Category: English

My best friend and I married into the same wealthy family, becoming sisters-in-law. Shortly after, we both became pregnant. Our in-laws announced a million-dollar reward for whoever gave birth to a son. On the day I delivered, my friend, who had just undergone a C-section, came to my bedside and switched my son with her daughter. Twenty years later, after her son had caused a major scandal, she proudly declared in front of everyone, pointing at my academically excellent daughter: “Actually, this is my biological child!” I smiled and replied, “They say children often resemble their uncles. If your son shaved his head, he’d look exactly like your brother!” “Indeed, he is your biological son…” At the hospital room door, I saw a woman in a patient gown, hunched over and carrying a thick bundle. I quickly closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep. She entered, just as I expected. Even while enduring the pain from her C-section, she had come to switch our babies for the million-dollar reward. After she left, I looked at my fair-skinned daughter with love. Caressing her face, I whispered, “That scrawny, premature boy can go to whoever wants him.” Two hours later, my husband and in-laws arrived. My room was quiet, with only my husband, the nurse, and me present. Olivia’s room, on the other hand, was bustling with our in-laws, sister-in-law, and a crowd of relatives. My husband looked uncomfortable and tried to comfort me, “It’s okay, Emma. Our little princess has us, and that’s enough.” I patted his hand and said, “The surgery has left me weak. Since Olivia has the energy, let her entertain the guests.” That night, after running around switching babies and greeting visitors, Olivia suffered severe bleeding and was rushed back to surgery.

A year ago, shortly after I married into the wealthy family, Olivia would cry in front of me every day. She accused me of forgetting our promise to “stay friends even in wealth and success.” Seeing her strange, heavy makeup and exaggerated expressions, I remembered how she had cut ties with all our old classmates after marrying a nouveau riche man five or six years ago. I could only laugh it off and deny her accusations. To my surprise, within two weeks, she had hooked up with my gambling-addicted brother-in-law. When our in-laws disapproved, she got pregnant and forced a shotgun wedding. Her baby was due just a month after mine. Our in-laws were thrilled to have two pregnant daughters-in-law and announced the million-dollar reward for a grandson. I didn’t care much, as I hadn’t married my husband for his family’s wealth. I would be happy with either a son or a daughter. Olivia, however, was obsessed. She consulted fortune tellers who all said she was carrying a girl. She spent a fortune on rituals to change her luck, but to no avail. All this stress led to her being hospitalized for a month to protect the pregnancy. As my due date approached, I noticed Olivia constantly staring at my belly. My maternal instincts kicked in, and I became wary. Sure enough, on the day my water broke, Olivia arrived at the hospital right after me. She insisted on having a C-section that day, claiming it was an auspicious date. After my daughter was born, I took the opportunity to switch her son with my daughter when no one was looking. So, the baby Olivia took was actually her own son.

On the babies’ one-month birthday celebration, the family mansion was decorated lavishly, with luxury cars lining the driveway and guests filling the halls. Olivia’s “little prince” wore a bright yellow traditional outfit, which only made his complexion look darker. My daughter wore a simple pink dress, prioritizing comfort. Our in-laws had arranged stacks of cash totaling a million dollars on a long table. Olivia’s family hovered around it, as if afraid someone might steal a bundle. I rolled my eyes. How petty, I thought. Everyone here is wealthy; no one cares about your measly sum. When my mother-in-law placed a palm-sized solid gold charm necklace around Olivia’s son’s neck, Olivia immediately removed it and insisted on putting it on my daughter. “Boys are tough; this charm would be better for Sophia,” she said, taking the hollow gold charm from my daughter’s neck. Everyone praised her for being so considerate. I played along, saying, “You’re so good to Sophia, someone might think she’s your own daughter!” Olivia hesitated for a moment, then looked at my daughter with affection. “Of course, we’re best friends and sisters-in-law now. I just adore Sophia.” I blocked her hand as she reached out to touch my daughter. “Olivia, your son is crying. You should check on him.”

When the children were two years old, they were playing in the courtyard. Hearing a commotion, Olivia and I rushed downstairs. Seeing my daughter’s face scratched and bleeding, I held her silently, my face grim. Olivia went berserk, slapping her son Tyler hard across the face multiple times. His face swelled up immediately, and he cried uncontrollably. Despite the beating, he reached out to Olivia, sobbing, “Mommy, hug me.” Olivia kicked him away, “You little bastard! How dare you hurt Sophia? I’ll cut off your hands!” Hearing this, my daughter started crying in fear. Olivia glanced at her and became even angrier. She grabbed Tyler’s head and shoved it into the swimming pool. “You worthless piece of shit! You deserve to be punished! If Sophia’s face scars, I’ll kill you!” She only let go when the boy’s little hands stopped flailing. Seeing him sink to the bottom of the pool, I quickly pulled him out. The child coughed and sputtered water after being rescued. Olivia held my daughter, comforting her softly. I snorted coldly. Was she trying to kill a two-year-old child for making a mistake? She thought this was my son, which is why she treated him this way. If my daughter had been in her care, she might have suffered an even worse fate. “Olivia, no matter what Tyler did wrong, he’s still your own son. You almost killed him,” I said. She didn’t even look up. “If he dies, it’s his bad luck. We can always have another one.” Her words proved true. She got pregnant again, this time with a boy.

Our in-laws were overjoyed, saying they’d give her a million dollars for every son she bore. “The more children, the more blessings,” they said. “Have ten if you want!” Because of this, she treated Tyler even worse. After all, she had already spent the first million dollars. She had used the money to pay off her brother’s gambling debts, but he had since accumulated more. Her mother frequently came asking for money, insisting that her brother was even dearer than her own son. Years ago, when she was dating rich men to buy her brother phones and computers, I had warned her. Being excessively devoted to her brother would only lead to loss. She accused me of trying to ruin her relationship with her brother and cut off contact with me. Now, she came crying to me about her family bleeding her dry to support her brother. I advised her, “He’s your brother. If you don’t take care of him, who will? I’ve heard debt collectors use brutal methods these days. If they come to your in-laws, they’ll be very unhappy.” Olivia’s monthly allowance was only a few thousand dollars, far from enough to cover her brother’s expenses. So she set her sights on having more children for the rewards.

When Sophia was eight and starting elementary school, she suddenly had to be hospitalized. The doctor said it was a severe allergic reaction. Olivia arrived at the hospital before me. When I got there, she was arguing with the doctor: “She’s allergic to mangoes! How can it be this severe? You incompetent doctors! Use the most expensive medicine!” “If she suffers any more, I’ll shut down this entire hospital!” A nurse tried to calm her down, “Ma’am, please don’t worry. We’ve already treated her. She’ll be fine soon.” Olivia shouted, “It’s easy for you to say! What if it was your daughter lying there?” The doctors and nurses fell silent, not wanting to argue further. I ran over, caught my breath, and patted the nurse’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, I’m the child’s mother. Thank you for your help. Please, go attend to your other patients.” The doctor who had been yelled at looked confused. “Then who is this lady?” I forced a smile, “She’s the child’s aunt.” The doctor and nurse looked at Olivia, then left with expressions that suggested they thought she was mentally unstable. As he was leaving, the doctor said, “Ma’am, our hospital has an excellent psychiatric department. If you’re often overly anxious or stressed, you might want to consider a consultation.”

After Sophia was discharged, she stayed home from school for a few days to recover. During this time, Olivia nearly turned the school upside down. She reported the principal and teachers to the education bureau, accusing them of allowing students to poison others at school. She even hired tabloid reporters to interview people at the school. Banners were hung all over the school grounds: “Unethical school endangers my daughter’s life!” “Corrupt principal allows poisoning and protects the culprit!” “Immoral teachers abuse students!” To fabricate evidence against the teachers, she beat Tyler until he was black and blue. She forced Tyler to tell reporters on camera that the teachers had beaten him. The incident, involving school food safety, caused a huge uproar. Tyler, covered in new and old bruises, was dragged by Olivia to kneel at the school gate every day. He looked completely dejected. Onlookers began to speak up: “The child looks so ill, why isn’t he in the hospital?” “These injuries are clearly fresh. How could the teachers have beaten him at home?” “Rich people are so dramatic. Instead of going to the police, they put on heavy makeup and block the school entrance in luxury cars.” More and more people accused Olivia of putting on an act. The situation only ended when I brought Sophia to the school gate. I had also called reporters to explain the whole story. Sophia was allergic to mangoes, and her classmates, unaware of this, had shared some mango candy with her. I admitted that we, as parents, should have been more vigilant and asked everyone to stop discussing the incident. I apologized for the trouble Olivia had caused the school. We also withdrew the lawsuit against the classmate and their parents, hoping everyone would let the children return to their studies in peace.

Our in-laws cared deeply about their reputation. After my husband told them about this incident, they showed no mercy to Olivia, despite her having given them four grandsons. During a family gathering, they made her kneel down and apologize for her behavior in front of everyone. Olivia was humiliated, and my husband was worried. “Will Olivia take out her anger on Sophia? After all, she did all this for our daughter,” he said. I assured him, “She won’t. Olivia loves Sophia too much to blame her.” She would be too busy worrying about Sophia to be angry with her. If anyone would face her wrath, it would be her own son. That night, we heard screaming and crying as she punished her child. Tyler cried the loudest, “Mom, I’m your son! Why do you always hit me because of my sister? I feel pain too!” “Shut up! Cry again and I’ll sew your mouth shut! You don’t deserve to say Sophia’s name!” Finally, our in-laws couldn’t bear it anymore and took Tyler away. They also canceled Olivia’s credit cards and forbade Daniel from giving her money. Olivia endured a couple of years of financial hardship. She harbored resentment and pestered Daniel constantly. When she gave birth to her fifth son, she was overjoyed, expecting another million-dollar reward. Our in-laws only gave her $200,000. “$200,000 is more than enough for having a child. From now on, you’ll have to pay for baby formula yourselves,” they said.

With less money per child, Olivia decided to focus on quantity. Over the next few years, she had three more children. The toll of multiple pregnancies and raising eight children left Olivia’s face wrinkled. She looked nearly ten years older than me. What little money she received went to support her family. Daniel had taken up with a woman in her twenties and rarely came home. Even if Olivia wanted to have more children, she couldn’t find anyone to help her. Everyone thought she would become depressed and bitter, sighing all day like a wronged woman. But surprisingly, she remained energetic and upbeat, even though she had raised her sons to be good-for-nothing. They were uneducated and spent their days either playing video games at home or causing trouble outside, living off the allowance from their grandparents. Some had even dropped out of school, and Olivia indulged them. People were confused by her attitude, but only I knew the truth. Sophia was now twenty years old and pursuing a graduate degree at a top university. Whether the family fortune went to the grandsons or the most accomplished grandchild, Olivia thought she would be the winner either way.

During the New Year’s Eve family gathering, Tyler burst in, panicked and out of breath. He had been drinking at a bar and took an intoxicated girl to a hotel. Now she had called the police, and he had rushed home. He knelt before his grandfather, begging the family patriarch to save his eldest grandson. “Grandpa, please save me! When I helped that girl out of the bar, she didn’t resist at all!” “Grandpa, don’t you have friends in the police department? This girl is falsely accusing me. Can’t you have her arrested instead?” His father, seeing his father-in-law’s face turning purple with rage, smashed his wine glass on Tyler’s head. Blood trickled down Tyler’s forehead as he crawled towards his mother, his 300-pound body barely moving. “Mom, save me! I’m your own son!” His brothers stood by with their arms crossed, watching the scene unfold as if their kneeling brother were an enemy rather than family. Olivia crouched down to wipe the blood from his face. “Tyler, you’ve caused such big trouble. Even I can’t help you now. With a criminal record… I hope it won’t affect your sister’s chances of becoming a civil servant.” Tyler looked at her in disbelief. “I might go to jail, and all you care about is Sophia?” Their grandfather exploded in anger. “Enough! Olivia, look at the son you’ve raised! Take him to turn himself in right now. As far as we’re concerned, we never saw him today!” “And you, we don’t want a daughter-in-law like you in our family anymore. When you get back, divorce Daniel and leave with nothing!” Olivia panicked. She grabbed Sophia, who was sitting next to her grandparents, and before anyone could react, she blurted out: “Dad, I’m not the one who should leave. Tyler is Michael and Emma’s son. Sophia is my real daughter!”

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I financially supported the person I’d secretly been in love with for years. But her heart belonged to someone else—a man who had been dead for years. When she was happy, she went to his grave. When she was sad, she went to his grave. No matter how big or small the occasion, if I couldn’t find her, I knew she was at the cemetery. I tolerated it all because she said yes to my proposal. But on the day of our engagement party, she ran. I found her again at the cemetery, crying her heart out in front of his grave. “I’m sorry, Alex,” she sobbed. “He forced me to say yes. Whether you’re alive or dead, I’ll always love you and only you.” I stood there, empty and defeated. My hand loosened, and the engagement ring slipped from my grasp, disappearing into the grass. When she returned to the villa that evening, her things were already packed and waiting by the door. The butler greeted her coldly, his expression devoid of sympathy. “Mr. Hayes said you should leave by tonight.” The engagement party began, but one of the main characters was conspicuously absent. A bodyguard hurried over to my side and leaned in to whisper, “Sir, Miss White is at the Bayside Cemetery again.” Five years ago, the White family went bankrupt, and I stepped in to clean up the mess. The once-untouchable socialite, Sophia White, became my kept lover. She hated me for it. She hated me for ruining her pride. Hated me for tarnishing her purity. Hated me for tearing her apart from the man she called her “one true love,” even though he had been gone for years. In the years we’d been together, I’d lost count of how many times I had found her at that cemetery. And there she was again, drunk and sprawled over Alex’s tombstone. “I’m sorry, Alex… I’m so sorry. I don’t want to get married…” “But what can I do? My parents begged me, forced me. They made me say yes to him. I’m sorry, Alex. I love you. I’ve only ever loved you. I’ve never felt anything for him. Please don’t hate me.” I walked up behind her, my footsteps quiet on the damp grass. “Not even a little?” I asked softly, my voice almost drowned out by the wind. Sophia froze. Slowly, she turned to face me, her tear-streaked face twisting with anger. “This is all your fault!” she yelled. “It’s your fault I betrayed him!” She threw herself at me, pounding her fists against my chest in a weak, drunken rage. I grunted, grabbing her wrists tightly as my vision blurred with emotion. “Tell me you don’t mean it,” I demanded, my voice hoarse. “Five years together—day and night. Not once? Not even for a moment?” She looked up at me, her eyes sharp and defiant, her voice unwavering. “I hate you. Every time you touch me, I feel disgusted.” “I’ve never loved you—not even for a second.”

