Category: English

Back from the dead, I decided to write my fake heiress sister Stella’s name on the 3-billion-dollar gift deed. This time, I was all in for Stella inheriting the family fortune. This life, I’d beat my parents to it, giving Stella the 3 billion and even my wealthy fiancé. I personally orchestrated every picture-perfect family moment between Stella and our parents. They moved to Montclair City with her. I didn’t say a word, packing my bags for a leading engineering school out West. In my last life, I took the 3 billion my parents gave me, single-handedly salvaged our family’s fortune, turning a 300 million debt into a 6 billion empire, securing their lavish lifestyle for generations. But I worked myself to death, literally, until I got stomach cancer and was bedridden at a young age . My parents not only showed no sympathy, they even gifted all my assets to Stella, ensuring she had a grand wedding with my fiancé. Reborn, I don’t want the billions, I don’t want to inherit anything. All I want is to be a soaring eagle, free to fly.

“Just fill in your name and give it to me.” My pampered mother, Eleanor, impatiently tapped on the desk. I stared at the asset gift deed, my fingertips lightly tracing the smooth A4 paper, my thoughts adrift. In my last life, this was the happiest day. I’d carefully, stroke by stroke, filled in my own name, then eagerly dragged Dad to buy a car. I wanted the car so I could pick them up from work, because after being apart for twenty years, I felt like I hadn’t had enough of their affection. But Dad had ripped into me, yelling that I was just a typical orphanage brat who’d never seen money before. He was in a hurry to go with Mom to Stella’s art exhibition. I mumbled, “Got it, got it.” I glanced up at Mom’s agitated expression and the hand that kept checking her phone. Mom was wearing a luxurious silk gown today, half-sleeved, showing off her slender, pale forearms. I remembered Stella loved her in that outfit, saying Mom looked so aristocratic, exuding an intimidating elegance, effortlessly outshining everyone else. “Mom, Dad, if you have something important to do, go ahead,” I forced down the bitter ache in my chest, trying to sound casual. “I’ll turn it in myself once I’m done.” Mom visibly relaxed, her tone softening a bit. “Don’t worry, now that we’ve found you, we’ll take responsibility for you.” “But you need to stop being jealous of Stella. Even though she’s not related by blood, we’ve raised her for so long. You know, she’s family, and we’ve raised her. Who could just abandon her without feeling anything? People would call us heartless.” I stayed silent. In my last life, I’d explained countless times, but in their eyes, I was just a jealous, petty older sister who simply couldn’t stand her frail, kind adopted sister. She didn’t say anything more, turning and hurrying off with Dad. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my erratic heartbeat, my mind replaying all the painful memories from my previous life. Buying Stella the prettiest dresses, taking her on world tours to broaden her horizons. For my coming-of-age party, they used Stella’s illness as an excuse, not coming home all night. They only took Stella when going out to business meetings, patiently and gently teaching her the ropes of the business, dead set on having her replace me, but she was always slow on the uptake. And then, right before I died, my parents didn’t shed a single tear. “You, while you still have a breath left, quickly sign the property transfer agreement. You’re not as good as Stella in any way.” “If you didn’t have a bit of business talent, why would I let you occupy the company for five years? Let go, it all belongs to Stella.” From my hospital bed, I watched my cold fiancé, Ryan, who stood silently beside them. His deathly silence was all the confirmation my parents needed. I bit down hard on my lower lip until I tasted a hint of blood before slowly releasing it. No, not this life. I won’t repeat my mistakes. I picked up the pen and, in the beneficiary column, slowly wrote three words: Stella Monroe. Mom, Dad, since you love her so much, let it be as you wish. I handed the filled-out gift deed to the notary and walked away without looking back. I wasn’t sad. Instead, I felt an inexplicable sense of liberation. 2. Stella Monroe was the child of our family’s former housekeeper. The housekeeper, envious of our privileged life, secretly swapped us as infants. Stella was a sweet-talker and a schemer. She managed to charm Mom and Dad into simply firing the housekeeper, giving her a large sum of money, and letting her “sell” Stella to them, without pursuing any further legal action. They treated Stella even better than their own daughter. When I came back, my parents weren’t happy. Instead, they blamed me for disrupting their family harmony. For the family alliance, Mom had long planned for Stella to marry my fiancé. But the other family’s elders insisted on a pure-blooded Monroe daughter for the marriage, so the intended spouse had to be me. Ryan and Stella were childhood sweethearts, and he was already deeply in love with her. He resented me for breaking them apart. In reality, Stella was just leading him on. At the time, Ryan was just a trust fund kid from the city’s old money families, and she was waiting for someone better. When no one else came along, she grudgingly pretended to agree to marry him. I took a trip to the leading engineering school out West, making sure I understood all the requirements for admission and the living expenses. Only then did I feel at ease enough to head back. Arriving back at the luxurious Monroe family villa, I walked in just as I heard Stella’s saccharine, childish whine cooing, “Mom, Dad, you even canceled your meetings to come back and be with me. Aren’t you going to accompany Clara to the West? Will she be mad?” “We can accompany her anytime. She’s always been a wild child.” “But you always get cramps during your period, and we didn’t feel right leaving you alone at home.” Stella smiled happily, then feigned sadness, saying, “Will Clara still be nice to me after she inherits the family business?” “Of course,” Mom’s voice was firm. “If not to you, then to whom?” “If your sister isn’t good to you, I’ll take back the 3 billion. If it weren’t for fearing it would be too much work for our Stella, I would never have let her inherit the family business!” I clenched my fists so tightly I thought my nails would dig into my palms, just to suppress the overwhelming bitterness in my chest. Even after everything, hearing my own mother speak of me with such coldness still hurt. I composed myself and walked into the villa as if nothing were wrong. 3. Mom and Dad emerged from Stella’s room, a hint of awkwardness on their faces. “We… we just came back early to check on Stella because she wasn’t feeling well.” I hummed vaguely and turned to go back to my room. In my last life, I’d argued with them countless times about their favoritism towards Stella. This life, I didn’t want to waste any more time or energy. Dad called out to me, “Clara, how about we buy you a car? You’ve got your driver’s license now, we should get you one.” I looked at him in surprise. Then I figured it was probably their way of compensating me for not arguing or making a fuss. “No need. My most important task right now is studying. It’s not easy for you to earn money, Mom and Dad.” He froze, probably finding it hard to believe I’d actually refuse that offer. “Is Clara mad because Mom and Dad came home to take care of me?” Stella emerged from her room, her babyish voice cooing, accompanied by a look of wronged innocence. She deliberately exposed her wrist, where she wore the jade bracelet I had bought specifically for Mom. I had saved up for six months, working crazy part-time jobs on weekends, without telling my parents, just to buy it. I’d presented it to Mom like a priceless treasure, but she’d scoffed, saying I was just a wild brat who just runs around, bringing home cheap junk to try and impress her. Seeing my gaze, Stella flusteredly explained, “I saw Mom’s jade bracelet today and thought it was pretty, so I wanted to try it on. I forgot to take it off.” She lowered her head, twisting her fingers nervously, looking like a child who had done something wrong. Mom instinctively started to say, “Clara, you shouldn’t…” I cut her off, my voice calm: “It looks quite nice on Stella. Just keep it. Anyway, I bought it from a street vendor.” “No, no, I can’t take Sister’s things. Mom and Dad have already given me so much since I was little.” In my last life, after saying that, Stella, despite her supposed illness, took off the bracelet, “accidentally” dropping it and shattering it on the ground. Seeing the broken bracelet on the floor, I cried and ran back to my room, only to be scolded by my parents who followed me in. Thinking about it now, it still makes my skin crawl. Under their surprised gazes, I returned to my room and locked the door. 4. I pulled out a package, inside was my acceptance letter—to the leading engineering school out West. In my previous life, I’d always loved the rich history of the West, especially its defense industry, which was my favorite field. Last life, for Mom and Dad, I gave up my passions and my university dreams, willingly starting from the bottom in Montclair City. With the 3 billion they gave me, I single-handedly salvaged our family’s fortune, which was 300 million in debt, literally working myself to death from stomach cancer. This life, thankfully, it’s not too late. I just want to live for myself. I checked my phone. Ten days left until I could leave this place. Time was tight, but I had to prepare every minute. A sudden knock on the door. I opened it impatiently. Mom stood there holding a bowl of noodles, her voice gentle, “Hungry? Mom made you a bowl of noodles. I haven’t cooked in years, come and try Mom’s cooking.” I felt a moment of unreality. In my last life, Mom was either cold as ice or spoke to me with venom, let alone cooking for me. It was as if I was the one who tore the family apart. It had been a long time since I’d seen Mom so amiable. “No thanks, I already ate out.” “How could you?!” “You’ve always been so frugal, haven’t you?” Her words stung. I used to be frugal, saving every penny, spending most of the money I earned from part-time jobs trying to please them, buying them things. But they always complained they were too cheap. Now I was going to university, and I had many expenses. Every penny had to be carefully budgeted. I looked up at her, my voice calm: “I remember a few days ago, I developed a paid app optimization for Mom’s company.” “You seem to be using it quite smoothly. Can I have the development fee now?” She froze, then awkwardly explained: “That app… I put it under Stella’s name. You know, your sister isn’t as capable as you, but she needs to establish herself in the high society circles.” I couldn’t help but curl my lip. How boring. Always