Category: English

I tried to be considerate of Nora’s postpartum challenges, so I brought her rural parents in to help. But she couldn’t stand them, saying they mistreated her and wanted them gone immediately. After sending them back, Nora went back to work, earning just enough to barely offset a babysitter’s costs. Despite that, she constantly suspected me of fooling around with the babysitter. Finally, I’d had enough and filed for divorce. But it wasn’t until I ended up in her shoes that I realized just how wrong I’d been. A baby’s wail filled my ears, and I felt like I was trapped in a furnace. Groggily, I opened my eyes and instinctively called out, “Nora, what’s going on? Could you come take care of the baby?” The sound of my own voice shocked me. Why did I sound exactly like my wife—no, my ex-wife? Just yesterday, we’d had a massive argument and finalized the divorce. We’d met in college and married not long after graduation. For a while, everything was great. But things changed after Nora gave birth; she grew more and more extreme in her reactions. Wanting to help, I’d brought her parents up from Littleton to lend a hand, but she found fault with them every day. She told me they were abusive, constantly demanding that I send them away. Eventually, I did just that. Then she returned to work, only to earn what was barely enough to pay for the babysitter’s fees. And yet she still constantly accused me of getting involved with the sitter. Thinking about how I’d no longer have to deal with her angry face, I happily reserved a private room at Blue Ridge Grill & Tavern and called my friends over to celebrate the “newly liberated me.” Now, though, as I looked down at my arms, my breath hitched in shock. Smooth, pale skin stared back at me—Nora’s skin. Then I looked over at the tiny baby beside me, smaller than my forearm. A strange thought took hold: somehow, I hadn’t just ended up in Nora’s body—I’d traveled back to when Chloe was just born. And if I’m in her body, could Nora be in mine? With a jolt, I found Nora’s phone, unlocked it, and dialed my own number. In seconds, it picked up. “Nora?” I asked tentatively. “Alex?” came her equally cautious reply. Yep. We’d switched bodies. While I was freaking out, Nora seemed unfazed—even a bit excited. “Who knows how long we’ll be stuck like this? Besides, I’m still on maternity leave, so this is a great time for you to stay home and bond with Chloe. Don’t worry about work; I’ve got you covered. You and Chloe will be in good hands,” she said brightly. The casual “Honey” stopped me cold. She hadn’t called me that, sweetly or otherwise, since Chloe was a year old. Yesterday, she’d left claw marks on my face. “How long’s it been since you worked, anyway? Are you sure you’ll manage?” She scoffed. “Please. It’s been a year. If I hadn’t stepped out to take care of Chloe, I’d probably be your boss by now.” And with that, she hung up with characteristic flair. Good thing she didn’t remember the future; I’d hate to see what kind of revenge she’d come up with. With a resigned sigh, I wiped the sticky sweat off my face, picked up my crying daughter, and headed to the bathroom to bathe her. I found Dad on the couch, munching on watermelon and watching the game, the fan blasting away while he looked as comfortable as could be. “Hey, Dad, could you check the AC in my room? It isn’t coming on.” He glanced at me casually. “Your mom unplugged it; said you keep it running all day, and the electric bill’s sky-high.” Great. My mom may have come from the country, but she wasn’t stingy with family, even if she did pinch pennies with herself. Annoyed, I didn’t press it. Chloe was sweaty and uncomfortable, so I rushed her to the bathroom for a quick rinse. Nora, being the health-conscious type, had stayed slim through her pregnancy. Compared to other women who gained baby weight, she’d barely changed. For a moment, I was happy about that. But as I tried to feed Chloe, who cried endlessly, that joy quickly soured. Was she so focused on her looks that she couldn’t wait until Chloe was weaned to diet? Pulling on my shorts, I stepped out of the bathroom with Chloe in my arms, still fuming. I glanced toward Dad, only to feel a chill as I realized I’d forgotten to dress properly. Embarrassed, I ran back to the bathroom and awkwardly slipped into one of Nora’s nightgowns. I felt completely ridiculous. My own dad had just seen more of Nora than he ever should have. Just as I tried to walk past as casually as possible, he spoke up. “Don’t worry, Nora,” he said with a sly grin. “Didn’t see a thing.” If he’d really meant it, he could’ve just kept quiet. And why was he smiling like that? Was it the sleep deprivation, or was there something unsettling about that grin? I shrugged it off, chalking it up to Nora’s exhaustion and my strained nerves. I fumbled through feeding Chloe, mixing formula, changing diapers, until she finally settled down. Then I let out a breath of relief. Mom would be back soon from shopping, and then I could hand Chloe over and get a break.

“Nora! Are you planning to waltz out here anytime soon, or are you really expecting us to cater to you like some kind of queen?” Mom’s shrill voice jolted me awake. My eyes flew open as relief washed over me. “Mom, just in time! Chloe—” I hadn’t even finished before she let me have it. “Oh, so it’s fine for you to hide out in the AC all morning, huh? Do you think Alex’s paycheck grows on trees, just so you can waste it? It’s about time he divorced you!” I was too stunned to respond. Nora used to tell me that my mom was only polite to her face and criticized her behind closed doors, but I thought she was exaggerating to drive Mom away. Now, hearing it firsthand, my chest tightened. “Mom, how could you say that? Chloe’s a baby; she can’t be sitting in a room that’s so hot!” Mom snapped off the AC and glared at me. “Hot? Please. She’s just a little girl, not some precious gem.” I wiped the spit from my face, feeling shaken. Mom had always played the doting grandmother in front of me, spoiling Chloe, calling her “my little angel.” I had no idea it was all for show. Reluctantly, I followed her to the dining table. Chicken soup steamed from a big bowl. Normally, the aroma would make me hungry, but now it churned my stomach. Trying to keep up my strength for breastfeeding, I held back the nausea and reached for a bowl, only for Mom to smack my hand away. “Show some respect, will you? Alex works himself to the bone, and you’re trying to snatch his meal? You should be grateful he keeps a roof over your head!” Apparently, the big bowl of soup was for “Alex,” while Nora’s dainty portion was in a smaller bowl. It almost made sense, but I still felt the sting. Holding back frustration, I searched for a piece of chicken in the pot, only to find the tail, neck, and head staring back at me. Finally, I couldn’t take it and pushed my bowl away. “Forget it. I’m done.” She couldn’t understand that I was the one she was actually hurting. Angry, I stormed off to my room and ordered a big takeout meal from Frankie’s Pizza as an act of defiance. When it arrived, I texted Nora, half-laughing to myself. “Did you get a taste of my mom’s famous chicken soup?” “Yeah, not bad. You should eat too; can’t have Chloe going hungry.” “It’s too fishy; I couldn’t eat it.” “Doesn’t matter. American formula’s full of who-knows-what, and imported stuff is too expensive. Besides, breast milk’s free and healthier.” I had no words. It sounded just like something I would’ve told her in the past when she’d complain. I thought she was being fussy. After all, don’t all mothers get through this stuff? And Mom treated her like a daughter—at least, that’s what I believed. This role reversal made me realize what Nora had endured. A heavy, suffocating weight settled in my chest. When the pizza arrived, I was eating at the table when suddenly, Mom yanked my hair back, spilling hot soup onto my lap, and slapped me hard across the face. “What’s gotten into you, wasting money on delivery when I’ve made a perfectly good meal? How ungrateful can you get?” My scalp, legs, and cheek were stinging with pain, and my mind was spinning. This was the same “loving” mother who’d always backed me up. Fighting back tears, I choked out, “Mom, it’s me, Alex. Your son.” She scoffed and muttered something about me being delusional as she stormed out, leaving the mess behind.

Hours passed in misery until Nora finally got home. Mom may have refused to help with Chloe, but surely Nora wouldn’t. Eager to pass her over, I held Chloe out to Nora, only for Mom to intercept. “I’ll take the baby. Alex has worked hard all day, while you’ve done nothing. Why don’t you give him a massage instead?” Rubbing my temples, I muttered, “Caring for Chloe’s a lot harder than you think. I’d appreciate a back rub too.” Mom’s face crumpled into a tearful expression. “I cook, I clean, I do it all, and now you’re complaining?” For a second, I wavered. Mom had cried like this in front of me before, and I’d always thought it was Nora being ungrateful. What had I let happen here? Seeing Nora’s look of amusement as she flopped onto the couch, I heard her say, “Nora, what’s with the attitude toward Mom? She came all this way to help. Go apologize.” Her words struck me like a hammer. She’d remembered every time I’d said that to her. I sighed and gave in, massaging Mom’s shoulders obediently. That night, as the family settled in, Nora worked on her laptop in the living room. Trying to be helpful, I leaned over. “Long day? Need help with anything?” Her gaze shifted from the screen to me, her eyes sparkling with newfound determination. “It was tough this morning, but I hit my stride by afternoon. I didn’t take time off for pregnancy, so I’m still on top of my game.” Watching her confidence, I felt a bit ashamed. Nora had always been ambitious; I’d been lucky to marry her. But seeing her work so hard made me wonder—had I been supporting her at all? “I’ll be back to work once I’m fully recovered. Then we can hire someone to help with Chloe.” Nora raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Isn’t your mom her grandmother? She should be happy to care for her.” I chuckled wryly. “I know, honey. I know better now.” If it weren’t for this bizarre experience, I’d still be in denial, convinced Mom was a saint. Chloe woke up crying every couple of hours, and each time, I forced myself awake to feed her. Exhausted, I stumbled into the living room where Nora was sleeping, holding Chloe with dark circles under my eyes. “I’m going nuts, Nora. I can’t handle this. Please take her, and I’ll go to work.” No sooner had I made the request than Mom burst out, grasping Nora’s hand with a tearful expression. “My poor son! Working so hard and all he gets is a thankless wife,” she said, her voice filled with dramatic pity. I used to believe Mom’s words with misty eyes, thinking she was my wise, empathetic mother. Now, I wanted nothing more than to tell her to stop. But she was my mother. I kept my silence. Nora pulled her hand free, gave me a sympathetic look, and, with all the wisdom of her newfound experience, said, “Honey, remember: being a mom makes you strong.” Only now did I fully grasp just how strong she’d been all along.

