Category: English

Eighteen years ago, my husband, Anthony Parker, and his lover, Amber Owens, died in a car accident, leaving me to raise our twin boys. Eighteen years had passed in a flash. I worked hard to raise them, and they were accepted into Ivy League colleges. On the day they received their acceptance letters, Anthony and Amber miraculously came back to me. Amber hugged Anthony, smiling, “Thanks to your efforts, my sons made it to the Ivy League colleges. “Without you, we couldn’t have enjoyed ourselves for so long…” Anthony suggested divorcing me to reunite with Amber. Instead of crying, I smiled faintly, “Okay!” ***** “Mom! We are admitted into the Ivy League colleges!” I heard my sons, Micah and Maxwell, excitedly shouting in the study while I prepared dinner. “Mom! Micah and I are admitted into the Ivy League colleges!” They rushed out and hugged me tightly. I looked at them, who were a head taller than me, with satisfaction. I said, “You both are amazing. I’m so proud of you.” Since Anthony’s death, I had raised two children alone for eighteen years. Now, as they get admitted to top universities, my heart swells with joy. Back then, Anthony and Amber both died, leaving me with a pair of twins. Despite everyone’s opposition, I insisted on keeping and raising the twins. Eighteen years passed in a flash, and the twins grew up. Through my unwavering efforts, they were admitted into the Ivy League colleges. Seeing them to be successful, I was particularly delighted. “Thank you, Mom, for your years of hard work in raising us.” “We wouldn’t be who we are today without you.” Micah and Maxwell were always filial. They understood my years of effort in raising them and promised that after graduation and securing good jobs, they would support me to enjoy my life. With their birthday just two days away, I considered how to celebrate. In the past, I always booked hotel rooms for their birthdays. But this year, I decided to combine it with their graduation party for a bigger celebration. I booked a ballroom at one of the city’s best hotels. At the same time, I shared the news that my two sons were admitted to Ivy League colleges in the family group chat. The group soon buzzed with excitement. [Micah and Maxwell are so awesome!] [If Anthony knew how successful his sons were, he’d be at peace.] I briefly skimmed the messages and posted the party location to the group. After that, I turned off my phone notifications and quietly awaited the celebration.

The birthday party was set for two days later at 10:00 am. I arrived early at the hotel that morning to review the menu and ensure every detail of the party was perfect. Most attendees were relatives of the Parker family, but my parents were absent. Back then, I ignored their objections and insisted on adopting Anthony and Amber’s children. When my parents found out, they were so angry that they almost had a heart attack. Even after so many years, they never understood why I chose to raise someone else’s kids instead of leading a more secure life. Anthony’s parents, Richard and Sofia, entered the hall, assisted by the crowd. They walked straight to the main table and sat down, where Anthony’s brother and sister sat with their families. There were eight people seated at the main table. They surrounded my sons, and the seat was so full that there was no seat for me. “Hannah, what are you waiting for? Hurry and get Mom and Dad some water,” Lydia called out, grabbing some snacks from the table. Lydia was Anthony’s sister. She had endured an unhappy marriage and domestic abuse, and she was criticized for not being able to give birth to a son. Now, at forty years old, she had given birth to a boy, which made her walk with a newfound confidence. Micah and Maxwell attempted to get up to help but were restrained by Richard and Sofia. “Micah and Maxwell, come talk to me,” Sofia urged. “Look at how handsome the boys are, just like my brother,” Lydia said. “They look more like Amber to me,” Anthony’s brother remarked. Richard and Sofia glared at him fiercely, and he quickly shrank back into his seat, not daring to say a word. I moved between the tables, serving food and pouring wine. Micah and Maxwell couldn’t bear it any longer and added a chair between them. They pushed me into my seat and said, “Mom, our birthday is your day of suffering. Sit down and take a rest.” This prompted a shift in the room’s atmosphere. Lydia smirked, “Hannah, my brother would be thrilled to see his son raised so well by you.” Richard coughed lightly, effectively silencing her. “Hannah, today is such a nice day. I have something to discuss with you,” Sofia said, her eyes sparkling. “Go ahead,” I replied. Sofia continued, “Micah and Maxwell are going off to college soon. It’ll be empty for you in that three-bedroom apartment. “When they start school, Richard and I will move in, and I’ll cook for you while you work.” So that was her plan. My parents had initially put a down payment on the house I lived in, intending to add Anthony’s name. Six months into our marriage, he took a drive with Amber and had a fatal car accident. And both of them died. When I saw him again, he was just a handful of ashes. My parents had helped me pay the mortgage, so the property was solely in my name. Now, as my children grew up, Richard and Sofia were eyeing my house. I explained, “Mom, it’s not that I won’t let you live there. Micah and Maxwell will be studying abroad. “That’s why I’ve sold the house and will downsize to a one-bedroom apartment, using the rest for their education.” Richard’s face turned pale. He slammed the table. “As a part of the Parker family, why don’t you discuss such matters with us?” “I’m doing this for Anthony’s children,” I replied, feigning surprise. Richard continued, “What about the money from the house sale? You can give it to Sofia. She will save it for you. I’m worried about your extravagant spending.” In the past, as long as I claimed it was for the children’s benefit, they usually remained quiet. But today, Richard and Sofia’s demeanor suggested I was now expendable with my sons heading to college. Thinking of this, I said calmly, “I’ve instructed my lawyer to deposit the money into a growth fund. “Micah and Maxwell will receive ten thousand dollars monthly until they turn forty.” Richard’s furrowed brow finally relaxed at that. He said, “Good to see you’re thinking ahead and leaving money for my grandchildren. “You don’t need to buy a house. Just rent one, and don’t waste the money.”

As the chatter continued, the hotel manager approached and handed me the microphone. He said, “Today is your sons’ birthday and graduation party. “As their mother, I’d like to ask you to share a few words and some insights.” Taking the microphone, I began, “Thank you all for attending Maxwell and Micah’s graduation party. Today…” “Today, my sons have been accepted into Ivy League colleges. It’ll be a pity if their biological parents are not present on such a significant day.” Before I could finish, a commotion interrupted me. A man and a woman entered arm in arm. I looked up and, despite the eighteen years that had passed, instantly recognized them, my late husband Anthony and his beloved Amber. The hall buzzed with murmurs. Richard and Sofia, seated at the main table, showed no excitement at seeing their son returned from the dead. Instead, they calmly invited Amber to sit beside them. Anthony, who had been “dead” for eighteen years, approached me. He said, “Hannah, you may not be a good wife, but you’ve been a good mother.” My sons, finally breaking free from their shock, looked confused. “What’s going on?” Anthony pointed at Amber and said, “Amber is your biological mother. Hannah couldn’t have children. “If she hadn’t refused to divorce me and threatened me to commit suicide back then, our family wouldn’t have been torn apart for eighteen years.” Before I could defend myself, the Parker family members turned to my sons. “He’s right. It was Hannah’s refusal to divorce that kept you from your birth parents for eighteen years.” “Don’t think Hannah treated you well. She didn’t have the best intentions.” “Well, now that you’re grown and have been admitted to Ivy League colleges, the family can finally reunite.” Micah and Maxwell stood frozen, unsure of how to react. Amber wailed, taking their hands and showing them her phone, “I’m your biological mother. I send you gifts every year. “I even sneak in to see you after school.” As she spoke, she turned to me and added, “Hannah, thank you for raising my two sons so well.” Anthony wrapped his arm around her shoulders and looked at me with a hint of sarcasm. He demanded, “You and I are getting a divorce. After eighteen years, I’m marrying Amber.” Everyone thought I would disagree, or even make a scene. But facing the discussions and inquiring eyes of dozens of people from the Parker family, I laughed, “Okay! I agree. I’ll file for divorce tomorrow and reunite your family.” My words stunned the audience. They couldn’t believe I would give away the sons I had raised for eighteen years. Even Anthony and Amber stared at me in disbelief. They thought I would throw a tantrum and cry but didn’t expect me to agree so readily. Anthony looked at me in disbelief and asked puzzledly, “Are you out of your mind?” I replied directly, “What? Not happy about it?” Amber quickly pulled on Anthony’s arm, and he, fearing I might change my mind, retrieved a divorce agreement from his bag. He said, “Then sign the divorce agreement. From now on, Micah and Maxwell have nothing to do with you, and you can’t see them again.” Without reading it, I signed. “Mom? You don’t want us anymore?” Micah and Maxwell looked at me, hurt and confused by my quick compliance. Amber tucked the agreement away and said complacently, “Hannah, thank you for making us whole. “If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t be so carefree out there.” Looking at her two tall sons, Amber grinned with a proud smile. “Okay, there’s nothing more for you to do here. Just go.” Richard waved me off impatiently. I said, “Now that the agreement is signed, it’s time to tell you the truth.” “What do you mean?” Amber asked, confused. I sighed with relief. After eighteen years, it was finally over. I clapped my hands and called to the door, “Come in.” Moments later, two figures entered the hall.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “397691”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G

My boyfriend Charles Lane’s mom, Karen Wilson, called us to come over for dinner. When we got to his place, a five-year-old kid suddenly rushed into his arms, yelling, “Daddy!” A plainly dressed woman with a big smile waved at me and said, “Nancy Stone! It’s been forever—can’t believe you actually managed to snag Charles.” I shot a confused look at Charles, and he shrugged casually. “Quinn Scott got divorced and moved back here. She had nowhere to stay, so I told her she could bring the kid and keep my mom company for a while.” I struggled through that dinner, barely keeping it together. Afterward, I agreed to a blind date my family had been pushing for—and within a week, I was married. ***** At the dinner table, Charles’ family sat together, chatting and laughing like it was the most natural thing in the world. While I huddled quietly in the corner. Karen cradled five-year-old Tyler Collins in her arms, her smile so bright it seemed her face might burst. Out of nowhere, Tyler turned to Charles and shouted, “Daddy, I really like the toy car you got me this time!” “Glad you like it,” Charles replied, warm and indulgent. The way he looked at Tyler—it was like he was gazing at his own kid. Maybe Quinn caught the sour look on my face because she quickly jumped in to hush her son. “Tyler, how many times have I told you? Don’t call Mr. Lane ‘Daddy.’ He’s not married yet.” Her words sounded like a scolding, but her face told a different story—she wasn’t mad. If anything, she looked amused, her whole expression lit up with a smile. Then Quinn speared a piece of fried fish with her fork and popped it into Charles’ mouth. “Charles, try this—see if my cooking’s gotten rusty. I made it special for you since I knew you’d be back.” Her movements were so smooth and casual, you’d think they were the couple here. “Delicious,” Charles said, taking the bite without hesitation, his lips brushing her fork like it was no big deal. “I’ve been craving this for years while you were abroad. Now that you’re back, I’m in for a treat.” A wave of nausea hit me, and my appetite vanished completely. I stared into space when Quinn speared another piece of fried fish with her fork and moved it toward my plate. “Nancy, you’ve got to try my cooking too!” I jerked my plate away and snapped, “No thanks, I don’t like it. I’m a germaphobe.” The smile plastered on Quinn’s face froze for a second before crumbling. Her lips were pursed into a pout, and it looked like tears were about to spill. Charles quickly scooped the fish she’d offered me into his own plate, then shot me a glare. “What’s your deal? We’ve been together for years—since when are you a germaphobe? Are you just trying to start something?” I’d hold it together until then, but his words shattered the dam. All the hurt I’d been bottling up came flooding out, and tears welled up in my eyes. Before I could even get a word out, Quinn jumped in again, her voice trembling with exaggerated woe. “Charles, don’t blame Nancy. It’s my fault—I got too carried away.” Before she even finished speaking, a tiny hand slapped me across the face. “Don’t you dare bully my mom!” I looked up, tears stinging my eyes, to see Quinn’s son Tyler standing there, hands on his hips, his little face puffed up with anger. I was so furious I started shaking. “Where are your manners?” I snapped. My shout startled him, and he burst into tears. Karen swooped in, scooping him up to comfort him, then turned to scold me. “Can’t you just talk things out calmly? Why would you yell at a little kid who doesn’t know better? Kids scare easily—you’re only making trouble for yourself.” Quinn stood up, pointing at me accusingly. “Nancy, no matter what’s going on, you don’t take it out on a child.” Charles hurried to calm her down, ushering her back into her seat, then nudged me. “Come on, apologize to the kid. You’re a grown adult—how can you stoop to arguing with a child?” That was it—I couldn’t hold back the flood of hurt any longer. I dropped my fork and knife, stood up, and stormed toward the door. As I passed the cabinet, a bright toy car caught my eye—the one Tyler had raved about, the one Charles had asked me to buy for his “nephew.”