the same. “If there’s nothing else, I’m closing the door to sleep.” “I’ll give you the money tomorrow,” she said, a hint of annoyance in her voice. “We’re family, do you have to be so calculative?” I couldn’t help but scoff, “So I pulled all-nighters to make that app, and the credit goes to someone else, the money goes to someone else, and I can’t even complain?” She knew she was in the wrong, but still stubbornly mumbled, “Unreasonable.” I didn’t want to argue with Mom any longer. I slammed the door shut. 5. For the next few days, I locked myself in my room, furiously coding and listing everything, valuable or not, on eBay. In my previous life, I had treasured the gifts my parents gave me. Now, compared to what Stella received, they were just cheap junk. I didn’t want to take a single piece with me. I packed them all up, turning them into cash for university. That afternoon, as I continued sorting my luggage, Mom stood before me, holding a card, saying stiffly, “Here’s your hundred thousand dollars.” I took the money and nodded. “Thanks.” She looked at me, her eyes complex, then her gaze fell on my light luggage. “We’re planning to have Stella move to Montclair City with us first. You don’t need to pack.” I didn’t stop packing, just nodded. She seemed unaccustomed to my attitude, looking somewhat uneasy. “What’s wrong with you lately? You’re like a different person.” I turned away impatiently. I didn’t want to stir up more trouble. Even though Mom and Dad didn’t love me, if they found out that Stella’s name was on the gift deed… It was highly likely they would make me sign a new gift deed for Stella’s sake. I didn’t want any more involvement with the Monroe family. “Nothing, just trying to pack.” “Once you’re in Montclair City, I can move back to the orphanage.” She breathed a sigh of relief, then explained, “It’s not that we don’t want you.” “It’s just that Stella loves Montclair City so much and wants to settle there. We’ll come pick you up in a few months, once we’re settled.” I nodded absentmindedly. In my previous life, for five whole years, they never came to pick me up. Not until I was utterly exhausted and on my deathbed did they rush back to break off my engagement and devour my assets to host a lavish wedding for Stella. She looked at me uncomfortably. Usually, whenever we were alone, I would chatter non-stop. Now that I was using so few words, she grew uneasy. “Weren’t you always wanting to attend the debutante ball? How about we go try on gowns tomorrow?” I knew attendees had to be 16 or older, of good character, from reputable families, with parents of good standing and no criminal record or bad conduct. No way. Tomorrow, I planned to go to a tech company to discuss a collaboration project, to earn money for university tuition and living expenses. I was about to find an excuse when Stella walked in. She intimately linked arms with Mom. “Mommy, when are we going to the debutante ball? Stella wants to go too, Stella wants a gown!” Mom lovingly stroked Stella’s head. “Alright, we’ll go together tomorrow.” “You go ahead. I have plans tomorrow.” Mom frowned. “What could be more important than attending the debutante ball?” “Go pick a gown first. Whatever you like, I’ll buy it for you.” Her voice was forceful, brooking no refusal. Stella whined, “Exactly, is Sister not going because of me?” I didn’t want to argue anymore and nodded, agreeing to go. 6. First thing in the morning, I heard Mom and Dad speaking in hushed, coaxing tones, trying to get Stella out of bed in her room. The stark numbers on my phone reminded me: four days left. In four days, I could completely escape this life. Just as I was about to lose my patience, they finally dragged themselves out of the room. Dad solicitously brought warm water, and Mom personally washed Stella’s face. The old me must have been blind, to naively believe that if I gave them my all, they would reciprocate. I was lost in thought when Dad awkwardly walked over to me, jingling a Maserati car key. “Stella doesn’t have her driver’s license yet, but we already got her a car. I can’t play favorites, so I bought one for you too.” I didn’t take it. In my last life, it was a 300,000 dollar BMW, not this expensive, luxury car. And Stella already had a Bentley before she was even old enough to drive. Stella saw it and immediately pouted. “Oh, it’s so beautiful! I want it too!” I generously offered, “Then you can have it.” Dad’s face instantly darkened. “Don’t be ridiculous, your sister passed her driving test but never had a car!” Stella snatched the car key, holding it up and jingling it at Mom and Dad. “Mom, Dad, will this be my motivation to get my driver’s license, huh?” Mom and Dad looked at Stella, their eyes full of doting affection, and reluctantly nodded. Then Dad guiltily turned to me, whispering, “I’ll… I’ll buy you one next time.” I nodded indifferently. I’d heard their promises too many times; none of them had ever been kept. At the evening gown boutique, Stella chose first, trying on numerous dresses. When it was my turn, the store manager brought out the most magnificent gown. When I put it on, gasps of admiration filled the room. “Oh, I’m so sorry.” Stella “accidentally” spilled a cup of coffee on the gown. I secretly cheered inside, but kept a poker face. “Oh, never mind then.” I picked a simple, understated black gown. Walking out of the boutique, Dad pulled a job offer from his pocket—for a position on the assembly line at the family company in Montclair City, starting in four days. “We didn’t mean to abandon you,” he said. “We want to train you to take over the family business, starting from the ground up. In Montclair City, we’ve rented a small studio apartment for you. It wouldn’t be convenient for you to live at home while working undercover from the bottom.” The assembly line job was six days on, one day off. When business was good, they often worked overtime until midnight. I didn’t know how they thought I could endure it. Besides, I had done some digging. The small studio apartment Stella had rented for me was in the worst part of town, and it was a shared living space with a bizarre couple who had their days and nights flipped. At night, they were either screaming passionately or throwing all-night parties. The previous tenant couldn’t sleep at all, lost handfuls of hair, and was drowsy all day, even getting her hand caught in machinery. 7. Seeing me accept the offer, Dad visibly relaxed. “Don’t worry, even if you don’t live in the Montclair City villa, Mom and Dad won’t abandon you.” “We’ll be good to you, and we’ll hand the company over to you eventually. You just need to treat Stella like your own sister.” My expression softened for a moment. When had Dad ever spoken such soft words? Suddenly, a mugger wielding a kitchen knife burst into the store, charging straight at us. Mom and Dad pulled Stella into their embrace, ducking away. In the chaos, someone shoved me. The mugger held the knife to my throat. My body was stiff with fear, unable to move. “Hand over the money, or I’ll kill her.” A streak of blood appeared on my neck. It stung, making me wince, but I dared not make a sound, fearing I would enrage the mugger. Others in the store slowly gathered around, pointing and whispering. My gaze pierced through the onlookers, settling firmly on Mom and Dad. They were comforting Stella, completely oblivious to my situation. Perhaps they noticed, or perhaps they simply didn’t care. It was Stella, however, who bravely rushed out, yelling at the mugger. “How dare you touch my sister?! We’re the Monroe family from the Capital City! You want money? You won’t get any. Mess with the Monroes, and you’ll rot in prison for the rest of your life.” The mugger became agitated and was about to slice my throat. *Bang, bang, bang!* A sniper took him down. Only then did Mom and Dad dare to approach, embracing and comforting me. I gave a bitter smile. The last shred of hesitation in my heart vanished completely. So, this was their idea of “being good to me.” The 3 billion they gave me was just to pay off the 300 million family debt and ensure their own future comfort. 8. The driver took me to the hospital. After a thorough check-up, thankfully, it was just a scare, and a minor superficial cut on my neck. I lay in the hospital bed, my neck aching from the bandage, but my heart was strangely calm. It was late when Mom and Dad finally walked into the hospital, their faces tired. They saw me sitting on the bed, and a flicker of panic crossed their faces. “Clara, how are you feeling? Are you better?” I looked at them coldly, saying nothing. Dad nervously rubbed his hands, awkwardly explaining, “Stella was too scared, she’s been blaming herself for not protecting her sister. We’ve been with her, comforting her, so…” Under my gaze, Dad sheepishly fell silent. “Clara, listen to me. The situation was too urgent. Stella was closer to us, and I instinctively just…” He paused, seeming to choose his words carefully. “I didn’t know you’d be taken hostage by the mugger.” I cut him off. “Dad, when are you planning to go to Montclair City?” Dad cautiously replied, “We leave tomorrow.” “Got it. I want to rest. The doctor wants me to stay for a few days for observation, so I won’t see you off.” I closed my eyes, dismissing them. Dad wanted to say more, but he eventually left, realizing it was futile. 9. The next day, Ryan’s mother, Mrs. Margot, came. She carried an insulated food container, her face wreathed in smiles. “Clara, Ryan’s so busy. He heard you were hurt and asked me to come take care of you.” “Are you feeling better?” “Much better, thank you, Mrs. Margot.” As she served me soup, she chattered on, “That boy, Ryan, he’s so stubborn. He keeps making a fuss in front of us…” Mid-sentence, she seemed to realize something and awkwardly shut her mouth. “Mrs. Margot, I won’t be marrying Ryan. His intended spouse is Stella Monroe.” Mrs. Margot froze, then after a long moment, she reacted. “You… what did you say?” “I have no feelings for Ryan. Stella is his perfect match.” Mrs. Margot’s face first showed shock, then morphed into unbridled joy. “Clara, you truly are a good girl! I knew you were the most sensible one!” She excitedly gripped my hand. “Clara, thank you! Thank you for making them happy!” I smiled faintly, saying nothing. Making them happy? No, I was just making *myself* happy. Mrs. Margot had always favored Stella. In my previous life, even if I tried my best to please her, all I got was endless ridicule. After I died, she gave most of her assets to her son as a dowry to lavishly marry Stella. The two families spent 100 million dollars on their wedding. “Mrs. Margot, please don’t tell Ryan or Stella about this yet.” Mrs. Margot beamed, unable to contain her joy. “Good, good, Mrs. Margot understands!” “So… what are your plans for the future?” “I’m leaving in a few days too.” I didn’t reveal my exact destination. Eleanor still wanted to ask more, her mind consumed by their wedding plans.

