it down. But I couldn’t risk damaging the property. The decor alone screamed “expensive,” and breaking the lock would probably cost me my entire paycheck—maybe even more. Forget saving up for my dad’s treatment, I’d be broke. So, I brushed it off. My audience bought the excuse and focused on trying to spot something paranormal at night. They failed. Meanwhile, I ate well, slept soundly, and carried on without a care. More than half the month flew by, and my live stream’s audience dwindled to just four or five regular viewers. At least one familiar username was still there, so I wasn’t completely alone. With only five days left, I didn’t expect anything exciting to happen. But deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. Recently, I’ve had this strange sensation—like there’s someone else in the house. For example, I spend most of my time in one bedroom, but I keep hearing faint shuffling sounds outside. Or how the TV remote on the couch always goes missing, and the ashtray on the coffee table seems slightly out of place every time I look at it. Then, there was the time I left my dishes on the dining table after lunch. By evening, when I went to make dinner, I reached for the plates to clean them. But I froze. I’m left-handed, so I always place my chopsticks on the left side of the plate. Why were they now on the right? I swallowed hard, my nerves on edge, but I forced myself to act normal and quietly cleaned up. From that moment on, I started paying closer attention. I made sure to leave my chopsticks on the left every single time. I didn’t mention any of this during the live stream. I didn’t want to say anything until I was sure. Then it happened again. The chopsticks were on the right. This time, my chest tightened, and I couldn’t ignore it anymore. Am I really the only one in this house? By Day 26, I was counting down the hours, praying for the time to pass so I could collect my money and leave. But what I didn’t expect—what I couldn’t have imagined—was waking up to find my live stream trending, ranked #2 in popularity. The comment section was flooded, with messages flying so fast I could barely read them. When I finally managed to make out a single comment, my blood ran cold: “Run, get out now!” 0

I froze. Run? A chill crept up from the soles of my feet. “What do you mean, run? What’s going on?” Panic crept into my voice as I stared at the screen. My reflection in the lens looked twisted and tense, but I didn’t care. My hands flew across the screen, scrolling through the flood of comments, trying to pick out any useful information. Finally, a few comments from twenty minutes ago caught my eye: “Miss, the wardrobe door opened! Wake up!” “Holy crap, why is there a doll in there?!” The wardrobe? I whipped my head around to look at it. It stood there silently, completely closed. Not a single sign that it had been opened. I forced a smile, though it didn’t quite reach my eyes. “You must’ve been imagining things.” “Get out of there now!” “Why are you just standing there? RUN!” The comments became more frantic, angry even, as if they couldn’t believe I wasn’t reacting. Someone even sent me a big tip, writing: “Run, and I’ll send you more!” My feet felt like they were encased in cement. I couldn’t move. Was it because I didn’t want to leave? No. If I left now, I’d break the contract. How would I pay for my dad’s treatment then? No. I couldn’t leave. That’s when I noticed my phone battery was almost dead. I quickly grabbed my charger. “Sorry, everyone, my phone’s dying—wait, what the hell? The power just went out!” The comment section exploded into chaos. But I just frowned at the charger in my hand, hesitated for a moment, and shook my head. I couldn’t leave. What do I do now? No electricity, no way to charge my phone. My battery was at 1%. Just as the screen went dark, I saw one last comment that sent a jolt down my spine: “Miss, behind you!” As soon as the phone shut off, I heard it—a faint creak behind me. My body froze. Slowly, I turned my head. The wardrobe door was open. Inside, there was a doll. It wore a brightly colored dress, its glassy black eyes staring out into the room. I don’t know how long I stood there, paralyzed. Then, out of nowhere, I laughed. What am I freaking out about? What’s the big deal? It’s just a doll. It’s not like it’s alive. I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince myself or someone else. I walked over to the wardrobe, grabbed the doors, and slammed them shut. But just as I did, I felt a shiver run down my spine. For a split second, as the doors closed, I could’ve sworn the doll’s glass eyes were watching me. The power outage was making everything worse. I glanced at the landline phone by the bed. The man who hired me had specifically warned me: “Don’t use the landline unless it’s absolutely necessary.” I hesitated, my hand hovering over the receiver. Then I picked it up and dialed the service line for the gated community. Beep. The line didn’t connect. All I got was a loud, piercing tone. But beneath it, I thought I heard something—something faint, like nails scratching against a wall. A wave of cold washed over me, and a splitting headache flared up behind my eyes. I instinctively touched my left ear, then slowly put the receiver back down. No one was coming to help. I couldn’t leave the property, but I had to figure something out myself. Pushing myself up, I started searching for the electrical box. I made my way down the staircase to the first floor. But when I reached the box, I found nothing wrong. The breakers were fine—the outage wasn’t caused by anything here. I was about to close the panel when something caught my eye. Taped to the top of the box was a small piece of paper. Without thinking, I pulled it down and unfolded it. My hands froze. On the paper, written in elegant handwriting, were the words: “The power’s out, isn’t it? Go upstairs and find the doll!” 0

I froze, gripping the note tightly in my sweaty palm. A prank. This had to be some kind of prank! I rushed back upstairs to the second floor and flung open the wardrobe. Fear was the last thing on my mind—I was furious. Without thinking, I grabbed the doll in its flower-patterned dress. Its glassy black eyes seemed to flicker for a moment. Something fell out from underneath its dress—a journal. I tossed the doll back into the wardrobe and unfolded the journal. The handwriting inside was the same elegant script as the note I’d just found. The first entry was dated May 18 of last year. “I’m so excited. But I’ve already spent an entire day in this so-called haunted house, and nothing has happened.” The next entry came on May 19. “Slept like a baby. I wonder if anything interesting will happen today?” Page after page, the entries described uneventful days. From the tone of the writing, the journal’s author was growing increasingly frustrated, clearly starting to doubt the mansion’s reputation as “haunted.” Was she also hired to test this house, just like me? If someone else had already tested the house last year, why did they hire me to do it again? That man who hired me… he never mentioned this. My stomach churned as a chilling thought crossed my mind. Did something happen to her during the trial? Did she fail to complete her stay? I flipped to the entry dated June 3. My hands began to tremble. “I keep feeling like someone’s been moving my things. Am I imagining it?” June 5: “I keep hearing noises outside my room, but when I check, there’s nothing there. I must be going crazy from being cooped up here for so long.” No. It wasn’t her imagination. I’ve been hearing those noises too. I frantically flipped through the pages, desperate to find something useful. “I heard the wardrobe open. But when I looked inside, there was nothing. How did it open by itself?” “I’m starting to feel scared. The power went out.” The blood drained from my face. My fingers trembled as I turned the page. The date of the entry? The 26th day of her stay. The same day as today. The same power outage. This wasn’t a coincidence. It was deliberate. My breath hitched as I read further. “The landline is useless. It doesn’t connect to anything. I tried to leave, but the front door is locked! That man lied to me!” Locked? That couldn’t be true. I bolted downstairs, cold sweat dripping down my face. I grabbed the doorknob and twisted it. It didn’t budge. The door was locked. Even if I’d wanted to leave today—regardless of the money—I couldn’t. A wave of cold washed over my back. My chest tightened as I gulped hard and shakily returned to the journal, determined to keep reading. “This is insane! They told me the power would be out for five days! I’ve been tricked!” “I’m terrified. That room next to me—the one that’s supposed to be locked—how is it possible that there’s someone in there? I can hear scratching noises coming from the walls!” The journal ended there. Sweat dripped down my forehead as I gripped the journal tightly. Why did it stop? Did she leave the mansion? Or did something happen to her before she could write more? A crushing sense of dread settled over me. No. This can’t be the end of the journal. There has to be more! Just as I was about to turn the next page, the landline phone on the second floor started ringing. 0

I didn’t have time to keep flipping through the journal. Gripping it tightly, I sprinted back to the landline, breathless, and picked up the receiver. A cold, monotonous mechanical voice greeted me. “Hello, due to current electrical issues, your call may experience interruptions. Please state your request.” I didn’t care anymore. I blurted out, “Call the police! I need to get out of here!” “Sorry, I did not understand your request. Please repeat.” “I said, call the police!” My vision blurred as frustration and fear took over. My whole body was tense, my muscles aching from the strain. “Sorry, I did not understand your request. Please repeat.” I collapsed onto the floor, defeated. The journal slipped from my hand and landed beside me. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut: no matter what I said, there would be no help on the other end of the line. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my voice. “How many days will the power be out?” My throat was dry, and I licked my cracked lips. Maybe—just maybe—the journal was wrong. Maybe what it said wasn’t true. “Due to line maintenance in your area, the power will be out for 5 days. Please remain patient.” Beep. The line went dead, like someone had cut it off with precision. Five days. It was true. My last shred of hope was crushed. It was all too perfectly calculated. The moment my question was answered, the phone became useless. I had no choice. I had to save myself. Whatever was causing this—human or not—I couldn’t just sit here and wait for things to happen. A breeze blew in through the window, rustling the pages of the journal. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed new writing had appeared. Shaking, I grabbed the journal again. Skipping over the blank pages, I flipped forward. “At least I have my doll to keep me company.” “She’s the only one I have left.” That flower-dressed doll… it belonged to her? No wonder she wrote about the wardrobe opening and finding it empty. But when I got here, the doll was inside. I kept reading. “Stop flipping through this. The clock is almost at midnight.” I froze. My head snapped up, and I glanced toward the clock in the living room. From this angle, I could see it clearly. It was exactly midnight. From behind the wardrobe, I heard it—the sound of nails scratching against the wall. Sharp, deliberate, and relentless, like someone was clawing at the wall, trying to dig their way through from the locked room next door. Sweat poured down my back, and a thin layer of moisture coated my trembling fingers. Steeling myself, I turned the page. “Since you’ve read this far, let me teach you a few ways to stay alive. Follow these rules exactly!” What? I blinked in disbelief. My heart raced as I continued reading, unable to stop even though every word sent chills down my spine. “On Day 5 of the countdown, you’ll face extreme danger. During the day, you’re free to move around anywhere except the locked room. However, at night, you must lock your door and never, under any circumstances, leave your room.” “You can sleep during the day, but avoid closing your eyes at night. If you absolutely can’t stay awake, hold the doll while you sleep. If the doll goes missing, immediately open your eyes and find it.” “Do not read past this entry until tomorrow.” I let out a shaky laugh. Seriously? This was all I had to do? I already didn’t dare leave my room at night. But the final line felt like a warning. My hand hesitated over the journal. With everything so uncertain, I decided to follow the instructions and closed it. Even though it was still daytime, I didn’t dare leave my room except to grab a quick bite to eat. Afterward, I stayed put. As the hours dragged on and the sky darkened, I made sure to use the bathroom, then locked my door securely. I lay on the bed, clutching my dead phone like it was some kind of lifeline, a tiny source of false comfort. To my left was the flower-dressed doll. Then it began. The scratching sounds returned, relentless and sharp, piercing my ears until they ached. What terrified me the most was the realization of what it meant: Something—someone—was pressed up against the wall, furiously clawing at it with their nails, trying to break through. How long had this been going on? Long enough that the sound was starting to feel normal. That’s when I heard it. A knock at the door.

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My wife and her lover had gone too far during their tryst in the hotel, and accidentally caused the miscarriage of our child. Afterwards, she said she had been bewitched and begged me to forgive her. I suppressed my hatred and pretended to agree, but in fact, I secretly formulated a revenge plan. Not long after, my wife smiled at me and said, “Honey, I’m pregnant with your baby again. Aren’t you happy?” I nodded, forced an ugly smile, and couldn’t stop my body from shaking. Because, as early as when she had a miscarriage, I had quietly undergone a vasectomy. “Honey, say something.” My wife, Lily, sat beside me and shook my shoulder vigorously. I looked at the report form on the table and couldn’t help but be stunned. According to what it showed, she was indeed pregnant. “Honey, I feel very guilty that we couldn’t keep the previous child. Well, God has taken pity on us and given us another surprise…” She affectionately put her arm around my neck and kissed my face. “Honey, let’s live a good life from now on.” Seeing that I didn’t answer, she placed my hand on her slightly protruding belly. “Touch it. It’s our child.” Lily’s words rang in my ears, but I felt a buzzing in my head. My temples were throbbing, and my anger flared up. I wished I could kick her out of the house right then. Because, as early as when she had a miscarriage, I had already quietly undergone a vasectomy. I did it to prevent the situation where she might get pregnant with someone else’s child and expect me to be the father. I know that there are only two types of infidelity: zero times and countless times. Sure enough, my prediction was correct. I didn’t plan to expose Lily. I wanted to find that lover and make them pay the price. My thoughts drifted back to the past. That day, as soon as I got off work, I received a call from the hospital. I rushed to the hospital in a hurry, and there I saw Lily crying out in pain. She was lying on the bed, looking extremely weak. The nurse covered her mouth and giggled, and my informed friend teased me beside me. “Jack, are you usually that wild? That lover is really something, making your wife lose the baby…” My anger grew stronger and stronger, and I suddenly felt extremely humiliated. When I got up to leave, Lily grabbed my hand and weakly apologized and repented to me. “Honey, it was others who seduced me. I was just bewitched for a moment and did such a thing.” “Honey, please forgive me. We’ll have another child. I promise you.” When I heard her say these words, I felt greatly insulted. I thought that no man would be willing to live with a cuckold on his head. I had always treated her well. Since her family was poor, I had tried my best to help her. On every festival, I would present precious gifts to her, just to make her happy. Even when we quarreled, I was the one who bowed my head and admitted my mistake. Everyone said that I was her lapdog, humbly devoted to her. But I didn’t care at all. I just wanted to live a good life with her. However, I really didn’t expect that she would treat me like this. After thinking for a long time, I made a decision. I wanted a divorce, and I wanted her to leave the house with nothing, to receive the punishment she deserved. At the same time, I also wanted to find this lover and make him lose everything. In order not to expose my plan, I had to pretend to forgive Lily. From that day on, she changed her previous attitude and treated me very well. She even volunteered to wash my underwear.

