Category: English

In the second year following my divorce, I unexpectedly encountered my ex-wife, Cora, at City Hall. She was accompanied by our daughter and her childhood friend, Logan. They really looked like the perfect family. My daughter ran excitedly to me, wrapping her arms around my leg. “Daddy, Sweetie really misses you.” I gently disengaged her hold and turned to Cora. “Are you here for your marriage certificate? Congratulations and best wishes!” Her smile was awkward. “Actually, I’m here for a divorce.” Then she quickly asked, “Are you getting married?” I waved the document I held. “No, I’m just getting a single status certificate.” 1. I didn’t expect to see Cora again, especially not at City Hall. I had just collected my new single status certificate when I saw Cora walking towards me, her head down. She looked surprised, staring blankly at me. “How have you been over these two years?” I wasn’t one for small talk with my ex, especially given the metaphorical shadow of betrayal that still lingered. I brushed her off as I headed toward the exit. “Not too bad.” She hastened to catch up, gripping my arm. “Are you getting married?” What was her interest in my marital status? Seeing my impatience, Cora released my sleeve and attempted to make conversation. “It’s been two years since we last saw each other.” Indeed, the last time we met was two years ago, here. That day marked the end of our three-year marriage. I negotiated custody of my daughter and left with nothing but the divorce papers. At the entrance, she asked, “When will you come back to pick up your things?” I glanced at the sky and then at her. “How about now?” I took only the key to the old house and the sole photo I had with my father. As I was leaving, Cora, holding our daughter’s hand, stopped me. “Leave the key.” I didn’t stop unlocking the door, replying quietly, “It’s on the table.” Her voice was filled with frustration from behind. “You wanted the divorce. Logan has no family or friends, and he’s depressed. What’s wrong with me spending more time with him? Why do you have an issue with him?” “Even Sweetie knows to give more companionship and warmth.” I glanced back to see my daughter nodding earnestly, while Cora looked at me with disappointment. Under their accusatory stares, I quickly rolled my wheelchair away. Logan had no family or friends, but I had only her and our daughter. I looked at the photo with my father. Now, there was no need to worry about Logan. My wife and daughter were no longer mine. 2. Logan was Cora’s childhood friend; they grew up together. Logan’s father was the Johnson family’s chauffeur. When Cora was seven, she accidentally started the car, and the driver saved her at the cost of his life. Since then, as a repayment for the life-saving debt, Logan became like another child to the Johnson family, eating and living with Cora. During their teenage years, emotions ran high, and the handsome boy and pretty girl became an acknowledged couple, exploring young love. Afterward, Logan was sent to study in India. For years, they maintained contact online, sharing their innermost thoughts. This continued until COVID-19 struck, affecting the real economy, and the Johnson family fell into debt. Around this time, I rescued Cora from a dangerous situation involving some thugs. I stood by Cora through the economic downturn, welcoming a recovery and the birth of our daughter. On our daughter’s second birthday party, Logan suddenly appeared. He looked deeply into Cora’s eyes, expressing how much he missed her and recounting his struggles with COVID-19 and the difficulty of returning home. This day also marked our third wedding anniversary. Cora sobbed in Logan’s arms. What followed was a familiar tragedy. Everything that was mine became his. Cora took Logan for a full medical check-up; his post-COVID symptoms weren’t resolved, and he was diagnosed with severe depression. Cora noticed the scars on Logan’s wrist by accident. “Declan, the doctor said people with self-harming behavior shouldn’t be left alone. They need love and warmth.” Unwilling to give up, I asked, “So?” “He has no other family. I want to bring him home for convenience in taking care of him.” “I have no other family either.” Hearing this, Cora’s face instantly changed. “How can you be so selfish? He’s a patient who needs companionship, and you’re not sick.” She almost said that if I didn’t agree to let Logan live with us, I was unforgivably evil. Seeing this, I didn’t insist further. For months, I was busy with work at the company, while Cora took care of Logan and our daughter at home. I felt like an outsider. One day, while working, a tire fell from a height and struck my leg. As I sat in the ambulance, only one thought crossed my mind: “Finally, I need someone to take care of me.” 3. My injury was sudden but not fatal. Cora didn’t set aside much time for me. By the time I was discharged, she had only visited symbolically twice, each time not exceeding half an hour. My injury wasn’t severe, just a fractured leg. But it takes 100 days for bones and tendons to heal. So I began recuperating under the same roof as Logan. The difference was he stayed in the room next to the master bedroom upstairs, and I stayed in the guest room downstairs. Cora said climbing stairs would be inconvenient with my injured leg. “Declan, you don’t mind, do you? His room is closer, making it easier for me to take care of him. You won’t have to climb up and down.” “I don’t mind.” Out of basic human decency, saving a life is more virtuous than building a seven-story pagoda. As long as you don’t end up in each other’s beds, I don’t mind. Logan would come downstairs to see me every day, especially when Cora was around. One day, while discussing his condition, Logan mentioned gaining weight from the steroids. He seemed down, capturing Cora’s already limited attention. Like a whirlwind, she took Logan and Sweetie out for some exercise. They were a picture-perfect family of three. At dinner, I couldn’t bring myself to eat the take-out Cora had packed for me. It was all Logan’s favorite foods, none of which I could eat. Cora’s face was radiant with pleasure. “Declan, why aren’t you eating? Logan picked this Sichuan restaurant, and it’s really good.” “The doctor advised me against spicy food.” Cora hesitated for a moment. “I just wanted Logan to eat more and recover quickly. You just have a fracture. Eating a little shouldn’t be a problem, right?” I squeezed my chopsticks, glancing at Logan’s provoking expression. “Yeah, it’s fine.” 4. Out of sheer stubbornness, I ate the heavily spiced meal. Even though I guzzled water afterward, my wound still got infected, leading to a high fever. This time, Cora accompanied me to the hospital. I hadn’t even cooled down when Logan came in after me. His depression had flared up, and he had slit his wrists. When Cora rushed to Logan’s VIP room, she forgot to take Sweetie. Half-conscious, I heard my daughter’s sweet, childish voice making a wish. At first, it comforted me—whatever Cora was, my daughter was still mine. “I wish my daddy would die from the fever so Uncle Logan could be my dad.” When someone teased her about why she wanted a new dad, she said, “Uncle Logan is clean, handsome, and smells nice.” My daughter, whom I had cherished, thought I was dirty and smelly and wanted someone else as her dad. While Cora and our daughter accompanied Logan in his VIP room, I was left with a nurse aide in an ordinary ward. From doctors and nurses to family members of other patients, everyone thought they were a family of three. Logan sent me a photo with a taunting remark, “You’re just a greasy mechanic. How can you compete with me?” In the photo, Cora wore a nightgown, curled up in Logan’s arms, sleeping soundly. On the other side, Sweetie was sleeping with her little butt sticking up. I stared at the photo all night, repeatedly confirming it was taken on the bed I had scoured the city to buy for our wedding. Morning came, and with it, a realization. Before I could suggest a divorce, Cora came to me first. Logan’s mom had somehow found out about him and went to the hospital asking for child support. Logan had a breakdown from the stress, so Cora came to me filled with rage. I picked up the evidence she had thrown in my face, the printed chat records of my payments to Logan’s mom. “You knew Logan needed peace. Why did you bring that woman here? Now he wants to commit suicide. Are you happy?” Cora was emotional, hitting my fractured leg as she spoke. “I was just taking care of him and wasn’t going to divorce you. Can’t you understand?” I knew arguing was pointless; she wouldn’t believe me. I took out the printed divorce papers. “Let’s divorce. That way, you can always take care of him.” 5. City Hall is never short on business; people often come in pairs. Cora stood facing me from two meters away. She said, “I tried to find you later, but I couldn’t get in touch.” When we divorced, I only took my father’s photo and the key to the old house. When she was looking for me, I was probably recuperating at the old house. It was only a half-hour drive away, a place she never wanted to step into. Even the photo, if she looked closely, she could recognize it. “Do you need something?” Cora looked at me, hesitating. Finally, she murmured, “Sweetie misses her dad. She says she wants her dad.” I replied indifferently, “Doesn’t she already have a dad? The dad she hoped for—Uncle Logan.” Initially, hearing my daughter wish for my death was like my heart being torn apart. But two years later, I’ve come to terms with it. I didn’t want to reminisce with my ex-wife, especially since I was in a hurry to get to the relocation office. I glanced at my watch. “I’m pressed for time…” Before I could say goodbye, a pink little missile shot over, hugging my leg tightly. “Daddy, you’re here! Sweetie really, really missed you.” It was our daughter. I looked down at her and saw my reflection in her face. I pinched her cheek, slowly moving my leg away. Logan was trailing behind, looking much more haggard than two years ago, but his mouth was still foul. “You’re like a haunting spirit, drawn here by the stench.” From his tone, he thought I was here to cause trouble. Honestly, if I had known they were registering their marriage today, I would’ve postponed picking up the compensation to avoid this. “Congratulations, finally tying the knot.” All three of them stared at me; Cora’s expression was complicated, Sweetie looked confused, and Jasper’s face was nearly etched with resentment. I was utterly confused. Cora bit her lip, holding Sweetie’s hand, and then looked up to meet my eyes. “Do you really not know, or are you pretending…?” Sweetie, being young, chimed in, “Dad, it’s not…” Cora interrupted her, “I’m here for a divorce today.” My mind went blank. I wondered why it took them so long to register if they finally got together. It turns out they were already married. And now, they were splitting up. What happened over these past two years? Sweetie saw my shock and tugged on my sleeve, pouting. “Dad, come home with Mom and me.” I snapped out of it, patted Sweetie’s head but didn’t answer her. After all, she was a daughter I truly loved; I couldn’t bring myself to hurt her. Perhaps my silence gave Cora some hope. “Declan, we…”

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On the wedding day, my chosen bridesmaid fell ill suddenly. Theo quickly arranged for his close friend, Quinn, to fill in. He joked with me, “Quinn is such a klutz; even in a dress, she might not seem very ladylike.” But when he saw Quinn all dressed up, he was taken aback. He instructed the wedding car to pick her up first, then come for me. When I found out, I was upset with him for his poor handling of the situation. He said impatiently, “Quinn is a good friend of mine. Can you please not be so particular?” Fine! I turned the wedding into a breakup scene. “Ella, I’m really sorry. I can’t make it. You’ll need to find a new bridesmaid.” On the wedding day, the first call I received brought bad news. The friend who was supposed to be my bridesmaid had acute gastroenteritis. She was too sick to attend. This unexpected change made my heart sink. I shared the news with Theo while frantically searching for another candidate. But after going through my options, I realized there wasn’t anyone particularly suitable. In my anxiety, Theo messaged me: “Don’t worry, babe. I’ll sort it out.” Shortly after, he video-called me. “Babe, I’ve found someone. Quinn. She was supposed to be one of the guys today, but she’ll step in as your bridesmaid.” Quinn? Hearing her name stirred an inexplicable irritation in me. Quinn was a childhood friend of Theo’s. She was outgoing, treating everyone in their circle like family. Several times, she even hugged Theo in my presence and took sips from his bubble tea. She didn’t care if Theo had just used that straw. I would get visibly upset, but Theo didn’t see the issue. After it happened a few times, I earned the reputation of being the jealous, possessive girlfriend in their circle. The last time, his friends tried to reassure me: “Sis, Quinn is just like that. We don’t see her as anything more than a buddy. It’s just how she is!” What nonsense! I was about to explode! I told Theo, “I can’t stand this. If you continue having no boundaries with Quinn, we’re done!” After that, Theo did make some changes. But Quinn wasn’t happy. She complained about me in their group chat and seized every opportunity to mock me to my face. “Sis, see? I didn’t drink Theo’s bubble tea this time, satisfied?” “Theo, if your wife says drink less, then do it! Don’t upset her again.” “Oh, we’re going out later. Theo, the henpecked one, better head home!” I never let her provocations slide. Theo told her to stop, but I could tell he was uncomfortable. Back to the present, Theo was smiling in the video: “Ha, Quinn is so clumsy; even in a dress, she might not seem very ladylike.”

