Category: English

My girlfriend became an A-list actress. The very first night she hit the big time, she stabbed me seventeen times. I bled out and died. But after killing me, she took her own life. In her hand, as she died, was a voice recorder. Engraved on it: “To Liam.” Inside, it was filled with a raw, agonizing mix of adoration and longing. Liam was her idealized crush, the one she’d yearned for three years. He’d died in a car accident before she ever got the chance to confess her feelings. On the recording, she sobbed, her voice tearing through her, “It’s all because of you! You made me lose my love!” When I opened my eyes again, I watched her run toward the surging traffic. I didn’t stop her. Instead, I poured every ounce of my being into saving *her* love. Seeing her hold him close, like she’d found the most precious treasure, I let out a bitter, mocking smile. This time, Chloe, I set you free. Just don’t come crawling back. “Alex, thank you for supporting me all these years. I’m truly grateful.” The woman before me smiled, radiant as a blooming flower. But my legs gave out beneath me, and I could only cling to the tablecloth as I crashed heavily to the floor. Plates and bowls clattered and shattered around me. I watched, my stunned gaze fixed on the beautiful woman as she slowly, deliberately pulled a sharp knife from within her clothes. A chilling glint of satisfaction danced in her eyes as she approached. In my dazed state, she plunged the blade deep into my flesh. A scream tore at my throat, but no sound escaped. The pain was excruciating. I wanted to demand, *Why?* Her heavily made-up face twisted into a grotesque mask. “It’s all your fault Liam died! Why wasn’t it *you* who died instead?!” “This is what you owe Liam! You deserve to die! Because of you, I never even got the chance to confess to him!” It hurt. So much. But I couldn’t open my mouth. I could only helplessly widen my eyes, watching her plunge the knife into me again and again. I guess I died. Killed by a woman, by the girlfriend I’d pampered for seven years. What a pathetic way to go. After I died, my soul floated above, watching Chloe frantically stab my corpse. My body was riddled with holes, blood pouring out relentlessly, making the scene a horrific, foul-smelling mess. She seemed to finally believe I was dead. Her hands trembling, she pulled out an old high school uniform and crammed herself into it. The clothes were ridiculously ill-fitting, and with her heavy makeup, she looked like a grotesque clown. My eyes widened in disbelief. The next second, the sharp blade pierced her own heart. A faint smile on her face, Chloe slowly collapsed to the ground, whispering faintly, “Liam, I finally got revenge for you. Just wait for me down there, I’ll be right there with you!” I watched her bleed out. I watched her take her last breath. *Liam*, I thought. *Who the hell is Liam?* I floated there for two hours, waiting for the housekeeper to arrive and call the police, waiting for the fully armed officers to sweep into the scene. Finally, deep from the recesses of my memory, I dredged up some long-forgotten past. Liam was Chloe’s high school sweetheart. He’d died seven years ago. And Chloe had only agreed to date me the month after Liam died. At the time, I thought she’d lost her love and desperately needed a relationship to heal herself. I poured everything into pleasing her, treating her like a fragile porcelain doll, coddling and spoiling her. Throughout our entire relationship, she never had to lift a finger at home. I thought, after all my effort, after seven whole years by her side, even a block of ice would have melted. But it hadn’t. Suddenly, a woman’s voice cut through the silence, sobbing, her voice tearing through her. I snapped back to attention. A police officer had pulled a voice recorder from Chloe’s grasp, his finger still on the play button. “Alex Cooper, you forced me to stay by your side, making me waste seven whole years of my youth!” “Yes, I killed you. I want you to feel how painful death is, so you can know how much pain I suffered! This is all your fault! If it weren’t for you, I would have never lost Liam!” The recording ended with her saying, “Alex Cooper, I hate you! I want you to go to hell and atone to Liam!” I, along with the police, listened to that recording five times. The scene was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop. I was utterly speechless. Suddenly, my death felt so meaningless. What on earth did I ever love about that lunatic?

But her craziness didn’t stop there. The day after Chloe took her own life, the audio from the voice recorder was posted on her Ins account. It was a scheduled post. Seems like she’d set it up before she died. The recording, combined with a lengthy, emotionally manipulative caption, was enough to utterly ruin my reputation. That day, her fanatical followers flooded my DMs with messages too vile to even glance at. Even though I was already dead, even though I couldn’t reply or defend myself, they remained obsessed, and negative headlines spread like wildfire. Chloe truly lived up to her “A-list actress” title; she’d even orchestrated our deaths for her own narrative. Her fans didn’t see her as a murderer. Instead, they believed she’d endured and schemed for years, all to make me pay for what I’d done out of love. I, the victim, was painted as the ultimate villain, the one who tore a perfect couple apart, the one who caused such a talented actress, in the prime of her life, to die. My entire life story was dug up and aired for public consumption online. My tombstone became a twisted landmark for her crazed fans, who found sick joy in defacing it. If the staff hadn’t stopped them, they probably would have dug up my ashes and scattered them to the winds. The Cooper Group’s stock crashed. Even worse, the rival company mysteriously got their hands on the Cooper Group’s confidential core data. In just a few days, my family’s company was facing bankruptcy. My name, my career, my life—Chloe had utterly destroyed everything. Even my very existence was taken by her hand. Never had I realized so clearly that the woman who’d slept by my side for so many nights had only ever wanted me dead. That’s when it finally hit me why Chloe hated me. Seven years ago, I’d blocked Chloe from rushing into oncoming traffic. Because of that, Liam was hit and killed by an out-of-control car. It turned out, from that moment on, Chloe had blamed everything on me. She said I made her miss the chance to confess to Liam, the idealized crush she’d worshipped from afar for three years. It made no sense. Even if I hadn’t confessed to her that day, she wouldn’t have confessed to Liam anyway. I was just unlucky. Unlucky not only to confess to Chloe the day Liam died, but to fall in love with that lunatic. I thought, *This time, I truly regret it.* The next moment, a piercing shriek dragged me back to reality. A figure slammed into me, pushing me hard, then sprinted toward the surging traffic. “Alex Cooper, get out of my way! If anything happens to Liam, I’ll make you pay for it with your life!” I watched her hold Liam close, like she’d found the most precious treasure. I let out a bitter, mocking smile and tossed the bouquet in my hand into a nearby trash can. *Pay for it with my life?* *Does Liam even deserve that?* By the time I died, I’d already figured it out. There are so many women in the world. Why was I so hung up on *this one*? She was a beautiful but poisonous poppy, demanding my very life. What was the point?

My current situation was crystal clear. A bouquet, a confession, and a car accident. Chloe looked at me with pure disgust in her eyes. She appeared so innocent and young. This couldn’t be the Chloe I’d spent seven years with, the one who’d been steeped in the entertainment industry and learned to mask every emotion. This Chloe couldn’t hide a thing. Only one possibility remained. I had been reborn. And the woman in front of me was Chloe, seven years ago. I immediately turned to walk away, desperate to put eight hundred miles between myself and that lunatic. But she suddenly called out to me. “Alex Cooper, what are you doing?! Can’t you see Liam’s hurt? Aren’t you going to help?!” I glanced over. He was indeed badly hurt. Though Liam hadn’t been dragged under the car like in my previous life, he hadn’t managed to fully escape either. His legs limply collapsed, like raw spaghetti, blood soaking through his pants. Oh. He’d probably be a cripple. A perverse satisfaction swelled in my chest. *Help? Get my hands dirty? No way.* Out of a sense of humanitarian duty, I dialed 911. “The ambulance will be here any minute. Before I go, there’s something I want to tell you.” The girl looked at me, her expression growing even more haughty. She seemed afraid I’d grab her, unconsciously hugging Liam even tighter. “If it’s a confession, don’t bother. I—” I chuckled, cutting her off. “Not a confession. Just a blessing.” The ambulance sirens wailed in the distance. I met the girl’s stunned gaze and offered a smile. “Chloe Jenkins, I wish you and Liam Anderson all the happiness in the world.” *Hopefully, you’ll stay together forever.* Chloe’s face darkened. Without waiting for her to speak, I turned and left. I needed to go home and figure out exactly what point in time I was in, and what I could do about it. Now, I was sitting back in a classroom. It felt like another lifetime. The droning lecture on trigonometry was a lullaby to most of my classmates, who were slumped asleep, but my eyes were wide awake and bright. “Alex Cooper is doing great today, full of energy! Everyone should learn from him!” The teacher praised me, a rare occurrence. But there were no approving murmurs. Instead, I could hear two guys next to me, deliberately loud, sneering. “Learn what? How to simp for a goddess? Or how to keep last place in the class?” “Everyone knows what he’s like. He just has a bit of dirty money, that’s all. Why’s he acting so smug? Probably just waiting for Chloe to come back so he can fawn all over her again!” I said nothing, just smiled. They weren’t wrong. I did have a bit of dirty money, and I’d consistently held the last place in class for years. Those weren’t my weaknesses. The stupidest thing I’d ever done in this class was fall for Chloe. Now, she was tied up with the hospital, unable to return. I glanced down at my phone. The media swarmed her like blood-sucking locusts. She would undoubtedly be tied up for a while. I was enjoying my newfound freedom. Unfortunately, I soon realized that those good days were coming to an end. Just as class was in session, someone knocked on the classroom door. I looked up and met the gaze of the person standing at the front. Her eyes still held that familiar haughty stare. *Ugh.* Chloe had managed to get away so quickly and was back in class. Just my luck. I thought she’d at least be a little wary of me. But then, Chloe pointed across the room from the front of the class. “I want to sit next to Alex Cooper.” My smile faltered. I froze in my tracks. Chloe sat down next to me, but I still couldn’t understand her motive. “Surprised to see me?” She slid a note across to me.

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Chloe and I fell in love. She was gentle and caring, incredibly devoted to me. Soon, we moved in together. One night, I was deep in sleep when a faint sound of running water woke me. I turned over and saw the bathroom light on in our bedroom. *Must be her*, I thought, and drifted back to sleep. But quickly, a cold sweat drenched me. *Why would a blind person turn on the light to use the bathroom at night…?* I lay still, my back to the bathroom, deliberately slowing my breathing. My heart hammered faster and faster. “Click.” It was the sound of the light switch. I felt her slide back into bed, wrapping her arms around me from behind. Her light breath brushed my neck, chillingly cold. The next morning, I was still reeling from the strange incident last night. She sat across from me, eating breakfast. There was no way she could see. I had seen her eyes before; they were like an ink wash painting, the black swirled within the iris as if bleeding in water, incredibly surreal. But why did she turn on the light last night? My mind heavy with worry, I needed to get out and clear my head. I wolfed down a few bites of toast, and even though it was early, I muttered something about being late and headed for the door. Just as I turned to leave, I thought I saw her glance up towards the wall clock. *A blind person… needs to check the time?* A day of frantic work left me exhausted, body and mind. After much thought, I figured I was just overthinking things. Maybe I was still getting used to living with a blind girl. Things would surely get better after we’d lived together for a while. I drove to Chloe’s workplace to pick her up. It was a music studio, where she taught the pipa. She was already packed up, waiting for me by the door. I walked over, took her hand, and she smiled knowingly. No words were needed between us; we understood each other. I took her bag, helped her into the back seat, placed her bag next to her, and carefully buckled her seatbelt. She always sat in the back; the spaciousness made it easier for her. The car passed an intersection when a child on a bike suddenly darted out. I slammed on the brakes, swerving the steering wheel hard. The car spun in a circle on the road. Thankfully, I didn’t hit the mischievous kid. She asked what happened. I said it was nothing, just a kid who popped out at the intersection. It was fine now. As we continued driving home, I saw her through the rearview mirror bending down. She picked up a small hair clip and put it into her bag. It must have fallen out when I braked suddenly. *But how did she know the hair clip had fallen out?* After dinner, I took her hand, and we walked to the park downstairs. This was something she loved to do, something she loved doing with me by her side. The park was lively, with many kids practicing rollerblading and elderly people dancing. She didn’t talk much, and I quietly held her hand. Her long, waterfall-like black hair gave off a faint, sweet scent. Ahead, a little girl on rollerblades stumbled and plunged headfirst into the roadside bushes, only her small legs flailing wildly. I was about to tell Chloe about the comical sight, but when I turned to face her, I saw a faint smile on her face. Not her usual gentle smile, but the kind of suppressed amusement when someone sees something truly funny. A growing unease settled in. Was this gentle, beautiful woman truly blind? Everything felt so strange, so illogical. Should I ask her directly? But would that make her think I was crazy? Girls like her often lacked a sense of security; would it hurt her? During lunch break, I told Liam, my best friend, about some of the strange things that had been happening. Liam found it hard to believe too. “If what you’re saying is true, she’s definitely got issues,” Liam said. “But why would she pretend to be blind and get close to me?” I asked. “First, we need solid proof that she’s faking, not truly blind,” Liam stated, confident in his words. “That’s hard. I don’t want to hurt her. What should I do?” I was caught in a dilemma. Finally, Liam offered a plan: First, I’d tell Chloe I had something to do that evening and couldn’t pick her up, so she should take a cab home. Later, Liam and I would go home together. Liam would go inside, and I’d wait outside. If she was truly blind, she’d just assume it was me coming home. Liam wouldn’t speak, so she wouldn’t notice anything unusual. If everything was normal, Liam would quietly slip out, and I’d go in, acting as if nothing happened. But if she was faking, and saw a strange man in the house, she’d surely be startled, revealing her deception. Then I’d rush in and demand the truth. “That’s a masterstroke, absolutely brilliant!” I exclaimed. The sky had already darkened, a blue shroud covering the earth. Liam and I exchanged glances in the hallway. Liam took out the keys, unlocked the door, and entered my apartment. The hallway was eerily silent. After the motion-sensor lights flickered off, only the dim blue light from outside the window illuminated everything before me. I anxiously clutched my phone, waiting for the results of the test. Three minutes later, the door opened, and Liam stepped out. “No one’s home,” Liam said. I quickly grabbed my phone and called Chloe. Chloe said it was too boring at home by herself, so she was sitting in the small park downstairs, getting some fresh air and waiting for me to get off work. My heart warmed. I deeply understood how important I was to this seemingly blind girl. Since I had chosen to be with her, it was natural that I would be her lifelong support. Liam and I went downstairs together. In the small park, we saw Chloe sitting on a bench, her simple white dress strikingly bright in the dim night. I said goodbye to Liam and walked over to sit beside Chloe. Hearing my voice, she naturally leaned her head on my shoulder. I squeezed her hand tightly. How could anyone not adore a girl like her? After sitting in the park for a while, I took her hand, and we walked back home. As we walked on the gravel path in the complex, a figure suddenly darted out of the greenery ahead. In the dim light, I couldn’t make out their face. As we got a little closer, I realized it was Liam! He hadn’t left after all. He gave me a shushing gesture, signaling me not to show any alarm. I said nothing more, just continued walking forward, holding Chloe’s hand. Liam stood directly in Chloe’s path ahead. If she didn’t dodge, she would collide right into him. Under the cover of night, our footsteps were remarkably clear. The early autumn breeze was refreshing, but it couldn’t wipe away the fine sweat on my forehead. Just as Chloe was about to collide with Liam, he swiftly stepped aside. Nothing happened. I dared not show any reaction, only glancing back. Liam made a phone gesture at me, then turned and left. After we got home, I made a simple dinner. Our life together was peaceful yet happy. She lay sleeping soundly on my arm, her soft snores carrying a hint of a woman’s unique charm. I remembered Liam’s departure and picked up my phone. The faint glow of the screen was a bit harsh. I opened the message Liam had sent; it only had two words: *Something’s wrong.* *What’s wrong?* I texted back. Soon, Liam’s reply came: *Can’t explain it. Talk tomorrow. Stay safe.* With that, Liam’s profile picture turned gray. He was offline. I put my phone down, and suddenly realized: Chloe’s soft snores in my arms had stopped. The phone’s light vanishing left me briefly blind in the darkness. I couldn’t make out Chloe’s face, wondering if, in the pitch black, she was now watching me… Soon, my eyes adjusted. Her eyes were tightly closed, and she was no longer snoring, her breathing even, her face serene. The next day, I arrived at work early. Liam was already waiting at my desk. “You said something was wrong last night. What was it?” I asked. Liam explained that he had lived with his grandmother in a senior community for a while, and many residents there, including his grandmother, were blind. He knew what it felt like to be around blind people—it was a deep, intuitive understanding that permeated every detail of life, almost like a subtle energy field. But yesterday, with Chloe, he hadn’t felt that sense, even though she genuinely appeared to be blind. I couldn’t quite grasp what he meant. I just chuckled and said maybe young people were different from old people. Liam didn’t seem convinced. He suggested inviting Chloe and me out for dinner, so he could observe her more closely. I agreed, but reminded him, “Don’t hurt her, and don’t go too far.” All day, I couldn’t focus on work. All sorts of thoughts swirled in my mind. Was she truly blind or not? If not, how could I explain her strange actions? If she was, why would she pretend to be blind? Did she see the message on my phone last night? But she hadn’t harmed me. What did she want? Liam had reserved a table at a boat restaurant on Lake Serenity. Such a fancy place was beyond my expectations. As I led Chloe onto the boat, the slight rocking of the gangplank on the water made her nervous. Once aboard, she clung tightly to my hand. I instinctively put my arm around her, comforting her softly. Entering the main hall, elegant orchestral music echoed around us. The hall was lively; this restaurant was packed every night. I inquired about our table with the hostess. As I turned, I noticed Chloe, standing beside me, was facing directly towards Liam’s table. *Had she recognized Liam? Recognized him as the one who tried to test her in the apartment complex?* Liam, however, showed no signs of alarm. Throughout dinner, his humorous conversation kept Chloe giggling. The harmonious atmosphere made me relax quite a bit. A server brought over three drinks. Liam thoughtfully took them and placed them in front of each of us. Chloe fumbled to pick up her glass, taking a small sip.

