Category: English

When the woman I had supported for seven years publicly accused me of stealing, handed my hard-won project to her new assistant, and allowed the entire office to mock me, I realized I had never been her partner—only her stepping stone. She repaid me by elevating Evan and erasing everything I built. So I didn’t argue, beg, or defend myself. I resigned on the spot, accepted a ten-times-higher offer from the client I had won. This time, I chose myself. I had just closed a major deal for the company when I received a ring from my girlfriend. Excited, I shared the news on Instagram, thinking she was finally ready to make our relationship official. But suddenly, my girlfriend’s newly hired male assistant slapped me and flipped over my desk: “You’re a director, for crying out loud! How dare you steal the gift my wife gave me? Have you no shame?” Instead of defending me, my girlfriend Victoria said I didn’t deserve my position and publicly announced that her assistant Evan would take over the big project I had just secured. That’s when I realized Victoria wasn’t planning to go public with our relationship – she was going public with him. The whole office was filming the drama on their phones, enjoying the spectacle. But I didn’t get angry. Instead, I smiled and handed my employee badge to Evan. “So you’re the CEO’s better half. Here, take the director position as my apology. Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness.” Seeing my unexpected reaction, a colleague pulled me aside and whispered: “Don’t do anything rash. You can always land another project.” But what he didn’t know was that I wasn’t being impulsive at all. Yesterday, as I passed by the office, I overheard Victoria’s assistant Evan pestering her: “Victoria, I want to make something of myself. Give me this new project you just landed. I promise I’ll do a great job and impress you.” At the time, I didn’t think much of it. Victoria and I had been secret lovers for seven years. I had turned down offers from big companies to help her start this business. I had secured 90% of the company’s projects. Victoria knew better than anyone how hard the journey had been. She was also a woman of principle who would never mess with important matters like projects. Moreover, she had once had a project stolen by an opportunist and hated that type of person the most. So when I saw the ring Victoria sent today, I thought she had finally realized I was the best choice and wanted to marry me. I never expected Evan to turn the tables on me, smearing my reputation by calling me a thief and humiliating me. I was even more shocked that Victoria would abandon her principles for Evan, who had only been with the company for a few short months. If that’s how it was going to be, I had no reason to stay at this crappy company. Victoria still didn’t realize I had seen through their childish scheme. She thought I was just jealous. She suddenly frowned at me: “What’s with the sarcasm?” Ever since Evan showed up, she always looked at me with prejudice. This time I didn’t waste my breath arguing. I just calmly said: “You’re overthinking it. I really am giving it to him.” I was giving him both my girlfriend and my job. I was about to leave when Victoria grabbed my arm and dragged me to her office, her face cold. The company wasn’t big, and the office had poor soundproofing. As soon as she closed the office door, the employees outside who had been watching the drama eagerly started sucking up to Evan, asking when he was getting married and having kids. Evan responded shyly: “Having children is hard on women. I can’t make that decision for her.” He was already acting like Victoria’s official boyfriend. And because of Victoria’s silence on the matter, the employees believed it wholeheartedly. Hearing this, Victoria’s hand froze as she was pouring water. Realizing she owed me an explanation, she softened her usually stern tone: “Evan’s just a kid who doesn’t know any better. He was just joking around, don’t take it to heart.” “He has relatives at the client company. This project was landed thanks to him.” I gave her a speechless look. How ridiculous! The client, Thunder Tech, had a professional in-house tech team and didn’t need to outsource. They had rejected collaboration from the start. I was the one who refused to give up, begging and gifting until I finally got a meeting with the person in charge. He generously gave me 30 seconds, and I seized the opportunity to pitch our product. Seeing my capabilities, he tried to poach me with a high salary. When that failed, he agreed to collaborate. I had been pulling all-nighters and running around for this project, but she didn’t see any of that. Yet she believed Evan’s casual claim without question. If she had given it even a moment’s thought, she would have realized that if Evan really had those connections, he wouldn’t be working as an assistant at our small, struggling company. Or perhaps she understood everything and was just playing dumb. Seeing that I remained silent, Victoria lowered her eyes for a moment, then took the initiative to make me a cup of coffee. She leaned close to my ear and whispered: “I’m just pretending with him. You’re the only one I’ll marry.” In the past, whenever we argued, I would forgive her without principle as soon as she softened her voice and made promises. So this time, she thought it would work the same way. She waved her hand dismissively: “Go back to work. I’ll handle the project situation.” But what she didn’t know was that I no longer wanted her. I pushed back my chair and stood up: “No need to go to all that trouble. I’ll just leave.” With that, I pulled out a resignation form, filled it out without hesitation, and walked out of the office.

Seeing that I was about to leave, Evan hurried to block my way, putting on an act of being wronged: “Felix, I know you’re an expert in the industry. You’re right, I’m not qualified for the technical director position. Here, take it back.” He grabbed the employee badge and tried to shove it at me. I simply pushed him lightly, but he took the opportunity to fall dramatically, knocking over a chair and pulling down a computer in the process, alarming the surrounding colleagues. Evan got up and waved off the concerned inquiries from coworkers, saying it was no big deal. Victoria, startled by the commotion, came running in her 4-inch heels. After making sure Evan was unharmed, she glared at me with furrowed brows: “Felix, don’t think you can do whatever you want just because you’re a long-time employee.” Hearing this, the surrounding colleagues jumped in to lecture me: “Yeah, Felix. The old giving way to the new is for the company’s development. Don’t bully the newcomer just because you have seniority.” The harshest words came from Jack, the protégé I had personally mentored: “So what if you landed a few projects? You’re acting like you own the place.” “Got addicted to playing favorites, huh? Can’t even respect a genius like Evan?” We had worked together for years, and I was the top salesperson. In the past, everyone respectfully called me “Felix” when they saw me. Now they were all gloating, staring at me with schadenfreude, eager for me to get lost. Whatever. Let them say what they want. I was done here. I left the company without another word. Victoria chased after me. Seeing no one else around, she rubbed her forehead and said: “You’re just overworked lately. I’ll approve some time off for you to rest.” “Today is our 7th anniversary. Wait for me at home, I have a surprise for you.” As she finished speaking, the elevator arrived. I stepped in without saying a word. Back home, I cooked myself dinner without waiting for her. She still hadn’t returned by nightfall. I put on my shoes and tidied up a bit before heading out to meet with the client representative, but I ran into a coworker on the way. This guy was slow on the uptake, so he hadn’t distanced himself from me like the others. He still greeted me enthusiastically. “Felix! Are you going to the promotion party Victoria’s throwing for Director Evan? Let’s go together and split the cab fare!” He happily said he finally didn’t have to take the subway, but I shook my head: “That’s not where I’m going.” He gave me an awkward look: “Victoria didn’t invite you?” I nodded indifferently and walked away. I faintly heard him muttering “Victoria sure plays favorites,” but I didn’t look back. She never played favorites. She just favored Evan. For Evan’s sake, she could do anything. Breaking promises to me wasn’t unusual. Previously, when I was hospitalized with pneumonia, she said she’d come see me after a meeting. I waited until dawn before she finally showed up, claiming she was working overtime when in reality she was watching a movie with Evan. A while back, we had an appointment to take couple photos. I waited in a suit until the store closed. She arrived unhurriedly, saying work had held her up, but she had actually taken Evan shopping for some well-fitting clothes. There were countless similar incidents. Every time I questioned her, she would coldly scold me with a “work comes first” attitude. This dynamic was exhausting. At the café, the client representative looked at the progress report I submitted and exclaimed in admiration: “Felix, are you sure you don’t want to switch companies? We can offer ten times your current salary.” This time, I didn’t refuse. The client representative was delighted and said we could negotiate any requests I had. After discussing the benefits package with him, I returned home to find Victoria sitting on the couch waiting for me, with takeout boxes packed. She had stood me up again. In the past, she would offer a litany of explanations, but this time she said nothing. After a moment of silence, she pushed the food containers towards me: “You must be tired today too. No need to cook, just heat this up and eat.” I glanced down. Various dishes were piled together unattractively in the plastic containers. There were stir-fried and boiled dishes, and even a piece of steamed cake soaking in the soup. It was clearly leftovers, carelessly packed up. She didn’t even bother to pack things separately, just mixed everything in one big container. It looked unappetizing just looking at it. I waved my hand: “No need, I’ve already eaten.” Victoria gave me a long look, and the usually cold woman took the initiative to wrap her arms around my waist: “I’m sorry. He just got promoted, so as the boss, I had to show some support.” “I know you were wronged today. Let’s get our marriage license this weekend.” Hah! Easy for her to say. But when I was promoted to director, I happily took the initiative to throw myself a promotion party. I waited expectantly in the private room. The waiter reheated the food five times. I waited until the restaurant closed, but not a single colleague dared to show up. I sent message after message, but they all sank like stones. A kind-hearted colleague secretly asked if I had offended the CEO. I was baffled at the time. It wasn’t until later that I found out. When I wasn’t in the office, she had coldly scolded each colleague who said they were going to attend the party: “Is your workload too light? Bored out of your minds?” “All you think about is eating, drinking, and having fun. Is this what the company is paying you useless people for? You might as well quit now!” Thinking of this, I pried her restless hands from my waist and said coldly: “There’s no need for that, Victoria. Let’s break up.”

The atmosphere in the room instantly froze. Victoria took a deep breath, unable to hold back her emotions any longer: “I’ve made all these sacrifices for the company’s development. Other men would be grateful, why can’t you see that?” I ignored her twisted logic. She continued muttering about the importance of the company’s development as usual, saying that when the company went public in the future, she would give me a place. I had heard this so many times my ears were growing calluses. I raised my hand to interrupt her: “No need. I’ll pack my things and move out now.” It was the first time Victoria’s words had been interrupted since she became the imposing boss. Her face flushed red with anger. She glared at me for a long while before coldly snorting: “No need. I’ll leave!” She slammed the door as she left. I didn’t chase after her, silently packing my things instead. The client company had arranged a free luxury single room in their staff dormitory for me, which I could move into anytime. I had just finished packing when I called a moving company. As they were nearly done moving things, I happened to run into Evan sending Victoria home. They were holding hands, chatting and laughing together. Victoria had also shed her cold CEO demeanor, lowering her head with a sweet smile as she stood beside Evan, the picture of a demure and virtuous woman. Evan noticed me first and deliberately held her hand tighter. Victoria sensed something was off and followed his gaze to see me. She hurriedly let go of his hand. She walked up to me, habitually about to explain, but when she saw me loading boxes into a van, she was stunned for a moment before changing tack to ask: “Where are you going so late at night?” Are you blind? Can’t you see the big “Moving Company” sign? I was about to continue loading boxes. But Victoria blocked my way, suddenly shoving the clothes she was carrying into my arms. Seeing I didn’t react, she took out the clothes and held them up against me: “I know you’ve been too busy to buy clothes lately, so I picked these up for you when I passed by the mall.” Bought for me? My build requires XL sizes, but this brand-name shirt was a size M. The receipt that fell out of the bag showed it was paid for with Victoria’s credit card, and the price was over $1000. This wasn’t something she casually bought for me. She must have taken Evan to the store to try on clothes. She sure was generous. Just two days ago, I bought a $20 shirt and asked her if it looked good. She coldly scolded me for wasting money, lecturing me for over an hour about how hard it was to earn money, saying that dressing well wasn’t as important as having real skills. What now? Has earning money suddenly become easy? I put my hands in my pockets and coldly looked at them: “No need. As they say, ‘clothes make the man, saddles make the horse, and bells make the dog run faster.’ These expensive clothes are better left for Director Evan.” Evan froze for a moment as he took the clothes, then reacted and angrily threw them down: “How dare you insult me?” He glared at me with reddened eyes, rushing forward to attack. I stood my ground and slapped him, sending him tumbling to the ground: “Not just insult you. I dare to hit you too.” Evan’s thin limbs were like sticks. The only reason he had managed to hit me earlier was because I was caught off guard. Now, I had returned that slap. Victoria cried out, hugging Evan protectively: “Felix! We can talk this out. Why did you have to hit him?” “If you want to leave, then leave! Don’t come back!” She didn’t need to tell me. I had no intention of coming back. I turned and got into the moving van, speeding off towards my new life. After resigning, I went straight to work for the client company, Thunder Tech, where I was entrusted with important responsibilities. When I returned to Victoria’s company as a client representative, I was welcomed in by the receptionist.