After Lily got pregnant, she asked me for money more frequently, saying that she needed to eat well to give some nutrition to the baby in her belly. Did she expect me to raise the bastard in her belly? I was so angry that my whole body was shaking. But for the sake of my final plan, I endured it. I relaxed my fists and said to Lily, who was about to go out, “Come back early, dear. Don’t be too tired when you go shopping with your best friend. Be careful with our baby in your belly.” A trace of guilt flashed across her face, and she smiled and nodded at me. But seeing how meticulously she was dressed, it didn’t seem like she was going to meet her best friend. I was very suspicious, so I tailed her all the way downstairs. To my surprise, she got into a car driven by a young man who looked only about 20 years old. The moment the young man rolled up the car window, I saw them kissing passionately. Their behavior was extremely intimate… I gritted my teeth in hatred, wishing I could send these two people to hell. Based on the young man’s clothes and demeanor, I was sure that he was a college student. And judging from his car, he wasn’t from a wealthy family. I suddenly remembered that in recent days, Lily had asked me for money more and more often. After careful consideration, I realized that she had been using my money to support a young lover outside. It was ridiculous, truly ridiculous. It seemed that I had to take action. When I got home, I sent a photo of this young man to my friend. After some investigation, I found out that this young man was not simple. He was a con artist, a womanizer, and a real scumbag. He had tricked many girls into sleeping with him, and he had taken short videos of them. He threatened them that if they didn’t give him money, he would post those videos online. It was really hateful! Why didn’t such a scumbag go to hell? I furiously typed on the keyboard and said to my friend, “In that case, let him get addicted to gambling!” The other side replied, “Leave it to me. No problem!” After sending the message, I fell into a deep sleep. In my dreams, I would always dream of Lily. I would dream of her wearing a white dress and smiling at me. But soon, several men would appear beside her. She would allow the men’s hands to reach towards her body. I wanted to step forward and stop them, but she would curse at me. “Jack, you’re such a clown.” “How does it feel to be cuckolded? It must be terrible, right?” I woke up in a rage. Just as I was about to get out of bed to get a drink of water, Lily came back. Her body, which smelled of perfume, also had a strong smell of smoke. At the same time, she was holding a bouquet of flowers in her hand. She put the flowers in the vase and took good care of them, not noticing at all that I was glaring at her with hatred. “I’m going to take a shower first, honey.” “Be careful. Don’t fall.” I replied to her as if nothing was wrong. Watching her throw her bag on the sofa and walk straight into the bathroom, I opened the bag. Everything inside shocked me. The first thing that caught my eye was a set of torn – up sexy lingerie. Then, I saw some props… Heh, they really knew how to have wild fun! In front of everyone, Lily seemed innocent and cute. I never expected that she had this side to her. I vaguely remembered that every time we had sex, she wasn’t very active. If I hadn’t begged her humbly, she wouldn’t have let me touch her. I had thought that she was a conservative and reserved person. But now, she had willingly turned into a maid to please other men. I was extremely angry, but then I suddenly saw her phone screen light up. Someone had sent her a message. After unlocking the phone, I clicked into WeChat. At the top was a male profile picture, and the 备注 was “Little Baby”. After mentally preparing myself, I clicked in. “How did you feel this time? Was I strong enough, baby? Don’t you think you should give me more hard – earned money? I worked so hard…” “Sweetie, am I much better than your useless husband?” “By the way, your husband is really stupid.” I was startled and frowned. I thought to myself, “Could it be that things are far more complicated than I imagined?” I continued to slide my finger on the screen. “I was too rough last time, which caused you to have a miscarriage… Sweetie, you won’t blame me, will you?” Damn it, so I had been kept in the dark all this time. This person was the adulterer who had caused her to have a miscarriage. After reading these words, I couldn’t help but wonder if the child before her miscarriage wasn’t mine either. When I scrolled down to the next page of the chat history, I couldn’t sit still anymore. “Sweetie, you have to take good care of our baby now.” “Don’t let it be like last time…” Sure enough, neither of the children was mine! Next, I saw Lily’s reply. “Oh, you’re so naughty. My husband is actually quite nice. He’s very honest. It’s just that he’s a bit stupid…” “Silly sweetie, if he wasn’t stupid, how could we be together?” The chat history ended there. I was so angry that my eyes turned red. With my trembling hand, I clicked on the young man’s Moments. He had posted many photos of branded clothes, shoes, and watches. The caption was, “Thank you, sweetie. You’re so generous!” At that moment, I wanted to smash this phone. All these years, the money I had earned so hard had been used by her to support her young lover! My parents had cared so much about her. They had bought her gold jewelry, various skincare products, and expensive bags every month…

After forwarding thousands of chat records to my own phone, I stuffed Lily’s things into her bag. She came out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel, but she was furtively touching her neck. I asked irritably, “What are you doing? Is your neck injured?” Her eyes flickered, and she stammered, “Oh, it’s nothing. Just a few mosquito bites…” After clearly seeing the red marks on her neck, I gritted my teeth so hard that they clicked. When Lily saw the anger on my face, she quickly came to hug me flatteringly. “Honey, I’m so tired from shopping today.” “You don’t even know how to feel sorry for me!” Feel sorry for her? I suppressed my hatred and forced a smile. “How could that be? Husband loves you the most!” When I was going to bed, I received a message from my friend. He said that the young lover was a student that Amy had once sponsored. Tom came from a poor family. There was only his old father at home doing farm work. His father had worked hard all his life just to support him through college. Unexpectedly, he had gone bad and used his father’s hard – earned money to pick up girls and drink. Damn it, it was really bad. He was such a beast. Before I could say anything, my friend continued, “Tom, he used to date your sister…” What? So my sister had been crying and threatening to commit suicide because of him? Before I could think further, my friend said, “That beast named Tom took private videos of your sister…” This time, I was finally extremely angry. I covered my chest and couldn’t breathe for a long time. I clenched my fists and was determined to tear Tom to pieces. My sister, whom I had doted on for 18 years, had been so terribly hurt by this scumbag. This was too much! I immediately said to my friend, “No matter how much it costs, I want to make Tom go down the road of no return and make him lose everything.” The next day, as soon as it was light, I drove to my sister’s house. My sister, Emily, was listless and had no interest in anything. She had something on her mind but didn’t want to tell us. I bought her a lot of beautiful clothes and took her out for a big meal. Finally, she nestled in my arms and told me what was on her mind. Since Tom had taken the videos of my sister, she had been giving him 1,000 yuan every month as hush money. The more my sister talked, the more upset she became. She cried loudly, and her eyes were as red as a little rabbit’s. As her brother, I also felt extremely guilty. That night, I had people catch Tom and take him to an alley. He had a black bag over his head, and his mouth was stuffed with my friend’s stinky sock. He could only make whimpering sounds. I was the first to punch him in the body, and then my friends swarmed in. It was not until someone pulled me away and told me not to make a big scene that I loosened my fists. Then, I opened his phone and the first thing I saw in the album was a video of Lily. Her face flashed by in the video, but I still saw it clearly, especially the big gold bracelet she was wearing, which I had bought for her a few days ago. Lily was extremely proactive in the video, and her expression showed enjoyment. There were only two words to describe it. Dirty! Lewd! I had never known that she could be so wild. A lady in public and a slut in bed was exactly what she was like. I secretly transferred the video to my own phone and made a backup. Now, I had more and more evidence. Then, it took me a few minutes to delete all the videos of the girls that had been secretly taken. One of my friends couldn’t stand such a scumbag either. He spat on Tom’s face and cursed, “Damn it, didn’t your mother teach you how to respect women?” “You’re such a scumbag. And you’re supposed to be a college student. I think you’re a beast.”

When I got home, I saw Lily looking anxious and about to go out with her bag. I grabbed her hand and twitched the corner of my mouth. “Honey, it’s so late. Are you still going out?” She swallowed and said quickly, “My friend is sick, and I have to go see him.” “Really? Let me drive you there.” She shook her head, looking a bit flustered. “It’s okay, honey. You’ve been working all day and are very tired. I’ll just take a taxi. You go to bed early.” Lily quickly pulled her hand away from mine and rushed out the door. I smiled. It seemed that Tom was seriously injured. I gave a cold snort. The good show was just beginning! With the help of my friend, Tom finally owed a lot of money in the casino. Facing the huge debt, the first person he thought of was Lily. Occasionally, I saw the messages he sent to Lily. “Sweetie, save the child’s life.” “Where’s your stupid and rich husband? Ask him to pay off my debt for me.” “Otherwise, you might as well just kill him and inherit all his property.” “Anyway, you hate it when he touches you. You even said he looks like a gorilla and that you feel disgusted when he touches you. Out of sight, out of mind. Sweetie, just kill him.” The rest were Lily’s replies. “No, I’ll go to jail for that. Okay, I’ll go ask him for some money first…” Heh, I never expected that the reason Lily refused Tom’s request was that she was afraid of going to jail. It seemed that she didn’t care about our years of relationship at all. Very well. Since you’re heartless, don’t blame me for being ruthless. Sure enough, when I got home from work, Lily had already prepared a table full of dishes. When she saw me come in, she rushed to take my bag and even bent down to change my shoes for me. I pretended to be concerned and helped her up. “Honey, we can’t hurt our baby.” “Okay, honey. I made your favorite dishes. Come and take a look.” At the dinner table, Lily casually mentioned that she was short of money recently, but I was too busy eating to pay attention to her. After a while, she finally got angry and slammed her chopsticks in front of me. I was so startled that I almost stood up and slapped her. But reason overcame my impulse. I pursed my lips and asked her, “Are you crazy, Lily!” Lily was even angrier. She seemed not to have expected that I would shout at her. Well, after being married for so long, I had hardly ever been angry with her. “Jack, how dare you… shout at me?” Her eyes turned red with anger, and she stood up to question me. “After all these years, what have you given me? Other people’s husbands are handsome and rich. But what about you?” “Back then, I should have listened to my parents and not married you!” Hmph, if you hadn’t married me, I would have regretted marrying you too. It’s not that I don’t have money. It’s just that you’re too greedy. But I still didn’t say these words out loud. This wasn’t the time to break the situation. But Lily kept talking more and more excitedly, trampling on my dignity without any reservation. “Jack, do you know how disgusting you are? Every time you touch me, I feel like vomiting.” “And you, you’re not good in bed either!” This time, she completely infuriated me. I believe that no man would let others say such things about him, especially his own wife. “Lily, have you forgotten the dirty things you’ve done?” “You’re a slut. What right do you have to shout here?” Lily was so enraged by my words that she threw a tantrum, lying on the ground and yelling loudly. “Domestic violence! The husband is hitting me! I’m so unlucky.” “Woohoo, I’ve really had a hard time.” With one hand, she stroked her belly, and with the other, she wiped away her tears. Before long, the neighbors were drawn in by her commotion. Without bothering to ascertain the facts, everyone said that I had bullied Lily. When Lily saw that someone was speaking up for her, a triumphant smirk crossed her lips. The neighbors all berated me as a domestic abuser, and I was left speechless, unable to defend myself. Lily started shouting again, “Poor little one, mommy doesn’t even have the money to take you for a prenatal check-up. It’s all your father’s fault for not giving us any money!” Upon hearing these words, the neighbors grew even more agitated. Some even wanted to come over and teach me a lesson on Lily’s behalf. In desperation, I angrily tossed five hundred yuan in Lily’s face. I really wanted to fling out my vasectomy report, but it still wasn’t the right moment. I couldn’t let my meticulously planned scheme fall apart at the crucial stage.

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I, Caroline Ward, am the woman of Blake Harris, the mafia boss. After we got married, he spoiled me to the sky, flaunting our love to the media. I thought he loved me deeply. He couldn’t help but announce his love for me to the world. Until one day, I overheard a conversation between him and one of his men. “I live in both the criminal and legal worlds, with so many enemies. If I don’t make Caroline my weakness, how could Megan be safe?” I realized then that all the pain I had suffered for him was a joke… If that was the case, then I was no longer willing to be a living target for him! “Blake, you’ve gone too far! Caroline’s wounds haven’t healed, and she only had a small argument with someone, yet you’re rushing to see her? You’re putting both yourself and Caroline in danger!” It was the voice of Blake’s friend, Zachary Coleman, coming from behind the walls. I stopped in my tracks, stunned for a moment. The villa had many soundproof rooms, so unless someone was particularly agitated, one couldn’t hear anything. But after a moment, I heard the sound of something being thrown. “What do you mean, you only love Megan? Caroline has been her scapegoat all these years! You’ve never loved her. Why won’t you let her go? If it were that other woman, you’d be dead by now!” “Shut up! If I don’t make Caroline my weakness, how could Megan be safe? “I haven’t treated her badly, being my wife for so many years.” Blake’s voice was clear and deep. I leaned against the wall, struggling to process the information I had just heard. All these years, Blake loved someone else? And I had been nothing more than a scapegoat? I stumbled back to my room, my abdominal wound from trying to protect him tearing open again, bleeding through the bandage. But the pain in my body was nothing compared to the ache in my chest. The apples Blake had carefully sliced for me by the bed now felt like a cruel joke. He had treated me so well, too well, in fact. So openly, so lavishly, everyone around us envied me. Blake had many businesses along the border, managing both the legal and illegal worlds. In five years, I had been kidnapped three times for him, taken a knife for him twice, and even took a bullet for him once. I had risked my life for him, thinking he loved me deeply, but it had all been a lie… “Did you just go out?” Blake’s voice suddenly came from behind me. I turned, tears streaming down my face, meeting his eyes, which usually sparkled with affection. I had secretly rejoiced countless times, thinking how lucky I was to be married to such a handsome man. But now, in his eyes, I saw an icy coldness that cut right through. “Caroline, are you afraid of me? Where did you go just now?” He was too sharp. I barely managed to smile awkwardly. “I just woke up. When I saw you weren’t here, I got scared and didn’t know what to do.” From an ordinary student to the woman of a mafia boss, it only took one night. After my first kidnapping, I developed a lasting fear. As soon as I couldn’t see Blake, I would tremble with fear. He didn’t seem to doubt me. He gently stroked my lips and chin, his fingers tracing my jawline before they moved to my neck and down my spine. I couldn’t help but gasp. His restless hand lingered on my waist, the heat from his palm searing my skin. “Tomorrow, I’ll be gone for a day. Stay home and behave.” He kissed my lips lightly, his words warm against my ear. I shivered, gripping his shirt tightly. “Blake, my wound… my wound…” His expression changed instantly. In two quick moves, he undressed me, staring at the blood-soaked bandage with a furrowed brow. “Caroline, do you want me to die of heartache?” He carefully changed my bandages, his concern evident, no trace of pretense on his face. But the words I had just heard kept replaying in my mind. Where was he going for that day he would be gone? To see that woman, the one I had risked my life to protect?

