Category: English

The Oscar-winning actor married me to spite his first love. For three years, they were caught in a tangled relationship. During filming, they would embrace and kiss, and in interviews, they spoke in suggestive tones. Online, people say I’m just a pathetic substitute. I never got angry. I simply smiled and helped him dispel every rumor. Until one day, I accidentally got pregnant and secretly had an abortion. He was furious and heartbroken, harshly demanding to know why. I gently caressed his brow and replied calmly, “Because I don’t love you.” The one I loved was his deceased brother. Everyone knows Declan married me to make Nora Carter jealous. They broke up before their wedding, and she left the country in a fit of anger. Declan didn’t chase after her; instead, he turned around and married me. I wore a wedding dress that wasn’t meant for me and married a man who didn’t love me. People said that when Nora came back, Declan would discard me. But in the third year of our marriage, Declan seemed to start liking me. He made breakfast for me, coaxed me out of bed, and kissed me when I acted playfully. At our sweetest moments, we were deeply entwined. In the quiet of night, he would softly urge, “Sweetie, give me a child, one just as sweet as you.” We were like a typical loving couple. Until the day I found out I was really pregnant. Before I could tell Declan, Nora came back. That day, they reconciled.

Nora returned on the day of their class reunion. I heard her family went bankrupt, and she was borrowing money from everyone. When Declan walked in with me, he saw a wealthy classmate pressuring Nora to drink. He said for every glass she drank, he’d lend her a hundred thousand. Nora’s eyes watered as she forced a smile and drank it all. When she saw Declan, she panicked, feeling embarrassed, and quickly lowered her head. Someone egged her on, “Nora, if you’re short on cash, ask Declan.” “Given your history, a few nights with him, and he wouldn’t deny you anything.” Declan glanced over coldly and said slowly, “Stop it.” With a cigarette dangling from his mouth, he leaned against my shoulder and continued, “Anyone who upsets my wife can shut up and leave.” Everyone laughed, calling me “sister-in-law,” envious of Declan’s affection for me. No one knew that if Nora hadn’t shown up, Declan wouldn’t have been there. Nora glared at me, biting her lip to hold back tears. The man who had forced her to drink kneaded her shoulder and asked, “What now? Looks like Declan doesn’t want you.” “But it’s okay. If he doesn’t, I do.” “If you’re willing to undress and please me in bed, I’ll give you some pocket money, how about that?” Declan stubbed out his cigarette, visibly displeased, his face icy. He still cared. Nora fought back tears and looked up at Declan. She softly said, “I don’t want to.” “In this life, I love only one person. Even if he doesn’t want me, I won’t let anyone else touch me.” Declan suddenly tightened his grip, hurting me. The male classmate, having lost face, laughed and cursed Nora. “You think you’re some pure maiden? Damn, you don’t appreciate the kindness. I’ll definitely sleep with you today.” He dragged Nora outside, Nora drunk and weakly leaning against him, struggling half-heartedly. Declan’s eyes were fixated on Nora. I could tell he was ready to kill for her. Just before they left, Declan couldn’t hold back any longer. He stepped forward, kicked down the man holding Nora, and pinned him to the ground, beating him. With reddened eyes, he cursed, “If you dare touch Nora again, I’ll cut off your filthy hand!” The scene became chaotic. Someone was recording, and I quickly grabbed Declan’s sleeve, trying to stop him. He turned around and coldly asked, “Who do you think you are to interfere?” I froze, lightly releasing my grip. Nora rushed over, hugging him, crying, “Declan, don’t fight for me. If you get hurt, I’ll be heartbroken.” “I was so scared just now that you would really leave me…” Declan didn’t push her away. He held her in his arms, protecting her. Everyone watched as he took Nora away. Leaving me behind.

That night, Declan didn’t come home. Nora tweeted in the early morning, “You said you’d never hold anyone else’s hand again.” The picture showed ten fingers interlocked. The hand in the photo had a red mole on the back—Declan’s. And I was the “someone else” he wouldn’t hold hands with again. Ten minutes later, the tweet was a trending topic. My haters left messages for Nora, “Go, Nora, you and the Oscar-winning actor are a perfect match! You must get back together!” “I’m throwing away my values. I support the Oscar-winning actor cheating! Just can’t stand that scheming witch, Lydia, being happy!” Many were waiting to see me humiliated. Some left messages for Declan, “Bro, that’s not you, right? I’ve been your fan for so long, I know how good your wife is to you. Don’t let her down!” Declan and I were tied to many couple endorsements, with sky-high penalties for breach of contract. A scandal was the last thing we needed. The agent couldn’t reach Declan, so they called me, asking me to find a way to fool the netizens by saying Declan and I were still together. I flipped through the photo album and realized how few pictures I had with Declan. In those few pictures, only I was smiling. Finally, I posted a photo from long ago, of Declan reading under a lamp. The hazy light enveloped him, reminiscent of the person who always appeared in my dreams, making me cry. As soon as the photo was posted, netizens began commenting. “See, Declan’s at home with his wife! Anyone saying our Declan’s cheating, I’ll tear their mouth apart!” Everyone started cursing Nora for being shameless and loving to stir up drama. Until a few minutes later, Declan retweeted Nora’s tweet. Under that hand-holding photo, he said, “It’s me.” He openly admitted they were together, exposing my self-directed clarification. Once again, he abandoned me for Nora. Nora’s fans flooded my Twitter, mocking me, “Pretentious b*tch got slapped in the face, love it, Lydia, you lying b*tch.” “Sister Nora gave you three years, and you still couldn’t win Declan’s heart, you’re useless.” Who said I wanted Declan’s heart? I deleted everything in my phone related to him. I wanted a divorce.

The next morning, the company called me in to handle Declan’s rumor crisis. Unfortunately, I ran into Nora. Declan probably couldn’t bear to leave her alone and brought her along. As soon as she saw me, she apologized, “Lydia, sorry about last night. I got drunk and tweeted nonsense, and Declan joined in, causing you trouble.” “I’ve already told him off. He only thinks of me and not you at all, such a big dummy.” “The things people say online are so harsh, calling you my stand-in. It’s hilarious.” “They don’t know how much I want to thank you for taking care of Declan all these years…” She smiled sweetly at me. I smiled back, “I’m Declan’s wife. A wife taking care of her husband doesn’t need thanks from outsiders.” “But you, being called the other woman last night, don’t take it to heart.” Nora’s expression changed. She glanced me up and down, suddenly fixating on my ring. She smirked, “Lydia, you’re wearing my wedding ring, you should return it to me.” She reached for my hand, and I, annoyed, swung my arm, accidentally hitting her face. Nora suddenly swung her bag at me, the metal scraping my forehead, drawing blood. She used so much force, it made my ears ring. I raised my hand to hit back but someone grabbed my wrist from behind. Declan appeared, coldly warning me, “Lydia, try touching her.” When I turned, he saw the blood on my face, paused, frowned at Nora, and asked, “Did you do this?” Nora, with teary eyes, shook her head, “Declan, she called me the other woman and tried to hit me. I dodged, and my bag accidentally hit her. I didn’t mean it, I’m sorry!” When she cried, Declan’s heart ached. Hearing her, Declan ruffled her hair, praising her. “Anyone hits you, hit back. With me here, you don’t need to apologize to anyone.” I suddenly envied Nora. Actually, I’m quite the crybaby too, but the one who cared for me is gone. Agent Fiona couldn’t take it anymore and pointed at me, yelling at Declan, “This is your wife! Declan, are you blind? Holding onto a green tea witch and not letting go!” “How is Lydia any worse than Nora?” “Did you forget you said you wanted a child with Lydia? Did you forget you said being with Lydia felt like home?” “Now you’re hurting her like this, are you sure you won’t regret it later?” I subconsciously touched my belly. Inside my body was a budding child. Declan chuckled, casually glancing at me, emotionless, speaking calmly. “Lydia, Phoebe, Cora—they all need to step aside.” Perhaps, at one time, Declan’s feelings for me were fleeting and superficial. But now that Nora has returned, he’s ready to love her. I removed the ring from my finger, a ring that was never truly mine, and handed it back to Declan. His smile slowly faded. After a brief pause, he reached out to take it. Aunt Hazel caught my arm, glanced at my stomach, and gave me a meaningful look. “Lydia, don’t be foolish, you’re already…” Nora interrupted, grabbing the ring. She tried it on, but it was a bit tight. Her smile stiffened slightly, and she tossed the ring into the trash. “Forget it. Declan, don’t be upset for my sake. I don’t want a ring that’s been worn by another woman. It’s tainted.” Declan ignored her, keeping his eyes on me as he asked in a serious tone, “What’s going on with you?” I looked at him indifferently, then turned and walked away. Declan, I’m pregnant, but you don’t need to know. 5 Declan is extremely perceptive. Aunt Hazel’s hint was obvious enough; I think he can probably guess most of it. I’ve been on medication for a long time, which isn’t good for the baby’s development. This pregnancy was unexpected, and the doctor suggested I terminate it. I don’t want to be entangled with Declan because of this child. Before the abortion, I moved out to avoid running into him and causing any trouble. Although, Declan probably… doesn’t care at all. He didn’t come looking for me; he’s still living his life as usual. Aunt Hazel sent me a video. It was at an auction where Declan gave Nora a lavish diamond ring; she laughed and threw herself into his arms. A perfect match. Oh right, I almost forgot. Declan said Nora is back. Whether it’s Nora or Nora’s child, they all need to step aside. It’s all fine. 6 The day before the procedure, I suddenly felt very anxious. I remembered the jade pendant my mom got for me before she passed was still in the home safe, so I planned to go get it. When I got home, I found the entry code had been changed. Standing at my own front door, unable to get in, I suddenly felt quite pathetic. I called Declan in anger. But the one who answered was Nora. Her voice was smug as she laughed, “Nora, today’s my birthday. Declan insisted on taking me to watch the meteor shower, so we won’t be home tonight.” “I once told him that couples who make a wish on a shooting star will be together forever. I didn’t expect him to remember; I’m so happy.” “But I can’t give you the code. After all, we’re not home, and it’s not appropriate for someone like you to be in our house…” I hung up immediately, opened the password lock, and entered today’s date. The door opened. The code was Nora’s birthday. Inside, all traces of my life were erased. Our wedding photo on the TV cabinet was replaced by a photo of Declan and Nora. They looked so young. Declan was holding her, both smiling happily. My succulents were thrown out, pots and all. My study had turned into Nora’s piano room. I was stunned for a moment, then rushed into the bedroom and opened the wardrobe. It was filled with a line of sexy lace nightgowns, none of which were mine. The safe was at the bottom. I pressed my fingerprint, my hands shaking, and took out all the jewelry, cash, and documents inside. But I couldn’t find the jade pendant my mom left me. It was the only thing she left me. Nora knew that too. So she threw it away. 7 Nora has always hated me and my mom. When I was in school, my mom worked as a nanny at Declan’s house. Nora came over with her parents, and when they first met, Declan’s parents introduced me, saying I was obedient, sensible, hardworking, and smart. Nora pretended to be friendly, saying she wanted to be friends with me. Behind my back, she said, “So what if she studies well? Even if she gets into a good university, she’ll still work for us.” “Her mom is annoying too, always smiling. What’s a nanny so happy about? Old miser giving birth to a little miser, it’s disgusting.” When my mom picked me up from school and met Nora, she would laugh and call my mom a b*tch in English. My mom, not understanding, would praise her for being pretty and cute, even giving her homemade sweet potato snacks. Nora would turn around and throw them in the trash, mocking my mom, saying, “It smells, even a dog wouldn’t eat it.” My mom was so flustered, her face turned red, and she couldn’t lift her head, which made everyone around laugh. I threw down my backpack and went to pull Nora’s hair. My mom saw me getting hit and rushed to shield me. She got kicked over by Nora’s friend, and suddenly a lot of blood flowed from her. That day, my mom was diagnosed with uterine cancer. Those horrible cancer cells appeared silently, then quietly took my mom’s life. That jade pendant was something my mom secretly prayed for me, bowing step by step up Ling Mountain before she died. She said the Buddha on Ling Mountain was the most powerful one. I held back my tears and asked her why. She smiled and said it was a secret and couldn’t tell me. But I knew she prayed to Buddha when I was seriously ill as a child. She wished to exchange half her lifespan for my health and peace. Later, I got better. The compassionate Buddha took my mom away. After Nora found out, she mocked my mom, saying, “All the poor know is superstition. What’s the use of leaving garbage behind? Better to sell a kidney or liver for some money for her daughter.” 8 At two in the morning, Declan came back with Nora. As they entered, Nora clung to Declan’s neck, purring, “Declan, will you sleep with me tonight? I want to give myself to you…” As she spoke, she leaned in to kiss him, but Declan dodged. I sat on the sofa, watching Nora act shamelessly. Declan’s gaze landed on me. Nora paused, turned back to see me, and smiled provocatively. “Nora, if I’d known you were home, I would have asked Declan to come back earlier.” “We didn’t see any shooting stars tonight. He was afraid I’d be disappointed, so he insisted on taking me to set off fireworks.” “Nora, I’m sorry. If you want to blame someone, blame me, not Declan.” I had a bit of alcohol, feeling drowsy as I stood up and approached her, directly asking, “Where’s my jade pendant?” Nora blinked guiltily, still smiling, “Are you talking about that jade pendant from the safe?” “I accidentally broke it while packing. It didn’t seem valuable, so I threw it away.” My tears fell suddenly. A chill spread through my limbs, and my lips trembled uncontrollably. My mind filled with the afternoon my mom died, holding me tightly and wiping away my tears repeatedly. She told me not to be afraid, that she wouldn’t leave. She said she had already spoken to Buddha. “As long as the jade pendant is here, so is Mom.” I threw the wine glass at Nora, the glass shattered on the marble, and shards cut her leg. She was scared, took two steps back, and hid behind Declan, pitifully crying out, “It hurts.” I grabbed her collar, hysterically asking, “Where did you throw it? Where did you throw it?” Declan came to stop me. I slapped him, cursing, “We haven’t divorced yet. Why did you bring her back? Why did you let her touch my things? Why!” “Are you that desperate to sleep with her? Declan, aren’t you disgusted!” He held me tightly, soothing my hair, overpowering my voice as he said calmly, “Nora, calm down.” “I’ll take you to find your jade pendant, okay?” “Please stop crying. It hurts me to see you cry.” 9 Nora threw away my jade pendant this morning, so it probably hasn’t been processed yet. Declan drove me to the landfill, speeding all the way. He rummaged through the trash with me, not caring about dirt or smell, getting mud all over his hands. From nightfall until dawn, I found nothing. When the sun rose, I suddenly felt utterly helpless. The golden light pierced my eyes. I bit my lip to hold back tears, forcing myself not to cry. An elderly couple at the landfill took pity on me and helped me search. Finally, when I was about to give up hope, the grandma called out, “Dear, come see if this is it?” I stood up abruptly, the world spinning, but I didn’t care. I ran over, pulling on my shoes from the trash pile. Grandma held a sandalwood box, inside were scattered pieces of jade. It was my jade pendant, but it was truly broken. I should be happy, I suppose. At least I found it. I tried to smile, but as soon as my mouth moved, tears fell in large drops. Mom, you said as long as the jade pendant is here, you are too, right? But now it’s broken. Will you still be here? Please don’t leave me. Don’t abandon me. Declan pulled me close, attempting to comfort me, “Don’t worry, I’ll find someone to fix it.” I shook my head, telling him it was fine, unnecessary. A moment later, Declan’s voice hardened, almost gritting his teeth, “Nora, every time you say it’s fine, I swear I want to shake some sense into you. Can you rely on me just once? Is that too much to ask?” I watched him quietly. His phone rang—Nora was calling. He hesitated briefly before answering. On the other end, Nora was sobbing, “Declan, I wanted to come and apologize to Nora properly, but I got lost, and now some guy is following me. I’m terrified…” Declan rushed off, leaving me behind. Just then, I received a message from the hospital, reminding me of my scheduled abortion later that day.