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After my twin sister died of cancer, my family manipulated me onto my brother-in-law’s bed. The next day, I knelt naked before Julian Vance, begging him for a chance at life. His dark eyes lingered on my face, a mirror image of the woman he’d lost. A flicker of something — yearning? — crossed his features, and he took me into the Vance family. For ten years, I tirelessly managed their daily lives, serving both father and son. Then, when I was pregnant again, Julian Vance tore up the lab results. “Get rid of the child.” But his stepson, Leo, who always seemed to despise me, stepped in front of me. “Don’t hurt Mom!” Yet, when I was six months pregnant, after drinking the porridge Leo himself had prepared for me, I bled uncontrollably. A cruel satisfaction spread across Leo Vance’s childish face. “Finally, this day has come. Disappointed, aren’t you?” “I only recognize Dr. Serena Wells as my mother. As for you? Just die!” What he didn’t know was that I married into the Vance family for one reason: to avenge my sister.

As consciousness slowly returned, my eyes met Julian Vance’s grim stare. He carried the distinct scent of Serena Wells’s perfume. Our gazes locked, and a trace of lingering memory still clung to his face. Seeing me instinctively touch my stomach, Julian Vance’s expression immediately hardened. “Awake?” “Leo is still just a child. It was only an embryo, don’t hold it against him.” I lowered my gaze, a sorrowful expression on my face. But inside, I let out a sigh of relief. It was for the best. This child was never meant to stay. “The doctor said you’ve completely lost your fertility after this miscarriage. That’s good, actually.” “Now you’re no longer a threat to Leo, and he’ll be more affectionate towards you.” My face remained indifferent; I had long prepared myself for this. This wasn’t the first child I’d lost. Only after marrying into the Vance family did I realize what a monster Julian Vance was, despite his ruthlessness in the corporate world. Because I bore an uncanny resemblance to my sister, he often, in a haze of twisted obsession, used me to vent his frustrations over the sister he loved but could never truly possess. To satisfy his perverse desires, he forced me to take special medication that induced lactation. But the drug also damaged my body. Every time I became pregnant, I would experience a threatened miscarriage within three months. The fact that this child lasted six months inside me was a miracle. At the loss of this tenacious little life, I wasn’t sure whether to feel relief or regret. Seeing my prolonged silence, Julian Vance grew impatient. He pressed down on my shoulders, one hand ruthlessly clamping my throat. “Clara Davies, don’t try my patience.” “As compensation, I’ll agree to collaborate with the Davies family on the new downtown project.” “You schemed your way into my bed, didn’t you? Just so your family wouldn’t lose out on profits after your sister died?” My knuckles turned white as I gripped the bedsheet. He had no idea. I wished nothing more than for the Davies family to collapse. Years ago, my sister had a first love, a relationship of many years, and they were on the verge of getting married. But Julian Vance, fixated on a minor favor my sister had once done for him, insisted on marrying her once he regained power. For the sake of profit, our father broke them apart, even orchestrating a car accident that sent her fiancé plunging off a cliff. Consumed by despair, my sister finally agreed to marry into the Vance family. I’ll never forget the day of the wedding, seeing my sister in her pure white gown, forcing a smile and still trying to comfort me. “Mr. Vance loves me so much, he’ll surely treat me well after we’re married. Don’t worry.” I was so naive then. I actually believed my sister’s words, thinking she’d still find happiness in the Vance household. But when I saw her again, she was covered in injuries. She barely managed to beg me to look after Leo Vance before she took her last breath. Driven by hatred, I married Julian Vance, and for years, I constantly humbled myself and acted subservient within the Vance family, slowly lulling him into a false sense of security. And finally, I found the compromising evidence: his illegal research into mind-altering drugs. I lowered my head, suppressing the raging hatred in my eyes. When I looked up again, my face had returned to its usual docile expression. “I married you… it was never for profit.” “I just hoped that one day, you would see my feelings for you.” My suffering from unrequited love seemed to amuse him. He sighed regretfully. “If only your sister had been half as obedient as you, I wouldn’t have had to resort to such drastic measures.” “On the day the collaboration is announced, you will attend as Mrs. Vance.” I forced a faint smile. The day that new project launches will be the day of your public downfall, Julian Vance.

The day I was discharged, I handled the paperwork alone. My phone, in my purse, kept buzzing. I opened it to find a barrage of photos from Serena Wells. She and Julian and Leo were all in matching outfits. Lately, they’d gone on an expedition to Antarctica, seen the Northern Lights in Iceland, and watched dolphins leap from the water in Alaska. Serena’s message read: “Julian and I have known each other since childhood. If I hadn’t gone abroad, how would you and that short-lived sister of yours have managed to swoop in?” “Everything that belongs to me, I’ll take back, little by little!” The image of my sister’s emaciated face before she died flashed in my mind, and my heart felt as if it were being torn to shreds by a sharp blade. These were all places my sister had longed to visit in her lifetime, but Julian Vance had held her captive, never allowing her to fulfill those wishes until her dying day. I opened Ins, and the very first post was a photo of Leo Vance and Serena Wells. He was nestled in her embrace, a joyful smile plastered on his face. “Happy Birthday, Serena Mom!” My nose stung. I stared blankly at the photo until my phone screen went dark, then snapped back to reality. They had all forgotten. Today was also my sister’s death anniversary. I suppressed the disappointment festering in my heart and took a cab to the Vance family cemetery. My sister had loved freedom more than anything, but Julian Vance refused to honor her dying wish of having her ashes scattered at sea. “Elara Davies will never escape my grasp, not in this life, nor in any other.” Touching the necklace around my neck, my voice was hoarse. “Sister, I’ll be able to avenge you very soon.” Back at the mansion, I heard cheerful laughter from the living room before I even pushed open the door. But the moment I stepped inside, the sounds abruptly ceased. Julian Vance’s lips thinned. “You’re back just in time. It’s Serena’s birthday today. As Leo’s mother, you should at least show some appreciation to his private doctor.” “Though you’re useless in most regards, your cooking is somewhat presentable. You’ll prepare tonight’s dinner.” But Leo Vance hurled a teacup at me from the table. “This woman isn’t my mom! I only recognize Serena Mom!” Warm blood trickled down my temple, and a sharp, stabbing pain shot through my heart. When I first married into the Vance family, Leo Vance was quite fond of me. But after he fell gravely ill at age seven, he woke up no longer recognizing me. Serena Wells rose and walked towards me. Still wearing her matching outfit, she subtly pulled my hand, a silent boast. “Leo is still young and speaks his mind. I hope you’ll be patient with him, sister.” I pulled my hand away, my voice cold. “I only have one sister, and she’s dead.” “If you want to be my sister, you’ll have to ask her in her grave if she agrees.” A flicker of discomfort crossed Serena’s face. She took two steps back, casting a helpless glance at Julian and Leo. As she turned, I noticed the gemstone necklace around her neck. I lunged, grabbing it. My voice trembled. “My sister’s keepsake! How did you get this?!” Serena cried out in pain. Leo Vance immediately charged, knocking me to the ground like an enraged bull calf. “This is something Mom left for me! Whoever I give it to, that’s my new mom!” “I’ve been wanting to give it to Serena Mom as a birthday gift!” “As for you, you scheming woman, don’t ever think I’ll acknowledge you!” My heart chilled to the bone. I pressed my hand tightly against my chest, trying to relieve the suffocating despair that engulfed me. “You only remember that today is Serena’s birthday.” “But do you remember that today is your mother’s death anniversary?!”

Leo Vance’s small face immediately went pale. But the next second, he roared at me. “Shut your mouth! You’re not worthy of mentioning my mother!” I raised my hand, and with a loud crack, five angry red marks appeared on his face. I looked at him with profound disappointment. “I am your mother’s biological sister. Your aunt.” “The same blood runs through our veins. We were the closest people in the world. How can I not mention her?” My gaze swept over them, one by one. “If I’m not worthy, then neither are you!” “Leo Vance, you are her only son, yet on her death anniversary, you embrace another woman as your mother. Are you worthy of mentioning her?!” I then pointed at Julian Vance, but before I could speak, he cut me off. “Enough!” “My heir is not for you to lecture.” “Someone, bring the discipline.” The barbed iron whip was brought in, and the servants forcibly bound me. Julian Vance put on white gloves, looking at me as if I were already dead. “After all these years, have you still not learned what to say and what not to say?” He raised the whip and lashed it hard across my back. One lash, two lashes. Each strike tore away a piece of raw, bleeding flesh, and my screams echoed through the villa. After ninety-nine lashes, my back was a mangled mess of wounds. I lay in a pool of blood, my breathing barely perceptible. Julian Vance tossed the whip away, his voice cold. “Take the madam downstairs.” Leo Vance let out a cruel, maniacal laugh. “You wretched woman! You deserve this!” Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face. Every inch of my body screamed in agony, but it was nothing compared to the pain in my heart. His words were like sharp blades, each one a cold, gleaming knife, gouging out my heart until it bled. I was dragged into the utility room by a maid. She spat at me and tossed me onto a wooden plank to die. “Gold-digging homewrecker! You couldn’t wait to jump into his bed before the former madam’s grave was even dug! You deserve it!” Not long after she left, a click echoed, and the door opened again. Serena Wells’s hateful face came into view. I turned my head away, unwilling to look at her. But she leaned down, whispering into my ear like a venomous snake flicking its tongue. “I didn’t even care about your sister. As for you, I care even less.” “You don’t know, do you? At first, Julian really was good to her.” “It was I who framed her for still pining over her first love, which made Julian harden his heart and kill her.” I completely lost all reason, struggling to get up and fight her. Serena immediately stumbled and fell. Just then, Leo Vance pushed open the door. He walked in to see Serena on the ground. He yelled furiously. “Evil woman! Serena Mom came here out of kindness to put medicine on you, how could you be so ungrateful!” I screamed, my voice raw. “Serena killed your own mother! Are you still going to protect her like this?!” Serena feigned sorrow. “Clara, I know you don’t like Leo being close to me, and you’re trying every way to get rid of me.” “But Leo’s mother died of cancer, and I was studying abroad at the time. How could I have possibly harmed her?” With that, she covered her face and began to sob. But through her fingers, I saw her cast a defiant smile at me. In an instant, my entire being felt like it was boiling with rage. But just as I gathered every last ounce of strength to make Serena pay, a bucket of saltwater was thrown squarely in my face. The icy water streamed down my back, and instantly, a pain like a thousand ants gnawing at my flesh erupted from my wounds. Leo Vance burst into cruel laughter. “High-concentration saltwater, specially prepared for you! Do you like it?!” Immense agony pierced through my flesh, and my eyes filled with profound disappointment as I looked at Leo Vance. He was my sister’s only child. On her deathbed, my sister had even begged me to be his safety net. His hatred for me was truly chilling.

Leo Vance seemed stung by the disappointment in my eyes, his gaze flickering for a moment. But he quickly recovered, anger spreading across his face. He threw a divorce agreement in front of me, his cold, dark eyes identical to Julian Vance’s. “Sign this divorce agreement and get out of the Vance family. Make way for Serena Mom!” I gritted my teeth. “No, not yet…” Leo Vance thought it was an excuse to buy time. He raged. “Then don’t blame me for being rough!” He ordered someone to bring a bucket of water and mercilessly pushed my head into it. One minute… two minutes… Bubbles gurgled to the surface. In my blurred consciousness, I thought I saw a younger Leo, smiling sweetly at me. “Auntie.” But when my head was pulled out again, his face was utterly ruthless. “Still not agreeing?” I bit my lip hard, enunciating each word. “Never.” Leo Vance’s lips thinned into a straight line, and he pushed me back into the water. After continuous torture, I was barely breathing. Seeing that I wouldn’t yield, he snorted coldly. “I’ll come back another day to take good care of you, until you agree.” He sneered. “Mom.” Before completely falling into unconsciousness, I clutched the necklace concealing the chip, thinking: “Don’t worry. The day I avenge sister is the day I leave.” “I won’t spare Julian Vance, and I don’t want you either.” … On the day the new project launched, as I was leaving the house, I coincidentally ran into Leo Vance, who was heading to school. A malicious glint flashed in his eyes. My heart suddenly lurched. But when I looked again, his small face had already changed to one of docile obedience. “Goodbye, Dad. Goodbye, Mom.” I suppressed the strange feeling in my heart, took a deep breath, and got into the car heading downtown. This project collaboration was incredibly important. The attendees at the ribbon-cutting ceremony were all prominent figures from various industries. I hadn’t found the exact location of the lab, so the evidence I had wouldn’t be a devastating blow to Julian Vance on its own. But with the complex web of powerful figures present today, if I merely hinted at the truth, many rivals would surely launch their own investigations. This was my perfect opportunity to bring Julian Vance down. My entire body trembled with excitement, revenge so close. When it was my turn to speak, the screen behind me changed. A collective gasp swept through the crowd. I picked up the microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen, I am here to report Julian Vance for illegally researching mind-control drugs for unfair competition and personal gain…” But the crowd’s expressions weren’t outrage; instead, they were a gossipy, entertained curiosity, as if watching a show. I sensed something was wrong. I turned around, and when I saw what was on the screen, my blood ran cold. The large screen behind me displayed not the content extracted from my chip, but rather, my sister, covered in wounds.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297230”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

（ succubus ： Succubus is a spiritual demon that exists in European and Middle Eastern mythology and is said to invade male (female) dreams at night to draw strength and satisfy their own needs, causing the affected male to gradually weaken and even die. ） My Demon Husband Married My Sister! Undercover for three years, I finally came home. Pushing open the door, I saw my demon husband with a baby in his arms and a toddler by his side. “Say Mommy.” He pushed the baby towards me. I froze. But then my in-laws pulled out my heavily pregnant sister. “Julian’s reached adulthood, he has to reproduce, or his body will literally tear itself apart! You can’t expect us to lose our son, can you?!” In our meticulously decorated wedding home, I watched them intimately intertwine right in front of me, a disgusting mess left on the floor. “Julian, do you like me or my sister?” My sister’s syrupy voice rose and fell. “Of course, it’s you, my little devil! Your sister is frigid, utterly boring!” Julian’s tone was dismissive. I clapped a hand over my mouth, fleeing out the door, only to be struck by an oncoming car. When I woke again, the doctor looked troubled. “Ms. Hayes, your account is empty. If you can’t pay by 5 PM this afternoon, you’ll have to be discharged.” My sister walked in, carrying a sad, crumpled fruit basket, a massive, fiery diamond necklace glittering on her neck. “Sister, take care of yourself. I’ll look after Julian for you. Our children are your children.” My heart completely froze over. Turning away, I called the gang leader who had taken me in for the past three years. “Godfather, my sister and my husband are getting married. Could you bring some gifts… the kind from *our* world?”