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The prince was searching the entire city for the girl who lost a glass slipper. My stepsister stole my shoe, claiming she was the one who danced with the prince last night. She didn’t know that the prince had killed someone that night. And I was the only witness. “Sister, please, give me back my shoe.” I clung to Victoria’s leg, begging desperately. Victoria grabbed my hair and spat in my face viciously. “Pfft, you filthy wretch! How dare you covet His Royal Highness? Go back to the attic where you belong, that’s your rightful place.” Madame Tremaine and Isabelle each grabbed one of my arms, pushing me towards the attic. I struggled fiercely, trying to lunge for the glass slipper. “You can’t take it out! You really can’t!” A few days ago, I suddenly found myself in a twisted version of the fairy tale, becoming Cinderella. At first, I thought, how bad could a fairy tale world be? Until I saw the prince slice open the Chancellor’s belly with his sword. After the murder, he stood calmly, using his long blade to lift up a section of the Chancellor’s intestines, admiring it in the moonlight. “Ah, how beautiful.” The bright red intestines dripped blood, and the prince’s eyes gleamed with an eerie, bloodthirsty light. I hid in the bushes, tightly covering my mouth, my whole body shaking uncontrollably with fear. I must have been shaking too hard because the prince suddenly turned his head in my direction, his gaze sharp and piercing like a hawk’s. “Who’s there? Come out!” I gasped, picked up my skirts, and ran. The prince chased after me, sword in hand. The palace was magnificent, with expensive crystal chandeliers hanging from the pillars on both sides, illuminating everything clearly. The prince laughed softly behind me. “Oh, it’s the beautiful girl who danced with me tonight—” His tone was sinister. I turned my head to look; the prince’s face was twisted with malice, his long sword still dripping blood, leaving a trail behind him. I was terrified, running faster than I ever had before. But the white jade steps at the palace gate were too long, and no matter how careful I was, I still lost one glass slipper. I knew he wouldn’t let me go. Sure enough, the next day, news of the Chancellor’s death spread throughout the country. The king was furious and ordered the guards to catch the real culprit. Along with the obituary, another piece of news spread across the country: the prince was looking for love. The prince had fallen in love at first sight with a beautiful girl at the ball. He announced that whoever could wear the glass slipper left behind by the girl would be the next princess. All the women in the city went crazy. Victoria and Isabelle started dressing up early in the morning, soaking their feet in milk, praying for this lucky glory to fall upon them. It wasn’t until Victoria came to my room to look for jewelry that she accidentally found the other glass slipper.