That night, Blake held me in his arms and slept deeply. But I couldn’t sleep at all. I stayed awake all night, only closing my eyes after confirming that he had boarded his flight the next morning. The distance from the bedroom to the study wasn’t far. In his small study, everything was about me. From our first anniversary to my most recent birthday, every little thing had been neatly arranged. Anyone who saw it would be moved by the depth of his love for me. Only I knew that in the hidden compartment of a drawer, there was a diary that didn’t belong to me. Blake had told me about it when he was drunk. That night, he kept apologizing. At the time, I was so absorbed in him that I didn’t pay much attention to it. The next day, he’d forgotten all about it. I pulled open the hidden compartment and brushed the dust off the diary. The password was intricate, showing how much the owner valued it. I never imagined that my studies in cryptography would come in handy now. The password clicked open, and on the first page, Blake’s bold, strong handwriting wrote words, Megan. The next ten pages were all about how much he loved Megan. The words were careful, intense, and timid in a way I had never seen before. With me, he was always so calm and collected. I thought it was because he had matured and no longer had the fiery passion of youth. So he just didn’t love me… The last page was written in a messy scrawl. [Megan was assassinated. She was right. People like us should never have lovers! I’ll send her off!] The writing turned to yellow ink. The words became fewer and fewer. [The girl is so easy to fool.] [Today, I remembered Megan. The girl thought I was talking about her. It’s fine. Let her misunderstand. That way, Megan will be safe.] [As long as she can be my wife, even if she gets killed, she wouldn’t mind.] [I will be punished. I arranged a kidnapping. Everything was within my control. She was triggered, and for the rest of her life, she’ll never be able to leave me. I’ll spend my life making it up to her.] I pressed my eyes shut, terrified that tears would fall. It turned out the person he had always wanted to be with openly was never me. Our meeting, our love, our marriage, our happiness, from the beginning to now, was all just my Truman Show. I closed the diary carefully and placed it back where it belonged. As I stepped out of the study, I allowed the tears to fall. I curled up into a ball. Scenes from my first kidnapping flashed in my mind. At that time, Blake and I were inseparable. I had just come out of the hospital and was planning to tell him about my pregnancy. But as soon as I got into a car, I lost consciousness. Those beasts dragged me across the ground. The coldness and brutal torture made me lose the baby. When Blake rushed in and held me in his arms, all I could manage was a blurry consciousness. It was then that I developed a psychological condition. I couldn’t be away from Blake for long, and my health completely deteriorated. Blake comforted me, saying it didn’t matter if we didn’t have a child. It turned out, from the very beginning, that he never planned to have a child with me. He was the one who had crushed all possibilities. What I thought was redemption and deep affection was actually a carefully orchestrated scheme by him! The pain in my chest made it hard to breathe. I couldn’t resist the physical reaction, collapsing on the bed, convulsing. Amidst this extreme pain, I slowly became calm. Every detail of being with Blake flashed through my mind. In these five years, I had faced countless life-and-death situations. Every time, he had risked his life to save me. His care for me was real. He wasn’t worried about me dying. He was afraid that once I was gone, the danger would fall on his beloved. Shivering, I picked up my phone and checked Blake’s transaction records over the years. He had a company overseas that mainly dealt in jewelry. All the gifts he had given me in the past few years came from that company.

That company didn’t profit at all. The yearly revenue, aside from the fixed 100 million Blake sent, was supplemented by funds from the Harris Group. The company’s business was wide-ranging, and every product he had created had appeared on that woman, Megan. I found Megan’s account on Facebook. She was living comfortably in a seaside villa. In her latest update, she held hands with a man. The caption read: [My dearest you, worlds apart, yet so close.] I zoomed in on the picture. The man wore the same ruby wedding band as Megan, and there was a white mark on his wrist. Blake had once told me he didn’t like wearing rings. That was why, at our wedding, everything was there except for the rings. I really thought he didn’t like them. I made a bracelet by hand and put it on his wrist. That day, he kissed the bracelet, saying it was his amulet and that he’d never take it off. But as soon as he saw Megan, he took it off. He didn’t dislike wearing rings. He just didn’t want to wear one with me. I scrolled further. On February 14th, Blake gave Megan a sapphire necklace carved from the finest stone. That day, Blake gave me a necklace made of blue diamonds. On July 7th, Blake bought the best silk and made a full set of clothes for Megan. That day, Blake gave me a silk scarf. I flipped through the pages, burying myself in the pillow, laughing wildly in silence, my body twitching. My pulse seemed to stop in this madness. In Blake’s eyes, I was just a sidekick to Megan, a scapegoat. All the gifts he gave me were just afterthoughts prepared for Megan. Five years of love, gone in a moment. I cried the whole night. During that time, Blake sent me a message. I used to think he loved me, that he always wanted to know how I was doing. Now I realize he was just afraid that I, the scapegoat, would run away. If that was the case, how could I let him get what he wanted? The next morning, I contacted my lawyer, asking him to cancel all my identity information as quickly as possible. Blake came back in the middle of the night. As soon as he entered the house, he eagerly buried his face in my shoulder. “Caroline, did you miss me? I couldn’t sleep a wink last night without you.” The dark circles under his eyes made it seem like he hadn’t slept a bit. If this had happened before, I would’ve been deeply touched. But now, I didn’t dare to move. He didn’t love me. This pretentious look of deep affection made me sick! “Shy?” He looked down with a laugh, pulling me into his arms and with a soft moan from me. I was like his doll, not cared for, not even considered if I was asleep. Tears slipped down the corners of my eyes, quickly absorbed by the pillow, as though sadness had never been there. The next morning, as soon as I opened my eyes, I saw Blake’s grim face. Thinking about his reputation, I flinched in fear. “Your phone’s ringing. What did you cancel?” I quickly looked at my phone. It was a message from the lawyer. He had already taken care of canceling my identity, and in three hours, it would be final. I smiled awkwardly, “It’s nothing. Just an email account I used before. It had been inactive for so long, and I was worried it might be reclaimed, so I just canceled it.” “Mm.” Blake leaned closer to me, his gaze intense, gripping the back of my head as if trying to steal every breath I had until I had no strength left and collapsed in his arms. “Caroline, don’t lie to me. Don’t betray me.” I nodded desperately, tears brimming in my eyes. The terror was so intense that my fingertips grew cold. Soon! Soon, I would escape from him! Soon, Blake would never have Caroline by his side again! Just then, my phone rang, and Blake took a step back. “What? Megan’s back? Who brought her here? Wait for me. I’m going now.” Blake’s voice was dark, and he hurried out without even looking at me. I kept telling myself to breathe. Before leaving, I still had one thing to do. Even though I had canceled my identity, I didn’t want the name Caroline to be linked with Blake anymore. I steadied my emotions and received a message from the private investigator. It was a string of numbers. Megan’s phone number. “Hello, I’m Blake’s wife. Let’s meet.”

The meeting place was chosen by Megan. It was at the city’s biggest hotel. Behind a screen, I could hear heavy breathing. “Can’t you listen to me? It’s not safe with me right now.” I had seen Blake cold and gentle, as well as every other side of him. But hearing his helpless voice for the first time shook me. “I miss you so much. I’m about to get married, and you still won’t see me. Is it true that you’ve really fallen for your wife?” “Stop saying that. I’m doing this to keep you safe.” After exchanging words of affection, Blake finally left. He was always cautious, but this time, he didn’t notice that someone else had slipped behind the screen. I couldn’t see my own expression, but it was probably bitter and mocking. “Blake is gone. You’re really pathetic. But as a woman, I’m still willing to hear you out.” Megan stepped out from behind it, a smug smile on her face, her eyes full of the pride of a victor. Her skin was flushed, and her outfit was both flattering and stylish, accentuating her figure. The exposed skin on her body was smooth and flawless. I looked down at my casual clothes. Ever since I got together with Blake, I didn’t dare wear anything nice because I lacked the courage to show the scars on my body. The constant injuries made me seem so much weaker than Megan. She just stood there, scanning me from top to bottom, and it was already the greatest insult. “I’m not here to fight you over Blake. I’ve been by his side long enough. He might have feelings for me too.” After being with Blake for so many years, I learned how to use others’ power to my advantage. “You came here today to make me give up, didn’t you? I know I can’t compare to you. I just want one autograph from him to remember him by.” When I left the hotel, my steps were much lighter. Over the past couple of days, I’d tried everything to cling to Blake. At first, he went along with it, but eventually, he became impatient. But it didn’t matter. As long as my goal was achieved, I didn’t care. Two days later, Megan gave me the signature I asked for. When I saw it, I breathed a sigh of relief and quickly went to print the divorce papers. By the third day, my identity was completely erased. I gathered all the gifts Blake had given me, including that diary, and placed them in the most visible spot in the villa. These things that belonged to someone else were better off returned to their rightful owner. As for all of my belongings, they were burned to ashes the moment I stepped on the plane. In the airport lounge, I took out my phone and sent Megan a message. Just two words: [Thank you.] Just as the phone was about to turn off, Blake’s text popped up in the notification bar. [Baby, I’m almost home.] [I bought the birthday cake. It’s your favorite strawberry cake.] [Sorry, baby, Megan isn’t feeling well. She’s all alone here, so I need to go check on her…] The phone shut off completely, and the dark screen didn’t show his next words. But I didn’t need to see it. I already knew he was going to be with Megan. I crushed the SIM card and threw it in the trash. Following the boarding announcement, I stepped onto the plane. Meanwhile, in the ballroom, Megan lay softly on Blake’s chest, a faint flush on her face from the alcohol. “Blake, I’m fine. Go back to Caroline. I’m the one being selfish. I couldn’t help myself, I just missed you, so I called you.” Her eyes were full of tears. Blake’s phone lay next to them, the screen flashing dimly. It wasn’t until they left the ballroom that he noticed the dozens of missed calls on his phone. The moment he answered, his friend Zachary’s panicked voice came through, trembling. “Blake! A lawyer came to the company with the divorce papers! Caroline found out about you and Ms. Foster! “We can’t reach Caroline! We’ve tried every way, and we can’t get in touch with her!!”

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I’ve been in love with my childhood friend for ten years, and he’s been annoyed with me for just as long. Finally, one day, I slept with him and left two hundred dollars on the nightstand. My childhood friend felt utterly humiliated and “hunted” me down everywhere. But he couldn’t find me anywhere. I avoided him for three years, until my father passed away, leaving me an orphan. His parents said, “From now on, our home is your home, and this boy is your brother.” I looked at my childhood friend’s face, flushed with anger and embarrassment at the sight of me, And cheerfully called out, “Hello, big brother!” 0 I had been avoiding Ethan Collins for exactly three years. The reason I remember it so clearly is because the night I seduced him was New Year’s Eve during my freshman year winter break. And today is New Year’s Eve of my senior year winter break. I was dragging my suitcase, planning to buy some fruit before going upstairs. Unexpectedly, I ran into Ethan Collins. He hadn’t changed much, still fair-skinned and unforgettably handsome. —You couldn’t tell at all that he was a bit of a player. A beautiful player. The moment he entered the store, I instinctively turned away, lowering the brim of my cap. “Ethan, buying fruit again?” The young male shopkeeper’s eyes lit up at the sight of Ethan Collins. “We’ve got some great new pomelos. Why don’t you take a couple home for your parents to try?” Ethan said, “I don’t like sour things.” “Then how about some cherries? They’re guaranteed sweet.” “I hate sweet things even more.” …I wanted to tell him, eat it or don’t, just get lost. But the shopkeeper’s enthusiasm didn’t wane. When Ethan was checking out, he even insisted on stuffing a few apples into his bag. This was Ethan’s special treatment. With his good looks, he was the center of attention wherever he went. When he was ten, Ethan could go out empty-handed and come back with his pockets full of snacks. It made me green with envy back then. Now at twenty, the neighborhood had changed faces many times over. But he was still the focal point. The shopkeeper asked, “Ethan, are you going home alone this year?” “Mm-hmm.” “I heard from the neighbors that you were planning to bring a girlfriend home this year.” Ethan has a girlfriend? I couldn’t help but prick up my ears. 0

Ethan laughed softly. His laugh was particularly pleasant, making one’s ears tingle. On New Year’s Eve three years ago, I had heard it up close. Not only did it make my ears tingle, but if I heard it too much, my heart would flutter too. “That’s not true,” he said. The shopkeeper: “I knew a good-looking boy like you would have high standards. It’s not easy for you to find a partner. What’s your type? I have a sister who’s quite a beauty.” “I don’t like girls who are too beautiful.” “Well, she’s not that beautiful…” “I also don’t like girls who aren’t beautiful enough.” The shopkeeper was at a loss for words, forcing an awkward smile: “Ethan, you should hurry up and find a girlfriend to put your parents at ease.” “Don’t worry, I have a girlfriend,” Ethan said, “I just haven’t decided which girlfriend to bring home.” Shopkeeper: … Such an outrageous statement, coming from a player’s mouth, somehow seemed reasonable. After a while, the store was quiet. I figured Ethan must have left. I went to grab the last honeydew melon. A long, fair hand suddenly appeared, intercepting the melon midway. “Sorry, I got to it first.” The young man’s voice sounded behind me. He said sorry, but there wasn’t a hint of apology in his tone. “But I might consider letting you have it.” Ethan’s voice was now drumming against my eardrums— “Could you turn around?” 0

My ill-fated connection with Ethan Collins could be traced back twelve years. My dad brought me from the county to the city. He and Ethan’s father were war buddies, but after retiring, one ended up in heaven and the other on earth. My dad was the one on earth. City living was expensive, and he drove a bus, barely making ends meet. As for why we had to live in the city, my dad said the education was better here, and I could get into a good university. City housing prices were also high, and thanks to Ethan’s father, we were lent two rooms to live in. Ethan’s parents were very kind to me. My dad was often away, so after school, I’d go to Ethan’s house for meals. I practically ate, lived, and went to school with Ethan. But he didn’t like me. Ethan’s friends were mostly handsome, beautiful, or from wealthy families. I was a country bumpkin, dark-skinned and chubby. I insisted on following him around, which annoyed him greatly. Once, he deliberately left me at an amusement park, nearly causing me to get lost. Ethan got a severe beating for that incident. He still has scars on his bottom because of it. He hated me even more after that, always trying to find ways to tease me. But back then, I was naive. I always thought Ethan was different from the boys back home. He was so good-looking, with such fair skin. When he smiled, it seemed magical. I stubbornly followed behind him, hiding my budding feelings. Looking back now, Ethan’s annoyance with me was undisguised. One spring, when all the flowers at school were in bloom, Ethan’s friends asked him which flower he liked best. Ethan said, “I don’t have a favorite, only one I hate the most. I hate gardenias, they’re too sweet and cloying, absolutely awful.” As he said this, he glanced at me from the corner of his eye. I immediately understood that these words were meant for me to hear. Because that morning, I had just picked two gardenias for him. The year we graduated from high school, another incident occurred. I asked Ethan, “Where are you planning to apply for college?” Ethan thought for a moment: “London.” Excited, I filled out applications for schools in London. The day the acceptance letters came, I found out. Ethan was going to New York. He had lied to me, just to get away from me. What a cruel reality. 0

During the first semester of freshman year, if I didn’t initiate contact, Ethan wouldn’t reach out to me either. He had his own life, his own circle of friends. He was outstanding, leading his major, and even voted campus heartthrob. His photos always featured beautiful girls. I visited him in New York once. His friends asked, “Ethan, who’s this chick?” Ethan said, “The daughter of my dad’s friend.” I was stunned at that moment. After knowing each other for ten years, in the end, I didn’t even count as an ordinary friend. Suddenly, I felt utterly disheartened. But I wasn’t ready to give up just like that. I planned for a long time, and on New Year’s Day during the winter break, I seduced Ethan. We had both been drinking that day. Ethan couldn’t hold his liquor well and quickly became tipsy. I, however, was unusually clear-headed. When I got close to him, he didn’t push me away. I asked, “Ethan Collins, do you know how long I’ve liked you?” He didn’t say anything. Feeling that taking advantage of him wasn’t right, I asked again, “Do you know who I am?” He said, “Lily Knowles.” When he said my name, it sounded low and enchanting. I said, “Are you going to reject me?” He shook his head and instead wrapped his arms around me tightly. That night, Ethan was very gentle. After the impulse passed, we lay in bed, and Ethan said to me, “I’m sorry for lying about the college applications.” I didn’t respond. He held onto my arm, sighing helplessly, “I promise I’ll apply for grad school in London, okay?” As if I cared anymore. I had already decided to let go. Tonight, I was just giving myself closure. After all, I had been foolish for so many years. If I didn’t get him once, it would feel like a loss. Now that I had, I wouldn’t dwell on it anymore. Early the next morning, before Ethan woke up, I ran away. Oh, right. He had paid for the hotel. I didn’t want to take advantage of him, so I left two hundred dollars. But this gesture seemed to cause some misunderstandings… I deleted all of Ethan’s contact information and completely cut ties with him. I heard from high school classmates that Ethan felt utterly humiliated and was “hunting” me down everywhere. He even came to my university. Several times, but never saw me. The most memorable was during sophomore year. My roommate relayed to me: That day, Ethan was like a volcano about to erupt, desperate to catch me and tear me to pieces. He stopped my roommate and fiercely asked, “Where has Lily Knowles gone again?!” My roommate said, “Oh, don’t you know? Today’s May 20th.” “—She went out to celebrate with her boyfriend.” At that moment. It was as if a torrential rain had suddenly extinguished the volcano. Ethan stood there, stunned, for a long, long time.