“Hello, Mommy!” The moment the child’s voice chirped, my mind went blank with a loud buzz, like someone had slammed a bat over my head. I stood in the doorway, my hand still on the doorknob, unable to let go, completely frozen. Three years undercover, I had finally completed my mission and returned home. I opened the door with a heart full of joy, only to see this scene. The house was festively decorated, a red “Welcome Home” banner hanging in the center of the living room, the floor covered with balloons and streamers. On the sofa sat Julian Thorne, my demon husband, but he was holding a tiny, pink baby boy in his arms, and a little girl, about two years old, was clinging to his hand. I was utterly speechless. From the bedroom door, my mother-in-law, Eleanor, smiled, leading out a heavily pregnant woman—my own sister, Willow Hayes. “Why are you just standing there? Come quickly, listen! Your son is kicking Mommy’s tummy. This six or seven-month-old is just so restless.” I stood my ground, my voice stuck in my throat, barely managing a sound after a long moment: “Mom, what is going on?” Eleanor shot me a sidelong glance, a smile in her eyes, then took my hand and led me to the children. “Come on, say Mommy.” “Mommy!” The children’s voices were clear and joyful, but they made my scalp tingle. I yanked my hand away from Eleanor, seeing the intimate glances between Julian and Willow. I looked at Eleanor in disbelief. “You know, when an incubus reaches adulthood, he *has* to reproduce, or his body will explode from within. And you haven’t been back for three years. We couldn’t just stand by and watch Julian die, could we?” Eleanor’s expression was righteous, as if *I* were the one who had done something wrong. Willow leaned against Julian’s arm, soft as a boneless doll, her large belly prominent, her face glowing. “Sister, Julian and I didn’t dare to tell you… but he was truly on the verge of not being able to hold on.” My whole body went cold, as if a blunt object had crushed my heart. Three years undercover, I walked a tightrope, risking my life, taking bullets and blows for the boss, until I finally turned that criminal kingpin around. I fought tooth and nail just to return early and spend my life with my husband. But now, my husband was entangled with my own sister, had children with her, and was making them call *me* Mommy? Julian saw the look on my face and carefully helped Willow up. He walked towards me, his seductive demon aura brushing my nose, still as alluring as ever. “Look at you, getting angry again. Don’t be so serious. Your sister has the same genes as you; even a paternity test wouldn’t show a difference. Isn’t it basically your child? You wouldn’t really be heartless enough to watch me explode and die, would you?” He spoke as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, as if the children had just appeared out of thin air and I hadn’t been cheated on. I just wanted to throw up. “Oh, who are you making that gloomy face for?” Eleanor’s expression suddenly turned cold. “Three years, not a single word. If your sister hadn’t held this family together, do you think you’d still have a home to come back to?” “Your sister not only fulfilled your filial duties, she even took care of the children for you, arranging everything perfectly. And what do you do? You come back acting like a wronged wife catching her husband cheating. Can’t you have a little conscience?” “They’re about to get married, really. Why come back and stir up trouble?” Married? My mind went blank, yet suddenly, I understood everything. Willow’s face was like a peach blossom as she stepped forward, excitedly taking my hand. “Sister, you’ll bless us, won’t you?” “Tomorrow, Julian and I are getting married. Guess what role we’ve specially arranged for you?” I said nothing, my fingers trembling. “You’re the one who’ll give the bride away!” She excitedly raised my hand as if announcing a lottery win. “When you personally give me to Julian, the effect will be truly stunning. You know, you were once the one he cared about most. That’s what makes it so touching~” She squeezed my hand hard, her nails digging deep into my skin, her eyes full of provocation: “How memorable! You, crying tears of joy as you hand me over to him in front of everyone. The whole crowd will be weeping! The emotional arc complete, a perfect ending to the story! Don’t you agree, Sister?” Seeing my silence, Eleanor pinched my arm hard. “Like a statue! Learn from your sister! Your sister is so good, she didn’t even mind that you, his *actual* wife, are still alive and well, yet here you are, acting all high and mighty?” My sister “thoughtfully” slipped a script into my hand: “Don’t worry, I’ve written the script for you. Just read it on stage. The first line is: ‘Today, I give my dearest sister to the man I love most…’” I could barely breathe. Willow continued to ramble on, oblivious: “Oh, by the way, Sister, you know how to take photos, right? Tomorrow morning, you can come help us with our wedding photos first. These are the most touching moments, the greatest witness to our love! If you post them online, you might even ride our coattails and go viral! I’ve even thought of the title: ‘How *Liberated* is a Woman Who Gives Her Own Husband Away?’” I stood there stiffly, my heart feeling like it was being carved out inch by agonizing inch.

The next day, I was still lost in sleep when a large hand roughly pulled me up. Before I could even open my eyes, a heavy slap landed squarely on my face. Eleanor’s voice boomed in my ear: “Still sleeping? You think you’re the bride today? Grab the camera and get to work!” I stared blankly at the camera, which was bigger than my head. Without a word, I was dragged to the wedding venue. Aside from Julian and Willow, there were only a few women in designer clothes taking pictures. “Oh, isn’t that Scarlett Hayes? Personally taking wedding photos of her husband and sister, tsk tsk tsk, even more outlandish than a TV show.” They looked at me with disdain. Willow feigned annoyance: “Girls, don’t talk nonsense. She’s my most sensible and wonderful sister~ She even came back to bless us, and volunteered to be the photographer.” I watched them burst into fits of laughter, and I bit down on my teeth, forcing back the humiliation as I pressed the shutter. Suddenly, a stiletto heel kicked my knee without warning. The searing pain made me fall to my knees with a thud. The sound of my knee crunching echoed up my spine, and I trembled with agony. “Kneel to take pictures; it makes legs look longer. Don’t you even know that? Useless.” One woman flipped through my photos, sneering: “Tsk tsk tsk, I bet she still hates them. Is she deliberately trying to make these look like a horror movie?” Willow lowered her gaze and smiled, her eyes cold, then said sweetly, “Sister wouldn’t be so petty, would she~” Before I could say anything, a hand roughly grabbed my hair, and several slaps rained down. My cheeks burned with pain. “Who are you trying to jinx with these pictures? Our Willow is the bride today! You pathetic bitch, you couldn’t keep your man, and now you’re trying to sabotage us?” “We were shocked when she came back, thought she was going to crash the wedding. Turns out she’s just here to take pictures. Vile to her core.” They laughed, doubling over, then grabbed my right hand and twisted it back hard, forcing the camera onto my arm, making me hold it high. “If these pictures aren’t perfect today, don’t even think about walking out that door!” They stomped on my left hand, grinding it against the floor until my nails broke, bleeding profusely. But they still weren’t satisfied, and they climbed onto my back, riding me like livestock. Unable to bear the weight, my hand slipped, and the camera crashed to the floor with a bang, splitting in two. In a haze of pain, I saw Julian rush towards me. I actually thought he might show a shred of his old affection, but instead, he kicked me hard in the stomach: “Are you insane?! That camera cost me twenty thousand! Pay me back!” Immediately, a metallic taste filled my throat, and my stomach pain made me curl up on the floor. I struggled to stay conscious, staring in disbelief as he snatched my phone. After a few taps, he threw it at my face like trash. Willow strolled over, looking down at me sprawled on the floor. “Sister, do you know how hard it was for our family these three years you were gone? I held this house together. I helped you so much, how could you harbor such resentment?” “You were never supposed to come back. Why didn’t you just die out there?” I gasped for air, glaring at the sister I had once loved more than anything. Our parents died when we were young, and I had always looked after her like my own daughter, only to raise such a monster! Willow raised an eyebrow, smiling sweetly at her friends. They understood, grabbing my hair and dragging me to a room upstairs. The moment I was thrown into the elevator, Willow turned back, her smile cold and malicious. “Girls, we need to teach her a lesson, so she never dares to bother Willow again.” The mean girls dragged me into the room, tore off my clothes, pinched my chin, slapped me while taking pictures, and even stomped on my palms with their stiletto heels. I struggled in agony, but my old injuries made me too weak to resist. “Do you know where your sister and husband are right now? Right next door, in that room~ They said they needed to warm up for their big day today, know what I mean?” They roughly forced me to my knees outside the room door. “Can you hear it? Your sister is enjoying herself for you, isn’t this the ‘reunion’ you always dreamed of?” Soft moans emanated from the room, my sister’s syrupy voice rising and falling. “Julian, do you like me or my sister?” “Of course, it’s you, my little devil! Your sister is frigid, utterly boring!” Julian’s tone was dismissive. I never imagined the man I had given my heart to for so many years saw me this way. The last shred of hope shattered in my heart. I knelt in despair, tears streaming from my eyes. After their ‘joyful’ session, everyone left, leaving the room a disgusting mess, reeking of their ‘joy.’ Before Julian left, he didn’t forget to warn me: “You still have to give Willow away later. If you look like this, do you want to embarrass her?” I gave up completely. My hands shaking, I dialed that familiar number. “Godfather, my sister and my husband are getting married today. Please bring some… gifts from *our* world.” I covered my mouth, my eyes filled only with hatred. I staggered out of the hotel, and just as I stepped through the main entrance, the world spun, and a blinding white light rushed towards me. “CRASH!”

When I opened my eyes again, my nose was hit with the pungent smell of iodine and disinfectant. “Teacher, bed 38 is awake.” Several doctors in white coats gathered around. “Ms. Hayes, you were seriously injured in the car accident. Since we couldn’t reach any family members, we had to perform surgery. The surgery fee is two hundred thousand. Please pay as soon as possible.” The attending physician shoved the bill in front of me. I struggled to lift my hand, which was riddled with IVs, my fingers stiff as I reached for the bag on the nightstand. Opening my phone and swiping to my banking app, the cold numbers on the screen slapped me in the face. Balance: $28.10. My breathing hitched. My chest felt like it had been ripped open—where was my thirty million?! My trembling fingers furiously tapped through my account history, and then the monstrous transfer message popped up: “Transfer successful, amount: $30,000,000. Recipient: Julian Thorne.” My mind exploded with a buzzing sound. I suddenly remembered Julian had used my phone when he demanded I pay for the camera! Just as I was reeling from the shock, the hospital room door was violently pushed open. “Oh, so Sister actually woke up.” Willow walked in, arm-in-arm with Julian, holding a sad, crumpled fruit basket. “Sister, we came to see you. Good thing you’re not dead, didn’t waste the money on this fruit basket.” Her fingertip deliberately traced her neck, and only then did I notice the fiery diamond necklace on her throat. I had seen such diamonds at auctions; a single one could cost over a million. The one on her neck was at least ten million. The doctor, sensing trouble, stepped in front of me: “Excuse me, please don’t upset the patient.” “Upset her?” Julian scoffed. “She’s my wife. If I tell her to die, she’ll have to do it with a smile!” The doctor’s hand visibly paused. He looked at Julian suspiciously. “You’re the patient’s husband? Then you need to pay the two hundred thousand medical fees by 5 PM this afternoon, otherwise, we’ll have to discharge her.” “Two hundred thousand?!” Julian’s eyes bulged as if he wanted to eat someone alive. “Do you think I’m an ATM? She’s not worth that much even if you sold her! Maybe we should sell her organs to make up the difference—perfect, we still need some funds for our wedding.” Hearing that, I instantly got so angry I almost choked. Thankfully, the doctor spoke my mind: “Your wife is in this condition, do you have any humanity?!” But Julian ignored him. He violently yanked out the IV drip from my hand. Blood spurted out, staining the bedsheets red, and I gasped in pain. “Don’t put on a sob story for me. Get out of the hospital. You have something important to do today: give Willow away.” I froze, fury practically burning in my eyes: “Are you insane?! I’m injured like this, and you’re still talking about the wedding?” “You just got hit by a car, didn’t you? You ruined Willow’s once-in-a-lifetime wedding. You owe her at least fifty million!” I seriously wondered if I was still conscious. A man who wouldn’t even pay two hundred thousand was demanding fifty million? “I’m done with this nonsense. Where’s my thirty million? You said twenty thousand to replace the camera, what about the rest?!” Julian yelled back at me, his neck stiff, like a madman: “Do you understand marital property? What’s wrong with me taking it? Willow needs a necklace, shouldn’t you, as her sister, buy it for her?” I stared deadly at the necklace, my teeth grinding. I had lived a life on the edge, walking a tightrope, every penny I saved through sheer grit, only for it to become *their* dowry?! “Alright, stop wasting time.” He grabbed my arm and dragged me out. “Get changed and go to the wedding venue.” I was pulled out of the hospital room, my wounds still bleeding, but my heart ached even more. The wedding venue was packed with guests. The moment I stepped into the hall, all eyes swiveled towards me. “Tsk, she actually had the nerve to show up? Her husband is marrying her sister, and she’s the one giving the bride away.” “Whose fault is that? She disappeared for three years, and now her husband gets someone else pregnant, *then* she decides to come back.” I stood my ground, veins throbbing with anger, my nails almost digging into my palms, fighting the urge to kill. This show wasn’t over yet!

I was forcibly stuffed into a heavy red gown, my unmasked injuries visible, my leg still not healed, forcing me to hunch over. I leaned on Willow’s arm, leading her step-by-step towards the man in the sharp suit. The emcee, microphone in hand, excitedly announced: “Next, let’s invite the bride’s sister to offer her blessings to the happy couple!” The entire hall suddenly fell silent. All cameras, lights, and eyes swiveled to me. I looked at the crowd and smiled, a smile that made blood seep from the corner of my lips. “Thank you all for coming despite your busy schedules.” I paused, my voice ice-cold. “Today is a joyous day for my husband and my own sister. Come on, give a round of applause for this shameless, despicable pair!” A stir went through the crowd. Some people laughed out loud, as if I wasn’t an injured person, but part of the opening act. Julian’s face instantly twisted. He lunged forward and slapped me across the face. “SMACK!” The blow made me see stars, and my mouth was filled with the taste of blood. He leaned in and roared: “Are you insane?! Where’s the script Willow gave you? Do you want to ruin us?!” Willow stood to the side, wiping away tears: “Sister, why are you humiliating me?” I spat out a mouthful of blood and laughed like a madwoman. “You tore my life apart first, and now you’re playing the victim? You want to put on a show? I’ll play along until the very end.” I pulled out my phone, tapped the screen twice, and coldly watched the two of them. Julian narrowed his eyes: “What trick are you playing?” He looked around, saw nothing happen, and then he smiled, a cold, vicious smile. He leaned down close to me, grabbed my collar, and dragged me to the edge of the stage. “You think you can threaten me? A helpless orphan dares to challenge me?” “I’m telling you.” Before he could finish, he swung a punch at my face. Before I could react, he kicked me in the stomach again, the pain so intense I could barely breathe. “You want sympathy, don’t you? Then cry! If you don’t publicly kneel and kowtow forty-nine times to Willow and pay fifty million, I’ll make sure no one claims your body tomorrow!” Julian snarled, kicking me again. Just then. “BANG!” A deafening gunshot ripped through the wedding hall’s commotion. The main doors were kicked open, and a swarm of men in black suits flooded in, the atmosphere instantly freezing, like Death himself had arrived. The man leading them was tall and imposing, dressed in a dark black trench coat, his steps calm, yet each one radiated lethal intent. Seeing him, the entire hall erupted almost immediately. Silas Blackwood! The most untouchable man in South City, the living Grim Reaper of the underworld, a name that struck terror into hearts!

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In my poorest year, a fleeting thought flashed through my mind: [Lucas Gray, the heir to the Gray Empire, is looking for a lover who can’t hear his secrets.] A lightbulb went off in my head. I decided to pretend to be deaf and mute to seduce Lucas. No matter what scandalous things he whispered in bed, I remained impassive. Until his first love returned from abroad, and Lucas slapped a check for ten million dollars on the table in front of me. “You should move out for this month,” he said. I blurted out, “Sure thing, boss!” I grabbed the check and was about to leave when I realized I’d blown my cover. Another thought popped into my head: [LOL, this woman is so honest. Actually, the male lead has known her secret for a long time!] I froze on the spot, my mind going blank. Then I heard Lucas chuckle softly. “What’s wrong? Can’t keep up the act anymore, little deaf girl? And here I thought you could endure anything.” 0 Who would have thought a CEO would fancy a deaf girl? Well, apparently mine did! In fact, he wouldn’t have it any other way! Being his “deaf” sugar baby was quite convenient. I could appear anywhere without raising suspicion. Whether it was during confidential business discussions or industry gossip sessions, absolute secrecy was guaranteed. Plus, I didn’t have to listen to my sugar daddy’s endless chatter or insults. I could do whatever I wanted, even deliberately annoying him for fun if I felt like it. After all, I was “deaf.” I couldn’t hear what he was saying, right? Except I wasn’t really deaf. I was faking it. The only downside was sometimes… like now. Listening to Lucas’s words that were more explicit than an R-rated movie, I could only pretend not to hear and look at him with doe eyes. Pretending he was a perfect gentleman. In reality, I was cursing him as a pervert in my mind. Wait! I suddenly realized, maybe his ex-girlfriend ran away because of this! Lucas gently tapped me with his large hand. He used sign language to ask if I was hurt and if he should be gentler. But what he was actually saying out loud was utterly filthy. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes internally. What a fake gentleman. But on the surface, I looked at him pitifully, trying hard not to make a sound. The next day, I slept until the afternoon. 0