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I once believed Asher and I would grow old together, until Lila returned, Buddy died at my feet, and I realized I meant nothing to him. My project was taken, my reputation crushed, and even my mother’s last keepsake was desecrated. In that moment, I finally understood his love had never been mine. When the confidential space program reached out to me, I signed the ten-year anonymity agreement and ended our farcical marriage. And only when he stood in an empty home, with every trace of me gone, did he finally understand that he had destroyed the only love that had ever been steadfastly his. Staring at the NDA in my hand, I signed my name without hesitation. “Professor, I’m willing to join the Aquila Advanced Propulsion Program.” He studied me with a hint of regret. “You understand this mission is classified. Once you join, you’ll be stationed at the Redwater Desert Research Facility. Ten years of anonymity. No contact with the outside world. No one will be able to find you.” “Aren’t you getting married? You should at least discuss this with your fiancé.” Thinking of Asher’s cold, resolute expression, I gave a faint, bitter smile and shook my head. “There’s no need.” The professor fell silent for a moment, then nodded. “Very well. Prepare yourself. We depart in seven days.” It was raining when I left his office, and I walked home through the downpour. Unsurprisingly, Asher still hadn’t returned. Lila had taken Buddy—the dog I’d raised since childhood. When I tried to talk to Asher, he blamed me instead and disappeared for three days. I slipped the ring off my finger and tossed it into the drawer. Asher had made it for me by hand, a symbol of lifelong love, meant never to be removed—even in death. I used to believe we would grow old together. But everything changed the moment Lila came back from overseas. Asher forgot my birthday, ignored my feelings, and I became the most invisible person in the house. I was about to change out of my soaked clothes when the doorbell rang. Opening it, I saw Lila standing there, malice flickering in her eyes as she kicked something toward me. “This mutt wouldn’t listen and ran into a car.” I stared in disbelief at Buddy’s small body, fur matted with mud and blood. A sharp, unbearable pain twisted my chest, and tears blurred my vision. Lila only shrugged with a mocking smile. “It’s just a dog. Do you have to cry like someone in your family died?” My restraint snapped. I shoved her. She screamed dramatically, collapsing into Asher’s arms as he rushed over. Tears filled her eyes instantly. “Asher, the dog ran out on his own… I never meant for this to happen. Why is she blaming me?” Before I could speak, she looked even more aggrieved. “I’m sorry, Cora… I know you loved him…” Touching Buddy’s still-warm body, my voice trembled with grief. “What’s the use of saying sorry!” Lila wilted pitifully into Asher’s chest. “I even brought the dog’s body back for her, and she speaks to me like this…” Asher’s face hardened with irritation. “It’s just an animal. It’s dead—so what? My grandmother left you so much money. You can buy as many dogs as you want.” With his protection, Lila cried even harder, soaking a dark patch on Asher’s shirt. As if that weren’t enough, he continued, “Cora, when did you become so petty and unreasonable?” Animal. The word echoed in my head like a blow. He knew what Buddy meant to me. Buddy was the last gift my mother left me before she died. Asher had once promised—at my mother’s bedside—that he would take care of both me and Buddy. Yet now, for Lila, he dismissed Buddy as nothing. His heart had already drifted far away. Exhaustion washed over me. I didn’t want to fight anymore. Thinking of the decision I had made earlier that day, I felt a strange sense of relief. Asher gently stroked Lila’s back and shot me a glare. “Are you satisfied now?” Then he tipped her chin up tenderly. “It’s raining. I’ll drive you home.” Lila nestled into his arms and cast me a smug, triumphant smirk from where he couldn’t see. Watching him leave without a backward glance, I felt the last of my illusions crumble. The Asher who once claimed he fell for me at first sight had never truly loved me. I had been a stand-in during his loneliness, and Lila was the one he really wanted. Now that the rightful owner had returned, I—the substitute—was expected to step aside. But it no longer mattered. I tucked the ring and the unsigned prenuptial agreement back into the drawer. Asher would never know that the agreement his grandmother forced him to give me—granting me half his assets—was never notarized. And I had never signed it. After cremating Buddy, I buried him beside my mother’s grave. On the third morning, the Professor sent me the precise departure time. I replied with a simple “okay,” then went straight to HR and submitted my resignation. They must have disliked me for a long time, because everything was processed without hesitation. The moment I stepped out, their whispers drifted through the door. “She really resigned. Well, she’s basically the CEO’s wife—Asher’s grandma left her half the property.” “Wife? It’s not even official. I heard she quit because Asher handed her project to Miss Daphne.” “That project was practically finished. Giving it to Daphne now is just handing her the credit.” “Please, Daphne is Asher’s true love.” I could not blame them for thinking so. The instant Daphne returned, Asher made her General Manager. Even if she had known nothing, he would have handed the project to her personally. He had me work overtime revising her proposals and entertaining her clients. Even when I landed in the hospital with a bleeding stomach, he told me I owed it to Daphne. Their mocking laughter barely touched me. My only wish was for the next few days to pass quickly. Everything was arranged; all that remained was to pack. When I arrived home with my boxes, Asher and Daphne were at the dining table, laughing as they fed each other. My hand trembled at the sight. Once, I had accidentally used Asher’s cup, and he hired a dozen cleaners to sanitize the entire house—warning me never to touch anything he used. So he never had a cleanliness obsession. He simply despised intimacy with me. Daphne noticed me first. Leaning coyly against Asher’s arm, she murmured, “Asher, if you give Cora’s seat to me, won’t she be upset?” Asher sneered. “I’m the company’s CEO. I don’t need her approval.” “But she hasn’t been home for days.” “She’s waiting for me to coax her. Don’t mind her.” Triumph glinted in Daphne’s eyes as she curled into his embrace. I said nothing and headed upstairs. Only then did Asher seem to truly see me. Guilt flickered across his face before he slammed his fork down and barked, “Stop right there!” I ignored him, but he rushed over and grabbed my arm. “Cora, what’s your problem? Do you even remember you have a home?” He reached for my box, but I turned away. “No need. Go back to your work.” Impatience flashed across his expression—until Daphne called sweetly, “Asher, I want another fried egg. Can you make one for me?” “Sure.” He left immediately. I tried to continue upstairs, but Daphne stepped in front of me. “What do you want?” I asked. Her gentle facade vanished, replaced with naked jealousy. “You heard him. Asher only cares about me. If his grandmother hadn’t forced him, he never would’ve married you. Don’t think the property she left you is actually yours.” She smirked. “Hand over the agreement. One word from me and he’ll throw you out.” She paused, then covered her mouth with a theatrical laugh. “Oh, I forgot. Your whole family is dead. No wonder you cling to Asher like a stray no one wants.” Her voice dripped with contempt. I could endure insults toward myself, but not toward my family. My blood iced over. “Daphne,” I snapped, “say one more word and you’ll regret it.” “Cora! What’s wrong with you?!” Asher’s voice cut in as he hurried over, clearly worried I might harm Daphne. I stopped short. Daphne arched a brow—and gave me a subtle push. My foot slipped. I fell down the stairs, pain shooting through me the moment I hit the ground. “Cora!” Asher dropped everything and rushed to me. Daphne leaned toward him, tears trembling. “Asher, I didn’t mean to… I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have caused trouble.” Her panic looked impeccably sincere, and Asher softened instantly. He glanced down at me. “Are you alright? Do you need a hospital? Daphne didn’t do it on purpose. Don’t blame her.” I shook my head, bitterness rising as my gaze fell on the scattered items beside me. The resignation letter and confidential documents lay right on top. Chapter 3 I ignored the throbbing pain in my body and quickly bent down to gather the scattered documents. “I’ll do it.” Asher crouched beside me, immediately picking up the resignation letter with a deep frown. My breath caught. I prayed he wouldn’t notice the confidential files. Fortunately, his focus stayed on the resignation letter, giving me just enough time to slip the confidential documents beneath the rest of my belongings. “You resigned?” His voice was sharp with disbelief. “Yes.” I shoved everything into the box without looking up. He sounded irritated. “Why didn’t you say something earlier? When I asked you to hand over the project, you refused. What made you suddenly give in?” Maybe it was my pallor, or maybe he sensed something else—either way, his tone softened. “Quitting is good. Saves me the trouble. Grandma already left you so much money—you should be satisfied.” “You should focus on being Mrs. Asher and stop competing with Daphne. She’s kind and doesn’t understand your scheming.” I bit down hard on my lip, holding back the sharp sting in my eyes, nodding while my chest tightened painfully. I tried to stand. Pain shot up my spine. He reached to steady me. “Cora, walk Daphne through the project. She’ll struggle with the investors otherwise.” “She’s not like you—she can’t charm people into giving her property.” Not wanting to waste another second, I nodded. “Alright.” Asher seemed pleased with my obedience. He even smiled. “That’s better. I’m sorry for neglecting you lately. Once Daphne fully takes over your work, I’ll make it up to you.” “After Grandma’s mourning period, we’ll get married. It’ll give her peace.” My nails dug into my palms. He had no idea those days would never come. In the days that followed, I quietly packed, drafted a full proposal for Daphne, and visited his grandmother’s grave to tell her my decision. She was the only one who had ever chosen me sincerely. She wouldn’t want me to stay and suffer. On my last day in the house, Asher stayed home, which made me uneasy. I looked for an opportunity to slip out. Unexpectedly, he opened a storage box and took out an old telescope. “Daphne wants to stargaze. I’ll take her camping tonight.” “Alright.” Relief washed over me. If he left early, I could avoid a confrontation. He added, “There’s a Charity Gala tonight. Prepare a dress for Daphne.” By then, I would be long gone. Daphne appeared at his side, gripping his arm with practiced fragility. “How can Cora get me a dress? Last time she gave me the wrong proposal and the investors scolded me…” “Asher, it’s fine. I’ll wear anything. I don’t want to trouble her…” Tears fell on cue. Asher immediately glared at me. “Cora, if you don’t want to help, just say so. How could you do something like that? You’ve disappointed me.” I didn’t want unnecessary drama on my last day. “I’m sorry. My mistake. It won’t happen again.” Then to Asher, “Don’t worry. I’ll prepare the dress.” A flicker of guilt crossed his face. After a moment, he murmured, “Cora… I’ll get you a new puppy tomorrow, just like your last one.” Before my mentor arrived, I ironed Daphne’s dress, placed the engagement ring—the one that supposedly meant “the only one”—and the prenup agreement neatly on the table. With my suitcase in hand, I walked downstairs. The Professor glanced at my blank expression and sighed. “Since you’re leaving, work hard and achieve something big out there.” “Okay.” I got into the car. Asher’s villa grew smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror until it disappeared completely. Early the next morning, slightly drunk, Asher returned with Daphne. The house was dark and silent. His irritation rose instantly. No matter how late he came home, I had always waited up for him. “Cora! Come out and make some hangover soup.” Silence. He switched on the lights. The ring and prenup lay neatly on the table. He froze—then abruptly shouted, “Cora! Who allowed you to take off the ring?!” Chapter 4 But the empty house offered him nothing—only layer upon layer of silence. Asher stood in the middle of the living room, stunned, a strange tremor spreading through his chest before he even realized what it meant.

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I tried to stay invisible. I let my roommate insult me, rummage through my things, spread rumors, and even parade her knockoffs around like they were superior to mine. None of it mattered—until she stole my scholarship and labeled me “unfit” for it. That was when my patience finally snapped. And when my father made one single phone call, the girl who called me “low-brow” finally realized who she had been provoking. Recently, my roommate Danielle Clementine has been dating a so-called “trust fund guy,” and she flaunts it around the dorm nonstop. “Hey, check out this Tiffany bracelet he got me. Isn’t it gorgeous?” She lifted her wrist toward the light, angling it so the metal glinted dramatically. “Wow, that must’ve cost thousands! Your boyfriend treats you so well!” “For real! Does he have any friends? Set us up!” The girls crowded around her, piling on compliments. Their worship made Danielle glow like she’d just won a pageant. She even tossed out a handful of high-end cosmetics, and the others scrambled to grab them, squealing in excitement. I sat off to the side reading, not joining the commotion. That, of course, caught Danielle’s attention. She shot me an annoyed look. “Sophie, don’t you think this Tiffany bracelet is stunning? Way better than that cheap silver bangle you always wear, right?” I glanced at the bracelet and immediately recognized the telltale signs—it was a knockoff. The “plain” silver bracelet on my wrist? Limited-edition Tiffany. Still, I stayed low-key. “Yeah, it’s pretty. My silver bracelet is nothing special.” Pleased, Danielle walked over and snapped my book shut. “Sophie, you really need to, like, invest in decent jewelry. It’s embarrassing standing next to you.” I didn’t respond. Everyone knew Danielle’s background wasn’t glamorous; she wasn’t even solid middle-class. Before this “boyfriend,” she lived in cheap T-shirts and jeans. Now she acted like a socialite. I quietly reopened my book, trying to find my place. Alexa Wind looped her arm through Danielle’s. “Forget her. You two aren’t in the same league anyway. Let’s go eat tonight—I want the full update about you and your boyfriend.” Danielle smirked. “Can’t. I’m going out with him tonight.” Jealousy flashed across Alexa’s face. “At some fancy restaurant, right? Don’t forget to post pictures!” Danielle didn’t answer. She spent fifteen minutes applying makeup, put on her only dress worth over $500, and strutted out like a swan. That evening, I ordered spicy gumbo and ate in the dorm while Alexa squealed, “Danielle just posted! Look—foie gras, caviar, red wine, steak… oh my gosh!” The roommates crowded around her. Alexa looked at my gumbo with disdain. “Some people go on luxury dates, and some stay home with cheap gumbo. Talk about contrast.” Gumbo was now a moral failing, apparently. She shoved her phone at me. “Look how perfect they look together.” I glanced at the photo—and paused. The “trust fund guy” in the picture? My family’s new security guard. My dad had made his fortune in Seattle after an early jackpot win, and during high school I’d had everything—designer clothes, a chauffeur. Unfortunately, that also made me a target, and I almost got kidnapped. Since then, Dad insisted I keep a low profile. Even though he bought a mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut, near Columbia University, he encouraged me to stay in the campus dorms. I still liked quality clothing, but to avoid attention, I’d often call my things “knockoffs.” Eventually, everyone assumed I was a poser with a taste for fakes. I didn’t care. I was here to study. Dad always said: “We only have money. You have to earn the honor.” A whole wall of our home displayed my awards—each framed like a priceless treasure. Once, Dad climbed a ladder to fix a peeling corner on one of the frames. My goal in college was to win scholarships every year. Money meant nothing; the recognition did. Recently, we replaced our security guard, and the previous one recommended his nephew, Tony James. He seemed responsible. I had no reason to expect he’d pose as a rich boyfriend for Danielle. As the roommates gushed over her post, I couldn’t help but laugh silently.

