Category: English

I accidentally saw a “mistress registry” in the company group email. Next to my husband Ethan Parker’s name was his childhood sweetheart, the same age as him. In the evidence column, there was a screenshot of a chat. The childhood sweetheart asked him: “How long has it been since you touched that old lady?” He replied: “Don’t mention it. Now when I look at the company’s interns, I find them so youthful and vibrant.” “But when I go home and face her wrinkled face, I always feel there’s an elderly odor.” I’m already thirty-six, eight years older than him. But I don’t think I’m old yet. After coming to my senses, I decisively handed him divorce papers. Without me, his older sister figure, charging ahead, Ethan Parker lost his job and dignity, and reluctantly tried to keep me. I pinched my nose and said mockingly: “Why is there a smell of poverty here?” When I saw that “mistress registry”, Ethan Parker was playing games in the study. I placed the warmed milk beside him, reminding him to drink it soon. He impatiently said: “I know, you go rest first.” I casually scrolled on my phone, the page stopping right on his name. Olivia Quinn’s name was prefixed to his. And for several rows after, there was all kinds of substantial evidence of her being his mistress. My gaze focused on the words “elderly odor” for a long time, until my hand was almost numb. My heart ached, and my mind went blank. Until a game ended, Ethan Parker cursed softly and reached for the milk. But he accidentally spilled it. The milk spilled all over me. Ethan Parker finally had time to look up at me: “You haven’t left yet?” He frowned, his eyes showing a hint of disgust: “Tsk, what a strong smell. Go take a shower quickly.” The three words from the chat screenshot instantly became sharp arrows in reality. They pierced through the void, stabbing fiercely into my chest. In a daze, I suddenly realized a problem. Ethan Parker hadn’t touched me for a very long time.

When I closed the study door. The girl he was playing with maliciously asked: “She’s been waiting for you, does she want to… with you?” Ethan Parker instinctively looked back. Probably afraid I would hear. The door was left with a small gap, I stood where he couldn’t see me, and heard him say: “Can you stop disgusting me on purpose? Just thinking about that smell on her body makes me lose my appetite.” The girl’s mocking laughter was like sharp knives, cutting me to pieces. She continued to ask: “You’re not even thirty yet, why suffer with her? Just get a divorce.” “Forget it,” Ethan Parker hesitated. I thought he still couldn’t bear to part with me. Who knew he would say pityingly: “She’s almost forty, an old woman. Who would want her besides me?” My breathing became irregular, and my hands started trembling uncontrollably. I ran to the bathroom in a panic, looked up, and found my face had already turned pale. Ethan Parker didn’t notice anything unusual. But in the past, if I just sneezed once, he would make a fuss, take my temperature, and make chicken soup for me. Afraid I would be even slightly uncomfortable. When did he change? It was after I turned thirty-five. In this year and more, we rarely communicated. I always thought I was too busy with work and neglected him. I never imagined that his disgust had shown signs long ago. No longer turning on a lamp late at night, waiting for me to come home. No longer holding my waist intimately, calling me “babe” when things got passionate. No longer taking every little thing about me to heart, fearing to be negligent. It’s hard to imagine that this man, who now thinks I smell like an old person and is disgusted with me in every way, Once fought with his whole family, was kicked out of the house, to be with me, a woman eight years older than him, still firmly holding my hand, never giving up. At that time he said: “I don’t care what others think, you’re the best in my heart.” “Whether you’re twenty, thirty, or forty, fifty, in my heart, you’ll always be an eighteen-year-old girl.” “Even if the whole world disapproves of us, I still want to be with you.” “Let me take care of you for life, okay?” I raised my hand to smell myself. Because I was taking medicine to regulate my body, I could only smell a very faint scent of Chinese herbs. Like a string suddenly snapped, I took all the perfumes from the cabinet and sprayed them on myself. The perfume bottles fell to the ground, the broken pieces flew up, leaving a bright red wound on my leg. Blood flowed profusely. The entire bathroom was filled with a suffocating strong fragrance. Ethan Parker pushed open the door: “Rachel, what did you break?” He didn’t even notice that my leg was bleeding profusely, but just complained: “It’s so stuffy, clean it up quickly! It smells terrible!” But that was perfume. It doesn’t stink. At that moment, I suddenly realized. Ethan Parker just didn’t love me anymore. Why should I punish myself for his lack of love?

In the six years of marriage with Ethan Parker, I had always been known as a strong career woman to outsiders. And he rightfully enjoyed the “material” benefits that I, as the older one, contributed more to this relationship. I didn’t intend to let Ethan Parker take away a penny of the “marital property” I had worked hard to earn. Getting actual evidence of his affair became particularly important. To my surprise, Ethan Parker’s social circle was shockingly clean. The only one he was entangled with was his childhood friend he had known for many years. Olivia Quinn.

In the past, we had arguments because of Olivia Quinn. Although I was older than him and more mature, when it came to matters of the heart, I also had a jealous side. Olivia Quinn was young and beautiful, and had known Ethan Parker for many years. Their relationship was very deep. Sometimes, there would be actions that crossed the line. One particularly intense argument with Ethan Parker was because during a trip together, Olivia Quinn accidentally sprained her ankle. Ethan Parker carried her on his back without a second thought, leaving me, his girlfriend, far behind. Afterwards, Ethan Parker found it very hard to understand. He said: “Olivia is just like a sister to me.” “I carried my own sister when she was hurt, there was absolutely no other meaning to it.” Even Olivia came to apologize to me: “Rachel, don’t misunderstand. Ethan and I are just buddies. If we could be together, we would have been long ago, why wait until now?” In the end, it turned out that I was making a fuss over nothing. I stopped paying attention, and that argument became the longest cold war between Ethan Parker and me. In the end, he waited for me outside my company building for a day and a night. I worked overtime all night, and early the next morning, I met him at the entrance with his eyes red from staying up all night. He came up to me, gently tugging at the hem of my clothes, and pleaded in a low voice: “Don’t be angry anymore, babe.” “I promise, I’ll keep my distance from Olivia in the future.” “Okay?” After that, I rarely saw Olivia appear in front of me again. Little did I know, they had been keeping in touch privately all along. In fact, the girl he was playing games with last night. Was Olivia Quinn.

After staking out for half a month, I finally saw the latest chat records between Ethan Parker and Olivia Quinn on the iPad. They had arranged to meet at a hotel in the neighboring city. That day was Olivia Quinn’s birthday. I sat in a rented Volkswagen, watching Olivia Quinn link arms with Ethan Parker not far away. They were eating the same ice cream cone. Olivia Quinn’s face was full of arrogance: “Would the old lady eat the same ice cream cone with you?” Ethan Parker looked embarrassed: “Walking on the street, people think she’s my mom.” “Who eats the same ice cream cone with their mom at this age!” They entered the hotel together. The room number was 606. I travel frequently for work and have a gold membership on the hotel APP, with VIP discounts for accommodation. But my assistant always helped me book rooms, I rarely logged in myself. So Ethan Parker felt safe enough to use my account to book hotel rooms. It was only after calling customer service and asking them to restore the deleted booking records that I discovered Ethan Parker had booked rooms more than ten times in the past year and a half. Each time in his words was a so-called business trip. I sat in the Volkswagen for about twenty minutes, smoking two cigarettes. Estimating that enough time had passed, I finally dialed the police. Imitating the online procedures for catching cheaters, I calmly informed the person on the other end of the phone. “Hello, I want to report anonymously.” “There’s group prostitution happening in room 606 of XX Hotel.”

When I entered the room, Ethan Parker was shirtless, trying to explain. “I’m just playing games with my friend, what’s the problem?” The police officer sneered: “You play games without clothes on?” “Well, the informant is here. Please come with us to the police station to make a statement.” Ethan Parker hadn’t seen me yet, and was already furious: “Which psycho—” As I walked around the police officers. He met my eyes. At that moment, he completely panicked, his eyes full of disbelief: “You- why are you here?” I lit another cigarette, scanning him from head to toe. Fortunately, Ethan Parker was wearing shorts. But they must have been hastily put on when he was caught. After all, they were on backwards. The pockets were in the front. I couldn’t help but sneer. Ethan Parker fiddled with his drawstring, and after the initial panic, he quickly regained his composure. He quickly explained: “Rachel, today is Olivia’s birthday.” “We had arranged to meet some friends at the hotel to celebrate her birthday.” “We just arrived early, don’t misunderstand.” As he spoke, he deliberately took out his phone to show me the group he had created with his buddies. The group name was “Princess Olivia’s Birthday Party”. Six or seven men, but only Olivia was a woman. “I know you’ve never liked Olivia much, so I didn’t dare tell you. We even arranged it in the neighboring city.” I calmly finished my last drag of the cigarette, extinguished it, and said flatly: “Ethan Parker, do you remember what day it was yesterday?” His eyes first flashed with confusion. Then, he suddenly panicked. Of course he should panic. Because yesterday was my birthday.

It was when I got on the high-speed train to the neighboring city that I suddenly saw the date on the calendar and remembered. Yesterday was my birthday. It had already passed. I hadn’t remembered, and neither had Ethan Parker. Before I turned thirty-five, for every one of my birthdays, Ethan Parker would thoughtfully prepare gifts for me. From small things like a pen or a bouquet of flowers, to big things like a diamond ring or a wedding dress. At thirty-six, everything was gone. All that was left was the “elderly odor” that people found disgusting all over me. I smiled self-mockingly, suddenly realizing that when I thought of those three words again, I no longer felt so breathless with pain. This is probably the advantage of dating an older woman. All emotions are processed internally. But, you won’t get away with taking advantage of me. Love is just a game, I can play it, and I can lose it. “I’ve been so busy lately, I really forgot…” When Ethan Parker stepped forward urgently, trying to explain, I gently waved away his hand. I said in a contemptuous tone: “Ethan Parker, you’ve saved quite a bit of money using my VIP membership to book hotels over a dozen times, haven’t you?” “After the divorce, remember to transfer that money back to my card.”

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Ethan pressed me against the corner of the sofa, his eyes blazing red: “Emily, I’m asking you for the last time, do you want to be with me or not?” I opened my mouth but couldn’t speak, too many worries preventing me from answering. He slowly released me and stepped back, his reddened eyes full of disappointment. I quickly grabbed his hand to stop him from leaving, whispering: “Can you give me some more time to think about it?” “Emily, you’re really going to be the death of me.” I found him on a rainy day. He was soaked to the bone, hiding alone behind a pillar on the sidewalk, curled up in a ball and shivering uncontrollably. “Are you okay?” I asked. He looked up at me briefly, then quickly lowered his head again, turning away as if he didn’t want to talk. I went into a convenience store, bought some hot food and water, and sat by the window to eat it all at once. Hot food on a rainy day always brings comfort. When I came out, he was still in the same position, looking like he might be washed away by the heavy rain at any moment. Unable to bear it, I went back and bought another portion of food, placing it in his arms. “Eat this, it’s still hot.” After a few seconds of hesitation, he shakily took the food and stuffed it all into his mouth, finishing everything including the soup in just three minutes. After eating, he wiped his mouth with his sleeve and softly said, “Thank you.” Seeing him like this, I thought he might be a runaway kid. I couldn’t do much more, so I left my umbrella and turned to leave. Just as I stepped into the rain, my sleeve was tugged. I turned to find the young man who had been crouching there following me. With hesitation but also a hint of desperate courage, he asked: “Can you take me home with you?” Out of selfishness, I agreed. After all, in my final days, I wanted someone to keep me company. Just having someone there would be enough.

Two months ago, when I received my leukemia diagnosis, I didn’t feel much sadness. If anything, I felt relieved that I could finally leave this miserable world with a legitimate reason. But in these last days, I wanted to be selfish for once and do all those things I had only ever written down in my notebook. I wanted to see the breathtaking sunrise over the mountains and the endless expanse of the ocean. Perhaps the heavens didn’t want me to be too lonely in my final days and sent me a companion. After entering my apartment, I told him to quickly take a shower. In this weather, catching a cold would be miserable. I gave him my largest T-shirt and pants, but they were still a bit short on him. It would have to do for now. I planned to take him shopping for suitable clothes tomorrow. After his shower, he looked damp and vulnerable, his doe-like eyes darting around, clearly wary of his surroundings. It stirred a strange protective instinct in me. I handed him a glass of warm water and brought out some instant noodles I had just prepared. “Eat this to warm up your stomach, you got pretty soaked in the rain earlier.” “By the way, I’m Emily. What’s your name?” “I’m Ethan, miss,” the young man replied, his voice low and somewhat muffled, as if speaking from inside a glass dome. After he finished eating, I took the bowl to clean up. When I came back, he had already fallen asleep on the table, his arms wrapped around his neck in an awkward position. Not wanting to wake him, I draped a blanket over his shoulders and turned up the temperature on the living room heater. … The next morning, I woke up with a nosebleed that wouldn’t stop. The medicine I took last night didn’t seem to have any effect. I finally managed to stop the bleeding, but my whole body felt boneless. I collapsed on the floor with a loud thud. There was frantic knocking at the door. “Emily? Are you okay?” It had been so long since anyone cared about me that I felt a bit uncomfortable. I didn’t want to open the door and let him see me in such a pale and haggard state. I suppressed the taste of blood in my throat and steadied my voice to tell him I was fine. “I just tripped and fell.” I applied some light makeup to look more lively. Ethan was sitting obediently in the living room waiting for me, still wearing the clothes from last night, looking a bit comical. I stared at him, the corners of my eyes lifting slightly as I smiled. Seeing me trying to hold back laughter, he looked down at his clothes and pouted in disappointment. “Mine aren’t dry yet, I can’t wear them.” “Alright, let’s go out and buy you some new ones now.” I took him to the mall to buy a few sets of clothes. I had to admit, the young man was very handsome with his pale skin, doe-like eyes, and a smile as bright as the stars. No wonder he was hard to refuse. We also went to the supermarket to buy some ingredients. I planned to make hot pot for dinner, something I had been craving for a long time but never had anyone to share it with. Now that I finally had the chance, I was determined to enjoy it to the fullest. During dinner, Ethan and I both had our mouths and throats burning from the spice. We kept drinking ice water to try to cool down, but the fire only seemed to spread to our ears, tormenting us to no end. He was drinking water but still managed to tease me. “Emily, you’re such a wimp.” “You’re not doing much better yourself,” I retorted. Looking at each other’s disheveled state, we couldn’t help but burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the room. It seemed that because of his arrival, my final days had gained a glimmer of hope.