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On the first day of our marriage, my husband’s father, Henry Bailey, asked me to hand over my salary to him every month. I refused without hesitation, not saying another word. However, my husband, Kayden Bailey, stepped in to persuade me. He said, “My dad has always been in charge of the family, so it’s only right that he manages our income. If you need anything, just ask Dad, and he’ll give you the money.” My husband’s mother, Emma Bailey, immediately lashed out, “Why are you even talking to her? We don’t keep freeloaders in this family. If she doesn’t pay up, she can leave!” How ridiculous. Who exactly should be leaving? Don’t they have any self-awareness? The meal wasn’t even finished when Henry, furious, slammed his fork down. The atmosphere suddenly became tense. “Kayden, I really must have been blind to think the woman you insisted on marrying was someone with no respect for elders or basic manners! “If you don’t handle her now, you’ll regret it later!” Henry’s scolding echoed throughout the room. Kayden, clearly overwhelmed by his father’s anger, looked even more anxious. He turned to me with pleading eyes, but I continued eating my pie expressionlessly, though I was boiling with rage inside. Who could have guessed that my usually gentle husband would have such unreasonable parents? We had just been married for a day, and already, his whole family was ganging up on me to hand my salary over to Henry for safekeeping. This was absolutely absurd! My own parents never even suggested such a thing. What did they think they were? Without any hesitation, I refused. “No way!” But to my disappointment, Kayden didn’t take my side. Instead, he tried to calm me down. “Jasmine, please don’t be mad. My parents are just looking out for us. Keeping our money with them is a form of security. “You know we both tend to spend too freely and can’t save. When we need money, we can just ask them for it.” Seeing that I wasn’t responding, he paused, then continued, “My dad has always managed the family, so our income should be under his care. “If you need anything, just ask my dad, and he’ll give you the money.” His words were like pouring gasoline on a fire, and my anger only grew. I mimicked Henry’s earlier action and forcefully threw my fork down, the clatter ringing loudly through the room. I didn’t even care to look at their expressions. I directly confronted Kayden. “What did you say before we got married? “You swore to me and promised my parents that I would be in charge of our finances, and we would make all decisions together. You said your parents would never interfere with our life. “Didn’t you say all of that yourself? Was that all a lie?” I glared at Kayden, but his eyes darted nervously, avoiding mine. The truth was, I didn’t even care about managing our finances. My salary was enough for me to live on, and with the support from my parents, I never intended to ask Kayden to hand over his salary. But now, he and his parents were conspiring to control my finances. Emma, at this point, tore off her gentle façade. She no longer acted kind or friendly, and instead, she started yelling at me. “Who do you think you are? Do you think you can control my son’s money? My son is a master’s graduate, earning two or three thousand dollars a month! Why should you be in charge of that? Just because you’ve got a big mouth? “You tramp, your intentions aren’t so simple, are they? Don’t you know what the proper behavior for a woman is? Now that you’re married to my son. This family is your world! “Do you want to challenge that? In this house, you’re going to follow the rules!” Emma’s words made me see her true colors. The gentle, kind woman who had treated me so well the day before our wedding had now shown her true, vicious side.

Kayden’s face was flushed with embarrassment as he gently tugged at Emma’s sleeve, speaking in a low voice, “Mom, please, just stop. Jasmine is new here, I’ll explain the family rules to her later.” I thought, “Rules?” I raised my head, glancing at the man I had just married, and a cold laugh formed in my chest. How had I been so blind to marry him? My parents had opposed me marrying Kayden at first, but I had been so swept up in love that I couldn’t hear their concerns. Kayden’s parents seemed so humble. They had even visited my family, promising my parents that they would treat me like their own daughter. They played their part so well, and I, naively believing it was love, thought I would have a happy life once I married into their family. But now, it was all a façade, a ploy to get me to marry Kayden. Kayden came from a small town. Henry was a middle-school teacher at a third-rate school, and Emma was a housewife, just scraping by. Meanwhile, I had been raised as the only child in a well-off family in the provincial capital. My father was an executive at a Fortune 500 company, and my mother worked as a civil servant. My parents were giving them so much face by having me marry into their family. It was so obvious. My parents gifted me two million dollars in cash as a wedding gift, bought me a house worth over four million dollars, the one I was living in now, and even gave me two cars, both valued over 50 thousand dollars. Kayden and I each drove one to work. At yesterday’s wedding, my husband’s parents were treated like royalty. The Bailey family’s relatives and friends surrounded them, singing their praises. If people didn’t know the truth, they’d think it was Kayden and Emma who were getting married. I could tell that this was the first time they’d been so flattered. But just one day after the wedding, they started showing their true colors. I tried to calm myself and asked coldly, “Kayden, is this your attitude? Do you think I should hand over my salary to your father?” Kayden looked at me, clearly uncomfortable, his lips trembling as he stammered, “I… I… “Jasmine, listen, I’ll explain everything to you later,” he hurriedly said. Before I could respond, Henry said, his face flushed with anger. “What do you mean your money? Since you’ve married Kayden, everything you have belongs to us now. “Don’t just talk about your salary. Even your wedding gift belongs to us! You should hand it over to me respectfully!” Henry’s shameless remarks left me stunned. How could someone who had been a teacher for decades say something like that? Not only were they after my salary, but they had also set their sights on my wedding gift. The fire inside me blazed as I raised my trembling hands and clapped slowly, mocking them. “I didn’t expect you to be such good schemers! I thought you were a humble, decent family. Now it’s clear you’re just a bunch of wolves in sheep’s clothing!” “What did you say? Who’s a wolf?” Henry roared.

Emma was about to explode, but I ignored her. “Regardless of what happens, neither my salary nor my wedding gift has anything to do with the Bailey family. It’s all mine, and if you’re jealous, go earn your own!” Before they could interrupt, I turned back to Kayden and said, each word cutting through the air. “Think carefully about what happened today. I’m giving you time and an opportunity. Figure out how we’ll live from now on. If you can’t figure it out, we’ll head straight to the courthouse and file for divorce!” Seeing that I wasn’t joking, Kayden panicked. He grabbed my hand and apologized desperately. “Jasmine, I’m sorry. I didn’t handle things well at home. Give me some time, and I’ll talk to my parents.” Emma saw that Kayden’s attitude was shifting and immediately stormed over in anger. “Why are you wasting your time talking to her? We don’t keep freeloaders in this house. If she doesn’t pay up, she can leave!” “Mom, please, just stop talking!” Kayden pleaded. Kayden’s demeanor was tense as he tried to hold me back with one hand while using the other to restrain Emma from continuing her tirade. But the more he tried to pacify her, the more Emma resisted, her voice rising like a storm. “She’s five months pregnant! I don’t believe she’ll leave you! “Don’t let her fool you. If she dares to divorce, with a second marriage and carrying a child from our family, no one else will want her, she’ll be stuck with this used label forever!” I should’ve been angry, but instead, I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. Back when Kayden and I were dating in college, he had confided in me about his family situation. His mother, Emma, was also his father’s second wife. She had concealed her past marriage when she married Henry. At first, Henry had no idea. However, since Emma was still somewhat attractive, the two quickly became involved. When Henry found out that Emma had a son from her previous marriage, it was already too late. Emma was pregnant with Kayden by then. She came with her family to confront Henry, who was furious. At first, he refused to marry her, but, as a teacher, he was afraid it would ruin his reputation. Eventually, they married, albeit with lingering resentment. This conflict had never truly been resolved between Henry and Emma. I smirked as I recalled those. “Used goods? You’re calling me that, but let’s be honest, Emma, you’re the used goods here, no doubt about it. “Right, Henry? You’re a proud teacher, but you ended up marrying someone like her. I feel sorry for you.” I deliberately glanced at Henry, my words sharp. The room’s atmosphere shifted immediately. Henry’s face turned from red to black, then to a deep shade of blue. Emma, on the other hand, went berserk, lunging at me and grabbing my hair. Fortunately, Kayden was quick to intervene. Otherwise, I might not have been able to defend myself. In the end, Henry showed signs of losing composure, and, wanting to avoid further embarrassment, he stormed out after yelling a few harsh words. Emma collapsed onto the floor, sobbing in Kayden’s arms. She lamented how hard she had worked raising him, how difficult it had been, only to have her son’s wife insult her now. She wept and even made exaggerated gestures to bang her head against the wall, playing the victim. Kayden, with pity in his eyes, grabbed her and tried to calm her down. As for me, the entire situation felt suffocating. The atmosphere in this house was toxic, and I couldn’t stand to be there for another second. I quickly packed a few clothes and left for my parent’s house. Before I left, I caught Kayden’s gaze. His eyes held a mixture of disappointment and confusion. He didn’t try to stop me from leaving, but I could see he was frustrated. I couldn’t believe it. He was upset with me! It was a weekend, and my parents were both at home. They were surprised to see me walking through the door alone in the middle of the afternoon. “Have you eaten? What happened?” My mother, knowing me well, immediately recognized something was off. I had never faced any real hardship in my life, and as soon as I saw my parents, I couldn’t hold back the tears. They fell uncontrollably as I recounted everything that had happened. “Such a shameless family!” My dad, sitting on the couch, quietly smoked his cigarette. My mom, shaking with anger, slapped the table and scolded me, “Jasmine Arnold, you’re our only daughter! We told you from the start not to get involved with Kayden, but you wouldn’t listen! You even got pregnant before marriage. You nearly drove your father and me insane. Now you see the consequences, don’t you?” My parents had strongly opposed me dating Kayden. I had been too blinded by love to listen to their warnings. All I knew was that Kayden was reliable and kind-hearted. He always took my feelings into consideration. He was the kind of person who, even if he had only 10 dollars left in his pocket, would spend nine of it on me. I was convinced that no one else would love me as much as he did. In the end, my persistence wore my parents down, and they reluctantly accepted him. Looking back, I wished I could slap myself for not listening to their advice. Why didn’t I pay attention to their warnings back then? “Well, what’s the use in talking about it now?” My dad pressed out his cigarette, his voice low and serious as he said, “Jasmine, the Baileys, your husband’s parents, are traditional and care deeply about their reputation, and they are unpredictable and calculating. You’re no match for them. “Then there’s Kayden. He’s a good person, but being honest doesn’t mean he can’t do bad things. “You should see by now that, in Kayden’s heart, you’ll never be more important than his parents. This is just the beginning. Anytime family issues come up, he’ll always choose them over you. Your relationship doesn’t stand a chance when compared to family ties. How long do you think you can hold on?” After I heard my dad’s words, my emotions slowly settled.

I didn’t know what the future would hold, but Kayden’s attitude today was already clear. Maybe I wasn’t that important to him after all. I thought about it, my eyes welling up with tears again. But what about the baby inside me? Was I really going to let him grow up without a father? Besides, this was about Kayden’s parents, not him. Our years of love couldn’t have been fake, could they? I helplessly glanced at my parents sitting beside me, trying to comfort me, but I still couldn’t make up my mind. Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and in came Kayden, disheveled and anxious. I had expected him to stay home and work things out with his parents, not to come running after me so soon. That meant, deep down, he really did care about me. A wave of the anger I had been holding back for so long suddenly started to fade. I thought about the five years we had spent together and how we had just gotten married. I hadn’t even had a chance to experience the happiness I’d imagined for our married life. After all we had been through, maybe I shouldn’t give up so easily. At the very least, I would never be able to let it go. Kayden rushed in, greeted my parents briefly, and then sat down next to me. “Jasmine, we’re family. Can you please not hold this against me? “I messed up. I didn’t communicate well. Actually, my parents didn’t mean any harm. Once you get to know them, you’ll see they’re really kind-hearted.” “Today, you shouldn’t have been so unreasonable with my mom.” None of us spoke, waiting for Kayden to finish. But the more I heard, the more upset I became. So, his parents were good people, and I was just a petty, unforgiving person? I turned my head and saw my mom holding back a sigh, rolling her eyes. She was about to speak when my dad raised his hand to stop her. Then he glanced at Kayden, his tone calm yet authoritative, a presence he had earned from decades of leadership experience. “Kayden, it’s normal for young couples to have disagreements. But you two just got married. This should be the sweetest time for you both. And Jasmine is pregnant, so, morally and logically, this shouldn’t have happened.” “Right.” Kayden nodded repeatedly in response to my dad. He was always cautious around him. Not only was my dad, but also his superior’s superior at work. Without my dad, how could Kayden have gotten into such a big company right after graduation, earning two to three thousand dollars a month with no experience? Kayden’s attitude was always respectful, but my dad didn’t soften, continuing, “I have only one precious daughter. I’ve said this before. If anyone causes her even the slightest harm, I will make them pay ten times over, no matter who they are.” When my dad said this, his eyes were full of determination. Kayden visibly shook. In the past, I had thought Kayden’s caution around my parents was simply due to his sincerity and humility. But now, it only irritated me. “I was wrong this time. I didn’t take care of Jasmine properly. I came here to apologize. “I’ll talk to my parents and make sure this doesn’t happen again. I promise I won’t make Jasmine angry anymore.” Kayden was the same as before our marriage; whenever he was questioned, he would promise to treat me better over and over. But now, his promises didn’t seem to mean much. “What are you going to do about it next?”

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During the Christmas break, my husband insisted that I accompany him to a class reunion. By the time we arrived at the hotel, most of the classmates were already there. The parking lot was filled with luxury cars, making our humble domestic car seem rather out of place. As we approached the entrance, I overheard some derogatory comments, “I just don’t get it. Back in school, Logan was quite the big shot, how did he end up with someone like Fiona…” Although the conversation cut off abruptly, the dismissive tone was unmistakable. In the face of such provocation, my husband, who should have stood up for me, was all smiles, chatting with classmates as though I wasn’t even there. After the banquet, the former campus beauty slowly approached and took my husband’s hand. “Fiona, I’m quite interested in your husband. Would you let him go? You can set any condition.” I laughed instead of getting angry. “You might want to rethink that—divorcing me isn’t without consequences.” Had it not been for my husband’s persistent persuasion, I wouldn’t have bothered attending this reunion. I thought it might be nice to reconnect with people from the past, so I took a day off work to be here. Little did I expect that someone would publicly try to take my husband away during the dinner. What was even more chilling was that my husband was agreeable to it. “Oh wow, you’ve become quite eloquent over the years.” “The money is a token of appreciation for taking care of Logan all these years, think of it as compensation.” “Do you really think you can threaten me with talk of jail? Do you know my standing in New York?” Just as I was about to respond, I saw my husband pulling the campus beauty into an embrace. “Qingqing, just take the money; it’s better for everyone.” Watching them hold hands, a cold laugh escaped me. “So, you two have been planning this for a while, huh?” Logan had been calling me repeatedly, urging me to attend today’s reunion. Now I see they planned to make me publicly agree to a divorce. No wonder he hasn’t been close to me since our marriage; he had someone else in mind. As soon as I finished speaking, Logan’s expression changed. “What nonsense! Adeline and I are truly in love!” “If she hadn’t been forced to study abroad back then, we’d be together now.” I was utterly shocked by his words. Everyone at school knew she dumped Logan, and now it’s a mutual love story? I don’t know why they got back together, but at this moment, Logan is still legally my husband. I couldn’t swallow this insult. “Logan, do you realize how serious infidelity in marriage is?” I spoke while looking him straight in the eye, but he couldn’t meet my gaze. Then, the beauty threw herself onto him, looking pitiful, and said: “Stop with the nonsense. You’re just unhappy because the money isn’t enough.” “Name your price. I’m not short on cash!” Facing such a once-glamorous but now somewhat plump campus beauty, I felt like I was watching a joke. “Adeline, let me remind you, if Logan agrees to a divorce today, you both will be facing legal consequences.” Before I finished, Logan anxiously said, “Stop with the scare tactics. What could you possibly do to us?” “Since marrying you, we barely met, who knows what you’ve been up to.” “To be honest, if you hadn’t pursued me back then, don’t expect a penny.” If not for his unique status, I’d have slapped him. Logan’s words drew laughter from the crowd. “See? It’s always said that your abilities determine your partner. A woman like Fiona, lacking background and presence, is destined to lose her husband.” “Right? Dressed so plainly, how dare she show up here.” “When it comes to wealth and influence, the Adeline family’s daughter is generous with money and has strong backing.” Everyone was flattering the former beauty, and no one stood up for me. To them, I was just a clown for their amusement. Such friends and reunions—better to avoid them.

