Category: English

It was the first week of school when our homeroom teacher burst in, excitement bubbling in her voice. “Our class has been chosen for a groundbreaking ‘Self-Identity Transformation Experiment’ in partnership with the school counseling center!” The whole class crowdfunded plastic surgery for the poor class beauty, $100 per person. I refused. The next day, my desk was doused with soy milk, and the school network was filled with posts exposing my cold-blooded selfishness. They called me ugly, poor, and mean-spirited. They even dug up my mom’s workplace and posted notes at her office door, cursing her for raising a heartless daughter. But no one knew that the class beauty who claimed her family couldn’t afford plastic surgery. Her dad was the director of the plastic surgery hospital that ruined my face. It was the first week of school. The homeroom teacher burst in, excitedly announcing: “The school and psychological center are jointly launching a ‘Self-Identity Transformation Experiment,’ and our class is the first pilot group!” The class erupted in applause. I didn’t join in, just chewed on my pen tip silently. She continued, “As you all know, our classmate Olivia Shaw has been struggling with severe appearance anxiety. The counselors have suggested she undergo cosmetic surgery to boost her self-esteem. We’ll be starting a class fundraiser to help make her dream come true!” I looked up at Olivia. She stood at the front, wearing our school uniform with perfectly applied makeup, her head bowed demurely. “I… I don’t want to trouble anyone… it’s just…” “Don’t say another word!” A boy slammed his hand on his desk. “You’re the prettiest girl in our class. If you get this surgery, our school’s enrollment will double!” Someone else chimed in, “He’s right! Donating to Olivia is an investment in our school’s future!” Olivia shook her head, tears glistening in her eyes. “I just hope that even if I leave this place one day, I can be remembered by the world in my best form.” Her words sent a wave of emotion through the classroom. Our teacher pulled up a PowerPoint slide. “For this ‘Beauty Boost’ campaign, we suggest a donation of $100 per person. It’s voluntary, but we hope everyone will do their best to support Olivia.” I glanced at my phone: $4.25 in my account. So, I spoke up quietly, “I won’t be donating.” The air in the room seemed to freeze. Then someone let out a cold laugh. “Tch, figures.” “Seriously? Not donating is one thing, but that attitude? Didn’t you hear how gently Olivia phrased it?” “Didn’t she just buy that $150 skincare set? With her skin, a $5 moisturizer would do the job.” “Look at her eyes, always staring at Olivia. Jealous of her small face and high nose, perhaps?” “Does she think we’re all idiots, falling for Olivia’s act? Is she the only ‘smart’ one here?” Olivia spoke up softly, “She’s… not a bad person. I understand… maybe her family situation…” “Her family situation is way better than yours!” Someone stood up, slamming their desk. “Doesn’t her mom drop her off in a car every day? What about you? Two bus transfers!” I opened my mouth, but my throat felt blocked. Not a word came out. The entire class was staring at me. Olivia looked at me and suddenly said, “It’s… okay if she doesn’t want to donate. I don’t mind.” In that moment, I was utterly defeated. Because not only was she the class’s protected “angel,” now she was playing the “magnanimous goddess” role too. I was about to speak when someone at the front stuck a QR code on the blackboard. “Let’s vote on whether Rachel should donate or not.” I had barely scanned the code when my screen displayed: Current voting results: Support Rachel Chen donating: 94 votes Support Rachel Chen’s free choice: 1 vote My hands were shaking. “The votes are in. Still not going to chip in?” Someone tossed an A4 paper at me. It read: “Help Olivia’s Dream Come True, $100 per person, SnapPay only.” “Don’t talk about it being voluntary. This isn’t about morals, it’s about class unity!” “If you really don’t want to, you can get out of this class!” Gritting my teeth, I said coldly, “Her dad owns a plastic surgery clinic. If she really wants surgery, doesn’t she have the equipment at home?” The room fell silent for two seconds before erupting into even louder laughter. “Haha, are you crazy? If Olivia’s family really owned a hospital, would I be killing myself trying to get into an Ivy League?” “You think just because her family can afford a house in this small town, they own a hospital? Why not say her dad’s the chief surgeon and her mom’s the head nurse?” “Give it up. Don’t go around spreading lies and smearing others just because you’re insecure about your looks!” Olivia didn’t say a word, just looked at me. I remembered that look. A year ago, her father had me sign a contract for “double eyelid surgery only, no other procedures.” I signed, but on the day of the surgery, while I was unconscious, they altered my nose, my chin, my whole face. When I woke up, I cried and tore at the bandages. The doctor said, “It’s just a bit of technical instability. Go home, apply the medicine, it’ll get better slowly.” It took me a whole year of being disfigured before I dared to go out without makeup. And she used my ruined face for marketing, made promotional videos, and even claimed she was “born with poor facial structure, became beautiful through hard work.” Now she was turning the whole class into her second experimental ground. I stared at her, my voice low and trembling: “I won’t donate. Dream on.” 0

She looked up at me, tears in her eyes. “I know you’ve never liked me, but I really didn’t mean to embarrass you like this.” Our teacher sighed. “Rachel, don’t be so selfish. Is it right to stop the whole class’s plan just because you disagree?” The class chimed in. “That’s right! You’re the only one making us all look bad!” “Is this how your parents taught you to be so cold-hearted?” “If you really won’t donate, just drop out. We don’t want you in this class!” Someone splashed water on my shoes, while others threw paper balls at my back. I clenched my fists, my nails almost digging into my palms. Suddenly, my phone buzzed with a payment notification. It was a SnapChat from my mom. [Rachel, your teacher called and told me everything. I’ve been working overtime, here’s the $100. Don’t let your classmates give you a hard time…] My hand shook, and I almost dropped my phone. After Mom transferred the $100, I didn’t donate right away. I sat at my desk, biting my lip so hard my fingers trembled too much to even tap the screen properly. The class group chat was still buzzing: [Everyone’s donated. How many more times does Rachel want to make Olivia cry before she’s satisfied?] [Some families aren’t poor, they’re just heartless.] Before I could reply, another message popped up on my phone. It was from my mom’s coworker: [Rachel, your mom collapsed at the office. She’s been taken to the hospital by ambulance.] I froze. The next second, I ran out of the classroom like a madwoman. I could hear someone sneer, “She’s putting on another show. Making it life-or-death over a simple donation.” I couldn’t care less. For the first time in my life, I splurged on a taxi and rushed straight to the city hospital. My mom was lying in the emergency room, her face pale, the back of her hand bruised from the IV. The doctor spoke coldly, “Your mother fainted due to long-term sleep deprivation, low blood sugar, and extreme fatigue.” I remembered how she’d been working until 1 or 2 AM these past few days, rushing to two part-time jobs during the day, not even eating breakfast. Standing by her bedside, my heart felt like it was being torn apart. The nurse handed me the bill. I looked at the amount and bit my lip, not making a sound. I had less than $20 left on my phone, but our homeroom teacher was tagging me in the class group: [Rachel, Olivia’s cosmetic surgery fund is just waiting on you now. Everyone’s waiting for you to chip in.] [We know your family isn’t well-off, but even Yolanda’s family donated, and her dad just lost his job last year.] [Do you want us to crowdfund your share? Don’t be so disheartening.] I replied: [My mom fainted and is in the hospital. I really can’t afford this right now.] Olivia replied instantly: [It’s okay… if Rachel is really struggling, let’s just forget about it. I don’t blame her…] She said she didn’t blame me, but the whole class exploded. [Olivia, don’t be too kind. She can afford lipstick, perfume, and skincare, her family has a car, and she’s claiming hardship? Isn’t that laughable?] [Didn’t her mom drop her off at school in a car the other day? What was it, a blue Volkswagen?] [Her mom fainting means she doesn’t have to donate? Why not say her grandma fell or her grandpa’s in the hospital too?] [Besides, Olivia didn’t force you to donate, she just cried. If you don’t donate, it’s because your heart is too hard!] My fingers kept shaking. I was about to reply “I really can’t afford it” when I saw a new hot post pinned to the top of the school forum: “You cried so I must pay? How vicious can a ‘poor’ girl be?” The cover was a photo of me biting my lip and crying at the classroom door that day. The first comment under the title was: [Saying her mom fainted and is in the hospital, probably another old trick. I bet tomorrow she’ll be posting her own donation QR code.] 0

The next morning, before I even entered the classroom, someone dumped a bucket of soy milk all over me at the entrance of the teaching building. “Oops, sorry! My bad!” The boy who threw the cup laughed and walked away. I stood there, soaked from head to toe, the soy milk dripping from my hair onto my uniform, leaving sticky yellow stains on the white collar. I stood frozen, my face burning with shame. Olivia walked up to me and stood in front of me, her voice soft: “Rachel, you can’t keep making everyone think you’re putting on a pity show to clear your name. You’ll really be misunderstood this way.” I finally snapped, my voice hoarse and trembling: “Clear my name? When your dad ruined my face, did I even ask him to take responsibility?” She blinked: “What are you talking about? Didn’t you voluntarily sign up for the trial? You signed the contract yourself.” “Didn’t you say ‘I can endure pain for beauty’? How come now that you’re disfigured, you want to blame others?” She paused, then lowered her voice: “Rachel, I advise you not to say anything rash. The statute of limitations on my dad’s case has passed. If you really make a big fuss, it’ll only make your mom’s work situation more difficult.” “Also,” she smiled, “do you have any evidence for what you’re saying now?” I was stunned. She wasn’t wrong. I had no evidence. The trial contract I signed back then was taken away, and my mom had thrown away the copy as waste paper. I was only a freshman then, and after being disfigured, I only knew how to cry. I had no idea what to keep as evidence. I couldn’t even remember clearly what I had signed. And now, she stood brazenly in front of me, saying: “Without evidence, anything you say is just slander.” My whole body went cold, my teeth chattering. She turned and walked into the classroom with a smile. Classmates crowded around her, offering breakfast, hot water bottles, pink face masks, saying: “Olivia, you’re really too kind.” “Don’t let her get to you, she’s just trying to ride your coattails.” “Don’t worry, we all support you getting plastic surgery to live your best life. You deserve better.” And I, like a madwoman, was nailed to the corridor. My vision started to blur. That night, I couldn’t sleep. Not because I had been doused with soy milk during the day, not because my mother was still lying in the hospital on an IV drip, but because Olivia had posted a new article on the school’s public account: “The Pursuit of Beauty is Never a Sin” She said she was a “patient with congenital facial structure imbalance” and had developed an eating disorder in middle school due to her facial issues. She said she could only fall asleep at 4 AM because “appearance anxiety has seeped into my bones.” Finally, she wrote: “Some people think I don’t deserve plastic surgery, that this is all an act. But I just want to stop being scared of my reflection in the mirror. I hope the next time I sit on the operating table, I’ll wake up with a smile.” There were over a thousand comments below, all praising her for being “brave,” “real,” and “beautifully powerful.” As for me, after being scolded for three whole days, I didn’t even have a single comment defending me. This donation storm, wrapped in the guise of “beauty,” had already become one-sided in public opinion. I sat on a long bench in the hospital corridor, took out my phone, and opened the official website of that plastic surgery hospital. The procedure Olivia said she wanted was the hospital’s newly launched “Full Face Dynamic 3D Fusion Surgery.” The introduction read: “Jointly developed by Shaw Hospital and overseas experts” and “Creating an Asian-adapted facial proportion model.” I recognized it immediately. This was the same procedure the doctor had mentioned to me before my double eyelid surgery. Fighting back tears, I dialed the consumer protection hotline and the city’s medical regulatory hotline. I reported the hospital’s name, saying they exaggerated their advertising, failed to disclose experimental procedures, and refused to provide complete medical records after disfiguring me. The person on the other end said they would file the complaint for investigation. After hanging up, for the first time, I felt a tiny bit of victory, no matter how small. But this small sense of victory turned into hell the next morning. 0

Hot post on the school forum: “Shocking! Girl refuses to crowdfund, reports Olivia’s plastic surgery hospital, even writes to school authorities slandering her father as a quack doctor” The post included a photo of my silhouette making a phone call in the hospital corridor late at night. There was also a secretly taken photo of me queuing in the cafeteria, with large red text: [This is Rachel Chen. Jealous that everyone likes Olivia, she reported her family’s hospital just because Olivia is prettier than her.] The post had thousands of comments. [Wow, how vicious can she be?] [Can’t get surgery herself so she wants to ruin someone else’s face? Does she even qualify as human?] [What did Olivia ever do to her? This girl must be a psycho!] By noon, as I was walking into the teaching building, I heard people scrolling through their phones and pointing at me: “Is she the one who reported the Shaw family hospital?” “I bet she’s mentally ill. If Olivia’s face is considered ugly, she might as well apply for a job at a haunted house.” “Write a sob story, make a fuss, and now she wants to play the victim of public opinion, huh?” I bit my lip and rushed into the classroom. As soon as I sat down, our homeroom teacher came in with several printed papers in her hand. “Rachel Chen, come to the office.” I stood up, my legs shaking. In the office, the dean of students had a grim expression: “Rachel Chen, your unauthorized report of Shaw Hospital has caused extremely negative impact on the school’s image. Now parents and outside media are demanding an explanation from the school.” The homeroom teacher also advised: “We’re not saying you can’t defend your rights, but doing it this way will only make the whole class resent you.” I looked up: “Weren’t they already resenting me?” The dean’s eyes turned cold: “Olivia just gave us the screenshot of the threatening message you sent her father last night. Do you want to take a look yourself?” I took it. The photo indeed showed a message I supposedly sent to the Shaw Hospital’s official account from a burner account: “Don’t think you can keep this under wraps forever. I still remember how you ruined my face back then.” “No matter how rich your dad is, I’ll make sure he’s exposed to the light of day.” At the bottom of the message was a red box noting: “Verbal threats, malicious false reporting.” My mind exploded. I never sent these words. My report was through the hotline, through official channels. I never privately messaged them. This burner account wasn’t mine! I was about to defend myself when the dean coldly handed me another paper: “Take a look at this.” I took it and saw it was a joint letter. “We, the classmates of Rachel Chen, strongly condemn Rachel Chen for long-term spreading of false rumors about Olivia and her family both inside and outside the class, seriously disrupting class unity, and even attempting to smear the plastic surgery hospital through online means. We believe her behavior is extremely vicious and implore the school to take disciplinary action.” At the bottom, over thirty names were densely packed, each signature clear and neat. I felt like I had fallen into an ice pit. I couldn’t even see the words clearly anymore. The dean spoke coldly: “You must write an explanation now, publicly apologize to your classmates, and promise not to make malicious comments again.” I looked up, my eyes red, and asked hoarsely: “What if I don’t apologize?” He raised his head: “Then please cooperate with the school disciplinary process. We will also suggest you take a leave of absence to reflect at home for a while.” I stood up, clenching my fists, and said word by word: “I will never apologize for something I didn’t do.” “You can punish me, even expel me. But let me tell you this” “Olivia is not the good person you think she is. Her father’s hospital has problems, and so does she. You can cover it up for now, but you can’t hide it forever.” I turned and walked out of the office. Behind me came the sound of the dean angrily slamming his desk. But I wasn’t afraid anymore. I opened my phone and dialed a number. It was the young assistant who had been responsible for filming pre-op videos at the plastic surgery hospital that year. I still had her phone number, and I still had the voice message she sent me when she secretly shared “screenshots of the surgical process” with me. Now, it was time to bring them out.