Sometimes we would choose a classic movie and sprawl out on the sofa in all sorts of positions to watch it. Seeing the characters in a scenic location, I leaned on the sofa armrest and asked Ethan: “Should we go on a trip? We could see the unique culture and watch the sunrise over the mountains.” “Sure,” he agreed without hesitation. On the day of departure, the sky was clear, as if giving our journey a beautiful omen. We were seated next to a young couple who assumed Ethan and I were also on our honeymoon. They kept enthusiastically sharing their travel tips with us. “We’re not actually—” I started to explain, but was interrupted. Seeing their enthusiasm, I gave up trying to correct them. Let them think we were a couple, it didn’t matter. I turned to look at Ethan and saw the tips of his ears turning red as he pretended to look elsewhere. I decided to tease him a bit, moving closer and resting my head on his shoulder. He stiffened, his back going straight as he awkwardly asked, “Emily?” “Don’t move, boyfriend. I’m tired,” I said playfully. I had intended to just see his flustered reaction, but I actually fell asleep, missing the blush that spread across his face. When I woke up, I was still in the same position, but now there was a blanket draped over me. Ethan had his eyes closed, already asleep. The woman next to us noticed I was awake and whispered teasingly: “After you fell asleep, your boyfriend didn’t dare move an inch. He kept looking at you like he wanted to drink in the sight. He even asked the flight attendant for a blanket when he was worried you might be cold.” I was stunned for a moment, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. I hadn’t made a mistake in taking him in.

When we arrived at our destination, neither Ethan nor I experienced any altitude sickness. We moved our luggage to the guesthouse, but the front desk told us that due to an error, the two rooms we had booked were no longer available. They only had one room left and offered to refund us and pay a penalty fee. I thought about finding another hotel, but everywhere nearby was fully booked. We had no choice but to make do. Ethan said he could sleep on the floor. It was my first time sharing a room with a guy, and we both tactfully avoided mentioning it. After showering, I hid under the covers with only my eyes peeking out, blinking rapidly. Hearing the water running in the bathroom, my imagination started to wander. A young, fit body… something I had never experienced. I muttered to myself: “Emily, get it together. You can’t do something like that.” But another voice in my head chimed in: “Well, it’s not entirely out of the question…” In the end, I did nothing and just lay there obediently, but I couldn’t fall asleep. I decided to chat with him instead. “Ethan, are you asleep?” “No, can’t you sleep, Emily?” “I just want to talk for a bit.” Ethan told me that one day he had a big argument with his parents over something trivial. He was so angry that he stormed out and didn’t come home all night. His parents were worried and went out looking for him by car, but they encountered a drunk driver. The two cars collided, and tragedy struck. “If I hadn’t argued with them that day, if I hadn’t left, would everything be different? Would I still have a family?” It turned out that the day I found him was the seventh day after his parents’ passing. He had planned to end his life that day but unexpectedly met me instead. Muffled sobs came from under the bed, breaking my heart. I rolled to the edge of the bed and gently stroked his head, taking his hand in mine as I shared my own story with him. My dad and mom were only 18 when they had me, having just graduated from high school. When my mom was discovered to be pregnant, she was locked up at home. My grandmother brought over a dozen relatives to demand an explanation from my dad’s family. If they didn’t agree to marriage, they threatened to report my dad for rape. In the end, the two families decided to have the baby first and get married later. My parents only got their marriage certificate when I was four years old. Less than a year later, they were already at each other’s throats, insisting on divorce. Neither of them wanted to take me, seeing me as a burden. It was my grandmother who couldn’t bear to see this and took me back to the countryside, raising me to adulthood. By the time I finally made something of myself and earned some money, my grandmother was no longer around to enjoy it, having gone to a faraway place. Ethan squeezed my hand and said softly: “Everything will be alright.” “It definitely will be.” We were like two wounded animals licking each other’s wounds. Though they couldn’t be fully healed, at least they didn’t hurt as much anymore. Suddenly, I felt like I had a reason to keep living.

I always thought I slept quite gracefully, but I ended up embarrassing myself completely in front of Ethan. I woke up next to Ethan, opening my eyes to see his face up close, my hand resting on his firm waist, feeling the rise and fall of his breathing. Afraid of an awkward awakening, I tried to sneak back to my own bed, but as soon as I moved, he pulled me back into his arms. “Emily, let’s sleep a bit longer.” I felt a rush of heat to my face, my heart pounding. This kid really knew how to charm. “Are you awake?” I asked. There was no response. Ethan looked even more innocent when asleep, like a baby, making me want to kiss him. And I actually did. His lips were soft like jelly. I kept it brief, feeling guilty for stealing a kiss. But suddenly Ethan deepened the kiss, our breaths intertwining as we greedily savored each other’s taste. Throughout the whole process, he never opened his eyes. After the kiss, he rolled over to face the other way, as if he had fallen back asleep. If it weren’t for the redness spreading from his ears to his neck, I would have thought he was just dreaming. Cheeky brat, kissing me and then pretending to be asleep. I went to the bathroom feeling shy and annoyed, stomping my feet loudly to make sure he heard. In the time it took to brush my teeth, a metallic taste filled my mouth and my nose started bleeding profusely. I kept trying to wipe it away, staining my fingers red. Looking at myself in the mirror, I suddenly felt overwhelmed with sadness, almost losing myself in despair. I couldn’t let this ruin things for him. If only I could live… It seemed I wasn’t as unafraid of death as I thought. Once you have someone to care about, you become terrified of leaving. I flushed the bloodied tissues down the toilet and cleaned myself up. When I came out, Ethan was making the bed, neatly folding the pajamas I had tossed aside. I walked past him and poured myself a glass of warm water, swallowing a handful of pills in one go. Seeing me take medicine, he asked with concern: “Emily, what’s wrong?” “It’s nothing, just some vitamins. I’ll give you a few later too.” “Let’s go out after you’re done getting ready.” … After leaving the room, Ethan tried to bring up what happened that morning, but I kept brushing it off. He seemed annoyed but didn’t dare express it, not understanding why my attitude had suddenly changed so much. He tried to hold my hand several times but gave up disappointedly each time, like a Samoyed that hadn’t received its treat. I kept reminding myself not to soften, it would only hurt both of us. The sky here was truly blue, making me feel completely relaxed. We rented a vintage car and drove along the lake road towards a scenic town. Walking on this flower-lined street felt like it could heal everything. There were too many people coming and going, including children running around. “Emily, watch out!” Ethan suddenly pulled me into his arms, shielding me in his small space.

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Who would have thought that the boyfriend I bought on a second-hand website would turn out to be my direct supervisor? After meeting in person, my grudge-holding boss transformed into a sweet puppy. Later, rumors spread throughout the office. He locked me in his office, cornering me, “I heard you’re dating that guy? What about me? What about the promises we made?” “Don’t worry, you’re still my favorite.” #Selling second-hand boyfriend. We’ve been chatting for a week. He plays all kinds of games, has a magnetic voice that’ll make your ears pregnant. He’s quite funny and great for boosting mood, perfect for gaming together. #I heard in real life he’s handsome, 6’1″, with a six-pack and still working out. He says he wants to be a lean muscle boy. He can also play piano and sing pop songs. You can just use him as a tool. I haven’t told him any of my personal info, so you can chat safely. Scrolling through this post, I felt like I was doomed. Who would sell their boyfriend? And this was from someone I followed. Who was this? Looking closer, I realized it was an online gaming buddy I’d met a few days ago. I couldn’t help but ask: “Girl, are you really selling your boyfriend?” Before I got a reply, I received a call from my mother. As soon as I answered, unsurprisingly, it was about marriage – “You’re already 26, almost 30, and you still haven’t found a boyfriend! What will you do in a few years when your dad and I are gone? All alone, you…” I could recite Mom’s spiel by heart at this point. “It’s just that I haven’t found anyone suitable…” Before I could finish, she interrupted, “No excuses. You must come home next weekend for a blind date! Otherwise, I’ll… I’ll disown you.” It seemed Mrs. Wilson had been “inspired” by some friend, to the point of threatening to disown me. I quickly agreed, and Mrs. Wilson was finally satisfied enough to end the call. But not before warning me, “Don’t you dare try to trick me, or I’ll bring someone straight to your little apartment for the blind date.” The thought of those blind dates made me shudder. They were either as plain as a potato, as short as a turnip, missing a few teeth, or divorced with two kids… No way, not for me.

“Yes, yes, girl! Do you want him? I’ll give you a good price.” “We’re so close, I’ll be honest with you.” “The main thing is, I found someone with decent conditions in real life, so I don’t really want this online one anymore. I thought I’d sell him and get some money back.” While I was on the phone with my mother, this girl sent me a bunch of messages. “Look, here’s his photo and some videos to prove it’s him. I think he’s really quite good.” “video.mp4” I didn’t rush to reply to her messages. I was curious if what she said was true, so I clicked on the video to feast my eyes. He walked ahead, turning back to look at the camera. The young man’s lips curled into a particularly dazzling smile. A simple white T-shirt looked like an expensive suit on him. Sunlight fell on his hair. His youthful aura was overwhelming. He was so handsome! Much better than those duds from blind dates! I want him. Blinded by his looks, I transferred money to the girl, and she sent me his friend request.

After adding him as a friend, I came to my senses. How could I go after a younger guy! I felt a bit heartbroken. My principle was never to go after guys younger than me, but now I’d spent a lot of money to get a “second-hand boyfriend”. I didn’t know whether to call myself stupid or foolish. “Hello, baby.” Since I’d already bought him, might as well chat. Worst case, I could come clean about the truth. The girl told me his name was Ethan. She had just asked Ethan to add her main account – which was my account. This completed the account transfer. The girl also sent me a document titled “Things We’ve Discussed”. I skimmed through it. It was mostly information about Ethan, with very little about Ethan’s “girlfriend”. “This way, you can chat with him yourself and reveal your own preferences.” Looking at the pile of information about Ethan, I couldn’t help but comment – he was way too gullible. He’d spilled everything without the other person saying much. He didn’t even need to be tricked, he’d just give you his social security number.

I discovered that Ethan was really too easy to fool! He believed everything I said. I had no doubt that if I told him there were lychees growing in the sky, he’d believe it without question. There weren’t many people as pure as him left in this world. “Olivia baby, I have to go to work now. When can we meet?” Ethan’s one downside was that he really wanted to meet. In the few days we’d been chatting, our relationship had rapidly heated up. I was thinking of just bringing Ethan home for the weekend blind date. Having someone was better than no one, right? Mom shouldn’t say much then. From what I understood, Ethan was in the same city as me, working in the same district! What could be better than that? We might even bump into each other on the street. “Baby, are you free this weekend? Would it be okay to come home with me?” “Really? I can?” Seeing this exclamation mark, I could imagine how excited he must be on the other side of the screen. “Baby wants to meet me, I’m so happy, so excited!” “Baby baby baby, this is great, I can finally meet you! Five days until the weekend! I need to think about how to dress myself, hehe.” His messages came one after another like an excited puppy. I looked at them helplessly. It was just a meeting, was it really such a big deal? “Olivia, has anything exciting happened recently?” My coworker Sarah asked from the desk opposite. It was just after lunch break. I didn’t like squeezing into the cafeteria with everyone else, so I usually waited a bit to eat. I didn’t expect Sarah to still be here too. “Why do you ask?” Sarah tidied up her desk and picked up her phone. “No reason, I just noticed you’ve had a non-stop smile on your face. I thought maybe you saw some funny video, or…” Sarah leaned in with a mischievous grin, her eyes narrowing to slits, “Could it be? Has our beautiful Olivia found love?” “What are you talking about? Don’t be silly. If anyone’s going to find love, it’ll be you before me.” I quickly locked my phone screen and joked, “Alright, alright, I’m going to eat now. Want to join me?” “Sure.”

While eating, I glimpsed a handsome guy at a nearby table that I hadn’t seen before. I whispered to Sarah, “Quick, look at the guy behind me. He’s so handsome. Look at that high nose bridge, tsk tsk…” The handsome guy wore a simple white T-shirt, shoveling food into his mouth. If this was in high school, he’d be the quintessential hot guy. I’d say one sentence, then take a bite of food, my eyes never leaving the guy next door. “Look, his profile is so handsome, his full face must be amazing.” Sarah quickly tugged at my sleeve, whispering so quietly I could barely hear, “Olivia, lower your voice. You’re speaking a bit loudly, he might hear you.” I noticed the guy’s ears turning visibly red. Crap, he heard me talking about him behind his back. I slowed down my eating, not wanting to run into the handsome guy. The company was so big, I’d never seen this handsome guy before, so I probably wouldn’t see him again. As long as I didn’t feel awkward, the awkward one would be someone else. I kept trying to convince myself. But reality slapped me in the face that afternoon. “Now, let’s welcome our newly appointed Manager Ethan.” The former manager walked in with a somewhat familiar face. I was secretly stuffing fruit into my mouth, trying to get some vitamin C. I looked up and suddenly met eyes with the new “Manager Ethan”. Oh no, did he recognize me? I could feel my heart pounding frantically. I didn’t want to be targeted by the new boss, then ostracized by everyone, and finally leave the company in disgrace. Manager Ethan only glanced at me for a moment before looking away, greeting everyone casually, “I’ll be working with all of you from now on. Please take care of me.” Everyone applauded. “Alright, everyone get back to work. Oh, Olivia, come to my office for a moment.” Manager Ethan said mildly before walking to his office. As soon as he said this, everyone in the office seemed to smell some juicy gossip and stared at me. I felt uncomfortable and looked at Sarah. Sarah gave me a helpless expression. I thought I could avoid it, but it seemed I couldn’t. Looks like he was going to confront me about what I said in the cafeteria. I steeled myself and walked to his office.