Her words were like a blade, slicing through the fantasies I’d built over five long years. I thought it didn’t matter that she had her ghost. After all, he was dead. I thought that time would change things. That if I treated her well enough, if I gave her everything she wanted, she’d eventually fall for me. Over the years, I gave her everything. When she wanted to break into the entertainment industry, I handed her the best resources. When she offended a powerful director, I personally smoothed things over. When the White family fell from grace and she was mocked at parties, I stood by her side and promised her no one would ever hurt her again. But none of it mattered. All my love, my devotion—it had earned me nothing but her hatred and contempt. I stared at her face, twisted in anger, and finally realized how pathetic I was. My so-called love was a joke. I let out a soft, bitter laugh as the engagement ring slipped from my fingers, vanishing into the grass. The party went on without her, and by the time she returned to the scene, the bride had already been replaced. That night, Sophia called me. “Darling, I drank too much at the club,” she said sweetly, her voice soft and sugary. “Come pick me up, okay?” She spoke as though nothing had happened, as though she hadn’t just escaped from our engagement party. As though she hadn’t cried over another man that same morning. I paused, the phone cold against my ear. For the first time, I didn’t immediately agree. “I’ll send a driver,” I said flatly. “I don’t want a driver!” she snapped, her voice suddenly sharp. Then, after a beat of silence, she chuckled softly, her tone shifting back to a playful purr. “Please, darling? I don’t want anyone else. If you don’t come, I won’t leave.” “Come on,” she whispered, her voice dripping with drunken seduction. “Please?” I stayed silent for a long moment before finally relenting. When I arrived at the club, the scene was all too familiar. Sophia was draped across the lap of some fresh-faced boy, her arms looped around his neck like a scarf. When she saw me, she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek, her eyes locking onto mine with a smirk. Her gaze seemed to say, What are you going to do about it? In the past, I might’ve dragged her out of there, warned her not to pull a stunt like that again. But tonight, I simply looked at her, my expression calm. “Are you coming or not?” I asked. Sophia blinked, momentarily caught off guard by my lack of reaction. Then she laughed and stumbled to her feet, her movements unsteady in her high heels. “Of course I’m coming,” she said, her words slurring slightly. “My husband came all this way to get me.” She took two steps before tripping, and I caught her easily, steadying her against my chest. She wrapped her arms around my neck, nuzzling against me like a cat finally returning to its owner. “You caught me,” she murmured. “You still love me.” She laughed softly, her voice light and carefree, as though she hadn’t just torn my heart to pieces.

Sophia White had lived a life of luxury—until her family went bankrupt. She’d never experienced hardship before, which is probably why she couldn’t understand or care about anyone else’s struggles. After a drunken night out, I brought her back to the apartment I’d put under her name. In the elevator, she leaned her entire body against me, her balance gone. I steadied her with a firm grip on her waist. “Stand up straight,” I told her. But she didn’t move, her warm fingers tracing the line of my jaw as she leaned in closer. The elevator doors slid open, and in that split second, I made a decision. I wrapped my arms around her and lifted her off the ground, carrying her out with hurried steps. She laughed softly, her breath warm against my neck. She knew. She always knew. I could never resist her. Sophia had mastered the art of manipulation—push me away with one hand, then pull me back with the other. She wielded it like a weapon, and I fell for it every time. Later that night, I woke up to find her lying peacefully beside me. I didn’t wake her. Instead, I quietly got dressed and left the bedroom. This apartment was the first gift I’d ever given her. After her family sold off everything they owned to pay off debts, this was the first property under her name. She loved it. She’d personally hired the designer and overseen every detail of the renovation, refusing to let anyone else interfere. There were four rooms in total: a bedroom, a study, a dance studio, and one last room across from the master bedroom. That door had always been off-limits. Out of respect, I’d never tried to enter it. But tonight, standing in front of that door, something inside me snapped. I placed my hand on the doorknob, turned it, and pushed it open. The room was filled with photos. Everywhere I looked, there were pictures of Sophia and Alex—her “true love.” Memories of their time together, pieces of a life they’d shared, remnants of a man who had been dead for years. I stared at it all, and then I laughed. How foolish I had been to think I could ever replace Alex in her heart. Sophia had always been cruel in the way only the privileged could be. Raised in comfort, she took everyone’s kindness for granted, as if it were her birthright. She never cared about the sacrifices I made for her. But here, in this room, she had preserved every tiny thing Alex had ever done for her—every memory, no matter how small. Even the time he’d picked up her pencil in high school had been enshrined in her mind. She remembered everything about him. But everything I had done? None of it mattered. Because I wasn’t Alex. Sophia wasn’t the biggest name in the entertainment industry, but after years of me backing her, she had carved out a place for herself. When I walked into my office the next morning, the head of PR handed me a draft of an article that hadn’t yet gone viral. It was gossip about a rising star who had been publicly dumped at her engagement party. The piece didn’t name names, but anyone with a brain could tell it was about Sophia. The article twisted the truth, making it seem like she had been humiliated when, in reality, she was the one who ran away. The head of PR hesitated. “Sir, should we issue a warning to the press?” Before I could answer, my phone buzzed with a message from Sophia. “Why did you leave without saying anything?” “Are you still mad at me?” “I’m sorry, okay? I know I was too impulsive this time.” “I’m heading out of town for a shoot. I’ll make it up to you when I get back.” I turned off my phone and looked at the PR director. “Leave it,” I said coldly. “Don’t bother with her anymore.” That night, I returned to the villa. The butler greeted me at the door. When I started heading upstairs, a thought struck me, and I turned back. “Pack up all of Miss White’s belongings and move them out,” I said. The butler hesitated. “Did you two have another argument?” Sophia and I fought often enough that it wasn’t unusual. Sometimes it was over her drinking, other times because I’d caught her sneaking off to the cemetery again. Whenever we fought, she’d storm off to the apartment I’d given her, only to come back a few days later once she’d cooled down. But this time was different. I didn’t look back as I climbed the stairs. “Don’t let her into the villa again,” I said. For the next four or five days, Sophia bombarded me with messages. This had never happened before. In the past, I was always the one to apologize first. Always the one to give in, because I loved her and couldn’t bear to lose her. But this time, she must have sensed something had changed. She called me several times, but I didn’t pick up. On the eighth day after Sophia left, a typhoon hit the region, bringing heavy rain and chaos. That afternoon, I received a call from Sophia’s assistant. “Mr. Hayes,” she said, her voice trembling. “Miss White went into the mountains with the crew to film, but there was a landslide. Her car got separated from the others, and we haven’t been able to contact her.” “When did this happen?” I demanded. “They entered the mountains yesterday, and now…” The assistant’s voice broke into sobs. I hung up and immediately called my aide, asking him to book me a flight. I knew Sophia had been filming in a nearby city, closer to the coast. My hands shook as I gripped my phone, dread pooling in my chest. “Sir,” my aide said, returning with bad news. “All flights have been grounded because of the typhoon.” I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. “Contact the local rescue team,” I said. “We’ll drive there.” After four hours on the road, we arrived in the middle of the night. With no time to rest, I joined the rescue team immediately. The rain was relentless, turning the mountain roads into dangerous pits of mud. At one point, our vehicle got stuck, and I climbed out, drenched in rain, to help push it free. By the time we reached the landslide site, it was nearly impossible to see anything. The rain and darkness made the search almost futile. We searched until dawn, but there was no sign of Sophia. At 8 a.m., the rain finally stopped. Exhausted, I sat on a boulder overlooking the mud-covered slope. The thought of Sophia buried beneath all that debris was like a knife to my chest. As rescue crews prepared to bring in excavation equipment, a man approached me and tapped my shoulder. “Someone has been trying to call you,” he said. “Your phone’s been off.” My phone had died the night before. I borrowed his and called my aide immediately. “Sir,” my aide said, his voice urgent, “Miss White has been found!” “The crew canceled the shoot after checking the weather forecast. She’s been at the hotel with her assistant the whole time.” I hung up, my grip tightening on the phone. The mountain was silent except for the distant sound of digging. And I stood there, drenched and exhausted, feeling like the biggest fool in the world. 5 I spent two days in the hospital after coming down from the mountain. During that time, Sophia White lingered outside my room, demanding to see me. My aide, Jack, made sure she didn’t get in. But on the day of my discharge, she slipped past him and barged in. Jack glanced at me with a helpless expression, unsure of what to do. “It’s fine,” I said. “Leave us.” Sophia smugly tilted her chin at him as if she’d won some great victory. The door closed behind him, and the second we were alone, her demeanor changed completely. She threw herself into my lap, her voice soft and pleading. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to lie to you.” “I just missed you so much,” she continued, looking up at me with wide, tearful eyes. “You wouldn’t answer my calls or texts, and I didn’t know what else to do. That’s why I lied. I was desperate.” She reached out to touch my face, her voice trembling. “Please forgive me this once, okay? I promise I’ll never lie to you again. I’ll listen to everything you say from now on. Don’t stay mad at me, okay?” I sighed and pressed my fingers to my temple, the exhaustion weighing heavily on me. “Are you done?” I asked flatly. Sophia froze, her big, beautiful eyes suddenly filled with panic. “Go back,” I said, looking away from her. “Don’t you have a shoot today?” “But you—” She reached out, her hand trembling as she tried to touch my face again. Smack. Her pale hand turned red where I’d slapped it away. Sophia stared at me in shock, her eyes immediately welling up with tears. She’d never been treated like this before. “You still haven’t forgiven me!” she cried, her voice breaking. I leaned back against the couch, my energy completely drained. “Does it even matter?” I asked, my voice hollow. “Does my forgiveness mean anything to you?” “You only care about Alex,” I continued bitterly. “Nothing else matters. Nothing I do matters. So what difference does it make if I forgive you or not?” Her expression shifted from confusion to disbelief, as though she were looking at a stranger. After a long silence, she suddenly stood up, a bitter smile curling her lips. “Of course nothing else matters,” she said, her tone sharp and cold. “You think I’d be with you if Alex were still alive?” she spat, her eyes blazing with fury. “No one in this world can compare to him. Not you, not anyone. You’re not even worthy of saying his name!” Her face twisted with rage, her eyes bloodshot. This was the real Sophia—the one who emerged every time Alex was mentioned. The sweet, playful Sophia who called me “husband” and acted coy was just a mask. But when it came to Alex, she’d rip herself apart, exposing the raw, ugly truth beneath. I couldn’t take it anymore. “Get out,” I said, my voice rising. She flinched, startled by the force of my tone. “I said get out! Right now!” I’d never yelled at her like that before. Never once raised my voice, no matter what she did. For a moment, she seemed too stunned to react. Then, as the reality of my words sank in, tears spilled down her cheeks. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, hugging herself as she sank to the floor. “I didn’t mean to say those things. I couldn’t help it. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…” She looked up at me, her face streaked with tears, and crawled forward on her knees. “Please,” she begged, grabbing my hand with trembling fingers. “I’ll change. I promise I’ll change. Just give me one more chance.” I slowly pulled my hand away, closing my eyes as a wave of bitterness washed over me. “It’s over,” I said softly. She froze, her sobs cutting off mid-breath. I opened my eyes and repeated, “We’re done. I don’t want you anymore.”

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On Christmas Eve, my parents once again left me alone at home for triple overtime pay. Thinking of the past twenty years when they always did this, I no longer wanted to spend the holiday alone and cold. So I packed some dumplings and went to find them. Unexpectedly, my parents, who always talked about earning more money, stepped out of a luxury car, arm in arm with a boy about my age, laughing as they entered a five-star restaurant. “Mom, Dad, is it okay to leave Sarah alone at home?” I heard someone ask. My mother casually replied, “It’s fine, she’s used to it.” My father dismissively added, “She can’t compare to you. You’re our precious child!” I turned and left. They had deceived me by pretending to be poor. This time, I didn’t care for their company either! Back home, I dumped all the food on the table. In the past, I would never have wasted food. From as early as I can remember, I knew our family wasn’t well off. All my food and clothes came from my parents’ frugal savings. Even my clothes were rarely new. Every season, my mother would bring home a bag of second-hand clothes, saying, “These are from your mother’s colleague’s older sister. They’ve been washed clean, so we don’t need to buy new ones.” I don’t know where she got these old clothes from, but throughout my childhood, I hardly ever wore new clothes. I always wore ill-fitting clothes, and my classmates would make fun of me, saying I was a ragpicker. I could only study hard, thinking that one day I would be able to buy new clothes with my own efforts. During holidays, I would hand over all the money relatives gave me to my parents, just to ease their burden. But who knew they had no burden at all? I checked, and that luxury car belonged to the wealthy Johnson family in town. The Johnson’s son had once driven that car, showing off with a celebrity girlfriend. I had seen that gossip news too, and the face of that rich young man was the same as the boy I saw tonight. So, it turns out I’m actually from a wealthy family! I found it amusing, sniffed, and went back to search my parents’ room. Perhaps they were too careless to keep the contract at home. When I saw my father’s name signed on a contract worth hundreds of millions, with a Mont Blanc pen tucked in the documents, my suspended heart finally died. I put everything back as it was and quietly returned to my room, covering myself with the blanket to sleep. I only hoped that when I woke up, everything would be a dream. Early the next morning, my parents were already busy in the kitchen. Looking at the breakfast on the table, I suddenly realized, who eats seafood porridge early in the morning? The taste of this porridge was exactly the same as the seafood feast the professor treated us to last time. I glanced at the garbage bag by the door, and sure enough. “Mom, Dad, has our family suddenly become rich?” I asked, sitting at the table watching them. My mother looked surprised, “Sarah, what are you talking about?” “Then how can we afford such expensive seafood porridge?” I pointed at the garbage bag by the door, and my mother’s face immediately changed. My father chuckled lightly, “That’s from when I worked overtime with the boss last night. He packed it for me, but I couldn’t bear to eat it, so I brought it back.” “With our meager salaries, how could we afford seafood porridge?” So that’s it. I nodded, drinking the porridge, inwardly laughing coldly. Seafood porridge, $80 a serving. Last night’s dinner probably cost thousands! If they were truly poor, I would have found this porridge delicious. Now, it just tasted like chewing wax. I only took two bites before getting up. “I’m full.” “Sarah, why are you eating so little? Are you not feeling well?” My mother looked worried, her gaze not seeming fake. I shook my head and smiled, “No, aren’t we going to Grandpa’s house today? I’m saving room to eat something good at lunch!” Hearing this, my mother sighed in relief. My father looked guilty and was about to say something when his phone rang. I glanced at the screen, the contact was saved as “Precious son Jack.” Jack Johnson was his precious son, so what was I? My father hurried to the balcony, and my mother followed. I vaguely heard him saying things like “be sensible” and “don’t let Sarah find out.” My heart turned completely cold. So, they had known all along, just conspiring to keep it from me. I even wondered if the world I lived in was like The Truman Show. But they seemed so real.