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As we were about to exchange rings, a woman burst through the door, leading a child by the hand. With tears in her eyes, she cried out, “Are you really going to abandon us, your own flesh and blood?” The entire room fell into shocked silence. My fiancé froze, his hand hovering over my finger with the ring. He turned to me and said, “As you can see, that’s my child. I can’t let my own blood be cast aside. You’ll have to treat this child as your own from now on.” Without a word, I walked over to the woman and slipped the ring onto her finger instead. “Why make things complicated? You two should be together,” I said, starting to clap. “Today’s a joyous occasion. You star-crossed lovers can finally be united.” The room was stunned into silence. As my parents were about to explode with anger, I held them back with a smile. “Mom, Dad, they’re clearly in love. I’m gracious enough to step aside,” I said lightly. Then I signaled to one of the staff members. In an instant, the video showcasing my love story with Ethan Guthrie was replaced by security footage of him having an affair with his subordinate in the office. The video was extremely graphic. The room fell deathly quiet before erupting into gasps and exclamations. Ethan’s face turned ashen. “Have you lost your mind?” he hissed. After a chaotic moment, Ethan finally managed to shut off the video. Anna Shirley broke down in tears. She had been in shock, barely breathing, during the brief 30-second clip. It felt like she had been dragged through hell. She glared at me resentfully, not understanding why I had to be so cruel. She had only come today to secure a future for her child. Why did I have to utterly destroy them? The child started wailing, frightened by the commotion. Mother and son clung to each other, looking utterly pitiful. My parents’ anger gave way to stunned expressions. Dad sighed, looking at me with sympathy. Mom hugged me tightly. “Oh sweetheart, you’ve been wronged. You should have told us earlier.” I shook my head with a smile. “It’s fine. They’ve gotten their comeuppance now.” Behind me, Ethan’s face had turned black as coal. I shot him a mocking smile before turning to address the crowd. “Everyone, the engagement party ends here. I’ll refund your gifts later. But please, enjoy the food and drinks. Consider it a celebration of my escape from misery.” With that, I left with my parents. But we had barely stepped outside when Ethan’s parents blocked our way. Mrs. Guthrie looked at me reproachfully. “Stella, you went too far today. Even if our Ethan had an affair, you shouldn’t have caused such a scene at the wedding.” I hadn’t actually planned to go this far. This incident would make both the Guthrie and Moore families the subject of gossip. My engagement to Ethan had been more of a business arrangement than a love match. Or rather, I no longer had feelings for him now. I used to like him a lot. But he never truly cared for me. He had one girlfriend after another, and now he had even gotten his subordinate pregnant. I wanted to go crazy, to lash out recklessly. But I couldn’t. The business ties between our families were too deep. I couldn’t afford to be petty. So I had endured it all. I thought we could get married first, then I would slowly distance myself from the Guthries. I wanted the Moore family to extract themselves from this mess unscathed. But Ethan and Anna were too greedy. They actually tried to force me to accept that child at the wedding. Since it had come to this, we would have to go down together. Mr. and Mrs. Guthrie continued to berate me as my parents argued back. Soon, two pairs of normally dignified elites were hurling insults at each other on the street. My heart ached. I had caused my parents such embarrassment. Just then, Ethan emerged with the child in tow, Anna following behind. Seeing the chaotic scene, he frowned, his icy glare fixed on me. “Look what you’ve done!” he snapped. Rage surged within me. How dare he blame me? I could no longer contain myself. I stepped forward and slapped him hard across the face. “Ethan Guthrie, how dare you say that? You two caused this scene at our wedding, humiliating both our families, and you expected me to just swallow this bitter pill? How dare you!”

The sharp crack of the slap silenced everyone. All eyes turned to us. Ethan’s head was turned to the side from the force of the blow. He seemed stunned, unable to react. Anna let out a piercing shriek. She threw herself at Ethan, wailing as if her parents had died. “Ethan, are you okay? How could she be so cruel!” Mr. and Mrs. Guthrie finally snapped out of their shock. Mr. Guthrie’s face turned livid. “You may be from a good family, but how could you resort to violence?” he scolded me. Mrs. Guthrie dabbed at her eyes, glaring daggers at me. Ethan came back to his senses and moved to retaliate. My father quickly pulled me behind him protectively. “Ethan Guthrie, don’t you dare lay a hand on her!” he warned. Ethan halted, his chest heaving with barely contained fury. But he wasn’t so far gone as to actually strike my father. The child began crying loudly, frightened by all the commotion. Anna frantically tried to comfort him while continuing her dramatic performance. “Miss Moore, please don’t be angry. I only came for the child’s sake. I never meant to ruin your relationship,” she sobbed, her body shaking. “If you’re willing to raise little Sky, I promise I’ll never appear before you again.” Ethan looked at her with concern before turning to glare at me reproachfully. As if I was being unreasonable by not agreeing, as if I was committing some great sin. I found it laughable that even at this point, Ethan still thought we could get married. I clapped my hands together mockingly. “Ethan Guthrie, our engagement is over. Congratulations, we’re both free now.” His eyes widened in anger as he jabbed a finger at me. “Stella Moore, are you still a child? Don’t you realize canceling our engagement will have huge consequences for both our companies?” Of course Ethan didn’t believe I would actually call off the engagement. He still thought I was just throwing a tantrum, acting like a spoiled rich girl. He regretted not hiding Anna and the child better. At the very least, he should have waited until after the wedding to bring little Sky home. I regarded him coldly. “Consequences? Did you think about the consequences when you were fooling around with her?” Anna listened from the side, a smug smile playing on her lips. Ethan remained dismissive. “So what? Which man in our circles doesn’t have a mistress on the side?” At those words, both sets of parents’ expressions changed. Especially Mrs. Guthrie’s. Mr. Guthrie had quite the reputation as a womanizer in his younger days, even fathering several illegitimate children. Though the situations had been handled, Mrs. Guthrie was still sensitive about the topic. Remembering this, her gaze toward Anna turned hostile. This woman was no different from those vixens who had seduced her husband. Just then, a few paparazzi started snapping photos. They whispered amongst themselves: “Big news! The Guthrie heir and Moore heiress are finished.” “Mistress crashes wedding with love child – what juicy upper-class drama!” Hearing this, Mrs. Guthrie’s expression darkened further. “What are you standing around for? Take your son and go home. Stop embarrassing us here!” she snapped at Ethan. With a final glare at Anna, Mrs. Guthrie stormed off. Mr. Guthrie, knowing the situation well, followed without comment. Anna was taken aback by Mrs. Guthrie’s sudden change in attitude. She huddled closer to Ethan, looking pitiful. Ethan glared at me one last time before leaving with little Sky in his arms. I watched their retreating figures, lost in thought. On the surface, the Guthrie family seemed just as prestigious as the Moores. But in reality, their business had been declining in recent years.

Six months ago, Guthrie Cosmetics was exposed for using carcinogenic ingredients in their skincare products. The scandal had dealt a heavy blow to the family. That’s why they were in such a rush to have me marry Ethan. But I hadn’t known any of this before. It wasn’t until I discovered Anna was pregnant, and Ethan still stubbornly insisted on marrying me instead of giving her proper status, that I realized something was off. I did some digging and found out the Guthries were facing a major cash flow problem. But by then it was too late. We had already set the wedding date. My parents probably knew about the Guthries’ issues long ago. But for my sake, they gritted their teeth and continued working with them. I felt so unfilial. I finally broke down in tears. “I’m sorry. I’ve made you lose face,” I choked out. Mom hugged me tightly. “Stella, honey, you did nothing wrong. There’s no shame in loving someone.” Dad rushed to comfort me as well. “That’s right. It’s all the Guthries’ fault for being such scum.” Their words gradually lifted my mood. That evening, I received a message from Ethan: “I’ll let today’s incident slide. You’ve vented enough, so we’re even now.” I had to do a double-take, shocked by his thick skin. Even after all that drama, he still thought there was hope for our relationship. As I was pondering this, more messages came through: “I’ve thought it over. Since you can’t accept Sky, I’ll send him away after we’re married.” “But I still need to set aside some shares for him. He is my son after all.” “Don’t worry, only the children you bear will be the true Guthrie heirs.” I rolled my eyes so hard they nearly fell out of my head. Inherit what? The Guthrie family’s debts? I didn’t bother replying, just muted his messages. That night, I locked myself in my room. I knew the Guthries were clinging to me desperately just to save their crumbling empire. Recently, the Guthries had been working on a project with Jason Corp. I decided to contact the CEO of Jason Corp directly. “Mr. Jason, I have a business proposition for you,” I said. “Miss Moore, what do you mean…?” I smiled sweetly. Then I sent a file to Mr. Jason’s email. “This is an alternative partnership proposal I’ve prepared for you. Moore Industries has more capital and resources to ensure the project’s success.” The man on the other end went quiet for a moment. I assumed he was reviewing the file I sent. “Miss Moore, your offer is very appealing,” he finally said. “But I’ve already agreed to work with Guthrie Corp. We’re about to sign the contract. Backing out now would make me seem untrustworthy.” But I wasn’t worried. I had anticipated this response. Mr. Jason’s greatest strength was his integrity. “Of course, I understand your position,” I said calmly. “But I hope you’ll consider it carefully. Once Moore Industries officially ends our partnership with the Guthries, their problems may affect you as well…” After a long pause, he let out a heavy sigh. “Alright.” Two days later, Ethan showed up at my door. My parents happened to be out. He strode in with his usual arrogant air, looking impatient. “Alright, you’ve had your little tantrum for days now. It’s time we go get our marriage license,” he said. I rubbed my temples, giving him a cold look. I’d miscalculated. I should have told the staff not to let anyone from the Guthrie family in. “Ethan Guthrie, where do you get the confidence to think I’d still marry you?” I asked incredulously. Ethan walked over, his tone uncharacteristically placating. “Stop being childish. I admit I was wrong before. I went too far,” he said. “But I promise after we’re married, I’ll cut ties with everyone else and be devoted only to you.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. Those were the same words Mr. Guthrie had said to his wife years ago. Yet to this day, Mr. Guthrie still hadn’t cut ties with his mistresses. Who knows, a few more illegitimate children might pop up in the coming years. “Your own mother wouldn’t believe that,” I scoffed. Ethan was taken aback. He clearly remembered his father’s philandering ways too. As a child, he had vowed to me that he would never become like his father. But the older he got, the more he seemed to follow in Mr. Guthrie’s footsteps. The thought irritated him further. “Didn’t I say I’d take care of the child situation? Why are you being so stubborn about this?” he snapped. “Ethan Guthrie, wake up and face reality,” I retorted. With that, I ignored him and told the butler to throw him out. Then I put up a sign outside – “No dogs or Ethan Guthrie allowed.” He clearly saw it. His face turned black with rage. But there was nothing he could do. He could only fume outside. To celebrate my escape from that scumbag, my best friend took me to a bar to check out some male models. In her words, since I’d taken a fall with one man, I needed to make up for it with other hot guys. So there I was, surrounded by a parade of male models for me to choose from. They sweetly called out, “Miss, miss…” as they passed by. I was having the time of my life. I suddenly realized what a dull existence I’d been living before. My friend had her arms around one of the models. She caught my eye from across the room and gave me a knowing look. I was thoroughly enjoying myself when I spotted a familiar figure. It looked like Anna Shirley. I quickly followed her. Weaving through the crowd, I trailed Anna as she made her way to a secluded corner. A roguish-looking man was waiting there. When he turned, I got a clear view of his face. He bore a striking resemblance to Mr. Guthrie. I had a feeling something big was about to go down. I hid behind some bushes and started recording with my phone. Anna threw herself at the man with a coy expression. “Did you wait long?” The man stood still, letting her embrace him. His eyes held nothing but cynicism and mockery. “Miss me that much? I guess Ethan isn’t satisfying you?” he drawled. Anna’s face flushed red. Then, as if no one else existed, they began kissing passionately. Anna’s eyes were clouded with desire. Her legs went weak. But the man remained detached. Though he kissed her fervently, his eyes stayed cold and clear. When they finally broke apart, Anna collapsed in his arms. The man stroked her head. “You’ve done well.” Anna nodded obediently. “Ethan must be blind to fall for your act,” the man chuckled lowly. Anna let out a contemptuous laugh. “Hah, he says he loves me. Says that Miss Moore is just an old-fashioned prude, boring in bed too.” The man’s tone turned lecherous. “Is that so? I wouldn’t mind sampling the prude’s flavor myself.” Ugh. I nearly threw up. How dare they bring me into their dirty flirting? I was so disgusted my hands shook. I almost dropped my phone. But what I heard next was truly shocking.

