Category: English

I turned my back on Lucas Grant during his darkest hour, falling into the arms of his sworn enemy. Yet Lucas humbled himself to the dust, begging me not to leave him. Nestled in another man’s embrace, I poured half a glass of wine over his head, my smile dripping with scorn and contempt: “Let me go. I’m sick of being chased by debt collectors every day.” Utterly devastated, he left in disgrace. Five years later, Lucas Grant made a triumphant comeback as a prominent overseas business tycoon. On his first day back in the country, he brought his dream girl to settle scores with me. But what he didn’t know was that I had already died, on the very day he and his dream girl went public with their relationship. Lucas Grant was back in the country. I hid in a dark alley, peering out with my one good eye at the LED screen on the skyscraper across the street. On the screen, Lucas was holding hands with Aria Sullivan, the reigning pop queen, preparing for an interview. The flash of cameras seemed too bright, causing Aria to blink uncomfortably. Lucas instinctively shielded her, then calmly answered the reporters’ questions below. My heart felt like it had been stung, aching slightly. He used to protect me like that when debt collectors came looking for trouble. Everything was proceeding as usual until near the end when someone in the crowd suddenly asked, “Mr. Grant, we heard you’re married. So who is this lady beside you?” Lucas smiled, pulling a shy Aria into his arms before answering, “My ex-wife abandoned me when I was at my lowest point, terminating our unborn child and divorcing me. Aria stood by me through it all, and now she’s my new bride.” “I’ve returned to the country to give my wife the grand wedding she deserves, to make up for all these years of her support.” “As for what happened before, let’s just say I was a poor judge of character.” The crowd erupted in a clamor. In just a few short sentences, Lucas had painted me as a selfish, cold-blooded ex-wife devoid of any wifely virtues, throwing me into a sea of controversy. People were quick to condemn me. Naturally, some were also swooning over the sweet interaction between the pop star and the business tycoon. But I could see the endless hatred lurking in the depths of Lucas’s eyes. Even through the screen, it felt like he wanted to devour me whole. I realized deeply that he hated me. The kind of hate that wished me dead. My blood almost froze. My body, already cold, now felt like it had plunged into an icy abyss. I clutched the red string bracelet in my hand. Averting my gaze, I limped away on my broken leg. As I neared the basement, a little girl bumped into me. When she saw my scarred face and the empty socket where my left eye should have been, she burst into terrified tears. Her mother rushed forward, shoving me hard and cursing, “Ah! You freak! Stay away from my daughter!” The cement ground was covered in puddles from the recent rain, and filthy water splashed all over me. The woman hurriedly left with her child, not looking back once. I calmly picked up the red string bracelet from the ground, wiped it clean, and left. During my first year of work, I was in a car accident and almost didn’t wake up. They issued three critical condition notices. Lucas had specially gone to a temple to get this red string bracelet for me. Yesterday, when I went out to buy food, I accidentally dropped it on my way back. I used every ounce of strength I had to find it. It’s the only thing I have left that’s connected to him. I can’t lose it. Back in the basement, I suddenly lost all strength and collapsed to the floor. My vision blurred as excruciating pain swept through my body, every inch of my skin feeling like it was on fire. I trembled uncontrollably from the pain, my chest feeling as if a boulder was pressing down on it, making it hard to breathe. I clutched the red string bracelet tightly. Besides the external injuries, I had a lame leg and had once been injected with an overdose of bromide. I’ve known for a while that I don’t have long to live. Holding on until today was already my limit. But even in death, there’s no dignity. I laughed bitterly. At least Lucas won’t see me in this state. As the sky darkened, in a place where no one passed by, my body gradually grew cold and still.

I never imagined that one day I, who never believed in ghosts, would become a spirit. After a moment of surprise, I quickly accepted it. I drifted aimlessly through crowds until I found myself at Royal River Gardens. That’s when it hit me. Five years ago, Lucas had used the first money he earned as a stock trader to set up our home there. It was our marital home. The interior was decorated entirely to my tastes. But shortly after we moved in, he was schemed against and lost everything, drowning in debt. His mother was also diagnosed with leukemia. We were left penniless and helpless. I took the opportunity to terminate his child and divorced him. He sold the house to clear the debts and left for five years. As the lights came on, a Bugatti slowly approached from the distance. The car door opened, and out stepped Lucas and Aria. Aria seemed drunk, hanging onto him. Lucas expertly lifted her in his arms and strode inside. Once in the room, he placed Aria on the bed and turned to leave, but she hooked her arms around his neck. Aria nuzzled his face, her soft voice tinged with drunkenness, “Lucas, stay with me tonight, please?” She was wearing a light purple silk camisole that showcased her beautiful figure. Lucas didn’t refuse. Aria’s hands began to wander. His shirt quickly fell to the floor. My heart felt like it was being tightly squeezed. I abruptly turned away and left. Why torture myself? They’re married now. It’s normal for couples to be intimate. Besides, I was the one who left him first. I wandered around, dazed, looking at the familiar layout. This house, full of our memories, now housed another woman, becoming a place of despair for me. After what seemed like an eternity, the bedroom door opened. Lucas walked out, holding a box. The pattern on it was all too familiar to me. Inside were all the gifts I had given Lucas. He sat straight on the sofa, lit a cigarette but didn’t smoke it. After a while, the cigarette burned out. He expressionlessly picked up his phone. I leaned in and froze for a moment. Five years later, I was still pinned at the top of his WeChat. He clicked on my avatar and typed a message in the chat box, “I’m married now. There are still some things you left in the house. My wife isn’t happy seeing them. When are you coming to take them away?” After a moment’s thought, he added, “Come get them tomorrow, or I won’t hesitate to throw them out.” The glimmer of hope that had just risen in my heart burst like a bubble, leaving me with nothing but endless pain. The box contained everything I had given him over the past decade and more. He used to treasure them so much that no one else could touch them. He’d fight anyone who tried. But now, he was ready to throw them away without a second thought. Cold and merciless to the extreme. So, had Aria seen the things in the box and gotten upset? An overwhelming sense of bitterness welled up inside me. I looked away, wanting to touch the box one last time, but could only watch helplessly as my hand passed right through it. Lucas sat on the sofa all night, waiting for a response that never came. His expression grew colder by the minute. I whispered in his ear, “Lucas, I’m dead. My phone is broken. How can I reply to you?” But Lucas probably thought I was avoiding him, not wanting to deal with him. A storm began to brew in his eyes, his face now covered with hatred, his hands clenched so tightly at his sides that his knuckles turned white. He let out a laugh, “Zoe Foster, don’t you dare regret this!” The box was instantly thrown into the trash can. It shattered into pieces, its contents spilling out. The white sweater I had spent three nights knitting for him was instantly soiled with filth. How jarring it looked. All those things seemed to have become dirty in an instant.

It felt like a sharp knife was constantly twisting in my heart, the pain so intense I could barely breathe. I crouched on the ground, large tears falling from my eyes. So, even spirits can feel pain and cry. The commotion in the living room disturbed Aria in the bedroom. She came out, coaxing him, “Lucas, I have a photoshoot today. Will you come with me?” Lucas’s expression softened slightly. He grabbed his coat and left, holding Aria’s hand. At the venue, Aria, now in full makeup, wore a black cheongsam with intricate embroidery. Her hair was elegantly styled in an updo as she gazed at Lucas with love in her eyes. “Lucas, you are the eternal one in my heart.” With these words, she rushed to him without hesitation, cupped his face, and kissed him on the lips. The photographer stepped forward. Click. Time seemed to freeze at that moment. I no longer had the courage to watch. Aria posted the proofs of this photoshoot on her Instagram. It immediately caused a sensation. Fans had been obsessing over them for days. “OMG! That’s my idol for you! Look how smitten Mr. Grant is!” “Exactly! She’s beautiful and so good to Mr. Grant. She’s thousands, no, millions of times better than that wicked ex-wife of his!” “I vow to be vegetarian for life if it means they’ll be together in every lifetime!” “Waiting for the ex-wife’s demise!” Lucas scrolled through the comments with boredom. Suddenly, he smirked, “Zoe Foster, you think ignoring my messages will work? Let’s see how long you can hide.” “All the pain I suffered five years ago, I’ll make you pay for it one by one.” The bitter emotions in my heart couldn’t be suppressed. Lucas, I’m sorry. But if I had to do it all over again, I would still make the same choice. After dropping Aria off at home, Lucas went to the company. For the next few days, he didn’t return to Royal River Gardens. It was as if he had forgotten about my existence. He was busy flying high at the company. His affair with Aria continued to be a hot topic. Until this day, when Aria’s phone rang. He made another trip to the police station. Because Aria had been harassed outside. The car stopped in front of the police station. When Lucas went in, Aria and the man were giving their statements. When Lucas saw the man’s face clearly, his pupils constricted. In that instant, my mind went blank too. The man who harassed Aria was Marcus Lee, the same man who had acted with me in front of Lucas five years ago. Coming to his senses, Lucas’s eyes turned cold. He strode over, grabbed Marcus by the collar, and punched him hard in the face. “Who gave you the guts to touch my woman?” “Does Zoe Foster know you’re out here harassing my wife?” “Or is she too scared to show her face to me, so she’s resorting to these despicable tactics!” Marcus was thin and weak, no match for Lucas at all. He was beaten until blood streamed from the corner of his mouth. I cried out anxiously, “Lucas, stop hitting him!” “Marcus, you idiot! Why didn’t you dodge!” But they couldn’t hear me. Fortunately, this was a police station, and they were quickly separated by the officers. Aria had already run over, looking worried, checking Lucas up and down for any injuries. Marcus wiped the blood from his mouth and sneered, “Harassment? I just wanted this woman to delete those photos from Instagram.” “She refused, so I had to use some tactics.” “As for you, Lucas Grant, the rumors about you and this woman have been spreading like wildfire. You had a hand in that too, didn’t you?” “You’re nothing special, Lucas Grant. You don’t deserve her.”

Marcus, so you harassed Aria for my sake? Guilt, gratitude, and various other emotions intertwined, leaving me with mixed feelings. “You don’t deserve her.” These five words seemed to have struck a nerve with Lucas. His eyes blazed with fury as he clenched his fists and shouted at Marcus, “I don’t deserve her? And you do?” “She’s the one who’s fickle and chose to degrade herself!” “Marcus, did you think I’d be the same as five years ago? You’ll all pay the price. Just wait, I’ll deal with you one by one.” After saying this, Lucas left with Aria. Marcus was detained by the police for harassing Aria. Before being taken away, Marcus smiled at the departing Bugatti, “Lucas Grant, you’ll regret this.” However, Lucas didn’t hear him. In the car, Aria asked softly, “Lucas, should we take down those photos?” Lucas hesitated for a moment before saying, “No need.” The car drove slowly, but this wasn’t the road to Royal River Gardens. Aria placed her hand on his, her tone somewhat anxious, “Lucas, can I stay at your place tonight? I’m scared.” Perhaps today’s encounter with Marcus had brought back memories of the past and soured his mood. Lucas looked at her for a while, but still removed her hand, “The house hasn’t been cleaned in a long time. It’s very dirty.” Aria wanted to say something more, but Lucas patted her head, “Be good, just bear with it for tonight.” Aria could only nod. Because she saw the impatience in his eyes. After dropping Aria off, Lucas drove to Royal River Gardens. The car stopped by the roadside. He leaned back in the driver’s seat, eyes closed, lost in thought. Until Mrs. Grant came down, impatiently knocking on the car window, “Lucas! What are you daydreaming about? Get out now!” Lucas was startled for a moment, then got out of the car, “Mom, why are you back in the country?” Mrs. Grant looked exasperated, “If I didn’t come back, Zoe would be bullied to death!” “What’s going on between you and that Aria Sullivan? If you don’t like her, why are you still being all lovey-dovey with her! What about Zoe? How could I have a son like you!” All the grievances of the past days finally burst out at the sight of Mrs. Grant. I could no longer control myself and burst into tears, “Mom, I’m right here.” Thankfully, she looked in good health now. No longer the bedridden, comatose person in my memory. But she couldn’t hear me. Lucas walked all the way, and she scolded him all the way. She was venting for me, feeling indignant on my behalf. Finally, back in the room, Lucas couldn’t bear it anymore. With a grim face, he said, “Mom! Stop talking! What do you know about what happened back then!” “Zoe Foster abandoned me first! Why don’t you scold her!” Mrs. Grant pointed at him and shouted, “Lucas, I found Zoe abandoned as a child. From when she was ten until now, she’s been with us for over a decade. Don’t you understand her personality?” “You loved her so much. When Zoe suddenly changed into a different person, shouldn’t your first reaction have been to find out why?” “Zoe is kind-hearted! I don’t believe she’s a bad person!” When I was ten, my birth parents, who favored sons over daughters, took me out of the mountains and sold me to a homeless man for a thousand dollars. The homeless man had probably never seen a woman in his life. After the transaction, he eagerly took me to an alley and was about to molest me when Mrs. Grant happened to pass by and saved me. She stood with her hands on her hips, cursing non-stop and threatening to call the police. Although her hands hidden in her sleeves were trembling non-stop, in the end, she and Lucas managed to drive the homeless man away.

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Eight years, six months, and 25 days after I started dating Ryan. We broke up. The reason? While we were having dinner, he placed his phone face down on the table. The buzzing vibration sounded like a countdown to the end of our relationship. I put down my knife and fork. “Ryan, let’s break up.” Sitting across from me, he seemed to finally breathe a sigh of relief. He didn’t even bother to ask why, just said, “Okay.” He finally didn’t need to pretend anymore. All because of what he said in front of all the teachers and students back in high school. “Aria, I will never break up with you in this lifetime.” So. He was waiting for me to say it. It took him less than ten minutes to pack up his things. As if he had already decided in his mind what to take and what to leave behind. Just like our relationship. There were clearly problems long ago. But because of that vow, he still took meticulous care of me, playing the role of the perfect boyfriend. But while his body could do it. His heart. Couldn’t. He would unconsciously smile when he opened his phone. When buying sanitary pads with me, he’d instinctively recommend another brand, saying it was less likely to leak. He even started to take an interest in cooking. Unfortunately, he never made the dishes I liked. I watched him, from loving me. Gradually detach from this relationship. Finally, when he even forgot my mother’s death anniversary. I said we should break up. And he. Agreed without hesitation. So quickly. I thought it was an illusion.