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I had an extremely clean-freak boyfriend. His room was always spotless, without a speck of dust. What pained me the most was that he treated me the same way. Fine, fine, fine, if I can’t handle it, I’ll just leave. Goodbye, Your Highness. Today, after being scolded by my boss, I dragged my tired body back to the home I shared with James, working overtime until very late. As soon as I opened the door, James, sitting at his desk, said without changing his expression, “Change your slippers and take a shower.” I took a deep breath. Having just been criticized by my boss, I don’t know if I was upset or what, but tears of frustration fell. Not only did I not change my slippers, but I also carelessly threw my bag down and lay directly on the couch. “James, let’s break up.” James didn’t even look up, directly ignoring my words, “Looks like the couch cover will have to be thrown away tomorrow, and the floor will need to be mopped.” I gritted my teeth and repeated clearly, word by word, “James, let’s break up!” This was the sixth time I had proposed breaking up in half a year. I admit I liked James and was reluctant to leave him, but I really couldn’t take it anymore. It wasn’t just because he was a germaphobe, but because he treated me like I was dirty too. In the year we’d been together, hand-holding could barely be counted, only once. Kissing, hugging, all these things couples should do had never happened, just because James was an extremely clean person who would wash his hands three times after shaking hands with a friend. What’s more annoying was that in the two months we’d lived together, we slept in separate rooms. I couldn’t enter his room, and the first thing to do when coming home was to change slippers and take a shower. Even going to the toilet required thoroughly cleaning it with toilet cleaner first, and repeating the process afterward. Once, I was lazy and only rinsed with water. As a result, James directly replaced the toilet the next day. What a miserable life, what a miserable me! I knew clearly that James didn’t love me. I wasn’t that special person, and I would never be that special person in the future. James finally looked up at me, his almond eyes glancing at me slightly. I couldn’t see the emotion in his eyes, only feeling extraordinarily calm. He said, “Have you thought it through?” My heart suddenly caught. The last time I broke up, James asked the same question. At that time, I ended up softening without any backbone. How could you let go of someone you like so easily? But this time, I didn’t plan to compromise. If he didn’t love me, why did he accept my confession in the first place? If he didn’t want to touch me at all, why did he agree to live together? I didn’t want to continue living like this for another second. Being with James, I lived like a stranger, walking on eggshells for a year. I also wanted to be able to do nothing when I got home, lie on the couch and scroll through my phone, instead of changing slippers, taking a shower, and constantly worrying about dirtying his territory. I wiped away a tear and sat up, “I’ve thought it through.” “I’ll pack my things and move out later.” James frowned, looking at me deeply, and finally didn’t open his mouth to persuade me, “Okay, do you want me to call you a car?” I clutched my chest, took a deep breath, and quietly chanted to myself, “Don’t get angry, don’t get angry, don’t argue with an idiot…” I got up and angrily packed my luggage to leave, obviously in the manner of running away from home. But when I reached the door, the more I thought about it, the more unwilling I felt. Why should I be the only one suffering while James could remain unmoved? No, I had to make him suffer too. I couldn’t bear this pain alone. So I dropped my luggage and walked aggressively towards James at his desk. James rarely showed a hint of confusion, “Lily, what are you trying to do?” But I wouldn’t explain. I directly forced myself on him, grabbing James’s collar and then kissed him. Then I vindictively bit his lip, and not only that, I ran my hands all over his chest. Without giving James a chance to react, I grabbed my luggage and ran off. I could hear James shouting behind me, “Lily Sanders! Have you gone crazy?” That was our first kiss, and also our last kiss. The news of my breakup with James spread quickly, and after moving out of his house, I met with the manager who had wanted to poach me to their company last time. Their company had been cooperating with foreign enterprises for a long time. After discussing the salary and benefits, I bought a plane ticket without hesitation and flew out of this heartbreaking city. In the first week of joining the new company, I secured an opportunity for overseas training and further studies with my previous excellent performance. I admit I wanted to escape. I didn’t want to see James again because I was afraid I would soften again. Sitting on the plane heading abroad, I looked at the few and not-so-intimate photos of James and me in my phone album. Tears fell again, and then I reached out and deleted them all. James, I’ll make you regret not cherishing me properly! Crying and crying, I was afraid of ruining my expensive makeup, so I took out the mirror I carried with me and wiped away my tears… After six months of further studies, I returned to the new company and worked hard for the boss. Gradually… the thoughts of James in my heart lessened. Perhaps this is the power of time. I lazily made a cup of coffee. Footsteps came from behind, but I didn’t turn around. However, the man behind me called out, “Lily, still working overtime?” I turned to look at the newcomer. It was Ryan, a new colleague in our department, also very hardworking. Compared to me back then, he was even more so. When he first came, I teased him, “Did you also just break up?” At that time, he answered me, “Yes.” Perhaps because we were in the same boat, we quickly became close, sometimes going on business trips together, closer than iron brothers. I took a sip of coffee, “Isn’t it obvious?” Ryan laughed, “Be careful, or you might end up with a receding hairline.” I rolled my eyes at him, annoyed, “If you can’t say anything nice, just keep quiet.” After a while, Ryan said again, “There’s a gathering tomorrow night, help me out, will you?” I said straightforwardly, “No.” Ding ding, phone notification: Ryan Young has transferred 5000 to you. I gladly accepted and then looked up at him, “I take back what I just said. Tell me, what help do you need? As long as I can do it, I’ll definitely get it done for you.” Ryan had a slightly mischievous expression, “Pretend to be my girlfriend.” I shamelessly said, “Add another thousand.” Ryan tugged at the corner of his mouth, “Deal.” The next evening, I wore a sexy, figure-hugging red long dress and walked into the gathering place with Ryan. Although my figure wasn’t particularly good, it was above average, and my face wasn’t bad either. Ryan would definitely look good. Ryan enthusiastically greeted his friends and then introduced me. Living up to my professional ethics, I held Ryan’s arm, appearing intimately close. When the crowd dispersed a bit, my peripheral vision paused, and then the smile froze on my face. Not for any other reason, but because I saw a very familiar figure, a figure I had been avoiding for two years but hadn’t forgotten. My gaze followed that man step by step as he walked over. James, a person I would recognize even if he turned to ashes. When Ryan saw James coming, he immediately perked up, “Dr. Quinn, you’re finally here. We’ve been waiting for you for a long time.” “This is my girlfriend, Lily Sanders.” I awkwardly tugged at the corner of my mouth. James’s eyes kept falling on me, and then I heard his deep voice, “Lily Sanders? Your girlfriend?” As soon as these words were spoken, I suddenly felt the air turn cold. It must be an illusion. I swallowed and thought to myself, Lily! What are you afraid of? You’ve already broken up, there’s no relationship anymore! After a round of self-encouragement, I adjusted my state, then put on a smile and reached out my hand, saying, “Hello, Dr. Quinn.” James held his wine glass, hesitating to reach out. I knew he definitely wouldn’t. This severe germaphobe, who would wash his hands three times after shaking hands with others, how could he shake hands with me, especially me, his detestable ex-girlfriend? I vividly remembered that after I forced myself on him, James looked shocked, his neatly ironed white shirt all messed up, with a blood drop from my bite on his lip. It was like a chaste male god had been violated. Thinking about it now, I still felt a little excited? Seeing that James kept looking at me but didn’t reach out, Ryan, to ease the awkwardness, tried to pull my hand back. But the next second, James reached out and shook my hand, “Hello, Lily Sanders.” I was almost afraid James would say, long time no see, my detestable ex-girlfriend. What shocked me more was that James actually shook hands with me! Has this man reformed after two years? I smiled awkwardly, confused, and quickly withdrew my hand, linking arms with Ryan again. Ryan laughed, “I didn’t expect the usually germaphobic Dr. Quinn to actually shake hands voluntarily. You’ve changed quite a bit in a year, at least you seem like a normal person now…” Seemingly realizing his words were a bit inappropriate, Ryan quickly added, embarrassed, “No, no, that’s not what I meant, haha.” James didn’t mind, he didn’t even look at him, but glanced at me and said, “It’s okay, what you said is indeed very accurate.” Me, “Hehe, hehe…” How come I don’t believe it at all. James didn’t chat for long before turning to leave. I was itching with curiosity, and when no one was around, I pulled Ryan close and whispered, “How do you know this Dr. Quinn? I’ve never heard you mention him as a friend before?” Ryan said, “Ah, a year ago I had a car accident and ended up in his emergency room. At that time, he was disgusted with me because my accident wounds had motor oil, my clothes were all sandy, and my sweat smelled bad. I tell you, I had fainted but his attitude woke me up.” “Later I found out he was a severe germaphobe, thought it was quite interesting, and put in a lot of effort to befriend him.” I almost couldn’t hold back my laughter. I asked again, “Then why did he come all the way here to attend your gathering today? Isn’t he very busy?” Ryan looked at me intently, “How do you know he’s very busy?” I was momentarily at a loss for words, then quickly said, “Aren’t all doctors like that? You never know when there might be an emergency patient.” Saying this, I recalled my bitter history. After getting together with James, he was busy every day, so busy that we might not even exchange a few words in a day. Most of the time, I just curled up on the couch watching TV alone. My boyfriend was like a decoration, and yet I still stuck with James for a year. I admire myself for that. Ryan no longer seemed suspicious and said, “Indeed. But recently, he came here on a business trip, apparently for a job transfer. The hospital here has invited him several times, but I guess James probably won’t come to develop his career here.” My heart skipped a beat. Job transfer? Coming here to develop his career? Isn’t this going to be the death of me? Back then, I went to great lengths just to escape from that heartbreaking place where he was, and now James might have the opportunity to develop here? But since they’ve invited him several times and he hasn’t come, it’s probably unlikely. Thinking of this, my heart settled back down. Ryan leaned in mysteriously, “What? You’ve taken a liking to him?” I rolled my eyes at him, “Would you fall for someone who’s not normal?” Ryan thought for a moment and felt it made perfect sense, “Well, I guess anyone who could fall for James would probably have to be a bit of a germaphobe like him.” Me, “?” I feel like I’ve just been insulted. Ryan was called away by other friends to drink and chat, and I didn’t fit into that scene. Just then, having had a bit too much to drink, I wanted to use the restroom. But as soon as I walked out of the banquet hall, I saw a figure leaning on the railing. Dressed in a suit, I suddenly imagined him in a white coat saving lives, while using those beautiful, slender hands to perform surgery and at the same time complaining about how dirty the patient was here and there. I suddenly couldn’t hold back my laughter, then lightened my footsteps, planning to sneak away. I really didn’t know how to face James. But after just two steps, I was stopped by a familiar voice, “Lily Sanders, where are you planning to run off to this time?” I took a deep breath, then calmly turned around, “Oh, if it isn’t Dr. Quinn. I don’t think we’re that familiar, what business is it of yours where I go?” James narrowed his eyes and walked towards me, his aura intimidating. I felt the pressure, “Not familiar? Can’t I care about my ex-girlfriend?” Care, this word actually came out of James’s mouth. I thought he would never care about anyone. I awkwardly forced a smile, “Dr. Quinn, you seem to have forgotten, we’ve already broken up.” James was very tall, a full head and a half taller than me. My eyes at level could only see his chest. Looking at his chest, I was reminded of the scene two years ago when I forced myself on him. Today he was dressed the same, wearing a suit with a white shirt underneath, and a neatly tied bow tie, exuding an aura of restraint. My inner self screamed, Lily Sanders! I knew you couldn’t possibly be that kind of abnormal person, you must have pursued him because you coveted James’s good looks. “Are you Ryan’s girlfriend?” I was stunned, not expecting James to ask such a foolish question. Hadn’t we just introduced this earlier? “Yes.” “Break up with him, and don’t see him again.” I looked up at him in surprise. It was still those almond eyes, but this time, they were no longer calm and unruffled, but filled with anger, even a hint of fury. I got angry, “Are you sick? If you’re sick, go get treatment.” With that, I didn’t want to tangle with him anymore and turned to leave. But the next second, my wrist was gripped by James, and with great force, I was pulled into his arms. James’s deep voice sounded in my ear, “Lily Sanders, you’ve really learned some new tricks in these two years.” Then, after he finished speaking, he actually took the initiative to kiss my earlobe, and then gently bit it. My brain instantly exploded. James must be having some issues today, not only hugging me on his own initiative but also kissing me. “James! Let go of me, what do you mean by this? Do you want me to report you for harassment?” I felt my forehead throbbing, then coughed twice, “I’ve already told you I have a boyfriend.” James suddenly laughed, “Boyfriend? Ryan has already confessed honestly, said you scammed him out of six thousand dollars.” Me, “…” At this moment, another familiar voice called out to me, “Lily…” Ryan walked out from inside, closing the door behind him, “You two know each other, don’t you?” This matter definitely couldn’t be covered up anymore, I had to admit it even if I didn’t want to, “Mm, he’s my… not-so-normal ex-boyfriend.” I originally thought Ryan would be very gossipy and ask about our relationship, but he only looked at James with some hostility, then said, “Was he harassing you just now?” I nodded vigorously, James’s almond eyes narrowed, looking very angry. Ryan pulled me over and said to James, “Although I consider you a friend, James, if you didn’t try to keep Lily two years ago, why are you coming to harass her now?” What he said made a lot of sense, but when I looked up and saw the flash of loss in James’s eyes, my heart involuntarily tightened again. Then, Ryan pulled me away in front of James, not returning to the gathering, but directly taking me to his car. I was lost in thought the whole way, until Ryan called out to me, and I came back to my senses, “Lily, do you still like James?” For some reason, I heard a hint of caution in Ryan’s tone. I paused, not saying anything. I couldn’t answer. The car was very quiet. Finally, I heard Ryan give a bitter laugh, trying to sound relaxed as he said, “I get it. By the way, thanks for pretending to be my girlfriend today. In the future, you won’t be able to scam money out of me anymore. Let me take you home.” I’m not a young girl experiencing her first love. Of course, I knew Ryan’s subtle feelings. So I opened my mouth and said, “I’m sorry.” “No need to trouble you, I’ll take a taxi back myself.” My tone was polite and distant. Ryan watched me get out of the passenger seat but didn’t stop me. The car stayed in front of me for about a minute, and finally drove away. I took a taxi all the way home, sat on the couch and stared blankly for a long time. After two years, I thought I had long since let go, but when I saw James, the high walls I had painstakingly built in my heart crumbled without a fight. Fragile beyond imagination. The more I thought, the more heartbroken I felt. Finally, I channeled my grief into appetite, tearfully ordered fried chicken. At the banquet earlier, I had only drunk alcohol, now I would be lying if I said I wasn’t hungry. As a result, I ate myself into the hospital in the middle of the night, diagnosed with gastritis. I just remembered that in these two years of living alone, I was really comfortable. I could come home and do nothing, lie on the couch and play with my phone, order takeout when hungry, drink beverages when thirsty. It had more or less affected my stomach. In my foggy state, I suddenly heard, during the year I was with James, although he demanded perfection in my personal matters, he would also knock on my door every day to call me for meals. The meals he cooked himself. Only, every time we ate, I would be scolded by him, like, you dropped a grain of rice, can’t you drink soup without spilling it, and so on. It seems his germaphobia was always the most prominent, so prominent that it could make people forget all his other qualities. I had the misfortune of ending up in the hospital, and even worse luck to see James’s familiar face. It was the first time I saw him looking panicked, with a group of doctors in white coats behind him. Then I was pushed away by him, becoming a patient under his care. Enduring the severe pain in my stomach, I asked, “Aren’t you not a doctor here? How come you’re in charge now?” James replied without changing his expression, “I will be in the future.” My heart sank, no longer speaking. At this time, James raised his hand and used his gloved finger to wipe the corner of my mouth. I had a bad feeling, sure enough, James raised an eyebrow, “Fried chicken? Or barbecue?” “Shut up.” A nurse beside me comforted me while saying, “Don’t worry, you might need to have a gastroscopy. Do you want to do it with direct intubation or under general anesthesia? General anesthesia requires a family member’s signature.” I was shocked. I’m the kind of person who fears nothing except injections and surgeries. Just thinking about how I saw others do gastroscopy before, with such a thick tube directly inserted into the throat, I was terrified, “General anesthesia, I want general anesthesia.” The nurse nodded, “Okay, then where’s your family member?” I suddenly remembered that I’m actually an orphan without parents. When I was in high school, my parents died in a car accident. I went to college relying on that little bit of compensation money and scholarships. Where would I have any family members in this world? James looked at me, then said to the nurse, “Go get the consent form, I’m her family member, I’ll sign it.” I looked at James strangely, but the severe abdominal pain prevented me from speaking. With one shot of anesthesia, I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I was already lying in a ward, with a nurse checking my IV drip. I swallowed my dry throat and asked, “Nurse, where’s Dr. Quinn?” That nurse was the one who gave me the anesthesia. She looked down at me, “Dr. Quinn has gone back to the hospital over there, he won’t be taking up his position here for a couple of days.” My eyes were dizzy, “He agreed to the transfer?” The nurse nodded with a suppressed smile, “Yes, after all, his family is here, how could he not transfer?” I tugged at the corner of my mouth, denying, “I’m not his family member.” The nurse looked unconvinced, “Then last night…” Me, “Can you expect a not-so-normal person to say normal things?” Nurse, “…” Lying in bed waiting for the anesthesia to wear off, I suddenly remembered that I still had to go to work today. I hurriedly opened my phone, looking at the time displayed on it. 10:30 AM. I dejectedly lay back down, unlocked my phone, about to explain to the manager. But as soon as I opened it, ding ding ding came several messages. It was the manager’s message box, with three messages sent at nine in the morning, “When did you get married?” “You’ve been hiding it deep.”