Time was running out, so I agreed to let Quinn be the bridesmaid. Just after I finished my bridal makeup, my phone rang again. My eyelid twitched. Friend A: “Ella, did you know Theo instructed the wedding car to pick up Quinn first, then come for you?” “And during their video call just now, Theo couldn’t take his eyes off Quinn all dressed up.” “What?” Those words changed my expression. Anger surged, my temples throbbed. I immediately called Theo. “Did you tell the car to pick up Quinn first, then me?” Theo paused before replying, “Isn’t she being your bridesmaid? Of course, she needs to be picked up first.” Is that a reason? I questioned him, “There are a dozen cars. Any of your friends could have gone. Why you?” He seemed at a loss for words. After a few seconds, he reluctantly explained: “Baby, don’t be mad! I’ll be honest. This was Quinn’s condition for being a bridesmaid. I had no choice.” At that moment, it felt like something in my head snapped. I couldn’t help but recall how she always fought for the front seat. The first time was on my birthday when Theo came to pick me up. As I reached the car, I saw Quinn in the front seat. Smiling brightly, she waved at me: “Hey, sis! Mind if I hitch a ride? I get carsick in the back. I’ll give the seat back when we get there.” Acting all carefree and playful. Theo opened the back door, seeing me standing still, he quickly added: “We just ran into each other. I was just giving her a ride. She really does get carsick; otherwise, I wouldn’t let her sit in front!” I was about to speak when Quinn clicked her tongue, playfully pouting: “Theo, you’re really all about your girlfriend now. What, want to kick me out of the car?” “If you dare, I’ll kick you out of the brotherhood group, hmph!” Once Theo was in and buckling up, she suddenly reached to tug his ear. Just touched it and then pulled back, sticking her tongue out: “Oops, Theo’s taken now. I better watch my boundaries.” Ugh! Such a fake act! I confronted Theo over this. He was frustrated: “I told you, there’s nothing between Quinn and me. Why can’t you believe it?” Once or twice, I could ignore it. But with her appearing every now and then, Theo finally realized it was inappropriate. After refusing her a ride two or three times, things improved. I didn’t expect her to pull this stunt on our wedding day! I frowned, “Theo, turn around now. Have someone else pick her up!” He sighed. “I’m already at her place! Ella, Quinn is my buddy. She’s being your bridesmaid today. Can you please just let this go?” Sending the main wedding car for the bridesmaid before the bride? This was clearly his mishandling, yet he blamed me for being petty? Ridiculous.

I hung up the phone abruptly. Theo called back over ten times wanting to apologize, but I didn’t answer. Until he came with a big group of friends. After they got the door opened with a red envelope, Theo, surrounded by his buddies, came to my room. Quinn stood beside him, wearing a pink bridesmaid dress, looking cute and charming. “Baby!” Theo called out sweetly, opening his arms to hug me. I discreetly pushed him away. “Sweetheart, today’s our big day. Be happy, okay?” As he whispered in my ear, Quinn pulled him away. “The groom’s in such a rush! We still have games to play.” Her words were for Theo, but her eyes provocatively glanced at me. While my friends arranged games, Theo and his friends started the wedding games. Unlike the joyous atmosphere, I remained expressionless. Watching Theo actively participating in each game, I felt an indescribable feeling. I’ve liked Theo since college. He was the campus heartthrob, poor but talented, exceptionally hard-working. We officially got together at a class reunion after graduation. By then, he was working at a multinational, envied by many. I, with my parents’ help, had started my own company early on. As outstanding graduates, we became the focus for drinks. He was gentlemanly, helping me block drink after drink, eyes firm and gentle. If it weren’t for the issues with Quinn, he’d make a great husband. Sadly… Today’s events were the last straw. Someone who can’t sort out relationships before marriage can’t be trusted to do so after. Maybe, this wedding shouldn’t go on.

A scream pulled my thoughts back to reality. The wedding games were nearing the end. Theo and his friends were playing the last game, passing cards mouth-to-mouth. They were hugging, laughing, causing everyone to burst into laughter. Just as Theo tilted his head to take the card from the previous buddy, Quinn moved. In a flash, she pushed the buddy behind Theo. Then stepped forward, wrapping her arms tightly around Theo’s neck. Their bodies pressed close, intimately embraced. The room erupted. Everyone’s gaze darted between the three of us. Full of surprise, gossip, and anticipation for the drama. Theo was at a loss, quickly glancing at me. He turned his head slightly, trying to push away and distance himself from Quinn. But Quinn grabbed his face, pulling him close, and kissed him. “Wow!” A louder cheer erupted from the crowd. I widened my eyes, staring dumbfounded at the scene. It felt like those few seconds of passing the card were stretched infinitely, and my heart sank. The game ended amid laughter and cheers. Quinn, as if she won a prize, waved the card, laughing gleefully. Theo pushed her away, looking serious: “That was silly. Who let you play this game?” Quinn pouted, dissatisfied: “I’m both a bridesmaid and a buddy. So what if I play a game?” My best friend, Chloe, seeing my unhappy face, was also furious. She couldn’t help but nudge Quinn, scolding her: “Today is their big day. Why are you causing a scene? You’re really bold!” 5. Quinn blinked her big, innocent eyes, biting her lip in frustration. The atmosphere turned awkwardly silent. One of the groomsmen chuckled to ease the tension, “Hey, it’s just a game. Why get upset?” He turned to me, “Quinn was just trying to lighten the mood. I’m sure you won’t hold it against her, right?” I wasn’t having it, “What? Trying to guilt-trip me?” Theo looked a bit guilty. He rubbed his nose and walked toward me. “Listen, honey: Quinn’s just being her usual playful self. Let’s not take it to heart.” “Quinn, apologize to your sister-in-law already.” Quinn rolled her eyes and blurted out, “Apologize for what? I didn’t do anything wrong!” “Sis, I’ve already told you, there’s nothing between Theo and me. If there were, you’d be looking at a different bride today.” Hiss! The crowd murmured. I sneered, almost ready to slap her. But then I noticed the photographers in the corner and thought of a better idea. Forcing a smile, I said, “Forget it! It’s getting late, and we shouldn’t miss the perfect time.” Surprisingly, everyone seemed shocked at how quickly the matter was settled. Especially Quinn, her mouth wide open in disbelief. Theo sighed in relief. He took my hand with a loving expression. I resisted the urge to pull away and reminded him, “Hurry up and find my wedding shoes, silly.” Theo finally realized and started looking for the shoes. He quickly found them behind the curtain and helped me put them on. With the shoes on, I took Theo’s arm and walked out of the room. Quinn watched from the side, her expression unreadable. I chuckled to myself; the real show was yet to come. 6 The wedding was at the Glorious Hotel. After settling in, Theo and I stood at the entrance to greet our guests. Quinn, being a bridesmaid, naturally stayed close by. But she couldn’t help but inch closer to Theo. Under the pretext of conversation, she moved closer and closer. The two of them stood side by side, occasionally whispering and laughing loudly. To an outsider, it might seem like she was today’s bride. Meanwhile, I observed with a blank expression. Enduring it, waiting… Even the groomsmen couldn’t stand it and signaled Theo to pull Quinn away. But she pushed him aside, “What are you doing, Logan? Got a twitch?” Heh. Playing dumb while fully aware. I didn’t bother with them, and as I turned, I saw a familiar figure approaching. “Hey, Ella!” Ethan waved. He was sharply dressed in a suit, looking quite dashing. “Ethan, I’m so glad you could come.” I beamed brightly, hugging him. “Of course, Miss Ella’s wedding, I had to be here. Plus, I’ve got a big red envelope for you!” Ethan said, helping to straighten my slightly messy veil. His slightly intimate gesture made Theo uncomfortable. He immediately came over, wrapped an arm around my waist, and distanced me from Ethan. Then he asked irritably, “Are you Ella’s friend?” “Hi, I’m Ethan.” Ethan extended his hand to Theo, acting graciously. “I’m Theo, Ella’s husband.” Theo stared at the man in front of him, his eyes filled with hostility. I pretended not to notice and warmly invited Ethan, “Go on in, Chloe’s inside.” “Alright, we’ll chat more later.” Ethan gracefully turned and headed to the banquet hall. Theo noticed I hadn’t looked away and grew increasingly sullen. He tightened his grip on my waist, his jealousy evident. “What’s your relationship with that guy?” “A friend,” I replied nonchalantly. “What kind of friend hugs you in front of me? Remember, you’re my wife!” “Oh, so you know hugging isn’t appropriate?” I shook off his arm and retorted, “Haven’t you and Quinn hugged enough today? Oh, and not just hugged—you kissed too.” That left him speechless. Quinn jumped in to defend, “Sis, Theo and I are just good friends.” “Funny, Ethan and I are just good friends too!” I deliberately dragged out the words, “We’re good friends~”

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After transferring schools, I became a target for the rich boys—just another pawn in their twisted games. They acted like they were interested in me, but behind my back, they made bets about who could take my virginity first. What I thought was love was nothing more than a cruel wager. They shared my photos, my private messages, and even drugged me. Eventually, the whole school mocked me, calling me pathetic, desperate, and trash. I was bullied to death by their fanatical admirers. But when I opened my eyes again, the school’s golden boy grinned at me and said, “Rhea, what a beautiful name. May I take you to dinner?” Dinner? Sure. This time, let’s make it your last meal. It was my first day at St. Augustine Academy—a prestigious private school—and also the day I was reborn. I had originally been a top student at a public high school. But St. Augustine had lured me in with promises of a better future, offering me a full scholarship and, after graduation, a $150,000 bonus. That’s five years’ worth of my parents’ combined salaries. The tuition at St. Augustine was so outrageous that my family couldn’t afford even a single semester, even if we starved ourselves for a decade. But with their offer, I couldn’t resist. I thought transferring here would change my life. And I wasn’t wrong—it did. I became their prey, their entertainment, nothing more than a joke to pass the time. They chatted with me sweetly while secretly spreading my private messages and photos. They even made bets about my “first night.” The entire school looked at me like I was a walking punchline. In the end, I was cornered in a bathroom by a group of jealous girls—fans of the boys who had pretended to like me. They drowned me in a toilet, all while hurling insults: “Pathetic loser.” “Desperate fool.” “Daydreaming nerd.” I died humiliated, staring at the photos and messages they had plastered all over the school. As my life slipped away, all I could think about was how much I hated the ones who had orchestrated it all. I wanted to tear those monsters apart. But my consciousness faded before I could even begin to imagine revenge. And then… I woke up. I came back. If there’s such a thing as divine intervention, this was it. I didn’t have much time to bask in the joy of my second chance before I ran into one of the masterminds: Ethan Monroe. Ethan Monroe—the ever-charming gentleman with a smile so warm it could melt anyone’s defenses. How fitting for the heir to a family that monopolized the country’s energy industry. He had enough “electricity” to toy with anyone he pleased. “You must be the new transfer student,” he said, his voice smooth as silk. I pretended to be naïve, nodding shyly. Ethan glanced at the enrollment form in my hand. “Senior class 1A? What a coincidence—looks like we’re in the same class.” His smile was radiant, the kind of smile that had fooled me in my past life. I had fallen so deeply into the web he spun that I didn’t even realize it was a trap until the very end. What I hadn’t known back then was that none of this was a coincidence. Even my transfer to St. Augustine had been part of their plan. I was their carefully chosen prey. And Ethan? He was one of the ringleaders. I could still hear the mocking voices of his admirers in my mind. They had shown me videos of him—the perfect gentleman, his eyes filled with arrogance and disdain. “It’s too boring around here. Of course, we need someone to play with.” “She’s perfect. So desperate to change her fate. It’s hilarious.” And just like that, I had become their entertainment. As we walked toward the classroom, Ethan started giving me a brief rundown of the school’s history, describing it as a haven for the wealthy and privileged. “These kids don’t need good grades to secure their futures,” he said with a laugh. I wasn’t really listening. My mind was already planning. Ethan waved his hand in front of my face, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Rhea Carter. What a beautiful name. May I take you to dinner?” Dinner? Sure. This time, I’ll make it your last supper.

St. Augustine Academy was known for its sky-high tuition fees and rigorous admission process, which naturally kept the student population small. The entire high school division had only about 600 students. Among them, the most famous were Ethan Monroe and his three closest friends. Ethan, the golden boy, was the school’s heartthrob—charming, gentlemanly, and adored by all the girls. Chris Langston, the artsy intellectual, was the principal’s son and had a brooding, poetic vibe that made him stand out. Logan Brooks, the star athlete, had bronzed skin and a muscular build that made hearts race. And finally, Ryan Chase, the senior class valedictorian, was both a top-tier scholar and devastatingly attractive. Together, they were inseparable, and the rest of the school called them the “St. Augustine F4.” In my previous life, all four of them had conveniently “fallen” for me. The rest of my classmates were overly friendly on my first day, going so far as to give me the best seat in the classroom—a spot with a perfect view of the board. But I knew better. These people had treated me as a joke in my past life. My death had been tied to every single one of them. So I played along, smiling politely on the outside while cursing them to hell on the inside. At lunchtime, Ethan led me to his family’s private dining room on campus. The table was overflowing with gourmet dishes, and sitting around it were his three loyal friends. This wasn’t my first time here. In my past life, Ethan had also brought me to this restaurant. I’d stood there awkwardly, unsure of how to act, surrounded by handsome boys and an intimidating spread of international cuisine. I hadn’t dared move a muscle, let alone sit down. The entire meal, I’d been too nervous to speak or eat, instead watching Ethan for cues on what to do. Little did I know, every awkward moment had been caught on camera. They had uploaded the footage to the school’s private online forum, mocking me for my “small-town ignorance,” my inability to use proper table manners, and my so-called “wannabe” behavior. If they wanted a battle of public opinion, fine. Two could play that game. This time, I pulled out my phone and started recording. “Oh my gosh, is this truffle? It looks just like chocolate!” “And this? French foie gras? Isn’t that just… fatty liver?” “I can’t believe how lucky I am to receive such warm treatment from my classmates! Let’s all say thank you to our generous host!” I looked up from my phone, aiming my most innocent smile at Ethan, whose expression had soured into something resembling constipation. “Ethan, you’re so handsome. You wouldn’t mind if I shared this video to help everyone learn a little more about fine dining, would you?” Ethan forced a tight smile, his jaw visibly clenched. “Of course not.” In my past life, my high grades and desire to earn extra money for my family had led me to run a small social media account. Though it hadn’t made much, I’d gained a modest following at school. Ethan and his crew had chosen me as their target because they wanted to tear down the positive, hardworking image I’d built online. Well, if exposure was what they wanted, I’d give it to them—on my terms this time.