Less than an hour after the breakup. A friend sent me a video of him announcing his new relationship. My hand involuntarily tightened around the phone. So. It was her. That new intern at the company. Vivian, who used to follow me around every day, sweetly calling me “Aria.” “Aria, I don’t understand this report, can you teach me?” “Aria, don’t worry about your business trip, I’ll take care of your cat at home!” “Oh Aria, just go ahead, isn’t your boyfriend just in the hospital for a few days with food poisoning? He’s not that delicate, I can bring him meals, right?” … I looked at the cold food in front of me, with a thick layer of oil on the surface. A wave of nausea surged up. I rushed to the bathroom and threw up violently. Disgusting. How disgusting.

I took three days off from work. The day Ryan left, I started vomiting. At first, I thought it was my body’s reaction to the double betrayal from my boyfriend and friend. But later, even when I was about to clean up the dishes, just the smell of fish made me throw up again. With a bad feeling, I went downstairs to buy a pregnancy test. Those glaring two lines made me see black. Isn’t it ironic? Just half a month ago. Ryan was still crazy in bed with me, taking me all night long. He said: “Aria, let’s have a baby?” That time, we didn’t use any contraception. How. Could it be so coincidental? I closed my eyes. It took me three days to barely accept. The fact that Ryan had left me. My hand unconsciously rested on my abdomen. I’m sorry. You who are not expected. You were never meant to come into this world.

A friend said there was a dinner gathering today and asked if I wanted to go. After staying at home for three days, the negative emotions almost suffocated me. I thought, it might be good to go out for a while. But I didn’t expect. At the gathering, he actually brought his new girlfriend, and even confronted me face to face. “Aria, what happened between us is over.” “Vivian is different from you, she’s pure and shy, don’t bully her with your business tactics.” I put my wine glass down on the table. It really wasn’t interesting at all.

When Ryan said those two sentences, the scene went quiet. The friends present all looked at me awkwardly. I raised my eyes to look at Ryan, as if I had never known this man who had been with me for eight years. Seeing me look over, Vivian trembled like a little white rabbit and hid behind him. Ryan frowned and protected her. “Aria, this isn’t the company, don’t use your tactics of bullying newcomers on her.” Huh. I chuckled lightly. I put down my wine glass and picked up my coat from the back of the chair: “I’ve already paid for the meal, everyone enjoy yourselves.” “I’ll be leaving first.” As I passed by, I saw Ryan give me a complicated look. While waiting for a ride at the entrance, my phone rang. “Aria, you’re a rational person.” “I hope our situation won’t affect Vivian’s work.” “Don’t target her at the company.” Seeing my car arrive, I put away my phone expressionlessly.

Vivian was a new intern at the company. A girl who had just graduated was always cautious and prone to making mistakes. So I was a bit strict with her, but sometimes when I saw her crying alone in the corner, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her, thinking she was just like myself when I first entered society. So I took care of her a bit more in daily life. Sometimes when she didn’t have suitable clothes to meet clients, I would buy them for her without hesitation. I even brought Vivian along on dates with Ryan sometimes, just so she could eat something good. But when did she and Ryan start to become different under my nose? Was it when Ryan got sick, and I was out of town on a business trip, so I asked her to bring him cold medicine? Or was it when Ryan was hospitalized with food poisoning, and I was busy with a big deal, so she volunteered to bring him nutritious meals at the hospital every day? I was completely unaware. I only thought that the tacit understanding between Ryan and Vivian at those times was just because they had similar tastes. But. It doesn’t matter anymore.

After a dazed night’s sleep at home, the alarm for work rang punctually. The adult world is like this. Even if the sky falls, there’s only limited time to recover your emotions. Three days of leave, today even if the world was ending, I had to work normally. I looked at myself in the mirror. A heavy layer of dark circles under my eyes. But for today’s promotion dinner, I still dressed up nicely. The Director resigned a month ago, and before she left, she recommended me to the Vice President. As of yesterday, the probation period was over, and from the Vice President’s words, it seemed he would announce my appointment as Director today. This news had already spread through the group chat yesterday, and some people were even urging me to treat everyone. Everyone had already agreed yesterday to go to the newly opened trendy restaurant for dinner. My treat. But when I entered the company, everyone gave me meaningful looks. When I looked back, they all avoided my gaze. I frowned. Sure enough, just as I sat down, Vivian walked into the company wearing a high-end suit, with light steps. Behind her were two people carrying hands full of coffee. She clapped her hands energetically: “Thank you all for your hard work recently, don’t leave after work today, it’s my treat!” After saying this, the two colleagues distributed the coffee to everyone. When the coffee was all handed out, everyone had one. Coincidentally, I was left out. I already had a vague idea of what was going on. Vivian seemed to just notice me, apologizing: “Oh, Aria, you’re here too, I’m sorry I thought you weren’t coming today, so I didn’t buy your coffee.” She walked a few steps closer, handing me her coffee: “I haven’t drunk from this cup yet, Aria, if you don’t mind, have mine.” Seeing that I didn’t take it, she pushed the coffee into my hand, but just as the coffee touched my fingers. She let go. With a “bang”, a cup of coffee exploded all over the floor. “Aria, what are you doing?” Before I could speak, I was pushed hard. The man protected Vivian and stepped back, his eyes full of concern: “Are you okay? Did you get burned?” “Oh no, Manager Aria is hurt!” a colleague exclaimed. As Ryan instinctively looked at my hand. Vivian gently tugged at Ryan’s clothes, her eyes brimming with tears, as if they would fall at any moment. “I’m fine, don’t blame Aria, she just didn’t hold it steady, it wasn’t intentional…” “Don’t blame her, really it wasn’t…” Ryan calmly withdrew his gaze and patted Vivian’s head. “You’re too kind, you’ll be taken advantage of like this in the future!” Vivian looked at Ryan with eyes full of smiles and stuck out her tongue. The two talked more and more… I quietly watched the two of them. So love really can be transferred. Ryan, who was so caring towards me just a few days ago. In the blink of an eye, could transfer the same love to another person. Huh.

At closing time, I sat in the Vice President’s office. I’ve been with the company for seven years, working diligently. When the company started as a small startup with only three to five people, step by step to where it is now. Every step has my shadow. In my view, the Director position was well-deserved. The Vice President helplessly rubbed his forehead. “I know you’re a meritorious employee of the company, but you know…” He paused, as if throwing caution to the wind. “You know, Ryan Tech has given us a big deal, this deal can save us five years of hard work!” “Aria, you can’t fight against the tide, do you understand what I mean?” I lowered my eyes. So that’s how it is.

But the hand resting on my leg couldn’t help but tremble. I knew the Vice President was in a difficult position too. To avoid losing control of my emotions here, I nodded and left the office. It was already closing time, and the company colleagues were leaving in twos and threes. I sat in a bathroom stall, finally unable to hold back my breakdown. If Ryan’s cliff-like breakup still allowed me to maintain a calm exterior. But the Director position falling to Vivian, and moreover, it was because Ryan used his power to pressure for it, this really made me completely break down. He clearly knew how long I had worked for this position. I had even been working almost non-stop for nearly a month. But when it came down to it, Ryan stabbed me in the back. “You said Director Vivian is treating everyone today, will Manager Aria go?” “That’s hard to say! But if she goes, there’ll be a good show to watch!” “That’s true, it’s really something to sigh about.” “What’s there to sigh about, she used to be the young master’s girlfriend, of course the company favored her, now that the young master is tired of her, naturally the Director position has to be given up!” The two were washing their hands while gossiping outside. “What? Tired of her?” “Don’t you know? Director Vivian said the young master said holding her hand was like holding his own hand.” “Sleeping with her is not as good as using his own hand? Hahahahaha…” With a “bang”, I forcefully pulled open the stall door. The two turned to see me, their faces turning pale. “Ma-Manager Aria?”

I came to the sink and washed my hands leisurely. “What? Do you want to try young master Ryan’s hand too?” The two pushed each other and ran away like the wind, their footsteps fading into the distance. “Tch! What are you so proud of…” I took out a cigarette and lit it. The smoke I exhaled curled in front of me and dissipated. Huh. Ryan is still Ryan. When he likes someone, he spoils them to death. Just the day before. He was telling me not to use my position to make things difficult for Vivian. But in the blink of an eye, he used his power to pressure me. And this society. It’s really fucking messed up.

Coming out of the company, a luxury car was parked ostentatiously at the entrance. I was very familiar with this car. It was Ryan’s car. Seeing me come out of the company, he took out a cigarette and leaned against the car door, waving at me. I hesitated for a moment, but still walked over. Only when I got there did I realize. Vivian was sitting in his passenger seat. That place. That once belonged only to me. How many times before, she stood in my current position, enviously looking at me sitting in the passenger seat, saying: “Aria, your boyfriend is so good to you.” “Aria, you have to be careful of those little vixens nowadays, don’t let them steal your boyfriend, don’t worry, I’ll help you keep an eye out!” Later, one time when I got off work and saw Ryan’s car downstairs, I thought he had come to pick me up, but I didn’t expect Vivian to rush past me like a gust of wind, naturally opening the passenger door and about to sit down. I couldn’t help but call out Vivian’s name. She visibly stiffened for a moment, then naturally closed the car door, saying. “Oh Aria, I thought you were in the car!” Then she linked arms with me and said she thought I was in the car and wanted to find me after work to have dinner together. At that time, Ryan’s expression was also very natural. That bit of discomfort and suspicion quickly dissipated. Thinking about it now, I wasn’t just stupid. I was stupid and unaware of it. Seeing me come over, Vivian smiled and nodded: “Aria.”

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Six years after my death, my wife wants me to donate my heart to her first love. To force me to show up, she broke my father’s legs, falsely accused my mother of theft, causing her to lose her job, and even threatened to disfigure my sister’s face, which closely resembles mine, with a bottle of acid. Just as she was waiting for me to beg her on my knees and cooperate with the surgery, the doctor who had once operated on me found her with my medical records: “Mr. Collins only had one heart, and he had already donated it to you six years ago.” 0 In the midst of heavy snowfall, Mia Young stared emotionlessly at the man writhing and begging on the ground. The continuously flowing blood reflected a cold gleam in her eyes: “Considering our past relationship as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, if you tell me Jack’s whereabouts right now, I’ll let you go. How about that?” Her attitude was arrogant, the contempt in her eyes evident. It was as if she had completely forgotten that the person lying on the ground was once someone who had treated her like his own daughter. Instead, he was now just a piece of garbage that could be discarded at will. “Jack, he… he can’t come… Mia, please spare me…” “What do you mean he can’t come! Isn’t he just too cowardly to show up because he’s afraid I’ll take revenge for what happened back then?” Faced with her father-in-law’s refusal, Mia’s anger was instantly ignited. She recounted the past events to her father-in-law with a face full of hatred, each word filled with resentment towards me: “If it weren’t for Jack’s interference, impersonating someone else and taking credit that didn’t belong to him, how could Ethan and I have missed each other for so long!” “It was Ethan who persuaded me not to seek revenge, allowing you to live peacefully for so many years!” “Now, having your lying son donate his heart to Ethan is an honor for him! What right does he have not to come!” I could see that when my father heard about those past events again, his cloudy eyes immediately darkened further, his tone full of vicissitudes and pain: “It’s not like that, Mia. Back then…” “How was it back then? First Jack lied to me for so many years, and now it’s your turn as his father to start lying? Your family is truly a lineage of liars!” “Fine, since you two have such a strong father-son bond and you insist on covering for him, I have no reason to show mercy.” “You guys, break his legs. I don’t believe Jack won’t show up when his father’s legs are broken!” Mia’s expression turned vicious for a moment, and with a wave of her hand, more bodyguards stepped forward. The sound of blunt objects striking flesh echoed loudly, with my father’s agonized screams hidden in between. But Mia had a smile on her face, without a hint of heartache or hesitation. Seeing my father’s life in danger, I was anxious and rushed forward quickly to shield him from those erratically falling clubs. But in reality, as soon as I lunged forward, I passed right through my father’s body. It was then that I slowly remembered, I was already dead, dead for six years. My remaining soul couldn’t save any bit of my thoughts. I collapsed in tears, but could only watch helplessly as my father’s legs were beaten to a pulp. Large patches of red stained the snow-covered ground warm. Mia covered her nose and stepped back in disgust: “Tell Jack, this is the consequence of going against me.” “As long as he refuses to agree to donate his heart to Ethan for one day, I won’t let you off for one day.” “When the time comes, we’ll settle both old and new grudges together!” Mia angrily left with a flip of her hair. I felt like I could still smell the familiar jasmine fragrance in her hair as she turned away. It was still the familiar feeling from before, but I knew very well— She was no longer the wife who loved me most, who would travel across half of China overnight just to celebrate my birthday. Now, she was a devil who could disregard human life for Ethan White! 0

Since my father was hospitalized, Mia had arranged countless people to secretly guard outside the ward, ready to capture my whereabouts at any moment. However, as several days passed, apart from my tearful mother, there was no sign of anyone else. She lost all patience and stormed into my father’s hospital room, accidentally encountering the doctor who was doing a follow-up check on my father. She wouldn’t remember him, but the doctor found her very familiar. He couldn’t help but take an extra look before hurriedly leaving, leaving only my parents to bear Mia’s provocation and mockery: “Jack really has some nerve. Even with his father injured so severely, he still manages to resist coming.” “It seems that just breaking one leg isn’t enough to threaten him. I guess I’ll have to add his mother to the mix as well.” My mother had long known about Mia’s actions from my father’s words, but she still couldn’t believe that the once innocent girl would do such things. She reached out her hand, trembling as she took two steps forward to try and pull Mia, but was instead slapped to the ground: “Stay away from me! Who do you think you are to dare touch me?!” My mother, already elderly, sat on the ground for a long time unable to get up after being hit like this, causing my father to cry in distress. As a result, due to being too agitated, he also fell straight off the bed. The wounds on his legs, not yet healed, burst open again, a truly heart-wrenching sight. Not only did Mia not react, but she raised her voice and laughed mockingly: “Oh, how touching. If I don’t do something to her, wouldn’t it be a disservice to you two showing such devotion in adversity?” “Mia! How could you become like this… You used to be such a good and filial child!” “Shut up! You all conspired with Jack to deceive me for so many years, and you still have the nerve to bring up the past?!” My mother’s words clearly reminded Mia of the truth about how I had deceived her years ago. Burning with rage, she took out her phone and in a few words pushed our whole family into an even darker abyss: “I heard you’re working as a cleaner now. I don’t think anyone would want someone with sticky fingers in their home.” Before my mother could understand what she meant, Mia had already made a call to my mother’s company. Using her money and influence, she embellished the story and falsely accused my mother of stealing valuable items from her employers while working, claiming she had major character issues. She even demanded that the entire industry blacklist my mother and never hire her again. I trembled with anger. She knew my father’s legs were broken and only my mother was left to shoulder all the burdens of the family. This was cutting off the lifeline of our entire family! Almost at the same time, my mother received her dismissal notice. She was in complete shock, crawling on her knees to Mia’s feet, begging her to give back her job: “Mia, please, I can’t lose this job!” “His father’s legs haven’t recovered yet, and I still have a daughter to raise. Please, have mercy, Mom is begging you!” My mother wept bitterly, no longer caring about dignity or face, prostrating herself at Mia’s feet and kowtowing desperately. Not to mention my father, even I felt my heart being cut to pieces on the side, only regretting that I couldn’t help at all now, not even able to pull her up! I thought my mother’s humble attitude would at least make Mia show a little bit of emotion. But she didn’t. Instead, her smile became even more smug and arrogant than before: “Jack should really see how miserable you all look now, to know this is the price of deceiving me!” “However… if you want me to let you off, it’s not impossible.” “Have Jack come before me in person to kowtow and admit his guilt, acknowledge his mistakes from back then, and agree to donate his heart to Ethan. Everything else is non-negotiable!” Mia’s resolute words made my mother’s face instantly turn ashen. Her lips were pale, and tears flowed uncontrollably. She struggled to tell the truth about what happened years ago, but Mia didn’t give her the chance. That trembling voice was drowned out by the sound of the door slamming shut. She didn’t hear those words: Jack was already dead, dead for six years. 0