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I opened my eyes to find myself in a stark white hospital room. As I sat up, I felt as if something had been cleared from my mind, leaving me with an unusually calm feeling. While I was staring out the window, lost in thought, someone entered the room. “Zoe, I’m so glad you’re awake. I had no idea that little stray cat would be so naughty. Once you’re out of the hospital, I’ll buy you a much more expensive one to make up for it,” said a teary-eyed woman. “And about the baby… I want to apologize. Please don’t be angry with Jack because of me. Don’t let this affect your relationship of many years,” she continued, her eyes red from crying and her demeanor suggesting she had been greatly wronged. I remained silent, which only made the woman cry harder, her tears falling like water from a faucet. “It seems Zoe won’t forgive me. It’s all my fault. I should just go and die now, to make amends for Zoe’s baby,” she said, rushing towards the door. The man beside her quickly grabbed her, locking her in his embrace. “What are you talking about? This isn’t your fault. Don’t say such things!” he said, holding her tightly. Then he turned to me, his face dark with displeasure. “Rachel has apologized to you. What more do you want? You know she’s not in good health. Can’t you stop bullying her?” he said sternly. I frowned, “Who are you people? Do I know you? If you’re sick, go get treatment. Don’t come here acting crazy!” The man paused for a moment, then furrowed his brow, looking at my face suspiciously as if trying to determine whether I was lying. “Zoe Sanders, what do you mean by that?” he asked. I didn’t answer him. Instead, I tilted my head, seriously trying to recall who these two annoying people were. But even after long consideration, I couldn’t retrieve any information about them from my memory. “I don’t know you. Get out of my hospital room, or I’m calling the police,” I said firmly. The man’s face gradually darkened. He gripped my shoulders, his tone serious, “Zoe, this amnesia act isn’t funny. If you’re trying to get my attention, I advise you to stop now. It only makes me more annoyed.” I narrowed my eyes, then raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face. The woman screamed and rushed over, cradling the man’s face and checking for injuries. Unfazed, I quickly grabbed my phone and dialed 91

“Miss Sanders has no brain damage. According to the test results, it appears she has experienced some kind of shock, causing her body’s defense mechanism to choose to avoid the pain. As a result, her memory has regressed to when she was 18,” the doctor explained to the police. After the police and doctor left, I stood with my arms crossed, staring expressionlessly at the two people in front of me. According to the police officer, the man before me was my fiancé, and the woman beside him was his childhood friend. After hearing this, I couldn’t help but laugh. What kind of fiancé would be hugging and comforting his childhood friend while leaving his own fiancée out in the cold? Moreover, judging from their words and actions before the police arrived, these two people seemed to have an unclear relationship and apparently didn’t treat me well. Jack’s face was pale as he sat on the edge of the hospital bed, trying to hold my hand. I immediately pulled away and raised my hand again, “I don’t mind giving you another slap.” Jack’s eyes flashed with hurt. He pressed his lips together, “Zoe, have you really forgotten me? You used to love me so much…” I smiled, “But it seems you don’t love me very much.” Jack followed my gaze to Rachel. He hurriedly tried to explain, “I’ve told you countless times, Rachel is just like a sister to me. She’s not in good health, what’s wrong with me taking care of her?” “Right, right,” I said sarcastically. “Using your wife and child’s lives to take care of a ‘sister’ with no blood relation. Even Buddha would have to step aside for you.” “Jack Roberts, you know very well what you’re thinking. If you want to have an affair, just have one. Why use the excuse of her being your ‘sister’? Honestly, men like you are not only disgusting but also cowardly. I don’t know what I was thinking to fall for someone like you.” Jack’s face turned ashen, his facial muscles tense. Rachel stood beside Jack, supporting his shoulder and putting on an understanding act. “How can you speak so rudely? Jack and I grew up together, we’re family. What’s wrong with him taking care of me a little more?” I smiled slightly, straightened up, and beckoned her closer. She approached uncertainly. I grabbed her collar and slapped her hard, sending her sprawling to the floor. “Don’t you have parents of your own? Why are you out here trying to steal someone else’s husband to be your ‘family’? If you need so much care, pack your bags and go lie down in a nursing home!” Rachel held her face, biting her pink lips. Her tear-filled eyes looked towards Jack. Jack wanted to say something, but when he met my gaze, he swallowed his words. He simply helped Rachel up silently. “Rachel, you should go home now,” he said quietly. Rachel looked at him in disbelief. “Jack…” “Go home!” he repeated more firmly. Rachel glared at me with hatred and reluctance before turning and leaving the hospital room. “Your little lover has left. Why are you still here?” I asked coldly. Jack didn’t refute my words. He pressed his lips together and said, “Zoe, once you’re discharged, let’s go get our marriage license.” I looked at him incredulously. “Are you sick? Who wants to marry you?” He panicked immediately, his eyes trembling. “Didn’t you always want to marry me?” “I did? Well, I don’t want to anymore. Is that okay? Looking at you makes me sick.” Jack looked deeply hurt. But I was telling the truth. Just a few exchanges had made me despise him so much. I don’t know how my former self had endured it. After Jack left, I opened the voice memo app on my phone. I’ve always had the habit of keeping an audio diary, and I wondered if I had continued this habit as I grew older. Upon checking, I found that the latest recording was from last night. Before playing it, I felt an inexplicable sense of dread, as if a huge stone was weighing down my heart. But after what had just happened, I desperately wanted to know everything. It was a twenty-minute recording. I wiped my face and found it wet with tears. How had 28-year-old Zoe Sanders ended up living like this? Humbled in love, framed, humiliated, handed over by her beloved to be tortured by a psychopath… Her child, her kitten, along with her dignity, all stripped away… It’s okay. It won’t happen again. 18-year-old Zoe Sanders doesn’t love Jack Roberts. Without love, there won’t be humiliation, and there won’t be even a shred of softness in my heart.

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While I was changing clothes, my neighbor, Linda, crossed a line I never expected. When I found out I was pregnant, my husband immediately assumed I had cheated on him. He rushed home that very night to confront me. Through tears, I told him the horrific truth. Furious, he stormed off to confront Linda, but he too fell victim to her cruelty. Realizing her secret was about to be exposed, Linda made a chilling decision—she poisoned all three of us. Now, in this second chance at life, I swear I will drag every filthy secret of hers into the light for the world to see. “Janie, change into something dry. Look at you, you’re soaking wet,” Linda said as she rummaged through the closet for clothes. I froze, my hand trembling over the buttons of my shirt, staring at Linda’s back with a mixture of disbelief and fear. This isn’t happening… right? Linda turned around with a confused look. “What’s wrong, Janie? Aren’t you going to change?” Forcing a weak smile, I stammered, “I-I’m fine… I just need to use the bathroom first.” Without waiting for her response, I stumbled into the bathroom and locked the door tightly behind me. The strength drained from my body as I slid down against the door, trembling uncontrollably. I stared at my pale, shaking hands—hands that were still untainted, unmarred—and tears began to stream silently down my face. I clamped my hand over my mouth to muffle my sobs. It was today. It was this rainy day. It was in this house. This was the day Linda destroyed me. Linda wasn’t just my neighbor; she was practically family. She was incredibly close to my father-in-law, so much so that she lived in his house while renting out her own to make extra income. My husband and I had even joked about when they were finally going to get married. But whenever the topic came up, Linda and my father-in-law would exchange awkward glances and quickly change the subject. Eventually, my husband and I stopped asking. My mother-in-law had passed away years ago, and Linda had stepped in to care for my husband and his father ever since. She was even there the first time I met my husband’s family, helping to “vet” me. When she found out I was an orphan, her eyes filled with an almost overwhelming pity. In the two years I’d been married, she’d treated me with kindness and care, always looking out for me. But after what happened, I had no idea how to cope. I could only cry in despair. Linda knelt before me, sobbing and begging for forgiveness. She swore she’d make it up to me, that she’d never tell anyone about what she’d done. But I was too shaken to accept her apology. I shook my head and tried to run for the door. That’s when the always-gentle Linda transformed into a monster. She sprang to her feet, grabbed me, and held me back with a terrifying strength. I screamed for help, my cries directed at my father-in-law, who was standing nearby. He hesitated for a moment, looking conflicted. But then, he pulled out a bundle of rope. And just like that, I was tied up and locked in a room—for an entire month. No one suspected a thing. My father-in-law went to my workplace and told my boss I needed some time off to deal with a “family emergency.” Meanwhile, Linda used my phone to reply to my husband’s texts, keeping him in the dark. Trapped in that room, I screamed until my voice was hoarse. But no one came to help me. Linda would bring me meals every day, trying to convince me to “let it go” and pretend nothing had ever happened. “We can still be family,” she’d say. Bound hand and foot, I wriggled helplessly on the bed like a caterpillar. At first, I spat in her face and hurled the vilest insults I could think of. But as time went on, I grew weaker. Reason told me I needed to conserve my strength if I ever wanted to escape. One day, I drank every last drop of the porridge Linda brought me. Her eyes lit up at the sight, and she spoke to me in a gentler tone, trying once again to persuade me. I closed my eyes, unwilling to even look at her or my father-in-law.

The turning point came a month later. After finishing a bowl of porridge, I suddenly vomited it all back up. My stomach churned violently, and I was pale as a ghost, struggling to suppress the urge to throw up again. Panic flashed across Linda’s face as she rushed to call my father-in-law. The two of them decided to force-feed me some medication for my stomach. But the vomiting didn’t stop. For a week straight, everything I ate came right back up. Linda sat helplessly on the edge of the bed while I lay there, utterly drained. Then, as if struck by inspiration, she clapped her hands together and hurried out of the room. Exhausted, I drifted off to sleep. When I woke up, Linda and my father-in-law were standing over me, their faces pale and stricken, as if something even worse had happened. Linda dropped to her knees with a thud and stammered, “Janie… you… I…” My voice was hoarse as I croaked, “What? Are you finally going to let me go?” Linda squeezed her eyes shut and muttered, “You… you’re pregnant.” I froze, my eyes widening in disbelief. My husband had been working out of town for four months. I already knew who the father was.

Knock, knock, knock! The sound of rhythmic knocking echoed from the door behind me. Linda’s voice, tinged with worry, called out, “Janie, are you okay in there?” I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to sound calm. “I’m fine. Just… stomach trouble.” Steeling myself, I resolved not to let today unfold the same way it had in my previous life. Flushing the toilet, I stepped out of the bathroom. Linda was sitting casually on the living room couch, her expression seemingly innocent. I couldn’t bear to look at her any longer. Grasping for an excuse, I decided to get rid of her. “Linda, I’m really craving ribs today. Could you make me some corn and rib soup?” “Well, there aren’t any ribs left in the house,” she replied with a smile. “I’ll head out and grab some.” I nodded and watched as she got up, slipped on her coat, and left through the front door. As she walked out, I returned to my bedroom, closing the door behind me. I knew she wouldn’t try anything immediately. In my past life, when our three bodies began to decompose, the stench prompted Linda to file a complaint with the property management. When the property staff opened the door and found our corpses, they quickly called the police. Footage from the building’s security cameras revealed that Linda had been returning to the apartment every four days. The authorities set a trap, and she was eventually arrested. During her interrogation, Linda confessed everything, breaking down in tears and saying she regretted it all. She claimed she didn’t know what came over her when she first attacked me. When my husband, Zane, confronted her, she panicked and made one mistake after another, spiraling out of control until her mental state completely crumbled. When the investigators asked why she had also killed my father-in-law, Linda’s expression turned grim. She insisted that he bore responsibility for everything that happened. “If it weren’t for his… peculiar habits all these years, I wouldn’t have gotten used to this… this way of life,” she muttered. Tears streamed down her face as she choked out her final words: “This was his punishment, his atonement. And I… I was the one who started it all…” But she couldn’t finish her sentence. Her voice cracked, and she fell silent, shaking her head as if the weight of her guilt had rendered her speechless.

The sound of the door clicking shut snapped me out of my thoughts. I quickly pulled out my phone, my hand trembling as I dialed my husband’s number. “Zane, you have to come home today. I have something important to tell you,” I said, my voice shaking. Hearing the panic in my tone, he tried to reassure me. “Calm down, Janie. What’s going on? Take your time—I’m here.” I clenched my fist, digging my nails into my palm to keep myself steady. “It’s not something I can explain right now. Please, just come home today.” Zane hesitated. He’d only recently started his new position in another city, and taking leave so soon would be difficult to justify. The silence on the other end of the line was deafening. Taking a deep breath, I hardened my voice and said, “Zane, if you don’t come home today, we’re done. I’ll file for divorce.” Before he could respond, I hung up. My heart raced as I stumbled to my closet, digging out clean clothes. My hands shook so badly that it took me several tries to get dressed properly. Grabbing my car keys from the entryway, I bolted out of the house and drove straight to my office. When I arrived, my coworkers who were working late greeted me warmly. “Good evening, Manager Monroe!” “Didn’t you already leave for the day? What brings you back?” “Manager Monroe, want to grab dinner with us?” I forced a smile and responded to each of them politely. “Good evening! Just came back to handle a work issue. You all enjoy dinner—I’ll head upstairs now. Keep up the good work!” Once I reached my office, I sank into my chair, burying my face in my hands as I let out a long, shaky breath. The rain had stopped, and the sky outside was bright and clear. Sunlight poured through the windows, and a faint rainbow arched across the horizon. For the first time in what felt like forever, the weather was beautiful.

I pulled out a sheet of paper and began jotting down everything I could remember from my previous life. This time, I’d stay far away from the people and events that had once made my life a living hell. No one who committed such heinous acts would escape the consequences this time. I was deep in thought when the sound of my phone ringing startled me. Frowning, I glanced at the screen. Seeing Linda’s name pop up, my expression turned ice-cold. “Janie, where are you? I bought the ribs—should I start cooking them now?” Suppressing a bitter laugh, I replied flatly, “I’m at the office. Won’t be coming home tonight. Bye.” Without waiting for a response, I hung up, then stood and fed the paper I’d written into the shredder. I watched as the memories of my past life were reduced to tiny scraps. There was no way I’d leave something that incriminating lying around. The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur. My mind was too preoccupied to focus on work—I could only think about my next move. It wasn’t until a timid knock on my office door pulled me back to the present. One of the interns peeked in and said softly, “Manager Monroe, Mr. Lee wants to see you in his office.” When I entered Mr. Lee’s office, he greeted me with a warm smile, his chubby hands folded on his desk like a friendly mascot. “Take a seat, Janie,” he said. I nodded politely. “Mr. Lee, is there something you need?” After sipping his tea, he got straight to the point. “Janie, there’s no need for small talk. You’ve been with the company for three years now, and your abilities speak for themselves. The board is planning to open a branch in Seabridge, and I’d like you to lead it. What do you think?” The news hit me like a bolt of lightning. It felt like a gift from the heavens. In my previous life, I’d been locked away during this exact time and had never even heard about this opportunity. This was a rare chance. If I accepted the position, a couple of years of hard work at the new branch would pave the way for a promotion when I returned. I was thrilled, but I kept my expression carefully measured—just enough to show interest without appearing overly eager. Mr. Lee seemed pleased with my reaction. But instead of giving him an answer right away, I asked, “When would I need to move?” Waving his hand, he replied, “No rush. Anytime within the next month.” I thanked him and promised to think it over before leaving the office.