Before we came, Charles mentioned a little nephew would be there too. I hadn’t thought much of it, assuming it was his sister’s kid. But no—it was Quinn’s son all along. Realizing that, I grabbed the toy, yanked the door open and hurled it outside. When I stepped out, Tyler’s cries and Charles’ furious shouts erupted behind me. “Nancy, have you lost your mind?” I ignored the chaos inside and kept walking, leaving his house behind. As I waited for the elevator, Charles came charging out. He grabbed me by the arm and dragged me back toward his place. “Go back and apologize! How can you be so petty with a kid?” I yanked myself free from his grip, my eyes blazing as I yelled back, “Charles, don’t you think the one who should apologize is that brat with no manners?” Out of nowhere, a sharp slap landed across my face. I froze, stunned. “Tyler’s already got it rough without a dad,” Charles snapped. “Can’t you just cut him some slack? Calling a kid like that—don’t you think you’re being cruel?” His biased words almost made me laugh. “Cruel? Fine, call me cruel then. But if you think I’m apologizing, you’re dreaming.” Right then, the elevator doors slid open. I darted inside, leaving Charles fuming outside as the doors shut. Back at the house, I shared with Charles, I quickly packed up all my stuff and shipped it back home. I booked a flight for that same day—after seven years in his city for him, I was done for good this time. Charles blew up my phone with calls, but I didn’t pick up once. It was the first time I didn’t cave. Looking back, I was such a fool. He’d secretly flown overseas to see Quinn behind my back, all because she’d said, “I miss you.” He even sold the small company he’d spent years building from scratch to pay off Quinn’s debts, leaving himself with nothing. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg—I could go on forever. Time after time, I let my heart soften, feeling sorry for him. I even went behind his back, begging my family to pull strings and open doors for him, smoothing the way for his career. But no matter how much I did, I could never compete with Quinn, his childhood sweetheart. To him, she was worth more than his own life. And yet, even with all that, Quinn still chose someone else back then. When I dragged my bags through the door back home, my mom, Megan, gave me a sharp look. “Oh, you finally remembered where home is. Guess you’ve had enough of learning the hard way, huh?” Her words stung, but she still reached over to grab one of my bags. I flashed an awkward smile, not daring to talk back. She was right—I’d messed up, big time. My parents, Megan and Dylan, never liked Charles and were dead-set against us dating. It took me crying and begging for a solid month before they grudgingly gave in. But their approval came with a catch: they wanted Charles to move to our city. I knew right away he’d never agree—his pride was way too strong for that. So, in the end, I snuck off to his city behind their backs. Reality, though, had a way of slapping me hard across the face. That evening, my dad, Dylan Stone, got home from work just as we sat down to dinner. The second he saw me, he let out an angry huff and stormed off to his study. Megan shot me a quick look, nudging me with her eyes. I scrambled to my feet and followed him. Ten minutes later, I’d sweet-talked him out of his mood, and soon enough, our family was back to its old chatter and laughter. Over dinner, Dylan mentioned he’d found someone for me to meet—a hardworking guy who’d built himself up from nothing, ambitious and decent.

My parents both turned to me, their faces lit with hope. Megan hesitated, her lips twitching like she wanted to nudge me along, worried I’d push back. I’d always hated the idea of blind dates, after all. Dylan, meanwhile, sat there with a dark look, practically daring me to say no—like he’d rip me apart if I did. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Dad, send me his number. I’ll meet him tomorrow.” The second I said it, their faces broke into huge, relieved smiles. After dinner, I was deleting the handful of photos I’d taken with Charles over the years when his video call popped up. I figured it was as good a time to clear the air with him once and for all. But the second I answered, Charles launched into me. “I’m not coming home tonight. You need to think long and hard about what you did. You finally visit my mom’s place, and you manage to upset everyone. “I even had you buy that toy so Tyler might warm up to you, but this is how you treat a kid—like some shrew. “Now Tyler doesn’t like you, my mom doesn’t like you—what are we supposed to do about that?” He unloaded all that on me, then stared expectantly, waiting for my response. He didn’t even notice that the background behind me wasn’t our little shared home anymore. I almost laughed at how absurd it all sounded. Why should my relationship with him depend on some kid’s approval? Before I could say anything, a woman’s voice cut in, “Charles, how do I look in this?” A second later, Quinn appeared on screen, dressed in a slinky nightgown. She plopped down next to him, then spotted me in the call. “Oh, Nancy, it’s you! Don’t be mad at Charles, okay? Tyler’s already over it, so there’s no need to keep fighting with him.” Her tone dripped with fake concern, but it was obvious she was taunting me, pressing herself against Charles in that skimpy outfit. Charles’ face flushed down to his neck, but he didn’t budge—just let her stay glued to his side. Honestly, this wasn’t exactly new for them. They’d done plenty of couple-like things in the past, all while pretending to be friends on the surface. Out of nowhere, Megan appeared behind me. Before I could react, she snatched my phone from my hands. “Don’t ever contact my daughter again—you two are done,” she snapped, then hung up the call in a huff. Charles must’ve panicked because, not even a second later, he dialed back. I didn’t pick up—and I had no intention of doing so. Megan, worried I might waver, quickly chimed in with a reminder to stay strong. I gave her a reassuring pat, letting her know I wouldn’t cave this time. The next morning, I met the guy my parents had set me up with. He was polished, funny, and easy to talk to, plus his background matched ours pretty evenly. The conversation flowed, and by the end, we were both feeling good about it. His name was Nathan Smith—a rising star in the business world. Not even thirty, he’d already taken over his family’s company and turned it into a thriving success. My parents had done their homework: no messy dating history, just a guy who’d poured everything into his career and earned a stellar reputation. He seemed like someone worth building a life with. After our meeting, since our parents already knew each other, the two families wasted no time finalizing the engagement. The wedding was set for the end of the month—just a few days away. Late that night, after wrapping up a call with Nathan, I was aimlessly scrolling through my social feed when I stumbled across something ridiculous. Charles had taken Quinn and her son on a trip—staying in the same hotel, no less. Quinn had gone out of her way to post about it, complete with a caption and photos. Her caption read: [More than friends, not quite lovers—shouldn’t be long before we’re a real family of three.] The pictures? One of the hotel room’s double beds and another of Charles give her son a bath in the bathroom. The comments below were from Charles’ buddies and Quinn’s best friends—people I knew, all mutual connections. They were teasing her. [Guess you finally see how great Charles is now, huh?] Quinn replied with a shy emoji. Someone else commented: [Good thing you came around quick, or Charles might’ve ended up with someone else.] One of her friends added, suddenly enlightened: [Wait a sec—Charles dated that other girl for years and never proposed. Was he waiting for you all along? So happy for you, haha!] Then came a flood of congratulations. [Congrats! Wishing you a speedy wedding—maybe give Tyler a little sister next, and you’ll have the perfect boy-girl pair!] I smirked and deliberately copied that last comment, posting it myself. No sooner had it gone up than a classmate messaged me: [Did you and Charles break up?] I thought about it—technically, we hadn’t said it out loud, but it was pretty much a done deal. So I replied that: [Yeah, we’d split.] Once she got the confirmation, she offered some unexpected sympathy. [Charles is a total jerk. Good riddance—hope he and Quinn stay together forever and stop messing with anyone else.] I laughed it off, assuring her I was fine. I added: [I’m actually getting married soon. I’ll invite you guys when the time comes.] After exchanging a few pleasantries with her, I started flipping through my photo album. And pulled up a picture of a wedding dress I’d saved seven years ago. Time had changed things—what used to be my favorite gown now looked outdated and unappealing. It wasn’t expensive or anything special, and I couldn’t even remember why I’d loved it so much back then. For seven years it’d sat there, untouched. Looking at it now, I thought my old taste was pretty terrible. Just then, my phone rang, snapping me out of my thoughts. It was Charles. Curious about what he’d have to say, I picked up. “Nancy, don’t get the wrong idea,” he said. “Quinn and I are sharing a room because it’s easier to look after Tyler. It’s a twin-bed room—you saw that. So don’t overthink it. “If you’re over what happened the other day, just wait for me at home like a good girl. Once I’ve taken them out to unwind, I’ll come get you, okay?” When I didn’t respond, he must’ve assumed I was still mad. His tone shifted to that soft, coaxing voice he used when he was trying to smooth things over—like he was talking to a kid. “Come on, don’t be upset. Even Tyler, a little kid, isn’t holding a grudge. You’re an adult—don’t make a big deal out of it. I shouldn’t have pushed you to apologize that day; I got carried away. Can you forgive me, babe?” He only ever called me “babe” when he knew he’d done something to upset me. In the past, I might’ve let it slide, but not anymore. I was ready to let go—to step out of this vague, messy thing he had with Quinn. I was done being a pawn in their little game. With that in mind, I smiled and said, “Well, have a great time then.” My voice carried no trace of jealousy—just pure, genuine cheer, which threw him off for a second. “Charles, honey, come to bed—Tyler wants you to cuddle him to sleep,” Quinn’s voice chimed in from the background. Charles fumbled a quick “Gotta go” and hung up in a rush. I took a deep breath and called Nathan, “Let’s move the wedding up—to the day after tomorrow.” He didn’t sound the least bit surprised. Instead, his voice softened with concern. “Are you okay? You don’t sound happy.” I hadn’t expected Nathan—pushing thirty with zero dating experience—to pick up on my mood so keenly. The night before the wedding, I sent the invitations to our class group chat, and it blew up almost instantly.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “397692”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G

When I turned eighteen, my family suddenly struck it rich. My father, Samuel Cooper, made a fortune in business. We moved into a big mansion with a full staff of maids and drivers. My younger brother, Dylan Cooper, was sent to Leranda to study and soon after graduated, marrying a beautiful and wealthy woman. Together, they helped our family business thrive. The only problem was that I had caught a cold and missed the SATs, so my parents married me off to a poor, rural bachelor. I was locked in the basement, tortured day after day. I finally managed to escape and return home, but my parents’ attitude was disgustingly cold. “Such a burden. Why didn’t you just die in the mountains?” Dylan took me out to cheer me up, then pushed me under a moving truck. I ended up with broken bones and was sent to the ICU. As I lay on the brink of death, Dylan, dressed in an expensive suit, whispered in my ear, “I’ll let you die knowing the truth. Our family didn’t get rich from business. It was all because of the 100 million dollar lottery ticket you won. “We secretly claimed the prize, and kept it from you all this time.” With regret, I breathed my last. After I died, my body was “married off” for a dowry of 120 thousand dollars. Then, I opened my eyes again, back to the day I bought the lottery ticket. “This is your ticket. Keep it safe. You might just win big.” I stared at the ticket in my hand, dazed. I had been reborn. Back in the day, I bought that lottery ticket! In my past life, I’d bought the same ticket, but Dylan had barged into my room and stolen it. I had always considered myself unlucky and didn’t believe I’d win, so I didn’t give the ticket much thought. Soon after, our family’s business started booming. We quickly moved into a mansion and became one of the city’s wealthiest families. Dylan was sent off to study abroad in Leranda. I had even suggested studying abroad myself, but my mother, Madison Cooper, shot it down immediately. “You’re a girl. You’ll get married and settle down. What’s the point of studying abroad? It’s just a waste.” I had been the top student in my entire grade. But ever since I bought that lottery ticket, my bad luck never stopped. Even on SAT day, I fell ill, collapsed from diarrhea, and missed the exam. My parents married me off to a poor rural bachelor, and I was locked in a basement, abused daily. I eventually managed to escape and return home. Covered in bruises and injuries, I stood at the door, but my parents only scolded me. “Look at you, like a beggar. You’re embarrassing our family! How could you not die in that village?!” Dylan’s wife, dripping in expensive jewelry, wrinkled her nose at me and sneered, saying to Dylan, “Is this really your sister? She’s even worse than a beggar!” Only Dylan held me close and whispered, “Zoey, I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through.” He took me out to cheer me up. Then, when the security cameras couldn’t see us, he pushed me under a speeding truck! I ended up with multiple fractures and was rushed to the ICU. In my final moments, Dylan, dressed in his luxurious suit, bent over and whispered in my ear, “I want you to die knowing the truth. Our family didn’t get rich from business. It was all because of the 100 million dollars you won from that lottery. That’s how the company started. That’s how I got the chance to study abroad. I really should be thanking you.” He paused, then coldly added, “But as long as you’re alive, there’s a risk you’ll find out the truth. What if one day you start making trouble? That’s why our parents sent you off to the village, and told the villagers to torture you. We never expected you to escape… but this time, you’re going to die. Just die peacefully. Our family will be grateful.” With regret, I took my last breath. After I died, my body was married off for a dowry. Thinking back on my past life, I clenched the lottery ticket in my hand and silently vowed. This time, I will never let them take the 100 million dollars from me again! “Zoey, I knew you’d be here!” I turned around in shock, only to see Dylan standing in front of me, though I didn’t know when he had appeared. He saw the ticket clenched tightly in my hand. His eyes lit up, and he reached out to grab it.