After leaving the hospital room, Mia didn’t leave immediately but took the elevator upstairs. The high-end, quiet VIP ward was the service she had specially arranged for Ethan White. “Ethan? How are you feeling? Are you any better today?” Before the door was fully closed, Mia rushed impatiently to Ethan’s side to check on him. Looking at their tightly clasped hands, I suddenly felt a bit dazed. It seemed that many years ago, someone had held my hand like this too. We promised each other eternal love and never to betray. But now, that person was holding someone else’s hand, caring for them. “I’m okay… Jack, he hasn’t been found yet, has he?” “Mia, let’s… let it go… Maybe I was never meant to exist in this world. Being able to be with you for so many years, I have no regrets even if I die…” “What nonsense are you talking about!” Noticing the disappointment in Ethan’s tone, Mia’s eyes immediately reddened, not allowing him to continue: “Jack wasted so many years for us. I finally found you, and I absolutely won’t allow anything to happen!” “Don’t worry, I’ll leave no stone unturned to dig him out. If his parents aren’t enough, there’s still his sister. I don’t believe he can be so heartless as to not show his face even once!” Ethan’s eyes seemed to dodge, his mouth stammering as if wanting to say something, but was forced back by her intensity. Seeing Mia’s cold gaze, I felt a chill. No one knew that I now wanted to appear before her more than anyone else. I would willingly exchange everything I had for my family’s safety! But now, I was just a soul, a useless soul. I knew Mia always did what she said, but I didn’t expect her opportunity would come so quickly. The news of my parents being seriously injured and losing their job was deliberately spread to my sister within half a day. Emma rushed back home almost overnight, heading to the hospital without even eating. As soon as she entered, she saw our parents’ worried faces. Because of the high cost of my father’s treatment, the family’s savings had long been depleted, and my mother had no choice but to sell the house. To save money, they only let my father stay in a bed, while my mother slept alone in the hospital corridor. Although our family wasn’t wealthy before, they had never shortchanged Emma. Especially after I passed away, all the good things were left for the little girl. When had she ever seen the family in such a desperate state? Emma, young and impulsive, ignored our parents’ attempts to stop her and rushed out to confront Mia. However, just as she left the room, she was abducted. The person who took her was none other than Mia, whom she was looking for. Emma couldn’t break the habit of many years and just as she was about to call out “Mrs. Collins,” she was slapped by the woman in front of her: “Don’t try to claim any relationship! Your family is truly shameless!” “…Mia Young! We haven’t done anything to wrong you, why are you so ruthlessly trying to destroy us! How can you face my brother doing this!” “Your brother?” Mia seemed to have suddenly heard a joke, her laughter becoming increasingly shrill and unrestrained: “You don’t know yet, do you? Everything happened because of him. If Jack had shown up early and agreed to donate his heart to Ethan, why would I have to go to such extremes?” Emma was stunned by these words, the pain in her eyes instantly visible: “But, but my brother has been dead for a long time… How can a dead person appear!” The air in the room froze for a moment, falling into an eerie silence. Mia frowned, but quickly convinced herself, stepping forward to deliver two more slaps: “Is lying a family tradition for you? To help Jack hide from me, you really can say anything!” She glared fiercely at Emma, her eyes unprecedentedly switching between resentment and gentleness. But in the end, it settled on the former. “You really look like your brother, both equally… disgusting, making people annoyed even with just a glance.” Although the abandoned laboratory in the hospital had been unused for years, it was still fully equipped. Mia expressionlessly brought a bottle of clear liquid and tossed her phone to Emma: “Call your brother and tell him to show up within half an hour. Otherwise… you can say goodbye to that face of yours!” “I’ve told you, my brother is already dead! What do I have to do to make you believe it!”

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I was reported by the parents for visiting the hospital a few times. “It’s such a crucial time in senior year. As the homeroom teacher, you should be on call 24/7. Is it really necessary to go to the hospital? Can’t you just tough it out?” “Even on weekends, what if something urgent comes up and we can’t reach you? If you don’t even have this basic awareness, how can you be a homeroom teacher?” “Bottom line, you’re just selfish. Someone like you doesn’t deserve to be a teacher!” I was both angry and shocked. For the past two years, I had poured my heart and soul into bringing this class from the bottom of the grade to the top. I had worked myself sick but never dared to take a day off, fearing it might affect the students. And now I’m being accused of selfishness? When my students learned about the complaint against me, they all looked indifferent, as if it had nothing to do with them. My heart turned cold. Let someone else be the homeroom teacher if they want it so badly. A few months later, these parents were standing at my doorstep: “Ms. Anderson, please come back. We’re begging you.”

I had been reported. All the parents in my class had jointly filed a complaint against me, accusing me of being irresponsible and demanding that the school immediately remove me from my position as homeroom teacher and math instructor. When the principal told me about this, I felt like I had been struck by lightning. Since taking over this class, I had put my heart and soul into it, working tirelessly and always putting the students first. I had given everything I had, short of cutting out my own heart. How could the parents accuse me of being irresponsible?! “The parents in your class are very adamant. They’ve even threatened to report this to the Department of Education if the school doesn’t meet their demands.” My face turned ashen. The principal said sternly, “Ms. Anderson, what you need to do now is to reflect on yourself. If you truly had done nothing wrong, how could all the parents collectively file a complaint against you?” This was utterly absurd! How had this become my fault? I was about to argue back when the principal waved his hand impatiently. “That’s enough. Go back and wait for the school’s decision.” As I left the principal’s office, I felt more and more upset. Finally, I couldn’t hold back and posted a message in the class group chat. “Dear parents, since I became the homeroom teacher, I have always prioritized my work for the class. I may not have given my last measure of devotion, but I have certainly been diligent and conscientious. If you feel there have been any shortcomings in my work, you could have communicated with me directly. Baseless misunderstandings and accusations truly dishearten educators.” A few minutes later, a message popped up. Jacob’s mom: “Misunderstanding? How could we possibly wrong you? As a homeroom teacher, you’re constantly running off to the hospital. Do you think that’s appropriate? Who gave you that right? Who gave you that freedom? How can you focus on the students like this? It’s such a critical time in the last semester of senior year. Would you die if you didn’t go to the hospital?” This series of unrelenting questions left me stunned.

Two years of intense work had led to serious problems with my spine and neck. The pain kept me awake every night. The doctor strongly advised me to take an extended leave to rest. But since it was already senior year, I was worried that changing homeroom teachers would disrupt the students. So I could only find time each week to go to the hospital for conservative treatment. As for resting, I’d have to wait until after the students graduated. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that parents would complain about me for this reason. I patiently replied, “Jacob’s mom, homeroom teachers are human too. Getting sick is inevitable, and I’ve only been going to the hospital on weekends during my personal time. It hasn’t affected my work for the class.” But her next words were even more exasperating. “Oh, please! Personal time? What personal time? You’re a teacher, a homeroom teacher. You should be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!” At this point, other parents started chiming in. Emily’s dad: “I agree with Jacob’s mom. If you’re going to be a homeroom teacher, you need to be prepared for this. If you can’t handle it, why be a homeroom teacher at all?” Sophia’s dad: “Last semester, you took three days off to get married. I thought that was inappropriate even then.” Lucas’s mom: “We agreed to let you be the homeroom teacher because of your experience and seniority. If we had known you’d have so many issues, we would have preferred a younger teacher from the start!” I couldn’t help but argue back. “Parents, I do have some health issues, but I’ve never let them interfere with my responsibilities to the class. For the past two years, no matter how exhausted or in pain I’ve been, I’ve persevered for the sake of the class. If I truly wanted an easier time, I could have easily resigned from my position as homeroom teacher.” But Jacob’s mom retorted, “Oh, give me a break! Stop with the noble act. You’re just in it for the money. Everyone knows homeroom teachers get paid more than regular teachers.”

My blood pressure instantly skyrocketed. At that moment, I wanted to curse. Yes, homeroom teachers do get paid a bit more than regular subject teachers. An extra hundred dollars per semester. Can you believe it? We wake up earlier than roosters and go to bed later than dogs. We spend seventeen to eighteen hours a day at school, attending endless homeroom teacher meetings, handling countless class affairs, writing endless evaluation assignments, responding to endless parent feedback, and working non-stop on weekends and holidays to provide summaries and reports. Our phones are on 24/7 to deal with all kinds of emergencies at any time. In summary, the workload of a homeroom teacher is at least ten times that of other subject teachers. And they think I’m killing myself for that extra hundred dollars? Am I really that desperate? The attacks on me continued in the class group chat. “Homeroom teachers not only get higher salaries, but they also get more opportunities for awards and honors!” “No wonder you won’t give up the position even when you’re sick… Hah, I can’t believe this.” “Damn it, if you want to make money, don’t do it at the expense of our children! Do we owe you something?” “Just get lost already!” I was too angry to speak. If I wanted to make money, I would have left long ago. The private high school next door once offered me double my current salary to poach me, but I politely declined. What was I doing this for? For the students! For their precious children! Mr. Robinson, the English teacher, couldn’t stand by any longer. “How can you say such hurtful things to Ms. Anderson when she’s been working through her illness for the students? Don’t the students’ grades speak for her dedication?” In the two years since I took over the class, we had gone from being at the bottom of the grade to the top. This was an undeniable fact. There was a brief silence in the group chat. Suddenly, one parent said, “That’s just because the kids worked hard on their own. It would have been the same with any teacher. It has nothing to do with you.” This was immediately followed by a chorus of agreement. “Exactly, my son studies until midnight every day. Of course his grades are good with that kind of effort!” “The pile of practice books my daughter has gone through is almost as tall as she is!” “You’re really trying to take credit for their hard work, aren’t you?”

My neck pain flared up from anger. Yes, the students worked hard, but it was because I pushed them to develop good study habits. To be blunt, the students in Class 6 had poor foundations and lacked initiative in their studies. If they had been assigned a teacher with even slightly less dedication or ability, they absolutely would not have made such progress. For the past two years, I had stayed up countless nights designing personalized teaching plans suited to our students. I gave up my daily break times to provide one-on-one tutoring, often having nothing but a sandwich and a bottle of water for dinner. I offered free tutoring at home on weekends and holidays. I spent my own money buying various study materials and rewards for the students. I dare say I put in more effort than any other teacher in the school. But now these parents were saying that the students’ achievements had nothing to do with me. Nothing to do with me! I angrily said, “If you all believe that the students’ success is entirely their own doing, then how could my personal activities outside of work hours have any impact on them?” The parents vehemently disagreed. “What, so grades are all that matter for students? Tell me, what if my child doesn’t eat enough at school? What if they forget to drink water? What if they catch a cold because they’re not dressed warmly enough? What if they’re not feeling well?” “The kids are already exhausted from studying. The homeroom teacher should be responsible for chores like cleaning the classroom.” “The evening self-study sessions end too late. If you ask me, the homeroom teacher should be responsible for escorting the students home.” Mr. Robinson sent me a private message. “These parents have lost their minds. Do they think a homeroom teacher is some kind of personal nanny?” As I watched the messages flooding the group chat, my temples throbbed. I took a deep breath. With my last ounce of patience, I sincerely said: “Parents, there’s less than half a year left until the college entrance exam. I implore you to trust me and give me one more chance. I promise I will do my absolute best to fulfill my duties as a homeroom teacher.” Jacob’s mom’s response instantly broke me. “You’re really shameless, aren’t you? Don’t tell me you’re planning to get revenge later by making things difficult for our children!” Jacob’s mom’s words instantly broke me. Fine, fine, fine. This homeroom teacher job? I quit!