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I nurtured a beastman bodyguard with my own lifeblood. Six years. I loved him, cherished him, poured out every ounce of my heart, only to get one answer: “Don’t even think about taming me.” During the Creature Uprising, he shielded another girl, leaving me to be trampled. He was *my* bodyguard. Yet he always left me behind. He even used his scorpion tail to constrict my throat, forcing me to give my blood to save that girl. He didn’t know that every drop of blood I shed diminished my life force. He also didn’t know it was the last of my lifespan. “Anya, I swear I’ll make it up to you. Please, save her.” The proud creature finally bowed, acknowledging me as his master. My fingers slowly became transparent. “But… we don’t have a future.” His scorpion tail thrashed wildly, his eyes glazed over with primal rage. He’d gone feral. “Chloe…” Even then, he called her name. I let him bite into my arm. Only when my blood touched his throat did he slowly calm down. “Thank you…” I didn’t whine or complain like I usually would. Instead, I pushed him away, wiping the remaining blood on a nearby plant. The withered leaves instantly revived. And my life force dwindled further. “I’m moving closer to the lab. You’re my bodyguard, so you’re coming with me.” Kael froze. “But…” “I feed you with my blood every month, not so you can handle her heat cycles.” His chest was covered in love bites. I forced my gaze away, my eyes stinging. The accusation almost spilled from my lips. But it twisted, turning into a threat. “Don’t forget your duties. If anything happens to me, the Federation won’t let you off.” In this fractured world, after the great creature upheaval, food crops were on the brink of extinction. I was the Federation’s only botanist. “Understood.” Kael lowered his gaze. “I’ll head out then.” As he reached the door, I called out to him. “Kael, what do you think we are to each other?” He paused. His broad shoulders shrugged, taut, golden-bronze muscles tensed. At his waist, there was the indelible brand of a rejected specimen. If I hadn’t spent half my life saving him, he would have died long ago. “Employer and bodyguard.” “You provide the blood, I protect you.” The answer I expected. No matter how much I gave, his heart would never have a single corner for me. Why force it? He was never my Liam. He wouldn’t cherish me like I was the most precious thing in the world. No matter how much he looked like him, he wasn’t. Tears blurred my vision. I tried to wipe them away, but my fingertips were already turning transparent. “I might not be able to pay your salary anymore.” I was fading fast. Kael didn’t take me seriously. “Then I’ll find a new gig.” He strode away, leaving the door ajar and me to my quiet sobs. I always joked with him. But this time, it was real.

When I woke up, Kael was already geared up and waiting by the main entrance. “Your clothes are all here. Files are sorted.” He frowned slightly, his strong, elegant fingers brushing aside a stray lock of hair as he meticulously checked the luggage. “Your calming diffuser was a bit damp, so I didn’t bring it. I’ll get you a new one later.” “The plushie, I bagged it separately…” “Throw it out,” I said flatly. That plushie was a gift from Kael. He was originally going to give it to Chloe, but she rejected it, so he passed it off to me. The ridiculous part was, I cherished it. Kael paused. “Why?” It was the first time he hadn’t obeyed my command. “Didn’t you like it a lot? Keep it…” “Brother Kael!” Chloe’s light footsteps echoed as she ran into the yard, throwing herself into Kael’s arms. “Thank you for yesterday! I came to express my gratitude.” Kael stiffened, his hands unsure where to go. His ears, out of Chloe’s sight, were flushed and hot. His scorpion tail hovered high, as if afraid of accidentally hurting her. I glanced at the back of my hand. It had been brushed by a venomous barb last night. It was red and swollen, looking like it might break the skin. Perhaps I was used to it; I didn’t even feel the pain. “Oh? Isn’t this the doll I didn’t want?” Chloe picked up the beautifully wrapped plushie, examining it. “How did it get here?” “Did you give it to Anya?” Kael glanced at me. He hesitated slightly. “Uh… no.” I turned my face away, my hands, hanging at my sides, unconsciously clenching. He said, “I left it at home and forgot to throw it out. It’s just garbage.” With a flick of his scorpion tail, the plushie was flung into the trash. Its plush face, still smiling, rolled into the grime, becoming saturated with its foul wetness. “I knew it! Why would you give my unwanted garbage to Anya?” Kael caught sight of my pale face, his pupils trembled, then he quickly looked away. I couldn’t tell if it was guilt or perhaps a flicker of pity. He was afraid Chloe would misunderstand. So, he chose to hurt me. Of course, there was no comparison between us. Even a gift had to be something she didn’t want. I unclenched my hands. Several crescent-shaped indents marred my palms. “Throw out the luggage. I’ll buy new stuff.” “I don’t want any of it.” I looked at Kael. “Not even you. I don’t want you anymore.”

I applied to the Federation for a new bodyguard. “Are you sure?” “Kael cost you half your life to save.” Director Thorne chuckled. “Ms. Anya, the food crops in the North District are growing exceptionally well. Want to take a look?” “It cost you half your blood.” “And where you begged and pleaded on your knees with the High Council, grass has now grown. That beastman doesn’t know that, does he?” “A failed genetic experiment like him, why would he be worth your life?” “Oh, I forgot, he looks just like Ms. Anya’s childhood best friend. No wonder…” I had made up my mind. I would replace Kael and never get involved with him again. The next day, my new bodyguard from the Federation arrived. It was Ryker, the Alpha Guard, even taller than Kael, his snowy white tail curled around his luggage. “Greetings, Ms. Anya.” I cleared out the room I’d prepared for Kael and let the Alpha Guard move in. Just as I was briefing him on his duties, the doorbell rang. I didn’t answer. Kael waited outside for a while, assuming no one was home, and then tried to punch in the code himself. “Access Denied—” He thought he misheard. He tried again. “Access Denied.” He started pounding on the door. Annoyed, I sent the Alpha Guard to deal with him. A thunderous crash shook the entire house. I rushed out and saw Kael and Ryker locked in a violent struggle, neither giving an inch, the front door ripped off its hinges. “Stop!” Kael looked up, jealousy practically dripping from him. His scorpion tail powerfully plunged into Ryker’s side. A muffled grunt, and the Alpha Guard sagged, his skin visibly bruising. “Are you insane!” I slapped Kael across the face. His head snapped to the side, several drops of blood flying. Only then did I notice the raw, bleeding gouge on the back of his head where Ryker had clawed him. “Who is he?” Kael stared intently at the other man. “My new bodyguard.” I helped Ryker, quickly cut my arm, and fed my blood to him. Kael’s eyes turned bloodshot. “*I’m* your bodyguard.” His defiant stance crumbled. He stood frozen, looking lost, especially without my response. Even his scorpion tail drooped. “I am your bodyguard…” “You can’t protect me,” I said coldly. “Get out.” He stood rooted to the spot. Perhaps realizing how awful he’d been, he muttered something, his lips barely moving, unable to utter a single word of protest. “I can…” “I’ll protect you properly from now on, I’ll protect you with my life…” Kael’s reflection stared back from the glass, his jaw tight, his gaze locked on me. He didn’t even flinch, despite the blood running into his eyes. “Just give me one more chance.” Ryker woke up, shoved me aside, and bolted for the door as if a venomous barb was still chasing him. “Anya, no one’s better suited for this job than me,” Kael took a step forward. “I *can* protect you.” I was silent for a moment. Then I looked at him. “You said, ‘with your life’.” Kael nodded frantically. “I promise.”

I could feel my life force draining. An inexplicable weariness settled over me. My sleep lengthened, and even the plants in the lab barely responded to my control anymore. “I’m tired. I’m heading back.” “Of course, Doctor.” Kael was waiting just outside the lab. He slipped the heating pad he’d been holding for ages into my arms, said nothing, and deliberately walked on the windward side, shielding me from the drifting snow. “Cough, cough—” I coughed violently. The recent experiment had drained a huge amount of energy from me. I could barely stand. As soon as I got home, I started running a fever. Kael used cold water to wipe my body down, over and over. “Liam…” Burning with fever, my vision blurred, my hand lightly brushed Kael’s cheek. “I love you so much…” He suddenly grabbed my hand. “The Liam you called… was it me?” “Who is this Liam?” I closed my eyes, drifting into sleep. Kael kept pressing. “Don’t ask. You’re Liam, okay? Just stop…” He let out a shaky breath, the tension visibly draining from his shoulders. He pulled out the photo he had hidden in his pocket. He examined it closely. The man’s face was identical to his own, but Kael couldn’t remember ever taking such a picture. “Maybe I forgot.” He mumbled to himself. He pulled up the blanket, only for his attention to be caught by my semi-transparent hand. Kael’s heart jolted. He blinked, and my hand looked normal again. *Ding—* A notification sound broke his thoughts. “Brother Kael, you haven’t come to see me in ages…” Chloe was slurring, clearly wasted. “If you don’t come soon, I’ll be whisked away…” Kael threw on his jacket and moved to leave. I grabbed him. “Don’t go. Stay and take care of me. I feel awful…” “I’m going to die…” He pulled free. “Don’t talk nonsense.” “Chloe has an emergency. I have to go to her first.” His back was resolute. He never lingered for me, not even for a second. He was *my* bodyguard, yet he always left me behind. He had promised to protect me with his life. Kael, I believed you again and again. Chloe’s words were true. “If the Federation hadn’t forced him, he wouldn’t be your bodyguard.” “Brother Kael cares about me the most, Anya. Even if you died right in front of him, he wouldn’t feel an ounce of pity.” “You’re just a burden to him.” Whether it was during the Creature Uprising three years ago, when he abandoned me in the eye of the storm, or three years later, when I told him I was dying. Kael never truly cared. I called my assistant. “Take out the blood I had stored for Kael’s sustenance.” “Yes, give it to the North District. Let them use it to grow food.” I wouldn’t leave him a single thing.

It was a rare moment of free time, so I went to a bar alone. Most of the patrons were beastmen. Seeing a pure-blooded human like me, they couldn’t help but be curious, gravitating towards my table one by one. “Hey, sis.” A young man sat beside me, his yellow ears perked up. “Let’s hang out.” “I’ll teach you a game we play in the beastman world…” His tail unconsciously wrapped around my arm, soft and fluffy, feeling nice to the touch. “Are you a cat?” He paused, then smiled, revealing sharp teeth. “Yeah, do you like it? A lot of people…” Before he could finish, someone grabbed him by the throat and lifted him. The young man was about to get angry. But when he saw a venomous barb hovering before his eyes, he deflated instantly. Kael’s posture was commanding; just standing there, he kept many other beastmen at bay. The lights were dim, so I couldn’t make out his expression, but the veins on his neck were clearly prominent. “He’s not a cat. He’s a leopard.” “It’s dangerous out here. How could you travel alone? Or is he your new bodyguard?” I stared straight at Kael. “Put him down, then get out.” An invisible pressure spread through the bar. Kael took a deep breath and threw the young man onto the floor. He didn’t leave. Instead, he approached me. “We’re going home.” “The sector’s energy fluctuations have been unpredictable lately. Be careful of uprisings.” “What uprising?” someone scoffed. “General Liam Beckett is coming back soon! Who’d dare cause trouble then?” I instinctively looked towards the bar entrance. No one. A wave of disappointment washed over me. Kael saw it clearly. His heart inexplicably swelled with irritation. “Let’s go.” He reached for me. Suddenly, Leo lunged, biting Kael’s arm, tearing at it. Immediately after, red-eyed beastmen poured in from all sides of the bar, attacking anything alive, especially pure-blooded humans. Countless eyes stared at me with hunger. If Kael dared to leave, I would be torn to shreds. “Brother Kael!” Chloe crouched in a corner, tears streaming down her face. “I’m scared!” Fueled by pure survival instinct, I clung to Kael’s clothes, my fingernails bent backwards, drawing blood. “Protect me! You’re *my* bodyguard!” He tried to pull free. “Don’t you dare! If you leave me, I’ll have Director Thorne kill both you and Chloe!” Kael hesitated. In that moment, Chloe was tackled by a large beast. “Chloe!” I don’t remember much of what happened next. All I know is, Kael left me again. It hurt so much. I was bleeding profusely. Herbivore creatures scrambled for the wild growth sprouting from the floor, while carnivores greedily lapped at my wounds. A flash of white light. Time seemed to stand still. The next second, all the beastmen collapsed to the ground. I was lifted. “Anya, hold on to me.” Light shone on his face. Was it Kael? No. He wasn’t this gentle. He didn’t call me ‘Anya’ with such tenderness, nor would he hold me in his arms like this. “Liam…” “I’m here.” When I woke up, I was already lying at home. All my wounds had vanished. “Liam?” Barefoot, I searched every room. No one. It was as if it had all been a dream.

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On our fifth wedding anniversary, Liam promised me the grand wedding he’d always wanted to give me. He said he deeply regretted not giving me a ceremony back then, and that I would be the most beautiful bride. But on our wedding day, he got a text message and rushed off. I chased after him, stumbling in my heavy wedding dress. He only offered a rushed comfort: “Avery, something really important came up at work. I have to go.” His lies were pathetic, so clumsy, but I didn’t even have the energy to call him out. Because I had cancer. And I didn’t have long left. Liam didn’t know I’d received the message before he did. I was sitting in front of the vanity mirror, my phone buzzing with a SnapChat notification. I opened it to see the text: “Avery, I won’t bother your life anymore. Are you satisfied?” My heart hammered in my chest. Before I could even react, I saw Liam glance down at his phone, then his face went pale with panic, and he dashed out. He was always so composed, so in control. I’d never seen him like this. As I rushed after him, I almost tripped over my skirt, crashing into the doorframe. My knee stung, a sharp, burning pain. He didn’t even look back. He just slammed the car door shut, leaving that one flimsy excuse hanging in the air. For this wedding, I’d chosen a strapless mermaid gown, despite the chilly autumn weather. I just wanted my life to be beautiful, just once. And he left me there, alone, with all our invited family and friends. For a moment, I wanted to flee, to run away immediately. I was so exhausted. I didn’t want to deal with the mess he’d left behind. He was the one who promised me a surprise. He was the one who filled me with hope. And he was the one who abandoned me here. But I looked at their expectant faces. We weren’t a fresh young couple just going through the motions. We’d been married for years, and we’d carefully invited only our closest circle – less than six tables in total – a mix of friends and family from both sides. My old college roommates and close friends from work were sitting inside. They’d traveled from far away, just to indulge my sentimental heart. I stiffly turned, changed into something lighter, and went to greet them one by one. Liam’s buddy, Mark, joked, “You two are still playing games, huh, Avery? A wedding five years later! Don’t forget to invite us to your silver and gold anniversaries!” I smiled and promised him I would. But I knew in my heart there wouldn’t be any more anniversaries. Even if I lived that long, my marriage with Liam wouldn’t last. My best friend, Chloe, rubbed my hands. “Why are your hands so cold? And where’s Liam?” I forced a smile. “Oh! He’s busy. Work called him away again.” She squeezed my hand tight. After more than a decade, we knew each other too well. Meeting her gaze, I nearly lost it, tears threatening to spill. I didn’t want anyone to see how upset I was, but my mind was a chaotic mess. Finally, after settling everyone, I collapsed onto a chair, utterly drained, unable to say another word. Then my mom suddenly called, launching into a furious tirade: “Are you completely heartless? Your sister is dying, and you still have the nerve to throw a wedding?” I didn’t even have the strength to stand up, listening calmly as she ranted. It took me a moment to piece together what she was saying: Selena had an episode, slit her wrists on the school rooftop. It took all my effort to find my voice. “Didn’t the groom already rush off to save her? What more do you want? Should I just… kill myself to appease her? Will that make her better?” There was one more thing I didn’t say: *I don’t have long to live anyway. You’ll be satisfied soon enough.* But I didn’t want them to know. I didn’t want to see any of them in my final days. “What are you talking about? Your own husband couldn’t stand it! Your sister, who grew up with you, is dying, and you have no reaction whatsoever? How can you be so cold-blooded?” My mom continued to yell. She didn’t know that my throat was burning just from trying to speak. I choked back a cough and hung up, looking at myself in the mirror. I looked like a ghost. Whenever Selena was involved, I lost. She always won. She could effortlessly snatch everything from me, every single time. Selena was my aunt’s daughter. After my aunt and uncle died in a car accident, she came to live with us. From that day on, I heard the same line every single day: “Selena’s already so miserable! Why do you always have to fight her? Can’t you just let her have this?”