“You filthy wretch, how dare you sneak off to the ball behind our backs! If you’re so desperate for a man, we’ll marry you off to a stable boy tomorrow!” Madame Tremaine grabbed my hair and slapped me hard across the face several times. Victoria clutched the glass slipper to her chest and kicked me hard in the stomach. The attic door opened, and I fell down. Victoria giggled. “Thinking you could be a princess? You should look in a mirror first. “Stay here like a good girl. If you make a sound, you’re dead.” With a loud bang, the attic door was locked. I pounded on the door above my head, my face filled with despair. This is bad. If they take out this shoe, the prince will surely know I’m here. He’ll kill me! Soon, I heard Madame Tremaine’s fawning voice from above. “Oh my, Lord Roderick, why have you come personally— “No need to try it on, this shoe belongs to our Victoria. Victoria, show the other shoe to Lord Roderick.” Lord Roderick’s face was stern as he held a fine velvet cushion with a sparkling glass slipper on top. “Everyone must try it on. Oh—indeed, they make a pair. Noble lady, please come with me to the palace so the prince can see for himself.” The other maids and guards all offered their congratulations. Victoria excitedly hugged Isabelle and spun around. Soon, a flurry of footsteps gradually faded away, and silence fell once again overhead. I slumped to the ground, my face filled with despair. My sister’s foot was bigger than mine. Once they entered the palace and the prince discovered she couldn’t wear the shoe, he would soon come to my house. I had to escape before that happened. But the attic door was locked, and there wasn’t even a window. I had no way to escape. There were many tools in the attic. I found a hammer and started chipping away at the wall. After an hour, I had only managed to scrape off a thin layer of plaster. Covered in sweat, I angrily smashed the hammer against the wall a couple of times before throwing it to the ground. A mouse in the corner was startled and scurried to the other side, squeaking. Looking at that mouse, my eyes lit up as an idea suddenly came to me.

In my impression, Cinderella was always mistreated by her stepmother and forced to do chores. Whenever the housework became too overwhelming, she would start singing, and then many birds and small animals would come out to help her. This was a special ability of Disney princesses. Now that I had become Cinderella, shouldn’t I have this ability too? I cleared my throat. “Ooooh ooooh ooooh~ Aaaah aaaah~” No response. Maybe I was doing it wrong. I continued singing. “Eeee eeee eeee~ Oooo oooo~” I sang repeatedly for half an hour, until my throat was dry, but I didn’t give up. Finally, that mouse crept out from the corner again. I was delighted and crouched down to look at it. “Are you here to help me?” The mouse squeaked, its limbs twitching, and fell to the ground. Me: “…” I sat on the ground hugging my knees. Just as I was at a loss, I heard chaotic footsteps from above and Madame Tremaine’s shrill voice. “Oh my, Prince Henry, you’ve come personally! Heavens!” I looked up through the cracks in the wooden floor. The prince still carried that long sword from last night. He smiled and gestured for his attendant to press Victoria onto a chair. “Beautiful Lady Victoria, is this pair of glass slippers yours?” Victoria’s face turned red, and she nodded shyly. The attendant tried to put the shoe on Victoria’s foot, but her foot was too wide and wouldn’t fit no matter how they tried. Victoria became anxious. “I… I’m a bit swollen today.” “Is that so? But you must wear the shoe to become my princess.” The prince’s expression was cold. Hearing this, Victoria desperately tried to squeeze her foot into the shoe, her instep turning red from the effort. The prince laughed coldly and raised his sword. “Let me help you—” The prince’s blade fell, cutting off half of Victoria’s foot. She screamed and rolled on the ground, clutching her leg.

Everyone was terrified, but the prince acted as if nothing had happened and calmly turned to look at Isabelle. “Beautiful lady, is this pair of shoes yours?” Isabelle’s face was pale, but unable to suppress her desire to become a princess, she still nodded. This time, the prince cut off her heel. Blood sprayed everywhere, dripping through the cracks in the wooden floor. I was terrified, looking around frantically but finding nowhere to hide. Madame Tremaine screamed and went to embrace her two daughters. The prince put his sword to her throat. “Are there any other daughters in your house?” Madame Tremaine’s lips trembled. “No, no more…” Despite their severe injuries, both sisters gritted their teeth and insisted there was no one else in the house. The resolve of the mother and daughters to prevent me from becoming princess was unexpectedly strong. Thank you all. “What about young maids? None of those either?” Madame Tremaine continued shaking her head. The prince laughed and sat down in a chair, using a clean white cloth to wipe his long sword. “Well, isn’t that interesting!” The prince waved his hand, and his attendants scattered to search the house. Soon, Lord Roderick ran to the prince’s side. “Your Highness, the attic door is locked.” The prince looked at Madame Tremaine. “This is your last chance to live. Open the door.” The prince’s eyes were sharp, his tense jawline showing that his patience had reached its limit. Seeing Madame Tremaine standing still, Lord Roderick drew his sword. “Kill her. You all, go break down the door.” Only then did Madame Tremaine react, screaming and crawling towards the attic door. “I’ll open it, I’ll open it, don’t kill me—” The sound of keys and chains clashing rang out, and the attic door was forcefully pulled open. A beam of light shone diagonally into the attic. In the dusty beam of light, the prince stood before me with a wicked smile. “Ha, found you.”

The next moment, the smile froze on the prince’s face. My face was covered in ash, my eyes were crossed, and I asked him with a toothy grin: “Who ya lookin’ for, mister?” Prince: “…” The prince took a big step back in disgust. “Who are you?” “I’m the maid, Cinderella. Ain’t you a handsome fella, hee hee hee—” I reached out to touch the prince’s face. He frowned and swatted my hand away. “Someone, bring her up.” Two guards jumped down into the attic and hauled me up. Thanks to my stepmother’s mistreatment, I was wearing old clothes patched all over, my hair was full of straw, and my face had several red handprints, which indeed matched the image of a maid. Lord Roderick looked disappointed. “Your Highness, this girl doesn’t seem to be the one.” I had just breathed a sigh of relief when I heard the prince coldly order: “Put the shoe on her.” Damn it, he still suspects me. Where’s the basic trust and respect between people? I was pressed into a chair by several guards. Lord Roderick knelt on one knee, holding up the glass slipper. As soon as he lifted my long skirt, Roderick turned his head away in disgust. My feet were pitch black, covered in ash, with my five toes spread wide like sea anemones. The prince laughed coldly. “What happened to your feet?” I smiled ingratiatingly: “My toes are deformed, they’ve been like this since I was little.” “Is that so?” The prince paused for a moment, then suddenly reached out and pinched my calf hard. “Ah—” I screamed in pain, and my toes instinctively curled up. The prince sneered. “Look, all better now.” “Thank you, you’re so kind.” I wanted to cry but had no tears left as I watched Roderick stuff my foot into the glass slipper.