After hanging up the phone, my father came to me and took out a red envelope, “Sarah, something urgent came up at Dad’s company, I have to go!” Mom comforted me: “It’s okay, Mom will go with you.” I nodded, took the red envelope, and put it in my pocket. I got ready with Mom to go to Grandpa’s house. When we arrived, Grandpa saw me and pulled me in, “Sarah’s here, come in quickly, it’s cold outside!” His palm was smooth and delicate, not at all like an old worker’s hands. This apartment building belonged to the steel mill. Supposedly, Grandpa was a retired old worker from the factory. Looking at his pampered appearance, he didn’t seem like it at all. Grandma saw me and quickly gave me a red envelope. I took it and said, “Thank you, Grandma.” Then I directly put it in my pocket. Mom looked a bit stunned beside me because according to the usual routine, I would give her the money right after receiving it. At those times, Mom would always say, “Sarah is so sensible.” But today was different, even Grandma was a bit surprised, then smiled and said, “Our Sarah now knows how to save her Christmas money!” I raised an eyebrow and smiled, “I’m not hiding it. Mom said the Christmas should have new changes, so I want to keep some pocket money for myself.” “That’s right, Sarah is so sensible now. She earns her own tuition and living expenses!” Mom chimed in. Without being told, I knew Grandma had given me at most $50. Compared to tuition fees, this $50 was nothing! They’re so rich now, yet still squeezing me at every turn. I don’t understand. This harsh education, aimed only at me, what exactly do they mean? Grandma didn’t say anything, but went into the kitchen and started bustling about. The food she brought out, I lost my appetite after just two bites. This food was exactly the same as what I saw at the five-star restaurant last night. Now I can finally be sure, the whole family is wealthy, and my parents are just pretending to be poor. Even Grandpa and Grandma are playing along with the act. After the meal, Mom received a phone call and hurriedly left, citing work. Grandpa and Grandma yawned, looking sleepy, so I couldn’t stay any longer and had to leave. But I didn’t go far, instead hiding around the corner to watch quietly. Sure enough, not 20 minutes after I left, a stretched Lincoln car drove up, and Grandma and Grandpa got in, surrounded by a group of people, leaving without looking back. I took a deep breath, put on my mask, and walked up. I saw several cleaning ladies tidying up. One of them sighed, “I don’t know what this family is thinking, coming to live here for just one day a year, cooking one meal, and then leaving!” “At least they pay well for the cleaning!” “You don’t know, this family does this every year, it’s been going on for over 20 years. They have a villa in the south of the city, this is just rich people experiencing life!” Hearing them say this, my heart turned completely cold. The Johnson family, the richest in the south of the city, had their villa in Hillside Garden. I cycled over to find it. Seeing that magnificent villa perched on the hillside, with bodyguards outside, I couldn’t even imagine living in such a place. When they saw me approach, a bodyguard immediately barked, “Who are you? Get lost!” I took a deep breath, and just as I was about to turn and leave, a motorcycle roared past from outside. I had seen it online, this motorcycle cost about $300,000. The rider was none other than Jack.

He saw me too, clearly surprised. He stopped and looked me up and down, a sneer on his face, “Not so stupid after all, you knew to come here!” I was stunned. So, he knew about my existence too! “Why? Why is it like this!” “Jack, am I their adopted daughter? Or are you doing some project, and I’m just a subject in your observation experiment?” Jack seemed to see through my confusion. He raised an eyebrow and shook a finger, “No, you’re a Johnson too. A biological daughter.” “As for why you were raised poor, there’s only one reason. Because I am the sole heir to the Johnson family!” “Sarah, you were born just one minute before me. What right do you have to compete with me?” “This is not a place for you to come. Get lost!” “Poor thing, don’t look at me like that. Mom and Dad put a lot of effort into raising you!” “Oh, and don’t go visit Grandpa and Grandma for Christmas’s anymore. They’re old and don’t have the energy to act for you!” Jack accelerated into the estate. I stood outside for a long time, understanding. My birth with Jack seemed to be related to the inheritance of the family fortune. But what did I do wrong? I just wanted to receive the most sincere love from my parents. They lied to me for so many years, but their kindness to me was also real. But now, looking at the villa and that motorcycle, I began to doubt how much of their kindness to me was genuine. I turned to leave. Before leaving, I called my father: “Dad, are you coming home for dinner tonight?” “Not coming back, Sarah. Working overtime tonight, triple pay for these three days of the Christmas!” “Oh, and your mom’s the same!” But I clearly heard the roar of a motorcycle from his phone. I softly responded “Mm,” having made a decision deep in my heart. Back home, I started packing my things while signing up for a special research project announced by the university. This project was in the western region, lasting three years, isolated from the world, with no one to disturb me. After packing, I developed the photo I had taken of Jack’s back and placed it on the bedside table at home. That day, they didn’t come back. I was alone at home. I called my father again, but no one answered. Meanwhile, the Johnson family’s Jade Corporation started distributing red envelopes. An employee thanked the boss on social media. She was just an ordinary employee, but her red envelope contained $300! Many employees showed off the company benefits. My parents were clearly on stage, one in a suit and the other holding a glass of wine. My mom was wearing exquisite makeup, looking every bit the wealthy lady. Below the stage, Jack was surrounded by people like a star, and there was even a family photo. My parents seemed certain that I was only focused on making money and had no time to pay attention to online gossip. They forgot that I’m just an ordinary girl, raised poor by them. How could I not pay attention? A reporter interviewed them, asking about their Christmas plans. My father faced the camera, “This year my son Jack is twenty-two. We arrange a trip every year, and we’re leaving today!” My heart suddenly sank. I’m twenty-two too. If the farthest place I’ve been is the local zoo for a school spring tour in elementary school. I sneered, picked up my household registration book, and rubbed it. It’s laughable. After I went to college, my parents transferred my household registration to the school. They said I was an adult now and should be responsible for myself. Now is the perfect time to leave. I picked up my luggage and left without hesitation. Dad, Mom, goodbye forever!

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I was diagnosed with acute leukemia the moment I found out York was dating another girl Winnie. My world shattered, and just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, his uncle appeared. On their wedding day, Winnie whispered something strange to me. After the wedding, York’s true face emerged. Yet, the truth ignited something fierce within me. I couldn’t stand by, not even at the cost of my life. I would fight, using every ounce of strength to save him from his own lies. And in my final moments, I realized—York had always been there, hidden in the shadows, loving me in his own twisted way. Even as I bled out, I knew—he had always been there. In my quest for revenge, I married my boyfriend’s uncle. I’m Zenobia Smith, and I met York Wales five years ago. It was a typical college day when I first saw him—standing under the sun in a crisp white shirt. His clean, perfect image struck me, but it was his eyes—so clear and untainted—that held me. His family was wealthy, and they had already arranged a marriage for him. But York, in defiance, ran away from his world and chose me. We struggled after college. No jobs, no money. But we always had each other. Then, things started to change. A company hired us, and York, after a year and a half, left to start his own business. Despite the hardships, we made it. For five years, we were inseparable. I believed we’d walk down the aisle one day. Then came the diagnosis. Acute leukemia. “I can’t afford the treatment, York. My family… they can’t help. I’m… I’m too far gone,” my voice breaking. York’s face twisted in agony. “I’ll do whatever it takes, Zenobia. I’m not losing you. I’ll find the money, I swear.” But nothing was enough. The bills piled up, and we were drowning. Then came the anonymous envelope, the one with money. I read the handwritten note over and over again, desperately clinging to it like it was my lifeline. As the pain from treatment consumed me, York stayed by my side. He was my rock. But soon, I started noticing the change in him. His phone would ring, and he’d quickly shove it away, muttering about spam. “York, who was that?” I asked one evening, my voice fragile. “It’s nothing, Zenobia. Just… just some junk mail,” he replied, forcing a smile. I could feel it in my bones. Something was off. One day, when he stepped out of the room. I unlocked his phone. The message was clear. “Tonight at 8, Doya Hotel, Room 203, waiting for you.” My heart stopped. The name on the message sent a chill through me—Winnie. His ex-fiancée. The woman his family had chosen for him. I could hardly breathe. My entire world was crashing down around me. “York… How could you?” York had never turned his back on me during my sickness, but maybe the pressure was too much for him. Maybe he needed an outlet—or maybe he just had normal human needs? I tried to rationalize it, to make excuses for him. But as the days passed, my mood soured. My treatment stopped going as smoothly, and I couldn’t hide my anger every time he glanced at his phone. Finally, one day, I exploded. He didn’t argue with me. He just calmly walked out of the room—and he never came back.

I began to resist treatment on purpose, refusing to take my medicine. My former doctors and nurses were at their wit’s end. At that moment, I just wanted to wait for death. Then, my new doctor—Woodruff Jenkins—walked into my world. “Hello, I’m your new doctor, Woodruff Jenkins. Forty-two years old, Cancer sign, no bad habits, I own a house and a car, and after work, I just go home,” he introduced himself, his voice casual yet confident. I thought, What is he doing, giving me his personal details like we’re on a blind date? But I couldn’t help but notice that his introduction caught my attention. “I’ve reviewed your case. There’s hope for you. Don’t worry, no patient of mine has ever given up on themselves,” he said with a reassuring smile like a ray of light cutting through the darkness of my life. I stared at him, and something about his smile—his eyes—reminded me of York. They were just as clear, just as innocent. “Medicine is great, but nothing beats the sunshine. Let’s go for a walk,” his tone gentle but unyielding. “I’m tired,” Before I could respond, he signaled the nurse to bring over a wheelchair. Then, without warning, he swept me into his arms in a princess carry and placed me in the wheelchair. I was stunned by his suddenness but didn’t push him away. I couldn’t help it—there was something about him that reminded me of York. I began cooperating with my treatment. Dr. Jenkins would accompany me on walks whenever he had time, and soon, I found myself eagerly awaiting his rounds. My health improved, and as our bond grew beyond the doctor-patient relationship. One day, as we sat together, he took my hand and said softly, “I think it’s time we take things to the next level. Next week, there’s a family gathering. I want to bring you along.” I froze. Is this happening so fast? Five years with York, and he never once took me to meet his family. But with Woodruff, just three months in, and I was going to meet his parents? The day of the gathering, Woodruff took me shopping for a red dress. The moment I put it on, I felt like a new person—healthier, more alive. I was worried about what his family would think if they knew I was sick, but Woodruff had once said, “A firm choice is more important than any romance.” I wasn’t sure if I believed in fate, but in that moment, I understood what he meant. When we arrived at Woodruff’s home, my anxiety only grew. The large garden, the mansion, the servants—everything screamed wealth. I walked in with him, my heart pounding. “The others aren’t here yet, we’ve arrived first. Let’s wait for them,” Woodruff said, his hand gently guiding me. “Okay,” I whispered, trying to steady myself. “Sit here. I’ll go grab you some fresh juice,” he walked toward the kitchen. As I waited, I noticed the family photos on the mantle above the fireplace. I ran my fingers over them, one by one, until I reached a photo of Woodruff as a child. He looked so innocent. But then, my eyes froze on one particular picture. It was a photo of Woodruff with someone else. York. My heart skipped a beat. Before I could process the shock, Woodruff came back with the juice. He saw the blood on my hands, and panic flashed across his face. “Zenobia! You’re bleeding,” . He rushed me to the car and sped back to the hospital. On the way there,my mind racing. How could I have missed this? Woodruff glanced at me, concern written all over his face. “We’ll be at the hospital soon. Where are you hurting?” “Pull over,” I ordered suddenly. “Zenobia, what’s wrong?” “Stop the car,” Woodruff pulled over and reached out to touch my head. “What’s happening?” “Why… why do you have a picture with York?” “He’s my nephew. I’m his uncle.” I was stunned. “You knew about York and me all along?” “No, not at first,” his brow furrowed. “I didn’t know, but then his father mentioned you to me. I felt for you and wanted to help, but I never expected to fall for you. I’m so sorry, Zenobia. I never meant to hide it from you.” He pulled me into an embrace. “And York… I’m sure you’ve figured out what happened. He and Winnie, they’ve been in contact for a while. They were still meeting, going to hotels together…” His words sliced through me like a knife. They’d been together all along. My heart broke into a thousand pieces. But at that moment, I could feel Woodruff’s arms around me—comforting, gentle. He wasn’t York. He never would be. Yet, even in his warmth, I could still see York’s face, his eyes, his smile. I wanted to confess my feelings to Woodruff, but every time I saw the care he gave me, my words got stuck. He was the light in my life now, and I couldn’t bear to hurt him.

It was valentine day, and a nurse walked in with a bouquet of flowers, smiling brightly. “Dr. White is in surgery, but the flowers he ordered for you have arrived.” Yes, he was always so thoughtful. I placed the flowers in a vase and gazed out at the cars passing below the hospital, each car seemingly carrying a pair of lovers. Last year’s Valentine was spent with York, but this year, everything had changed. “Do you like the flowers?” Suddenly, a pair of large hands wrapped around my waist from behind. It was Woodruff. “I do,” “How about we go out for dinner tonight? I’ve reserved a table at a fancy restaurant,” Woodruff whispered, nibbling at my neck. “Sounds good,” At 8 PM, I changed out of my hospital gown and joined Woodruff at the restaurant. As expected, it was a high-end place. The decor suggested the food might be expensive, though I couldn’t tell if it was any good, but I could already taste the wealth in the air. Sure enough, the dishes that arrived were Michelin-level. Woodruff clearly paid great attention to me. Amid our light conversation, a familiar voice suddenly called from behind. “Uncle.” I turned, and my heart nearly shattered. It was York. “York, Winnie is here too,” Woodruff responded. I quickly turned away, not wanting to meet his gaze, though I could tell York was equally stunned. “I was just checking in on my patient,” Woodruff tried to lighten the awkward atmosphere. “Well, since Uncle’s friend is here, we won’t stay. Let’s go, York,” Winnie said, pulling York away. York walked slowly, struggling, probably because he couldn’t understand the situation—his uncle was sitting across from his ex, who hadn’t officially broken up with him yet. As York and Winnie sat down nearby, I lowered my head and tried to eat, but the food had lost all its taste. A wave of resentment and jealousy surged inside me. “Marry me,” Woodruff suddenly said. My mind was still reeling from the shock of seeing York, the man who had betrayed me and left me when I was sick. I stared at Woodruff for a moment and then answered, “Yes.” Woodruff’s excitement was palpable. “What? You said yes?” “Mm,” “Wait here,” Woodruff stood and walked toward the front desk, speaking briefly with the manager before returning to my side, grabbing my hand. The manager approached, pushing a cart with wine and flowers, followed by a violinist. Woodruff knelt beside me, pulling a ring from his pocket. As the violinist began to play, we became the center of attention. In front of everyone, Woodruff slipped the ring onto my finger. The room erupted in applause, offering us their blessings. But York, seated nearby, wore a shocked and worried expression. Less than a year after breaking up with York, I was marrying his uncle. Woodruff rushed to plan our wedding as if afraid I would disappear if we slowed down. We began writing invitations, and since Woodruff was York’s uncle, I knew he would come. I quickly wrote York’s name on the invitation, imagining how he would regret his actions when he saw me on my wedding day. Suddenly, my phone rang. It was York. I froze for a second, thinking, Could he already regret it? “Hello, what’s up?” There was a brief silence on the other end before he spoke. “Don’t marry my uncle.” Does he regret it already? “Don’t you want me to live long?” “No, you can hate me, but don’t marry my uncle. You have to trust me. We were together for five years. Have I ever lied to you?” His voice shook. “Did you lie to me? What about you and Winnie?” “It’s not what you think. We didn’t do anything,” he hurriedly explained. “I saw your phone.” I cut him off. There was silence on the other end. “No one stays a fool forever. I have to finish writing wedding invitations. Goodbye.” Before he could say more, I hung up. The more he suffered, the better I felt. It felt like all the pain from the past was finally being repaid. I deleted York’s contact information and blocked him. “You deserve it. This is the price of betrayal.” “Are you done?” Woodruff’s voice startled me. I hadn’t realized he was standing behind me. “Almost,” I quickly closed my phone. “Who was that?” Woodruff asked, noticing my unease. “Telemarketer,” I lied. Woodruff paused, “Let’s go to the marriage registration office today.” “I thought we were doing that after the wedding?” I asked, surprised. We had previously agreed to register after the ceremony. “Maybe I just want you so much. I’m afraid someone might steal you away,” “Okay, let’s go to the registration office this afternoon,” I replied.