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The day my sister-in-law suffered a sudden heart attack, the hospital was overwhelmed with its surgery schedule. I called my husband, who is also a doctor, countless times, hoping he could help with her surgery. He hung up on me without any concern, and when I tried again, the line was busy. My sister-in-law missed the critical window for treatment and tragically passed away. In the hospital lobby, I saw a news report on the electronic screen. The main subjects were my husband and his childhood sweetheart. The caption read: “Couple gets lost after an adventurous escapade and urgently seeks help from local police.” A bitter smile forced its way onto my face. Five years of marriage, it’s time to put an end to it. My sister-in-law’s sudden death left me in a stupor for a long time. I dragged my weary body home, feeling as if my soul had been drained. Watching the news replayed on TV, my heart felt like it was plunged into an ice cave. I sat on the couch, dazed, through the entire night. The next day, Declan Johnson came home whistling a tune, but his good mood vanished the moment he saw me. He deftly slipped off his shoes and kicked them aside carelessly. Glancing at the news on TV, he hurried to offer an explanation before I could say anything. “The stuff on TV is all fake. You know my friend works in the media; they use these headlines to grab attention. People these days will do anything for money, no limits.” I sat silently on the couch, too tired to listen to his excuses. Seeing my expressionless face, he frowned. Then he pulled out a lipstick from his pocket and tossed it to me. “Here’s your birthday gift. Don’t say I don’t care about you.” I opened the lipstick cap stiffly. My last bit of hope vanished at that moment. It was a used lipstick, the exact shade Phoebe Taylor wore in the video. There were even traces on the collar of his white shirt. Yesterday was my birthday, and my sister-in-law had taken a high-speed train from out of town to celebrate with me. She knew Declan and I had been in a cold war for days. She wanted to use this opportunity to mediate between us. Who knew she would suddenly suffer a heart attack, taking her young life away. Seeing the used lipstick, a flicker of guilt crossed Declan’s face. He hastily shoved the lipstick back into his pocket and awkwardly tried to explain himself. “Last night, I worked overtime until late, and we had a gathering. A female colleague had the same lipstick, probably got mixed up. I’ll bring it back tomorrow.” “It was too late, and I didn’t want to disturb you, so I stayed at a colleague’s place.” His explanation was weak, and his eyes were evasive. I couldn’t help but respond sarcastically. My husband of five years, when did he become such a liar? I gave a cold laugh. If he was really working overtime, his own sister wouldn’t have died. After all, Declan is a top physician. Seeing him explain so earnestly, I coldly responded. “Oh? Really? So I should thank you for not coming back all night? Be considerate of you?” My attitude seemed to anger him. He glared at me with wide eyes. “Nora Johnson, can’t you be reasonable? For whom am I working overtime all night? Always being sarcastic in front of me? Still have the nerve to throw a tantrum? Have I spoiled you too much?” “What man doesn’t need some personal space? You watch me like a thief every day, you’re not uncomfortable, but I sure as hell am!” His emotions erupted in an instant, the veins on his forehead visibly throbbing. But I remained exceptionally indifferent. After all, it wasn’t the first time he’d lost his temper at me. After venting, he ignored me. Instead, he went into the shower and made a phone call. The shower wasn’t soundproof. Even from a few meters away, I could hear everything clearly. On the other end, Phoebe Taylor’s voice was coy. “Declan, yesterday was so thrilling. I really want to go on more adventures with you.” “You promised me you’d never touch that woman again. You’ll belong only to me.” Upon hearing her voice, Declan instantly became tender. “Silly girl, of course, I’m only yours. I’m fed up with that woman.” “You have no idea, today when I saw her sallow face and rough skin, I felt like throwing up.” I instinctively glanced at my rough hands. And the sallow face in the mirror. For Declan, I had been a housewife for five years. I never imagined it would lead to this result. Tears rolled down my cheeks, filled with regret. These five years of marriage might as well have been thrown to the dogs.

My connection with Declan Johnson actually began with his sister. His sister and I both loved painting. We met at the same art studio. She was a very lively and cheerful girl. Very passionate about painting. We quickly became good friends, exchanging painting techniques and sharing our inspirations. One time, we stayed late, and it started to rain heavily. Declan came to pick her up. That was the first time I met Declan. He was very doting on his sister, and his gentle manner moved me. After that, we often met. He would come to the art studio to pick up his sister and occasionally discuss art with us. Through deep conversations, I found him to be a good guy. He was warm, generous, responsible, and reliable. And I developed a special feeling for him. His sister became our matchmaker. She said Declan had a crush on me, and if he confessed, I should definitely accept. She hoped I would become her sister-in-law. I still remember her innocent and lovely face. I thought it was just a joke from his sister. Unexpectedly, the next day, Declan came with a bouquet of flowers to confess. It was a bit awkward since I was allergic to flowers. But that didn’t stop us from being together. Later, we naturally became a couple. From dating to getting married. Everything seemed so smooth. I thought I would be the happiest person in the world. With a loving husband and a sister-in-law as close as a real sister. Until Declan’s childhood sweetheart, Phoebe, appeared. All my beautiful dreams for the future instantly turned into bubbles.

I got up to go to the bedroom, feeling dizzy. Although I hadn’t eaten, my stomach was churning with discomfort. I touched my forehead, feeling feverish. The thermometer showed 40 degrees. Probably due to excessive sadness and a cold. The cold medicine at home was all gone. There were some ginger pieces in the kitchen, so I decided to make some ginger tea. After finishing everything, I was about to carry it out. Suddenly, he wrapped his big hands around my waist from behind. I was startled by the sudden hug. The hot ginger tea slipped from my hands. Crashing directly onto the floor, leaving a shocking red mark on my foot. Declan’s brows furrowed with a hint of anger. “Nora Johnson, why are you always so clumsy? Are those five years of housework wasted?” The pain left me speechless, sweat beading on my forehead. Seeing that I was really in pain, he still crouched down to check my foot. “Come on, I’ll take you to the hospital.” He grabbed my hand, picked up the car keys from the table. And took me to the underground garage. This car was something we bought when we got married. To buy it, I didn’t even ask for a dowry. Because Declan wanted a nice car, he said it would be impressive for business. And I just agreed. But this car seemed to become Phoebe’s exclusive ride. Whenever she wanted to go somewhere, a single call was enough for Declan to be her driver. Seeing the trinkets all over the passenger seat. I froze in place for a moment. “What are you waiting for? Get in the car.” I was still standing by the car, and he was already in the driver’s seat. Completely forgetting that my foot was injured. I glanced at the blistering wound on my foot. Struggling to open the car’s back door. Just then, Declan’s phone rang. After hearing the contents, his face was full of worry. I hadn’t even sat down yet, and he immediately ordered me out. “You go to the hospital yourself. Poppy got scared watching a horror movie, I need to be with her.” My whole body froze midair, not knowing what to do. But he had already made the decision for me. He roughly pulled me out of the back seat. Then sped away from the garage. He disappeared from my sight like a gust of wind. But I was already used to it, skillfully hailing a cab to go to the hospital myself.

A kind driver noticed my injured foot. He carried me to the hospital entrance. Seeing me alone and struggling to walk. He decided to help me find a wheelchair. Not far away, I saw the driver getting into a dispute. My body was suspended in mid-air, unsure of what to do next. He made the choice for me. Without hesitation, he pulled me out of the car. Then, hitting the accelerator, he sped out of the garage. He vanished from my sight in an instant. But I was used to it and easily hailed a cab to the hospital on my own. 4. A kind driver noticed my injured foot. He carried me to the hospital entrance. Seeing I was alone and struggling to walk, he offered to find a wheelchair for me. Not far away, I saw the driver in a dispute with someone. That someone was none other than my husband and his childhood sweetheart. The driver politely explained, “Sir, I have a passenger with a foot injury who needs the wheelchair. Your girlfriend looks fine. Please, show some kindness and let someone in need use it.” Unexpectedly, Declan Johnson was incredibly stubborn. He clung to the wheelchair and refused to let go, shouting as if no one else was there. “Her injury isn’t my concern! My Poppy was just frightened, and I need to take her to the doctor. Can you afford the delay?” His words were so commanding that the driver didn’t dare argue further. Phoebe Taylor stood by, pretending to be frail. Before the driver could react, Declan Johnson had already taken the wheelchair. I couldn’t help but tremble, a bitter smile forming on my lips. Is this the same man who couldn’t resist bringing stray cats home? Registering, seeing the doctor, and getting medicine—all done while hopping on one foot by myself. Two young nurses came to help me apply medication. Seeing my wound, they couldn’t help but comment. “How did your foot get burned like this, and your husband’s nowhere to be seen? Unlike the woman in the next room, her husband is so attentive, just because she got scared by a horror movie.” “Ah, life’s really unfair. Why can’t we find such good husbands?” Through the gap in the door, I saw Declan Johnson’s worried silhouette. My husband was with another woman.

When I got home, there was a package on the shoe cabinet. It had my name on it. I shop online often, mostly for household items. They’re cheaper than in-store. When I opened the package, I found an ill-fitting lingerie set and some adult toys. I couldn’t hold it, and everything spilled onto the floor. If I’m not mistaken, these were bought by Declan Johnson. He uses our home address and my name for his shopping account. After seeing that news, I should have known Declan Johnson was cheating. But I didn’t want to believe it until I saw his favoritism towards Phoebe Taylor. And now with these items, I truly expect nothing more. Laughter echoed from the elevator entrance. Declan Johnson was holding Phoebe Taylor, both looking intimate and smiling. His hand on her shoulder quickly withdrew the moment he saw me. “Quickly help me pack; I have a business trip tonight.” I stood still, coldly watching them, anger and disappointment swelling within me. Phoebe Taylor looked at me provocatively, a smug smile on her lips. “Why should I pack for you? What does your trip have to do with me?” I replied coldly. Declan Johnson seemed dissatisfied with my response, his voice rising in irritation. “What kind of attitude is that? I’m working for this family on this trip.” Phoebe Taylor circled from behind Declan Johnson, arms crossed like she owned the place. “Vivi, how can you say that? Declan is working hard for us, and you won’t even help pack?” The two plane tickets in the drawer gave them away. Their so-called business trip was just an excuse to fool around. In the past, I would have questioned it endlessly. Now, I find it unnecessary. Phoebe Taylor gently patted Declan Johnson’s back, trying to comfort him. “Declan, don’t be mad. If Vivi won’t pack for you, I will.” With that, she led Declan into the house. Declan glared at me, muttering under his breath. “Look at Poppy, if you were half as sensible, I wouldn’t be so angry.” I calmly threw the package in front of them. “So, this is what your ‘business trip’ is really about?” Declan Johnson looked guilty upon seeing the items. Yet, he insisted they had nothing to do with him. He even blamed the delivery, suggesting it was a mistake. But he knew the truth. Feeling unlucky, he tried to leave with Phoebe Taylor. But I couldn’t help but speak up. “My sister-in-law’s cremation is tomorrow. Are you sure you’re not going?” The flight is tomorrow, and so is my sister-in-law’s cremation. He grabbed a cup from the table and smashed it on the ground. The sound of shattering echoed in the air. Declan Johnson’s face turned terrifyingly dark as he lunged at me, choking me. “Nora Johnson, you witch! Why curse my sister’s death just because you’re mad?” “My sister was always good to you, and you curse her like that?” I could predict his reaction; I knew how important his sister was to him. She was indeed good to me, but she really did die. Declan could have saved her himself. The call went through, but he deliberately didn’t answer. He preferred to get lost with his childhood sweetheart, becoming a laughingstock. I mustered all my strength to break free from Declan’s grip and blurted out, “Declan Johnson, let’s get a divorce!”

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On the thirtieth day of my silent struggle with my husband, he suggested a trip to patch things up between us. But as soon as we arrived, he broke my ID, smashed my phone, and left me stranded on a remote island to fend for myself. When someone questioned his harshness, he was dismissive, accompanying his lifelong friend, Lydia, to a prenatal appointment: “It’s not my fault she’s so petty. I just used IVF to help Lydia become a mother, and now she’s demanding a divorce.” “The baby is due in eight months. There’s water and food on the island. She won’t starve; she just needs to learn a lesson.” Eight months later, holding his newborn son, my husband seemed pleased and asked his assistant: “Has she not begged to come back yet?” He didn’t know that I had died on the island the very first day. When I opened my eyes again, my spirit found itself in a delivery room. Declan, now a new father, awkwardly cradled the baby, his eyes filled with tenderness. His lifelong friend, Lydia, her hair damp with sweat, weakly asked: “Declan, we have a son now. Do you love him?” I felt disoriented. So, I had been dead for that long. Their child had been born. I touched my own belly. If my child had survived, they would have been a month old by now. As Declan emerged holding the baby, a crowd gathered to celebrate his precious son’s birth, setting off fireworks and distributing red envelopes. “Declan, this kid is adorable, a perfect mix of you and Lydia. He’s going to grow up to be a handsome man!” These people once called me “sister-in-law” and indignantly criticized Declan’s decision to go through with IVF, condemning Lydia for pretending. But they only flattered me because I was Declan’s wife. Declan smiled at their words, but his gaze frequently drifted to the end of the corridor. Distracted, he picked up his phone and frowned at his assistant: “I told you to get her a new phone. Why hasn’t she contacted me these past months or asked to come back?” The assistant lied smoothly: “Nora always curses at you and Lydia, saying she doesn’t want any communication with you.” Declan’s frown deepened: “Stubborn. She’s too headstrong.” “Tell her the child is born. My task is done.” “If she sincerely calls to apologize and agrees to be the child’s godmother, I’ll bring her back.” I chuckled bitterly. He didn’t know I was already dead. Nine months earlier, during a prenatal check-up, I accidentally discovered that Declan and Lydia were undergoing IVF. He told me that Lydia was terminally ill and wanted to experience motherhood. I was so furious I miscarried and, feeling hopeless, filed for divorce. Declan and I didn’t speak for a month. Later, he surprisingly initiated a conversation, suggesting a trip to mend our relationship, promising to destroy the IVF embryos upon our return. I believed him, only to be left to die on an isolated island. Returning to the present, Lydia, lying in bed, pitifully said: “Declan, if Nora returns, she won’t hit me again, right? She can harm me, but not our child!” She adjusted her position, deliberately exposing a small scar on her forehead. I knew the scar was from Lydia provoking me and intentionally hitting a wall after I found out about the IVF. Because of this, Declan despised me, thinking I bullied even someone terminally ill. Declan looked at her with pain in his eyes, speaking firmly: “If she dares to harm you and our child, I’ll make sure she never comes back!” The crowd laughed: “Declan, you’re still as protective of Lydia as ever. Now that the child is born, I remember you and Lydia were betrothed from childhood. It’s meant to be!” “Yeah, Declan, children need complete parental love! Nora’s so petty and extreme. I’m really afraid of what she might do to the child!” Declan didn’t respond, just turned to his assistant: “Did you send the message? How did she reply?” The next moment, Declan’s phone buzzed. His eyes brightened, thinking it was me, and he smiled: “Nora, you finally…” But the voice on the other end stunned him: “Are you the husband of Nora? We’d like to know if you can come to Serenity Temple to pick up a longevity locket.” Declan asked: “What longevity locket?” The other end sighed: “A year ago, Miss Jiang came to our temple, bowing every step, wishing for her critically ill husband’s safety. Later, she returned to express her gratitude, saying her husband recovered and she was pregnant. Our abbot said she was blessed and specially consecrated a longevity locket for her child’s safety, but we haven’t been able to reach her for months.” When Declan was diagnosed with late-stage heart failure, I tried everything to treat him, even begged the heavens, bowing until my head was bloody. Later, I happily returned to the temple, thinking we’d overcome this and found hope. But in the end, I lost everything. I clutched my aching heart, a bitter smile on my lips. Turns out, even an artificial heart could hurt this much. The crowd was stunned: “Who would have thought Nora was so devoted? When you had heart failure, we all thought she ran away to avoid responsibility. Looks like we misunderstood her…” Declan suddenly clutched his chest lightly, frowning deeply. After a moment, he coldly laughed: “No need. Toss the longevity locket.” He hung up the call. Lowering his gaze, he scoffed: “That’s the difference between Nora and Lydia.” “Nora only does things to comfort herself, while Lydia saved my life! If it weren’t for Lydia’s heart donation, I’d be dead!” “Lydia’s life is short because of it, but Nora? She only knew how to be jealous, deliberately causing an accident to lose the child, and then demanded a divorce!” Bitterness filled my mouth. I was the one who donated my heart to Declan. The doctor told me that even if I paid a high price for an artificial heart transplant and took medication daily, with current technology, I’d only live another year or two. I didn’t regret it, grateful for the time I had left. But when I woke from a coma, I found Declan tearfully thanking Lydia for donating her heart to him. I tried to explain countless times, but he accused me of imitating without success. It wasn’t until I discovered I was pregnant that our relationship somewhat mended. Lydia visited me once, clutching her heart, looking desolate: “Too bad, I won’t live long. I probably can’t have my own children or see yours, Declan.” Declan didn’t hesitate to give Lydia the chance to be a mother. That led to the tragedy that followed. Listening to Declan’s accusations, the crowd exchanged glances, the air thick with tension. To ease it, they turned on the TV: “Declan, you just had a baby boy. Don’t be so angry, relax a bit.” Unexpectedly, the news was showing: “A drone survey discovered a woman’s skeleton on a Pacific island. This is an advancement in drone technology…” Declan’s head snapped up, eyes widening: “Which island?”