That evening, Liam came back, looking utterly exhausted. I was tending to the wound on my knee. Honestly, I was too tired to even bother, but it looked pretty bad, and even the slightest inflammation could cause me immense pain now. It could lead to further complications, widespread inflammation. I numbly continued to treat it. I actually hated pain. Every day, falling asleep was a battle. Since college, I’d suffered from severe anxiety. When it flared up, I’d vomit and suffer from insomnia, my mouth raw with acid after each bout. Liam glanced at me, then stopped midway to the bathroom to shower. He saw the bloody gash on my knee. “What happened? How did you get this? Can’t you be more careful?” I didn’t answer him, just focused on my wound. I didn’t really want to talk to him anymore. He slowly sat down beside me, reaching out to take the gauze. I looked up, my gaze cold. “Avery, I’m so sorry! Today was a real accident, please don’t be mad at me, okay?” His eyes looked so sincere. If the truth hadn’t been staring me in the face, I would have fallen for that look again. “Liam, let’s get a divorce. I’m just… so tired.” I didn’t want to look at him, dropping my gaze back to my knee. As soon as I finished bandaging it, he suddenly pressed against me, pulling me into a tight hug. Perhaps it was the panic of a guilty man. He squeezed me so tightly, he brushed against my wound. I hissed, and he slowly released me, kneeling in front of me, looking genuinely remorseful. “Avery, we’re going to have so many anniversaries. That word ‘divorce’… please don’t say it so casually. It hurts.” “Liam, this afternoon was the last bit of dignity I gave you,” I said, meeting his eyes, my gaze unblinking. He froze, then his expression contorted into one of frantic panic. “Avery, it’s not what you think, really. The situation was just too urgent, I had to rush over, but I didn’t dare tell you directly. I was just afraid you’d misunderstand, I…” Liam, for the first time, was stammering. “Liam, what are you so afraid of? Am I that terrifying? Or is it that you’re all afraid I’ll bully Selena, and now you’re afraid I’ll bully you?” I laughed, a bitter, humorless sound. “Avery, you’re too emotional right now. I don’t want to argue.” He dodged the question, retreating into the bathroom to shower. I ignored him, went into the study, and closed the door. The moment it clicked shut, I felt my hands trembling. I lay in bed, staring wide-eyed at the ceiling. I was perpetually exhausted, but sleep rarely came. I only managed three or four hours a night. Honestly, I should have realized the truth a long time ago. Selena was his vibrant red rose, the indelible mark on his heart, the one he could never truly let go of. When I met Liam, he had already broken up with Selena. He never showed me photos of his ex-girlfriend. All I knew was that the relationship had caused him a lot of pain, but I never knew his ex-girlfriend was Selena. We both silently agreed not to mention it. It wasn’t until after we officially got married and went home for the winter holidays that Selena happened to be back for the holidays too. Selena was there that day, and it was the first time I saw Liam panic. A woman’s intuition told me something was terribly wrong. I wanted to ask Liam about it, but every time I brought it up, he’d cut me off, saying the past wasn’t pleasant and only brought unhappiness. And after the holidays, Selena went abroad to study the violin, which she loved. My parents even sold our house and moved to the countryside to support her. I couldn’t quite describe the feeling back then. It had always been like this, ever since I was little. Selena could take expensive music lessons, while I couldn’t even afford tutoring. I’ll never forget the look on my mom’s face when she learned Selena was continuing her studies. She was beaming with pride, saying she never imagined our family would produce a musician. Liam was beside me then. He squeezed my hand tightly and said, “In my eyes, my wife is the best.” He really was good to me. He let me look at his phone, gave me his bank cards. He was everything you’d read about online, the ‘perfect’ husband. I had a poor appetite, so he specifically learned to cook, making me dinner every day after work. In the evenings, we’d walk hand in hand. Those days were simple and pure. I thought it would last forever. Then Selena came back. She hadn’t become a famous musician. She suffered from severe depression. Her arms were crisscrossed with scars, self-inflicted with an eyebrow razor. My mom held her, sobbing uncontrollably, a complete wreck. She came to find me, her face gaunt and pale. “Avery, I regret it. Can you give Liam back to me?” The whole thing felt utterly absurd. She acted like Liam was just another one of the things I’d always given up for her – like a dress, a toy, a room, or even just a snack. She was used to me always stepping aside the moment she opened her mouth. I ignored her, simply thinking she was crazy. She had been with Liam before; she was the one who told me herself. I still remember that New Year’s Eve, fireworks bursting everywhere. For the first time, she acted really close to me, saying she wanted to watch the fireworks with me, pulling me outside. Liam stayed inside, playing cards with the older folks. Selena kept pulling me along, walking endlessly. ***截断点***

We walked so far, to a bench in a park. She pulled me down beside her and talked about the past, sighing, “Avery, I can’t believe you, who was so small back then, are married now.” I was speechless for a moment, unsure what to say. Then, she suddenly changed her tone. “Avery, you’ve always hated me, haven’t you?” “Say something!” I truly didn’t know what to say. “You hated me so much that you had to marry Liam, simply because he was once my boyfriend.” As soon as she said it, she was sobbing uncontrollably. Fireworks exploded in the sky. She leaned back against the bench, the light reflecting off her face, showing countless tears. It was the first time I’d ever seen Selena cry like that. In that instant, my hands and feet went cold. She was Liam’s ex-girlfriend? We had only been officially married for less than a month! Heaven help me, if I had known they were together, I would have run as far away as possible. But I didn’t know! Liam had come into my life, telling me how much he liked me. He had been there for me through my toughest days. “I didn’t know you two were together,” I finally managed to explain. She glanced at me, said nothing, and just walked away. A few days later, she left to pursue her music dream. Before she left, she sent me a text: “You’ve given in to me so many times. I’ll let you have this one.” I clutched that text message and had a massive fight with Liam. What did she mean, ‘let me have this’? If Liam couldn’t let her go, he should just stay with her. I’d just admit I’d chosen the wrong person. Liam yelled it was all a huge mistake, that he was being unfairly targeted. He showed me his phone. “Avery, you can’t do this to me. I don’t even have her on SnapChat. I didn’t know about your relationship.” “What would you have done if you knew about our relationship?” “I would have gotten with you sooner, hidden from her, and closed my eyes so I wouldn’t even see her.” He closed his eyes as he spoke. His antics made me laugh, and he quickly pulled me into a tight hug. In the following years, Selena genuinely didn’t appear in our lives. I even almost forgot about it. Until she finished her studies and came back, utterly exhausted, looking like a wilting rose – even more delicate and heartbreaking. Selena complained about feeling cold every day then, perhaps also because she came back in winter. My mom was so worried, it was like she’d aged years, her hair turning grayer by the day. I even introduced her to some doctors I knew. But then I saw the way Liam looked at her. I couldn’t lie to myself anymore – how could you hide that look of deep concern for someone? It felt like a needle piercing my heart, the pain so sharp it stole my breath. I confronted him. He lost his temper for the first time: “Enough, Avery! She’s already like this, what more do you want? Why are you making a scene?” His words made tears stream down my face, and he quickly rushed to comfort me. “I’m so sorry, Avery, I really didn’t mean to yell at you. We’ve been together for so many years; don’t you trust me?” I managed to push it away for a moment. All those years, all that companionship… it made me cling to a delusional dream, deceiving myself. Later, he went on a business trip to a remote area, and returned right around New Year’s. We went together to give gifts to my parents. Without me knowing anything, I watched him pull out a small bag of saffron and hand it to Selena. “Locals say this tea helps with the cold.” Then, under her astonished and grateful gaze, he produced a small good luck charm. “They say this also brings peace and protection.” I remained silent the entire time, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu, like I was back many years ago. My parents would always buy Selena a huge pile of gifts whenever they went out, while I could only watch with longing eyes, like a dog begging for scraps. On the way home, Liam tried to hold my hand, but I kept struggling. Then I noticed he’d placed a large, sparkling ring on my ring finger at some point. I was surprised. He gently pinched my cheek. “Is my little Avery getting jealous? The saffron was for your mom, she asked me to get it. And the good luck charm was just a thoughtful extra. They thought your sister was under some kind of bad influence.” “But the ring… I chose this one myself, I spent ages finding it. With me, you’ll always be safe and sound,” he said. He was always so charming when he said sweet things. I stared blankly at the massive, pigeon’s-egg-sized ruby ring. He suddenly kissed my forehead. “Avery, let’s have a wedding. I’ve always been so sorry I couldn’t give you one.” Our eyes met. In that moment, I genuinely believed that everything before was just my imagination, that he truly loved me. Suddenly, tears welled up and streamed down my face. He quickly wiped them away, asking what was wrong, his expression like a child who had made a mistake. In that moment, I desperately wanted to tell him. During his business trip, my insomnia had gotten worse, and I was vomiting constantly, feeling utterly miserable. At first, I thought it was good news, and happily went to the hospital to check. But the doctor, seeing my continuous vomiting, recommended a full body scan. When I received the diagnosis, I truly couldn’t believe it. How was this possible? I was so young. How could this be happening? I went to several more hospitals, but received the same devastating result each time. I pulled out my phone, wanting so badly to tell him, but I couldn’t calm myself. I couldn’t even face my own reality. I didn’t know who to tell, or how to say it. The doctor asked why I hadn’t come earlier. I told him it had been like this since college; I’d vomit whenever I felt anxious. He sighed. “Young people are under too much stress these days.” Back in college, my mom was funding Selena, so she literally had no money left for me. She only paid my tuition. Every day, she’d send me messages, call me, telling me to work hard, to “be realistic” about our family’s finances. Sometimes I’d get texts at six or seven in the morning, asking if I had a part-time job, if I was earning money, if I could get a scholarship. She said she was so anxious, that the family could never save money, and what would happen when they got old? I asked her why she was still funding Selena’s expensive music lessons then. She got angry and snapped, “Why are you always so petty? Why can’t you just let Selena be? She finally has a dream; shouldn’t she be supported?” “What about me?” “What more do you want? I already put you through college! Are you trying to kill me with stress?” She wanted Selena to live the life she desired, at the expense of my own survival, but she never saw that as a problem. She’d only say, “I gave birth to you, I raised you – what more do you want from me?” Every day, I worried about my living expenses, how to earn money, how to make my resume look better, how to find a higher-paying job. That’s when I met Liam. He comforted me, understood me. Later, when he started his business, I was by his side, traveling everywhere with him. To save money, we’d buy the cheapest bus tickets, spending twenty-plus hours practically standing. He bought two small stools, and we’d sit huddled together, him shielding me from the crush of the crowd. He’d whisper in my ear, “I’ll make sure you have a good life.” But now… my days are numbered.

Liam didn’t know that on the night of the wedding, as I walked past a nearby jewelry store, the name felt oddly familiar. Almost as if compelled by an unseen force, I walked in. I showed the sales associate the large red ring on my ring finger and asked about it. She was a very young sales associate, her face flushed as she spoke. “Oh, this ring? Just last Sunday evening, we were almost closing, and a gentleman rushed in right after getting off a plane to buy it for his wife.” “He must really love his wife, otherwise why would he be in such a hurry?” “Or was he in such a hurry because he’d done something wrong?” I murmured softly, not sure if I was asking her or myself. She froze, looking awkward. I turned and left. *Of course,* I thought. *That’s why he suddenly bought a ring. He bought gifts for everyone else on the way home, but forgot me. Maybe he bought it because he felt guilty, and it was an expensive way to smooth things over.* All my previous warmth and gratitude felt utterly ridiculous. Those nights, I was terrified countless times. I wanted to tell him, tell him about my illness, to find some warmth that wasn’t even there, but it was just my own wishful thinking. I lay in bed, numbly shedding tears. The door suddenly opened. Liam pinned me down, kissing my tears. “Avery, what do I have to do to make you stop overthinking?” A fierce wave of nausea surged up my throat. With a strength I didn’t know I had, I violently pushed him away, rushing to the bathroom to throw up. He looked utterly humiliated. “Avery? What are you doing? Can’t I even touch you anymore? How could you treat me like this?” I ignored him, collapsing weakly to the floor. When I finally found the strength to stand, I splashed cold water on my face. “Let’s get a divorce. I’m serious.” He tossed a tissue at me, then turned. “You’re dreaming!” I watched his back as he fled in a panic. “You will,” I muttered to myself.

I went to the hospital for a pain injection. I couldn’t even swallow pain pills anymore. Then I went directly to Selena’s hospital. I simply walked into her room and sat down. She immediately became incredibly agitated, ripping out her IV, blood gushing everywhere, and screamed at me, “Avery, what do you want? Can’t you just leave me alone?” I said nothing, just quietly peeled an orange. After finally finishing, I realized I couldn’t eat it anyway. I was already on a liquid diet. There were so many things I wanted to taste, but I couldn’t even do that. I held out the orange to her. “Want some? It should be sweet.” I wished I could taste it, even if it was sour. Selena’s agitation only intensified. She swatted the orange from my hand, sobbing uncontrollably. My mom stormed in, carrying a takeout bag – a meal for Selena. The dishes looked eerily familiar, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it. She raised her hand and slapped me across the face. “What did Selena do to you? Why do you keep hounding her?” My nose started bleeding, a steady stream. I just looked at the blood on the floor, saying nothing, then stood and walked out of the room. My mom chased after me, wanting to say something. Finally, she grabbed my arm. “Avery, what’s wrong? Are you getting sick? Why have you lost so much weight lately?” “What’s it to you?” “I’m your mother!” she snapped. “Oh, really? I don’t believe you,” I said, a smile breaking through my tears. My tears came too. But she cried even louder than me. “I’m your mom, what do you want me to do? Can’t you try to understand me, too?” “I named you Avery – ‘knowing intent’ – you used to be so understanding, so considerate when you were little. What happened to you now?” I couldn’t listen anymore. Perhaps it was from eating so little, but my head was spinning. I fled the hospital like a ghost. But as long as Liam didn’t sign the divorce papers, I would keep coming back here. Let’s just torment each other.

Liam rushed back. I was staring at the mushy, overcooked porridge, my head aching from the sheer effort of trying to swallow it. I’d managed a few spoonfuls, but threw them all up. I drank some sugar water, forcing it down. “Avery, what exactly are you doing?” He struggled to keep his voice low, trying to control his anger. “Could you cook me a bowl of noodles?” Liam was an excellent cook; his noodles were especially delicious. But he hadn’t cooked in ages. I couldn’t remember if it was because he was too busy with work or for some other reason. I had been on a liquid diet for so many days, drinking everything through a straw. For some reason, I just really wanted noodles—the kind Liam made. I’d tried many restaurants, but none tasted like his. I knew I wouldn’t be able to swallow them, but just smelling them would be enough. “She’s already in such a state, please, just leave her alone, okay?” he pleaded. His words were like a knife, twisting raw in my bleeding heart. I remembered back when our love was at its peak, I’d told him he was my closest confidant. I truly believed that then, but I never expected that period of closeness to be so brief. “Divorce me? Then I won’t go near her.” I insisted stubbornly. “You’re utterly unreasonable!” Infuriated, he turned and left, the door slamming shut behind him. Liam once said he’d never let me regret marrying him. But I did regret it. I also couldn’t understand why I wanted a divorce so badly when I only had a few days left anyway. But every time I thought about those days, it made me sick. Do people really change so suddenly? How could he do this to me? How could he? Why did I lay my heart bare only to have it trampled on? They all seemed to delight in crushing me. Can’t I just… escape? I insisted on visiting Selena every day. Anyone who didn’t know us would truly think we had a deep sisterly bond. And then I finally realized whose food she was eating. Selena caught my gaze on her food and challenged me, a taunting glint in her eyes. “Want some? Liam made it. It’s the only thing I can stomach these days.” For the first time, I almost lost it right there in front of her. I hadn’t even left the hospital when Liam called. His voice was laced with irritation. “Avery, please stop this. Selena is sick.” “Divorce me! Then I’ll stop,” I replied, repeating the same words. I reached the crosswalk, a desperate urge to just… step in front of a car. But then a thought flashed through my mind: that wouldn’t be fair to anyone. Everyone’s struggling. I couldn’t just create more trouble for others, even in death. I stepped back, watching the teeming crowds, cars rushing by. My mind was filled with images of Liam cooking for Selena. The irony was suffocating. He always looked so tired, and I’d always been considerate, learning to cook his favorite dishes and waiting for him to come home, even when I couldn’t eat anything myself. I understood his exhaustion, yet he was painstakingly preparing nutritious meals for Selena every day. Liam, how could you? If I had the time, I would take him to court, fight him tooth and nail. But I only had my final days left. Perhaps fate intervened, or maybe Selena finally cracked. That day, I went to see Selena again. We stood at the stairwell, arguing. I envied her how easily she could yell, how much energy she had. My mom had called Liam, and Selena was crying, her face wet with tears. “I really don’t want to see you. Just die!” I remained silent. She reached out and grabbed my arm, shaking me violently. “What do you want?” I turned to look at Liam, my intention clear. Selena was incredibly agitated. She tugged at me, lost her balance, and almost fell down the stairs. Then I saw Liam rush forward in a panic, catching her. I tumbled down the stairs. At the landing, there were some glass shards. I put my hand out to break my fall. *CRASH!* The glass shattered. My white sweater was soaked with blood, my arm covered in glass fragments. There were some on my face too. I must have looked terrible, so ugly. I hadn’t looked good in a long time. I couldn’t even bear to look in a mirror. I was so ugly! Liam rushed down, his voice frantic. “What happened? How did you get like this?” Blood stained my sweater red. Liam tried to pick me up, but I pushed against his chest, fighting back my tears. “Will you divorce me? Please? If you divorce me, I won’t come here anymore.” “I promise I won’t bother you two again.” “Please, divorce me?” I truly didn’t have much time left. I couldn’t afford to wait, I couldn’t delay, and I didn’t want to see Selena. Even more, I didn’t want to see my mom, clucking protectively over Selena like a mother hen.