In the afternoon, we left the civil affairs bureau and took a car back to Woodruff’s house. Along the way, Woodruff suddenly became much quieter than usua. To break the silence, I spoke first, “My condition is much more stable now.” Normally, if I mentioned my illness before, he would go into a detailed analysis, but today he only replied with a cold “mm.” Perhaps he was tired from juggling work and wedding preparations. I decided not to push for a conversation and let the silence linger. But then I noticed we weren’t heading to the hospital or his house; instead, we were going to a resort in the suburbs. “The house is a bit chaotic with the wedding preparations, so you’ll stay here for now,” Woodruff said. His thoughtfulness moved me, and for a moment, I thought I had found the right person. But once again, reality shattered my hopeful dreams … Soon, the wedding day arrived. We had decided to hold the ceremony in Woodruff’s small villa. To keep things simple and not tire me out, we only invited family and close friends. York and Winnie were also present. winnie approached me to congratulate me and gave me a gift. York didn’t speak to me; he went straight to Woodruff, and I caught a glimpse of their expressions. Woodruff wore his professional, fake smile, while York looked visibly displeased.”If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn’t have left first.” Woodruff glanced over at me, and when he saw Winnie and I talking, he ignored York and came over to us. Winnie, upon seeing him, suddenly hugged me and whispered “York asked me to tell you not to sign any papers Woodruff gives you, and don’t let him know what I told you.” Before I could ask her what she meant, she quickly greeted Woodruff. “Uncle, congratulations.” Woodruff gave her a quick glance before turning to me, “Not tired, are you?” I nodded. Just then, Woodruff’s boss arrived, and he quickly took me away from Winnie to greet him. As the wedding party carried on, a frail, disheveled old woman, around 70 years old, burst into the room, grabbing Woodruff by the collar and shouting like a madwoman, “Give me back my daughter, you killed her…” Everyone was shocked, but only Winnie and York remained calm. At first, Woodruff was a bit stunned, but he quickly composed himself, silently instructing the servants to remove the woman. He adjusted his tie and glanced deeply at York, then ordered the servants to call the police. Was this York’s revenge? Sending an old woman to disrupt my most important moment? It was his betrayal that started this, and now he was trying to ruin my wedding. Five years of my life wasted. I stormed up to York and slapped him across the face. I hated this man in front of me with all my heart. Winnie gasped and immediately pushed me away. I then slapped her, the mistress in my relationship, leaving her stunned. She screamed, “Are you crazy?” Yes, I was crazy. These two had driven me mad. York didn’t try to explain himself; he just looked at me with sad eyes. “Please leave. You’re not welcome here,” As they were leaving, Winnie said, “Zenobia, all the suffering you’ll endure from now on, you deserve it.” All the pain I’ve suffered has come from these two people.

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When my father passed away, his best friend took me in. For over twenty years, the two sons of the Hayes family protected me and treated me like their own sister. Their care and affection for me were the envy of everyone around us. But when I finally wanted to settle down and start my own family, they both turned their backs on me. The older brother, Nathan Hayes, said, “A man has to build his career before thinking about marriage.” The younger brother, Ethan Hayes, laughed and added, “Come on, we were just messing around. You didn’t take it seriously, did you?” But at my graduation party, both of them proposed—not to me, but to Jessa, the adopted daughter of the Hayes family. Worse yet, to make her happy, they forced me, knowing I was allergic to cream, to eat an entire cake. As I gasped for air, suffocating from an asthma attack, they stood beside her, laughing and mocking me for “pretending to be dramatic.” That was the moment I realized I was done. The day I was discharged from the hospital, I sent a text to my mother. “Mom, I’ve made up my mind. I’m ready to move abroad and marry the man from the Cole family.”

Just as I finished my discharge paperwork, my phone wouldn’t stop ringing. “Leah, where are you?!” Nathan’s angry voice thundered through the receiver. “You think you can just avoid coming home and pretend nothing happened? If you’ve got the guts to leave, don’t bother coming back—ever!” Before I could respond, Ethan’s voice followed, sharp and accusatory. “This is your fault! You’re the one who made Jessa feel so guilty. She’s already self-conscious because of her status as an adopted daughter, and now, thanks to you, she’s been crying nonstop!” I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. My swollen eyes, red and puffy, looked like they’d been punched. I could barely open them. I was always a sensitive child, and after being sent to live with the Hayes family, I’d become even more timid—like a frightened bird. Over the years, the Hayes brothers had done so much to make me feel at home. I remembered the first time I sat at their dinner table. I was too scared to touch the food, so Nathan would pile the best dishes onto my plate, coaxing me to eat. Ethan, too, would share his favorite snacks with me and invite me to play with his toys. For years, wherever I went, they were always nearby, protecting me. But when Jessa entered the picture, everything changed. Suddenly, I wasn’t the one they cared about anymore. I didn’t say a word. I hung up the phone and sent a message to my mother. “Mom, I’ve thought it through. I want to leave. I’ll marry the man from the Cole family.”

A moment later, my phone buzzed with a reply. “Leah, marriage isn’t something to take lightly. Are you sure about this?” My parents divorced when I was very young. My mother moved abroad, while I stayed with my father. When my father passed away, he entrusted me to the Hayes family. My mother returned to take me with her, but by then, I’d already grown attached to Nathan and Ethan. I refused to leave. Heartbroken, she left again but never stopped calling to check on me year after year. This year, she told me she’d found a good match for me—a man from the Cole family, a powerful and influential family abroad. She hoped I’d marry him and join her overseas. But more than her desire to have me close, I knew she truly cared about my happiness. Even though she wanted her only daughter to be by her side, she always left the choice up to me. For so long, I believed Nathan and Ethan truly cared for me, that I could eventually choose one of them to spend my life with. Now I realized their kindness had never been love—it was pity. I should’ve known my place from the start. I opened my phone, ready to book a flight to Atherton—the fictional country my mother now called home. But before I could finish, a message from Jessa popped up. “Leah, I’m not trying to take what’s yours. Nathan and Ethan insisted on giving it to me.” “They said you’re too old for this stuff anyway. Pink’s too youthful for you, don’t you think? At your age, pastel colors don’t suit you anymore.” Attached was a picture of her sitting in my room. She was wearing a pink dress and matching accessories—things Nathan and Ethan had spent a fortune on last year, promising they’d be my graduation gift. On her hand, she wore two pink diamond rings. I stared at the photo, my face expressionless. Then I blocked her and sent another text to my mother. “Mom, I’m serious. I don’t want to stay here anymore.” This hospital stay had forced me to see a therapist. The doctor told me I was showing signs of mild depression. She strongly recommended I leave this toxic environment before things got worse. If I stayed, I would only spiral further, sinking into hopelessness. I was only in my twenties. I had no intention of spending the rest of my life wasting away in the Hayes family’s shadow. My mother replied quickly: “Alright. I respect your decision.” “When you come to Atherton, I promise I’ll make sure my precious girl is happy.” Perhaps sensing my pain, she sent one last message: “Before you leave, make sure to say goodbye to Mr. Hayes.” I stepped out of the hospital. The drizzle outside soaked through my clothes as I stood there, staring at the gray sky. My college diploma wouldn’t arrive for another week. I’d use that time to say goodbye to everything—and everyone—here. It was time to move on.

I took a cab back to the Hayes estate. The moment I stepped into the yard, I was knocked to the ground by a massive dog. “Oh no, Leah! I’m so sorry,” Jessa said, standing nearby with a faint smile. But she made no move to pull the dog away as it tore at my clothes. It wasn’t until I started coughing uncontrollably that she finally called the dog back to her side, feigning innocence. Shaking, I got to my feet. My chest burned as I realized the garden I had lovingly tended for years was utterly destroyed—trampled beyond recognition. A giant dog crate now sat where the flowers used to bloom. Dog hair floated in the air, triggering my allergies. I fumbled through my bag for my medication, swallowed it, and leaned against a wall, gasping for breath. Nathan and Ethan Hayes were standing nearby, watching the entire scene unfold. They exchanged a glance, their expressions filled with disdain. “Leah, I thought you had more pride than this,” Nathan sneered. “Didn’t you say you weren’t coming back? Yet here you are, crawling home.” Ethan laughed, his voice sharp and cruel. “Where else would she go? She’s got no father, no family, no home. This place is the only roof over her head.” Their words cut through me like a blade. I thought back to the first days after my father’s death, when I’d come to live with the Hayes family. I was a scared, lonely child, crying myself to sleep every night. Nathan had been the one to comfort me, sitting beside me and wiping away my tears. “Leah, don’t cry,” he’d said, his voice warm and reassuring. “From now on, my dad is your dad. My home is your home.” Ethan had treated me like a treasure, giving me the best room in the old family house—the one with the perfect view of the garden. He told everyone, without a hint of embarrassment, that I’d one day be the only mistress of the Hayes family. But all of that changed the moment Jessa arrived. Jessa wasn’t just any girl. She was the Hayes family’s foster daughter, sponsored by their father through college. When she moved into the estate during her first year of university, she became the center of attention. She wasn’t content with simply winning over Nathan and Ethan. She went out of her way to make my life miserable. At first, I didn’t take it seriously. I thought of her as a younger sister and brushed off her antics. But then she smashed the porcelain doll my father had given me before he died. Furious, I confronted her. I demanded to know why she’d done it. Before she could answer, Ethan stepped between us and shoved me back. “It’s just a doll. If it’s broken, then it’s broken. Why are you making such a fuss?” he said coldly. “Jessa’s had a hard life. She deserves kindness, not this spoiled behavior from you.” Nathan chimed in, his tone dripping with mockery. “She’s only eighteen, Leah. You’re nearly thirty. Can’t you act your age? You’re embarrassing yourself.” I stared at the shattered pieces of porcelain on the floor, realizing for the first time how distant and unrecognizable they had become. From that moment on, everything changed. I was no longer the girl they cared for. Jessa became their priority, their princess. The household staff followed suit, treating her as though she were the true lady of the house. I was left behind, fading into the background, a shadow of who I used to be. And now, I had nothing left to hold on to. I tried to head upstairs to pack my things, but before I could make it to my room, I saw all my belongings being thrown down from the second floor. Startled, I looked up to see Ethan standing at the balcony, his arm wrapped protectively around Jessa. He smirked, his voice dripping with scorn. “Leah, stop pretending to be something you’re not. You’re just a stray dog we took in out of pity. Jessa’s the only real princess of this house.” “And from now on,” he added, “you’ll move into the storage room. I won’t be giving you a position in the company either. Let’s see how long it takes you to learn your lesson.” Nathan, standing nearby, picked up the porcelain doll I’d painstakingly glued back together and smashed it against the wall again, laughing as the pieces scattered. “Leah,” he said mockingly, “if you ever cause trouble for Jessa again, next time it won’t just be the doll I break.” Looking at the broken pieces on the floor, I felt… nothing. The old me would’ve screamed, cried, and demanded answers. I would’ve fought to make them see how much they were hurting me. But now, I just wanted to let it go. Squatting down, I carefully gathered the shattered fragments into my hands. “You win,” I said softly. “I’ll leave as soon as I can.”

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My wife brought home a half-eaten cake, claiming she bought it especially for me. If I hadn’t seen her male assistant post a screenshot of a transfer for “1314” (meaning “forever”), I might have believed her. I casually replied, “Work comes first.” Next thing I knew, I was blocked. My wife even called to berate me: “I’ve never met such a petty man!” As I rubbed my aching abdomen, I thought to myself, “Do whatever you want. I’m done playing this game.” Amber was walking through the door just as I was tossing a takeout box into the trash. Recently diagnosed with early-stage liver cancer, I had been strictly advised by my doctor to stick to a bland diet this month. But I couldn’t resist the temptation. Today marked the fifth anniversary of my marriage to Amber. I had checked out of the hospital early, eagerly booked a hotel, hoping to celebrate properly with her. After waiting all day for a message, if it weren’t for Jack’s boastful social media post and Amber’s accusatory phone call, I’d probably still be waiting at the hotel. As soon as she entered, Amber noticed the empty dining table and immediately frowned. “No home-cooked meal today?” she asked. I nodded casually, my eyes glued to my phone screen. I deliberately said, “I thought you’d already eaten out.” In the past, no matter how late or tired I was, I would always come home early and cook different delicious meals for her. Back then, if she even slightly frowned, I’d feel like the sky was falling. Now, thinking back, it’s laughable how I humiliated myself completely, only to receive no love in return. Oblivious to my change in attitude, Amber placed a cake in front of me, saying she bought it specially because I mentioned wanting something sweet. But one look told me the cake had clearly been tampered with. It was full of dents, and all the fruit toppings had been picked off. I glanced at it and continued playing with my phone. Seeing my cold reaction, she grew upset. “Ryan, what’s your problem? I brought this especially for you, and you’re giving me the cold shoulder? When will this end?” “I don’t want something that’s been touched by others. It’s disgusting,” I said coldly. Her phone rang. I didn’t need to guess who it was. She looked up at me, her eyes cold with a hint of barely noticeable joy. Then, impatiently, she said, “Fine, fine, fine. I’ll go buy you another one, okay? I’m so tired from work, and I come home to this cold face of yours. It’s like I owe you something!” With that, she turned to leave. Remembering I had left the hospital in a hurry without my medication, I said I’d go along. Hearing this, she jumped like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. “You want to follow me just to buy a cake? Are you sick? Are you trying to keep me on a leash?” I sighed and explained I just needed to stop by the pharmacy. Only then did she relent, but not before ordering me to get her a blueberry cake before getting in the car. At the pharmacy, I got out. A flash of surprise crossed her eyes, and her tone softened a bit. “Wait for me here after you’re done. I’ll pick you up.” With that, the car sped away, splashing muddy water all over me. I irritably wiped it off. I waited and waited outside the pharmacy. The rain got heavier, and my body was frozen stiff, but there was no sign of her. Thunder rumbled, startling me. Just as I was about to call a cab, the downpour began. I was instantly soaked to the bone. Remembering the doctor’s words, I fought through the pain and ran to a convenience store to buy an umbrella, but it was too late. My abdomen started to cramp severely, and I crouched on the ground, curled up in pain. Thankfully, a kind passerby helped me home. Otherwise, I might have needed an ambulance. I had just gotten home, dried off, and taken my medication when Amber stormed in, slamming the door so hard it shook the walls. “Why didn’t you tell me you came back? I’ve been driving around in the rain looking for you for an hour! Did you do this on purpose? Do you think it’s funny?”