In my previous life, I’d been too young and naive to enjoy the luxury of the food in front of me. This time, I glanced at the four boys sitting around me. “No wonder everyone dreams of being a sugar mommy. Turns out spoiling a group of pretty boys feels this good!” The smiles on their faces froze instantly. Feigning surprise, I quickly added, “Oh no, did I just say that out loud? My bad!” “Don’t be shy, everyone! Let’s dig in—pretend we’re all family!” Channeling the spirit of a true host, I didn’t hold back, savoring every dish like a queen. Why let all this good food go to waste by just staring at it? After I’d eaten my fill, Logan Brooks eyed the empty plates in front of me with a mix of shock and admiration. “Rhea, your appetite is impressive. Want to go burn some of that off with me?” I glanced at his deliberately flexed bicep and flashed a bright smile. “Sure! But do you have an eight-pack?” He grinned. “Only six. Is that okay?” I shrugged, pretending to be excited as I raised my phone. “Guess we’ll have to see for ourselves!” But when it came time for Logan to show off his so-called six-pack, he hesitated and awkwardly pulled up his shirt halfway. I took a quick photo, then glanced at it with a raised brow. Wow. Bold of you to brag with… this. Are you not worried about the internet teaching you a lesson? Logan, however, seemed unbothered. He even tried to drag me to the school’s private gym to “show me the joys of fitness.” The gym, of course, was as luxurious as you’d expect from a place like St. Augustine—spotless, fully equipped, and free of the usual sweaty smell. As always, I whipped out my phone, angling it carefully to capture the entire scene before recording Logan as he guided me through the equipment. “Let’s start with pull-ups!” he said confidently. In my past life, I’d been so flustered and nervous that I hadn’t managed to do a single pull-up. Logan had taken the opportunity to “help” by wrapping his arms around my waist and lifting me. We’d been so close, I could feel his breath on the back of my neck. Blushing and weak, I couldn’t muster any strength. The school’s private forum had later exploded with the headline: “Chubby Girl Goes for the Kill”—mocking me mercilessly. Now, Logan stood in the same position, asking, “Need me to show you how it’s done?” I nodded, stretching my wrists and ankles. Fitness was Logan’s comfort zone, and after the embarrassment over his “abs,” he was eager to prove himself. He jumped up, knocked out a few pull-ups, and even flashed a sliver of his stomach. I watched through my phone’s screen, already imagining the views this footage would bring me. When Logan finished, sweat dripping down his face, he turned to me. “Want me to guide you through it?” I waved him off, grabbed the bar, and cranked out a set of pull-ups far more impressive than his. “Oh, by the way,” I said casually as I hopped down, “I used to be a personal trainer.”

St. Augustine Academy had its perks, but there was one thing I struggled with: the teaching methods. “Elite education” and “holistic development” were great buzzwords, but they didn’t exactly suit someone like me, who had transferred from a public school and still relied on grades to chase my dreams. In a classroom full of students who didn’t need to worry about their futures, I was the only one who cared about the upcoming college entrance exams. My desk partner happened to be Ryan Chase, the resident genius of St. Augustine. When he noticed me struggling with a question, he slid his notebook over. “Need help, Rhea?” I glanced at his messy handwriting, then at his face. To be honest, his handwriting was nowhere near as good as his looks. “Rhea, you seem stuck. Let me walk you through it,” he offered, assuming I needed his assistance. “You’re wrong,” I said bluntly. Ryan froze. “Where am I wrong?” “You’re overcomplicating it. If you use these two points instead, it’s faster and easier to understand.” Ryan looked like a deflated balloon, no longer eager to speak. The entire day passed without me learning much of anything. In my past life, this was exactly how it had gone. But back then, I’d let their words sway me. They’d told me grades weren’t everything, that I was already smart enough and should focus on building relationships instead. And like an idiot, I’d believed them. I’d gotten so caught up in their world of idle chatter and social games that I’d forgotten what mattered most: my studies. This time, I wouldn’t fall for it. We weren’t born equal. The heights they’d reached effortlessly were places I’d have to struggle my entire life to even glimpse. So, I created a strict schedule for myself, sticking to the study habits that had served me well before. After finishing my review for the day, I turned my attention to editing the photos and videos I’d taken. In my past life, the cyberbullying from one school had been enough to suffocate me. This time, I’d expand the battlefield. One school wasn’t enough. I wanted the entire internet to join the party. I uploaded the video to my account with the title: “My First Day at St. Augustine: Gourmet Food, Hot Guys, and Abs!” The name “St. Augustine Academy” was a magnet for attention, and the video’s view count skyrocketed, quickly breaking all my previous records. Comments flooded in: “OMG, how did she get so lucky? A transfer student with a $150,000 scholarship?!” “Those abs aren’t that great, though. Why was he bragging?” “Trying to show off but ended up getting schooled by the girl. I wonder how big his ‘emotional damage’ is right now.” “Girl, stay true to yourself! Don’t let the glitz and glam blind you!” Every single view and comment translated to money. Watching the numbers climb, I couldn’t help but smile. For the first time in a long time, I slept peacefully that night. Early the next morning, I got up and started memorizing vocabulary words. I had to admit, St. Augustine Academy lived up to its reputation. The campus was stunning, with a tranquil lake surrounded by lush greenery. I sat on a bench by the water, soaking in the scenery as I studied. Just as I was engrossed in my notes, Ethan Monroe appeared, carrying a perfectly arranged breakfast in his hand. “Rhea, you’re up early,” he said with a smile. I mentally reviewed the words I’d just memorized to make sure I had them locked in before turning to him. Ethan’s custom-tailored uniform accentuated his long legs, and he deliberately angled his face to show off his best side. I glanced at the breakfast tray he was holding—milk, bread, and fruit. “Is that for me?” I asked, pretending to gaze at him with wide, admiring eyes. Ethan nodded and even pulled out a picnic blanket, spreading it neatly on the grass. Once everything was set up, I casually pulled out my phone and started snapping pictures.

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She didn’t care about the consequences—she gave me growth inhibitors without a second thought and even wrapped my chest tightly with bandages to keep me looking small. I thought my life was already miserable enough. But then, she pushed me into an even darker abyss. My mom abruptly ended the livestream, leaving the viewers on the other side confused. “What’s going on? Why did the stream suddenly cut off?” “I wasn’t done watching my sweet little angel!” She turned to me, her face cold and unforgiving, and slapped me hard across the face. “You clumsy idiot! You couldn’t even boil water without burning yourself. Do you want people to figure out what a mess you are with that miserable expression on your face?” Sweat beaded on my forehead as I bit down hard on my pale lips. The burning pain in my foot was unbearable, and my vision started to blur. I grabbed onto her hand, pleading, “Mom, my foot hurts. It really hurts.” She yanked her hand away, her expression indifferent. “You think I care? Do you know how much money I just lost because we had to stop the livestream?” Her voice was a blur of irritation in my ears as the pain overwhelmed me. I couldn’t hold on any longer and passed out. When I woke up, I was in the hospital. My mom was still there, holding up her phone, recording me lying on the hospital bed. She spoke to her audience in a concerned tone: “Sorry for cutting the stream earlier. Little Anna accidentally burned her foot with hot water and fainted. Poor thing is still lying here in the hospital bed…” As expected, the comment section quickly filled with messages of concern and sympathy. “My poor sweet Anna!” “She got burned? Will it leave a scar? She needs to rest and recover!” “Did Anna cry? Even a little splash of hot water makes me scream, let alone something like that!” Reading this, my mom leaned in and pinched the tender skin at my waist, hard. Tears welled up in my eyes instantly, spilling over as I tried to hold back a sob. The comment section exploded again: “Anna’s crying! My heart is breaking for her!” “Don’t cry, sweetie…” My mom sighed dramatically, putting on her best exhausted expression for the camera. “Anna needs to rest now, so we’ll end the livestream here today. Thank you all for your love and support!” She ended the stream and immediately dropped her act. The cold, calculating look returned to her eyes, but there was also a glimmer of satisfaction. She patted my head the way a loving mother might, but her words were anything but comforting. “Not bad, Anna. I didn’t expect this to work so well. Your little hospital stunt really brought in more fans. Good job.” I forced a weak smile, but it probably looked worse than crying. My parents divorced when I was young, and my mom got custody of me. When I was eleven, she stumbled upon a livestream where someone was selling homemade goods. She watched in awe as the influencer raked in money effortlessly. That night, she quit her job. Her new goal? To turn me into a “cooking prodigy” and make me the next viral sensation. At first, I frowned and resisted. But my mom knew how to get what she wanted. Her eyes would fill with tears, and she’d say things like: “Anna, do you have any idea how hard it’s been for me to raise you alone all these years? Do you know how much I’ve suffered?” “This is our big break! If I can make this work, I can finally turn our lives around. If you really care about your mom, you’ll listen to me… won’t you?”

Looking at my mom, I swallowed back the words I wanted to say. And just like that, my high-achieving, soon-to-be middle school self was pulled out of school by my mom, who was absolutely thrilled about her decision. My mind felt hazy. I vaguely remember a doctor standing nearby. “Ma’am, your child is stable now,” the doctor said. “There are other patients waiting for this bed. If you keep occupying it unnecessarily, someone else won’t get the treatment they need…” She was politely trying to convince my mom to discharge me. But my mom wasn’t having it. She planted her hands on her hips, pointed a finger at the doctor, and started yelling. “What the hell is that supposed to mean? Are you seriously kicking a patient out of the hospital? Where’s your compassion? Did you lose your humanity along with your medical ethics?” The doctor frowned at her nonsense but eventually walked away, clearly unwilling to argue further. As soon as the doctor left, my mom smirked, looking smug and victorious. The area around my hospital bed was crowded with fruit baskets and flower arrangements—all sent by my “fans.” She grabbed a plum from one of the baskets and popped it into her mouth. “Pretty nice, huh? Just lying there while I’m out here killing myself for you. Do you know how hard it is for me? Pretending to be you, thanking fans, entertaining visitors? My back’s practically broken!” Then her tone softened as she reached out to stroke my hair. “But it’s all for you, sweetheart. Everything I do is for you. The money we’re earning? It’s all going to be spent on you. You’ll remember how much I’ve done for you, won’t you?” I lowered my gaze, my eyes dull and lifeless. This wasn’t what I wanted. I didn’t want fans. I didn’t want attention. I just wanted to live a quiet, normal life. As the hype around my injury finally died down, my mom declared it was time to “get back to work.” The hospital staff, probably relieved to see us go, cheerfully sent us off. The moment we got home, my mom tossed a cookbook at me. “Learn this recipe,” she ordered. “Don’t even think about sleeping tonight if you don’t get it right.” I caught the book out of habit. This was nothing new to me. But when I flipped it open, my eyes widened in shock. The recipe was for sweet and sour fish, a dish that requires years of knife skills and precise temperature control to perfect. “Mom, can I learn something else instead?” I asked, my voice trembling. She glared at me, her eyes sharp and unyielding. “Your fans love this stuff. They’re the reason we’re making money. If they want sweet and sour fish, you’ll make sweet and sour fish. Stop complaining!” I clenched the recipe tightly in my hands. If they told me to die, would I have to do that too? That night, I felt like I was losing my mind. Every word in the recipe burned itself into my brain. I moved like a machine, repeating the same motions over and over again. Chopping onions, ginger, and garlic. Scaling fish. Ten, twenty, thirty fish… My hands turned pale from soaking in water for so long. The sharp edges of the fish scales left cuts all over my fingers, blood dripping down onto the cutting board. But I couldn’t stop. My mom stood right next to me, watching my every move like a hawk.