Ignoring their sneers, I intended to leave. But before I could stand, a hand pressed on my shoulder. “Trying to leave? Did you get my permission?” Adeline looked at me with a smug smile and disdain in her eyes. “Fiona, you have two choices today: take the money and divorce, or I’ll beat you until you do.” “Think carefully and choose one.” Hearing Adeline’s words, I couldn’t help but laugh. “Are you sure you want me to choose?” Adeline, still not realizing the trouble she was in, remained smug. “Of course, as long as you divorce your husband, I promise you’ll have a good life afterward.” Suppressing the anger within, I said slowly: “I can divorce Logan, and I don’t want the money, but…” I paused deliberately. “You must first let me make a call because the divorce isn’t solely my decision.” Adeline laughed heartily after hearing me. “Fiona, you really think you’re someone important, don’t you? Giving you the choice was a courtesy, not a negotiation.” “No matter who you call, you must divorce today, understand?” I detected the threat in her tone but didn’t care, finding it almost amusing. “I’ve already said, I agree to divorce Logan.” “But this needs approval from higher-ups; I can’t decide alone.” Adeline’s face changed, ready to get rough, but Logan stopped her. “Dear, we’re magnanimous, let’s not fuss over this.” “Let her make the call. My heart has long been set on you; nothing others say matters.” Logan thought I was just stalling, looking very pleased with himself. I was about to argue back, but he continued: “Fiona, don’t say I didn’t warn you, no matter who you call, I intend to divorce today.” I believed I was a good wife to Logan after marriage. I handed over my monthly stipend without fail. He never worked or did chores, spending days shopping and playing mahjong. Despite being home only once a year, he was still unsatisfied. At this moment, my last bit of affection for him vanished completely. “Logan, don’t flatter yourself, I never intended to persuade you, I just find it disgusting.” “But you and Adeline, I hope after this call, you won’t regret it.” “Because by then, no one will be able to save you.” I thought about giving her a friendly warning, but some people just don’t appreciate it. Like the campus beauty, Adeline. “Fiona, you’re still putting on airs in front of me, who will regret it?” Adeline was about to continue, but I waved my hand to stop her. “Fine, your words are enough.” Then, I pulled out my phone and called my leader.

“Hello, sir, it’s Fiona.” The person on the other end chuckled upon hearing my voice. “Fiona? Why are you calling now?” “Sir, there’s a situation I need to report.” I briefly explained how Adeline was forcing me to divorce my husband at the reunion. As soon as I finished, I heard the sound of a glass shattering from the other end. “Who’s bold enough to force you into divorce?” Adeline grabbed the phone. “Listen up, I don’t care what your relationship with Fiona is, I want her husband, and no one can stop me.” “You’d better mind your own business, or you’ll end up in trouble too!” The leader paused for a few seconds before speaking. “Are you the one forcing Fiona to divorce?” Adeline, still unaware of who was on the other end, was as arrogant as ever. “That’s right, it’s me.” “Look around New York, anything Adeline wants, she gets.” “A man is nothing; he’s mine, who can stop me?” After saying that, she tossed the phone to the ground and stomped on it several times. It was my first time witnessing such audacity. “Now that you’ve made the call, fulfill your promise.” Logan, holding Adeline with one hand, handed me a divorce agreement with the other. “I’ve got all the paperwork ready, just sign.” Looking at the stack of documents on the table confirmed my suspicions. Logan had been cheating for a while. Facing someone like him, I had no mercy. I signed my name without hesitation and handed it back. Logan looked at me in surprise. “Fiona, what does this mean?” I looked up at him with a cold tone. “What? Isn’t this what you wanted all along?” “Now I’ve granted your wish, signed and stamped, and you’re blaming me?” “Sign it quickly, before Adeline loses interest in you too.” Logan’s face turned red with anger. “Fine! I’ll sign, as if I’d miss you!” He immediately signed the divorce papers. Thus, our five-year marriage finally ended. I signed my name without a second thought and handed the papers back to him. Logan looked at me, eyes wide. “Fiona, what are you doing?” I met his gaze, my voice icy. “What do you mean? Wasn’t it you who wanted this divorce from the beginning?” “Now I’ve given you what you wanted—signed the papers and left my fingerprint—and you’re still blaming me.” “Just sign it already, so Adeline doesn’t leave you too.” Logan flushed with anger. “Fine! I’ll sign it. It’s not like I care about you!” He signed the divorce agreement without hesitation. Our five-year marriage was finally over. Watching him sign, I felt no regret, only a weight lifted off my shoulders. “I’ve signed the papers, and now you’re free. Can I leave?” “Hold on!” Adeline blocked my way, grinning maliciously. “Now that the two of you are done, it’s time for us.” 0

Hearing Adeline, I narrowed my eyes. Her expression darkened. “You were the one who got me expelled from school, weren’t you?” “If it weren’t for you, my father wouldn’t have sent me abroad, and Logan wouldn’t have been forced to marry you.” “Fiona, did you know? I spent three whole years abroad, plotting revenge against that snitch, until Logan told me the truth.” Adeline slammed her hand on the table. “Fiona! I’ve waited for this day for so long!” Even as Adeline’s arrogance filled the room, I maintained a faint smile. “You’re right, I reported you.” “But I don’t think I was wrong. You were always causing trouble, fighting, even breaking someone’s leg.” “For people like you, I report every time without hesitation.” Adeline’s face twisted in rage. “I admire your arrogance.” “Fiona, do you know why I called you back?” “This isn’t just a class reunion. I’m here for revenge.” Adeline snapped her fingers, and a dozen well-built men in black burst into the private booth. They looked ready for a fight. I leaned back, tapping my fingers on the table. “Adeline, this is your last chance. Think it over.” “If you touch me today, you won’t be able to handle the consequences.” “Even if you have the entire Liu family backing you…” The sycophants around us erupted in laughter. “Did you hear that? Fiona thinks the Liu family wouldn’t dare cross her.” “This is the funniest thing I’ve ever heard. A nobody challenging the elite Liu family from the capital!” My former classmates quickly took sides, verbally attacking me to curry favor with Adeline. Logan joined in. “Fiona, what are you shouting about? Look in the mirror and see what you’re like.” “Forget Adeline, anyone here could put you in your place.” I took a deep breath and slowly removed my wedding ring. “Logan, from now on, we have nothing to do with each other.” “As for Adeline, she’ll pay for her actions today.” Adeline sneered. “You? Make me pay?” “I’m in charge here. Even if I beat you to death, no one would dare arrest me.” The crowd burst into laughter again. Seeing the familiar faces, I felt a profound sense of disappointment. Is this what they call classmate camaraderie? I was a top student, but I never felt superior. I always answered questions patiently. Now, all I get is mockery and disdain. They don’t deserve to be called “classmates”! Seeing me silent, Adeline thought I was afraid, becoming even more brazen. “Stupid woman, either kowtow and apologize in front of the class, and we’ll let it go.” “Or get your legs broken and crawl out.” My eyes turned cold. “Adeline, you’ve crossed the line too many times. Do you really think you’re untouchable?” Instead of backing down, Adeline got even more arrogant. “Look at the men behind me. Any one of them could knock you down.” “Quit pretending. Even if the king himself came, you’d still have to kneel!” Just then, the booth door opened, and a large man entered. Adeline quickly adjusted her clothes and greeted him with a fawning smile. “Mr. Jack, what brings you here?” Hearing her call him that, everyone turned pale. Logan retreated to a corner. I remained seated, fingers tapping the table. Mr. Jack scanned the room, and everyone fell silent. He spoke slowly, “Whose Porsche is parked outside?”

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My boyfriend was known as a piano prodigy. He sent a video of me practicing violin to the newly transferred rich girl. “So annoying. With this level of skill, she still wants me to accompany her.” Rich girl: “Haha, she looks so stupid. How dare she?” “You’re still going to accompany her? Aren’t you afraid she’ll hold you back?” My boyfriend replied: “It’s really embarrassing.” Later, after I won an award, he knelt down and begged to accompany me. I calmly walked past him and said coldly: “Being in the same space as you makes me feel embarrassed.” My mom died in a car accident on the day of my stage performance, which caused me to develop panic attacks. Whenever I was about to perform on stage, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Because of this, I planned to give up the violin. It was my boyfriend, Lucas Foster, who encouraged me. He said he would always be on stage with me, accompanying me until the day I got better. With his encouragement, I signed up for the school’s talent show. I heard that the first-place winner would get a spot in the national competition. For this, Lucas and I practiced piano and violin concertos every day. With our perfect coordination, I regained confidence and even thought I could win first place. However, on the night before the talent show, I saw the video he sent to Vanessa Summers, the newly transferred rich girl. It was from when I first tried to perform on the street to overcome my panic attacks. This was actually Lucas’s suggestion. He said it was called exposure therapy. While I was playing the violin, he was recording nearby. He said we could review it later, so I would get better each time. In the video, as more and more people gathered to watch, my panic attack started. My face turned pale, I was breathing heavily, and the melody I played was completely out of tune. But Lucas told me I had to persist, to finish playing a song no matter what. Amidst the noisy clamor, I felt like a fish struggling to survive on a chopping board. Finally, I fainted on the roadside due to difficulty breathing. If it weren’t for a doctor in the crowd who performed first aid, I might have died from suffocation. Therefore, that night became a memory I didn’t want to recall. I thought Lucas had deleted the video. I never expected he would keep it and send it to Vanessa. “So annoying, with this level of skill, I still have to accompany her tomorrow.” Vanessa sent a row of laughing emojis. “Haha, she looks so stupid. How dare she? Don’t you agree?” “[Bitter smile jpg] I hope nothing goes wrong, or it would be really embarrassing.”

In a daze, my phone was snatched away. Lucas, who had just tried on his performance outfit, stood behind me with a displeased look and coldly asked, “Why are you looking at my phone?” I was about to explain when I suddenly realized this wasn’t the point. Besides, he never minded me looking at his phone before. “Lucas, why did you send that old video of me when I wasn’t doing well to someone else?” I thought he would explain clearly to me, but instead, his face grew even darker. “Chloe, the performance is tomorrow, and you have to cause trouble now? Do you not want me to accompany you anymore?” He angrily tore off his bow tie and threw it on the ground. “If you don’t want me to accompany you, just say so. No need to find fault with me here. Do whatever you want.” If it were before, I would have picked up the bow tie and put it back on him, then stopped pursuing who was right or wrong. In every argument, I was always the first to give in. But this time, I just coldly replied: “If you don’t want to accompany me, that’s fine. I can perform solo too.” Lucas looked at me in shock. Because he knew best that being able to perform on stage with him had always been my wish. His tone softened, “Vanessa just transferred back from abroad, and the instructor asked me to take care of her more.” “She said she wasn’t confident about her first violin solo after returning to the country, so I sent her that video of you to encourage her.” “If you’re unhappy, I can delete it.” As he spoke, he took out his phone and deleted the video in front of me. But he knew in his heart that what I cared about was far more than just this incident. There were rumors at school that the daughter of Summers Corporation was studying at our arts academy. Everyone guessed that the rich girl was Vanessa. Because she was driven to school in luxury cars every day, and both instructors and school leaders treated her with great respect. To help her get familiar with the campus environment, Lucas had left me to practice alone several times recently. He said we were already working together perfectly and there wouldn’t be any problems. But only I knew that his heart was probably no longer on this talent show.

Seeing my silence, Lucas unusually spoke again, “Chloe, I’m doing this for our future. You should know that getting Summers Corporation to continue sponsoring our overseas studies is just a matter of Vanessa saying a word.” Lucas had told me before that he was a scholarship recipient from Summers Corporation. After he finished, he looked at the canvas bag on my body and asked, “Are you one too?” I thought for a moment and answered, “I guess so.” He was very happy to hear this and held my hand, “Chloe, we must work hard together and meet at the top.” Later, he became a rising star with his extremely high talent. While I was still confined to a small practice room, struggling with panic attacks. Thinking about how Lucas had encouraged me to participate in this talent show, I sighed. Forget it, the show is tomorrow, we should indeed focus on the performance. But I still answered him. “If it’s about studying abroad, you don’t need to worry. Summers Corporation won’t stop sponsoring you.” I had originally hoped that we would make a splash at this show. But on the way to the auditorium, someone came running to tell me that there was an urgent matter and someone was looking for me in the practice room. Lucas took the garment bag and my backpack from my hands, saying he would wait for me in the rest area and told me to hurry back. But when I got to the practice room, it was empty. The door behind me slammed shut with a “bang” and was locked. I urgently wanted to call Lucas, only to realize that my phone was in my bag. I thought Lucas would surely come looking for me if he kept waiting and I didn’t show up, but he didn’t come. By the time the janitor found me, the talent show was already nearing its end. I ran to the auditorium as fast as I could, only to see that the finale that was supposed to belong to Lucas and me had become his duet with Vanessa. On stage, Lucas was wearing a white suit, the angled spotlight making him look otherworldly. Pleasant and lively music flowed from his fingertips. He played the piano while looking up at Vanessa in front of him, his eyes full of undisguised joy. I followed his gaze, and when I saw the dress Vanessa was wearing, my pupils constricted. That was my mother’s dress.

My mother was a world-renowned violinist. After my father had an affair, she resolutely chose to divorce him and then took me abroad to restart her career. When her career was back at its peak, she rushed to attend my first violin performance and got into a car accident on the way. I couldn’t participate in that performance. Instead, I went to the hospital to see her for the last time. On her deathbed, my mother left her last words. “Go back to your father. With his help, you’ll avoid many detours and reach greater heights.” “And those dresses, I want to take them with me. Remember to cremate them all for me.” In the end, I kept one dress, planning to wear it today, hoping it would give me strength. But now, that dress was on Vanessa, the original thin straps had been altered into a strapless design. I rushed over and grabbed Vanessa’s hand. “Why is this dress on you?” The performance came to an abrupt halt, and the audience below started whispering. Vanessa looked at me with a wronged expression, “Sister Chloe, we’re still performing.” Lucas stood up angrily and scolded, “Chloe, what are you doing? Get off the stage.” I pointed at the dress on Vanessa and looked at him coldly, “Explain why my dress is on her.” He came over and questioned me in a low voice, “You have the nerve to ask? Where were you?” “You never showed up, so I called Vanessa to save the day. She came on stage at the last minute without preparing any clothes, so I gave her yours.” “What’s wrong with wearing it?” I looked at him in disbelief. Lucas knew very well that this was my mother’s memento. My mother hated nothing more than others touching her dresses. I ignored Lucas and walked over to Vanessa, commanding coldly, “Take it off.” Vanessa didn’t reply to me, but looked at Lucas with tears in her eyes. Impatient, I grabbed her hand to take her to the backstage dressing room. Vanessa struggled, as if I were some kind of monster, and turned back to shout, “Lucas!” Lucas rushed over and pushed me away forcefully. He used too much strength, and I stumbled and fell to the ground. He seemed not to have expected me to fall, his expression regretful, wanting to help me up. But Vanessa grabbed him, burying her face in his shoulder and crying, “Lucas.” In the end, it was the school security guards who helped me up. Before I left the stage, meeting his gaze, I suddenly remembered the promise he made to me on the day I agreed to be his girlfriend. He said that no matter what happened in the future, he would always stand firmly by my side. Thinking about it now, I couldn’t help but laugh at the irony.