“Zoey, what’s that in your hand? Is it a lottery ticket? Let me see.” Dylan grabbed my hand forcefully, his eyes gleaming with greed. When he saw that I couldn’t open my fist, he kicked me in the leg. I winced in pain and accidentally loosened my grip. “Heh, I knew you were hiding a lottery ticket!” He looked down, his expression a bit confused. My hand was empty. Nothing was there. “Where’s the ticket? Where did you hide it?” Dylan stared at me, unable to believe it, scanning me up and down. I rubbed my sore leg, feeling a bit wrong. “What lottery ticket? I just passed by a lottery shop. I didn’t even buy one.” Dylan clearly didn’t trust me. He searched every inch of my body, panicking when he found nothing. He didn’t bother with me anymore, rushing into the lottery shop and grabbing the shopkeeper by the collar. “Who bought a ticket just now?” The shopkeeper, used to eccentric customers, shrugged Dylan off without a second thought. “Lots of people come and go all day, how would I remember?” Dylan was trying to recall the lottery ticket worth 100 million dollars. But after so long, his memory was fuzzy, and all he could remember were the first few digits. He took a deep breath. Then his eyes glinted as he thought of something. He pulled me over and glared at me. “You go buy it. “You better pick the right one, or I won’t let you off!” Hearing this, I felt a chill in my heart. Now, I finally understood what Dylan’s behavior was about! It turned out he had also been reborn! To make sure he wouldn’t miss out on the lottery win this time, he followed me all the way to the lottery shop and made me buy the ticket for him. I chose a ticket based on the first few digits he had given me. Still holding the ticket, Dylan looked at me with doubt, scanning me up and down. Clearly, he was still suspicious that I had hidden the ticket somewhere. At dinner, Dylan was irritated, tapping his fork on the table. Madison quickly picked up some food for him. “What’s wrong? Did someone at school upset you? Let me handle it.” Samuel also put down his fork and looked at him seriously. “Yeah, did some classmate look down on you again?” Dylan waited until he thought they were concerned enough, then finally looked up, sneering, and pointed at me. “She bought the lottery ticket and didn’t show it to me.” My parents exchanged glances. Samuel frowned first and scolded me. “What’s the matter with you? I’ve told you before, as the older sister, you should be considerate of your younger brother! What did you do to upset Dylan? Apologize to him now!” Madison sighed, gently brushing her rough hand over mine and saying softly, “Zoey, I’m not criticizing you, but your brother is our only son. As his older sister, you need to learn to take care of Dylan.” I felt the touch on my hand, and a shiver ran down my spine.

The outcome of my past life seemed to be clear as day. “My sister bought a lottery ticket but kept it from me, even lying and saying she didn’t get one. Mom, what should we do?” Dylan looked at me provocatively. My dad slammed his fork down. “Hurry up and hand over the ticket! You’re not going to win anyway. What’s the harm in letting Dylan play with it?” Dylan chuckled. “What if my sister wins the grand prize and decides she’s too good for our family?” My mom stood up immediately and shoved me into my room. She searched every corner of the place, even checking the lining of my underwear. “Zoey, where is it? Hand it over now!” my mom yelled angrily, pointing at me. I felt my eyes water as I looked at them, feeling wronged. “I told you, I didn’t buy a lottery ticket. But none of you believe me! “I only bought that one ticket. The only one Dylan took.” Dylan frowned and looked at me, suspicious. After all, he had just rushed over after his rebirth and hadn’t seen whether I went into the lottery shop or not. Once the door to my room was closed, I quickly pulled the ticket from my hair. Thankfully, I had hidden the ticket there in time, or else this family would’ve found it. But now, my room didn’t feel safe. I quickly took advantage of the time when I went to the bathroom to seal the ticket in a plastic bag and hid it in the toilet tank. Dylan took a few days off from school but still wasn’t giving up. He kept coming to my room, snooping around. I remained calm, watching him rummage through my things without a hint of panic. My mom also made up an excuse to take me shopping for clothes. While I was in the dressing room changing, she went through my bag. Of course, they found nothing. Because I had hidden the ticket in a place they never would’ve thought to look. Soon, the day of the lottery draw arrived. Just like in my past life, the ticket I bought won 100 million dollars! Soon, I would be able to claim the prize and make up for the regrets of my last life! But when I got home from school, I suddenly sensed something was off. As soon as I walked in the door, my mom slapped me across the face. My cheek burned with the sting. “If it wasn’t for the toilet being clogged, I never would’ve found out you hid the lottery ticket in the tank,” my mom sneered, shaking the ticket in her hand. My brother grinned at me. “See, I told you she hid a ticket! You didn’t believe me!” I rushed to the toilet tank, only to find it empty. My dad kicked me, his fist clenched in anger. “You’re getting bold now! You actually dared to hide it. You think you’re some kind of lucky one?” With a look of disdain, my dad held up the ticket and coldly laughed. “Today, I’ll let you watch your little fantasy come crashing down!” Saying that, he gripped the ticket and was about to rip it up. “Dad! No!” Dylan screamed, rushing forward to grab onto my dad’s leg, shouting, “Don’t tear it! This ticket could win 100 million!”   “One hundred million dollars? Are you kidding? Even if someone really won 100 million, it couldn’t possibly be your sister!” Dylan was still in shock and shouted, “The drawing has already happened! This ticket won 100 million! We can finally buy a big mansion. This crappy house is falling apart. My body can’t take it anymore! “I’ll marry a rich, beautiful woman and carry on the family line.” My parents couldn’t believe it. They stared at the numbers on the TV screen, completely ecstatic. “We’re rich! Our family is rich!!!” I crawled up from the floor, tears streaming uncontrollably, my whole body shaking as I screamed. “This is my ticket! Why are you stealing it from me?” My mom shouted back, “You used the money I gave you to buy that ticket! What are you shouting for? Even if we win 100 million dollars, you won’t get a single cent!” They had never given me living expenses, and all the money I made came from tutoring! Without saying anything else, they began to tidy up and prepare to leave to claim the prize. Before they left, they locked me in my room, ignoring my cries and struggles. “Zoey, you really are the chosen one. You casually bought a ticket worth 100 million. “But this time, just watch as we take home the 100 million! You’ll regret it. You’ll suffer!” I watched as my family left, the pain on my face fading away. Instead, a smile began to form because the real show was about to start… I quickly packed my bags and documents, then rented a place outside to focus on studying. On the way, Dylan called me on a video call. When the call connected, Dylan’s arrogant face appeared on the screen. He lowered his voice and said, “Zoey, you’ve been reborn too, right? How does it feel? Too bad, even if you have another life, you still can’t beat me. You’ll still have to watch me take home that 100 million. “Don’t even think about calling the cops. It won’t help. We’re family, and your money is ours. The police won’t be able to do anything. “Feeling hopeless? If you really are, just jump out of the window. Maybe you’ll get to the ticket before we do.” My family strutted off to the lottery center, proud as peacocks. My dad went straight to the counter, announcing loudly, “We’re here to claim our prize! We won 100 million!” “What? One hundred million?” The lottery store was packed with people on the weekend, and when the crowd heard this, they stopped and stared in shock. “One hundred million! Could it be that the winner is from their family?” “Someone actually won 100 million!” “Oh my God, why wasn’t it me?” More and more people gathered around, stopping whatever they were doing to crowd around my family. “Yes, it’s us! We won 100 million!” Dylan casually looked around, then held up the ticket high. “You should call the reporters now. Your store will make the front page of the news today, all thanks to us!” “By the way, there’s one more thing.” My dad suddenly paused and turned to the reporters gathering around. “Everyone, be a witness!” With the crowd surrounding us, my dad smiled confidently at the cameras flashing all around us. “This 100 million ticket only belongs to the three of us. It’s not for my daughter Zoey! “And from now on, our family is cutting ties with Zoey. After her SATs, we’ll wash our hands of her and let her fend for herself!” He ignored the murmurs of the crowd and turned to the store owner with a smug smile. “Now, give us the prize!” The store owner’s face turned red with excitement, sweat trickling down his forehead. He took the ticket with both hands, inspecting it closely. Then, he froze. The crowd held their breath, waiting to witness the miracle of 100 million. After a long pause, the store owner slowly looked up. “What? What’s wrong?” the crowd murmured. “Didn’t win?” “They did.” The store owner said, “But… it’s only ten dollars!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “397693”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G

My father, who had bravely stood up for justice, was on the verge of being sentenced to life imprisonment. Yet, I sat there calmly, observing my manicured nails. The jury members glared at me indignantly, their eyes as if they could flay me alive. Even the judge proposed a temporary recess, suggesting I sort out my thoughts and evidence. After all, at that moment, I was not only my father’s daughter but also his defense lawyer. I slumped casually in the chair and spoke calmly, “Although you rescued the girl from the clutches of the perpetrator, you continued to stab him after he lost the ability to resist. Legally, this constitutes intentional homicide.” My mother dropped to her knees before me, pleading with tears streaming down her face. “Sienna, please plead for your father. He’s your father!” I evaded her outstretched hand and brandished my lawyer’s license. “I’m sorry. I stand for what’s right, not for my relatives merely because of blood ties.” My mother crumpled to the ground, her forehead beaded with sweat, her voice quivering. “But people say the thug was about to attack your father, and your father was just acting in excessive self-defense. “Sienna, you still haven’t forgiven your father, so you’re deliberately making up an excuse to send him to prison, aren’t you?” Her eyes were filled with suspicion. That thought was justified, though. After all, we had a huge fight before my father’s heroic act. I glanced at my mother and let out a cold snort. “I’m your daughter. You should know me well. Who do you believe, netizens or your own daughter?” My mother was momentarily stunned. Soon, she clutched her chest and began to cry her heart out. “So what are we supposed to do now? Just watch your father be sentenced to life imprisonment?” In the end, she even started retching, clearly on the brink of a complete breakdown. “That’s your biological father who has raised you for twenty-six years. Do you really want to send him to prison with your own hands?” The deep affection between my parents made me, their daughter, seem shockingly cold and detached. But I just smiled indifferently. “Isn’t this a good thing? The prison provides food and shelter. I’ll see that he has a place to spend his remaining years. You don’t need to worry about his basic needs. “Frankly, before my dad acted bravely, he probably didn’t consider how we’d manage if he died. Why worry so much about him now? You might as well find a new partner for yourself.” With that, I poured myself a glass of water, turned on the latest variety show, and burst into laughter watching it, waiting for the court session to resume. When my mother saw my nonchalant demeanor, her eyes turned red. But she was just a housewife, lacking the means to solve this problem on her own. She was at her wits’ end, and this desperate act was the only way she could think of to save her husband. She smashed the cup in my hand and pressed a shard to her neck. “Sienna Walker, I don’t care if you hate your father or if, as you claim, he committed murder on purpose. You must save your father! “So many people online say your father was acting in excessive self-defense. There must be room for negotiation. If you don’t find a way out, I’ll die right in front of you.” The other relatives in the recess room regarded me with disapproval. “Sienna, we may not understand legal matters, but there are people on the internet who do. Now everyone is speaking up for your father. If you have any difficulties, just tell us. You can’t send your father to jail just based on what you’ve said.” My mother suddenly seemed to have an epiphany. She tightly grasped my arm, her eyes pleading. “You want to buy a house, right? Weren’t you arguing with your father because he refused to give you the down payment? “Help your father. Then, I’ll use all our family savings to buy you a house, okay?” The relatives in the recess room seemed to have grasped what they thought was my true motive and looked at me with contempt. Before I could respond, the door was flung open. A relative, who had been sent to gather information, rushed in, his face etched with worry. “I heard that the lawyer hired by the other side is the best in the country and has never lost a case. If the case proceeds like this, Steve may never get out.” He gave me a rather furtive glance. The eyes of an elder in my family flashed with anxiety, and then he fixed me with a stern look. “Sienna, I’m asking you one last time. Are you really going to insist that your father committed murder on purpose and let him spend his entire life in prison?”

Under their expectant yet intense gazes, I nodded slowly but resolutely. At the sight of this, the elder angrily crushed the paper cup in his hand, his face contorted with anger while glaring at me. “I can’t believe our Walker family has such an unfilial daughter as you! “I won’t talk about how your father rushed you to the hospital when you were sick as a child. Do you remember the year before last when you had uremia? It was your father who donated his kidney to you! “If it weren’t for him, would you have a healthy body now? “Not to mention, all the living expenses for your family of three were earned by your father, who worked day and night. Without your father’s hard-earned money to support your studies, could you have become a renowned lawyer today? “Sienna, you can’t be so ungrateful. Your father needs your help right now. If you act so heartlessly, you may get your retribution later!” The elder’s heartfelt questioning was sincere, and by the end, he even choked up. The other relatives also chimed in, pointing their fingers at me. “He’s right. You’re the only daughter in the family, and Steve dotes on you the most. If he doesn’t buy a house for you, who else would he buy it for? He must be considering the current declining housing prices and wants to wait and see. You can’t send your own father to jail just because of this.” “Look, you don’t even have a partner yet. If a man finds out that your father is in prison, who would be willing to marry you? Even for your own future, you have to get your father out.” “That’s right. There’s no such thing as an eternal feud between a father and his daughter. Sienna, we all know you’re a smart girl. You can’t be so foolish now.” The relatives’ chatter grew louder and more insistent. I sat on the sofa, legs crossed, looking composed and unfazed. I seemed impervious to everything around me. Seeing my indifference, my mother crumpled in despair, screaming in pain. She knelt before me once again, pleading desperately, “Sienna, I’m your biological mother who gave birth to you and raised you. I’m begging you, please save your father. “As long as you’re willing to save your father, I’ll transfer all the family’s money to you. Whether you want to buy a house or do something else with it, we won’t interfere. What do you say? “If you think that’s not enough, I’ll sell our house and give you the money, okay?” Upon hearing this, I finally uncrossed my legs and sat up straight. When my mother saw my changed posture, a glimmer of hope flashed across her face, and she hastily swore to me, “Sienna, as long as you promise to help your father, I’ll give you everything we have!” The older relatives present, seeing my mother’s abject state, turned away in anger. I took out my phone and started calculating. The combined assets under my parents’ names were sufficient for me to afford a car and a house easily. This sum of money was enough to fund my father’s defense in the upcoming trial. This seemed like a worthwhile deal.