The sky gradually darkened, the soft pink hues of dusk fading into deep shadows. Only the faint glow of streetlights illuminated the paths of late-night wanderers. My phone lit up with the familiar ringtone. After an entire afternoon of waiting, the key player had finally arrived. Zane’s usually clear voice was now slightly hoarse, the exhaustion from his long journey evident. I simply told him to come to my office and refused to discuss anything further. When I saw Zane’s tall, clean-cut figure appear, my chest tightened, and I couldn’t hold back anymore. I threw myself into his arms and began to sob uncontrollably. I cried with all the helplessness and sorrow I had bottled up—the endless nightmare of my previous life, Linda’s twisted facade, my father-in-law’s disgusting complicity, and the way Zane and I had been dragged into such unimaginable horror. Zane’s face, initially filled with traces of anger and fatigue, softened with pure concern as I cried. He wrapped his arms around my waist, his other hand gently stroking my hair like he was calming a child. “What’s wrong, Janie? What happened? Tell me, okay?” I choked on my words, wanting to explain but finding it impossible to speak. Noticing my struggle, Zane gently reassured me, “Take your time. I’m here. Just breathe.” After a few moments, I pulled myself out of his embrace and began hesitantly sharing bits and pieces of what had happened. Who would believe something so outrageous if it wasn’t ripped from the plot of a soap opera or a novel? Even if they believed it, how could I ever say it out loud? Exposing my deepest vulnerabilities would strip me bare—turning me into a defenseless target, like a declawed tiger or a fish laid out on the chopping block. So, I chose my words carefully. I only told Zane that Linda was intersex and had been in a long-term, inappropriate relationship with my father-in-law. Today, she had crossed a line and tried to harm me. The concern on Zane’s face was quickly replaced by shock and disbelief. His expression hardened as he said, “That’s a serious accusation, Janie. You can’t just say things like that.” I had anticipated his doubt, so I calmly laid out my plan, which I had carefully prepared in advance. To my dismay, Zane immediately rejected it. He adamantly insisted that Linda would never do something like that. “You’ve noticed something was off for a while now, haven’t you?” I asked, my voice sharp like an arrow piercing through his defenses. Zane’s face stiffened, his features twisting slightly. After a brief pause, he let out a heavy sigh and took my hand, trying to reason with me. “You shouldn’t jump to conclusions, Janie. Please, let’s be respectful.” I stared at our clasped hands, my tone turning cold. “Respect? Understanding? Those don’t justify what she’s thinking about doing to me.” Zane’s face shifted through a range of emotions before he finally nodded, his expression conflicted.

I drove home, placing my phone on the vase stand in the living room before heading to my bedroom to change clothes. I slipped into a dark red dress adorned with subtle, elegant embellishments. Delicate lace cutouts at the hem and intricate patterns on the fabric added a touch of sophistication. I draped a unique shawl over my shoulders, breaking through the dark tones with a striking contrast. The look was bold yet refined, exuding an air of cold elegance and undeniable confidence. Leaning casually against the kitchen doorframe, I smiled and asked, “Linda, how do I look in this?” Linda, who was chopping vegetables, froze for a moment. Her eyes flickered with something dark—greed and desire. She wiped her hands on her apron and glanced toward the living room. I smirked internally. At this hour, my father-in-law would still be at the park playing chess. It was just the two of us at home. The perfect opportunity. Linda licked her dry lips, her eyes fixating on my waist. “Janie, you look beautiful. There’s just a loose thread on your dress. Let me cut it for you.” Feigning trust, I turned and walked toward the living room. The moment I reached the couch, a sudden force slammed into my back, pinning me down. Linda, with her farm-hardened strength, easily overpowered me. I screamed and struggled, but she grabbed a towel from nearby and stuffed it into my mouth to muffle my cries. “Mmff!” I yelled, my voice muffled by the towel. Bang! The front door flew open. Zane stood in the doorway, his face dark with fury. His jaw clenched as his eyes burned with rage. Through gritted teeth, he growled, “What the hell is going on here?!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295888”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #校园School #重生Reborn

I’m a college student who tutors kids on weekends to make a little extra money. My latest employer? A wealthy single dad—charming, polished, and devastatingly handsome. But I never expected that after drinking a cup of coffee his daughter handed me, I’d lose all strength, helplessly watching as he walked toward me step by step. He carried me into his bedroom. No matter how much I begged, he ignored me. In the end, he shattered my innocence completely. My name is Leah White, and I’m a student at Crestwood University studying to become a teacher. On weekends, I tutor kids to make ends meet. One day, someone introduced me to a new tutoring gig. The student’s name was Shannon, and her father wanted me to give her intensive lessons over two full days during the weekend. The Landons are filthy rich, and the pay they were offering was unbelievable. I called the number on the card and spoke to Shannon’s father, Ryan Landon. Ryan was quick to seal the deal—he wired me a hefty deposit right away. When I saw all those zeros in my account, my hands literally shook. This man was generous! Early Saturday morning, a car arrived to pick me up and drove me to the outskirts of town. The Landon mansion was massive, complete with a sprawling yard. It looked like something straight out of a movie about the rich and powerful. The kind of wealth I couldn’t even begin to imagine. Waiting for me at the door was a strikingly handsome middle-aged man. He was tall, with sharp features and a polished demeanor that made him look like he belonged in an expensive magazine ad. “Welcome, Ms. White. I’m Ryan Landon, Shannon’s father,” he said warmly, extending a hand to me. He greeted me with a polite smile, clearly pleased that I’d arrived. As I stepped into the grand, luxurious living room, Shannon came down the spiral staircase. She looked frail and pale, like someone who didn’t get much exercise. I followed her upstairs to her room, and we began the lesson. The room was warm—too warm. Within minutes, I was sweating. I took off my sweater, leaving just a fitted T-shirt underneath. That’s when I heard it—the sound of someone swallowing hard. I glanced up and froze. Ryan was standing behind me, his eyes burning into me. His hand rested casually on the back of my chair. I had no idea how long he’d been standing there, watching me. I felt uncomfortable, but what could I say? “Don’t mind me, Ms. White. Please continue,” he said, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose as if nothing was amiss. “You’re an excellent teacher—I’d love to sit in and listen.” He made no move to leave. He was the one paying me, so I had no choice but to force a smile and keep teaching. Shannon was focused on her notes, but I could feel it—Ryan’s eyes, hot and heavy, watching me. Every time I turned around, his gaze seemed to follow my every curve. Finally, I “accidentally” glanced back. Sure enough, his eyes were fixed on the neckline of my T-shirt. “Mr. Landon,” I said firmly, “don’t you have something else to do?” But he just smiled, unbothered. “Well, Ms. White, I am paying you a lot of money. I just want to make sure I’m getting my money’s worth.” The light reflecting off his glasses couldn’t hide the way his eyes roamed over me. I stiffened and grabbed my sweater, pulling it back on despite the heat. “Aren’t you hot, Ms. White? You’re sweating so much—it’s soaking through your shirt,” he said. Then, to my horror, he reached out and touched my cheek. I jerked my head away, glaring. “Mr. Landon, you’re distracting us from our work. Please leave.” He chuckled, brushing his hand against his lips. “You’ve got a bit of a temper, don’t you?” he said, amused. “Alright, I’ll leave.” Finally, he walked out, but he didn’t close the door. It stayed slightly ajar, as if he planned to come back. After he left, I leaned toward Shannon and asked quietly, “Shannon, when is your mom coming home?” We’d agreed I’d spend the weekend at their house to tutor her, and I hadn’t been worried about it before. But now, I was on edge. Shannon’s eyes filled with tears. “My mom passed away,” she said softly. My heart sank. “I’m so sorry, Shannon. I didn’t know,” I said gently. I tried to compose myself and refocus on the lesson, but something felt off. That’s when I heard it—a faint clicking sound. Looking around the room, my eyes landed on a camera mounted on top of Shannon’s wardrobe. The lens followed my movements, its tiny red light blinking as it recorded everything. “Shannon, keep working on your problems,” I said, forcing my voice to stay calm. I walked to the door and yanked it open. Ryan was still there, leaning casually against the wall. “Mr. Landon, what the hell do you think you’re doing?” I demanded.

Ryan turned off his phone screen and straightened up, his face flushed with excitement. “I didn’t do anything,” he said with a smirk. I glared at him, my voice cold. “I saw everything. You’ve been spying on me through the camera in Shannon’s room!” My eyesight is sharp, and I had caught a quick glance at his phone earlier. He wasn’t just watching me—he was zooming in on specific parts of my body! “What’s wrong with checking security footage?” he said, feigning innocence. “Ms. White, why are you so defensive? Unless… you’ve stolen something?” I may come from a poor background, but I still have my dignity. This was a line I refused to cross. I had no interest in “playing along” with his twisted games. “Mr. Landon, I haven’t stolen anything, but I can’t continue teaching Shannon. You’ll need to find someone else,” I said firmly. Ryan’s lips curled into a sly smile. “Ms. White, accusations require proof. Perhaps I should search you, just to make sure you’re not hiding anything under your clothes.” Before I could respond, he stepped closer, trapping me between his arms. “If you touch me, I’ll scream,” I warned, my voice shaking with rage. His eyes narrowed dangerously. “If I’m unhappy with your ‘service,’ Ms. White, I can make sure no one in this town ever hires you to tutor again.” I stared at him, stunned by his audacity. He was actually threatening me, using his wealth and connections to control me. “You know exactly why I don’t want to stay,” I said through clenched teeth. “Your threats won’t work on me. I’ll return every cent you paid me, down to the last dollar.” Without waiting for his response, I turned on my heel and headed back to Shannon’s room to pack my things. Shannon watched me with wide, teary eyes, like she wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. “Shannon,” I said softly, “if you ever need help with your homework, you can send me a message, and I’ll explain the problems to you.” With my bag in hand, I walked downstairs, determined to leave. But when I reached the front door, my heart sank. The car that had brought me here—and the driver—were gone. I stood frozen, staring out into the darkness. The mansion was isolated, surrounded by nothing but dense forest. There wasn’t a single house or shop in sight. I pulled out my phone and opened the map app, but it couldn’t even locate where I was. The entire screen showed nothing but blank space. Ryan followed me to the door, looking completely unbothered. “Ms. White, this house is in the middle of the mountains. You won’t make it far on your own.” Cold sweat dripped down my back. My hands were clammy as I clenched my phone tightly. “Mr. Landon,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, “please ask the driver to take me back. I’ll pay for the gas if that’s the issue!” He chuckled, shaking his head. “Money isn’t a problem for me, Ms. White. But I think it’s best if you stay and stick to the plan.” Before I could respond, Shannon came running down the stairs, clutching her workbook. “Ms. White,” she said nervously, “there are bears in these woods. It’s too dangerous for a girl to walk out there alone. You should stay the night. The driver will definitely be here tomorrow to take you home.” I clenched my teeth, furious. But what choice did I have? Ryan had planned this entire situation perfectly. I sighed and nodded, deciding it was best to stay close to Shannon. As long as I stayed by her side, Ryan wouldn’t dare try anything. I followed her back inside. As she closed the door, she shot her father a pleading look. Ryan didn’t say anything, but his behavior became noticeably more restrained afterward. For the next few hours, he didn’t show up, and the camera in Shannon’s room stayed off. Before I knew it, it was nighttime. Shannon yawned a few times, rubbing her eyes. “Ms. White, can we stop here for today? Let’s continue tomorrow,” she said, her voice soft with drowsiness. I was exhausted too. My throat was dry, and my head felt heavy. Reluctantly, I agreed. The Landon mansion had two floors, but strangely, there were no maids or staff in sight. “Where will I be sleeping tonight?” I asked. Shannon gave me a small smile. “The guest room is ready for you, Ms. White. The sheets are brand new.” I hesitated. “Shannon, I’m afraid of the dark. Can I share your room tonight?” Her face fell, and she looked at her single bed nervously. “My bed is really small, Ms. White. I don’t think we’ll both fit.” “I’m also not used to having someone else in my room. I wouldn’t be able to sleep,” she added apologetically. I sighed. “Alright, I’ll manage in the guest room.” The guest room was on the first floor. As soon as I walked in, I grabbed a chair and wedged it under the doorknob. It wasn’t much, but it gave me a small sense of security. I didn’t dare sleep deeply. Instead, I leaned against the wall, drifting in and out of a light doze. At some point, I was startled awake by the sound of distant screams—high-pitched and desperate, like a woman crying out in agony. Mixed with the screams was the deep, guttural roar of a man shouting angrily. For a moment, I thought I was dreaming. But the sounds continued, sending shivers down my spine.

The sound nearly made my heart jump out of my chest. The mansion was eerily quiet at night, surrounded by pitch-black darkness outside. Empty and silent, it felt suffocating. The cries kept coming in waves, faint but persistent. I couldn’t stop myself from worrying about Shannon. Finally, I decided to crack open the door just a little to peek outside. The sound was coming from the living room ahead. I tiptoed down the hallway, careful not to make a sound. When I reached the living room, I found it empty. But on the massive flat-screen TV, an explicit adult film was playing. My face instantly turned red as I realized what I was seeing. In the scene, a woman was being restrained by several men, struggling and crying out in anguish—the same screams I had heard earlier. I spun around to leave, but I slammed straight into a wall of muscle. Ryan was standing right behind me, blocking my way. Before I could step back, he grabbed me by the waist, his hands moving over me as his alcohol-laced breath filled the air. “Can’t sleep, Ms. White?” he asked, his voice low and predatory. I pushed against him, trying desperately to put some distance between us. “I heard strange noises and thought something might be wrong. I just came to check,” I said quickly, using Shannon as a shield. “If there’s nothing wrong, I’ll head back now. I need to be ready to teach Shannon in the morning.” But Ryan didn’t move. Instead, he smirked, clearly amused by my excuse. “Strange noises?” he said, leaning closer. “Ms. White, surely you know exactly what kind of noises those were.” I pretended not to understand, turning my head away to avoid his gaze. “Ms. White,” he said, his grip tightening around my waist, “don’t tell me you don’t have a boyfriend yet?” His voice dropped as he leaned even closer, his lips nearly brushing my neck. “You smell amazing.” “Mr. Landon, behave yourself!” I snapped. “Your daughter is asleep right upstairs!” “And so?” he replied nonchalantly, his tone dripping with arrogance. “Everything in this house—I paid for it. I worked hard to earn it all. On my property, I can do whatever I want.” “Don’t you care that Shannon might find out?” I shot back. “Find out what? That her mother’s gone, and her father gets lonely sometimes? She’s old enough to understand that much,” he said, his voice calm, as if he were discussing the weather. What kind of father talks like that? I was so angry my hands were shaking. Ryan’s eyes shamelessly lingered on my heaving chest, his gaze making my skin crawl. “Ms. White,” he said, his voice a mix of mockery and temptation, “name your price.” “What… are you talking about?” I asked, narrowing my eyes. “You’re a smart girl. Surely you understand,” he said with a crooked smile. “Let’s make a deal: I pay, you stay. Simple as that. A mutually beneficial arrangement.” Anger boiled up inside me. Without thinking, I swung my hand, aiming to slap him across the face. But Ryan caught my wrist mid-air, gripping it tightly. His fingers moved over my skin, sending waves of disgust through me. “Ms. White,” he said with a sly grin, “drop the act. You didn’t come here in those tight, curve-hugging clothes for nothing, did you? You wanted my attention, and now you’ve got it.” I was so furious I couldn’t even speak. Just then, Shannon appeared at the top of the stairs, clutching a stuffed animal. “Dad? Ms. White? What are you doing?” she asked, her voice groggy from sleep. I froze, unsure of how much she had heard or seen. Ryan instinctively let go of my hand and turned to Shannon. “Oh, nothing, sweetheart,” he said, his voice suddenly warm and fatherly. “Ms. White just came down for a glass of water. Go back to bed, okay?” But I didn’t wait for his permission to leave. I ran back to the guest room and locked the door behind me. Before I closed it fully, I caught a glimpse of Shannon still standing at the top of the stairs, staring down at her father with an unreadable expression. Maybe she sensed something was off. Whatever the case, her unexpected appearance had bought me some time. For now, Ryan backed off. I didn’t dare go back to sleep. I turned on every light in the guest room and sat by the window, gripping a dumbbell I had found in the corner. If he tried sneaking in, I was ready to smash it over his head. But the night passed without any further incidents. It seemed Ryan had actually gone to bed. By the time dawn broke, I was utterly exhausted. At some point, I had dozed off at the desk, my head resting on my arms. A sudden knock at the door jolted me awake. I sat up with a start, my heart pounding. I quickly checked myself, relieved to find my clothes still intact.