“You’re here, have a seat.” Manager Ethan still had that smiling expression, inviting me to sit on the big sofa nearby. As I was considering whether to fall to my knees and immediately apologize for gossiping about a colleague at lunch, ruining the company atmosphere… Manager Ethan handed me a document, “Take a look at this project. Can you handle it?” As long as he wasn’t pursuing the matter, I could climb mountains of blades or dive into seas of fire. Anything was fine. I immediately relaxed, quickly skimmed the project, and confidently assured him, “No problem, you can count on me.” Manager Ethan waved his hand, telling me to go back and work on the plan, “Can you give me a proposal by Friday?” I nodded vigorously like a pecking chicken. As I nodded, I walked backwards and knocked over a vase on the sofa. “Crash!” The crisp sound of breaking porcelain. I didn’t dare turn around, afraid this was all just my imagination. “Hehe.” I looked at Manager Ethan sheepishly, wishing the office floor would open up and swallow me. Gossiping about a colleague at lunch, then breaking a vase in the office in the afternoon. I must have forgotten to check my horoscope before leaving home today. Such bad luck! “Are you okay?” Manager Ethan rushed over, looking very concerned. “The vase seems to have a bit of a problem. I’m sorry, Manager Ethan, I’ll compensate for it at the original price.” I quickly bowed, hoping Manager Ethan would forgive me. I didn’t want to be the first target of his new leadership. A manager who just started on his first day surely couldn’t be asking if I was okay. “I’m asking if you’re alright. The vase breaking is just a small matter, as long as you’re not hurt.” Manager Ethan looked me up and down. Only after seeing I was really okay did his tense expression fade. “As for the vase, let’s just consider it breaking for good luck. No need for compensation.” “Then I’ll get back to work.” I slipped out, leaving those words behind.

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Title: My Girlfriend Planned a Beach Proposal, but I Found Her Kissing Her “First Love” Instead # After my girlfriend’s 99th dramatic breakup, she surprised me by apologizing and inviting me to the beach to “clear the air.” When I arrived, I saw a beautifully decorated proposal setup and immediately assumed it was her usual game of playing hard to get. For three years, this had been her style: make me sad and frustrated, only to turn it into a “surprise” that was supposed to make me happy again. So, I put on my best suit, ready to accept her proposal, only to find her kissing her “first love” in front of an applauding crowd. That’s when it hit me—one-sided love is meaningless. But as I boarded the train to leave, she called me, crying and begging for a chance to explain. “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” On the beach, my girlfriend, Summer, and her “first love,” Chase, were locked in a passionate kiss, urged on by the cheering crowd around them. And I was just… standing there, watching. My chest felt like it was being ripped apart, and my vision blurred with tears. I looked down at the suit I had picked so carefully, at the bouquet of 999 roses I’d bought just for her. Suddenly, I felt like the biggest fool in the world. Today was the 99th time Summer had threatened to break up with me. But for the first time, she’d actually apologized and asked me to join her for a day at the beach. As soon as I arrived and saw the elaborate proposal decorations, I thought I understood what was happening. This was just another one of her tricks—a game of push and pull. For three years, she’d loved to toy with my emotions, making me feel hurt and neglected before delivering some grand surprise to “make it up to me.” Like on my birthday. She had pretended to forget it entirely and spent the whole day out with Chase, leaving me waiting at home. After I’d sat there alone for hours, watching the dinner I’d prepared grow cold, she finally came back with a cake. She smeared frosting on my face, giggling as she said, “Surprised? Happy birthday, Ryan!” Or on our anniversary. She stood me up at the restaurant, leaving me sitting alone at a table while strangers whispered about the guy who’d been ghosted. When the restaurant finally closed, she waltzed in with perfect hair and makeup. “Even if the restaurant’s closed, I still showed up. Isn’t that romantic?” Every time, my emotions were dragged through highs and lows, like a rollercoaster I couldn’t get off. I’d told her how much I hated these kinds of “surprises,” begged her to stop playing these games. But she never took it seriously. So this time, I thought it was just more of the same. Breaking up was just the “low,” and this proposal would be the “high.” I let go of my earlier frustration and sadness, convincing myself that this was finally the moment I’d been waiting for. After all, I’d always wanted to marry her. For years, Summer had insisted on delaying marriage, claiming she wanted to focus on her career. But now, I thought she was finally ready to commit. Excited, I went all out. I rented a tailored suit from a boutique and bought the biggest, most beautiful bouquet of roses I could find. I rushed back to the beach, ready to say yes to her proposal. But instead… I saw her kissing Chase, their faces glowing with happiness as the crowd cheered them on. I clenched my fists so tightly my nails dug into my palms. My chest felt like it was being torn apart. How could she do this? We’d been together for so long, and she’d never even kissed me. Summer had always told me she was a conservative person. She wanted to save her first kiss for our wedding day. So for three years, I respected her boundaries. The most we ever did was hold hands—and even that depended on her mood. But now… Now she was kissing Chase in front of everyone, without hesitation, without shame. I felt cold all over, like every part of me had been rejected. She wasn’t conservative. She wasn’t shy. She just didn’t want me. Suddenly, everything made sense. The constant delays, her refusal to marry me—it was never about her career. She was waiting for Chase. I stood there for what felt like an eternity, the salty breeze drying my tears until my eyes stung. The whole time, Summer didn’t even notice me. At that moment, I realized how pointless it all was. Loving someone who doesn’t love you back is the most meaningless thing in the world. I let out a quiet sigh, tossed the flowers into the trash, and turned to leave. Afterward, I returned the suit, changed back into my own clothes, and went home. Once there, I began packing my things, determined to end things with Summer for good. While sorting through my belongings, I stumbled upon a dusty pink diamond necklace tucked away in the corner of a drawer. It was the first gift I ever bought for her, something I had saved up my entire first paycheck to afford. It was also supposed to be our “promise” gift. I had never once seen her wear it. When I asked, she claimed she had accidentally lost it. But here it was, sitting untouched, still in its original packaging, collecting dust in a forgotten corner. I had offered it to her with so much love, and she had dismissed it without a second thought. For years, she had treated me with indifference, breaking up with me more times than I could count. And yet, I had fooled myself into believing there was love between us. The truth was, Summer had never let go of Chase. Her games of “push and pull” were nothing more than excuses to openly get closer to him. They grew up together, childhood friends who naturally became a couple in college. But they broke up because of clashing personalities, and Chase had left her behind to study abroad. Even after the breakup, their connection lingered, messy and unresolved. I had only entered the picture after their split, helping her move on from the heartbreak. There was a time when we were happy together. Before Chase came back, no matter how angry Summer got, she never actually broke up with me. She even remembered small details about me—like my allergy to spicy food. But once Chase returned, everything changed. Suddenly, she was picking fights and breaking up with me on a whim. Her heart was no longer with me. She even forgot about my allergy, putting chili peppers in our meals multiple times, which sent me to the hospital for stomach pumps and IV drips. Back then, I lied to myself. I told myself she was just too busy to remember these things, that she still loved me even if she was bad at showing it. But now? Now I could finally see the truth. I had been in love with an illusion, convincing myself there was something real between us when there never was. I’d had enough. Enough disappointment, enough heartbreak. It was time to let go and start over. Just as I finished packing my bags and was about to leave, Summer walked through the door. She looked surprised to see me. Then her expression shifted into a frown, full of annoyance. “Why didn’t you come to the beach today?” she asked, her tone sharp. After a pause, she lowered her gaze and added, almost dismissively, “Not that it matters. It’s all over now.” I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. She had no idea I’d been there. No idea I’d seen her and Chase locked in that passionate kiss. Of course, she wouldn’t have noticed me. She had been so caught up in the moment, so lost in her happiness with him. I was exhausted—years of trying, years of hoping for something that would never come. Love that isn’t returned isn’t love worth keeping. With that thought, I took a deep breath, looked her in the eyes, and said, slowly and clearly: “We’re done.”

“What? Can you stop being so unreasonable?” Summer’s eyes widened as she stared at me, utterly stunned. She clearly hadn’t expected someone who had always loved her unconditionally to suddenly suggest a breakup. But my tone was calm. “I’m not being unreasonable. I’m serious.” “You kissed Chase. What’s the point of continuing this relationship?” Summer froze at my words, her expression faltering for just a moment before a flicker of guilt crossed her face. “You… you saw that? When did you—” Before she could finish, I cut her off with a bitter laugh. “Right when you and Chase were so caught up in your kiss. You two really make a perfect match.” Summer paused, then shot me a cold glare, her tone sharpening with anger. “And whose fault is that? If you hadn’t been late, Chase wouldn’t have had to kiss me to diffuse the situation!” “We agreed to meet at ten, but you didn’t show up until eleven. Do you know how humiliated I felt, standing there while everyone was ridiculing me?” “And if you had arrived, why didn’t you come find me? Were you just standing there watching, hoping to see me embarrassed?” I was speechless for a moment. She was the one who had done something wrong, yet somehow she managed to twist it around and make it my fault. Besides, I clearly remember sending her a message when I went to rent the suit and buy the flowers. Seems like she hadn’t even bothered to check. Chase calls her once, and she’ll drop everything—even a meeting—to answer. But when I sent her over a dozen messages, she ignored them all without a second thought. This was the difference between love and indifference, and I was finally starting to understand it. “Summer, I sent you a mess—” Before I could finish, the sound of a knock on the door interrupted me. It was Chase. The next second, he entered the apartment after punching in the code, as if it were his own home. Judging by how natural and practiced he looked, it was clear this wasn’t his first time here. This was my home. Mine and Summer’s. Yet she had given him the door code behind my back. I turned to look at her, but she avoided my gaze, shifting uncomfortably. Chase walked over to her, casually standing by her side, and said with a grin, “Summer, you left in such a rush earlier that I just realized I still had the engagement ring on me!” “Good thing I noticed and came over to return it right away!” As he spoke, he shot me a smug, taunting look, deliberately holding up the ring for me to see, his intention to provoke clear as day. It was only then that I noticed the matching couples’ rings on their hands. I lowered my gaze, my heart growing colder by the second. Wasn’t he just “helping” her out of an awkward situation? Then why were they wearing matching rings? Neither Summer nor I spoke, and the room was thick with tension. Chase took advantage of the silence, pretending to lighten the mood while slyly fanning the flames. “Are you two fighting? Ryan, don’t misunderstand. I only wore the engagement ring because I had no choice.” “Back at the beach, I only kissed her because you didn’t show up on time. We thought you weren’t coming.” “The moment was perfect, the crowd was cheering, and I didn’t want Summer to feel awkward. That’s all.” “But really, nothing happened between us. We’re completely innocent. Don’t let me come between you two!” Chase then turned to me with a fake smile. “I’ll take the ring off and return it to you right away.” He started fiddling with the ring, but it was obvious he wasn’t trying very hard. In fact, he made a big show of pretending it was stuck, rubbing his finger until it turned red. Then he looked at Summer with mock helplessness. “Summer, it’s stuck! What should I do?” Playing along, he forced a pitiful expression, as if he had tried his best. Summer, of course, fell for it. She grabbed his hand, her voice soft and full of concern. “If it’s stuck, don’t force it. It’s just a ring—don’t hurt yourself over it.” Chase continued his act, still “struggling” to remove the ring as he glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. “But this is the engagement ring you bought for Ryan…” Summer, clearly irritated, glanced at me with annoyance, as if still upset about our argument. “Then I’ll just buy him another one. It’s not a big deal. He’s not that petty.” Hearing her dismiss me so easily, Chase’s smugness grew, and he shot me a triumphant look. I, however, felt nothing but cold detachment. This was how it always was. Whenever it came down to choosing between me and Chase, she always chose Chase. This wasn’t about a ring. It was about everything that had been broken between us. Rings can be replaced. But a broken relationship? That can’t be fixed. I smiled faintly, walked over, and placed their hands together. “There’s no need to take it off. You two are perfect for each other. I wish you both the best.”

With that, I grabbed my suitcase and headed for the door. Chase, clearly delighted, decided to play the “good guy” and pretended to stop me. “Ryan, I know you’re still upset about what happened at the beach, but it really wasn’t what you think. I was only trying to help Summer out of an awkward situation.” “Sure, we shared some great memories in the past—bungee jumping, watching the northern lights—but that’s ancient history. Summer and I are just good friends now. Don’t let it get to you…” He was pretending to console me, but every word was dripping with smugness. Before he could finish, I interrupted with a cold smile. “Oh, I get it. It’s lip friendship, right? Friendship sealed with a kiss.” My sarcasm made Chase’s face twitch, and Summer immediately snapped. “That’s enough, Ryan! Chase already explained everything to you. What more do you want?” “And seriously, it was just a kiss! I’ve already agreed to marry you—my whole life will be yours after we’re married! Do you really need to make a big deal out of one kiss?” I couldn’t help but laugh at how ridiculous she sounded, defending Chase like that. She didn’t understand. It wasn’t about the kiss. It was about the way she always treated Chase so differently—how she always put him first. When I didn’t respond, Chase’s eyes began to glisten as he played his usual victim card. “I’m sorry, Summer. It’s my fault you and Ryan are having this fight.” “I should probably just leave so I don’t upset him anymore…” As he said this, he slowly made his way toward the door, deliberately brushing past me. I frowned, wondering what he was up to now. The next second, he stumbled and fell to the ground with a dramatic cry of pain, clutching his leg. He looked up at me with teary, accusing eyes, as if I’d somehow tripped him. Summer immediately pushed me aside and rushed to his side, wrapping her arms around him protectively. “Ryan! How could you? Tripping Chase over something so petty? I’m so disappointed in you!” Chase, of course, was quick to add fuel to the fire. “Don’t blame Ryan, Summer. It’s my fault—I wasn’t standing properly…” Her shove had sent me sprawling to the ground, scraping my arm in the process. Blood was trickling down, but Summer didn’t even glance my way. I got up slowly, looking at her with cold detachment. “Summer, I’m the one who’s disappointed.” For three years, she had always chosen Chase over me. She had always made excuses for him, always found a way to justify his presence in our lives while treating me as an afterthought. Three years of disappointment and resentment had built up inside me. I was tired. Exhausted. Without another word, I turned and headed for the door. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of panic in Summer’s eyes, but it quickly disappeared, replaced by icy indifference. “Ryan, don’t think pulling this stunt will get my attention. Playing hard to get doesn’t work on me!” “If you leave now, don’t bother coming back!” I stopped for a moment, and for a brief second, she looked confident, like she thought her words had worked. Her lips curled into a faint, triumphant smile. “If you’ve come to your senses, then hurry up and—” But before she could finish, her smile froze. I wasn’t stopping for her. I was just grabbing my suitcase. I walked right past her and left without looking back. Seeing my resolve, Summer finally realized I wasn’t bluffing. “Ryan! If you dare walk out that door, I’ll cut off your mom’s medication!” Her words stopped me in my tracks. She was threatening me with my mother’s life? My mother had been gravely ill for years, relying on expensive medication to stay alive. Summer, being the successful career woman she was, had always paid for it. I had stepped back from my career to take care of her, managing our home and daily expenses instead. And now, she was using that against me? I turned back, my voice cold and final. “Do whatever you want. I’ll take care of my mom myself.” Without waiting for her response, I walked out the door. Once outside, I called my boss and requested a transfer to the company’s branch in Calridge City. My boss was thrilled. “Ryan, I’m so glad you’ve finally made this decision! Do you know how disappointed I was when you turned down the transfer last time?” “You’re one of the most talented people I know. I’ve always believed in you.” I had given up so much for Summer—promotions, career growth, even opportunities to relocate. My boss had offered me countless chances, but I’d turned them all down, thinking I was doing the right thing for my relationship. But now that we were done, it was time to focus on myself again. I asked my boss to help look after my mom while I was away, and he agreed without hesitation. After hanging up, I booked the next train out of this miserable city. As my cab pulled up to the station, my phone started buzzing non-stop. Summer had finally realized I wasn’t joking. She bombarded me with calls and messages: “Ryan! I heard you’re leaving. Is it true?” “Where are you? I’ll come find you right now!” “Why won’t you answer me? Please, just hear me out!” “It’s all a misunderstanding. Let me explain—things aren’t what you think!” I was irritated and blocked her number without hesitation. Then I powered off my phone. Now she regretted it? Too late. Whatever excuses she had, they didn’t matter anymore. Her lack of boundaries with Chase was undeniable, and I had no interest in hearing her try to justify it. Looking back, I couldn’t believe how pathetic I’d been all these years. I’d spent so much energy walking on eggshells, constantly trying to please her. Every time she abandoned me, I’d make excuses for her. Every time she wore matching outfits with Chase instead of me, I told myself it was just a coincidence. Every time she broke up with me, I’d wonder if I’d done something wrong. I knew deep down that she didn’t love me as much as I loved her. But I hadn’t wanted to admit it. The incident at the beach had been the wake-up call I needed. It was time to let go of this toxic relationship and move on. By the time I reached the train station, my train had just arrived. It felt like fate, everything falling into place. I passed through security, checked my ticket, and boarded the train. Just as I found my seat and was about to relax, someone appeared out of nowhere. It was Summer. Her eyes were red and swollen as she ran onto the platform, screaming at the top of her lungs. “Ryan! You promised you’d never leave me, no matter what! So why are you leaving me now?”