I looked back at my mother and nodded silently in assent. An impatient look flickered across my mother’s face. “Check if the evidence is complete. Is there anything else you need to prepare? You can’t make any mistakes in the upcoming trial.” My hand reached for the materials on the table, but suddenly I clasped my hands together. “I can help my dad, but what if you go back on your word after the trial? “There should be at least one million dollars in cash at home. Transfer it to me first, and then we’ll sign a property transfer contract. I promise to get my dad acquitted later. How about that?” When my mother heard my words, her face was filled with disbelief. She felt as if she was being toyed with, and her face contorted into a hideous expression. “Most of that money is in paper passbooks, and we have to go to the bank to deal with it. How can I transfer it to you right now? “The court will resume soon. We don’t have the time now. Sienna, please don’t do this! I’m begging you. If you’re really worried, give me a contract, and I’ll sign it now. I will never renege on my promise.” I shrugged. “That won’t do. Even if you sign the contract, if you’re set on being a deadbeat, there’s not much I can do, right? “Either transfer the money now, or my dad goes to jail. The choice is yours.” The other relatives in the recess room could no longer tolerate my actions. The eldest among them even threw the wooden bracelet in his hand at me. “Your father must have done something heinous to have a child as disrespectful and unfilial as you. “Your mother shouldn’t have given birth to you. She should have strangled you at birth!” My eyes sharpened as I stared back at the elder. “This counts as intentional injury, and the minimum sentence is three years. What? Do you want to go to jail and keep my dad company?” The elder’s daughter, my cousin with whom I was quite close, looked at me with disappointment in her eyes. “Sienna! When did you become like this? Did you take money from the other side and do this on purpose? “Is money really more important than your family?” Her eyes were bloodshot, brimming with pain and questions. She hugged my mother tightly and consoled her. “Connie, just leave her alone. No matter how much we plead with a heartless person like her, she won’t help us. “If things turn out to be bad today, we can still appeal for a retrial. Then we can hire a better lawyer, and surely there will be people on the Internet who will come to our aid.” Seeing the devastated look on the face of the only person in my family I was close to, I couldn’t help but feel a momentary pain in my heart. My parents had been too busy to take care of me since I was a child, so I was practically raised by my cousin. When I failed the bar exam the year I graduated from college, it was she who firmly pressured me to quit my job that paid a meager 3,000 dollars a month. She supported me financially each month so that I could focus on preparing for the bar exam. At that time, I vowed to be good to my cousin and her family for the rest of my life. But now, the disappointed looks from my cousin and her father were almost unbearable. I turned my head away silently, not daring to look any longer. Suddenly, the door of the recess room opened. “The court session is about to resume. Please get ready.” It was the court’s messenger. My cousin squeezed my mother’s hand firmly and said, “Connie, don’t worry. Even if the worst-case scenario occurs, we still have hope.”   I donned an indifferent facade and sneered. “We’ll see about that.” My mother glared at me with hatred and walked out first. When I was the only one left in the room, I took several deep breaths, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. Once I had composed myself, I took my place in the dock and argued that my father had committed intentional homicide. There was an immediate outcry from the jury, but an even louder commotion came from outside the door. The police on the scene were unable to hold anyone back. A large group of people suddenly burst into the room, each holding a cell phone. “Sienna Walker! How could there be a lawyer and a daughter as morally blind and deranged as you?” “We’ll expose your true colors to the world, even if it means breaking the law and going to jail, to seek justice for Mr. Walker.” I turned to look at the jury, knowing very well that they must have contacted these live-streamers during the recess, attempting to use public opinion to reverse the situation. Sure enough, a glimmer of hope shone brightly on my mother’s face. I stared at the live-streamers being restrained by the police and spoke without the slightest hint of shame, “Do you know that trespassing is illegal? “And Mr. Walker, the ‘hero’ you all claim him to be, actually did kill a young man. How could you want a murderer to be free?” In response, a torrent of curses rained down on me. “That’s bullshit! That guy was molesting a teenage girl. Such scum deserved to die!” “The surveillance footage clearly shows that Mr. Walker was acting in self-defense. At most, it was excessive self-defense. You’re his lawyer and his daughter. How can you not stand up for your own father?” “Someone saw you in contact with the other party’s family before the trial. Did you take bribes? You’re such a heartless monster who cares about nothing but money!” “Aren’t you afraid that there won’t be any more heroes in this country because of you?” “Aren’t you afraid that you’ll encounter the same situation one day, but no one will help you because of your disheartening actions?” I lifted my head, stared straight into their cameras, and smiled. “You’ve wrongly labeled a reckless person as a hero. What we advocate nowadays is to act with wisdom, not just recklessly. “Although his intention was good, he broke the law and must pay the price. If you have the power, you should work on amending the law instead of yelling here.” My taunts sparked a huge uproar, and the viewership of their live-stream rooms skyrocketed. The comments scrolled so fast that they almost looked like a blur, filled with insults aimed at me. But my eyes were fixed on a corner of the jury that no one else was paying attention to. The girl, wearing a mask and a hat, had tears in her eyes, yet she gave me a firm gesture and nodded. My handcuffed father suddenly dropped to his knees, just like my mother had, and looked at the live-streamers. “Please turn off the live stream. Since my daughter says I’m guilty, then I’m guilty. I admit it! “Please don’t cyberbully my daughter. I won’t be able to rest easy in prison if you do!” Then, my father looked up at the judge. “Sir, I plead guilty! Please sentence me to life imprisonment!” He then turned and looked at me. “Sienna, are you satisfied now?” I glanced at the number of viewers in the live-stream room and smiled with satisfaction. “Not yet. I want you sentenced to death!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “397707”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G

My best friend, Hazel Prescott, whom I had cared for over the years, gave me a bottle of perfume. Without hesitation, I turned and poured it all into the toilet. In my past life, the moment I wore that perfume, my body began to sprout fur and emit a terrible stench. Colleagues avoided me like the plague. My boss and boyfriend, Wyatt Dawson, dumped me without a second thought and got together with Hazel. Desperate for a cure, I searched everywhere, only to die in agony and despair. It was only after my death that I learned the truth. Hazel had tampered with the perfume. Now, as I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day she gave it to me. “Charlotte, I saved up half a month’s salary to buy this perfume for you. It’s just a small gift. “Don’t look down on it. I promise I’ll get you something even better once I have more money.” Hazel crinkled into a smile as she handed me the beautifully wrapped gift. I staggered back in shock, glancing around at my familiar office surroundings, realizing. I had been reborn. Ignoring the puzzled stares from my coworkers, I rushed to the bathroom and stripped off my clothes. Staring at my reflection, I let out a shaky breath of relief. My skin was smooth and flawless. In my past life, the moment I sprayed that perfume, my entire body became covered in thick fur, carrying a faint, nauseating stench that drove everyone away. Hazel came from a poor background. When she first joined the company, she nearly got fired due to her lack of experience. Out of kindness, I helped her. After that, I continued to treat her sincerely, sharing fun moments and bringing her food whenever I got something nice. She seemed grateful, so when she gifted me the perfume, I simply thought it was a token of appreciation. A colleague jokingly wondered if it was some kind of unregulated product since she couldn’t even name the brand. I didn’t take it seriously and just thought they were messing around. But not long after, something started changing in my body. At first, it was just redness and itchiness. Then, patches of fur started growing all over me. I tried hair removal creams, but the next day, the fur grew back even thicker. I went to top hospitals. I tried every remedy, both medical and folk. Nothing worked. After that, I took leave and hid in the employee dorm, too afraid to step out. Hazel, pretending to check on me, brought the entire department along. The moment they saw me looking like a caveman, they gasped as if they’d seen a ghost. A gossip-loving coworker uploaded a video of me online, calling me the Hairy Beauty. The internet went wild. Influencers camped outside my apartment, demanding I go live. Meanwhile, Wyatt seized the opportunity to break up with me. Hazel, on the other hand, became even more stunning. On one of her so-called visits, her breathtaking looks caught the attention of bloggers. Seizing the moment, she engaged with netizens, quickly skyrocketing to fame. Within half a month, she had amassed over a million followers. And me? Unable to accept my ruined face and body, I slit my wrists in the bathroom. Only after death did I finally learn the truth. Hazel had envied my success and beauty. The perfume she gifted me wasn’t just a present. It was a cursed object meant to steal my fate.

After my death, she got what she wanted. Wyatt became her boyfriend. Seeking excitement, they even indulged in their passion right in my old room beneath my memorial photo. The tragic memories of my past life flashed before my eyes. My jaw clenched, every cell in my body boiling with rage. I dug my fingertips deep into my palm, the sharp pain pulling me back to reality. “Darling, what’s wrong? Come try this perfume.” Hazel blinked her big, innocent eyes, looking as harmless as ever. But beneath that facade lay a heart as venomous as a snake’s. When I didn’t reach out to take it, she carefully extended the porcelain bottle toward me. I immediately sprang from my seat, pointing to the slightly cluttered desk with caution. “Just put it there.” A flicker of frustration flashed across Hazel’s face before she quickly masked it, pressing me again. “This was made by the florist back home. You won’t find it anywhere, no matter how much you’re willing to pay! I spent half my month’s salary just to get this for you. “Come on, it’s just perfume, not some venomous snake. What’s there to be afraid of?” I glanced at the gloves she was wearing. If my guess was right, the perfume wasn’t just toxic in scent. Touching the bottle itself might be dangerous. Seeing my reluctance, Hazel suddenly bit her lip hard, her eyes welling up with tears that streamed down her face. “Charlotte, I know I come from a poor family, and this isn’t some fancy brand. It’s normal if you don’t like it… but I just wanted to show my appreciation…” I once saw her as a friend, yet she wanted me dead! Now she was trying to guilt-trip me, thinking she could manipulate me so easily? What a joke! Suppressing my anger, I let out a cold laugh. “Hazel, that’s really hurtful. “I stayed late to finish your unfinished work, unpaid. I helped you, yet instead of appreciating it, you think I’m looking down on you? That’s truly disappointing. “If I really looked down on you, why would I go out of my way to help? “Just because I didn’t take the perfume, you assume I think less of you? That’s completely unreasonable!” My voice trembled slightly as I spoke, drawing the attention of our colleagues. Everyone here knew how much I had helped Hazel in the past. Hearing this, they immediately chimed in. “Hazel, hasn’t Charlotte done enough for you? And now you’re saying she treats you badly?” “I remember plenty of times when you just walked out while Charlotte stayed behind, working late into the night. What have you ever done for her?” “Didn’t Charlotte cover your meals when payroll was delayed last month? I don’t recall you ever treating her back. And now you’re playing the victim?” “By the way, what brand is this perfume? Why is it in a porcelain bottle? And why are you wearing disposable gloves? Don’t tell me it’s poisonous.” Most of our coworkers didn’t have a good impression of Hazel. While speaking up for me, they were also venting their long-held frustration. Hazel had always loved playing the pity card. Whenever someone refused her request, she would turn around and cry to the others, acting like she was being bullied just because she was poor, implying that people should naturally cater to her. But after a while, everyone saw through her act and stopped entertaining her. Her expression darkened as she stared at the perfume bottle on my desk. Then, showing a stiff smile, she gave a slight bow. “Sorry, Charlotte, I spoke without thinking. I’ll just leave it here. Once you try it, you’ll realize how great it is. “We’re coworkers, after all. Why would I ever want to hurt you?”