Danielle returned from her date wearing a knockoff Chanel outfit and carrying a pile of gifts. One by one, she laid them out as the roommates crowded around. “Danielle, that Chanel looks amazing.” “Gucci perfume? Can I just hold it?” “Ugh, I’m so jealous!” Danielle smiled smugly and stole a glance at me before lifting one bag. “Sophie, I remember you have a similar Hermès. Want to compare?” I removed an earbud and watched calmly as she opened my locker and pulled out my Hermès tote. She placed hers beside mine and raised her voice dramatically. “Hmm? Sophie, yours looks a bit… different from mine.” Different was an understatement. Her bag had the shiny surface and thick piping typical of a knockoff. Feigning innocence, she said, “How strange. Mine’s a gift from my boyfriend. Yours is from home, right?” Alexa chimed in eagerly, “Oh yeah. Sophie started school with knockoffs. Makes sense her bag wouldn’t be real.” Then, as if she were some wise critic, Alexa continued, “Sophie, buying fake designer stuff doesn’t change your background. Flaunting knockoffs only distorts your values.” Danielle looked proud, as though she’d won a debate. I kept calm. “Danielle, did you even ask before going through my things? And Alexa, your flattery is impressive. You two make quite the duo.” Danielle scoffed, grabbed a pair of scissors, and said, “If I hadn’t checked, I wouldn’t have known how vain you are. Let me help you out by cutting this knockoff.” She raised the scissors while Alexa gestured for the others to hold me. I didn’t flinch. “Go ahead. But if you make even one cut, you’ll pay for it.” Danielle hesitated. “Even if it’s fake, Hermès knockoffs still cost thousands. Are you sure you can cover that?” A beat passed. Then she backed down and put the scissors away. I said lightly, “Clean up my locker when you’re done.” Alexa snapped, “Sophie, don’t push your luck.” Danielle ignored me, humming while cleaning. I gave her one last warning. “Danielle, I’ll only say it once more—clean my locker.” She rolled her eyes, so I stood up and kicked her chair. “I won’t ask again.” The room froze. Even Alexa went silent. Shivering, Danielle finally cleaned it properly. When she finished, I checked the locker, sat down, and began reading my textbook aloud. The entire dorm went quiet.

I didn’t think much more about Danielle after that. I threw myself into my goal: winning the scholarship. My GPA was the highest in the department. I aced every physical exam. I never missed any scholarship-eligible activity. So when award day came, I was stunned to see Danielle listed as the National Merit Scholarship recipient—while my name was missing entirely. Not even a minor award. All my effort, brushed aside. I checked my evaluation. Every score was top-tier—except “character.” Ms. Julia Lambert had marked me “unsatisfactory.” Heart racing, I went straight to her office. Danielle was already there, smiling triumphantly. “Wow, Sophie. Didn’t think luck would be on my side. Guess hard work doesn’t always matter.” I ignored her. “Ms. Lambert, I have a question about the scholarship results.” She sighed impatiently. “Sophie, academic ability alone doesn’t define you. You lack teamwork and good conduct, so I couldn’t recommend you.” I was speechless. I had always shared notes, helped classmates, and served as class rep. The only people I’d clashed with were my roommates. Danielle’s guilty expression confirmed everything. I steadied myself. “Ms. Lambert, basing this on one person’s word seems inappropriate.” Her expression darkened. “Are you questioning my professionalism?” Danielle added sweetly, “Ms. Lambert, don’t bother. Sophie can be pretty low-brow.” I glanced at Ms. Lambert’s “Tiffany” bracelet—also a knockoff. “Ms. Lambert, Danielle gave you that bracelet, didn’t she?” She froze. I stood. “If I can’t get justice here, I’ll speak with the Dean.” Danielle snorted. “Go ahead. I’d love to see you try.” In the hallway, people whispered about the scholarship. Alexa mocked loudly, “Look who’s here—the top student who can’t even get a scholarship.” I ignored her and called the Dean. When I couldn’t reach him, I emailed a detailed report with evidence. After a week with no response, I nearly gave up—until Dad texted: “Proud of you for winning. Don’t forget about your old man.” I called home, crying as I explained everything. Mom was furious. “Frank! Call the Dean right now and have that counselor fired!” I choked, “Mom… they won’t respond. What can Dad do?” Dad rubbed his head awkwardly. “Didn’t I tell you? I joined the board of trustees.” Before I could react, the Dean called personally, apologizing and promising immediate action. Danielle walked into the dorm just as the Dean’s voice came through the speaker: “As per school policy, your roommate will face disciplinary action and return the scholarship.” Danielle burst out laughing. “Seriously? Did you hire someone to pretend to be the Dean? That’s hilarious.” Alexa added, “Right? She must be losing it.” Then the Dean asked, “Who is speaking?” “That would be my roommate,” I said. He replied, “Understood. Sophie, the updated list will be posted tomorrow.” He hung up. I glanced at Danielle, blissfully unaware of the disaster awaiting her. Then I went to sleep. The next morning, I jolted awake to Danielle screaming like the world was ending. She was sitting upright on her bed, hair sticking out in all directions, gripping her phone as if it had

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I’m probably the only one in the entire company who actually knows why my boss is so irritable. She got dumped. And the person who dumped her… was me. She just doesn’t know that yet. Lately, my boss has been… intense. The first sign was when she publicly grilled one of the senior analysts over a minor formatting mistake—something she would usually wave off with a dry joke. Then it kept happening. She started sending projects back for revisions that never used to matter, questioning timelines, pushing for higher standards, demanding explanations for anything that wasn’t airtight. By midweek, the entire office had figured it out: she wasn’t just being thorough—she was in a bad mood, and her bar for acceptable work had shot straight into the stratosphere. But here’s the twist: I’m probably the only one in the entire company who actually knows why she’s so irritable. She got dumped. And the person who dumped her… was me. She just doesn’t know that yet. It all goes back to a two-year online relationship. We met on a forum after she posted a thread titled: “Why Can’t I Find a Partner?” Curious, I clicked. Her post read: “Female, 5’9”, 99 pounds, 25, Ivy League grad in Management Science and Engineering. Currently a VP at a Fortune 500 company. Seven-figure annual income. Owns home and car. Gorgeous. Still single. What am I doing wrong?” The comments section tore her to shreds. “Obvious troll. Move along.” “No way a 25-year-old VP. Daddy’s company?” “At least make your lies reasonably believable.” Amused, I replied: “Maybe it’s your looks. Why not post a picture?” Didn’t think twice and logged off. A few hours later, she DM’d me: “Hi, can I send you the photo privately?” I frowned, intrigued. “Sure.” A second later, a photo popped up. I nearly sprayed coffee all over my keyboard. Five-nine? In what universe? She looked closer to five-two. The photo was a badly angled mirror selfie. Half her face hidden, thick black-rimmed glasses, and a vibe that screamed unintentional vintage disaster. But her features… Her features were stunning. She had the kind of face that would be lethal if she knew how to use it. And weirdly, she felt familiar. Thinking, “Wow, a genuinely gorgeous woman who has no idea what she’s working with,” I decided—purely out of charitable instinct—to help. I zoomed in and out a few times, then typed a full critique: “Upgrade your glasses—rimless or contacts. Avoid that angle; tilt your phone so the charging port points at you. Swap that skirt for something shorter, preferably black. And get better lighting—seriously.” She replied: “Thank you so much!” I thought that was the end of it. The next day, she sent a new photo applying everything I’d said. Then the day after. And the day after that. By day five, I was getting tired. Then she asked if she could pay me for “consultation services” and requested my personal messaging info. Money is money, so I gave her my private account. A moment later, a familiar profile picture popped up. It was my boss. I froze. My thumb slipped and hit accept before my brain caught up. Instant panic. I switched my settings to “chat only” and prayed she wouldn’t connect the dots. She messaged: “Thank you for everything. Here’s a small gift.” Then sent me $5,000 with the note: “No conditions.” I stared at the screen, stunned. I checked her profile picture again. Checked the forum selfies. No mistake. My mysterious online crush was my real-life boss. “Well, hell,” I thought, accepting the transfer. “At least she doesn’t know it’s me.” From then on, I kept helping her polish her style. She learned fast, and soon she was walking around radiating confidence. And just when I was preparing to quietly bow out of her life, she blindsided me. She confessed. Her message was long and dramatic—a digital love letter. I skimmed until the final line: “I’ve been wanting to say this for a long time… I like you.” I froze. “Thanks,” I typed. “What?” she replied. “I appreciate it!” “I’m serious,” she insisted. “I really like you.” “And I really appreciate it!” Silence. Then: “Can I at least try to pursue you?” I didn’t answer. The next morning she began sending good-morning messages. Then good-afternoons. Then good-nights. Updates every hour like we were already dating: “I’m heading to work.” “I just arrived.” “Going into a meeting.” Her persistence was… something. I responded halfheartedly. That only encouraged her more. A month later, things took a sharp turn. I was scrolling through social media, admiring models, and accidentally shared one with her instead of a buddy. “God, she’s gorgeous. I’d lick the screen,” I wrote. “Here’s the video.” She replied instantly: “???”

By the time I saw the message, it was far too late to take it back. Admiring someone’s looks is normal enough, but for some inexplicable reason, guilt punched me right in the chest. Then she sent another message. “Is this your type?” A video came attached. It looked freshly shot at a gym. Not the overly ripped aesthetic—just smooth, pale skin and a sharply defined V-line that disappeared beneath her workout shorts. And up top… Well, let’s just say the color was pink. The girl in the video seemed shy. By the time the clip ended, her entire face was flushed bright red. I was instantly hooked. “Got more? Send another!” I fired back without thinking. She hesitated, but eventually she sent a few more. Each one was more stunning than the last. I’ll admit it: I was thoroughly seduced. Who would’ve imagined my boss—the paragon of composure and restraint—could be… like this behind closed doors? How do I even describe it? Strangely electrifying. Just as I was fully enjoying myself, another message popped up. “If you agree to be my boyfriend, I’ll send you videos like this every day. As many as you want.” People chase four things in life: money, power, fame, and beauty. The first three don’t tempt me much. But beauty? That one hits me right in the weakness. “Well… I guess I could consider it,” I replied. I mean, it was just an online relationship. Nothing real. Of course, I laid out strict ground rules: no public posts, no changing profile pictures, no video calls, and absolutely no in-person meetings. She didn’t love the terms, but she still agreed. And that was how it all started. We “dated” online for two years. As her confidence and sense of style improved, I was more than happy to enjoy the benefits. Her pictures and videos only grew more breathtaking, and she executed every look I suggested perfectly. Honestly, I thought we could keep things this way forever—until the day she asked to meet in person. “Didn’t we agree from the start? No meeting up. This is strictly online,” I reminded her. She sounded hurt. “I know, I’m sorry… but I really want to see you.” And I knew exactly why she was pushing it. A couple days earlier, I’d gone to a college reunion. Afterward, an old classmate confessed she liked me. I turned her down politely, but she didn’t take it well and started sending me a barrage of cringe, borderline-gross messages. Fed up, I screenshotted everything, posted it to my socials, and roasted her publicly before blocking her. Since I was “in a relationship”—even if only online—my boss must’ve seen the post. I figured she wanted to meet to publicly assert her territory. But I had my reasons for refusing to meet. There was no universe in which I was agreeing to that. After dodging her requests for a full week, I finally lost patience and broke up with her. She spiraled. Completely deflated—like someone had punctured her with a thumbtack. My phone lit up over and over with her calls. By the tenth round, I sighed, flipped it face-down on the table, and ignored it. That was when Kenneth, my direct supervisor, called me over. “Mason, take this proposal to Aurora.” Kenneth’s crush on Aurora was the worst-kept secret in the entire department. Normally he’d sprint to deliver anything to her, but she’d been in a terrible mood lately. The last time he tried comforting her, she snapped so hard he practically ran out of her office. I winced. “Kenneth, isn’t this a bit above my pay grade? Shouldn’t you be the one—” “Just do it. Don’t make me repeat myself.” …Fine. Even though I’d basically seen every inch of Aurora online, meeting her face-to-face still rattled me. Especially at work, where she was known for her sharp tongue, iron composure, and a level of intimidation higher than her heels. I hesitated, then grabbed my phone. Ever since the breakup, she’d been flooding me with apologies. I hadn’t responded—not because I didn’t care but because I needed things to cool off. I typed out a message: “We don’t have to break up, but can you please calm down? I really don’t like it when people break promises.” Her reply came immediately: “Baby, you’re finally talking to me! I’m so sorry! I’ll never do it again, I promise!” She even added a crying-puppy emoji. I sighed, braced myself, and knocked on her office door. There was a pause before she cleared her throat. “Come in.” Her red-tipped nose was the first thing I noticed when I stepped inside. Had she been crying? She caught my glance and tapped the desk awkwardly. “Dropping off the proposal? Leave it here and go.” Her tone was noticeably softer than usual—on a normal day, she would’ve snapped at me for bypassing Kenneth. Of course, the proposal didn’t meet her standards, and she sent it back for revisions. Naturally, Kenneth dumped the work right back onto me. That Friday, everyone left early, eager for the weekend. Aurora had actually left on time, and the office emptied quickly, leaving only me and the receptionist. I stayed to finish the proposal, promising the receptionist I’d lock up afterward. It was well past 10 p.m. when I heard the door unlocking. My heart almost shot out of my chest. Who the hell shows up at this hour? Images from every horror movie I’ve ever seen flashed through my head. Ghosts aren’t real, I told myself, but my body refused to move. Then a familiar figure appeared. Aurora. “Why are you still here? Don’t you have a home to go to?” she asked, genuinely surprised. I bit back the retort—Whose fault do you think this is? “The proposal’s due soon, and I didn’t want to risk it being incomplete tomorrow. I figured I’d stay late and finish.” Her expression softened. “Oh, that one. Let me help. It’ll be faster if I just explain what I want directly.” I froze. My computer was still logged into my personal account—the one I used to message her. She stepped closer. “Pull it up. I’ll take a look.” Panic slammed into me. I felt my brain short-circuit as I scrambled for time. “Wait a second!” I blurted.