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My husband transferred nearly a million dollars to his secretary. That money, which should have been part of our joint assets, became a “gift” to his mistress. The woman even flaunted it on social media with a screenshot. When I left a single comment: [Some people should know how to avoid suspicion.] I was promptly blocked by her. My so-called husband then called to threaten me not to spread nonsense. The next day, she posted another screenshot of a one-million-dollar transfer. I knew this was her declaration of war against me. But this time, I didn’t care anymore. I appeared to have a happy marriage, but at that moment, I was surrounded by unease and doubt. My fingers idly swiped across my phone screen when a notification caught my eye. It was Maggie Bell, the woman who always maintained a professional presence in my life. She was my husband Jeremy Sisto’s secretary. Her post wasn’t about trivial matters; it was a screenshot of a bank transfer. The numbers were like sharp blades stabbing into my heart. “How ironic,” I murmured to myself, emotions churning inside me. What I once believed was an unbreakable marriage now seemed fragile in the face of those cold numbers. But my fingers had a mind of their own. They clicked into the comments section, where I left the remark: [Some people should know to avoid suspicion.] My warning made no waves. It was swiftly deleted by Maggie, and moments later, a harsh notification confirmed that she had blocked me. At that moment, anger and humiliation surged within me. I could almost hear the sound of my teeth grinding. “What gives her the right? How can she blatantly destroy someone else’s family like this?” Just as my emotions were about to collapse, my phone rang suddenly. Jeremy’s name lit up on the screen, and my heart clenched tightly as I answered the call. “Darlene, what are you doing? Why are you spreading nonsense online?” His voice was filled with anger and disbelief as if I were the one at fault. “Spreading nonsense? Jeremy, do you even know what she posted?” I nearly shouted, holding the phone to my ear. But all I got in return was silence. “Darlene, calm down. This is between us. Don’t drag others into it.” His tone softened slightly, but the implied defense of her cut through me like a knife. “Between us? What is there between us that can’t see the light of day? What do you call sending her so much money?” My voice trembled as I confronted him. “Enough! Darlene, your unreasonable behavior has gone too far. I’m not going to argue with you anymore.” With that, the line went dead. When I tried calling him back, a cold mechanical voice informed me that his phone was off. Soon after, I saw that he’d blocked me on messaging apps as well. I laughed bitterly, a laugh-filled with despair and irony. [Jeremy, don’t regret this.] I sent him the text message, even though I knew he might never see it. That night, I tossed and turned, my pillow soaked with tears. The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the curtains, I opened my eyes. What greeted me wasn’t hope for a new day but a harsher reality. My phone buzzed incessantly with notifications. Opening it, I found countless messages from friends, all sharing screenshots. Maggie had once again flaunted a transfer, this time an even more staggering sum—one million dollars. “Is this her way of declaring war?” A surge of unprecedented anger and sorrow rose within me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

A week earlier, I had walked out of the hospital doors. The sunlight was bright, but it couldn’t warm the darkness in my heart. The doctor’s words echoed in my ears, a cold rain of reality reminding me of my body’s frailty and limits. But stubbornness lingered within me. Shaking my head, I rejected the doctor’s advice and decided to go home. Two months ago, a sudden accident swept through my life like a storm, tearing away all my happiness and expectations. Losing my child drained all color from my world. Jeremy’s indifference and distance were like knives, repeatedly cutting new wounds into my heart. Despite everything, I tried to use love and determination to build one last defense for our marriage. At home, I put on carefully selected clothes, each piece carrying my love and hope for Jeremy and our family. Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I forced a small smile, attempting to hide the exhaustion and sorrow in my eyes. I reminded myself that today marked our fifth wedding anniversary, a day meant to be full of warmth and sweetness. I sent Jeremy a message, full of anticipation. But it was like a stone sinking into the sea, no reply. As night fell, he finally stumbled through the door, reeking of alcohol. His gaze was vacant, blind to the dinner I had meticulously prepared and the effort I had put into my appearance. “Here, for you. Cake.” He tossed a delicately packaged box onto the table. Inside was a blueberry cake, once our favorite. Now, it felt like an insult. Inside the box, the cake was missing a small triangular piece. I froze because just hours ago, I had seen this exact cake on Maggie’s social media. She had smiled so brightly in the photo. And now, this piece of cake had become the cruelest joke in my marriage. “Jeremy, what’s the meaning of this?” My voice shook, anger and heartbreak surging within me. He frowned, irritation flashing across his face. “It’s just a cake. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?” “Just a cake? Maggie had this first, and you brought it to me? This is how you celebrate our anniversary?” My voice rose, tears brimming in my eyes. “Darlene, you’re being unreasonable!” He snapped back, his tone full of disdain. “Do you regret marrying me?” I froze, tears finally falling. Regret? Perhaps. But more than that, I felt pain and resentment. I opened my mouth to speak, but my throat felt blocked, leaving me silent. We stared at each other, the air heavy with despair. Eventually, I chose silence. I knew any further confrontation would be pointless. Turning away, I retreated to our bedroom and began packing my belongings. I needed to buy some medicine and personal items, but when I mentioned it, Jeremy’s indifference and impatience shattered my last shred of hope. I ventured out alone into the pouring rain. The downpour felt as though the heavens themselves were crying for me. I trudged through the slippery streets, each step feeling like walking on knives. By the time I returned home, I was drenched to the bone, but my heart felt colder than my body. Sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at the dark night outside, I made a decision. I knew this marriage had reached its end. Picking up my phone, I began drafting the divorce agreement. At that moment, I felt no hesitation, only resolve.

A few days later, a mutual friend from the company sent me a message. [Darlene, why didn’t you attend the company’s celebration party? Without you there, Maggie, that witch, looked so smug…] I sat alone in front of the computer. The glow of the screen illuminated my pale face as a torrent of emotions surged through me. The video of Jeremy’s company celebration felt like a sharp needle, piercing through the fragile calm I had desperately tried to maintain. In the video, he smiled so brightly, clinking glasses with his employees. That hearty laugh, that confident demeanor of a leader, I used to be so proud of him. But now, it all felt unbearable to watch. Especially, the moment he shielded Maggie from drinking too much, my heart took a crushing blow, leaving me gasping for air. I still vividly remember that suit. It was the one I carefully picked out for him on our wedding anniversary, brimming with joy, believing it symbolized our love. Now, that very suit on his body had turned into evidence of his closeness with another woman. I closed my eyes, trying to erase those images from my mind, but tears betrayed me, slipping silently onto the cold keyboard. I opened Maggie’s social media. Her posts were filled with gratitude toward Jeremy. There was also that photo of him and Maggie together. Maggie was closely leaning against him, her head resting on Jeremy’s shoulder, while Jeremy’s hand was gently placed on Maggie’s waist. Both of them had happy smiles on their faces. But to me, it was so glaringly painful. At that moment, I seemed to see the truth of our marriage. He was no longer my rock but had become someone else’s safe harbor. My heart turned completely cold. Taking a deep breath, I resolved not to run away anymore. I reached out to a divorce lawyer and scheduled a consultation. I knew this would be the hardest step of my life. But I had to take it, for myself, and for the person I once was, the one who had once dreamed of love with such hope. As I was lost in thought about the impending divorce, the phone suddenly rang, breaking my trance. The screen lit up with Jeremy’s name, surprising and confusing me. “Why is he calling now?” I thought. “Jeremy?” I answered, trying to keep my voice calm. “Darlene, we’re having a company retreat, and I’d like you to join.” His tone carried a faint trace of tenderness as if nothing unpleasant had ever happened between us. “A company retreat?” I paused, then let out a cold laugh. “Mr. Sisto, I don’t think there’s any need for me to attend such events anymore, is there?” “Darlene, I know there have been some misunderstandings between us. I hope this retreat can give us a chance to talk.” His voice sounded unusually sincere. I hesitated for a moment but eventually agreed. Perhaps this would be the last chance to understand his heart and let myself finally give up. On the day of the company retreat, I dressed up intentionally. Not for him, but for myself. When I walked into the venue, all eyes turned to me, including Jeremy’s. He walked over and introduced me openly as his wife. At that moment, I felt like I was back in the past, but the cracks in my heart could no longer be mended. During the game, he tried to get me involved. But Maggie’s appearance shattered all the harmony. She purposely lost the game, then provocatively looked at me and demanded that I drink. I knew this was her tactic, her provocation.

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My boyfriend died in a plane crash. I missed his last call before he died. He left me a voicemail. “Harriet, they said I should leave my final words. I just want to tell you I will always love you.” Because of this, I made a deal with the system. I entered endless cycles in worlds and died 99 times. In return, I gained the chance to turn back time. This time, I saved him. But I never expected he only faked his death for his first love. I sat on the sofa, breathing heavily. My mind was blank. “Harriet, the plane is about to take off. I have to go now,” Bradley Moore said. He stood by the door, dragging his suitcase while putting on his shoes. I snapped out of my daze and looked at him. In an instant, my mind became clear. I shouted, “Don’t go.” Bradley flinched in surprise. “You scared me. Stop messing around. I’ll be late.” Ignoring my words, he opened the door to leave. I jumped up and rushed to block the door. I would not let him leave no matter what. Bradley’s expression turned anxious. He tried to move my hands away. He said, “Harriet, stop joking. That performance is very important. I can’t be late.” I shook my head and gripped the door handle tightly. Bradley paced in front of the door, growing more frustrated. Time passed slowly. He kept making phone calls, while I looked at him intently. “I can’t leave the house right now. I don’t know what is going on with her today,” he said over the phone, glancing at me. I didn’t register a word he said. I just focused on stopping him. When the clock struck noon, I finally exhaled in relief. Bradley slammed his suitcase on the ground. “Great! The plane has taken off. Are you happy now?” he huffed. I leaned against the wall, exhausted but relieved. I had succeeded. I had saved him. Bradley clenched his fists, snorted, and walked away. After he left, I collapsed on the sofa. My legs were weak, but I smiled. I had saved him. Those 99 deaths in the small worlds were not in vain. Bradley stayed in his study all day. At night, I made his favorite dishes and went to the study door. Just as I was about to knock, I heard voices inside. “What should we do now?” Bradley asked. “I was ready to fake my death in the plane crash and disappear. Everything was set. But that crazy woman wouldn’t let me leave the house.” The person on the other end of the phone said something to calm him down. Bradley’s voice softened. “I can’t wait to be with you, Amber.” I couldn’t hear the rest. My mind was blank, replaying his words. He talked about faking his death. It sounded like he hadn’t died from the crash in the last life. I wondered if that was his plan to be with Amber Shaw. My blood ran cold. The truth hit me hard. I covered my mouth with my right hand, afraid I’d scream. My left hand dug into my palm, the pain keeping me conscious. Staggering, I turned to leave. “Who’s there?” Bradley called out.