I couldn’t stand her fake, pretentious face. I wanted to smash the porcelain bottle right into her smug expression, but I held back. I needed her to expose her true colors so I could get my revenge. Showing a casual smile, I pressed my lips together lightly. “Hmm, I’ll give it a try another day. I’ll just leave it here for now.” Hazel’s face lit up with joy. She eagerly took my arm and chirped about how the perfume should be used within a week, or else the scent would fade. I nodded absentmindedly, pretending to listen while my mind was racing. The moment Hazel stepped away to use the restroom, I sprang into action. Mask on, gloves on, I carefully opened the porcelain bottle. I snapped a picture of the perfume bottle and sent it to a friend who specialized in perfume packaging, offering a high price for an identical one to be delivered to my office ASAP. By the end of the workday, the replica had arrived. I discreetly dumped Hazel’s so-called gift down the toilet and tossed the original bottle into the trash. Over the next few days, Hazel kept sneaking glances at my desk, checking to see if the perfume bottle was still there. Every time she confirmed its presence, she nodded in satisfaction. To be extra sure, she even found excuses to go to the restroom with me, probably hoping to see if her little trick was taking effect. I decided to have some fun. I sprayed myself with a mix of water and garlic extract, a smell so foul it could make someone gag. Hazel had an excited twitch over her lips, convinced that her perfume was working its magic. Little did she know, she was stepping right into the trap I had laid out for her. Wyatt, my boyfriend, had been calling me into his office more often, looking for excuses to get close. Each time, I found a way to avoid him. Sensing my growing distance, he decided to make a grand gesture. That evening, he showed up at the employee dormitory with a bouquet of fresh flowers. “Baby, there’s a new restaurant in the old town. Let’s go check it out together.” I barely glanced at him, my tone indifferent. “I don’t feel well. I have no appetite.” “Then let’s pick another day.” I switched off the lights without another word. Wyatt knocked for a while before finally leaving in disappointment. Hazel, who had been eavesdropping nearby, saw me staying put. Wasting no time, she threw on a full face of makeup, slipped into her high heels, and hurriedly followed after him. Not long after, she updated her social media. The location was that brand-new restaurant in the old town. “Could she be any more desperate? Let’s see what tricks these two lovebirds are up to.” Wrapping myself up in a hoodie and mask, I hopped on the subway and made my way to the restaurant. Through the window, I spotted them at a corner table. Wyatt was holding Hazel’s hand, his gaze burning with desire. His fingers had already slipped under her collar. Hazel, playing her part well, perched herself onto his lap. Her long, manicured fingers trailed downward, making Wyatt’s face flush with excitement. “Wyatt, I should go. If Charlotte finds out, it won’t end well.” Wyatt yanked her back into his arms, pulling her in for a deep, sloppy kiss. “So what? I’ll just break up with her. That woman is nothing compared to you. “She’s as dull as a dead fish in bed. Nothing like you, baby. And besides, we’ve been doing this for over a year. Has she even noticed anything?” Hazel draped her arms around his neck, her eyes gleaming with wicked delight. “You’re right. If she weren’t so stupid, she wouldn’t believe everything I say. “You’re such a bad boy.” Wyatt chuckled, tapping her nose affectionately as his hands roamed freely. “Bad boys are what girls love, aren’t they? You like it when I’m bad, don’t you?” “Ugh, Wyatt! You’re so annoying!” My hands clenched into fists as I listened, seething with rage. So this was how they saw me? A fool to be toyed with? A stepping stone for their selfish desires? Then Wyatt asked, “Any progress with the perfume? She doesn’t seem all that different.” Hazel frowned. “Yeah, weird, right? Maybe the perfume isn’t close enough to her. I’ll slip it into her bag next time. That should work. “But don’t worry. She already reeks. Soon, I’ll take her place, become rich, beautiful, and unstoppable.” A crazed, triumphant glint flickered in Hazel’s eyes. The two of them raised their glasses in a twisted toast. Just as I suspected, even being near the perfume had an effect. An idea sparked in my mind. Wasting no time, I hailed a cab straight to the office. Digging through the trash, I retrieved the discarded porcelain bottle. That night, while Wyatt and Hazel were busy getting a hotel room, I poured the last few drops of liquid from the bottle, blending it into her perfume. Then, I submitted a vacation request to headquarters, claiming I needed a break. I invited a few colleagues on a getaway and disappeared for half a month. During that time, Hazel blew up my phone with calls. I ignored every single one. Two weeks later, I returned to the dorm with my coworkers, laughing and chatting. The moment I opened the door, an overwhelming stench filled the air. And what I saw next left everyone utterly speechless.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “397708”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G

At the entrepreneurial team competition, Rachel Foster, Howard Jackson’s childhood sweetheart, volunteered to be the team leader in hopes of securing a recommendation for graduate school. I prioritized the overall situation and firmly rejected her proposal. So she withdrew from the competition and, following her parents, returned to her distressed hometown to get married. The team I led won the championship, emerged as a rising star in the business world, and all members secured recommendations for graduate school. Later, I married Howard. When we were celebrating the company’s IPO on a yacht, he pushed me—six months pregnant—off the yacht while I was off my guard. Before I drowned, I struggled while asking him why he did this to me. Howard’s face turned cold as he replied, “If you hadn’t selfishly taken the position of team leader, Rachel wouldn’t have left the competition, gotten married, and ended up dying from domestic violence.” When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day when Rachel, a poor student, had volunteered to be the team leader. ***** “Lola, I’m just a few credits short of securing a recommendation for graduate school. The team leader in the entrepreneurship competition will get extra credits. Can you let me take the role of team leader?” When I heard those familiar words, I was shocked. I glanced at the clock on the wall and immediately realized I had been sent back to the day when Rachel first proposed to be the team leader of the entrepreneurship competition. In my previous life, Rachel didn’t major in finance, and my parents had promised to invest in my team and connect us with business elites for guidance. Given these factors, I could only reject her sternly on the grounds that she wasn’t suitable for the position. I also explained to her that if we excelled in the competition, all of us could potentially secure recommendations for graduate school, so she didn’t need to be the team leader. However, she felt that I was deliberately humiliating her and, as a result, dropped out of school, followed her parents back to her distressed hometown, and got married. Later, I leveraged my parents’ connections to attract resources for my team. In the end, we won the championship, all members secured recommendations for graduate school, and we emerged as rising stars in the business world. Three years later, I married Howard. While I was pregnant, he inherited my family’s company. The company founded by my team also went public successfully. Howard became a prominent figure and enjoyed immense success. In the name of celebration, Howard invited me onto a yacht. When I was off my guard, he kicked me, who was six months pregnant, into the sea. The water around me turned red with my baby’s blood. I pleaded with him to save our baby, but he threw a stone at me and sneered, “If you hadn’t been so selfish and driven Rachel away, she wouldn’t have gotten married and died of domestic violence while pregnant. You owe her.” It was at that moment that I realized Howard had harbored hatred toward me for so many years because of what had happened to Rachel. Seeing that I remained silent, Howard frowned and dragged me along with evident displeasure. “Lola, did you hear us? Rachel needs the position of team leader more than you do. You should let her take this role.” Hearing Howard’s impatient voice, I snapped back to reality. I looked at the pitiful Rachel beside me and sneered, “Didn’t you say that the team leader would be whoever could attract investment and make the greatest contribution? Now that I’ve delivered on that, you want me to step down?” When Rachel heard what I said, tears streamed down her face. “Lola, that’s not what I meant. I just want to pursue a master’s degree. I’m from a really tough background. If I can’t secure a recommendation for graduate school, I’ll have no choice but to go home and get married. Please, have mercy on me.” Having said that, Rachel immediately bowed to me. Her action instantly drew the attention of the entire class, and everyone gathered around. Rachel’s voice trembled with even more sorrow. “Lola, I really don’t want to go back to my hometown and marry some old bachelor. Please don’t make me drop out of school, okay?”

The crowd watching immediately grew indignant upon hearing this. “Lola, what are you doing? Who are you to make Rachel drop out of school? Why are you so vicious?” “Rachel comes from a poor family, but it doesn’t mean you can bully her like this.” “Lola, how could you use your family’s wealth to bully Rachel like this? That’s absolutely despicable.” Howard grabbed my arm and said earnestly, “Lola, I know you’ve always been spoiled and willful, but this time it’s about Rachel’s future. You can’t ruin her life over something as trivial as a team leader position. It’s really no big deal to let her have it.” I was infuriated by his words. They had once urged me to take on the responsibility of being the team leader. Why didn’t they suggest Rachel be the team leader when I had to stay up all night writing proposals? Where was Rachel when I went to countless companies to humbly seek investment for my team? Now, with the competition about to end, she wanted to replace me, and Howard described the team leader position as trivial. I said coldly, “I didn’t make her drop out of school. I’m the one who secured the investment for this competition. What qualifications does Rachel have to replace me?” Howard laughed dismissively. “Lola, stop bragging about your fundraising. You only managed to do that because our team is excellent. Even if we let Rachel seek investment, she could do it—and might even do a better job.” Rachel said shyly, “Lola, you can’t dismiss our team’s excellence just to highlight your own capabilities. Howard is a well-known financial genius. I guess it’s him who actually attracted the investment.” Howard was clearly pleased with Rachel’s compliment, and his expression grew even more arrogant. “Rachel is right. Lola, I might not have cared about this before, but if you’re going to be so selfish as to ruin Rachel’s future, I’ll never agree.” I raised my eyes and chuckled, “In that case, I’ll let her take the role.” Howard’s face lit up with satisfaction at my words. “Lola, that’s the spirit. I admire how sensibly you’re handling this. You’ll have plenty of opportunities in the future, but Rachel can’t afford to lose this one.” I nodded readily. “Then I wish you great success in the competition.” Rachel seemed a bit displeased, thinking that I was trying to shirk responsibility. “Lola, even though you’re no longer the team leader, you’re still a member of this team. You should still be responsible for the part you worked on before.” I sneered and said sarcastically, “Rachel, I was the team leader and handled 70% of the team’s workload. Now you want to replace me and still expect me to do most of the work? How shameless.” Rachel’s face turned pale. “That’s not what I meant. The competition is about to end, and it’s not a good idea to change the team leader now.” I nodded. “You knew the competition was about to end, so you chose to take the credit at this time.” As soon as I said this, the onlookers understood what was going on and began to accuse Rachel of being scheming and hypocritical—trying to take the credit without doing any work. Rachel hurriedly tried to explain, but no one believed her. After all, many classmates had seen me working tirelessly during this period—leaving school early and coming back late to run our business. Seeing that Rachel was on the verge of tears again, Howard stepped in front of her protectively and scolded me angrily. “Lola, Rachel is doing this for the good of our team. Don’t slander her. She is the team leader now and has the right to tell you what to do. You’d better be obedient. If you don’t follow her instructions, we can only kick you out of the team.”

I stared at Howard with wide eyes and clapped my hands excitedly. “Okay, I’m quitting right now.” Howard’s expression turned cold and stern, clearly taken aback by my sudden declaration. “Lola, don’t be impulsive. Rachel is a reasonable person and won’t make things difficult for you just because you targeted her before. If you quit now, you’ll definitely regret it.” I smiled dismissively, “Regret? Sorry, but I won’t. I’m quitting right now, and I won’t have anything to do with your team anymore.” With that, I turned around and walked away, not sparing a glance at Howard’s and Rachel’s sullen faces. Start a business? Forget about it. Wasn’t it better to inherit my family fortune worth billions of dollars? Howard was indeed exceptional. I invested in his development, propelling him to the top of the financial world where he became a leading figure and could attract investments. But at present, Howard hadn’t yet reached the level where his fame could attract vast investments. My uncles invested in our team simply to make me happy. That evening, I posted a message on social media, announcing my departure from the startup team. As soon as I posted it, my uncles all commented. [Dear Lola, you’re quitting the startup? Just go for it. Your father and uncles can provide you with substantial investment. Even if you fail, it’s okay.] [Lola, if you quit, I will withdraw my investment.] My cousins at school heard about how I was forced to quit and posted about it in the comment section. The comment section flooded with messages all at once. That very night, my uncles decided to withdraw their investment and announced they would blacklist the team in the industry. I didn’t stop them. The next day, I went to school as usual. After leaving the entrepreneurship competition, I had some free time and focused on studying and applying for graduate school. After class, I received a call from my dad asking me to draft a planning proposal for him. It was a small project, and my dad often gave me tasks like this to gain some experience. In the afternoon, I brought the proposal I had prepared to my dad’s company. He took the contract, glanced through it, and expressed his satisfaction. When I was walking out of the company, someone suddenly bumped into me. I glanced over and saw Howard. After spotting the documents on the ground, he suddenly laughed. “Lola, I knew you didn’t really want to leave our team. Did you know we were coming to Clarke Group, so you prepared a proposal and waited for us here?” Howard reached out to take the proposal from my arms, but I stepped aside to dodge him. “You’re overthinking it. I didn’t prepare it for you.” Howard frowned. “Lola, stop messing around. If you didn’t prepare it for us, are you planning to start your own business?” I was stunned, and suddenly it hit me—I had done most of the tasks in the team by myself. So why couldn’t I start my own business? Thinking of this, I suddenly smiled, “You’re right. I want to start my own business.” With that, I walked away, ignoring Howard’s cursing and shouting behind me. Three days later, I submitted my business plan and secured all the previous investments. When I was leaving school in the afternoon, Howard and Rachel suddenly stopped me. Howard said, “Lola, I didn’t expect you to go to such shameless lengths just to steal our investment. You’ve slept with so many men. You’re not worthy of being my girlfriend.” His slander instantly drew the attention of many curious onlookers. I said, “Howard, watch your language.” Rachel took Howard’s arm and said, “Lola, how could you cheat on Howard?” I frowned. “What nonsense are you talking about?” Howard pulled out a stack of distasteful photos and threw them in my face. “No wonder you were able to attract so much investment. The way you sought it is despicable.” Seeing everyone pointing fingers at me and gossiping loudly about me, I took out my cell phone and called the man in the photo. “Uncle Cam, please come to my school with our family photo.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “397713”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G