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On my birthday, my wife Zoe, who had promised to spend the day with me, was nowhere to be found. I waited from morning till night, asking everyone I knew, but no one had heard from her. Just as I was about to call the police, I saw trending photos online of my adopted brother Leo passionately kissing Zoe. Above them were dazzling, grand fireworks. The headline read: “Evans Corp CEO Lavishes Millions on Adopted Brother – Sibling Love or Secret Affair?” Leo even posted birthday celebration photos with Zoe on Instagram. There was a small cut on Zoe’s lip. The caption read: “I’ll always love you, sis.” I commented: “Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together.” Immediately, I was bombarded with calls from Zoe: “What do you mean by wishing us happiness? Leo and I are just siblings, don’t be so jealous!” “Leo’s fictional skin condition* flared up on his birthday and he was suicidal. What’s wrong with me keeping him company for a normal birthday? Do you want his birthday to become his deathday?” “Leo saw your comment and thinks he’s a homewrecker now. He’s really upset. Delete it and apologize right now! Otherwise I’ll divorce you!” I coldly replied: “Fine, let’s get divorced then.” *Note: “Skin hunger syndrome” is a fictional condition invented for this story, not a real medical diagnosis.

There was a long silence on the other end. Just as I was about to hang up to clear my head, Zoe started cursing angrily: “Jack Evans, you’ve got some nerve!” “You think I’ll fall for your divorce threat? You chased after me for seven years like a lovesick puppy. Now you’re trying to play hard to get?” I clung to one last shred of hope: “What if I’m not playing hard to get this time?” Zoe’s voice dripped with disdain: “You think I’d believe that?” Then, amidst the roar of fireworks, I heard increasingly heavy breathing on the other end of the call. Remembering how Zoe said she was just keeping Leo company for a normal birthday without his “skin condition”, I felt like a complete fool. We dated for three years and have been married for four. Zoe always treated intimacy with me as a chore, never initiating or showing enthusiasm, always finding excuses to avoid it. But now, she was doing those things with another man under the fireworks… Perhaps my prolonged silence made Zoe feel guilty. She tried hard to steady her shaking voice as she commanded: “Stop being unreasonable! Go delete that Instagram comment right now! Apologize to Leo!” “I’ll be home soon after I finish keeping Leo company!” Keep him company? How exactly? By getting as physically close as possible? She held me in such low regard that she barely bothered to hide it anymore. I couldn’t keep swallowing my pride and ignoring this blatant cheating. I swallowed the bitterness and took a deep breath: “Zoe Chen, I’m not playing hard to get. Let’s meet at the courthouse tomorrow at 10 AM to file for divorce.” I had given her countless chances. Before, when she and Leo would hug intimately in public, I could believe her explanation that they were just close siblings. When Leo would always kiss her cheek affectionately, I chalked it up to habits from living abroad. I didn’t want to think the worst of the woman I loved and idolized. But Zoe kept pushing it further and further, rubbing my face in it! She knew how long I had planned our birthday trip together in advance, but she still didn’t care at all. Zoe was about to keep yelling at me when her voice suddenly changed pitch. Leo’s fake innocent voice chimed in: “I didn’t mean to, sis! You won’t be mad that I was too rough, right?” The phone was snatched away. The sound of slapping became clearer, and though my wife stayed silent, she couldn’t hold back her soft moans. Even if I was a complete idiot, I knew exactly what was happening on the other end now. In a fit of rage, I threw my phone across the room. It shattered the mirror, but also hit the volume button. The dirty sounds grew louder, drowning out the fading fireworks. “Ah! Leo, stop!” The call was abruptly ended. I picked up my cracked phone from the glass shards and dialed a long-unused number. “Grandfather, I’m willing to come home now. I also agree to the arranged marriage with the Xu family.”

After ending the call, I pondered for a long while. Zoe and I never should have met. I shouldn’t have thought she was a good person just because she looked like my first love. Zoe is Zoe, Olivia is Olivia. A fake is just a fake. Thinking back to when I first met Zoe, I could only laugh at myself. I had just graduated then, before being recognized by the Evans family. My father was gravely ill and I was drowning in debt. The Xu family used a $1 million check to buy me off, so Olivia could study abroad. $1 million is barely enough for a watch to me now. But back then, that $1 million not only covered my father’s medical bills, but also cleared all my debts. I used the remaining $100,000 as startup capital to become a clothing reseller. Luckily, I quickly earned back $1 million. After that, I invested in some unpopular internet and AI companies. Unexpectedly, in just a year, those companies turned a profit and were raking in money. Zoe was the daughter of a distributor, working part-time in accounting at her family’s company. When I paid the final installment early, she was surprised: “Didn’t you say last month you needed to delay payment for your father’s surgery? How can you pay so quickly now? Does that mean you don’t need to keep paying?” She carefully probed: “My condolences…” Good news puts people in high spirits. Seeing her face so similar to Olivia’s, I smiled and explained: “My father’s surgery was very successful. The stocks I invested in also multiplied several times over, so paying the final installment is no problem. Thank you for your concern.” She put away her prying curiosity and surprise, returning a sweet and innocent smile. Seeing that smile on a face 90% identical to my first love’s, I couldn’t help falling for her. Even knowing she wasn’t truly innocent, but calculating and probing, I still fell deeper and deeper in love with her. When I love someone, I want to give them my best. So I catered to her every whim. She said she was close with her adopted brother and hoped I would help mentor Leo. So I introduced Leo to my business connections as my future brother-in-law and even helped him land some big deals. But she would often go stay overnight at Leo’s apartment to keep him company. Whenever I expressed the slightest doubt, she would immediately explode: “You know Leo has that skin condition*! We can’t let anyone find out about it. Only I can help him as his sister. Stop meddling in my family’s private matters.” A notification popped up – it was the divorce agreement from my new lawyer. I was about to open it when I saw 999+ notifications on Instagram. I clicked in and found someone had logged into my account. After logging back in, I saw Zoe had posted an apology to Leo using my account: “As a brother-in-law, I shouldn’t have left inappropriate comments on my wife’s brother’s post, insulting their sibling relationship. I was being dirty-minded and narrow-hearted.” She even attached an animated gif of my face photoshopped onto a pig, repeatedly bowing and saying “I’m not human.” This was my main account with many followers and clients. My inbox was flooded with people asking what was going on. Some even asked if I had some kind of threesome fetish. I was furious, wishing I could strangle Zoe. Right after the apology post came a call from Leo. He arrogantly said: “My sister married a boring guy like you because she thought you were reliable and family-oriented. But now you want a divorce just because you’re jealous of me? Don’t you understand? Marriage isn’t something you can just end on a whim.” “My sister is already exhausted from keeping me company. Now she has to deal with the mess you made in the comments. You really know how to make trouble for people!” *Note: “Skin hunger syndrome” is a fictional condition invented for this story, not a real medical diagnosis.

I laughed bitterly. Zoe and Leo really were raised together – even their twisted logic was identical. They fool around under the guise of a sister keeping her brother company on his birthday. They stand me up on my own birthday, and then have the nerve to blame me! I coldly hung up on Leo, deleted the Instagram post, and made a new post clarifying my account had been hacked. Then I sent the finalized divorce agreement to Zoe and blocked her and Leo’s contact info. However, an unknown number started blowing up my phone. Thinking it was one of Zoe’s tricks, I angrily answered: “Mr. Evans, due to the withdrawal of medical support, your father has passed away. Please come to the hospital to claim the body as soon as possible.” My blood ran cold. I felt like I’d fallen into an icy pit. I struggled to steady my shaking body, my voice trembling: “W-what? Could you please repeat that?” The person patiently repeated the message. My head was spinning. I couldn’t accept this reality. My father had a heart attack and became paralyzed 8 years ago. Although his heart surgery was successful, he needed long-term care and rehabilitation, requiring large monthly medical payments to keep him alive. I had set up automatic payments for his medical fees long ago. How could the medical support possibly have been withdrawn? I was silent for a long time. The staff member, likely used to people unable to accept a loved one’s passing, suggested I log into the system to confirm myself. I took a deep breath, held it, and logged in with my eyes squinted to tiny slits, afraid to look. But I still gradually confirmed the fact of my father’s death. As grief overwhelmed me, a text came from the unknown number: “Jack Evans, you’ve really done it now! Not only do you dare to bring up divorce, you even dare to block and delete me!” “Did you forget that I control all your bank cards and assets? Now, unblock me immediately, add me back, and get on your knees to apologize! Otherwise your dad can just wait to die!” So Zoe was the one who withdrew my father’s medical support! I stared at those vicious words with an icy gaze, wishing Zoe would die in my father’s place. Back then when Zoe said she felt insecure and feared I would cheat once I got rich, I put all my assets in her name. I originally thought Zoe was just promiscuous and unfaithful. I never imagined she would be so vicious as to use my father’s life to threaten me! I gritted my teeth in hatred, my eyes blood-red, nearly crushing the phone in my grip. Out of what little remained of our marital affection, I had planned to let her off easy. But she shouldn’t have been so vicious. She shouldn’t have killed my father who was all I had left! I will make her pay double for this! The housekeeper brought over the Xu family’s engagement token. I opened it to find the phoenix jade pendant my first love had given me. It came with a note that said: “Returning the jade intact.” This pendant was the token of love my first love had given me. Hers had a lovebird engraving. The lovebird and phoenix, a perfect match made in heaven. She said the pendants were family heirlooms, only given to their most beloved. Later when we were forced to break up, the Xu family took back the pendant. I never expected it would return to my hands again! I suppressed my excitement and solemnly wrote on the paper: “Together until our hair turns white.”

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Olivia Sullivan, the Oscar-winning actress and my girlfriend of five years, was caught spending a night with a mysterious man. To protect Marcus Shaw’s reputation, she quickly posted intimate photos of them on Twitter, publicly acknowledging their relationship. The caption read: “Waiting for falling leaves, cold winds, autumn fireworks, and a better us. From beginning to end, I’ve only loved one person.” Looking at the man in the photo whose face was 50% similar to mine, a chill gradually enveloped my entire body. So for all these years, I had always been someone else’s stand-in. Olivia called soon to explain: “Marcus just returned to the country and can’t afford any damage to his reputation. I did this for work reasons, don’t take it seriously.” I only replied calmly: “It’s fine, I understand.” Seeing that I had no reaction, Olivia sounded confused on the other end: “Why aren’t you jealous today?” Less than half an hour after hanging up, Olivia came back. I thought she would continue her explanation from earlier, but she didn’t. Acting as if nothing had happened, she handed me a prepared gift: “Take a look, do you like it? I picked it out especially for you.” It was a Patek Philippe watch, quite expensive, I’d heard of it. In the past, she would always bring me small gifts when she came back, but never anything this expensive. Maybe she also realized that this time was different from before. In the past, a cake, a hug, or even a simple smile would have been enough to appease me. But today, even with this million-dollar watch in front of me, my expression remained indifferent, without any emotion. I just said a bland “Thank you.” Disappointment flashed across Olivia’s face. She could clearly sense that something was off with me. But she didn’t dare to bring up her public announcement with Marcus, because she felt guilty. She could only deliberately change the subject: “Aiden, I’m hungry. Can you make me some chicken soup noodles?” The noodles were pre-packaged, but the chicken soup had to be freshly made. Every time she said she wanted to eat something, I would rush to prepare the ingredients for her without complaint, no matter how troublesome it was. But today, I didn’t want to do anything. “There’s bread in the fridge. If you’re hungry, just eat some yourself.” “Aiden!” Seeing that I still maintained an indifferent attitude, Olivia finally lost her temper: “Can you stop being moody? Do you know how many interviews I canceled to come back and comfort you! Can’t you be more understanding of my work?” “No!” I interrupted her. Looking up, my eyes still like a midnight lake, without any ripples: “Olivia, let’s break up.” Even after so many days of self-healing, when I saw the one I once loved deeply, my heart still uncontrollably ached, the pain blocking my chest, making it difficult to breathe. But I still said those words stuck in my throat. This ridiculous underground relationship had lasted for five years. My feelings for her had long since reached their end. I no longer wanted to wait in an empty house for her return, no longer wanted to watch her various scandals, and no longer wanted to love her. I was tired. When she heard the words ‘break up’, Olivia’s face turned pale, showing unprecedented panic and shock. Before she could speak, I opened the door and left.

After getting together with Olivia, except for work hours, I stayed at home waiting for her all day and hadn’t hung out with friends for a long time. This time when my friends invited me out, I reluctantly agreed. After a few drinks, they noticed I was distracted, so I had to tell them about the breakup. “Breakup? When did you start dating someone that we didn’t know about? How did you meet?” My friend’s rapid-fire questions instantly took my memory back to middle school, that summer when I first met Olivia. I was locked in the bathroom by bullies for getting the top score in the school, and I met her who was in an equally miserable state. At that moment when equally miserable state the gears of fate turned, two hearts with the same destiny were tightly bound together… After graduating from middle school, she followed her divorced mother to another city, but we never lost contact. It wasn’t until five years ago when I graduated from college and came to her city to support her that we finally became a couple. But she clearly knew. Marcus Shaw was the boy who bullied me back then! My friends’ noisy voices pulled my drifting thoughts back. I casually pointed at the poster on the wall and smiled bitterly: “She’s the girlfriend I’ve been dating for five years.” On the poster was a promotion for Olivia and Marcus’ new movie. She had also fought for the male lead role for Marcus. The two were pressed tightly together, gazing into each other’s eyes, their expressions full of affection. What a perfect pair. My friends burst into laughter, thinking I was joking. “You must be drunk. How could the famous Oscar winner Olivia Sullivan be your girlfriend!” The laughter around me was a bit harsh. With three parts drunkenness, looking at that poster also made me feel a bit dazed for a moment. I didn’t explain further, just raised my head and drained the glass in one gulp. The burning sensation swept down my throat, bringing melancholy and also calmness. As I lowered my head, the door of the private room was pushed open. Even though the newcomer was tightly pressing down her baseball cap, wearing a mask and sunglasses, I still recognized Olivia at a glance.

Amidst everyone’s shock, Olivia nodded slightly in greeting, then pulled out a chair and sat down quietly next to me. Except for me, she always had an innate sense of aloofness towards everyone. “What are you doing here?” My voice was polite but distant, instantly pulling our relationship far apart. She frowned in dissatisfaction, but her tone was gentle: “I rarely have free time, so I wanted to spend more time with you.” I coldly replied: “You don’t need to do this. We’re breaking up anyway.” “I won’t agree to break up.” She took a deep breath, interrupting me, “You’re just jealous and want to make our relationship public, right? Fine, I’ll satisfy you.” After saying this, she reached for my glass and stood up, her tone returning to its usual haughtiness: “Hello everyone, I’m Aiden’s girlfriend.” “Due to work reasons, I’ve been hiding my relationship with Aiden. Please don’t mind.” As she finished speaking, she raised the glass amidst everyone’s shocked gazes. Before it could touch her lips, I snatched the glass away. “Enough, Olivia.” “We’ve already broken up.” The glass slammed heavily on the table, rolling twice before coming to a stop. After saying this, I ignored her slightly reddened eyes and turned to leave directly. I stumbled out drunkenly, the dark night road dim and bleak. The darkness mixed with the smell of alcohol, surrounding me tightly. My thoughts were a bit chaotic, making me recall the scene of Olivia raising her glass. My chest suddenly felt tight and I couldn’t breathe. Olivia never drank alcohol, saying she hated the taste. But I had once seen her drunk in a video leaked by paparazzi, half of her body leaning against Marcus’ embrace, raising her glass to please the producers at the table: “I hope everyone can give Marcus a chance, he will definitely perform well.” For Marcus’ sake, she who never touched alcohol downed three glasses of whiskey in one go, finally falling drunkenly into Marcus’ arms. And that day was my birthday. I sat in front of the cake waiting all night, but she never came back. Later she called to explain: “There were many producers and directors at the wrap party for the new drama, I really couldn’t get away. When I have time to come back, I’ll definitely make it up to you with a proper birthday celebration.” But Olivia, I don’t need it anymore.