I hid in the bedroom. Bradley quickly walked over and pushed the door open. His tone showed clear anxiety. He asked, “Harriet, did you hear me talking outside just now?” I shook my head. “No, did you talk to me?” I instinctively covered up the fact that I had heard him. Bradley sighed in relief. He said, “Next time, remember to knock when you come into my study.” “Okay.” I nodded. “I made the dishes you like. Let’s eat.” Bradley hesitated for a moment, then looked at me apologetically. He said, “I’m sorry, but Amber needs me for something. I have to go.” He came over and kissed me. I stiffly looked up at him. His face was calm, and his expression serene. I nodded. “Today is our fifth anniversary.” Bradley froze in place. His mouth opened and closed several times. “I really can’t stay,” he said. “We’ll celebrate it next time.” He took the car keys and left. I sat there, stunned. After a long time, I dragged my tired body and my confused mind to the dining table. I numbly shoved the food into my mouth. I was still in a daze from what I had just heard. I thought back to this same day in my past life. It was also our fifth anniversary. At that time, Bradley told me, “Harriet, I have a performance abroad.” I didn’t think much of it. I thought it was just a normal performance. But I didn’t expect that once Bradley left, he never came back. When the plane started to hit turbulence, he tried to call me. But I was angry because he wasn’t with me for the anniversary, so I rejected his call. In the end, I only received one last message from him. “They said I should leave my final words. I just want to tell you I will always love you.” I couldn’t accept that reality. I was so sad, I even thought about dying with him. It was then that the system approached me. I made a deal with it. I went to those collapsing worlds, dying again and again. Finally, after the 99th death, I was given the chance to reverse time. But reality slapped me hard in the face. Bradley wasn’t dead at all. It was all part of his scheme to be with Amber. I felt a deep sorrow in my heart. Everything I had done for him was meaningless. It was all my own wishful thinking. At the same time, Amber updated her social media. It was a picture of a dog. [Let’s wish my little dog a happy fifth birthday.] In the corner of the photo was a pair of men’s hands. The wrist was wearing the watch I had given him. At midnight, Bradley still hadn’t come home. I got up from the living room and walked to the bedroom, diving into the cold bed. In the past, Bradley would warm the bed for me. He wouldn’t let me feel even a hint of cold. The next day, I sat in the dining room eating breakfast. Bradley pushed the door open and entered, holding a bouquet of obviously withered flowers. When he saw me, he handed me a box. Inside was a chain. I looked up at him in disbelief. This was clearly the chain taken off Amber’s dog yesterday. It wasn’t even good enough to be considered scrap. He said, “Anniversary gift. I was in a hurry. I didn’t buy anything expensive. “I’ll buy you something better next time.” His expression was calm, without any hint of guilt. I silently accepted it. He seemed a bit surprised by my reaction, glancing at me several times. I bypassed him, ready to leave for work. I picked up a blue hat hanging on the door, ready to put it on. Bradley’s angry voice came from behind. “That hat isn’t for you.”

I turned to look at him, holding the hat with confusion. Bradley’s face was full of anger as he quickly walked over and snatched the blue hat from my hand. His face showed deep affection, as if the hat in his hand was the most precious treasure. After a moment, he looked back at me. Maybe he realized his actions had been too impulsive. He awkwardly spoke. “Harriet, this hat isn’t for you. If you want one, I’ll buy you another.” I looked at the hat. The stitching was obviously done by hand. As for who it was made for, his actions spoke for themselves. “Okay,” I said, turning to leave. Once I got to the company, I received a picture from Amber. In the photo, she was wearing that same blue hat. Even though I already knew the truth, my heart still ached for a moment. I honestly had no idea how to face them. All I could do was keep avoiding it. It seemed like as long as I pretended not to know, nothing would have happened. After work, I followed my colleague to a concert. When I arrived, I found out it was Bradley’s performance. I sat in the audience. It wasn’t until an hour later that it was his turn to go on stage, but he was with a familiar figure. It was Amber. They performed a wonderful duet. Even their outfits were couple-themed. I clenched the edge of my clothes tightly, trying to suppress the urge to rush onto the stage. After the performance, the two of them took a bow. Bradley suddenly pulled out a flower and knelt in front of Amber. He said, “Amber, this is our third year together. From the first moment I saw you, I knew I had fallen for you. “I’ve thought about it for a long time and finally decided to confess today. “Amber, I like you. I hope you’ll be my girlfriend.” He spoke with such sincerity. His hand holding the flower trembled, and his eyes were filled with tears. But his confession was the same one he said to me five years ago. He once told me that he had fallen for me. It turned out these words weren’t just for me. He could say them to someone else too. Amber covered her face with both hands, nodding eagerly. She said, “Yes.” They hugged on stage and cried. The audience cheered for them to kiss. And I, the real girlfriend, could only watch numbly. Then something happened. The beam above the stage collapsed, and the theater was thrown into chaos. In the crowd, I was knocked to the ground. Through the gaps, I saw Bradley protecting Amber as they ran out. When they passed by me, he even pushed me aside roughly, telling me not to block the way. I cried out in pain, “Bradley.” Bradley looked back at me in disbelief and panic. But the next second, he firmly protected Amber and ran out without hesitation. About ten minutes later, I was rescued. I was taken to the hospital. Bradley just disappeared. He didn’t send a single message. Instead, I received a message from Amber. It was an ultrasound report.

I received a message from Amber. [Harriet, I’m sorry, I sent it to the wrong person. I meant to send it to Bradley.] [I’ll withdraw it now.] But even after half a minute, she didn’t withdraw it. I stared at the ultrasound picture for a long time. My eyes stung, and tears fell uncontrollably. She was already two months pregnant. Two months ago, Bradley had just proposed to me. He said we would get married at the end of the year. I turned off my phone screen. I didn’t want to see these upsetting things anymore. After dealing with the wound on my calf, I got discharged and went home. When I arrived, I saw Bradley busy in the kitchen. A delicious aroma filled the air. It smelled like soup. I went to the kitchen and saw him putting soup into a thermal bottle, obviously about to go out. I thought of the photo Amber had just sent me. I immediately knew the soup was for her. When Bradley turned around with the thermal bottle and saw me, he froze. He looked at my leg with guilt. He said, “Amber is alone in the hospital. I’m worried about her, so I’m going to check on her. “Oh, I made some soup for you. Try it.” I looked at the pot. It was just leftovers and scraps. I asked, “I was at the scene today too. Did you see me?” As expected, his face turned pale. He stammered, “No. I didn’t see you.” I watched his clumsy acting and suddenly felt tired. I turned and walked to the bedroom. “Then forget it,” I said. I didn’t know when Bradley left or when he came back. After he returned, he seemed like a different person. He took care of me meticulously. Half a month later, Bradley suggested a road trip to Teburn. I agreed. When I saw Amber in the car, I wasn’t surprised at all. Bradley, however, looked flustered. He hurriedly explained, “Harriet, let me explain. Amber said she hadn’t been to Teburn and wanted to go. I thought it would be safer to bring her along.” He looked at me anxiously, worried that I wouldn’t believe him. I nodded calmly. From the passenger seat, Amber shot me a smug look. Throughout the trip, Amber caused trouble constantly. Bradley would only say she was just a young girl, asking me to be patient with her, even though I wasn’t much older than her. As we approached our destination, Amber insisted on seeing the sunrise from the mountaintop. Bradley, unable to resist her pleas, went with her. I was left alone in the inn. That night, an earthquake hit Teburn. Trapped under the rubble, I suddenly had a thought. “System, are you there?” I called out to the system that hadn’t appeared for a long time. A moment later, it responded, “Host, I’m here. Do you need help?” The mission was over, and the system had promised to grant one request. I hadn’t used it yet. Now I wanted to use it. I said, “I want to leave. Can you help me fake my death?”

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My father had a severe gambling problem, amassing a massive debt that lingered even after he disappeared. To settle it, I became entangled with a local billionaire, Jack, agreeing to a deal of five million a year. But secrets have a way of surfacing. One day, a member of Jack’s family arrived at my door, offering me twice the money and stripping away my dignity. It was Jack’s son, his handsome face expressionless as he handed me a substantial check and asked, “Is this enough?” As I exited the private room, I heard him say, “You could have been Mrs. Jack openly. Do you regret it, Judy?” I didn’t turn back after hearing those words. My eyes filled with tears, but I held them back, not wanting to cry in front of him. I wanted to apologize, but my throat was too dry to speak. Jessica’s voice came again, asking, “Knowing I’m Jack’s son, do you regret it, Judy?” I couldn’t bear to listen any longer and quickly left. Standing at the shop entrance, the relentless snow outside was biting cold. It was December in North City, and the chill cut to the bone. A message from my mom appeared on my phone, asking why I hadn’t returned yet since Mr. Jack was waiting for me. My eyes dimmed as I clutched the check in my bag. Just then, my phone rang—it was Jack. I stared at the screen for a moment before answering. His voice came through, slightly distorted, as he got straight to the point: “Did Jessica come to see you?” I shivered, unsure if it was due to the cold or him. “Yes.” Hearing my response, he clicked his tongue and said, “I’ll send you abroad. Come back in two or three years. After all, Jessica is my only son.” He was suggesting I leave for a few years and return as though nothing had happened. I wanted to object, but I heard my mom’s voice on the phone. “We’ll do as you say. Judy doesn’t have much of an opinion.” Jack grunted in agreement and added, “Keep the money Jessica gave you. But don’t even think about running away.” He chuckled softly and said, “You can try if you want, right, darling?”

The call ended, leaving me standing in the snow, feeling frozen and unable to move. I heard the shop door open behind me, followed by footsteps crunching on the snow that stopped right behind me. Turning with difficulty, I saw it was Jessica. He was wearing a black coat, but his scarf was gone. “Let’s go, I’ll give you a ride,” Jessica offered. I looked at him in surprise. His tone was casual, as if nothing had happened. Sitting in his car, I was still processing the situation. The warmth inside and the familiar teddy bear cushion on the passenger seat provided a comforting environment. “We had planned to see a movie next weekend,” Jessica suddenly said. “What were you thinking then, Judy?” In the rearview mirror, I saw his mocking gaze. It felt like he wanted to torment me. “I’m sorry,” I managed to say. “Ha…” Jessica laughed coldly. Unable to face him, I looked down. Jessica asked, “Why didn’t you come to me if your family needed money? I told you before, I could support you no matter what.” Tears filled my eyes, but I couldn’t find the words to defend myself. “I… I don’t know…” I stammered. “You didn’t know Jack is my father,” Jessica said. “You didn’t know I am his son, did you?” After saying that, he exhaled, paused, and added, “Judy, you’re really something.” My gaze fell blankly on the expansive snow outside the car window.

I quietly bore Jessica’s harsh words, but he couldn’t handle my silence. The road was icy and difficult to traverse, but he continued to speed up. I felt the car losing control and turned to look at him. Jessica looked back at me, smiled, and said, “Judy, you’re not afraid to die, are you?” I heard the tires skidding on the icy surface and the startled cries of pedestrians. My gaze must have been full of sorrow—I didn’t want to die. I still had so much to do. He seemed to sense my thoughts and turned away from me. The car kept picking up speed until we slid off the road and into a snowbank. The windows were coated in snow, leaving the inside of the car dark. He didn’t turn on the lights, and I found myself gasping for air, relieved to be alive. Jessica, however, remained very calm. He said, “Last night, I found out my father was having an affair, and it was with you. Judy, can you guess what I wanted to do most at that moment?” The air felt thick and my breathing quickened. Then, Jessica leaned closer and gripped my neck tightly, slowly squeezing. I shook my head, trying to escape the suffocation, but he bit my lip mercilessly, and I tasted blood. “I want to kill you,” he said, “Judy.” The suffocation left my mind blank. He wiped my lips and then turned on the car’s light. Jessica’s face appeared before me, his lips also stained with blood. He leaned in and bit my earlobe hard. “Judy, I won’t let you go.” My heart ached, nearly breaking. The fear of dying and the pain of suffocation were unbearable. In the rearview mirror, I saw his fingerprints on my neck. Just now, Jessica truly wanted me dead.

The car was lifted, and we were rescued. Someone checked on me and looked at Jessica with reproach. I just shook my head and said it was nothing. Jessica’s eyes fell on my neck and lips, his gaze dark and silent. I eventually caught a taxi home. The reflection in the car window showed me looking disheveled. The driver joked, “Had a fight with your boyfriend?” “A big one,” he added. I forced a smile and didn’t reply. He pointed to the rearview mirror, “Your boyfriend’s still there.” I turned to look back. Jessica stood there, his black coat covered in snow. Back home, Jack wasn’t there. I sighed and sat on the bed. My mom, however, came in without knocking. I frowned and said, “Mom, please remember to knock.” She dismissed it, saying, “Mr. Jack isn’t here.” Hearing this, I felt a slight sting in my heart, but that was all. “How much did Mr. Jack’s son give you?” she asked, glancing at my bag. I lowered my eyes and said, “I’ll pay off the remaining five million debt.” My mom wasn’t satisfied with my answer and wanted to ask more, but I said wearily, “I want to take a bath and rest first, Mom.” She finally stopped talking and left. Watching her leave, I took the check out of my pocket and hid it where she wouldn’t find it. After bathing, I looked at the slightly messy table and sighed deeply. With a gambler in the family, it’s not just Dad.

Mr. Jack has been out of touch for several days. My mother is anxious, but I feel oddly at ease. The heavy snowfall has closed schools and businesses, bringing the city to a standstill. Yet, the morning news continues to air punctually. [A prominent businessman in the city, Jack, and his wife, Yan Shu, were discovered dead in their home around 10 PM last night…] I froze, feeling as if the blood in my veins turned to ice. My mother rushed out from the kitchen, her face a picture of shock. “Mr. Jack! How could Mr. Jack be dead?” she cried out. “What do we do now?” I sat on the sofa, paralyzed. Her cries echoed around me, but I could barely hear them. How could this have happened? How could his mother…? The doorbell rang, snapping me back to reality. My mother wiped her tears, ignoring the bell. I dragged myself to the door, my feet heavy. Opening it, a gust of cold wind hit me. The person at the door was wrapped in the bitter chill of snow and wind. Dressed in a black suit, with dark circles under his eyes and light stubble on his chin, it was Jessica. I stared at him, taking in his weary face. My heart ached with a bittersweet pang. Jessica was supposed to be proud, dazzling, full of life—not like this, defeated and drained. “Jessica…” I whispered. He looked at me, his eyes empty, and said, “Come home with me.” My mother protested loudly behind us, unaware of who Jessica was. I grabbed a coat and followed him, leaving behind my mother’s curses. “What are you doing with that boy? Such a worthless thing…” Jessica paused, and I nearly bumped into him. I heard his rough voice say, “Like mother, like daughter.” In the icy cold, his words felt like a splash of freezing water. I stood frozen. Jessica opened the car door and looked back at me. “You owe me, Judy,” he said.