Lucas and Vanessa were allowed to restart their performance. I was taken to the backstage dressing room, where the instructor asked me what had happened. After I explained the whole situation, He told me that because it was an unexpected situation, they would give me another chance to perform on stage. While waiting backstage, I listened to Lucas and Vanessa’s duet. During the performance, Vanessa played several wrong notes, all of which were well covered by Lucas’s piano. After the piece ended, I knew they had definitely performed together before. When it was my turn to go on stage, I passed by them. Lucas looked at me with a complicated expression, wanting to take my hand, but I shook him off. Behind him was Vanessa with a smug expression. She glanced at my violin with a smirk, and I immediately had a bad feeling. Sure enough, as soon as I started playing, the strings snapped. An unpleasant, jarring sound echoed throughout the auditorium. Boos rose from all around, along with mockery from those who were already upset about the earlier incident. After all, in their eyes, I had offended the Summers’ daughter. “Is she crazy or what?” “She was already acting weird earlier, and now she comes on stage to embarrass herself.” “How did Lucas ever fall for her?” Amidst those noisy voices, I saw a tall figure stand up and walk out of the auditorium. My first stage performance in life had ended in such a disaster. Back in the dressing room, I received a message from William Summers, the CEO of Summers Corporation. “You said you didn’t need my help, and now you show me this?” I didn’t reply. Because Lucas was waiting there with the dress Vanessa had changed out of. He handed me the crumpled dress that had been altered beyond recognition. “It’s just a dress, was it worth making such a scene on stage? Chloe, what will people think of you now?” I took a deep breath and said to him, “Lucas, let’s break up.” His face darkened. “Chloe, do you know what you’re saying?” “I said, let’s break up.”

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The day Jack Sullivan was admitted to the ICU, I broke up with him, tired of living in constant danger by his side. I left the country and got married. While he was struggling for his life, I didn’t even visit him once. He hated me to the bone. Three years later, his grandfather dragged him back to their hometown to exhume and rebury the remains from an unmarked grave. Jack held a wrist bone in his hand and said coldly, “Rachel Sullivan, why couldn’t it have been you who died?” But he didn’t know. The skeleton he was picking up with his own hands was mine. … July had just arrived when a heavy rainstorm hit, washing away my grave. It rained for several days. As soon as the sky cleared, I saw a figure stumbling towards me, step by step. I sat in front of the tombstone and greeted Grandpa, but I watched as he slowly crouched down, digging at the soil bit by bit with his aged hands, trying to rebury my coffin. “Oh, my poor child! What are we going to do?” he lamented. My heart ached. I wanted to help Grandpa up and tell him it was okay, but my hand passed right through his body. I kept forgetting that I had been dead for three years. As Grandpa continued digging, a sudden clarity flashed in his cloudy eyes. He muttered to himself, “A wet grave won’t do. Rachel won’t rest in peace… We need to exhume the remains and rebury them. Yes, that’s it.” He then shakily pulled out his phone from his pocket. The old man’s fingers were stiff, pausing after each number, but he persevered and dialed his grandson’s number. “Jack, come back quickly! It’s an emergency!” I tried to stop Grandpa when he dialed that familiar number, but as a mere soul, I could do nothing. So I could only clasp my hands together and silently pray that Jack wouldn’t come. “Grandpa, what’s wrong? Don’t worry, I’ll take leave and come right away.” …My last hope died. After hanging up, Grandpa sat dazed for a while, then stood up and stumbled towards home. “Grandpa! You’ve really done it this time! Didn’t we agree to keep it a secret?” I knew Grandpa couldn’t hear me, but I couldn’t help nagging as I followed behind him. Before I knew it, I had followed Grandpa back home. I was both surprised and delighted. For the past three years, I could only move within ten meters of my grave. It had been suffocating. I hovered near Grandpa’s shoulder, as if I were still alive. Over the years, Jack had repeatedly suggested that Grandpa move to the city with him, but each time Grandpa refused. Jack thought Grandpa just couldn’t bear to leave his hometown, but I understood. Grandpa was afraid the little girl he had raised since childhood would be lonely, so he stayed here. The next day, Jack arrived. He looked rushed and disheveled, clearly having traveled in haste. He crouched down to be at eye level with Grandpa, who was sitting, and carefully checked if he had any injuries. “Grandpa, are you alright? What happened? Why did you call me back so urgently?” Grandpa’s gaze was somewhat unfocused, and he spoke haltingly but with obvious anxiety: “Wet grave… not good, move… need to move… exhume!” Exhuming remains, also known as bone washing, refers to the ritual of opening a grave years after burial, collecting the remains, and reburying them. Jack frowned. Having grown up with his grandfather, he naturally understood some of the techniques of exhuming remains, but he didn’t understand. His parents’ ashes were buried in a cemetery after cremation, so whose bones did Grandpa want to exhume? I floated in front of Jack, my hand gently caressing his face. The man before me had grown thinner, darker, with unshaven stubble on his face. “Jack? So this is your home.” I saw a beautiful woman appear at the door, her voice filled with intimacy and dependence. Jack nodded in response and continued questioning Grandpa, “Grandpa, whose bones are we exhuming?” Grandpa’s eyes were still somewhat confused as he spoke unclearly. “It’s… Ra…chel.” My mind went blank, and I froze in place. Then I heard Jack laugh coldly. “Her? Good riddance.”

Jack and I grew up together as family and were also lovers who understood each other’s hearts. But when we parted, it was ugly. In front of everyone, I argued with Jack, saying I was tired of living in constant danger with him, tired of the anxiety-filled life. I said I had found a rich man and was preparing to go abroad to marry him. I had never said such hurtful things before, and naturally, Jack didn’t believe it. He lay in the ICU for a month, constantly mumbling that he wanted to see me when he was conscious, but I never showed up. I even had someone tell him that we were done for good. Finally, he gave up hope. His hatred for me was justified. Meanwhile, Jack thought that since Grandpa had mistaken that grave for Rachel Sullivan’s, he would go check it out to give Grandpa an explanation, so he could quickly return to the police station. I followed behind Jack, afraid he would recognize my remains. His junior, Emily Johnson, also followed behind him. “Jack,” she said coquettishly, “who was that person Grandpa mentioned earlier?” I saw Jack’s footsteps falter. “A liar.” “Is that so? I thought it might be your girlfriend. People at the police station all say… you had a girlfriend you were about to marry before.” “If it were her… I’d hope it really was her buried in that grave.” He muttered softly, but I heard it all. “But why would Grandpa bring up a liar?” Jack was clearly annoyed by topics related to me. “Why keep talking about this?” Emily pouted. “Fine.” Soon, we arrived at my tombstone. Emily looked around, seeing only dense forest. The heavy rain had mercilessly uncovered this piece of land, the soil had slid away, and the grave had collapsed, revealing the place where I had long been resting. The coffin lay there alone, looking somewhat eerie. “Jack, this place is scary.” Jack said impatiently, “Emily, no one asked you to come along. I promised your dad I’d take care of you, but you don’t need to follow me everywhere.” His junior felt a bit hurt by these words and lowered her head, no longer speaking. However, she still followed behind Jack. The path was uneven, and she accidentally twisted her ankle, the pain bringing tears to her eyes. Jack was crouching down to examine the unmarked tombstone. Hearing her soft cry, he stopped and looked back. Seeing the pain on his junior’s face, he sighed. He walked over, bent down, and carried her on his back. “Let’s head back,” Jack said softly. Emily smiled secretly on Jack’s back. “I knew Jack was the best,” she said. Watching them, I remembered when Jack and I were young. When I couldn’t walk on mountain paths, I would pretend to twist my ankle to get Jack to carry me. Every time, he would do this – his face full of impatience, grumbling, “Not again. Why are you so delicate?” But even so, he would still crouch down, turn his back to me, sigh softly, and say, “Come on, get on.” I would climb onto his back with a smile, my arms around his neck. The mountain path was steep, but his steps were so steady it was reassuring. From his back, I could see far into the distance, as if I could see our future. His future might now include a new girl. Reaching this conclusion, my eyes stung. I immediately rubbed my face hard. Rachel! Wake up! You’re already dead! His bride will never be you! Jack didn’t know why, but ever since he arrived here, he had felt uneasy, as if some primordial instinct was warning him. This feeling wasn’t unfamiliar to him. Many times during missions, he had relied on this intuition to escape danger. However, this panic now was more intense and rapid than ever before. Jack suddenly looked back, and I stared at him, momentarily unable to distinguish between dream and reality. For that instant, his gaze seemed to cross the boundary between life and death, seeing my soul… I hurriedly averted my gaze, my heart racing. It’s impossible for him to see me! I remembered when we were young, Jack always boasted about being the world’s bravest man, fearing nothing. But then I discovered he was afraid of ghosts, and I teased him about it for a long time. If he could really see me now, he’d be scared to death. I clutched my chest, cursing myself for becoming so sentimental after becoming a ghost, aching at every little thing.

When Grandpa saw the two return, he put down the rag doll in his hand. “How did it go?” he asked, tightly gripping Jack’s arm. Jack tried to reassure him, “Grandpa, it’s too late today. I’ll bring the tools tomorrow and officially open the coffin then.” Emily stepped forward, flashing a sweet smile, and said ingratiatingly, “Grandpa, you should rest now. I’ll accompany Jack tomorrow and keep an eye on him.” Grandpa looked at her, a flash of confusion in his eyes. He picked up the rag doll again and said softly, “I don’t know you. Where’s Rachel?” “Jack, hurry and bring Rachel back. Don’t let her stay away from home for too long.” Upon hearing these words, Jack’s expression instantly darkened, as if something had stung him. “Don’t mention her anymore, Grandpa.” “It’s too late, she’ll be cold.” “Grandpa! She’s not coming back.” Jack’s chest heaved violently. “You need to coax her properly.” “Grandpa!” He snatched the rag doll from Grandpa’s hand and threw it out the window, his voice trembling as he said, “Grandpa, how many times do I have to tell you? She left with someone else! She doesn’t want us anymore, doesn’t want me!” Startled by Jack’s actions, Grandpa turned and glared at him angrily, “That’s not true! Rachel must be hiding because that rascal Jack upset her. She can’t find her way home. Rachel always listens to me. I’ll wait for her here, she’ll definitely come back.” Jack clenched his jaw tightly. He had tried so hard to forget her, why did everyone keep reminding him that he had been abandoned? Those past events always left behind sharp remnants that cut deep new wounds every time they were mentioned. His eyes were bloodshot from the emotional turmoil. He instinctively reached into his pocket for eye drops but found nothing. Seeing this scene, my heart ached. Don’t argue because of me, it’s not worth it, it’s not worth it! Suddenly, I remembered my childhood promise to protect this family. I was an orphan saved by Jack’s parents, who were both police officers. When I was rescued as a child, I was covered in wounds, so thin it was hard to tell if I was a boy or a girl. The orphanage staff said children like me were hard to adopt. I huddled in a corner, thinking I was about to be abandoned again. But Jack’s parents came over, patted my head, and asked me, “Would you like to live with us?” The feeling at that moment was indescribable. It was like enjoying a warm cup of milk in the bitter cold, finding an umbrella in the rain, or waking up to sunshine on your bed. From then on, I had a family. But I couldn’t do anything in return. Instead, I made Grandpa bury his grandchild and caused them to argue incessantly. The atmosphere remained tense, the stuffiness in the room almost suffocating. Just then, a cheerful voice came from outside. “Jack! Oh my, you came back home in such a hurry without even telling me!” It was Alex Chen, Jack’s and my childhood friend. As soon as Alex entered, he looked around and said with a smile, “It’s been a long time since I’ve been back. This place hasn’t changed at all.” He knew I had passed away, but because he had to keep it from Jack, he never dared to come and pay his respects to me. Jack asked with some surprise, “Why are you here too? Isn’t the hospital busy?” Alex patted Jack’s shoulder and replied, “Well, I heard about the heavy rain back home. I figured I’d take some annual leave and check on Grandpa while I’m at it.” “But what’s going on here? Why is everyone so serious?” Alex asked. Jack briefly explained the situation. After listening, Alex furrowed his brow, looking thoughtful. “Oh, that’s simple. If you’re busy with work, go back to the police station. Leave the exhumation to me. I’ve dealt with more dead bodies than you have.” Alex said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood. Jack lowered his eyes and pressed his lips together, noncommittal: “Grandpa seems to care a lot about that body.” “Grandpa’s getting old, maybe he just got confused. Don’t worry, I’ve seen Grandpa exhume remains before. How hard can it be to copy what he does?” Alex patted his chest, putting on a confident air. Jack hesitated for a moment. Alex’s proposal was indeed the best option, but he still felt something was off. Alex didn’t give him time to think: “By the way, aren’t you going to introduce me to…” Jack paused, then introduced, “This is my boss’s daughter, Emily Johnson.” Emily extended her hand, smiling, “Hello, I’m Emily Johnson.” Her hand lingered in the air for a moment, but Alex pretended not to notice her gesture. He turned and patted Jack’s shoulder, his tone teasing: “Jack, you lucky dog. You’ve got a beauty by your side.” Emily awkwardly withdrew her hand, her smile becoming a bit stiff. She was about to explain. But before she could speak, Jack coldly rebuked, “Alex!” Alex shrugged, putting on an indifferent air, and muttered, “I was just joking, don’t take it seriously.” “Alright, alright, everyone go rest now. I’ll sleep with Grandpa tonight, you two can each take a room. There’s a train you can catch together early tomorrow morning.” Alex hurried Jack off to rest. Emily felt a bit disappointed. She had come to make a good impression on Jack’s family, but they had settled everything in just a few words. She couldn’t say anything more and could only silently follow behind. Just then, Jack suddenly stopped in his tracks. He turned back, asking as if casually, “After she went to America, did you hear any news about her?” He didn’t mention a name, but Alex knew who Jack was referring to. My heart instantly jumped to my throat. Alex was taken aback for a moment, then replied, “What are you talking about? Didn’t she go to France?”