From the moment I saw her falling into Marcus’ arms, all the feelings I had built up over the years were shattered, leaving my heart as cold as ashes. Olivia quickly chased after me. “Aiden, don’t be angry. Marcus and I really are just work partners…” Her voice was pleading in front of my friends. I just calmly replied: “I’m not angry. It has nothing to do with me anymore.” “Stop denying it, Aiden. You’re breaking up with me because you’re jealous of Marcus.” “I’ve explained many times that those rumors are just part of my work. If you mind, I can clarify them right now. Please don’t talk about breaking up anymore, okay?” She was still rambling on, always using work as an excuse for her unavoidable actions. She would never admit that she had ever divided her heart in our love. I suddenly felt that her desperate clinging and lies were extremely ugly. I shook off her hand and hailed a taxi, leaving without looking back. Just as I got home, I suddenly received a dismissal notice from the HR department. “Aiden, this is a decision from upper management. I couldn’t do anything about it,” the HR staff said apologetically. “I heard someone deliberately set you up. Did you offend anyone?” I had always been kind to others and never offended anyone. But since the company fired me for this reason, I didn’t care. After all, I wasn’t relying on that salary to make money anyway. After hanging up, an unknown number called immediately. When I answered, a man’s voice came through: “How does it feel to be fired, Aiden?” I immediately recognized the voice. It was Marcus. So the person behind this was him. My fists clenched tightly, nails digging into my palms. The pain mixed with hatred swept through my entire body. “You’re just a useless piece of trash who can’t even earn $5000 a month now. What right do you have to cling to Olivia? I advise you to get lost quickly.” “With me around, I’ll make sure you can never find a job again, haha.” He laughed arrogantly, completely different from his gentle and elegant image on TV, like a devil devouring people from hell. Just like how he was in middle school. But no matter what he looked like, in my eyes, he was disgusting. I sneered coldly, interrupting his ugly laughter: “Is that so? Then you’re bound to lose.”

Marcus was destined to lose this bet miserably. For me, the 9-to-5 job outside was just a daily pastime to kill time. It didn’t matter whether I worked or not. Back in college, my anonymously published original novel was selected by a famous director who bought the film and TV rights. From that first book, I embarked on my journey as a screenwriter. Several hit TV dramas in recent years were all written by me. However, at my request, my real name was always hidden, only using the pen name ‘Fallen Angel’ instead. Except for a few top directors I’ve been working with, no one knows about this identity of mine. Not even Olivia. The next day, I went to the company on time to handle the resignation procedures. When I arrived at my workstation, I found all my personal belongings were gone. The entire desk was empty. My gaze shifted to the trash can beside it, where I saw my things lying quietly inside. I didn’t need to guess to know who did this. I smirked coldly, grabbed a vase nearby and walked towards the director’s office. Amidst the terrified gazes of all my colleagues, I kicked open the door and smashed the vase at the director’s feet with a loud ‘crash’. He shouted angrily and stood up: “Aiden, don’t go too far.” “If you want to blame someone for this, blame yourself for being so lowly and offending Mr. Marcus Shaw. He specifically said he doesn’t want to see you. We had no choice.” The company had chosen Marcus Shaw as the spokesperson for their new product. It was time to curry favor with him, so naturally they wouldn’t offend Marcus over a small employee like me. I couldn’t be bothered to say anything more. After all, losing me was the company’s loss. Smashing the vase was enough to vent my anger. Just as I was about to leave, the director’s secretary rushed in anxiously. “Director, we just received a call from Oscar winner Olivia Sullivan. She expressed interest in endorsing our new product, but she has one condition…” At this point, the secretary gave me a complicated look. The director’s eyes lit up, urging: “Whatever the condition is, we must do everything possible to satisfy her.” The opportunity to work with an Oscar-winning actress was rare and precious. He naturally couldn’t wait. “Miss Sullivan’s only requirement is that her boyfriend Aiden be fully responsible for all her work.” When this was said, everyone was stunned. Even I was momentarily taken aback.

After Olivia and I confirmed our relationship, she said we couldn’t reveal our relationship in public to avoid suspicion. For three whole years, Olivia and I never appeared together in anyone’s sight. My family and friends knew nothing of her existence. She never attended any of my friend gatherings either. Even last year when my grandmother was critically ill and wanted to see my girlfriend before she passed away, I called Olivia in tears, hoping she could spare some time to see the old lady. Even though she heard the choke in my voice, she only hesitated for a few seconds before firmly refusing. “Aiden, you know my current status. It’s not convenient for me…” After that, I never again made requests to introduce her to my family and friends. I just didn’t expect that today, for the sake of my job, she would step in as my girlfriend for the first time. But I no longer needed it. Olivia’s status was not something Marcus could match. Hearing her make such a cooperation request, the director changed his ugly attitude from earlier and apologized to me with a smile: “Aiden, why didn’t you say earlier that you had such a connection with Miss Sullivan?” “I was wrong before, please don’t mind. How about this, I’ll make an exception and promote you to project manager, fully responsible for this cooperation. Your year-end bonus will be tripled.” But I just threw my work badge on the table expressionlessly and refused directly. “Sorry, I quit.” After saying that, I turned around coolly. The surrounding colleagues were dumbfounded, all shocked by my actions once again. The colleagues in the hall had already exploded into discussion. When they saw me come out, they swarmed around me. “Wow Aiden, you’ve really been hiding your talents! We never imagined the famous actress Olivia Sullivan would be your girlfriend.” “Olivia Sullivan just updated her Twitter. Not only did she clarify the previous rumors with Marcus Shaw, but she also announced her relationship with you. She’s already changed into a wedding dress and is preparing to come propose to you!” Before I could react, a colleague shoved their phone into my hands and played a video. In the video, Olivia was wearing a pure white wedding dress. Her exquisite makeup was cold yet noble. She stared at the camera, her deep gaze seeming to penetrate the screen and look into my eyes. She said: “Aiden, are you ready to marry me?”

It turned out that half an hour ago, Olivia had posted a clarification on Twitter, publicly revealing our five-year underground relationship. She also released candid photos of me cooking and several life photos. The nine-grid post was full of love, accompanied by a 500-word caption explaining that her previous admission of a relationship with Marcus Shaw was a joke because she lost a bet. She said from beginning to end, she only had one boyfriend. That was me. My breath caught, my heart filled with mixed emotions. Marcus also immediately replied to this tweet: “Sister Olivia’s willingness to admit defeat in a bet is admirable. It was all a misunderstanding. Brother-in-law, please don’t be angry.” The comment section exploded instantly, with a flood of criticism. Many accused Olivia of taking the joke too far and treating her fans like fools. Some even continued to say that only Marcus was a good match for her. Only a handful of people expressed their blessings. I don’t know how Olivia persuaded Marcus to act out this farce with her, but while everyone else was moved to tears, I remained exceptionally clear-headed. I once eagerly looked forward to the day when we could make our relationship public, fantasizing about being able to walk hand in hand with her on the street openly, receiving everyone’s blessings. But at this moment, apart from a full sense of helplessness, there was only indifference after disappointment. In just a few minutes, the video of the famous actress proposing to an ordinary man online instantly went viral across the country, squeezing to the top of the trending list and the headlines of major media outlets. Many bloggers and reporters started live streaming, following Olivia as she ran towards my location holding a bouquet of flowers. Everyone was driven crazy by her courage and sincerity. Many fans had already gathered at the entrance of my company to clear the way for her. For a moment, this live broadcast in the name of a proposal was watched by hundreds of millions of viewers across the country. While I was still in a daze, a cheer suddenly erupted outside the company. Olivia had arrived.

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The school was eerily quiet after classes, with only the faint sound of cicadas in the background. I took a deep breath, trying to suppress the lingering trauma of my family’s destruction in my previous life. From the corner of my eye, I saw Tyler Brooks handing a bottle of water to Rachel Evans. Rachel had been my childhood friend since we were kids. The water was laced with a potent aphrodisiac – strong enough to make anyone lose control. In my previous life, I had exposed this on the spot. But Rachel didn’t believe me. Instead, she thought I was jealous of Tyler’s popularity and was stirring up trouble. This time, I watched coldly from the sidelines. Rachel took the bottle, glancing at me. “What’s with that look? Are you going to police my drinking water too?” “It’s none of my business,” I said, averting my gaze. Tyler, seeing this, started to stir the pot with a smirk: “Jack Carter, aren’t you being a bit too controlling of Rachel? Is she your girlfriend or something?” A few classmates who were about to leave turned to look at me with strange expressions. Rachel’s face tensed up, her eyes filled with disdain as she looked at me: “Who’s his girlfriend? He’s just a bookworm who only knows how to study. I wouldn’t be interested in him!” A surge of hatred nearly burst from my chest. I suddenly looked up: “As if I’d be interested in you, Rachel Evans?” Rachel was stunned, speechless, with tears about to fall. Tyler seized the opportunity to mock me further. “Still playing hard to get? Everyone knows you have a crush on Rachel.” “I just talk to Rachel a bit, and you get all moody. Tsk tsk, what a clown.” These words ignited Rachel’s anger. She always felt that being associated with someone like me, who was always buried in books, was embarrassing. She glared at me fiercely, then defiantly drank the entire bottle of water in one go. I tightened my grip on the pen in my hand, a dark light flashing in my eyes, and a smile involuntarily curling at the corners of my mouth. In my previous life, with my interference, she had only taken a sip. But even just that sip was enough to make her lose control, only knowing how to beg for intimacy. Now, she had drunk the entire bottle… A sense of anticipation crept into my heart, and I found myself looking at Tyler with a hint of admiration in my eyes. It takes a villain to deal with another villain, after all. I noticed a flash of triumphant glee in Tyler’s eyes. He put his arm around Rachel’s shoulders: “Rachel, are you feeling unwell? Let me walk you home?” Rachel shyly agreed. About ten minutes later, Mike Anderson, the class monitor, burst into the classroom with a flushed face. By then, only I was left in the classroom. He was clearly anxious, mumbling something about “bathroom, bathroom…” But he just couldn’t get to the point. I feigned ignorance and asked: “Did something happen in the bathroom? It’s not Rachel, is it?” Mike grabbed my arm, his hand shaking with excitement. “Yes, it’s Rachel, and… and Tyler.” “Those two?” I looked innocent and confused, as if I truly knew nothing. There was a time when I considered Mike my best friend. He had been my deskmate for all three years of high school, and we always had a lot to talk about. But after the incident in my previous life, he was the first to step on me to climb up. He publicly claimed that I had impure thoughts, and when my advances towards Rachel were rejected, I drugged her in an attempt to force the issue. After I went to give my statement to the police, he even started a livestream, taking advantage of the hot topic. During the stream, he seriously made up a lot of non-existent stories: “When I heard this news, I was heartbroken. I’ve been his deskmate for three years, and I knew he had always had a crush on Rachel, but I never thought he would…” “Jack has a strong voyeuristic tendency. He often secretly follows female classmates at night.” “I’ve tried to advise him, but he wouldn’t listen. He wouldn’t even spare a young widow who had just lost her husband…” That livestream caused a huge uproar. I was nailed to the pillar of shame. The school also used this as an excuse to expel me. Years later, at a class reunion, Mike had already climbed to a high position. In his drunken state, he boasted proudly: “It’s a good thing you got into trouble, otherwise how would the spot for early admission to Harvard have fallen to me?” Recalling this, my gaze towards Mike suddenly turned a few degrees colder. In my previous life, I had gone to stop them. But the truth was that Mike had me go to intervene while he ran to call for help. In reality, he was hiding in the dark, secretly recording, quietly calling the police, watching me fall into an impossible situation… Seeing that I wasn’t in a hurry, Mike became anxious. “Rachel is in trouble… Tyler dragged her into the bathroom! Rachel kept struggling… she must have been forced.” “Not necessarily, right? Aren’t Rachel and Tyler mutually interested in each other? Maybe it’s just a couple’s game.” I said with a half-smile. Everyone knew that Rachel and Tyler were very close, just a thin layer of window paper away from making it official. Hearing this, Mike grabbed my wrist urgently: “No way, we’re just high school students, how can we do such things? Come on, let’s go check it out, we must stop them!” The calculation in Mike’s eyes was barely concealed. He couldn’t wait for me to rush over there right now. So that I would fall into an inescapable situation, allowing him to naturally snatch away the early admission spot. I nodded and followed Mike downstairs. On the way, I opened my phone and silently sent out a message I had prepared earlier. The recipients were several internet celebrities who happened to be livestreaming nearby. This time, I wanted to make a big scene out of this incident. Tyler was the principal’s only son, after all. I still couldn’t forget the look of disgust on the principal’s face when he expelled me in my previous life. I’m quite the helpful person, you see. I wanted to let the principal see his son’s “graceful demeanor” with his own eyes. As we got closer to the bathroom, the lewd sounds coming from inside became clearer. It was utterly filthy. “Rachel, do you like it?” Tyler’s voice, filled with heavy breathing, came through. “I like it.” Rachel’s voice sounded like she had little rationality left, answering purely based on desire. Mike’s eyes rolled, and he lowered his voice to say to me: “Jack, it sounds like Rachel isn’t fully conscious. You go in first to stop them, I’ll go find help.” I smiled inwardly. These words were exactly the same as in my previous life. I pretended to be troubled. “I don’t know… This is the girls’ bathroom. If I barge in and it turns out to be a misunderstanding…” “Are you kidding me!” Mike glared at me, his eyeballs almost popping out. He grabbed my shoulders and shook me hard, with a look of exasperation. “Can you stop being such a coward! If we wait any longer it’ll be too late. Do you want to watch Rachel get violated right before your eyes?” The bathroom door wasn’t fully closed. Through the gap, I could clearly see what was happening inside. Rachel’s clothes were torn and disheveled, most of them pushed up to her waist. She was clinging to Tyler like a boneless pile of mud. Tyler’s eyes were full of lust as he pressed her against the wall. Tyler was still putting on an act: “Are you sure you want to give it to me? Rachel, won’t you regret this?” “Give it to me, give it to me…” Rachel begged like the most wanton prostitute in the world. Tyler feigned reluctance, but his eyes were full of triumphant laughter. … I hesitantly agreed: “Alright then, you go quickly call a teacher, I’ll try to control the situation.” Just as I was about to push open the bathroom door, I turned back to remind him: “Make sure you hurry!” Mike nodded and ran off. After he left, I lowered my hand that was about to push the door. I knew Mike hadn’t run far. Sure enough, five minutes later, Mike’s sneaky figure appeared. He had circled back. I hid in the shadows and watched as he took out his phone and quietly slipped it into the door crack… The people inside were getting more and more unrestrained, completely oblivious to heaven and earth. After doing this, Mike left satisfied. Soon after, Mike led a large group of people rushing to the teaching building. The commotion inside hadn’t diminished at all. Mike covered his mouth, looking helpless and scared as he stopped the principal: “Principal, I… I really… I don’t know why they’re like this? But as the class monitor, I couldn’t just ignore it.” The principal was fuming, his nostrils flaring. He didn’t know the male lead inside was his own son; Mike had deliberately not made that clear. I knew that in Mike’s view, it would be best if both Tyler and I went down together, as we were both his potential competitors. On a normal day, if the principal encountered this kind of situation, he would have already sent security to drag the people out. But coincidentally, today the leaders from the Education Bureau were here for an inspection and hadn’t left yet. A group of leaders followed to “catch the adulterers in bed.” This scene couldn’t be more spectacular. The principal was so angry his chest was heaving violently. His promotion plans were likely going down the drain. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, wishing he could drag out the shameless couple inside and tear them to pieces. Just as he was about to step forward, Mike stopped him again with a troubled expression: “Don’t go, inside… inside is… that person he…” “I don’t care who it is, this matter isn’t over today!” the principal roared. Mike seemed to give up, with a look of disappointment. “It’s Jack Carter. I tried to stop him, but he wouldn’t listen.” The principal, of course, knew who I was. I always ranked first in every exam and was the most promising candidate for Harvard among the teachers. Hearing this, the principal’s eyes bulged instantly, spittle flying as he spoke. “This beast…” The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he quickly swallowed them back. The Education Bureau leaders were still beside him, so he couldn’t speak too harshly. The commotion inside was still ongoing, getting more and more intense. Mike covered his face and fake cried, looking pained: “Jack, how could you do such a thing! I understand you have a sex addiction, but you can’t…” With these words, the expressions of those around became even more unsightly. The leaders looked at each other, sighing deeply. At this moment, I walked out from behind the crowd, looking bewildered: “Me? What about me?” “Jack Carter, why are you here!” Mike jumped like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, his whole body tensing up. The principal looked at me thoughtfully. “It’s not you? Then who’s inside?” “I don’t know, I didn’t see,” I shrugged, looking innocent. Of course, I wouldn’t expose anything at this point. It was also at this time that the internet celebrities who had received my message sneaked in through the school fence. “Oh my, I thought it was fake, but I didn’t expect such a juicy scandal to really be happening at a school.” “You’re teachers, right? Won’t you let our livestream audience have a look?” “Come on, tell us teachers, how did the students make such a big commotion? Is there an aphrodisiac in the school’s tap water?” I chuckled to myself. There really was an aphrodisiac, wasn’t there? The principal’s face turned black as the bottom of a pot, turning away in anger. Mike stared at me intently. The next second, he rushed over and grabbed my arm, lowering his voice to question me. “Why didn’t you go in?” “Ah? I didn’t dare. It was too inappropriate in there. I’m a good student, you know.” Hearing this, Mike raised his fist, about to strike. But at that moment, the livestreamers’ cameras turned towards us. Mike had to forcefully retract his hand, his eyes full of venom. The streamers happily waved their equipment around, filming everywhere. The livestream comments were flying. [Bros, this is too exciting.] [Just from the sound, you can tell how shameless those dogs inside are.] [Streamer, hurry up and go in to film! We bros have our pants ready to drop.] The streamer seemed tempted but ultimately said reluctantly, “That wouldn’t be right. If I go in, my stream would be shut down immediately.” The Education Bureau leaders looked embarrassed at this scene. One of them cleared his throat and instructed the principal. “Davis, we can’t just keep standing here like this. Go in and take a look.” The principal nodded grimly, his face ashen, rolling up his sleeves to charge in. Just as he took a step, I rushed forward to stop him. “Principal, don’t go in. The students inside… their identities are special. If this blows up, it won’t be good for anyone.” My words were full of hidden meaning. The livestreamers caught on immediately. “Oh ho, could it be the child of some school leader? That’s some real power there.” Those leaders became even angrier, with one or two already storming off. The principal, provoked by me like this, couldn’t back down. He angrily pushed me aside, “Get out of the way. No matter who’s inside, I’m going to deal with this.” Mike seized the opportunity to chime in. “Jack, stop interfering. Don’t tell me you knew about this all along?” He was trying to drag me down with them. I didn’t rush to defend myself. “Class monitor, I just feel it’s a pity. We’re all classmates. If this gets out, their lives will be ruined…” The comments in the livestream started to change direction. [This student seems so kind-hearted.] [Hey, don’t stop him. Classmates like that don’t need anyone covering for them.] [Don’t you guys think that class monitor seems a bit off? Like he’s trying to stir things up?] The Education Bureau leaders exchanged glances, all sighing. In front of the cameras, forcibly barging in was indeed inappropriate. What if the people inside really thought about doing something stupid because the incident blew up? No one could bear that responsibility. Our group just stood there awkwardly, not too far from the bathroom. The sounds from inside still hadn’t stopped, intermittently coming through. The streamers tried to get closer to film but were stopped. This “catching in the act” scene lasted for nearly two hours. Until finally, the bathroom door creaked open. The first to walk out was a burly man dressed like a construction worker. Seeing so many people, the worker was stunned for a moment. Then he spat and said, “What are you looking at? Haven’t you seen someone use the bathroom before?” The principal and other leaders, seeing it was someone from outside the school, relaxed a bit. As long as it wasn’t students, the situation could still be salvaged. But the next second, someone exclaimed in shock: “Holy crap, there’s a huge bed inside!” Everyone rushed over. The scene in the camera lens left everyone dumbfounded. Tyler and Rachel were naked, entangled with each other, with suspicious liquids all over their bodies. Next to them stood several men who were putting on work clothes. I recognized a few of them as workers from the school’s construction site. “This woman looks innocent, but damn, she’s wild.” “That chick really knows how to please. She satisfied all of us.” The workers calmly put on their clothes and nonchalantly passed through the crowd, leaving with long strides. Rachel, however, seemed to have lost her mind, still mumbling: “More, I want more…” The drug’s effect was really much stronger than in my previous life. The streamers squeezed their heads in, clicking their tongues: “Now that’s some real action, a group activity.” Tyler was startled by the commotion. He hurriedly pushed Rachel away, covering his face while putting on his clothes. The principal’s face could no longer be described as just “ferocious.” His whole body was shaking as he pointed at the people on the ground, gasping for air, “You two beasts, you’re absolutely disgraceful!” The principal didn’t even consider that it might be his own son. Tyler was terrified, desperately trying to put on his clothes. Rachel was still in a daze, moving closer to Tyler, panting. “Tyler…” Tyler, as if disgusted by her, kicked Rachel away. The eyes that were usually full of doting were now filled with revulsion. I stood among the crowd, timely showing an expression of shock and heartache. The principal started cursing at them, his words becoming increasingly crude. Tyler curled up in a corner, tightly covering his face with his clothes. Rachel was still not in her right mind. Mike stood to the side, observing me with a complex expression. He couldn’t understand how things had turned out like this. The Education Bureau leaders’ faces were red, sighing and muttering a few words to the principal before leaving. As soon as they left, the principal completely lost control. He rushed forward and started kicking Rachel and Tyler violently. “You shameless dogs, I’ll beat you to death!” Tyler screamed and dodged. Afraid of being recognized, he didn’t even dare to make a sound. Rachel, still under the influence of the drug, lay on the ground moaning in pain.