As I came downstairs, I heard Lucas talking to his friend in the living room. When they saw me, his friend’s voice suddenly stopped, and his gaze fell on me before turning back to Lucas. “She can’t hear,” Lucas said, waving me over. Gossip? My eyes lit up, and I casually sat down next to Lucas. His friend glanced at me and spoke to Lucas. “Chloe’s back. What are you going to do about her?” Chloe? She’s back?! Could this be Lucas’s ex-girlfriend? Everyone in their social circle knew there was a name that couldn’t be mentioned in front of Lucas. It was his Achilles’ heel, something no one dared to touch. Even after being by Lucas’s side for so long, I had never heard anyone mention her. I only knew that I was chosen from among the many women vying for Lucas’s attention because I somewhat resembled her. In my mind, a woman who could be so cherished by someone like Lucas, the heir to the Gray Empire, to the point where he would seek out a lookalike, must be his true love! I’d seen this plot in countless cheesy romance dramas. The protagonist finds a lookalike of his true love, then when the real deal comes back, I turn into the evil substitute. In the end, the male lead discovers my wicked nature, throws me out onto the streets, and lives happily ever after with his true love… Wait a minute… This plot development seems a bit off. As it stands now, I’ve somehow become the obstacle to the main couple’s happiness! No, no, I think I’ve skipped some steps here. My mind raced, and suddenly it hit me! Of course! Usually, the arrogant CEO hands me a check and tells me to get lost. Then the evil substitute refuses to leave, leading to the subsequent drama. Thinking about how generous Lucas had always been, I couldn’t help but smile. Don’t worry, I’ll leave promptly, quickly, at a speed of 800 meters per second, rolling out of the main couple’s world! Perhaps seeing my schadenfreude expression, Lucas tapped my shoulder, snapping me out of my reverie. He used sign language to ask what was wrong. Of course, I maintained my professional attitude and signed back. Just happy looking at you. Then I excused myself to get them some water. Lucas’s friend watched me leave and spoke again: “Are you really going to let Chloe see her?” Lucas sighed. I didn’t hear what else they said as I hurried towards the kitchen. I was afraid if I stayed a second longer, I wouldn’t be able to hold back my laughter. Don’t worry, I won’t let the “true love” see me! 0

That night, Lucas looked like he wanted to say something several times but held back. I was so anxious I almost wanted to prompt him myself. To be honest, I was quite reluctant to leave this pampered life as a sugar baby. After all, I’d gotten used to having everything handed to me on a silver platter and didn’t want to work hard again. But I also didn’t want to end up thrown out onto the streets. It was better to leave gracefully on my own terms. At the dinner table, I chewed my food in tiny bites, trying to make each mouthful last as long as possible. Just waiting for Lucas to speak up. Suddenly! Lucas took out a check from his pocket and placed it on the table. My eyes lit up, staring intently at the numbers on the check. Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, hundred thousands, millions! Fifty million dollars! Enough for my mom and me to live on for the rest of our lives! I stared at the check, swallowing hard, completely oblivious to Lucas starting to speak. “Take this money…” Before Lucas could finish, I snatched the check with lightning speed and clutched it to my chest. The enormous sum had gone to my head. I jumped up and blurted out, “Thanks, boss!” As soon as I said it, cold sweat broke out all over my body. I’m screwed! Suddenly, a thought popped into my head, just like the fleeting one from years ago. [Warning! This woman’s been exposed! The male lead knows she’s been lying to him all this time. He definitely won’t let her off easy! I wonder if she has a backup plan. If not, she’s in big trouble!] Backup plan? What backup plan? My mind went blank as I looked up to meet Lucas’s amused gaze. He was fiddling with his custom cufflinks, his long fingers casting delicate shadows in the lamplight. “What’s wrong? Can’t keep up the act anymore, little deaf girl? And here I thought you could endure anything.” Lucas suddenly moved closer, the scent of his cedar cologne mixed with whiskey washing over me. “But you should know, I hate being lied to more than anything.” My throat tightened as I saw the words [She’s done for!] flashing repeatedly in my mind. This damn inner voice! I couldn’t help but recall how I had met Lucas by chance. The doctor said only hospitals abroad could possibly treat my mother’s illness, but the exorbitant fees forced me to scramble for money. I worked five jobs a day, but it still wasn’t enough to send my mother abroad for treatment. Until one day, that thought popped into my head. It said Lucas Gray, the heir to the Gray Empire, was looking for a lover who couldn’t hear his secrets. So I pretended to be deaf and mute and stayed by Lucas’s side for two years. Lucas grabbed my chin in one swift motion. “Mr. Gray, you must be joking,” I forced a smile, my nails digging into my palms. “Of course I’ll take the check you’ve given me. As for the rest…” Before I could finish, he gripped my chin, not forcefully but with an undeniable air of authority. Lucas’s thumb traced over my lips, where he had left bite marks the night before. “When you’re pretending to be deaf and mute, you always use that fake smile to deceive people. But do you know? Every time you pretend not to hear, I want to pin you in front of a mirror and make you see how your ears turn red.” Hot blood rushed to my earlobes, and I suddenly felt a chill run down my neck. Lucas had known about my act all along! For two years, I had diligently forced myself to remain silent no matter how Lucas tormented me in bed. But I had forgotten about the most instinctive human physiological response—when he whispered “Olivia, don’t hide” in my ear. My tense back, my trembling fingers, had long since betrayed my secret to this man who had seen it all. If this man had discovered my deception so early on, then every time after that… he had been deliberately toying with me! Seeing my indignant expression, Lucas suddenly seemed amused. “Don’t you have anything to explain? Hmm? Little deaf girl?” Lucas stood up, forcing me to sit on the table. I looked at Lucas, getting more and more irritated. What else could I say! He’s the client, I’m the service provider! I did the job I was paid for! He’s just a client who was fooled and moved by my acting skills! I’m not angry at all, waaah! But the urgent matter at hand was to protect this fifty million dollars. This was what I deserved! “I… thank you, boss? Boss is so generous?” Lucas was on the verge of laughing angrily. He picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. “Since you can’t keep up the act anymore, you should pay some price, little deaf girl.” I knew this wasn’t good. “Lucas Gray! You want me to pay with my body! I don’t agree! This is an unfair clause!” A voice in my head screamed [This isn’t right, shouldn’t the male lead kick this woman out? What’s going on! Looks like we’re about to hit the paywall?!] Lucas threw me onto the large bed covered with silk sheets, then pressed down on top of me and lifted my nightgown. There was still a vase of blue roses I had arranged last week on the bedside table, now overshadowed by his silhouette. “Olivia, do you know that every time you pretend to be innocent, it makes me want to completely tear apart your disguise?” Lucas seemed to have unlocked a new world, directly unleashing his dominant side. He forced me to scream loudly all night long. Before going to sleep, Lucas said he had to go to the office to deal with an urgent matter. As he left, he tossed me one of his white dress shirts, the collar still warm from his body heat. 0

What urgent matter! He’s probably going to pick up his true love! Looking at the thoughts racing through my head, I grew increasingly frustrated. All this [The female lead is back, the sweet and gentle female lead baby is finally back.] And [This woman shouldn’t take away any more of the female lead’s affection, the female lead has suffered enough, other women should stay away!] And [The male lead can only belong to the female lead.] Who said I wanted to stay anyway! I was just about to stand up from the bathtub when my legs gave out, and I fell to my knees with a splash. Escape plan, to be continued tomorrow. The next day, Lucas was indeed not at home. I was preparing to quickly pack my things and run away with the money when I ran into Lucas, who had just returned. I looked at Lucas, then at my suitcase, and smiled awkwardly. “Are you… going out?” Lucas asked with a hint of a smile. I chuckled nervously. “What a coincidence, right?” Lucas walked past me and sat on the sofa. His voice was neither cold nor warm as he spoke. “I heard from my assistant that someone booked a flight to Germany at 8 PM tonight. I came back to see if this little money-grubber had emptied my house.” I dragged my suitcase over to Lucas and stood in front of him. “Lucas Gray, you’re spying on me!” Lucas looked up at me and smiled. “Spying?” He suddenly stood up and came closer, the tip of his shoe grazing the zipper of my suitcase by my feet. “Little deaf girl, you’ve been by my side for two years and know the location of every camera in the garage like the back of your hand. Now you’re talking about spying?” I stubbornly backed away, my lower back hitting the carved screen in the entryway. Lucas’s fingers traced my burning earlobe, suddenly pulling out the check I had hidden in my sleeve—he had swiped it without me noticing! “Thinking of running away with fifty million?” He waved the check, making a rustling sound. “Olivia, have you forgotten? The confidentiality agreement you signed states that if you leave without permission…” My heart skipped a beat. Suddenly, I noticed a blue ribbon peeking out of the inner pocket of his suit jacket. It was a little trinket I had stuffed into his pocket last week when we were picking out ties—he had called it “childish” but hadn’t thrown it away. “Stop!” I suddenly made a time-out gesture with my hands, raising my voice and signing, “I-I just remembered, I left some soup simmering in the kitchen!” Lucas raised an eyebrow as he watched me scramble towards the kitchen, my suitcase still tilted in the entryway. Just as I grabbed the microwave door handle, I heard a suppressed chuckle from behind. I turned to see him shaking his head at my suitcase. A half-capped lipstick had fallen out, drawing a crooked red line on the beige carpet. “The soup is on the third shelf of the fridge,” he suddenly said. “Also—” He pulled out a gold-embossed invitation from his inner suit pocket, “Tonight at 7 PM, charity gala at the Gray Trade Center. Chloe specifically asked to meet you.” Chloe! What! His true love wants to meet me! Wait, bro! You’re taking me, the substitute, to meet the real deal! Is this right? Is this okay?! Has the plot advanced already? Am I still destined to face retribution?

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The day the zombie horde broke out, I tore up my assignment roster, forcing myself to stay behind in the doomed Zone C. I held on until dawn the next day, just long enough to hear Caleb’s loud broadcast: Celeste had found a new oasis. Her discovery, he claimed, would be humanity’s last hope. Only then did I finally breathe a sigh of relief. As the horde smashed through the doors, I detonated all my explosives. In my previous life, Caleb had made sure I drew the winning lot. He used my luck-boosting ability to easily find the oasis and become a leader. He promised me that as soon as I found the oasis, he would send away all the other women he was seeing. I believed him. But when I lit the bonfire signal, what arrived wasn’t his support, but betrayal. “Celeste has no powers, she needs my protection more. I just want her and her child to be respected by everyone in this apocalypse. But you, you try to steal even this little bit of credit.” “She got a fever, terrified by zombies, just looking for you. I’ll make you feel ten thousand times her pain.” He chained me to a car and dragged me until I was torn to shreds by zombies. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day the horde erupted. This time, I’d let them have their savior dream.

“Astrid! Get in the car!” “Any later, and the horde will completely surround us!” I looked into the distance. The energy shield around the perimeter of Zone C was weakening. Leo was so anxious, he was almost in tears. “Astrid! You’re the only one with powers in the entire base! Where there’s life, there’s hope! Don’t throw away your life!” I was about to speak. The steel door of the safe house was violently kicked open. Caleb’s personal guard roughly seized my arms, dragging me out without a word. Leo roared from behind, his voice gut-wrenching. “Let her go! Astrid’s pregnant, you’ll make her miscarry dragging her like this! You damn lackeys of the base leader!” They finally pushed me to the base’s central plaza. A pre-assault rally was being held there. In the center of the plaza, a dozen people were already kneeling. These people were all scapegoats, accused of various crimes. Some were charged with hoarding rations, others falsely accused of trying to steal a vehicle to escape. Then, the enforcement squad stepped out. They carried a large wooden bucket, walking up to each person, prying open their jaws. Spoon after spoon of black-green liquid was forcibly poured down their throats. That water was contaminated from the base’s failed purification system, filled with radiation. The entire plaza was instantly drowned in screams and sounds of retching. A man next to me convulsed violently, foaming at the mouth. “We just wanted to save some extra food for our kids… Why are you doing this to us?!” I wasn’t spared either. A full spoon of contaminated water was forced down, and my stomach cramped in excruciating pain. Blood gushed from between my legs. I let out a muffled groan of agony, which startled those around me. “That’s Astrid! The Commander’s wife! They’re pouring it down her too?” “Isn’t she our hero in Zone C? She led a team to reclaim a batch of medicine yesterday! What in the world is going on?!” The intense pain made my vision blur, and I crumpled to the ground. “Medic! Call a medic now! Someone’s going to die!” Just then, the noisy crowd automatically parted, creating a path. Celeste, dressed in a brand-new white combat suit, looked impossibly clean for this apocalypse. She clung intimately to Caleb’s arm, a saintly, yet pitying smile gracing her face. Caleb’s gaze swept over us, groaning in pain on the ground, his face grim. Celeste dramatically covered her mouth. “Oh my, why is everyone collapsed? Who could be so heartless as to shake our morale at such a critical moment, with the zombie horde surrounding us?” Before she even finished, Caleb’s face was filled with rage, and he violently kicked my stomach. “You vicious wretch!” He roared at me, “The moment I step away from the base, you dare to incite people and cause internal strife!” “You’re so consumed by jealousy that you’d try to steal Celeste’s credit for finding the oasis!” That kick left me unable to even cry out. I looked at Celeste’s face behind him, twisted with a triumphant smirk. I gritted my teeth and squeezed out a few words from my throat. “I didn’t… It was her…” “Still trying to lie your way out of it?!” Caleb bellowed. “This isn’t the first time you’ve been so unscrupulous for credit! This time, I will not let you off!”

He pointed at the struggling survivors on the ground and ordered them. “Each of you, give her one shot from a taser. After you’re done, I’ll personally escort you to the oasis, and your food and medicine rations will be doubled.” The personal guard dragged me up from the ground, completely ignoring my miscarriage. The survivors who had been forced to drink the contaminated water looked at me, their eyes filled with reluctance. A middle-aged man walked forward, tears in his eyes, and pulled the trigger. “I’m sorry, Captain Astrid… I have two children at home…” One person, two people… Blue electric arcs flashed again and again, scorching the life out of my unborn baby. Only after everyone had tasered me and left did Caleb, satisfied, take the water Celeste offered him. He took her hand and walked over to me. He looked at me, covered in dust, my cheeks bruised, and a flicker of something complex crossed his eyes. But the next moment, he coldly lifted my chin. “Don’t blame me for making them do it. I had to teach you a lesson, so you know this is what happens if you dare to be jealous, if you dare to harm others again.” “Save yourself the trouble of trying to steal Celeste’s credit again.” My whole body trembled, and I looked up at him. So, I wasn’t the only one who had been reborn. No wonder they found the oasis even without my luck. No wonder he said it wasn’t the “first time” I’d done this. Because in my previous life, he had similarly framed me and sentenced me to death for Celeste’s sake. My eyes reddened, and I wiped away my tears. “Astrid, playing the victim won’t work anymore. No matter how capable you are, it’s useless.” “I’ve already had the medical team give Celeste the top-tier genetic enhancer. Her powers will definitely upgrade, helping me become the leader.” I gave a bitter laugh, clutching my constantly cramping abdomen. “I already paved the way for you. But why did you have them force contaminated water on me? Why destroy Zone C and kill my teammates…?” He paused, his brows furrowed. “Don’t talk nonsense. You clearly led your team in a failed breakthrough yesterday, resulting in the entire unit being wiped out.” Sweat streamed down my face from the pain. I grabbed his pant leg, trying to make him look at Leo, the scout, who was still alive on the monitoring screen. His face was filled with disgust, and he impatiently kicked my hand away. “Stop acting. If you want to prove you weren’t trying to harm Celeste, then tomorrow, during the base-wide broadcast, you can personally admit that your abilities were insufficient, that your reconnaissance failed, and that you begged Celeste to share some of her credit with you.” “Then you’ll hand over all your merits and supplies to her and the child she’s carrying, and in the future, you’ll serve as her loyal deputy.” “If you dare to play any more tricks, if you dare to touch a single hair on her head, this time I won’t just deal with you and your useless team—Leo, the one you care about most, won’t get a single dose of anti-infection medicine either.” My eyes widened, staring at Caleb in disbelief: “Caleb, you bastard! Leo was scratched by a zombie while covering me, he’s a hero of the base! How can you threaten me with his life?!” Caleb looked annoyed. “As long as you obediently serve Celeste’s team and take good care of them from now on, I won’t touch him.” With that, he put his arm around Celeste, ready to leave. “Celeste, thank you for finding hope for the base. I’m going to reward you well.” I watched their retreating figures, warm blood continuously seeping from my lower body because of the miscarriage. Professor Albright, a researcher who treated me like his own daughter, rushed over, his face paling when he saw my injuries. “Quickly, get her to treatment! If anything happens to Astrid, I won’t let any of you off!” I was sent to the medical bay, but the healing medic never showed up. Professor Albright, enraged, demanded to know where the medical team assigned to me had gone.