“Ms. White, are you awake?” It was Shannon calling me for breakfast. I quickly freshened up and followed her to the dining room. Ryan was already there, sitting at the table, engrossed in the financial news. He looked every bit the picture of a polished, successful businessman. If I hadn’t experienced what happened yesterday, I would’ve been fooled by this calm, picture-perfect image of him. Today, however, he seemed different—almost like someone else. He barely acknowledged me, only glancing up briefly to greet me. “Good morning, Ms. White,” he said simply, then returned to sipping his coffee, his eyes glued to the news. Not a single lingering look, not a trace of his usual predatory presence. I sat next to Shannon, who seemed genuinely thrilled to have me there. She kept piling food onto my plate. “Ms. White, you have to try this custard bun! It’s so good.” “Ms. White, these rice rolls are my favorite. Do you like them?” I didn’t know why she was so warm and friendly toward me, but her enthusiasm was contagious. Before I realized it, I’d eaten far more than I usually would. After barely sleeping last night, I was exhausted. “Ms. White, you’ve got such dark circles under your eyes! Did you not sleep well in a new place? Let me make you some coffee. Our Blue Mountain beans are amazing,” she said, already heading toward the kitchen. Coffee sounded good. I’d never had proper, high-quality coffee before—mostly because I couldn’t afford it. Every penny I earned from tutoring went to support my mom. At school, I lived as frugally as possible. Spending 5or5 or 5or6 on a cup of coffee at a café always felt like a luxury I couldn’t justify. So, I didn’t decline. Shannon quickly returned with two cups, one for each of us. The coffee was rich and aromatic, and after just one sip, I felt a little sharper and more awake. After breakfast, Shannon pulled me upstairs to start the lesson. Ryan grabbed his car keys, looking like he was heading out. “Study hard with your teacher,” he said to Shannon before nodding at me and stepping outside. Was it possible he felt guilty after Shannon had caught him last night? Maybe his conscience had finally kicked in. Either way, as long as he stayed away, I didn’t care. Once this lesson was over, I swore I’d never set foot in this mansion again. With Ryan gone, I felt a wave of relief. I threw myself into teaching, finally able to focus. Shannon worked diligently on her essay while I recorded practice questions for her oral exercises. Time flew by—until something strange happened. My eyelids started to feel impossibly heavy. The words on the worksheet began to blur and swirl in front of my eyes. What was happening to me? I tried to shake it off, but the room spun around me. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Shannon suddenly slump forward, her head hitting the desk with a loud thud. “Shannon! Shannon, wake up! Are you okay?” I tried to call out to her, but my voice came out weak, barely above a whisper. She didn’t respond. A wave of panic surged through me, but my body felt like it was weighed down by lead. I couldn’t move. I summoned every ounce of strength I had to stand, but my legs buckled, and I collapsed onto the floor. Help… someone help us… The door creaked open. Ryan’s familiar face appeared in the doorway. He had come back. When he saw the scene in front of him, a slow, sinister smile spread across his face. I was doomed. Ryan stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. He bent down and scooped me up effortlessly. “Ms. White, why are you resting on the floor? Wouldn’t the bed be so much more comfortable?” I wanted to fight him off, to scream, to curse him—but my body wouldn’t obey me. I could only watch helplessly as he carried me into an unfamiliar room. The walls were covered with photos. Photos of Ryan with a woman who bore an eerie resemblance to me. A chill ran down my spine. Before I could process what I was seeing, Ryan laid me down on the bed and pinned me in place, his weight pressing down on me. He leaned in, his lips brushing against my neck. “Ms. White,” he whispered, his voice dripping with mockery, “you’re such a bright student. Surely you’ve heard the phrase ‘all roads lead to the same destination’? You struggled so much yesterday, but look where you are now—right here in my bed.”

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My home was complained about by the property owner. Because the noise was too loud. However, I’m often on business trips throughout the year, and there’s only my wife at home. Today was the first time I had been home in two months, but I was called by the property management and told that my home had been complained about. “The resident of Room 1102, I know you young people are full of vitality, but the sound insulation in this community is really poor.” I was a bit stunned. “What do you mean?” “More than one resident has complained to me, saying that the noise from your place is too loud every day.” “And sometimes it starts even during the daytime. This really has a bad impact.” My mind went blank with a buzz. What on earth was going on? I’m on business trips all the time and have very little time to stay at home. There’s only my wife in the family. My wife is a Chinese teacher at a school. She’s well-educated, reasonable, and loves me very much. I still don’t want to think in that direction. “You’re talking about me? Are you sure? There’s only one person living in my house usually.” The young man’s expression suddenly became very complex, and finally he gave me a sympathetic look. His reaction confirmed that the noise came from my house. I instantly felt as if I had fallen into an ice cave, my limbs were numb, and I didn’t even know how I got home. I lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, and it took me a long time to come to my senses. I couldn’t figure out how my wife, who was a teacher and should set a good example, could cheat on me during our marriage, especially since I treated her so well. I decided to go to the school to confront her in person. My wife usually doesn’t let me go to the school to find her, saying that I’m too handsome and she’s afraid that the girls at school will have a crush on me. So I have no idea which grade my wife teaches or where her office is. Fortunately, I met a young girl. “Hello, classmate. Which office is Teacher Amanda Pan in?” A look of disgust flashed across her face, and she said impatiently, “Who are you?” “I’m her husband. If it’s not too much trouble, could you take me there?” After hearing this, she suddenly showed a hint of mockery. “Amanda? Maybe she’s seducing some other man. She doesn’t have time to see you.” I looked at her in disbelief, not understanding why she would say such malicious words. Before I could react, she had already walked away. I asked several other classmates, but they all didn’t know. So I had to wait for my wife at the school gate. Not long after school was over, she came out with several male teachers. When she saw me, there was a flash of panic in her eyes, and she kept a bit of distance from those male teachers. “Honey, why are you here?” “I was passing by and thought I’d pick you up from work.” As usual, she acted coquettishly towards me gently and took my arm. I found that I simply couldn’t ask her the questions I had in mind. The girl from before also came out of the school gate. When she passed by me, her eyes were still full of malice. I just felt confused. After we got home, I suggested being intimate with my wife to test her. But she dodged and evaded. There was definitely something wrong. I forcefully took off her pants. Then I found that there was a piece of gauze pasted there. “I told you I was injured, and you still want this.” “Let me take a look.” As I said this, I was about to touch the gauze. She suddenly got very angry. “What are you doing?” I directly tore off the piece of gauze. There was actually a blue icon on it. It read: “Quarantine passed. Slaughter permitted.” A quarantine stamp for pork? I looked at her in disbelief. Because her lie had been exposed, she was a bit embarrassed and tried to explain it forcefully. “I was just playing around with my best friend. I was afraid you’d be angry, so…” The wife I had been living with day in and day out suddenly seemed so strange to me. “Is that so? Then call your best friend right now.” Sure enough, her face changed, and she started losing her temper. “Are you crazy? You’re so unreasonable.” After saying this, she slammed the door and left.

Now I can no longer deceive myself. She really had an affair, and it wasn’t just an ordinary one. I collapsed and sat on the bed in despair. Just then, a text message came to my phone. [I know about your wife’s affair. If you want to know more, come to Room 1501 of W Hotel.] I was a bit surprised. [Who are you? How did you get my phone number?] [That’s not important. Your wife’s name is Amanda Pan, a Chinese teacher for the second grade of senior high school at Hengshui Middle School. Your home is at Room 1202, Building 5, Unit 3 of Jucai Community.] [Do you believe me now? If you want to know the details, come. I’ll tell you everything.] This person knew my family situation very well. It seemed that he wasn’t a scammer. I finally decided to go. After all, I’m a man. What could he possibly do to me? Soon I arrived at the hotel. Standing in front of Room 1501, I was actually a bit nervous. I summoned up my courage and was about to knock on the door when I found that the door was open. But I still knocked. Soon the door opened. I was shocked to find that it was the female student from the daytime. “You… How could it be you?” “Why can’t it be me? Your wife has caused me so much suffering.” Her words successfully piqued my interest. I followed her into the room and couldn’t wait to ask her, “What exactly do you know?” “I know a lot.” She said as she directly sat on my lap. Alarm bells rang in my mind, and I got up in a panic. “What are you doing?” She suddenly knelt in front of me, grabbed my belt, and looked up at me expectantly. “That bitch Amanda took away my boyfriend. So it’s not too much for me to take away her husband, right?” Before I could react, she pushed me back onto the sofa again. I miscalculated. I didn’t expect that she really wanted to have a physical advance on me. However, there is still a certain disparity in strength between men and women. I clamped her wrists and pressed her hands above her head. “If you mess around again, I’ll hit you.” “Just hit me. If you kill me, everything will be over, and I won’t be sad anymore.” I stared at her intently, and she didn’t flinch at all. She stared back at me with her neck stubbornly raised. After a moment of stalemate, I suddenly couldn’t help laughing. “Heh, you little brat.” She gave me a glare. After this commotion, she finally settled down and stopped making any more moves on me. I also learned from her how exactly my wife had caused her so much suffering. Her name is Cindy Shen, and my wife is her teacher. But she seduced Cindy’s boyfriend. She said that she was an orphan and was bullied by everyone at school. She was bullied every day. It was the school bully, Alex Lu, who protected her and saved her. Later, they got together. “If it weren’t for him, I would have been dead a long time ago.” “I’ve always been starved of love. Alex was very gentle to me. He was like a god to me.” “My love for him is deeply ingrained in my bones. I really can’t live without him.” Her eyes were misty with tears, and her voice was soft and slightly trembling. “Uncle, can you understand me?” A trace of pity welled up in my heart, and I let her lean against me and cry. She cried more and more bitterly, and her tears dripped onto my palm, feeling cold. My throat was dry, and I could hardly speak. I could only pat her back to comfort her. She cried herself out and fell asleep. I carried her to the bed and then opened another room next door for myself. I also left a note: “Come to Room 1502 next door to find me when you wake up tomorrow.”

The next day, she came to apologize to me. “Sorry, Uncle. ” “It’s okay. Then tell me everything about my wife and your boyfriend in detail.” “No need to say it. I’ll just take you to see it directly. What I told you yesterday was just the tip of the iceberg.” I followed Cindy to the school. She led me into the teachers’ office building with ease. Then we went to the top floor. She took out the key and pulled me into a room. I was curious. “Where is this? How do you have the key?” She said she had made a copy of it. “Since you already have the evidence, why don’t you just post it online? Then it’s just a matter of time before my wife loses her reputation.” “I want to, but Alex threatened me. He said that if I ruin Teacher Amanda, he will never see me again.” Just as I was about to speak, she suddenly put her finger to my lips. “Shh, don’t make a sound. They’re coming.” She directly pulled me into a room inside. Soon, there was a burst of laughter and noise in the corridor, followed by the sound of a key turning in the lock. My heart skipped a beat. I looked out through the gap. As soon as they entered the door, the man picked up the woman and sat her on the table. “Uncle, be gentle. Look at how eager you are.” The woman playfully punched him. I was so shocked that my whole body went numb, and my mind went blank. Who else could it be but my wife? The look of enjoyment on her face was something I had never seen before. My face instantly turned red, and I gritted my teeth so hard that they almost cracked. “Do you want to go out and tear those two scumbags apart?” Cindy said softly. “However, I advise you not to. Because your wife has more than just this man.” She named a lot of people. My face darkened inch by inch. How could she have fallen so low? “Of course, it also includes that school security guard.” That’s when I noticed the man’s uniform. “Stop talking.” I finally couldn’t hold it in and choked Cindy’s neck. She soon couldn’t breathe because of me and desperately slapped my arm. I was completely stunned. My wife had always seemed so innocent in front of me, but I never expected her to be so disgusting behind my back. I had been working so hard to earn money to support the family and wanted to give her a better life. I felt like a complete joke. “Is it done?” My wife bit her finger and asked the security guard. “Change the pose.” The security guard seemed dissatisfied with my wife’s pose. She obediently did as she was told. After taking a few more photos, the security guard obviously couldn’t hold back anymore. He threw away his phone and suddenly pushed my wife onto the sofa. I stared at all this in a daze. I couldn’t figure it out. The security guard was old enough to be her father, but at this moment, my wife was hugging him tightly. During those few minutes, I felt as if I was in hell. From the time I met my wife, fell in love with her, and then got married. “Well, do you completely believe what I said now?” Just then, my phone suddenly rang. I was so scared that I lost my wits, as if I was the one having an affair. I quickly turned off my phone. They couldn’t hear us whispering quietly, but this ringtone was very loud, and obviously they heard it too. I held my breath nervously. The two of them were also a bit flustered. The security guard came down and walked towards us, while tentatively asking, “Who’s in there?”

Suddenly, someone outside was pounding on the door vigorously. The security guard was startled. “What should we do?” But my wife opened the door calmly. A young man in a school uniform came in. He should be a student. He was quite handsome, but he looked a bit ruffian. I just noticed that there was a look of venom in Cindy’s eyes. After asking, I found out that this was her scumbag boyfriend, Alex Lu. “Teacher Amanda, you said you would come to tutor me at noon. Why didn’t you call me?” “I was afraid it would affect your studies.” My wife perfunctorily dealt with him and quickly tried to push Alex out. “Wait a minute. There seems to be someone else here.” The security guard hadn’t forgotten about this and said warily. “Go away. What are you barking for? You just don’t want me to take Teacher Amanda away, right?” Alex was obviously impatient. “Really, there was a phone ringtone just now.” “It’s mine. It’s my phone. Okay, Teacher, let’s ignore that old guy.” Cindy had been sarcastic to me just now, but now she was already in tears. There was nothing I could do, so I could only hand her a tissue. But the more she wiped, the more tears there were. Seeing that she was on the verge of losing control of her emotions and was about to cry out loud. I had to hold her tightly in my arms. Just a door away, the situation outside became even more intense. Suddenly, Cindy put her arms around my neck, and a forceful kiss landed on my lips. It came as suddenly as a storm, and I was a bit caught off guard. She deepened the kiss in an instant and instantly took away all my breath. The pleasure of revenge swept through my whole body. I held her head and began to respond with all my might. After we separated, Cindy said she wasn’t feeling well and asked the teacher for leave. Seeing her weak appearance, I had to take her to the hospital. After getting in the car, I reminded her to fasten her seat belt. But she said she was too weak to do it. I had to lean over to help her. Her pair of almond-shaped eyes stared straight at me. The distance was too close, and it was extremely ambiguous. I had to avoid her gaze. Just as I finished fastening the seat belt for her and was about to sit up, she suddenly hooked her arms around my neck and kissed me again. Just when things were about to get out of hand, I quickly pushed her away. “No, we can’t.” It was very quiet during the whole journey, and soon she fell asleep quietly. The doctor said she was stimulated. “You need to have a good rest at home. As her boyfriend, you must take good care of her.” I wanted to deny it, but Cindy directly said thank you to the doctor. On the way back, I asked her why she didn’t deny it. She said there was no need. “Sorry, don’t get me wrong. I just couldn’t control myself a bit just now.” I explained to her. “You don’t have anything to be sorry for. I took the initiative to kiss you.” I sent her back to school and then went home.