The moment I heard her footsteps approaching, panic kicked in. I slapped my palm against the desk—loud enough to make Aurora jump. For a brief second, the confusion on her face actually made her look… pretty cute. And that’s when it hit me like a punch to the gut: the Aurora standing in front of me and the Aurora I’d been flirting with online were the same person. I cleared my throat, trying to pull myself together. “Sorry, Aurora. I, uh… suddenly got a stomachache. I’m gonna run to the restroom real quick. You can look over the document while I’m gone.” She blinked, still a little startled. “Oh… okay?” I snatched my phone off the desk and bolted to the restroom. My hands were shaking as I pulled up the app. Thank God for the quick logout button. Once I hit it, I finally felt like I could breathe again. The problem was, Aurora explained things with painful levels of detail. If any pop-up notification appeared while she hovered near my screen, even just by accident, everything would blow up. After responding to her unread messages and buying myself some time, I lingered in the restroom a few extra minutes before heading back. When I returned, Aurora had already reviewed the document and motioned for me to sit so she could walk me through the revisions. After going over everything line by line, she stood up and said, “I’m going to grab something from my office. Be right back.” Be right back? Internally, I groaned. Couldn’t she just go home? But I swallowed it down and focused on the edits. Aurora lived up to her workaholic reputation. With her hovering behind me, offering “guidance,” we didn’t finish the proposal until almost midnight. “Looks good. Let’s go with this,” she finally said with a satisfied nod. I exhaled in relief. “Great. Glad we’re done.” But inside, I was dying. Just when I thought I could pack up and escape, she suddenly asked, “You’re in the company dorms, right? Want me to drive you home?” “What?” I froze and waved my hands frantically. “Oh, no, no. It’s fine. It’s close—I’ll walk.” “It’s not safe to walk alone this late,” she insisted. After a couple more failed attempts to decline, I reluctantly gave in. When I climbed into the passenger seat, Aurora quietly texted someone: Driving a coworker home. Didn’t let him sit in the front seat. I texted back a simple: ok. The ride was painfully silent. I didn’t dare pull out my phone, so I just stared out the window like a fool. Out of nowhere, Aurora asked, “By the way… if you were a guy—well, since you are a guy—what kind of gift would you want from a girlfriend?” I blinked. Oh, right. My birthday was coming up. “Uh… honestly? It’s not about the gift. It’s the thought that matters.” She frowned. “The problem is, I’ve given my boyfriend gifts before, but he returned them. I don’t know what to get anymore.” I nearly choked. Was she serious? She had given me luxury watches before. My family’s middle class on a good day—I didn’t have the lifestyle for that. Wearing those would make people assume I was showing off a fake. Returning them was the only rational choice. After thinking for a moment, I suggested, “Maybe something handmade? Something small and personal. It doesn’t have to be expensive—just thoughtful.” She looked deep in thought. Then she shifted the topic. “You look pretty young. How old are you?” My pulse spiked. “I’m a year older than you.” “What month?” she asked. “August.” She nodded quietly, then hesitated. “I just realized… I don’t know your name. What do people call you?” I froze for half a second before answering. “Mason.” We didn’t say much after that. When we reached the dorms, I thanked her politely. “Thanks for the ride, Aurora.” “No problem. Get some rest,” she said with a small, almost gentle smile. I nodded and turned to leave. “Mason!” she suddenly called after me. I stopped. “Yeah?” She opened her mouth, hesitated, then shook her head. “…Nothing. Get inside safe.” A couple of weeks later, Aurora and I landed a major client thanks to the proposal we’d worked on. Her mom—the company’s CEO—was thrilled and treated the entire office to dinner. People were drinking and chatting around me. I wasn’t much of a drinker, so I focused on my food. That’s when Kenneth decided to put me in the spotlight. “Everyone, this is Mason from our team. Don’t let his age fool you—this kid’s talented. Even Aurora praised his proposal, didn’t she, Mason?” Kenneth slapped a hand on my shoulder, grinning. I forced a polite smile, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. The only reason that proposal ended up with me was because he dumped it on my desk. Online, I could rant all I wanted. In real life? I was a pushover. “Oh, it was nothing. I just did my part,” I said lightly. “Really, it was thanks to Kenneth’s leadership.” Kenneth beamed. “Come on, don’t be modest! Top graduate from a great school—your talent speaks for itself. Mason, why don’t you give everyone a toast?” “Huh?” I stiffened. “I don’t drink.” “You don’t drink? That’s not going t

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I was packing for Finland, ready to chase the Northern Lights with my boyfriend, Lucas. But instead, I found a stack of photos in his drawer–Lucas and Willow, locked in a tight embrace. Attached were a bunch of gynecological test results. The dates? The very day I had my stomach cancer surgery. All his excuses about being “busy”? He was busy taking her for check-ups. When I confronted him, all I got was an impatient outburst. “I was just comforting a friend, nothing happened.” “She was really scared, I just stayed by her side. Can you stop overthinking everything?” Watching the video on my phone, the one where they were practically glued together, whispering sweet nothings, my heart just died. After what felt like an eternity, I called my parents. “Mom, Dad,” I choked out, “I’ll do it. I’ll come home and take over the family business.” After I hung up, a furious pounding started at the door. The door rattled violently, the urgent, jarring knocks making it clear the person outside was beyond furious. “Scarlett, open the door!” It was Lucas’s voice. Normally, I’d have rushed to open it, ready with his slippers. My heart always ached for how hard he worked running his company, and I constantly looked for ways to support him, to clear away any worries. But today, I just sat there, my expression empty. When I didn’t open the door, Lucas didn’t hesitate. He had someone force the door open. The first thing he did was storm over to me and shove my shoulder hard. “Why would you lay a hand on Willow?” “You know how fragile she is, how easily she gets upset. Why would you try to provoke her?” Seeing Lucas almost completely lose it, my heart twitched painfully. I’d bought the plane tickets today, planning to surprise him by packing my bags and heading to Finland to see the Northern Lights. Instead, I found those intimate photos of him and Willow in the cabinet. When I went to confront Willow, I was verbally ambushed by her and her friends. Now, I was the one being accused of provoking her. “Say something! Are you mute?” Lucas’s eyes were fierce, like he wanted to devour me whole. “You can dish it out, but you can’t take it? What kind of person are you?” I lowered my head, a self-deprecating smile on my lips. I didn’t have the energy to argue anymore. I casually tossed the photos at his feet. “What is this?” The moment he saw the photos, a flicker of panic crossed Lucas’s eyes. He instinctively looked away, his voice losing some of its confidence. “It’s not what you think.” “Willow had some women’s health issues, and she was really upset. I was just there as a friend to support her.” What kind of “support” requires you to be in bed, intimately embracing a friend of the opposite sex? The absurdity of his words was sickeningly ironic. Lucas, however, grew more convinced of his own righteousness. “Exactly! It was just friendly concern and companionship. Willow and I are completely innocent.” “Why do you always overcomplicate things? You’re so disappointing.” I looked at him, my expression a mix of shock and pity. What was I still expecting? I should have known, shouldn’t I? Long ago, when he repeatedly abandoned me for Willow. Lucas and I were college sweethearts. We’d gone from campus romance to what we were now, the perfect couple in everyone’s eyes. For him, I defied my parents and insisted on staying in this city. When he wanted to start a company, I drained my savings and built it with him. He’d seen me drink until I was throwing up after client meetings, and he’d hold me close, his eyes welling up with concern. “Scarlett, you’re working too hard. Once our business is stable, I’ll never let you push yourself like this again.” He’d wipe the sweat from my forehead, promising softly. “Then we’ll get married, at the best hotel, with the most unforgettable wedding.” “I’ll make everyone envy you.” His words still echoed in my ears, but the man before me was no longer the same. When he looked at me, there was only annoyance. “It’s not what you think, and stop throwing a tantrum.” Lucas’s tone was sharp, and he reached out to pull me. “No matter what, you shouldn’t have gone to provoke Willow. Come with me now and apologize to her.” Before I could struggle free, his phone rang. He hadn’t been on the call long when his face suddenly changed, and he glared fiercely at me. “Willow fainted because of you! You’d better pray she’s okay, or I swear, we’re done!” After Lucas left, I stared at the door that could no longer close properly, thinking all night. It was almost dawn when I finally went inside and packed my luggage. A relationship that had soured, no matter how much you tried to mend it, could never return to its original state. I used to think I could do something to keep him, but I forgot that someone who doesn’t love you won’t stay for you. I took one last look at the room where I’d lived for so many years. No matter how much I cherished it, I had to let go. It no longer belonged to me. Laughter and chatter drifted from outside. I pushed open the door and was stunned by the scene before me. Lucas was carefully helping Willow sit down, his face full of concern. But the moment his eyes met mine, his expression instantly turned cold. “Well, look at you, resting so comfortably at home.” “Willow was so upset she couldn’t sleep all night, and I was so worried I didn’t close my eyes either. And you? You have the nerve to sleep.” Willow leaned against him dependently, the intimacy between them so thick it left no room for a third person. It made me, his actual girlfriend, feel like an outsider. My heart ached, trembling, and even my freshly operated stomach began to throb faintly. Willow tugged on Lucas’s arm, her voice soft. “Lucas, don’t blame Scarlett. She only misunderstood me because she cares about you so much.” Before I could even speak, Lucas couldn’t sit still. “You don’t have to defend her. Don’t I know her? She’s just too stubborn, too jealous, she can’t stand me being good to anyone else.” Lucas completely ignored the pain in my eyes, stating self-righteously, “Willow is like this because of you. I brought her back here to recover, and you should take responsibility.” At this, he lifted his chin, speaking with a condescending tone. “For the next few days, you’ll take good care of Willow. Once she recovers, I might consider forgiving you.” “If you don’t agree, then we’re done.” He looked arrogant, as if he was certain I would compromise. In the past, I would have immediately lowered my guard and tried to appease him. Because I loved him, and I couldn’t bear for him to be even slightly unhappy. But all my compromises and concessions, in his eyes, had become leverage he could use against me. “Okay, then let’s be done.” Time seemed to freeze. Lucas’s smug expression instantly stiffened, his entire being radiating disbelief. After a long moment, he finally reacted, pointing at me, his finger trembling. “What did you say?” We’d had arguments over the years, but whenever he mentioned breaking up, no matter how angry or wronged I felt, I would immediately soften and beg him not to leave. But today, this trick, which had never failed, suddenly didn’t work. Lucas felt something slipping from his control, and his eyes twitched violently. With no desire to entangle with him further, I picked up my suitcase and strode away. Inside the room, Lucas stood frozen. When he came to his senses and moved to chase after me, Willow stopped him. “Don’t go after her. She’ll come back in a few days.” “She’s just doing this on purpose, trying to get your attention. I’m a woman, I know exactly what she’s thinking.” She looked knowing. “If you go after her now, she’ll just cause more trouble next time.” Seeing him still hesitate, Willow immediately put on a pitiful expression. “I’m still a bit dizzy. Can you stay and keep me company?” One sentence was enough to keep Lucas rooted. I went to the company’s temporary dorm, planning to go home after I resigned. The company I worked for now was Lucas’s. For years, I had worked my fingers to the bone, bringing in business and securing investments, striving to make his dreams come true. I’d thought that once his business was more stable, I’d go home with him, and perhaps my parents would finally accept us. Now, it seemed, there was no need. I called my mother. Before I could even speak, tears blurred my vision. Mom didn’t ask anything, just sighed. “My sweet girl, have you been wronged out there?” Like a child who had endured countless grievances and finally returned to her mother’s embrace, I sobbed uncontrollably. After composing myself, I softly said, “Mom, I broke up with him.” She seemed to have already guessed, her voice calm. “If you’re tired, come home. Home will always be your safe haven.” Dad was furious when he heard the news, but Mom quickly calmed him down. “Just calm down. Anyone who dares to bully my daughter, we won’t let them off easily.” My mind was a blank. I wearily hung up the phone. After a few days, I went to the company and submitted my resignation. As soon as the resignation letter was submitted, my phone rang. The moment I answered, Lucas’s enraged voice blasted through the phone. “Scarlett, what are you stirring up now?” “This project is crucial for the company. Don’t be childish, get back here and meet with the client immediately.” I cut him off. “I’ve already resigned. Find someone else to take over these matters.” The other end of the line was silent for a moment, then erupted with even more intense emotion. “You really want to do this, huh?” “Fine, if you won’t do it, plenty of others will. Don’t think you can threaten me like this.” As if to assert his dominance, Lucas immediately approved my resignation. He thought I wouldn’t last long before coming back to beg him, but after an entire morning, I showed no signs of backing down. He started to get restless, sending other colleagues several times to “talk sense” into me. I ignored them, continuing to pack my things. It turns out, when you truly don’t care about someone, nothing they do can stir any emotion in you. In the afternoon, I returned to my desk. Willow was sitting casually in my chair. My belongings were strewn carelessly to one side. She saw me and slowly straightened up. “Scarlett, this is all Lucas’s idea. He said this spot is mine now.” Then she got up and walked towards me, leaning in and lowering her voice into my ear. “It’s your fault for being so foolish and leaving. Now, I’m the one who gets to enjoy all the benefits here.” Watching her smug expression, I just found it amusing. I wondered where she got the confidence to think she could replace me. Over the years, I had poured countless hours and effort into propping up this company, which had long been riddled with hidden problems. Yet, she believed that simply sitting here meant enjoying a comfortable life. Well, I could only wish her success. Seeing her face fall, I forced a faint smile, took the box of items a colleague had helped me pack, thanked them, and turned to leave. I spent a few days saying goodbye to friends, then bent down to pack my last bag. From now on, I would be leaving this city for good. It held my best years, and my first love, which ended before it truly began. A bitter feeling rose in my chest. I closed my eyes, trying not to think. My phone suddenly rang, and Lucas’s exasperated voice came through. “Scarlett, you’re going too far! Did you say something to our partners that got Willow sidelined?” Before I could explain, he ordered, “Get your butt back here! This order is critical for the company’s performance this half. If you mess it up because of this, we’re truly done!” His absurd, arrogant words made me laugh. Why did he think I still cared? “Didn’t you say you could manage perfectly well without me? Then go find someone else.” With that, ignoring his angry shouts, I hung up and immediately blocked his number. Once everything was packed, I opened the door and headed for the airport, ready to bid farewell to the city I’d called home for so many years. I hadn’t gone far when a silver BMW screeched to a halt in front of me. The car door flew open, and Lucas rushed out, throwing his briefcase violently at me. It hit my recently operated stomach directly. My face instantly went pale, and I was in too much pain to utter a sound. “Have you made enough of a scene?” He furiously kicked my suitcase away, then grabbed my collar. “Are you really that petty? Just because I didn’t put you in charge of this project, you have to sabotage it behind my back?” Sweat poured down my face from the pain, and I gritted my teeth. “If the deal fell through, it’s because Willow isn’t capable enough. It has nothing to do with me.” Lucas scoffed, his eyes full of contempt. “Do you think I’ll believe that?” “You could land these clients, how could she not?” “I think you’re just jealous of her.” I was so angry I actually laughed, looking him straight in the eye. “She’s so capable, why don’t you just go to her? What are you doing coming to me?” He looked down on my abilities, yet still wanted me to go back and slave for him. Did he really think I was that worthless? The deals he thought were so easy to close were ones I had poured my heart and soul into, sacrificing my health, fighting desperately to secure. With a few dismissive words, he negated all my years of effort, making my hard work seem utterly meaningless. Lucas’s face cycled through shades of green and white, looking terrible. Seeing me about to leave, he forcefully dragged me towards the car. “No matter what you say today, you’re coming with me to fix this first!” My limbs were weak from the pain, and I gasped, begging him, “My stomach hurts really badly, please, take me to a pharmacy first.” He laughed, infuriated. “Are you addicted to faking illness?” “Even if you’re dying of pain today, you’re going to fix this client situation for me first.” My fingertips turned completely cold. I clutched my stomach with difficulty, staring at him in disbelief. The man I had loved for so many years could actually say such a thing. He could actually watch me die of pain and remain completely indifferent. Well, isn’t that just wonderful. Hatred surged within me. My eyes filled with a resolute glint as I stared fixedly at him.