My neighbor, Maria Watson, and I went into labor at the same time. I was rushed to the hospital by my husband, Isaac Powell, only to give birth to a stillborn child. Isaac scolded me, “Is this what happens when you act so carelessly during pregnancy? No wonder you ended up with a freak of a child.” I lost my baby, my reputation was destroyed, and I was forced into a divorce, leaving me with nothing. One day, I overheard Isaac talking to Maria, “Lucky we swapped your stillborn with Laura’s healthy baby. If your husband’s parents found out, they’d know that dead baby was mine.” That’s when I found out—Isaac and Maria had been sleeping together the whole time. He had purposely pushed me into premature labor just so he could switch my healthy child with hers. I confronted him, but instead of an explanation, he and Maria shoved me into the bathtub and drowned me. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day I went into premature labor. This time, I was determined to make sure Maria bore the stillborn and expose the affair between her and Isaac to everyone. ***** As they pressed me underwater, fighting for breath, I begged Isaac to spare me—for the sake of the years we had spent together. Isaac looked down at me, disgust in his eyes. “Laura, I’ve had enough of you. You act like you’re the boss because of your job, but I’m a man, not your servant. Maria’s different. She loves me and treats me like a king. She gives me the dignity of being a man.” Maria stood smugly behind him, grinning at me with satisfaction. “Laura, thank you for giving me such a good man and such a healthy baby. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have known what to do with my stillborn.” I tried to struggle, but they pressed me harder into the water. Just before I lost consciousness, I saw my biological daughter, Arya, the one who had been swapped, running toward me, shouting, trying to stop them—but she was slapped so hard, blood pouring from her mouth and nose. But then, I opened my eyes again. I was back to the day Isaac had pushed me into premature labor. Isaac was flipping through my medical records, discussing things eagerly. “Laura, my mom checked, and today’s the perfect day for the baby to be born. How about we get the baby out today?” I quickly tried to gather my thoughts. In my previous life, Isaac had gone out of his way to contact someone in the obstetrics department. He stayed with me the whole time, making sure to swap my child with Maria’s. If I could avoid his contact, maybe I could save my baby. Worried he might notice something was off, I pretended to go to the bathroom and slipped downstairs. To my surprise, I ran into Isaac in the emergency room, rushing around. I followed him quietly, seeing him talk to a nurse. “Nova, we are cousins. If I hadn’t given you 200 thousand dollars to help you get into the hospital, you wouldn’t have had a chance. Don’t forget that favor. “That woman, always acting like she’s in charge because she makes money. If she gives birth, her money and property will go to that little bastard. I’ll have to serve her for the rest of my life with nothing to show for it. “Her baby’s position is wrong. I’ll push her a bit to make her labor difficult. Nova, you need to make sure she doesn’t make it to the operating table.” Isaac’s cruel words made my heart ache as if it had been torn apart. Isaac had no education, and no family background—his parents were either gambling or alcoholics. I had fallen for him because of his looks and had given up everything. When he said he didn’t want a job that paid three thousand dollars a month, I worked hard to support him while he “managed the house”. But “managing the house” meant he did nothing all day but play games and watch movies. I worked all day and still had to come home and cook for him. Last year, when I found out I was pregnant, he asked for 200 thousand dollars to ensure the baby, and I gave it to him. I didn’t know he was using that money to get Nova into the hospital and set everything up a year in advance just so I would die on the operating table. I tried to suppress my anger and planned to leave, but Isaac caught me. “Laura, what are you doing here?” Isaac looked at me suspiciously. I knew that if I didn’t come up with a good explanation, he wouldn’t hesitate to deal with me right away.

“When I came out of the bathroom, I didn’t see you. I thought you must have gone to the car first. Who’s this? A friend of yours?” I smiled at Nova, hoping Isaac wouldn’t notice my unease. He didn’t, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Isaac shook his head. “Not really. I was just asking about some insurance details. Let’s go, honey. I’ve already arranged the ward, and we’re going for the C-section this afternoon. By the way, our neighbor Maria lives next door. You two might end up giving birth around the same time.” Back in the room, Isaac walked in carrying fruit. My palms were sweating from nervousness. Isaac said, “Honey, that’s too much fruit. Could you send some over to Maria? Since we’re neighbors, it’d be nice to share.” I remembered the same moment from my previous life—Isaac had asked me to deliver fruit to Maria, but I ended up running into Maria’s husband, Hugh Watson. Hugh was a sailor, often away for long stretches. Isaac had taken advantage of Hugh’s absence to sleep with Maria, and when Hugh came home two months later, Maria was already pregnant. To avoid raising suspicion, they delayed the birth until now, even though Maria’s due date had been last month. They both knew the truth: the baby in Maria’s womb had died from lack of oxygen. They needed to swap my healthy baby with hers, or Hugh would definitely get suspicious if she gave birth to a stillborn. When I went to deliver the fruit, Maria would intentionally fall and blame me. Hugh had a fiery temper, and when he saw the scene, he would kick me, causing me to bleed and go into premature labor. In the chaos, Isaac would take the opportunity to steal my child. If I just delivered the fruit, I would be heading straight for the same tragic fate as last time. “Okay.” I tried to stay calm, took the fruit, and headed out. But then I turned back, waiting for Isaac to pack my things. I quickly took a video and posted it to Instagram. Isaac, looking uncomfortable, tried to stop me. “Why post this? We’re old married folks. What’s the point?” I immediately acted annoyed. “I’m about to give birth, and you won’t even let me post a sweet selfie? You’re grounded for the day!” I quickly left, locking the hospital room door behind me, ignoring Isaac’s attempts to knock. I knocked on Maria’s door, supporting my pregnant belly. Maria struggled to open the door. During her entire pregnancy, she’d been eating the nutrition supplements Isaac had stolen from my cupboard, making her belly swell unnaturally large. “Laura, you’re here.” Maria glared at my belly with hatred, looking like she wanted to slice me open right then and there. I kept my distance, prepared for her tricks. But even so, Maria deliberately threw herself to the ground, raising her voice to scream, “Help! Someone, help! Hugh! Laura pushed me!”

But I was faster—sitting down first, I immediately called for the doctor and nurse. When Hugh came rushing out, I was already on the floor, clutching my belly in pain and shouting for help, “The fruit is from Isaac—he said you like cherries. Even if you don’t want them, you shouldn’t push me!” Hugh was extremely traditional and controlling. Although he was often away at sea, he had very high standards for Maria’s purity and didn’t allow her to interact with other men. When he heard me, he immediately asked, “How does Isaac know Maria likes cherries?” I feigned innocence. “When you’re not home, Maria always calls Isaac when something comes up. They’re good friends, often eating and hanging out together. Isn’t it normal for friends to know each other’s preferences?” Hugh looked suspicious, and Maria panicked, grabbing at me. “Laura, stop talking nonsense. Whenever something goes wrong at home, I always call you, not Isaac. We’ve never had any private contact. It’s you who likes cherries, so Isaac just shared some with me!” In my previous life, Maria had used this same excuse to deceive Hugh. Back then, I was naive, thinking she was just a woman trying to get by. I even helped cover for her and criticized Hugh for being too paranoid and not trusting her. But this time, I wasn’t going to be so stupid. “Laura, tell me—does Maria really hang out with your husband often?” Hugh was furious, his fists clenched, as though he was ready to punch Maria at any moment. I acted confused. “Maybe I’m mistaken. Isaac usually goes out in the evenings, and I’m already in bed early because of the pregnancy. I must’ve misheard or something.” My words did nothing to ease Hugh’s suspicions. Instead, they only made him more certain that something was going on between Maria and Isaac. “Maria, tell me the truth! Or I swear, I won’t let you off the hook!” Hugh’s threat drained the color from Maria’s face. She looked at me with pure venom. “Laura, you know how much Hugh cares about this, and yet you’re trying to throw mud at me. You have such a cruel heart.” I played the innocent card. “But I really don’t know what’s going on between you and Isaac.” Maria, seething with anger, stepped forward and tried to grab me. “You’re humiliating me on purpose. If you think Isaac and I have something going on, then let him come out and face me!” Isaac wouldn’t admit to anything, and he’d certainly find a way to cover for Maria while pushing me deeper into this mess. But I had already locked the door, so Isaac wouldn’t be able to get out. Just then, Hugh, fuming, pounded on the door. “Isaac, come out here! Laura is spreading lies and slandering my wife! You better give me an explanation!” I didn’t expect the door to be so flimsy—Hugh smashed it open with just a few punches. As soon as Isaac came out, he grabbed me from the floor, his grip tight on my arm as if he were afraid I might run away. “Honey, what are you doing? We’re supposed to go for the C-section.” A chill ran through me, but it wasn’t time to give up yet. With so many people around, I didn’t believe they would dare push me into a complicated delivery. Especially with Hugh now doubting Maria and Isaac’s relationship, there was no way he’d target me the same way he did in my past life. To my surprise, Maria immediately started crying out to the people around us. “My husband’s never home, and when the lightbulb broke or the washing machine needed fixing, I had to ask Isaac for help. But Laura thinks I’m trying to seduce him, and she even came to my house a few times to threaten and destroy things. “Laura is just a jealous woman. Oh, by the way, she once said her brother was getting married and buying a house. She even asked me to sell her my house at a low price. When I refused, she held a grudge.” Maria’s story sounded convincing, but I knew her real goal. Maria kept crying. “She’s jealous of me. She pushed me just now! Hugh, are you really going to just stand by while I get bullied?” Hugh was clearly angry now, storming towards me, his hand outstretched to push me. I tried to dodge, but Isaac grabbed me and pulled me in front of him. “Honey, you really shouldn’t be talking badly about Maria. Apologize right now!” He yanked me straight into Hugh’s path. Without a word, Hugh kicked me in the stomach. The pain was so intense I couldn’t speak. As I bent over, I heard Isaac’s low chuckle. “She is about to give birth. Nurse, hurry up and get her into the operating room!”   As Isaac and Nova dragged me toward the operating room, I kept my eyes on Maria. The moment she saw me being restrained, she clutched her stomach and put on an exaggerated display of pain. “Hugh, I’m in labor. The baby’s too big—I can’t deliver naturally. I need a C-section too.” Hearing this, I immediately turned to the doctor beside me. “Isn’t the operating room only for one patient at a time? She’s not allowed in!” Maria was getting desperate. In a dramatic move, she suddenly dropped to her knees in front of me. “Laura, please don’t make this harder for me. Carrying this baby hasn’t been easy! I’m begging you!” she sobbed as if she were truly suffering, even knocking her head against the floor twice for effect. Some of the onlookers hesitated, their gazes turning suspiciously toward me. “She’s already kneeling and begging you. How can you be so heartless, you jealous woman?” From an angle only I could see, Maria shot me a smug smile. She thought this little stunt would be enough to get her into the same operating room as me. I struggled violently, shouting at everyone around me, “Maria’s baby is already dead! She’s trying to swap her stillborn for mine!” Isaac and Maria’s faces changed instantly. But Maria quickly pulled out her phone. “Laura, accusing me like this is slander. I’ll have you arrested!” She dialed the police, and as she did, she mouthed at me with a vicious smirk. “Go to hell, bitch.” I laughed. She could call the cops, and I could get backup too. Before long, the sound of sirens blared from downstairs. The bystanders started pressuring me to apologize. “You cursed someone’s baby, calling it a stillborn—how cruel can you be? Apologize now. Or would you rather be taken away by the police? Who’s going to take care of your kid then?” The crowd just wanted to smooth things over and move on. But Maria wasn’t about to let it slide so easily. She pointed at me and shrieked, “An apology isn’t enough. A woman’s reputation is everything—I want her to come to my house every day for a month and do all my chores. That’s a real apology!” Unbelievably, the onlookers actually sided with her. “Come on, isn’t that better than going to jail? You’re not carrying a royal heir or anything. Stop acting so delicate. Just agree to it.” I let out a cold laugh. “Agree my ass.” The crowd immediately bristled. “How could you talk like that?” Talk like what? I wasn’t insulting anyone. I had, in fact, agreed—to Hugh’s mother, Luna Watson. Luna was a sharp old woman, always keeping an eye on Maria’s every move. After I moved in with Isaac, she asked me to watch Maria for her and report if she had any dealings with other men. I used to believe Maria was a good wife who stayed home and behaved herself. Turned out, she had been messing around—right in Isaac’s bed. Before knocking on Maria’s door earlier, I had already texted Luna, telling her Maria was carrying a dead baby—one that had suffocated in the womb because she let the pregnancy drag on too long. Judging by the time, she should be here any moment now. Just then, the police arrived, and Maria immediately started shrieking, “It’s her! This bitch accused me of cheating—” Before she could finish, a small but fierce old woman burst out from behind the officers. With one swift motion, she yanked up Maria’s shirt, exposing her swollen belly, veins bulging under the skin.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “397681”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G