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Before marrying Ethan Zhou, a friend asked him who was the woman he had loved most deeply in his life. He lit a cigarette and was silent for a few seconds before replying: “She’s married now. It wouldn’t be good for her if I said her name.” “So… you’ve been with Olivia for so long, but you’ve never had feelings for her?” Ethan gave a casual laugh: “She’s demure, obedient, and from a good family. She’s the most suitable person to be Mrs. Zhou.” The day before the wedding, the demure and obedient bride-to-be woke up in the best man’s bed. Her eyes still hazy with desire, she said: “Lucas, I really like this wedding gift.” Lucas smiled and pulled her into his arms: “If you like it so much, shall we… go another round?” As I entered the elevator, I glanced up at my reflection. My skin was radiant, my features delicate, but my eyes were dark and intense. At first glance, I had an unremarkable appearance. But when I smiled… Dimples would appear at the corners of my mouth, adding a touch of charm. I thought of what my best friend Katie had said: “You’re really glowing these days.” “Don’t you feel like you’re in great spirits lately, getting more and more beautiful?” I couldn’t help but gently touch my face. The wedding was just three weeks away. I was going to marry Ethan Zhou. That undisguised happiness was like bubbles overflowing from a soda bottle. Bursting in tiny explosions, filling my entire heart. I walked out of the elevator with a light step. The door to a private room nearby was half open. The sound of laughter grew louder. I had returned to the city a day early without telling Ethan. I wanted to surprise him. My heels sank into the soft carpet, Muffling my footsteps. No one in the room noticed me outside the door. They were laughing and chatting animatedly. “Oh yeah, Ethan, you still haven’t answered my question from earlier.” “In all these years, how many women have you truly, deeply loved?” “Remember, we agreed to tell the truth. You can’t lie even a little bit.”

I instinctively stopped in my tracks. Even my breathing unconsciously became quieter. Ethan had his back to the door. I could only vaguely see his profile. He lit a cigarette and was silent for a few seconds. Then he slowly spoke: “One.” “How deeply did you love her?” Ethan gave a soft laugh: “Back then I almost cut ties with my parents for her.” “I was even prepared to live a life of poverty with her.” “I lived with her in a tiny rented apartment for three months, eating instant noodles until I wanted to vomit.” “I sold my watch to buy her a birthday gift. She got angry and scolded me, then cried and threw herself at me to kiss me.” His voice got lower and lower: “I watched her lose our child at a small clinic.” “At that time, I really, really wanted to marry her.” “Damn, who was she? To make you love her that much?” But Ethan just shook his head: “She’s married now. It wouldn’t be good for her if I said her name.” After saying that, he picked up his glass and drained it in one gulp. Then he poured himself another full glass. “I saw her once last year. She wasn’t doing well.” “I gave her some money. We stayed in a hotel for three days.” “When we parted, she cried.” Ethan drank another glass of wine and said quietly: “At that time, I almost wanted to break off my engagement with Olivia.”

I leaned against the wall, feeling a chill seep into my body. Last year when he unexpectedly disappeared for three days, I remember it clearly. I was so worried, I barely slept for those three days. But while I was sick with concern for him… He was spending three days and nights in a hotel with his old flame. I nearly retched and vomited. “So… you’ve been with Olivia for so long, you really never had feelings for her?” He leaned back in his chair and gave a casual laugh. “She’s pretty, obedient, and from a good family. But she’s dull and uninteresting. She’s the most suitable person to be Mrs. Zhou.” “True, you really can’t find any faults with Olivia.” “It’s precisely because you can’t find any faults that she’s boring.” “If you dislike her so much, why don’t you just call off the engagement?” Someone suddenly spoke up, their tone mocking. “Lucas?” Ethan sounded a bit surprised. Lucas gave a cold laugh: “After all, it’s her family that’s marrying up to your Zhou family. What are you afraid of?” There was a moment of awkward silence. Someone quickly tried to smooth things over. “The wedding date is already set. There’s no point talking about this now.” “Besides, Olivia is a great girl. Ethan, that’s all in the past now.” “Come on, let’s drink and not bring up old stories.” Ethan frowned: “Did you eat gunpowder or something? Or is your dad pressuring you to get married and you’re taking it out on me?” Lucas put down his glass: “You think I buy into that marriage bullshit?” “Then where’s all this anger coming from?” “How about I find you a girl to help you blow off some steam?”

Lucas also smiled: “Sure, but you’ll have to find one I actually like.” “Tell me, what kind of girl do you want?” Lucas leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed and carefree. “Even if I told you, you wouldn’t be able to find her.” But Ethan seemed to get fired up: “I’ll definitely find her for you today, just tell me.” Lucas slowly raised his eyes to look at Ethan. Unlike Ethan’s refined handsomeness, Lucas exuded a raw, untamed masculinity that was even more intoxicating than the strongest liquor. “As it happens, she’s married too.” Ethan froze for a moment, then cursed under his breath: “You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?” Lucas didn’t say anything, just gave a self-deprecating laugh after a while: “Forget it, let’s drink.” He poured a full glass and downed it in one go. The conversation picked up again, the topic smoothly changed. In the end, I didn’t push open the door to go in. Confrontation, arguments, entanglements. None of it would make any difference. The men would think it was all just pre-wedding jitters, no big deal. The elders would think I was making a fuss over nothing, that nothing was more important than the two families joining in marriage. I stumbled along the carpet. Until I got into the elevator and leaned against the cold wall. But Ethan’s words still echoed in my ears. She’s pretty, obedient, dull, uninteresting. The most suitable person to be Mrs. Zhou. I suddenly laughed silently, looking at myself in the mirror again. My features were still delicate, but my eyes no longer sparkled. No matter how hard I tried, the dimples wouldn’t appear at the corners of my mouth again. This was the bland, plain Olivia Zhang. The demure, obedient Olivia Zhang with no personality or temper. The perfect marriage tool cultivated by the family. A tool whose joys and sorrows no one would care about.

At 5 pm, Ethan drove over to pick me up for dinner. My parents were all smiles, warm and happy. My sisters watched me come downstairs wearing new jewelry, excited and envious. Ethan had sent over this set of jewelry specially this morning. The wedding was in just three weeks. Everything was progressing smoothly according to plan. If I said I wanted to call off the wedding now, Both families would immediately brand me the villain. I looked at Ethan. He was still handsome and charming, elegant and unrivaled. His eyes were full of tenderness as he looked at me. My best friend once told me, “It’s good enough if men are willing to act.” “It’s best if they can keep up the act for a lifetime.” “Because in the end, all love and marriage turn out the same way.” “Olivia.” Ethan held out his hand to me. He was smiling, but deep in his eyes was coldness. “When I first saw this jewelry set, I knew it would suit you perfectly.” He took my hand, his eyes full of admiration. I let him hold me, saying a proper goodbye to my family. He gentlemanly helped me into the car. Then we went to that overpriced restaurant with mediocre food. But halfway through the meal, His phone suddenly vibrated. I watched him pick up his phone, his expression changing slightly. My heart knew exactly what was happening. Seeing through his pathetic act and my own pitiful situation.

I put down my fork and knife and asked softly, “Is something wrong?” “I’m sorry Olivia, it’s something at the company…” He trailed off, looking at me with a somewhat troubled expression. As if waiting for me to say what he wanted to hear. “Then you should go, the company matters are important.” He frowned and glanced at his watch, then said, “It’s not urgent, I should take you home first.” “It’s fine, you go ahead. I was planning to do some shopping with Katie anyway.” Ethan seemed to let out a small sigh of relief. “Alright then. Make sure to let me know when you get home.” As he said this, he stood up, but then leaned down to place a light kiss on my forehead: “I’ll spend the whole weekend with you to make up for it.” I didn’t go shopping. I just wandered aimlessly down the streets alone. As a child, I was the good girl. Growing up, I was the model of a refined young lady. I felt wrapped in layers and layers of thick cocoons. Suffocating, unable to break free no matter how I struggled. A string that had been tightly wound in my heart for over twenty years Was about to snap and choke me. Suddenly I remembered the message Katie had sent me on SnapChat a few days ago. Her young boyfriend had taken her racing on his motorcycle. She said: “Olivia, I’ve been married for three years, but this is the first time I’ve felt so free.” “If men can keep mistresses, why should we stay faithful to a rotten cucumber?” “Olivia, seize the day and live a little.”

I went to that racing club too. As the instructor was getting me ready, Someone suddenly called out my name. “Olivia Zhang?” I turned around in surprise and saw Lucas leaning against his motorcycle. He was taking off his helmet, running his hand through his hair. Revealing sharp, handsome features with an untamed wildness. I politely nodded, about to leave. But Lucas spoke again: “You want to learn?” I hesitated for a moment, then nodded, “Mm.” He glanced at the instructor: “I’ll teach her, you can go.” I was a bit surprised and looked at Lucas. He leaned against his bike, broad-shouldered and long-legged, his figure tall and powerful. That intense, overwhelming masculine energy hit me like a wave. I instinctively averted my gaze. But I couldn’t help biting my lip lightly. For some reason, my heart started racing. “Come on, I’ll take you for a couple laps first.” Lucas handed me a helmet. I was about to refuse. But when his large, strong hand reached out to me, I inexplicably took the helmet. After getting on, I kept the maximum distance from Lucas. He planted his long legs on the ground, fastening his helmet strap, And glanced at me in the rearview mirror: “Want to fly off when we start moving?” “Hold onto my waist.” I bit my lip again, reaching out to lightly grip his racing suit. Lucas laughed but didn’t say anything more. He took it easy for the first lap. On the second lap, he gradually picked up speed. As we went faster, I got scared and pressed myself against his back, tightly hugging his waist. The hard, hot muscles under my arms suddenly tensed. The wind howled past us. Lucas’ slightly hoarse voice was carried to my ears by the wind: “Olivia.” He coughed lightly: “You’re holding on a bit too tight.”