Someone timidly said: “Declan, I heard the island you took Nora to is around those coordinates…” Declan’s frown could tie knots. Lydia’s eyes glinted, and she gently grabbed Declan’s fingers, shaking them slightly: “There are many similar islands, right? But this skeleton is so intact, like a model from a hospital.” Declan snapped back, coldly laughing: “Hah, Nora used to fake heart disease to deceive people. Now she found a skeleton model to scare me. She sure has time on her hands. I let her live too comfortably!” Turning to his assistant, he ordered: “From now on, don’t entertain Nora’s unreasonable demands! Just provide basic survival supplies, no more playing along with her antics!” The assistant, sweating bullets, nodded obediently. I knew why he was guilty. After leaving me on the isolated island, Declan left without hesitation on a helicopter. Exhausted, my artificial heart couldn’t take it. I reached for my medication. It was this assistant who kicked my lifesaving pills into the sea, disdainfully saying: “Declan is right. You’re such a drama queen, still acting like you have heart disease!” “Just live out your days on this island. Declan and Lydia are having a baby. No way he’d bring you back!” After that, he left the island with everyone, leaving me to die in agony. I clawed at the ground, my fingers bloody, heart stopped, dying in a foreign land. My body was exposed to the elements, pecked by birds of prey. Thinking about it now, that feeling of a heart being crushed seems so vivid. Declan’s mood inexplicably soured. Expression cold, he tucked Lydia’s hand back under the covers, starting to usher people out. “You all should leave. Lydia is tired.” The crowd exchanged looks, leaving the room. Lydia called out to Declan, pleading: “Declan, stay and watch over the baby. They say with a father’s protection, babies are less likely to startle.” Since it was a natural birth, Lydia could get out of bed and leave the hospital in a few days. Declan, holding the baby skillfully, was about to hand him to Lydia. But Lydia’s eyes suddenly welled with tears, falling onto the baby’s face. Declan was immediately flustered, carefully wiping Lydia’s tears, gently comforting her: “Don’t cry after just giving birth, little one will worry about you.” “Please, everyone, leave the room now; Lydia is tired.” The group exchanged looks and quietly exited the hospital room. Lydia stopped Declan, earnestly saying: “Declan, please stay and watch over the baby. I’ve heard that with a father’s presence, the baby is less likely to have seizures.” Since Lydia had a natural birth, she was able to get out of bed and leave the hospital within a couple of days. Declan expertly held the baby, preparing to hand it to Nora. But unexpectedly, Nora’s eyes welled up with tears, which fell onto the baby’s face. Declan was taken aback, gently wiping Nora’s tears and softly reassuring her: “Don’t cry right after childbirth; the little one will sense your distress.” Nora grasped Declan’s hand, the one wiping her tears, and sorrowfully said: “Declan, I want to stay at your place for a few days. I want the child to know how their father lives.” “Don’t worry, I understand my boundaries. I won’t touch anything at your place, and Nora won’t find out I’ve been there!” Declan pressed his lips together, visibly conflicted. Lydia clutched her chest, her eyes filled with tears, and weakly pleaded: “Declan, I don’t have much time left. There aren’t many opportunities for us to be together as a family. Can you give me this chance?” After a long silence, Declan finally nodded slowly. Lydia’s face showed a subtle satisfaction. I lowered my head, managing a bitter smile. Declan had once promised me he would never bring outsiders into our home. Yet here he was, letting Lydia in. She had always been the exception. As soon as the door opened, our little dog rushed up to greet Declan. Noticing a stranger, it barked protectively, standing in front of Declan. The baby’s cries were triggered by the barking. Declan frowned and said: “Buddy, calm down!” Lydia, however, smiled gently, though it didn’t reach her eyes: “It’s okay, Declan. I like small dogs, too.” She crouched down and patted Buddy’s head. Buddy, usually gentle, was only barking to scare off strangers and did not bite Lydia’s hand. Declan sighed: “Lydia, you’re still as kind as ever.” Only I noticed the handful of yellow and white fur in Lydia’s palm. Buddy must have been in pain! Hearing Buddy’s pained whimper, Declan’s expression shifted, and he coldly remarked: “This dog, like its owner, can change its nature and betray at any moment!” He took Lydia’s hand and left with the baby. Buddy remained at the door, biting the bouncy ball I used to play with him, seemingly waiting for me. I felt a sting of emotion. Buddy was just a mixed breed dog, but Declan and I had rescued him during our relationship. He was abandoned right after birth, and we painstakingly raised him, like our own child. He didn’t know that his mom would never come back. After going upstairs, Declan handed the baby to the nanny and called the housekeeper, giving detailed instructions: “Uncle John, Lydia doesn’t like spicy food and avoids onions, ginger, and garlic. Make sure the kitchen knows. Also, she only sleeps on silk sheets, or she’ll break out in a rash…” Declan murmured on, remembering Lydia’s preferences as if they had lived together for a long time. I had always been envious of their childhood connection, but now it seemed I had underestimated it. Unaware of this, Lydia used the excuse of going to the bathroom to sneak into Declan’s and my bedroom. Buddy, seeing a stranger enter our room, tilted his head and followed Lydia upstairs. Lydia looked mockingly at the wedding photo of Declan and me on the table and picked up a craft knife to slash my face in the picture. Noticing Buddy biting her skirt, Lydia was startled. The next second, her face twisted with malice as she kicked hard. Buddy, being just a ten-pound dog, was kicked hard against the wall and fell down. He twitched a few times, with blood spreading from his lips, whimpering softly. I was heartbroken, rushing to Buddy’s side, but could only pass through his body over and over. Lydia’s delicate, cute face twisted with malice. She sneered: “A loyal dog, huh? Then I’ll send you to meet your owner in heaven! This house’s mistress can only be me!” I stood frozen. Lydia knew I was already dead. Was my assistant her ally? Recalling my assistant’s disdain and relentless slandering of me, I clenched my fists. Just then, Declan came into the room, alerted by the noise. He immediately saw Buddy still twitching slightly at the base of the wall. Lydia immediately acted, crying and trembling in Declan’s arms: “I’m sorry, Declan. The dog bit me, and in my shock, I accidentally kicked it. It’s all my fault! The dog will be okay, right?” Declan pursed his lips, reluctantly tearing his gaze away from Buddy. “As long as you’re okay, how do you feel now? Where did it bite you?” “There are bacteria on pets, they’re dirty. I’ve wanted to get rid of it for a while. Now you’ve done me a favor.” After saying that, he pushed Lydia away and instructed the housekeeper to take Buddy to the vet. Lydia wasn’t too pleased, biting her lip and twisting her dress with her fingers. But she quickly adjusted her expression, tugging at Declan’s sleeve: “As long as the dog is okay. If Nora finds out, I won’t be able to compensate her even if I die!” To the unknowing, it would seem like I had bullied her. Declan fell for it, his eyes showing pity, soothing her softly: “If she dares, I’ll make her know what ‘worse than death’ means.” Lydia paused, then tentatively asked: “Declan, my parents want to see the little one more. Will you come with me to visit them tomorrow?” Declan nodded: “Of course, the child is meant to be raised by your parents.” Lydia’s smug expression froze, jealousy and resentment flashing in her eyes. She reached for Declan’s hand, acting coy: “Declan, why do you feel more distant from me? We—” But Declan avoided her, lost in thought. “The guest room is ready. You should rest. The little one has been fussy lately, and you haven’t been sleeping well.” That night, Declan couldn’t sleep. He occasionally took out his phone and opened my chat window. Finding my last message from eight months ago, when he invited me to travel abroad and I replied “Okay,” he felt uneasy. I worried about Buddy’s health, but my soul couldn’t stray too far from Declan, so I could only stare at Buddy’s food and toys. The next moment, Declan suddenly came over. My heart skipped a beat as he crouched down and opened Buddy’s favorite can of dog food. Then he opened my chat window. “Nora, I’ve taken care of everything. Come back, Buddy misses you.” This rare moment of softness from Declan wasn’t met with my usual quick reply. I could no longer respond to his messages. Just then, the housekeeper returned. Declan saw his empty hands and asked: “Where’s the dog?” The housekeeper hesitated: “Six ribs were broken, piercing the heart. It didn’t make it to the hospital… Sir, should we have it cremated?” My heart ached deeply. When naming the puppy, Declan had gently tapped my nose: “Of course, we should call him Buddy. We’re his parents; we’re the closest to him in his little world. We must protect him for life!” Buddy, Buddy, but he couldn’t live a safe life. Declan stood there stunned, his fingers trembling slightly. After a while, he found his voice: “Yes.” “Uncle John, please find me a dog that looks exactly the same. If Nora comes home and doesn’t see Buddy, she’ll make a fuss.” I felt even colder. He had the wealth to find a similar dog. But our bond was irreplaceable. The next day, on the way to Lydia’s house, Declan was distracted, not even reacting to the baby’s cries. When getting out of the car, he took out his phone to urge the housekeeper: “Still haven’t found one? Hurry.” When he looked up, seeing the decoration at Lydia’s house, Declan stood frozen. I found the scene amusing. There were ribbons everywhere. A red carpet covered the floor. A Bluetooth speaker played “Today I Want to Marry You.” And most striking was the banner facing the door: “I Want Us to Be Together!” Inside, the room was packed with Declan’s and Lydia’s friends and family, all eyes on them. Declan tightened his grip on the baby, who struggled and cried loudly. Lydia’s father laughed and handed a ring box to Declan: “Declan, you and Lydia were betrothed from childhood, not a match for that humble family of Nora.” “Now you have a child. You’re not going to back out, are you? Marry Lydia and give her a title!” Lydia blushed, lowered her head, and said: “Declan, I know I don’t have long to live. But I want to give the child complete motherly love, to let him know he was born in love, not as a nameless child!” “So, I want to be with you, even if it’s just for a short time.” Everyone started egging them on: “Declan, are you too happy to move? Get down on one knee and propose!” “Marry her! Marry her!” “Now that the child is born, you wouldn’t just walk away, would you? It’s time to marry Lydia and give her the respect she deserves!” Lydia blushed, lowering her head, and said softly, “Declan, I know I don’t have much time left, but I want to give our child a complete mother’s love. I want him to know he was born out of love, not as an outsider.” “So, I wish to be with you, even if it’s just for a little while.” The crowd began to cheer enthusiastically, “Declan, you’re so thrilled you’ve forgotten yourself. Get down on one knee and propose!” “Marry her! Marry her!” This was clearly a forced marriage situation. My heart felt heavy. The day had finally arrived. Declan’s expression turned cold as he tossed the ring box aside, looking directly at Lydia, “Lydia, have you lost your mind?” Without another word, he handed the child over to Lydia’s parents and stormed off. The atmosphere turned awkward immediately. Lydia’s face went pale and then flushed, and she ran after him. She grabbed Declan’s arm, her eyes red, “Why won’t you marry me? Declan, I only turned you down back then because of my pride. You got together with Nora just to upset me, didn’t you? What’s wrong with you now!” Declan shook her off, his gaze more resolute than ever, “Nora would be upset. She’s the jealous type, petty and stubborn.” “Even going through with the IVF made her really angry. If she finds out I agreed to your proposal, she’ll never forgive me!” “For this life, she’s the only wife I’ll ever have!” Hearing this, I was a bit taken aback. Lydia gritted her teeth, taking a deep breath. The next moment, she clutched her chest, speaking with difficulty, “But, Declan, what if it’s my last wish? I don’t have much time. I just want you to agree to a wedding. After I pass, you can still be with Nora. I won’t hold you up for long!” A struggle flickered in Declan’s eyes, and he instinctively wanted to show concern for Lydia. Just as his hand was about to touch Lydia’s chest, he snapped back to reality, “I’m sorry, Lydia. Even if it’s your dying wish, I can’t.” “I know you helped me, but I’ve already fulfilled your wish to be a mother. I hope you won’t overstep.” With that, he turned and left. On his way home, his eyes were fixed on the message he sent out last night, which had gone unanswered. Declan irritably questioned his assistant following him, “Are you sure Nora’s phone can connect to the internet? Why hasn’t she replied to my messages?” The assistant continued to deceive him, “Ah, but the person inspecting the island told me Miss Nora is doing well, she’s just deliberately ignoring you.” Declan was furious, “Useless! You can’t do anything right! Book me a flight, quickly!” The assistant was a bit flustered, trying hard to stop him, “But Miss Lydia is still recovering and needs someone to take care of her—” Declan gave him a scrutinizing look, ice-cold, “What does that have to do with her? Who exactly is your boss’s wife?” Soon, Declan boarded the plane. When he arrived on the island, fuming, my remains still lay exposed on the beach, my clothes long torn by the sea breeze. Declan walked towards the wooden house on the deserted island. There was a crunching sound. He stepped right on my shin bone without care. But his gaze was suddenly caught by something that flashed. He couldn’t believe it, slowly turning back. He saw the dazzling diamond ring on the ring finger of the skeleton.