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I thought I was being considerate by asking my parents from the countryside to come and take care of my wife after she gave birth. But she was unhappy with the elderly couple and complained about everything. She even accused them of abusing her and insisted on kicking them out. After my parents left, she went back to work, but her monthly salary wasn’t even enough to cover the nanny’s fees. Yet she still constantly suspected me of having an affair with the nanny. I couldn’t take it anymore and divorced her. Until I woke up in her body and realized how terribly wrong I had been. A baby’s cry pierced the air. My body felt like it was in an oven. I opened my heavy eyelids and instinctively called out to my wife, “Iris, what are you doing? Come and soothe the baby—” As soon as the words left my mouth, I froze. Why was I speaking in my wife’s—no, my ex-wife’s voice? Just yesterday, we had a huge fight and got divorced. We were college classmates and got married soon after graduation. Our relationship was great until Iris gave birth. After that, she became increasingly extreme. I thought I was being considerate by asking my parents from the countryside to come and take care of her, but she was unhappy with the elderly couple and complained about everything. She even told me they were abusing her and insisted on kicking them out. After my parents left, she went back to work, but her monthly salary wasn’t even enough to cover the nanny’s fees. Yet she still constantly suspected me of having an affair with the nanny. Thinking about how I no longer had to face her bitter expression, I was so happy that I booked a luxurious private room and called my friends out for drinks to celebrate finally getting rid of her. … I gasped and quickly looked down at my arms. The smooth, fair skin was unmistakably Iris’s. Then I glanced at the baby girl lying next to me, not even as long as my arm. An absurd thought struck me. Not only had I transmigrated into Iris’s body, but I had also gone back to when we had just given birth to our daughter. Could it be that Iris had transmigrated into my body? With this thought, I quickly unlocked Iris’s phone and called myself. After a moment, the other end picked up. I tentatively asked, “Iris?” Iris also asked, “Hugo?” Well, it seemed we had indeed swapped bodies. Compared to my gloom, Iris didn’t seem worried at all. In fact, she sounded excited and eager. “We don’t know when we’ll switch back, but since I just gave birth, why don’t you stay at home and take care of the baby for a while? Honey, leave the money-making to me. Don’t worry, I promise to keep you and our daughter well-fed and happy.” That sweet “honey” startled me. She hadn’t called me that affectionately since our daughter turned one. Yesterday during the divorce, she even scratched my face, leaving bloody marks. “You haven’t worked in so long. Can you handle it? Don’t mess things up.” “Hmph, don’t look down on me. It’s only been a year since I stopped working. If it weren’t for Ulla, I might be your boss by now.” Iris hung up the phone briskly. Thankfully, she didn’t have memories of the future. Otherwise, who knows how she might seek revenge. I wiped the sticky sweat off my body and resigned myself to picking up the wailing baby girl to bathe her. In the living room, my mom was nowhere to be seen. My dad was watching a football game on the couch while eating watermelon, with a large fan blowing directly at him. He looked utterly comfortable. I complained, “Dad, can you check if the air conditioner in my room is broken? I just turned it on but there’s no response.” He glanced back at me indifferently, “Your mom said you use the air conditioner too much and the electricity bill is skyrocketing. She unplugged it.” “…” What a joke. Although my mom was an old lady from the countryside, she was only stingy with herself and quite generous with her family. The unpleasant sweat sticking to my body made me too impatient to argue. I hurriedly took my daughter, who looked like she had just been fished out of water, to bathe. Iris loved beauty and stayed slim throughout her pregnancy and after giving birth. Compared to women who became as fat as pigs after having children, I was secretly pleased. However, when I tried to breastfeed the baby and she couldn’t suck out much milk even after a long time, crying loudly in frustration, my excitement turned into resentment. She was too selfish. Couldn’t she have waited until the baby was weaned before losing weight? I put on some underwear and carried the baby out of the bathroom, feeling full of resentment. Seeing my dad sitting casually in the living room, the heavy yet clear feeling on my chest reminded me that I had forgotten to put on a shirt. I screamed and quickly ran back to the bathroom, awkwardly putting on a nightgown. The thought of my wife’s body being seen by my dad made me indescribably embarrassed. Just as I was about to walk past pretending nothing had happened, he suddenly spoke up. “Iris, don’t worry. I didn’t see anything.” I had made eye contact with him at that moment. Him saying this seemed more like deliberately reminding me. It would have been better if he hadn’t said anything. I glanced at my dad’s smiling face and felt his smile was a bit lewd and uncomfortable. Maybe it was due to Iris’s body lacking sleep, making it easy to overthink things. I carried my daughter back to the bedroom, clumsily preparing formula milk and changing diapers. Finally, I managed to soothe the little ancestor to sleep. I wiped off my sweat and let out a long sigh. When mom comes back from grocery shopping, I can just hand the baby to her to take care of.

“Iris, you lazy woman! It’s mealtime, can’t you come out to eat by yourself? Do you really think you’re a queen waiting to be served?” My mom’s loud voice woke me up. My eyes brightened, “Mom, you’re back just in time. Ulla…” Before I could finish, she unleashed a torrent of scolding. “Well, well, you wasteful woman! It’s so cool early in the morning, yet you’re hiding in your room using the air conditioner again. The electricity bill is hundreds of dollars a month. Do you think Jack’s money grows on trees? Sooner or later he’ll divorce you.” I was stunned by the scolding. Remembering how Iris once said that her mother-in-law was polite on the surface but treated her badly behind my back, I had thought it was just a lie she made up to drive my mom away. Now that I had become Iris, I truly experienced it firsthand. My feelings were mixed. “Mom, how can you say that? Babies are afraid of heat. You didn’t see how sweaty Ulla was after turning off the air conditioner.” I tried to reason with her, but my mom pressed the air conditioner switch and spat directly in my face. “What’s so hot? You’re just spoiled!” I wiped the saliva off my face, feeling complicated. In the past, when I came home from work, my mom would always rush to hold Ulla, calling her “sweetheart” and “darling”, seeming to love her so much. I never thought she was just putting on an act for me… I reluctantly followed her to the living room for dinner. The chicken soup emitted a rich aroma that would usually make my appetite soar, but now my stomach was churning. I tried to suppress my nausea and reach for the filled bowl, but my mom suddenly hit the back of my hand hard with her chopsticks. I sucked in a cold breath from the pain. She showed no remorse and pushed a small bowl of chicken soup towards me. “Don’t you know the rules? Jack works so hard, and you’re trying to steal his food? If it weren’t for him working hard to earn money outside, you’d be begging on the streets by now. Don’t you know how to be grateful?” So the big bowl of chicken soup was for “me”. Iris had a small stomach and ate less, so this arrangement seemed reasonable. I endured the pain and tried to pick up some chicken, but after searching for a while, all I could find were chicken butts and necks. When I saw the chicken head, I couldn’t hold back my nausea anymore. “I’m not eating!” Doesn’t she know she’s abusing her own son right now! I angrily ran back to the room and vindictively ordered a big takeout meal. Estimating the time, Iris should have received the lunch my mom sent over. I couldn’t help but text Iris, “Did you eat the chicken soup my mom made?” “Mmhmm, it tastes okay. You should eat more too, don’t let Ulla go hungry.” “It’s too fishy, I can’t eat it.” “You have to eat even if you can’t. Formula isn’t safe, breast milk is best – healthy and economical.” I opened my mouth, but Iris was impatient to hear my complaints. She casually said, “I went through the same thing back then. I survived giving birth, which was so dangerous. You’re a grown man, surely you can handle eating? Your mom is your own mother after all. Alright, I’m busy with work, can’t chat with you anymore.” These words sounded harsh and familiar. I suddenly remembered that when Iris used to complain to me about things at home, I always thought she was being too delicate. I told her not to make a fuss over nothing, after all, didn’t all women go through this? Besides, my mom treated her like her own daughter. It was only now that I understood Iris’s difficulties. My heart felt like it was weighed down by a heavy stone. Half an hour later, the takeout arrived. As I sat at the dining table eating, my hair was suddenly yanked back hard. The hot soup spilled onto my leg, followed by a stinging slap across my face. I was stunned by the blow and cried out in pain, “Mom, what are you doing?” “You ungrateful brat! I made such good chicken soup for you and you won’t eat it, but you order such expensive takeout instead. My poor Jack is working so hard in the hot sun to earn money. I’ll make him divorce you sooner or later and marry a virtuous wife!” My scalp hurt, my thigh hurt, and my cheek was burning. The one who had reduced me to this miserable state was my own mother with an angry face. Thinking of how good she used to be to me, and all the grievances Iris had suffered that I didn’t know about, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with sadness. My eyes involuntarily welled up with tears. Choking back sobs, I said, “Mom, I’m Jack, your own son.” “Did the slap make you stupid?” she muttered, ignoring the mess on the floor and slamming the door as she went into her room.

After enduring for several hours, I finally waited for Iris to get off work. The child’s own mother surely wouldn’t refuse to take care of her! I eagerly shoved our daughter into her arms, about to whistle in relief when my shoulder was suddenly patted by my mom. “I’ll hold the baby. Jack has been working all day outside, while you’ve been doing nothing at home. Go give him a shoulder massage.” I frowned. Taking care of a baby was much more tiring than going to work. It was already good enough that I didn’t ask Iris to rub my back. I couldn’t help but retort, “How can you say I didn’t do anything? Ulla can’t be left alone for a moment. You didn’t hold her at all during the day, I was the only one taking care of her.” As soon as I finished speaking, my mom actually started crying, complaining tearfully to Iris, “I’ve been busy all day, cooking, washing clothes, cleaning the house, doing everything. Now you’re finding fault with me. I shouldn’t be alive, I shouldn’t be in your way.” I was stunned for a moment. My mom had cried in front of me several times before, and I thought Iris was being horrible. I became increasingly impatient with her, never imagining that my mom could be two-faced… Come to think of it, I used to love Iris very much. The vows I made when proposing were sincere. It was only later, worn out by the constant tug-of-war at home, that my love gradually faded. How much of this was due to my mother? Iris raised an eyebrow and plopped down on the sofa with a look of amusement. “How dare you talk to my mom like that, Iris? She came all this way to take care of you, and this is how you treat her? Apologize to Mom right now.” Iris’s words hit me hard. This was exactly how I used to speak to her. She had remembered all along… I closed my eyes and resigned myself to giving her a shoulder massage. At night, after the whole family had showered, Iris sat in the living room working. I quickly walked over, feeling I finally had something useful to contribute. “How was your first day at work? Was there a lot you didn’t understand? I can teach you.” Iris shifted her gaze from the screen to my face. Her eyes sparkled with unprecedented brilliance as she smiled and patted her chest. “I was a bit unfamiliar in the morning, but I got much better in the afternoon. Don’t worry, I didn’t slack off during my pregnancy. I haven’t lost my professional knowledge. Remember when we were in college? I was top of our major. Which project have I ever lost to you at the company? If it weren’t for preparing to get pregnant and have Ulla, I would have been the one promoted that time.” Seeing Iris’s proud expression, I felt somewhat embarrassed. She was an only child from the city, with academic and work abilities no less than mine. To be honest, I was the one who married up. If she could strive forward even while pregnant, surely I, a man with several more years of work experience, could do even better. “When my maternity leave is over, I’ll go back to work. We can hire a nanny to take care of Ulla.” Iris gave me a strange look, smiling sarcastically, “Didn’t you say your mom is Ulla’s grandmother and loves her more than anyone? Why waste money on a nanny? Mom won’t agree.” I gave a bitter smile. “Stop mocking me. I know I was wrong, honey.” If I hadn’t transmigrated into my wife’s body, I probably would have thought my mom was a kind-hearted old lady until the day I died. Our daughter woke up hungry every two hours, crying loudly. I had to force open my heavy eyelids to get up and feed her. After two feedings, I couldn’t take it anymore. I picked up our daughter, and with huge dark circles under my eyes, I woke up Iris sleeping in the living room. “She’s so noisy, how am I supposed to sleep? I’m having a mental breakdown! Please, you take care of the baby. I’ll go to work.” Iris had slept through the baby’s loud crying earlier, but as soon as I complained, my mom immediately pushed open her bedroom door and came out. Holding Iris’s hand, tears streamed down her face like broken strings of pearls. “My poor son, married to a wife who doesn’t know how to care for others. And she’s a graduate from a top university in the city, not even as good as a country girl.” In the past, when I heard these words, I would be moved to tears, thinking my mom was the most sensible person in the world. But now I wanted to slap her. You never feel the pain until the knife cuts your own flesh. I hadn’t had a good night’s sleep since taking care of Ulla, yet I was still being compared unfavorably. But she was my own mother after all, so I held back. Iris pulled her hand away. “Honey, be strong for your child. You’ll get through this.”

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When the earthquake occurred, my husband personally pushed me toward the falling beams in order to save Yuri. I was hit on the head and died under the rocks. But he looked at me coldly, “Yuri! Don’t play dead.” When I didn’t answer, he sneered, turned around and told the rescuers that everyone had escaped safely. He said: “You want to die? Then I will help you!” “Yuri! Stop pretending. Now that you’re awake, I’ll act like nothing happened.” Joanne stood up, looking down at me coldly. “It’s just a few rocks, right? You’ve got thick skin; a little hit like this won’t kill you. Is it really that big of a deal?” His tone grew more impatient, but I was pinned under the rubble and couldn’t even speak. I tasted blood in my throat, my nose was full of dust, and I could barely keep my eyes open. His face was streaked with blood, too. I lifted my head with difficulty. “Help me… please, help me—” I want to live. I’m not ready to die yet! “Help me! Joanne, help me!” Joanne hesitated for a moment, just about to move, when suddenly Chloe cried out in pain. “Ah!” Without a second glance at me, Joanne turned and rushed to Chloe, visibly anxious. “Joanne, it hurts!” Her ankle was swollen. I looked over at them with difficulty, only to hear Joanne’s voice, full of concern. “Why didn’t you tell me you were this hurt? I’ll carry you!” He scooped Chloe up in his arms like she was something precious. Startled, Chloe clung to his neck. “I’m okay… I was just worried something might’ve happened to Yuri.” “Why isn’t Yuri getting up yet? I saw her get hit in the face with a rock.” “Mmm!” Chloe quickly covered her mouth as if she’d said too much, then added, “I’m sorry, Yuri, I didn’t mean to call you out!” “But risking your life to fool Joanne like that—it’s really wrong.” Joanne’s face darkened suddenly. “You really don’t know how to repent!” With that, he strode away, holding Chloe, completely ignoring that I was in so much pain I could barely breathe. Joanne. We’ve been together for so many years, and you know how much I care about my appearance. How could I possibly ruin my own face? I used all my strength to grab his ankle. “Help me… please—” “Disgusting! If you want to die, then hurry up and die!” He kicked my hand away without a second thought and walked off. “Please…” I watched his unyielding back as blood kept spilling from my mouth. He never looked back, not once. “Joanne.” Can’t you really see how huge the stone is on top of me? Or that my blood has soaked the ground so much it’s turned black? No… it’s not that you can’t see it. You just… don’t care. But I still want to live. My child has only been in my belly for less than two months and hasn’t felt a mother’s love yet. But I never even got the chance to show them this world.