Of course, it fit perfectly—not too big, not too small, not too long, not too short. The glass slipper on my pitch-black foot looked as if it had been custom-made for me. Roderick looked awkwardly at the prince. “Your Highness, are you sure this girl is the one you’re looking for?” The two sisters, who had been rolling on the ground clutching their legs, hurriedly crawled over and said in unison: “There must be a mistake, she didn’t go out last night!” Madame Tremaine nodded along. “Yes, this is my maid. I locked her in the attic last night; she couldn’t possibly have attended the ball. Your Highness, she absolutely cannot be the girl you’re looking for.” The prince stared at Madame Tremaine for a while, then curled his lips into a smile. “Liars must swallow a thousand needles. “Roderick, bring out that box of needles.” What kind of psychopath carries around boxes of needles? Watching Roderick stuff silver needles as long as a pinky finger into Madame Tremaine’s mouth, I was so scared my legs went weak. Amidst the wailing of the mother and daughters, I was escorted onto a carriage by the guards. As the wheels rolled, two guards watched me vigilantly from the side. I couldn’t find any chance to escape. Soon, the majestic palace appeared before my eyes. “My dear Henry, have you found your beloved girl?” Queen Eleanor came out to greet us enthusiastically. Seeing my ash-covered face, the queen paused, a flash of horror crossing her eyes. “This is—” “Someone, take her away to clean up.” The prince acted as if he hadn’t seen the queen and ordered the people beside him. The queen circled around the prince, asking if his journey had been tiring and chattering endlessly. The prince coldly waved her away, turned to Roderick, and instructed: “Clean her up and bring her to see me.”

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Six years after we broke up, I found myself in his emergency room. “I’m pregnant. The baby is yours.” His face went ashen. “Pregnant with a six-year-old? What are you even talking about?” The atmosphere instantly became unbearably awkward. “So, you’re not going to acknowledge it?” “You think I’d just step up and be a stand-in dad?” he shot back. I fell silent for a few seconds. “Fine. Then I’ll find a father for him myself.” Nine months later. He clutched the chief surgeon’s arm, his voice rough with desperation. “Please, man, I’m begging you. Make the incision as neat as possible. She’s obsessed with how things look.” I went for a pre-marital health check with my blind date. Turns out, I was pregnant. The wedding was off. Mrs. Gable, the matchmaker, stormed over to my place and reamed my mom out. “You told me your girl was a good, wholesome catch! A good, wholesome catch who’s two months pregnant?!” “You’ve completely ruined my reputation!” “Don’t ever call me again! Bad luck!” … My mom got an earful, then I got an earful from my mom. “Who’s the father?” “…” I just clammed up. “Skylar Hayes, you’re twenty-eight, not eight! Are you still messing around out there? Do you have any common sense?” “Are you trying to kill me, your mother, with stress?” “Whatever.” I turned and went upstairs, locking the door behind me.

I lay on my bed, racking my brain. My period had definitely been three weeks late. And lately, I’d been feeling a bit off my food. My cycle was usually all over the place, impossible to track, mostly thanks to my late nights. I just thought this time was the same. It never crossed my mind that I was pregnant. And the father? None other than my ex-boyfriend from six years ago. Two months back, I went to a class reunion. He showed up really late and was completely wasted. I was the one who took him home. When we got to his place, I practically had to carry him inside. When I left, I stumbled out, practically crawling. The taxi driver must’ve thought something was seriously wrong with me. He kept glancing at me in the rearview mirror, not daring to say a word. … After a few days of thinking at home, I still went to Liam’s hospital. I waited in line, paid the fees, got the tests done, and finally, report in hand, headed to his department. “Consultations are over for the morning. Come back this afternoon.” I’d barely stepped in when he dismissed me without even looking up. He must’ve sensed I hadn’t left, because he suddenly looked up and saw me. His gaze snapped, his pupils shrinking. He looked utterly shocked, like someone seeing a long-lost friend. What an act. How could he have mistaken me for someone else at the reunion? “Skylar?” He parted his lips. Before he could finish, I neatly placed the report in front of him. “I’m pregnant. The baby is yours,” I stated, getting straight to the point. He glanced down at the report, his face grave. I could almost feel his fear. “What baby is six years overdue?” His long fingers tapped the report. “Did you lose your memory? We broke up six years ago.” His words slammed me into silence, my face burning with humiliation. “You’re not going to acknowledge it?” I asked through gritted teeth. He looked up at me, his expression unreadable. “Skylar, if you regret something, you should act like it. What… you think I’d be foolish enough to fall for that?” He didn’t look at the report again, burying his head in a patient file, clearly done with me. “You—!” I almost blurted out a string of curses. I never imagined he wouldn’t just deny it, but accuse me of regretting our breakup! A jerk like him? Skylar Hayes would never regret a thing in her life. Even if… I did regret it, I absolutely couldn’t let him see it! I forced myself to calm down for a few seconds, trying to figure out what to say. “Don’t you think the baby’s eyes look exactly like yours?” He still lowered his head for a quick glance at the report, then sighed. Right? He finally admitted it? “It’s a ten-week ultrasound scan. Tell me, where exactly are its eyes?” In that instant, I realized my mistake. Forget it. You can’t wake up someone who doesn’t want to be a father. “Fine. Then I’ll find a father for him myself.” I tossed out the words and turned, walking out of his office.

Liam was a year older than me, the brilliant, untouchable legend of the medical school. He was incredibly hard to get. I practically worshipped the ground he walked on for four whole years, and finally, just a few months before graduation, I managed to win him over. Everyone said Liam only got with me because I was so ridiculously dramatic and wouldn’t leave him alone. “Otherwise, why would the esteemed A-list genius fall for someone like Skylar Hayes, who’s both chubby and plain, from the History department?” “Her stomach? When she ate, she looked five months pregnant.” They didn’t know that to chase Liam, I’d lost thirty pounds, dropping from 120 to 90. I deleted all my food delivery apps, munched on apples in the mornings, and cucumbers at night. I ate like that for months. I was so starved, I swear I could have eaten a housefly. I did get skinny, but my period became severely irregular, and my sleep was completely messed up. All of it, just for Liam to give me an extra glance. One day, I was running on the track, trailing behind him, and he turned around to look at me. He stared for a long, long time. My entire face flushed crimson. He liked me. He just had to. I nervously walked over, rehearsing my opening line— “Are you Skylar’s sister?” His words hit me like a bucket of ice water, drenching me from head to toe. I was furious, but also found it strangely funny. “I… guess so.” He fell silent for a moment, then handed me a bottle of water. “Then go tell her to stop bothering me.” I took the water he offered. It was the first time I’d been so close to him. His eyelashes were so long, his nose so sharp. And his voice, so gentle when he spoke. But his words were so cold. “Alright.” I swallowed my hurt. After that, we often bumped into each other on the track. After our tenth encounter, he asked for my SnapChat. That was the first time I felt like losing those thirty pounds was totally worth it! Because, my entire life, no one had ever asked for my SnapChat, except for people handing out flyers on the street. I asked him to a movie. He didn’t refuse. I suggested we date. He didn’t refuse. Even when I broke up with him, he didn’t refuse. It was me, actually, who cried for a day and a night straight in my dorm. My roommate asked, “Is a breakup really that sad?” I sobbed, “It’s alright.” “It’s like seeing an old friend off. You just have to cry a little.”