My hand froze midair as I was putting down my water glass, a look of bewilderment on my face. She had blocked my number herself, and now she was blaming me for not contacting her? I had waited for two hours and just got home, and she claimed she’d been looking for me for an hour? Enough is enough. I didn’t have the energy to expose her little game. My face darkened as I coldly said, “If you wanted me to contact you, you should have unblocked me first.” Hearing this, she pressed her lips together, suppressing her anger. She put a rain-soaked matcha cake without its box in front of me. “It’s too late, and the box is gone. I barely found a place that still had any,” she explained. I stared at the cake, feeling nothing but exhaustion, numb to her lame excuses. My phone screen lit up at that moment. Jack had posted another update, a photo of a blueberry cake with a sickeningly sweet caption. I wanted to smirk, but found I didn’t even have the energy for that. A thousand words condensed into one sentence: “Thanks for the effort. You can throw it away.” Her face instantly turned ashen, her eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. “Are you crazy? I went through all this trouble to get this for you, and you just want to throw it away?” she yelled. “You’re making a fool out of me! It’s just a bonus for an employee, why are you making such a big deal out of it? I’m the boss, can’t I make my own decisions? And don’t think I’ve forgotten about you insulting people in private messages!” She grew more agitated as she spoke. I rubbed my aching head, too tired to argue. “It’s not what you think. I don’t have the energy or time for that. At that time, I was…” Before I could finish, she roughly cut me off. “Enough! Stop talking! It’s always like this. You’re in your mid-thirties, but you’re still as jealous as when you were young. There are so many handsome guys in this world, are you going to be jealous of all of them? You’ve lost your mind!” Her words cut into my heart like knives. In the past, I would always argue with her over these little things, begging her to love only me. But now, I’ve woken up. Between adults, what’s the point of love that needs to be questioned? I sighed, “If that’s how you want to see it, there’s nothing I can do.” With that, I got up and walked towards the bedroom. She ignored me, threw the cake in the trash, and started scrolling through her phone, occasionally letting out suppressed laughter. She went to the bathroom to make a call, and I took the opportunity to pack up my bedding, preparing to move to the guest room. Just as I was leaving, I bumped into her. She looked annoyed, staring at the bedding in my hands, and finally exploded: “What’s the meaning of this? You want to sleep separately?” “I didn’t complain about your alcohol breath, and this is how you act? Looking at you now makes me sick!” she said viciously, “Don’t come looking for me if you can’t sleep tonight!” I ignored her and went straight to the guest room, locking the door behind me. In the past, I couldn’t sleep when she came home late, constantly calling and texting her. She responded by giving me a bottle of sleeping pills the next day. Now, I sleep soundly without any medication. It turns out, those hurdles we thought we couldn’t overcome, when we look back, aren’t such a big deal after all. I’ve found a reliable divorce lawyer and am ready to start a new life. Meanwhile, Amber’s company account was buzzing with celebration videos. In the video, she stood next to Jack, a perfect match. The jewelry around her neck was the anniversary gift I gave her last year. This year’s gift, I’ve already returned, along with those unrealistic expectations.

I was about to turn off my phone when Amber’s call suddenly came through, her voice tinged with excitement: “I’ve sent you the address. I’ll pick you up later. There’s a surprise for you.” A sarcastic smile tugged at my lips. I’ve had quite enough of her “surprises.” Before I could say no, she had already hung up. It’s strange indeed that she remembered to unblock me right before the divorce. I had just finished taking my medicine when Amber’s car roared to a stop downstairs. After receiving her message, I went out in my loungewear. As soon as I got in the car, Amber’s smile froze upon seeing my scruffy face, as if she had swallowed a fly. “Why didn’t you shave or change your clothes? You’re embarrassing me. Are you deliberately trying to upset me?” Her tone was full of reproach. At that moment, Jack poked his head out from the passenger seat, dressed in a flashy suit, looking innocent: “Oh, I’m sorry, bro-in-law. I forgot to notify you… and couldn’t get through on the phone.” I shrugged and smiled, “It’s fine. A man’s dignity isn’t built on a woman’s approval.” I deliberately glanced at Jack, “Besides, with such a capable secretary, Amber’s reputation is already secure.” Amber was left speechless by my retort. I couldn’t be bothered with her and sat directly in the back seat. Throughout the journey, Jack chattered non-stop about the birthday party and how impressive Amber was. His tone was full of boasting and provocation towards me. I couldn’t care less and treated him like thin air. At the hotel, Jack naturally walked to Amber’s side, while I followed behind. At the elevator, the company staff were waiting. As soon as they saw Amber and Jack, the atmosphere became awkward. Mike quickly came forward to smooth things over. As soon as Mike saw me enter, he enthusiastically greeted me: “Oh, Ryan, you’re finally here! We couldn’t have landed this project without your skills! The entire company owes you a debt of gratitude today!” Hearing this warmed my heart, and I smiled, waving my hand: “Mike, you’re too kind. All this ‘bro’ talk feels strange. Who knows, when I return from abroad, I might bring back a new title, but that’s still up in the air.” I responded with a smile, knowing he was trying to help me. But as soon as I said this, Amber’s face changed. She suddenly turned and stared at me: “What do you mean abroad? You’re going overseas? How come I don’t know about this? Did I agree to this?” That look in her eyes, as if I were a stranger who had suddenly appeared. I smiled calmly, offering no explanation. In my mind, I thought: This divorce is definitely happening.

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On the day my wife, Wendy Carr, gave birth to her ex-boyfriend’s child, who was serving time in prison, her family was on high alert, fearing I might show up to cause trouble. But even as the child was born after a difficult labor, I never appeared. When Wendy was wheeled out of the delivery room, lying on the hospital bed, her eyes instinctively searched the crowd for my face. “Wendy, don’t worry. We’ve taken care of everything. That man won’t be able to come here.” Her mother reassured her, patting her chest confidently. “That’s right. I was terrified he’d bring bad luck to my little nephew,” her brother chimed in. Wendy nodded, then turned to look at the baby beside her, a joyful smile lighting up her face. She never understood why I couldn’t see her perspective. She only wanted to ensure her first love had no regrets. She even thought to herself that if I treated the child well, she might agree to let me raise the child together with her. But this time, I had already accepted an assignment from the organization. Soon, I would depart for the capital of Drakonia, Virelia, to join an international criminal investigation task force. This journey held an uncertain future.

Wendy suffered severe blood loss during childbirth. Yet less than a week after being admitted to the hospital, Jerry Brudos’ mother was already urging her to go home. For the past month, I have been attending meetings at work to coordinate some major international cases. Today was my first chance to take a break. Dragging my exhausted body home, I felt something was off the moment I stepped through the door. In the living room, Wendy’s parents were gathered around her and the baby, their faces full of affection and love. Jerry’s mother, Daisy Brudos, was also there. The group looked so harmonious that I suddenly felt like an outsider in my own home. “Oh, my little darling, you’re so adorable! Come on, say hi! Good baby!” Wendy’s mother, Elodie Britton, gushed over the child, her entire face radiating fondness. When they noticed my return, the warmth on their faces instantly turned awkward. Wendy’s face was pale and bloodless. She cast me a faint glance before lowering her head to play with the baby. “What bad timing. Coming home now of all times!” Wendy’s father, Richard Britton, lit a cigarette, gave me a once-over from head to toe, and let out a cold snort. Looking at these people before me, I couldn’t believe it. Before our marriage, they were so pleased with me. Once, my relationship with Wendy was pure and beautiful. I had attended the police academy in college while she studied education at a neighboring school. That was when fate set its wheels in motion. We met, got to know each other, and fell in love, with no conflicts ever arising between us. I wasn’t much of a talker, while Wendy was vibrant and cheerful, like a little songbird. After the death of my parents, I rarely experienced strong emotional waves. Wendy was like a beam of light piercing into my dim world. We married without any obstacles. Her parents liked me too, often praising my stable and promising job. Our love remained strong, though Wendy was always hesitant when it came to intimacy. I respected all her wishes, so our marriage remained unconsummated. I never doubted her because our love felt so genuine. Perhaps it was also because I spent much time away from home, leaving our marriage as fresh as when it began. When I was assigned to a six-month closed training program for a cross-border crime task force, we had to part ways. As we said goodbye, her eyes shimmered with tears as she held my hand tightly. “Promise me you’ll come back safe. I’ll always be waiting for you,” she said. I gently wiped away her tears, pursing my lips, unsure of how to respond. Elodie, too, couldn’t stop crying. She clung to my sleeve, urging me to take care of myself. At that moment, I silently resolved to request a transfer after training, opting not to join the mission. I wanted to stay home and protect my family. To be honest, during that half-year of training, there wasn’t a moment when Wendy wasn’t on my mind. Sometimes, I was even a little distracted. On the last day of training, I drove home eagerly. But when I flung open the door, the scene before me left me stunned. In the living room, Wendy and an unfamiliar man were sitting at the dining table. The man had his arm wrapped intimately around her shoulder. Both froze when they saw me. Wendy quickly shrugged off the man’s arm, her expression flustered. “Who is he?” My voice was icy, and I didn’t even bother to set down my luggage as I stared at the man. Wendy’s eyes darted nervously as she stammered, “This… this is Jerry, my friend. He’s just staying here for a few days.” The smiles on Richard’s and Elodie’s faces vanished instantly. Richard frowned deeply, shooting me a disdainful glance. “Why are you back now of all times?” he muttered. Elodie’s expression soured, and she grumbled, “What a useless man. It might as well have died out there. Such a buzzkill.” Jerry stood up as well, smirking at me with a hint of arrogance. I didn’t press further, but as my gaze fell on Wendy, I noticed her subconsciously touching her belly. It was slightly swollen, already showing signs of pregnancy. My heart sank into a bottomless abyss, and an ominous feeling overtook me. That night, Wendy brought me a glass of milk, smiling as she said, “You must be exhausted after such long training. Here, drink some milk and get a good rest.” I took the glass but caught a fleeting glimpse of nervousness in her eyes. Pretending to drink a few sips, I casually set the glass aside. Sure enough, in the middle of the night, Wendy tiptoed out of bed and crept out the door. I followed her quietly, watching as she entered another room. Inside, Jerry’s hushed voice could be heard. “Baby, what took you so long?” Fury surged within me. I moved closer and overheard Wendy’s playful voice saying, “Be gentle. Don’t forget about the baby.” It felt like a hammer had struck my heart. Everything was now painfully clear. Before this, she had always rejected my advances. Yet in my absence, she had carried another man’s child.

I suppressed the surge of anger in my heart and decided to keep my composure and continue observing. In the days that followed, their brazenness grew worse, as if I were nothing more than a ghost in my own home. During the day, Jerry would boldly sit next to Wendy. Their hands often intertwined, their gazes filled with affection and flirtation. Once, while the whole family was gathered around the dining table, Jerry forked a piece of meat and fed it directly to Wendy. She ate it without the slightest embarrassment, even giggling as she wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin. Richard, Elodie, and Jerry’s mother all acted as though nothing had happened. Whenever I questioned them, Richard and Elodie would dismiss me with the excuse that Jerry and Wendy were just friends. They would accuse me of neglecting the family, pointing out that Jerry had been the one helping with everything over the past six months, while I was off chasing my career. They called me ungrateful. Perhaps it was guilt over my frequent absence that kept me silent. But this time, I could no longer suppress my fury. I slammed my fork on the table with a resounding crack. “Wendy! What exactly do you think you’re doing? “Is this what friends do? Do they end up in bed together? “There’s already a child! How long have I endured this? And you’re still hiding it from me?” They knew I had discovered the truth. Richard shot up from his seat, jabbing his finger at my nose and shouting, “What are you yelling about? Look at yourself! Always busy with that worthless job of yours! How much do you even make? “What can you offer Wendy? Jerry can give her a comfortable life. Can you?” Elodie chimed in, “Exactly! You’re useless. After all these years, you haven’t given Wendy any sort of good life. “Jerry is a hundred times better than you. He knows how to take care of Wendy and make money.” My whole body trembled with rage. I glared at them and growled, “Are you seriously saying this with a straight face? “How much have I sacrificed for this family, and you refuse to see it? Now you’re siding with an outsider to attack me!” “Sacrifice? What sacrifice?” Richard sneered, “Jerry makes more on one business deal than you do in an entire year. “What do you have to compare with him? Wendy was unlucky in ending up with someone like you!” His words stabbed into my heart like a dagger. I laughed bitterly and turned to Elodie. “You’re really ready to accept that bastard’s child as one of your own? “Your daughter cheated on me, and you have the gall to defend her?” Elodie’s face darkened. “Don’t you dare talk about my grandchild like that! “That child is flesh and blood from Wendy! No matter what, it’s family, and there’s no way we’ll ever get rid of it.” Wendy stood up just then, about to say something, when a knock came at the door. A group of police officers stormed in, flashing their badges. They pinned Jerry to the floor and hauled him away. Jerry’s arrogant expression instantly dissolved into terror. He struggled and screamed, “What are you arresting me for? “It’s you! You set me up, you bastard!” Wendy panicked, shrieking at me, “Did you do this? “How could you be so heartless? If anything happens to him, I’ll never forgive you!” Richard and Elodie were even more furious. Richard rushed toward me, jabbing his finger so close to my eye I could barely see past it. “You cruel son of a bitch! How dare you get Jerry arrested? “If something happens to him, we’ll fight you to the death!” Elodie wailed, “You heartless man! How could you do something so wicked? Use your connections and get Jerry out of this mess, or Wendy and the baby will be ruined!” The lead officer spoke firmly, “He’s involved in fraud, and we have solid evidence. We’re arresting him according to the law.” Wendy froze, her face a mask of disbelief. Richard and Elodie refused to back down. Richard turned to the officer and shouted, “You’ve got the wrong man! Jerry is a good kid. There’s no way he did this. Someone’s framing him!” Elodie echoed, “Yes! Someone must be out to get him. You can’t punish an innocent man!” I pulled out my own badge. The lead officer glanced at the initials on my bag and saluted me. After getting a brief rundown on Jerry’s crimes, I learned he had been involved in fraud for quite some time, making off with millions of dollars. The evidence was indisputable. I tried to calm Wendy and her parents. But Wendy flung herself at me, clawing and hitting. “You’re lying! Jerry is a good man. You’re just jealous! You framed him! “If you don’t help him, I’ll hate you for the rest of my life!” Richard trembled with fury, pointing his finger in my face again. “Don’t pretend to be a good guy! You just can’t stand to see Wendy happy. “If you don’t get Jerry out of this, I’ll raise hell at your workplace and make sure you lose your job!” Elodie chimed in, “Exactly! You heartless man! Wendy must have been blind to marry you. If you don’t help, this isn’t over!” Just as I was about to respond, I received an urgent call summoning me to a meeting, bringing the confrontation to a temporary halt. Memories swirled in my mind as I gazed at Wendy, cradling the child in her arms. I stayed silent for a long moment.