I’m dead. Before I died, everything from the past flashed before me like a movie. I thought about my life, about all the mistakes. I should never have fallen in love with Joanne. I shouldn’t have! Then my child wouldn’t have died with me. Joanne, Chloe, and I grew up together as friends. I had a crush on Joanne, but they were in love with each other. When I finally decided to go abroad and let him go, Chloe came to me. She cried, begging me to let her have the chance to study abroad instead. To make it happen, she chose to give up Joanne. And I, for the sake of Joanne and my friendship with Chloe, gave up my own chance to go abroad. After she left, Joanne was devastated, and I was just being a friend—comforting him, staying by his side. I never expected he would end up with me. But then he confessed to me. He said he’d fallen in love with me. He proposed. I thought, finally, I’d earned my happiness. But three months ago, Chloe came back and claimed I was the one who forced her to leave. How absurd! Joanne actually believed that pathetic lie. “There’s someone here!” My memories were abruptly interrupted by a rescuer’s shout. Just as they were about to rush over, Joanne stopped them. He frowned slightly. “She’s faking it. She’s not hurt—I checked.” Oh. My soul hovered in front of Joanne, and I couldn’t help but smile as I watched him lie with such ease. I was smiling, but tears streamed down my face. If he had really checked, maybe my child and I would still have a chance to survive. I looked at his face, the one I had loved for so many years, and in that moment, I felt sick. The rescuer paused for a moment before shouting angrily, “She’s been crushed under all those rocks, with only her head sticking out! You call that uninjured?” He rushed toward my body, and within seconds, the medical staff exclaimed, “She’s lost too much blood, and her vital signs are weak. We need to get her to the hospital immediately!” “Hurry! Everyone, come and help!” I saw Joanne hesitate. Panic flashed across his face, and just as he was about to turn around, Chloe sighed, “Yuri’s such a good actress. That’s how she tricked me into leaving in the first place.” In that moment, Joanne’s panic morphed into anger. “I hope she’s really dead!” “Unlucky!”

My soul is always with Joanne. I watched him curse me all the way, yet he was so gentle with Chloe. He personally administered her medicine, rubbing her swollen ankle with the reverence of a saint. “Joanne, I’m fine. Don’t worry,” Chloe smiled and acted sweetly, “But I’m really worried about Yuri.” Joanne scoffed. “It’s all Yuri’s fault. If she had blocked that rock for you sooner, maybe you wouldn’t have been hurt.” Hearing this made my heart ache. Just then, Joanne’s phone rang. “Hello, Mr. Joanne. Are you a relative of Yuri?” the voice on the other end said. “Ms. Yuri has passed away after failed rescue efforts. Please come to Civic Hospital to collect her body.” “Here we go again.” “What?” The caller sounded confused. Before she could say anything else, Joanne hung up, throwing the phone onto the sofa in anger. “She’s really sick!” Joanne cursed. “She’s been putting on a show for me. I must have spoiled her over the past two years!” Chloe’s expression changed slightly as she softly comforted him. “Yuri did everything to be with you. Maybe she feels threatened because I’m here.” “It’s my fault for making her feel uncomfortable. I need to apologize and ask her to come back.” Tears were welling in her eyes as she spoke. Joanne quickly hugged her. “It’s not your fault!” “She’s the one who should leave!” I watched them embrace, seeing Joanne hold back the urge to kiss Chloe on the forehead. I also noticed the cell phone on the sofa, flashing continuously. I’m just a soul. But why does it hurt so much? The pain is overwhelming, as if my soul is about to shatter. After comforting Chloe, a news report suddenly came on TV. “[At 11:00 PM today, a magnitude 4 earthquake struck Linden City. A pregnant woman died after failed rescue efforts. The pregnant woman…]” There was only one death in the magnitude 4 earthquake, and it was due to excessive blood loss. As reporters covered the incident, they expressed their condolences. Chloe and Joanne watched the report intently. Perhaps it was the familiar scene or the clothes that jolted Joanne; I noticed a flicker of shock and worry on his face. Could he be worried about me too? I closed my eyes slightly, feeling absurd. How could he be worried about me? I was afraid he would rejoice at the sight of my death. “Not her!” Joanne seemed momentarily dazed before picking up his phone, but just as he was about to dial, he hesitated. “It’s not her. She’s not pregnant.” “I can’t let a woman like her have my child. She doesn’t deserve it!” “Besides, it’s impossible for someone like her to die!”

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My ex cheated on me with my best friend. To get revenge, I seduced his uncle. I called him “daddy” over and over until his ears turned red. Then he pinned me down on the couch, his eyes half-closed: “Little girl, you’re playing with fire.” “What do you mean by playing with fire?” I soon found out. Pinned down by Ethan Song, I begged for mercy: “My legs are numb.” His dark eyes turned crimson as he said huskily, “Call me daddy.” I whimpered, “Daddy…” “Daddy, I was wrong. I’ll never play with fire again, wah wah wah…” The next day, Ethan went to work full of energy, while I lay in bed with an aching back and numb legs. My pursuit of Ethan started six months ago. After dating Ryan Song for three years, I was cheated on. When it came to light, I confronted Ryan. “It’s bad enough that you cheated on me, but why did it have to be with Emma? You know who she is.” Emma Sun was my best friend. No, to be precise, she was my former best friend. One was my boyfriend, one was my best friend – the two most important people in my life had betrayed me. I was the fool all along. Back then, she strongly encouraged us to get together, saying we were a match made in heaven. Turns out she was just angry at Ryan and pushed him to me. Great, was I just a backup plan? The irony is, I only found out about all this after we broke up. Drunk at a bar late one night, I ran into Ethan Song. I had seen him before at Ryan’s house. In my drunken haze, I stumbled towards him. “Daddy…” My legs gave way and I fell straight forward. The shiny marble floor – if I hit that, my face would be ruined! My precious face! But I didn’t fall all the way. Halfway down, someone caught me. A pair of strong hands firmly gripped my wrists. That was close! It was Ethan who steadied me. I looked up into his obsidian eyes. An evil thought popped into my mind and I acted on it immediately. As I stood up straight, I pretended to still be drunk and fell into his arms, my lips barely grazing his cheek. Who was Ethan? Ryan’s uncle. If the scumbag had no feelings, I would have no loyalty. I’d seduce his uncle and make them call me auntie. Hahaha – perhaps my evil grin was too obvious, as Ethan narrowed his eyes and stared at me. “Daddy, I like you.” “You’re drunk.” “No I’m not!” I cupped his face and kissed him decisively. There were cheers and whistles from around us. Yes, success! Although what I really wanted was to slap Ryan and Emma’s faces countless times, That kind of revenge wasn’t a good idea. I needed to put mental and psychological pressure on them, to make them suffer the torment I had endured alone. I told Ethan that from the moment I first saw him, I couldn’t help but be attracted to him. Unfortunately, I was still with Ryan at the time. Now that I had broken up with him, I wanted to bravely pursue true love. His dark eyes were unfathomable as Ethan smiled slightly. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. “Daddy, give me a chance.” Of course Ethan ignored me. Who would believe the words of a drunk? But I was determined and persistent. When he went to work, I would wait outside his company. I didn’t even go into the lobby. Sure enough, after a few days Ethan invited me to his office. “Little girl, what exactly are you trying to do?” His tone conveyed helpless resignation. I handed him the breakfast I had made myself, pretending to be pitiful and innocent, blinking my big eyes. “Daddy, I made you breakfast. Daddy, I have many good qualities.” Amusement flashed in Ethan’s eyes. With his chiseled features and sharp gaze, he was several leagues above Ryan in looks. And he was the big boss of the company. I wondered silently, how could two brothers born to the same mother be so different? “Tell me, what good qualities do you have?” I counted on my fingers: “Look daddy, I’m young, pretty, cute, I can make you laugh, cook for you, and most importantly, I like you very very much.” He shook his head, the corners of his mouth curving into a handsome smile. “Little girl, you’re too young.” I didn’t understand. Wasn’t being young a good thing? The more he rejected me, the more I pursued him, almost growing more determined with each setback. Finally, I seized the opportunity when he caught a cold and had a fever. I took advantage of his weakened state, unleashing my maternal instincts to take care of him day and night. After he recovered, Ethan finally agreed to date me for a while. I was hundreds of times happier than when I got together with Ryan. I hugged his neck and gave him a big kiss: “I love you so much, daddy.” Ethan’s voice was husky as he pushed me away and turned his face. “It’s too hot.” “Then take off your clothes!” I eagerly started unbuttoning his shirt, but of course he refused again. After all this time, how could such a beautiful woman like me not move him at all? I didn’t believe it. I pushed him down on the couch, and that’s how yesterday’s scene unfolded. Wah wah wah, it turns out Ethan wasn’t incapable, he was too capable. I rubbed my sore waist and texted him. “Bad daddy, I want bubble tea.” “As much as you want.” A friend texted me: “Did you know Ryan is engaged?” How would I know? I’ve been too busy with Ethan lately. “To who?” “Who else but Emma? Those two shameless people won’t last long. Lily, don’t be angry or sad.” It would be a lie to say I wasn’t angry or sad. Ryan and I dated for three years. It was my first relationship and I had invested my whole heart into it. When I found out the truth, it felt like a chunk of flesh had been violently carved out of my heart. It hurt so much. Ryan was getting engaged, and Ethan would definitely have to make an appearance. This was the day I had been waiting for. At the entrance of the five-star hotel, there was a wedding photo of Ryan and Emma. Their faces were pressed together, smiling brilliantly. I sneered and tightened my grip on Ethan’s arm. Inside the hall, elegant piano music began to play softly. Quite a few people had come to attend the engagement party. Ryan was dressed in a suit, looking more mature. Emma stood beside him, smiling gracefully and properly. Ethan glanced down at me and patted the back of my hand. “Let’s go toast them.” By toasting, he meant they would toast us. Firstly because of Ethan’s status, and secondly because Ethan was Ryan’s uncle after all. When they saw me, Emma’s smile froze on her face. Ryan didn’t look much better. Ethan’s voice was clear and pleasant: “This is your little aunt.” What? I didn’t quite catch that. Was it uncle or aunt? Ryan forced a smile uglier than crying: “Uncle, Auntie.” “…” Let’s put the titles aside for now. I cleared my throat, straightened my back, and stared at Emma, my gaze full of mockery. Ryan nudged her, and she reluctantly said, “Uncle, Auntie.” I felt like I was floating as Ethan led me away. “Aren’t you Ryan’s older brother?” Ethan raised an eyebrow: “Ryan is an only child. I’m his uncle.” “…” I was stunned. This generational gap was a bit hard for me to handle. “Mr. Song, regarding that piece of land in the west of the city, could you please be lenient and give our Huachuan Group a chance?” “Mr. Song, this is my nephew who just returned from studying abroad. He plans to develop his career domestically. I hope you can give him some guidance.” “Last time, thanks to Mr. Song’s generous help, our company avoided bankruptcy. If there’s anything you need in the future, Mr. Song, please don’t hesitate to ask!” … As soon as Ethan appeared, he immediately became the focus of the entire venue. Guests came forward to toast him one after another, treating Ethan with utmost respect. Some people are born to be the main character, while others, even standing in the center, can never become the protagonist. On stage, Ryan and Emma expressed their gratitude to the guests, but no one below paid them any attention. Who exactly was this Ethan? I excused myself to the restroom and took out my phone to search for information about Ethan. I was shocked by what I found. It turned out Ethan was the CEO of the Song Group, with assets worth hundreds of millions. He was truly a diamond bachelor! How much is thirty-two minus twenty-four? I counted on my fingers quietly. “Eight years!” No wonder Ethan said I was too young before. Of course I was young! A whole eight years younger. Did Ethan eat some kind of preservative? How could he look so young for someone eight years older than me? On my way back to the hall, I was lost in thought and bumped right into Ryan coming from the opposite direction. I quickly stepped back. What bad luck! “Lily White, how dare you seduce my fiancé right in front of me!” Emma, standing next to Ryan, glared at me furiously. “Me seduce him?” I pointed at Ryan and sneered, “As if he’s worthy?” “You!” Ryan’s face turned red with anger at being humiliated. “You’re just jealous!” Emma stepped forward to defend Ryan. “I wonder who it was that fought with her family to be with Ryan back then.” Emma hooked her arm through Ryan’s, her face full of mockery. Ryan put his arm around Emma’s waist, the corner of his mouth curling up smugly, looking utterly punchable. Damn it! How dare she bring up my past! I have to admit, Ryan was quite skilled at deceiving girls. On the way home from school one day, I was harassed by some drunk men. Like a scene from a movie, at the critical moment, Ryan happened to appear and played out a heroic rescue. Young and naive as I was, I thought I had found true love. With Emma deliberately matchmaking us, I ignored my family’s objections and resolutely got together with Ryan. I even repeatedly talked back to my dad to defend Ryan. It wasn’t until recently that I accidentally found out the drunk men were hired by Ryan. The so-called heroic rescue was all fake. And Ryan did all this just because of a bet. “Lily White, I thought pursuing you would be difficult, but I didn’t expect to succeed in just a week. Still, I have to thank you for helping me win 500 bucks.” My first love was actually sacrificed for a 500 dollar bet. How ridiculous! How pathetic! Don’t lower your head, or your crown will fall. Did they think they could hurt me like this? What a joke! “You call me auntie, so consider that 500 dollars my red envelope gift to you.” Ryan and Emma’s faces turned from blue to purple. Seeing their dismayed expressions, I tried hard to hold back my laughter as I patted Emma’s shoulder. “No need to thank me.” It’s good to be of a higher generation! “Lily White, don’t be too smug. Uncle is just interested in you for now. I’m sure it won’t be long before he gets tired of you.” Ryan looked down at me condescendingly and continued to mock, “You’d better not dream of marrying into the Song family. Uncle will never marry you.” “Ryan, you seem to know me very well.” My savior had arrived! I smiled slyly and quickly went to greet him, intimately hooking my arm through Ethan’s. “Daddy, you’re here.” I looked at Ethan pitifully, as if I had suffered a great injustice. “Uncle.” Ryan, who had been so arrogant before, obediently came up to Ethan. Emma reluctantly followed behind. Ethan narrowed his eyes at Ryan and said coldly, “Ryan, you’re still just a junior. Don’t overestimate yourself.” The surrounding air became cold and oppressive. Ryan nervously swallowed, unable to say a word. “Uncle, Ryan just…” Emma had only said half a sentence when Ethan interrupted her sternly. “Did I ask you?” Ethan’s face was indifferent, not even bothering to give Emma a glance. “Uncle, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have presumed to guess your thoughts. I won’t dare to do it again in the future.” Ryan could only apologize. “You’d better not.” Ethan coldly dropped these words and left, pulling me along by the hand. So this is what it feels like to have someone backing you up. It feels pretty good! … Ten minutes later. “Daddy, the banquet hasn’t ended yet. Isn’t it inappropriate for us to leave suddenly?” “Don’t want to leave?” The car made a sharp turn and pulled over to the side of the road. Is Ethan angry? I secretly glanced at Ethan, my mind racing, and hurriedly explained, “I’m just worried that leaving suddenly would be impolite.” “Hmm?” Ethan narrowed his eyes at me, his lips pressed together, waiting for my answer. “Alright, I admit, I just wanted to be called auntie a few more times.” I spoke rapidly and quickly lowered my head. It would be a waste not to take advantage of the situation. Thinking of Ryan and Emma’s angry but silent expressions, their eyes bulging, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Don’t worry, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future.” A gentle hand caressed my cheek. I looked up in confusion, and Ethan leaned down to kiss me. “Wait a second…” Ethan didn’t give me a chance to speak, deepening the kiss. … Late at night, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Plenty of opportunities in the future? What exactly did Ethan mean by that? The bedroom door opened quietly, and Ethan, who had finished work, came to the bedside with slow, careful movements. I quickly closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep. A hand came to my waist, and a familiar voice sounded in my ear. “Since you can’t sleep, why don’t we exercise a bit?” I wanted to continue pretending to be asleep, but I was too ticklish. “Daddy, can I say no?” “Better not.” Once again, I was thoroughly devoured…