She let out a loud yawn. “You’re so useless. You’re the reason your poor mother can’t get any sleep. God, I’m exhausted…” Her words startled me, and my knife slipped, slicing into my hand. She rushed over immediately, grabbing my hand to inspect the wound. “What were you thinking?! If you cut yourself, how are you supposed to go live tomorrow?” she snapped, her tone sharp but filled with urgency. Then, without hesitation, she brought my bleeding finger to her mouth, sucking on it to stop the bleeding. The night dragged on endlessly. By the time the sky started to lighten, my mom was already setting up the camera. She dabbed a thick layer of foundation on my face, carefully covering the dark circles under my eyes. Then, with a sharp slap to my back, she barked, “Stand up straight! Stop looking like you’re about to keel over!” I forced my heavy eyelids open and plastered on the familiar smile I had perfected over the years. “Hi, everyone! Good morning! Today, I’ll be making sweet and sour fish,” I said cheerfully into the camera. The chat lit up immediately with comments. “What? Anna’s making sweet and sour fish today? That dish is so hard—I’ve tried it a dozen times and still can’t get it right!” Standing off-camera, my mom shot me a warning look, her lips silently mouthing instructions. As I scaled the fish, I responded to the comment with a practiced tone of humility. “Actually, I’m not very good at it either. I just glanced at the recipe last night and thought I’d give it a try today.” By this point, after a sleepless night of chopping, slicing, and practicing, I had the steps down perfectly. But I knew I couldn’t make it look too easy. My mom’s sharp eyes monitored my every move, her lips twitching in a silent threat to keep me in line. An hour and a half later, I finally finished the dish. The comments exploded in praise. “Is Anna secretly a culinary prodigy? She only read the recipe once and made this? Incredible!” “Ugh, when I compare her to my son, I feel like crying. All he knows how to do is eat!” My mom’s face lit up as the compliments poured in. She leaned closer to the screen, practically whispering to herself. “Come on, send gifts. Keep sending gifts…” It was as if the viewers could hear her thoughts. “Let’s encourage Anna! Sending her a few flowers…” One gift turned into two, then ten, then dozens. The money kept rolling in, and my mom’s grin grew wider with every notification. Just as she was basking in her success, one comment popped up on the screen, catching her attention: “I’ve been following Anna for three years now. She’s really grown up into a young lady. Her body’s developing so well…” My mom’s smile froze, her brows furrowing slightly. More comments followed. “True, it’s like watching her grow up before our eyes.” “Yeah, she’s turning into a real beauty…” I felt my face drain of color, my chest tightening in silent panic. Please, just stop. When the livestream finally ended, my mom seemed pleased with the money we’d made, but her expression was darker than usual. She walked toward me with purpose, and I instinctively stepped back, my voice barely audible. “Mom…” She didn’t say a word. Instead, she grabbed the hem of my shirt and yanked it up, exposing my torso to the cold air. I froze, my entire body trembling.

“You didn’t follow my instructions?” I shook my head frantically. “Mom, that waist binder—it was too tight. I couldn’t breathe, so I took it off last night…” Before I could finish explaining, she slapped me hard again. Her eyes burned with anger. “You’re already refusing to listen to me? What will you do in the future?” My mom had decided that I was going to be a “child cooking prodigy” on social media. And for that to work, I had to look the part—I had to stay small, young. She grabbed a roll of bandages and began wrapping them tightly around my chest, layer after suffocating layer, as if she were trying to crush the life out of me. When she was done, she stepped back, looking pleased with the flat result. But then, as if noticing something else, she stood back and measured my height with her hand. “No, no. This won’t do.” She turned and started rummaging frantically through a drawer, eventually pulling out a syringe. Her grin was sharp and menacing as she advanced toward me, backing me into a corner. I sank to the floor, powerless. I didn’t want to stop growing. I didn’t want to be trapped in the body of a child forever. But my protests were useless. My eyes stared blankly as she plunged the growth inhibitor into my arm without hesitation. Every day, I lived as “Anna’s Cooking Adventures,” the account my mom had created for me. My life revolved around kitchen grease and smoke, spending late nights in the kitchen perfecting recipes. I had no freedom. But my mom’s efforts weren’t in vain. My videos caused a sensation online, gaining more and more attention. I became the “perfect child” everyone envied. Comments flooded beneath each video: “With a daughter like this, I could die happy!” “Can we trade kids? I’ll take Anna!” “Anna is officially my future daughter-in-law. Calling dibs now!” “How dare you compete with me? Anna belongs to my family!” As my popularity skyrocketed, a cooking competition show for kids reached out to my mom. When she got the offer, she was ecstatic. She made several announcement videos thanking my fans. “Anna’s going to be on a cooking show! Thank you all for your love and support!” The comments rolled in like a tidal wave: “What? My daughter is going to be on TV? Of course we’ll watch!” “Which channel? I’ll tune in immediately!” That year, I was fifteen. But I found myself standing among a group of eight- and nine-year-olds, competing against them as if I belonged. The night before the show, my mom wasn’t taking any chances. She added even more layers of bandages around my chest and injected me with another round of growth inhibitors. Under the watchful eyes of the audience, I stood out. Among the younger children, my skills and experience shone, and I advanced easily to the finals. The show became a massive hit. The unique concept and drama captivated viewers, and soon, everyone was debating the final rankings. My fans were relentless, clashing with the other contestants’ supporters online. But I had the largest following by far. To most people, my victory was already a foregone conclusion—the other kids were just there to fill the stage. When the night of the finals arrived, I stood under the spotlight, with the audience cheering my name. But during the most critical step of the competition, I lost control of the heat. The dish burned.

And so, despite being the favorite to win, I ended up in last place. “Anna just had a little slip-up this time! She’s been amazing in her livestreams and videos before.” “No one’s perfect. It’s normal for Anna to make mistakes now and then!” My fans rushed to console me, but my mom wasn’t having any of it. The moment the competition ended, she stormed backstage, clearly looking for me. Panic surged through me. If she caught me, I knew I wouldn’t escape unscathed. For the first time, I defied her—I ran. She chased after me, her voice echoing with curses. “You little brat! Just wait until I catch you. You’ll regret this!” As she was about to grab me, a figure suddenly stepped in front of me. My eyes lit up with hope. I collided into the man’s chest, and he immediately crouched to check on me. His voice was deep but gentle. “Are you okay?” My mom, trying to suppress her fury, called out in a cold tone, “Anna, come here.” But I clung tightly to the man’s shirt, my tear-filled eyes pleading with him as I shook my head. Understanding my silent request, the man stood up and positioned himself between me and my mom, blocking her view of me. My mom, now livid, snapped, “Who the hell are you? This is my child. How I handle her is none of your business!” A few onlookers started whispering nearby, and one of them muttered something just loud enough for my mom to hear. “That’s Mr. Thompson—the show’s main investor.” Instantly, my mom’s expression shifted. Her anger vanished, replaced by a forced, ingratiating smile. “Oh, Mr. Thompson! My apologies, I didn’t recognize you! Haha, silly me! So… what did you think of Anna’s performance? Wasn’t she great?” I didn’t catch the rest of what she said because Mr. Thompson gave a subtle signal, and the person who had been whispering earlier gently took my hand and led me away. Around the corner, I turned back just in time to see Mr. Thompson handing my mom a bank card. I didn’t understand what it meant, but after a while, the person escorting me told me it was time to go home. I didn’t want to go back. I sat outside the studio for hours, watching the sky grow darker and darker. But eventually, I gave in to reality and headed home. When I got there, I was surprised—my mom didn’t yell at me or hit me. For the first time, I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe it was because of that man? But then, she handed me a card. Written on it was the address and room number of a hotel.

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My husband, Declan Morgan, has imprisoned me, and I’m too afraid to resist. I witnessed Declan murdering someone and burying the body. The body was my ex-husband. Are there more bodies in the basement? Could Declan be a serial killer? I’m terrified and too scared to find out. Declan noticed my improved spirits recently and decided to take me out for a meal. I steadied my trembling legs and cautiously picked up some food with my chopsticks. “Why aren’t you eating the vegetables?” I kept my head down, obediently reaching for the vegetables with my chopsticks. Being cut off from the outside world for so long makes me feel disconnected. Why hasn’t anyone come looking for me? I do have friends; they like me and invite me out every month. “Nora, is the food not to your taste?” I shook my head. It’s been a long time since I’ve had food this good; it reminds me of my mother’s cooking. But “mother” feels like a distant memory now. Declan seemed in good spirits today and didn’t rush to take me home after dinner. He even took me to an amusement park. Unbelievable. I saw police officers helping a lost child find their parents. I told Declan I wanted some octopus balls from the other side. He left me in a shaded area to wait. I approached the police officers. Yes, I wanted to reveal Declan’s crimes. “I’m sorry, my wife has a history of mental illness. I’m really sorry for the inconvenience.” I’m not sick. But when Declan pulled out my medical records, all my protests became futile. I was taken back home. Declan didn’t blame me. He just held me gently. I felt uneasy. “Why is Nora trembling?” “Is big brother scary?” A little. But how could I tell him that I saw him commit murder and bury the body that night? I don’t want to be the next victim. Even if the deceased was my relative. I nuzzled against his shoulder, trying to please him. A low chuckle spread above me. “Good girl.” It seems instinctive; subconsciously, I feel that doing this means I won’t get hit. Declan stopped taking me out after that. This house has a basement, and when he wasn’t home, I often lingered by the basement door. I was both eager and terrified about what might be behind that dark door. Fortunately, fear outweighed curiosity, and I never went in. But I didn’t realize Declan noticed my every move. Perhaps Declan was being nicer to me. I opened the door. The room was dark. But on the table by the door, I spotted a phone with a lit screen. The table was dusty, but not the phone, as if someone had deliberately placed it there. I took the phone and hid it under the mattress; Declan wouldn’t think to look there.

“What did Nora do today?” Did Declan find out something? “I slept, watched TV, and—thought about you.” During these days of confinement, I learned to please him, or so I thought. He didn’t press me further, which was a relief. “Some friends want to visit. Do you want to see them, Nora?” I didn’t want to, but Declan mentioned my friends. How could someone who illegally imprisoned me dare to invite my friends over? Doesn’t he fear my retaliation? Then again, what can a “mental patient” like me do to him? It was quite lively today. “Nora, is Declan good to you?” “I heard he had a ‘The One That Got Away’ in college; have you ever met her?” In college? I attended the same college as Declan; he was three years ahead of me. Some girls liked him during his sophomore year, but he turned them down. He said he already liked someone. The only interaction I had with him was when he helped me move some things during a sports event, and I sprained my ankle. Yes, I might be the only girl who had close contact with him; his back was broad as he carried little me. My thoughts were interrupted by Declan’s gentle gaze. “Declan is good to me. As for ‘The One That Got Away,’ I’ve never met her.” Sometimes I narcissistically wonder if I’m his ‘The One That Got Away.’ After seeing him kill, I doubt his kindness stems from love. That would be too absurd. “Declan, your wife really defends you in front of others.” The speaker looked familiar, but I couldn’t remember who it was. Ever since Declan confined me at home, my memory has become increasingly jumbled. “This is Ethan Carter; he used to pursue you.” Really? He’s quite handsome and sunny, but he doesn’t seem like someone who would get along with Declan. “Has Phoebe really forgotten about me?” I didn’t know how to respond. “It’s been a while since you’ve seen each other, so it’s normal for Nora not to remember you.” Declan helped me out, but I wasn’t happy at all. If only Ethan could help me escape. Declan is a great cook. When I have no appetite, he always learns new recipes. “Nora, I didn’t expect you to have the best food among us sisters.” “Yeah, our senior is tall, handsome, a big boss, and a great cook. Let us enjoy this for a few days, good sister.” I wish, but I can’t even make it out the door before Declan catches me. Sometimes I feel ungrateful. Why am I not satisfied with such a great man? But he’s a murderer! I need to be alive to enjoy it, and I’m not that lucky.