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Everyone knew Evelyn Hayes chose me out of spite, a desperate reaction to her first love. For five years, she was the picture of perfection in public–a celebrated, top-tier cardiac surgeon at a renowned medical center. But behind closed doors, only cold indifference remained between us. The topic of divorce has been brought up countless times. Then her ex, Liam Miller, returned from overseas for treatment, suffering from a severe illness. Evelyn dropped everything to be by his side, even warning me: “Liam’s condition is delicate. If you dare upset him, we’re completely done.” The hundredth time she brought up divorce, I finally agreed. On my way to the courthouse, I was in a car crash. She never arrived. Instead, she got the news Liam had found a matching heart donor. She rushed back to the hospital, scrubbed in, and performed the transplant herself, placing that heart right into Liam’s chest. Only afterward did the divorce agreement cross her mind. By then, my phone was unreachable.

As my consciousness detached from my body, the crushing pain finally dissolved. I hovered in the air, watching the twisted wreck in the pouring rain. The driver’s seat had collapsed on impact, the person inside unrecognizable. Today was our fifth wedding anniversary—and the hundredth time Evelyn had asked for a divorce. Before, I’d always dodged it, desperately trying to cling to our relationship, fragile as a spider’s silk. But this time, I’d nodded. It wasn’t until a month ago, when Liam, the one she could never let go of, returned home for severe heart treatment. Evelyn stopped coming home, pouring all her time into St. Mary Ann Medical Center, glued to his side. Everyone knew she’d only accepted my proposal on a whim that afternoon, purely to spite Liam. And me? I’d loved her in secret for seven long years. My thoughts snapped back to reality. I watched as a St. Mary Ann Medical Center ambulance carried away my shattered body, following it without conscious thought. Evelyn was the star cardiac surgeon here. Yet as her husband, I couldn’t even book a regular annual check-up under her name. On our wedding day, she’d made it crystal clear: “I don’t want my personal life crossing over into my professional one.” “And I certainly don’t want anything about you affecting my professional judgment.” So, the important thing I’d planned for months, hoping to tell her on our anniversary, would forever remain unsaid. Tears fell silently, a dense, hollow ache spreading through my chest. It was a hope I’d carefully, meticulously cherished for so long. My body wasn’t taken to the morgue. Instead, it was wheeled directly into the pre-op area on the fifth floor. The door opened, and two men walked in. “Mr. Miller, performing organ harvesting without formal consent and family approval is illegal, and besides…” The speaker was Alex Reed, Evelyn’s resident. In the past few years, I’d hosted him many times when he came to discuss cases at our home. Liam walked to the gurney, his gaze sweeping over the body before calmly moving away. “I’ve waited three years for a matching donor. There’s no time for bureaucratic red tape.” He turned to Alex, his tone brooking no argument: “Contact Evelyn. Tell her to come back immediately.” “I want her to perform the surgery.” Alex’s face showed his discomfort. Liam pulled a checkbook from his suit jacket, quickly signed a check, and handed it over. “This is for collateral. I’ll bear all consequences. My legal team will handle any procedural issues.” Alex hesitated, then took the check and dialed. After a few rings, Evelyn’s cool, clear voice came through, the background a little noisy. “Alex? This isn’t a good time.” “Dr. Hayes, they’ve found a matching heart donor for Mr. Miller.” Alex glanced at Liam, lowering his voice. “The donor is in OR Five. We need you back immediately to operate.” A moment of silence on the other end, then Evelyn’s voice, suddenly raised, barely containing her excitement: “Confirmed match? I’m on my way!” “Liam finally won’t have to wait anymore…” The sheer relief and joy in her voice pierced through my already un-beating heart like an ice pick. If she knew that was me, would she still be so happy?

Less than twenty minutes later, Evelyn burst into the prep room. She hadn’t even changed out of her trench coat, striding straight to Liam, gripping his shoulders, her eyes shining with a long-lost brilliance. “Liam, the match is successful. You’re saved.” Liam looked at her, a faint, almost imperceptible smile gracing his pale face, his voice low but steady: “Evelyn, if it wasn’t you, I wouldn’t accept this heart.” Evelyn’s grip tightened. She promised solemnly, “Don’t worry, leave everything to me. I’ll handle it.” “And what’s between Daniel and me… it was always meant to be over.” That phrase, “meant to be over,” felt like a final verdict. Yes, everyone knew it, myself included. She’d chosen me purely out of spite, a desperate retaliation against true love. I watched Evelyn swiftly change into her scrubs, don a mask, and walk with Alex towards the operating table. For an expert like her, heart extraction was routine. Yet, as her gaze landed on the lifeless body on the operating table, her movements paused, almost imperceptibly. “Why weren’t the initial cleaning and sterilization done?” Her voice, muffled by the mask, carried a hint of displeasure. Alex lowered his head, avoiding her gaze. “Dr. Hayes, the donor is a special case. Mr. Miller’s side wanted to maximize organ viability…” Evelyn didn’t press further. She held out her hand, and the scalpel was accurately placed within her grasp. The blade reflected a cold light. Just before she made the incision, her gaze fell to my left hand. On my ring finger, the plain platinum wedding band I’d designed myself was stained with blood. When we married, I’d had a matching women’s ring custom-made for her. She’d only tried it on once before putting it, still in its box, into the back of a drawer, never to be seen again. “Dr. Hayes?” Alex prompted softly. Evelyn took a barely audible breath, her voice softer. “…I can’t imagine how difficult this must be for his family.” The sharp scalpel cut through my chest. Alex, handing her instruments, added quietly, “The initial forensic examination found that Mr. Stone’s personal effects only included this one ring. We haven’t officially confirmed his identity yet.” Evelyn didn’t respond. Only the cold clinking of surgical instruments and the rhythmic beeping of monitors echoed in the room. I watched her focused profile from a distance, suddenly remembering last flu season. I’d been laid up with a high fever, too delirious to even get water. Evelyn, rarely home that night, had pulled an all-nighter in her study, working on a paper. My neighbor found me almost dehydrated. When I got to the ER, even the on-call doctors frowned and shook their heads. When I woke up, Evelyn stood by my bed, her first words a cold accusation: “Daniel, don’t you think it’s childish to hurt yourself just to get attention?” I was too weak to explain. She was the one who said not to bother her with “minor things.” I followed her wishes so carefully, yet I was still wrong. Evelyn could show a flicker of compassion for a stranger, so why such utter indifference for the husband she’d shared a bed with for five years?

The heart was fully extracted and placed into a hypothermic transport system. Hours later, it began to beat again inside Liam’s chest. The surgery was a success. Evelyn left the operating room, waiting outside Liam’s room until his vitals stabilized before returning to her office. She leaned back in her chair, rubbed her temples, then pulled out her phone. The screen was blank, no new messages or missed calls. For the past five years, I’d messaged her daily – trivial updates, interesting tidbits, weather forecasts, even just a simple “Goodnight.” She rarely replied. Now, she stared at “Daniel Stone” in her contacts, a slight frown on her face, and pressed dial. Busy signal. Once, twice, until it automatically disconnected. Her patience finally seemed to run out. She opened SnapChat, sent a voice message, her voice edged with suppressed irritation: “Daniel, there’s no point in delaying. I’m already at the courthouse waiting for you. I expect you to keep your word and show up.” I looked at her sharp, cold profile, feeling only a sense of absurdity. Well, good. From now on, she would never be bothered by the name “Daniel Stone” again. My body remained unclaimed in the St. Mary Ann Medical Center morgue. Because I was an orphan. Raised in a church orphanage, getting into art school was one of the few bright spots in my otherwise bleak life. The other bright spot? Meeting Evelyn. In college, she was the undisputed genius of the medical school, the center of every social circle, an unreachable moon. Back then, by her side stood the equally brilliant Liam. I first saw her at an inter-collegiate charity event. She stood at the podium, calmly and clearly articulating the vision of Doctors Without Borders, radiating brilliance. Later, when someone maliciously targeted me, she calmly diffused the situation. That dormant heart, for the first time, began to beat fiercely, uncontrollably. But I knew the vast chasm between us. And besides, she already had a worthy companion. It wasn’t until later that news of her breakup with Liam circulated. Then, one dreary afternoon, I delivered custom-made cufflinks to her friend. She walked me to the door, then suddenly looked up, her gaze emotionless: “Daniel, do you need a marriage? Or rather, would you be willing to marry me?”