He was like a still, lifeless pond. So calm it terrified me. I only heard that afterward, his friends never dared to mention my name in front of him. He’d flip out if they did. I get it. A big shot like him, brought low by something so trivial? He must’ve been furious. But to say he hated me? I probably wasn’t even worth his hatred. After graduation, I moved back to my hometown city for work. My salary was $4500 a month, and my mom arranged ten blind dates for me a year. I’d gone on over a hundred, big and small, and I was completely numb to it all. Which is why this time, when Mrs. Gable introduced us, we settled on the wedding plans less than a month after meeting. He was a thirty-year-old elementary school teacher from a small town, stable job, parents lived in the countryside, and he had a younger brother in high school. “A guy with his conditions isn’t easy to find. How much could his brother’s high school and college cost anyway?” “You’re twenty-eight, if you don’t get married soon, you’ll only be looking at divorced guys.” “And these divorced guys with kids, if they knew you had a sister like that at home, they’d probably be even harder to snag.” … My mom sat at the table, nodding meekly, her voice low. “Make sure you ask them clearly, they don’t mind our family, right?” “Tell them not to worry, Skylar’s sister won’t be a burden. We’re still young, we can still work…” Every time I saw my mom like that, it just annoyed me. I felt like a bargain-bin item, clearly priced and ready to be sold off. My mom fawningly saw Mrs. Gable out, stuffing a big red envelope into her hand as she left. Everything was ready. Then, that thing happened to me. My mom was so mad she didn’t speak to me for days. But anger aside, within a few days, she showed up in the city with a cardboard box of eggs. Her coat was wrapped around the box, and inside were bags of rice. My mom’s hair was a mess, but not a single egg was broken. “Did you go to the hospital for a check-up?” My mom carefully placed the eggs in the fridge, then turned to ask me. “Check-up for what?” I fiddled with my phone. “No.” “To see what the baby looks like, of course! You, this child, why are you so careless?” My mom started pulling me towards the door. “What’s there to see?” I pulled away. “You really don’t plan on keeping it?” My mom looked at me worriedly. The atmosphere grew awkward. I fell silent. It wasn’t that I didn’t want it; it was that *he* didn’t want it. “You’re not getting any younger. If you don’t keep this one, what if it’s hard to have another later?” “You’ve been going on blind dates anyway. Find that boy, and your dad and I can meet him. If he’s decent, just go ahead and get married.” Get married? She was really dreaming big, dreaming beautiful. “Just leave it alone. I’ll go to the hospital for the procedure in a couple of days.” I brushed my mom off. My mom heard my resolute tone and wanted to persuade me again. “Don’t be impulsive. That’s a life,” my mom insisted as I closed the door. “Is that how you had Lily back then?” I blurted out. “…” My mom instantly clammed up. Her eyes looked deeply hurt. Lily was my younger sister. And my mom’s absolute Achilles’ heel. She was ten years old this year, couldn’t speak, and had epilepsy. After I’d driven her away like that, my chest felt tight. Every time I said those things, I felt like I was retaliating, but then quickly regretted it. I picked up my phone, booked an appointment, and headed to the hospital. On the way, I even seriously considered my mom’s words, “What if you just get married?” I wondered, if I married Liam, would I be willing? How could I not be willing? That was once my dream. Passing the emergency department on the first floor, I instantly spotted Liam. A group of nurses and doctors were frantically working on a newly arrived patient. He was in his white coat, having just inserted a breathing tube, and even his profile view made my breath catch. So I thought, even if I could go back in time, I still wouldn’t have been able to push him away that night at the reunion. The moment I saw him, he saw me too. He only gave me a hurried glance for a second before looking away, continuing the resuscitation. He was so busy. I didn’t dare to disturb him, so I just sat on a chair outside, waiting. I’d made up my mind. Even if he rejected me again, I had to get answers. Why had he acted so passionately towards me at the reunion that night, only to deny it afterward? Even if he didn’t acknowledge it, he should at least come with me for the procedure… I didn’t have the money. In the ten minutes I waited for him, I thought of so many possibilities. Each one, I planned out my escape route. But everything crumbled when I opened my Ins, and saw his latest post… “Liam Miller: Six pounds, six ounces. Mother and son are doing well.” My heart lurched violently, as if all the strength had been drained from me. He was married, and he had a child. Born today. No wonder he didn’t acknowledge what happened that night. No wonder he didn’t want the baby.

I found it somewhat laughable. That night, he was drunk, his eyes red, and he asked me, “Are you Skylar Hayes?” I hesitated. “Yes.” But he deflated, looking at me. “No, you’re not.” “Then tell me, what do you want with her?” I asked, smiling. “To collect a debt.” A debt? My smile froze. “What kind of debt?” “An emotional one.” He looked pale and helpless, then added coldly, “No one messes with Liam Miller and gets away with it.” Hearing him talk about an emotional debt, I suddenly lost myself. The next second, he kissed me. I didn’t push him away. Of course, losing control later was partly due to my own indulgence. In the heat of the moment, I thought maybe, just maybe, he still loved me. I don’t know how I ended up in the gynecology department. The whole process was a blur. I just heard the doctor say that my HCG levels were low, my uterine lining was thin, and there was a high risk of miscarriage. The doctor wanted to prescribe me shots to sustain the pregnancy, but I refused. Thinking of Liam’s Ins post, what was there to sustain anymore…? I took a car and went home, crestfallen. My phone suddenly rang. It was an unknown number. “Where are you?” It was Liam. He hadn’t called in six years, but I still recognized his voice immediately. Aloof, cool. “In the car,” I adjusted my breathing, trying to calm down. “You were looking for me just now? What for?” His tone was still arrogant. I paused for a second. “Uh, it’s nothing now.” He was silent on the other end for a while. “Still not giving up? We have no future.” “…Alright, then. I’m hanging up.” I moved to end the call abruptly. But he wouldn’t let me. “I heard from your doctor. Your condition isn’t great. You should still come back for those shots. I’ll talk to the doctor for you. As acquaintances, that’s all I can do.” *Slam!* I hung up the phone. Jerk! Who needed his help? But he sent another text message, furiously asking, “Skylar, why have you become so rude now?” I was livid with indignation. “What do you consider polite? Instead of lecturing me, you should go home and change more diapers!” “?” He sent a single question mark. I couldn’t be bothered to reply. Did he think I was still the Skylar he could manipulate from back then? Back then, if he posted something, I’d meticulously analyze it for ages; When chatting with him, I never dared let his reply be the last; I racked my brain for topics, only for his replies to always be: “Sleeping.” “Going to shower.” “Talk later.” “…” Back home, I lay on my bed, pulled out our old photos, cut them all to shreds, and flushed his face down the toilet. You bastard, go to hell! But tears still streamed down my face, despite myself.