Mia, the assistant, spoke with difficulty. “Professor Albright, all the healing medics in the entire base have been called to Captain Celeste’s room by the Commander. Miss Celeste scratched her finger while testing a weapon, and Commander Caleb is worried something might happen to her, so he’s keeping all the healing medics on standby.” “Right now, there are no healing medics in the entire base.” Professor Albright was furious, constantly making calls. “He’s gone mad! His own wife is critically injured and clinging to life, yet he calls away all her healing medics for some mistress, completely disregarding her fate!” The communicator finally connected after the twentieth attempt. “Is Astrid stirring up trouble again and making you call me to back her up?” Professor Albright shouted excitedly, “Astrid is bleeding internally and has fainted! Several of our brothers in the team are about to die! And you’ve taken away her healing medics! Do you want to kill the base’s elite unit?!” Caleb scoffed, “Did Astrid tell you to call me? Her check-up was perfectly fine, what’s this critically injured and dying act now?” “Alright, alright, I still have Celeste and her team’s victory banquet to attend. She wants healing medics, does she? I’ll send someone over.” Professor Albright hung up the call, gripping my hand tightly. “Don’t be afraid, Astrid, the healing medics will be here soon.” I felt my life force gradually fading. I thought of my previous life, how my teammates were similarly stabbed in the back by Caleb’s team, eaten alive by zombies. I trembled all over, pulling Professor Albright’s hand, and said with difficulty. “Professor Albright, you promised me you’d treat me like your own child. If Caleb didn’t treat me well, you’d help me get away from him.” “I just want to save Leo’s life, and then survive.” Professor Albright was already in tears, saying repeatedly. “After Caleb was saved by you, he loved you so much. It’s all that vile creature, Celeste’s, doing. If she hadn’t suddenly appeared, you two wouldn’t have ended up like this.” I gave a tragic smile. How could a life-and-death companion, who once fought alongside me, become like this? The man who, after repelling zombies, would blush and say he’d face life and death with me, swearing that if he ever betrayed me, he’d die a horrible death, with no corpse left behind. Now, for another woman, he abandoned me without a second thought. “Please, Professor Albright.” I gritted out each word. Listening to my plea, Professor Albright finally nodded. “Tomorrow, I will announce that you are the sole power-user of Zone C. As for that ungrateful beast, I will no longer assist him!” Professor Albright immediately left to deal with the matter. I lay on the medical bed, the sharp pain in my abdomen surging like a tide. Professor Albright’s young assistant, Mia, anxiously kept hoping the healing medics sent by Caleb would arrive. Finally, someone came. But it wasn’t a healing medic; it was a logistics orderly. Seeing the bloody scene in the medical bay, he handed over a few bandages and a bottle of expired disinfectant. “Commander Caleb said it’s just a minor injury, nothing life-threatening. He told you to deal with it yourselves and stop bothering him with such disgusting things.” Mia cried and smashed the box. “Astrid, I’ll take you and the brothers to another base right now. You have to hold on.” My vision went black, and I finally passed out. When I woke up again, it was to a bucket of ice-cold snow water being abruptly poured over me. Caleb’s face, full of disgust, loomed before me. “You’re awake, stop faking it.” He looked down at me. “You know I’m about to announce the oasis and Celeste’s achievements, yet you’re making a scene about going to my enemy base. You just want everyone to think Celeste is bullying you, don’t you?” Celeste, clutching a report, stood behind him, tears streaming down her face, looking utterly pathetic. “Astrid, I know you hate me. But it’s okay to get revenge on me, why did you have Professor Albright try to steal my credit?”

“That assistant was still screaming that I was a vile creature before they dragged her away, saying I didn’t deserve to be the savior’s partner…” I opened my mouth, but not a single word escaped my throat. I could only shake my head with all my strength, trembling as I pleaded, “I… I didn’t… Send me to the medical bay… The brothers… They can’t hold on much longer…” “You’re lying again!” Caleb impatiently furrowed his brow. “Professor Albright rallied her old subordinates overnight and even found the base’s records officer. Wasn’t it you instigating her from behind? You think by stealing Celeste’s credit, you can secure the second-in-command position at the base?” Celeste cried and pleaded in his arms, “Astrid, I beg you, please don’t separate Caleb and me… If you really insist on taking my credit, I’ll just run out of the base alone and die in the zombie horde!” She made a move as if to run, and Caleb immediately held her tight. He was enraged, and he kicked my stomach again. “How many times have I warned you not to bully Celeste, but you just won’t listen! Since that’s the case, I’ll have to resort to special measures.” He suddenly turned and coldly ordered his personal guard. “She forced Celeste to run into the zombie horde, so she should pay the price. Go, shut down Professor Albright’s lab’s purification system, and throw the people out of the research facility!” “Caleb!” I shrieked, tearing my throat. “You’re insane! That’s Professor Albright! Her research is for all humanity!!” “So what?!” Caleb scoffed. “To get you into the command structure, she forced me to marry you. Now you’re a captain, and I’ve even let you command your own unit. If you couldn’t find the oasis, that’s your own uselessness. I’ve repaid my debt of gratitude, I don’t owe you anything anymore!” “Do it!” I frantically lunged at the personal guard, trying to stop them, but I was brutally kicked to the ground. The wound on my abdomen, which had barely stopped bleeding, burst open from the violent impact, gushing like a broken dam, instantly staining the floor beneath me crimson. I screamed in agony, my throat raw, curling into a ball. Caleb was about to drag me further, but then he suddenly saw the pool of crimson on the floor, and his face went white. He instinctively stopped, turning to Celeste and demanding. “What happened?! I told you to take care of her and her pregnancy, why is she still bleeding?!” Celeste’s face also changed slightly. But her eyes darted, and she quickly squeezed out tears. “I’ve always taken good care of Astrid… This is the medical report they did for her yesterday.” She handed over the report, her voice choked. “The report says she only has superficial wounds, and her bodily functions and the baby are all perfectly normal.” Caleb snatched the report. He only scanned it once, and he believed it. The next second, he furiously lifted me from the ground and violently threw me onto the cold, hard metal floor. My head slammed down hard, and blood instantly gushed out. “You dared to lie to me?!” He growled, “To make me soft, you can even fake a miscarriage?! How disgusting, how utterly vile!” “You thought I’d fall for it this time? Dream on!” He raised his leg, kicking my abdomen mercilessly, again and again. Blood mixed with screams splattered with every impact. “Ah… no… no…” I pleaded, almost tearing my throat, but my body grew colder and colder. Until I had no strength left to even beg, only able to curl up in my own pool of blood. He wiped his blood-stained boots and turned to Celeste, his face full of apology. “I’m sorry, Celeste, for making you smell this disgusting odor. I’ll deal with her right away. Once it’s done, I’ll fly you to the oasis to see the scenery, as compensation for my mistake, okay?” Celeste, however, shook her head tearfully, her voice pitiful. “Forget it. Astrid hates me so much. What if you leave with me, and she immediately comes up with a new way to sabotage me?” “Otherwise, I’ll just take my team and leave. I’ll even let her have the credit.” She spoke cautiously, utterly wronged, yet it perfectly struck Caleb’s nerve. His face instantly turned as dark as night, his voice gentle but chillingly cold: “Don’t worry, I won’t give her any more chances to harm you.” He waved his hand: “Lock her in the containment cell outside the base. Once I officially announce Celeste as the discoverer of the oasis tomorrow, then release her.”

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Iris was pregnant, and the father of her child was my legal husband, Julian Thorne. On our seventh wedding anniversary, Serena Hastings leaned into Julian’s embrace, triumphantly announcing the news to all our guests. I, Iris Thorne, the rightful Mrs. Thorne, became a colossal joke. Julian warned me to keep my schemes in check and to wholeheartedly serve Serena during her pregnancy. He showed no regard for my dignity. I stared at the tall man before me, a wave of desolation washing over my heart. It has to end, I thought. When I decided to leave, Julian casually made a bet with his friends: “If Iris isn’t back, begging to come home within 24 hours, how about that prime development property downtown? It’s yours.” “24 hours? No way, eight is plenty! Everyone knows Iris can’t live without Mr. Thorne,” someone scoffed. Laughter erupted. Outside, a Jaguar sat parked in the dark night. The man inside wore sunglasses, his expression unreadable. This time, I was truly leaving. My suitcase had been packed for ages, holding only a few changes of clothes. After marrying Julian, all the jewelry gifted by his family, those precious pieces, had been meticulously kept in the master bedroom’s jewelry box. I didn’t take a single one. As I dragged my suitcase, about to step out of the villa door, I heard Serena’s sickly sweet voice. “Iris, just walking out like that wouldn’t be very nice, would it?” I paused, wondering what game Serena was playing. “The Thornes are a powerful family, a massive empire. Who knows what precious valuables you’ve stuffed into that suitcase.” I calmly replied, “I haven’t taken anything from the Thorne family. This is just some of my clothes.” Serena clacked towards me in her high heels, stopped right in front of me, and looked down her nose, dramatically saying, “Clothes? Are clothes even yours? You’re a freeloader with no job, living off him!” Her cruel words flooded my ears. I bit down hard on my lip, quickly tasting the metallic tang of blood. Serena was right. I didn’t have a job. Seven years ago, when Julian and I got married, I had just graduated from college. But Julian had said he didn’t like high-powered career women who were never home. He preferred a devoted wife, someone who’d make a warm home for him. So, I decisively gave up the offer from an internationally renowned design firm, trapping myself within the four walls of the kitchen. “Fine.” I pushed my suitcase forward. Serena was still relentless. “What about what you’re wearing?” I froze. What I was wearing? “Julian, make her leave the clothes! She can’t take anything that isn’t hers.” Serena pulled Julian in front of me, waiting for him to speak and back her up. “Iris, strip.” Numbly, I took off my jacket and tossed it to the ground. Finally, I gave one last, heavy look at the husband I’d been married to for seven years, then turned and walked away without a backward glance. A familiar license plate came into view. I quickened my pace, when suddenly a large hand, like a vice, clamped onto my wrist. It was Julian. “Iris, even like this, you’re still dead set on leaving?” My wrist throbbed from his grip. I ignored Julian’s words and instead asked him, “Julian, do you still remember our child?” Julian’s grip on my wrist loosened.

In the second year of our marriage, I unexpectedly found out I was pregnant. When I had my check-up at the hospital, the doctor said I was exactly three months along. Overjoyed by the news, I couldn’t wait to share it with Julian immediately. At the time, Julian was on a business trip abroad. I planned to keep the news a surprise and tell him when he returned home. The day Julian came back, it was pouring rain. I warned him to be careful and to come home right after his plane landed. I’d given Maria, the housemaid, the day off. I curled up alone on the couch, stroking my belly, imagining how delighted Julian would be. But Julian never came home. Because Serena was afraid of thunder, Julian stayed with her all night. Meanwhile, I slipped on a spilled glass of water and fell heavily to the ground. A warm gush between my legs sent me into a panic. Fighting the sharp pains in my stomach, I dragged myself to reach for my phone on the table. Dots of blood stained the floor. I called Julian’s phone repeatedly, but it just rang unanswered. I prayed that my baby inside would be strong, just a little stronger, strong enough to hold on until I could get to the hospital. I gritted my teeth and, with my last ounce of strength, dialed 911. I woke up in the hospital. Julian told me the baby was gone. I furiously gripped his collar, asking why he didn’t come home? Why didn’t he answer his phone? Serena rushed over, tears in her eyes, begging for my forgiveness. She said she was scared of thunder, so she’d messaged Julian, pleading with him to come stay with her. My child, this baby who had only been in my womb for three months, died that thundering, rainy night.

“Julian, what does any of this matter? Even if there are mountains of knives and seas of fire, I’m still leaving,” I said with absolute resolve. “Fine.” Julian’s eyes held a dark shadow. I hadn’t walked two steps before a sharp pain flared in my neck, and I lost consciousness. Julian had me locked away. Someone delivered my meals every day. I didn’t understand what Julian was playing at. Two weeks into my confinement, I was taken to the hospital. I was strapped to a gurney and brought into an operating room. A second before the anesthesia took effect, I heard the doctor sigh, “Uterine cancer, needs a hysterectomy. Poor thing.” My uterus was removed. Julian sat by my hospital bed, holding a bowl of soup Maria had made, ready to feed me. I turned my head away. “Iris, you just had surgery. Don’t play around with your health,” Julian’s chilling voice rang out. Surgery? If it weren’t for you and Serena, I wouldn’t have needed this surgery. Serena’s pregnancy wasn’t going well. She’d heard about some supposedly powerful fortuneteller from somewhere and dragged Julian to see him. The fortuneteller told them that my future child would bring her bad luck, and if I had any chance of getting pregnant, not only would Serena’s baby not survive, but it would also harm the mother. Then, they gave Julian the birth details of this “woman,” which matched mine exactly. So, they fabricated a “uterine cancer” diagnosis for me. “Iris, after you’re discharged, you’ll still be Mrs. Thorne. Serena’s child will call you Mommy,” Julian said, as if to himself. As if that could somehow erase the harm they had inflicted upon me. “Iris, I’ll compensate you.” As he said this, Julian’s phone rang. It was Serena calling him. “Julian, I hurt my hand! Hurry and come here!” her anxious voice came through the receiver. I grabbed Julian’s hand and said, “The only compensation I want is for you to refuse Serena.” Serena kept urging him over the phone. Julian pried my hand open. He said, word for word, “Don’t be ungrateful. Know your place. What do you have that can compare to Serena?” Then he turned and left without a backward glance. The empty hospital room was left with just me. Compared to Serena’s injured hand – a matter Julian treated as monumental – my uterus being removed seemed utterly trivial. I, Iris, was completely insignificant to Julian. Serena posted sweet photos of herself and Julian on Ins. The caption read: “I jokingly said my hand was hurt, and someone rushed right over to see me. I’m so happy!” I coldly ‘liked’ her post, then shared it with the comment, “Wishing you both happiness.” After a period of observation in the hospital, I was again confined to Julian’s villa. Why do I say confined? Because on the day I was discharged, Julian sent two burly bodyguards. Seeing the strong men, whose wrists were as thick as my calves, I had no choice but to push down my thoughts and temporarily return home.

Back at the villa, I was assigned to the guest room. This villa was Julian’s and my marital home. Every corner had been decorated by my own hands. The plush ornaments on the sofa, the exquisite stone sculptures on the display cabinet, the fresh flowers in the floor vase… But now, they were all gone. Alfred, the butler, told me it was at Miss Hastings’ request. Serena had moved into Julian’s and my marital bedroom. “Iris, you’re finally home! This is wonderful!” Serena came down from the second floor, eagerly rushing to my side. “Finally, I’m not the only one in this house. You can keep me company now!” I wasn’t used to feigning civility with Serena. I pulled my hand from her grasp and said nothing. Julian followed her down from the second floor. He was displeased with my cold attitude and was about to scold me when Serena gently stopped him. She sweetly said, “Iris, please don’t be mad at me. I really didn’t want to do this, but I’m so uncomfortable with my pregnancy that I have to trouble you to take care of me for a while.” I was confused. Take care of her? Me, take care of Serena? I thought Julian had just said it offhand, but I hadn’t expected him to actually mean turning me into her personal attendant. “Where’s the housemaid?” I demanded of Julian. “Serena doesn’t like outsiders,” Julian said, knowing he was in the wrong, but not wanting to lose face. After all, in front of me, Julian always had to be superior. “Serena’s pregnancy is hard on her. As Mrs. Thorne, it’s only right that you take care of her,” Julian added. Mrs. Thorne. It seemed that as long as I had those three words, as long as I had that title, it could somehow compensate for all the hurt Julian had inflicted on me. I had no heart to argue with them anymore. I just wanted to go back to my room and get some sleep. Watching my back as I walked towards the guest room, Julian’s heart inexplicably trembled. Iris had lost more weight. After all, she’d had surgery. He instructed Alfred to make some of my favorite dishes for dinner. Seeing Julian staring blankly at Iris’s retreating figure, a venomous glint flashed in Serena’s eyes. Without a housemaid, and with bodyguards supervising me 24/7, I was trapped in the villa, becoming Serena’s personal servant. During this time, I had kept in touch with Liam Carter. Liam had repeatedly tried to find ways to help me escape Julian. But given that I was under strict surveillance, Liam’s plan had to be put on hold for now. Liam, despite the time difference, consistently stayed up to chat with me. He was incredibly thoughtful, always sensing my low moods and finding ways to cheer me up. “Iris, what are you looking at?” Julian stood at the doorway, his voice low and heavy. I jumped, instinctively turning off my phone. I had been so engrossed in my chat with Liam that I hadn’t even noticed Julian opening the door. “You should knock before entering someone’s room,” I frowned. “This is my home. Why would I knock?” Julian said imperiously. Using his height advantage, he snatched my phone, trying to unlock it. “What’s the password?” Julian asked. He was so arrogant and self-centered. I didn’t have the energy to fight him for my phone. “My birthday.” Julian repeatedly entered the password, but the phone kept rejecting it, until the security system issued a warning. He sheepishly tossed the phone onto the bed. Seven years of marriage, and Julian knew nothing about my birthday. Yet, every year, I prepared for his birthday in advance, sending blessings and gifts right on time. “Don’t chat with irrelevant people.” Julian threw out this remark, then stormed out, slamming the door so hard it shook the house.