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I received a new case at my private detective agency. My assignment was to investigate Jasper Lin’s infidelity. While tailing him, I discovered the person he was cheating with was my wife, Nora. Devastated, I decided to accept an invitation to join an international mercenary organization’s reconnaissance camp. For seven years, I had been anonymously donating blood to Nora. But now, I wouldn’t need to be her donor anymore. 0 I arrived at the address in Hawthorne Villa District provided by the client. Jasper was entangled with a woman. I took out my phone and started filming. The woman, in the heat of the moment, had the face of my wife, Nora. My knees almost gave way as I staggered. My colleague, Leo, saw it too and hesitated, “Detective Beckett, maybe you should let someone else handle this case.” I shook my head, fighting the pain. Providing excellent service is a must in this line of work. Jasper thrust into Nora with a force that made my heart ache, his voice low, “How do I compare to your husband?” Nora’s voice trembled, “He doesn’t compare to you.” “Jasper, Jasper, you’re the best,” she gasped repeatedly. It took a while for them to settle down. Jasper played with her hand, looking at the wedding ring on her finger, “Seeing your ring makes me uneasy.” Nora giggled, took off the ring, and tossed it into the trash. I thought they would part ways soon. But after one round, they immediately moved on to the next. Nora turned over the box, but no condoms came out. Jasper asked anxiously, “What should we do?” Nora said casually, “Inside. I’ll take the morning-after pill.” My heart felt like it was being crushed, the pain unbearable. I once loved her with all my heart. I would never risk it inside. Yet she gave herself completely to another man. She has a blood disorder, and her periods are very heavy. A miscarriage or childbirth could be life-threatening for her. So, I’ve always been cautious to prevent pregnancy. I preferred to bear the discomfort myself rather than put her at risk. She needs blood transfusions twice a month, and with her Rh blood type, finding a match is tough. Coincidentally, I share the same blood type. I donate twice a month, 400ml each time, specifically for her. To ease her mental burden, I’ve always done it anonymously. The woman I treasured was letting herself be treated like this by another man. As I reminisced, I received a message on my phone: “Declan, my best friend needs Plan B, can you buy a box and send it to Hawthorne Villa District?” Pain spread throughout my body, and I clenched my fists unconsciously. Sweat dripped from my forehead and body. “Nora, what if your husband finds out you’re cheating?” Jasper eagerly awaited her response. “Even if I cheated with ten people, he wouldn’t have the heart to leave me.” Yes, I once said, “Nora, let’s never part. I’d be lost without you.” Back then, Nora loved me wholeheartedly. She was a formidable CEO outside but cooked and cleaned for me at home. When I had a fever, she stayed up all night taking care of me. But that was then, and this is now. When I delivered the Plan B to the villa’s door, Jasper came out to take it. He looked at me with amusement, “The woman inside is quite something.” As he spoke, his cologne wafted into my nose. I lowered my head, hiding my clenched fist, and hurried away… Nora once said she’d love me forever and never betray me. I was prepared to be her blood donor for life. With her betrayal, my plans had to change. I opened my email and clicked “Accept” on the invitation from the international mercenary organization. They needed excellent scouts, and I needed to leave this heartache behind. Departure in five days. 0

Back home, I drank alone. Seven years of love, three years of marriage, and a lifetime of plans ended like this. When Nora came home, I was nearly drunk. Seeing me with the drink, she asked anxiously, “Declan, what’s wrong? Did something happen?” As she approached, Jasper’s cologne still lingered on her. Nausea hit me, and I pushed her away, rushing to the bathroom. Her eyes flashed with panic for a moment. I vomited violently into the toilet. She followed me closely, gently patting my back. “Don’t drink so much; it’s bad for your stomach. It pains me to see you like this.” Switching from one man to another, how could she change so quickly? “I’ll make you some hangover soup.” When I came out, she had already prepared the soup. She stirred it with a spoon, hoping it would cool faster. Sitting on the couch, she fed me spoonfuls. I noticed her ring finger had a ring very similar to her wedding ring. But on the palm side, there was a small “Lin” engraved. She threw away her wedding ring and wore someone else’s. Fine. Love’s wounds are like skinning flesh. The more thoroughly they’re drawn out now, the less it will hurt when I leave. Noticing my gaze, she spoke with concern, “Am I neglecting you? Work has been hectic. I’ll accompany you tomorrow to order a suit. Our third anniversary is coming up. Let’s celebrate then.” She took a warm towel and wiped my face. When she lowered her head, her neckline was too loose, exposing the hickeys all over her chest. I grabbed her and tried to pull her clothes. She quickly covered herself with her hands, “Declan, you’ve had too much to drink. This is bad for you. You need rest, okay? Be good.” After a brief panic, she switched to a gentle tone. I just wanted to see how she hid the marks on her body, but she thought I was looking for intimacy. In the past, her words would have made me feel how considerate and caring she was. But today, I knew she just didn’t want me to discover the hickeys. While she cleaned the bathroom, her phone received a message: “You wildcat, you drained me today.” I didn’t move, staring blankly at the phone screen as it went dark again. After cleaning the bathroom, she helped me to bed. Gently changing me into pajamas. Tucking me in carefully. She even took my clothes to wash. Beside me, she still played the role of the dutiful wife. If she were to compete for the Best Actor Award, the gold medal would surely be hers. The next day, at the suit tailor’s, I was getting measured when she received a call from Jasper. “Wildcat, I want to devour you. Come find me.” She sneaked a glance at me, thinking I couldn’t hear. But I was once an excellent scout; my hearing is unmatched. My hands clenched unconsciously, my body tense and stiff. As she approached, she pretended to act casually and naturally. But the blush on her face showed her eagerness. “Declan, something came up at work. I’ll have to go. After you’re measured, go wait for me at the River View Restaurant’s penthouse. I’ve reserved a table. We’ll eat together.” I held her hand, “Can’t you stay? You promised to be with me today.” Though I decided to leave, watching her go and be with another man still hurt deeply. She pried my hand away, “Work is important. I’ll be back soon. Wait for me.” She hugged my waist quickly and left. I waited at the restaurant until the sun set, the city lights up, and the whole city fell into darkness, but she never came. I called five times, but each time was unreachable. 0

She returned home after 1 a.m. Thinking I was asleep, she didn’t call me and went straight to the guest room. I lay awake, recalling our seven years together, unable to sleep. She made long calls from the guest room, speaking coquettishly and ambiguously. It was undoubtedly Jasper on the other end. When I got up in the morning, she had already made breakfast. Including my favorite soft-boiled eggs. She apologized, “I was busy at work yesterday and couldn’t make it to the restaurant. You won’t blame me, right?” Saying this, she leaned in to kiss my forehead. I reached for the egg, avoiding her kiss. She seemed startled. Her eyes flashed with a brief disappointment. Thinking about her kissing another man made me feel dirty. Today’s task was still to tail her. She went to the hospital for a blood transfusion, and the man holding her waist was Jasper. “I heard someone has been donating blood for you for years? 800ml a month, who could it be?” Jasper wondered. “Idiot, who would willingly give so much blood monthly,” Nora scoffed. If not for loving her deeply, I wouldn’t have. The doctor always scolded me for donating too frequently. But if I didn’t, she wouldn’t have any. Only two people in the city matched her blood type. The other person wasn’t healthy enough to donate. Jasper pinched her under her clothes, “You should thank him. What if he stops donating?” Nora pinched Jasper’s butt in return, “Don’t jinx it.” A while later, they came out of the transfusion room. Nora’s face was dark, visibly puzzled. If it weren’t for the profound love I have for her, I wouldn’t find it so hard to let go. The doctor often scolds me for donating blood too frequently. But if I didn’t, she wouldn’t have any. In this entire city, only two people have a compatible blood type for her. The other person is in poor health and unable to donate. Jasper jokingly teased as he touched her waist: “You should be grateful. What if he stops donating? What would you do?” Nora playfully pinched Jasper back: “Don’t jinx it.” A short while later, they emerged from the transfusion room. Nora looked troubled, clearly perplexed. “Why didn’t he donate? He’s never missed a session in seven years. Even during a snowstorm, he still came. Something must have happened this time,” she speculated. I was supposed to donate yesterday, intending to get my suit tailored first and then donate for the last time—to finish what I started. But she left me for another man’s embrace, so I canceled the donation. Yesterday, the blood center called me, but I didn’t pick up. Nora made a few calls, trying to find out the name and number of the donor. I don’t know what was said on the other end, but her face remained a mask of disappointment and concern. Jasper gently tapped her nose: “Don’t worry, there must be a solution.” They hugged and headed to the car, both getting into the back seat. Through the car window, I saw Nora nestled into Jasper’s arms. Soon after, the car began to shake slightly. Not long after, they returned. Nora’s hair was disheveled, and her clothes were wrinkled, clear signs of intimacy. I turned away, unable to watch. Their affection felt like knives and arrows to my heart. I looked down at my hand. I touched the wedding ring she had lovingly placed on my finger. The vows that once moved me now felt nauseating. I took off the ring and tossed it into the trash can. When I looked up, they were gone. 0

I went home to pack my things. There wasn’t much; I’m quite a minimalist. But I had bought her many gifts. I discarded the shared memories along with them. Just as I was about to lie down and sleep, she returned. She approached me, bent down, and tried to hug me. The scent of another man’s cologne wafted over, and I pushed her away. Her eyes flickered with a moment of panic. “Declan, what’s wrong? You’ve seemed distant these past couple of days.” She feigned calmness and looked around. “Why is there so much less stuff in the house?” I hadn’t decided how to respond when her phone rang. She took her phone and walked to the balcony. “When I’m home, don’t call me. I don’t want our relationship to affect my relationship with Declan.” … “If you dare tell him, you’ll regret it.” … “Okay, after our third wedding anniversary, I’ll take you out.” Her deliberately hushed voice was harsh to my ears. To me, the feelings she cherished seemed so worthless. The third anniversary was to be celebrated on a cruise. I thought about finding an opportunity to tell her I was leaving. Ending things properly is my principle. Nora seemed oblivious to my impending departure. She reminisced about how we met and grew to know each other. All our sweet moments. When emotions ran deep, she nestled against me as if our marriage could last forever. But my response was no longer as enthusiastic as before. Just indifferent. Her dual behavior in public and private felt ironic to me. Her betrayal caused me deep pain. During the toast, Jasper stayed by her side. Thinking I didn’t know him, she introduced us: “Declan, this is my assistant, Jasper.” Jasper wore the suit I had tailored, and it fit him perfectly. I said calmly, “I’ve met him. Delivered medicine once.” “This suit suits him well.” She was momentarily stunned, then seemed to understand instantly: “Oh, he’s my best friend’s boyfriend.” “This suit is for him first. I’ll get another one made for you later.” From the reflection on the door’s glass, I saw Jasper secretly pinch her waist. Halfway through, Nora went to the restroom, and Jasper pulled me aside. “Declan, I heard your… abilities aren’t great, right?” He looked at me provocatively. “I can fully satisfy Nora, can you? You should leave, don’t cling to her like an octopus.” He pulled out his phone, showing me their intimate video. These, I had already seen. I turned to leave but noticed a pillar about to fall. I quickly dodged and pushed Jasper out of the way. A scout’s reflexes to danger are always faster. Jasper’s leg got hit by the falling pillar. “Declan, you damn bastard, you did this on purpose.” Jasper cursed loudly. Nora came out just in time to see everything. She walked towards me coldly and slapped me. “Declan, just because you don’t like Jasper doesn’t mean you should hurt him.” I was furious, raised my arm, but ultimately lowered it. I don’t hit women. “Why wouldn’t I like Jasper? You just introduced him to me today. Do you two have some kind of relationship?” I glared at Nora with bloodshot eyes, my voice icy. Concern clouded her judgment. She thought I didn’t know about their relationship, but her words seemed to give it away. She quickly covered up: “My best friend entrusted him to me, now his leg is injured, how do I explain to her?” “Get him to the hospital now.” The injury wasn’t severe, but he was hospitalized. Nora was running around, busy. A doctor from the hematology department saw her and came over: “You asked the director for the donor’s number, he gave it to me. Here it is.” He handed her a piece of paper with a string of numbers—my number. I wondered if Nora would regret slapping me if she knew I had been the one donating blood to her all these years. Would she regret her affair? I was curious about her reaction. I stared at her, and at the paper. Nora took the number, about to look when Jasper groaned, and she quickly placed the paper on the bedside. Jasper stretched his leg, and the paper fell to the floor. People passing by stepped on it, leaving it covered in footprints. Later, the cleaning staff came in and thought it was trash, so they cleaned it up. I didn’t linger, went straight home. The parting words I prepared were no longer needed. I left the divorce papers and the USB with their video on the living room table. I threw the keys in the door. I took one last look at the home I’d lived in for seven years and slammed the door shut. Dragging my suitcase, I headed to the airport. Just as I entered the departure lounge, Nora called. I didn’t want to answer, but accidentally hit the accept button. Nora’s voice came through, choking with tears: “Declan, was it really you donating blood for me all these years?”