After Jack left, Alex and I both let out a long sigh of relief. That moment seemed to make the air in the entire room a bit lighter. Alex sat next to Grandpa, cursing under his breath, “This guy’s using his police interrogation tactics on me. Good thing I’m quick-witted.” I sat beside Alex, feeling so tense I was almost faint. My emotions that night had been like a rollercoaster, up and down, unable to calm down. Late at night, the house gradually quieted down. I gazed at the moon outside the window, its silver-white light spilling into the courtyard, making everything seem particularly peaceful. Occasionally, the sound of insects chirping reached my ears, adding a touch of life to this quiet night. I knew that once Jack left tomorrow, it might be our final goodbye. I understood that I should go see him one last time, but I was afraid that if I did, I wouldn’t be able to let go. As I was struggling with this dilemma, I heard a soft creak. Jack gently pushed open the door and walked into the small courtyard. The faint moonlight fell on the ground. Using this dim light, he searched for something. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. He crouched down and carefully picked up the rag doll, gently brushing off the dirt. So, he came to find Bebe? Bebe was my rag doll. I took it everywhere with me; I couldn’t sleep without it. Jack stared blankly at the doll, his expression somewhat dazed. He murmured softly to himself, “Did she not want you either?” My heart ached. This doll was my most important companion, and he always knew what it meant to me. Seeing him now, holding Bebe so preciously, tears welled up in my eyes. I knew him too well. He must have started to suspect something. His intuition had always been sharp, especially after he became a police officer. His keen observation and judgment made it even harder to deceive him. I consoled myself that as long as nothing unexpected happened, he would leave tomorrow. Then everything would return to normal, and my secret would remain undiscovered. Early the next morning, just as dawn was breaking, someone knocked on our door. The knocking sound seemed particularly jarring in the quiet morning. My heart suddenly leaped; for some reason, I had an ominous feeling. “Jack, are you there?” Mrs. Thompson from next door stood at the small courtyard gate, knocking and calling out. Jack went over and learned that last night, someone had taken advantage of the darkness to rob the graves around the village. Mrs. Thompson was asking him, as a police officer, to help investigate. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Thompson. I’ll handle it as soon as possible,” Jack reassured her while quickly changing his shoes to go out and taking out his phone to cancel his train ticket. Watching this scene, Alex couldn’t help but try to dissuade him: “Jack, do you really have to go?” Jack coldly retorted: “Can you mimic catching thieves too?” After saying this, he thought for a moment, then turned back to grab the exhumation tools, clearly planning to handle both matters. Alex and Emily volunteered to help, and even Grandpa, who wasn’t fully lucid, insisted on going along. So, a large group of people set off towards my grave. I stood behind them, feeling a bit lost, wondering how things had suddenly developed to this point. When we arrived at the gravesite, we found that my coffin had already been pried open. I shouted internally: “Damn it, who would steal from my grave!” Alex’s reaction was even stronger than mine. His face instantly turned ashen, “Who’s so heartless to steal from the dead!” Jack didn’t say anything. He just glanced at the pried-open coffin, thought for a moment, then silently took out his tools, preparing to start the exhumation. Seeing Jack’s attitude, Alex became somewhat irritated and angrily said, “Jack, what do you call this? They didn’t even spare the dead, it’s completely inhumane!” Jack remained silent, continuing his work, and said calmly, “Why are you so angry? You don’t know the deceased. Or do you?” Alex was suddenly at a loss for words, the anger in his heart seemed to be blocked. Jack continued, “This timing is perfect. Let Grandpa watch us finish so he can be at ease, and then I can go catch the thieves.” Alex didn’t say anything more. At the auspicious hour, the exhumation ritual finally began. Jack first lit three incense sticks for the deceased at the grave, then tapped the wall around the tombstone with a large hammer, signaling to the departed about the upcoming actions. Following tradition, he first grasped the hand of the deceased, indicating “we’re going to get up now.” Jack’s expression froze the moment he saw my hand bones. He kept leaning closer, trying hard to discern something, even holding his breath. Slowly, he rubbed the broken joint with his fingertip. I felt a bit scared. He might recognize me. This hand was missing a joint because of saving Jack.

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To run off into the sunset with his secretary, my husband teamed up with his subordinates to frame me for leaking corporate secrets. “I’m a businessman,” he said, his voice dripping with condescension. “I don’t need a workaholic who only knows how to bury herself in research. What I need is a woman who can navigate social circles with grace and support me like a real partner.” “Mom,” my son chimed in, his tone sharp and dismissive, “you’re always so busy with work. Miss Lee understands Dad’s needs so much better than you do.” After being blacklisted in the industry, I didn’t collapse under the weight of their betrayal. Instead, I joined a mysterious family as a mentor and, without intending to, became the guiding light for three lost children. I pulled them out of the darkness of self-doubt and watched them shine—one in business, one in art, and one in academia. Seeing them succeed filled my heart with pride. But just as I thought I’d left my old life behind, my son came knocking on my door. “Mom,” he began arrogantly, “with Miss Lee’s help, Dad has expanded into the international market. He’s even working with families as powerful as the Rothschilds.” “They’ve groomed me as the heir to the family business, and now I’m a rising star in the corporate world.” “And Miss Lee? She’s become a top-tier management consultant. Companies are lining up for her advice… But you, you’re still stuck in the past, doing nothing with your life.”

“Still,” he added with a smug smile, “you are my mom. Stick with me, and I’ll make sure you live comfortably.” Ethan—my son—looked me up and down, his gaze cold and appraising, as if I were some outdated piece of furniture instead of his mother. It was the same look he’d always given me. “I remember you used to have a few loyal admirers. They’re big shots now, aren’t they?” “Let’s toss out those old clothes of yours and get you dressed up properly. I’ll make sure you live the good life.” He kept talking, weaving a fantasy of wealth and status, but anyone with half a brain could see through his intentions. He wanted to use his own mother as bait—a trophy mistress to charm the powerful men he needed to further his ambitions. I stared at Ethan coldly, the last shred of maternal warmth I had for him dissolving completely. Back then, it was the same story. I had just developed a breakthrough in renewable energy technology—a key innovation that had the potential to change the industry. The announcement had garnered widespread attention, and I was on the verge of securing massive investments to begin production. But Ethan stepped forward and destroyed everything. “Mom said it’s easy to steal a flawed technology and con a bunch of idiots into investing,” he told everyone with feigned innocence. “Then she can just claim the technology has issues later and keep all the money for herself.” “I can’t let my mom keep doing bad things!” With just a few words, he ruined me. No one bothered to verify the truth of his claims. They ran with the story, praising Ethan for his “childlike honesty” while condemning me as a fraud. The internet exploded with outrage: “How greedy can someone be? Even her own kid couldn’t stand it!” “What a scammer. Why doesn’t she just die? I really thought we’d finally solved the renewable energy crisis!” “When will the government crack down on these con artists? Ordinary people like us can’t keep getting cheated like this!” I confronted Ethan, begging him to tell the truth. “The technology wasn’t stolen! You don’t understand—you’re jeopardizing my research! You’ll ruin opportunities for countless companies to grow and innovate!” But his father, Henry, stepped in, blocking my path. “This is exactly what I hate about you. You prioritize work over everything else. Can’t you be more like Miss Lee? Gentle, graceful, and supportive?” Ethan chimed in, his voice full of disdain. “Other people’s moms are elegant and charming—like goddesses. If you can’t be that for me, I’ll find someone who can.” “I think Miss Lee would make a great mom.” I never could have imagined that the two people I loved most would stab me in the back like this. One wanted a new wife. The other wanted a new mom. And to get what they wanted, they didn’t hesitate to drag me into the depths of ruin. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath to steady myself. “Let’s divorce,” I said finally, my voice calm but resolute. “I don’t want anything from you.”

As I got into Ethan’s car, my phone started buzzing nonstop. The three kids I’d mentored called me one after another, asking where I was, if I needed backup, or if I needed someone to “teach a lesson.” Their fierce protectiveness was almost endearing, but I stopped them immediately. I chuckled bitterly and said, “I’m just going to see what kind of ‘good life’ my own son has planned for me. What’s wrong with taking a day off for that?” Ethan glanced at me through the rearview mirror, his expression filled with disdain. To him, I was nothing more than a greedy, washed-up woman who was well past her prime. When we arrived at the Brown family’s estate, the driveway was packed with luxury cars. Ethan led me straight into the grand banquet hall. He pushed me toward a man and flashed an ingratiating smile. “Mr. Quinn, didn’t you mention you needed a date for tonight? What do you think of her?” “This deal is critical for us. You’re the key player here… Please, consider it.” The man was someone I knew—a former college classmate. He’d pursued me relentlessly for four years, only for me to reject him. I’d told him to focus on his studies and build a future for himself, but he’d taken it badly. “You’re just a shallow gold digger,” he’d spat at me back then. “You think I’m not good enough for you? Fine! Just wait—I’ll make sure you can’t even dream of being in my league.” And, well, he’d done it. He’d built an empire in finance and investments. “Brown’s choice of a date suits me perfectly,” he said with a smirk. “I’ll give the investment some serious thought.” I tried to pull away, but Mr. Quinn grabbed my hand and held on tightly. At the party, Henry—my ex-husband—and Miss Lee, his secretary-turned-new-wife, were glued to each other, acting like the perfect power couple. Miss Lee took center stage, presenting her latest corporate management proposal. It included a new incentive mechanism that she claimed would revolutionize efficiency. To impress the crowd, she even arranged a live demonstration, which left many of the attending businesspeople intrigued. But I saw through it immediately. That mechanism had a glaring flaw—it was overly aggressive, disrupting the balance of the workplace. It created exclusivity, sidelining regular employees and sowing chaos within organizations. The next part of the evening was the investment round. Interested investors would have their assistants coordinate and record offers for further negotiation. But the room was silent. No one wanted to take the first risk. Ethan was visibly anxious, glancing repeatedly at Mr. Quinn for a response. Just as Mr. Quinn was about to step forward, I yanked his hand back. I leaned in and whispered, “This project is a disaster waiting to happen. You’ll lose everything, and it’ll put the companies involved at risk of collapse.” I’d kept my voice low, but someone overheard me—a young man I’d once helped fund through school. “She’s just jealous,” he announced loudly, drawing everyone’s attention. “What gives you the right to criticize Miss Lee’s work? You’re just bitter because she’s more successful than you.” “And you’re a known fraud, aren’t you? Someone who steals other people’s work has no business judging anyone else.” All eyes turned to me, sharp and cutting. If looks could kill, I’d have been dead a thousand times over. Miss Lee noticed me too. Her smug expression quickly shifted to one of feigned vulnerability, her voice trembling as she said, “I only asked Ethan to bring you here out of kindness, and this is how you treat me?” “You can’t assume everyone is a liar just because you were accused of stealing in the past. Not everyone is like you…” Henry pulled her into his arms, his expression full of reproach as he looked at me. After all these years, his unwavering support for Miss Lee hadn’t changed. Ethan, of course, was on her side as well. “If you keep insulting my mom, then you need to leave.” The three of them stood united, painting me as the villain in their perfect little family. “Miss Lee’s proposals are always brilliant,” someone sneered. “This project has great potential. I’m ready to invest!” The voice belonged to Sarah Yates, a woman who looked at me like I was dirt under her shoe. Her words were laced with venom. “You really think you’re still the old Danielle Hayes? You’re nothing but a fallen phoenix, trampled by everyone. And now you think you can ruin Miss Lee’s event? Pathetic.” “You’re a disgrace. You should just stay in the dirt where you belong, like the insignificant bug you are.” I didn’t understand why Sarah hated me so much. Years ago, I’d met her in a poverty-stricken town while researching a charity project. She’d been cornered by a local thug, begging for help. I’d stepped in, paid off the thug, and taken her with me. I’d even found her a job, helping her get on her own two feet. But when I was falsely accused of stealing, Sarah had stood by and watched. Worse, she’d actively helped Miss Lee fan the flames, leaking my personal information to the public and fueling the online harassment that nearly destroyed me. Sarah’s voice dripped with contempt as she continued, “Just because you helped me once doesn’t make you my savior. If you’d treated me half as well as Miss Lee has, maybe I wouldn’t hate you so much.” “You think giving me a thousand dollars a month was enough? That doesn’t buy designer clothes, doesn’t get me a good apartment. It barely covers a few meals out.” She’d asked me to sign over my house to her, and when I refused, her resentment only grew. Miss Lee had taken full advantage of that, gifting her a few designer outfits and completely winning her over. To prove her loyalty, Sarah had even destroyed key documents I’d needed to clear my name. When I confronted her about it, she’d shrugged, utterly indifferent. “The unloved one is always the third wheel,” she said with a smirk. “Your husband and son don’t love you. Why won’t you just let go of your place? Have some dignity, for once in your life.” I’d seen enough. In the end, everything in this world revolved around self-interest.

With my reputation ruined, no company dared to hire me. My assets were frozen, and I had nowhere to turn. Just as I hit rock bottom, a butler approached me with an offer: they wanted me to become a live-in tutor for the infamous Morgan family. The Morgans were surrounded by sinister rumors—three sons, two dead, and one missing. The two remaining sons had left behind three children. But since no one was willing to take responsibility for them, the kids had grown into wild, uncontrollable troublemakers. No school would accept them. The butler had hired several tutors, but all of them had been scared off by the children’s antics. Their infamy had spread far and wide. The eldest, Mason Morgan, had nearly beaten someone to death in a fight. The second, Miles Morgan, was physically frail but strikingly handsome. He’d been bullied so badly that he almost lost his eyesight. The youngest, Maddie Morgan, was a quiet little girl who had trained in martial arts. She feared no one and could take down anyone who crossed her. On my first day, I wasn’t prepared for what awaited me. The three kids locked me in a dark storage room. But I wasn’t about to let them win. I smashed my way out, dragged each of them one by one, tied them up, and threw them into the same storage room. I left them there for three days without food. When I finally let them out, they were pale and subdued. I looked at their defeated faces and said calmly, “Today’s lesson is simple: respect others, and you respect yourself.” As time passed, I slowly pulled them back from the edge of destruction. Day by day, I began to uncover the truth behind their behavior. Mason had nearly beaten someone to death because that person had mocked the Morgans, saying their family was cursed. He’d laughed that Mason would die soon too, and once the Morgans were gone, their rivals would swallow up their legacy. He’d even joked that Mason’s siblings were so attractive they could be sold for a good price. Miles had almost lost his eyesight because someone told him to get rid of his younger sister—claiming it’d be better for the family fortune if there was one less heir to split the inheritance. Maddie had gone on a rampage because she overheard people plotting to harm her two brothers. They even talked about blinding them. Maddie had snapped and beaten those people so badly they couldn’t walk for weeks. The more time I spent with them, the more I grew to love these kids. Mason had a passion for business, so I taught him the strategies and skills he’d need to succeed. Miles adored art, so I opened his eyes to the beauty and power of creativity. Maddie loved to learn, so I encouraged her curiosity and guided her through every subject she wanted to explore. Our bond grew stronger with each passing day. Eventually, they stopped calling me “teacher” and started calling me “Mom.” A sudden vibration from my phone pulled me out of my thoughts. It was a message from Ethan. “Don’t mess with my mom’s plans. If you ruin things for her, your good days will be over.” “You’re not the Danielle Hayes you used to be. Stay in your lane.” How ironic. He didn’t even bother to call me “Mom” anymore. I stared at the message and let out a cold laugh. What a perfect son I’d raised. When Ethan was little, he’d suffered from a rare blood disorder that left him weak and on the brink of death. For three years, I dedicated myself to researching a cure, pouring everything I had into saving him. Once I’d found a way to treat him, I spent every waking moment nursing him back to health. His survival was my greatest achievement. I could still remember how he used to throw his little arms around me, tears streaming down his face. “Thank you, Mom. Thank you so much.” “Will I ever get strong enough so you don’t have to work so hard anymore?” But those days were long gone. Now, those memories were nothing but smoke, drifting away into the distance, leaving only cold indifference behind.