He didn’t drive; we sat together in the backseat. Jessica didn’t say a word to me the whole way. When we arrived at Jack’s house, I was taken aback. Everything seemed perfectly normal. Jessica turned to look at me, as if he knew what I was thinking. He smiled and said, “Don’t worry, Judy.” Jessica was unusually gentle with Judy. Holding my hand, he led me into a study, where he moved some devices, revealing an underground passage. My heart sank. I resisted, standing at the entrance, unwilling to enter. Jessica’s demeanor changed; his expression turned dark. He tightened his grip on my wrist. “You need to know, Judy,” Jessica said. He pulled me into the passage. Dim lights lined the way, seemingly placed there on purpose. My body trembled; I resisted more and more. “Please, Jessica. I’m begging you,” I cried. But Jessica merely paused, then pulled me along faster. My heart felt dead. We reached a room with chains on the door but no lock. He gently pushed the door open, and the dim lights inside illuminated our faces. There was a red bed and countless objects and recording equipment. The screen in the middle of the room displayed my face. I collapsed at his feet, all strength gone. Jessica crouched down to meet my gaze. His eyes were too clear. I could see only hatred. “Father wasn’t home yesterday. Mother found this place,” Jessica said calmly. “She’s really stupid. She actually believed Father loved her.” My body couldn’t stop shaking, but he gently lifted my chin. “You think so too, don’t you, Judy?” Jessica said. He pushed me forward, making me face the big screen showing my image. “You killed them, Judy. You destroyed Jack’s family and me,” he said. I trembled, trying to speak, but he clamped his hand around my throat. The suffocation was more intense than yesterday, overwhelming my entire body. My limbs flailed helplessly as Jessica’s face began to blur. When I woke up again, I was lying on that despised red bed. I got up, only to find the door locked from the outside. There was no water, no food. I hugged my knees, sitting on the bed. My gaze began to drift into emptiness. I thought, perhaps dying here wouldn’t be so bad.

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My stepfather was drawn to my mother’s beauty, ignoring her marriage vows and forcefully claiming her as his own, and I was compelled to call him my father. Everyone whispered that I was a bastard, except for my young uncle, who treated me like a treasure. He loved to hold me close, wipe away my tears, and gently reassure me: “Our Nora is Uncle’s precious.” Gradually, I began to develop feelings for him. The night my uncle took over the company, he was drunk and pinned me beneath him, taking what he desired. Yet, he called out my mother’s name. It became clear that Lucien was simply seeking my mother’s reflection in me. I refused to be anyone’s replacement and shut my heart off. He kept me in his mansion, entangling me every night, but all he received was my icy indifference. Frustrated, Lucien found another woman to shower with affection and attention. This woman, emboldened by his favor, barged into my residence with a group of people while Lucien was away on a business trip. “I want to see which vixen is keeping Lucien captivated every day!” Seeing my face, she flew into a rage. She tore my dress, scratched my face, and threw me to a group of thugs to be humiliated. “Lucien, this b*tch dared to impersonate me. I’ve dealt with her according to your rules!”

Since my father’s death and my mother’s remarriage, Lucien was the closest person to me. The day he took over the company, I was genuinely happy for him; he had finally achieved his dream position. That night, drunk, he stormed into my room and pinned me down as though he’d been suppressing it for a long time. In his intoxicated state, he called out “Lucy”… That was my mother’s name. My heart felt like it turned to stone. It turned out that all his affection for me was because he saw me as a stand-in for my mother. He kept me in his mansion, sharing meals and living arrangements, lavishing me with care and attention. But I refused to be a substitute, sealing my heart and rejecting his touch. I wouldn’t even give him a friendly face. He’s a business tycoon, extraordinarily handsome, with countless women flocking to him, yet he disregarded them all. Except for the moments when he would humble himself in front of me, pleading for affection. But I couldn’t do it. My pride and dignity wouldn’t allow me to be someone else’s shadow, not even for my mother. Lucien grew frustrated with my coldness. “You’ve always listened to me since you were little. Why are you so stubborn about this…” He thought I was just being willful and that if we had a child, I would slowly warm up to him. So, he wouldn’t let go of me except during my inconvenient days. And I would always douse his enthusiasm with cold water. “Over and over the same, aren’t you tired of it, Uncle?” Then, seeing the hurt and defeat in his eyes, I would quickly get up, eager to wash away his traces. Lucien was enraged, yanking the towel from my hands and gripping my waist, biting my ear in frustration. “Do you really hate me this much? I insist you stay by my side! I want us to have lots of children!” I wanted to escape the mansion, but he threatened my mother’s family. “Nora, even if you hate me, you can only stay by my side!” “Don’t get any ideas. Think about your relatives. I have ways to make their lives worse than death!” I didn’t dare gamble with my relatives’ lives. I couldn’t afford to lose. I had to accept my fate. I liked peace and quiet, so I specifically asked Lucien to place me in the most secluded corner of the mansion and forbade anyone from entering. To the outside world, he claimed Miss Nora was abroad for relaxation. But in secret, he forced me to be with him every night. One day, Lucien went on a business trip. I was newly pregnant, often sleepy, and the weather was perfect. I lay in the yard’s rocking chair for a nap. Then, a commotion came from outside the yard.

“Miss Amy, the butler repeatedly warned us that this yard is a restricted area. Without Lucien’s orders, no one is allowed here. Maybe we should leave…” “Look at you, so easily scared? I’m Lucien’s favorite. His restrictions don’t apply to me!” “Besides, didn’t you see? Lucien’s office is filled with my photos. It won’t be long before I become Mrs. Lucien. Why can’t I enter a small yard?” The woman spoke with dissatisfaction, her voice full of confidence. Mentioning Lucien, her tone was filled with undisguised sweetness. Several women agreed with her. “Exactly, everyone knows how much Lucien likes Miss Amy. He would never be angry with her!” “And everyone at the company saw it. Lucien comes to this villa every night. Who knows if there’s a seductress inside luring him?” I frowned, wanting to sleep, but now I was disturbed, a heaviness in my chest. From their words, I guessed the arrogant woman was Lucien’s new lover, the illegitimate daughter of the Amy family. Rumor had it she resembled me by seventy percent, and Lucien had even taken her to three important banquets. No wonder she was so arrogant, but she hadn’t seen Lucien’s frightening side. I remembered not long ago, a new employee got lost in the villa and accidentally opened my yard door. Lucien immediately fired him, banning him from ever working there again. With that in mind, I suppressed my annoyance and got up to persuade her to leave, but unexpectedly, the yard door was kicked open.

The woman was impeccably made up, covered in luxury. She clearly didn’t expect anyone in the yard, hesitating for a moment before frowning slightly. “Who are you, a seductress, daring to ignore the rules? Did you sneak here to seduce Lucien?” One of the women behind her seemed to notice something, exclaiming, “Miss Amy, this seductress’s face looks a bit like yours!” Amy’s gaze landed on my face, her almond eyes wide with shock and anger. Before I could speak, she rushed to me and slapped me hard, her manicure scratching my face painfully. “You b*tch, you had surgery to look like me and impersonate me?” “Are you trying to sneak into Lucien’s bed while he’s away?” She didn’t realize why she was favored and saw me as a rival. I glanced at her indifferently, with some pity. After all, like me, she was just a stand-in. “Miss Amy, I have no intention of competing for Lucien. I’m sincerely advising you to leave this villa’s restricted area, or else…” Before I could finish, her followers fawned over her: “Who do you think you are? If our Miss Amy can’t enter here, why can you, a b*tch?” “Are you saying you’re more noble than our Miss Amy?” I was at a loss for words, unsure how to explain. Should I say I’m Lucien’s kept woman? Such a shameful thing, I couldn’t say it. Before Amy, Lucien had another stand-in who spoke disrespectfully to me, and he immediately cut off all her resources, making her unable to survive in the entertainment industry. That’s when I realized Lucien’s unrequited love for my mother had turned obsessive and even crazed. So, I tried to warn Amy, but she didn’t appreciate it. Her eyes were filled with malice. “Since I’m about to become the mistress of this villa, I’ll start disciplining you dreamers and setting things straight.” “Even if Lucien finds out, he’ll only praise me for saving him trouble. He might even give me the power to manage the company!”

“Phoebe, strip her bare!” “Sisters, let’s see what she used to seduce Lucien!” The followers received the order and tried to tear my clothes. Panicked, I shouted, “Stop! Lucien is my uncle. How dare you lay a hand on me?” Phoebe paused, as if hearing a joke, looking at Amy. Amy and the women laughed hysterically. “She claims to be Lucien’s niece. Does she look like it?” “What a joke, everyone knows Lucien’s niece went abroad for a break. How could she be here?” “Idiot, can’t even lie properly!” “Nonsense in front of me, I think you’re tired of living!” Before I could explain, Phoebe pushed me down, tearing open my collar, exposing my silky skin, and Amy’s eyes flashed with jealousy. “No wonder, she does have some looks…” “Strip her clean and show her what shame is!” I wrapped my arms around myself for cover. Then, Phoebe sharply noticed the jade pendant hanging on my chest. “Miss Amy, look at what that b*tch has hanging on her chest?” She stepped forward, yanking it off, offering it to Amy like a trophy. I was shocked, forgetting my dignity, and begged. “No! Please, give it back!” This pendant was the last memento my mother left me. She said that no matter when, it would protect me like she did. “Looks quite delicate. She must have stolen it. How else would she have such a nice thing?” I wrapped my arms around myself, seeking comfort and warmth. Just then, Phoebe, Amy’s follower, keenly noticed the jade pendant hanging around my neck. “Miss Amy, look at that girl. What’s that she’s wearing?” Phoebe stepped forward, yanking the pendant from me and presenting it to Amy as if it were some kind of trophy. I was taken aback, and, swallowing my pride, I pleaded desperately. “No! Please, give it back!” This pendant was the last memento from my mother. She had always told me it would protect me, just as she did. “It looks exquisite. She must have stolen it. How else would she have something so nice?” Amy muttered, pretending she was about to smash it. I screamed in panic, “Please don’t! I’ll do anything you want!” “Please, give it back!” My pitiful pleas seemed to amuse Amy. She laughed heartily, finding entertainment in my distress. “You lowly fox, I knew you were a cheap seductress. You’ve never seen anything nice. Such a small piece of jade, and you reveal your true nature. In our household, we smash things like this for fun!” “Alright, I’m a reasonable person. I’ll give you a chance…” “I enjoy teasing little dogs. Why don’t you be my dog for a while?” She sat down grandly in the yard, casually twirling the pendant, waiting to see my reaction. I collapsed onto the ground, my heart torn between humiliation and desperation. “Miss Amy, it seems she doesn’t want it that much. Why not smash it…” “No!” “Okay, I’ll do it…”

I crawled towards her on the ground, closing my eyes in shame, lowering my head, and mimicking a dog crawling around her. I bit my lip hard, the metallic taste mingling with bitter tears. At that moment, I felt utterly humiliated. Even though my father passed away early and my mother remarried, she had always protected me. With Lucien’s support, I had never experienced such humiliation. “Bark a couple of times…” I swallowed my pride and barked twice. “Woof, woof…” “Truly an obedient little thing!” Amy laughed and clapped. Her followers looked at me with disdain, shamelessly taunting me. I suppressed my hatred, clenching my fists until they cracked. “Can I have my pendant back now?” Amy examined the pendant carefully. “I didn’t care much for this kind of thing, but since you value it so much, I won’t let you have it!” Her eyes glittered, and she smirked, quickly tossing the pendant far away. The sound of it shattering cut through the air, and the tension in my mind snapped. Seeing the last thing my mother left me destroyed, I couldn’t hold back any longer and lunged at Amy, grabbing her by the neck. “No!” “Amy, may you die a terrible death!” The followers were terrified by my attack, screaming in panic. Phoebe quickly reacted and shoved me away. Amy held her neck, pale and shaken, shouting angrily, “This girl! How dare she lay a hand on me!” She kicked me hard in the stomach. I cried out in pain, collapsing to the ground, sharp pain radiating from my abdomen. She grabbed my hair, forcing me to look at her. Amy maliciously shifted her gaze down to my hands. “It’s these hands that hurt me…” She whispered, stepping on the back of my hand, grinding it with force. “Crack…” I screamed in pain, tears flowing uncontrollably, trying desperately to struggle but was held down by Phoebe. “Amy, Lucien won’t let you get away with this!” She slapped me hard again. “Who do you think you are!” She crouched down, brushing aside my hair to reveal my face, speaking coldly. “You’re just relying on this face that resembles mine. Without it, how would you seduce Lucien!” “Phoebe, you know what I mean…”

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As I lay weakened, I mustered just enough strength to whisper to my stepmother, “Grandpa left me a hundred million dollars. The money… the money is hidden… it’s…” Before I could finish the sentence, I drew my last breath. My stepmother burst into tears, clutching my lifeless hand. She turned to the doctor, desperation in her eyes. “You heard him, didn’t you? Bring him back! Save him, and I’ll give you half!” The doctor straightened up, his expression suddenly fierce. He spread his arms wide, as if summoning the heavens themselves, and bellowed, “Let the darkness be shattered by thunder!” A deafening crack split the sky, and a bolt of lightning struck my body with terrifying force, reducing it to a smoldering, blackened husk. Now a ghost, I stood off to the side, watching the scene unfold with a calm, amused smile. I tilted my head, gave them a little nod, and said softly, “Thanks for that.” I’d known about my stepmother’s plan to harm me for a while. She wanted to make it look like an accident—how cliché. Don’t ask me how I found out. Let’s just say… I have a little something extra. You see, I have this ability. My soul can leave my body whenever I want. As long as my body’s intact, I can return to it within two hours, no problem. So, when I learned my stepmother was plotting my end, I wasn’t scared. In fact, I was thrilled. I was so sick of pretending to get along with her. It was exhausting. So why not let her think she succeeded? I’d fake my end, slip away, and take my dad’s inheritance with me. Then I’d move abroad, leaving her with nothing but her scheming self. And just like that, my dad wouldn’t have to worry about us tearing each other apart anymore. Perfect plan, right? Except… what the hell is this doctor doing? Did he just burn my body? I watched in stunned silence as my once-gorgeous, perfectly-curvy physique went up in smoke. My stepmother was just as shocked. Her jaw dropped, and for once, she forgot to put on her fake tears. “Wait… is she charred?” The doctor scratched his head awkwardly. “Uh, yeah… sorry about that. I just learned this technique. Guess I got a little overexcited when I heard about the fifty-million-dollar reward.” I was speechless.