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I thought my husband had been kidnapped while working abroad. I wanted to call the police, but he said the kidnappers were too powerful and it would be better to just pay the ransom. I believed him and somehow managed to scrape together $3 million to go abroad and rescue him. But the moment I landed, someone knocked me out. When I woke up, I found myself tied up and brought before the kidnappers. And there was my husband – the one who was supposed to be kidnapped – smiling obsequiously as he handed over the ransom money to the kidnappers: “Boss Spike, the money’s here, and so is she. About our deal…” Only then did I realize that my husband planned to trade my life for his future wealth and glory. But just as the gang of kidnappers was about to “teach me a lesson”, I realized the building looked oddly familiar. Wait, isn’t this my uncle’s place? 0 “Jack Harrison, you’ll pay for this!” I glared at the man before me, my eyes burning with fear and hatred. SLAP! Jack’s face contorted with rage as he shouted something, but the ringing in my ears drowned out his words at first. I probed the inside of my swollen cheek with my tongue, swallowing the metallic taste of blood, and looked up to glare at him defiantly. “You little bitch, who said you could talk to me like that?” he snarled. “And you dare to glare at me? Rachel Evans, do you still think you’re the high and mighty Miss Evans? You’re nothing but a dog under my heel now!” Jack grabbed my chin, examining my face with cold eyes but a disturbingly playful tone: “Rachel, you should be grateful you’ve still got a pretty face. Otherwise, you’d be treated like those other slaves – beaten and abused like the dogs they are. I’m giving you a chance to regain some of your former glory as Miss Evans. You should be thanking me.” “Boss Spike will be here soon. You’d better behave yourself, or else… you’ll regret it.” I stared at him, my eyes bloodshot, feeling like I’d never known the man standing before me. Jack had pursued me for a year, we’d been together for three, and we’d finally tied the knot earlier this year. Three months ago, my family went bankrupt, leaving Jack and me with massive debts. To earn more money, Jack accepted an overseas assignment from his company. But barely a month later, I suddenly lost all contact with him. Just as I was about to report him missing, I received a message saying he’d been kidnapped. Without hesitation, I borrowed $3 million from friends and took a 15-hour flight across the ocean to rescue him. But I never imagined that the moment I landed, someone would knock me out. When I woke up, I found myself in this dark warehouse. And there was my husband, Jack Harrison, lounging with a glass of wine in one hand and a beautiful woman in the other, watching me tied up before him with a smug expression. “Jack, I’ve never mistreated you or done anything to hurt you in all these years. Why are you doing this to me?!” “Why?” Jack chuckled, sauntering over to grab a fistful of my hair. “There’s no ‘why’ about it. If you want to blame someone, blame your family for being so rich, and me for needing money.” “By the way, do you still think the Lee family was behind your family’s bankruptcy?” “What do you mean?” I stared at him in disbelief, unable to process what I was hearing. Before anyone could answer, the woman standing behind Jack sashayed forward with a coy laugh. “Miss Evans, what Jack means is that he got close to you for your money, of course,” she purred. “From the very beginning, Jack approached you for your family’s wealth. If your father had listened to Jack and let him handle the company, you might still be the high and mighty Miss Evans. But unfortunately, your stubborn old man refused. He even had the gall to call it ‘selling out the country’. What a joke – it was a mutually beneficial arrangement, but he had to go and slander it like that.” “And then there’s your mother, who dared to eavesdrop on our conversations. Tsk, sending her to a mental hospital was Jack being merciful, considering your years together.” The woman leaned down, tracing my chin with her scarlet fingernail: “Miss Evans, you’d better not refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit, if you know what I mean.” 0

It was only then that I realized the truth – my family’s bankruptcy, my father’s suicide, my mother’s depression – it was all because of Jack! After squeezing every last drop of value from me, he now wanted to sell me off to make his final profit. “Jack, how could you do this to us? My family never mistreated you all these years! Why are you doing this? Why?!” Tears and snot streamed down my face, not just because of the betrayal of trust over so many years, but because I realized that the tragedy that befell my family was indirectly caused by me. I had even tacitly allowed Jack to send my mother to a mental hospital. This double blow pushed my hatred for Jack to its peak. “Damn it, will you shut up already…” Jack kicked me hard, then lunged forward and grabbed my throat. Just as he was about to hit me, an angry voice rang out. “I can hear you lot squabbling before I even get in here. What kind of behavior is this?” Jack’s hand loosened around my throat, and he quickly fell silent, standing to the side. The woman who had been adding fuel to the fire also quieted down, calling out “Boss Spike” before stepping aside. “That’s better. We’re all ‘civilized people’ here, no need for all this shouting and violence.” The man covered in tattoos sat down nearby, fingering his prayer beads with a soft clinking sound. “Is this the new merchandise?” Hearing this, Jack hurriedly wiped the cold sweat from his face and said ingratiatingly: “Boss Spike, this is the target from my last mission…” As I listened to Jack report to Spike how he had lured me in step by step and systematically ruined my family, I felt the blood rush to my face. Jack Harrison! Jack Harrison! I wanted to scream, to howl, but the man restraining me seemed to read my mind. Not only did he dislocate my jaw, but he also stuffed a cloth into my mouth. After hearing Jack’s report, Spike’s expression relaxed: “Well done, Jackie boy. You’ve completed this mission admirably.” Jack took a fawning step forward, half-bowing as he said: “You’re too kind, sir. It’s all thanks to your excellent guidance. As you can see, the money’s here, and the merchandise is quite attractive. So, about that partnership we discussed…” Spike suddenly stood up, giving Jack an inscrutable look: “Of course, we’ll have to ‘discuss our partnership’ thoroughly.” From where I was sitting, I could clearly see the malicious smiles on the faces of Spike and his men. But the moment Jack looked up, they all wiped the expressions from their faces. Jack, grinning from ear to ear, called for someone to bring me before Spike. “Boss Spike, the woman is yours now. Do with her as you please.” Then Jack turned to me: “Rachel, don’t say I never did anything for you. In this place, Boss Spike is one of the top dogs. Whether you end up with him or working for him, it’s better than washing dishes back home. If it weren’t for our years together as husband and wife, I wouldn’t have even thought of giving you this opportunity. Consider this the final act of our marriage.” Unable to speak, I could only glare at him with bloodshot eyes. Spike walked over and grabbed my chin. “Who said she’s going to be with me? Pretty women like her are meant to be sold – that’s the most profitable business.” The men standing behind Spike immediately started jeering: “Boss, it’s been a long time since we’ve had any fun. Shouldn’t the boys get a taste of such a fine woman first?” Spike waved his hand dismissively: “When have I ever shortchanged you boys? She’s just one woman – have your fun.” Suddenly, all the men turned to look at me with lewd grins. The anger in my heart faded, replaced by sheer terror. I shook my head frantically, looking at Jack with pleading eyes, making muffled sounds through my gag. 0

Because of my violent struggles, the man holding me down became impatient and slapped me hard. “Stop squirming, you little slut! Can’t you see the boss is talking?” The slap made me nauseous, and combined with the stench of sweat permeating the warehouse, I couldn’t stop dry heaving. This angered the man even more. He shouted, “Fucking bitch!” and punched me hard in the stomach. Now I couldn’t even dry heave. Pain radiated from my stomach throughout my body. Cold sweat broke out on my face, and my whole body shook uncontrollably. The man grabbed my hair and slapped me across the face several times before Spike finally “noticed” and called him off. “Butch, what the hell are you doing? Forgot Boss Zhang’s teachings? We’re ‘civilized people’ here, not thugs like before.” “And who said you could hit her face? If we can’t make money off her later, are you going to take her place?” The man called Butch reluctantly stopped hitting me and threw me onto a chair, tying me up. When the gag was removed from my mouth, it was already soaked with my blood. Drip, drip… I stared blankly at the small pool of red forming on the floor, the pain from various parts of my body leaving me unable to think. Jack, standing to the side, narrowed his eyes slightly before pouring a glass of wine for Spike with a fawning smile: “Boss Spike, now that our deal is settled, Chloe and I will take our leave. We won’t disturb your fun any longer. Please, carry on…” Spike took the wine with an enigmatic smile. Just as Jack and the woman were about to leave the warehouse, he said casually: “Who said you could leave?” Almost as soon as Spike’s voice fell, a group of men rushed over to restrain Jack and the woman. Jack looked at Spike in shock and dismay: “Boss Spike, what’s the meaning of this?!” “What’s the meaning of this?” Spike drained his glass of wine and fixed Jack with a fierce glare: “Jackie boy, did you really think you could play games with me right under my nose and not face the consequences?” “Take him next door.” Jack’s eyes widened in shock and anger. He shouted furiously: “Spike! When did I ever play games with you? I came to you in good faith to discuss a partnership. I even risked exposure by going back to the States to find merchandise for you. Is this how you repay me? Let go of me, you bastards!” “Spike, no matter what, we’re on the same level! Don’t think you can step over me just because you’ve spent a few more years with Boss Zhang. I want to see Boss Zhang! I demand to see Boss Zhang!” Then Jack was gagged and pushed out of the room. The woman standing next to him had already been dragged out by the impatient men at the very beginning. Now in the dim warehouse, it was just me and a room full of menacing-looking men. Seeing this, my previously dazed eyes suddenly came back into focus. If they could turn on Jack, one of their “own people”, so easily, what hope did I have as mere “merchandise”? My heart sank to the depths of despair, and I resigned myself to the worst. My gaze swept across the faces of everyone in the room, determined to remember each one clearly. If I ever had the chance to escape, I would make sure they all ended up behind bars! But just then, I saw the previously arrogant Spike suddenly stand up and call out “Brother Leo” to someone at the door, a wide smile on his face. Following the respectful gazes of the others, I saw a well-dressed man slowly walk in through the bright doorway. Wait… isn’t that Leo, my uncle’s driver? My eyes widened slightly as I stared at the man now standing in front of Spike, listening to his report with a cold expression. Yes, yes! Even though it had been six or seven years since I last saw him, I couldn’t be mistaken. That man was definitely Leo. I had thought earlier that the layout of this warehouse seemed familiar, like I’d been here before. Now, seeing a familiar face, it hit me – this was my uncle’s factory abroad! I had come to this city on my graduation trip. At the time, my mom had specially called my uncle, asking him to show me around while I was abroad. My uncle always listened to my mom, so I naturally stayed at his house. But my uncle was incredibly busy, so he only took me on a tour of the factory on the first day. After that, he assigned me a driver to take me around. And that driver was Leo! Realizing this, a spark of hope suddenly ignited in my heart. If I could recognize Leo, surely he would recognize me too!

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Valentine’s Day, my frugal husband gave me a gold necklace. I was delighted and took a picture to share on social media, saying: “Seven years, and my husband finally understands!” That evening, I prepared a lavish dinner to reward him after a long day at work. However, it wasn’t my husband at the door, but a young woman. Just as I set the last dish on the table, the doorbell rang urgently. At this time, my son was still at his tutoring session, and my husband, Declan, if he forgot his key, would knock impatiently. Who could it be? I quickly wiped my hands on my apron and called out: “I’m coming, I’m coming.” “Theo, take a look for yourself. Isn’t this the necklace you gave me?” Before I could see who it was, a finger was pointed right in my face. I recognized her; she lived next door and had just moved in. Her name was Phoebe. Facing her rude behavior, I suppressed my anger and spoke calmly: “Young lady, you must be mistaken. My husband bought this necklace for me. Look, here’s the card he wrote himself!” The man named Theo looked at me gratefully under her aggressive gaze. “I just lost a necklace, and you received an identical one—what a coincidence!” Phoebe grabbed Theo’s phone and furiously typed on it, then thrust it in my face with a sneer: “Lady, open your eyes and take a look. This is the order screenshot, identical to the one on your neck. As for the card, it’s so scratched up, who knows how many hands it’s been through.” “And by the way, aren’t you a bit too old to be taking what your man can’t provide? Take it off and return it, and I won’t press charges.” She raised her voice to draw the attention of several neighbors who peeked out. I felt my face burn with embarrassment, thinking this young woman was out of her mind. Just because it’s the same necklace, she thinks it’s hers? “If you keep causing trouble, I’ll call the police,” I said coldly, showing her the door. But Phoebe wasn’t intimidated; she grew even more arrogant: “Never heard of the guilty party calling the police first? Who are you threatening? I’m not afraid of you!” When Declan arrived, Phoebe and I had just been separated, both with scratches on our faces. He pulled me aside without a word: “You’re embarrassing me all the time, hurry up and come home with me!” “Why are you in such a hurry? Feeling guilty? The matter isn’t resolved yet!” Seeing Phoebe provoke, Theo tugged at her sleeve: “Enough, we found the necklace, it’s all good. We’re neighbors.” “What, are you afraid he’ll retaliate? Look at him, he wouldn’t dare!” Hearing this, Declan pulled me angrily but didn’t dare lash out at Phoebe. Following Phoebe’s smug gaze, he saw the familiar necklace, then looked at my bare neck and said angrily: “Where’s the necklace you posted about? Did you give it to them? Do you know how expensive a gold necklace is?” “You have the nerve to talk about the necklace? Declan, why didn’t you tell me it was stolen? Three years of marriage, I’ve worked tirelessly, and I can’t even get a gold necklace?” Just now, Phoebe showed evidence. In the surveillance footage, Declan was seen rummaging through the flower gifts at her door, pocketing a gift box along with the greeting card. “Spare me, it wasn’t stealing. It was thrown away in the trash at their door. How was I supposed to know it was gold inside?” “And besides, gold is expensive. Do I look like I have spare money? Are you dumb? Posting pictures on social media, after all your education, housework must have fried your brain!” “And by the way, if you hadn’t been after me for it, would I have picked it up?” “Do you hear yourself? When did I ever hound you for it?” “You didn’t say? You didn’t say you keep nagging about my mother owing you a dowry? Aren’t you just after my family’s money? You don’t work, just want me to support you!” Back then, my grades were much better than Declan’s. He said the child needed a loving environment to grow up in. My mother-in-law was from the countryside, couldn’t adjust to city life, was uneducated, and couldn’t raise a child properly. He sweet-talked me into becoming a housewife. Now, it’s become a weapon against me. Watching the once handsome boy turn into this ugly face, I felt disgusted. I suddenly couldn’t argue anymore. Feeling disheartened, I said: “Declan, let’s get a divorce. I’ve had enough of this life!”

Declan was my first love. I married him right after college and soon became a housewife after having Finn. To give Finn a better life, Declan saved every penny over the years. For seven years, I’ve used Finn’s baby cream as my skincare, wore outdated clothes passed down from my sister-in-law for three years. Even the promised gifts of gold from my mother-in-law at our wedding never materialized. He said I didn’t need them since I stayed home, and it was better to invest in Finn’s future so we’d be secure in our old age. When I received the necklace, I realized I hadn’t been that happy in a long time. But it turned out to be a slap in the face. Back home, seeing Finn eating alone, Declan flipped the table in anger: “Eat! Eat! Eat! All you do is eat! What use is it for me to support you two, just costing me money all day!” “Finn, if you have something to say, say it to me. What kind of skill is it to take it out on the child!” I hugged my trembling, crying son, stroking his head, trying to comfort him. Unexpectedly, he pushed me away: “I don’t want you, go away. I want Ms. Iris!” “Who is Ms. Iris?” I knew all of Finn’s tutoring teachers but had never heard of a Ms. Iris. “Ms. Iris is Ms. Iris, she’s prettier and kinder than you, and she doesn’t make Dad angry. I hate you, why didn’t you pick me up!” Hearing the door slam as Finn shut himself in, I felt guilty, thinking he was upset because I hadn’t picked him up from school. That night, I made his favorite egg noodles to try to cheer him up. But standing outside his room, I overheard my mother-in-law on the phone with him: “My darling grandson, do you like Ms. Iris?” “Ms. Iris is young and pretty, she can earn money. She’s a hundred times better than your useless mom. Wouldn’t you like Ms. Iris to be your mom?” Finn was silent for a while before asking: “Will Ms. Iris take care of me like Mom if Dad and Mom divorce?” At that moment, I felt ice-cold. My mother-in-law was supporting my husband finding another woman. My son wanted the other woman as his mom. After giving so much to this family over the years, I found myself utterly alone. There were no disputes over property, and I didn’t want custody, so the divorce was straightforward. Leaving City Hall, my son happily leaped into Declan’s arms without a glance at me. “Ms. Iris said Dad is happy today and will take us out for a feast!” Looking at Ms. Iris, with her delicate skin and refined clothes, clearly living a life of luxury, no wonder my son liked her. But I couldn’t understand what she saw in the unkempt, pot-bellied Declan. “Ms. Iris is right. Let’s have some western food, and after dinner, we’ll take Ms. Iris shopping, okay?” “Brother Declan, don’t spend too much. I haven’t even worn the gold necklace you bought me the other day.” Watching them walk away like a happy family, I realized Declan wasn’t stingy; he just didn’t want to spend money on me. But that’s okay; I’m done revolving around them. From now on, I want to live for myself.