With Sarah Yates leading the charge to invest, others began to follow suit, one after another. Miss Lee’s assistant was running around frantically, grinning from ear to ear as she juggled all the offers. Henry stepped down from the side stage and walked over to me. His expression was complicated, something between guilt and hesitation. “Why don’t you stay this time?” he said. “You haven’t seen Ethan in years, have you? Maybe this is a chance to reconnect.” Before I could respond, Quinn stepped in front of me, his face darkening with irritation. “What’s this, Henry? Feeling nostalgic? Trying to have it both ways now?” Quinn sneered. “Too bad you’re late. Your son already handed his dear mother over to me.” Henry’s face turned black as thunder. He looked at me with a mix of disbelief and outrage. “I can’t believe you’ve fallen this low,” he spat. “Do you think you’re still some young girl? Selling yourself like this? At your age?” He didn’t bother to lower his voice. Everyone in the room heard him. Miss Lee gasped dramatically, covering her mouth in mock horror. “Danielle, how… how could you degrade yourself like this?” “You went to school for so many years, and this is what you’ve chosen to do? Be someone’s mistress? How could you face your parents?” My parents had been well-known entrepreneurs in the industry, respected for their work even during their years at multinational corporations. Now, the cameras meant for recording the investment pitches turned toward me. Some bold reporters pushed through the crowd, microphones in hand. “Are you Danielle Hayes, the disgraced entrepreneur who disappeared five years ago?” “What gives you the audacity to show your face here again?” “Do you have any conscience? If your project had gone through and you’d successfully scammed investors, do you know how many businesses would have gone under?” “Are you not afraid of karma coming for you?” I smiled and said simply, “No, I’m not.” To them, my calm demeanor was just proof that I was shameless, someone who’d given up all pretense of dignity. A few onlookers had already started live-streaming the scene with their phones. The comment sections were flooded with insults. Most people didn’t even know the full story from five years ago, but as soon as someone explained it, they joined in on the mob. [Livestream Comments:] “This is the most shameless person I’ve ever seen.” “How does she even dare say she’s not afraid of karma? Some people are truly invincible when it comes to being shameless.” “I’m so mad. My brother believed in her project back then. He was hoping it would succeed so he could transition his company… but then it was exposed as plagiarism. He was devastated, and when his company went bankrupt, he still regretted it wasn’t real.” The crowd was growing more agitated, their anger boiling over. Quinn gave my arm a gentle tug, his expression flickering with concern. “Maybe you should leave,” he murmured. “Just give me your contact info, and we can figure out the rest later.” I was surprised by his reaction. I’d expected him to humiliate me, to take advantage of the situation like everyone else. Instead, his face flushed red under my gaze, and he avoided looking directly at me. “I’m just worried some of these people might take things too far. As long as I can find you later, we’ll deal with the rest then…” Before he could finish, the sound of heavy, synchronized footsteps echoed from the entrance. A group of people in official-looking uniforms marched in, their presence commanding immediate attention. Someone in the crowd whispered nervously, “Wait a second, isn’t that the uniform for the financial crime investigation unit? Why are there so many of them here?” The sharpest minds in the room immediately ruled me out as the target of the officials’ visit. Instead, they turned their attention to the star of the evening, Miss Lee. After all, if the officials were here, it had to mean there was something significant enough to catch their attention. Some people even started congratulating her: “Mrs. Brown, your management proposal must have caught the eye of the authorities. This could be your big break!” But in the back of everyone’s mind, one phrase loomed large: corporate audit. People began to sweat, wondering if this would include investigations into previously overlooked violations—illegal loans, financial fraud, who knew what else? Miss Lee, clearly flattered by the attention, couldn’t stop herself from smiling. The idea of working hand-in-hand with the authorities made her momentarily forget her petty schemes against me. She hurried to greet the officials. “Hello, may I ask—” But the man leading the group cut her off.

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On my birthday, my boyfriend insisted I join him and his god-sister on a Ferris wheel ride, despite my fear of heights, to make her happy. “Nora, it’s just a Ferris wheel. You won’t die. I brought you because you take the best photos.” Even though I was terrified, I took photos for them, but his god-sister kept criticizing my shots. Unexpectedly, when the Ferris wheel reached its peak, it suddenly broke down. Ignoring my pleas, my boyfriend pushed me out. “We’re too heavy with three people, Nora. Hang in there, I’ll call for help.” “I have to protect Adeline, she’s my mom’s goddaughter.” Somehow, I survived with broken bones, called off our engagement, and burned all our photos together. But later, when he saw my Instagram post announcing my marriage, he lost it completely. Inside the stuck Ferris wheel car, my boyfriend Asher looked at me with a harsh expression. “We’re overweight. If you don’t jump, we’ll all die. Just do it.” “It’s not that high. If you jump, you might just break a leg. Trust me, Nora. I’ll call an ambulance for you right after.” I was stunned, gripping the doorframe so tightly my hands bled. Who could have guessed that on my birthday, Asher would trick me into coming here to take photos for him and his first love, Adeline? “Asher, do you realize I could die if I jump from here? How could you do this to me…” My voice shook as I spoke. Asher’s face turned cold, and he shouted at me. “What do you want then?! If you don’t jump to lighten the load, we’ll all die together! Nora, how can you be so selfish?!” Selfish? I never thought I’d hear him call me that. Today, when Asher mysteriously promised a surprise, I was excited. I took the day off, expecting something special for my birthday. In the five years we’ve been together, he either forgot my birthday or brushed it off without a gift. Whenever I showed my disappointment, he didn’t seem to care. “It’s just a birthday. Do you think you’re some great person who deserves something extravagant? Aren’t lipstick and skincare products enough?” But the lipstick was used, and the skincare products were just samples. Back then, I thought he was just being thrifty. Now, I see it was because he didn’t love me enough. Seeing my silence, Asher grew impatient. “Are you jumping or not? Do I have to push you? Why are you making such a fuss over something so simple?” He stepped closer, almost ready to push me himself. At that moment, my heart ached unbearably, forcing me to bow my head, tears falling to the ground. How foolish I was to believe his words. All his promises meant nothing compared to the woman, Adeline, now cowering in his arms. For Adeline, he didn’t care about my existence at all. The ground was several meters below. Just looking made me dizzy. At noon, when Asher sent me a location to meet him, I didn’t expect Adeline to be there too. She let him pamper her, softly asking if I could take some photos of her on the Ferris wheel. I was about to tell her about my fear of heights and refuse when Asher dragged me into the Ferris wheel car. The overwhelming fear mixed with my current grievance and anger made me shout at the top of my lungs. “Asher, do you remember I’m your girlfriend? Do you know we’re about to get engaged?!” “You already know I’m afraid of heights and now you don’t even care about my life. Was your love for me a lie?!” Choking with emotion, I collapsed on the floor. Seeing me shaking and crying, Asher looked slightly pained and reached out to help me up. Just then, the Ferris wheel hanging mid-air made a dull noise, scaring Adeline into his arms. “Asher, I’m so scared. Are we going to die here? I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked you and Nora to come. It’s all my fault.” Her eyes were red as she walked to the door. “If it’s like this, then I’ll jump to make amends.” In an instant, Asher rushed to pull her back, his eyes wet with anxiety. “No, Adeline, it’s not your fault! You can’t jump, you’ll get hurt!” He held her tightly, comforting her softly. A few minutes later, he turned to me with determination on his face. “Don’t worry, Nora. Even if something happens to you, I’ll take good care of you. I’ll always be there for you.” “But Adeline can’t. She’s too delicate to endure hardships.” With that, ignoring my pleas, he opened the door and pushed me out.

As I fell, I landed in a tree by the roadside, followed by excruciating pain. Lying on the ground, I felt the searing pain in my left leg, curling up and groaning nonstop. “It hurts, it hurts so much!” Soon, the rescue team called by the staff arrived to help the Ferris wheel passengers. Asher, who was helped down, quickly ran to my side, checking my injuries. “Are you okay, Nora? The rescue team is here, they’ll take you to the hospital.” “Adeline was frightened this time. I really couldn’t leave her. Don’t worry, no matter what, I’ll take good care of you.” “When you recover, we’ll get engaged, alright?” Looking at his all-too-familiar face, I pushed him away with all my strength despite the pain. “Get out!” After five years, what am I to Asher? Five years ago, he confessed to me, promising to cherish me forever. Back then, I had just graduated, uncertain about my future. As a senior, he noticed my worries, tirelessly comforting me and helping me find a path. I knew he had feelings for me, but I was insecure because I came from the countryside. I feared our different backgrounds, feared I wasn’t good enough, and feared the pain of losing after gaining. That New Year’s Eve, Asher took me to watch fireworks. He shielded me from the wind, giving me my favorite pink roses. “Nora, I love you. Can you give me a chance?” His sincere gaze made my heart race. At first, we were like any other loving couple, going on dates and trips, sharing everything. But since Adeline said she was returning home, he changed. He became indifferent, uncaring. Or rather, he stopped pretending to love me. Pushed away, Asher looked hurt, trying to support me again. “What did Adeline do wrong? Don’t worry, Nora, I’ll make sure the hospital takes good care of you. This isn’t serious.” Yes, Adeline has always been the irreplaceable presence in his heart. How could she be wrong? She was a girl his mom saved during a trip, raised in their family, and later became a goddaughter. The family pampered her, giving her the best, even sending her abroad to study. When Asher brought her along on a few dates, I was puzzled, but he denied any feelings. “Adeline is just my little sister. I brought her because she was bored at home. If you don’t like it, I can ask her to leave.” But now, he would push me off the Ferris wheel for his “little sister” Adeline. I was too weak from blood loss to speak, letting Asher hold my hand. “Just lie still, Nora. The rescue team will take you to the hospital soon. You see, Adeline and I were rescued too, isn’t that perfect?” Angered by his words, a metallic taste rose in my throat, my nose stinging with frustration. A week ago, we were discussing our engagement. I felt I was a step away from happiness. Little did I know, I was stepping into an abyss. Lying helplessly against him, I forced a bitter smile. “Forget it, Asher. Let’s end this.”

He froze, his body tense, sensing my resolve. “Why? Nora, why? You’re not seriously hurt, and I survived too.” He looked incredulous, as if my words were outrageous. “Is it because I didn’t call an ambulance in time? But the rescue team is here, Nora. Don’t be so stubborn, okay?” Stubborn?! I couldn’t help but laugh, but the sharp pain in my chest quickly silenced me. He tricked me onto the Ferris wheel and pushed me off. Yet all his schemes turned out to be my stubbornness. For the first time, I felt a chill beyond compare, regretting ever choosing him. Sensing my emotions, Asher sighed deeply. “Don’t be like this, Nora. We’ve already told our friends and family about the engagement. You’re putting me in a difficult position.” “Besides, you know I love you and can’t live without you.” “To make it up to you, once you recover, I’ll take you to the Maldives like you always wanted.” I was coaxed into riding the Ferris wheel with him, only to be pushed off. In the end, all his scheming turned my choices into my foolishness. For the first time, my heart felt a chill beyond measure, and I regretted my decision from the very beginning. Perhaps sensing my emotions, Asher sighed deeply. “Come on, Nora, don’t make a fuss. We’ve already announced our engagement to our friends and family. Saying this now is putting me in a tough spot, don’t you think?” “Besides, you know I love you and can’t live without you.” “To make it up to you, once you’re feeling better, I’ll take you to the Maldives like you’ve always wanted.” Suddenly, the rescue team called out from a distance. “Are there any more injured? The vehicle is full. If not, we’re heading out.” Asher was about to respond when Adeline suddenly clutched her arm, crying. “Asher, my arm hurts so much. I think I scraped it just now. What if I can’t play the piano anymore? I’m so scared…” Upon hearing this, Asher released my hand and rushed to her side. “What happened? You seemed fine a moment ago. We’ll go to the hospital with the rescue team right away. You’ll be okay!” Adeline glanced at me with teary eyes, feigning hesitation. “But what about Cora? She seems more seriously injured than I am. The staff said the vehicle is full. I’m worried…” Asher’s eyes turned dark, and when he looked back at me, his expression changed. “Nora, you see Adeline’s hand is injured. If she doesn’t get treated in time, she might never be able to play the piano again. That would be devastating for her.” “So, since you can still talk, just wait here for a bit. I’ll call an ambulance for you, okay?” Even though I had anticipated this, hearing it felt like a knife twisting in my heart, leaving it numb with pain. “What if I say no?” Asher’s face immediately darkened, and he yelled at me angrily. “Why can’t you be more understanding, Cora? Are you trying to crush Adeline’s dreams?!” “It’s not like we’re leaving you here. Waiting a bit won’t kill you. Why are you acting like this? Or are you just targeting her intentionally?” “Cora, what’s happened to you?” Swallowing the taste of blood in my mouth, I let myself collapse to the ground, feeling my body grow cold. Why, why does he always abandon me when I need him the most? Just like how he forgot that today is my birthday and that I’m afraid of heights. The rescue team was calling from afar, and Asher carefully helped Adeline to leave. My left leg was likely broken; the numbness from the pain left me unable to move at all. “Asher, Asher!” Hearing my call, he turned back and instructed me. “Just wait here. Once Adeline’s wound is treated, I’ll call an ambulance for you.” But it would be too late; I wouldn’t last that long. “No, Asher, tell the rescue team there’s still someone here!” But Asher never looked back, helping Adeline onto the rescue team’s vehicle. Then came the sound of the engine, and I watched the hope of rescue fade away before my eyes. Suddenly, I recalled Asher’s whisper in my ear this morning. “Wake up, Nora, I’ll give you a surprise today.” Back then, I was so full of joy, never imagining I’d end up like this. It’s all too late now. Slowly, I closed my eyes in despair.

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When I saw Asher again, he had transformed from an obscure actor into a powerful business magnate. Six years ago, I left the country when he needed me the most. Now, as we meet again, I’m on the verge of losing my eyesight, and his partner is a newly crowned Oscar-winning actress. Everyone envies them for being the perfect couple, yet my unexpected presence at the press conference made Asher lose his composure. “You’ve finally returned. At this press conference, I’ll introduce you to some directors. Maybe they have roles for you,” my old friend Phoebe said, linking her arm with mine. “I’m up for anything if they pay.” “Even the really intense roles?” “If the pay is good,” I hesitated before replying. “Didn’t you once sacrifice yourself for Asher’s future by accepting five million dollars from Mr. Felix? And now it’s all gone?” Phoebe was still upset with the decision I made back then. Six years ago, Asher and I were minor celebrities. Felix threatened me by leveraging Asher’s career to get what he wanted. At that time, Asher’s career was on the rise, and I couldn’t let him be destroyed because of me. I gripped Phoebe’s wrist tightly, my eyes red. “Phoebe, I’m sick.” Phoebe’s face turned pale. “What’s wrong? I thought you were living it up abroad. How did you get sick so soon after coming back?” Phoebe softened, her voice becoming gentle. “Retinitis pigmentosa. I just want to earn as much as I can while I still have my sight, to support myself in the future.” I said calmly, but it made Phoebe’s eyes well up with tears. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? Does Asher know?” I hurriedly took her hand. “Please don’t tell him. He’s happy now.” “Esme! Why are you still as spineless as you were six years ago?!” “I just don’t want to be involved with him anymore.”

But I didn’t expect to run into Asher at the press conference Phoebe brought me to. When I first saw him, my instinct was to run away. Not knowing my way around, I accidentally hid in a VIP lounge. The sound of leather shoes approached. I hid behind the sofa, too nervous to breathe. The door clicked open, and someone sat on the sofa. “Harper, I think you’d look beautiful in that strapless wedding dress. Let’s have the wedding in New Zealand if you like.” That voice! It was Asher. His tone was gentle and indulgent, yet it felt like knives piercing my heart. Harper, the current top actress. I had seen entertainment news about them being together even before returning to the country. It seems they’re already talking about marriage. Six years have passed. No matter how deep the love, it should have faded. Especially since I was the one who chose to let go first, what am I still holding onto? Suddenly, my phone rang, dragging me back from my thoughts. I quickly covered the phone and rushed out the door. Wearing a V-neck long dress and heels, I found it hard to escape quickly. Asher’s footsteps closed in on me. A door appeared on my right. I hesitantly opened it and rushed through. But to my surprise, it led to the press conference hall. Instantly, all the reporters turned their cameras on me. I raised my hand to cover my face, bending down and jogging down the steps. “Stop her!” Asher’s voice came from behind me. I turned and saw him staring intently at me. Several bodyguards in black surrounded me. “Anyone who leaks a single photo from today will face consequences,” Phoebe jumped in front of me, shouting at Asher, “What do you want?! We live in a society governed by law!” Asher calmly walked up to her, “I don’t want anything. I just want to invite Miss Esme for a cup of tea.”