I stared at my burned, unrecognizable body and wanted to cry. My beautiful, flawless body—gone, just like that. Regret hit me like a freight train. But what could I do? What’s done is done. The only option now was to find a new body. Preferably someone about to gone. If I could time it right, I could slip in and take over their body just as their soul left. Even someone who’d been gone for a little while could work, as long as they weren’t… you know… rotting. Where do you find people like that? The hospital, obviously. I headed to the operating room and watched as the doctors performed surgery. Blood was everywhere—raw, messy, chaotic. When I heard one of them say, “The patient’s losing too much blood. They won’t make it,” I couldn’t help but grin. But just as I was about to celebrate, I felt someone glaring at me. I turned and saw a woman, her face streaked with tears, staring at me like I’d just kicked her puppy. “I can’t believe you’d be this happy about my end,” she said, her voice trembling. I cleared my throat awkwardly. “Well… I wouldn’t put it that way.” Her eyes widened. “Wait. You… you can see me?” “Of course I can. We’re both gone, aren’t we? Well, you’re actually gone. I’m just borrowing a body so I can come back to life.” She blinked. “Wait, are you some kind of… supernatural being?” I nodded. “Yep. So, how about this—you let me use your body. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of it.” She hesitated, clearly torn. But before she could answer, the doctors’ urgent voices made the decision for her. “The pregnant woman’s heart has stopped! The baby’s still inside!” “Get the baby out now! Prepare for an emergency C-section!” The woman’s expression changed instantly. She looked at me, practically begging. “Fine! Take it! Just save my baby!” So, I slipped into her body. The moment I did, the nurse gasped. “The mother’s heart is beating again!” But then the pain hit me. It was unbearable. My whole body felt like it was being ripped apart. I couldn’t take it—I scrambled out of her body, gasping. “The mother’s heart has stopped again!” The woman turned to me, frantic. She rolled up her sleeves and shoved me back in. “The mother’s heart is beating again!” the nurse shouted. And there I was, writhing in agony, screaming, “IT HURTS! IT HURTS! OH MY GOD, IT HURTS!”

“Childbirth is the most painful thing ever. I swear, I’m never having kids in this lifetime.” I turned to Amanda and asked, “Wait… didn’t they give you any painkillers?” “Nope, no anesthesia.” “What?” “I don’t know why. The doctor just… didn’t give me any.” Her words immediately reminded me of a novel I’d read once. In the story, the heroine needed surgery, but the evil mistress of the domineering CEO bribed the doctor to skip the anesthesia. The poor protagonist ended up in so much pain that she literally gone on the operating table. Sweat broke out on my forehead. I squinted at her. “Your name… it’s not Amanda, is it?” Her big, innocent eyes blinked up at me. “How did you know?” “…Just a lucky guess.” I still remember bawling my eyes out while reading that novel. The heroine eventually came back to life and ended up with the CEO, but not before I sent the author a dozen angry messages. Amanda clutched my sleeve, her voice trembling. “Please, I’m begging you. Help me. I don’t want my baby to grow up without a mother.” I didn’t want that either… but what could I do? I wasn’t exactly in a position to promise miracles.

The moment Amanda’s soul left her body, they showed up. Thick fog rolled into the hospital room, and two figures stepped through the door. Both wore tall, old-fashioned hats. One was tall and wiry, the other short and round. Their hats had ominous phrases written on them: “Fortune Upon Sight” and “Peace Under Heaven.” I smiled and waved from my spot on the hospital bed. “Oh, Mr. White! Long time no see.” White Ghost froze mid-step, his polite smile faltering. “Melissa… you’re gone. Again?” “Well, you know how it is,” I said with a shrug. “Anyway, I just borrowed Amanda’s body for a bit. Feel free to take her now.” Black Ghost scowled. “Melissa, this isn’t how it works. Amanda’s time hasn’t come yet—her fate isn’t finished!” White Ghost sighed, his tone resigned. “You can use her body if you must, but Amanda has some unresolved attachments. You’ll have to deal with those first.” Unresolved attachments? Oh, please. It wasn’t hard to guess. A cheating husband, a homewrecker, and a baby too young to fend for itself. Classic tragic heroine stuff. I nodded knowingly. “Got it, got it. Don’t worry—I’ll make sure her scumbag husband and that mistress don’t get to live happily ever after.” White Ghost barked, “No! That’s not what I meant! You’ve already tampered with her fate, so now you’ll have to follow her destiny to its end.” I raised an eyebrow. “Oh, absolutely not.” “There’s no room for negotiation,” Black Ghost snapped. I casually inspected my nails—still flawless from before I gone. “Think about it. If I take over Amanda’s life, that means I’d have to… ugh… date her scumbag husband. Marry him. Sleep with him. You do realize what your boss would say if he found out, right?” I gave them both a pointed look. They froze, their mouths snapping shut. They were stubborn, sure, but so was I. Amanda tugged at my sleeve, her voice breaking. “Please… save my baby. I’m begging you.” “Oh, you hear that?” I said, gesturing to her. “She wants me to save her baby. You wouldn’t want me to ignore a mother’s last wish, would you?” White Ghost’s already pale face somehow turned even paler. “Melissa!” I waved cheerfully as they stormed off, their dark figures disappearing into the mist. “Don’t worry!” I called after them. “I’ll make sure her baby’s taken care of. I’ll deal with the mistress too. And as for that scumbag husband—he won’t even recognize himself when I’m done with him. Trust me, you have nothing to worry about. Bye-bye now!”

The pain was excruciating, but I forced myself to crawl back into Amanda’s body. The nurse barely blinked. She was so numb to the chaos that she just muttered, “The patient’s heartbeat has returned. Again.” Meanwhile, the doctor pulled the baby out of me and announced, “It’s a boy! The mother is hemorrhaging. Vital signs are dropping fast. Prep for emergency procedures!” I snapped my eyes open, grabbed his wrist, and rasped, “No need for all that. Just stitch me up, and we’ll call it a day.” The doctor froze, staring at me like I was some kind of zombie. “Bring me the baby,” I said. But the nurse holding the baby? She acted like she hadn’t heard me and started walking toward the door. Oh, hell no. Did she really think I didn’t know what was about to happen? That baby was about to be swapped out with the male lead’s mistress’s child. Do they think I’m stupid? I leaned up and shouted, “Hey! You with the baby! I’m giving you three seconds to bring him back, or I’ll drag myself out of this bed and end you.” The nurse hesitated for a moment. Then, as if she’d made her peace with the devil, she bolted for the door. “Oh, so you don’t believe me?” I growled. Adrenaline kicked in, and I shoved the doctor aside, swung my legs off the bed, and staggered toward her. Blood was pouring from my stomach, my insides threatening to spill out, but I didn’t care. I grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her backward. Smack! One slap. Smack! Another slap. I leaned in close, my lips curling into a twisted smile. “Do you believe me now? Or do I need to strangle you with my intestines to convince you?” The entire room froze. Everyone stared at me like I was some kind of demon. Then the chaos erupted. “Quick! Quick! The patient’s gone berserk!” It took five or six people to grab me and wrestle me back onto the bed. I pointed at the nurse, my voice cold. “I’ve got your face memorized. If anything happens to my baby, you won’t last a day in this hospital.” The doctor, hands trembling, started stitching me up. I glared at him. “Can you stop shaking? What are you so scared of? Just stitch it properly. If I end up with some hideous scar that looks like a squiggly caterpillar, I swear, you’ll regret it.” His hands shook even more. “Honestly, with nerves like that, how did you even have the guts to take a bribe to skip my anesthesia?” The needle slipped out of his hand and landed in my open wound. I smiled. “What’s wrong? Did I strike a nerve?”

After they wheeled me out of the operating room, I heard the sound of heavy footsteps approaching. Even before I saw him, I knew who it was. And then he appeared. The male lead. Of course, he looked exactly like a walking cliché: the sharp jawline, piercing hawk-like eyes, high nose bridge, and lips so thin they practically screamed, “I’m better than you.” For years, I’d wondered what these so-called “brooding, evil CEOs” looked like in real life. Now I knew. And to my horror, it was George. My half-brother. The realization hit me like a truck. George. My tyrannical, self-absorbed, melodramatic half-brother. He strode over to my bed with that arrogant swagger of his, leaned down slightly, and said, “Amanda, this child belongs to the Lewis family. I’ll give you five million dollars. Take it, and I don’t ever want to see you again.” I stared at him, speechless. This was the same George who, back when I was still Melissa, couldn’t go five minutes without being absolutely insufferable. If I asked him to do something simple, like pass me a cup, he’d respond with, “Woman, how dare you order me around?” And if I tried reasoning with him? Forget it. The only way to shut him up was to beat some sense into him. Every time I’d smack him, he’d mutter, “Don’t underestimate a poor young man!” It was a disease. A serious one. And hitting him seemed to be the only treatment. But every time I knocked some sense into him, our dear stepmother would go ballistic. “You’ll regret this one day!” she’d scream. “George will make you pay back everything you’ve done to him, tenfold!” Meanwhile, George would stand behind her, muttering things like, “A hundredfold.” …Yeah. He’s always been like this. And now I’m supposed to believe this guy is the male lead of some tragic love story? The thought alone made me want to throw up. George wasn’t done being dramatic. “Amanda, I’m giving you one month. Get out of my sight.” Ignoring him, I grabbed the nearest doctor. “Where’s my baby?” The doctor, drenched in sweat, stammered, “W-where’s her baby?” The nurse holding the baby froze, her face blank with confusion. “Her baby? Uh… where’s her baby?” My patience snapped. My voice was ice. “You have ten minutes. Bring me my child.” The doctor practically tripped over himself as he ran out of the room, shouting, “Bring her baby! Now!” George glared at me, his face dark with anger. “Amanda, don’t push your luck!” I casually stuck a finger in my ear and yawned. “Yeah, yeah, I heard you. Can we do this in my room? You’re so loud, you’re probably scaring the other patients.”

I waved George over, motioning for him to come closer. “Hey, come here for a second.” He frowned, already looking irritated. “Woman, are you ordering me around?” Before he could finish, I sat up and grabbed him by the ear, yanking him down to my level. “Yeah, I am. And what about it? George, can you, for once in your life, act like a decent person? Your mother didn’t raise you through blood, sweat, and tears just so you could grow up to bully women, did she?” He winced and hissed in pain, bending awkwardly to avoid my grip. “What the hell are you talking about?! Do you even know what you’re doing? Don’t forget, your parents are still under my control! Your Taylor family depends on me!” I pinched his cheeks, forcing his face into a ridiculous pout. “Oh, so now you’re threatening me? Want me to shove your head in a toilet right now and see if that changes your tone?” His eyes widened, and for a second, pure terror flashed across his face. That threat? It struck a nerve. And why wouldn’t it? It wasn’t just a threat—it was a memory. Yeah, I’ve done it before. And clearly, he hadn’t forgotten. His voice cracked, and he stammered, “Y-you’re not Amanda… Amanda wouldn’t talk to me like this!” I smirked. “Oh? If I’m not Amanda, and then who am I? Look at me, George. Do you even know what I’ve been through today? Let me spell it out for you: I was on the operating table, bleeding out, and the doctor didn’t even give me anesthesia.” His confusion deepened. “Why not?” “Why not?” I sneered. “Because of your mistress, that little angel of yours who couldn’t possibly do anything wrong. George, I’m letting this one go, but if anything like this happens again, I’ll drag my body straight to your doorstep and make sure you regret it.” George staggered out of the room, his face pale and his cheek sporting a bright red handprint—five fingers, perfectly clear. The moment he stepped outside, a woman in a pristine white dress stopped him in his tracks. Emily. Amanda’s saintly little cousin. George’s so-called ture love. The pure, delicate flower who somehow managed to stay above it all, untouched by the dirt she caused. She was the root of everything. The conflicts between the male and female leads, Amanda losing her baby, Amanda’s tragic outcome during surgery—it all traced back to her. I still remember reading the novel and nearly throwing my phone across the room every time she appeared. I wanted nothing more than to jump into the story and strangle her myself. Well, looks like I finally got my chance. When the nurse handed me the baby, I didn’t even need to look twice—I knew right away this wasn’t my child. Don’t ask how I knew. I just did. Call it intuition. Call it a sixth sense. Whatever it was, it didn’t matter. I sighed and leaned back. “Let’s just cut to the chase. Get a paternity test.”