She didn’t bother looking up, casting a disdainful glance my way. “In a few days, you’ll come with me to a class reunion. You’ll say you’re my bodyguard. “Look at how tanned you’ve gotten from all that training, like a lump of coal. How can I bring you along? You’ll embarrass me.” For someone like me, who trained outdoors every day, getting tanned was completely normal. I looked at Wendy, barely able to believe she could make such a ridiculous demand. Still, to let her face reality once and for all, and to put an end to this failed marriage, I silently nodded in agreement. On the day of the reunion, Wendy dressed to the nines in luxurious designer clothes. Holding our child in her arms, she glanced at me impatiently, her eyes filled with disdain. In a sharp tone, she said, “Keep up. Don’t dawdle and embarrass me. “Remember, you’re just a bodyguard. Keep your mouth shut. “You’re lucky I even let you come.” I remained silent, my expression calm, though inside, my emotions were surging like a storm. I followed her into the venue. As soon as we entered, the classmates’ eyes immediately turned to us. They first noticed the adorable, doll-like child in Wendy’s arms, then her glamorous appearance. Their gazes brimmed with curiosity and envy. A female classmate was the first to speak. “Wendy, it’s been years! You’ve really changed. Your child is so big now! Where’s the father?” Wendy lifted her chin with pride, her eyes glinting with vanity. She deliberately lowered her voice, though it was loud enough for everyone to hear. “The child’s father is a bit busy and couldn’t make it. “But you all probably know him, Jerry. He’s in business, and he’s pretty capable.” The room buzzed with exclamations as the classmates surrounded her with praise. “Wendy, you’ve really got it made! Married into a wealthy family, huh?” “Exactly! You’ve got to take care of us in the future!” Basking in their flattery, Wendy’s head tilted slightly upward, her expression filled with arrogance. She sneered and said sharply, “Oh, you all need to work harder. Not everyone’s as lucky as me, stumbling into a life like this. “Some people, no matter how much they struggle, will amount to nothing.” Just as she reveled in her smugness, the phones of her classmates began pinging with notifications one after another. They checked their phones in confusion, their expressions growing increasingly strange. Wendy noticed the shift and frowned. “What’s going on?” No one answered her. They only looked at her with an odd mix of shock and disdain. I knew exactly what was happening. The evidence of her infidelity, which I had anonymously sent to each classmate, was finally making an impact. The photos and chat records were being displayed on their screens, one by one. Finally, a classmate couldn’t hold back and asked, “Wendy, what’s this all about? Are these things true?” Wendy’s face turned ashen in an instant. Her lips trembled, and she looked around in panic. She screamed, “This is a setup! Someone’s framing me! It’s all fake, completely fake!” But the murmurs among the classmates grew louder. “I can’t believe she’s this kind of person.”

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My wife’s assistant, Chris Green, suddenly posted a tweet saying that he no longer wanted to continue this unclear relationship. Yolanda Bowers, my usually indifferent wife, suddenly looked panicked. She rushed home and said to me. “Chris has really made a big mess this time. Let’s pretend to divorce for now. You can go back to your hometown for a couple of days, and when you come back, we can remarry, okay? “Don’t worry, it’s just a fake divorce. You, Matthew Castro, are still my true husband!” Seeing the urgency in her face, I nodded. But what she didn’t know was that my fate had already been tied to hers by the system. If I divorced her, I would leave this world forever and would never see her again. After I agreed, Yolanda took me straight to the courthouse. I remembered the last time I told her I wanted a snack. She took a few minutes to get it from the snack cupboard. At the courthouse, she held my hand tightly and said, “Matthew, trust me. Just seven days. I just need to calm him down for seven days, and then we can remarry, okay? “Once I’ve sorted things out with him, you can have anything you want!” I numbly nodded. She smiled brightly and pulled out divorce gifts. The things I liked were laid out in front of me, but I didn’t want to look at them anymore. These were just her tools to get rid of me and be with her assistant. I didn’t accept them. I quietly walked out of the courthouse. Her lovers had never stopped, even after we got married. Her assistant always changed, but it was always a handsome young guy. I had argued with her, even begged her, but after she soothed me, she would still act as she pleased. Eventually, I stopped caring. It was her nature, and no matter what, she wouldn’t change. As long as she still considered me her husband, I could bear it. But this time, her assistant seemed different from the others. It seemed like she had really fallen for this young guy who had just graduated. She would spend lavishly just to make him happy, leave me at home while she traveled with him, and ignore my calls just to avoid upsetting Chris. Now, to make Chris happy, she even came home and begged me for a fake divorce, planning to hold a grand wedding for Chris. Her heart had long since stopped being with me. I walked side by side with her out of the courthouse, and Chris had been waiting outside for a while. As soon as he saw us come out, he hurried over to Yolanda. “Yolanda, you’re finally out! I’ve been waiting for you forever. Let’s go!” He ignored the dark look on Yolanda’s face and quickly turned to bow to me. “Thank you, Matthew. It’s because you left that I got this chance. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Yolanda!” Chris seemed ready to say more, but Yolanda stepped forward and slapped him hard across the face. “Shut up! Didn’t I tell you to stay in the car and not come out? “If you ever pull this again, just leave!” Chris looked down, covering his face, his expression filled with grievance and anger. “Yolanda, haven’t you two divorced? Why are you still protecting him like this?” Yolanda pressed her hand on Chris’ face and shoved him away. “I’ve warned you about this already. Don’t make me say it again!” Chris seemed to feel Yolanda’s anger. He turned and left, his voice choking and trembling. Yolanda looked at him for a moment, reaching out as if to comfort him. But then she pulled back. She stood in front of me as if protecting me. Once, Yolanda promised that no matter how she acted with others, she would never bring trouble to me. But now, she was panicking. When Yolanda looked at me again, her face turned pale and flustered. She spoke carefully. “Matthew, I’m so sorry. I didn’t expect him to run over like that. “It’s probably my fault for spoiling him too much lately. I’ll make sure to teach him a lesson.” I shook my head to signal that it was fine. It was not like I haven’t seen more upsetting scenes, so this wasn’t something I cared about anymore. I spoke to Yolanda. “Since he’s here, you should go be with him. You don’t need to worry about me. “I’ll just take a cab back, pack my things, and head to another place.” Yolanda froze for a moment, then slowly regained her composure. “Matthew, if you want to go anywhere, I’ll pay for it. Just go and enjoy yourself.” I nodded without saying a word and continued walking toward the door. After leaving the courthouse, a mechanical voice suddenly echoed in my mind. “Matthew, the system has detected that you are divorced and separated from Yolanda. The mission is complete! “In seven days, you will pass away from illness and leave this world!”

Eight years ago, while reading a novel at home, I accidentally traveled to this world. I was bound to a companion system and ended up by Yolanda’s side. The system told me I needed to accompany Yolanda for eight years or help her achieve success and happiness. In those eight years, Yolanda’s happiness had long reached its peak, and with my help, her company thrived, eventually becoming worth over one hundred million dollars. But despite completing the mission early, I didn’t leave. During those eight years, I truly fell in love with Yolanda. I couldn’t bring myself to leave her. The system had told me I only needed to stay with her for eight years, and then I could remain in this world. I thought I would stay by her side until the end of my life. But, with only seven days left until the eight years were up, Yolanda suddenly filed for divorce. On the final day of the eight years, I would be sent back to my original world. With seven days left, I checked into a hotel for the time being. On my way back, I noticed billboards everywhere, filled with pictures of Yolanda and Chris, looking all sweet and happy. Even the news was full of stories about Yolanda and Chris preparing to get married and hold a grand wedding. I watched the two of them in their wedding attire, full of happiness, and it suddenly hit me. No wonder Yolanda was in such a rush to get a divorce. She was preparing a surprise for her assistant. I remembered when I first arrived. I followed the system’s mission and found Yolanda, and when she saw me, she instantly fell in love with me. From that day on, she vowed that I would be the love of her life. To be with me, she said she would do anything. And she kept that promise. She cared for me in every possible way, and every detail of my life had Yolanda’s touch. Back then, I truly felt she saw me as the only person in her life. Yolanda’s family didn’t want her to marry someone like me, a man with nothing. To get their approval for our marriage, she starved herself for three days and nights, and only then did her parents agree. At the wedding, she held my hand and swore to the heavens. “I, Yolanda, will love Matthew for life, forever and always!” But she didn’t keep that promise. I had just lay down when, without warning, blood suddenly surged up my throat. Seeing the blood on the sheets, I rushed to the hospital. It seemed that the illness the system planned for me over these seven days was going to be hard to endure. Surprisingly, the hospital couldn’t figure out what was wrong and just gave me some painkillers before sending me home. I couldn’t help but wonder how Yolanda would look when I finally passed away. The expression on her face would surely be something to behold. Of course, before I die, there was one more thing I need to do. I want to tell her parents to rest well and not to mourn for me. In this strange foreign world, they were the only ones who still treated me like family. Since my condition was beyond saving, I felt it was time they knew. Before I even reached Yolanda’s father’s house, I saw through the window that Yolanda had Chris behind her, glaring angrily. “Mom, Dad, Matthew has been busy lately, so I brought my assistant to visit you. You don’t need to throw the gifts!” Yolanda’s father pointed at her and cursed. “How could you! I’ve told you. I only accept Matthew as your husband! “Tell that damn Chris to get out! Get out of here now!” Yolanda’s mother was even more furious, clutching her chest as her face turned pale. “Your father’s right. Take him and leave! “Yolanda, Matthew has never wronged you!” Watching this scene, I felt a slight warmth in my heart. It was once Yolanda’s parents who refused to let me marry her, only agreeing after she starved for three days and nights. Later, to earn their approval, I often visited, cooked for them, and looked after their health. They slowly began to treat me like their own son. “I already discussed it with Matthew, and he agreed. “I’m not asking you to accept him. I just wanted him to meet you. Is that too much to ask? “Chris, let’s go!” Yolanda’s face turned red with anger, and she pulled Chris toward the door. This scene was almost identical to when she fought for me, back when she would do anything for me. But now, things have changed. I placed my medical report at the door and prepared to leave. Just as I was about to step out, Yolanda suddenly saw me, her expression paling instantly. “Matthew?”

Yolanda’s eyes flickered with panic. She probably didn’t expect to run into me here. But I just left the report at the door, turned around, and walked out without saying another word. It wasn’t until I was almost home that I received a message from Yolanda. [Matthew, I only brought Chris home today to introduce him to my parents.] [He kept insisting on a wedding, so I just let him meet my parents.] [But don’t worry, it’s just a fake wedding. You’re still my husband!] She typed quickly, as though she had been waiting to say this for a while, and the words came pouring out. This message certainly came later than the idea of a wedding. I didn’t know how long she had been planning the wedding with Chris. I also didn’t know how long I had stopped being her husband in her heart. All I knew was that in five days, I would never have to see Yolanda again. I wandered aimlessly down the street, my feet instinctively carrying me toward the café where Yolanda and I used to go on dates. Everything inside the café felt so familiar. But now, the two people sitting at the bar drinking coffee were Yolanda and Chris. He held a glass of wine, his arm around her. Both of them flushed, their eyes full of desire. “Come on, Yolanda, let’s drink another toast.” A toast? I stared at the two of them, my mind scrambling to remember this gesture. The memory shot back to our wedding day when Yolanda looked at me in her pure white wedding dress, her eyes full of love and gratitude. But after that day, we never had the desire to share a toast. I had tried countless times, but all I got in return was rejection. Yolanda refused to drink even a single glass of wine in front of me, but with Chris, she drank glass after glass. The two of them were completely engrossed in their interaction, not noticing me sitting nearby, but the coffee shop owner did. His gaze shifted between me and the couple, confusion and shock filling his eyes. Maybe, to others, we appeared like a happy couple, but only I knew how torturous this marriage really was. Chris followed the owner’s gaze and immediately furrowed his brow when he saw me. He set down his drink and walked over, his voice tinged with frustration. “Matthew, I just asked Yolanda to spend a few days with me. You don’t have to act like this! “I swear, I’m not trying to take Yolanda away from you. Please, just let us have a few more days together. Just a few, I beg you! “After that, I won’t bother you two anymore!” Yolanda, seeing me, had the flush of alcohol and desire fade from her face in an instant. “Chris, be a bit more polite to Matthew. Stop making a scene!” Hearing Yolanda’s words, Chris looked down and quietly returned to the bar, sipping his drink. Yolanda’s brow furrowed tightly as she gripped my hand a little too forcefully. “Honey, I’ve told you. He won’t shake your place in my heart. You’ll always be my husband! “After this fake marriage is over, we can remarry, okay? “But right now, just leave us alone. Don’t show up here again, alright?” Her voice grew louder and more desperate, almost turning into a scream. I wasn’t angry, nor was I pleading. Just like when she told me she wanted a fake divorce, I quietly nodded and turned to leave. Yolanda still wanted to say something, but seeing my silent demeanor, she opened her mouth and couldn’t get a word out. The greatest sorrow was when one’s heart died. When one gave up on someone, even the desire to be angry at them vanished. For the next few days, I stayed home, as the condition the system gave me kept me bedridden. Then, I received a message from Chris. [Matthew, today is the wedding between Yolanda and me. Are you coming?]

My legs were weak from the system’s condition, making walking difficult. I had to use a cane to get to their wedding. I couldn’t really describe my feelings about attending their wedding, but I thought it would be interesting if I collapsed in front of them. Most of the people at the wedding were Yolanda’s friends and family, and as an outsider in this world, I had no one to talk to. In this world, Yolanda was my everything. The guests looked at me with various expressions, some mocking, some pitying, others with disdain. I had seen too many of those looks already, and I had become immune to them. The internet was flooded with news about their wedding, and as Yolanda’s ex-husband, I was being discussed by countless netizens. I walked slowly through the wedding venue, taking in the surroundings. The couple stood in front of an arch of flowers, greeting their guests, all of whom had once blessed Yolanda and me. I couldn’t help but wonder how they would mock me today. I gave a self-deprecating smile. This was all my own doing. Behind the wedding stage, there was a deep blue lake with fluffy, cotton-like clouds drifting above it. The lawn was covered with Chris’ favorite white roses, and countless blooms surrounded Yolanda, who stood there in a beautiful wedding dress. When Yolanda married me, our wedding was simple. We were poor back then and had nothing. Yolanda had told me that she wanted a wedding like this. I promised her that once we had enough money, I would give her the perfect wedding she had always dreamed of. But we had just started making money, and before I could fulfill my promise, she was about to marry another man. Everything here was exactly what Chris liked, and everything here was bought with the money that Yolanda and I had earned together. Yolanda walked slowly toward Chris in her wedding dress, her face glowing with a happy smile as she looked at him. “Chris! You don’t know how many times I’ve imagined this moment!” Tears of joy welled up in Yolanda’s eyes as she gazed at him with deep affection. “Chris, marrying you has always been my dream, and today, I’ve finally made my dream come true! “My love!” Chris, too, shed tears, but his eyes were filled with ambition and smugness. “Yolanda, the moment I first met you, I fell hopelessly in love with you. Marrying you has been my dream for life!” After sharing their feelings, they embraced each other tightly. The crowd cheered, offering their blessings for the couple to be together forever. Eleven years ago, they had done the same for me. The atmosphere was filled with excitement, everyone eager to offer their well wishes to the newlyweds. I sat in the audience, watching the beautiful scene unfold, tears streaming down my face. Suddenly, Chris spotted me from the stage. He probably didn’t expect that I would actually show up, and a sly grin appeared on his face. He tapped the microphone to quiet the crowd and fixed his gaze on me. “I owe a lot to one person for being able to marry Yolanda.” All eyes turned to me as they had already read about me in the gossip columns. Everyone knew I was Yolanda’s ex-husband. They were all waiting to see what I would say, what kind of spectacle I would make at my ex-wife’s wedding. I looked toward Yolanda, but all I saw on her face was panic and unease. She quickly grabbed the microphone from Chris’ hand and whispered something in his ear, but her words were still loud enough for everyone to hear. “What are you doing? Didn’t I tell you not to provoke Matthew?” She turned around and looked at me, her eyes pleading. After being married to her for so many years, I knew exactly what that look meant. It was a silent plea for me not to say anything that would embarrass her. After all, she had planned this wedding for so long, and she didn’t want anything to ruin it. I gave a self-deprecating smile. I had taken care of her for so long, but she couldn’t even spare me the last shred of sympathy. She knew full well that I would be ridiculed when I stepped onto that stage. Amidst the boos and applause, I made my way to the stage and grabbed the microphone.