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Lately, my deskmate has been giving me weird looks. Whether we’re in the cafeteria or during PE, she always keeps her distance. Finally, I couldn’t hold back anymore and asked her, “Did I do something to upset you?” She flinched, backing away a few steps, looking around nervously. “No, it’s not you!” But soon after, she asked to change classes. I was puzzled and decided to confront her about it, standing at the door of her new classroom. As I watched, my former deskmate, who had been chatting with others, suddenly started trembling and screamed, “It really has nothing to do with you! Please, just don’t come after me again, I beg you!” … I began to notice that my deskmate Quinn had been looking at me strangely. At first, she just slid her desk a bit further away. Then, she moved her chair over to the window. I tapped her shoulder, trying to remind her to pay attention in class. To my shock, she jumped and fell off her chair. Terrified, she scrambled up and dashed out of the classroom. I was completely baffled, wondering if I had unknowingly upset her. I planned to talk to Quinn the next day to clear things up. But when I arrived the next morning, the seat next to me was empty. The English teacher reluctantly informed me that Quinn had requested a class change on her own. Our class was the top-performing one, and Quinn had mentioned multiple times how hard she worked to get in. For her to switch classes was really strange. I couldn’t help it. After class, I found out where she had transferred to and went there with an expensive gift. Even if I didn’t know the reason, I wanted to apologize sincerely. Quinn was sitting by the window, laughing with her new classmates. As I hesitated by the window, one of her friends nudged her, saying, “Quinn, someone’s here for you.” Quinn’s smile vanished the moment she turned around. Her expression shifted to one of fear, worse than tears, and her body started shaking uncontrollably. “Ah— It really has nothing to do with you! Please don’t come looking for me anymore, I’m begging you!” Seeing her in such a state, the other students quickly urged me to leave. Defeated, I returned to my classroom with the gift. Rachel noticed my gloomy mood and guessed how my attempt at reconciliation had gone. She came over and patted my back. “Just let it go. You shouldn’t force a relationship with someone who doesn’t want it,” “Your seat is at the front, so the teacher will definitely assign you a new deskmate from the back,” “Who knows, maybe your new deskmate will be even better?” I sighed, “I hope so.” Could a new deskmate really get along with me? The new deskmate assigned to me was named Charlotte. She was really outgoing. In just two classes, we went from strangers to friends, passing notes and chatting easily. We hit it off right away. But after lunch, she suddenly went quiet. When the teacher called on her, the usually lively Charlotte froze for a moment before standing up. She told the teacher she had been distracted and didn’t know the answer. The English teacher frowned, “First Quinn, now you. One after another, none of you are focused. What’s going on?” Charlotte’s gaze seemed to flicker briefly in my direction. Though it was quick, I noticed it, feeling especially sensitive lately. I realized Charlotte was also starting to act strangely. She began avoiding me, both on purpose and by accident. Even during nap time, when I half-awoke, I caught her staring at me.

Her mouth was twisted, fingers nervously gnawing on them. Her beautiful nails were now chewed to the quick, white edges crumbling. When she realized I had caught her, she looked uneasy. Her bright eyes were bloodshot as she quickly backed away. She blended into the cherry blossoms outside the window. Then she clutched her chest and turned her head away from me. I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me and rushed forward to grab her hand. “What’s wrong? Did I make you uncomfortable?” “No, it’s not you!” The usually bold Charlotte screamed and violently shook off my hand. As if I was an unapproachable monster. I turned away, tears forming in my eyes. Why? I hadn’t done anything wrong; I had been nice to them. First Quinn, and now Charlotte, both treating me like this. I took out a mirror, checking my reflection from all angles, but nothing seemed off. I may not be beautiful, but surely I wasn’t repulsive enough to make others feel sick? Tears filled my eyes. Charlotte saw and looked a bit guilty, as if wanting to comfort me. Suddenly, she jumped in fright, rubbing her back frantically. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” she shouted, before rushing toward the window! I quickly pulled her back, with help from classmates who had woken up. After that, worried about her mental state, I didn’t approach her like I did with Quinn. I just observed her quietly, afraid she might do something drastic. Then, one day during PE, Charlotte was missing. Worried, I searched everywhere. Finally, I found her in the classroom, sitting in my seat and rifling through my desk drawer. I blinked in disbelief. “Charlotte, what are you doing?” She didn’t seem to hear me. When she finally found a piece of paper, she screamed. Looking up and seeing me, her pupils widened in panic. Before PE was even over, she rushed to the teacher’s office to ask for a seat change. The teacher sighed, “That seat is great, right at the front. Why do you want to move?” “I don’t want to be at the front or back. Please, teacher!” As Charlotte spoke, she glanced nervously out the window, catching sight of me. She began pleading, “Teacher, please, I’m begging you!” But the teacher was losing patience. “I have to think about other students too. I can’t cater to all your demands.” Charlotte was left speechless, dropping to her knees in despair. She wanted to escape. But seeing me at the door, she didn’t dare step out. I sighed heavily and turned back to the classroom. My seat remained empty. Charlotte didn’t return. The next day, the teacher announced she was taking a leave of absence. “Charlotte says she’s not feeling well and needs some time off,” The teacher tapped the blackboard firmly, “Even though we’re only sophomores, we need to concentrate. Environmental issues don’t matter; a calm mind is key.” Despite her words, I couldn’t help but wonder why all this was happening. After class, I turned to find my best friend Rachel. We hurried to the corridor to talk. I clenched my fists, saying, “I need to find out what’s going on. Otherwise, I’ll keep overthinking it.” Rachel frowned, “I don’t know, but if you want to investigate, I’ll help.”

Rachel thought of the paper Charlotte had rushed back into the classroom to find in my desk during PE. “There must have been a reason for that.” “Yeah, but I can’t figure it out,” I said, helplessly showing Rachel the paper. “Yeah, but I just can’t figure it out,” I said helplessly, showing Rachel the piece of paper. “It’s just a regular health record showing I’m fine.” I was trying to understand why Charlotte wanted to see my health record. Rachel looked frustrated. “Could she think you have some contagious disease that might spread to her?” I glanced at myself. “I don’t have any skin issues and I look healthy. There’s no way I’m sick.” “I know you’re not sick,” Rachel rolled her eyes. This whole situation felt bizarre. Then I remembered something. A few days ago, I had asked the class president if I seemed off. He had looked me over, confused, and said I seemed perfectly normal. So at least he didn’t think I was strange. Maybe he could help us figure this out. Just as I was about to go find him, I saw him walking towards me. “Haley, have the recent issues with your two deskmates gotten to you?” I sighed. “Yeah, they’re still bothering me. They’re acting like I’m some kind of plague.” The class president tried to reassure me. “It’s not your fault. The teachers were even joking about whether that seat has bad feng shui or something, like the cherry blossom scent is too overpowering and confusing everyone.” I knew he was just trying to make me feel better. “It’s fine, I know this is probably related to me in some way. You don’t have to convince me otherwise.” He asked, “Do you remember when their behavior changed?” I thought hard. Quinn had started acting weird when the cherry blossoms bloomed, just a few days after the semester began. As for Charlotte, she switched from being enthusiastic to cold and panicked during one lunch break. The class president focused on a detail: “When the cherry blossoms bloomed, did you do anything specific?” I recalled, “I took her and Rachel to see the cherry blossoms in the small woods on campus. Does that count?” “The small woods? Isn’t that area off-limits? What were you doing there?” His expression shifted to concern. A moment later, he looked terrified. He shot me a strange look, his legs began to tremble, and he dashed back to the classroom. Rachel raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t the school rule about that place just because of bugs? How can such a big guy be scared?” But then it hit me: “So it’s all because of the small woods. We should check it out after school.” Rachel shrugged. “Whatever you want.” After lunch, I returned to the classroom, where no one else was there yet. I stood at the door and saw the class president sitting in my spot, frantically searching for something. His eyes were bloodshot, and sweat dripped from his forehead. Finally, he pulled out a piece of paper. The moment he read it, he looked as if he had seen a ghost. When he looked up and saw me, he practically fell over and screamed. I was startled by his reaction. “Why are you shouting? The teacher asked me to come ask you about a new deskmate.” “Go ask the teacher yourself, I don’t know!” Seeing his panic, I was worried I might scare him further if I went in. I turned and headed to the teacher’s office to find our homeroom teacher. “Teacher, I really don’t understand why this is happening.” She tried to reassure me. “It’s not your fault. High school students deal with a lot of pressure.” But her words hinted that I should reconsider how I interact with my classmates. It frustrated me. “How about this, teacher? Since no one wants to sit next to me anyway, Rachel is my best friend. Why not move her next to me?” At least Rachel wouldn’t mind sitting with me. The homeroom teacher paused, her fingers frozen on the keyboard. With a puzzled expression, she looked at me.

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While trying on my wedding dress, a message from an unknown woman appeared on my phone. “I’m pregnant, and I can’t get ahold of your fiancé. Can you pass the message along?” My fingers went numb, and with eyes burning, I confronted Evan. But he just deleted the text dismissively. “Probably just one of my friends losing a bet on truth or dare,” he said. On the drive home, usually smooth and steady, he nearly ran several red lights. He gently unfastened my seatbelt and, with an apologetic look, said, “I can’t make dinner tonight; I’ll be working late.” As I watched his car speed away, it felt like a massive weight was sinking to the pit of my stomach. Ten years of us together, and it was all unraveling. Numb, I drifted into the study and opened my laptop to email Dr. Marla Hawthorne. I had put off attending Stanford because of a surprise pregnancy, choosing instead to sacrifice my dreams for family. But life had dealt me a harsh blow. Luckily, I’d only deferred my admission a year rather than give up my place entirely. After I sent the email, I booked a flight to the U.S. two weeks from now. Then a video popped up on my screen. Evan, looking tender, lifted a woman into his arms, gently placed her on a bed, tucked her in, and kissed her forehead. The sight felt like a searing hot brand across my face, ripping away a layer of my skin. I wanted to scream at him: Does he put on this act of devotion for any woman he pleases? All this time, I thought I was his one true love, but I was nothing more than one of his many distractions. In the video, their voices mingled intimately. “Who do you truly love?” she asked. With a quiet murmur, he replied, “Only you.” I watched the video on repeat, each time like a dagger twisting deeper into my heart. I sat there until dusk when the low-battery alert shook me awake. I shut the video, forced my numb legs to move, and packed a suitcase. Just as I dragged a box to the door, Evan arrived, his eyes narrowing in confusion. He glanced at the open box and laughed. “You’re finally throwing out these dioramas? I thought you’d cherish them forever.” “Honestly, they just take up space.” These handcrafted dioramas had taken me countless sleepless nights to create, but to him, they were nothing but junk. “Leave them; I’ll have someone toss them out,” he said, holding out a paper bag. “I went all the way to the Uptown District for Sweet Pecan Bread. It’s the last batch; I paid triple for it.” He gripped my wrist, his gaze warm, waiting for me to laugh and fall into his arms like I always did. But that familiar apple-cinnamon scent mingled with the cloying perfume of another woman overwhelmed me with nausea. I pulled my hand free, murmuring, “Get away from me.” His smile faded into irritation, his voice turning cold. “What’s the matter? This is your favorite.” I lifted my head, meeting his questioning eyes with a distant gaze. “I’m sick of it. People’s tastes change.” Just like trust, it’s fleeting. His brow furrowed, anger simmering in his eyes as he snapped, “I’ve already explained—this was just a friend’s joke.” “If you insist on imagining things, that’s on you.”