During my boring confinement in the villa, I used drawing to pass the time. Honestly, I’d always had a regret: not pursuing my passion for design further. So, during my seven years at home, whenever my hands itched, I’d sketch out design drafts. Liam sent me a set of photos. They were the winning designs from an emerging talent competition three years ago, and my work was clearly among them. A designer’s work is their heart and soul. I’d recognize a design that came from my hands even if it was reduced to ashes. Yet, the design that was clearly mine was credited to Serena Hastings. My mind instantly went blank, and a terrifying thought emerged. The information I asked Liam to check quickly arrived. It confirmed my suspicions. Serena had stolen my work to enter the competition. Three years ago, I had mysteriously lost a portfolio of my sketches. I searched high and low for half a month but found nothing and eventually gave up. And Serena was the new designer who had suddenly risen to prominence three years ago. Looking through her work from these past few years, almost all of it bore the shadow of my sketches; some were even direct copies. The thought of Serena using my hard work, wearing the crown of praise, and proudly flaunting her career success to me, made me tremble with rage. I found Serena and confronted her. Serena didn’t flinch. She placed a hand on her slightly bulging belly and said indifferently, “So what if I stole it? What if I didn’t? You were never going to use it anyway. Isn’t it a good deed to help someone else succeed?” I didn’t know how low this woman’s shamelessness could go. Serena kept shattering my perception of her. Watching me so enraged I could barely stand, Serena studied me with interest, then slowly delivered another blow: “And I didn’t steal this sketch, Julian gave it to me.” Julian gave it to Serena? The memory of Julian’s feigned concern when I was looking for my sketches made my stomach churn. Suddenly, Serena leaned close to my ear and whispered, “You should have gone to hell with your damn mother.” My mother was my raw nerve. Especially with Serena involved; if it weren’t for her back then, I wouldn’t have missed seeing my mother one last time. Burning with fury, I slapped Serena across the face. To my surprise, Serena stumbled and fell to the ground with my slap. I stared in shock at Serena, clutching her stomach on the floor, and then incredulously at my own hand. I could swear that slap was not hard enough to make Serena fall like that. Hearing the commotion, the bodyguards outside quickly rushed in to check. Julian was also alarmed and hurried upstairs. Julian pushed open the door and saw Serena, her cheek slightly swollen, lying pale on the floor, while I stood perfectly fine beside her. Without a word, he slapped me. It was a powerful slap. I guessed Julian put all his strength into it. My face snapped to the side, and my lower back hit the wooden sofa armrest hard. Sharp pain spread across my face and down my back. Julian hadn’t expected to lose control of his strength. Seeing the blood-tinged corner of my mouth, his eyes flickered. Serena noticed Julian’s hesitation and immediately began to whimper, crying out that Iris shouldn’t hit her, even if it was just for the baby’s sake. Julian stopped bothering with me, scooped Serena up, and rushed downstairs. Within moments, the room, which had just been full of people, was empty again, leaving only me. Looking at my high, swollen face in the mirror, I thought of the year my mother died. Counting today’s slap, Julian had hit me twice. The first time was that year. Back then, Serena was often unwell, running to the hospital every few days. Julian was frantic with worry. Serena told Julian she had a dream: if Iris went to a temple to pray for her, it would help her ward off a supposed curse for the year. She badgered Julian into sending me to that temple. The ritual required 49 days of continuous prayer. Normally, I might not have refused, but at the time, my mother was gravely ill—a situation where every visit counted. I pleaded with Julian to wait until my mother’s condition stabilized before sending me to pray, but he refused. Julian only said he would take care of my mother, completely disregarding a daughter’s wish to be by her dying parent’s side. Disheartened, I left for the temple. When the 49 days of prayer ended, I never got to see my mother one last time. At the funeral, Serena feigned an apology to me. My patience finally snapped. I grabbed the cup of hot water by my hand and violently threw it at her. The moment the water splashed on Serena, Julian’s hand was already raised high. He chastised me, saying I was mad with grief, treating Serena’s genuine kindness like trash. The memory overlapped with the present. I looked at the haggard woman in the mirror, my eyes filled with cold determination. The bodyguards guarding the villa were all called to the hospital to watch over a supposedly traumatized Serena. I left the house that held so much of my pain, without any resistance. As the plane soared through the clear blue sky, I quietly said goodbye to everything there. Goodbye. Never again. Julian had soothed Serena, and now he sat wearily on a bench in the hospital corridor. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw my face, red and swollen where I’d clutched it.

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Just because I accidentally hurt Julian Vance’s mistress while bathing her. Julian threw my gravely ill mother out into the pouring rain, leaving her to die alone. After Mom passed, I handed him the divorce papers, begging him to let me go. But he just stared at me with a stone-cold face, kicking me to the ground. “Anya Reed, you’re really getting into this act, aren’t you? Haven’t you heard that people can actually die from getting rained on?” “Besides, I’ve supported you two parasites for so many years. If you want to leave, you’ll have to compensate me tens of millions.” I nodded calmly. A few days later, a massive sum landed in his account. He didn’t know, that was the price of my life. No sooner had the words left his mouth than a ledger slammed into my face. Julian Vance used the tip of his leather shoe to nudge the ledger open. “See that clearly?” His voice was chilling, like ice. “Every single penny you’ve spent since the day you married into the Vance family is right here.” The ledger was filled with his scrawled, almost aggressive handwriting, detailing every one of my expenses. From an extra slice of toast at breakfast to my mother’s emergency hospital bills. Every detail was meticulously recorded, down to the last cent. My fingers instinctively curled, staring blankly at the ledger as tears streamed down my face, uncontrolled. I never imagined Julian would go to such lengths. “A total of thirteen million two hundred thousand.” He bent down, his warm breath brushing my ear. “I’ll round it down for you, Anya. With that much money, you’d have to prostitute yourself from now until they’re defiling your corpse, wouldn’t you?” I snapped my head up, my gaze locking onto the icy disdain in Julian’s eyes. The man who once seemed like my closest confidant was now spewing words that bordered on pure venom. A bitter ache filled my throat. I glanced at Celeste Hayes, who was clinging to Julian’s arm, and let out a self-deprecating laugh. “If I recall correctly, Miss Hayes, the necklace around your neck is worth ten million alone, isn’t it?” The esteemed Mrs. Vance, after five years, had spent less than a single piece of jewelry on his trophy girlfriend. A sharp shove sent me sprawling to the ground. Celeste irritably rubbed her wrist, scoffing, “You old hag, who do you think you are, daring to compare yourself to me?” She whined, stretching her palm out to Julian, “This old hag is so thick-skinned, she actually hurt my hand~” Julian didn’t spare me a glance. Instead, he dotingly blew on Celeste’s palm. “Next time, don’t lay a hand on her yourself. It breaks my heart.” A wave of dizziness washed over me. I collapsed onto the floor, clutching my face as blood gushed from my nose. “Ugh!” Celeste shrieked, pulling up her skirt. “You old hag, how disgusting! Your nosebleed got on my shoe!” Seeing the crimson blood on the floor, a flicker of panic crossed Julian’s eyes, but it quickly turned to disgust when he spotted the divorce papers lying nearby. “Anya Reed, what trick are you trying to pull now?” That cold, hateful gaze reminded me of our wedding day, when Julian had gripped my throat, pinning me against the champagne tower, his face contorted with dark fury: “Anya Reed, your mother killed mine. And you still think you can marry me? You wicked woman, I’ll strangle you right now!” That day, he didn’t strangle me. But every day since had been a living hell. I said nothing, just wiped away the blood, and shakily got to my feet, intending to leave. But Celeste yanked me back by my hair. “You stained my shoe, old hag. You have to lick it clean.” I stumbled back down to the floor, but my eyes burned with stubborn defiance. Lick a mistress’s shoe? Never! I grabbed the table, trying to stand, but Julian kicked me hard in the back of my knee. “You want a divorce, don’t you? If she tells you to lick it, you lick it.” My entire body stiffened. I bit down hard on my lower lip, the metallic taste of blood flooding my mouth. Divorce… once I’m divorced, I’ll be free. My last shred of dignity shattered, I could only humiliate myself, extending my tongue. Again and again, I licked Celeste Hayes’s high heel until it gleamed. Celeste wrapped her arms around Julian, pouting, “Julian, darling, since this old hag is so good at licking shoes, why don’t we send her to Nightfall Bar to lick all the customers’ shoes?” “I still haven’t settled the score with her for hurting me~” I clenched my fists, staring at Julian’s face in disbelief. We weren’t divorced yet. I was still officially Mrs. Vance. Was he really not going to spare me even a shred of dignity? Julian’s gaze lingered on me, then he lifted his foot and deliberately ground it into the divorce papers. “Anya Reed, you deserve a lesson.”

The bar manager took pity on me and didn’t make me actually lick anyone’s shoes. He just handed me a flannel cloth and told me to kneel and wipe the customers’ shoes clean. Drunken patrons insulted me freely, some even stepping on my face with force. But I just calmly polished their shoes until they gleamed. A group of rich kids in front of me stared at their phones, laughing loudly. “Holy crap, Mr. Vance must really adore his new favorite! He’s put out a hundred-million-dollar bounty for a matching heart for her!” “Heard when that girl was diagnosed with heart disease this afternoon, Mr. Vance was so furious he almost trashed the whole hospital. Those doctors nearly peed their pants.” “A hundred million! Mr. Vance is way too generous. If you ask me, she’s just a little bird, so what if she dies?” “You don’t know anything. Celeste is different. They all say she looks just like Anya Reed from back in college…” I froze, my gaze drawn to their phone screens. Bold black letters clearly stated that anyone who was a match and agreed to donate a heart to Celeste Hayes would receive a one-hundred-million-dollar reward. If I remembered correctly, my blood type and all my health indicators matched Celeste’s. I had even been dragged by Julian to donate 3000cc of blood because of it. The screen’s light illuminated my face. The rich kids in front of me looked at me in surprise, then burst into laughter. “Isn’t that Mrs. Vance? Why aren’t you serving your Mr. Vance’s new darling? How’d you end up here shining our shoes?” “If you ask me, you should just sleep with us, it’d be better than being the Vance family’s dog.” Lewd gazes roved over my body, and several hands reached out to touch me. I recoiled in terror, grabbing a beer bottle, just as I was about to make a run for it, three bodyguards rushed in, kicking the rich kids far away. Ignoring their angry curses and wails, they turned and grabbed me. “Madam, it’s time for you to assist Miss Hayes with her bath.” My expression was numb. I let them drag me into the car. Outside, thunder and rain raged, just like the day my mother died in my arms—cold and piercing. The moment the door opened, a sticky, foul-smelling lace thong was flung at my face. On the sofa, Julian, looking utterly sated after his latest tryst, held Celeste close and lit a cigar. “Still remember how to come back? I thought you’d be too busy licking shoes to get off the bed by now.” I ignored his words, simply walking up to Celeste and saying, “Miss Hayes, it’s time for your bath.” *SLAP!* My face snapped sideways from the sudden blow. Julian flicked his cigarette at me, his eyes blazing with displeasure. “Can’t you speak properly?” I staggered a few steps before regaining my balance, clenching my fists, swallowing the metallic taste in my throat, and choked out, “Miss Hayes, please allow me to assist you with your bath.” “No way!” Celeste hid in Julian’s arms, whining, “That disgusting old hag will definitely hurt me on purpose! Let her bathe Little Monster tonight, it’ll be good practice for her.” Little Monster was Celeste’s pit bull terrier, and it had bitten me many times. What was the difference between bathing it and walking into a death trap? I shivered uncontrollably, instinctively resisting. “No, I won’t!” “You won’t?” Julian stood up, grabbing my hair and pulling me close, humiliatingly patting my face. “What right do you have to refuse? Don’t you care about your mother’s life anymore?” **截断点**

At the mention of my mother, my eyes instantly welled up. Seeing my tears, Julian paused for a moment, then roughly shoved me to the ground. “Anya Reed, a heartless woman like you can cry?” “If you hadn’t desperately stopped me from finding my mother back then, she wouldn’t have been pushed down the stairs by your mother. You’re the culprit!” “If Celeste isn’t happy today, you and your mother can both go to hell.” His eyes burned with raw hatred, yet he refused to look at me. Tears streamed down my face. I clutched my chest tightly. To keep that secret all those years ago, my mother and I had suffered so much. Yet, Julian still hated me so deeply… If that’s how it was, then after the divorce, I would tell him the truth and clear my mother and my names! Thinking this, I suddenly felt a sense of relief. All along, Julian had hated the wrong person. I wondered how desperate he would be the day he learned the truth. I staggered to my feet and walked towards the tightly shut metal door. From deep inside the room, I heard the growls of a dog. Fear surged through me. I turned to run, but the metal door slammed shut. Julian’s voice was icy. “I’m taking Celeste to watch the fireworks. Don’t let her out to bother us.” As the sound of his footsteps faded, the vicious dog instantly lunged at me, sinking its teeth into my arm. My pathetic screams and the fireworks outside erupted simultaneously. When I was finally let out, my body was covered in over a dozen lacerations, big and small. The dog kennel was littered with torn flesh and fresh blood. A bodyguard threw me a roll of gauze and a check. “Mr. Vance said for you to get lost.” I picked up the check with trembling hands. The amount was exactly enough for my mother’s treatment this month. But it wasn’t needed anymore. I tore the check into pieces and threw it on the ground, forcing myself to stand and leave. I would never come back to this place. I took a cab to the hospital, had my wounds stitched, received a vaccine, and then contacted the hospital director using the number on the bounty notice. “Are you sure you want to voluntarily donate your heart?” The hospital director looked at my medical report with satisfaction, nodding. “You are indeed the most suitable candidate for Miss Hayes’s heart transplant. However, the surgical risks are very high…” “It’s fine.” I raised my hand and signed the voluntary donor agreement without hesitation. If death was a release, could anything be worse than this? After signing the agreement and confirming the precautions, I had just stepped out of the hospital when Julian’s call came through. “Are you the one donating a heart to Celeste? What’s your name?” I gripped the phone tightly, my breath catching in my throat. “I…” Before I could speak, Julian impatiently cut me off, “Proceed with the surgery as soon as possible. The payment will be transferred to your card afterward.” The call disconnected. Staring at the name “Husband” on my phone, a mixture of sarcasm and bitterness twisted into an indescribable pain in my heart. If only he had looked at how he’d saved my contact, he would have known who I was. On my phone, a news headline popped up: *Vance Group CEO Spends Millions Lighting Up the City with Fireworks to Win His Beloved’s Smile.* Meanwhile, I clutched my wounds, found the nearest park, and spent the night lying on a cold bench. When I woke up, I received a call informing me that my mother’s grave had been arranged. To ensure they could be together, I used all my remaining savings to purchase a burial plot next to Mrs. Vance. After visiting my mother’s grave, I bowed three times to Beatrice Vance’s as well. Just as I was about to stand, a powerful force from behind kicked me. “You, the daughter of a murderer, what right do you have to visit my mother!”

My wounds ripped open, and blood seeped, staining my black dress. Julian Vance appeared before Beatrice Vance’s tombstone with Celeste Hayes. His eyes raged with hatred, and he flung a bouquet of flowers at my face. “Anya Reed, didn’t I warn you not to appear before my mother?” I clutched my arm, grinding my teeth. “I am not the daughter of a murderer!” My mother was right there. I couldn’t let her be slandered even from the grave! *SLAP!* A stinging slap landed on my face, making my ears ring. Celeste, in her towering heels, deliberately ground her foot into my wounds. “You old hag, aren’t you pathetic? Are you here to show off that Julian didn’t kill you, and even paid for your mom’s hospital bills?” At her words, Julian’s fingers trembled, his eyes filled with immense guilt towards his mother. When he looked at me, it turned into overwhelming fury. He grabbed my hair, dragging me like a dead dog, then kicked my knee. Before I could even stabilize my kneeling position, he grabbed my head and forcefully slammed it against the stone slab. “Today, you’ll kneel here and kowtow, and properly apologize to my mother.” “As for your mother, that wretched culprit, I’ll have her tortured mercilessly, making her wish she were dead!” I clutched my forehead, laughing a desolate, bitter laugh. “But my mother is already dead, isn’t she?” The portrait of Beatrice Vance before me smiled gently and kindly, as if she had found solace. The sense of grievance and pain in my heart almost overflowed. I murmured bitterly, a soft, broken whisper: “But my mother… she’s already dead…” She died painfully, miserably. “What did you say?” Julian staggered back a step. He stared at me, his voice trembling uncontrollably. “Anya Reed, do you think lying to me like this will atone for your sins and hers?!” “She’s right there!” My whole body trembled. I pointed to my mother’s tombstone beside us. If Julian just looked, he would see my mother’s photo. “Go look, Julian Vance, just look! My mother has already been killed by you. Are you satisfied?!” Julian’s eyes widened. He stared intently at the nearby tombstone, his entire posture visibly slumping. He reached out a trembling hand, about to push aside the flowers in front of the gravestone. *Thump!* Celeste collapsed to the ground, her face pale, hands clutching her chest, her breath shallow and weak. “Julian, darling, my heart hurts so much…” Julian instantly turned back in a panic, sweeping Celeste into his arms, ready to leave. “Wait!” I lunged forward, desperately grabbing his pant leg. “If I pay back that ten million, you’ll sign the divorce papers, right?” Julian’s body stiffened. He didn’t look back, only his cold voice echoed in my ears. “Anya Reed, I will never let you or your mother off the hook.” I smiled, tears filling my eyes. Julian Vance, you don’t need to let us off. Because my mother and I are both leaving your world. Just as I walked out of the cemetery, my phone rang. It was the hospital. “Miss Reed, Mr. Vance is demanding the heart transplant surgery immediately. We need you to rush over!” “Alright,” I gripped my phone. “But I have one condition: conceal my identity until after the surgery. Don’t let anyone know who I am.” I lay in the hospital bed, then was wheeled into the ICU. Julian Vance, pacing anxiously outside the door, glanced at me with a solemn expression, then rubbed his eyes and turned away, dismissing the flicker of doubt in his gaze. It was laughable. For a moment, he actually thought the woman before him was Anya Reed. How could that be? After all, she was such a cowardly woman, so afraid of death, she’d cry over a mere scratch… The surgery was a success. To celebrate, he bought Celeste a thirty-million-dollar emerald jewelry set and had it displayed on the front page of the news. In front of him, Celeste smiled and called his name, but Julian seemed distracted. He pulled out his phone, wondering if Anya Reed had reacted at all. Suddenly, a text message popped up. [Bank transfer: $100,000,000.] The sender was Anya Reed. A terrible premonition surged within him. Julian’s pupils constricted. He quickly grabbed a passing nurse, urgently asking: “What was the name of the person who donated the heart?” The young nurse was startled, stammering, “I think it was… Anya Reed…” “The poor girl was covered in injuries when she arrived.” “I heard her mother passed away just a few days ago after failed resuscitation efforts.” “What…” Julian’s lips trembled slightly. He staggered a few steps, grabbing the wall for support, his eyes filled with disbelief.