Something still feels off. Declan didn’t give me a phone or a computer, but he never said I couldn’t use his. So why did I take a phone with no internet? I’m baffled by my own stupidity. “Declan, why don’t I have a computer or phone?” Youth has no price; I questioned my husband face-to-face. Oh, he said I gave him my phone and computer myself and told him not to give them back. But why do I have no memory of this? I probably need to see a doctor. When I powered up the phone, there were several missed calls from unknown numbers. Then there was a call from six months ago. The contact was labeled “Trash.” I’m a polite person; why would I label someone like that? Declan seemed to notice my confusion and told me it was my blind ex. Okay, I was skeptical. “Do you want to go out tomorrow? I have a business trip coming up, and I want to take you with me.” Is he afraid to leave me alone at home? Fine, let’s go. Staying in this house all the time isn’t good for my condition. The coastal place is hot, but the scenery is nice. Declan said it was a business trip, but it felt more like a vacation. He took me out every day, like walking a dog. “Ma’am, your husband, Declan Morgan, is suspected of being involved in a disappearance case. We may need you to come with us.” Did the police find something? I cooperated fully. I thought I would be free if I answered the police’s questions properly. But they only asked about Declan’s whereabouts after he confined me. Wasn’t he always with me? How could he be a suspect? Why can’t the police see that Declan illegally imprisoned me? On the way back home, I looked at Declan with a hint of doubt. Maybe he already guessed what I was thinking. We had lived here for half a month. It was time to leave. A sudden incident stopped us, which was really frustrating. My ex-husband had been missing for a long time, and I hadn’t contacted him since our divorce. But my former in-laws didn’t see it that way. They confronted Declan, demanding to know where their precious son was. It’s laughable. Even now, they don’t see me as a person. I was like a stray dog they took in. “Uncle, Aunt, you must be mistaken. I’ve already divorced your son. His whereabouts have nothing to do with me.” Naturally, I didn’t want to deal with them. “When you contacted me, it wasn’t to bully my wife. As for your son, I’ve heard rumors; he’s probably long gone.” What was Declan talking about? How did he know Finn? Finn’s parents were angry, and his mother raised her hand to slap. As disgusting as ever. “If Finn played around so much, he probably ran into trouble and went to meet his maker.” Declan dared to say it. But it’s the truth—Finn is dead. When he died, I even set off fireworks to celebrate.

Finn’s parents are convinced we know where their son is. They’re constantly hounding us, almost moving into our house, but Declan remains unfazed. After all, the man is dead; show some compassion to his parents. Ethan’s arrival brought me some relief. Ethan served in the military for a few years, and I inexplicably felt admiration and trust for him. “Aren’t you ever going to tell her?” Outside, it was quiet, and Ethan’s voice was jarring. I held my breath for a long time, but Declan didn’t respond. When I opened the door, Declan’s expression returned to the gentle one I knew. All that was left for me was Ethan, red-faced. Angry? Ethan seemed surprised I was awake, cautiously watching me. Of course, I had to pretend I knew nothing. I casually asked Declan to warm up a cup of milk for me. As Declan headed to the kitchen, it was just Ethan and me sitting across from each other on the sofa. After days of subtle probing, I knew by now that Declan would indulge my every whim, as long as it didn’t mean sending him away. Just as Sunny said, he loves me deeply. “Ethan, Sunny mentioned you once pursued me, but I can’t recall it.” Ethan’s face turned pale abruptly. It seemed like there was more to the story. “You know my ex-husband,” I stated firmly. Ethan was startled by my assertion. His bright eyes stared at me, revealing nothing of what he might be thinking. The milk was delightful, and so was Declan. Ethan quickly composed himself and started discussing Finn’s parents with Declan. It turned out that Ethan had already asked his cousin, the bureau chief, to arrange our return. Ethan still had his uses. Despite it being the height of summer, I found myself breaking out in a cold sweat.

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“Have you made a decision?” Ryan tapped the contract on the table. “You might end up staying in the UK indefinitely.” I gave a wry smile. On the day Asher proposed to me, his long-lost love was hospitalized. Asher rushed off to the hospital from the proposal, leaving me to handle the guests and journalists on my own. At that moment, my heart broke completely. Without hesitation, I signed my name on the contract. “You’ll be flying to the UK in three days. The branch there will take care of your accommodation and meals. Will you be ready?” “Plenty of time, thank you.” As I left the law firm, I let out a deep sigh. Asher, you let me down. (1) Three days ago, Asher proposed to me. Jasper rented an entire stretch of coastline, arranged a grand fireworks display, as if to announce to the world he was marrying the girl he loved. Jasper knelt down before me and asked, “Lily, will you marry me?” His eyes were red, and his hand trembled slightly as he held the ring. “I will!” I managed to say through my tears. His eyes flickered, and he let out a relieved breath. Jasper slipped the ring onto my finger and gently embraced me. Amidst the cheers and blessings, I heard him whisper in my ear, “The result…” “The result?” A brief moment of panic passed, and I heard him say, “The result is you, that’s wonderful…” I smiled, wiping away the tears at the corners of his eyes, feeling that he truly loved me. But just as I was basking in happiness, Asher’s phone rang at the worst possible moment. I glanced at the screen; it was an unfamiliar number. “Jasperllo?” Asher answered in a different tone. “What did you say!? I’ll be right there!” he said, quickly ending the call. “What…” “Lily, there’s a problem at work, I’m sorry! I have to go!” Asher interrupted me, jumped into his car, and drove off without looking back, leaving the journalists and audience puzzled, speculating on his sudden departure. I smiled awkwardly, explaining he had an emergency, that he was busy with work. The crowd dispersed, skeptical, as if the grand and absurd drama had ended, marking the beginning of a tragedy. Exhausted, I returned to the villa, waiting until the middle of the night for Asher to come back, reeking of alcohol. “What happened?” I approached him, only to be pulled into his arms. I froze, detecting an unfamiliar perfume on him. “So good… so good…” Jasper murmured into my neck, his emotions unclear. I helped him to bed and received two messages on my phone. One was from Ryan, asking if I wanted to work at the overseas branch, promising a good future but requiring a long-term stay abroad. The other was a photo from a friend at the hospital. In the photo, a girl with black hair and a white dress was hugged tightly by Asher, as if he feared losing her. Caption: Is this your boyfriend? I was thunderstruck. Yes, it was the man who had just proposed to me. The woman in his arms was Emily, his childhood friend, whom everyone said once saved his life by donating blood after a car accident. But in truth, Emily fainted from fear, and it was I, accompanying my mom on duty, who donated the blood. That day was July 23rd. All of Asher’s passwords are 0723. I planned to tell him the truth on the day of his proposal, thinking he would love me more. Looking back, I was wrong. I looked at the man who had just proposed to me, wondering if he was hoping Emily would come back when he was waiting for my answer. Did he regret proposing to me when he rushed to Emily? Did Asher ever truly like me? As these thoughts intertwined, my mind was unexpectedly clear. I replied to my friend saying I knew, and told Ryan I would consider the overseas position. Then, exhausted, I put away my phone, crafting a plan in my mind. The next day, Asher woke up exhausted and walked into the living room. I handed him a glass of warm water. “Drink,” I said coldly. Asher, looking guilty, said, “Thanks… um…” “You drank too much yesterday,” I cut him off. “Sorry.” Jasper gently hugged me, but this embrace lacked the sincerity and love he had shown Emily. “Now, can you tell me what happened?” Asher’s eyes flickered like he didn’t know how to start. As we stood there, the doorbell rang. “Asher!” A sweet voice accompanied by the click of high heels approached—it was Emily. She boldly opened the door herself! “0723, I can’t believe you still use that date as a password after all these years.” Emily gave me a malicious look, “This is Lily? She’s beautiful.” “Lily, this is Emily, she’s my… friend.” I looked at Emily dragging a suitcase in and smiled slightly, “A good friend, I see. No wonder she knows the house password, and you left the proposal to see her.” “Don’t blame Asher, Lily. I came back to the country yesterday and accidentally got into a car accident. Asher came to see me out of friendship.” Emily leaned closer to Asher, acting pitifully. “I didn’t know you and Ms. Emily had such a special bond?” Emily, pretending to be surprised, hooked her arm around Asher’s, “You didn’t know? When we were kids, Asher had a car accident, and I was the one who donated blood to save him. That day was July 23rd.” Asher turned to look at Emily with a tenderness I had never experienced. A classic case of someone taking over, Asher silently allowed Emily’s transgression. My heart grew colder. “Sorry, Lily. I just got back and haven’t found a suitable place to stay, so I have to stay here for a while, is that okay, Asher?” She looked up at Asher, smiling sweetly, as if I was the outsider. “Of course!” Asher responded swiftly, not even glancing at me, let alone asking for my consent. At that moment, I lost all hope. “Well, then, you two talk. I have work at the law firm.” I walked out without looking back, dialing Ryan. “Draft the contract, I’m going to the UK.” (2) “Have you made up your mind?” Ryan tapped the contract again. “I just heard you got proposed to yesterday. If I had known, I would have…” Ryan scratched his head, annoyed. “No, I should thank you,” I interrupted him, signing my name on the contract. “As long as you’re sure, three days later you’ll fly to the UK. Everything will be arranged by the branch there. Will you manage?” “More than enough.” I left the law firm, raising my hand to shield my eyes from the sun, noticing the glaring diamond ring on my ring finger. I took it off in disgust, hesitating whether to throw it away. “Fancy meeting you here.” A pair of leather shoes stopped in front of me. “Running into each other so soon?” I looked up into a pair of captivating bright eyes, a handsome face with a delighted smile. “Jasper?” I said in surprise. “After all these years, aren’t you going to give me a hug?” I smiled wryly, but before I could refuse, Jasper pulled me into a hug. It was a strong embrace, filled with complex emotions, and I cried uncontrollably. Was it the same kind of hug Asher gave Emily? Jasper and I were high school classmates. His family runs a family business, and he went abroad after graduation. We hadn’t kept in touch much these years. I fulfilled my dream of becoming an international lawyer, and I thought we’d gone our separate ways until today. At the café, Jasper handed me two tissues. “You scared me. Why the sudden tears? Who bullied our Lawyer Lily?” My nose was stuffy, and I didn’t answer his question, changing the subject instead. “What brings you back suddenly?” “Not suddenly. Your law firm’s UK branch is handling my company’s IPO business, so I came to meet my partners.” Jasper smiled at me, “Impressive Lawyer Lily, looking forward to working together.” I couldn’t help but laugh. Jasper spoke, “Feeling better now?” “Mm?” “You’re hiding something from me, aren’t you going to share?” Jasper crossed his arms, looking like he had seen through everything. “You can’t hide it from me.” Just as I was contemplating whether to speak, a piercing female voice interrupted. “Oh, isn’t this Lily? What are you doing here?” Emily? What’s she doing here? “What are you doing here?” Emily was accompanied by a visibly angry Asher. “Who are you?” Asher’s sharp gaze fell on Jasper sitting across from me. “Me? Jasper.” Jasper leaned back lazily yet authoritatively, the tension between them was palpable. “I’m just saying, Lily, Asher proposed to you yesterday, and today you’re out with another man? That’s not good, is it?” The crowd murmured, until someone spoke from the crowd. “Jasper? Is that the Jasper from the Bennett family…” Emily? What is she doing here? “What are you doing here?” Asher, standing next to Emily, looked visibly angry. “And who might you be?” Asher’s piercing eyes zeroed in on Jasper, sitting across from me. “Who, me? I’m Jasper.” Jasper leaned back in his chair, exuding a laid-back yet commanding presence, creating an air of tension between them. “Honestly, Sister Lily, Asher just proposed to you yesterday, and today you’re meeting another man? Isn’t that inappropriate?” The crowd murmured until a few voices rose above the rest. “Jasper? Could it be the Jasper family…?” “Oh! Now I remember! Jasper’s the CEO whose company is doing remarkably well overseas!” Jasperaring this, Emily and Asher looked visibly uncomfortable, unsure of how to respond. “Mr. Jasper is my client. Is there an issue, Miss Emily?” I asked coldly, raising my voice. “An An means no harm; she’s just concerned about your reputation. Don’t misunderstand her intentions.” Asher lowered his voice, trying to defuse the situation. Reputation, right? I smiled, knowing the real troublemaker was right in front of me. “I’m quite curious,” Jasper chimed in. “As Miss Emily mentioned, Mr. Asher proposed to Lawyer Ye yesterday, and today Lawyer Ye met me for business. So, Mr. Asher, why are you here with another woman just a day after your proposal?” Jasper’s smile was icy as he glanced at Asher. “I’m Asher’s…” Emily started. “I wasn’t asking you.” Jasper interrupted her sharply, his expression turning cold. “Why would a colleague call someone ‘brother’ so affectionately?” someone in the crowd remarked. “She’s a cousin,” Asher lied. “She’s just my sister~~,” another guest added sarcastically. I tried hard not to smile. Jasper smiled, satisfied. “I see. Well, Mr. Jasper and I have some business to discuss. If there’s nothing else, please excuse us.” Staying any longer would be impolite. Emily’s mouth twitched, her ears turning red. “I’ll wait for you at home,” Asher said, pulling Emily away, restoring the calm. Jasper noticed my barely concealed smile and seemed in good spirits. “You probably guessed what’s going on,” I said, looking at him. “Yeah, I pretty much figured it out.” Jasper turned to me. “Let me share some good news.” “Oh?” “I know Emily.” “You know her?” I leaned in, surprised. “She didn’t seem to recognize you earlier.” “Well, I know her family and some of her scandals, which might be useful to you.” I looked at Jasper with anticipation. “Lilyt to know?” “Yes.” “I’ll tell you, but I have one condition.” “What is it?” “Be my girlfriend.”