A laugh slipped out before I could hold it back. Who was he to yell at me? Was he enraged because I’d uncovered the truth? Just standing in the same space made my skin crawl, so I grabbed my keys and walked past his cold, stone face. His barely restrained anger followed me out the door. “You can’t just throw a tantrum whenever you want,” he called out. “Where will you go without me?” The crunch of dry autumn leaves sounded beneath my feet, blurring my vision. My parents had divorced in middle school, each eager to take my brother but indifferent toward me, leaving me adrift. Only Evan’s mother, who’d watched me grow up, secretly supported me. At school, when others mocked and ostracized me, Evan alone stood by my side, fists clenched in defiance, shielding me with fierce loyalty, even if it meant getting beaten up. At eighteen, bruised and sore, he would still flash a silly grin to make me laugh. “Don’t cry. I’ll protect you forever,” he’d promised. Now, at twenty-eight, he stormed toward me, grabbing my arm harshly. “Enough, Sloane. You’re acting like some spiteful woman threatening to leave over nothing.” He’d driven me to the edge and now dared to lecture me as if I were unstable. I almost wanted to tear away his mask, to make him see the wreckage he’d caused. Could he really keep up this righteous act? I reached for my phone to play that damning video, but a new message appeared. The photo showed Evan and that woman under fireworks, locked in a passionate kiss. March 15th. That night, rumors had spread of a mysterious man setting off fireworks to confess his love. I had taken a picture of the night sky, hoping to share the moment with him. In the crowd, I’d been jostled, falling to the ground with a searing pain in my abdomen as blood pooled around me. I’d tried calling Evan, but he never answered. While the doctor’s tools probed coldly into my body, scraping away life piece by piece, what had he been doing with her? The memory stung like venom as numbness settled over me. “Sloane, what’s wrong? You look terrible.” Evan held my shoulders, his eyes full of concern. I calmly pushed him away, then slapped him hard across the face, flinging my phone at him. “You’re disgusting!” I yelled. His eyes shifted from fury to panic as he tried to pull me close. The calm, controlled Evan I knew had vanished. “I can explain, Sloane. Don’t watch that.” His hands trembled as he tried to delete the video but failed repeatedly. “The doctor said you might not be able to get pregnant again.” “I just wanted her to have the baby, then I’d send her abroad. I wouldn’t stay in touch.” “You like kids, don’t you?” Suddenly, the world fell silent, the only sound the fierce thumping of my heart. I’d imagined every possible confrontation, but nothing prepared me for this grotesque explanation. Did he even know what he was saying? I couldn’t help but laugh, dignity cast aside as tears streamed down my face. “It’s over,” I whispered, those words draining the last of my strength.

Evan’s gaze was anguished as he reached for my hand, only to hesitate and clench his fist, striking the wall instead. His voice was rough with desperation. “Sloane, please, the wedding’s close. If it’s canceled, it would break my mom’s heart.” “It’s her greatest wish to see us married.” “Whatever you feel for me, remember what she’s done for you. Please, Sloane.” The usually proud Evan now hunched slightly, his eyes reddened. “Don’t leave me, Sloane.” Memories flooded in, the nights his mother had comforted me. “Sloane, don’t worry, Auntie will stay with you.” “Look at this new dress I got you, and the butterfly clip—isn’t it pretty?” “Anyone who dares hurt Sloane will answer to me. She’s my daughter.” A painful tightness gripped my chest, forcing me to breathe deeply as questions and anger welled up, threatening to burst. I opened my mouth to speak, but Evan’s gaze shifted past me, whispering, “Ella Rae.” I froze, turning to see her—a fragile-looking woman with a hand on her stomach, facing me with teary eyes. “I’m sorry, Sloane,” she murmured. “I just don’t want my baby to be fatherless.” “You, of all people, would understand… after all, you didn’t have…” “Stop!” Evan shouted, panic in his voice. He turned to me, reaching out, but grasped only air. How absurd. He knew how deeply that hurt, and yet he’d casually recounted it to another woman, turning my scars into idle conversation. Ella Rae approached me, apologetic but whispered with venom, “Unwanted orphan.” I knew her game—she wanted to drive a wedge between me and Evan. So, I gave her what she wanted. Raising my hand, I aimed to slap her, but Evan seized my wrist. I pulled my other arm free and slapped her across the face with everything I had. Her cheek instantly reddened. Furious, Evan pushed me away. “Sloane, when did you become so heartless?” “She’s pregnant!” I lifted my chin and met his glare, coldly replying, “I just realized how vile and hypocritical you are.” Dusting myself off, I walked past Evan, his face pale, and left without a second glance. Behind me, I heard Ella Rae’s faltering steps and her weak call, “Evan, please don’t leave. I’m worried about the baby.”

The sound of her voice faded behind me, and my racing thoughts finally slowed. Dr. Hawthorne had once warned me not to sacrifice my future for any man. But back then, I was young, naive enough to believe love alone would be enough. “Evan isn’t like the others,” I’d declared, head held high. Years later, that statement felt like a dagger through my heart. Now, all I wanted was to see Dr. Hawthorne one last time. She’d been a mother to me when I needed it most, guiding me through college with care. Her hair had grayed over the years. When we sat down, she simply smiled, resting a frail hand on mine. “I always knew you’d come back to finish your doctorate, Sloane,” she said, beaming. “Your talent deserves this journey.” She handed me her architectural sketches, the work of her lifetime. “Take these with you. May you find happiness in your next steps.” As I closed her door, I glimpsed her wiping a tear away, and I knew I wouldn’t let her down again. I thought each day ahead would bring a fresh start. But then Ella Rae blocked my path, a smirk on her face. “Going somewhere, Sloane? Without saying goodbye?” I tried to walk around her, but she seized my suitcase and flung it down the stairs. Sketches scattered and stained on impact. My mind went blank as I scrambled to gather them, only for her heel to grind into my hand, making me wince in pain. Suddenly, several men surrounded me, holding me down, forcing me to kneel at her feet. “Are you insane?” I yelled, fury and humiliation burning inside me. She casually inspected her nails. “Just feeling bored, looking for some fun.” Snatching a few sketches, she sneered, “You treat these like treasures. Maybe I’ll burn them.” A wave of anger surged through me, and I snarled, “Don’t you dare!” With a cruel smile, she signaled for a man to bring her a lighter. The flame flickered menacingly close to my face. “Beg me, and maybe I’ll reconsider.” Clenching my fists, nails digging into my palms, I gritted out, “Please, they mean everything to me.”

A flash of excitement lit up in Ella Rae’s eyes as she struck a match and set Dr. Hawthorne’s carefully crafted sketches ablaze. I watched in horror as her life’s work, her precious architectural drawings, shriveled and blackened in the fire. It felt like someone had ripped out my heart and ground it beneath their heel. Ella Rae squatted beside me, gripping my chin so hard it hurt. “What gives you the right to compete with me, you worthless stray?” Then—slap! Her hand connected sharply with my face, leaving a stinging echo. “That one’s for good measure.” “Strip her down,” she ordered the men around her with a cruel smile. “Let’s see how she flaunts herself at Evan after this.” Fear shot through me as one of the men’s faces twisted into a smug leer. I struggled, but my strength was no match against their brute force. The sound of tearing fabric made me shudder in shame, bringing an overwhelming wave of despair as tears blurred my vision. The commotion attracted a small crowd, and Ella Rae clutched her stomach, adopting a tearful voice. “I’m pregnant, and she’s trying to steal my husband.” Judging, disgusted eyes turned on me, scorching me with their scorn. “Shameless homewrecker, someone ought to teach her a lesson.” “Nothing I hate more than a mistress. They should be dragged through the streets!” “Film it, post it online. Let the world see her for what she is.” I curled up on the ground, trembling, whispering, “I’m not the other woman.” But my denial was drowned out by their laughter, sharp and relentless, stabbing at my dignity. At that moment, I found myself absurdly wishing Evan from our youth would miraculously rescue me. Ella Rae yanked my hair, her gaze smug and mocking as she leaned in to hiss in my ear, “Evan said you were like a stray dog he picked up off the street. Nothing more than a little entertainment. Did you really take it seriously?” Those words echoed like a thunderclap. The pressure holding me down abruptly eased, and with a surge of fury, I shoved Ella Rae away. Then I heard Evan’s familiar voice, full of anger, behind me. “Sloane, what do you think you’re doing?” He rushed over, pulling Ella Rae protectively into his arms, looking at me with bitter disappointment. “Is this what it takes to satisfy you? Hurting an innocent woman and her unborn child?” Several police officers arrived, asking what had caused the disturbance. Angry onlookers eagerly explained, “She’s not only a homewrecker but also deliberately shoved a pregnant woman!” The officer turned to Evan. “What’s the relationship between the three of you?” Ella Rae clung to him, wincing in pain, her voice filled with despair, “Evan, I’m so scared. What if something happens to our baby?” Evan cradled her, casting me a look of utter contempt as he coldly said to the officer, “I don’t know her.”

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After We Were Gone, the Twins Lost Their Minds Brief The Link assigned me and my sister to win over a pair of twins. She’s supposed to get the flirtatious younger brother; I’m here for the obsessive older one. It was like playing with a couple of loyal puppies, all according to plan. Until the Main Girl came back. Then the flirt grabbed my sister by her hair and dragged her to his room. And the obsessive one locked me down on his bed… Sister: “Are we leaving?” Me: “We’re leaving!” Content When Lydia said she wanted to leave this world, I thought she was joking. Back in Ridgeville, we wanted nothing more than to get as far away from that shattered family as possible. Here, we had no parents, but it meant fewer mind games, less verbal abuse, and no one around to constantly drag us down. And especially after winning over the brothers, life here had been smooth sailing. Leaving here and going back? That was the last thing I wanted to do. But Lydia was set on it. “Whether you stay or not is up to you,” she told me. “I’m calling up The Link tonight to get out of here.” “And don’t say I didn’t warn you—Cora’s back.” Cora. The Main Girl of this world. I understood why Lydia wanted to leave. She was right; Damien and Cora were bound to get tangled up again. A flicker of unease rose in my chest. That night, as I was unwinding, Asher stumbled in, reeking of booze. As he got closer, I caught the scent of something familiar on him—a strong trace of Silver Birch Cologne. Cora’s favorite. Half-drunk, he reached up to touch my face, his dark eyes glinting with that familiar, possessive gleam. “What did you do today? Did you think about me?” Since winning Asher over, he’d gotten in the habit of asking me that, like some little reassurance. If I dared say no, his eyes would immediately darken, and he’d ask if I’d found someone else to chase after. Then he’d be fierce with me, muttering that I was nothing but a liar. “You promised you loved me, that you’d never leave. But the second I look away, there you are, running off to someone else. Nixie, you’re so bad.” But if I sweet-talked him just a little, he’d calm down, gentle as ever. Asher’s shifts in mood made me feel like I could handle him, as if taming him were as easy as coaxing a kitten. But I forgot who I was dealing with—Asher Pierce, ruthless, cunning, a real predator. No one could control him easily. Well, except for his ‘Golden Girl.’ “Hmm? Thinking about someone else, Nixie?” “No.” I covered his hand, forcing myself to bear the strong scent of that cologne, my cheek brushing his palm softly. “I was thinking of you, Asher.” The words dripped with emotion, and Asher believed it, a slight smile tugging at his lips as he narrowed his eyes. “You’re so good, Nixie,” he murmured in that hypnotic tone. “I should’ve made my move on you a long time ago. Wasted so much time.” I lowered my gaze, suppressing the emotions rising within. Winning Asher’s heart hadn’t been easy. At first, he looked at me with complete disinterest—his eyes saw only Cora. It wasn’t until six months ago, after Cora got together with her main love interest, that I found Asher drunk on the street and brought him home. That was when he finally started noticing me. When he found out I was here just to win him over, he went wild, begging me to stay. After I succeeded, Asher was good to me. And Damien liked my sister too. So we stayed. But now my sister was leaving. And me? I’d be next. “You’ve got puffy eyes—been crying?” My voice was a little hoarse; Asher had been rough last night, and I still hadn’t quite recovered. Lydia gave a bitter smile. “Last night, he came back drunk, reeking of perfume, with lipstick on his collar. I asked him a couple of questions, and he got all in my face, accusing me of being paranoid. The way he said it hurt. Those words were…ugly. Nora, I regret staying.” “Doesn’t matter if it’s this world or the old one—men are the same. Once they’ve got you, they stop caring.” Lydia sighed. “I’ve already arranged for The Link to get me out of here. In two weeks, I’ll be gone. What about you? Are you staying here with Asher? Or is he not much better than Damien?” I didn’t know how much of Asher’s feelings were real. Unlike Damien, he wasn’t open about his emotions. Lydia vented her anger about Damien for a while, then dragged me to Oakwood Mall with her, laughing again. “The Pierces can afford it. I’m leaving soon; why not enjoy spending his money?” “When we go back, I won’t get to live like this anymore.” “Nora, just humor me these last few days.” Lydia practically wanted to buy the whole place, grabbing anything that caught her eye. She found a bracelet and was about to try it on when someone else swooped in. “I’ll take that. Wrap it up.”

I turned toward the voice, and my eyes widened. Asher was standing there, lips pressed tightly together, his gaze dark and fixed on me. Beside him was Cora. The sales assistant hesitated, and before Lydia could say a word, I spoke up first: “Lydia was eyeing that bracelet first. Even if you want it, Miss Blake, you should wait until she decides not to buy it.” A sharp glare landed on me. Asher’s. He walked up, his towering presence full of pressure, handed his card to the sales assistant, and said with chilling calm, “Charge it. Wrap the bracelet up.” I watched, helpless, as Asher handed the bracelet to Cora. Not a single word to me the entire time. Even after he left, I was frozen in place. “Still thinking of staying here?” “Asher doesn’t seem that different from Damien,” Lydia said, a bit of amusement in her voice. I forced a smile. Guess that’s why they’re twins. That night, Asher didn’t come back. Just as I was drifting off, my phone buzzed. It was a video message from Lydia. In the video, Cora sat between the twins, Damien holding a fruit platter, Asher a glass of juice. She looked like a princess flanked by her two knights. I knew what Lydia was implying: she wanted me to leave with her. I’d been hesitating, but that scene at the mall solidified my decision. I tried summoning The Link, but it didn’t respond. The door creaked open. Asher was back. Still in the same black suit from earlier, his sharp gaze was fixed on me. “Are you mad?” He sat on the bed beside me, the cologne stronger than it had been last night. I shook my head, calmly replying, “No.” Asher scoffed, “Not mad at all? Should I call you overly tolerant, Nixie?” His expression didn’t change, but I could feel his irritation. Normally, by now, I’d have soothed him with a few soft words. But this time, I just looked at him silently. Asher’s face darkened; he yanked his tie off, sighing in frustration. “Cora’s my sister. I promised I’d always look after her. I can’t break that promise.” I nodded in understanding. Without crying or throwing a fit, I sat there silently as his frown deepened. “Nora, are you throwing a tantrum?” I swear I wasn’t. Suddenly, he grabbed my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes. The moment our gazes locked, my breath hitched. His look was cold, deadly. He was genuinely angry. His grip was fierce, painful. I tried pulling away, but his hold only tightened. “Nora, you can throw a fit, but don’t go too far. It’s unattractive.” I hadn’t gone too far. I gripped his wrist, annoyed, “Asher, let go. I’m not mad.” He released me after a moment, caressing my face with that obsessive intensity. “Nixie, you’re not going back. You only have me to rely on, so don’t push your luck, understand?” “If you’re upset, say it. Don’t hold it in—it’s bad for you.” “As for Cora, you don’t need to worry about her. You’re the only one I’ll ever have at my side.” The tenderness in his tone sent a shiver through me, a chill spreading up my spine. When Asher was angry, his silence was the most frightening. He kissed my forehead, nose, then my lips, his touch gentle, while his hands grew more demanding. I felt like I was on a roller coaster, high one moment, plummeting the next. Barely able to keep up, I clung to his wrist, my vision blurring. “Asher, I’m sorry. Not so hard.”