Then Phoebe was taken to that VIP room by Asher’s men, while he dragged me deeper into the corridor. “Asher, be gentle!” He was expressionless, ignoring my words. I didn’t know what he wanted. My heart was pounding. Once inside, he tossed me onto the sofa. His two attendants closed the door and approached me. “You two, go!” Asher gestured to his attendants, then took out his phone, pointing it at me. The attendants, as if receiving instructions, smiled wickedly and approached me. At that moment, I was scared, my voice trembling, almost crying. “Asher! Don’t do this!” I shrank back in fear. “Don’t you love getting into men’s beds? I got two strong bodyguards for you. Isn’t that great?” The men started tearing at my dress, breaking the straps. “Asher! I’m begging you! Please, don’t!” I trembled all over, loudly calling his name. His knuckles holding the phone turned white. After a pause, he put the phone away. My dress was torn. No matter how hard I struggled, the men’s disgusting lips still touched my neck and chest. Asher’s expression changed. He grabbed the men’s hair and threw them back. “Get out! Get out of here!” Asher’s sudden rage scared the attendants out of the room. I quickly gathered my clothes, shivering, covering myself tightly. Asher’s eyes were red, like a beast losing its mind. He gripped my arms tightly, “Isn’t this what you like? Isn’t this what you did to get into Felix’s bed?” “I… I didn’t, I… didn’t…” I buried my head in my arms, trembling uncontrollably, too weak to explain. Just then, Phoebe kicked the door open, pointed her phone at Asher, and pulled him away, slapping him hard. “Asher! You beast! If you don’t let us go today, I’ll ruin my career to send you to jail!” Asher glared at Phoebe, “You think you can stop me?” I tugged at Phoebe’s sleeve, “Take me away.” Phoebe hurriedly draped her coat over me, gently helping me up, her voice choked, “Let’s go.” As she supported me to the door, she stopped. “Asher, if you don’t want to regret it, don’t harm Esme again. Otherwise, I’ll make you wish you were dead.” We didn’t turn back and couldn’t see Asher’s expression, but it couldn’t have been good.

Phoebe took me back to her place. When I calmed down, she couldn’t help but ask me. “Do you regret sacrificing your innocence for such a scumbag?” “Actually, I don’t.” Phoebe looked surprised, “But the news Felix released…” “That was fake,” I calmly stared at the ceiling, speaking steadily. Six years ago, Felix of Starlight Entertainment set Asher up to get me. He planned to sabotage Asher’s career. That same night, if I didn’t go to his bed, a video of drugged, unconscious Asher sharing a bed with another female star would be released online. In the end, I knocked on Felix’s door. But when he lowered his guard, I used a hidden dagger in my high boots to wound him. He saw my determination not to comply and demanded I never return to the country. Otherwise, not only I but Asher would suffer too. But Asher’s grandmother was seriously ill and urgently needed surgery money. He couldn’t lose his job, especially with his career booming, securing numerous big endorsements. He couldn’t afford the huge breach penalty. So, in that situation, I had to leave. I didn’t take the five million. Life abroad wasn’t easy. I worked as a dishwasher, waitress, and cashier. Until recently, I saw a legal report from home, learning Felix had been executed. Only then did I dare return. Phoebe, knowing the whole story, hugged me tightly, sobbing, “Esme, you’ve suffered. Why not stop working? Even if you go blind, I can take care of you.” “You know my nature. I don’t want to be a useless person who only relies on others.” Given the circumstances, I had no other option but to leave, and I chose not to take the five million dollars. Living abroad wasn’t easy either. I worked various jobs, from washing dishes to being a waitress and cashier. It wasn’t until recently, when I read a legal news report from home about his execution, that I dared to return. Phoebe, who knew the whole story, hugged me tightly, her voice trembling with tears, “Esme, you’ve been through so much. Why don’t you stop working? Even if you go blind, I’ll take care of you.” “You know me. I can’t just sit around and do nothing.” “But if you join the entertainment industry, you can’t avoid Asher. He went crazy looking for you back then, especially after learning you were with Felix. We all thought Felix had sent you abroad for a better life. Later, some unscrupulous media even published photos suggesting you were pregnant abroad. Asher was devastated, and when he finally appeared in public again, he was a mere shadow of himself. His grandmother passed away during that time too.” Tears streamed down my face, soaking my clothes. “I suffered from severe depression abroad, which affected me physically. Now, I’m at a loss. There’s no other industry that pays as quickly as this one. My eyesight is deteriorating, and I don’t have much time left.” Half a month later, thanks to Phoebe’s connections, I landed a supporting role as the third female lead. A few days into filming, the lead actress was replaced by Harper, due to the influence of the financiers. I suspected Asher was involved, but I couldn’t understand his motives. Was it just to make my life difficult? That evening, Asher’s Maybach was already waiting by the set for Harper to finish work. The shoot was supposed to wrap up by noon, and I had dinner plans with Phoebe, but it dragged on until midnight. At night, my vision worsens significantly, and I can only make out vague shapes. I stumbled many times on set. This time, it was Harper’s foot that tripped me. I painfully got up from the ground. “Can’t you see? Walking past without even a greeting is one thing, but stepping on my foot?” I quickly stepped back, “I’m sorry, I didn’t see.” “Are those eyes just for decoration?” Harper leaned in, pointing at my eyes. Before I could react, she yanked at the pearl necklace around my neck, scattering the pearls everywhere. “No, you can’t. It’s the only thing my mother left me…” I dropped to the floor, desperately trying to gather them. But I couldn’t see, I couldn’t see. Tears of frustration welled up. “What’s going on here?” Asher walked over. Hearing his voice, I froze in fear and instinctively backed away.

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I am the adopted daughter of the Brooks Family and the sister of Declan Brooks. He doted on me. Ever since my parents passed away in a car accident five years ago, he treated me as if I were the most cherished member of the family. However, after I confessed my feelings to him, he ignored me for three long years. On the day he went to propose to someone else, I accepted another man’s proposal. “I will marry.” When I agreed, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Grandma Brooks smiled warmly, “Good girl, just relax and get ready for the wedding this month.” She and the other relatives chatted happily about the upcoming marriage and left, their footsteps light with joy. I sat by the window, staring blankly at the scenery outside. Nora Brooks stood nearby, her eyes red, “I’ll try talking to big brother again. Maybe things can still change.” I looked at her tear-filled eyes and chuckled, “Isn’t getting married a happy occasion? Look at how joyful they all are.” The person most relieved by my decision to marry must be Declan Brooks. Poor Nora still didn’t understand. “But big brother used to care about you the most.” Her voice, tinged with tears, brought my thoughts back to a few years ago. That year, after my parents died in the car accident, my greedy relatives divided up my family’s assets, leaving my future uncertain. “This young girl, who wants her?” “My family can’t support her.” “Neither can mine.” They passed the responsibility around. I curled up in a corner, trembling. A tall young figure, like a savior, stood before me, “I will!” He took me home. From then on, I became the adopted daughter of the Brooks Family and Declan Brooks’ sister. He seemed distant but was sensitive enough to notice my fear of the dark and would tell me stories all night long. Even while working away from home, he would find interesting gifts for me. He took my childish words to heart. He said, “If Fiona doesn’t want to get married, the Brooks Family will always be your home. Brother will always protect you.” He spoiled me deeply, allowing me to grow up safely as the most cherished daughter in our circle. I took his promise seriously. Unnoticed, my feelings gradually grew. I naturally assumed Declan Brooks would be mine forever. So, that Valentine’s Day, when he handed a bouquet he won to another girl, I smashed it without hesitation and declared my affection in front of everyone. “Declan Brooks, I don’t just see you as a brother. I like you.” Being adopted by the Brooks Family and growing up with Declan Brooks as childhood friends seemed like a perfect match. But from that moment, Declan Brooks avoided me like the plague. I still refused to give up. I believed he loved me but wouldn’t admit it. If he didn’t love me, why did he care for me so attentively? If he didn’t love me, why would he get jealous when I was around other men? I even chased him to his company. But day by day, year by year. This infatuation finally became a joke. People no longer said, “This could be a perfect match.” Instead, they said, “That Brooks Family adoptee is shameless, always clinging to Mr. Brooks.” I waited and waited, but I never heard Declan Brooks say he liked me. Only when night fell, and I was alone, did I realize the truth. The gifts in the box gathered dust over time. The boy who once told me stories with earnest persistence grew into a cold, emotionless man. I stubbornly refused to marry, gradually missing the suitable age. Grandma Brooks finally revealed the truth, “Back then, he took his little sister out to play, and when she got lost, he blamed himself deeply.” “Later, he saved you and cared for you as his own sister.” “Declan only has sibling feelings for you. You’re getting older; you should wake up.” I finally understood. This affection was just borrowed from someone else. That day, Declan Brooks went to the Song Family. To discuss marriage with the girl whose bouquet I smashed, Lydia Johnson. That day, I accepted Grandma Brooks’ suggestion, “If someone is willing to marry me, I’ll agree.” 2 At dawn, I took some money and left. I had already arranged with a friend. His mother needed medical treatment, and his brother needed to attend school. As long as he agreed to a fake marriage, I’d split my money with him. I once thought of running away. But I quickly dismissed the idea. No matter what, the Brooks Family raised me with no wrong done to me. I confirmed the details with my friend, left the money, and departed. When I returned to the Brooks home, it was lively inside. It turned out Lydia Johnson was visiting. At the dining table, she sat between Declan Brooks and Grandma Brooks, chatting and laughing harmoniously. They looked like a family. I wanted to excuse myself, saying I’d already eaten out. But Declan Brooks’ voice left no room for refusal, “Sit down and eat.” I had no choice but to sit down, wisely choosing a seat farthest from him, next to Grandma Brooks. I remained silent, focused on eating. A chopstickful of food landed in my bowl. The gesture startled me. Declan Brooks quickly retracted his chopsticks as if hiding something, speaking sternly, “You haven’t attended any classes for this past half month.” Despite avoiding me for months, he still noticed. I murmured in acknowledgment. Since I decided to marry and leave, there was no need to attend anymore. The young man’s eyebrows raised slightly, his tone cold, “You should still go, learn more to understand things.” I hesitated. He used to smile and pat my head, saying. “Fiona is the most sensible.” Lydia Johnson teased, “If she doesn’t like studying, don’t force her.” She playfully tugged at Declan Brooks’ sleeve, “It’s Valentine’s Day today. Why not let your sister join us for a walk?” Declan Brooks’ eyebrows furrowed. Lydia Johnson graciously said, “At her age, she should enjoy these festivities.” She looked at me, “You’ll come, won’t you?” 3 This was a gesture of goodwill from my future sister-in-law, so I couldn’t refuse. I nodded. Throughout the meal, I listened to Lydia Johnson talk about where to go next. Declan Brooks occasionally chimed in, and the atmosphere was harmonious. The food tasted bland to me, but I forced it down, remaining outwardly calm. On Valentine’s Day, the city was lively. Stalls selling flowers were everywhere, and there were various events in the mall. Shouts, laughter, and conversations filled the air. I followed behind the two of them. Watching Declan Brooks buy her a necklace. Watching him participate in activities, winning a grand prize and handing it to Lydia Johnson, amid envious murmurs from those around. Lydia Johnson turned back, considerately saying, “Why not give this prize to your sister? I remember she loves this.” Her words reminded me of when I broke the bouquet in a fit of temper. Declan Brooks’ long, narrow eyes glanced at me, his expression indifferent, “This is for you.” Lydia Johnson glanced at me, her brows arched, “Your sister isn’t an outsider. As her sister-in-law, I should look after her.” She pressed the prize into my hand, her tone gentle, “Declan got me a custom diamond necklace, unbreakable. This ordinary prize can go to you.” She touched the exquisite necklace around her neck, then retreated a step, re-linking her arm with Declan Brooks’. I was left behind, swallowed by the crowd, stumbling as a motorcycle sped by, knocking me down, pain shooting through my leg. Amid gasps from the crowd, I distinctly heard Lydia Johnson’s clear voice from afar. “Didn’t you say you were taking me to a great place for a night view?” People surrounded me, but through the gaps, I met his starry eyes. He looked at me twice, then was pulled away by someone, breaking eye contact. I was still a bit disoriented. “Are you okay?” With help from kind onlookers, I stood up, limping. I thanked the helpful lady, “It’s okay.” But my mind wandered. That place, he told Lydia Johnson too? The first time I discovered the beautiful view at the mountaintop scenic spot, I hurriedly pulled Declan Brooks along. “This is my secret spot. Can’t tell anyone.” I placed a finger to my lips, playfully winking. His lips curled up, “Alright.” In the dark, his gaze burned warmly, like a flame. We watched the night view together, made sincere wishes, and watched the stars twinkle. Every year, my wish was to be with Declan Brooks. Turns out, making wishes doesn’t work at all. 4 I limped home with difficulty. Nora Brooks sympathetically applied medicine to my injury. The next day, Lydia Johnson heard I was hurt and came to visit. To avoid suspicion, Declan Brooks waited outside. I only saw half of his sharp profile, softened by the morning light. Lydia Johnson expressed her concern and sent over some items. I let Nora Brooks receive them, intending to come up with an excuse to send her off, but she suddenly sat down and talked about the view from last night’s mountaintop. She spoke of Declan Brooks’ gentleness and the beauty of the night view. “Really?” “That’s nice.” “Sounds great.” I kept a calm face, using these three phrases to respond. It was as if past rumors didn’t exist. I was just a sister sincerely wishing her brother well. Finally, she stood up, surveying my room. Her gaze lingered, “This room is nice.” It was spacious and decorated warmly. With little trinkets Declan Brooks collected over the years, it had a certain style. I thought, soon I would leave, and these things should be returned. She spoke of Declan Brooks’ gentle nature and the beauty of the night view. “Really?” “That’s nice.” “Pretty good.” I listened calmly, responding with phrases like these. It was as if the past rumors never existed. I was simply a sister genuinely wishing well for my brother. Eventually, she stood up and looked around my room with a wistful gaze, “This room is nice.” The room was spacious and warmly decorated, with a touch of style from the small trinkets Declan Brooks had collected over the years. I thought that soon I would leave, and these things should be returned. Nora Brooks helped me up and walked Lydia Johnson to the door. Standing next to him, she looked particularly petite. “Are your legs feeling better?” His eyes were cold. I nodded, noticing that the watch he used to wear—a birthday gift from me—was gone, replaced by a couple’s watch. Lydia Johnson wore the matching one. The old watch seemed too ordinary for him now. I wasn’t angry as I once might have been; instead, I asked plainly, “Is the wedding date set?” Declan Brooks paused before answering, “When I return in a month.” He was going on a business trip arranged by the company. “Congratulations.” A thousand words crossed my mind, but in the end, I remained silent. I simply offered my congratulations. His gaze, like a cold, starry night, lingered on me for a moment before he nodded. Finally, I watched them walk away together. They truly looked well-matched. 5 I was just letting go of a dream that was never mine. My friend came as promised, and although Grandma Brooks hesitated about this poor employee, she accepted it when she saw I had no objections. I had no other requests, just one: to be married before Declan Brooks returned. Grandma Brooks understood and kept things simple. But three days before the set wedding date, Declan Brooks came back early. Grandma Brooks was visibly flustered. I hadn’t expected it either. Upon returning, I found my room in disarray. Clothes were scattered, a bookshelf had collapsed, and a vase was broken. My clothes were thrown on the floor, covered in dust. It didn’t look like the room of a bride-to-be. Some servants were bossy, “Search carefully, it might be somewhere.” Nora Brooks was angry, “What are you doing?” The servants weren’t intimidated, “Miss Taylor’s necklace is missing. We were ordered by Mr. Brooks to search.” I frowned slightly, “I didn’t take any necklace.” The servant sneered, wanting to say something. Two figures entered through the courtyard gate. Lydia Johnson’s eyes were red, “Sister, if you like it, I’ll have another one made. That one was a token from Declan, I can’t give it to you.” Declan Brooks, wearing a suit, had a slight frown, “Phoebe, hand it over.” “I thought you had matured, but I didn’t expect you to bully Lydia once I left.” I took a deep breath, looking at his distrustful eyes, “I didn’t take any necklace.” “You said to let go, and I did.” “I haven’t interfered with your wedding.” “Why won’t you let me be at peace?” A servant suddenly laughed mockingly, “If you’ve really let go, why is there a wedding dress in your room!” A white wedding dress was pulled out and thrown in front of everyone. Whispers immediately erupted, “Shameless, still trying to take her place!” Declan Brooks’ expression remained indifferent, but I was familiar with the disappointment in his eyes. “Stubborn.” He turned his head, “I’ll have another necklace made for you.” Lydia Johnson’s eyes gleamed with joy, and she nodded. I suddenly felt a wave of weariness. He was smart and experienced; how could he not see through this clumsy trick? As they left, Lydia Johnson whispered in my ear, “You smashed a bouquet on me back then. Now, I’m just returning the favor.” A group left, leaving behind chaos. Nora Brooks, with tears in her eyes, began to tidy up the mess. I stepped over broken vase pieces and scattered books, picked up the wedding dress that everyone scorned, and dusted it off. Nora Brooks caught up, “This is…” The room was such a mess, it would take time to restore it. I lowered my gaze, “Tell Grandma I’ll leave from the hotel.”