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The CEO, well-known in the entertainment industry, is said to have a significant love interest abroad, and rumors suggest that the painting in the group’s lobby is her creation. “Honestly, the painting is mediocre and should have been replaced ages ago,” I remarked offhandedly, sparking widespread ridicule online. A fellow female guest on the show openly questioned my taste. “It’s surprising that you’re a Media Studies student who studied abroad, yet you seem to lack taste and make such bold comments.” I typed out a question mark slowly. Wait, is the painting I did at 13 really that impressive? — “Ms. Hazel, are you okay?” The producer assigned to me for the show eyed me cautiously. She was worried I might not handle the flood of online criticism and might leave the show. After all, this online reality show initially invited eight Media Academy students to intern at an entertainment company. They were competing for the sole position available. The budget was minimal, and they hadn’t expected it to gain traction. Now it’s trending at the top. I relaxed in a beanbag chair, taking calls and shrugging off the situation. Most of the trending topics were criticisms aimed at me. “Who knew such an arrogant person existed? Who does she think she is?” “Doesn’t she know who Ezra Carter is? How dare she say something like that?” “Replying to the poster: Haven’t you seen her resume? She just returned from studying abroad. She probably thinks she’s amazing now and dares to comment freely!” There were even people who didn’t know the backstory asking what had happened. Ezra Carter’s fans swiftly posted two video comparisons. One was from an early interview with Ezra Carter, where he was asked why the company lobby features a large painting. He wore a black suit and white shirt, looking cool and indifferent. But when answering the question, his expression turned serious and solemn. “This is a piece I cherish deeply, and it holds significant meaning for me.” The other video was a segment from the online reality show. The production team introduced us to several major entertainment companies in the country. With a small budget, they could only leverage the popularity of these large companies. When mentioning the country’s leading Carter Entertainment Group— Everyone was amazed by the giant painting hanging from the 10-meter-high ceiling of the star-rated lobby. And I, an unknown amateur, regretfully shook my head, seemingly unimpressed, commenting that the painting was average. Seeing these two video comparisons, all the bystanders had a unified thought— Wow, girl, who are you to act so cocky? Daring to criticize Mr. Wesley’s taste? — So, even before the show aired, it went viral. I hadn’t even done anything yet and was already drowning in criticism. On the phone, my assistant handling the painting ownership in the country pulled my attention back. “I’ll bring all the documents for the paintings under your name for you to sign if you visit Carter Entertainment Group.” “Including those bought by Mr. Wesley, you still need to authorize them, as it’s part of the process.” I agreed absentmindedly, hanging up. I turned my gaze back to the producer. “Producer, do you honestly think that painting is that good?” I asked incredulously. The way the entire internet criticized me made it seem like I was dismissing Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night.’ The producer hesitantly chose her words. “Well, how should I put it? It is Mr. Wesley’s beloved painting. You might not know this abroad, but Mr. Wesley is the top eligible bachelor in entertainment. Not only is he handsome, but he also invests and does a lot of charity!” “I believe Mr. Wesley’s taste is impeccable,” she said with admiration. “Look at the painting, the dark tone with large white feathers, and the bleeding heart at the center—” “Isn’t it romantic! It’s the representation of Mr. Wesley’s inner self! Both dark and light, devil and angel.” “But his heart is as sincere as a child’s.” I was dumbfounded. Wasn’t this just a realistic piece I painted at 13 after witnessing a chicken being slaughtered at home, leaving me with a psychological shadow? Yet it’s interpreted like this?! — Perhaps my stare was too shocked, as the producer awkwardly composed herself and returned to the main topic. “The director thinks we should capitalize on the current buzz with you and Phoebe Taylor. We should record and broadcast simultaneously to capture this wave of attention.” Besides me, the current hot topic online was Phoebe Taylor. Because after my “disrespectful” comment on the painting, she stood up to challenge me. “The most important thing is to be humble, especially since we’re also going to intern at Carter Entertainment Group. At least show some respect,” Phoebe said, tall and with tightly furrowed brows. “Which eye of yours saw me being disrespectful? Can’t a painting be criticized?” Her hostility towards me was baffling. All participants in this job experience show were amateurs, never having been on a show, and were somewhat timid in front of the camera. The remaining guests exchanged glances, watching the tension between us. Who knew our conflict would be so intense? “Don’t you know this is the most cherished painting of Carter Entertainment’s CEO? By saying that, you’re implying Mr. Wesley has bad taste,” she retorted without backing down. “Who are you to him to speak for him like this?” I countered. I intended to mock her, but Phoebe blushed and fell silent upon hearing my words. Oh? Is there really something going on? Wesley Carter and I grew up together, and I know everything about him, even if a mosquito flies by. Where did this woman come from? — Open conflicts like these are rare in the entertainment industry, especially with Phoebe hinting at an ambiguous relationship with Carter Entertainment’s CEO. The show’s director immediately saw this as a goldmine and quickly released a teaser. Sure enough, the buzz skyrocketed. There’s no way to back out now. I joined this show only because Wesley Carter had to make an urgent trip abroad for a business deal. According to the original plan, this small segment would be recorded within a week. I thought it would be boring, so when a talent scout approached me at the airport, I agreed immediately. Little did I know it would cause such a big misunderstanding. Due to high online discussion, the production team fully embraced the hype. Today’s recording session was directly changed to a visit to Carter Entertainment. After a few days without shooting, when we met again, Phoebe was surrounded like a star. I boarded the bus for departure, and as soon as she saw me, her voice grew louder. “I just can’t stand some people who arrogantly judge others, thinking they’re something special because they studied Media Studies abroad!” “Better than coming from a no-name school, right?” I retorted. She was the least educated among us. I wasn’t one to take insults lying down, plus her hinting at a relationship with Wesley Carter annoyed me. The bus staff immediately started whispering: “Seems like Hazel Wood has a bit of a temper, and she was really arrogant when she judged that painting.” “Maybe she’s just a spoiled rich girl. Haven’t you noticed she’s wearing all designer clothes?” “Even if her family is wealthy, she shouldn’t be so rude!” I ignored the chatter, finding a seat to sit alone. Phoebe, flushed from my retort, was defended by another amateur guest, Adeline. “Phoebe was kindly reminding you. Don’t forget Chinese humility just because you went abroad.” “How am I not humble? That painting is—” I turned to say it was mine, but Phoebe cut me off. “Forget it, Adeline, don’t bother. I don’t want to cause trouble for Brother Ezra.” What? Brother Ezra? Not just me, everyone caught that title. I kept silent, watching her with interest. I wanted to see what she was up to. “I actually didn’t want to say this.” Under the persistent questioning of everyone, Phoebe blushed. “We’ve known each other since we were very young. He’s helped me a lot over the years, and I’m very grateful to him.” “So when someone insults him, I couldn’t help but defend him.” She glanced at me as if I forced her to get angry. Adeline echoed, “Known each other since childhood… really?” She seemed to remember something, “Could it be, are you the childhood sweetheart of Mr. Wesley?!” Wesley Carter has only ever acknowledged a childhood sweetheart. It’s rumored that the painting in the lobby was also created by this childhood sweetheart. But no one knows what she looks like. Phoebe neither denied nor confirmed it, simply tucking her hair behind her ear. Isn’t that as good as admitting it? Well, why don’t you just say you’re me! I couldn’t help but mock, “Does Wesley Carter even know you? Do you know which elementary, middle, and high school he went to?” “Do you know?” Phoebe smirked, “Or are all your actions just to get his attention?” Phoebe’s words were like a bombshell, and the crew immediately started discussing. “Isn’t Mr. Wesley rumored to be marrying his childhood sweetheart?” This isn’t just an assumption, right? Fine, why don’t you just claim to be me and be done with it? I couldn’t help but mock, “Does Wesley Carter even know you? Do you know which schools he attended in elementary, middle, and high school?” Phoebe Taylor shot back with a sardonic smile, “Do you know? Or maybe everything you’ve done was just to get his attention?” Phoebe’s words were like a spark, igniting a flurry of discussion among the staff present. “Isn’t there a rumor that Mr. Wesley is going to marry his childhood sweetheart?” “The show hit the jackpot! Let’s get this clip out immediately!” “We’re going to make a fortune! This is definitely going viral!” The director was so thrilled he couldn’t contain his excitement, his grin almost splitting his face. “Phoebe, we’re visiting Carter Entertainment Group today. Could you help us out? If we could film a show there, it would be amazing—” Phoebe seemed a bit hesitant. “I’m not sure if Brother Ezra is around today. The company has its procedures, so the chances aren’t high. I’ll try my best.” Her words were carefully crafted, leaving no room for misunderstanding. “Oh, you’re such a great help! Truly a blessing!” The director exuberantly shook Phoebe’s hand. After getting off the bus, the group headed straight to the reception desk at Carter Entertainment Group, all eyes eagerly on Phoebe Taylor. Hoping she could somehow get the production team access to film directly at Carter. She cleared her throat and stepped forward under everyone’s watchful gaze. I stood off to the side, arms crossed, watching her with a cool detachment. As expected, the receptionist denied her request. “We have a specific department for such matters. If you want to apply, you’ll need to contact our event planning department.” Phoebe was refused on the spot, her embarrassment evident. The nearby producer began to whisper. “Didn’t she claim to be Wesley Carter’s childhood sweetheart? Why wouldn’t the receptionist show her some respect?” “Maybe the receptionist doesn’t recognize her?” Phoebe cleared her throat, snapping at the receptionist with a touch of arrogance, “I don’t blame you for not understanding! Where’s your supervisor? Get them here!” Adeline tried to smooth things over beside her, “They really can’t read the room. Do they think we’re just an ordinary production team?” Phoebe managed to regain some composure, smiling as she attempted to reclaim her dignity. Ms. Cao, the reception supervisor, came out and listened to the receptionist’s report. Afterward, she turned to Phoebe and said, “I’m sorry, but we can’t help you with this. I can refer you to our event planning department…” Ms. Cao’s gaze met mine as I stood behind her. She abruptly stopped mid-sentence, “Miss…” She swallowed the rest of her words before she could exclaim. Following my request, my relationship with Wesley Carter was kept well-hidden from the public. If she let it slip, she’d really be risking her job. “One moment.” She immediately reported to her superiors with her headset. I figured she was unsure why I came with a group and was likely contacting Wesley Carter’s assistant. Ms. Cao hung up and gave a professional smile, “I’ve reported it. Mr. Wesley’s assistant will come to meet you soon, and you can discuss the details with him.” The crowd’s view of Phoebe instantly shifted to admiration. “Phoebe! You really do know Mr. Wesley!” Adeline exclaimed, her voice a mix of surprise and joy, holding Phoebe’s hand with excitement. Even Phoebe seemed surprised but steadied herself, managing a pleased smile. “So he really remembers me…” she murmured. Yeah right, I rolled my eyes. I’m not curious anymore about what kind of person she is. I’m more interested in seeing how she’ll cover up her lies in the end! Everyone started fawning over Phoebe. “Phoebe, there’s a rumor that the painting in the lobby was done by Mr. Wesley’s childhood sweetheart. Was it really you?” Phoebe smugly twirled her hair, “You said it’s a rumor, so of course, it’s not true.” They all realized they’d just learned a piece of gossip unknown to others. We might even get to shoot the show at Carter! Phoebe singlehandedly occupied two cameras for filming. I chuckled coldly, “It’s better to be honest. If someone exposes you have no connection with Wesley Carter, that lie’s gonna be huge.” Phoebe gritted her teeth. At this point, there was no way she’d admit it. “If you’re jealous, just say so. Apologize to me, and I’ll let your comments about the painting slide.” I suppressed the urge to slap her, shaking my head speechlessly. Remy, Wesley Carter’s assistant, came running over to us, out of breath. Seeing such a large group, and my stern face, he was unsure what was going on. He spoke as if to everyone but was really addressing me, “Mr. Wesley has returned from his overseas trip early, but it’ll be a bit longer. Why don’t we wait in his office?” Wesley Carter came back early? I hadn’t had a chance to react before I heard the staff’s excited chatter. The director was incredulous, “Is Mr. Wesley inviting us? What an honor!” “Going to his office? Oh my gosh, am I dreaming?” “Phoebe Taylor really is Mr. Wesley’s childhood sweetheart!” Everyone looked at Phoebe with even more admiration, practically ready to worship her. Phoebe herself was surprised it was so easy. She hesitated, “Wouldn’t it be too much of a bother?” “What, scared?” I mocked. “Or are you worried your lies will be exposed when you see Wesley Carter?” “Of course not!” she snapped back. “Why would I be scared? Besides, isn’t everyone getting to go to his office because of me?” I raised an eyebrow, “Good, I hope you stay bold until the end. Don’t cry and beg when you’re proven wrong.” “You should worry about yourself! Don’t you know how many people online are criticizing you?” “Then please, show them the way up.” I turned to Remy with a cold smile. The group made their way to Wesley Carter’s office on the top floor. As soon as they entered, they were all stunned by the office’s luxury. The office was filled with large paintings, more mature in style than the one in the lobby. I casually sat on the sofa, familiar with the place, while the others marveled at the luxurious office. Suddenly, a producer let out a short shriek, “Our video from Carter is already online! In just one minute, it has over ten thousand views!” Everyone was instantly excited. Carter Entertainment Group’s popularity was indeed impressive! “Everyone’s asking what Phoebe’s relationship with Mr. Wesley is. Phoebe, you have to give our show the exclusive!” “The comments are all praising Phoebe and criticizing Hazel Wood for being rude and jealous.” “She totally deserves it, she brought it on herself!” Phoebe basked in the compliments from the producers, casting a smug look at me. “You all sit tight, Mr. Wesley will be here soon.” The assistant glanced at my expression, not stopping the group’s activities. Once he left, a producer snuck a photo of Wesley Carter’s office and posted it online. Comments flooded in from Wesley Carter’s fans. “Is this really Wesley Carter’s office? The production team is amazing!” “Phoebe’s connection? Is she really Wesley Carter’s childhood sweetheart?” “Seems like it. Wesley Carter has never let anyone into his office before.” A staff member found a photo of Wesley Carter as a child with a girl on his desk. “Hey, come look! A photo of Mr. Wesley as a kid with a girl!” Everyone crowded around. I glanced at it, surprised he kept our childhood photo on his desk. Back then, I was taller than him, one arm around him like a boss, making a peace sign with the other. Wesley looked at me with something like admiration. That day, I had just fought off some boys who teased him for being girly, earning his full admiration. I smiled, feeling nostalgic. The director exclaimed, “Celeste! This photo you sent of your childhood looks just like the girl in this picture! Is this you as a kid?” My smile froze. Could this get any more ridiculous? The production team quickly pulled up a childhood photo of Celeste and zoomed in. As a kid, I was always out playing, darker and smaller, with some resemblance to Phoebe Taylor. The place erupted again. “Mr. Wesley has a photo with Phoebe Taylor on his desk?” “This can’t be fake; they must know each other!” The guests immediately praised her, “Celeste was cute as a kid too!” “What’s cute about that,” I snorted. “Besides, is this even you?” “If it’s not me, is it you?” Phoebe’s face darkened, “Hazel Wood, you’ve been mocking me non-stop. Do you really think I don’t have a temper?” I smirked sarcastically, “I just can’t stand liars barking around like dogs, pretending to be something they’re not.” At this point, a producer defended Phoebe, unable to tolerate my words. “They’re definitely involved. There’s no way this is fake!” The guests quickly chimed in with praise, “Celeste was really pretty as a child too!” “Pretty? What’s so pretty about it?” I sneered. “Besides, is that even you?” “If it’s not me, then is it you?” Phoebe Taylor’s expression soured. “Hazel Wood, you’ve been mocking me non-stop. Do you really think I won’t get upset?” I gave a sardonic smile. “I just can’t stand liars barking like dogs, pretending to be people.” At this point, a producer couldn’t ignore my remarks and came to Phoebe Taylor’s defense. “Hazel, last time you critiqued a painting, we thought it might be deliberate, but this time? You’re clearly doing it on purpose.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295242”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #魔幻Magic #励志Inspiring #重生Reborn #校园School #惊悚Thriller #后宫Harem