As Asher buried his face in my neck, he chuckled, his touch finally softening. But just a second later, his movements became rough again. I sighed; this time, he wouldn’t be so easy to appease. When it was finally over, Asher fell asleep quickly, calm as ever. But I lay awake, mind racing, repeatedly calling on The Link. Finally, that cold, mechanical voice answered. “Host, apologies for the delay.” “I want to leave this world.” I was blunt, and even The Link seemed surprised. “Host, this is a one-time opportunity, and it cannot be reversed. Are you sure you want to exit?” “Absolutely.” The second Asher said I “only had him to rely on,” I knew I couldn’t wait to get out. I’d finally seen it clearly—in his mind, I was nothing but an attachment, something he owned. The Link scheduled my exit for two weeks out. Lydia and I would be leaving one after the other. When she found out, she smiled with relief. “I’m glad you’ve come around, Nora. Once we’re back, let’s just be sisters, okay? No more fighting.” I nodded and agreed. As kids, Lydia and I fought constantly. For things as small as a test score, and as big as Dad’s attention. If we didn’t fight, we’d get hit. It wasn’t really us fighting, but our mothers who pushed us into it, each one hoping the other would disappear. But Lydia’s smile didn’t last long; her gaze shifted, turning dark as she looked over my shoulder. I turned to see Damien standing there. Same face as Asher’s, but somehow, Damien’s gaze always made my skin crawl. “Hey, Sis. Asher’s looking for you—don’t keep him waiting.” “And I need to talk with Lydia. We’ve got some things to settle.” The twins had bought neighboring apartments so that Lydia and I could see each other anytime. I glanced at Lydia, worried, but she just smiled and shook her head. “Go on, Nora. It’s late, and I need to talk with him.” I had barely shut the door when I heard glass shattering inside. I turned to rush back in, but an arm wrapped around my waist, a hand covering my mouth. “Their business is theirs. Let’s go home.” Asher brought me back. The moment we stepped inside, he pressed me against the wall, his kiss desperate and unrelenting. The strong scent of that cologne still lingered, and I pushed him away, feeling disgusted. “Go shower. You smell…filthy.” Asher froze, looking at me, stunned. “Nora, are you calling me…dirty?” I wiped my mouth, my expression hard, letting my revulsion show. “Asher, you’re coming in here smelling like someone else’s perfume, and you don’t think that’s dirty?” A tense silence filled the room. Asher’s face darkened, his eyes sharp as a hawk’s, making the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Then suddenly, he let out a low chuckle. “Nixie, are you jealous?” Was I? Maybe a little—otherwise, why would it bother me so much? Asher lifted my chin, his eyes glinting with amusement. “I like it, Nixie, that you’re jealous for me.” “But I told you before—you need to know your limits. You don’t get to be jealous over Cora.” His tone was tinged with warning. It sent a shiver through me. I’d seen Asher break a man’s arm without blinking, just because he’d brushed up against Cora’s arm. If I really tried to harm her, who knows what Asher would do to me. We were locked in that tense silence when a sudden banging shook the door behind us. “Nora, open the door! Help me!” I moved to open it, but Asher grabbed my hand. He leaned in, voice low and menacing. “I said, don’t get involved in their business.” “She’s my sister!” For the first time, I shouted at Asher with real anger. He blinked, momentarily surprised, and I used the chance to open the door. Lydia gasped as I pulled it open; I saw Damien gripping her hair, dragging her back to his place. Seeing me, he shot me a cold smile.

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The day Sean Parker and I agreed to move to the same city, I failed to show up on time. He probably couldn’t understand why I suddenly went incommunicado after just going back home to pack my luggage. A few days later, I called Sean. As soon as he picked up, I heard his furious questioning: “Thea Brown, are you trying to break up with me out of the blue?” I looked around at the cold, steel bars surrounding me and forced myself to say something I didn’t mean. “Yeah, I’m about to go abroad and live the good life.” “Let’s not keep in touch anymore.” Five years later, I was making a living by setting up a small booth in a night market tourist area. I did manicures for tourists while selling some handmade trinkets on the side. That night, it started drizzling. The lady at the neighboring stall called out to me as she was packing up: “Thea, why don’t you head home? It’s raining!” I shook my head bitterly. The truth was, I hadn’t made a single sale all day and didn’t want to leave empty-handed. The lady tried to persuade me: “Honey, that’s not how you make money. You’ve barely eaten anything all day. Don’t be so hard on yourself.” Just as she finished speaking, two people suddenly stopped in front of my booth – a picture-perfect couple. “Hey, how much for a manicure?” The girl’s voice was sweet as she casually browsed the designs. I habitually lowered my head, wiped the customer’s chair clean, and eagerly introduced my services: “Basic designs are 50 , m o r e c o m p l e x o n e s a r e 50,morecomplexonesare100. If you’d like, I can also throw in a free plush toy – I make them myself.” The girl didn’t even look at the toys. She randomly pointed at a trendy design. “I’ll take this one. Skip the plush toy – I’m not interested in unlicensed products.” The man beside her opened an umbrella and held it over her head, his tone full of affection. “I can’t believe you still want to get dolled up in this rain.” My hand froze as I was reaching for my tools. Though I hadn’t heard that voice in years, I would recognize it anywhere till the day I died. It was Sean Parker. I snuck a glance and finally got a clear look at him now. He had lost weight but become even more handsome. In that moment, my heart felt like a fallen leaf tossed about by a gale, drifting aimlessly with no place to settle. I mechanically reached out to gently hold the girl’s hand. I lowered my head to steady myself and slowly began painting her nails. From the corner of my eye, I saw Sean pull up a chair and sit down, his hand holding the umbrella never wavering. It suddenly reminded me of our college days when he would always wait for me outside the dorm building whenever it rained. He always tilted the umbrella more towards my side. But that favoritism no longer belonged to me. Now, he stood beside another girl, shielding her from the wind and rain, giving her his undivided attention. “Wait, take off everything you just did,” the girl suddenly pulled her hand back and held it up to her face, blowing on it gently. My thoughts were abruptly pulled back to reality as I asked anxiously, “Miss, do you… not like it?” She frowned and shook her head. “Your hands feel like they have thorns, it’s uncomfortable.” “How can you do manicures for others with hands like that? Don’t you understand customer service?” Only then did I notice how dry and cracked my own hands were. Years of sewing and manual labor had left my fingertips covered in tiny, rough calluses. In that moment, I felt my face burn with embarrassment, my chest tightening. Sean suddenly laughed and ruffled the girl’s hair, reaching into his pocket for his wallet. “Please help remove the polish for her. Keep the money.” He finally looked at me. That glance made his hand freeze mid-motion as he was taking out cash. I watched as his expression gradually hardened, the muscles in his face twitching subtly. Those eyes that were once gentle and mesmerizing slowly filled with hatred. The girl took out some sanitizing wipes from her purse and started wiping her fingers one by one. She turned to ask, “What’s wrong? Do you know her?” He suddenly smiled. He pulled out a few more bills from his wallet and tossed them all at me unceremoniously. “No, I don’t. She just looks pitiful.” “Consider it charity for a beggar. Let’s go.” Those two sentences were like sharp hooks, digging into my heart one by one. He had recognized me. At my most wretched state.

Sean Parker didn’t know that my lowest point wasn’t now. The year we graduated, we had agreed to move to the same city to start our careers. I was supposed to go back home briefly to pack my things before we left. But as soon as I walked through the door, I witnessed a nightmarish scene. My stepfather had pinned my mother to the ground, one hand pressing her head down, the other viciously swinging his fist. Seeing me enter, he not only didn’t stop, but hit even harder. “You worthless bitch! You’re just as cheap as that daughter of yours. You eat my food, drink my booze, but when it’s time to serve me you’re not willing? I’ll beat you to death!” For a moment, my mother’s wails and my stepfather’s curses blended together, assaulting every nerve in my body. I couldn’t take it anymore and rushed over to push him off. But I was no match for him. Within seconds he got back up and slapped me hard across the face. My mother struggled to her feet and clung to his leg. “Please, stop hitting her. The child will make money in the future.” The mention of money only made the beast angrier. He shook off my mother and lunged at me, grabbing me by the throat. In that moment, I felt like I was going to die. On the brink of despair, my hand found a fruit knife on the table. Without thinking, I plunged it into his heart. Just like that, at barely over 20 years old, I became a murderer. The day I was waiting for my sentencing, I made a call to Sean Parker. As soon as he picked up, he demanded to know why I had been so cold-hearted. I wiped away the tears that had long since covered my face and spoke scornfully to him for the first time. “Sean Parker, I’ll tell you the truth. In a couple days, I’m going abroad to live the good life.” “Only an idiot would stay with a poor nobody like you.” Those heartless words were enough to crush Sean Parker, who was penniless at the time. His voice trembled as he warned me not to regret it. After that, we never contacted each other again. Later, I was sentenced to five years for manslaughter. My mother hanged herself a week after my sentencing. From that day on, I not only lost my mother, but also my freedom. I regretted it, but it was too late. Sean Parker was wonderful, so wonderful that no one else in the world could replace him. As for me, the castle I had spent over 20 years building in my heart had already crumbled. I was no longer worthy of him. I would never be worthy again. For a while after getting out of prison, no company was willing to hire me. I finally managed to find a job as a food delivery driver. But when my criminal record was discovered, even the boss who had been kind to me suddenly turned cold: “You little brat, do you know how much trouble it would cause the company if this got out? Get lost, and stay far away!” Who could have imagined that me, a graduate from a top university, would now be unqualified even to be a delivery driver? Later, I could only rely on the skills I had learned in prison to do some small business, working from dawn to dusk just to barely make ends meet. The money Sean Parker threw at me today was almost equivalent to a month’s income for me. But I didn’t want to accept it. That money hitting my body hurt more than a slap to the face. Before bed, I got a call from my college roommate Claire White. She was the only friend I had contacted after getting out of prison. “Thea, I invited Sean Parker to my wedding next month too. My dad is working with him now, so I really had no choice.” “But you have to come, we promised each other back in college.” I tidied up the money I hadn’t had a chance to refuse earlier and calmly replied: “It’s fine, I have something to return to him anyway.” Once I returned it, I could let go too.

Claire’s wedding was held at her father’s hotel. This was my first time back in this city after more than five years. Even though I had been back in society for half a year now, I still felt uneasy in crowded places. “Thea, don’t be so tense.” Claire patted my shoulder to help me relax. I gave a dry smile and gestured for her to go ahead and stay busy. Soon people started taking their seats. I realized this whole table was filled with my college classmates, but no one recognized me. Sean Parker arrived with that pretty girl from the other day, causing a stir before they even sat down. “Well well, looks like Mr. Parker is about to tie the knot soon, eh?” He didn’t try to hide it, openly holding hands with the girl. Then he glanced in my direction and smiled, nodding: “That’s right, when Sophie and I get married, you all have to come drink to our happiness.” So her name was Sophie. I lowered my head, wanting to bury myself in the dust. All I could do was try my best to minimize my presence. But Sophie noticed me. “Hey~ Aren’t you the girl who did my nails the other day?” Her words drew countless gazes. Finally someone recognized me. “Are you… Thea Brown? Is that really you?” I nodded slightly, still not raising my face. That person slapped their thigh. “It really is you! But how did you end up like this? I remember you used to be so beautiful. Now you look malnourished!” I forced a smile, not knowing how to respond. Some of those close to Sean Parker started taking potshots: “Well well, Miss Lin, looks like karma caught up with you, huh? We hadn’t heard a peep from you in years – we thought you died in the pandemic or something.” The words were unpleasant, but I could tolerate them. After all, compared to the abuse I endured in prison, what was this? Besides, this was Claire’s wedding. I couldn’t let her face any embarrassment. During the meal, I just focused on eating the food in front of me. Sean Parker sneered, serving Sophie some dishes while taking a dig at me: “Is Miss Lin not used to Chinese food after being abroad for so long?” I numbly finished my last bite and gently set down my chopsticks. “Please, enjoy your meal everyone. I have to leave early.” As I said this, my gaze floated in the air. There was a whole table of people, yet I couldn’t find a single pair of eyes to meet. I left in a hurry, not getting a chance to say goodbye to Claire or find an opportunity to return Sean Parker’s money. But as soon as I walked out of the hotel, someone stopped me. Sean Parker had somehow taken a shortcut and arrived at the entrance before me. Without a word, he dragged me to a secluded corner. His face was dark, like storm clouds before heavy rain. “Thea Brown, what’s your game? Didn’t you say you were going abroad to live the good life? Why are you back now?” I was at a loss for words, staring at him helplessly. “They’re right, this is karma for abandoning me.” “Are you jealous? I’m rich and successful now, with a beautiful and loving girlfriend.” “Most importantly, she loves me. She won’t casually abandon me! You’re the one who’s been abandoned!” He hurled years of pent-up anger at me like an avalanche, crushing the air out of my lungs. At the critical moment, Claire came running out, panting as she stood in front of me. “Sean Parker, what, what are you doing? Do you know that Thea…” “Claire!” I hurriedly cut her off. I shoved the money I had prepared into Sean Parker’s hands and pulled Claire away, turning to leave. I didn’t want him to know. It was better if it stayed buried in my gut forever.