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My business partner secretly sabotaged my company, pushing me to the brink of ruin. Meanwhile, my wife, who should have been my closest ally, stood by and watched coldly. I hit rock bottom, exhausted and broken. My cash flow dried up, and years of hard work were destroyed in an instant. To my shock, I saw my wife embracing my business partner intimately at the company. I begged her to help me find a way out, but she replied with annoyance: “I’m not interested in what you’re saying. Your problems are such a headache!” But what they were trampling underfoot was my last hope. In the end, that hope was crushed beyond repair. As I wept over my ruined business, I saw my partner’s latest social media update: “Enjoying a thrilling night with a married woman. So exciting!” I instantly recognized the alluring figure in the glamorous dress as my wife. That night, I called a number I hadn’t dialed in years: “Dad, I’m giving up on my entrepreneurial dream. I’ve booked a flight home in ten days to take over the family business.”

Emily stormed into our home, shouting angrily: “You’re the only one moping around here! Why do I have to come home in broad daylight to see your miserable face?” “So your business failed, is it really that bad? If you can’t handle this little setback, are you even a man?” “Mark didn’t intentionally put you in a difficult position. Do you have to cut ties with him over this small matter?” I laughed bitterly, overwhelmed with grief and anger. Since she came in, she hadn’t even glanced at me or offered a single word of comfort. Instead, she was berating me for distancing myself from Mark, as if she felt sorry for him. He had deliberately manipulated the contract, causing me to fall from the top to rock bottom. Not only that, but he had also left me with nothing. My entrepreneurial dream could never be realized now! Seeing my grim expression, she finally approached me, halfheartedly glancing at my haggard face, and softened her tone: “Honey, if the business failed, just start over. Once you recover, you can keep working hard!” “Didn’t you always want to become a business tycoon? You need to pull yourself together!” I laughed coldly inside. This was the woman I had loved and cherished for seven years, yet at this moment, she seemed like a complete stranger! I coldly observed her. Emily was wearing an elegant suit and high heels. Apart from her new smartphone, she hadn’t brought anything else. It seemed she had only come to check on me briefly, with no intention of staying to keep me company. Emily felt uncomfortable under my gaze and realized something. “Honey, you’re just facing a small problem that you can solve on your own. I have a party to attend tomorrow, so I won’t be staying here with you tonight.” A small problem? If she cared about me even a little, she would have noticed my utter despair when my career collapsed. But she didn’t. She was too busy entangling with Mark, leaving me to struggle in pain. While I was running around trying to save the company, she was putting on sexy lingerie to enjoy the thrill of an affair with Mark. My heart turned cold, and I asked disappointedly: “So, you just came to check on me? Did you want to see if I was dead yet?” Emily’s face darkened, and she snapped: “Jack, what are you talking about? What do you mean by checking if you’re dead? We’ve been married for seven years, is this how you see me?” I smirked sarcastically. “Since you’ve seen me, you can go now.” Emily didn’t leave. Instead, she raised her phone to my face. “When you offended all your business friends, Mark’s wife happened to get the news and came over. I was at the company working overtime with Mark, discussing the next project plan.” “His wife misunderstood our relationship. You need to quickly record a video to clarify things and explain to her.” She said this with a completely natural expression, as if she and Mark were truly innocent. “What do you want me to explain?” Emily looked a bit embarrassed but still had to say it. “Well, when his wife came late at night, Mark and I were working on a new idea. Anyway, just explain that it was business-related material, that’s all!” As soon as she finished speaking, I suddenly remembered Mark’s social media post mentioning his plans to spend a sweet night with a married woman. I immediately understood. They had been caught in the act of having an affair by Mark’s wife. How dare she ask me to help her clear things up! Seeing Emily’s now unfamiliar face, I could no longer contain my emotions. I let out a hysterical roar and swatted the phone out of her hand.

Even now, I couldn’t believe Emily had really cheated on me. We had been married for seven years. I was afraid she might suffer even the slightest hardship with me, so I spoiled her rotten. She used to be an ordinary employee at the company. Seeing her struggling and often being excluded by colleagues, I asked Mark to make her my assistant. At first, Mark disagreed, but when I offered to deduct her salary from my own wages, he finally agreed. I didn’t lack money; I started my business just to realize my own value. But my parents, in an attempt to force me to return home and take over the family business, cut off my financial support. Later, I gave up an arranged marriage to marry Emily, which caused another rift with my parents. I haven’t been in contact with them for three years now. To give Emily a better life, I worked day and night. When I got home, I would do the housework, truly treating her like a queen. But now, she had betrayed me. During my bankruptcy and downfall, she was having an affair with Mark in the company office, and now she wanted me to explain it away for her. Why should I? What right did she have to treat me like this? Anger rushed to my head, and at this moment, I could no longer control myself. I exposed her on the spot. “Emily, do you take me for a fool? Don’t think I don’t know about your dirty business with Mark!” Emily was stunned, then picked up her handbag and hit me hard on the head with it. “Jack, you’ve grown some nerve! How dare you point your finger at me and speak to me in such a loud voice!” I had already suffered a heavy blow in the business world during the day, and I was physically and mentally exhausted. I felt dizzy and sick. She hit my head so hard that I felt like I was about to pass out. Even though I tried to maintain my composure, the pain in my heart still came like a flood. I was in so much pain that I could barely breathe, gritting my teeth hard. “You knew about us, yet you still called that old woman over! You deliberately wanted to embarrass me, didn’t you?” “You useless piece of trash, why didn’t you just die from bankruptcy today!” “Mark is from a rich family. It’s your honor that he’s interested in your wife! Do you think he gave you so many business opportunities because of your few lousy business ideas?” “Hurry up and record that clarification video for me. If Mark isn’t happy at home, don’t think you’ll have an easy time at home either!” I was hit so hard that I felt dizzy, my heart aching as if it was about to break. Using my good hand, I grabbed Emily’s arm tightly and threw her to the side. I had never been as angry as I was at this moment, my voice almost tearing my throat: “Emily, you’re just Mark’s used-up plaything! You have a husband, and he has a wife. You two doing such shameless things, how can you face me?” “Now you want me to clarify things for him? What should I clarify? That you two are having an affair?” Emily fell to the ground, looking at me in disbelief. I had never spoken a harsh word to her before, and she didn’t expect that I actually had a temper. She became furious with embarrassment and pointed at me angrily: “Jack, you can insult me, but you have no right to insult Mark!” She waved her new smartphone and the clothes she was wearing. “If it weren’t for Mark, could I live such a good life? Your little income is barely enough to make ends meet. How could I hold my head high in front of my friends?” “When I first met you, you dressed decently and were willing to spend money on me. I thought you were quite rich, but it turns out it was all for show! Did you trick me into marrying you just to make me suffer and struggle with you?” “Jack, you deceived me first by pretending to be rich! Why should I, Emily, have to live a hard life with you? I haven’t asked for a divorce for the sake of our child, you should be grateful for that!” She stood up in front of me, looking down at me arrogantly and smugly: “But you need to understand something! From now on, when Mark and I are intimate, you stay far away. Don’t interfere with our good times!” “I really don’t want to look at you for another second now. Seeing your pathetic face makes me angry!” At this moment, Emily’s phone rang. She picked it up and looked at it, a smile involuntarily appearing on her face. When she turned to look at me again, her expression darkened: “Record the clarification video yourself and send it to me. Mark needs me for something urgent, I have to go!” With that, she slammed the door and left. I was shaking with anger, waves of pain washing over my heart. I got up, wanting to chase after Emily and argue with her, but as soon as I stood up, I fell heavily to the ground. I buried my head in my knees, letting out bursts of painful cries. Seven years of marriage, I had given her my heart and soul, but she had stabbed me in the back! She not only trampled on my true feelings but also on my dignity! In her heart, I was just a lowly, humble piece of trash, while Mark was her beloved! I laughed coldly. So every time she stayed late at the office under the pretext of discussing plans for me, she was actually having an affair with Mark in the office! No wonder she always made excuses about being tired and wouldn’t let me touch her. Even when she agreed once after my repeated begging, it was just perfunctory. But when she was having an affair with Mark, she played so uninhibitedly, so shamelessly! I punched the ground hard, gritting my teeth, tasting blood in my mouth. I really wanted to rush to the company right now and beat this pair of scoundrels to death, then jump from the top of the building! But I couldn’t. I still have an adorable son. He’s only six years old. I can’t let him become an orphan at such a young age. Thinking of the son I had raised single-handedly, tears streamed down my face. He was so sweet and sensible. I lay back on the sofa. I need to get out of this predicament quickly, then take my son away from here.

After staying at home for seven days, Emily never showed her face again. Except for urging me a few times to record a clarification video for her, she didn’t say a single word of concern for me. The last bit of hope in my heart was wiped away. I decided to pull myself together and start looking for new opportunities. In two more days, I would take my son and leave this place. When I returned home, Emily wasn’t there. My mother-in-law had been helping to look after my son these past few days. When she saw me come back, she gave me a disgusted look. “It’s just a business failure, yet you’ve been staying at home for seven days. What a pathetic man!” I ignored her. When I first got together with Emily, she was quite satisfied with me. Later, to marry Emily, I had a falling out with my family, and my parents cut off my financial support. But I had always been working hard, trying my best to give Emily the best life, and I was always respectful to my mother-in-law. I don’t know when it started, but they changed, becoming more and more disdainful of me. Thinking about it now, it probably started when Emily got involved with Mark. She suddenly started spending money lavishly. I was too trusting of her and our relationship. I should have noticed her affair earlier. But it’s too late to say anything now. Seeing me with a gloomy face, my mother-in-law snorted coldly. “Comparisons really do make people miserable!” My heart skipped a beat. Did she know about Emily’s affair? Remembering that Emily often took our son to stay at her parents’ house, I realized my mother-in-law had been covering for their affair all along! Poor son of mine, ending up with such a mother and grandmother. My son, hearing my voice, rushed out from the bedroom. Then he said disappointedly: “Oh, it’s just Dad. I thought Mom had finally come back!” “Grandma, when will Mom and Uncle Mark come back? I can’t wait to get my gifts!” I turned my head to look at my mother-in-law. Her face became unnatural, and she guiltily turned away. During these few days while I was at home, Emily had been fooling around with Mark the whole time. But I didn’t want to say these things in front of my son. Children are innocent. I picked up my son and asked softly: “What gift does my baby want? Dad will buy it for you!” But my son pouted: “I don’t want anything from you! You’re so poor, what good gifts could you buy? Uncle Mark always brings me limited edition toys from abroad!” My heart turned cold, and I gently put my son down. He ran to my mother-in-law’s side and continued to ask when Emily would come back. Then my son pointed at me, using the same disdainful tone as my mother-in-law: “Grandma, didn’t you say Uncle Mark is my real dad? Why does this dad still come back?” “What real dad?” I looked at my son in disbelief. What did he just say? The son I had raised single-handedly actually despised me and wanted to acknowledge Mark as his father? Wasn’t he closest to me? After staying with his grandmother for just a few days, he was ready to accept an impostor as his father! What did he mean by Mark being his real dad? “Uncle Mark and I both had blood tests. Grandma said the paternity test report shows Uncle Mark is my real dad.” Hearing this, I couldn’t help but laugh, and then as I laughed, tears started falling. My heart suddenly ached sharply, and I laughed at myself for being a complete fool! Looking at my son’s face that increasingly resembled Mark’s, I understood everything at once. I had been raising someone else’s son for six years! I silently went back to the bedroom, packed all my things into a suitcase, and left this home without looking back. I sent a message to my lawyer, asking him to handle the divorce case fully. Emily was the one at fault, and I would make sure she got nothing! Then I sent the evidence of her affair with Mark to Mark’s wife. On the day I called my parents, they resumed their financial support for me. I checked into a hotel and turned off my phone to get a good night’s sleep. The next day, I set off on my journey home.

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I, Ava Lancaster, went to pick up my car at the wash only to find a box of condoms and two pieces of paper stuck under the wiper. I was furious, my face burning. When I looked at the papers, I felt like I was going to throw up. One was a close-up photo of a man’s private parts, and the other was a WhatsApp QR code. The message that came with it read: [Hey, rich lady, take a look at me. I’m young and capable.] I sneered and immediately sent his contact info to every loan shark platform I could find. I thought, “You want to play, huh? Let’s see how many lives you’ve got to risk!” After work, I happily went to the car wash to pick up my car. But when I got in, I found these things under the wiper. Frowning, I used a stick to carefully remove the box of condoms, but when I did, the contents slowly leaked out of the box, carrying a strange smell with them. “Ugh. ” I turned away, gagging. What the hell was this? Pinching my nose, I used the stick to open the two pieces of paper. When I saw what was on them, I dropped the stick in shock. I snapped a photo in anger, planning to go to the car wash and demand an explanation. I came here often. The one who washed my car was a young girl named Isabella Mason, the boss’ daughter. She was good at her job and always greeted me warmly. In casual chats, I learned that she was only about 17 or 18 and had dropped out of school early. I felt sorry for her, so I decided to support her business, bringing my car here every few days. Over time, we became regulars, and she called me Ava while I called her Isabella. Besides her, there were occasionally one or two men around, probably her dad, Henry Mason, and her brother, Luke Mason. The place was small, and when I showed up, a few cars were already waiting. Isabella was still wearing her black work uniform, smiling as she chatted with customers while washing cars. When she saw me, she smiled and said, “Ava, your car is parked outside, just like usual. You only need to pay me 30 bucks.” Her smile was contagious, but I couldn’t bring myself to smile. I pursed my lips. “Got a minute? I need to talk to you about something. Let’s find somewhere quiet.” She must have noticed how serious my expression was because she quickly called her brother, Luke, to help her with the car washing. Luke, clearly not wanting to get up, groaned and reluctantly dragged himself out of the lounge chair. “What a waste of time. You want me to help with something so simple? Pathetic!”