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Leaving the restaurant my sister owned, I was stopped by the manager. “Excuse me, sir, you haven’t paid your bill.” I looked at the unfamiliar face, assuming he was new and didn’t recognize me. So, I politely explained, “Just put it on my sister’s tab. She knows.” The male manager swept a dismissive glance over me. “Sir, this is a Michelin three-star establishment. We don’t have a ‘tab’ system here.” He finished speaking and handed me a printed bill. I glanced down. A single meal, fifty thousand dollars. Utensil Radiance Maintenance Fee: Three thousand. Exclusive Ambient Air Purification: Five thousand. VIP Serenity & Emotional Support Service: Ten thousand. And a bunch of other ridiculous charges. I had no idea my sister ran such a shady business. I laughed in disbelief. “I’m Mia’s brother, the owner. If there’s an issue, she can come talk to me at home.” But he wouldn’t let it go. “If you can’t afford it, just say so. Don’t try to pull rank or pretend you’re family with our owner.” I shot a text to my assistant: Tell my sister to either fire this guy or I’m pulling all my investments.

“Sir, don’t waste everyone’s time. Just pay up.” His tone was full of smug certainty and biting contempt, as if he’d already pegged me as a cheap opportunist trying to leech off women to get ahead. A few curious stares from nearby customers were already drifting my way. I frowned, not wanting to waste time on such a ridiculous situation. I pulled out my phone and dialed Mia’s number directly. But all I got was a cold, robotic busy signal. I tried again, same result. Workday. What the hell is she doing? I lowered my phone, fixing my gaze on the aggressive man in front of me. I reiterated, word by word: “I’m going to say this one more time. My name is Liam. I am Mia’s biological brother, your boss.” “Her phone’s off right now, but you can check her credit card. My photo and information are linked to it.” I thought this was the most direct and effective way to solve the problem. But the male manager, Blake, after hearing my name, didn’t bother to verify. Instead, he burst into a loud, grating laugh. He laughed so hard he nearly doubled over, drawing even more attention. Then, he suddenly leaned in close, lowering his voice until only we two could hear him. “Still playing games? I’ve seen your face in Mia’s photo album countless times! You’re that persistent pest who always sticks his nose into our business! And now you have the nerve to waltz into her restaurant, trying to put your meal on her tab? Do you really think you’re someone important?” I froze for a split second, glancing at his name tag – Blake. Then, an overwhelming sense of exasperation washed over me. Mia’s boyfriend, the one she’d kept so secret, refusing to even show me a single photo. It was this stupid, malicious man standing right in front of me. How could her taste be so utterly terrible? Turns out, this fifty-thousand-dollar “sky-high bill” today wasn’t a misunderstanding at all. It was a premeditated setup designed to humiliate me. Before I could even speak, he’d completely lost his patience. “Since this gentleman wants to go dining and dashing, we’ll just have to detain him until the police arrive!” He waved a hand, and two burly security guards, who had been standing by, immediately stepped forward. They were two well-trained strongmen, and I was completely outnumbered. My resistance was quickly suppressed; my arms were twisted brutally behind my back. I struggled violently but couldn’t break free from their professional hold. They ignored my furious glare and the alarmed looks of the other customers, roughly dragging me towards the back kitchen. Then I was roughly shoved into a storage room reeking of stale food and harsh disinfectant. The door slammed shut, cutting off all light and sound from outside.

In the dark, the male manager, Blake, didn’t say a word. He raised his leather-shod foot and kicked me hard in the stomach. The sharp pain made me gasp, my stomach churning violently. “That’s for trying to freeload off my woman!” “That’s for sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong!” He screamed, his voice warped by jealousy and rage. He looked down at me, ordering the two strongmen, “Beat him! Teach him a lesson he won’t forget!” The two security guards were clearly his loyal henchmen. Without hesitation, a relentless storm of punches and kicks rained down on me. I bit down hard, swallowing every cry of pain. My bones felt like they were being shattered, my internal organs dislocated. His taunts continued. “What do you think you are? Nothing but a pathetic freeloader, living off his sister’s success!” “I told you I’m her brother! If you don’t believe me, ask Mia! Call her right now, I’ll tell her!” I struggled to explain, but the man ignored me completely. Only when I started feeling dizzy did he raise a hand to stop them. He nudged my shoulder with the tip of his leather shoe, looking at me triumphantly. “You’d better be a good boy and pay for that meal today, then cough up another hundred thousand dollars.” “That’s what you get for meddling in my and Mia’s business and trying to use her money.” “I’m not afraid of making a scene. Mia will sort it out for me.” I was curled up in a ball, aching all over, weakly protesting, “That’s my own money. I told you, if you don’t believe me, ask her.” His face changed. He kicked me, and the two security guards immediately understood, their punches and kicks raining down on me again. I knew he wouldn’t listen to anything I said. If this continued, I could really be in serious trouble. After I coughed up a mouthful of blood, I used my last ounce of strength to grope for my phone on the floor. “Stop… I’ll… I’ll pay.” He seemed satisfied with my surrender. He motioned for the two security guards to stop, then squatted down and patted my swollen cheek. “See? Would’ve been easier to just do that from the start, wouldn’t it? You had to learn the hard way, huh?” “One hundred thousand dollars. Not a cent less.” I lay sprawled on the cold floor, gasping for breath, my lungs burning. I ignored him and dialed my friend Ryan’s number. The call was answered quickly. “Ryan, bring two hundred grand to my sister’s restaurant.” “I need it now.” Ryan paused on the other end, then sensed something was wrong. “Liam? What’s going on with you? Your voice sounds…” “Don’t ask. Just hurry.” I cut him off and hung up. Blake’s eyes lit up at the mention of “two hundred grand,” a flash of greed crossing his face. He probably thought I was scared silly and was offering more money to beg for mercy. The triumph on his face was now impossible to hide. “Smart move.”

Ryan was incredibly fast. Soon, the storage room door was violently pushed open from outside. Ryan stormed in with two bodyguards. He was startled when he saw the blood on my mouth, my disheveled clothes, and my pathetic posture, propped on the ground. He rushed forward to help me up. I shook my head, signaling him not to speak. I took the bank card with the sticky note on it from his hand and tossed it to Blake. Blake took the card and didn’t bother me any further, waving a dismissive hand. “If that’s a fake card, I have ways of finding you. Now get out.” I endured the agonizing, bone-deep pain throughout my body. With Ryan’s help, I limped out of that sickening place. Once at the entrance, I thanked Ryan. “Thanks, buddy. I’ll get this money sorted out and pay you back quickly.” He looked at me worriedly. “It’s just a small amount, don’t worry about it. But what happened to you?” I let out a bitter laugh. “My sister found herself a wonderful boyfriend. I guess I need to have a little chat with her.” I pulled out my phone and found the number for the restaurant’s deputy manager. He was the actual manager of the restaurant, someone I had personally recruited, and he was quite loyal to me. The call connected. I didn’t waste a single word, my voice devoid of emotion. “You have ten minutes. Fire a manager named Blake.” “Otherwise, our family will pull all investments from the restaurant. Every single penny. Gone.” The deputy manager on the other end was already freaked out the moment he heard my voice. He must have detected the weakness and something wrong in my tone, agreeing frantically without daring to ask why. I hung up without hesitation and immediately had Ryan drive me to the police precinct. I stated everything that had just happened to the officer who received me, using the clearest, most logical terms. After giving a detailed statement at the station, I went to the hospital for a medical report detailing my injuries. Holding that thin report, the anger of betrayal in my heart felt like gasoline poured on a raging inferno, burning hotter and fiercer. I needed an explanation. I needed Mia to give me an explanation, herself. My assistant found Mia at her villa. My driver and bodyguards arrived, and we headed straight to Mia’s place. I had bought that villa for her years ago. However, when I arrived, I was greeted by ear-splitting heavy metal music and the raucous sounds of men and women spilling from the windows. She was throwing a party. No wonder she hadn’t picked up my calls. The villa’s front door was ajar. A strange impulse kept me from pushing it open immediately. Soon, I heard a familiar male voice. It was Blake. He was complaining to everyone in the room, portraying himself as a helpless victim, bullied by some arrogant third party and then unfairly blamed. “…I just asked him to pay his bill, and he threw a hundred grand in my face, then got me fired!” “Mia, he’s gone too far! He clearly has no respect for you!” “He just wants to humiliate me, he just wants us to break up!” Inside, Mia’s usual crowd of hangers-on indignantly echoed his sentiments. Mia was loudly comforting Blake in her arms, her voice full of tenderness and doting affection. “Blake, don’t worry, I won’t let you suffer like this!” Then, as if to prove her resolve, she vowed to everyone present, “When I find my brother, I’ll make him get down on his knees and apologize to you!” Inside, the spoiled brats were still siding with Blake, shouting about how they would make me pay. “Mia, just say the word, and we’ll go drag that guy out right now!” “Yeah! Make him realize who truly calls the shots here!” I couldn’t listen anymore. I raised a hand, and my bodyguard kicked the villa door open. The party music ground to a sudden halt, and the raucous laughter vanished instantly. Dozens of startled eyes swung towards the doorway. “No need to search. I’m right here. Who wants to teach me a lesson?”

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My name is Mandy Jones. During the Independence Day holiday, I quit my job and traveled to Germany with my father Fred Jones, my grandmother Jessica Jones, and my 9-year-old brother Jeffery Jones. I covered all the expenses, but Jeffery either hit or scolded me the entire trip. Jeffery screamed, “Get lost, I don’t want you around. You’re a jinx, you’ll ruin everything for me.” Everyone thought Jeffery was just being unreasonable, but not long after, he actually fell into the Main River during the dragon boat race, leading to a lung infection. We immediately canceled the trip and returned home. On the plane, Jeffery was burning with fever, barely conscious, yet still yelled angrily at me. Jeffery cried out, “Help! Mandy wants to kill me. Grandma, save me!” That night, Jeffery mysteriously died in the hospital room. Everyone accused me, saying I was the one who killed Jeffery. Fred broke my leg, and Jessica directly pushed me toward a speeding truck. I was run over and died gruesomely on the street. But I was reborn on the day I took my family on the trip abroad. ***** “I don’t want Mandy. She’s not allowed in my house. She’s just an outsider.” The moment I regained consciousness, Jeffery’s disgusted voice pulled me out of the haze. Fred and Jessica heard this and just thought the child was speaking nonsense, paying no attention. But seeing Jeffery’s look of complete resistance, I felt a chill all over. The excruciating pain of being hit and crushed by a truck in my previous life was still vivid, filling my heart with fear. Jessica looked at Jeffery and said dotingly, “Jeffery is right. Mandy will get married in a few years, and then she’ll belong to someone else’s family.” I stood quietly on the side, not arguing. Jeffery, upon hearing Jessica’s words, immediately threw himself on the ground, rolling around and screaming curses. Jeffery cried and shouted, “I don’t want her, kick her out now, she can’t appear in front of me. She’ll kill me, I’m not lying, Grandma.” He lay on the ground, his face flushed red, his eyes filled with fear and disgust as he looked at me. Fred noticed the astonished gazes around him and felt utterly humiliated, so he sternly scolded, “Get up right now! How can you talk about your sister like that?” Jeffery, noticing Fred’s harsher tone, immediately turned his gaze to Jessica, who adored him. Jeffery said aggrievedly, “I’m really not lying, Mandy is a jinx, she will definitely ruin me.” “She just thinks Grandma only loves me, and she always warns me that everything in the house will be hers in the future.” Jessica immediately looked up and reproached me disapprovingly, “How could you say such things to Jeffery!” Seeing Jessica’s blatant favoritism, I felt that all my sincerity towards them in my previous life had been in vain. In my past life, it was my own grandmother who personally pushed me into the abyss of death. At this moment, Fred frowned and commanded, “Enough, there’s a dragon boat race on the Main River today. Take Jeffery to have a look and work on building some sibling bond.” I sighed obediently and reached out to grab Jeffery, ready to take him over. Just then, Jeffery suddenly slapped my hand away forcefully, his eyes red. Jeffery roared, “Get away! I don’t want you to take me there. You’ll push me into the river and drown me!” Jeffery’s heart-wrenching cries immediately made Jessica nervous. She quickly pulled him into her arms, comforting him while watching me warily. Jessica questioned, “What exactly did you do to Jeffery? Did you secretly hit him?” I stood aside, glancing at the bustling dragon boat race outside the hotel. There were five minutes left until the race started at 12, and ten minutes until Jeffery’s inexplicable fall into the water in his previous life.