I suddenly realized what he meant. But I was too scared to let go because of the extreme speed. I could only try my best to hold back my chest, wanting to avoid that overly intimate contact. But Lucas suddenly slowed down, stopping at the end of the track. He took off his helmet and lifted me off the bike. It was my first time racing, and my legs felt like jelly when I got off. Lucas reached out and steadied me with his hands on my waist. “Olivia.” The lighting wasn’t very bright. But through the goggles, I could clearly see the smoldering fire in his eyes. It was a look I had never seen on Ethan’s face before. An intense, overwhelming desire to possess. I couldn’t help but take a step back. But the large hands on my waist suddenly tightened. I instinctively stepped forward, stumbling into Lucas’ arms. With a click, he unclasped my helmet. The helmet came off, and the wind instantly blew my hair into disarray. I reflexively tilted my face up, wanting to brush back my hair. But Lucas was faster. His slightly calloused fingers brushed away the messy strands at my temples. Before I could react and pull away, He lowered his head and kissed me directly. He kissed me decisively, forcefully. As if he wouldn’t give me any chance to resist or push him away. My lips parted, his tongue slipping inside. His kissing technique was a bit clumsy, making me hurt a little. I frowned, and his movements slowed down. His large, slightly rough hands cupped my face. His fingertips brushed over my cheeks and ears. Instantly igniting sparks of electricity. He lifted me up again, setting me on the motorcycle. His strong, muscular body pressed against me. Like a volcano about to erupt, suppressing everything. My heart was racing, but I also felt panicked and at a loss. When his kiss fell again, my tears slowly welled up. “Olivia.” Lucas kissed the tears on my face. But his voice was unprecedentedly gentle: “Are you unhappy today?” I held back my tears, turning my face away. But his hand followed, cupping my face and refusing to let go. My eyelashes trembled, tears sliding into his palm. But I stubbornly refused to admit it. “I’m just hungry.” “I had a really bad dinner tonight, didn’t eat enough, feeling awful.” He froze, then looked at me with a smile. He lowered his head again, kissing away the tears on my eyelashes: “Let’s go, I’ll take you to get something good to eat.” “Are we going on this?” “It’s chilly at night, I’ll drive.” Very naturally, he took my hand. I struggled a bit, but couldn’t pull away. So he held on even tighter. Just as we got in the car, Lucas’ phone rang. He glanced at the screen, then at me, and answered. “Ethan, what’s up?”

“Calling you out for drinks.” Ethan’s voice sounded a bit down. Lucas smirked, his voice unable to hide his joy. “I’ve got plans tonight, ask the others.” “What plans could you possibly have? Come on, hurry up.” “Really can’t, I’ve got something.” Lucas said, casually turning on some music. Then he turned to ask me: “What kind of music do you want to listen to?” Before I could speak, Ethan exploded on the other end. “Lucas, who are you talking to?” “Don’t tell me you’ve got a girl with you?” Lucas didn’t confirm or deny it. Ethan was clearly intrigued: “No way, didn’t you say the girl you liked got married?” “You didn’t actually take out someone else’s wife, did you?” Lucas raised an eyebrow and gave a light “Mm.” “Holy shit.” Ethan’s voice went up an octave: “Don’t tell me you’re actually being the other man.” Lucas glanced at me, “If it’s her, I don’t mind being the other man.” “Wait, are you serious? You’re actually on a date with someone’s wife?” “Which poor bastard is getting cuckolded by you!” Lucas chose an upbeat song, then asked lazily: “You really want to know that badly?” “Of course, spill it! What kind of goddess could make the great Lucas Lu willing to be the other man?”

“Can’t say.” Lucas leaned back in his seat, a roguish smile on his lips: “She’s married, it wouldn’t be good for her if I said her name.” Ethan was silent for a moment. When he spoke again, he still sounded half skeptical: “Seriously, are you just messing with me, or is this for real?” “I’ve known you for so long, how come I never heard a peep about this?” “You kept your secrets just as well.” Lucas laughed coldly: “Besides, is it something to be proud of?” “That’s true.” Ethan sounded a bit sheepish. “I’m hanging up, we’ll catch up another time.” “Alright, don’t let me interrupt your romantic night.” After hanging up, he started the car and asked me: “What do you want to eat?” I looked out at the night through the car window, my mind still in a jumble. I had overheard most of their conversation just now. But I didn’t really believe it. Lucas came from a good family and had a proud personality. He was uniquely arrogant and unrestrained in the city. His grandfather had beaten him with a cane more than a few times. If he really liked someone, he wouldn’t just watch her get married. I couldn’t figure out why he would make up such a lie. But, it had nothing to do with me anyway. Between us, this was probably our only brief encounter. “Let’s go to the area near C University. There’s a food street there I loved when I was in school.” “Alright.” As he stepped on the gas, Lucas glanced at me again: “Fasten your seatbelt.” I hurriedly looked down to check. My loose hair fell forward, swaying gently and landing on his arm. I reached up to brush my hair back. But suddenly I noticed a white camellia hair tie in the center console storage. It looked very familiar. Because I had a pair of hair ties just like that. I had lost one of them later. But these hair ties weren’t anything special. They had been trendy online for a while last year. So it was probably just left behind by one of Lucas’ female companions. I slowly straightened up, calmly looking ahead. But I couldn’t help raising my hand to brush my slightly swollen lips with the back of my hand. But his kissing earlier had been so clumsy. I don’t know why such strange thoughts popped into my head. I couldn’t help but shake my head in self-mockery. What did it have to do with me anyway? Tonight was just an indulgent dream I had. “Olivia.” “Hm?” “Don’t you have any questions you want to ask me?”

Lucas glanced at me. Then looked back at the road ahead. My gaze fell on his large hands gripping the steering wheel. His hands were very attractive, with defined knuckles, rough and powerful. Not like the pampered hands of a rich young master at all. I have a bit of a hand fetish. Thinking of how he had held my waist and kissed me earlier, I couldn’t help but wonder if his two hands together could completely encircle my waist. “Don’t you want to ask who that person I mentioned is?” I reflexively asked: “Who is it?” Lucas just smiled: “What do you think?” I sat there stunned for a good while, suddenly hearing a buzzing in my ears. Even the upbeat music faded away. The red light came on, a long 78 seconds. The car stopped. Lucas reached out and gently held my hand. “Olivia, I was originally planning to take this secret to my grave.” “If I hadn’t seen you here tonight.” “Why?” Lucas didn’t answer, just held my hand very tightly. “Why were you unhappy today?” “How do you know I was unhappy?” “You’re not like this when you’re happy.” He turned to look at me: “Olivia, when you came in earlier, you looked like a wandering soul.” “Like a porcelain vase about to fall off a shelf.” “If I hadn’t called out to you, you would have fallen and shattered.” I suddenly felt a lump in my throat, tears rolling down uncontrollably. He let go of my hand and turned my face towards him, wanting to kiss away my tears. But the traffic light turned green, and the cars behind us started honking furiously. An annoyed expression flashed across his face. I couldn’t help but laugh: “You should drive.” But Lucas still found a place to pull over and stop. He unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned over to cup my face. “Olivia… don’t cry in front of me.” “I’m not allowed to cry either?” Lucas slowly lowered his head, kissing my wet face. “I can’t stand it.” “Olivia, I can’t stand seeing you cry.” His kisses moved lower, landing on my swollen lips: “I won’t hurt you this time.” “You’ve never kissed before, Lucas?” He didn’t answer, just suddenly deepened the kiss.

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The homeless man I’d accidentally helped turned out to be the CEO’s long-lost son. After he returned to his family and took over the business, he wanted to appoint me as the General Manager of a new company under their conglomerate. When the appointment letter arrived, my father took my sister to a plastic surgery clinic and had her face molded into mine, intending for her to take my place. Tiffany, my sister, was mediocre at best and always hung out with a rough crowd. “Your sister has a low education, and her reputation is in tatters,” my father said. “If she doesn’t seize this chance to turn her life around, she’ll never marry well.” “You’re educated and capable. Even without this position, you can still make a name for yourself based on your own merit.” I said nothing. My father called in my fiancé, Brandon Pierce. Brandon’s smile was gentle. “Perhaps a different path would be more suitable. You should just listen to your uncle, Seraphina.” “You’re too stubborn, you don’t know how to adapt. If you really became General Manager, you’d regret it.” I nodded and agreed, “Sounds good.”

My agreement was so quick that my father’s carefully prepared words got stuck in his throat, almost choking him. His face lit up with delight as he immediately told the nanny to pull off my designer bracelet and replace it with a wrinkled old hoodie. I stood still, letting them do as they pleased. “Don’t blame your dad for being heartless.” My father let out a long breath. “Your sister got into trouble with that gang of troublemakers a while back. She broke the leg of the son of the CEO’s rival.” “After your surgery, you’ll go to the police station and turn yourself in. It’ll save the police from coming here to find you.” My heart felt like it was being impaled by an ice pick. I clenched my fists, biting back tears, my voice hoarse: “Dad, am I really your biological daughter?” My father flinched. “What foolishness are you talking about, child?” “Of course you’re my daughter, but your sister grew up without a mother’s guidance. She’s a bit wild, and she’s already pitiful enough.” Brandon walked over too, reaching out to guide me to the basement for the plastic surgeon to start. “It’s hard to get bail from the police station, but I’ll visit you often.” “Once your sister establishes herself with the CEO, she’ll find a way to get you out and be her assistant.” “Even with a criminal record, I’ll still marry you. Your sister will take care of you, and things will get better.” A shot of anesthetic went in, and my vision blurred. When I woke up, the mirror showed a face wrapped in bandages. Brandon shouted to someone outside, “This is the one who assaulted him. Send her to the police station immediately!” He leaned in and whispered, “Act convincingly. Don’t let anyone see through it.” Two bodyguards came to drag me out. I took a deep breath and yelled: “I’ll walk myself!” My father and Brandon exchanged a knowing look, a hint of complicity on their faces. They let go of me. My father, with feigned concern, touched my still swollen and painful face. “Good girl, I’ve wronged you.” Brandon pulled a small bag from his pocket. Inside were a few small bills, some antiseptic wipes, a trashy magazine… All essentials for the detention center. He pressed the bag into my hand. “I specifically went and asked around near the detention center for these. They’re all for you.” I fought back tears, walking towards the door without a word. “My sweet girl!” A frantic voice called from behind me. Grandma Grace ran over, breathless, and grabbed my arm. “My sweet girl, I heard the CEO wants you to be the General Manager of the new company?” “That’s wonderful! Our family will finally be able to hold our heads high!” She took off her gold bracelet and put it on my wrist. “You’ve suffered so much these past years. Good times are finally coming.” I couldn’t hold back anymore. Tears streamed down, splashing onto Grandma’s hand. Grandma panicked, quickly letting go of me. “What’s wrong?” My father’s eyes darted away. Brandon kept checking his watch, glancing frequently towards the door. He urged, “Don’t waste time. If we don’t go now, the police will get suspicious.” Grandma looked bewildered. “What police?” My father remained silent, only waving his hand for the bodyguards to take me out.

Grandma’s confusion deepened, and she held onto me tightly, refusing to let go. “You wouldn’t dare! My granddaughter is the CEO’s chosen General Manager!” Just then, the butler rushed in. “The police are here.” Grandma gasped. “What do the police want?” Brandon grew impatient. He forcibly pried Grandma’s fingers from my arm. “She’s the one who caused trouble now.” “The real Seraphina and her sister switched faces. Ugh, it’s complicated. Just get her out of here!” Grandma shrieked, clutching me tight, refusing to release me. She looked at my father, then at my bandaged face, and understood everything. She screamed hysterically: “Arthur Hayes, you heartless monster! Not only do you not care for your daughter, but you want your own flesh and blood to go to jail! I’d rather kill myself right here than let you commit such a heinous act!” Then, she grabbed me again, sobbing uncontrollably: “My good granddaughter, Grandma is useless. I let you suffer so much, but this opportunity you finally got, why should you give it to that walking disaster?” “Did you forget what you promised Grandma?” I was crying so hard I could barely breathe. Yet, I hardened my heart and pulled my hand away, forcing a smile. “Grandma, there are things in this world more important than positions of power or a clean record.” “I’ve made my decision. I won’t regret it.” With that, I cruelly pushed Grandma away and strode out. Grandma tried to follow, but the house staff held her back. She suddenly shrieked, “Granddaughter, if you dare to step out of this house, I will die right here in front of you!” Seeing her in such agony, my heart twisted in agony. I suppressed the bitter pain in my heart, walking forward without looking back. “If you die, you’ll no longer be Grandma Hayes.” Grandma cried even harder. “I used to endure everything, afraid your grandfather would get angry, all for your safe upbringing. But now you’re going to jail for someone else, what more do I have to fear!” I nodded. “Now that I’m going to jail, you don’t have to put up with it anymore. Move to the old house.” “Cut ties with the Hayes family.” Grandma collapsed onto the floor in despair. “My sweet girl, what foolishness have you gotten into?” My father rushed over, threw a statement of disownment at Grandma, and hastily told the bodyguards to push me out. I bit my lip, forcing myself not to look back, Grandma’s cries still echoing in my ears. I kept reassuring myself that at least Grandma had cut ties with the Hayes family. She wouldn’t have to suffer any more grievances. Brandon Pierce, afraid I might try something, drove his car behind the police escort heading to the detention center. He slipped the guard a thick envelope, buying himself a few minutes to speak with me alone. I sat in the chair, looking at him coldly. “What else do you have to say?” Brandon checked his phone. “She should be here soon.” I asked, bewildered, “Who’s coming?” Just as I spoke, a person wearing a hat and a mask rushed in. It was Tiffany. Her eyes were red. As soon as she entered, she grabbed my hand. “Seraphina, you’re willing to take the fall for me. I’ll never be able to repay this kindness in my life. I promise to make it up to you.” Brandon “caringly” helped her up. “Ugh, you just had your stitches removed. Why did you rush over?” My already numb heart was pierced with sharp pain again. “It’s all your fault, you hit him so hard.” Tiffany leaned weakly into Brandon’s arms, looking frail. Brandon stroked her back, his eyes still holding a hint of lingering intimacy, but he turned to me and explained: “Don’t get the wrong idea. She has to pretend to be you now, which means she needs to be close to me. But you’re the one I truly care about.” I forced a faint smile. “You two are certainly close.”

I pushed myself up from the table, opened the door, and called for the guards to “escort” the two of them out. As soon as they left, I was dragged by a corrections officer into solitary confinement. They said they wanted to show me what happened to disobedient inmates. My ears filled with cries, and the figures of those being punished blurred, overlapping with Grandma Grace’s image. My mother died in childbirth after having Tiffany. I was raised by Grandma Grace from a young age. In the Hayes family, Grandma was always treated coldly by my grandfather. I remembered what Grandma Grace used to tell me when she secretly wiped away tears. She said not to be like her, enduring everything in silence. No one could be a lifelong pillar of support in this world; to stand firm, you ultimately had to rely on yourself. So I worked incredibly hard, studying finance, earning certifications, practicing negotiations, sharpening my skills. I wanted to carve out my own path, so Grandma could live with her head held high. But in the end, all of it turned into a mirage. I was pushed into a detention center to take the fall for someone else. My father’s favoritism, Brandon Pierce’s schemes—they sliced at my heart like blunt knives. I wanted to cry my eyes out. But I knew crying wouldn’t solve anything. “Grandma, wait for me,” I whispered. The next day, I obediently changed into a prisoner’s uniform and joined the other inmates in the detention center’s labor. The TV happened to be showing Brandon Pierce and Tiffany’s engagement party. My cellmates craned their necks, whispering: “Did you hear? The CEO of Pierce Corporation’s son is marrying the CEO’s newly recognized adopted daughter, the one who’s supposed to be General Manager?” “Yeah, apparently the CEO was lost and alone, and she kindly took him in, even giving him medical and travel expenses, which helped him reclaim his identity.” “What good fortune…”

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My wife, Tori, locked our son in her car in scorching heat while she was busy helping her male assistant pick out a new car. Leo ended up suffering a severe heatstroke. I rushed with my security detail to rescue our son and got him to the hospital, where he was immediately admitted to the emergency room. Barely holding back my rage, I called Tori. “You left our son locked in your car for two hours just for an assistant? He’s in the ER right now, fighting heatstroke!” To my disbelief, Tori actually laughed. “Oh, my bad. I just didn’t realize a kid would get heatstroke after two hours in a car.” Moments later, that male assistant, Lucas Miller, sent a provocative photo dump, flaunting his new car. His caption was pure smugness: *“My powerful boss’s generous favors… even if it means neglecting her own kid, I still get the best.”* My blood ran cold. I immediately sent my men to grab that bastard. We dragged him straight to the biggest, hottest room in the company’s old boiler house. He was about to get a taste of exactly what my son went through.