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The day my mother, Mia Hayes, was diagnosed with leukemia, my boyfriend Adam Maxwell’s childhood friend Alisha Jenner volunteered to donate bone marrow to her. But on the day of the surgery, I was hit by an out-of-control car at the hospital entrance and fell into a coma. When I woke up, the bone marrow transplant had failed, and my mother had died. Adam stayed by my side in devastation, pulling me back from despair. On the third anniversary of our marriage, which happened to be the anniversary of Mia’s death, I accidentally overheard him talking with his assistant, Eric Chapman. “Mr. Maxwell, we’ve taken care of the driver, doctor, and nurse from back then. No one will ever know about Ms. Jenner’s fake donation.” Adam sighed with relief, “Good. Charlotte’s mother’s death was ultimately Alisha’s fault, but I can’t let Charlotte destroy her.” At that moment, my world shattered. It turned out that the Jenner Group heiress’ charitable bone marrow donation, meant to boost the company’s corporate image, was a fraudulent scheme. My mother’s death was nothing but a stepping stone for Alisha’s rise. Alisha and Adam were both killers!

“Mr. Maxwell, do you intend to keep this matter hidden for the rest of your life?” Adam’s brow furrowed slightly as he replied, “This is the best solution I could think of. Now, Jenner Group has been revived from the dead. Alisha has entered the entertainment industry and become the star she always wanted to be. As for Charlotte, I’ll spend the rest of my life making amends to her.” Eric couldn’t stand his behavior and spoke urgently, “Back then, Ms. Jenner fled at the last minute because she was afraid to donate bone marrow. Mia literally died waiting on the operating table. How is that any different from deliberate murder? Mr. Maxwell, why are you doing this? After all, Ms. Hayes is your wife!” Adam closed his eyes, his brow creasing in pain. “Alisha was just too scared. She didn’t mean it. Besides, Mia’s leukemia meant she wouldn’t have lived much longer anyway. Charlotte only experienced an ordinary car accident. I’ve given her love and a family, all she wanted most!” Eric’s emotions suddenly flared up. “Mr. Maxwell, is this really what Ms. Hayes wanted? Is what she wanted, this deceptive love tainted with her mother’s blood, this marriage of atonement that feels like charity? You and I know that if Ms. Hayes discovers this, everything will be completely ruined!” Eric’s words pierced Adam’s heart. Adam choked harshly on his cigarette twice. He forcefully crushed the cigarette butt in the ashtray and impatiently warned, “Then I’ll never let her know! Keep your worthless conscience to yourself and shut your mouth! Otherwise, I’ll deal with you, too!” My whole body trembled so violently I could barely stand. Tears had smeared my face without me noticing, and the cold throughout my body was suffocating me. My mother’s death wasn’t an accident! Alisha hadn’t donated bone marrow to my mother as she had solemnly promised. And my mother, full of hope, lay on the cold operating table, never receiving the life-saving bone marrow. Instead, she received news of her daughter’s car accident and her own death. My mother and I parted hastily this way without seeing each other last time. It was a scheme personally arranged by my husband, whom I considered family. His tenderness and his devotion… It all was to save another woman in his heart. And the marriage I thought was happy was just his arrogant, condescending charity. It was absurd! That one word was enough to summarize my life these past three years. I collapsed onto the cold marble floor of the waiting room as if all my strength had been drained away. I waited until the footsteps faded into the distance before sitting quietly on the sofa. I sat there for exactly four hours. Adam finally appeared during lunch break. His expression was no different than usual as he reached for my hand. “Charlotte, you came without telling me? You should have let me know. I’m sorry you had to wait so long. Why are your hands so cold?” I looked down as he cupped my hands in his, warmth surrounding them from all sides. My heart felt like it was being twisted by a knife. “It’s just a lingering effect from the car accident years ago.” His movements paused as he pulled my hand to his cheek. “That’s my fault. I shouldn’t have sent you to get those documents alone.” I withdrew my hand and contained the hatred that nearly spilled out, saying softly, “It’s not your fault. It will get better with time. I didn’t want to disturb you since I knew you were busy. Your secretary mentioned you have another meeting soon. You should go. Oh, and please ask Eric to make me a coffee. He always makes it perfectly.” Adam had always been incredibly attentive to my needs. He gave Eric clear instructions when he left and sent me hand warmers. “Ms. Hayes, here’s your coffee and the hand warmers Mr. Maxwell requested.” I didn’t respond. I just silently got up and locked my office door. Then I turned around and gave Eric a complicated look. Eric felt uneasy under my stare and couldn’t help asking, “Ms. Hayes, is there something else you need…”

In the next instant, my sudden movement cut short his words. I slowly picked up the wedding photo of Adam and me from the desk. In the picture, we looked so happy, our smiles radiant. CRASH! Right in front of Eric, I violently smashed the frame to the ground, shattering it into pieces. “Tell me properly, Eric! How did Adam and Alisha cause my mother’s death three years ago?” The sun was setting when Adam finally finished his meetings and returned to the office. He found me napping on the couch and couldn’t resist quietly walking over to pull me into his arms. “Are you bored? My secretary told me you actually spent the whole afternoon talking with Eric. Our genius director, Charlotte, is going stir-crazy during this research trip to Northweston.” Over these past three years, I had established myself as a hot new female director in the film industry, winning numerous prestigious awards at home and abroad. I was famous for being extremely strict about scripts and actors. Even Alisha, with all her family wealth, couldn’t land a role in my films. Adam never interferes with my work and instead supports me completely. My success also adds considerable prestige to his career. Adam’s affectionate gaze swept across my face as he playfully pointed at the corner of my eye. “You haven’t been resting well, have you? Your eyes are all red from exhaustion.” I instinctively turned my head, avoiding Adam’s hand reaching toward me, forcing a slight smile. “I’ll be fine after some sleep. By the way, I have good news. You know how you’ve always wanted me to create a commercial film specifically for Alisha? I recently got an excellent script. I plan to try something different. To generate publicity, I will host a grand character reveal event before filming.” When news related to Alisha was mentioned, Adam’s superficial emotions instantly became animated. His face showed excitement, followed by confusion. “A character reveal event? Where did this idea come from? Director Hayes, you’re famous in the industry for keeping a low profile, and besides, don’t you usually think Alisha’s acting is…” I laughed mockingly to myself. Of course, I was doing this for them. Otherwise, given Alisha’s terrible acting skills—she just widened her eyes, frowned and screamed, I’d consider her out of place even as a background character. I displayed a sorrowful expression and slowly leaned into Adam’s embrace. “I’ve always owed Alisha a proper thank you. She volunteered to donate bone marrow to save my mom. Even though the outcome… well, she genuinely donated her marrow. I recently heard from a doctor friend that bone marrow transplant surgery causes significant harm to donors. I can’t be an ungrateful person.” Adam’s body tensed as he held me. My words left him speechless. As the main culprit, he was filled with nothing but guilt. He held me tighter, his warm lips lingering on my forehead. “Your mother may be gone, but you still have me. We will never be apart. I’ll treat you well for the rest of my life.” I silently hugged him back. Eric’s revelation from this afternoon flashed through my mind, and all warmth vanished from my eyes. A cold, mocking smile slowly formed on my lips as I thought, “Save these touching words for later. After you watch the role announcement event, you can tell me all about it.”

I had just arrived home when the doorbell rang urgently. The servant opened the door and saw it was Alisha. “I came specifically to thank Charlotte! Since Charlotte announced on Twitter that she’s not only choosing me for the lead role but also hosting a special launch event, I’ve been trending everywhere! All those brands and investors who looked down on me are now approaching me for collaborations.” Alisha was thanking me with her words, but her body was telling the truth as she brushed against Adam. “This is the diamond Addie gave me last month. I’m just passing along something beautiful. It’s for you, Charlotte!” I lowered my gaze to look at it. It was one of the two pieces Adam had purchased at an auction last month. In the light, the difference was noticeable. The one he had given me was more ordinary than what Alisha held. Adam’s expression beside me suddenly became tense as he carefully observed my reaction. My smile didn’t falter. I accepted the gift and played along with her act. “You’re too kind, Alisha. I always knew you were a born actress, just waiting to be discovered by someone with an eye for talent. When we get to the role announcement event, I guarantee the audience will see you in a new light.” My insincere praise made Alisha glow with delight. She completely missed the storm brewing beneath my words. However, Alisha’s arrival gave me the perfect excuse to get Adam out of the way. “I have some script issues to deal with upstairs. Adam, please entertain Alisha for me. Don’t neglect the future star of my billion-dollar movie!” Adam froze for a moment, then forced a laugh and quickly agreed. The words “billion-dollar movie” completely went to Alisha’s head. She just grabbed Adam’s arm and grinned. I turned and entered Adam’s study, hearing their laughter from downstairs. [Password incorrect. Please try again.] I stared at the message on the computer screen and shook my head mockingly. I changed my birthday to Alisha’s, and the computer unlocked instantly. It was filled with Alisha’s photos, portfolios, endorsement deals, and Maxwell Group’s sponsorship records. He even kept copies of her schedule. I’ve felt uncomfortable with Adam’s excessive attention toward Alisha these past three years. But whenever I tried to discuss it, Adam would put on a helpless act. “Alisha donated bone marrow to your mother. I’m just showing gratitude on your behalf. Charlotte, don’t overthink it.” With one mention of gratitude, all my feelings were completely shut down. He knew the whole truth, yet he deliberately put me on a moral high ground. As if the moment I criticized Alisha, I’d be disrespecting someone who saved my mother’s life, proving myself ungrateful. My memory abruptly cut off as my eyes scanned the jumbled information on the computer. “Found it!” The staff lists, event plans, chat logs, payment records, and detailed notes on where everyone involved ended up afterward are included. My three years of “ignorance” had finally caused Adam to let down all his defenses. The truth sat before me, plain as day, yet I had never questioned or touched it. I laughed bitterly as tears fell onto the desk. “Packaging a murderer as a lifesaver? Adam, you’re the real director here.”

After copying the evidence, I played it smart. I didn’t take the elevator but went down using the staircase in the corner of the villa. I found that Alisha was nestled in Adam’s arms, giggling flirtatiously. “You’re so clever, Addie. I’ve become the life-saving hero, which gives me the perfect opportunity to launch my career, and our family stocks have even risen. I don’t have to donate bone marrow to that old woman, and Charlotte will be forever grateful to me.” A devious glint flashed in Alisha’s eyes as she spoke with cold-blooded contempt. “After that old woman died, I not only had to pretend to be in pain and lie in bed for a month, but I also had to cry and kneel in front of Charlotte’s bed to apologize. No one has ever dared to treat me like this! I really gave those mother and daughter too much face! Fortunately, those paparazzi and marketing accounts were quite effective, achieving all the intended results. I guess I’ll reluctantly forgive that old woman for the suffering she caused me!” With each sentence, the guilt in Adam’s heart transformed into a sharp thorn, piercing him more painfully. As soon as the words fell, Adam abruptly pushed Alisha away from his embrace. Frowning, he lowered his voice and scolded her. “Alisha, watch your language and respect the deceased! Never bring this up again, or you won’t be welcome here anymore!” After saying this, he turned to leave. Alisha was stunned, completely surprised that Adam would reprimand her over Mia. She immediately rushed forward and hugged his waist, looking hurt. “Okay, okay, I won’t mention it again! I just missed you, that’s all. We haven’t seen each other for so long, and I have so much I want to tell you.” This time, Adam didn’t push her away. I watched them coldly, my palms already marked with blood from my own fingernails. “Mom, just hold on a little longer… Soon, I’ll tear off these two hypocritical masks at the event!” I turned around and headed down from the elevator. When I came down, Alisha was still on top of Adam, flirting and fooling around. This was definitely not the kind of distance friends should have. Seeing me arrive, Alisha put on an innocent smile instead. “Charlotte, are you done with your work?” Adam turned his head to look and immediately pushed Alisha away, explaining frantically. “Charlotte, let me explain. Alisha accidentally tripped on the corner of the table, and I was just…” I raised my hand to cut off Adam’s transparent explanation and smiled politely. “I understand. If there was really something between you two, why would I be the one marrying you? The maid says dinner is ready. Let’s eat first.” Despite my generosity, Adam’s expression remained uneasy. He kept sticking close to me during dinner, serving me food and wiping my mouth. Alisha forced a smile visible to everyone, and halfway through the meal, she found an excuse to leave. This time, Adam didn’t comfort her. I continued to play innocent, cooperating with his performance of deep affection. After all, without him, how could my grand scheme “take the world by storm” three days from now?

Three days later, Alisha’s character reveal event officially began. “Ms. Hayes, what’s the name of this new film?” “Ms. Hayes, why did you choose Alisha as the lead actress for this movie?” “Ms. Hayes, why are you making an exception for Alisha by promoting her so publicly and even livestreaming the entire event?” The currently most popular female director publicly supported an actress like this for the first time and had repeatedly stated during promotions that this would be her most proud work in her lifetime. The media and many fame-chasing social media influencers rushed to the event venue, hoping to capitalize on the massive buzz. Under the flashing lights, I smiled as I faced a barrage of questions from the crowd and calmly said, “For this film, Alisha was always the perfect lead in my mind. I can confidently say that her performance will completely change everyone’s perception of her. She’ll make her mark in film history.” My words caused a wave of murmurs and gasps from everyone present. Alisha’s arrogant expression intensified from beside me. Her recent surge in popularity had clearly gone to her head, making her think she was above everyone else. She was just waiting for the movie to be filmed and released so she could become the biggest movie star around. As soon as I finished speaking, a reporter asked, “But according to audience feedback and other directors’ opinions, Alisha might not be as talented as you claim. How would you respond to that, Ms. Hayes?” That question stirred up a storm, and countless inquiries flew at me. My expression remained unchanged as I calmly directed everyone’s attention to the big screen. “For this press conference, I specially prepared a teaser. After watching it, I believe all our media friends will have their answers.” Alisha beside me suddenly changed her expression and whispered in confusion, “Charlotte, what teaser? I’ve never heard about this!” Adam, in the audience, also gave me a puzzled look. I stepped back and tilted my head, speaking in a gentle tone. “Please enjoy, everyone. This is a movie teaser I’ve carefully prepared for a long time!” The big screen shows two people embracing tightly in a hospital room in the next second. It was Alisha and Adam! “Addie, I’m scared! Bone marrow transplants hurt so much. That old woman is going to die anyway. I don’t want to do the surgery. Can you help me? I just need to pretend I donated after the fact. We can fool everyone and boost my company’s image!”

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