My daughter was critically ill and in urgent need of a large sum of medical expenses. However, my husband, Noah Wilson, at that time directly gave up our daughter’s treatment and went on a date with his mistress, Ashley Morgan. In my moment of despair, my first love, Victor Hastings, gave me five million dollars and took good care of my daughter with me. But in the end, my daughter still passed away. Six years later, Victor and I had our own child. When I went for a prenatal check-up at the hospital alone, I accidentally overheard the conversation between Victor and the doctor. The doctor said, “Mr. Hastings, you and Ms. Moore will have your own child now. What if she finds out about what had happened that year?” Victor said, “Ashley was critically ill back then. It was a last resort for me to use some means to transplant the girl’s heart to Ashley. What’s more, now that Zoey is pregnant again, she should let go of it.” I realized that my daughter had been deliberately misdiagnosed. Her heart had been secretly transplanted to Ashley by Victor. I wept silently. It turned out that the baby in my belly now was just a way for Victor to make amends to me. During these six years of our marriage, Victor had been lying to me, all for the one and only love in his heart, Ashley. I stroked my slightly protruding belly and gave a bitter smile. Six years ago, I couldn’t save my daughter, and now I didn’t want to continue the marriage. In the hospital office, the doctor let out a slight sigh and said regretfully, “All right, Mr. Hastings. But it was not worth it. Ashley is already married, and you should move on. After all, Ms. Moore loves you so much. She is a good woman.” Victor paused and then replied firmly, “It was worth it. I don’t care about the title. I just want to protect Ashley. It doesn’t matter who she loves. I want her to be healthy and happy. “Zoey is indeed a good wife and will also be a good mother. It’s a pity that I don’t love her. Love can’t be forced.” Hearing Victor’s words, the doctor shook his head and didn’t ask any more questions. The doctor said, “Ms. Moore’s fetal condition is unstable. She has already lost one child. Please pay more attention to her.” After a long silence, Victor softly responded. I bit my lip hard and didn’t make a sound. I didn’t dare to cry out loud until Victor and the doctor left. It turned out that my daughter, who had just been born for a few days, didn’t die of illness, but was deliberately misdiagnosed by the doctor whom Victor had bribed, all to replace Ashley with a fresh heart. Back then, my daughter was diagnosed with a serious illness and was admitted to the intensive care unit. Noah didn’t want to bear the burden, left the hospital, and got together with Ashley. The appearance of Victor was our hope. Now I finally knew that Victor’s offer of help was to keep an eye on this heart that belonged to Ashley. After getting divorced from Noah, Victor married me, probably just out of guilt. I left the hospital. It started to rain heavily outside. I didn’t take a taxi, stumbled along the road, and kept crying. When I got home, the maid saw my disheveled appearance and quickly came up to ask, “Mrs. Hastings, it’s raining. Why didn’t you ask the driver to pick you up? You’re still pregnant and can’t catch a cold.” Victor, who heard the voice, came out of the study. Seeing my red eyes and messy hair, he showed a sympathetic expression, put down the coffee cup in his hand, and picked me up. Victor chided, “You’re almost going to be a mother. Why are you still being as willful as a child? “What if you hurt the baby in your belly by getting caught in the rain?” I glanced at him and murmured, “Victor, I’ve been a mother before. I don’t need you to teach me. “Even if the baby dies, it’s okay. I’ve already lost a child anyway.” Victor’s steps paused. He frowned and finally said nothing. The bathtub was already filled with warm water. Victor wanted to help me take off my clothes, but I refused. He looked at me in confusion, as if wondering about my unusual behavior. After a long while, he left the bathroom. I repeatedly washed myself, trying to wash away all the marks that Victor had left on me over the years.

When I returned to the bedroom, Victor was already sound asleep. Looking at the profile of Victor, who had been with me day in and day out, I felt a sense of strangeness. In my dream, Victor took hold of my hand. He said, “Don’t leave. Stay with me forever, Ashley.” Victor wore an expression of doting and dependence, an expression that he had never shown when facing me. Then, Victor’s phone lit up. It was a message from the contact labeled “Dear Ashley”. I tried the password several times but couldn’t unlock his phone. My birthday, Victor’s birthday, and even Ashley’s birthday were not the correct passwords. For the last chance, I tried the date when my daughter passed away. Unexpectedly, I succeeded this time. On the day my daughter died, Ashley got a new lease on life with my girl’s heart. It turned out that Victor had been loving Ashley silently and attentively in such a way. Ashley sent Victor several photos. In the photos, Ashley’s smile was dazzling. She leaned against Victor. He accompanied her in making intimate posing gestures, though his movements seemed a bit stiff. Ashley: [Victor, I’d be happier going to the amusement park with you. Noah is much more boring than you. You promised to accompany me to take portrait photos tomorrow. See you then. Love you.] Victor and Ashley were like lovers in the honeymoon phase, making me feel like a clown. But tomorrow was the day that Victor had promised to accompany me to the prenatal check-up. I didn’t know which was more important to him, his baby or the woman he loved. That night, I didn’t sleep a wink. I hoped that Victor would choose to accompany me to the prenatal check-up. If Victor chose to accompany me tomorrow, then for the sake of the baby, I would give him another chance. The next morning, Victor got washed, dressed early, and was ready to leave. He looked full of energy. Just as he was about to go out, I grabbed the hem of his clothes. I said, “Victor, where are you going? You promised to accompany me to the prenatal check-up.” He stopped smiling. After thinking for a long time, he gently patted my hand. He said, “Zoey, I’m sorry. I have a very important meeting today and can’t accompany you to the hospital. “You’re so understanding. You will support my work, right? “You said yesterday that you have experience in giving birth and can manage everything smoothly without me.” Seeing that I kept my head down and didn’t speak, Victor smiled and kissed my forehead. He said, “Honey, I’ll bring you a gift when I’m back.” Then, Victor left without looking back. Looking at Victor’s back as he quickly walked away, I gave up hope. I checked the nearest flight tickets to Harrowfell and called my good friend, Maria Davis. I booked a flight for the night after tomorrow. Once I arrived in Harrowfell, I would officially start a new life.

I applied light makeup to make myself look less haggard. I went to the best law firm in the city and consulted about the relevant procedures for divorce and the matter of my daughter’s death due to misdiagnosis. The lawyer quickly drew up the divorce papers for me. However, to hold Victor and Ashley accountable for the death of my daughter, more evidence was needed. That night, I cooked dinner and opened two bottles of the fine red wine that Victor had collected. When Victor got home and saw me sitting at the dining table, he was taken aback and then gave a knowing smile. He said, “Zoey, you can just leave these things to the servants. You don’t have to do that; just enjoy your life.” He smiled and pulled me into his arms. We were so close that I could even smell the rose perfume on him. I asked Victor when he had changed to this strong perfume. Victor sniffed his collar guiltily and quickly explained, “I met a female CEO at the meeting today, and I accidentally got her perfume smell on me. “Zoey, how could you doubt me? Are you still mad at me for not accompanying you to the prenatal check-up? I’ve already explained it. I thought you would understand me.” People with a guilty conscience were always aggressive. I just asked casually, but Victor kept blaming me. Seeing that I was silent, Victor changed the subject and took out an exquisite diamond necklace from his pocket and put it around my neck. He said, “Zoey, don’t be angry. This is a gift I specially brought for you. There’s only one in the whole world, and it’s unique. Do you like it?” The diamond necklace glistened under the light of the candle, and it was beautiful. I gently touched the necklace. We had been married for six years, and every time we had a quarrel, Victor would give me jewelry. But no amount of jewelry could change the fact that he had cheated, nor could it change the fact that my daughter had been killed. When he finally saw me smile, Victor began to eat the food I had cooked. He praised my cooking skills, but in the end, he only ate a little. He had already eaten outside and could not enjoy the delicious food at home. I made Victor drink several glasses of wine. He soon got drunk and fell onto the bed. While he was drunk, I secretly slipped into his study, trying to find some evidence that my daughter had been killed. In the end, I only found a document about organ transplantation from six years ago. In the document, Victor, as my spouse, signed the organ transplantation contract on my behalf. No wonder Victor was in such a hurry to marry me back then. It turned out that he just wanted Ashley to recover as soon as possible. After taking a photo of the document, I put it back in its original place. I packed the divorce agreement with the photo put them in the email, and set them to be sent at a scheduled time. When my plane took off, these documents would all be sent to Victor’s email.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “397682”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G

Five years after I was brought home, I died in a car accident. As my soul left my mangled body, I wondered how my parents—who had always despised me, regretting the day they brought me home—would react. Would they be heartbroken? Or would they feel relieved? The answer was neither. My dad used a business trip as an excuse to skip my funeral altogether. My mom shed a few crocodile tears but later confided in her friends that she felt a weight had been lifted. My brother thought my death was a blessing. No one would be trying to take what he thought was rightfully his sister’s anymore. They even went on a family vacation abroad to comfort their adopted daughter, who had shed a few insincere tears. Seeing all this, I gave a bitter laugh. I had overestimated my importance in their lives. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day my parents came to the orphanage to take me home. Looking at my parents sitting across from me, their eyes red and voices trembling with emotion, I knew I had been reborn. It was the same scene and the same words that had moved me to tears in my previous life. As a child who grew up in an orphanage, I had been overjoyed to finally have a family and the love I had always longed for. But the excruciating pain of being crushed by a car in my last moments still sent shivers down my spine. I clenched my fists to suppress the disappointment of being ignored and dismissed by my so-called family after my death. Seeing my silence, my parents thought I was just unfamiliar with them. My mom took my hand and led me upstairs. “Zoe, the rooms on the second floor are for us to rest. You can pick one you like.” I scanned the area and settled on the sunniest room, filled with pink and exquisitely decorated like a princess’ bedroom straight out of a fairy tale. In my previous life, I had thought my parents had prepared this room for me, and I had chosen it with delight. However, my choice had made my parents’ expressions freeze awkwardly. Then, my mom forced a smile and said, “Zoe, this room is Bella’s. She’s your sister. If you like the decoration, we can do the same for your room.” I was puzzled and asked, “Sister? Mom, I thought I was your only daughter.” My mom choked on my words and her face changed slightly. “Bella was adopted after you got lost. She’s your sister now.” I felt a pang of disappointment. They had adopted another daughter to replace me after I was lost. Feeling a mix of bitterness and jealousy, I wanted to prove that I was more important to them than their adopted daughter. “Mom, I’m your biological daughter. This room is rightfully mine, isn’t it?” My parents were left speechless. Just as they were caught in a dilemma, Bella Brooks, who had returned without my notice, stepped in to ease their embarrassment. “I’m already happy to be your child. I don’t mind giving up the room,” she said with a forced smile, though the hurt in her eyes was evident to my parents. Bella was the same age as me but far more mature. Compared to her, I seemed rude and petty. After a long silence, my dad spoke up, “Zoe, wouldn’t you prefer a brand-new room? We can decorate it exactly the same way.” He was trying to persuade me for Bella’s sake. They clearly favored her over me. What did that make me to them? I fell silent, and the atmosphere grew awkward. Bella broke the silence. “If Zoe likes it, she should have it. It’s just a room.” She began packing her clothes. My mom watched, her eyes filled with sympathy for Bella, but Bella shook her head gently. In my previous life, I had ignored all this and gleefully thought I had won my place in their hearts.

I moved into Bella’s room, and she was relocated to an even more lavishly decorated space that my parents had prepared to make up for it. When my brother, Alex Brooks, returned, Bella was tearfully packing her new room. Alex’s anger flared. He dragged Bella to confront me. “You, from the orphanage, have no manners. You just got here and you took my sister’s room. Get out of my house!” I was exploring the room, admiring a delicate cup, when Alex’s furious face made me drop it. The shattering glass echoed through the house, bringing my parents upstairs. Alex turned to our parents. “Bella has been with you for years, and yet you let an outsider take her room. Does blood really mean that much?” I was stunned. They were my parents, my brother, my family. Why was I the outsider? Our parents remained silent, implicitly agreeing with Alex’s words. It turned out they didn’t think of me as family. In the days that followed, the more I lacked something, the more I tried to prove myself. Under Bella’s influence and my own foolishness, I competed with her in everything, yet I always fell short. Later, Bella won the international piano competition. At her celebration party, I was ridiculed by her friends. Humiliated, I ran out of the hotel and was hit by a speeding car right outside the entrance. Inside the hotel, there was joy and celebration; outside, I was alone, bidding farewell to the world. In my last moments, memories flashed before my eyes, fleeting and gone. In this life, I wouldn’t be a fool again. Reborn, I would recognize what I truly wanted and stop chasing after a love that wasn’t worth it. “Any small room will do.” My parents were taken aback by my modest request. “Are you sure? Do you need us to decorate it?” they asked, pretending to care. “No need. A simple room is fine. Actually, a smaller room makes me feel safer.” Their relief was evident. They were more than happy to let me stay in a shabby, cramped room. When Bella came back and saw me moving my luggage into the small room, she put on a show. She approached me with a carefully wrapped gift. “Zoe, I got you a necklace as a welcome-home gift.”