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After getting pregnant, my husband became infatuated with the young nurse who saved his life. To help her gain experience, he secretly arranged for her to perform my C-section without my knowledge. Halfway through the surgery, the young nurse got scared and disappeared. I suffered severe blood loss and was barely saved from death’s door by the doctor. The young nurse then claimed I had lost control during the surgery, interfering with her medical procedure and even injuring her. To appease her, my husband canceled my private room and locked me in an abandoned warehouse to “reflect on my actions.” After three days of having the entire hospital staff examine the young nurse, he finally decided to give me a chance to apologize. But when he saw me lying there lifeless, he went insane. On Valentine’s Day, my due date, Jack Sullivan left me alone at home because I refused to let Emily Parker, the woman who saved his life, participate in my delivery. He went to accompany Emily instead. At midnight, Emily added me on SnapChat. “Hey Jack’s wife, Jack’s cooking skills are amazing! I wish I could cook with him every day!” My heart suddenly tightened, unsure if she meant cooking or… something else. But then she posted on social media, with a picture of her and Jack cooking together in the kitchen. Jack had his arms wrapped tightly around her. “I got to eat a meal cooked by my crush! This is the most romantic Valentine’s Day ever.” The phone slipped from my hand as I lost my grip. My whole body felt cold, and my stomach started to hurt. Oh no, I was going into labor! I shakily picked up the phone and quickly called Jack. After the third attempt with no answer, I realized I needed to call an ambulance. The pain made me curl up involuntarily. Suddenly, my phone pinged. I forced myself to check it through the pain. Jack had finally replied. “I’ve tolerated your jealousy before, but Emily saved my life. I trust her to deliver my child, and you don’t get a say in this!” The smile that had started to form on my face froze completely. My whole body felt cold as I used my last bit of strength to like Emily’s recent social media post. The ambulance arrived, and I was rushed to the hospital. As I was about to enter the operating room, I saw Jack rushing over. I thought he had come to be with me after hearing I was in labor, but I heard him tell the doctor, “This is Emily’s first time assisting in surgery, you must guide her step by step. If anything goes wrong, I’ll hold you responsible!” At that moment, my body, which I had painfully tried to keep upright, collapsed onto the bed. Jack heard the noise and finally noticed me. He looked startled for a moment, then acted as if nothing had happened and gently held my hand. “Lily, don’t be afraid. I’ve found the best doctor in the city. You and our baby will be safe and sound.” For a moment, I had the urge to ask him if the best doctor was prepared for me or for Emily. In the end, I decided against it and just told him one last time, “I don’t want Emily to perform my surgery.” Jack’s previously gentle face instantly darkened. He coldly refused, “Now is not the time for you to be unreasonable. Get into the operating room!” I lay on the operating table as the anesthesia entered my body. Even before the incision was made, I felt like I was about to pass out from pain. In my hazy state, I noticed the hickeys on Emily’s neck, dense and disappearing into her collar. So, last night, besides having dinner with her, did he also sleep with her? My mind went blank as the cold surgical knife cut through my skin. Emily, who was handing the scalpel to the lead surgeon, seemed to notice my gaze. Her eyes above the mask raised an eyebrow at me, not hiding her smug expression. I suddenly felt incredibly bitter. The tugging sensation on my belly continued, but instead of anticipating my child’s birth, I felt hopeless about life. I closed my eyes, trying to numb myself. After a while, I heard Emily and the lead surgeon talking. She went to get some tools. I didn’t react until I heard the lead surgeon’s anxious voice. “Why hasn’t Nurse Parker returned? The patient’s condition is critical. If we don’t complete the surgery soon, she could suffer severe blood loss!”

The thread holding me together in my mind snapped. If Emily had been just an ordinary nurse, I wouldn’t have objected to her participating in my C-section. But six months ago, Jack had brought Emily home, saying she was his lifesaver. He never explained exactly what the favor was. When I discovered Jack had secretly bought Emily an apartment, I was already five months pregnant. Heaven hadn’t even left me an escape route. I could only choose to have the baby. But I had made a divorce plan. There were five months left until the baby was born. This was the deadline I gave Jack to come to his senses. But he only got worse, going on more and more business trips. Emily sent me increasingly provocative messages from her burner account, with escalating content. From gifts Jack had given her, to the “battle outfit” she wore for Jack, to photos of their entangled bodies in bed. Every time I thought about it, my morning sickness got worse. Until Jack accompanied Emily on a world tour, leaving me alone at home where I fell and almost miscarried. Jack took three connecting flights to rush back to the hospital. He held me tightly in his arms, shaking uncontrollably, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry Lily. I’ll never leave you again!” He apologized over and over, even hanging up all of Emily’s calls and deleting all her contact information. Emily hysterically messaged me from her burner account every day, while I looked at Jack’s haggard appearance and ultimately softened my heart. I thought he had finally remembered me and our daughter, and wanted to live a good life with us. I didn’t expect that he had just hidden his betrayal more covertly, letting me discover it only when I was about to give birth. “Not good, the patient is losing too much blood and about to go into shock. Quick, stop the bleeding!” The doctor’s urgent shout pulled me back from my memories. I realized that I really was losing consciousness. I don’t know if it was an auditory hallucination, but I thought I heard Jack’s voice. I forced my eyelids open and realized it really was Jack calling. His angry voice came through, “After the surgery, don’t send her to the private room. Send her to the worst ward!” My heart sank. I didn’t understand why he had suddenly gone mad. The lead surgeon looked at me worriedly and couldn’t help but tell Jack, “Nurse Parker left midway through the surgery, forcing us to stop. Your wife’s condition is very bad, she could suffer severe blood loss!” There was silence on the other end. Just when I thought the call had been disconnected, Jack’s indifferent voice came through. “Severe blood loss? She has the nerve to have severe blood loss? Emily told me everything. You’d better finish this C-section quickly. This has nothing to do with Emily!” The call ended. I didn’t know what Emily had told him, but now I just wanted to know if the baby and I could safely get off the operating table.

But my body was exhausted, and I eventually passed out. When I woke up, the bed creaked loudly at my slightest movement. The sticky smell of sweat mixed with the scent of disinfectant. The small room was filled with several beds, with barely any space between them. The smell from the nearby bathroom also reached my nose. My stomach churned, and I felt like throwing up. Then I heard a familiar surprised voice, “Jack’s wife, you’re not feeling sick because of this room, are you?” “So many people can live here! You really were raised in luxury, unlike me. If I ever have a baby, I’d be content if someone just took me to the hospital. My mom gave birth at home back then.” Emily’s fair face was full of surprise. When she mentioned childbirth, her shy gaze fell on Jack. I was about to say that nowadays everyone gives birth in hospitals, but I heard Jack snort in disdain. “Not everyone is like you. She’s always been dramatic. It’s time she tasted some hardship!” Hardship? I looked at his contemptuous eyes and suddenly felt bitter. I indeed hadn’t suffered much hardship, but I was the daughter of a prominent local businessman. Even though my parents had passed away, the inheritance they left me was enough to ensure I wouldn’t suffer any grievances. If I didn’t need to suffer, why should I seek it out? “Nurse, I want to change rooms.” I tried to raise my voice to call out to the hallway, but I had overestimated my physical condition. My weak voice didn’t summon a nurse, but it made Jack’s face turn cold. “Don’t think that just because you gave birth to my child, I’ll indulge you. Lily Johnson, you don’t deserve a good room!” This was the first time in our five years of marriage that he had called me by my full name. I heard him continue with a ridiculous reason. “You interfered with Emily’s medical procedure during the surgery, and you even dared to hit Emily. She was kind enough to perform your surgery, and this is how you repay her kindness!” His cold eyes looked at me as if I was some unforgivable criminal. I was stunned for a moment before noticing the handprint on Emily’s face. Emily quickly covered her face helplessly, her eyes welling up with tears. But she said, “Don’t blame Jack’s wife! It’s my fault for being too clumsy and not dodging in time.” By this point, she was already sobbing pitifully, looking at Jack with a piteous gaze. “Jack, it’s my fault. I’m just a junior nurse. I really wasn’t qualified to perform Jack’s wife’s surgery. I won’t make her angry again in the future.” Tears glistened on her small face, and Jack immediately raised his hand to wipe her tears, feeling heartbroken. He then turned to warn me, “Whether it was intentional or not, you hurt Emily. Apologize to her right now!” I thought that at least for the sake of our past relationship, Jack wouldn’t humiliate me too much. But I didn’t expect that right after I had given birth, when I was at my weakest, all he cared about was getting revenge for Emily. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. In that case, I didn’t need to keep any face either.

“If I wanted to hit her, I would have done it openly! After all, who wouldn’t feel satisfied seeing a wife confront the other woman!” As soon as I said this, they were both completely stunned, not expecting me to say it outright in front of so many people. Seeing the other patients and their families pointing and whispering about them, Emily immediately started crying pitifully. Jack quickly reacted and hugged Emily, using his body to shield her from the disapproving gazes of others. “Shut up! What nonsense are you spouting!” “Emily and I are innocent! She saved my life, shouldn’t I protect her? Don’t act like a shrew and make baseless accusations!” His cold gaze fixed on me, seemingly embarrassed and angry. As soon as the words “lifesaver” were spoken, everyone noticed the handprint on Emily’s face again. Suddenly, people began to criticize me. Seeing Emily crying helplessly in his arms while still apologizing, Jack instantly regained his confidence. “When you do something wrong, you should take responsibility. It’s just an apology, it won’t kill you. You brought this on yourself!” Seeing that I remained silent, he felt I was being unreasonable and directly grabbed my hand, forcefully dragging me out of the ward. But I wasn’t intentionally keeping quiet. My stomach had suddenly started cramping severely, and I had no strength at all. “My stomach hurts so much. Let go.” After a while, I managed to squeeze out a few words, but I had already been dragged into the corridor. Jack suddenly let go of my hand, and I collapsed powerlessly onto the ground. Hearing the heavy thud, Jack’s expression froze for a moment, his eyes flashing with disbelief. He instinctively wanted to pull me up, but before I could grab his hand, Emily spoke up. “Jack’s wife, I know someone like you who’s been pampered since childhood probably has never apologized to anyone, and it doesn’t matter to me whether you apologize or not. But you don’t need to pretend your stomach hurts to trick Jack!” Upon hearing this, Jack’s expression, which had shown a hint of guilt, instantly turned cold again. He forcefully slapped away my hand reaching out for help, “Lily Johnson, I used to think you were just spoiled by your family, but I never imagined you would be so devious as to lie!” In an angle Jack couldn’t see, I noticed Emily’s triumphant look. Since this was Jack’s hospital, and he, as my husband, said I was pretending, who in the hospital would believe me and come to treat me? The floor was ice-cold, but my heart was even colder. Jack, you finally spoke the truth. Are you tired of my spoiled behavior? But you’ve forgotten that five years ago, you would carefully pick out strawberry seeds for me one by one because I was allergic to them. You would pick out my clothes for me every day because I found it troublesome. You would drive hundreds of miles overnight just because I said I missed you. When I asked if you thought I was too spoiled, you said, “I want to spoil you to the point where you can’t live without me, so that I’m the only one in this world who can tolerate you!” But now, you’ve forgotten all of this, haven’t you? While I was lost in thought, Jack’s good friends also arrived. Since we were all in the same social circle, I knew them too. Seeing Ryan, who was at the front – he, Jack, and I were childhood friends, and he always called me “Jack’s wife” sweetly, and his family was also close to my parents – I couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope. I quickly waved to him. “Ryan, my stomach hurts so much. Please call a doctor!”

Under my expectant gaze, Ryan walked over in a few steps and stopped in front of me. But he looked at Emily instead, “Emily, how’s your face? Let me take a look!” His anxious gaze was fixed on Emily. Emily helplessly hid behind Jack. She shook her head repeatedly, “It’s fine, I have thick skin, it doesn’t matter.” “But Jack’s wife looks like she’s in a lot of pain. Whether it’s real or fake, shouldn’t we call a doctor for her?” Emily’s small face looked at me with concern, her understanding demeanor instantly making Jack tighten his grip on her hand protectively. As if she was his wife. “Of course it hurts, her face is all red.” Jack’s other friends also came over, looking at me with dissatisfaction. “Jack’s wife, we’ve always let you have your way for Jack’s sake, but Emily doesn’t owe you anything. How could you lose your temper at her?” “Yeah, you really need to change that attitude!” The successive agreements made my heart sink. So they all came to support Emily. Even though I had already anticipated the answer in my heart, my body still instinctively looked towards the person who once said he would indulge all my little tempers. But Jack acted as if he hadn’t heard anything, carefully placing an ice pack on Emily’s face. Perhaps because I had been staring for too long, he noticed and looked at me, curling his lip in disdain. “She really does need to change. Put her in the car for me!” I looked at him in disbelief, feeling as if I had fallen into an ice pit. The fear of the unknown made me struggle desperately, “Let me go, Jack Sullivan!” I stubbornly fixed my gaze on Jack’s face, but he didn’t even glance at me. Instead, he protected Emily as they quickly got into the car. Soon the car started, and I watched as they took me to an abandoned warehouse. My heart was overwhelmed with fear. Ignoring my aching stomach, I frantically grabbed onto a piece of Jack’s clothing. Trying to awaken his last bit of conscience, I pleaded, “What are you doing? Jack, my stomach really hurts. Take me to the hospital quickly!” I shook his hand forcefully, but he violently shook me off. “Now you know to be afraid? Where was this earlier? If you had just apologized to Emily, this would have been over. Now, heh……” He sneered and directly dragged me out of the car, “It’s too late! I won’t indulge you anymore!” I fell powerlessly to the ground, my knees scraped bloody by the gravel, but I tried to stand up as if I couldn’t feel the pain. “Jack Sullivan, are you really going to be so heartless? Don’t forget, I’m your wife, and our newborn child is still lying in the hospital!” The coldness on Jack’s face cracked, showing signs of wavering. “The child……”

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