In my previous life, I followed Fred’s advice and took Jeffery alone to the Main River to watch the race, trying to bond with him and be a good sister. As a result, Jeffery broke free from my hand and disappeared without a trace. It wasn’t until a commotion arose downstream of the Main River, and someone pulled out a barely conscious boy, that I realized it was Jeffery. Later, due to his severe injuries, the police suspected child abuse and reviewed all nearby surveillance, but found nothing. In just five minutes, Jeffery vanished from my side and ended up barely alive downstream of the Main River. I lowered my head in thought for a moment but still refused Fred’s suggestion. I said to Fred, “Dad, you should take Jeffery instead. I really don’t feel confident about his safety if I take him alone.” Fred glared at me after hearing this and said impatiently, “It’s just taking him to watch a dragon boat race! What’s so hard about that? Do you have a problem with Jeffery or are you unhappy with me?” After saying that, he stormed back to the hotel room without looking back. I turned to look at Jessica. I persuaded, “Grandma, there are too many people today. If a stampede happens, it would be terrible. Let’s not go and head back to the hotel instead.” I added, “After all, Jeffery is the only boy in the family.” Jessica looked down at Jeffery, who clearly wanted to watch the race. She hesitated and said, “It’s just a dragon boat race. We can watch from a distance. It’s such a waste to stay in the hotel after coming all the way to Germany.” I looked at Jeffery, a worried expression on my face. I said, “Better safe than sorry. If something really happens to Jeffery, our family line would end, wouldn’t it?” This sentence hit Jessica’s weak spot. In her eyes, only a grandson could carry on the family lineage. Seeing her waver, I immediately pulled Jessica and Jeffery back to the room. I could clearly feel the small hand in my left palm pinch me hard, his palm covered in cold sweat. I sneered inwardly, thinking, “I’d like to see how he plans to frame me without going to the dragon boat race or the Main River.” After returning to the room, Jeffery, sitting on the sofa, kept staring out the window, restless. Before long, he ran to Jessica, crying and acting spoiled. Jeffery pleaded, “Grandma, I want to watch the dragon boat race. I just have to go.” Seeing him cry, Jessica immediately became anxious. She said, “Well… Mandy, why don’t you take Jeffery to have a look? Just be extra careful.” I stood aside and clearly saw that Jeffery in Jessica’s arms wasn’t crying at all but was glaring at me sideways. I thought disdainfully, “Would I really be outsmarted by a kid?” I turned on the TV and switched to the live broadcast channel of the dragon boat race. I said to Jeffery, “Look, this TV screen is so big, much clearer than watching it live.” Jeffery, seeing this, started throwing a tantrum and shouted, “I don’t want to watch this stupid TV, I want to go there! Or I’ll tell Dad you bullied me.” I snorted lightly and said, “Do as you like, but you’re not stepping out of this room today.” My tough attitude instantly made Jeffery’s face turn red with anger. He screamed hoarsely, “All you do is bully me! I hate you! Get out of my house!” He lay on the ground crying and yelling, and before long, he started coughing violently, gasping for air as if he had respiratory alkalosis. Looking at his noisy behavior, I couldn’t help but frown. I thought, “He used to be so cute and clingy when he was little. How did staying with Grandma in the countryside for a few years turn him into such a brat?” Jessica saw him gasping for air as he cried and quickly picked him up, anxiously saying, “Jeffery, breathe slowly. If anything happens to you, it’ll be the death of me.” Seeing my indifferent attitude, Jeffery lay on the ground and started rolling his eyes, looking like he was about to faint. This completely panicked Jessica. Jessica quickly said, “Alright, alright, I’ll go watch the game with you, and Mandy will come too.” Saying that, she went to the bedroom to grab her bag. I took the opportunity to go to the bathroom and locked the hotel room door on my way. But when I came out after washing my hands, the living room was empty. Seeing Jessica come out of the bedroom with a bag on her back and a similarly pale face, my heart sank. I realized Jeffery had gone missing again!

This suite only has a bedroom, a living room, and a bathroom, but now, apart from Jessica and me, there’s no sign of Jeffery at all. While I was in the bathroom, I clearly didn’t hear the sound of the door opening! I rushed to the door and found the safety chain still securely latched, instantly shocked. If Jeffery really went out, how could he latch the safety chain from the outside? Jessica and I, both anxious, turned the entire room upside down but couldn’t find any trace of Jeffery. I muttered to myself, “This is absolutely impossible. How on earth did he do it?” Thinking about what happened after Jeffery’s disappearance in my previous life, cold sweat broke out on my forehead, my spine chilled, and I panicked, utterly at a loss. Jessica immediately called the police. I dashed out of the room and ran to the dragon boat race site as fast as I could, frantically searching along the Main River bank, tears streaming down my face. When I returned to the room in a daze, the police had already arrived and were trying to comfort Jessica, who was crying so hard she could barely breathe. But she was too emotional to explain the situation clearly. I explained everything that had just happened to the police in detail. Child disappearance is already a serious case in Germany, let alone we are American tourists. The police immediately sent someone to retrieve the surveillance footage. However, the surveillance footage left me utterly shocked. It showed that ever since Jessica and I brought Jeffery into the room, the door had never been opened again! My mind went blank. Immediately after, the events following Jeffery’s disappearance in my previous life replayed. Half an hour later, the police were notified that a drowned child had been found downstream of the Main River and had been rushed to the nearest hospital for emergency treatment. The commotion in the room alerted Fred, who lived next door. He walked over in confusion, and upon learning about his son’s disappearance, he flew into a rage. He kicked me, knocking me to the ground. My head hit the bedpost, and blood started seeping out. Fred yelled angrily, “I told you to take good care of Jeffery! What the hell were you doing? You can’t even watch over a child, you useless piece of crap!” At this moment, Jessica, who was sobbing uncontrollably, suddenly remembered what Jeffery had said a few hours ago and glared at me, questioning angrily. Jessica questioned, “Jeffery said back then that you would get him killed! Was it you?” Fred immediately remembered this as well and nodded firmly at the police. In an instant, I went from being a victim’s family member to a suspect. The police quickly retrieved the hotel lobby’s surveillance footage, which clearly recorded Jeffery saying that I would harm him. I stared in shock at everything happening before me, shaking my head in disbelief. I murmured, “No, it wasn’t me…” Before I could explain, Fred raised his hand and slapped me, angrily yelling, “You wicked woman! How dare you harm your own brother.” I turned my head and fell to the side, ignoring the pain on my face, my mind racing, feeling that something was off. I hurriedly defended myself, “No! It really wasn’t me! The surveillance caught everything—I never left the room, and I was with Grandma the whole time!”

After the SAT scores were announced, I, who ranked second in the school, jumped off a tall building. Just because the night before the exam, my classmate, Ellen Lawrence, told me she could read minds, not only knowing all my answers but also scoring exactly one point higher than me. I didn’t believe her. During the exam, I tried hard to clear my mind. But after the test, when comparing answers with classmates, Ellen repeated my answers word for word. When the SAT scores came out, she beat me by just one point and took the last spot for admission to Harvard University. She patted my pale face and smirked, saying, “Shirley, someone as poor as you wants to change your fate with the SAT? Go die with your short-lived parents!” I couldn’t get into Harvard, so I missed the scholarship the school promised. I could only watch helplessly as my sick parents passed away, and eventually, I ended my own life in despair. Even until my death, I couldn’t figure out how Ellen knew all my answers and managed to score just one point higher than me. I wondered, “Could mind reading really exist in this world?” When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day before the SAT exam. This time, I will not lose. “The SAT will begin tomorrow…” Hearing the voice from the TV, I suddenly woke up. I thought, “SAT? Didn’t I already take it? And after that, I lost everything.” After triple-checking, I realized I had been reborn, back to the day before the SAT, before all the nightmares happened. Overwhelmed with joy, I burst into tears, but the next second, my phone vibrated, and the message that once pushed me into the abyss popped up. The sender was my classmate Ellen. Ellen: [Shirley, though you’ve always been the top student in the grade and the only one in school likely to get into Harvard, do you believe it? I can read minds. For this SAT, I not only know all your answers but can precisely control my score to ensure it’s just one point higher than yours.] When I received this message in my previous life, I thought it was just a joke. Ellen, relying on her wealthy family, always loved to bully students like us who came from difficult backgrounds. Because of my good grades, she targeted me even more, always causing trouble for me. At the time, I just thought this message was her trick to mess with my mindset. But to my surprise, after the first day of exams, when checking answers, Ellen actually recited all my choices, even the obscure arguments I used in my essay, with complete accuracy. I was utterly shocked at the time, but she just sneered and said, “I told you I can read minds, why don’t you believe me?” I still refused to believe in mind-reading. During the second day’s exam, I kept my mind blank the entire time and wrote all my problem-solving steps on scratch paper. Yet, when checking answers, Ellen’s responses were still exactly the same as mine. She casually sighed and said, “Shirley, you really struggled with the last math problem. Almost made me run out of time to finish.” At that moment, I completely broke down. But the real despair came after the SAT results were announced. I scored 1500, but Ellen, who always had poor grades, actually scored one point higher than me. That one-point difference cost me the admission letter from Harvard University and the massive scholarship the school had promised. In the hospital, my parents, who were waiting for this life-saving money, eventually passed away in despair. I watched them being wheeled into the morgue, then turned around and saw Ellen’s smug face. She patted my bloodless face and laughed, “Shirley, someone as poor as you wants to change your fate with the SAT? Just go die with your short-lived parents!” “Don’t curse me in your heart. I know all your thoughts crystal clear, including your little secret that no one knows…” Ellen leaned in, whispering my deepest secret word by word into my ear. My mind completely broke down, and in despair, I climbed to the hospital rooftop and jumped off. Thankfully, heaven gave me a second chance. This time, I will uncover the truth behind Ellen’s “mind-reading” and see what she’s really up to!

After receiving Ellen’s threatening text message, I took several deep breaths to calm myself and immediately went online to search for ways to counter the so-called mind-reading. Some say to maintain physical distance. I remembered during exams, we weren’t in the same classroom. Others mentioned that certain personal items might be the medium. I suddenly remembered that Ellen had given small gifts to the whole class before. I also received a teddy bear hair clip and a cheap plastic bracelet. I thought, “These two items are probably problematic.” I grabbed a hammer and smashed the bracelet and hair clip to pieces with all my strength. After that, I thought to myself, “This time, she shouldn’t be able to succeed again.” The next day, I arrived early at the SAT test center, just like in my past life. Ellen saw me and immediately came over with a big smile, pretending to be close as she wrapped her arm around mine. Her tone, however, was chilling like a demon, “Shirley, you got that message yesterday, right?” My heart tightened, and every hair on my body stood on end. She patted my face and said in a fake encouraging tone, “Shirley, you better do well. If you don’t, how am I supposed to get into Harvard?” She walked away laughing, while my nails nearly dug into my palms. 因为已经考过一次，这次SAT我答题异常顺利。 I thought, “The things Ellen gave me were smashed by me. This time, she shouldn’t be able to write the same answers as me, right?” The morning exam ended, and as expected, the classmates gathered to check answers again. Listening to the multiple-choice answers they shared, I kept a calm face but was overjoyed inside because my answers matched the standard ones perfectly! I thought, “This way, I can not only score 1500 but might even get close to a perfect score. Then I can get into Harvard and earn a scholarship to help pay for my parents’ medical treatment.” Just as I was about to leave, Ellen suddenly grabbed my shoulder and said with a smile, “Shirley, you did great this time, got all the multiple-choice questions right. But your essay isn’t good. Who still uses Shakespeare’s quotes as material these days? That’s so outdated.” Hearing this, goosebumps covered my body, and a cold sweat slowly slid down my forehead. I thought, “Why? How does she still know all my answers, even that I used Shakespeare’s quotes in my essay? This time, my essay content was completely different, and the material was entirely new!” I asked with a trembling voice, “How do you know that?” Ellen replied, “I already told you, I can read minds.” She laughed loudly as she left, each laugh feeling like an insult to me.

Sitting in the SAT exam room in the afternoon, I pressed my lips together, looking serious. When the exam bell rang, the other test-takers immediately started answering questions, afraid to waste a second. But I sat upright, completely still. The proctor noticed my unusual behavior and kindly reminded me, “The exam has started, hurry up and begin answering.” I nodded, but the pen in my hand didn’t move at all. I thought, “Since Ellen will know whatever answers I write, I might as well not write anything.” I looked at the sky, the ground, the leaves outside the window, but not at the test paper. I refused to believe she could still know my answers this way. Sure enough, as soon as the exam ended and before I even left the room, Ellen rushed over like crazy. She grabbed my neck and snarled angrily, “Why! Why didn’t you write a single word! Are you crazy!” I turned red as she choked me, but for the first time, I smiled victoriously. “Yes, I’m crazy. This way, you can’t copy my answers anymore!” Our argument drew everyone’s attention in the hallway. The invigilator quickly pulled Ellen away and asked in confusion, “How do you know Shirley handed in a blank paper?” Ellen hesitated, then shoved the invigilator aside and shouted, “It’s none of your business! Get lost!” Before leaving, she pointed at my nose and threatened viciously, “I’m telling you, for the last exam this afternoon, you better take it seriously! Or else you’ll regret it!” The classmates nearby started whispering, clueless about what had happened between us. I straightened my clothes and left the exam room calmly. She told me to do well, but I won’t. So for the second exam in the afternoon, I still handed in a blank paper. Despite the invigilator’s repeated attempts to persuade me, I remained unmoved. After the exam, Ellen indeed appeared at the exam room door again. But this time, a teacher protected me, so she couldn’t get close to harm me. She could only sneer from a distance, “Shirley, playing these little tricks won’t work. Our family has plenty of money. If I don’t do well on the SAT, my parents can just send me to study in the UK. But what about you? If you can’t get into Harvard, your parents can’t afford the medical bills, and your whole family is doomed!” I lowered my head and stayed silent. When visiting my parents in the hospital, my mother Maria May, lying on the hospital bed, tightly grasped my hand and asked, “Shirley, your school teacher just called and said you handed in blank papers for today’s exams. Is that true?” I didn’t dare to look into her eyes and fell silent. My parents are construction workers. Three months ago, there was an explosion at the site, and they were both seriously injured. My father is still in a coma, and although Maria is conscious, she can only lie in bed, unable to move. The site owner ran off with the money, so we have to cover all the medical expenses ourselves. My whole family pinned their hopes on me because the school promised that as long as I got into Harvard University, they would grant a large scholarship. With this money, my parents could have surgery. This SAT is really crucial for our family, and Maria is also very concerned about how I did. Looking at Maria’s anxious, reddened eyes, I honestly nodded and said, “Yes, I handed in blank papers for both exams today. Mom, don’t worry, I’ll make sure to gather your medical expenses on time.” Although Maria was puzzled, she didn’t ask further when she saw how firm I was. Before leaving, she reminded me again, “Shirley, our whole family’s hope rests on you.” I nodded firmly and said, “I know, I won’t let you down.”