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Nine months into my pregnancy, my husband’s first love, Evelyn, moved into our house under some pretext. Every time she saw me, she would clutch her chest, feigning heartache. My husband, Alexander, was convinced that I was deliberately flaunting my pregnancy to upset Evelyn. “Evelyn is too weak to bear children! You’re constantly showing off your baby bump in front of her to provoke her! Looks like you won’t learn your lesson unless I teach you one!” He ordered his men to lock me in the long-abandoned attic and forbade anyone from bringing me food. I struggled and begged, telling him that the ultrasound showed the twins were too large, and the doctor had advised me to be admitted to the hospital today for delivery. But he laughed as if he had heard a joke, his voice as cold as ice shards: “Your due date isn’t for another three days! Stop playing the victim! Go to the attic and reflect on your actions! This is what you get for upsetting Evelyn!” My contractions were so painful that I broke my nails clawing at the door, but no one came to open it. My agonizing screams echoed in the attic for a long time. Until I was lying in a pool of blood, with the unformed fetuses still stuck in the bloody hole between my legs. Three days later, Alexander, sipping a bowl of rice porridge that didn’t suit his taste, said: “Tell Lily to come out and make me a bowl of porridge, then apologize to Evelyn. If her attitude is sincere, send her to the hospital to give birth.” No one dared to respond. Because the blood from the attic had already spread to the second step of the stairs. …

“Why isn’t that jealous woman Lily wailing anymore?” “Sir… could something have happened to Mrs. Frost? Last night, her screams were heart-wrenching, she sounded like she was in terrible pain…” Alexander took a sip of porridge, snorting dismissively. “No one knows Lily better than I do. She’s just putting on an act! This time I must teach her a lesson so she won’t dare to provoke Evelyn again!” The butler glanced towards the attic, hesitating before speaking: “But Mrs. Frost is carrying twins, and the doctor said she needed to be admitted to the hospital early…” Alexander paused mid-sip, his expression softening slightly. “Is that so?” He stirred his porridge for a while, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes: “Fine, tell Lily to come out and make me a bowl of porridge, then get over here and apologize to Evelyn! Today is her due date, if her apology is sincere, we’ll send her to the hospital.” Alexander heated up a cup of milk and walked into the guest room. On the bed, Evelyn’s breathing was steady, the blanket had slipped down to her shoulders, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of her chest. Alexander’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he stared at her for a long moment before reluctantly tearing his gaze away. He bent down and placed a kiss on her lips. Evelyn slowly opened her eyes, stretching languidly, and pouted coyly: “Brother Alex~ You’re bullying me again~” Alexander parted his legs to let Evelyn sit in his lap, his fingers idly massaging her waist. “Who could resist when you sleep like that?” Evelyn buried her head in Alexander’s chest, letting out a few contented murmurs. “But, sister Lily is working hard carrying your child. We’re both women, I can’t let you betray her when she’s at her most vulnerable!” Suddenly, as if remembering something, she looked up anxiously: “Last night, sister Lily was screaming so loudly, is she going into labor? Sigh… Even though it hurts to hear sister Lily in such pain, I’m envious! Being able to carry Brother Alex’s baby, even if childbirth is painful, it would be sweet happiness for me.” Sweet happiness? By now, I had already become a ghost floating beside them. On the attic floor, red blood had spread across the entire room. On the walls were deep scratches I had made in my intense pain, with bits of fingernails and flesh still clinging to them.

Not to mention how I had torn myself apart down there trying to give birth to the children. When I pulled out the first child, it was already not breathing. Blood gushed from the gaping wound between my legs, and the second child became stuck in the torn, bloody hole. With blood matting my hair, I held the blood-covered fetus, my eyes wide open as I stopped breathing. I wonder how Alexander will react when he sees this scene? But for now, he was only focused on holding Evelyn close. His voice was full of guilt and self-reproach: “It’s my fault! I shouldn’t have let the pregnant Lily appear in front of you and make you sad! I swear, this is the last time that woman will carry a child for me! You won’t see any more pregnant women in this house in the future.” “You don’t know, Lily even lied to me to try to soften my heart, saying she was afraid the babies were too big and might cause a difficult delivery, and that the doctor recommended immediate hospitalization.” “She can survive in the wilderness for three days and nights without food, yet she tells me she’s afraid of giving birth!” My heart ached, almost unable to breathe. A pregnant woman’s constitution is far different from a normal person’s, let alone the fact that from the day I became pregnant with twins, the discomforts of pregnancy had nearly exhausted me. Several times, due to my poor pregnancy constitution, I had even been hospitalized to prevent miscarriage. When I was first locked in the attic, I begged and pleaded with him to let me out. Because if I was really locked up for three days, it would surely result in three deaths! But Alexander, right in front of me, loudly instructed the butler: “Go! Throw the key into a stinking river, and don’t let anyone secretly open the door for Lily! After three days, I want her to kneel and apologize to Evelyn!” To survive, I tore down the wall paintings, piercing my hands with blood, and to pry open the attic window, my nails were forcibly broken off. Enduring the excruciating pain, I mustered my strength to climb out of the window onto the rain gutter outside, gripping the tiles tightly with my hands, inching along bit by bit, trying to jump to another room to escape. But then. In the garden below, Alexander was forcefully holding Evelyn in a deep embrace, kissing her passionately. The two were kissing so recklessly, it looked like things were about to get out of hand. Evelyn suddenly pushed Alexander away, looked up towards the attic, and let out a piercing scream. Alexander raised his head, saw me desperately trying to escape, and flew into a rage. He was convinced that I had deliberately appeared in front of Evelyn again. He ordered someone to bring a crane, and personally operated it, using the shovel to press against my belly, forcibly ramming me back into the attic. Intense pain shot through my abdomen, and blood seemed to flow endlessly from between my legs. In the end, my eyes were wide open, holding the blood-covered children in my arms. And that’s how I stopped breathing. Alexander brought the cup of warm milk to Evelyn’s lips. “I’ve already sent someone to bring Lily over to apologize to you. If she’s sincere, we’ll send her to the hospital. If not, she can give birth in the attic!” Evelyn sipped the milk in small mouthfuls, but still choked a little, coughing with tears in her eyes, looking pitiful and delicate. “Brother Alex, you can’t treat sister Lily like this. Childbirth is very dangerous for women!” Alexander sighed, looking at the girl in his arms with doting eyes: “You’re just too kind-hearted, that’s why you get bullied by women like Lily! Lily is a survival expert, she can survive for three days without food or water in the wild! You, on the other hand, little one, are so delicate you choke on a sip of milk.” He gently tapped her nose: “And you talk about childbirth being dangerous as if you’ve given birth before!” Evelyn’s eyes flashed with panic for a moment, but she quickly lowered her head, her voice tinged with grievance: “Only Brother Alex… can see through the fragile heart beneath Evelyn’s strong exterior…” She looked up again, her eyes misty, her lips bitten to a glossy sheen. She hooked her arms around Alexander’s neck, deliberately pressing her chest against his heart.

Alexander could no longer resist, kissing her with heavy breaths as Evelyn softly murmured. Their lips entwined fiercely, and they began to hungrily demand more from each other’s bodies. But at the last moment, Evelyn suddenly pushed away the heavily panting man: “We can’t, you’re a married man now, and sister Lily is carrying your child. Evelyn doesn’t want to be a homewrecker!” Alexander’s eyes were burning with desire, his voice hoarse: “Alright, I, Alexander, will never betray Evelyn’s true heart! Wait for me a little longer! Only when I’m clean and free will I be worthy of touching someone as pure as you!” With that, he placed a lingering kiss on her forehead, as if cherishing a priceless treasure. A flash of triumph gleamed in Evelyn’s eyes. Alexander couldn’t see it, but I could. Not wanting to be a homewrecker? I found it ridiculous, laughable! Then what about the many times she came to me, brazenly saying that even though I was pregnant, I was just paving the way for her, and that even the children I gave birth to would call her “mom” in the future? What does that count as? Using the poor excuse of being sick with no one to take care of her to move into my home. Openly flirting with Alexander at the dinner table, to the point where even the house cook couldn’t stand it and made a few sarcastic remarks about her. She immediately tattled to Alexander, saying the cook didn’t wash the ingredients properly, causing her to get gastroenteritis, and demanded the cook be fired. At that time, I had no appetite due to my pregnancy, and only the food made by this cook suited my taste. Out of hospitality, I approached her and offered to hire another chef to cook for her, but she slapped me across the face. “It doesn’t matter if the food tastes good or not, what matters is knowing who the real mistress of the house is! Lily, I just want to tell you, there’s only one Mrs. Frost, and that’s me, Evelyn!” To prove that she would be Mrs. Frost, she curled up in Alexander’s arms like a kitten, whimpering and sobbing. Crying that she was unfortunate, that she couldn’t bear children for him in this lifetime. And seeing me with my pregnant belly every day inevitably made her feel lost and heartbroken. “I’ve already tried my best to avoid sister Lily, but I still can’t help running into her every day! I should move out! Evelyn can’t live in such pain every day, it’s making me so unhappy!” Alexander lost control of his emotions in an instant, his face turning cold as he rushed over and slapped me to the ground. “You know very well that Evelyn gets upset just by seeing pregnant women, yet you still parade around with your big belly in front of her every day! What are you trying to do!” “Such a vicious woman! You don’t deserve to be a mother! Today I’m going to lock you in the attic! Let you have a taste of suffering!” Several bodyguards grabbed my limbs and threw me into the dust-covered attic. “The doctor told me to go to the hospital today for delivery! If I go to the hospital, she won’t see me either!” I desperately clung to the doorframe, pleading tearfully. Alexander sneered: “If you’re going to lie, at least get your facts straight. Your due date isn’t for another three days!” He no longer listened to any of my protests and slammed the door shut. My fingers were caught in the door, the sudden, piercing pain making me curl up and retract my fingers, unable to say anything more. Alexander looked on with satisfaction and locked the attic door. And now, as the two of them were still passionately entangled, the butler came running, out of breath and panicked: “Madam… Madam is gone!” “Gone?!” Alexander suddenly raised his head, looking annoyed at having his mood disturbed. The butler wiped the sweat from his forehead, saying fearfully: “The attic is full of blood… Madam… she…” He dared not continue. Alexander straightened his rumpled shirt. “What blood? Oh, she’s probably just spotting, is she going into labor? Send her to the hospital.”

The butler swallowed hard and forced himself to continue: “Madam… she’s not breathing…” There was a hint of panic in Alexander’s voice, but just as I tried to listen more closely, his tone became harsh again. “Acting! She’s still acting! I want to see how long she can keep this up!” “She’s survived in much harsher conditions in the wilderness, she can hold her breath underwater for over ten minutes! She’s just trying to fool you all because you don’t have any medical knowledge! She’s holding her breath to scare you! Call my private doctor, I want to expose her tricks in person!” The butler’s eyes widened, “Mr. Frost, Madam’s children are…” “Who do you listen to?!” Alexander impatiently interrupted him. “Am I the one paying your salary or is that woman?” “Yes… I’ll go call the doctor right away…” The butler sighed helplessly before leaving. Evelyn softly pressed herself against Alexander. “Brother Alex, don’t be angry. Anger is bad for your health.” “That woman Lily is just good at winning people over! It’s only been a few years, and she’s already acting like she runs this house!” Alexander’s words were like a slap, waking me from my delusions. In just three short years, he had already forgotten his promises from the past. On our wedding day, Alexander had looked at me with eyes full of love and said, “This is your home now, and from now on, you’ll be the only mistress of this house.” Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. Just moments ago, I had foolishly imagined that if Alexander knew I had died from complications during childbirth, He might feel a bit of regret and guilt… How ridiculous I am now, and how stupid I was then. I actually believed Alexander when he said he would love me forever. Back then, Alexander and Evelyn were childhood sweethearts in an arranged marriage between prominent families. But Evelyn unexpectedly discovered that due to health reasons, she couldn’t conceive naturally. So she left for a foreign country without looking back, cutting off all contact with Alexander. She kept saying that as the sole heir to the Frost family, she couldn’t bear to marry Alexander and end his bloodline. To forget the pain of their breakup, Alexander joined a wilderness exploration team. And I happened to be the team leader. Later, when he proposed to me, he said I was brave and strong, the embodiment of all that was good in the world. I was his guiding light in his darkest times, the one he knew instantly was his soulmate. After we got married, he felt that wilderness exploration was too dangerous. So he asked me to quit my job and stay at home to prepare for pregnancy, to give the Frost family an heir. But during those days when Alexander had broken up with Evelyn, he had been drinking heavily and staying up late, which had severely weakened his body. Under the pressure from the Frost elders to produce an heir, I worked on improving his health while actively trying to get pregnant. Finally, in the third year of our marriage, I successfully became pregnant with twins. The Frost elders were so delighted that they immediately held a press conference, declaring that the children I would give birth to would be the sole heirs to the Frost Group. It was at this time that Evelyn returned to the country. And she brought back a statement: “I have no interest in inheriting the company. As long as I can be with Alex, Evelyn will be satisfied for this lifetime.” Alexander began staying out all night, his white shirts stained with indelible red lipstick marks. I decisively brought up divorce, but Alexander said the children in my womb were the heirs to the Frost Group, and he wouldn’t let me go. He also said Evelyn was sick and needed someone to take care of her, so he brought her to live in our home. And because Evelyn couldn’t have children and couldn’t bear to see pregnant women with big bellies, he locked me, who was about to reach my due date, in the abandoned attic. Alexander truly deserves to rot in hell! The doctor arrived quickly. As Alexander’s personal friend, Dr. James had always been in charge of Alexander’s health management. Alexander followed behind Dr. James with his arms crossed, fuming, “Lily, let’s see how much longer you can keep up this act!”