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I was in a rush to fly overseas to negotiate a billion-dollar project with European royalty when my private jet was suddenly grounded before takeoff. A man in a suit stormed onto the plane, shouting: “Who gave you permission to touch my plane? Don’t you know this thing is worth more than your lives?” Thinking he had mistaken the hangar, I tried to explain calmly: “Sir, please check again. This is hangar 25, and this plane belongs to me.” My explanation only made him more aggressive. “My plane is parked in hangar 25. My wife just gave it to me last month. You think I’d forget that? Get your people off my plane now, or you’ll regret it!” Seeing how unreasonable he was being, I had no choice but to ask the airline staff to check the plane’s registration documents. Just as I was confidently preparing to put this arrogant young man in his place, I heard the airline staff deliver a shocking revelation. “Mr. Carter, please disembark immediately. This plane does indeed belong to Mr. Parker.”

“All systems go, ready for takeoff!” “Wait, we have a situation on the ground!” Just as the captain was preparing for takeoff, he suddenly received a warning from ground control. I instructed the flight attendant to open the cabin door so I could see what was happening. “What are you idiots doing? How could you let someone mess with my plane when I’m paying millions in annual hangar fees? Are you feeding that money to the dogs?” Through the cabin door, I saw a young man in an impeccable suit yelling at the hangar manager. Behind the suited man was a group of young men and women, all looking at the manager with disdain. The flustered manager pointed at me standing in the doorway and shouted, “This… this really isn’t my fault! When the plane was registered, it only listed the owner as Mr. Parker.” “That gentleman came in saying he was the plane’s owner and that his name was Carter, so I let him in.” Hearing this, the young man’s eyes flashed with anger as he charged up the stairs, bellowing at us: “Who gave you permission to touch my plane? Don’t you know this thing is worth more than your lives?” My crew members, whom I had hastily recruited from the flight base, all looked at me uncertainly. “Mr. Carter, what’s going on?” I waved at them to stay calm. I turned to examine the young man in the suit. He was handsome, but reeked of alcohol. Most likely some drunk rich kid who had mixed up the hangar numbers. Not wanting to cause a scene and delay my important meeting, I patiently tried to explain: “Sir, please check again. This is hangar 25, and this plane definitely belongs to me.” “Why don’t you look at the hangar next door? I bet that’s where your plane is parked.” Hearing my suggestion, the group of young people behind him started mocking him: “Ethan, you kept bragging about showing us your private jet, and this is what we get?” “You really oversold yourself this time. Sure, your family has some money, but do you have any idea how much a Gulfstream G700 costs? Your dad’s net worth of less than $100 million can’t afford this!” “Let’s just leave before we embarrass ourselves any further.” Faced with his friends’ doubt, Ethan started panicking. He grabbed the hangar manager’s collar: “You were there when my wife gave me the plane, right? Tell them!” The manager looked uncomfortable: “Well, I do remember something like that happening, but…” Before the manager could finish, Ethan eagerly turned to his friends: “See? Didn’t I tell you I have a private jet? Didn’t I?” Hearing that Ethan really did have a private jet, his friends quickly changed their tune. “Our boy Ethan has really made it big, even got himself a private jet. You’ve got to take us along on your road to riches, bro.” “Thanks to Ethan, I finally get to experience what it’s like to ride in a private jet.” “Are there any more rich ladies out there giving away planes as gifts? Hook a brother up, will you?” Basking in his friends’ praise, Ethan became even more smug. He yanked on the manager’s collar again: “I’m supposed to take my friends to my wife’s birthday party today. Get these idiots off my plane now.” “If you make me late, I’ll end you.” “And have the plane thoroughly inspected. If there’s even a scratch, they’ll pay for it!” Seeing how serious he was, I started to doubt myself. I even wondered if I had mixed up the hangars. After double-checking with my assistant, I confirmed that I hadn’t made a mistake. Now I realized this guy wasn’t just a drunk who mixed up hangars. He was trying to use my plane to show off to his friends. And of all times, he had to do it when I was in a rush to get to Europe for an important meeting. Just as I was about to step forward and chase them off, the hangar manager approached me with an accusatory look. “Sir, impersonating the owner of a private jet is a serious offense. Please leave immediately, or else…” “Are you kidding me? He says the plane is his and you just believe him?” “I bought this plane from England last year for $70 million. You’re telling me it changed owners just because he said so? Is this how your airline operates?” The manager looked conflicted: “Well… you both claim to be Mr. Parker, so which one of you is really…” “Of course it’s me! This plane is mine!” Ethan cut in before the manager could finish. Seeing this shameless freeloader continue to disrupt my travel plans, my anger started to rise. “Listen, there’s a limit to showing off. You’ve repeatedly interfered with my travel plans. I’m warning you, I’ll sue you if you don’t stop!” “Get off my plane now!” Faced with my challenge, he arrogantly shoved me: “I should be the one suing you for stealing my plane, and you have the nerve to try and kick me off? You must have a death wish.” “Take your people and get the hell off my plane, or I’ll make you regret it!” My assistant stepped forward to confront him when he saw how rudely he was treating me, but I held him back. Time was of the essence, and I couldn’t afford to waste it arguing with this freeloader. So I asked him directly: “You claim this plane is yours. Then tell me, what’s the aircraft’s registration number?” Only the plane’s owner would know the registration number. By asking this question, I intended to expose him in front of everyone and see if he’d keep up his act. The crew members and Ethan’s friends all turned to look at him, eager to see if he could answer. I stood by coldly, waiting to see him make a fool of himself. But his next words completely shocked me. “The registration number is N9527, it’s a Gulfstream G700, and it cost $73.4 million. Did I get that right?” “Now get lost!” Looking at Ethan’s smug face, I was completely stunned. Not only could he recite the plane’s registration number, but he even knew its exact price. This was bizarre. While the base price for Gulfstream jets is around $60 million, the final price varies for each customer based on interior customization. So each plane has a unique price. How did he know the exact price of this plane? What was going on here? 3 Hearing Ethan recite the correct registration number, the crew members gathered around me worriedly. The captain spoke first: “Mr. Carter, is this plane really yours? Don’t get us all in trouble. This jet is worth hundreds of millions. We could end up in prison if there’s an investigation.” “Mr. Carter, you offered a high price, but this job is too risky. I’m out.” The maintenance engineer demanded to quit. Realizing we were about to miss our important meeting, I quickly tried to reassure everyone: “Don’t panic. I don’t know how he got the plane’s registration number, but I can guarantee this plane absolutely belongs to me.” “Look, here are the emails between me and Gulfstream when I purchased the plane.” The crew members calmed down a bit after seeing the communication records on my phone. “I’ve already sent someone to push the airline to pull up the plane’s ownership records as soon as possible. That will prove this plane belongs to me.” “When that happens, not only will I kick this imposter off the plane, I’ll also pursue legal action against him.” Hearing this, the crew members returned to their posts. When Ethan heard I had sent someone to check the ownership records, he burst out laughing. “You’re quite the actor, aren’t you? Checking ownership records? I bet you’re just buying time so you can make a run for it.” I ignored the freeloader, waiting for the airline staff to return with proof of ownership so I could deal with him properly. Seeing that I was ignoring him, he started taunting the crew: “You people are really stupid, aren’t you? Can’t you see he’s a total fraud and a thief?” “He stole my plane and is trying to drag you down with him. How can you not see that?” His friends chimed in to back him up: “You guys really have no sense, do you? Do you think just anyone can own a Gulfstream?” “Look at our man Ethan here. He’s wearing Armani, sporting a Rolex. Only high-class people like him deserve a plane like this.” “Now look at that guy. His clothes don’t even have a logo. They look like they came from a street market. Someone like that probably can’t even afford a toy plane, let alone a private jet.” My assistant James couldn’t stand hearing them mock me and snapped back. “You ignorant fools! You have no idea what true luxury is.” “My boss’s suit is made from French vicuña wool. It took the top luxury brand Loro Piana half a year to custom make it. Just the jacket alone is worth $3 million. And you mistake it for cheap clothes? With your level of taste, you don’t deserve to be anywhere near a private jet.” Stung by my assistant’s retort, Ethan’s group turned red with embarrassment. Trying to save face, Ethan angrily pointed at me and yelled: “Who are you calling ignorant? Who doesn’t deserve a private jet?” “When the airline staff comes back and proves this plane is mine, you two better get on your knees and apologize. Otherwise, you’re not leaving here!” I gave a cold laugh: “We’ll see about that. It’s not clear who’ll be kneeling when this is over!” Just then, the airline staff arrived. I confidently asked him: “Have you confirmed who owns the plane?” The airline employee nodded solemnly: “Yes, we’ve figured it out.” I glanced smugly at the arrogant Ethan and said with satisfaction: “Now that it’s been cleared up, get these uninvolved people off my plane.” I gestured at Ethan’s group, indicating for the staff to remove them from the aircraft. But the employee didn’t move. Instead, he looked at me earnestly. After a moment, he said something that made my jaw drop: “Mr. Carter, please take your people and disembark immediately. The true owner of this aircraft is Mr. Ethan Parker.” 4 Hearing the staff say this, I was completely dumbfounded. This was clearly my plane. How could it suddenly belong to someone else? I grabbed the employee’s collar and anxiously asked: “You must have made a mistake. I bought this plane for $70 million. How could it suddenly become his?” The employee stumbled from my sudden movement but patiently explained: “Mr. Carter, please trust our professionalism. We didn’t make a mistake. This plane does indeed belong to Mr. Ethan Parker.” “However, there was a change in ownership. Last month, the previous owner, Ms. Olivia Reed, gifted the plane to Mr. Ethan Parker at no cost.” Hearing his explanation, I suddenly remembered that I had given this plane to my wife Olivia as a wedding gift last year. But Olivia had apparently re-gifted it to this pretty boy. Realizing this, I was overwhelmed with anger. My legs went weak, and I started to fall backwards. Fortunately, my assistant and the airline employee caught me before I hit the ground. At this moment, Ethan swaggered over with a smug look on his face. “Well, now that we’ve confirmed the plane is mine, get on your knees and apologize!” His friends joined in: “Yeah, kneel and apologize to our man Ethan!” The thought that this arrogant man might be involved with my wife made my blood boil. I broke free from my assistant’s grip and rushed over to slap Ethan hard across the face. “Kneel to your mother! I’ll kill you, you bastard!” Seeing Ethan get hit, his friends swarmed me, raining down punches and kicks. My assistant tried to intervene but was knocked to the ground as well. Ethan had his people pin me down and slapped me hard: “You try to steal my plane and then hit me? I’ll teach you a lesson you won’t forget!” Just as he was about to kick me again, his phone rang. He paused and checked the caller ID, then grinned at his friends: “It’s my sugar mama. Hold on a sec.” To show off, he put the call on speakerphone. As soon as the call connected, Olivia’s coquettish voice came through: “Honey, why aren’t you here yet? I can’t wait any longer.” Hearing Olivia urge him like this, Ethan winked at his friends, showing off. His friends all gave him thumbs up in admiration. Basking in their praise, Ethan smugly replied: “I would have been there ages ago, but some idiot tried to claim your gift to me was his plane. When I confronted him, he even hit me. I’m just teaching him a lesson.” “What? Someone dared to hit you! Honey, teach that person a good lesson. Make sure they never forget it!” “But don’t keep me waiting too long, okay? I’ve already booked us a hotel room in Bay City. I’m just waiting for you to get here.” Hearing Olivia say this, Ethan hung up with a satisfied smirk. His friends whooped and hollered. As for me, I was shaking with rage. My blood felt like it was boiling. I wanted nothing more than to castrate these animals, but they had me pinned down tightly. They continued to mock and beat me until they tired themselves out. Then they threw me and my assistant off the plane. As they were about to take off, they couldn’t resist one last taunt from the cabin door: “You broke loser, trying to act like a big shot in front of me. If my wife wasn’t in such a rush, I’d teach you a real lesson today!” Watching the plane disappear into the sky, murderous thoughts filled my mind. I took out my phone and called my executive assistant: “Buy out all flight routes from Bay County to Bay City immediately. Prohibit N9527 from landing at any airport along the way!”

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My wife was mentally impaired. I stood by her side for six years, never leaving her, caring for her devotedly. Then, suddenly, she wasn’t impaired anymore. It turned out her first love was back, and she wanted me to step aside for him. “You’ve had it good, haven’t you? Living off my family for so long, you’ve milked us dry. Now it’s time for you to go!” “Be smart and walk away, and I won’t hold it against you. But if you cause any trouble, I have a thousand ways to make your life miserable!” Her eyes were clear, and she smiled as she threatened me. I didn’t argue. I readily agreed to her demands, even wishing them a lifetime of happiness. Genevieve froze, but I smiled. She had no idea I’d been waiting for this day for a long, long time! “Sign this divorce agreement immediately!” Perhaps because she had only just recovered, and her position wasn’t entirely secure yet, Genevieve had specifically added a clause at the end of the agreement: “Officially effective one year from now.” “Don’t get the wrong idea. This isn’t for me.” Her eyes flickered. “You’ve always relied on the Sinclair family’s support. I’m giving you a year to prepare yourself. After that, don’t ever bother me again.” I couldn’t help but find her words ridiculous. Her true intention couldn’t have been clearer: she didn’t want to be branded as ungrateful. After all, I had cared for her for six long years while she had the mind of a child. If she abandoned me the moment she recovered, it would definitely damage her reputation. In short, it wouldn’t help her ascend to power and become the head of the Sinclair empire. That’s why she insisted on us maintaining our marriage for another year. I had to admire her incredible nerve and audacity. My parents, however, urged me not to argue with Genevieve. They told me to use this year to win her heart back. “Wealthy people often have affairs, Spencer,” they said. “As long as they don’t bring anyone home, just pretend you don’t see anything they do outside.” “Spencer, why are you making this so difficult? As long as you stay by Genevieve’s side, once she’s done playing around, she’ll come back to you eventually,” they tried to convince me. I just sneered and shook my head. “Mom, Dad, the gap between us is too wide. Her heart was never truly mine. Would you two want to live this kind of life?” “Mom, Dad, you’ve really disappointed me.” If Genevieve had ever cared for me, this divorce agreement would never have appeared before me. Back then, when Genevieve was fighting for control of the family corporation, she was unfortunately ambushed. A car accident left her mentally impaired, her IQ regressed to that of a five-year-old. After that, from among the many eligible heirs, she chose me, an ordinary man from a humble background, to be her husband-in-name-only. Though it was merely a contract, I still devoted myself to caring for her for six years. But now it seemed, perhaps, it was all part of her elaborate plan. The competition for the Sinclair Group’s heir was fierce, but in the end, it was she, the seemingly ignorant “fool,” who played the long game and became the biggest winner. Now that she’d achieved her goal, she naturally had no need to continue this charade with me, an outsider from a lesser family. The night before she took control of Sinclair Inc., she changed into a designer gown, looking regal and distant. Every movement she made seemed to announce that everything was under her control. She coldly called my name: “Spencer Thorne.” It was that one call that made me realize I could no longer see the innocent girl who used to shyly grab my shirt and sweetly call me “brother.” Perhaps Genevieve was afraid I’d cling to her. Even though she was the one who stipulated I could only leave after a year, she kept warning me not to covet what wasn’t mine. And so, I, her titular husband, was forced to watch Genevieve parade her “first love” in front of me every single day. When Asher Hayes moved into Genevieve’s mansion, every corner of the house was adorned with festive decorations, as if they were about to have a wedding. Genevieve, true to the corporate powerhouse she was, generously paid for all sorts of expensive custom suits and luxury sports cars for Asher. It made me recall my own wedding to Genevieve. Because she was mentally impaired back then and understood nothing, our wedding was rushed and incredibly simple. She used to cry and tell me she would become really strong so no one could bully her big brother. But now, she was the one bullying me. And now, Genevieve, worried Asher would be bullied by outsiders, showered him with endless affection in public. Anyone unaware would assume he was Genevieve’s legitimate husband. But it didn’t really make a difference. My status as “husband” was just an empty title anyway. To put it harshly, I was just her unpaid caretaker for six years.

Ever since Genevieve secured her position as the head of the Sinclair Group, her actions became increasingly brazen. She and Asher were joined at the hip, and I, her husband-in-name-only, had become completely invisible in her world. While playing a game with my friend Kyle, he was still fuming on the voice chat, advocating for me. His clenched-jaw tone amused me. “Hey, what’s gotten into you? You’re more worked up than I am, and I’m the one living it. Chill, it’s not a big deal.” Kyle scoffed. “If I’m not angry, who will be? We’ve been friends since childhood, and I know your personality inside and out. If I don’t stick up for you, who will?” “You’re always so unfazed, so calm and collected. Even if someone rode all over you, you probably wouldn’t fight back!” he scolded, frustrated with me for not fighting back. “Anyone with half a brain knows how good you’ve been to Genevieve these past few years. Remember when she was pushed to the ground and called ‘brain damaged’? You were the one who stood up and protected her. Every hardship you’ve faced all these years, wasn’t it because of her?” “Now she dares to shamelessly bring another man home! She’s so ungrateful, all your kindness was wasted on her!” Kyle ranted indignantly about Genevieve’s faults, getting more and more heated. I knew my friends were all furious about my situation, but truthfully, I didn’t care much about Genevieve’s attitude. At most, I’d occasionally sigh to myself, “How things have changed.” So, I changed the subject, pulling Kyle into a conversation about other things. “Forget about that for now. I’m looking for a job recently. Do you have any good connections?” “Speaking of which, our company is hiring. I remember you studied administrative management. You could come and apply sometime soon.” “Honestly, our boss is a total stunner. Who knows, maybe you’ll even have a beautiful encounter with her.” As soon as he mentioned his boss, Kyle’s spirits lifted, and he enthusiastically gushed about her captivating beauty and unparalleled grace. He even dragged Genevieve into the comparison, praising his boss for being so pure, loyal, and thoughtful. If I didn’t know Kyle so well, I’d suspect he’d been bribed by his boss to set me up. I chuckled. “Haha, well, I’ll take your word for it then.” I didn’t take Kyle’s words too seriously. I just thought that my marriage contract with Genevieve had only a year left. As long as nothing unexpected happened, my future life would return to normal. But life is unpredictable. Just when I didn’t want to stir up trouble, trouble found me. As I was about to leave, I happened to walk in on Genevieve and Asher canoodling in the living room. They were so intimately entwined that I, an outsider, felt incredibly awkward in that situation. I was about to turn and leave when I heard Asher suddenly speak. “Oh, isn’t that Spencer? Where are you off to?” “Why are you suddenly interrupting Genevieve and me being all lovey-dovey? That’s pretty rude of you.”

This was the first time I’d directly interacted with Asher. He was undeniably handsome, barely in his early twenties, with those sly, captivating eyes that could charm anyone. If I were a woman, I probably couldn’t resist the urge to pull him into my arms. But my attention was drawn to the prominent hickeys on his collarbone. It wasn’t hard to guess what he and Genevieve had been up to last night. Actually, I didn’t even need to look. We all lived under the same roof, and I heard the noises from my room every night, loud and clear. At Asher’s call, Genevieve seemed to only just notice me. She turned her head, a clear look of displeasure on her face. It seemed I really had interrupted their good time. Knowing my place, I didn’t go closer, just apologized from afar. “I was just going out to grab a bite. My apologies for disturbing you two. I’ll leave right now.” However, my discretion wasn’t accepted by Asher. I watched as he gently rubbed his cheek against Genevieve’s hand, looking down pitifully. “Does Spencer dislike me? Why does he leave as soon as he sees me? Did I upset him somehow?” Hearing this, Genevieve immediately soothed him with a kiss. “How could anyone in this world dislike my Asher?” Then she glared at me fiercely. “Now, get over here and apologize to Asher!” I obediently walked over, head bowed, trying to make my presence as minimal as possible, determined to be a silent background fixture. “Gen, is it because I’m too ugly that Spencer keeps looking down and won’t look at me?” Asher seemed to want to make the atmosphere even more awkward, putting on another pitiful act. He wrapped his arms around Genevieve’s neck, ready to give an award-winning performance of despair. “Nonsense! My Asher is clearly the most adorable boy in the world. Anyone who can’t see how captivating you are must be blind!” As she said this, Genevieve’s gaze was fixed on me, making sure I knew the implied “blind person” was me. That look wasn’t new to me. Years ago, when I first married Genevieve, the Sinclair family’s eldest daughter, Isabelle, tried to assert her dominance by constantly provoking Genevieve in front of everyone. After I subtly retaliated with a few sharp words, Isabelle became furious and raised her hand to slap me. Back then, Genevieve was the one who stood in front of me, glaring fiercely at Isabelle, shouting, “No one is allowed to bully Gen’s Spencer!” The way Genevieve looked at Isabelle back then was exactly how she was looking at me now: cold, disgusted, and with a clear warning. I just never imagined that the little girl who once said she’d protect me would now use the same method to protect someone else.

I stood there, saying nothing, doing nothing, yet I was blamed for ‘hating Asher.’ Genevieve’s biased protection made Asher’s face light up with joy. He shot Genevieve a playful, adoring glance. “Gen, I knew you were the best to me.” “Yes, yes, Asher Hayes and Ms. Sinclair are truly a perfect match. Anyone who sees you two would say you’re meant to be.” To escape this uncomfortable situation quickly, I played along with Asher’s words. But perhaps it was my imagination, because after I said that, Genevieve’s gaze on me seemed to sharpen even more. Maybe she connected my words to the humiliation of being a ‘fool’ who had to be subservient to others back then? My mind drifted for a moment, but I remembered not to draw unwanted attention at a time like this. In contrast to Genevieve’s reaction, Asher was very pleased with my response. “Spencer, you really know what to say.” “Aren’t you going out to eat? Go on, don’t starve yourself.” Seeing that he was finally willing to let me go, I quickly smiled and said, “Then I won’t disturb you two. I’m leaving now.” Throughout the entire exchange, Genevieve didn’t say another word, her eyes solely focused on Asher in her arms. But this outcome was exactly what I expected. I just wanted this year to pass quickly so I could finally escape them for good. I didn’t notice, however, that as I left, Genevieve’s eyes, watching my retreating back, grew a touch darker and more unreadable. There was an indescribable something in her gaze, but she concealed it well. Even Asher only thought she was mad at me for interrupting their intimate moment and didn’t pay attention to Genevieve’s brief lapse. When I returned, Asher was no longer at the house. I scanned the living room and didn’t see Genevieve either, immediately understanding. “Looks like they won’t be back tonight.” However, just as I was about to go upstairs to my room, I suddenly heard a low, cold voice from behind the sofa. “I didn’t realize my not coming home would make you so happy.” I turned around and saw Genevieve, her face cold, leaning on the sofa and staring at me, her gaze ominous and dangerous. Who in their right mind sits in the dark, dressed in all black, on a sofa late at night?! I grumbled to myself, but on the surface, I feigned surprise and walked over to Genevieve. “Ms. Sinclair, if you’re home, why aren’t the lights on?” Genevieve suddenly gripped my shoulder. “Spencer Thorne, have you forgotten we’re still married?” Her expression was unpleasant. I guessed she was in a bad mood because I’d walked in on her and Asher earlier. But I had no experience dealing with Genevieve in this state, and I didn’t want to stir up more drama, so I forced myself to answer, “Of course I remember.” “But Ms. Sinclair, please rest assured, today was just an accident. Next time, I’ll be more careful and won’t disturb you and Mr. Hayes.”

The expression on Genevieve’s face seemed to grow even more displeased. She let out a strange, mocking laugh, then slid her hand to my waist. Even through my thin shirt, I could feel the heat of her palm. “Spencer Thorne, I remember you once said you’d never betray me or leave me, didn’t you?” “Yes.” I lowered my head, meeting Genevieve’s aggressive gaze. “But we’ve already signed the divorce agreement, so those words don’t count anymore.” “What? Is this whole charade you’ve been putting on just to remind me about the divorce papers? Or worse, have you actually fallen for me? If—” “No! Ms. Sinclair, I think you’ve misunderstood. Our marriage was a planned arrangement from the very beginning. How could a collaborator possibly fall for their business partner?” Genevieve’s eyes were fixed on mine, deep and unreadable. The emotions within them were truly hard to decipher. And she still held the ‘life-and-death power’ over my family, which was the key leverage that forced me to agree to this year of pretense. “Good, very good.” Genevieve suddenly released her grip on me and scoffed. “Spencer Thorne, you’d better remember your words.” “I trust you’re a smart man. If that’s the case, then for the rest of this year, you’d better fulfill your duties as a husband.” I’d always thought that even if there was no affection between us, considering how dedicatedly I’d cared for her for five years, things wouldn’t end too badly. But Genevieve’s sudden fury now seemed utterly baseless. My first thought was that Asher had badmouthed me to her earlier, but that didn’t make sense. Asher was targeting me only because I’d held the title of Genevieve’s husband for five years, and he couldn’t gauge my place in her heart. After that little test, he got the answer he wanted, so he shouldn’t be bothering me anymore. “I understand.” I followed Genevieve into the master bedroom. By the time I finished showering and came out, Genevieve was already asleep in bed. Only a small nightlight remained lit in the entire room. This was a lingering after-effect from Genevieve’s car accident. In the years she had the mind of a child, even with me by her side, she would always remind me to leave a light on before she slept. I watched her sleeping face for a while before slowly getting into the other side of the bed. I thought I’d lie awake until dawn, but in the quiet atmosphere, it wasn’t long before a heavy wave of sleepiness washed over me.

I had a dream. In it, I was holding a girl’s hand, frolicking freely by the beach. I knew those were memories from before I was forced to marry Genevieve. And that girl had completely vanished from my world the day I married Genevieve. For all these years, despite trying everything I could, I still couldn’t find any trace of her. Just as my dream was about to turn sweeter, I suddenly felt a chill run down my spine. I woke up abruptly to see Genevieve, who knows when she woke up, sitting up in bed, staring intently at me. I was startled. Before I could fully register what was happening, I heard her cold voice. “Who allowed you to sleep next to me?” “I let you in to serve me. You can’t even do that right, you’re useless!” “Get out!” The no-longer-scheming Genevieve was always so temperamental. I couldn’t figure out what she was thinking, but not having to share a room with her was a good thing. I quickly scrambled out of bed, but my brain was still a bit foggy from sleep. Without thinking, I almost stumbled into the nightstand. Luckily, I only swayed and steadied myself before leaving without looking back. Because of this, I didn’t notice Genevieve’s hand, which had reached out halfway before being abruptly pulled back. The next day, Genevieve went to the company early. Although she had swiftly eliminated all dissenting voices in the corporation on the day she took power, Isabelle wasn’t one to sit still. Not to mention the old shareholders who sided with Isabelle were still causing trouble behind the scenes. Thankfully, Genevieve had now allied herself with the Hayes family, otherwise, her path to stabilizing her position in the Sinclair Group might not have been so smooth. As for me, because I hadn’t slept well the night before, Kyle immediately noticed the obvious dark circles under my eyes when we met up. “I swear, Spencer, did you go out robbing banks last night?” Kyle asked. “Just a bit of insomnia,” I gave a flimsy excuse. “I haven’t been working for so long, so I was up late trying to organize my resume.” “Don’t push yourself too hard. I believe with your abilities, you’ll definitely thrive at our company,” Kyle said lightheartedly, patting my shoulder. I naturally believed in my own abilities. I just suddenly thought that with Genevieve staying home all night yesterday, even if nothing truly happened between us, in Asher’s eyes, it was a clear signal of provocation. I was worried he would come looking for trouble.

Sure enough, just as Kyle and I finished our interview and walked out, one of Asher’s bodyguards found me. “Mr. Thorne, my young master invites you to a private club. Please come with us.” The bodyguard was tall, a good half-head taller than me, and when he looked down slightly, the corners of his eyes turned up a little. A hint of contemptuous smile played on his lips, making him look rather unpleasant. Kyle immediately bristled, letting out a sarcastic laugh. “Oh, listen to that! Some dogs, after spending too much time with their master, learn a few human tricks and think they’re people now?” “Anyone who doesn’t know better would think you’re hot stuff, but trash should know its place. This isn’t a recycling center, you know.” Kyle’s words were barbed, and his rapid-fire delivery left the bodyguard’s face ashen. “Mr. Thorne, my young master’s invitation is sincere. I hope you won’t be foolish. Control your friend, or else, if you provoke someone you shouldn’t, there will be trouble.” I sneered. “A stray dog with no manners, barking at people in the street—Kyle isn’t out of line for cursing back. You’re so angry, did you just admit that description fits you?” After the bodyguard left, his face livid, Kyle immediately raised an eyebrow at me and grinned. “I can’t believe you didn’t stop me.” “I thought you’d tolerate it again this time. If you ask me, next time we see that scumbag couple, you should curse them back. That’s the real satisfaction!” His words made me grin. “You’re right, you’re right. When it comes to arguing, who could ever beat you, even when we were kids?” Truth be told, my attitude towards Genevieve or Asher had always been one of indifference. Because I didn’t care, I didn’t want to waste my breath. Asher just wanted to flaunt Genevieve’s affection in front of me and mock me. Such words go in one ear and out the other. If I obsessed over every little thing, wouldn’t I be living too exhausting a life? “I know you’re sticking up for me, but we really don’t need to get angry over people like that. Asher just wants me to be jealous of him, doesn’t he? I’ll purposely not give him that satisfaction. Isn’t that the best revenge?” Having my best friend stand up for me naturally made me happy, but I didn’t want him to get dragged into trouble because of it. After all, Asher clearly seemed like an arrogant type. If he felt insulted by me, he’d naturally look for an opportunity to retaliate.

“Spencer, quickly, try this tea. See if it suits your taste?” In the private club, Asher, with a smile on his face, instructed the tea artist to pour me a hot cup of tea. “Anything Mr. Hayes serves certainly wouldn’t be subpar. It’s just a shame a coarse person like me doesn’t appreciate such luxuries,” I replied with a smile. I’d heard Asher liked tea. This very club was apparently bought for him by Genevieve. She’d even spent a fortune to collect various fine teas from all over the world and deliver them to Asher. Genevieve’s favoritism towards Asher was well-known. Asher didn’t get angry at my words. Instead, he just curved his lips and looked straight at me. “I heard Spencer is looking for a job recently?” “Are you short on cash? Why didn’t you tell Gen? She’d definitely be upset if she found out.” “If Spencer feels uncomfortable asking, you can tell me. Though I don’t have many talents, I’m certainly not lacking in money. As long as Spencer asks, I, as your younger brother, wouldn’t mistreat you.” I instinctively pursed my lips, then looked at the black card pushed across the table, feeling a bit amused. I honestly didn’t expect Asher to try the classic “throw money at me” move from a TV drama. “Thank you for your concern, Mr. Hayes, but I don’t like getting something for nothing.” “My marriage to Ms. Sinclair was just a contract from the start. I’ve already taken what I was supposed to. Anything extra isn’t necessary.” It seemed Genevieve hadn’t told Asher about our arrangement, which was why he felt threatened by my presence. Thinking this, I simply took off the jade ring that Grandmother Eleanor had given me when I married Genevieve and pushed it back across the table with the black card. My action didn’t just surprise Asher; even the bodyguards behind him looked astonished. Perhaps Asher never expected me to so readily hand over what he wanted, but he still accepted the items with a smile. “Spencer, what are you saying? I’ve always respected you as a brother. Of course, I, as your younger brother, should help out if my older brother is in need.” I suppose Asher had never met a ‘love rival’ as sensible as me in his life. Before he could even make a move, I had already calmly exited the stage. At this point, Asher wouldn’t have anything to be dissatisfied with, though he might, to some extent, look down on me, thinking I was too weak. If I could truly leave him with that impression, that would be absolutely perfect. Asher personally poured me another cup of tea. “Spencer, that necklace on your neck looks nice too. How about you sell it to your little brother?” Hearing this, I instinctively raised a hand to guard the necklace. “This is just cheap stuff from a street vendor. If Mr. Hayes likes it, Ms. Sinclair will surely get you something better and more expensive.”

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