The day for SAT results to be announced arrived quickly. The school organized us to check our scores in the computer lab, but I already had a rough idea of my score. I did very well in the morning’s reading and math, scoring close to full marks, but I got zero on both afternoon exams. Out of a total of 1600, I ended up with just 780. This score shocked everyone. In the classroom, the teacher stared at the score on my computer screen, refreshing it over and over, but it always showed 780. The teacher, unable to hide their disappointment, questioned, “Shirley, didn’t you say you did well before? How could you get two zeros? You’re the only student in our school with a chance to get into Harvard, and now you’ve ruined it for yourself!” 就在这时，教室另一端传来Ellen朋友的惊呼。“Ellen，你怎么才考781分啊？你不是说你SAT考试肯定能超常发挥考上哈佛大学的吗？” Hearing that score, my heart sank again. I thought, “Why? Why does Ellen always score one point higher than me?” Before I could figure it out, Ellen had already rushed over from the other end of the classroom. Like a wild beast out of control, she tackled me off my chair, grabbed my neck tightly, and slapped me hard across the face. She shouted, “Shirley, you b****! It’s all because of you! I’m going to kill you!” Ellen’s crazed behavior shocked everyone present. The teacher tried to pull her away, but her strength was astonishing, and no one could restrain her for the moment. Lying on the ground, watching her hysterical appearance, a surge of satisfaction rose in my heart. I thought, “After two lifetimes, I finally beat her once!” Ellen saw me laughing and suddenly started laughing too, “Shirley, do you think handing in a blank paper can change your fate? Fool! Now forget Harvard, you might not even get into a community college! But your two seriously ill parents are still lying in the hospital, waiting for your scholarship to save their lives! I’d like to see how you, without getting into a top school, plan to save them!” At that moment, there was a knock on the classroom door. A staff member from the administrative office peeked in and asked, “Is Shirley May here? A scholarship has arrived at the school, and you need to sign for it.” This sentence left Ellen completely stunned. She shouted in disbelief, “How is that possible? You only scored 780 points, how could you get a scholarship?”

My name is Sarah Daniels. My classmate Natalie Griffin handed me a throat lozenge, and I turned around and melted it into the cafeteria milk for four thousand classmates to share. Because I was reborn. In my previous life, Natalie was bound to the “Plunder System.” As long as I ate what she gave me, my exam scores would automatically transfer to her. She came from a wealthy family and had already decided to study abroad. Stealing my SAT scores was nothing more than a casual prank. But I was a poor student living on financial aid, and the SAT was my only way to change my fate. In three mock exams, my scores got worse each time, yet I could never find the reason. In the end, I failed the SAT, and while walking aimlessly on the road, I was hit by a car and died. After death, my soul floated in mid-air, overhearing Natalie chatting and laughing with her good friend Sophia Peterson. “I really didn’t expect Sarah to score the highest in the city! “Now, that title is mine! Poor people like her are only fit to lie in the mud forever.” Living again, I decided to make her pay the price. Doesn’t she enjoy stealing others’ scores? Just stealing mine alone is no fun. This time, all the school’s scores will be hers. ***** The night before the final mock exam, I came down with a high fever due to days of exhaustion. I was lying on the desk, dizzy and shivering, when a box of cold medicine suddenly appeared in front of me. “Sarah, hurry and take the cold medicine.” I froze for a moment and looked up, meeting Natalie’s eyes. In my previous life, she used this box of cold medicine to take away my high score. I instinctively wanted to push it away, but my classmates gathered around. “Natalie is so kind and beautiful, even bringing cold medicine for classmates.” “Yeah, Sarah, being a poor student, can’t afford to go to the hospital, and no one takes care of her when she’s sick. Luckily, she’s Natalie’s classmate, so someone cares.” Hearing these words, Natalie’s smile grew even brighter as she tore open the cold medicine packaging and handed it to me. She said, “Hurry up and take it! This is a special medicine my dad brought back from abroad, not available in the U.S.” I remembered that in my previous life, it was right before the third mock exam when I took the cold medicine she gave me, and it changed my life forever. I come from a poor background and rely on scholarships to study at this high school. The SAT exam is a shortcut for people like me to change our fate. Before senior year, my grades consistently ranked in the top three of the class, and I had a good chance of getting into Harvard University. I studied day and night, not daring to slack off, hoping for an admission letter that could change my fate. But starting from the third mock exam, my grades plummeted. The official SAT exam became my eternal nightmare. On the day I checked my score, the glaring “1000” on the screen pierced my heart. I frantically applied for a score review. The results showed that those ridiculous mistakes were indeed written by me. Even more terrifying, the exam room footage clearly showed that I left early after only half an hour during one subject. But I clearly remember carefully answering every question and checking until the very last second! But the invigilator and classmates around me all said they saw me submit the paper early. My memory and reality had a terrifying disconnect. I was unwilling to accept it and repeatedly appealed, demanding an investigation. But time and again, the results remained unchanged. Gradually, the teacher’s eyes showed pity, and the police’s tone carried helplessness. They started hinting that maybe I was under too much pressure and having mental issues. It wasn’t until after I died that I realized it was all caused by Natalie’s grade-stealing system. Thinking about my grades, I coldly pushed the cold medicine away. I said, “I’ve already taken medicine, taking more might cause a conflict in effects.” Hearing this, Sophia burst into laughter. She mocked, “You can’t be this nervous, right? Natalie saw you had a cold and no one to care for you, so she kindly brought you medicine. Do you really think taking this medicine will stop you from getting into Harvard University?” The classmates around also burst into laughter. “Attention! Taking cold medicine will delay your studies!” “She can’t even afford to go to the hospital, where would she get money for medicine? I think she’s just jealous of Natalie!” Natalie didn’t stop those classmates mocking me. She kept smiling, pretending to be generous, and stuffed the cold medicine into my hand. She said softly, “Alright, Sarah, tomorrow is the mock exam. Take the medicine and get some rest.” Looking at the cold medicine in my hand, a wave of disgust surged in my heart. It’s not time for the SAT exam yet; I can’t act recklessly. After all, she’s in the open while I’m in the shadows. If I expose her, who knows what tricks she might have waiting for me? I clenched my fists tightly, suppressing the urge to throw the medicine straight to the ground. At that moment, I suddenly caught a glimpse of a flash of red swaying downstairs from the corner of my eye. I turned my head and looked closely. It was a banner the school put up to motivate SAT candidates. A bold idea suddenly popped into my mind. I thought, “If all the candidates ate what Natalie gave, would their scores be taken too?”

Thinking of this, I gently held the box of cold medicine in my hands. “Thank you, Natalie, but my throat hurts a lot right now, and I feel a bit nauseous, I really can’t eat it.” “But since it’s your kind gesture, I certainly can’t waste it.” Saying this, I turned to look at Maria Stewart, who also had a cold. “Maria, do you want to try? This is cold medicine Natalie brought back from abroad, and I’ve heard it’s especially effective.” Maria’s dad is a school leader, and her grades have always been the best in the school. Moreover, most of her family members are in politics, with a strong background. She took the medicine box, carefully looked at the packaging, and was about to agree. Suddenly, Natalie shouted, “No!” Her voice suddenly rose, startling everyone present. She met my shocked and puzzled gaze and quickly explained, “Sarah, Maria seems to be allergic to many medications. What if something goes wrong after taking it?” Maria leaned over to check the cold medicine’s ingredients and said, “I’m only allergic to penicillin, and this medicine doesn’t have it.” A trace of nervousness appeared on Natalie’s face. Sophia snatched the cold medicine and angrily said, “This was specially kept for you by Natalie! If you don’t want to take it, fine, but why give it to someone else?” Her words were blunt, and Maria’s face instantly darkened. She said nothing and turned to leave. I had already gotten the answer I wanted. It seems that as long as something from Natalie is given away, it will trigger that “plunder mechanism.” In that case, I’ll play big with her. What’s the point of her stealing only my grades? When the time comes, I’ll give her the grades of all the students in the school to truly honor the game she carefully prepared. I made up my mind and was about to take back that box of cold medicine. Natalie, worried I might share the medicine with others, pulled out a piece of candy from her pocket. She said, “Sarah, if you’re worried about the cold medicine interacting, don’t take it. I have throat lozenges here, you can have one of these.” The people around were deeply moved by her thoughtful gesture. “Natalie is so considerate, she even thinks of such details.” “Natalie cares so much about her. Sarah is really lucky.” Natalie smiled slightly and said, “I just thought Sarah must be feeling awful with a cold, and if it doesn’t get better, it might affect her exam performance.” “Sarah is the pride of our class, of course I have to think more about her.” Looking at her fake smile, I recalled my previous life and the conversation between Natalie and Sophia that I heard before my consciousness faded. Sophia was admiring Natalie for becoming the top SAT scorer in the city. Natalie chuckled lightly and flicked her wrist. “I’m about to go abroad, I don’t really care about grades. ‘Top SAT Scorer’ just sounds nice, it’s not that useful.” “I was just messing with that poor girl. She pretends to love studying all the time, it annoys me to death.” “Now it’s perfect, let’s see how she keeps pretending! Trash will always end up back in the trash heap.” I couldn’t help but laugh in anger. I thought, “She went through all that trouble just to mess with me?” This time, I didn’t refuse. After taking the throat lozenge, I casually stuffed it into my pocket. Natalie saw my action and seemed a bit displeased. She frowned and asked me, “Sarah, isn’t your throat feeling uncomfortable? Why aren’t you eating it?”

I yawned. “I’m a bit sleepy. I want to nap first and eat it later.” Natalie immediately became anxious. It’s just a candy, really too small. If I put it in my pocket, she wouldn’t know whether I ate it or not. She urged, “Your throat is hoarse, hurry up and eat the throat lozenge.” “Besides, you’re sick now and need more sugar. What if you faint during class later?” She frowned, looking as if she was genuinely worried about me. The people around obviously believed her concern. Whispers came from the back row. “It’s just a candy, will eating it kill her?” “I think she’s just ugly inside, unwilling to accept others’ kindness.” “Natalie cares so much about her, yet she doesn’t appreciate it. She’s already a poor student, how can she not know to cherish it?” Those words pierced my heart like needles. I thought, “Does giving me a few candies count as being kind to me? Am I supposed to eat them gratefully in return?” “Does the gap between our wealth justify everyone morally coercing me without knowing the truth?” My fingertips trembled slightly, yet I still forced myself to appear calm. At this moment, Sophia also spoke up. “You won’t take medicine or throat lozenges. Are you picking on Natalie on purpose because you don’t like her?” Her attitude was particularly aggressive, and even the surrounding classmates were full of hostility toward me because of this. After silently weighing it in my mind, I reached out, took the candy, unwrapped it, and ate it. A cool sensation instantly spread in my mouth, and the mint’s sharpness tingled on my tongue. Seeing this, Natalie finally smiled. “That’s more like it. Feeling any better?” I also smiled and softly said, “Thank you, my throat does feel much better.” She only turned away satisfied after watching me swallow the candy. I pretended to be sleepy and lay down on the table. When it got quiet around me, I quietly felt my pocket, where the throat lozenge she gave me was lying still. Before, to soothe my throat, I also prepared some cheap and refreshing throat lozenges. Luckily, the school store only had this one type of throat lozenge, or the packaging alone would have given me away. Taking the chance to go to the restroom, I hid that special throat lozenge before returning to the teaching building. As soon as I walked into the classroom, I saw Natalie sitting in my seat. And the empty throat lozenge tin box I had left in the desk was now sitting on my table. My heart skipped a beat. Sophia looked up, saw me standing at the back door, and immediately gave Natalie a look. Natalie turned around, her face frighteningly grim. She stared at me and asked, “Sarah, did you buy this throat lozenge a long time ago?”