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On the eve of our wedding, Jack coaxed me into giving him my first time. The next morning, I painfully crawled out of his bed. Unintentionally, I overheard him chatting with his ex-girlfriend in the study. “Hey, wasn’t it thrilling to play with her in bed last night like I taught you?” “If I hadn’t told you to use a permanent marker to write ‘slut,’ ‘whore,’ and ‘bitch’ on her body while she was out of it, you wouldn’t have had such an exciting experience.” Jack replied affectionately, “You’re something else.” His ex-girlfriend whined, “You know, I’m actually a bit jealous that you’re marrying her.” Jack casually responded, “I’m just playing with her. On the wedding day, you come and crash it. I’ll leave with you, and she’ll be humiliated. Wouldn’t that be fun?” I put down my phone, neither crying nor making a scene. Instead, I booked a flight for studying abroad. The departure date was the same day as the wedding. I leaned against the door, listening to their conversation, my fingertips trembling. Emily’s tone was gleeful: “Hey, isn’t Lily supposed to be our university’s campus beauty queen? And you’ve reduced her to this state?” “You’re such a bad boy!” Jack replied nonchalantly, “Don’t say it like that. She enjoyed herself last night too.” “She chased after me for three years in college. By sleeping with her, I’m just helping her fulfill her wish.” “It’s her own fault. I only agreed to marry her, but now she’s becoming too controlling. Running away from the wedding is just to teach her a lesson.” His tone was so matter-of-fact. I felt a chill run through my body, my head spinning, almost collapsing. I had to lean against the wall to barely stand up. I didn’t know when I fell asleep last night. Or rather, when I passed out. It was my first time, and neither the preparation nor the aftercare was done properly. I touched my forehead. It was burning hot. I must have a fever. In the study, Jack spoke casually: “There’s one thing I forgot to ask. Last night was her first time, and I couldn’t hold back. I finished inside her and didn’t clean up in time.” “She’s physically weak and had a bit of a fever in the early hours. You’re a girl, you should know better how to handle this?” But Emily was dismissive: “I didn’t expect your fiancée to be such a drama queen. What’s the big deal?” “You absolutely can’t spoil her too much, or she’ll be even more difficult to deal with in the future.” I clenched my fists, holding my breath waiting for Jack’s response. He was silent for a moment, then replied, “Mm, I’ll do as you say.” I stood there stunned, suddenly feeling drained. I thought he would care about me at least a little bit. Even if it was just a tiny bit. Emily whined on the other end of the phone: “Alright, let’s not talk about your boring fiancée anymore. I want to eat breakfast from that place in New Town. Can you come over and bring me some?” Jack frowned slightly: “I should help Lily take a shower first, to wash off those words on her body before she notices.” Emily wasn’t happy: “No way! It’s more fun if she finds out!” “Oh come on, don’t worry. Even if she discovers it, she won’t dare to break up with you. Besides, she might even like being treated that way~” “Come on, I’m starving.” “Alright, you little glutton. What do you want to eat? I’ll bring it for you.” Jack hung up the phone and hurriedly left. He didn’t care at all about me, still running a fever.

After Jack left. In the bathroom, I slowly unbuttoned my white shirt. Last night, Jack pinned me down on the bed, sweet-talking me. “Are you sure you don’t want to try?” His beautiful eyes were full of deep affection. I couldn’t utter a word of refusal. So last night, I was seduced by him and foolishly rolled around with him. He held me, showing no restraint, taking me again and again. When I was barely conscious, he took out a permanent marker and held my thigh, writing on my body. I shivered at the cold sensation: “What are you writing?” He leaned down to kiss my forehead, saying softly, “Silly, of course I’m writing that I’ll love you forever.” The last button was undone. The shirt fell to the floor. I looked in the mirror, my eyes widening, my whole body trembling uncontrollably. Dirty words appeared all over my body. Last night, he carefully held me in his arms, coaxing me: “It’s my first time too, I don’t have much experience. I’m afraid I might not do it well and make you uncomfortable.” His warm breath lingered by my ear. I endured the pain and said to him: “It’s okay.” He pressed me down, using his fingertips to wipe away the tears from the corners of my eyes: “Be good, bear with it for a moment, it’ll feel good soon.” “Lily, I’m your first man, you must remember me for a lifetime.” I thought he truly loved me, that’s why he agreed to marry me. I thought when he covered my eyes and wrote those words one by one gently, he really meant he would love me forever. But in reality, he was counting the days until he could run away on our wedding day, humiliating me and turning me into a joke. In reality… there was another woman teaching him how to play with me, letting him write all sorts of dirty words on my body. Slut, whore, bitch, toilet… In my dazed state, on my lower abdomen which Jack had kissed, he even wrote word by word: “I’m a cheap whore, please use me as you wish.” … My self-esteem, which had been well-protected since childhood, disappeared in an instant at this moment. I had never felt so awful before. I leaned against the wall, taking deep breaths, my whole body shaking. I clutched my stomach, wanting to cry out loud, to scream, to smash everything around me. I wanted to rush over and confront Jack immediately, asking why he did this. I only liked him, why did he have to treat me like this? But in the end, I just numbly soaked myself in the bathtub. Those unsightly words were already very difficult to wash off. I scrubbed my body desperately with red-rimmed eyes. My skin turned red and even started bleeding, but I didn’t feel the pain. Even so, those filthy words seemed to have grown on my body. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t wash them clean. I fell into deep self-loathing. I bit my lip, hugging myself, trying hard to hold back my tears. But the tears still fell uncontrollably, splashing into the bathtub in large drops.

That day, I tried every way I could think of to clean those filthy things out of my body with my fingers. Until evening, Jack hadn’t sent me any messages. At 8 PM, Emily posted a video on Instagram. My best friend had discovered early on that Emily wasn’t a good person and told me to be more cautious. She had secretly helped me add Emily with a fake account, something neither Jack nor Emily knew about. In the video, they were playing an exciting game with a group of old classmates. Emily lost quickly and was required to choose someone for a passionate kiss. If the person she chose refused her, Emily would be punished by having to take off a piece of clothing in front of everyone. Emily walked up to Jack with a red face: “Jack, you wouldn’t let me embarrass myself, would you?” Jack looked at her, neither agreeing nor refusing. The next second, Emily took the initiative to wrap her arms around his neck, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed his lips. Jack was stunned for a moment but didn’t push her away. He closed his eyes and accepted the kiss. They kissed deeply for a long time before separating. Around them were the teasing cheers of the crowd. Emily laughed: “My lipstick left a mark on your lips. I hope your fiancée won’t get jealous enough to break up with you.” Jack belatedly wiped his lips, his voice soft but firm: “You’re overthinking it. How could she bear to break up with me?” I suddenly felt nauseous and ran to the bathroom, vomiting for a long time. … That day, because of my fever, I curled up on the couch, drifting in and out of sleep until midnight. I don’t know when Jack came back. The living room light came on. I was covered in cold sweat, unable to gather the strength to get up for a long time. The next second, I heard Jack’s panicked footsteps: “Lily, why are you so hot?” I wanted to open my eyes, but I found that even moving a finger was extremely difficult. After that, I lost consciousness. The next morning, I woke up in the hospital. Jack was holding my hand, with faint dark circles under his eyes, as if he had stayed up all night watching over me. Seeing me awake, he first looked delighted, then sighed: “How can you be so careless about taking care of yourself? What would you do without me?” “You’re very weak now. The doctor said you need to eat more.” “Look, I specially bought you food from your favorite restaurant.” He deliberately lowered his voice to threaten me: “I queued for a long time to buy this for you. You better eat more, or you’ll be in for it tonight.” I turned over and said, “I don’t want to eat.” He became a bit nervous: “What’s wrong, darling? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?” I interrupted him: “Get out, I want to be alone for a while.” Jack helplessly stroked my head: “Are you angry that I didn’t accompany you yesterday?” “Baby, I’m sorry. I just wanted to marry you sooner, so I was busy planning our wedding yesterday. I want to give you the most perfect wedding.” “I’m sorry I didn’t notice you were sick. I’ll make it up to you in the future, please forgive me.” I bit my lip, holding back tears. Liar. How could he tell lies so calmly? Jack said worriedly: “I know you don’t have an appetite, but please eat a little. Come on, I’ll feed you.” I avoided him and pushed his hand away forcefully. He couldn’t hold it steady, and the bowl fell to the ground, breaking with a jarring sound. He was stunned and said angrily: “What are you throwing a tantrum about now? Is it because of those words I left on your body last night?” I looked at him without saying anything. He continued: “Stop making a fuss. Isn’t it normal for couples to play like this?” “Why are you being so sensitive now? Can’t you even handle this? Look at Emily, she never throws tantrums like you!” Hearing the name “Emily,” I couldn’t hold back anymore, and tears flowed uncontrollably. He was stunned for a moment, hurriedly wiping my tears: “You’re so grown up now, why are you still crying so easily.” “Alright baby, I’m sorry, it’s my fault. Your husband was wrong. I’ll never do it again, okay?” I threw a pillow at him hard: “Get out! I don’t want to see you!” Jack’s head was hit by the pillow, and he gradually lost patience in comforting me. He looked at me disappointedly, as if looking at an unreasonable child. “Fine, I’m leaving.” “You’re an adult now. You can’t throw tantrums like a child anymore.” “I hope when I see you tomorrow, you’ll have calmed down on your own.” After saying this, he left. I felt a lump in my throat, unable to breathe properly. From then on, I shut myself away. Until a week later, when I walked to the bathroom and saw my haggard reflection in the mirror, I was stunned. My eyelids were swollen, with dark circles under my eyes, and bloodshot eyes that couldn’t be hidden. In just a few days, I looked completely different from the once youthful and beautiful me. Looking in the mirror, I questioned myself, how did I end up like this? I angrily took off my clothes, walked into the shower, and scrubbed my body vigorously. I put on a sexy red dress like I used to, applied beautiful makeup, not missing even a single strand of hair. As I was about to go out, I received a call from my academic advisor. She had always taken good care of me and admired my talent in art design. Now, her tone was serious: “Lily, I’m calling to confirm one more time. You received an offer from that French university you applied to for your Ph.D. Are you really going to give it up because of marriage?” “The professor there thinks highly of you. Are you sure you want to give up your future to stay in the country and get married?” When I was in college, I had been preparing for studying abroad for my master’s degree, spending day and night in the library. But when I finally won Jack over, I started to waver. Jack was the student union president at that time, cold and proud, from a wealthy family. I would be secretly happy if I could talk to him once a week. When we were dating, it was mostly me taking the initiative. Sometimes if I didn’t take the initiative to message him, he might not even think of chatting with me. I put in a lot of effort, trying hard to maintain our relationship. Later, when we finally reached the stage of talking about marriage, I became even more reluctant to leave. But now… I bit my lip, gripped the phone tightly, and said decisively: “Professor, I’ll go!” My advisor’s excited voice came from the other end of the phone: That’s great, you’ve finally come to your senses. That day, I talked with my advisor for a very long time, confirming the time for going abroad and future plans. After hanging up the phone, I immediately booked a flight ticket for going abroad. The departure date was the same day as the wedding. I gritted my teeth and told myself, Lily, you have to be strong. Since Jack wants to run away from the wedding and humiliate me, Why don’t I take the first step to run away from the wedding and turn him into a joke?

In the following days, I kept everything from Jack, applying for a passport and visa, preparing for studying abroad. Because I was so busy, I had almost forgotten about Jack’s affairs. Five days before the wedding countdown, when Jack suddenly said he wanted to take me to meet his parents, I was a bit stunned. In the past, when Jack said he wanted to take me to meet his parents, I was so nervous that I couldn’t sleep all night, constantly worrying about whether they would like me or not. I even dragged my best friend to the mall for a whole day to choose what to wear when meeting his parents. But now, I found that I didn’t care as much as I had imagined. I shook my head and said, “I don’t want to go.” He grabbed my hand: “Lily, be good, don’t make a fuss. This was planned long ago.” “Although my parents don’t interfere with my love life, only if they approve of you can we have a proper wedding.” “Don’t you want to receive my parents’ blessings?” Not wanting Jack to notice my intention to run away from the wedding, I nodded half-heartedly. When I was dragged by Jack to his parents’ house. Jack knocked on the door for a long time. Emily opened the door. She was wearing pajamas and slippers, casual as if this was her home. I was stunned, my palms turning cold. Jack looked at her, his voice gentle: “Why are you here?” Emily naturally took the gifts we had bought for Jack’s parents: “You’re being too distant. We’ve grown up together since childhood, of course I should come to see what kind of girl your fiancée is!” She looked at me, pretending to be surprised: “Isn’t this the campus beauty queen from our school? Did she fall for you so easily?” “How long have you been chasing her? A year? A month?” Jack said softly, “Not necessary.” Emily suddenly burst out laughing. She held Jack’s hand and said, “Alright, let’s not talk about her. Uncle and Auntie have been missing you so much.” Emily linked arms with Jack and went to greet his parents. It was as if she was Jack’s fiancée. And I was like a mistress peeking at their happiness. Every time I tried to speak, Emily would eagerly interrupt me. I was left out in the cold, not knowing whether to stand or sit. At the dinner table, Emily naturally sat next to Jack. She casually arranged for me: “Hey you, find a seat yourself.” The only seat left was far away from Jack. Jack didn’t notice my awkwardness, chatting and laughing with Emily. In the past, I would definitely have made a scene. But now, looking at him like this, I suddenly felt it was pointless and didn’t want to say a word. During the meal, Jack’s parents complimented me on my looks. Emily unhappily said: “Lily was our school’s campus beauty queen in college… When she was in class, quite a few guys would stare at her chest.” Jack’s expression gradually became unpleasant. He chuckled lightly: “What kind of campus beauty queen is she? At home, she just wears T-shirts and sweatshirts, with her hair in a messy bun. She gets tanned every summer, and any random person on the street looks better than her.” “She also likes to eat late-night snacks. After eating, her face swells up the next day. She keeps talking about losing weight while continuing to eat. How is that like a beauty at all?” “If her former admirers knew what she’s really like, their illusions would be shattered.” While saying these things, he lazily leaned back in his chair, slowly peeling shrimp. After peeling, he naturally put the shrimp in Emily’s bowl. Emily held the bowl, smiling and saying: “Why are you giving it to me? Your fiancée is right here.” The others at the table seemed to remember something and started observing my expression. Before I could speak, Emily spoke first. She was grinning. “Sister-in-law, why do you look so unhappy?” “Are you angry that Jack peeled shrimp for me?” “Don’t misunderstand, sister-in-law. I’ve known him since we were kids. Jack is very caring and has been peeling shrimp for me since we were little. We’re used to it.” After saying this, she affectionately put her arm around Jack’s neck: “Isn’t that right?” I clenched my hands. Jack had never peeled shrimp for me. Once during a date, I had my nails done and couldn’t peel shrimp easily. So I acted coquettishly, asking him to peel shrimp for me just once. But he frowned and refused without hesitation: “Lily, you know I never like peeling shrimp.” After that, I never asked again, even reflecting on whether I was being too demanding. But it turns out, he would willingly and without complaint peel shrimp for someone else. Jack noticed my unhappy expression and gave me a slightly reproachful look: “Lily, Emily has never peeled shrimp herself since she was little. Don’t compare yourself to her.” Where Jack couldn’t see, Emily gave me a challenging smile. I held back tears: “I haven’t said anything yet, why are you in such a hurry?” Jack’s expression became unnatural: “This is just a small matter, don’t make a fuss.” “Since you think I’m making a fuss, I’ll leave then.” Jack gripped my wrist: “Lily, don’t make a scene.” “Do you have to make things so ugly?” I pushed his hand away: “The one making things ugly is you.” Emily sat there, her eyes slightly red, saying: “Did I make Lily angry?” Jack sighed lightly: “Emily, you didn’t do anything wrong, no need to apologize.” “Lily, you’ve made such a big deal out of this. Emily didn’t even mind, when will you learn to be as sensible as her?” My eyes heated up, and I couldn’t hold back anymore: “If she’s so sensible, why don’t you marry her!” Jack frowned: “What nonsense are you talking about now?” I shook him off and turned to leave. Jack quickly tried to follow. But Emily held onto the hem of his shirt from behind: “Jack, come back.” “You men are so stupid, you don’t understand women at all.” “At a time like this, you shouldn’t follow her. You’ll only make things worse. Women just need some time to calm down on their own.” Jack listened to her words and stood still, looking at me, and really didn’t follow. Sometimes, I really wonder if he’s Emily’s puppet. If Emily says something, will he always listen?

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295618”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn