Category: English

I’d been secretly dating Nathan for five years. In our fifth year together, he publicly announced his engagement. But his fiancée wasn’t me. On TV, he was on one knee, proposing to his first love with a diamond ring. In the real world, I stood up from the cake I’d made for our fifth anniversary. I calmly dialed my grandfather’s number. “Grandfather, I accept the arranged marriage to the Foster family.” Five years as a substitute. It was time to end it. This time, I would be the one marrying someone else. Lily’s POV In the fifth year of my secret relationship with Nathan, the billionaire heir, he publicly announced his engagement. The fiancée wasn’t me. I sat in a dim private room, staring at the melted remains of our fifth anniversary cake. On the wall screen, a charity gala played live. Nathan Sterling had hidden me away for five years. He refused to even hold my hand in public. Now he was gently placing a five-million-dollar diamond tiara on Susan’s head. “Welcome back, my princess.” His voice came through the microphone, deep and tender. Then the camera panned to the audience below, accidentally picking up his friends’ teasing voices. “Nathan, the love of your life is finally back. What about that woman you’ve been keeping at home? After five years, you two should break up, right?” My entire body went rigid, as if someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over me. Even breathing hurt. Through the screen, I couldn’t see Nathan’s expression clearly, but I heard his casual laugh perfectly. “She’s just a little toy. I’ll write her a check later and be done with it. Don’t mention this in front of Susan. She’s soft-hearted and can’t handle hearing about these things.” Five years. We’d been together for five years. He pampered me, spoiled me, bought me the most expensive bags, let me live in the best house. But he never introduced me to anyone. At first, he’d hold me and coax me. “Lily, just wait a little longer. The Sterling family’s situation is unstable right now. I’m afraid making us public would put you in danger.” Later, I gave up my position as the family heir and became his company’s chief designer. Then he said, “Office romances attract too much gossip. I don’t want to put you through that.” I bought every excuse. I buried my pride and ambition. I became the understanding, obedient woman behind him. Invisible. But now, I’d heard it with my own ears. The reason he wouldn’t make us public wasn’t to protect me at all. It was simply because he didn’t love me. It was because from the very beginning, I’d been nothing more than a substitute for Susan! I stared at the screen showing the two of them embracing, my eyes burning red. After a long moment, I let out a soft, self-mocking laugh. I was laughing at my own stupidity, my own foolishness. I was laughing at how these five years of my youth had become a pathetic joke. Just then, my phone on the table rang abruptly. It was my grandfather calling. “Lily, the Foster boy has returned to the country. Have you thought about the arranged marriage? You haven’t come home for five years because of that Nathan, but he hasn’t even given you a proper status! I know Damien Foster well. He’s an excellent young man…” My grandfather tried to persuade me as always, but this time, before he could finish, I cut him off calmly. “Grandfather, I accept the marriage.” The other end of the line went dead silent. After a long pause, my grandfather asked in disbelief.”Really?” “Really.” I looked at the screen where Nathan was kissing Susan’s cheek, my voice completely devoid of emotion. “When I come back, I’m staying in New York. I’m never leaving again.” After hanging up, I threw the carefully prepared gift box from the table into the trash and walked out of the private room. I’d just finished taking down the fifth anniversary decorations when the front door swung open. Nathan walked in, carrying the faint scent of rose perfume. Susan’s favorite. He saw me on the sofa, walked over, and casually handed me a luxury jewelry box. His tone was gentle, like nothing had happened. “The company was too busy today. I couldn’t be with you. You saw the news? It’s just for show, to build momentum for a collaboration between our companies. We’re just acting. I’m not going to marry Susan.” My gaze met his deep eyes, but he felt like a complete stranger. I already knew the truth, so naturally I knew how fake his affection was in this moment. I didn’t take the jewelry box. I simply nodded calmly. “I understand.” Whether he married Susan or not, I didn’t care anymore. After all, I was going to marry someone else.

Lily’s POV Nathan probably hadn’t expected me to be so calm. After all, I was so calm that I didn’t even question him once. He pulled me into his arms, his large hand caressing my waist. He lowered his head, trying to find my lips. “Lily, you’re not angry?” “Didn’t you say it was fake? Why would I be angry?” I turned my head, avoiding his kiss, and used the momentum to slip out of his embrace. “I’m not feeling well today. I’m going to bed early.” Nathan’s hand froze in mid-air. He watched my retreating figure without any trace of reluctance, his brows furrowing slightly. But in the end, he didn’t press the issue. “Alright. Rest well then.” The next morning, when I woke up, the space beside me was already empty. I didn’t pay it any mind. After washing up, I took a cab to the office myself. When I arrived, I didn’t go to the design department. Instead, I went straight to HR and got a resignation form. After filling it out, I tucked the resignation form into a stack of design drafts that needed signing, went upstairs, and pushed open the CEO’s office door. My steps faltered slightly when I saw the scene before me. Nathan, who was always cold and decisive in front of others, was now half-kneeling on the floor with an ice pack in his hand, carefully tending to the ankle of Susan, who sat on the sofa. “Why wear such high heels? You don’t need to look perfect for me. I just want you to be comfortable.” His voice was so gentle it could drip honey. Hearing the sound, they both turned around. When they saw it was me, Nathan’s expression instantly shifted. He unconsciously stood up and cleared his throat to mask his embarrassment. Before he could speak, Susan on the sofa frowned, her voice coquettish yet condescending. “Nathan, how can your director have such poor manners? She didn’t even knock before entering.” I opened my mouth, finding it somewhat laughable. Not knocking was a privilege Nathan had once given me. He’d said his office was always open to me. But now, this privilege had become a crime in front of his true love. I turned to look at Nathan. His gaze shifted away, not daring to meet my eyes. He just said coldly.”What is it?” “Mr. Sterling, there are some documents that need your signature.” I walked forward and handed him the papers. Nathan took them, looking through them as he signed his name. When he got to the last page, I held my breath slightly. It was my resignation form. “Ah!” Just as Nathan’s gaze was about to fall on that page, Susan suddenly cried out. The coffee cup in front of her tipped over, the scalding liquid splashing onto the back of her hand. It instantly turned red. Nathan’s expression changed dramatically. He couldn’t care less about the documents in his hand. He hastily signed the last page, threw down the pen, scooped Susan up in his arms, and rushed out the door. “Hold on, I’ll take you to the hospital right away!” Watching their figures disappear beyond the door, I stood there, my heart completely calm. I pulled out the signed resignation form, carefully tucked it away, and headed to HR. “Since Mr. Sterling approved it, you can resign once the one-month handover process is complete.” The HR manager looked at the signature and stamped it. I nodded. When I returned to the design department, the group chat on my phone was already exploding. “Mr. Sterling is so good to Miss Susan! She just got scalded a little and he literally carried her out!” “I heard Miss Susan is entering the jewelry business. Mr. Sterling is planning to put her in full charge of our core project next quarter.” “Now that’s true love. Our company is about to have a first lady.” Looking at the messages in the group, I turned off my phone screen. Nathan really did love Susan. As soon as she returned to the country, he couldn’t wait to lay everything at her feet. And as for me, the substitute. It was finally time to exit the stage.

Lily’s POV During lunch break, just as I was about to go downstairs to eat, my colleagues gathered around me. “Lily, I heard you submitted your resignation? Why? You’re a key member of our department!” I smiled, not hiding anything.”I’m going home to get married.” “Married?! So sudden? Who are you marrying? We never heard you had a boyfriend!” “Congratulations! You have to invite us to your wedding!” I smiled and agreed. After work that evening, I’d just walked out of the company building when a familiar black Maybach stopped in front of me. The window rolled down, revealing Nathan’s handsome but somewhat gloomy face. “Get in.” I didn’t move, acting as if I hadn’t seen him, and walked straight toward the curb to hail a cab. Nathan’s expression darkened. He pushed open the car door, strode over, grabbed my wrist, and half-forced me into the passenger seat. “Lily, have you made enough of a scene?” After the door locked, Nathan’s voice, suppressing his anger, echoed in the cramped car. “I told you Susan and I are just acting. Why were you throwing a tantrum in the office today? Who was that for?” I stared straight ahead, my tone flat without any fluctuation.”I didn’t throw a tantrum.” “Then why’d you resign?” Nathan rubbed his forehead, his voice softening. “Lily, Susan just came back. She needs to make a name for herself. That jewelry exhibition next quarter is her big chance. I need you to help her. Stick it out, and I’ll take you to Iceland for the Northern Lights. Deal?” I turned my head to look at this face I’d loved for five years, and suddenly felt somewhat nauseous. He wanted me, the substitute, to work for the woman he truly loved? “Nathan, you already signed the resignation form.” A mocking smile appeared at the corner of my mouth. “Also, I’m not throwing a tantrum. I really am going home to get married.” Nathan froze for a moment, then burst out laughing as if he’d heard a joke. “Married? To who? That distant arranged marriage partner of yours?” He grabbed my chin, his eyes confident and contemptuous. “Lily, don’t use such clumsy excuses to test my limits. You can’t leave me.” He was too confident. So confident he didn’t believe I would actually leave him. I slapped his hand away and didn’t bother explaining further. The next day, to punish my “disobedience,” Nathan issued a CEO directive requiring me to serve as Susan’s personal assistant and accompany her to a snowy mountain to shoot a jewelry promotional video. The snowy mountain was below freezing, with biting winds. Susan sat in a windproof tent wearing a thick down jacket, drinking hot coffee. Meanwhile, I was required to take off my coat and stand in the snow wearing only a thin sweater, holding a heavy reflector for Susan. “Miss Lily, hold it higher. The lighting isn’t right.” Susan held her coffee, smiling innocently. My hands were already frozen red and stiff, almost losing all feeling. Nathan stood not far away, watching this scene with slightly furrowed brows, but he said nothing. He just walked over, draped his coat over Susan’s shoulders, and asked if she was cold. I watched them embrace in the snow. The cold wind cut into my bones, but it wasn’t even one ten-thousandth as cold as my heart. I gritted my teeth and held the reflector until the shoot was over. “Nathan, Lily looks really cold.” Susan leaned against Nathan and spoke mockingly. Nathan walked over. Looking at my purple lips, a trace of reluctance flashed in his eyes, but his tone remained firm.”Have you realized your mistake? Just withdraw your resignation and you can continue as my chief designer.” I lifted my head and looked at him, my frozen lips pulling into a cold arc. “Mr. Sterling, there are twenty-eight days left in the handover period.”

Lily’s POV On the second day of the mountain shoot, Susan’s harassment escalated. In the break room, Susan’s gaze suddenly landed on the vintage pocket watch hanging around my neck. It was the only memento from my late father. I never took it off. “Miss Lily, that pocket watch of yours has quite a vintage feel. Let me borrow it as a prop for the shoot.” Without waiting for permission, Susan reached out to grab it. My expression changed drastically. I quickly stepped back, protecting the watch.”No. This is my father’s memento. I can’t lend it.” “So what if it’s a memento? Nathan put me in charge of the entire project. You’re about to resign anyway. You still won’t cooperate with me?” Susan’s face darkened, and she came forward to snatch it forcefully. During our struggle, the watch’s chain snapped with a “crack.” Susan held the watch, a malicious smile curling at her lips. Then she let go. The watch fell onto the hard rocks. The glass face shattered instantly, gears scattering across the ground. My mind went blank. I stared at the broken watch on the ground, all the blood in my body seeming to freeze. The next second, I raised my hand and slapped Susan hard across the face. “Smack!” The crisp sound of the slap echoed through the break room. Susan clutched her face, screaming in disbelief.”You dare hit me?!” Hearing the commotion, Nathan rushed in. Seeing the red handprint on Susan’s face, his expression instantly turned dark as a storm cloud. “Lily, have you lost your mind?!” He shoved me hard. Already weak, I was thrown backward by his force, falling heavily onto the rocky ground covered in debris. My palm scraped across a sharp stone, immediately opening a long gash. Blood poured out, staining the white snow red. But Nathan didn’t even glance at me. He just anxiously pulled Susan into his arms. “Nathan, I just wanted to borrow her watch as a prop. Not only did she refuse, she hit me…” Susan leaned against him, crying pitifully. Nathan glared at me on the ground, his eyes cold and cutting.”It’s just a broken watch! It’s not even worth anything! I’ll compensate you one million dollars! How dare you hit someone? Apologize to Susan right now!” A broken watch? I sat collapsed on the ground, watching my blood drip into the snow, suddenly finding it all absurdly laughable. He knew perfectly well it was the last keepsake my father had left me. Once, when I accidentally lost this watch, he frantically mobilized everyone to find it. When it was recovered, he held me, heartbroken, and said.”Lily’s things are my life.” But now, when my life had been shattered, he called it just a broken watch. I didn’t cry. I didn’t apologize. I just silently knelt on the ground, using my bleeding hand to pick up the shattered gears and glass pieces one by one, clutching them tightly in my palm. The sharp glass cut into my palm, but I seemed to feel no pain. Nathan didn’t look at me. He carried Susan and left. I took leave and went to the hospital alone to bandage my wound. Coming out of the hospital, I received a call from my good friend Sophia. Sophia was Nathan’s younger sister and the only person who knew about our relationship. At the café, Sophia looked at my bandaged hand, her eyes immediately reddening. “Lily, did my brother bully you again? Since Susan came back, he’s been completely bewitched!” I calmly stirred my coffee, saying softly.”Sophia, I’m getting married.” Sophia froze, then tears spilled from her eyes.”Married? To my brother? Is he finally willing to make your relationship public?” “Not him.” I shook my head. “It’s the arranged marriage from my family. I’m going home.” Sophia stared at me blankly, then suddenly threw her arms around me, sobbing uncontrollably.”Good! My brother is trash. He doesn’t deserve you! Lily, you have to be happy…” Suddenly, someone appeared beside us. It was Nathan. He frowned slightly.”Sophia, why are you crying?” Sophia looked up, glaring at him with red eyes.”Lily is going back to New York to get married, why shouldn’t I cry?!”

Lily’s POV Hearing Sophia’s words, Nathan’s steps halted abruptly, his expression instantly darkening. He stared at me intently, his voice seeming to squeeze through clenched teeth.”Say that again. What are you planning to do?” “I’m getting married.” I met his gaze without backing down. “Mr. Sterling, if you have time, you’re welcome to attend my wedding.” Nathan laughed coldly in anger, stepped forward, and grabbed my wrist, using so much force it felt like he might crush my bones. “Lily, to force me to make us public, you’d even tell such lies? You think a random excuse will make me give in?” Ignoring Sophia’s attempts to stop him, he forcibly dragged me out of the café and shoved me into his car. The car doors locked. Nathan pressed me against the seat back, his eyes fierce yet with a trace of imperceptible panic. “I told you, Susan and I are just acting! What exactly are you making a fuss about? I’ll get the best craftsman to fix that watch for you. Stop using marriage to challenge my limits!” Looking at his enraged appearance, I just felt pathetic. “Nathan, does acting require you to treasure her like that? Does acting require you to push me into the snow for her sake?” My voice was very quiet. He was speechless. After a long while, he irritably loosened his tie.”She just returned to the country. She’s emotionally unstable. I’m just taking extra care of her. You used to be so understanding. Why have you become so annoying?” “Yes, I was too understanding before.” I laughed self-mockingly. “So now, I don’t want to be understanding anymore. I really am getting married. My fiancé is Damien Foster.” At the name Damien Foster, Nathan’s eyes narrowed. The Fosters were New York’s most elite family. And Damien Foster was famously unapproachable in their circle. “At least find a believable lie.” Nathan sneered, not believing me at all. “Just stay home and reflect these next few days. When you realize your mistake, then you can come back to the office.” He slammed the door and left, leaving me alone in the villa. That evening, I sat on the sofa. My phone kept receiving photos from my grandfather. Wedding dresses and wedding venues. “Lily, Damien says you can choose any wedding venue. Which one do you like?” I carefully looked through the photos and selected the simplest wedding dress. Nathan came out after showering. Seeing me focused on my phone screen, he walked over and glanced at it. His expression immediately turned livid. “Still acting?” He snatched my phone away. Seeing the wedding dress photos on the screen, he roared.”Lily, are you determined to make me angry?” I didn’t try to grab the phone back. I just looked at him calmly.”Nathan, you already signed the resignation form. And I’m not throwing a tantrum. I really am going home to get married.” Nathan stared blankly for a moment, then burst out laughing as if he’d heard a joke. “Married? To who? That distant arranged marriage partner?” He grabbed my chin, his eyes confident and contemptuous. “Lily, don’t use such pathetic excuses to test my limits. You can’t leave me.” He was too confident. So confident he didn’t believe I would actually leave. I knocked his hand away and didn’t explain further. The next morning, I received a string of numbers from my grandfather. “Lily, this is Damien’s private number. You young people should chat and develop your relationship.” I saved the number to my contacts. When entering the label, I paused, then typed in a name. “Future Husband.” Since I’d decided to marry, I would completely sever all ties with the past.

Lily’s POV With half a month left in the handover period, the company held a team-building event to celebrate the launch of a new project. I didn’t want to go, but as the soon-to-depart chief designer, my colleagues enthusiastically invited me, so I agreed. It was supposed to be just a design department dinner, but when I arrived at the private room, I discovered that Nathan had brought Susan along. “Nathan said everyone has been working hard, so he specially brought me to show appreciation.” Susan held Nathan’s arm, completely acting like the lady of the house. The atmosphere in the room instantly became somewhat awkward. Everyone knew Nathan and I used to be close. Now that Nathan had a girlfriend, no one dared say a word. Halfway through the dinner, someone suggested playing “Truth or Dare” to liven things up. In the first round, the bottle landed in front of Nathan. Given his position, no one dared make too outrageous demands. Someone said.”Mr. Sterling, choose Dare! Show everyone the first photo in your phone’s gallery!” Nathan didn’t refuse. He took out his phone and opened the gallery. On the projection screen, a solo photo of Susan at the snowy mountain appeared. In the photo, she was smiling happily, the shooting angle full of affection. “Wow! Mr. Sterling and Miss Susan have such a great relationship!” “This is truly enviable love!” Amid everyone’s praise, Susan shyly leaned on Nathan’s shoulder. Nathan’s gaze, however, passed over the crowd and landed directly on me in the corner. He expected to see jealousy and heartbreak on my face. But I just gave him a cold glance, then lowered my head to drink my juice, never making eye contact with him again. Suddenly, I received a text from Nathan. “Just acting. Don’t take it seriously.” I looked at the message on the screen, a mocking smile appearing at the corner of my lips. I flipped the phone face-down on the table. In the second round, the bottle stopped squarely in front of me. “Miss Lily, what do you choose?” “Dare.” I said lightly. My colleagues exchanged glances, then boldly said.”Then please call the first contact in your phone, and put it on speaker!” I didn’t hesitate. I picked up my phone and opened my contacts. On the big screen, the first name at the top of my contact list was clearly displayed. “Future Husband.” The room instantly fell silent. Everyone’s eyes secretly glanced toward Nathan. Nathan’s expression darkened the moment he saw the screen. He stared at me intently, both hands clenched into fists, veins bulging on the backs of his hands. The phone rang twice before it picked up. A deep, magnetic voice came through the speaker, with a hint of authority. “Lily?” My heart skipped. I answered softly. “It’s me.” “Calling this late? You miss me?” There was a faint, almost hidden warmth in his voice. Everyone in the room gasped. Nathan shot up, his chair scraping the floor with a screech. His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at me, like he wanted to tear me apart. “Ridiculous!” He spat the word, kicked the chair aside, and stormed out, dragging Susan along. And that was how the party ended. I hung up, said goodbye to my colleagues, and walked out alone. Just as I reached the intersection, a black Maybach stopped in front of me. The door opened, a hand reached out, and I was pulled inside.

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Ever since I heard that anonymous recording of his tender whispers to his first love, the wolf inside me finally went quiet. Even when his discarded jacket reeked of another she-wolf’s scent, I stopped questioning him. He explained irritably that taking care of his first love was just his duty, and I only responded faintly: “I believe you.” On our fourth anniversary, one tearful call from his first love made him abandon me without hesitation. When he used caring for his first love as an excuse once again, I had already accepted the offer to become Chief She-Wolf Trainer and completely disappeared from his territory. Months later, he barged into my training camp out of control, eyes red as he begged: “Alison, come home with me. It’s you I truly love.” I looked at him and smiled calmly. “Ethan, this time, I don’t love you anymore.” Alison POV Ever since I received that mysterious anonymous recording that night, the wolf inside me finally went quiet. For the past four years, as Luna of the Blood Moon Pack, I had devoted myself wholeheartedly to supporting Alpha Ethan. When he led the pack on territory patrols until dawn, there was always a light I left on for him at the Packhouse. When he fought rogues at the border for days and nights, I no longer mind-linked him to ask if he was tired. Even when his discarded jacket occasionally carried the sickeningly sweet scent of another she-wolf, I stopped questioning it. Today, having just finished high-intensity she-wolf tactical training, I struggled alone to the pack hospital due to a severe shoulder tear. The doctor asked me softly: “Luna, should I notify Alpha Ethan?” I forced myself to stay alert and said calmly, “No need.” The doctor looked down to fill out the form, then suddenly glanced at me again with hesitation in his eyes: “But… Alpha happens to be at the hospital tonight. He’s upstairs.” Hearing that Ethan was at the hospital, the wolf inside me instinctively flinched, worrying whether he was injured. But the nurse’s next words dismissed that thought. “Miss Olivia isn’t feeling well today, so Alpha Ethan has been upstairs with her the whole time…” I understood. “It’s fine, I can manage alone.” I closed my eyes, forcefully suppressing the restlessness of the mate bond inside me. “No need to disturb him.” Half an hour later, the hospital room door was pushed open abruptly. Ethan walked quickly to my bedside, his brows furrowed, and habitually pressed the back of his hand against my forehead. “Why didn’t you tell me you were injured during training?” His palm was warm, and he still carried that familiar scent. In the past, even with just minor scratches, this scent alone was enough to soothe my restless wolf. But I turned my head away, avoiding his touch. “Just a tear, nothing serious. Just needs bandaging.” Ethan’s hand froze in mid-air. He seemed to sense something and was about to speak when whispered conversations from the hallway interrupted him. The gossip from outside carried clearly into the room. “The Alpha is so attentive to that Miss Olivia in the VIP room… It’s just ordinary nervous exhaustion, yet he comes every day and stays half the night. He even postponed the pack’s regular meetings.” “What do you know? Olivia is the former Beta’s daughter, noble bloodline. I heard if the old Alpha hadn’t forcibly separated them back then and made Alpha marry the current Luna instead, Olivia would already be our Luna.” “No wonder Alpha treats her so specially. Alpha just went up to see her again, right?” The voices faded with the footsteps, leaving an awkward silence. Ethan’s expression changed. He instinctively looked at me, panic flashing in his eyes. “Alison, don’t pay attention to that idle gossip.” He rushed to explain. “Olivia’s father sacrificed himself to protect the pack, and she and I already severed our mate bond long ago. She’s all alone now. As the pack’s Alpha, I’m just looking after her a bit more.” “Mm.” I acknowledged without saying more. This reaction made Ethan inexplicably irritated, and his Alpha aura began to leak out uncontrollably. “You don’t believe me?” “I believe you.” I turned to look at him, my eyes completely calm. “You’ve always been a responsible Alpha. Caring for the former Beta’s orphaned daughter is your duty.” Ethan froze, suddenly unable to speak. In the past, every time he made excuses to accompany Olivia, the wolf inside me would become restless. He always grew tired of my insecurity and would say impatiently: “Olivia and I are ancient history. I’m only caring for her out of duty now. Can you not be so sensitive?” Now I finally gave him what he wanted—no more sensitivity, no more questions, even actively withdrawing my possessiveness. His brows furrowed tighter. Just as he was about to speak, a soft thud came from outside the door. Olivia stood there gripping the doorframe, her face deathly pale. “Ethan…” She bit her lip, her voice weak, tears pooling in her eyes. “I heard that Alison was hospitalized too…” “Why did you get out of bed?” Almost instinctively, Ethan rushed over to support her, his tone mixing reproach with concern. “Didn’t the doctor tell you that your body is too weak and you must rest in bed?” Olivia leaned weakly against him, her gaze moving past his shoulder to look at me timidly. “I was worried about Alison… so I wanted to come see her. After all, if you hadn’t been helping me handle my father’s funeral arrangements, you wouldn’t have neglected Luna…” Ethan sighed helplessly and scooped Olivia up without hesitation. He turned back to look at me, saying hurriedly: “Alison, I’ll take her back to her room first and come right back to stay with you. We’ll go home together in a bit.” His figure carrying Olivia quickly disappeared. I looked down at my half-bandaged arm, and that recording played again in my mind. It was Ethan’s voice, deep and tender. He said: “Staying by your side feels like going back to the past.” In that moment, I finally woke from my dream. He had never truly let go of his first love. These four years had been nothing but my one-sided devotion. I endured the sharp pain from the mate bond tugging at my heart, took a deep breath, picked up my phone, and opened that unread email. I typed my reply: [I accept the invitation to officially become the Chief She-Wolf Trainer of Zephyr Moon Pack.] Click. Send.

Alison POV After treating the wounds on my arm, I left the pack hospital as dawn was breaking. Last night, Ethan never returned. I refused the doctor’s suggestion to stay for observation and walked alone back to the Packhouse. Suddenly, I remembered many years ago, the first time I met Ethan. Back then, the Silver Moon Pack’s border was under vicious attack by rogues. As a vanguard warrior, I fought in blood-soaked mud. Just as three crazed rogues surrounded me and my strength was nearly exhausted, a massive black wolf descended from above and instantly snapped the enemy’s neck. After the battle ended, Ethan stood before me. He reeked of blood. He extended both hands to me as I sat slumped against a tree. “You’re outstanding.” His eyes held undisguised admiration. “Seems the Silver Moon Pack has trained a remarkable warrior.” The first time I saw him, I remembered his low, slightly hoarse voice and those golden eyes. Our second meeting was at the negotiating table for an alliance marriage. To strengthen the pack, the old Alpha of Blood Moon Pack—Ethan’s father—chose me, a female warrior who had distinguished herself on the battlefield, as the marriage partner. I later learned the old Alpha used iron-fisted tactics, even forcing Ethan to sever his mate bond with his first love, Olivia. After the meeting ended, I found Ethan alone on the terrace, taking in the breeze. I didn’t want to force anyone, so I approached him proactively. “If you’re being forced to accept this, I can refuse the old Alpha.” I looked at him seriously. Ethan turned his head slightly, the emotions in his eyes unfathomable. After a moment, he chuckled softly and reached out to smooth my wind-tousled hair. “Why refuse? Alison, you’re a wonderful she-wolf.” He paused, his tone carrying a casual certainty. “Besides, your wolf likes me, doesn’t she?” I did like him. That time fighting side by side on the battlefield, his powerful, cold figure had already left an impression in my heart. So I always thought that as long as I devoted all my loyalty and worked wholeheartedly to help him manage pack affairs, someday I could exchange sincerity for sincerity. In fact, these four years, in outsiders’ eyes, Ethan was quite a competent husband. He would tenderly comfort me during my heat, remember all my preferences, and absolutely defend my dignity as Luna before the council of elders. He prepared thoughtful, appropriate gifts for every anniversary. The she-wolves in the pack always envied me, saying I had an Alpha like Ethan who was emotionally stable and considerate. I once thought I had truly entered his heart. Until a month ago, when Olivia returned to the pack. As the former Beta’s daughter, her father’s death became Olivia’s legitimate reason to return. She called Ethan crying and seeking comfort. That day was our fourth anniversary dinner. After taking the call, Ethan didn’t even explain to me before hurrying away. From then on, everything changed. He came home to the Packhouse later and later, always carrying another she-wolf’s scent. Even in the middle of the night, as long as Olivia made an excuse about being sad from dreaming of her deceased father, Ethan would hastily grab a jacket and leave me to rush to her place. Because of Olivia, we began fighting frequently. I felt insecure and pathetic. I despised myself for this irrational jealousy, yet couldn’t help asking him with red eyes again and again: “After all these years, is she the only one you truly care about in your heart?” And he grew increasingly impatient, blaming me for being sensitive and paranoid, saying coldly: “Her father died fighting for the pack. I care for her only as compensation to the former Beta. Alison, when did you become so unreasonable?” I also doubted myself—was I really being too sensitive and paranoid? Until that night, when my phone received an anonymous email containing only a short audio clip. The moment I played it, Ethan’s familiar voice filled the quiet room. In that instant, the string that had been taut in my mind for four years finally snapped. This time I didn’t throw a tantrum or cry my heart out. A warrior’s instincts made me unusually calm in this extreme pain. I looked at my pale face in the mirror. Yes, when disappointment accumulates enough, it’s time to leave.

Alison POV When I returned to the Packhouse, the sky had fully brightened. The house was quiet, just like every night when I came home alone. Suddenly, the phone in my pocket vibrated. “Is this Alison?” A capable voice came through. “I’m the Beta of Zephyr Moon Pack. Regarding your application to serve as Chief She-Wolf Trainer at Zephyr Moon Pack, we need final confirmation. Have you truly thought this through? It means you’ll be leaving your pack for an extended period.” I lowered my eyes and gripped the phone tightly. “I’ve thought it through.” “Good. We’ll arrange the other matters on our end. The departure date is set for the fifth of next month. Is that acceptable on your end?” The fifth of next month—half a month from now. I took a deep breath, my tone calm: “No problem.” After ending the call, I looked around the master bedroom. This home was something I had built up piece by piece. When I first moved in four years ago, there was only cold black, white, and gray—a frigid atmosphere. I spent so much effort changing the curtain colors, filling the balcony with greenery, and filling the corners with gifts Ethan had punctually given for each anniversary. I once thought that with enough care, this place would eventually become my true home. We would raise children here together and lead the pack to prosperity. But now, soon I would be leaving this place forever. I dragged out an old suitcase. Inside were my old training daggers, protective gear, and combat uniforms. Halfway through packing, the bedroom door suddenly opened. Ethan stood in the doorway. He saw the open suitcase on the carpet and froze, surprise flashing in his eyes. “What are you… doing?” I paused while stroking the dagger, then tossed it into the case without looking up. “Nothing much. Just felt there was too much clutter in the room. Haven’t cleaned in a while. Getting rid of things I don’t use anymore or don’t need. Throwing out what should be thrown out.” Just as he was about to ask more, his phone rang. It was that special ringtone set exclusively for Olivia. Ethan’s expression changed. He instinctively glanced at me, then took his phone to the balcony to answer. “…Yeah, just got back to the Packhouse. What’s wrong?” I continued organizing my gear with my head down, pretending not to hear anything. From the balcony, Ethan’s lowered voice drifted intermittently on the wind into my sensitive wolf ears. “Headache again?… Don’t worry, I’ll come check on you right away… Okay, lie down and don’t move.” After hanging up, Ethan returned to the bedroom, his expression somewhat complex. I had already finished cleaning the last tactical vest and was carefully folding it into the case. I looked up and asked him with a smile, “What happened? Is something wrong with Olivia?” “It’s Olivia…” Ethan hesitated, his eyes flickering. “She says she has a sudden severe headache… Her father is gone, and there’s no one to properly care for her. I need to go check on her.” I looked at this man before me and suddenly found my four years quite laughable. Four years—countless times trusting each other with life and death on the battlefield—and in the end, it couldn’t compare to his first love saying “I have a headache.” I nodded. “Then go quickly. A headache is no small matter.” Ethan froze: “Alison, I…” “Go on.” I zipped up the suitcase. “Olivia needs you most right now. Don’t keep her waiting.” If this were the old me, the me before hearing that recording, my wolf would have been roaring with rage inside. I definitely would have asked him with red-rimmed eyes: “Didn’t you just come back from the hospital? There are so many excellent doctors at the pack hospital. Do you really need to go?” But now, I just smiled and even considerately reminded him not to keep another woman waiting. Ethan stared at me for several seconds. “I’ll be back as soon as possible.” He suppressed the strange panic in his heart. “Let’s have lunch together at noon, okay? We’ll go to that new restaurant you’ve been wanting to try.” I smiled noncommittally. “Sure. But if you get delayed there, it’s fine. Don’t worry about me. I’ll take care of myself.” Ethan opened his mouth, seeming to want to say something, but ultimately said nothing and turned to leave the bedroom hurriedly. I stood there, listening to the sound of the SUV engine gradually fade into the distance. Then I turned around and continued methodically packing my luggage.

Alison POV Late at night, Ethan didn’t return to the Packhouse. My phone screen lit up—a text from him. [Olivia’s still not feeling well… I might be back late. Eat without me. Don’t wait.] I stared at that text, my finger hovering over the screen for a few seconds. The air still seemed to carry the scent from his hastily departed jacket. I turned off the screen without replying. The day Olivia was discharged from the hospital happened to be my birthday. But Ethan had obviously forgotten completely. A few days ago, he had proactively mentioned his plans for that day. “Olivia just lost her father and has been very depressed lately. I want to throw a welcome-back party for her. Consider it appeasing the former Beta family’s influence and cheering her up.” At the time, I was standing in the closet, inventorying tactical equipment needed for the new pack—silver daggers and several advanced combat manuals. Hearing his words, I didn’t look up: “Sure, do you need me to help organize it?” Ethan paused. He had expected me to feel hurt by his excessive attention to Olivia, as I would have before. “You don’t mind?” he asked tentatively, his brow slightly furrowed. My excessive calmness made him anxious. “Mind what?” I looked up at him calmly. “Comforting a pack member who lost a loved one is an Alpha’s responsibility. Besides, Olivia really has had it rough—her father just passed, and she’s been badly hurt herself.” He looked at me deeply and ultimately didn’t ask for my help, instead personally taking charge of the entire party. … On the evening of the party, almost everyone who attended had grown up with Ethan and Olivia. As Ethan’s nominal Luna, I naturally had to attend. The atmosphere grew lively as the alcohol flowed. “I’m saying,” a tipsy wolf stood up, “Olivia was our pack’s recognized Luna back in the day! Now that she’s back in the pack, shouldn’t she drink with the Alpha?” Instantly, whistles and low howls erupted around the long table. Ethan’s brow furrowed immediately, and he instinctively released a hint of Alpha pressure: “Enough. Alison is right here.” “Luna doesn’t mind, right?” Another she-wolf friendly with Olivia spoke up, emboldened by alcohol, her eyes carrying hidden provocation. “Our Luna is a first-rate warrior who’s been on the battlefield. She’s the most generous! Right?” All eyes, including Ethan’s, instantly focused on me. I leaned back in my chair, feeling the faint stabbing pain from the mate bond, but I only smiled faintly and pushed my wine glass away. “Go ahead and drink. I don’t mind.” My tone was so light it lacked even a ripple. Amid the cheering, Ethan and Olivia raised their glasses. They stood very close—close enough for their scents to completely mingle. Olivia’s cheeks flushed with excitement, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at Ethan. But Ethan’s expression showed a hint of stiffness. His gaze didn’t rest on Olivia but instead drifted involuntarily past their crossed arms toward me. I instinctively turned away, no longer watching him. After finishing his drink and setting down the glass, Ethan’s first reaction was to stride over to me. “Alison…” Ethan approached me, lowering his voice with a hint of panic. “Just now… they just drank too much. Don’t…” “It’s fine, I understand.” I cut him off, my gaze drifting toward Olivia, the center of attention in the crowd. “Look, tonight Olivia looks just like…” I paused, raising a faint smile, “like a true Luna.” Ethan was instantly speechless. He stared hard into my eyes, as if trying to find something, but he found nothing. Halfway through the party, I got up to use the restroom. Coming out of the restroom, I ran into Olivia in the hallway. “Luna Alison.” Olivia called out to me, her face showing perfectly calibrated regret. “Earlier… I’m really sorry. Everyone just drank too much and was fooling around. Please don’t take it to heart. Don’t let me affect your relationship with Ethan.” I stopped and turned to look at her: “Why would I take it to heart?” Olivia was stumped by my response. After a pause, she bit her lip and said: “I mean… Ethan and I really are just friends now. Don’t misunderstand…” “I haven’t misunderstood.” I smiled, my gaze calmly sweeping over her. “You’re friends, first loves, mates who were forcibly separated. I know all of it.” With that, I turned to leave. “Wait!” Olivia suddenly raised her voice. I stopped in place without turning around. “Do you know he has a hidden photo album on his phone? The password is my birthday. It contains all our past memories, including the night we almost completed the Mark.” Olivia’s voice carried a hint of smugness. “Alison, you only became bound to him through mate bond because of an arranged marriage. You’ve been with him for four whole years. Has his wolf truly submitted to you even once? Now that I’m back—” My body stiffened. That recording echoed in my mind again—”Staying by your side feels like going back to the past…” But I didn’t turn around. “So what?” “So…” Olivia walked up to me in her heels, her eyes challenging as they fixed on me. “So he never forgot me. These four years, you’ve been nothing but my replacement.”

Alison POV I looked at Olivia standing before me with reddened eyes and couldn’t help but laugh softly. “Olivia, at this point, there’s no need to provoke me.” I looked down at her. “If you want him, bare your claws and fight for him. No need to come here specifically to show off how special you are to him.” Ignoring Olivia’s unpleasant expression, I turned and walked away without looking back. When I returned to the party, Ethan was frowning, looking for me. “Where did you go? You were gone so long.” “I ran into Olivia in the hallway. We chatted for a bit.” I calmly sat down on the sofa and took a sip from my wine glass. Ethan’s aura wavered slightly, his brow furrowing deeper: “What did you talk about?” “Nothing much.” I rotated the glass in my hand and looked up at him with a smile. “She just told me you have a hidden photo album on your phone, and the password is her birthday.” The moment the words fell, an unnatural look flashed through Ethan’s eyes. “Alison, let me explain…” “No need to explain.” I cut him off, my tone completely flat. “That’s your privacy. I respect it.” Ethan stared at me hard, his chest heaving violently. If this were before, my she-wolf would have already flown into a rage. “Alison, something is really wrong with you.” Ethan grabbed his jacket from the chair back and strode over to grip my wrist. “Come on, we’re going home to talk properly!” “Tonight’s party isn’t over yet…” “Let’s go!” He pulled me up without room for argument, mind-linking a few words to the Beta before leading me out of the private room. Just as we got in the car, someone knocked on the window. Ethan lowered the window. Olivia stood in the night wind, looking pitiful. She bit her pale lip, her voice weak: “Ethan, everyone’s left and I didn’t bring a driver. Could you give me a ride home? It’s on the way.” Before Ethan could speak, I had already silently opened the back door. Olivia froze. She had obviously prepared a belly full of sympathy-seeking words, but now they were all stuck in her throat. Throughout the drive, Olivia kept talking softly, reminiscing about her and Ethan’s past moments in the pack. Ethan responded once or twice, but his grip on the steering wheel tightened, and he remained mostly silent. “Sometimes I really regret it. If only I hadn’t compromised and left the pack…” Olivia murmured sadly. “It’s all in the past.” Ethan cut her off in a low voice. The car fell into brief silence. Suddenly, a car shot out from a side road. “Watch out!” Accompanied by the piercing screech of brakes, Ethan yanked the steering wheel. The car completely lost control and crashed hard toward the roadside barrier. In the massive inertia, I clearly saw Ethan instinctively reach out to protect Olivia beside him. “Crash—!” And I was violently thrown forward, my forehead slamming hard into the metal frame of the front seat. Warm liquid flowed down from my temple. “Alison!” Ethan turned to see my blood-covered face and instantly paled. “Are you okay?!” I casually wiped away the blood obscuring my eyes with the back of my hand. The wound was slowly heating as my werewolf healing kicked in, but the temperature in my heart had dropped to freezing. “I’m fine… Take Olivia first.” “You’re bleeding and you still…” Ethan wanted to push open the door to check on me. “I said I’m fine. I’ll take a cab to the hospital myself.” I looked at him coldly. “Olivia got scared. Take her home to rest quickly. Don’t forget, she can’t do without you right now.” With that, I didn’t give him any chance to argue. I pushed open the car door, hailed a passing taxi, and left the scene without looking back. … By the time I finished treating my wound at the hospital and returned to the Packhouse, it was already late at night. I leaned back on the bedroom sofa with my eyes closed, mentally calculating the itinerary for going to Zephyr Moon Pack. “Bang!” The bedroom door was pushed open violently. Ethan strode in with a chill in the air and crouched before me. “Why did you leave alone? Do you know how worried I was?” His eyes were bloodshot. I slowly opened my eyes and looked at this face I had loved for four years. “Weren’t you supposed to take care of Olivia? She’s emotionally unstable. She needs you more right now.””Alison!” Ethan finally lost his patience. He gripped my hand tightly. “What’s going on with you lately? Is it because Olivia came back and the wolf inside you is jealous? I told you, she and I…” “I know.” I calmly withdrew my hand, cutting off his defense. “I believe you two are finished. You instinctively protected her because you feel responsible for the former Beta’s orphaned daughter. I understand all of it.” “Then why are you…” “Ethan,” I looked at him and suddenly smiled, “do you remember how in the past, whenever you got close to Olivia, my wolf would go wild uncontrollably? I got angry when you spent time with her, and you always said I was too sensitive, too immature, that I wasn’t like a proper Luna.” Ethan froze in place, his pupils contracting sharply. “Now I’ve learned to be mature. I’ve controlled my wolf. I’m not angry anymore.” I shrugged indifferently, watching his face gradually lose color. “Isn’t this what you always wanted?”

Alison POV I stood up, my tone calm: “I’m not feeling well. I’m going to bed.” As I turned, Ethan suddenly reached out and gripped my wrist. “Alison, you’re not thinking of leaving me, are you?” I hadn’t expected his intuition to be so sharp. Since he’d already sensed it, I’d planned to just be honest and dissolve the mate bond with dignity. However, Ethan stepped forward, his gaze locking onto mine intensely: “We’ve been bonded as mates for four years. The entire pack is used to you as their Luna, and I’m used to having you by my side. You won’t leave me, right?” So it turned out his anxiety about my leaving was only because he was “used to” my presence, used to having a tool who could help him manage pack affairs. We’d been together all these years, but he’d never once said the word “love” to me. Thinking about it now, maybe he never mentioned “love” because there was someone else he truly loved in his heart. And for me, I was just a habit. I pulled my lips into a smile, restraining the emotions in my eyes: “You’re right.” I was indeed used to his presence too. It’s just that this kind of habit—I figured if I could just endure through it, I could eventually break it. Perhaps my recent “excessive calmness” had made Ethan uneasy. He simply pushed all his territory patrol duties to the Beta and took several days off specifically to stay at the Packhouse with me. He personally cooked my favorite foods and even accompanied me during training in the backyard. Everything seemed to return to when we first married and fought rogues side by side. But some things had fundamentally changed forever. Within a few days, Olivia’s call came. When her special ringtone sounded in the living room, I was on the balcony trimming a precious moonlight herb. I heard Ethan answer, his voice unconsciously softening: “Olivia?” My hand paused, scissors frozen in mid-air. After a few low murmurs, Ethan hung up and walked toward me: “Alison, there’s a pack alliance reception tomorrow. Olivia said her father just passed away, and as the former Beta’s daughter, she’ll be looked down on if she attends that kind of event alone… She hopes I can accompany her.” Before I could speak, Ethan gripped my shoulder, his eyes seemingly candid: “I already agreed. But I hope you can come with me tomorrow.” I looked into his eyes, understanding his subtext—he acknowledged my position as Luna, but he equally couldn’t refuse any of Olivia’s requests. I set down the scissors, my voice completely flat: “Sure, I haven’t been out in a long time anyway.” The next day, when Ethan and I arrived at the reception, an elaborately dressed Olivia was already waiting at the banquet hall entrance. “Ethan! You’re here!” She hurried forward, completely ignoring my existence, very naturally reaching out to link her arm through Ethan’s. Ethan’s body stiffened slightly, his peripheral vision instinctively glancing toward me. I didn’t even spare them an extra glance and stepped into the banquet hall first. Behind me came Olivia’s soft murmuring: “The setup for this reception is the same as always. Ethan, do you remember when Alpha training camp ended that year, we were also here…” The hall was brilliantly lit. I was too lazy to listen to them reminisce about their past romance and walked alone to the exhibition area to browse. “Watch out—!” The moment the cry rang out, the sharp sound of snapping steel cables came from overhead. I jerked my head up to see the crystal chandelier above lose its balance and topple toward our location. Everything happened too fast. Without any hesitation, without even glancing back at me, Ethan lunged toward Olivia on the right, holding her tightly in his arms as they rolled together toward the safe area nearby. And I only had time to raise my arms to protect my head and face. “Crash—!” The enormous shattering sound was deafening. The falling crystal shards viciously sliced through my left shoulder, bringing sharp, piercing pain. I staggered backward, my foot caught by a broken cable, and my entire body pitched backward. The back of my head slammed hard against the edge of the marble display platform. Blood immediately gushed out, quickly soaking through the fabric of my dress. I lay on the cold floor, ears ringing, vision beginning to blur. I used the last of my strength to turn my head. Ethan was helping Olivia to her feet. His back had been cut by shards and was bleeding, but he seemed completely unaware, first looking down to cup Olivia’s face and check her condition. “Olivia! Are you okay? Are you hurt? Where are you injured?” His voice carried a panic and fear I’d never heard in four years. Even when we’d been surrounded by dozens of rogues on the battlefield years ago, he’d never shown such an out-of-control expression. Olivia leaned against him, her face pale, tears pooling in her eyes as she gently shook her head. I quietly watched this scene. As I thought—he truly still loved Olivia.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “391349”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

On the day of the World Pairs Piano Competition finals, my wife Billson disappeared. I frantically called her 33 times, only to turn around and see her standing on stage with her ex, Claude. Because of this, I lost my eligibility to compete. Watching the two of them take first place and stand on the winner’s podium, I silently turned and left. Just as I reached the door, Billson’s call came through. “I won first place. Don’t forget to come to the celebration party.” I didn’t answer. I silently hung up. That evening, Claude posted on Ins. In the video, Claude had his arm around Billson’s shoulder as they accepted everyone’s cheers. The smiles on their faces were blindingly painful to watch. I liked the post and commented. [Congratulations, tonight’s spotlight is all yours!] Before long, Billson called, her voice carrying a note of apology. “Don’t be mad. I’ve always remembered your mom’s wish. We still have next time.” I hung up directly, my hand trembling as I pulled a piece of paper from my pocket. It was my mother’s critical condition notice! There would be no next time!

I rushed to the hospital but didn’t make it in time to see my mother one last time. My mother’s greatest wish had been to see Billson and me win the World Pairs Piano Competition championship. Mother left with regret. I knelt before her, tears streaming silently down my face. The next day, Kristian came to the hospital and helped me prepare my mother’s body. She was my mother’s student, and we’d known each other since childhood. “Where’s Billson? Why didn’t she come?” I pressed my lips together tightly, not knowing what to say. Kristian frowned. “Didn’t you tell her?” I shook my head. I had called Billson last night. “What is it? I’m still busy here. We’ll talk when I get back.” Before I could speak, she hung up. When I called again, her phone was already off. Seeing my silence, Kristian grew anxious. “What’s going on? Tell me. She’s your wife. How can she not come to the funeral?” I smiled bitterly! Last night Claude had updated his Twitter. To celebrate their victory, the two of them had already gone on a trip out of town. “I’ll call her.” I stopped Kristian as she pulled out her phone, my expression calm. “It’s fine if she doesn’t come.” “How is that fine? She’s the teacher’s daughter-in-law!” Kristian was quite agitated, trying to break free from my grip to make the call. I stopped her again, my tone firm. “It really is fine if she doesn’t come.” In the week after my mother’s death, Billson didn’t call once. Kristian rushed around helping me handle my mother’s funeral arrangements. From notifying friends and relatives to contacting the crematorium, to keeping vigil at night. Kristian stayed by my side the entire time. Claude’s Twitter updated daily. He and Billson had gone to the beach. The two of them laughed and played in the water, huddled together watching sunrises and sunsets. I liked every single tweet. At night, Billson would message me with explanations. [We’re just hanging out together.] [Besides us, there are other people too.] [Don’t overthink it. Take good care of Mom at home and practice your piano. When I get back, we’ll win the championship together next time.] My replies were always simple. [Mm!] [Okay!] [Got it!] On the day of my mother’s funeral, Billson called. “I’m back. Aren’t you happy? Come pick me up at the airport.” “I’m at the cemetery!” In my heart, I hoped she would ask, would show concern. But she just said “Oh.” “Then I’ll wait for you at the airport. Don’t take too long.” The call was disconnected. I laughed at myself. Just moments ago, I had actually been hoping! What a joke! Kristian asked me, “What’s wrong?” “Billson’s back. She wants me to pick her up at the airport.” Kristian urged me, “Then go quickly. If you hurry, you might still make it back for the teacher’s funeral.” I smiled and shook my head. “No rush!” I proceeded with my mother’s funeral step by step, everything ending in an orderly fashion. I saw off Kristian and all the friends and relatives one by one. Billson called again, her voice tinged with impatience and complaint. “Why aren’t you here yet? How much longer are you going to make me wait?” “Almost there!” I drove to the airport. The whole way, Billson kept calling to rush me. When she saw me, she pointed at me accusingly. “I called you first thing this morning. Why did you take until now to come?” I didn’t respond. I didn’t even get out of the car. My tone was flat as I asked. “Can we go now?” “What’s the rush!” Billson glared at me, then turned and hurried back into the airport.

Before long, she came out supporting Claude. “The air conditioning on the plane was too cold. He gave me his clothes to wear and caught a cold himself.” Though Billson was explaining to me, her eyes never left Claude for a moment, filled with concern and heartache. “Oh!” I replied casually. Claude smiled at me. “Guy, thanks for the trouble!” Before I could speak, Billson said tenderly, “Don’t talk when you’re sick. It’s no trouble for him to drive here and pick us up.” I smiled at that. Right. Claude got sick for her sake, while I merely drove here to pick them up. Of course I couldn’t compare. Billson helped Claude into the back seat, gently letting Claude rest his head on her shoulder. I stared in a daze. Once, she had said my shoulder was only for her to lean on, and her shoulder was only for me. But now, she was letting Claude lean on her shoulder. Seeing I hadn’t moved, Billson said impatiently. “What are you spacing out for? Drive!” I turned my head and silently started the car. “Drive faster. Take Claude home first. He has a cold and can’t be delayed.” “Okay!” I responded. The entire way, Billson and I didn’t exchange another word. She kept thoughtfully changing positions to let Claude rest more comfortably. Through the rearview mirror, I saw her wanting to say something several times. I knew what she wanted to say. Nothing more than telling me not to mind, that Claude was sick now and needed tolerance and understanding. Actually, she didn’t need to say it. I didn’t mind at all! “Darling, my head is so dizzy. I feel terrible!” Claude hugged Billson’s waist, burying his head in her chest. Billson glanced at me in panic, then reached out to straighten Claude up. “You don’t have a fever, do you? Let me check.” She pressed her hand to Claude’s forehead and sighed in relief. “No fever. It must be because the car’s going too fast.” “Guy, slow down. Claude isn’t feeling well.” I glanced at the speedometer showing barely 40 mph and laughed quietly. “What are you laughing at? Claude is already sick, and you’re gloating.” Billson glared at me disapprovingly, her perfectly made-up eyebrows raised as if I’d committed some heinous crime. “I wouldn’t say gloating. I just find it funny that a grown man with a little cold is acting like he has a terminal illness.” “You’re the one with a terminal illness. If you can’t speak properly, shut your mouth.” I tugged at the corner of my mouth as the car entered the residential complex where Claude lived. Before I’d even parked properly, Billson opened the door and helped Claude out. I followed behind them. Billson skillfully pulled out a key from her bag. Just as she opened the door, she seemed to remember I was behind her and turned to explain. “Because I often come here to rehearse piano pieces, Claude gave me this key for convenience.” I smiled in response. “No need to explain. I understand!” Billson frowned at that, seeming to sense something was off about me today. “You today…” Before she could finish asking, Claude suddenly broke into violent coughing. Billson immediately panicked, unable to ask me further, and quickly helped Claude inside. “I’ll get you some water!” Billson helped Claude sit on the sofa, then rushed around getting water and fetching a towel. “How are you feeling? Any better? What would you like to eat?” Claude smiled weakly. “Much better. I don’t have an appetite right now. I just want some borscht.” Billson turned to look at me. “You heard him? Go make it!”

I couldn’t believe it! “You want me to make it?” “Obviously. There are only three of us here. I need to take care of him. If you don’t make it, who will?” My brow trembled as I struggled to suppress the collapse inside me, feeling my heart slowly shatter. “Hurry up!” Billson urged impatiently. I took a deep breath and rubbed my stinging eyes. “Just order delivery.” That sentence was like poking a hornet’s nest. Billson snapped. “What do you mean? I’m asking you to make one bowl of borscht, and you’re acting all wronged about it!” “Alright, alright, don’t be angry!” Claude grabbed Billson’s hand. “Since Guy doesn’t want to make it, let’s not force him.” “After all, I’m nothing to him. He has no obligation to take care of me.” Billson suddenly stepped forward and forcefully pulled me into the kitchen. “It’s just one bowl of soup. How much time could it possibly take? Now, immediately, right this instant, make it.” This was like the final straw that broke the camel’s back. My heart completely shattered. I couldn’t help thinking of my mother. I clenched my fists. Billson froze for a moment, then released my hand in disgust. “Fine, fine. You can leave. I don’t need you to make it anymore.” I felt waves of suffocation as I dragged my feet toward the exit. “Guy seems a bit off. His face is completely pale.” “I’m fine. I can’t let myself affect your relationship.” Billson laughed coldly. “Don’t mind him. He’s just faking it. I’ll order you delivery.” I dragged myself into the car, as if all my strength had been drained, gasping for breath. In that moment, I didn’t want anything except to be with my mother. I drove to the cemetery. Kristian stood before my mother’s grave. Seeing me, she rushed over to support me. “Why do you look so terrible? Are you sick?” I shook my head, my voice hoarse. “Why are you here?” “My heart wasn’t at peace. I came to keep the teacher company.” I fell silent. Kristian and I stayed with my mother all afternoon. The cemetery lights came on. Kristian said, “Let’s go. Get something to eat.” “Mm!” At the restaurant, we ran into Billson and Claude. “Guy, you rushed off just to meet her?” Billson’s face darkened as she pointed at Kristian and questioned me. Before I could speak, Kristian explained. “You’ve misunderstood. Guy and I ran into each other at the cemetery.” Billson laughed coldly. “Having a date at the cemetery—how discreet. No wonder I never noticed.” “Tell me, how long have you two been sneaking around together?”

My expression turned ugly. “Billson, what nonsense are you spouting?” Kristian’s face also darkened. “Miss Billson, please speak respectfully. I went to the cemetery to keep the teacher company.” Billson froze for a moment, then trembled with rage. “His mom is fine in the hospital, and to cover up your affair with Guy, you’re actually cursing her.” “You were the teacher’s student. She practically treated you like her own daughter. Do you have any humanity left?” “And you, Guy!” Billson looked at me furiously. “She’s cursing your mom right here, and you’re not saying a word!” I painfully turned my head away. Kristian said coldly, “Miss Billson, you have no right whatsoever to criticize Guy or me.” “The teacher passed away a week ago, and you never showed up once from beginning to end.” “The heartless one is you!” Billson’s face suddenly turned deathly pale. “That’s impossible!” “Guy, tell me what she’s saying isn’t true.” “Billson, calm down.” Claude held Billson and turned to question me. “Guy, something as major as your mother’s death—how could you not tell Billson?” Billson seemed to find an excuse and immediately followed up with her own question. “Right, why didn’t you tell me?” I answered coldly, “I wanted to tell you too, but did you give me a chance to speak?” Kristian took my hand, offering me comfort. “Guy, let’s go! Billson, if you have any heart left, go pay respects at the teacher’s grave.” “Don’t you dare leave!” Billson broke away from Claude to block me. Claude was pulled off balance, his wrist hitting the corner of the table. He cried out in pain. But this time Billson ignored him, spreading her arms to block my path. I sighed helplessly and said to Kristian. “You leave first. Wait for me outside.” Kristian nodded and said to Billson in a cool voice. “The teacher is gone. You have no standing to blame anyone.” Billson didn’t respond. She just looked at me. After Kristian left, I asked calmly, “What else do you want to say?” Billson was very agitated. “Why didn’t you tell me? Mom passed away? What right did you have not to tell me?” “Everyone knew except me. How do you expect people to look at me?” So she only cared about how others saw her. I laughed at myself inwardly. “Don’t worry. I already explained for you. No one will look at you with judgmental eyes.” “From now on, you’ll still be the pairs piano champion in everyone’s eyes. The center of attention!” Hearing this, Billson’s body swayed, and she collapsed weakly to the floor. “No, that’s not it. That’s not what I wanted.” “You should have told me. You should have told me.” She repeated it over and over, tears streaming from her eyes. It was the first time I’d seen her so fragile. But I felt no sympathy! Because my heart was already dead! It could no longer feel pain! Billson looked up at me, tears ruining her makeup. “What day did Mom pass?” I looked at her, my eyes devoid of emotion. “The same day you and Claude won the championship.” “Mom left with regret. You know what her wish was. We were just one step away from achieving it, but that day I called you over and over.” “What I got instead was you and Claude standing on that podium.” Billson frantically pulled out her phone, fumbling through her call history, finally seeing the dozens of missed calls from a week ago. “After Mom passed, I called you right away, but you were only focused on celebrating your victory with Claude.” “An entire week. If you’d shown even the slightest concern for Mom, you wouldn’t have ignored it completely.”

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When I was hemorrhaging in the ICU, Wallace was in my exclusive hospital room with his first love Aurora, having sex. I posted the photos the nurse took of the lingerie scattered all over the floor and used condoms in the patient group chat. “Mr. Wallace, please have your first love clean up the filth on the floor.” But unexpectedly, Wallace called me. Aurora’s moans came through the phone: “Wallace… don’t bite there… let’s go to the bathroom.” In the background was Wallace’s indulgent whisper: “She’s dying anyway, what’s there to be afraid of?” Aurora continued showing off to me over the phone: “Wallace said that after you die, I’ll be his wife.” They thought I was just a nobody orphan with no background, kept alive by the Wallace family. I pulled out the IV from my hand and pressed the red call button by the bed. “Revoke all exclusive authorizations for Number One from Wallace Group Pharmaceuticals.” The cold liquid stopped flowing into my veins. The call button by the bed emitted a piercing sound. The door opened. It wasn’t a nurse who entered, but a man in a black suit with a solemn expression. “Miss Prescott.” He bowed slightly. It was my most capable assistant, Reece. “Execute Plan B.” My voice was weak from blood loss, but every word was crystal clear. “Immediately. Right now.” Reece nodded without a moment’s hesitation. He took out his phone and dialed a number. “It’s me, Reece. Activate highest authority. Terminate all exclusive cooperation authorizations for the ‘Number One’ project with Wallace Group Pharmaceuticals immediately.” “Yes, all of them.” There seemed to be some hesitation on the other end. Reece’s tone was absolute. “This is Miss Prescott’s final decision.” After hanging up, he looked at me with a trace of concern in his eyes. “The Chairman…” “I am the Chairman.” I closed my eyes. Exhaustion washed over me like a tide. My phone vibrated wildly on the nightstand by the bed. It was Wallace. I didn’t answer. Soon, a text message popped up. “Prescott, what tricks are you playing now? Don’t think you can get my attention this way.” “Let me tell you, it won’t work. Behave yourself and wait for me to come back.” I looked at those lines and laughed. The laughter tugged at my abdominal wound. A sharp pain shot through me. The nurse, Martha, rushed in. Seeing the needle mark on my hand bleeding, she turned pale with fright. “Miss Prescott! Why did you pull out the IV yourself! This is too dangerous!” She fumbled to apply pressure to stop the bleeding. “Martha, thank you for the photos.” She froze, then lowered her head. “I… I just couldn’t stand it…” “You did very well.” I had her hand me my phone. I opened the patient group chat. Aurora was still jumping around causing trouble. She posted a selfie. The background was my exclusive hospital room. She was wearing Wallace’s white shirt, with glaring red marks on her collarbone. “Oh my, some people’s hospital rooms are just so big, like a presidential suite. It’s really comfortable living here.” “What a shame, the person’s almost done for. What a waste.” I typed expressionlessly. “Miss Aurora, what do you think? Will Wallace Group Pharmaceuticals’ stock price hit the limit down tomorrow?” Aurora replied instantly. “You psycho, are you cursing the Wallace family to go bankrupt? Wallace won’t let you get away with this!” I ignored her. Less than ten minutes later, the hospital room door was violently slammed open. Wallace and Aurora barged in one after the other. Wallace’s face was full of rage, like an enraged lion. “Prescott! What the fuck did you say to Reece!” He rushed to my bedside and grabbed my wrist. “Who the hell do you think you are? A dying orphan, and you actually think you’re somebody?” Aurora clung to his arm, looking at me triumphantly. “Prescott, stop making trouble. Wallace’s family gave you this life. How can you repay kindness with ingratitude?” “Hurry up and apologize to Wallace. Help him calm down.” I looked at them and found it utterly ridiculous. My life was given by the Wallace family? “Wallace, didn’t your company’s legal department notify you?” “The ownership of ‘Number One’ was never with Wallace Group.” Wallace’s expression changed instantly. The rage in his eyes faded, replaced by suspicion and uncertainty as he looked at me. “What do you mean?” Reece walked in from outside at just the right moment, holding a document in his hand. He handed the document to Wallace, his voice cold as ice. “Mr. Wallace, this is a copy of the authorization termination agreement.” “From now on, Wallace Group Pharmaceuticals has no right to produce or sell any products related to ‘Number One.’” “In addition, given that Wallace Group breached the contract first, we will seek compensation of fifty percent of the profits from the past three years.” Wallace snatched the document and flipped through it quickly. His hands began to tremble. His face turned from red to white, then from white to blue. “Impossible… this is absolutely impossible!” “The patent holder is clearly an overseas company. How could you possibly…” He suddenly looked up at me, his eyes full of disbelief. Aurora panicked too. She shook Wallace’s arm. “Wallace, she’s bluffing, right? How could an orphan like her have this much power?” I gently pulled my hand free from Wallace’s grasp. “Forgot to tell you. That overseas company is mine.”

Wallace looked as if all his strength had been drained. He staggered back a step. He stared at me intently, as if seeing me for the first time. “You… you’ve been lying to me all along?” I curved my lips slightly, finding this question incredibly stupid. “You’re just dumb.” “You assumed I was that little dog from the orphanage you picked up, who could only wag her tail and beg from you.” Aurora shrieked. “You bitch! You schemed against our Wallace!” She lunged at me with teeth and claws bared. Reece stepped forward and blocked me like a wall. “Miss Aurora, please show some self-respect.” Wallace grabbed Aurora. His voice was hoarse. “Prescott, let’s talk.” “I have nothing to talk about with you.” I lay back down and pulled the blanket over myself. “Reece, show them out.” “Prescott!” Wallace shouted unwillingly. “Do you have to be this ruthless? Three years of feelings, you don’t care about them at all?” Feelings? I almost laughed out loud. Was it the feelings he had while messing around with his first love in my hospital room when I was in critical surgery? Or the feelings when he said “she’s dying anyway, so what if she sees”? “Wallace, are you worthy of talking about feelings?” I threw off the blanket, sat up, and looked directly into his eyes. “Get out.” “Or I’ll have security throw you out.” Wallace’s fists clenched so hard they crackled. Aurora behind him was still fanning the flames. “Wallace, don’t beg her! She’s just an ungrateful bitch! Let’s go! Let’s see how she survives without the Wallace family!” Wallace’s rationality seemed to be ignited by this sentence. He took a deep breath, his eyes turning vicious again. “Fine, Prescott, very good.” “You think pulling one drug can bring down the Wallace family?” “Let me tell you, you’re digging your own grave!” He dragged the still-cursing Aurora out and slammed the door. The world was finally quiet. Reece poured me a glass of warm water. “Miss, the Wallace Group won’t let this go easily.” “I know.” I took a sip of water to moisten my dry throat. “Let them make a fuss. The bigger the better.” The Wallace family’s foundation was Wallace Group Pharmaceuticals. And Wallace Group Pharmaceuticals’ glory over the past three years was almost entirely due to “Number One,” this miracle drug. “Number One” was my life’s work. It was the result I achieved through countless days and nights of using my own body for clinical trials. It could effectively suppress organ failure caused by a rare genetic defect in my body, and could also treat various cardiovascular terminal illnesses on the market. Back then, when my condition flared up and I was on the verge of death, it was Wallace’s father, Thompson, who found me. He promised to give me the best medical resources and let me recover in peace. The condition was that I had to grant exclusive production and sales rights for “Number One” to Wallace Group Pharmaceuticals. I agreed. Because at that time, I really did need a stable environment. And also because Wallace’s meticulous care for me made me have illusions. I thought I had found someone I could entrust my life to. I thought the love he spoke of was real. Looking back now, from beginning to end, it was all an elaborate scam. What they valued was never me as a person, but “Number One” in my hands. They kept me confined in this top-tier exclusive hospital room, claiming it was care when it was actually surveillance. Making me think I couldn’t survive without them. How ridiculous. My phone rang again. This time it was Thompson. I answered. An steady voice tinged with anger came through. “Miss Prescott, Wallace is young and doesn’t understand. Why bother arguing with him?” “For the sake of us taking care of you for three years, making this big won’t benefit anyone.” My tone was flat. “Mr. Thompson, I’m just taking back what belongs to me.” “As for the debt of care, the profits ‘Number One’ has brought to Wallace Group over these years should have repaid it long ago, right?” Thompson was silent for a moment. “Prescott, what exactly do you want?” “Very simple.” “Wallace, with that woman, come before me and kneel to apologize.” “Otherwise, I’ll see you in court.” With that, I hung up directly. I knew Thompson wouldn’t agree. Wallace was his proudest son, the heir to Wallace Group. How could he possibly let his son kneel before me, this “orphan”? I just wanted them to recognize a fact. That the current me had the qualification to make them kneel.

The next day, Wallace Group Pharmaceuticals’ stock price hit the limit down as soon as the market opened. The news that “Wallace Group’s core drug patent authorization was terminated” spread like a virus throughout the entire financial circle. Media calls nearly blew up Reece’s phone. I lay peacefully in my hospital bed, looking at the news on the tablet Reece handed me. Each headline was more sensational than the last. 《Business Empire Collapses Overnight? Wallace Group Pharmaceuticals Suffers Fatal Blow!》 《Who Is the Mysterious Patent Holder? Wallace Family Heir May Be Biggest Loser!》 I even saw photos of Aurora surrounded by reporters at the hospital entrance, her face ashen. So satisfying. At noon, Reece brought lunch. It was my favorite dishes, light and delicate. “Miss, the hospital has been taken care of.” “From today on, your security level will be raised to the highest. No one can approach this room without permission.” I nodded. “Any movement from the Wallace family?” “Thompson called an emergency board meeting to try to stabilize the stock price, but with little effect.” “Wallace… he seems to have been grounded by Thompson.” I scooped up a spoonful of porridge and drank it slowly. “He won’t stay quiet.” Given Wallace’s personality, he would never sit still. Sure enough, that afternoon, there was a commotion outside my hospital room. It was Aurora. She was blocked outside by two tall security guards, crying and shouting hysterically. “Prescott! You vicious woman! Come out!” “You’ve harmed Wallace so badly, what are your intentions!” “You think you’ve won? Let me tell you, Wallace said even if he dies, he won’t be with a malicious woman like you!” I pressed the intercom by my bed. My voice came through the speaker outside the door. “Miss Aurora, this is a hospital. Please keep quiet.” “Otherwise, I’ll call the police for harassing a patient.” Aurora’s crying stopped for a moment, then became even shriller. “Call the police? Fine! Go ahead! Let everyone see your true colors!” “You ungrateful thing! Without the Wallace family, you’d be dead already!” I turned off the intercom, not wanting to hear her noise anymore. Reece frowned. “Do you need me to drive her away?” “No need.” I shook my head. “Let her make a scene. The more vicious she is, the more the Wallace family loses face.” I wanted everyone to see that the future mistress of the Wallace family was such a vulgar shrew. Aurora made a scene outside for nearly an hour until her voice went hoarse, then she was forcibly dragged away by security. The world returned to peace. But this peace didn’t last long. That evening, Thompson came in person. He looked even older than his voice sounded on the phone, his temples already graying. He carried a fruit basket, with a tired smile on his face. “Miss Prescott, about what happened during the day, that was my failure to discipline properly. I embarrassed you.” I said nothing, just looked at him. “I’ve had Wallace reflect at home. When he comes to his senses, I’ll definitely have him come apologize to you personally.” He placed the fruit basket on the table, his posture very humble. “Miss Prescott, we’ve cooperated for three years, very happily.” “‘Number One’ is your life’s work and Wallace Group’s future. Neither of us can do without the other.” “What do you say, can we sit down and renegotiate the terms of cooperation?” I finally spoke. “My terms were stated yesterday.” The smile on Thompson’s face froze. “Prescott, leave some room for maneuver. It’ll be easier to meet again in the future.” “You’re still young. The road ahead is long. There’s no need to be so ruthless.” “Are you threatening me, Mr. Thompson?” I met his gaze without flinching. “The thing I fear least is threats.” Thompson’s expression completely darkened. “You really think the Wallace family is made of clay?” “Without ‘Number One’, Wallace Group will indeed be severely damaged, but it won’t collapse.” “And you, Prescott, believe it or not, I have a hundred ways to make sure you never leave this hospital.” The air in the room instantly dropped to freezing point. Reece unconsciously moved a step closer to me. But I smiled. “Mr. Thompson, you’re welcome to try.” “Let’s see if you can make me unable to leave this hospital first, or if I can get your Wallace Group delisted from the stock exchange first.” Thompson’s pupils constricted sharply. He probably didn’t expect me to dare speak to him this way. We faced off for a long time. Finally, he took a deep breath and turned to leave. “You’ll regret this.” He left that sentence behind and walked away without looking back. I knew the real war had only just begun.

Thompson’s methods were more direct and more despicable than I had imagined. Early the next morning, my attending physician came to talk to me. He looked troubled, his words evasive. “Miss Prescott, regarding your condition… we may need to conduct a comprehensive reassessment.” “As you know, your genetic defect is very rare. Our hospital’s current medical capabilities may be… somewhat inadequate.” I looked at him without saying a word. This Dr. Brown had been in charge of my treatment for three years. He was a skilled physician with good medical ethics. I knew that every word he was saying now was not his true intention. “So?” I asked. “So… we recommend you transfer to a specialized research institution abroad for treatment.” “Of course, this is just a suggestion. The final decision is still yours.” He didn’t dare look me in the eye. After speaking, he left hurriedly. Reece’s expression was very ugly. “Miss Prescott, this is Thompson working behind the scenes.” “He wants to cut off your treatment and force you to submit.” I sneered. “He thinks my life is still in his hands.” “How naive.” I picked up my phone and dialed a number. The call was answered quickly. An elderly but gentle voice came through. “Prescott, what made you think to call me?” “Professor Pierre, I’d like to ask you for a favor.” Professor Pierre on the other end was a giant in the domestic genetics field and also my mentor. Back then, when I entered his program with my ailing body, he was the one who, against all opposition, gave me the opportunity to continue my research. The development of “Number One” was inseparable from his guidance and help. I briefly explained the current situation. After hearing it, Professor Pierre was furious. “Outrageous! Thompson is treating human life with contempt!” “Prescott, don’t worry. I’ll handle this!” “I’ll contact the leadership at the Health Department immediately. I’d like to see who dares to touch my student!” After hanging up, a weight lifted from my heart. With Professor Pierre stepping in, it would be basically impossible for Thompson to pressure me through the medical system. But things didn’t end there. That afternoon, a large amount of dirt about me suddenly exploded online. It said I had a chaotic private life, that I rose to power through improper relationships, and stole core secrets from Wallace Group Pharmaceuticals. It also said I was ungrateful, that after Wallace, the Wallace family heir, gave everything for me, I ruthlessly abandoned him. The posts attached many so-called “evidence.” There were photos of me entering and leaving high-end clubs, “intimate photos” of me with different men. There was even a forged medical report saying I had a terminal illness and didn’t have long to live, which is why my temperament changed drastically and I was taking revenge on society. These posts were reposted by countless netizens, instantly igniting public opinion. My name, for the first time, topped the trending searches in such a disgraceful way. The comments section was full of abuse and curses directed at me. “So she’s a scheming bitch. And I actually felt sorry for her.” “Wallace is so pitiful. He really met the wrong person.” “This kind of woman should go to hell!” Aurora also jumped out and posted a suggestive tweet. “Good and evil will be rewarded. Heaven’s way is cyclical. If you don’t believe, look up. Who has heaven spared?” She portrayed herself as a victim who was wronged by a mistress but remained tolerant and kind, gaining massive sympathy. Her fans flooded my Twitter and turned the comments section into a trash dump. Reece was so angry his face turned iron blue. “Miss, this must be the Wallace family! So shameless!” “I’ll contact the PR team immediately to handle it.” “No need.” I stopped him. “Let them curse. The uglier the better.” “The Wallace family is desperate now. The more they do this, the more it proves they’re out of options.” I looked at those vicious comments with complete inner calm. Over these years, the life-and-death trials I’d experienced were far more brutal than these rumors. They couldn’t hurt me. I was just waiting for an opportunity. An opportunity to ensure the Wallace family would never rise again.

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Sharon, my husband’s mother, had always looked down on me, despising me for being poor and unsophisticated, unworthy of her son. I thought that if I just worked hard enough, I could eventually earn her approval. Until I returned from a business trip to find my house had been completely emptied by Sharon. My home had been sold by my husband, Ethan. Just as I was sinking into despair, I received a call from my dad: “Sweetheart, I’ve got amazing news—your mom and I won the $300 million lottery!” I hung up the phone and suddenly laughed. I couldn’t wait to see Ethan’s expression when he realized that for a few hundred thousand dollars, he’d thrown away a wife worth hundreds of millions. The metal wheels of the high-speed train scraped against the tracks, emitting a long, reassuring rumble. I dragged my 24-inch suitcase and stood at the familiar door of my home. After half a month of intense business travel, every part of my body screamed with exhaustion. But thinking of Ethan, who always smiled so warmly, a wave of comfort rose in my heart. The commission I’d earned from this project was substantial—enough for us to pay off a full year of mortgage ahead of schedule. I’d even used my project bonus to buy him that watch he’d been talking about for so long. Imagining his delighted expression when he saw the gift, all my exhaustion from the journey melted away. I took out my key, ready to give him a surprise hug. I inserted the key into the lock. It wouldn’t turn. Metal scraped against metal with an incompatible, grating sound. I froze. What’s going on? I tried again, applying more force. The lock cylinder didn’t budge. A faint unease crept up from my heart like a vine. I pulled out my phone and called Ethan. “Hello, the number you have dialed is currently on another call. Please try again later.” The cold mechanical female voice repeated over and over. On another call? At this hour, he should be home playing video games. I called Sharon. “Hello, the number you have dialed is currently switched off.” The unease instantly magnified, like ink dropped into clear water, rapidly staining my entire heart black. I leaned against the cold security door, my fingers trembling through my contacts. Finally, I found the locksmith’s number. Half an hour later, a middle-aged man in blue overalls appeared before me. “The lock’s been changed,” the master said after examining the lock cylinder, his tone certain. “You must’ve pissed someone off. Whoever did this was pretty ruthless.” My heart sank sharply. Amid the piercing sound of the electric drill, the door I’d walked through every day finally cracked open. I handed over three hundred dollars, forgot to even say thank you, and impatiently pushed the door open. Empty. Everything was empty. No familiar sofa, no TV cabinet we’d picked out together, no dining table I’d wiped clean every day. Only a few lonely cardboard boxes sat in the center of the living room, filled with worthless odds and ends. Sunlight streamed through the curtainless windows, casting large swaths of dust particles on the floor. This didn’t look like a home—it looked like an abandoned warehouse. I rushed into the bedroom. Empty. Our king-size bed had vanished, along with the jewelry box I’d kept in the nightstand. The closet stood wide open, containing only a few old clothes I’d changed out of before my trip, thrown carelessly in the corner like rags. I frantically dialed Ethan’s number, again and again. Always that same message: “currently on another call.” I’d been blocked. This realization poured over me like a bucket of ice water from head to toe. I tried calling Sharon again. Switched off. No. Impossible. They couldn’t have just left like this. There must be some misunderstanding. I collapsed onto the cold floor, my body trembling uncontrollably. Just then, Mrs. Walker from across the hall opened her door and poked her head out. “Oh my, Emily’s back?” Her face wore a complex expression mixing sympathy and gossip. “You’re finally home! Your husband and his mom moved out a week ago.” “Moved out?” My voice was as dry as sandpaper. “Yeah, they were all cheerful about it. Said your husband made it big somewhere and was taking his mom to live the good life in another city!” Mrs. Walker’s voice continued. “I asked why you weren’t with them, and he said you were busy with work, that he’d go ahead and get everything set up, then come back for you later. You’re so lucky, Emily, finding such a successful husband.” Live the good life. Made it big. Each word was like a knife, stabbing viciously into my chest. I finally understood. This wasn’t a misunderstanding. This was a premeditated abandonment. I’d given everything to this family. To save money for the mortgage, I hadn’t bought myself a single new piece of clothing in three years. To care for his demanding mother, I’d learned to cook her favorite dishes. I’d handled all the housework, getting up early and staying up late, serving him and Sharon like they were royalty. I thought my devotion would earn their genuine care. Turns out, in their eyes, I was just trash they could discard at any moment. All my social media accounts, every way to contact them—deleted completely. I was like someone who’d appeared out of thin air and disappeared the same way. They’d erased every trace of my existence. The sky gradually darkened. Cold darkness swallowed the entire room, and swallowed me too. “Knock, knock, knock.” A knocking sound. I numbly lifted my head to see two people in security uniforms standing at the door. “Excuse me, we received a complaint from the property owner about a suspicious person staying here for an extended period.” One of the young security guards looked at me warily. “This is my home,” I spoke, my voice hoarse beyond recognition. “Your home? This house was sold a week ago. The new owner asked us to watch the property and not let anyone in.” The older security guard sized me up, his eyes full of suspicion. “Please leave immediately.” They “escorted” me out of the place I’d once called home, one on each side. The wheels of my suitcase rolled across the concrete, making hollow, grating sounds. I stood at the entrance to the residential complex, watching the coming and going of vehicles and pedestrians, feeling humiliated and wretched for the first time. I’d become a joke. A homeless joke.

The city’s neon lights stung my eyes. I dragged my suitcase, wandering the streets like a ghost. My phone battery was down to five percent. I didn’t dare tell my parents. They were both honest, hardworking people who’d scrimped and saved their whole lives. I didn’t want them worrying about me. I walked into a 24-hour fast food restaurant and found a seat in the farthest corner. The place reeked of fried chicken and burgers, greasy enough to turn my stomach. I laid my head on the cold table, looking at the high-rises outside the window. Every window glowed with warm light. Behind those lights were complete families. And I had been abandoned by mine. Tears fell without warning, drop by drop hitting the tabletop, spreading into small wet spots. I bit my lip hard, not letting myself cry out loud. My phone vibrated once in my pocket, its faint glow a final struggle. It was my dad calling. I took a deep breath, using every ounce of strength to suppress the sob in my throat, and pressed answer. “Hello, Dad.” “Sweetheart!” On the other end, my dad’s voice was unusually excited and trembling. “I’ve got amazing news! Incredible news!” I listened numbly. What good news could compare to the catastrophe I was experiencing? “The lottery ticket your mom and I bought—we won! We hit the jackpot!” My brain went completely blank, like someone had hit me hard with a sledgehammer. “How… how much?” “Three hundred million!” My dad’s voice cracked with excitement. “That’s right, $300 million! Sweetheart!” I gripped the phone, feeling like I was dreaming. Auditory hallucination. I must be so desperate I was hearing things. “Dad, don’t joke around.” “Who’s joking with you! It’s already on the news—we’re the anonymous lottery winners from our city! The money’s already in our account! I just transferred a million to you. Use it for now! Sweetheart, come home right away! Our family needs to celebrate properly! Dad’s going to buy you a mansion and a sports car! From now on, no one will ever bully you again!” No one will ever bully you again. Those words were like a key, instantly opening the floodgates of my emotions. I hung up and opened my mobile banking app. A new transfer record appeared prominently on the screen. Amount received: One million dollars. That long string of zeros glowed with blinding light in the dim fast food restaurant. Tears surged out again, blurring my vision. But this time, it wasn’t because of despair and humiliation. I wiped away my tears, stood up, and dragged my suitcase out of the fast food restaurant. Across the street stood a magnificent five-star hotel. I walked in. “Hello, I’d like to book a presidential suite.” The receptionist’s professional smile froze for a moment, then returned to normal. I swiped my card, took the room key, and walked into the elevator. The room was on the top floor. Beyond the huge floor-to-ceiling windows lay the glittering night view of the entire city. I stood before the window, looking down at the endless stream of traffic below. They flowed like golden rivers, rushing ceaselessly. Ethan. Sharon. You abandoned me for a few hundred thousand dollars. You thought you’d kicked me into hell. Little did you know, you’d personally delivered me to heaven. I suddenly laughed. In this brilliant night scene, my laughter sounded especially clear. The laughter carried tears, carried hate, and even more, an unprecedented resolve. The flames of revenge burned fiercely in my chest. The game was only just beginning.

I slept in the soft bed until I woke naturally. Sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, filling the entire room with warmth and brightness. I ordered the hotel’s most expensive room service. Exquisite silver tableware, fresh ingredients—everything proclaimed the taste of money. After breakfast, I walked into the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror—haggard, with dull eyes. This face was written all over with pleasing others and humility. It was time to say goodbye to the old Emily. I took a taxi to the city’s most upscale luxury shopping mall. This was a paradise for the rich, and a place where I’d once needed courage just to step inside. I walked into a top luxury brand store. “Welcome.” The sales associate wore a standard smile, but when her eyes swept over my faded T-shirt, a flash of contempt crossed them. I ignored her. I walked straight to a row of new season items, pointing at a sleek black dress. “This one, and this one, and this one—wrap up everything I point to.” My voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear enough. The sales associate froze, seemingly not processing this. “Miss, are you… sure?” Her tone carried doubt. I pulled a black card from my wallet and gently placed it on the glass counter. “Do I look like I’m joking?” When the sales associate saw that unlimited black card, her expression changed instantly. The contempt and doubt vanished without a trace, replaced by extreme deference and flattery. “Yes, yes, please wait a moment. I’ll wrap these up right away!” Her waist bent almost ninety degrees. Over the next few hours, I became the queen of the entire mall. Without batting an eye, I bought all the designer clothes, bags, and jewelry I’d once been reluctant to buy or even look at. The sales associates who’d once treated me with indifference now followed behind me, competing to introduce products, their faces full of ingratiating smiles. For the first time, I clearly felt the power that money brings. It could make proud heads bow, could make hypocritical faces seem sincere. After my shopping spree, I went to the city’s top styling salon. “Cut it off,” I told the style director, pointing at my long hair I’d kept for years. In the crisp sound of scissors, all that past docility and humility, along with those split ends, were cut away and scattered on the floor. An hour later, a brand new me appeared in the mirror. Sharp, stylish shoulder-length hair, exquisite yet cool makeup, eyes that no longer held any trace of timidity—only calm and detachment. Strange, yet familiar. This was the real me. Leaving the salon, I went straight to the Porsche dealership. “I want that red 911. Full payment.” The sales manager almost thought he’d misheard, but after confirming my bank account balance, he immediately processed everything with the most enthusiastic service. Driving the brand new red sports car, I returned to my parents’ home. They’d already moved to a high-end gated community in the suburbs. When I appeared before them in the car, my mom’s tears immediately flowed. She rushed over and hugged me tightly, her palm repeatedly stroking my short hair. “My poor daughter, from now on Mom will never let you suffer again.” My dad stood to the side, his eyes red, repeatedly saying, “It’s good you’re back, it’s good you’re back.” Seeing their heartbroken yet relieved expressions, the emotions I’d been holding in all day finally threatened to break through. In front of family, I could always let down all my defenses. That evening, our family seriously discussed the future. We established a family trust fund, with me in full management. My parents knew nothing about business. They just wanted to live peacefully. And I had to use this money to build an impregnable fortress for our family. Never again would anyone have the chance to hurt us. Outside, the night was deep. Inside the villa, lights blazed. A new era for Emily was beginning.

To handle some old documents and certificates, I drove that flashy red Porsche back to the city center. I parked the car in front of a coffee shop I used to frequent. I was about to get out when the corner of my eye caught a familiar figure. Sharon. She sat by the window in the coffee shop, across from a bejeweled rich lady. Even through the glass, I could see her smug, animated expression. “Oh, you have no idea—my Ethan is so successful now!” Her voice was shrill, piercing through the glass and faintly reaching my ears. “He sold that tiny apartment and brought me to the big city to enjoy life! He says he’s going to buy me a big mansion! There was even some rich girl chasing after him recently, driving a BMW, from a family that owns a company!” The rich lady elegantly sipped her coffee, but her eyes held disdain. “Is that so? Well, congratulations then.” Her tone was perfunctory at best. I watched Sharon’s face flush red from bragging, the corner of my mouth curling into a cold smile. I pushed open the car door, put on my sunglasses, and stepped out. The red sports car, combined with my haute couture outfit, instantly attracted everyone’s attention. I could feel almost every gaze in the coffee shop focusing on me. Including, of course, Sharon’s. I walked into the coffee shop in my high heels, heading straight inside. Sharon’s gaze was like poisoned nails, pinning onto me. Those eyes were full of jealousy and contempt, as if looking at a gold-digging vixen. She hadn’t recognized me yet. Makes sense—in her mind, her daughter-in-law Emily was always disheveled, always in cheap T-shirts and jeans. How could she possibly be this woman with a commanding presence? I walked to the counter, my voice just loud enough for everyone in the coffee shop to hear. “One cup of Kopi Luwak, please.” As I ordered, I deliberately raised my wrist and adjusted my cuff. The diamond-encrusted watch worth a million dollars refracted dazzling light under the lamps. I heard a faint gasp from behind me. I turned around with my coffee, ready to find a seat. My gaze swept across Sharon’s face, seemingly by accident. In that moment, her pupils contracted sharply. The smugness and boasting on her face instantly froze, replaced by extreme shock and disbelief. She’d recognized me. Her mouth dropped open, jaw nearly hitting the floor, and the coffee cup in her hand trembled, spilling brown liquid all over her knockoff designer outfit. Everyone around her cast strange looks her way. The rich lady frowned and quietly shifted away from her. And I just gave her a light glance. Like looking at a complete stranger. My eyes held no hate, no resentment, not even a ripple. Just pure indifference. In her shocked, dazed, humiliated gaze, I elegantly turned and walked out of the coffee shop. Getting into the sports car, I saw through the rearview mirror her stumbling out of the coffee shop, staring blankly at the direction my car disappeared. I knew that from today on, her peaceful “good days” were over. A good show was about to begin.

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My husband Andrew and my best friend Andy went to the mountains to find inspiration for his new art exhibition, and they both went missing. The rescue team was conducting a carpet search through the forest, and I had cried while running from one end of the mountain to the other. Suddenly, a sparrow landed on a branch by my shoulder, tilting its head and chirping: [Oh my! My eyes! Two humans naked and kissing each other, don’t even know the cave is about to collapse.] I froze. So this is what they meant by “finding inspiration”? I immediately wiped away my tears, rushed to the rescue captain, and clutched my ankle with a pained expression: “Captain! I twisted my ankle.” “Captain, my ankle… it hurts so much…” The rescue captain was a dark-skinned middle-aged man. Seeing me collapse to the ground, he hurried over to help me up. “Kristen, don’t panic. Let me check your injury first.” He crouched down and gently touched my ankle. I immediately exaggerated with a sharp hiss, scrunching up my face. “No, I can’t move it at all. It feels like needles stabbing me when I move!” The captain frowned deeply. “If it hurts this badly, it might be a serious soft tissue injury. You can’t walk anymore.” He turned to his team member and ordered, “Paul, escort Kristen down the mountain first and find her a place to rest.” My heart sank. Go down the mountain? How could that work? I needed to stay here to make sure that cheating pair got buried good and deep. I grabbed the captain’s arm and shook my head, crying. “No! I won’t go down the mountain! Andrew hasn’t been found yet. How can I leave!” “I’ll wait right here! I’m not going anywhere!” My sincere appearance moved all the rescue team members and several kind-hearted villagers present. “What a devoted wife. She’s injured but still worried about her husband.” “Yeah, such a loving girl.” The captain couldn’t persuade me otherwise, so he had someone find me a flat rock to sit on and brought over a first aid kit for simple treatment. While pretending to groan in pain, I used the corner of my eye to survey my surroundings. Perfect. This position gave me a clear view of the main route leading to that dangerous mountain area. The forest here was dense and rarely visited by people. From earlier until now, apart from our group, we hadn’t seen a single soul. As long as I delayed long enough, once the cave collapsed… A sharp sound of brakes screeched through the air. A brand new Maybach roughly stopped by the mountain road. The car door opened, and Andrew’s brother Tobias jumped out. Andrew had bought him this car with my money. We’d even fought about it. Tobias had posted on Twitter subtly accusing me of being stingy. Tobias immediately spotted me surrounded by the crowd and rushed over in a few strides. “Kristen! Why are you sitting here? Where’s Andrew? Have you found him?” I lifted my red, swollen eyes and pointed at my ankle. “I twisted my ankle…” He raised his voice in disgust. “What’s the big deal about a twisted ankle?” “Andrew’s life or death is uncertain, and you can’t even put in more effort? All these people are searching, and here you are, taking a break!” Everyone around was stunned. The rescue captain’s face darkened. Tobias completely ignored everyone’s stares and barked orders at the rescue captain. “What the hell are you all doing? It’s been so long and you still haven’t found anyone!” “Let me tell you, Andrew is the breadwinner of our family! If anything happens to him, can you afford the responsibility?” Seeing no one paying attention to him, he started with the moral blackmail. “Now that Andrew is missing, I’m his only family member!” “I’m ordering you, right now, immediately, increase the search and rescue efforts! No one is allowed to rest!” That self-righteous look on his face made my stomach churn. However, his timing was perfect. I needed someone to take the blame.

On the branch by my shoulder, the sparrow started chirping again. [Oh! That cave is dropping dirt! They’re scared and hugging each other, still kissing!] [The man says even if they die, they’ll die together. So romantic!] Romantic? I lowered my eyelids, hiding the hatred in my eyes. Then I’ll grant your wish to become a pair of dead lovebirds. Tobias was still over there verbally attacking the rescue team, spitting as he spoke. “Are you even professional? It’s been hours and you haven’t found a single ghost!” “Andrew is a renowned artist! His time is precious! Can you afford to compensate?” I knew what he was anxious about. Tobias hadn’t held a proper job since graduating from college. He loafed around all day, relying entirely on Andrew’s support. The car was bought with my money, the apartment he lived in had its mortgage paid by Andrew, and even his dating expenses came from asking Andrew every few days. His eagerness to find Andrew was simply to perform his “brotherly love” in front of relatives, so he could continue to leech money from Andrew in the future. The rescue captain’s face turned iron-blue from his yelling, but he still patiently explained, “Sir, we are professionals. Please don’t interfere with our work.” Tobias snorted coldly. “Professional? Professional means running around like headless chickens?” His eyes rolled, and seeing me sitting on the rock crying, he immediately redirected his attack. “Kristen! Stop just crying! You know best where Andrew likes to go. Quickly give the captain a direction!” The opportunity had come. I lifted my tearful face, putting on an effort to recall, deliberately hesitating for a long time. After a while, I extended my trembling hand and pointed in the completely opposite direction from the dangerous mountain. “I… I remember now. Andrew mentioned once that… that the scenery at Lover’s Valley to the south is especially beautiful, and it could inspire his creativity.” “He said… he said he wanted to go see it with Andy…” I choked up at the right moment. Lover’s Valley was a famous scenic spot in this mountain area. The scenery was beautiful, but the terrain was flat. It had no adventure value whatsoever, and it was impossible for anyone to go missing there. The rescue captain was somewhat skeptical. “Lover’s Valley? We already checked that area. The signal is good, the roads are easy to walk. It’s unlikely…” Hearing a lead, Tobias’s eager, opportunistic brain immediately ignited. “What do you mean unlikely! Kristen already said Andrew was going there for inspiration!” “It must be that Andrew, to be with… cough, for the sake of art, deliberately found a secluded corner, and his phone just died!” He snatched the map from the captain’s hands, pointing at the direction of Lover’s Valley with a grand wave. “Stop wasting time! Everyone, follow me to Lover’s Valley! Hurry!” The captain frowned. “But the mountain roads there aren’t accessible by vehicle, and…” “And what!” Tobias shouted impatiently. “Is Andrew’s life important or your rules? Main force, everyone follow me! Just leave a few people to watch Kristen!” Watching Tobias lead most of the rescue team and the media reporters who caught wind of the story marching magnificently in the wrong direction, I sneered inwardly. Go ahead, go as far as you can. Best if you can’t make it back until nightfall. That way, no one could disturb Andrew and Andy’s “private time together.”

The weather changed in an instant. Just moments ago there were only dark clouds. In the blink of an eye, rain the size of beans came pouring down. No wonder the sparrow said there would be a collapse. Turns out there’s a rainstorm today. The few rescue team members who stayed behind and I quickly found a temporary shelter. The wind grew stronger, carrying the rain and beating against us at an angle. It was actually getting cold. The sparrow also flew to the beam at the top of the shelter, shaking its wet feathers. [It’s raining hard! The cave entrance is starting to gush water!] [The woman is crying out, saying she’s cold and wants to leave.] [The man is holding her tighter, saying it’s raining heavily outside and she’ll get sick if they go out. Wait a bit longer.] Ha, how considerate. The rain grew heavier, and the mountain roads quickly became muddy. The squad leader who stayed behind looked at the dark sky in the distance, deeply worried. “With such heavy rain, the mountains are very dangerous. Landslides and mudslides could happen at any time.” “I’ve already notified Mr. Tobias and his group, suggesting they immediately stop the rescue and take shelter nearby.” As soon as he finished speaking, Tobias’s roar came through the walkie-talkie. “Take shelter from what rain! Scared of a little rain, and you call yourselves a rescue team!” “Andrew is still waiting for us to rescue him. Anyone who dares to stop, try it!” “It’s just getting a little wet. No one’s going to die! Everyone keep searching!” The squad leader’s face changed. He shouted into the walkie-talkie: “Mr. Tobias! This is no joke! The mountain could collapse at any time. Everyone will be in danger!” “I’m in danger, my ass!” Tobias cursed on the other end. “If you don’t find Andrew, I’ll make sure none of you get away with it!” The walkie-talkie transmitted some commotion, as if other team members were trying to persuade him. I suppressed the smile on my lips. Tobias, you truly are my good helper. Less than half an hour later, Tobias returned with his team in a sorry state. He and the search and rescue members behind him were all soaked through, covered in mud. Obviously, they found nothing at Lover’s Valley and had been drenched by the rainstorm, looking like drowned rats. Tobias’s face was darker than the bottom of a pot. As soon as he saw me sitting leisurely in the shelter, he flew into a rage. “Didn’t you say they were at Lover’s Valley? Where are they!” He rushed over in a few strides, pointing his finger at my nose and cursing: “Now it’s raining so hard, we’ve wasted the golden rescue time. If anything happens to Andrew, I won’t let you off!” I timidly shrank back, tears flowing at just the right moment. “I… I only said maybe… I didn’t know it would be like this…” “You didn’t know?” Tobias was shivering from the cold. “I think you did it on purpose!” He looked at me, dry and comfortable, then at his soaked self. Suddenly he grabbed my arm. “Stop pretending! You must know other clues! Get up! Take us to find him!” My ankle “timely” sent a sharp pain. I screamed and my whole body went limp. “Ah! My ankle! It hurts so much!” “Let her go!” The rescue captain, who had been silent all along, finally couldn’t bear it anymore. He knocked Tobias’s hand away. “Mr. Tobias! Please calm down! Kristen is injured!” Several young team members also gathered around, glaring at Tobias. “How can you put your hands on a woman?” “Exactly! Her husband is missing, she’s injured herself. She’s miserable enough. What more do you want?” The villagers also started pointing and whispering. “What’s wrong with you? How can you treat her like this?” “Looks decent on the outside, but has such a cruel heart.” Tobias, accused by everyone, turned red and white, but still stubbornly retorted. “What do you all know! This is our family business!” I huddled to the side, watching the people about to break into a fight, with only one thought in my mind. Fight. Fight even louder.

The heavy rain grew fiercer. Seeing it was getting dark soon. The captain feared that rescue would be even more difficult after dark, so he gritted his teeth and decided to risk going up the mountain. Tobias followed the rescue team with a dark face, full of resentment. The search dog led the way, sniffing around with its head down. Soon, it stopped and barked in front of a cluster of bushes. A team member pushed aside the wet branches and picked up a foil wrapper from the muddy ground. “Captain, we found something!” Everyone immediately gathered around. It was a wrapper dirtied by muddy water, but the brand logo on it could still be vaguely seen. It was an expensive imported condom brand. Before I could react, Tobias excitedly called out. “This is Andrew’s!” He snatched the wrapper and examined it from all angles. “That’s right! It’s this brand! Damn, so expensive. I asked him to buy me some and he refused, but he’s generous when it comes to using them himself!” As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized what he had said and quickly shut up. But it was too late. Everyone’s eyes became meaningful. Missing, adventure, deep mountains, Lover’s Valley, condoms… When these words were combined together, even an idiot would know what had happened. The rescue captain’s face became extremely ugly. He glared at Tobias and said in a low voice, “Keep searching!” The search dog pulled the rescue personnel step by step in one direction, and at the end of that direction was a pile of dirt and stones. Could this be the cave the sparrow mentioned? Were they about to be rescued? At this critical moment, the sparrow suddenly flew over and let out a sharp screech. [Collapse! Water is flooding in! Half the cave entrance is blocked by mud and rocks!] [They can’t get out! Oh! The man is using a rock to smash at the crack, but it’s useless!] My heart jumped violently. No, I couldn’t let them be discovered now! Half blocked meant there was still a chance to rescue them! Tobias also saw where the search dog was pointing. Like he’d been injected with adrenaline, he excitedly shouted. “Found them! They must be down there!” He yelled at the rescue team, “Quick! Andrew must be inside!” I watched as several team members with shovels had already rushed over.

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On the day the black market organ trafficker stood trial, the judge asked if he felt any remorse. He laughed shamelessly: “Not only do I have no regrets, I’m actually proud.” “If I hadn’t provided that heart, Grant Thornton wouldn’t have been able to save his student Lily Wade, and he never would have won the Medical Progress Award to benefit humanity.” When the judge accused him of killing an innocent person for money, he interrupted: “But that heart came from Grant Thornton’s ex-wife. If he hadn’t destroyed her reputation years ago and driven her out, how could she have ended up in my hands?” “If we’re really talking about murder, he’s the killer! I’m just the delivery man at most!” In an instant, reporters swarmed. Grant Thornton laughed coldly in anger, warning sternly into the camera: “Stella Johnson, wasn’t it enough that you caused Lily’s condition to flare up back then? Now you’re bribing black market dealers to spread lies?” Soon, Grant Thornton brought police and cameras, kicking down the door of our rental apartment. In the dim room, there was no malicious ex-wife as he’d expected, only a little girl huddled in the corner, thin as a skeleton: “Who are you? Where’s Stella Johnson? Got the guts to slander but not the guts to face me?” The girl slowly lifted her head. When she saw Lily casually chewing gum, huge tears fell from her eyes. “Are you looking for my mommy? But her heart—didn’t you already dig it out and give it to that lady?” …

From the mouths of babes, yet it set off a storm in the livestream. Grant Thornton’s expression instantly darkened to the extreme as he laughed coldly. “Stella Johnson, you’re even using a child to lie? Get out here right now and apologize, clear Lily’s name!” I floated in midair, watching the undisguised disgust in his eyes, and laughed bitterly. In his heart, Lily had never been a despicable homewrecker, but a student who needed his protection. As his wife, wanting to get rid of her was deliberate harm. Five years ago, I obtained evidence that Lily had tampered with my thesis and tried to interfere in our marriage. I laid the evidence before Grant Thornton. Right in front of me, he threw all those documents into the shredder. “Stella Johnson, Lily is just a young student. How could you forge these things to destroy her future?” When I couldn’t take it anymore and posted it online, to protect Lily, he shoved me hard onto broken glass. He forced me to issue a public statement admitting I was mentally unstable and had maliciously slandered Lily. I refused through gritted teeth. The next day, he brought people to smash my mother’s tombstone and dig up her ashes. He even threatened to destroy the urn, demanding: “Will you apologize or not?” I trembled all over, and could only kneel in the cold mud and compromise. To let my mother rest in peace, I bowed and apologized at the hospital-wide meeting, admitting I was insane. Grant Thornton piled all the blame on me, then threw down divorce papers, forcing me to leave with nothing. My reputation was destroyed, everyone accused me of being jealous and crazy. I was forced to flee to this remote city, barely scraping by. Until seven days ago, to save enough for my daughter’s medical bills. I chose to work an extra night shift. But I was kidnapped and sold by a gambling client who needed money. After some packaging, I became a kind-hearted donor, forced to give up my heart. I permanently closed my eyes on the operating table. My soul followed the heart back to the country. What I never expected was that the recipient of this heart would be Lily. Not only did Grant Thornton personally perform her surgery, he held my heart and pressed a tender kiss on Lily’s forehead. “From now on, you’ll be whole.” I broke down, I felt hatred. Until I followed Lily and arrived precisely at this rental apartment. I watched her point to her own chest in front of my daughter, revealing a malicious smile. “Your daddy said he’d find me the cleanest heart, but I think only your mommy’s heart is worthy of me.” “So I recommended a trafficking channel to a thug at your mom’s workplace. Then I successfully got this heart.” “You don’t know yet, do you? The one who installed this heart for me was your daddy.” I went crazy trying to strangle her. My hands passed through her neck again and again. But I couldn’t kill her. I was powerless. At this moment, in the living room, Annie clutched the black box tightly in her arms, her small knuckles turning white. “Mommy was taken away by that bad lady, burned to ashes, all here.” Grant Thornton walked back to the living room, his eyes full of contempt. “Even bought an urn as a prop, how unlucky!” He suddenly waved his hand, snatching the black box from Annie’s hands and smashing it hard on the floor. The wooden box shattered into pieces, powder instantly scattered everywhere. “Don’t throw my mommy!” Annie let out a scream, falling to the ground, desperately trying to gather the ashes with her small hands. Those were my ashes. I wanted to rush over and hold my child. My outstretched hands passed straight through her thin shoulders. I had no tears, only felt that empty, bloody hole in my chest beginning to fill with bone-chilling cold wind again. Grant Thornton watched the child’s frantic movements, his brow twitching imperceptibly. If it were fake, would it be necessary to go this far? Lily walked out from behind Grant Thornton, her toes stepping on the pile of ashes, grinding hard. “Don’t be angry. Stella can’t stand you being good to me, so it’s normal for her to use pet dog ashes to disgust people.” She pulled out a photo showing a golden retriever with Annie. Three years ago, Annie was diagnosed with a severe genetic disease. Her immune system was weak, she couldn’t be exposed to furry pets at all. That photo was just randomly taken by a nurse when she was getting tested at the hospital. “Stella must hate me to death now. I’d rather not have this heart than have you become like this because of me.” Grant Thornton grasped her wrist in return, his voice softening. “This heart came from an overseas medical assistance program, it has nothing to do with Stella Johnson. Stella Johnson truly hasn’t changed, full of schemes!” The livestream comments were scrolling frantically, Grant Thornton’s eyes swept over them. [Wait, those aren’t pet dog ashes, right? That angel dog in the photo was still sunbathing on the city hospital lawn this morning!] His gaze froze for a moment.

[If it’s not the dog’s, then the kid is crying like that, could it really be her mother’s?] Staring at the pile of gray-white powder on the ground, a trace of irritation crept across Grant Thornton’s brow. He looked away. “Stella Johnson got dead person’s ashes from somewhere to make it realistic. That’s the kind of person she is, capable of anything.” Annie lifted her head, her eyes locked on the foot Lily had planted in the ashes. She suddenly lunged forward, biting down hard on Lily’s calf. “Don’t step on my mommy! You’re all bad people! Give my mommy’s heart back!” Lily cried out in pain, kicking Annie away with one foot. The four-year-old’s body was light as a feather, slamming hard into the corner of the coffee table. Her forehead instantly split open in a long gash, blood covering her face. “My daughter!” I rushed to shield Annie like a madwoman, but could only watch as the crimson blood dripped onto the floor, soaking into the carpet. Grant Thornton didn’t even glance at his daughter. He crouched down, rolling up Lily’s pant leg to examine the bite mark. “Is this little bastard a dog? Is this how Stella Johnson normally raises her?” “Grant, I’m fine, it just hurts a little…” Lily leaned into his arms. “Did Stella teach her a lot of things to make her hate me? I’m a little scared…” “I’m here. I’d like to see who dares touch you.” Grant Thornton’s eyes were fierce as he looked up at the camera and said coldly. “Stella Johnson, I will pursue this despicable behavior of using a child to hurt people to the end!” Watching him make threats, I remembered when I was sixteen, when several upperclassmen cornered me in an alley. Grant Thornton rushed out with half a brick, blocking them in front of me. His face was covered in blood, grabbing my hand and trembling. “Stella, I’ll protect you forever.” Now, he was indeed protecting someone. Only the person being protected was no longer me. I felt such hatred. Why make a promise of forever, then fail to keep it and harm my child? The police outside rushed in directly. The lead female officer’s face was ashen as she scooped up Annie, blood covering her face. “Call an ambulance!” Another officer walked up to Grant Thornton. “Mr. Thornton, regarding the black market organ trafficking case, please come with us to the station for questioning.” “Fine. But my fiancée just had heart transplant surgery and has been frightened. I need to settle her first.” He took Lily’s hand and walked out of the messy rental apartment. Police station interrogation room. Grant Thornton sat in the chair, looking calm. “My donor was a kind person found through an overseas assistance program. Everything was legal, nothing to do with the black market. Stella Johnson’s report is just her venting personal grievances.” Before the officer across from him could speak, the interrogation room door was pushed open forcefully. The female officer who had taken Annie to the hospital called. “That little girl has a very deep forehead wound, now she’s in critical condition from excessive blood loss.” “She has RH negative AB blood type, a very rare type. The hospital blood bank has no supply!” “We checked the system and found that Mr. Thornton has this rare blood type.” Grant Thornton’s movements froze. He lifted his eyelids. a very rare type? An extremely rare hereditary blood type—how could she have the same blood type as him?

“Have him come to the hospital immediately for a transfusion!” I floated in midair, nodding desperately. Go! That’s your flesh and blood! Your daughter! But Grant Thornton suddenly laughed coldly, refusing without hesitation. “Officer, whatever bastard Stella Johnson found somewhere just happens to have my blood type.” “I’ve been cooperating with the investigation. I’m tired now. I’m not going.” The female officer became anxious. “That’s a human life!” Grant Thornton leaned back in his chair. “Her life has nothing to do with me.” The female officer’s expression changed, her voice tinged with anger. “Mr. Thornton, a life is at stake. If you’re willing to donate blood, we can send you there by car, and you can continue the investigation after the transfusion. I’m begging you.” Grant Thornton covered his chest and took a deep breath. “Let’s go.” The police car raced toward the city center hospital with sirens blaring. I stood in the vehicle, watching the scenery flying past the window. Annie, wait, just wait a little longer. Mommy’s bringing someone to save you. The car screeched to a halt at the emergency building entrance. Grant Thornton pushed open the door and strode inside. Lily suddenly emerged from the hallway. She wore an oversized hospital gown, her face deathly pale, throwing herself into Grant Thornton’s arms. “Grant! My chest hurts so much! Am I having a rejection reaction?” Grant Thornton’s footsteps stopped dead. He immediately held Lily, urgently shouting at the nurses’ station: “Get a gurney! Call the cardiothoracic director down here now!” The female officer ran out of the emergency room. “Where’s Mr. Thornton? The child can’t hold on! Her blood pressure has dropped to thirty!” Grant Thornton held Lily, not looking back. “Can’t you see she’s having heart rejection!” “Stella Johnson created this karma, let her repay it herself! If she hadn’t deliberately framed us, how could Lily have ended up like this?” The female officer rushed forward and grabbed his arm. “Save that child first!” Grant Thornton forcefully shook off the female officer’s hand. “Fuck off!” In the livestream that had never been turned off, the comments had completely exploded. [Is this guy insane? The mistress kicked the child and caused such a huge gash, and now he’s protecting the perpetrator?] [This couple is truly disgusting. He really thinks he’s protecting some innocent patient.] Grant Thornton glanced at the dense stream of curses on the screen, his face darkening to the extreme. He continued to protectively hold Lily, righteously warning the camera: “You don’t understand anything! Lily is the victim of Stella Johnson’s schemes!” At that moment, several officers arrived. The lead officer pulled out handcuffs, directly restraining Lily on the gurney. “Lily Wade, you’re under arrest for intentionally causing serious injury to a child!” Lily trembled all over, screaming in terror: “Grant! Save me! I didn’t hurt her, the kid ran into me herself!” Grant Thornton flew into a rage, shielding Lily behind him. “Are you crazy! She’s a patient who just had a heart transplant! This is all Stella Johnson’s conspiracy, she deliberately had that bastard stage this to frame Lily!” The police showed no compromise. “The suspect must come with us immediately! Mr. Thornton, please don’t obstruct official business!” Grant Thornton watched helplessly as Lily was forcibly taken into the elevator, unable to stop it, his chest heaving violently in anger. He turned and ran right into the female officer. “I’ll give her the transfusion. I hope when she’s fine, you’ll release Lily!” But the female officer glared at him. “No need for a transfusion! The child is dead!”

My legs gave out, and I collapsed to the ground. In that instant, my soul felt torn into countless fragments. My Annie was dead. She was only four years old. She hadn’t even worn the new dress I bought her yet. He twisted the corners of his mouth, letting out a short, cold snort. “Dead?” “Good riddance. Stella Johnson has one less bargaining chip for her frame-up.” The next second, I lunged at Grant Thornton in a frenzy. My hands clamped around his neck, wanting to tear him apart on the spot. But my hands passed through his body again and again, unable to touch him at all. Hearing the news of death over the radio, the officer’s face changed dramatically, immediately issuing an order: “The victim is dead. Change suspect Lily Wade’s charge to intentional homicide. Take her into custody immediately!” Hearing the words “intentional homicide,” Grant Thornton’s eyes filled with viciousness. He stared deadly at the emergency room, cursing through gritted teeth. “Stella Johnson, you’re ruthless enough. To frame Lily, you’d even kill the bargaining chip you found yourself.” “You think hiding behind the scenes pulling these stunts will succeed?” He pulled out his phone and made a call on the spot. “Investigate! Check that black market dealer’s account transactions! Track down Stella Johnson!” “I’m going to personally drag out this mastermind and make her kneel before the police and admit that all of this was her scheme to harm people!” He pulled out his phone and opened a conversation window that hadn’t been touched in five years. His fingertips pounded the screen forcefully. “Stella Johnson, your bastard is dead.” “This is what you get for causing trouble.” “Come back right now and apologize to Lily, issue a settlement agreement, or I won’t even let you take that bastard’s corpse.” Message sent. A red exclamation mark popped up. Five years ago, I had blocked him. Irritated, he switched to the text message interface and resent it. I stood right in front of him, watching him type these words. Watching him use the cruelest vocabulary to announce the death of his own flesh and blood. Grant Thornton returned to the police station. The underground black market dealer was restrained in the interrogation chair. Seeing Grant Thornton enter, the dealer whistled. “Dr. Thornton, back from playing nurse to your mistress?” Grant Thornton’s eyes were icy as he braced both hands on the table. “Cut the crap. How much did Stella Johnson pay you to recite this testimony?” The dealer leaned back his head and laughed. “Dr. Thornton, do you really think that was an overseas donor?” “When we tied that woman to the operating table, she kept crying and begging.” “She begged us to give her some anesthesia. She said she had a sick daughter, she couldn’t die.” The dealer leaned close to the table, lowering his voice. “She begged us to give her anesthesia. But the client ordered that anesthesia would affect the heart’s vitality, bad for the recipient.” “So we held her down hard on the table. Four people holding down her limbs. We split her chest open alive.” “That woman’s vocal cords were torn, the pain made her whole body convulse. Blood sprayed everywhere in the room.” The moment the dealer spoke, the pain seemed to cross the boundary of life and death, sweeping over me again. I clutched my empty chest, curling into a ball in midair, screaming. But no one could hear me. “Oh, right.” The dealer tilted his head thoughtfully, his smile widening. “Below her left ribs, there was a very deep burn scar. When we made the incision, we just happened to avoid that spot.” That scar was from when I was twenty, when the rental house caught fire. I was burned by a red-hot iron frame protecting his experimental data. The dealer looked at Grant Thornton and continued twisting the knife. “With her last breath, she was calling a name.” “She kept calling: Grant, save me.” In the moment of dying, I did call for Grant. That nickname that no one in this world except eighteen-year-old Stella Johnson would use. At that time, the pain left me mentally confused. I thought the boy who vowed at eighteen to protect me forever would take me home like before. But my Grant had died five years ago. Grant Thornton seemed to hear the most absurd joke, scoffing as if he’d seen through everything. “Stop your nonsense!” “Even knowing about that burn scar—to drag Lily down, she really planned out every detail!” The interrogation room door was suddenly pushed open. The female officer from before walked in. She walked up to Grant Thornton and slammed the report in her hand heavily on the table. One was a heart source DNA comparison report. One was a paternity test certificate between the deceased and Grant Thornton. The female officer looked at him, her eyes full of anger and disgust. “Grant Thornton.” “The heart beating in Lily Wade’s chest is indeed your ex-wife Stella Johnson’s heart.” “And the girl who just died in the hospital because you refused to donate blood. She was your biological daughter.”

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The night before my wedding, I was kidnapped and tortured for three days. When I was finally rescued, my fiancé had already married someone else. In my despair, Vincent stayed by my side and married me. For three years of marriage, I thought he was my salvation. But on our anniversary, I overheard his conversation with friends. “Vincent, are you really never going to tell Elara the truth?” “Why would I? Isn’t everything fine as it is? Sienna likes Elara’s fiancé, so I had to help Sienna get him. As for Elara, I’ll treat her well.” “You’re really something, Vincent! Three years ago, you had her kidnapped, made her infertile, and now she’s still grateful to you!” The cake in my hands fell to the floor. So the person who ruined my life had been by my side all along… “What was that sound? Is someone outside?” Footsteps from inside the private room drew closer. I instinctively retreated several steps and hid behind a pillar. The person who opened the door looked left and right but didn’t notice the cake on the floor before retreating back inside. The surroundings were noisy, yet all I could hear was my heart pounding violently in my chest. My ears rang as Vincent’s voice echoed endlessly in my mind. My phone vibrated in my pocket. It was a message from Vincent. [Sorry Elara, I’m still in a meeting. I’ll have to come home late today.] [Don’t wait up for me, just get some rest. When things settle down, I’ll take you on a trip to make up for it, okay?] Vincent’s tone was as gentle as always. He was busy with work and often missed our anniversaries and Valentine’s Day. But he always compensated me afterward. He complied with almost all my requests. I had reflected more than once that fate had been somewhat merciful to me. Although I experienced that terrible incident before my wedding, at least I met Vincent. I met someone in this world who truly cared about me. He picked up my broken pieces one by one, carefully protecting me, using tenderness and love to open my heart. But only now did I realize how laughable everything I believed had been. Before I could reply to Vincent’s message, I caught sight of a familiar figure approaching from the corner of my eye. Instinctively, I turned my head and let my long hair cover my face, but I could still see who it was. Sienna, my own sister. She got lost as a child and only returned home at eighteen, deeply cherished by our parents. Three years ago, the night before my wedding, I was kidnapped and humiliated. After being rescued, the first news I learned was that she had married my fiancé, Ethan. Those were the darkest days of my life. Sienna knelt by my hospital bed, crying and begging me to forgive her. Ethan held my hand, begging me to fulfill their love. Mom and Dad frowned at me, blaming me for everything that happened. Ethan and I grew up together. For over twenty years, I had dreamed of becoming his wife. But in just three days, everything changed. “Hey, Sienna’s here! Beautiful as always.” The man’s compliment snapped me back to attention. I walked to the door again and listened carefully to what was happening inside. Sienna laughed. “Still so smooth-tongued after just a few days.” “No wonder so many young women fall for you.” Sienna’s tone sounded very familiar. I couldn’t help but think that in the three years we’d been married, I still knew nothing about Vincent’s friends. He always said his friends weren’t easy to get along with. That he worried I might remember the past. I thought he was thinking of me. But I forgot—if Vincent truly loved me, how could he allow his friends to slander me? My nails dug into my palms as I listened to the laughter inside the private room. I caught Vincent’s voice among them. “Coming out this late, won’t Ethan worry?” “Don’t worry, he’s been busy with work lately. He hasn’t even left the office yet.” “Vincent, I’m here because of something else…” Through the gap, I saw Sienna sitting next to Vincent, her hand resting on his thigh. Vincent had mild germaphobia. Even at home, he only let me handle his personal clothing. But now, facing Sienna’s intimacy, he showed no sign of displeasure. “What is it? Whatever you ask, I’ll agree to it.” “Ethan and I have been married for three years, but I still haven’t gotten pregnant… He’s been much colder to me lately. Vincent, I want a child. Can you give me one?”

Sienna’s words nearly made me cry out. But I covered my mouth and stared intently at Vincent’s face. Even at this moment, I still hoped he would refuse. That he would maintain one last shred of decency for the sake of our three-year relationship. But on Vincent’s face, I saw shock and panic, but no anger or condemnation. In that instant, I already understood Vincent’s choice. My heart, which had been raised high, fell back to its place. I turned and walked outside. Like a soulless corpse. What kept appearing in my mind were only scenes from three years ago. Actually, I had forgotten most of the memories from those three days of captivity. The doctor said my body had abandoned some memories for self-protection. But what I dreamed of every night was only the scene of Vincent kicking open the iron door and rescuing me. Behind him was the sunlight I hadn’t seen in three days. Vincent in his suit walked toward me step by step, his eyes full of worry and heartache. Then he knelt down and held me in his arms. The last words I heard before losing consciousness were his trembling voice. “It’s okay now, Elara.” “It’s okay now…” Later, when Vincent proposed to me, videos of my abuse were all over the internet. Everyone avoided me. Only he walked against the crowd and knelt before me. He said, Elara, marry me. I will never let you suffer for the rest of your life. He said, Elara, trust me. I’ll take good care of you forever. But in the end. Ethan lied to me. And so did he. By the time I got home, it was already dawn. Vincent still hadn’t returned. My unanswered messages had no follow-up. I sat on the bed, staring blankly at the wedding photo hanging on the wall. In the photo, I was skin and bones with vacant eyes, but Vincent looked at me as if I were a rare treasure. These three years, Vincent had indeed taken good care of me. He helped me, someone who only dared hide at home, to willingly go out and see people. But what I thought was salvation was actually an even deeper abyss… My phone vibrated again. Another message from Vincent. [Elara, I’m sorry, I can’t make it back tonight. When you wake up tomorrow, I promise I’ll make it up to you.] Before I could react, another message appeared. From Sienna. [Elara, I know you were outside just now. I saw you.] [How does it feel watching your husband sitting with me, laughing and talking?] [I could steal one person from you, and I can steal the last one too.] [Elara, in the end, everything you have belongs to me.] Along with Sienna’s message came a photo. A hotel’s pure white bed. On the floor beside it was Vincent’s jacket. My heart suddenly seized with sharp pain. Sienna hated me. I didn’t know the reason before. But now, I didn’t want to know anymore. I closed my eyes as tears slid down from the corners. I pulled at the corners of my mouth in a bitter smile. Three years ago, Mom and Dad abandoned me because of my reputation. I didn’t cling to them and left. Three years later, Vincent cheated with someone else. I wouldn’t cling to him either. Things that don’t belong to me—I don’t want them anymore. I got up, took down the wedding photo from the wall, viciously cut it to pieces with scissors, then threw it in the trash can by the door. I carefully took screenshots of all the messages Sienna sent me and saved them to my photo album. Leaving was certain. But I couldn’t just leave like this.

Vincent didn’t come home until noon the next day. When he saw me, he immediately walked forward to hold me in his arms. “Sorry, Elara. Yesterday was my fault.” Up close, I could even smell the strong perfume on him. And the obvious kiss marks on his neck. I turned away, avoiding Vincent’s gesture, and said softly, “You smell like alcohol. Go take a shower.” Vincent paused, then laughed. “Okay, okay, I’m bothering Elara. My fault.” “Here, this is your anniversary gift. See if you like it.” Vincent pulled out a box from his pocket containing a ruby ring. Since we got married, he often gave me gifts. I often told him he was wasteful. But Vincent said giving his wife gifts was his duty as a husband. Looking back now, perhaps it wasn’t just duty, but also an element of atonement. I forced a smile and accepted the gift. “Thank you. I love it.” “No need to thank me.” “Oh, Elara, today… Mr. Hartwell is hosting a charity gala. Will you come with me?” Vincent looked at me with some concern, worried that this would remind me of bad memories. In my memory, Mom and Dad used to love me dearly. Until the kidnapping three years ago, which made me see the truth. What they loved was the praised Miss Hartwell. Not the flawed Elara. “Okay.” Hearing my answer, Vincent let out a long breath and patted my head. “I knew it. My Elara is the strongest person.” While Vincent was showering, I secretly took his phone from the table. Vincent told me his phone password on our first day of marriage. But in these three years, I trusted him too much and never looked at it once. I didn’t know that for these three years, he had never stopped contacting Sienna. I scrolled through their chat records page by page, not missing a single sentence, and photographed them all. Due to time constraints, I didn’t examine the meaning of each sentence. Just before the water stopped, I put the phone back. Vincent noticed the missing wedding photo, but I brushed it off saying the photo accidentally fell. He didn’t ask further, only saying we’d take better photos together later. I looked at Vincent’s smile, but my heart couldn’t help feeling sour. Later? How much time did we have left? I hadn’t attended such a gala in three years. The moment I appeared on Vincent’s arm, I felt many eyes on me. Some pitying, some curious, some gossiping and mocking. Vincent patted the back of my hand and said softly: “Don’t be afraid, Elara. I’m here.” I looked at his profile, wondering at that moment what he was thinking when he, as the mastermind, said such things. “Elara, Vincent, you’re finally here.” “Elara, I haven’t seen you in so long.” Sienna walked over holding Ethan’s hand. Ethan looked at me with some embarrassment, but I only glanced at him once before looking away. Sienna smiled. “Since getting married, you rarely go out.” “Are you still worried about what happened three years ago?” “After all, what happened wasn’t your fault. You were the victim too. You don’t need to be so cautious.” With seemingly innocent words, Sienna instantly tore through the protective membrane I had wrapped around myself. Vincent’s body stiffened for a moment. Ethan tugged at Sienna’s arm, signaling her to stop. But Sienna continued softly: “Or are you still bothered by the fact that Ethan and I got married three years ago?”

Sienna’s words dropped like a bomb into the crowd. “Is that the eldest Hartwell daughter from three years ago? How does she have the nerve to come to a gala?” “Exactly! If I were her, I would’ve been crying at home!” “I heard after that incident, not only did her fiancé not want her, even her parents cut ties with her.” “I think in the end Mr. Sawyer married her. Tsk tsk, what a sucker.” “Mr. Sawyer is just too nice. Not only did he rescue her, but he was willing to take on this hot potato. Unbelievable.” The surrounding gossip came one sentence after another. The smugness in Sienna’s eyes grew more obvious, as if waiting to see me unable to accept this and cry in breakdown. But she was destined not to see it. I had broken down many times over this matter. But I wasn’t the one in the wrong. The person who should break down, who should suffer, wasn’t me either. Why should all the mistakes, all the pain, be borne by me? “I stopped caring a long time ago.” “Someone who can easily abandon his fiancée will probably abandon his wife just as easily in the future.” “I should thank you for being generous enough to take on secondhand goods.” The moment my words fell, the noise instantly disappeared. Sienna and the other two looked at me in shock. After all, this was the first time I had said something so sharp. From a distance came a cold snort. “Married to a rich man, and now you’ve got the confidence to talk back. Elara, you’re really heartless. Three years and you haven’t come home to see us once.” Mom and Dad walked over shoulder to shoulder, standing beside Sienna. Father frowned at me and said coldly: “Is this how we taught you to speak to your sister?” “Apologize to Sienna right now!” Sienna raised her chin slightly to look at me, her eyes full of smugness. Vincent blocked me, saying softly: “Elara hasn’t attended a gala in a long time. She just misspoke. I apologize on her behalf.” Vincent’s action seemed kind. But it firmly nailed me to the position of being in the wrong. Frankly speaking, he never thought I was innocent. Whether three years ago or now, it was all the same. This farce ended with Vincent’s apology. He followed behind Mom and Dad with Ethan, chatting with guests about work. I found it boring and got up to go to the restroom on the second floor. But when I came out, Sienna blocked my way. Half her face was hidden in darkness, unclear. But I could hear the mockery and contempt in her tone. “Elara, I didn’t expect that after three years, you’re still so pitiful.” “Mom and Dad didn’t want you back then, and now even your husband doesn’t stand by your side.” I pressed my lips together and said coldly: “Sienna, I never offended you.” “So what? I’m going to take everything that belongs to you.” “Elara, everything you have belongs to me.” “Ethan is mine, and Vincent can only belong to me.” After dropping this final sentence, Sienna leaned against the railing. A crisp sound rang out as her body flew out like a butterfly. A second later, she fell heavily to the ground. Amid screams, I locked eyes with Vincent downstairs…

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Elena’s first love, Marcus Blackwood, came back. I heard he was a ruthless gang member who killed without batting an eye. Terrified of being silenced, I fled overnight with my daughter. Over the past eight years, Elena was busy holding a grand wedding with Marcus, traveling the world together, and attending various events. They became the enviable power couple everyone admired. But they never had children. Meanwhile, I struggled to make ends meet, working seven jobs a day, scrimping and saving every penny for my daughter’s medical expenses. I became the laughingstock everyone mocked—a cheapskate. In the ninth year, I was working as a server at an important event. While pouring wine for a guest, I accidentally bumped right into Elena. She stared at me in shock, her voice trembling. “Nathan. Where have you been all these years? Our daughter—is she still alive?” Eight years had passed. Elena remained as coldly beautiful as ever, while I stood frozen in place, momentarily speechless. “You blind bastard! How dare you bump into Miss Winters! You must have a death wish! Get on your knees and apologize!” The event manager rushed over and slapped me across the face. “I’m sorry, Miss Winters. I didn’t mean to dirty your clothes.” I quickly apologized. Just as I was about to kneel, Elena suddenly spoke. “Forget it.” She frowned and glanced at me, then added, “If someone tells you to kneel, you just kneel? Don’t you have any dignity left? Living this pathetically—you might as well be dead.” Dignity? I’d stopped caring about that long ago. I still remembered the first time I knelt—when my daughter Piper had a fever and I had no money. I knelt at the clinic entrance. Later, I knelt to beg for jobs, to demand unpaid wages, when bullied by thugs… I’d knelt so many times I’d become numb to it. As long as I could stay alive and Piper was doing well, that was enough. But I didn’t tell Elena any of this. I forced an ugly smile, thanked her, and turned to leave. “Mr. Blackwood is here!” At that moment, the crowd suddenly stirred with excitement. I turned to look, my pupils constricting slightly. I deeply regretted accepting this event gig. From the scar on his face, I could confirm it was Elena’s first love, Marcus Blackwood. When he’d returned to the country years ago, he’d threatened to chop me into mincemeat and feed me to the dogs, to strangle my daughter. Afraid of being discovered, I quickly ducked into the crowd and headed straight for the break room to hide. Buzz buzz! Just then, my phone vibrated. The private hospital was calling. “Mr. Anderson.” “We currently have a donor whose heart matches your daughter, but there’s another competing recipient.” “The other party has money and influence. I can stall for one hour at most. If you can’t get here and pay within that time, you’ll have to wait for the next opportunity.” I was ecstatic. “Within one hour, I’ll definitely come pay and sign the papers!” After hanging up, I immediately called a loan shark to borrow money at high interest. The entire heart transplant surgery would cost at least two million dollars. I didn’t have enough money, but if I waited for next time, who knew when that would be—or if my daughter could even hold on that long. So I’d rather sell my body, sell my blood… anything to seize this chance. Once the loan came through, I was about to leave when the event manager blocked me at the door. “Mr. Blackwood’s wedding ring is missing.” “All employees must go to the main hall for inspection.” I said I’d been at least thirty feet away from Marcus when I saw him earlier, so it definitely wasn’t me. Plus, I urgently needed to get to the hospital. But the manager wouldn’t listen at all. He had security drag me to the main hall. I hid in the back row, trying hard to keep my head down, terrified Marcus would recognize me. “Whoever stole my wedding ring, step forward now! I’ll spare your life. Otherwise, don’t blame me for throwing you in the river to feed the fish!” Marcus’s cold eyes swept over everyone. “Last row, fifth from the right—lift your head!”

My heart sank. I broke out in a cold sweat all over, still refusing to lift my head. “He’s talking to you, idiot!” The manager forcibly lifted my chin, and I found myself staring directly at Marcus. “It’s you.” Marcus narrowed his eyes slightly and walked toward me step by step. “You stole my wedding ring, didn’t you?” He questioned coldly. “No!” I shook my head frantically. “Today’s the first time I’ve seen you.” Everyone knew Marcus was ruthless and didn’t value human life. To eliminate rivals, he’d use any means necessary. From his demeanor, was he trying to make me the scapegoat? “Marcus.” “It probably isn’t him, right?” Elena glanced at me, a mocking smile on her lips. “When you came back, he fled overnight. How would he dare steal your ring?” She seemed to be blaming me for being a coward. I didn’t understand how she had the nerve. The whole room erupted. Countless people cast contemptuous looks my way. “From what she’s saying, is he Mr. Blackwood’s former stand-in?” “A stand-in is just a stand-in. Miles away from the real deal. Look how pathetic he is now—can only work as a server.” “If he didn’t have a face that looked like Mr. Blackwood’s, he wouldn’t have enjoyed those few good years. He should be grateful.” Mocking voices poured down like a torrential rain. I thought this might help me escape punishment. But Marcus clearly had no intention of letting me go. With a playful smile, he said, “But this morning when I was changing and showering upstairs, I clearly saw him delivering clothes.” “Though at the time I thought I’d seen wrong, so I didn’t pay attention.” Hearing this, Elena’s delicate brows immediately furrowed. She said coldly, “Nathan Anderson, I didn’t expect it really was you. Hurry up and hand over the wedding ring.” Eight years ago, I’d fled with my daughter not just because I feared Marcus, but because I was afraid Elena would be biased and believe only him. I hadn’t expected it to play out exactly as I’d feared. “You’re lying! I didn’t arrive at the event until noon!” I argued my case, casting pleading looks at the manager and my coworkers. “Please help clear my name. I need to get to the hospital. I’ll come thank you properly later.” But everyone remained uniformly silent. Marcus coughed lightly. “Speak up. Why are you all standing there? Anyone who dares lie, I’ll sew their mouth shut with a needle!” Everyone shuddered. The manager’s eyes darted around, then he pointed at me. “Don’t drag us down with you. You clearly came this morning.” “That’s right!” One coworker also stepped forward. “I saw Nathan Anderson enter Mr. Blackwood’s room with my own eyes this morning.” “You people…” I was utterly desperate, my eyes nearly red with anger. Clearly. They were deliberately framing me, wanting to use me as a stepping stone to curry favor with Marcus. “Someone!” “Search him! Strip off all his clothes!” The manager waved his hand, then flashed a fawning smile at Marcus. “Mr. Blackwood, rest assured, I’ll get to the bottom of this. No mercy.” Two security guards pinned me to the ground. I tried to resist but was held down by my head. Several more guards arrived and began tearing at my clothes in front of everyone. Though I’d knelt plenty over these years and taken many beatings, I’d never been humiliated like this. Shame flooded my heart. The key issue was that this entanglement would waste so much time. Who knew when it would be resolved. It would delay me getting to the hospital to pay! That concerned my daughter’s life! Forced into a corner, I looked at Elena. “It really wasn’t me!” “You have to believe me!” “In the eight years we were together, when did I ever take anything from the Winters family? When did I ever ask you for a single dollar?”

I believed Elena understood my character. But she said, “People change. You no longer have the backbone you once had. When told to kneel, you just kneel.” I was so angry I wanted to laugh. Did she really think I’d changed, or was she simply believing her first love Marcus’s words? Within a few breaths, my clothes were stripped off, my skeletal frame exposed to everyone’s view. “Hahaha, this is hilarious. Look at him—skinny as a monkey and ugly too.” “So disgusting. So revolting.” “How did someone like this ever qualify to be Mr. Blackwood’s stand-in? I really don’t know what Miss Winters was thinking.” Mocking laughter continued. Elena’s face showed her discomfort. She frowned even more deeply, looking at me with disappointment and disgust. After all, back then I’d worked out every day, extremely disciplined! Elena used to touch my eight-pack abs every day. When she was unhappy, she’d rest against my chest muscles to relax. She said I was so masculine. She said no matter what, she wouldn’t allow anyone to hurt me or slander me. Compared to this moment, how ironic. Marcus took my phone and used facial recognition to unlock it, then rummaged through it carelessly. “Oh?” “You actually borrowed a million dollars from loan sharks? Looks like you’re desperate for money. That’s another reason to steal the ring.” “Besides revenge against me, you could also sell it for money, right?” Marcus displayed the loan message for everyone at the scene to see. This prompted another round of mockery. Elena’s eyes filled with more disappointment. She shook her head and sighed, “I actually still held onto a shred of hope, thinking that under your care, our daughter might still be alive.” “How foolish of me.” “Someone as depraved as you—how could you care whether our daughter lives or dies?” Seeing her act this way. I couldn’t help but say, “Then let me ask you—when our daughter was first diagnosed, where were you?” “Shut up! Say another word and I’ll knock your teeth out!” Marcus glared at me, then turned to comfort Elena. “Honey, don’t be sad. As long as we keep trying IVF, we’ll definitely have our own child.” Elena didn’t respond, just looked at me with complex emotions, as if recalling scenes from eight years ago. But I only wanted to say two words: karma! Eight years ago. Piper was seriously ill and hospitalized, and Marcus was returning to the country. So Elena devoted all her attention to Marcus, personally arranging welcome banquets and various events. I hoped she’d use her resources to find a heart donor for Piper and complete the surgery before Marcus returned. But I called her a hundred times. She only answered once, dropping three words: “Stop bothering me!” That’s when I finally made up my mind to run away with Piper. “Anyway, I didn’t steal the wedding ring. If you don’t believe me, let’s call the police.” I gritted my teeth. “Call the police? Absolutely not!” Marcus’s expression turned cold. “Why would I need the police for such a small matter? I’d lose face. If you don’t hand over the wedding ring today, you’re not leaving. I’ll cripple one of your hands first for fun.” He pulled out a knife and aimed it at my right hand. “Marcus!” Elena frowned. “That’s enough. Don’t go too far. It won’t look good if word gets out.” Marcus shrugged reluctantly and put away the knife. “Someone! Tie him to that pillar!” At his command. The manager personally dragged me toward a pillar. “You have no solid evidence, and no right to restrict my freedom.” “Let me go!” I struggled desperately, but I was outnumbered and couldn’t break free. I could only look at Elena again. “For the sake of our past relationship.” “Help me this once. Trust me just this once, okay?” “There’s only half an hour left. If I can’t get there in time, you’ll definitely regret it!”

Elena froze, confusion flashing in her eyes. “Why do you need to go to the hospital? Who’s sick?” “Hmph, who else? His girlfriend, of course.” Marcus sneered. “Elena, don’t listen to his emotional manipulation. He just wants to run away with his girlfriend.” Hearing the word “girlfriend,” Elena’s face instantly turned cold, resentment surging in her eyes. Seeing this, I knew I had to tell the truth. “Elena.” “Listen carefully. The sick person is your own daughter, Piper!” “If I don’t pay within half an hour, the heart donor will go to someone else!” What? Elena’s eyes widened. She pushed Marcus aside and ran to me in three quick steps. “Piper’s still alive?” “You’re not lying to me?” Her face was full of excitement. “I’m not lying.” I took a deep breath. “If you don’t believe me, my phone has photos of Piper and me, plus photos of her medical records.” Elena quickly turned and snatched the phone from Marcus, frantically scrolling through the screen. But the light in her eyes gradually changed from hopeful excitement to disappointment. “There’s not a single photo on the phone. You’re lying to me!” She clenched her fists in anger. “That’s impossible. There were definitely…” I frowned, about to explain, when I caught the mocking smile on Marcus’s lips. I immediately understood. Marcus must have just formatted my photo gallery. That’s why Elena couldn’t find anything. This Marcus was truly cunning and vicious, stopping at nothing to achieve his goals. “Honey.” “I told you, this Nathan Anderson is full of lies and can’t be trusted.” Marcus patted Elena’s shoulder. “I’m not lying!” “Piper really is still alive!” I shouted loudly. Marcus frowned and gave the event manager a look. The manager understood. He raised his hand and slapped me. “Still making excuses?” “Hand over the wedding ring now! Or don’t blame us for not holding back.” The security guards behind me laughed menacingly. “I didn’t steal the ring. How can I hand it over? Let me go…” “Stubborn fool. Beat him!” The manager led the assault, raining punches and kicks on me. Tied to the pillar, I couldn’t protect myself, couldn’t fight back, couldn’t dodge. Fists fell on my face like a rainstorm. After several rounds. I was beaten bloody, my ears ringing, excruciating pain spreading throughout my body. “I’m not a thief, I’m not…” I weakly looked at Elena through blurred vision. “Piper really is still alive. You don’t have to let me go, but you must go to the hospital and pay.” “I’m begging you… she’s our daughter. Please…” As I spoke, I began crying in desperation. Elena’s expression showed a flicker of emotion. Before she could speak, Marcus pointed at my nose and cursed, “You’re such a bastard! To escape punishment, you’d even exploit your dead daughter.” Hearing this, Elena’s expression turned cold again, as if she wished I were dead. “I didn’t! I really didn’t! I can swear… there’s only fifteen minutes left! We’re really running out of time!” My whole body trembled as I choked out the words. “Still acting?” Marcus narrowed his eyes, raised the knife again, and slowly walked toward me. “I’ll pry out two of your front teeth. Let’s see if you tell the truth then!” I kept staring at Elena. But this time she chose silence. Marcus raised the knife toward my mouth.

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I had just stepped off a grueling cross-country red-eye when the new intern slammed into me, sending my extra-large latte surging down the front of my white silk blouse. She didn’t apologize. Instead, she let out an audible huff of disgust, muttering about her “trash luck” while looking at the brown stain on my chest as if I’d done it to spite her. “You should probably get that cleaned up,” she said, checking her reflection in the glass partition. “I’ve got a high-level meeting to get to. Important people only.” Then, she vanished toward the conference rooms. I swallowed the sharp retort bubbling in my throat. She was new; maybe she was just overwhelmed. I spent ten minutes in the restroom scrubbing at the silk, then smoothed my hair and walked into the boardroom. I didn’t expect to find her sitting in my chair. When I entered, she looked up and waved me away with a flick of her wrist, her expression darkening with impatience. “Are you still harping on about that coffee?” she snapped, loud enough for the early arrivals to hear. “I told you, I have a meeting. Don’t be a pest. You’re dismissed.” I didn’t say a word. I simply walked to the back of the room and took a seat in one of the guest chairs. As the meeting commenced, she began a performative display of productivity, clicking a multi-colored pack of highlighters and scribbling aggressive neon marks on a notepad. At one point, she turned around and hissed at me, “Why aren’t you taking notes? Every word out of management’s mouth is gold. You should be learning something.” Then, she turned her gaze toward the CEO, her voice shifting into a saccharine, tattling lilt. “Samuel, I really think we need to look at our staffing. Keeping unmotivated, middle-aged women on the payroll—people who just sit in the back and stare—is a drain on the company’s potential.” I leaned back, my voice cool and thin. “My hands are cold.” The room went silent. Samuel, our CEO, locked eyes with me. He didn’t hesitate. He reached for the buttons of his crisp white shirt, undoing them until he revealed the taut, sculpted lines of his torso. He pulled his chair closer to me and spoke with a low, practiced intimacy. “Come here, Jacqueline. Get in here.” 1 Returning from a month-long business trip, I felt like a ghost haunting my own office, clutching my iced caffeine—my only tether to the living. I didn’t even get the straw to my lips before a girl came bouncing out of the breakroom and leveled me. The coffee, heavy with ice, drenched my blouse. The shock of the cold made my breath hitch, snapping me into a state of jagged, unwanted alertness. God, I hated being back. I was ready to unleash a month’s worth of repressed corporate rage, but then I saw her. A fresh face. She had her hair up in one of those “effortless” messy buns that actually takes forty minutes to pin, wearing a pair of fuzzy overalls over a T-shirt with a massive cartoon panda on the front. I felt a phantom twitch in my forehead. This was our high-stakes corporate environment? Then I saw the “INTERN” lanyard dangling against the panda’s face. I took a breath. “Ugh! Ma’am, you really need to watch where you’re going!” she chirped, looking at her pristine overalls. “You almost got it on the baby.” The baby? She meant herself. “You should really clean this up,” she continued, giving me a patronizing look. “I have a major meeting to attend. It’s strictly for the leadership tier.” She actually balled her fists and gave herself a little pep-talk shimmy. “Go, go, go! You’re the best, Lexi! You got this!” I stared at her, my mind clicking through the day’s schedule. The leadership meeting. The one I was supposed to lead to train the new recruits. The one I’d been flown back from the airport specifically to chair. “The meeting isn’t going anywhere,” I said, my voice steady. “Clean this up first. The custodial staff has a set schedule; this is your mess. You should take responsibility for it.” Lexi’s eyes went wide, reflecting a brand of pure, unadulterated shock. “Are you talking to me? Isn’t this, like, your job? Aren’t you the cleaning lady?” She looked me up and down—my stained blouse, my tired eyes, my sensible flats. “I’m the new star intern from the Ivy League,” she said, tossing her hair. “The CEO personally met me at the front door. I’m here to disrupt the industry and create value, not scrub floors. Okay?” She kept calling me “ma’am” and “lady” with a pointed edge that suggested she thought I was ancient, despite the fact that I wasn’t even thirty yet. I didn’t respond. I watched her huff, grab her plush bunny-shaped purse, and strut toward the conference room. Valerie, my long-standing rival in the sales department, drifted over, a predatory smirk on her face. “Well, look who’s back. Our little Sales Queen. Hard at work already, I see. Or are you just Lexi’s personal barista now?” I looked at the brown stain on my chest. “What’s the deal, Valerie?” “Oh, you didn’t hear? Lexi is the new ‘it’ girl. Samuel personally scouted her. She’s young, she’s ‘disruptive,’ and she’s got a pedigree that makes yours look like a community college brochure. It won’t be long before…” Before she replaces me, I finished the thought internally. Before the high-earning veteran is put out to pasture to make room for the cheap, shiny new model. “Right,” I said, turning toward the meeting room. “Let’s see how much of the Kool-Aid Samuel has actually swallowed.” 2 The boardroom was packed. I scanned the table; every department head was present. This wasn’t just a meeting; it was a summit. The usual carafes of artisanal coffee and mineral water were missing. In their place sat a row of oversized plastic cups filled with boba tea—extra sugar, by the look of the pearls. A few of the older directors were already grimacing. “Who ordered this? Some of us have to watch our glucose levels,” one muttered. Lexi was busy taking “desk-fie” photos of the setup. At the complaint, her face flickered with a moment of panic before she saw Samuel enter. She immediately pivoted into a shy, “vulnerable” pose. “I replaced the boring stuff!” she announced, her voice turning into a high-pitched trill. “Mr. CEO, what do you think? We Gen Z-ers are here to fix the vibes. Hmph.” She actually pouted. “Coffee is so bitter and corporate. Why do we have to drink what you guys like? Why can’t we have what I like for once?” The room went dead. The sheer, logical vacuum of her question seemed to paralyze the directors. No one knew how to argue with that level of entitlement without sounding like a bully. Everyone’s eyes drifted to Samuel at the head of the table. Samuel remained unreadable. He was leaning over his tablet, his sharp jawline set, seemingly oblivious to the drama. I cleared my throat, making my presence known. Lexi’s head snapped toward me, her annoyance returning in a flash. She stood up and pointed a finger. “Ma’am? Why are you still here? The meeting is starting. You need to leave. You’re being very distracting.” She turned to Samuel, her voice trembling. “And she got ice on my finger earlier. It still hurts. It’s like… trauma, you know? I don’t think I can forgive her. I hate her!” Then she leaned in toward him. “Maybe if the CEO blew on it, the pain would go away…?” Samuel finally looked up. His eyes didn’t land on Lexi. They landed on me, and for a second, I saw that familiar spark—the mix of predatory admiration and possessiveness he reserved for his “Cash Cow.” “Jacqueline! You’re back! Thank God,” he said. “Sit. Sit.” He started to pull out the chair next to him, a habitual gesture, before realizing Lexi was already firmly planted in it. I stood there, arms crossed, watching him. I wanted to see how he played this. Samuel looked at Lexi, then at the chair. He hesitated. The power dynamic shifted in the silence. Then, with a practiced smoothness, he pulled his hand back and looked at the CFO sitting on his other side. The CFO, a man who survived by reading the wind, immediately stood up to offer me his seat. But the row behind him was full. To move one person meant moving everyone. The fifty-year-old man sighed, a look of weary resignation on his face, and began to head for the back row. I put a hand on his shoulder. “It’s fine. I was late anyway. I’ll take the back.” I walked to the rear of the room and sat down. As soon as I did, I felt a heat on my face. Lexi was staring at me from her seat next to the throne, a victor’s smirk plastered on her lips. She leaned in toward Samuel, her panda-shirt-covered chest brushing against his arm. He didn’t move away. The meeting was a slog. The CFO went through the new expense protocols, his voice a monotonous drone. Lexi was “taking notes” with a fervor I hadn’t seen since middle school. She had at least twenty different pens spread out like a ritual sacrifice. Her notebook looked like a scrapbook—stickers, neon highlights, doodles. She was trying to transcribe every single word. Eventually, the pace of the CFO’s speech became too fast for her scrapbooking. She huffed, slapping her forehead in frustration. Despite myself, I felt a pang of professional duty. She was technically assigned to my department. I raised my hand. “Could we slow down a bit on the itemization section? Our newcomer is having trouble keeping up.” Lexi didn’t thank me. She whipped around, her face twisted in a mask of righteous indignation. She slammed her hand on the table and stood up. “Ma’am! Do you even know how to take minutes? Every word the leadership says is vital!” She turned to Samuel, her eyes brimming with fake tears. “Samuel, is this really the kind of attitude we want? I’m only thinking of the company’s future. Keeping an old, incompetent woman like this on the payroll is just a loss for everyone. It’s sad, really.” The room went cold. I looked at her across the long expanse of the mahogany table. It had been a long time since anyone had dared to come for me in public. Since I’d become the top earner three years running, Samuel usually thawed his icy exterior whenever I walked into a room. I calmly tucked my hands into my lap. “My hands are cold.” Samuel looked up at the AC vent. It was blasting at sixty degrees. Then he looked at me, and a look of sudden, intense realization crossed his face. Without a word, he began to unbutton his white dress shirt with one hand, dragging his executive chair across the floor toward the back of the room where I sat. “Quick, Jacqueline. Get in here,” he said, his voice dropping into that dangerously soft register. He opened the shirt, inviting me into the heat of his skin. “I can’t have you catching a chill. Who the hell set the AC this low?” From the other end of the table, Lexi slowly, miserably, raised her hand. 3 A single, perfectly formed tear rolled down Lexi’s cheek. “I did it…” she whispered, her voice a fragile, high-pitched reed. “My doctor said I’m like a little furnace. I can’t handle high temperatures. I was literally wilting. Why are you being so mean to me?” She began to sob, the kind of theatrical heaving you usually only see in soap operas. “Ma’am, tell him! Tell him you’re only cold because you’re… you know… older. It’s not my fault you have bad circulation! You’re a big, mean bully! Waaaaah!” She actually started wailing. But none of the executives moved. They were used to Samuel’s “unorthodox” methods when it came to me. In this office, it was an open secret: Samuel would do anything to keep his star player happy. People whispered that he wouldn’t even date anyone else because he was so obsessed with my “loyalty.” I felt the heat of his skin as I awkwardly withdrew my hands, giving him a sharp elbow to the ribs for good measure. Samuel let out a muffled grunt of pain, which made the CFO jump. He rubbed his side, looked a bit sheepish, and slowly began to button his shirt back up. Years ago, when I was a junior associate, he’d caught me watching thirst-trap videos on my break. I’d been commenting with a coworker about which guy had the better “aesthetic.” Samuel had walked in right as I was zooming in on a set of abs. Ever since then, whenever I tried to quit—and I tried often—he’d bring me into his office and pull this move. A reminder of what I “liked.” I never knew how much of it was genuine attraction and how much was a cold-blooded tactical maneuver to keep me under his thumb. I didn’t care much either way, as long as the bonuses hit my account on time. I wasn’t the wide-eyed girl I used to be, and he wasn’t the idealistic dreamer he’d been when he started the firm. We were both just “professionals” now. The silence in the room was brittle, broken only by Lexi’s rhythmic hiccups. She was staring at Samuel, waiting for him to rush over and comfort her, but he was pointedly looking at his tablet, avoiding her gaze. Lexi glared at me, a flash of pure hatred behind her tears, and bolted out of the room. I knew her type. I wasn’t worried. I waved a hand dismissively. “I’m out too.” Taking on a “mentee” was always a lose-lose situation in sales. If you teach them too well, they steal your clients. If you don’t, they’re a dead weight. Lexi had made it clear she was a competitor from minute one. Fine. I went to Samuel’s office later that afternoon and told him I was cashing in my accrued leave. A month of paid vacation, starting now. Samuel looked like he wanted to argue, but he knew better. “Nora—I mean, Jacqueline. Lexi… she’s the daughter of my old mentor. I owe the guy. Just… bear with her.” “I don’t owe him anything, Samuel.” “I know. She won’t get in your way. Once her internship is up, I’ll find a way to move her along. Just take your time off. Recharge.” I nodded, already thinking about the beach. 4 I was two weeks into my vacation, watching a group of gorgeous surfers in Maui, when my phone buzzed. It was Valerie. “Jacqueline, you need to get back here. Now. Lexi is about to blow the Abernathy account.” My heart skipped. “Which one? The thirty-million-dollar contract?” “The very one. She’s with Mr. Abernathy right now. It’s a disaster.” I didn’t even pack. I grabbed my passport and headed straight for the airport. I walked into the office ten hours later, still smelling like sea salt and jet fuel, breathless. Lexi was sitting at her desk, clutching her plush bunny and weeping silently. “I don’t understand… the bear was so cute. How could anyone not like the bear?” She looked up at me, her face a mask of tragedy. “He was supposed to say it was cute and sign the deal! Why didn’t he sign the deal for the baby?” Valerie filled me in. I took a very long, very deep breath before I turned to Lexi. “Lexi. First of all, going behind my back to contact my client is a violation of every ethical code in this building. That’s poaching. I built that relationship. I did the legwork. That is my account.” “Secondly,” I said, my voice rising. “What on earth possessed you to draw cartoon bears on a legal contract that had been vetted by two different law firms?” “It’s a professional document, Lexi! Not a coloring book! You made us look like amateurs. This is a workplace, not your nursery!” Lexi’s face turned a mottled purple. “No! Whoever signs the deal gets the commission! You’re just an old hag using your seniority to bully the baby!” “The bear was cute! You ‘old-heads’ just don’t have a soul! You have no inner child! I did nothing wrong!” She turned and sprinted toward Samuel’s office. Samuel happened to be walking out at that moment, and she hit him like a human cannonball. She wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest. “They’re being mean to me… everyone is being so mean! Samuel, you have to help the baby…” I saw a flash of genuine annoyance in Samuel’s eyes, but he still patted her shoulder. I stepped forward. “Lexi, no one is going to save you. And no one should. I’m going to call Mr. Abernathy and beg for a dinner meeting. You are going to come with me, and you are going to apologize for your ‘creativity’ before you tank this entire company’s reputation.” Lexi sobbed harder. “He tried to take advantage of the baby! I don’t like him!” She looked at Samuel, her eyes wide. “He’s your client, Jacqueline—you must know what he’s like. Unless… you like being taken advantage of? Is that how you get all your ‘big deals’?” The office went dead silent. Every head turned to me. Including Samuel’s.

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