Declan didn’t know I had secretly taken a loan to buy this house. The rent he paid each month was my loan repayment. When Declan and his new family returned, I was packing up their things. He smugly pulled out a crumpled $200 from his pocket and threw it at my face. “Smart choice. Here’s $200 for your trip home. Take it and go, don’t dirty Iris’s eyes.” Iris blushed, shyly tapping Declan, intentionally showing off her wrist adorned with a large gold bracelet. “Brother Declan, what are you saying? It’s not easy for her, she gave her youth to this family.” I rolled my eyes at them and interrupted impatiently: “You got it wrong, Declan. This house is mine. You should be the ones leaving.” “You’re lying. How could you afford a house without a job? You’ve been living off Dad all these years. Without Dad, you’d starve.” “Without me, you’d starve. Do you really think you’re Daddy’s good son? Who has been tirelessly serving you all these years? Today, I’m going to beat some sense into you, you ungrateful brat!” I picked up a broom and started swinging it at them. Several times, Declan hid behind Iris. “Get out, or I’ll call the police!” Iris was frightened, clutching her belly, looking pained. Seeing this, Declan hurriedly called an ambulance, not forgetting to threaten me: “If anything happens to Iris, you’ll pay!” “Without me, you would have been in dire straits ages ago. You think you’re the perfect son for your father? Who’s been looking after you all these years? Today, I’m putting an end to your ungrateful antics!” I grabbed the broom next to me and started swinging it at the three of them. Declan ducked behind Iris several times to dodge the blows. “Get out now, or I’ll call the cops,” I shouted. Startled, Iris instinctively shielded her belly, wincing in discomfort. Seeing this, Declan quickly dialed for an ambulance on his phone, still managing to throw a threat my way: “If anything happens to Iris, there will be hell to pay!” Once I finally got them out, I slumped down on a chair, surveying the chaos of the room. A wave of emptiness washed over me. Just then, my mom called: “Dear, Declan said you two got divorced. Do you want us to come and get you? What’s going on?” Hearing my mom’s worried voice, I couldn’t hold back my tears any longer. “Don’t cry, sweetheart. Take your time. No matter what, your dad and I are here for you.” Through my choked words, my mom pieced together what had happened and comforted me gently: “I always had a feeling Declan wasn’t the right one. Luckily, we were smart enough to put the house under your dad’s name back then.” “And that kid, like father, like son. Don’t worry, darling, you’re still young and have plenty of opportunities ahead.” My dad also encouraged me to come home for a few days. I wiped my tears, shaking my head: “Dad, Mom, could you lend me some money? I want to open a breakfast shop downstairs.” Seeing that I wasn’t letting this knock me down, my parents were overjoyed: “Silly child, don’t talk about borrowing. You always dreamed of opening a dumpling shop when you were little. Fulfilling a dream is a good thing. We’ll come over soon to help you out.” 4. With my parents’ support and school starting, my breakfast shop quickly gained traction. Back then, we chose this area so Finn could attend school conveniently. Finn, whom I raised for six years, was now in a new family dynamic. I was concerned about how he was doing. As I set up shop, a group of elementary school kids gathered around. Amidst the chatter, I heard a familiar name: “Finn, these dumplings are amazing! But doesn’t that lady look like your mom?” After not seeing him over the winter break, Finn had grown taller and slimmer. He looked at me coldly and said nothing. I packed two meat dumplings and handed them to the chubby kid who spoke: “Thanks for the free advertising, kiddo. These are on the house.” My son suddenly knocked the dumplings from my hand, sneering: “She’s not my mom. I don’t have a mom like that. What’s so great about dumplings anyway? I’m sick of them. After school, I’ll have my mom take us for burgers.” He said this, and without another glance, dragged the chubby kid across my dumplings. I watched my son’s back, picked up the dumplings from the ground, dusted them off, and tossed them to Whiskers, who wagged his tail happily. Indeed, raising an ungrateful child is not as good as raising a dog. News about our community’s relocation had been circulating for a while and was recently finalized. I hadn’t had a chance to share it with my family. Then I got a message from Declan, asking to meet to discuss transferring Finn to my custody. Hearing Declan’s request, I was taken aback for a moment, unsure what he was up to now. Iris, sitting beside Declan, touched her round belly with both hands and pleaded with me: “Sister, I didn’t mean to come between your family. Now that I’m expecting, I understand the pain of family separation. Please take Finn back. Otherwise, I’ll always feel guilty.” Knowing my mother-in-law’s preference for boys, I followed Declan’s uneasy gaze and, sure enough, spotted a shadow behind the fake flowers. “Alright, transferring Finn to me is fine, but we have to change his last name!” As soon as my mother-in-law heard this, she rushed out, pointing at me and cursing: “I knew you had ulterior motives. It’s already a favor to transfer Finn to you, and now you want to change his last name? You want to end the Declan family line?” Not wanting to argue with them, I picked up my bag to leave. My mother-in-law quickly blocked my path, insisting on the transfer that day. Finn, called over during his last PE class, saw the aggressive scene before him. “Dad, Grandma, what are you doing? I’ve already said I don’t want to transfer. Can you stop embarrassing us?” My mother-in-law looked at him with disappointment: “What do you understand? Your mom’s house is about to be relocated. After the transfer, that money will be yours! How can your dad’s salary support you and your brother? Today, even if we have to tie her up, this brat must be transferred!” More and more onlookers gathered, but no one offered to help. Just as I was about to take out my phone to call the police, Declan snatched it away: “Don’t waste your effort. Family matters are hard to resolve even with the police!” Just when I was about to fight back, a familiar voice came from behind: “I was wondering who was being so arrogant. Turns out it’s the necklace thief!” Phoebe held up her phone, walked up to me, and recorded their faces one by one. “This is a live stream to ten thousand people. Stories about cheating husbands, mistresses, and ungrateful sons are very popular!”

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In our neighboring town, there was a peculiar phenomenon – the production of so-called “vase maidens”. These women, seemingly living inside ornate vases, were known for their extraordinary beauty, especially their delicate, alluring lips. Men from outside the town would spend their last penny to marry one and bring her home. My father, Jack, had always been envious. He finally borrowed money to marry one himself. But late one night, I discovered the terrifying secret behind these vase maidens. The town was buzzing with excitement that day. Tom Short, who had been single for decades, was grinning from ear to ear as he carried a vase maiden out of a wedding carriage. Everyone craned their necks to get a better look. The vase was about waist-high, adorned with intricate, lifelike patterns that seemed to shimmer and move. From the top of the vase emerged a woman’s neck, slender and pale. Her face was covered by a bridal veil, obscuring her features, but her exquisite lips were visible, slightly parted to reveal perfect white teeth. Several men nearby were practically drooling, their eyes filled with envy and jealousy. I unconsciously touched the scar on my right cheek. If I hadn’t been scalded by hot water as a child, would I have been as beautiful as her? “That Tom Short is one lucky bastard,” someone muttered. “He looks like a potato, but he managed to snag a vase maiden.” “I heard these vase maidens prefer shorter men,” another chimed in. My father’s interest was immediately piqued. “Why’s that?” he asked, his own lack of height suddenly seeming like an advantage. The crowd burst into laughter. “Makes it easier to take care of them, doesn’t it?” Jack rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I’m going to borrow money and get one tomorrow.” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. My father was notorious in our town for never paying his debts. He still owed money for drinks all over town. Who would lend him anything? But to my surprise, the very next day, my father brought home a vase maiden of his own. The woman was breathtakingly beautiful, with skin like porcelain and eyes like works of art. Beneath her high, straight nose were lips so luscious they seemed to beg for a kiss. Even I, another woman, couldn’t help but feel my heart flutter at the sight of her. I could only imagine how men must feel. My father was completely smitten, holding the vase and staring at the woman with such intensity that he was practically drooling. The woman, too, was looking at my father with bright, inquisitive eyes, seeming to grow fonder with each passing moment. I was utterly confused. My father was well into his forties, dark-skinned and far from handsome. Years of smoking and drinking had left him with bad breath and blackened teeth. How could this vase maiden possibly like him? Then the vase maiden noticed me standing in the doorway and let out a startled cry. “Who is that? She looks terrifying!” The scar on my right cheek was uneven and ugly, like a twisted vine clinging to my face. My father rushed to comfort her. “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. This is my daughter, Lily. Rose, this is your new stepdaughter.” Rose glared at my father, clearly displeased. “Stepdaughter? I’m still a young virgin! How could I possibly have a daughter this old? Besides, I’m probably not much older than her.” She glanced at the scar on my face, her expression full of disdain. My father chuckled nervously. “Well, then, she can just call you by your name. I’ll treat you like my own daughter.” “Oh, stop it,” Rose giggled coyly. My father, unable to contain himself any longer, carried Rose off to the bedroom. For a moment, I could have sworn I saw the patterns on Rose’s vase move. Soon, the sounds of my father’s pleasure echoed from the room. For the next few days, my father barely left the bedroom, not even coming out to eat. One day, I went to call him for dinner. When he emerged, his steps were unsteady, but his face wore a satisfied smile. Rose looked even more radiant, her little mouth like a ripe cherry, juicy and inviting. I’m not sure if it was my imagination, but the patterns on Rose’s vase seemed more vibrant and lush than before. As my father carried her out, Rose pouted, saying she wasn’t satisfied yet. “Be patient, darling. We’ll eat and then go back to the room,” my father said, placing Rose on a chair and attentively offering her a piece of meat. This meat had cost us a month’s worth of food rations. But Rose flew into a rage. “Have you gone senile? Do you think I eat this pig slop like you do? I wasn’t satisfied earlier, and if you can’t provide for me properly, you should send me back home right now!” I was puzzled. Rose had been in the room with my father the whole time, and I hadn’t seen him bring any food in. My father looked embarrassed and tried to soothe her. “I’ve been feeling a bit weak lately. I’ll eat some supplements tomorrow, I promise I’ll satisfy you then.” But Rose wouldn’t let it go, insisting she was hungry and wanted to eat now. Just then, there was a loud banging on our front door. Several menacing-looking men barged in.

I recognized the leader – it was Mike Bull, a notorious loan shark from town. He had once crippled a villager who couldn’t repay his debt. “Jack Smith, your loan is due today. Pay up, with interest,” Mike growled. I was shocked. Had my father really taken out a high-interest loan to marry Rose? My father stammered, and Mike threatened to take one of his legs as payment. Terrified, my father pointed at me with a shaking finger. “This is my daughter. Take her as payment.” But Mike wasn’t interested in me, saying I was too ugly. “But she’s healthy!” my father insisted. “You could sell any part of her body and clear my debt!” I felt my eyes burning with angry tears. I knew my father was a beast, but I never imagined he’d stoop this low, trading his daughter’s life for his own safety. Mike reconsidered, eyeing me like a piece of merchandise. Just as he was about to drag me away, Rose’s voice came from inside the room. “Who’s making all that noise out there, disturbing my beauty sleep?” Mike turned and saw Rose in the room. His eyes nearly popped out of his head. “A vase maiden! You old dog, you know how to live it up, don’t you?” One of Mike’s men whispered in his ear, “Boss, I heard these vase maidens are made from young virgins. They might not have bodies, but those lips, man…” The man grew more excited as he spoke, rubbing his hands together and eager to get a closer look. I thought my father would refuse, but to my horror, he offered Rose as a bargaining chip. He said if they went in to “appreciate” the vase maiden, he could have a few more days to repay the debt. Mike agreed immediately, grinning as he and his men entered Rose’s room. They didn’t come out until the next morning, looking thoroughly satisfied. I had expected Rose to be devastated by the violation, but to my surprise, she wore a content smile, with traces of fluid still visible at the corners of her mouth. I felt a chill run down my spine. For the next few days, Mike and his men didn’t come back to collect the debt. As I passed by Rose’s room, I heard her throwing a tantrum inside. “They say men in their forties are like wolves, but how did I end up with such a wimp? If I had known, I would have married someone strong like Mike Bull. Send me back right now, I can’t stand another minute here!” I was stunned by what I heard. Rose wasn’t disgusted by the men who had abused her, but rather longed for their strength? When she first arrived, she had seemed pleased with my father, but now she was full of contempt. It seemed she didn’t care for my father as a person, but wanted something from him. Curious, I peeked through a crack in the door. What I saw left me shocked. The woman who had been so vibrant and alluring that morning now had dull, lifeless skin. Her once luscious red lips were now dry and thin, as if all the moisture had been sucked out of them. Even stranger, the lifelike patterns on her vase now looked wilted, like plants that hadn’t been watered. What secret was this woman hiding? To please Rose, my father actually invited Mike back. Mike was delighted, of course, and stayed in Rose’s room for three days and nights. But when he emerged, I was horrified by his appearance. The once strong and robust man was now skin and bones, with sunken eyes and protruding cheekbones. He looked so frail that a gust of wind could have knocked him over. I watched as he stumbled out of our house. When he reached the river, he lost his footing and fell in. By the time they fished him out, he had already drowned. That night, Rose forced my father to find her another strong man. Remembering Mike’s transformation, my curiosity got the better of me. I snuck around to the back of Rose’s room and peered through a gap in the window. What I saw inside made my eyes widen in shock and horror.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295673”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #重生Reborn #现实主义Realistic #惊悚Thriller #浪漫Romance #魔幻Magic #励志Inspiring