I frowned, confused. How could someone as nice as Isabella have such a brother? Isabella shot me an apologetic glance, then gently tugged at Luke’s shirt, speaking quietly, “Luke, stop. Ava needs to talk to me.” Luke looked at me. Then his eyes slowly wandered up and down my body, eventually stopping at my chest. He smiled and rubbed his chin, giving me a lecherous look that made my stomach turn. I glared at him, furious. “If you keep looking at me like that, I’ll take your eyes out!” I had a bad temper, and I wasn’t about to let this slide. The tension between us grew thick, and other people nearby started to notice and gather around. Isabella quickly stepped in front of me. Luke gave me a dismissive glance, then rolled his eyes. “You’re wearing this to make us look, aren’t you? Isn’t this all to attract men?” I felt a wave of anger rush to my chest as I glanced at my outfit, a short-sleeve top and a long skirt. Isabella turned bright red, almost in tears, and grabbed Luke’s sleeve. “Luke, stop! Ava is one of our regulars!” Luke didn’t show an ounce of remorse. Instead, he shoved Isabella to the ground with one arm and pointed at her, cursing. “You good-for-nothing, shut up! Crying like a baby, did your mom die or something? You want me to beat you to death? So what if she’s a regular? Who knows how she got that car? Looks like she’s selling herself to afford it!” With that, he pretended to raise his arm, and Isabella instinctively shielded her head, trembling on the ground, crying softly. I furrowed my brows, so angry that I almost wanted to twist his head off and kick it like a ball. Around us, people started whispering, “This guy’s got no shame! He’s hitting his own sister and cursing his own mother to death!” “Ugh, when did we have such scumbags among men?” Someone spat on the ground. Luke heard them, and his face turned gloomy and angry. He slammed his water gun on the ground and yelled at the crowd, “You sons of bitches! What the hell are you talking about?” He got even more worked up, swearing nonstop, and practically cursed out everyone in the store. Isabella quickly tried to calm him down, warning that if he kept it up, they’d lose all their customers. But he just waved her off and slapped Isabella across the face. “Shut the hell up! This is my damn store! Who the hell are you, a loser, to talk back? I’ll do whatever I want!” Most people didn’t want to get involved and decided to leave. They drove off with grumpy faces. Isabella hurried after them, apologizing profusely. In the end, only a few of us were left standing there. “Ugh, just two or three people? Get to work, or what, you gonna sit at home doing nothing?” he spat, waving his hand before storming off to the back room to play on his phone. He slouched on a chair, scrolling through some questionable videos, drooling all over himself. Isabella wiped her tears and silently picked up the water gun, getting back to work. I felt a little bad for her, but I didn’t say anything. I knew that in a family like hers unless she helped herself, no one else could pull her out. Isabella quickly pulled herself together, smiling as she asked, “Ava, you were about to talk to me about something earlier, but I couldn’t leave. If you still want to, go ahead and say it now.” I nodded and gently asked, “Isabella, did anyone suspicious come by the store today?”

“No, not at all,” she replied right away. I nodded, already pretty sure about the answer. If she hadn’t seen anyone suspicious, then it had to be someone she knew. I glanced over at Luke, then took out my phone and showed her a photo. “I found these in the car when I picked it up earlier. Do you know who left them there?” I stared at her, watching her reaction. She froze for a second, instinctively looking toward Luke. Then she looked away, her eyes shifting nervously, and after a long pause, she muttered, “I don’t know, but I’ll wash your car again right away, Ava. Please don’t be mad.” She gave me a pleading look, and I didn’t say anything more. I just nodded and stood by, watching her work. The water from the gun soaked her through, her clothes completely drenched. Her eyes earlier had already given it away. It was Luke who did it. As for why she was covering for him, I could guess. She probably didn’t want to make a scene and mess with the business. Confronting someone like Luke head-on was definitely risky, so I thought for a while before coming up with a better way to get back at him. I posted his QR code on a bunch of different platforms. Study abroad, insurance, renting houses, loans, male infertility treatment, funeral services. Not long after, Luke’s angry voice echoed from the back. “You bastard, who the hell’s dying in my family? Get the hell away from me! “I told you, don’t post any funeral stuff, you dumbasses!” He hung up, only for the phone to ring again a moment later. “Study abroad? You think I’m paying for that? Get the hell out!” Watching him rage like that, I finally felt some satisfaction. A while later, there was some noise at the door. A middle-aged woman was carrying a drunken man inside. The man was mumbling nonsense as they stumbled in. Isabella rushed forward. “Mom, you just got out of the hospital, and your wound isn’t even healed yet! How can you be carrying Dad like this? Put him down now, or your wound will tear open again!” I understood immediately. Isabella’s mother had just been discharged from the hospital, but her father was one of those unreliable men, drunk again and needing his sick wife to drag him back. Chloe smiled and patted her daughter’s head. “The wound’s healed, sweetie. I know I was in the hospital for a while, and you had to take care of the car wash shop on your own. You must be exhausted. Now that I’m back, I’ll help you out.” Isabella’s eyes glistened with tears. She shook her head and said, “Mom, just focus on taking care of yourself.” Chloe Mason sighed, “I’m getting old, not as useful anymore. I’m in and out of the hospital, dragging the family down. And it’s wearing you out.” Earlier, I had been wondering why Isabella put up with her brother’s bullying and didn’t leave her family. Now, I understood, it was because of her mother. I pretended to play with my phone, but I was secretly keeping an eye on them. Henry was holding a bottle of liquor in his right hand, stumbling along with Isabella’s support. As they passed me, Henry shoved Isabella aside. “Who’s this gorgeous lady? Heh, let me touch.”

I was startled and quickly stepped back. But he came at me even more aggressively, grinning maliciously. “This girl’s got some spunk. Running away? Let me show you how I catch you!” At that moment, Luke whistled at me and cheered. “Dad, nice job! This girl’s got a lot to offer.” The whole family acted like they were out of their minds. It was broad daylight, and they dared to act like this! I looked around. The few customers who had been waiting had already left. Panicked, I ran toward my car, hoping to drive off quickly. Suddenly, someone grabbed me from behind. The sickening feeling made my whole body tremble. Luke’s voice was in my ear. “Dad! Come here, I’ve got her.” A sharp pang of fear gripped my chest, and tears instantly filled my eyes. I struggled desperately to break free, but it was useless. Soon, my body’s instinct to protect itself kicked in, and I lost all strength. My body went stiff, and I felt completely helpless, unable to resist. I immediately looked at Isabella and Chloe, crying out for help. They were frozen in place, clearly terrified by what was happening. Henry, clearly pleased with himself, stumbled toward us, praising Luke for his good work. I was frozen in fear, panic flooding my mind. I kept screaming and struggling. “Let go of me! What you’re doing is illegal!” Luke and his dad exchanged a look, then chuckled, “Illegal? We’re not doing anything serious. A few days in jail, and we’ll be out. “And you’re not even resisting. Deep down, you’re probably enjoying this, huh? Playing hard to get,” they mocked. Each word hit me like a slap to the face. I cursed them in my mind. “To hell with enjoying it. I’m terrified, which is why my body’s frozen like this!”

Just then, a loud thud sounded, and Henry fell in front of me. Isabella had rushed up and shoved him to the ground. I seized the moment and broke free from Luke’s grip. Luke didn’t hesitate. He raised his arm and slapped Isabella across the face with all his might. “You damn troublemaker, trying to ruin everything! You think I won’t kill you?” Isabella covered her face and shouted at me, “Ava, run!” I scrambled to my feet and quickly bolted toward my car. Luke tried to stop me, but Isabella held him back, and I could hear them arguing behind me. Once I got into the car, I shifted into gear, my fingers trembling. In the rearview mirror, I saw Isabella desperately grabbing Luke’s leg. Luke kicked her several times, and she fell to the ground like a beaten dog. But she didn’t let go of his leg. My heart surged with warmth for her. As I drove onto the street, my whole body continued to shake uncontrollably. I gripped the steering wheel tight and swore to myself, “I will make them pay for this.” I instinctively drove to the police station, wanting to file a report. But in the end, I stopped in my tracks. “What could I report? Attempted assault? Or would they just charge him with indecent exposure? What punishment would he get? A fine of a few hundred dollars? A few days in detention?” I thought about the condoms and disgusting images in the car. Luke clearly wasn’t doing this for the first time. Even if I reported it now, they’d still find ways to harass other girls. Because we wore nice clothes, we were labeled as sluts. Because I bought the car I liked, they’d spread rumors that I made my money in the wrong way. Because I got a management position, they’d maliciously slander me, claiming I slept around to get ahead. I thought, “Is this really fair? These men’s perverted actions seem to have little consequence, so even their punishments are mild and meaningless. That’s not what I want. I want him to fear me, to never dare to do something like this again.” Standing in the elevator, I thought again about Isabella’s bloodied face in the rearview mirror. I wondered what had happened to her in the end. Maybe I could help her escape from that family if she was willing. A man in the elevator spoke, breaking my thoughts. He was on the phone, his tone furious. “I almost passed out today! Damn it, I drove my sister’s pink car to the car wash, and some idiot shoved a condom in the car! Only picking on young girls, huh? “Don’t let me find out who did it, or I’ll kill that bastard! “The guy at the car wash isn’t any better either. His sister’s been beaten up and is covered in bruises, but he’s still working, playing on his phone. “What kind of world is this? I’m done with it.” Looks like he was another victim of the same kind. The elevator doors opened, and the man walked out. Watching his back as he left, I got an idea of how to get back at them.

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My breakup with my girlfriend was ugly. The year she loved me the most, I accepted $500,000 from her father to make her abort our child and disappear. She knelt before me, crying and begging me not to be so cruel. She gave birth to our child in secret and left the baby at my rented apartment. She said she would hate me for the rest of her life. Six years later, when we met again, she had found a boyfriend from a similar background and was about to get married. I came to her in a desperate state, hoping to borrow some money. She forced me to attend her wedding, wanting me to witness her marrying another man. She asked if I regretted my actions. What she didn’t know was that I had been raising our child alone. That child was now sick and dying. Six years after our breakup, I ran into Emily again during the lowest point of my life. It was at a class reunion, and no one expected Emily to show up. Someone joked, “Emily, you never keep in touch with us. Why did you suddenly decide to come to the reunion this year?” “Did you hear Jack was coming and still have feelings for him?” I sat in the corner, my back suddenly stiffening as I looked up to see Emily coldly staring at me. Everyone knew how much Emily used to love me. She was the daughter of a wealthy family, but she fell in love with me at first sight. That year, she cut ties with her family for me, giving up everything just to be with me. We lived in a tiny rented apartment, sharing instant noodles and porridge, living a hard but happy life. Every passionate night, we held hands and vowed to be together forever. Until later, when she got pregnant. Her parents despised my background and were furious. They approached me privately, offering me $500,000 to force her to abort our child and leave her. That day, Emily knelt before me, begging me not to abandon her. She pleaded over and over, crying: “Jack! Jack… I don’t want anything else, I just want you. Let’s work hard together, earn many times that $500,000, and build our own home, okay?” “I’m begging you, don’t leave me, and don’t abandon our child…” Later, Emily secretly went to a private hospital to give birth to our child. She left the baby in front of my rented apartment, separated by a small door. I heard Emily say: “Jack, I’ll hate you for the rest of my life.” “You’ll never have a good day again.”