The next morning, I woke up and went back to work. The company transferred me to the marketing department. “Marketing involves visiting stores. It’s tiring, but if you do well, you can earn over ten thousand a month,” the marketing manager told me, painting a rosy picture. The truth was, a colleague in marketing had gone on maternity leave, and they needed a replacement. In their eyes, an older, unmarried woman like me, who didn’t even have a boyfriend, was the ideal candidate for this kind of job. Otherwise, anyone else might turn out to be a ‘mine’ waiting to explode. “Are there any subsidies?” In the adult world, I didn’t believe in rosy pictures; I only cared about money. “Daily transportation and living allowance of $80. If you perform well, your phone bill will be reimbursed too.” “Deal.” $80 a day, $2400 a month. Sending this extra $2400 back to my mom might slow down the rate at which her gray hairs appeared. So, I went from a regular office worker to a small sales manager, constantly rushing between major supermarkets, clocking in, checking merchandise, compiling sales figures… Every day I came home, I was too exhausted to speak. While using the restroom, I noticed a tiny bit of blood. I remembered the doctor’s words and sighed inwardly. The baby was probably gone. But I was sadder than I expected. I didn’t sleep a wink that night. After another weekend, I went to the hospital to book an appointment for a check-up. This time, it was a female doctor named Dr. Avery Stone, quite pretty. “You know Liam Miller? Why didn’t you say so?” Dr. Stone’s sudden warmth made me a bit uncomfortable. “Sort of.” “So, did he have a girlfriend back in school? What type was she?” I froze. Her questions were a bit beyond the patient-doctor relationship. I think I understood: she was interested in Liam. But Liam already had a child; didn’t she know? Could Liam be lying to his colleagues, pretending to be single? What a jerk. “His college girlfriend was very ordinary,” I answered truthfully. “Do you have a picture? I want to see.” She was really persistent. I looked directly at her, letting her look at me for two seconds. Why look at a picture? The person herself is right in front of you. She seemed to forget I was there for a check-up. The thought of Liam, with a family, still pretending to be single at the reunion, and now portraying himself as single at the hospital, made me furious. “Is he married?” I subtly reminded her. “Married?” She was clearly shocked. “I haven’t heard anything about that.” This… “Why would you say that?” Her expression was a bit unnatural. She seemed to think I was lying, and I felt a headache coming on. “Maybe his Ins account was hacked?” I had no choice but to show her the post. She looked at the post, her face paling in shock. “Dr. Miller has a child?” Just as she finished— “Step outside for a moment.” A cold voice sounded behind me. I jumped. Liam?! Oh no, he’ll be furious that I exposed his secret. “Liam, what are you doing here…?” Dr. Stone stood up, a little flustered. I turned around and saw him in his white coat. He looked as dashing as ever, but his face was incredibly dark. “Hurry up, I don’t have time…” He sounded annoyed. I thought about it. Why should I be scared of him? He was the one in the wrong. So I bravely followed him out. He led me to his office. After we entered, he locked the door. My hand went to my arm, a little nervous. “Just talk. Why are you locking the door?” I looked at the lock, feeling a bad premonition. “Don’t want to be disturbed,” he tossed out, then sat down in his office chair. Huh! Still so arrogant, exactly like six years ago. “So, say it.” In that enclosed room, I actually didn’t dare to look at him. “Are you going around telling everyone I have a child?” He lifted his eyes, squinting at me. It made me break out in a cold sweat. “Not ‘everywhere’… I just stated the facts. Besides, Dr. Stone is a really nice person, you shouldn’t lie to people.” He didn’t say a word, his gaze sweeping over my stomach. Why was he looking at my stomach? I quickly pulled my shirt down further. “Heh…” He let out a cold laugh. “Are you really clinging to me? What, your blind date didn’t meet your standards?” Me: ? When did I cling to him? The baby I was talking about wasn’t this baby. Was he crazy? “Don’t flatter yourself,” I said, exasperated. “Skylar, I know you too well. Do you look any different now than you did when you were chasing me back then?” He looked at me, amused. I admit, his words stung. “And?” “Impossible. Your little tricks only worked on the old me. Do you really think, after six years, I’d still fall for them?” He scoffed. “I heard you’re getting married soon. Don’t bother me anymore. Do you want me to give you a wedding gift?” Married? He thought I was looking for a wedding gift? He really got to me. “You actually think you’re as handsome as you were back then? You’re old now, you’ve got wrinkles! Do you really think I’d be interested in a used, old man like you?” I rattled it off in one breath. His smile froze, his face turning even darker. “Skylar, reverse psychology won’t work on me,” he said, getting up and calmly taking off his white coat. “We broke up. Even if we hadn’t, I wouldn’t spoil you rotten.” The atmosphere instantly turned to an impasse. I laughed. When had he ever spoiled me? What a big softie act. “Liam, you’ve got guts.” I smiled, walking towards the door. At the doorway, I remembered something, turned back around. “You’ve got guts, don’t you get drunk and hold onto me, crying and calling my name. That would make me misunderstand you still can’t forget me.” “And your ‘seed’,” I pointed at my stomach. “It’s gone.” He stood there, as if he’d taken a heavy blow. Seeing him upset made me feel incredibly good. After closing the door, I went back to the gynecology department.

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My innocent face was exactly why the Thorne family picked me to marry Landon Thorne. The moment the engagement news broke, Landon Thorne publicly vowed he’d torture me to death if I didn’t call it off. I raised an eyebrow, gave his physique a dismissive once-over, and scoffed, “If you don’t manage to kill me, it just means you’re not man enough!” The day after our engagement was announced, Landon saw me take down countless burly men. His cheeks flushed crimson, and his eyes practically glowed as he stared at me. “Hey, goody-two-shoes, those moves were awesome! Teach me, won’t ya?” I pulled a cigarette from my pocket and lit it. “I don’t teach guys who aren’t man enough.” By the third day of our engagement, Landon was practically bouncing, eager to prove he was indeed ‘man enough,’ and came looking for me. Just as he was about to leave his house, he saw me coming to break off the engagement. “I’m the fake heiress. The new real heiress is super sweet, perfect for Landon Thorne.” With that, I turned and walked away with a flourish. Landon practically skipped after me, insisting he only wanted to marry me. I, utterly disgusted, kicked him away and walked off like he was yesterday’s trash. His ‘precious wife’ was actually ditching him, even trying to hand him over to someone else! No way! He vowed to win her back and prove to her that he *was* man enough!

After calling off the engagement, I returned to the Davis family home. The moment I walked through the door, I saw a scene of joyful family harmony in the living room. “Is the engagement called off? You know everything you have now belongs to Chloe. If she weren’t so kind, you’d be out on the streets already!” My father gently served the girl beside him, speaking without even looking up. “It’s off. I know.” Just as I was about to head upstairs, he called out to me again. I thought he’d ask me to join them for dinner. After all, I hadn’t eaten anything all morning; they’d rushed me to go tell the Thornes that I was the fake heiress. “Chloe needs your room. You’ll just have to crash with Buster for a couple of days until the nanny’s room is cleaned out, then you can move there.” I took a deep breath, forced a bitter smile, and nodded. Sure enough, twenty-something years of supposed love, and it still couldn’t compete with the bond of blood. I turned and walked in the opposite direction, toward Buster’s little mansion. Buster is my German Shepherd. Because I loved him so much, I specifically built him a dog mansion. I never thought that spur-of-the-moment decision would lead to *me* living in a dog mansion. Buster and I lay on the same bed, looking at the piles of luggage nearby, a bitter feeling spreading through my chest. The tenderness and attentiveness my father showed that girl were something I’d never seen from him. With me, he was always so stern. He always told me, ‘You’re a Davis, you should contribute to the Davis family.’ Recalling the scene I’d just witnessed, a sharp ache in my chest made it hard to breathe. So, they *could* care about their daughter, *could* be gentle and protective! Maybe it was because we weren’t bound by blood that they had no qualms about seeing me as a commodity, to be sold to whoever offered the highest price. Lost in thought, a call from my colleague pulled me back to reality. “Captain Hayes, suspect spotted at 99 Green River Road.” “Copy that.” I hung up, sprang to my feet, and ran out. Usually, I’d climb over the wall to avoid questions at this hour. But now that I wasn’t their daughter, they wouldn’t care when I left anymore. My colleague had spotted the suspect inside an upscale bar on Green River Road. The music inside the bar was deafening. To hear anything, we had to lean in close to talk. As my colleague was briefing me, Landon Thorne stormed over. He inexplicably shoved my colleague away and swung his fist toward his face. Just then, my phone vibrated twice. Another colleague had sent the signal. I waved my hand, signaling my team to move. Landon, seeing this, burst into a furious rage. Fearing he’d alert our target, I delivered a swift chop to his neck, knocking him out cold. Before he passed out, I heard his heartbroken murmur, “Harper Hayes, you’re breaking off our engagement for *him*, aren’t you?!” With Landon unconscious, I dragged him into a private room next to the suspect’s. After the suspect was apprehended and taken away, I returned to the room and hoisted Landon over my shoulder. “Typical Captain Hayes, always so tough! Is that your fiancé? He looks a bit weak!” a nearby colleague teased. I shot them a glance, my lips pressed thin. “Don’t talk nonsense. He’s not my fiancé anymore. And hand me a cigarette, I’m out.” My colleague seemed to remember something and slipped a pack into my pocket. “Captain Hayes, some things are better left behind. And try to smoke less.” After saying goodbye to my colleague, I found a nearby hotel and settled Landon there. With my hands free, I lit a cigarette. As I exhaled a cloud of smoke, I remembered how he became my fiancé.