Before I could react, Bella pulled out the necklace and reached for my neck, pretending to trip backward as if I were pushing her. But I was ready for this. As she leaned back, I grabbed her arm, and instead, I lost my balance and fell to the ground. Bella was taken aback by my move, while I calmly stood up, dusting myself off. “Thanks for the gift, but you should be more careful. You almost hurt yourself. Good thing I caught you. Otherwise, you’d be the one on the floor,” I said, my voice steady. Bella was speechless, her plan foiled. I wasn’t naive. I knew exactly what she was up to. In the previous life, it was the room, and in this life, it was the necklace. Bella had always been a master of backup plans, scheming to make me her shadow. But I wasn’t falling for it. I had changed my path this time, and her schemes seemed almost comical to me. I had learned to love myself in this life, and I wasn’t interested in anything she cared about. When I was reborn, all I wanted was to leave this family, be independent, and find my own worth. “I’m really too clumsy. I just wanted to give you the necklace and get along with you, but I ended up causing trouble,” Bella said, still quick on her feet. Her words, of course, were not for me but for our parents. “I’m just a burden. Everything I do seems to cause trouble,” she continued. Sure enough, my mom couldn’t bear to hear that. She pulled Bella into her arms and comforted her, “Of course, you’re not a burden. No one in this family is a burden. You’re all my treasures.” My dad chimed in, “Parents never think their kids are a hassle.” When similar things happened to me, I was just a troublemaker. But with Bella, they assured her that no parent would ever think their child was a burden. In my past life, when I stumbled, they called me clumsy and told me not to embarrass them. I didn’t want to watch their act anymore, so I walked straight into my room and shut the door. Through the thin walls, I could faintly hear Bella’s voice. “Does Zoe not like me?” “Zoe’s just tired,” my mom quickly replied. My dad added, “She left without saying a word. Kids from the orphanage really need to be taught some manners.” I pulled the blanket over my head with a cold laugh, blocking out their voices. What was there left to expect from a family like this?   When I came downstairs, the only people around were the maids cleaning up. As expected, my parents were probably comforting Bella after her little performance and taking her out to cool off. I grabbed my book and headed for the door. It was time to start planning my future. I was still a student. Getting into a good university was my only way to a better life. Just as I was about to leave, Alex was walking back in. We locked eyes, and he looked at me warily, like I was some thief. “Where do you think you’re going, Zoe?” he asked. “To the library to study,” I replied honestly. Alex let out a mocking laugh. “Don’t be pretending. Are you really going to study or just trying to act like the perfect child and steal Mom and Dad’s attention from Bella?” I ignored him, but he wasn’t done. “I’m warning you. No tricks. No matter how hard you try, you’ll never replace Bella in their hearts.” In both lives, Alex had always seen me as someone out to steal the love meant for Bella, as if I were the villain trying to break up their perfect family. But who cared what he thought? I walked past him without another word, heading for the library. Alex wasn’t giving up. “Watch it, Zoe. Keep your fox tail hidden. I’m onto you!” Dinner was a family affair—Mom, Dad, Bella, and Alex were all there. They had planned a big dinner to announce me as their child. In my past life, I had eagerly anticipated this dinner, competing with Bella every step of the way. But it never happened. I kept asking, and they kept making excuses. In the end, they blamed me for being selfish and vain. “You only think about yourself. You never considered how Bella would feel, and how she might be judged at this dinner. You’re so selfish and conceited! “You’re nothing like a Brooks. You only think about yourself and don’t care about others. How could I have a daughter like you?” Back then, I didn’t understand. It was their idea and their promise, so why did they turn it around and call me selfish? So, in this life, I refused when they brought it up. “There’s no need to waste time and money on a fancy dinner. It’s enough that we know the truth among ourselves,” I said. My parents were shocked. After all, I had grown up in an orphanage, and they hadn’t expected me to turn down such a grand event. Bella couldn’t hide her relief, but she still pretended to persuade me. “A dinner would help more people get to know you.” “No, thanks. I don’t like noisy dinners. It doesn’t matter if people know me or not,” I insisted. My firmness pleased my dad, who was worried about the cost and didn’t think I was presentable enough for such an event. He was afraid I’d embarrass him. My refusal made them happy, but they were too concerned with appearances to let it go. “This dinner could help you expand your social circle. It’s a good idea,” they insisted. Their act was so transparent. It was almost funny. Thinking of what I was about to do next, I said, “Since you’re so concerned about me, I guess I can’t say no.” Their smiles froze as soon as the words left my lips.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “397683”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G

My mother, Gabriela Hayes, was infamous throughout our town. She had been married 18 times, and each husband had met his demise. The fortune teller claimed she was cursed with bad luck in marriage—that any man who wed her was doomed to die. When she fell gravely ill, she had a double coffin constructed before her death. At her funeral, every man in the village competed for the empty space beside her, each desperate to be buried alongside my mother. ***** Funeral music echoed through the mourning hall when someone broke the silence. “Gabriela prepared a double coffin before she died. She must have feared being alone and wanted a companion in death.” I had been grieving in a daze, but these words snapped me to attention. Looking up in disbelief, I saw the massive ebony coffin where my mother lay, with half the space conspicuously empty. When my mother had commissioned this coffin, I hadn’t thought much of it—I’d assumed she was longing for one of her former husbands. But now someone was suggesting she wanted a living sacrifice to accompany her. I shuddered and was about to protest when another voice called out, “Poor Gabriela died so tragically. How could I bear to let her rest alone? Let me be buried with her!” I recognized the speaker as Ryan Murray from our village. He was 35, two years younger than my mother, and they had barely interacted during her life. Why on earth will he volunteer for burial with Mom? His declaration was like striking a match in a room full of gunpowder. Arguments erupted instantly. “If anyone deserves to be buried with her, it’s me! You’re far too old—do you honestly think Gabriela would want you?” “You all losers! I’m the only one qualified to accompany Gabriela!” “Nonsense! Gabriela always favored handsome men—my son is clearly the best choice!” I watched this unfold with mounting horror, my jaw hanging open. My mother, Gabriela, had earned her reputation as the town widow. She had married 18 times, and each husband had perished. I was her daughter from her first marriage. For as long as I could remember, I had cycled through calling different men “Dad.” Yet over 18 years, each of my 17 stepfathers had died unexpectedly within six months of the wedding. Healthy men succumbed to sudden illness. A woodcutter slipped from a cliff while working. A lifelong snake handler died from a venomous bite. One even inexplicably jumped into a well in the middle of the night—a well that remained sealed to this day. They died one after another. When I was 15, a traveling fortune teller passed through our village and declared that Gabriela was born under a curse—that any man who married her was destined to die. The villagers beat him mercilessly, calling him a fraud. Yet after that, no one dared ask for Gabriela’s hand. Now at her funeral, these same villagers arrived in apparent grief. They had eagerly helped me prepare her body and arrange the memorial. Then, to my shock, they began fighting over who would be buried alive beside her. The quarrel intensified, voices rising until punches began to fly. The verbal dispute transformed into an all-out brawl—men punching faces and kicking groins in their desperation. I backed away, terrified of being caught in the violence. Yet oddly, despite their ferocity, no one fought near the coffin. They seemed to share an unspoken agreement to avoid disturbing Gabriela’s remains. I stood beside her coffin, gazing at her pallid face, speechless. Gabriela had never been particularly beautiful, nor was she a good wife. I had learned to cook by the age of five, fearing we might otherwise starve to death. Moreover, her reputation as a harbinger of death had only grown stronger with each husband’s demise. Eighteen men had died because of her. What madness has seized these men, making them so eager to join her in burial?

The brawl in the mourning hall was short-lived. Mason Boyd, the village head and funeral officiant, quickly intervened. He had been the first to arrive at our home after Gabriela’s death. “Enough!” Mason commanded. “There is only one space beside Gabriela. Whoever earns the privilege of joining her must be decided carefully.” I kept my head down and remained silent, my thoughts in disarray. Even Mason wasn’t opposing the idea of filling the coffin with the living. Why? I spent the entire day in a daze, and finally, the mourners gradually dispersed. I thought I might finally find some peace, but late that night, a shadowy figure slipped into the mourning hall. Startled, I nearly screamed before recognizing Ryan’s face in the dim light. He thrust a bundle into my arms, then rubbed his hands together nervously, his eyes gleaming with an unsettling desire. “Esme,” he said, “your mother died too young and spent her final days alone. It breaks my heart.” He leaned closer. “To be honest, I’ve admired your mother for years. My only wish now is to be buried alongside her.” He clasped my hands. “You’re her daughter—surely you’ll help fulfill my request? Don’t you want her to have a companion on her journey to the afterlife?” Goosebumps spread across my skin, and I couldn’t bring myself to agree. “Mr. Murray, you’re still young. Why sacrifice yourself for my mother?” His expression darkened. “How could you say such a thing? Being buried with your mother would be my greatest honor—a blessing beyond anything I could hope for.” I was speechless. If he hadn’t been speaking so lucidly, I would have suspected he’d been brainwashed. After nearly an hour of his persistent pleading, I gave a vague, noncommittal response just to end the conversation. Little did I know, Ryan wasn’t the only one with this macabre intention. Throughout the night, my house became almost as busy as it had been during the day. Nearly every man in the village returned secretly, each begging me to support their bid to occupy the empty half of Gabriela’s coffin. One woman even brought her sixteen-year-old son. “Esme,” she insisted, “though my boy is young, he fell in love with your mother at first sight. He was too shy to express his feelings because of his age, but he’s the perfect candidate to join her in death!” I was terrified. After sending them away, I locked the gate and hid in the backyard. The following day, while sorting through Gabriela’s belongings, I discovered her suicide note tucked away in a drawer. Gabriela had said little before passing, and I’d assumed she died without concerns. Yet here was evidence she’d left me one final message. The last two sentences of her note would ignite chaos throughout our village. [Esme, if anyone wishes to be buried with me, show them this note. Let them spend the night in my cemetery—whoever survives until dawn may join me in burial.] Mason read the note silently before passing it to the other mourners. The village cemetery lay in the wilderness, untended and crawling with venomous insects, snakes, and ants. At night, even predatory beasts roamed there. I couldn’t fathom Gabriela’s intentions, but her instructions provided a solution to the burial dispute. The mourners exchanged glances, their expressions varied, but no one objected. “Simple enough,” someone remarked. “But what happens if more than one person survives?” Another man sneered, “Go or don’t go—I’ll be the only survivor anyway.” As I observed their confidence, my heart raced with growing dread. Nevertheless, the selection proceeded. As sunset approached, nearly 20 men gathered at Gabriela’s chosen cemetery. The grave had already been dug, awaiting tomorrow’s burial. Sleep eluded me that night. I lay awake until dawn, thinking of those men risking death in the cemetery. The villagers shared my concern. Before daybreak, a crowd gathered at the village entrance, and together we journeyed to the cemetery. The metallic scent of blood reached us before we even approached the cemetery grounds. Upon arrival, we discovered bodies strewn everywhere. Some victims bore wolf bites, clearly attacked by predators from the mountain. Some showed no visible wounds but had purple faces and blackened fingernails—telltale signs of poisoning. Several displayed distinct marks on their necks. Most, however, had been killed by their fellow contenders. Bright crimson soaked into the soil, staining the entire cemetery red. Suddenly, a figure emerged from among the corpses. It was Austin Murray, Ryan’s son. Blood-drenched and grinning, he announced, “Dawn has broken. I’ve earned the right to be buried with Gabriela.” I shifted my gaze and spotted Ryan’s body on the ground, his son’s dagger protruding from his heart.

I finally understood Gabriela’s intentions. It wasn’t a mere coincidence that only one person would survive a night in the cemetery. To be the sole survivor, they had willingly slaughtered one another, ensuring only one remained. The villagers ignored the corpses and rushed forward to congratulate Austin. “Young and full of potential. Good to see strength prevail!” “How fortunate you are to be buried alongside Gabriela.” They all wore smiles, some tinged with envy, but not one showed fear or disgust at the carnage. I watched this spectacle until I could bear it no longer and erupted in hysterical screams. “Enough! They had killed each other for a place in a coffin! So many people died, and now you want to sacrifice one more?” My voice cracked with desperation. “You’re all insane—burying people alive!” The entire cemetery fell silent as everyone turned to me with disapproving expressions. “Esme, you’re too young to understand what an honor it is to be buried with Gabriela.” “It’s their blessing to die for her. If they couldn’t secure a position, it’s only because they were useless.” I couldn’t comprehend their madness. To me, the corpses scattered across the ground formed one massive grave. I stumbled back home, the iron scent of blood still filling my nostrils. I sat before Gabriela’s coffin, my head throbbing with pain. By midday, still determined to stop Austin, I went to his house. When I entered, I found him admiring himself in a mirror, already dressed in a burial shroud. His face brightened when he saw me. “Esme, perfect timing! Tell me—does this shroud complement your mother’s? I spent hours selecting it. We’ll have matching burial clothes.” Matching burial clothes? I tried to smile but couldn’t manage it. “Austin, must you really be buried with my mother?” Austin and I were both 18 and had played together since childhood. I couldn’t understand why he suddenly yearned for a living burial—enough to murder his own father. Austin’s eyes gleamed with determination, and his face flushed with eagerness. “Esme, this is my life’s wish. Do you know how long I’ve awaited this day?” He leaned closer. “I’d do anything to be buried alongside Gabriela!” “Then wait decades until your natural death,” I pleaded. “Why must you be buried alive?” “Decades?” he scoffed. “That’s an eternity. I want to join her now,” he stated with frightening conviction. I gazed at him deeply, recognizing the futility of persuasion, then turned and left. Three days later, Gabriela was laid to rest at dusk. Austin reclined in the coffin with a serene smile, clasping Gabriela’s cold hand in his. He glanced at me reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Esme. Your mother won’t be alone. I’ll remain with her forever.” The mourners sealed the coffin lid, driving nails into it one by one. A procession stretched from my house to the cemetery, yet no sound emerged from within the coffin. I wondered if Austin had died the moment they sealed him inside. The corpses from the cemetery had long been cleared away, leaving only rust-colored soil. Several men stepped forward from the crowd, lowered the coffin into the pit, and covered it shovelful by shovelful. When they finished, everyone laughed as though relieved of a tremendous burden. “Austin is truly blessed to be buried with Gabriela.” I remained silent, but as midnight approached, my anxiety intensified. At the stroke of 12, I ventured out with a shovel and headed directly to the cemetery. I couldn’t allow Austin to die this way. I bowed respectfully before Gabriela’s grave and then began frantically digging away the freshly packed soil covering the coffin. It took every ounce of my strength to pry out the nails. However, when I carefully lifted the coffin lid, I saw a scene of unspeakable horror.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “397685”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G