My bodyguards and I kicked open the door to Tori Hayes’ office. Lucas Miller was on his knees by her feet, his clothes a mess. The scene reeked of something intimate, but I ignored it. I roared, “Tie him up!” My bodyguards immediately gagged Lucas and dragged him out. Behind me, Tori’s piercing shriek followed, “Alex Thorne! Where are you taking Lucas?!” In the center of the old boiler room, the massive heating unit was already roaring, churning out waves of scorching heat. The temperature was horrifying. I pointed at the monstrous heater. “Throw him in!” My bodyguards ignored Lucas’s desperate struggles, shoved him into the chamber, and quickly retreated. Even they couldn’t stand the blistering heat and steam. I watched coldly as the chamber shook violently, Lucas trapped inside, his struggles futile. Tori rushed in on her heels, screaming into her phone. “Alex Thorne! Let Lucas go, or I’m calling the police!” “All the evidence is here! Don’t you dare forget this is a society of laws!” I grabbed her chin and slapped her hard. “Our son is still in critical care because of him! Now, it’s his turn to feel his body temperature spike, to slowly get cooked alive by the despair!” Tori froze, then lunged at me like a madwoman. “So what if our son got a little heatstroke? A bit of heat is good for building immunity!” “And didn’t you say boys should be raised tough?!” I stared into her shifting eyes. “I’m going to be with our son now. Lucas *will* stay in that room for two hours! If you dare release him, I’ll pull all my investments and bankrupt Hayes Industries immediately!” I shoved her away and drove to the hospital. My car had barely stopped when my assistant called. The moment I left, Tori had ordered the heat to be turned off. Lucas, red all over from the heat, was sent to the hospital. And she even put it on the company’s tab. I scoffed and texted Arthur, my executive assistant, to withdraw all my funds from Hayes Industries. Less than half an hour later, Tori was calling me like a madwoman.

The moment I answered, Tori’s accusations came flying at me like a barrage. “Alex Thorne! What the hell is wrong with you? Unfreeze my accounts right now! Don’t you know Lucas is waiting for surgery?!” I sneered, “Lucas? You call him so intimately. Did you forget you have a husband and a child?” “Our son ended up in the emergency room because of him, so he won’t get off easy either!” “As for you, for now, it’s just a withdrawal of funds. But I’m certainly not opposed to bankrupting Hayes Industries entirely!” Tori’s aggression instantly vanished. She stammered, asking to visit. Soon after, Tori appeared in front of the emergency room. Her eyes welled up with tears. “Honey, I really had no idea two hours in the car would send our son to the ER.” “He’s my flesh and blood; how could I not feel heartbroken?” She took my hand. “After all these years of marriage, don’t you trust me?” For Leo’s sake, I decided to give her one more chance. Seeing my expression soften, Tori quickly spoke. “Lucas is seriously injured. You froze Hayes Industries’ accounts. Without funds, you’re practically forcing him to die.” “Just give me the money first, so I can pay for his surgery.” I laughed in disbelief. “So you came here just for him! You want me to save him? Dream on?!” Tori’s face shifted drastically. She forced a smile and pouted, “We’re family, and you have so much money. What’s wrong with helping him out a little?” I stated firmly, “I won’t!” Her face completely darkened. She yanked her hand away and pointed a finger at me. “How can you be so cruel? You have so much money; what’s wrong with taking out a little?! “You’re going to let someone die right in front of your son’s surgery room. Aren’t you afraid your son will face retribution and die on the operating table?” She stormed off in a huff. Soon, Arthur reported that Tori had mortgaged some fixed assets under Hayes Industries. At my direction, she only managed to get out a couple hundred thousand dollars in cash. She hesitated for only a moment before transferring the entire sum to Lucas’s account. My heart turned to ice. “Prepare the divorce papers. Send all of Lucas’s dirt to Tori’s email. If she doesn’t act by noon tomorrow, she’ll leave with nothing!” Arthur nodded. The next afternoon, news of Lucas’s plagiarism and fake graduation experiments became a top trending topic. His university immediately announced the revocation of his diploma and degree. Lucas Miller, once an academic elite, instantly became public enemy number one. A photo of Lucas, hunched over and spitting blood in the hospital parking lot, landed in my inbox. My eyes were cold. Filth! After my son recovered, I arranged for him to go on vacation with a professional psychological support team to his grandparents overseas. My parents were furious when they learned what their precious grandson had endured; they almost had heart attacks. Years ago, Hayes Industries was on the brink of bankruptcy, and Tori’s father committed suicide. Tori and her mother were like headless chickens, trying to manage everything. I, out of old school ties, lent her a hand. She clung to me like a drowning person to a last straw, crying and begging to marry me. My parents disagreed, but I overruled their objections, using every means possible to marry her. I used my family’s resources to revive Hayes Industries, even helping them achieve their dream of going public. But now, for her lover, she abandoned her ailing mother, harmed her own son, and forgot the Thorne family’s kindness. I couldn’t show a shred of weakness to such an ungrateful woman!

My company assistant called me: “Mr. Thorne, it’s bad! Mrs. Hayes found out Arthur was behind exposing Lucas’s academic fraud. She’s gone mad, she’s got a knife and is threatening to dismember Arthur!” “Arthur can’t lay a hand on Mrs. Hayes, he can only run!” My face instantly darkened. Arthur had been with me every step of the way, shielding me from countless open and hidden attacks. How dare she touch him? “Withdraw all investments from Hayes Industries immediately. I want to see news of Hayes Industries’ bankruptcy within five minutes!” By the time I floored the gas pedal and arrived. The office building was in chaos. Tori, like a madwoman, held a fruit knife, glaring at me and screaming. “Alex Thorne, Lucas is still locked in that hot room, covered in burns! Why won’t you let him go?!” “I married you, I didn’t sell myself to you!” “If you won’t let me have peace, I’ll make you taste what it’s like to lose your most trusted confidant!” With that, she aimed the knife at Arthur’s wrist and lunged. I grabbed her hair, pulled her back, and kicked the knife out of her hand. I said coldly, “Are you done making a scene?” The door suddenly opened, and Lucas, looking weak, stumbled in. He tenderly rubbed Tori’s wrist. “Ms. Hayes, it’s not worth it for me!” He turned to me and immediately knelt. “Mr. Thorne, Tori and I have a purely professional relationship. If you want to blame someone, blame me. I was the shameless one who seduced her.” “As long as you forgive Tori, I’ll leave immediately and never appear before you or her again.” He spoke with such apparent sincerity. I nodded. “You *are* shameless!” But Tori instantly went berserk, pointing at me and cursing, “Alex Thorne! Enough is enough! You’ve already made Lucas spit blood, and now you want to ruin his education and career?!” “Catching cheaters requires proof! Where’s your evidence? How dare you bully a newcomer to the workplace?!” “Your dog bites its mistress, and you still protect it! Lucas is *my* man! Touch him again, and I’ll make your life hell!” I sneered and slapped her again. “You’re so busy scolding him, you forgot about yourself. He’s shameless, are you trying to be too?” Tori choked. The next second, her phone rang like a death knell. “It’s bad, Ms. Hayes! Several clients suddenly backed out and canceled their collaborations.” Then a photo appeared on her phone: Hayes Industries’ stock, which had been soaring that morning, suddenly plummeted in the afternoon, hitting rock bottom. The green screen reflected on Tori’s distorted face. Tori thought she had Hayes Industries completely under control these past few years, but she didn’t know that I had been secretly protecting it all along. “I advise you to think things through carefully.” I left her with that warning and walked out with Arthur.

After I pulled my shares, I also withdrew the technical support and sales teams. Seeing this, other shareholders quickly followed suit, pulling their investments. Hayes Industries’ stock instantly crashed. The shadow of bankruptcy loomed, and the Hayes Industries office building became eerily silent. Tori stood where her father had jumped years ago, her expression one of utter despair. I was waiting for the show to begin when I suddenly received a call from Leo’s caregiver. “Mr. Thorne, it’s bad! Mrs. Hayes forced her way into the hospital and took the young master!” Enraged, I dialed Tori’s number. “Where’s my son?!” Tori’s laughter was maniacal. “He’s on the Ferris wheel.” “As long as you stabilize the stock price and reinvest, he’ll come home safe. Otherwise…” Her voice was laced with poison. “If the Ferris wheel has an accident and the child falls to his death, it’s only right that I, a heartbroken mother, sue for compensation!” I roared, “You’re crazy! If anything happens to Leo, I’ll make you and your mother wish you were dead!” Tori shrieked, “Threats are useless! Alex Thorne! I married you and had a child only to save Hayes Industries! Now you want to destroy it over a small matter, so I’ll destroy what you care about most!” With that, Tori hung up. My mind went blank for a moment. I sped towards the amusement park like a madman. Finally, when I reached the base of the Ferris wheel, my blood ran cold. The Ferris wheel’s window had been pried open, and Tori was holding our son, suspended high in the air with one hand. Half of Leo’s body dangled outside, his face pale. Tori called me. “I know you’re watching. Transfer two billion to Hayes Industries’ account immediately, then bring the tech team back, or I’ll push him out!” “Fine! I’ll transfer it now!” My hands trembled as I made the transfer, my eyes fixed on the dizzying height. The moment the money hit her account, Tori’s lips curled into a smirk, and then she abruptly let go. Leo still had a smile on his face as he plummeted towards the ground. My eyes widened in terror. I instinctively lunged forward. “No—!” My son was left dangling in mid-air, swaying back and forth, a thin rope suspending my last breath. The next second, she placed a knife against the rope. “If you kneel and beg me, I’ll pull our son back up. Otherwise…” Leo was turning blue from the rope constricting him, crying out “Daddy” repeatedly. I knelt on the ground without hesitation. Tori held up her phone, laughing maniacally. “Thanks to Lucas’s idea, I get to see the high and mighty Mr. Thorne looking as pathetic as a dog!” “Weren’t you so tough with me yesterday? How come you’re on your knees now?” Tori laughed as she pulled the rope up. The moment she descended from the Ferris wheel, the people I had arranged for rushed out of the shadows and immediately pinned her to the ground. I tenderly held my son in my arms, my gaze sharp as I looked at the wildly struggling Tori. I had originally shown her mercy, not wanting to destroy everything she had, considering she bore me a child. But she actually dangled our son from a Ferris wheel for an assistant. In that case, she shouldn’t blame me for destroying everything she holds dear! I had arranged everything the moment I received that call. Coming alone was merely to buy Arthur more time.

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On the day of my wedding to Dominic Thorne, he called the police and personally sent me to prison. Three years later, he personally came to pick me up. He stood before me, his voice coiling around my ears like a malevolent ghost: “Anya Vance, how was your time inside?” My whole body trembled, and I didn’t dare look up. Until he slowly crept closer, his body brushing mine like a phantom: “Don’t rush. It’s not over yet!” Later, I endured his endless torment until I was diagnosed with a terminal illness, collapsing in a pool of blood, taking my last breath. But Dominic, the man who had sought to destroy me, clung to me like a madman, sobbing, “Anya, I was wrong. Can you please look at me again?” The day I was released, a heavy snow fell across the city. The moment the iron gate creaked open, a bone-chilling wind howled, and I wrapped my arms tightly around myself, the warmth quickly stolen from my body. I stumbled out, my steps unsteady, the surroundings utterly silent, save for the soft whisper of falling snowflakes. Standing by the gate, all I saw was a blanket of pristine white. Behind me, the prison guard’s voice faded in and out, barely audible, only Dominic Thorne’s name reaching my ears in a blur. Dominic Thorne… Dominic Thorne… I mumbled his name under my breath, my steps faltering as I instinctively veered to the right. And then, I unexpectedly collided with a cold, hard chest. A dull ache flared on my forehead. I tapped it, then looked up, instantly meeting a familiar face. It was too clear, and my mind went blank for a second. I rubbed my eyes, but he was still there. The guard’s words, spoken just moments ago, suddenly pieced together in my mind. “Anya Vance, just stay by the gate and don’t leave. Mr. Dominic Thorne will come to pick you up.” Dominic Thorne. It was him! The man who had personally sent me to prison three years ago now stood before me again. My body trembled. I dared not make another move. I was terrified he would kick me to the ground like he did three years ago, then drag me straight back to hell. The prison was behind me. I couldn’t go back inside. Dominic seemed satisfied with my terrified reaction. I stood in the snow, dressed in a thin jacket, frozen stiff. Dominic had been staring at me for so long that my limbs were numb and my entire body was shaking. But I still didn’t dare move. After a long silence, Dominic seemed to lose his patience and finally spoke. “Anya Vance, how was your time inside?” He stood before me, his voice, like a malevolent spirit, coiled around my ears. My whole body trembled, and I didn’t dare look up. For three years, that voice had haunted my nightmares every single day, impossible to shake off. I tried my best to curl myself up, to minimize my presence in front of Dominic, hoping he would lose interest and just let me go. Until he slowly crept closer, his body brushing mine like a phantom: “Don’t rush. It’s not over yet!” That single, airy sentence almost made me collapse onto the ground.

Like a puppet, I was lifted by Dominic into the car and taken back to his mansion. I had thought about hiding, about escaping, but looking into Dominic’s terrifying eyes, and remembering my three years inside, I knew that no matter how deep I hid or how far I ran, I probably couldn’t escape his grasp. Besides, I still had my family. Dominic was ruthless. If I truly escaped, my family would suffer the consequences. Numbly, I followed Dominic into the Thorne residence. It was a place I once knew so intimately, but now it made me flinch and hang back. All the maids and housekeepers at the Thorne residence were new faces. Of course. After what happened three years ago, they had stood by me and spoken up for me. Dominic, incandescent with rage, had fired them all long ago. Clutching the corner of my jacket, I cowered by the entrance, like a starving beggar. Dominic paused while changing his shoes, scrutinizing me with a peculiar gaze. As if remembering something, he suddenly pulled me close. “Anya Vance, get my shoes.” I recalled saying those very words to him once. But back then, our relationship was good. Mostly, I’d tease, and he’d just smile. I didn’t dare disobey. I bent down, half-kneeling on the floor, took out his slippers, and put them on him. Dominic scoffed softly, then paid me no mind, going straight to the living room sofa. I hesitated for a few seconds, then changed into the housekeeper’s slippers and followed him in. An older maid came forward to ask him how he wanted me arranged. Dominic shot a disdainful glance my way. “Whatever.” It was like casually discarding a trifle he didn’t care about. I clenched my fists, but still gathered my courage, stuttering, “Mr. Dominic… when can I leave here?” As if he’d heard a joke, Dominic suddenly stood up, looking down on me. “You want to leave?” “I told you, don’t rush!” “Anya Vance, you don’t actually think I’m joking, do you?” I looked up, meeting his cold eyes. For a moment, I suddenly wanted to explain what happened three years ago all over again. The words I was about to say were abruptly cut off by a sweet, gentle female voice. “Dominic, you’re back.”

That voice was too familiar. I said nothing more, looking up towards the stairs. Willow Shaw now looked radiant with happiness, a stark contrast to the timid girl she used to be. I watched her, carefully holding the banister as she stepped slowly, one step at a time, towards Dominic. As if she were the lady of the house, she feigned surprise: “Dominic, who is this?” Though her tone was soft, her eyes stared at me like a venomous snake. A wave of terror washed over me, and I stood frozen to the spot, chilled to the bone. After Dominic sent me to prison three years ago, she would come to visit me. Each time she left, I would face even harsher retaliation. I was kicked so hard that three of my ribs broke. As I lay on the ground, bloody and barely clinging to life, the triumphant voices of those thugs echoed in my ears: “You deserve to die, you bitch! How dare you steal from others?!” “Pah! Look at yourself, you trash!” Later, Dominic had those people send another message. “Stay there and reflect. Don’t make it easy for her.” Those painful memories felt like yesterday; the scabs on my body throbbed faintly. I tugged hard at my sleeve, and cold sweat beaded on my forehead. Dominic’s gaze was entirely on Willow, his voice gentle and considerate as he asked, “Why are you down here? Shouldn’t you rest a bit longer?” They were too intimate in front of me. I had expected to care, to feel pain, but after three years, I no longer craved Dominic’s attention. I cowered to the side, my mind a blur. The maid came over to ask Dominic about me. She glanced at Dominic and Willow, then cautiously asked, “Mr. Thorne, everything is ready. This young lady…” My face was ghostly pale. I almost collapsed, but the maid beside me steadied me. Dominic’s face instantly darkened, his tone angry: “Take her. No special treatment!” Dominic emphasized those last few words heavily. I forced myself to stay upright, circled around him, and followed the maid out. Willow seemed to be waiting deliberately, staring at me with a hateful gaze. “Anya Vance, how dare you show your face here!” I never understood why she harbored such intense animosity towards me. Our relationship hadn’t been that bad before. Until she approached me in the darkness and threatened: “You’d better behave yourself and not get any ideas. Otherwise, I don’t know what worse things Dominic will do to you because of our child!”

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