No one knew how ugly things got when Emily and I broke up. Someone pushed me towards Emily, laughing and asking her: “Emily, you used to love Jack so much you’d give up your life for him. How did you two end up breaking up?” Everyone was urging us to get back together. Emily’s best friend glanced at me and smirked: “There are plenty of guys chasing after Emily. Who does Jack think he is? Being with him was already a mistake. You think Emily would still pine for him?” She said there was a man who had been pursuing Emily for three years. That man was richer than me, more handsome, and more suitable to be Emily’s boyfriend. Emily had been dating him for three years, and her best friend highly approved of their relationship. Apparently, they were about to get married. Everyone’s laughter died down, with only Emily’s best friend still smiling, inviting everyone to attend Emily’s wedding. She tossed the invitation at me, hitting my face before falling into my lap. I lowered my head and saw Emily’s name on the invitation, next to another man’s name. The man’s name was William. Just from his name, you could tell he was a gentle and sophisticated person, someone suitable for Emily. I thought, he surely wouldn’t make Emily sad. After six years apart, reuniting like this, knowing Emily was doing well was enough. Fighting back the pain in my heart, I looked up and forced a casual tone, saying: “Congratulations.” Emily stared at me intently. Hearing my congratulations, she suddenly smiled. For a moment, I thought I saw a glimpse of the past when she used to look at me with a smile and say, “Jack, we must get married.” Only this time, she said, “Jack, don’t come to the wedding.” “My husband would be upset if he saw you, and I’d be heartbroken if he’s upset.” I clutched the thin, red invitation card, stunned for a moment. Smiling and nodding, I softly said, “Okay.” That day, everyone said Emily seemed to have truly fallen out of love with me. No one could have imagined how deeply we once loved each other. In the end, she was getting married, but the groom wasn’t me. Everyone thought Emily would always wait for me. Everyone was curious about who this William was, wondering how he had captivated Emily so completely. Knowing Emily didn’t want to see me anymore, I left the reunion early. On my way home, a friend sent me a photo of William. William looked handsome in the picture. I heard he was very caring, the type of man Emily really liked. My friend asked me, “Jack, don’t you think William’s profile looks a lot like yours?” “Do you think Emily might still love you? Is this really how it ends between you two?” I let out a soft sigh, stayed silent for a long time, then smiled and said, “It doesn’t matter. I don’t care.” I didn’t want to get entangled with Emily anymore. I thought she would never know. Our daughter was sick and dying.

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I fell and started bleeding profusely after shielding Lucas from a flying teacup, threatening my pregnancy. As the ambulance arrived, Lucas’s first love called, asking him to bring her some sanitary pads. Despite the paramedics’ objections, he insisted on leaving. “I’m not a doctor. It’s useless for me to stay here. Don’t be so dramatic,” he said coldly. “I’ll be back after I deliver these to Lily.” I fell and started bleeding after shielding Lucas Gray from a flying teacup. As the ambulance arrived, Lucas’s first love called, asking him to bring her some sanitary pads. Despite the paramedics’ objections, he insisted on leaving. “I’m not a doctor. It’s useless for me to stay here. Don’t be so dramatic,” he said coldly. “I’ll be back after I deliver these to Lily.” With those words, Lucas hurried across the street and hailed a taxi. I curled up in pain on the stretcher as the paramedics lifted me into the ambulance. Sharp pain spread through my abdomen, as if invisible hands were violently twisting my insides. I was drenched in cold sweat, unable to utter a word. The paramedics’ angry comments reached my ears. “What kind of person is he? His wife is in this condition, and he just runs off? What if we need a signature for surgery?” “Never seen anyone refuse to accompany their family member after calling an ambulance. What could be more important than your loved one’s life?” “A dog would be more loyal than that.” My own husband, willing to abandon his critically ill wife to buy sanitary pads for his first love. How ridiculous is that? Tears slid down my cheeks as I watched Lucas’s retreating figure through blurry vision. Then, I lost consciousness.

When I regained consciousness, four hours had passed. Lucas still hadn’t shown up. The hospital room was eerily quiet. I instinctively tried to sit up, but the sharp pain forced me back down. A nurse entered with an IV drip and quickly stopped me. “You just had a miscarriage surgery. Don’t move.” I froze, tears streaming down my face, blurring my vision. So, before I even had a chance to feel its presence, that little life had silently slipped away. Did the baby sense that its father didn’t care about it, and decide not to come into this world? The nurse tried to comfort me, “You’re still young. You can have children in the future.” I forced a smile, staring at the fluorescent light on the ceiling for a long time until my eyes hurt. Then I turned and picked up my phone from the bedside table. There were only work messages on it. Nothing else. Lucas had said he’d come back after delivering the sanitary pads to his first love. But he hadn’t appeared even after the surgery was over. A hint of mockery crossed my pale face. In his eyes, buying sanitary pads for his first love was more important than my life.

My relationship with Lucas was an accident. Years ago, my father, for the sake of a business deal, deliberately drugged me and sent me to the bed of a 50-year-old coal tycoon. After escaping with all my strength, I accidentally stumbled into Lucas’s room, where we ended up having sex. This scene was caught by the media and became trending news. My parents, of course, wouldn’t miss this opportunity to climb the social ladder. My father deliberately used the pressure from public opinion, and in the end, Lucas and I were forced to get married. Although he was like those pampered rich boys, arrogant and unruly, I thought this marriage was just a forced arrangement, maintaining only appearances, and would eventually end in divorce. When did things start to change? Perhaps it was the first time he stood up for me against his parents, shielding me like a protective lion. “She’s the wife of the Gray family. If you want to give her a hard time, you’ll have to go through me first,” he had said coldly. He would cancel all his appointments on my birthday to personally bake me a cake. He once rented hundreds of drones to form my name in the sky, lighting up fireworks across the entire city for a whole night. He took me on a motorcycle trip around the entire Northwest. Once, when I mentioned craving chestnuts, he made a special hour-long detour just to buy some for me. Although our relationship didn’t have a good start, it didn’t prevent us from enjoying a happy married life afterward. I thought our relationship would continue like this. But when did things change? I guess it was the day his childhood sweetheart returned from America after her divorce. That day, we had planned to attend a concert together. He stood me up. I waited stupidly in the cold wind for three hours until the concert ended, but he never showed up. It was the first time he had broken a promise since we got married. Later, I found out from online photos that he had gone to pick up his first love. After that, his first love would always “coincidentally” appear wherever we went – friend gatherings, movie nights, and so on. At first, I would question him, but he would always laugh it off carelessly, saying, “We’re just friends.” Eventually, I got used to it, even became numb to it. I even started counting down the days of our marriage.

Meanwhile, Lily posted on her social media: “During that special time of the month, I’m so glad you’re always here for me. Touched, heart emoji.” The picture showed a pack of sanitary pads and a man’s profile. The comments section was flooded: “Ooh, are you two… back together?” “Lucas still loves you after all.” In their circle of friends, Lily and Lucas were like Cinderella and Prince Charming. Although Lily was the daughter of his family’s former housekeeper, she had managed to climb the social ladder using her connection with Lucas. Everyone in their circle supported their relationship. However, as the Gray family was a top-tier company in the country, they would never allow their pride and joy to marry a housekeeper’s daughter. For them, girls from such backgrounds were fine for casual dating, but could never be welcomed into the Gray family. To prove herself, Lily had hastily married a wealthy suitor and moved abroad. It wasn’t until a month ago that she returned to the country after her divorce. I stared at that post for a long time. As I was about to exit, I accidentally liked it. The next second, Lucas called. Before I could speak, Lily’s voice came through the speaker. “Hey, sis! Are you okay now? I just found out that Lucas left you alone to buy me pads. That’s terrible! I’ve already scolded him for it. How could he treat you like that? I’m apologizing on his behalf.” Her words held no trace of sincerity; they sounded more like bragging. She then complained to Lucas, “It’s all your fault. How could you abandon her when she was in such danger? If anything had happened to her, I wouldn’t have forgiven you.” Lucas lazily replied, “The doctors were already there. I couldn’t have done much anyway. Besides, you were more urgent, weren’t you?”

Lily feigned embarrassment, “What are you saying? Don’t make your wife misunderstand.” Her tone couldn’t hide her smugness. I calmly spoke up, “Are you two done talking?” Lily continued in her coy voice, “Sis, Lucas and I are just friends. Please don’t misunderstand.” Before she could finish, Lucas’s lazy voice interrupted, “Why are you explaining? My wife isn’t that petty.” “Honey, you sound fine. I won’t come over tonight. Take care of yourself, and I’ll visit you in the morning, okay?” He made a kissing sound into the phone, “Love you!” The line went dead. I held the phone, frozen for a moment, before putting it down. I couldn’t help but laugh, but as I laughed, tears involuntarily streamed down my face. Tonight was supposed to be the usual Gray family dinner. During the meal, someone intentionally mentioned the recent trending photos of Lucas and Lily looking intimate. Mr. Gray warned him to be careful and not mess around outside. Lucas, seemingly deliberately defiant, raised an eyebrow and said nonchalantly, “Even if I wanted to divorce and marry her now, do you think you could stop me? You think I’m still the same Lucas you can push around?” Indeed, the Gray family was now entirely under Lucas’s control, and he had the power to protect whoever he wanted. His provocative attitude angered Mr. Gray, who threw his teacup at him in a fit of rage. As the cup was about to hit his face, I instinctively shielded him. The scalding tea poured down my back. Seeing this, Mr. Gray stormed off angrily. Lucas quickly pulled me towards him, trying to lift my clothes to examine the wound. I instinctively stepped back but tripped over a chair and fell to the ground. Intense pain suddenly overwhelmed me. He urgently called for an ambulance. Seeing his anxious gaze, I thought the old him had returned. I remembered when I accidentally cut my finger while cooking, and he anxiously dragged me to the hospital. The doctor had joked that if we’d arrived any later, the wound would have already healed. I instinctively gripped his arm tightly, unable to hold back a painful groan, “It hurts so much…” He kept comforting me, saying the ambulance would arrive soon, telling me not to be afraid. But unexpectedly, just as the ambulance arrived, he received a call from Lily and left without hesitation.

It wasn’t until the next morning that Lucas finally showed up. He brought my favorite dumplings, acting as if nothing had happened, and offered them to me. I didn’t take them, my eyes unconsciously glancing at the clock on the wall. It was already 10 AM. He followed my gaze and feigned sudden realization, “Lily wasn’t feeling well and couldn’t go out, so I delivered to her first. That’s why I’m late.” “Don’t worry, nothing happened between us.” He leaned closer with a mischievous smile, reaching out to stroke my hair. But the pungent jasmine perfume emanating from him made me want to vomit. I frowned and instinctively leaned away. Seeing this, his expression froze, and he opened his mouth as if to say something. I looked straight at him and said flatly, “Let’s get a divorce, Lucas.” His smile gradually faded, his face instantly darkening. His tone was filled with disbelief and incomprehension. “Just because I went to deliver sanitary pads to Lily? You want a divorce over such a small thing?” “You know I tricked her into the water back then, which caused her painful periods. Is it wrong for me to take care of her?” “She was worried you’d be upset about it, and she couldn’t sleep all night because of it.” I had heard before that when Lucas was young, he loved to play pranks. When he first met Lily, he tricked her into getting into the water, saying there was money in it. But it happened to be during her period, and ever since then, she experienced painful menstruation. In his view, I was just upset because he had abandoned me yesterday. And me? If I hadn’t shielded him from that teacup yesterday, I wouldn’t have miscarried and ended up in the hospital. As my husband, he didn’t even ask about my condition. Lucas looked at me with disappointment, as if I was being unreasonable. But I didn’t care anymore.

Lucas didn’t agree to the divorce and stormed off angrily. In his view, I was just throwing a tantrum, deliberately acting out. After all, without his protection, where could I find someone better? After that day, Lucas never contacted me again. He had always been the golden boy, used to being adored. He was waiting for me to apologize first. But how could that be possible?

After being discharged from the hospital, I contacted a lawyer to draft divorce papers. Then I rushed home to pack my luggage for a business trip. In my opinion, no matter how rich others are, it’s better to have your own money and capabilities. As I was going downstairs, Lucas’s mother was sitting in the living room, looking displeased at my suitcase. “Going on another business trip?” The company I managed required frequent travel, with about a third of each month spent away. I gave a light “Mm” in response. Hearing this, she slammed the magazine she was holding onto the coffee table and scolded, “You’re a woman, always busy with work and never at home. Married for years and still no children?” “A woman should stay at home, support her husband, and raise children. Why are you competing with men for business?” Lucas’s mother had always been dissatisfied with me. In her view, since I married into the Gray family, I should have quit my job and stayed at home to prepare for pregnancy and raise children. She then commanded, “Quit your job immediately. If I don’t have a grandchild within a year, you two should get divorced.” In the past, out of respect for Lucas, I rarely talked back. I always tried to tolerate her unreasonable demands. But now, I didn’t want to serve anymore. I smiled and said, “No need to wait. We can divorce anytime. I’ll step aside.” Her face changed, and she glared at me angrily, about to say something. I continued, “Actually, there was a child, but unfortunately, you weren’t destined to meet. I miscarried two days ago.” As soon as I finished speaking, there was a commotion at the door. Lucas stood there, his eyes full of disbelief. “What did you say?” He strode over and gripped my hands tightly. “Why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant?” If he had paid even a little attention to me, he would have known why I was hospitalized. I forcefully pulled my hands from his grip, a hint of mockery flashing in my eyes as I sneered, “Isn’t all this because of you?”

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