That night, Claire made time to give me a call. “Thea, don’t stay cooped up in that little tourist area anymore. Come work at my dad’s hotel.” I felt both dazed and uneasy. “Is that… appropriate? Won’t I cause trouble for you?” Claire brushed it off: “It’s fine, just be a temporary room service staff. You won’t have to be out in public much, and it’ll pay better than selling plush toys.” This time, I suddenly wanted to give it a try. On my third day of work, someone was holding a birthday party in the main hall. It originally had nothing to do with me, but the manager suddenly called me down to help serve drinks. When I got to the hall, I realized it was Sean Parker’s birthday. I had completely forgotten. Not only were many college classmates there, but also friends he had made in the city over the past few years. I looked around, hoping to find Claire in the crowd. I didn’t want to show my face at this party. “What are you looking at? I didn’t call you down here to gawk!” The supervisor impatiently placed a tray of drinks in my hands, filling several glasses in seconds. She pointed ahead: “Go on, hurry up! The main table is waiting for drinks!” I had no chance to refuse before she gave me a push, sending me wandering through the crowd like a zombie with the tray of drinks. Just as I reached the main table, Sophie suddenly turned and bumped my arm. I lost my grip for a moment, and the tray toppled to the ground. With a loud crash, glasses shattered and alcohol splashed everywhere, splattering Sophie’s high heels and the hem of her dress. “Ah! What’s wrong with you? Are you blind?” “I’m sorry.” I apologized woodenly, frantically trying to clean up the glass shards on the floor. Sophie was furious. “What good is apologizing? Do you know how much these shoes cost? Get down and clean them properly!” I instinctively glanced at Sean Parker. He frowned slightly but remained silent. I understood. He had no intention of intervening. “Hurry up! What are you thinking about? Is this how your hotel staff handle mistakes?” Forget it. I took out the handkerchief I always carried and crouched down to wipe her shoes. In that moment, I was the focus of everyone’s stares. Before I finished, I heard Sophie’s cold laughter from above. “Ladies and gentlemen, many of you know this person, right? Do you all know where she’s been these past few years?” My mind went blank. She was… doing this on purpose? She used a playful tone to ask me: “It’s Thea Brown, right? Why don’t I help you tell everyone where you disappeared to?” I suddenly understood. Sophie had investigated all my information. Though I didn’t know why, she was determined to expose me. The crowd immediately began to stir, like a swarm of annoying flies. I looked up, meeting Sophie’s smug gaze. She looked down at me, smiling maliciously. In that moment, I felt like a cornered animal. And they were all executioners waiting for me to surrender. If I was going to die either way, I’d rather jump off the cliff myself than be toyed with by them. I stood up and looked at her, at Sean Parker, at the countless eyes fixed on me. No more hiding. “No need for your help. I’ll tell everyone myself.” “A few years ago, I accidentally killed someone. I disappeared because I was serving time in prison.” This moment of honesty wasn’t for anyone else, but for myself. I just wanted to live a decent life. “What did you say?” Sean Parker shot to his feet, staring at me in disbelief, his eyes blazing.

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My husband and I returned to the United States to participate in groundbreaking cancer research, only to be struck down—literally—by Vanessa Sterling, a rising Hollywood star. With my legs shattered, I crawled, pleading for her to help my husband, who was rapidly losing consciousness. She responded by throwing a check at my face. “Who’s ever heard of you scientists? You’re nobodies compared to me! Here, a hundred grand—more than enough to buy your pathetic lives!” As my husband’s body grew cold, she left, hurling a bribe to keep me silent. Then, her powerful backer, Brandon Chase, threatened me, “Go ahead, call the cops. We’ll ruin you. Who do you think you are to fight a star like her?” What they didn’t know was that my husband was the lead scientist on a federally funded cancer research project—a man backed by the full force of the National Institute of Advanced Science. Content The cold check slid from his face, but Nate still clutched the hard drive containing his research—a decade’s worth of work to develop affordable cancer medication. Just an hour earlier, he’d smiled at me, his excitement lighting up the room. “Claire,” he had said, “with these results, we can give the country a drug that’s cheaper and more effective.” “I want every family to afford medicine. Every life is precious.” And now, his life was being trampled on, reduced to a bargaining chip for a starlet with too much money and too little humanity. Through my tears, I begged her, “I don’t want your money—just help me get my husband to a hospital!” “If our research gets delayed, it could cost thousands, maybe millions, of lives!” Vanessa Sterling paused mid-step, her lips curling into a mocking sneer. “Ugh, shut up. A hundred grand isn’t enough to make you stop whining? You’re both worthless, and frankly, I’m being generous!” Her cruel words stabbed at me. Nate and I had sacrificed so much, self-funding our research for the good of the people, only to be humiliated by someone who flaunted her wealth like a weapon. I pulled out my ID and threw it at her feet. “Call the National Institute of Advanced Science. They’ll confirm who we are.” “Delay this project, and those two worthless lives you mock might cost you more than you can afford to pay!” Vanessa crushed my ID under her heel with a dismissive snort. “What a waste of my time! I’m trending on Twitter and have national interviews lined up. Meanwhile, I’ve never even heard of you.” “What kind of ‘scientists’ are so unknown? Guess you’re not that important. Dead or alive, who’d even care?” She strutted off, lazily making a call, leaving me gripping my shattered phone, frantically pressing its cracked screen through tears that blurred my vision. I was at my wit’s end. I pounded my broken legs in despair, the pain unable to drown out the anguish in my chest. How could I dream of saving lives when I couldn’t even save the person I loved most? Vanessa smirked, looking down at me. “Fine, keep playing the victim. I’m not giving you more money.” “Oh, by the way,” she added, “this area has no cameras. So here’s the story: you two idiots ran into my car on your own. Say that, and we’re good.” She leaned in, a wicked grin on her face. “Take the check, and I’ll even send my assistant to drop you off at the hospital. Consider it my good deed of the day.” Vanessa wanted to rewrite the narrative. She wasn’t the one who caused this—no, she was the hero offering a lifeline. My hands trembled as I picked up the blood-stained check. Swallowing my pride, I agreed. Nate’s life was all that mattered. Seeing me capitulate, Vanessa laughed in triumph. “Ha! Pretending you’re not after money? What a joke.” I bit my lip so hard that blood dripped down my chin. Nate, coughing and wheezing, turned to me with great effort. “Claire… I have to tell you something… while I can…” He pressed the hard drive into my hands, blood trickling from his nose and mouth. “Claire, I’ve told you before. My greatest dream is to create a cure that even the poorest can afford.” “But I don’t think I can finish it…” I held him tightly, trying to warm his freezing body, my tears mingling with the blood on his face. He shook his head, determined even in his final moments. “Don’t grieve for me.” “No matter what happens, you must continue our research. This data is more important than me…” Choking on sobs, I nodded. Vanessa’s voice cut through the air like a dagger. “Enough with the drama. You’re acting like you’re curing cancer or something. I’ve got people jumping off buildings if I don’t post on Instagram!” I glared at her, my fury burning through the haze of grief. Vanessa smirked. “Oh, what? You mad? It’s just some junk science, right?” She snatched the hard drive from my hands. “Let me take a look. What’s got you so worked up?”

Vanessa Sterling tossed the hard drive lightly into the air, catching it with each throw. One slip, and it would shatter into pieces. I watched in utter panic, my chest tightening with every flip. Crawling forward on my broken legs, I begged her to return it. “That’s his legacy!” I cried. “It’s the hope for countless patients who could be saved!” Vanessa’s mocking game had gone too far. The sight of her toying with the hard drive pushed Nate over the edge. He coughed violently, blood spurting from his lips as he gasped out desperate pleas for her to stop. Then, he collapsed, unconscious. Vanessa rolled her eyes. “Geez, can’t you take a joke?” she muttered before pocketing her amusement. With a flippant wave, she climbed into her car and sped away. Her assistant eventually helped transport Nate and me to Crestwood Medical Center, where I underwent surgery. Hours later, I sat in a wheelchair outside the brightly lit ICU, staring at the closed doors of the operating room. All I could think about was the stolen research—ten years of relentless work—gone. Summoning my strength, I called the police. The Brookhaven Police Department acted swiftly, launching an investigation and quickly identifying witnesses to the hit-and-run. Vanessa was brought in for questioning. The moment we faced each other at the station, she struck me across the face without warning. “You just don’t give up, do you? Wasn’t a hundred grand enough? Now you’re back for more?” I didn’t flinch. Instead, I slammed the bloodstained check against her face. “I told you—I don’t want your money. I want you behind bars. If my husband doesn’t make it, I’ll see to it you pay with your life!” Her face twisted in fury, and she raised her hand again. But before she could land another blow, the officers stepped in to stop her. Turning on the theatrics, Vanessa threw herself into Brandon Chase’s arms, sobbing dramatically. “Mr. Chase, I’m so sorry! I was just trying to enjoy my evening with you, but this woman had to bring the police and ruin everything!” Everyone knew that stars like Vanessa didn’t rise without a powerful backer. Brandon Chase was clearly her anchor in the storm. He gave me a disinterested glance, his tone icy. “Ms. Kensington, let’s not drag this out. Name your price, and let’s put this to rest.” I chuckled bitterly through the pain of my split lip. “You think this is about money?” “My husband dedicated his life to research for this country. He’s fighting for his life, and you want to buy your way out of justice? Forget it.” Brandon’s gaze turned steely, his voice lowering in warning. “You’re playing a dangerous game. Money can buy anything.” I locked eyes with him, unwavering. “Fine. Get the most expensive lawyer you can find. I’ll see you in court.” Ignoring him, I focused on the officers bringing in the witnesses. I expected justice, but when the doors to the interrogation room opened, my blood ran cold. The witness, a young man, pointed at me and confidently declared, “It was her. I saw her throw herself in front of Vanessa’s car. She was faking it—trying to extort her!” My voice shook. “You’re lying!” It was all so clear now. Brandon Chase’s smug confidence, the bribed witness—it all clicked into place. “You sold your soul for a check,” I said, my voice trembling with rage. “How much did they pay you? Enough to silence your conscience and frame an innocent person?” The boy shrugged nonchalantly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, but the admiration in his eyes as he turned to Vanessa betrayed him. “Vanessa Sterling is a star,” he gushed. “She makes millions every day. She’s an icon for people like me.” Then he sneered at me. “And you? What are you, some nobody scientist? Why would I ruin my life for someone like you?” My eyes burned with unshed tears. “You’re asking who I am?” I whispered. I clenched my fists. Nate and I had spent our lives in quiet service to others, seeking no fame or fortune—only the hope of making a difference. But did that mean we deserved this? I cried out, my voice hoarse, “My husband is still fighting for his life in the ICU! We work for the National Institute of Advanced Science! Why would we throw everything away for a scheme like this?” Brandon’s condescending laugh cut through the air. “Every criminal says they’re innocent,” he said with a shrug, turning to the officers. “Officer, you have your witness. Isn’t it time to put this scam artist in her place?” He stepped forward, his face inches from mine, and smirked. “After all, we’re all equal under the law. Isn’t that right?” My resolve snapped. I slapped him hard across the face, the sound ringing through the room like a gunshot. “You’ll regret that,” he growled, raising his fist. “Stop!” The officers rushed forward, pushing us apart before he could strike. As they escorted me to another room, Brandon’s eyes followed me, dark with unspoken threats.

After yet another round of questioning, my lawyer arranged for my release. Exhausted, I returned to Crestwood Medical Center, where Nate’s condition remained critical. I slumped in my wheelchair, staring at the sterile hospital walls, my body numb with despair. Then my phone rang. Vanessa’s voice spilled out, dripping with mockery. “Claire, how’s it feel to call the cops and end up the one getting interrogated?” “You’re the criminal!” I spat back. “So what if I am?” she said, her confidence unshaken. “Brandon’s got my back. I’m a star. What are you? Nothing.” Her voice turned icy. “Brandon wanted me to tell you something: money can’t shut you up, but it can destroy you a hundred times over. Check Twitter if you don’t believe me.” Dread pooled in my stomach as I opened my phone. The top trending topic screamed at me: “Scammer Couple Tries to Con Actress Vanessa Sterling, Karma Hits Hard!” The media had already spun the story, fueled by Brandon’s money and influence. Comment after comment tore us apart. “They should’ve died in the accident. How dare they frame Vanessa?” “Calling themselves scientists? Sure, if scientists were cheap and useless. Vanessa’s worth more than their entire lives combined!” Even fake posts from supposed former classmates began to circulate. “They plagiarized their theses in college. The whole campus knew they were frauds.” Nate and I, dedicated scientists, were painted as failures and liars, while Vanessa continued to bask in the spotlight. I hung up on her taunts. It wasn’t over. I wouldn’t stop until every single one of them faced justice. Dialing, I heard a familiar voice pick up. “Claire! I was just about to call you!” exclaimed Dr. Leonard Grant, the director of NIAS. “I’ve got great news! Nate’s been officially appointed lead scientist for the project. The higher-ups are thrilled!” His enthusiasm cracked something inside me. “Nate might not wake up,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “And the data… it’s gone.” The line went silent before his voice returned, steel laced with fury. “Who did this to you? Tell me everything.” As I explained, tears choked me. “How do I fix this? Patients are waiting. The drug needs to be developed… and I’ve failed at every turn.” But Dr. Grant’s voice was resolute. “You haven’t failed, Claire. Hold on. Help is coming. The country will always stand behind you.” Minutes later, Vanessa strutted into the hospital. “You’re not welcome here!” I seethed. “Oh, I have an appointment,” she said with a sly smile. “Dr. Harris is seeing me this afternoon.” My heart sank. Dr. Harris was Nate’s surgeon. If she took him away… “You’re risking his life!” I screamed. Vanessa only laughed. “Guess you better start making funeral plans.” Before I could react, she shoved me from my wheelchair, sending pain lancing through my broken legs. Then, with a cruel smile, she pulled the hard drive from her bag and slammed it to the ground. “This is what you care about, isn’t it? Well, consider it gone!” Her heel came down hard, cracking the casing. A booming voice stopped her. “Enough!” Dr. Grant stormed in, his expression thunderous. “I don’t care who your backer is,” he roared. “No one is above this country’s justice!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295102”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #重生Reborn #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #魔幻Magic