The news of an engagement with a major player from the city’s elite circles had completely blindsided me. Everyone in our circle knew Landon Thorne suffered from severe rage issues. Not long ago, he’d beaten some rich kid into the ICU just because the guy rolled his eyes at him. The guy was still there, barely clinging to life. And I, well, I was pretty much his match. But my parents were lightning fast with their PR, terrified that my true reputation would get out and lower my market value. So, the outside world thought I was a timid, cowardly, easily controlled goody-two-shoes. They say two powerhouses couldn’t coexist. With our personalities, either I’d end up killing him, or he’d end up killing me! But the Thorne family offered so much, my parents didn’t hesitate to push me forward. The day the engagement news spread, my parents lectured me all morning. To make me change my ‘bad habits’ and become a lady, they not only confiscated my treasured possessions and cigarettes but also put a limit on my bank card. I wasn’t the only one unhappy with this engagement. The Thorne heir was even *more* displeased than I was. While I was being driven mad by our etiquette teacher, he was smashing everything in his house over the engagement. I heard five or six house staff were injured, and he didn’t even spare his own father. When I saw that news, I bared my teeth and let out a laugh. The moment I laughed, the etiquette teacher’s ruler smacked my hand. “What kind of laugh was that? You should never show your teeth when you laugh.” I immediately wiped the smile off my face, adopting the prim and proper look of a good girl. My father, watching from the side, looked pleased. He dismissed the etiquette teacher and walked over to me. “Keep that obedient look. The Thorne family chose you because you’re ‘obedient.’” I nodded dismissively. “Go, take these gifts to young Master Thorne. Make a good impression on him. The future of the Davis family completely rests on you.” Make a good impression? Oh, I’d definitely make a ‘good impression’! To get it over with, I promptly sold the expensive gifts my father bought to Landon Thorne’s buddy at a tenth of the price, then had him take me to Landon. He led me to a private room in a bar. The noisy music of the bar couldn’t drown out Landon’s furious shouts. “That old man’s addicted to matchmaking! It’s not enough that he’s meddling in my brother’s marriage, now he’s meddling in mine! Saying he’s found me some ‘goody-two-shoes’ for a wife! Doesn’t he realize I might just play her to death?!” “Tsk, he wants me to go through with this engagement? Fine! Let’s see if I don’t torture her to death!” I pulled open the door to the room and stepped inside, carefully sizing up Landon Thorne. Just a skinny guy, and he thinks he can kill me? “Alright. If you don’t manage to kill me, it means you’re not man enough!” Landon, hearing the challenge to his manliness, grabbed a bottle and lunged to smash it over my head. I sidestepped, picked up a bottle myself, and swung it fiercely towards his forehead. “That’s not a very nice way to say hello!” *CRACK!* Just as the bottle was about to connect with his forehead, it swerved, smashing against the floor instead. Landon clenched his jaw. This was the first time in his life someone had provoked him like this. He raised his fist, ready to strike. The moment he clearly saw my face, his hand froze mid-air. “Is that… you?” Landon’s neck and ears flushed crimson. The man who’d been so violent and ferocious moments ago had transformed in the blink of an eye. “Oops, my bad! Are you okay? Did the bottle hurt your hand? Next time, don’t hit me with a bottle. What if it shatters and cuts you? If you want to hit me, just say the word, and I’ll stand still and let you do whatever you want.” He examined me meticulously from head to toe. Seeing no injuries on me, he let out a sigh of relief. His buddies stared blankly at Landon’s sudden personality shift, then one meekly spoke up. “Uh, Landon, didn’t you just say you were going to play her to death…?” “I was going to play *who* to death? …Wait, is she my fiancée?!” All his buddies nodded. “This is *perfect*! And I never said anything about playing anyone to death! Don’t slander me!” I blinked, momentarily unable to process what was happening. He knew me? And what kind of personality flip was this? He wasn’t going to kill me if I married him? What was going on? Remembering all this, a smile tugged at the corner of my lips. His face changed faster than a chameleon, almost like he’d studied method acting. It was… entertaining. The way he’d desperately tried to avoid our engagement was still so clear in my mind. Now, it seemed he was getting exactly what he wished for. After settling him in, I stood up to leave. But a burning hot hand gripped my arm tightly.

“Please, don’t go!” A whimpering sound, like a small, distressed animal, came from Landon. Trapped in a nightmare, he mumbled incoherently. He looked exactly like Buster did when he was a puppy. I instinctively patted Landon’s head, trying to make him settle down. Only after I did it did I remember he wasn’t a dog. Good thing he was still unconscious, or with his temper, he’d probably throw a fit. Suddenly, a strong pull on my wrist sent me tumbling onto the bed, caught off guard. Landon let out a muffled grunt as I landed on him. His eyelashes fluttered. I lay sprawled on top of him, and where our skin touched, there was an intense, burning heat. Perhaps it was nervousness, or maybe guilt, but my heart started beating inexplicably fast. Something hard pressed against my hip, jolting me out of my daze. “What’s that?” I muttered, reaching down to move whatever was digging into my left hip. The moment my hand touched it, the person beneath me went incredibly rigid, and the heat beneath my palm was astonishing. When I realized what I had touched, I instinctively recoiled, a flush of heat rushing straight up to my ears. “Harper, I told you I was man enough! Are you… satisfied with what you touched…?” Landon had woken up at some point, and his warm breath caressed my ear, sending shivers down my spine. I sprang to my feet, backing away several steps, my words stumbling out in embarrassment. “You, you, you… when did you wake up?” At my question, Landon clearly looked uncomfortable. His face was beet red, practically dripping blood. The man who’d been speaking so smoothly just moments ago was now stammering. “Just, just now… yeah, just now, when you landed on me!” Normally, I could see through his lies in a second, but at that moment, I had no mind to try and read the micro-expressions on his face. “Oh, I see. Well, um, sorry, I didn’t mean to. Anyway, I have something to do, so I’m heading out.” I admit, running away might be shameful, but I was afraid if I stayed another second, he’d ask something else. To be safe, it was better to retreat. Landon watched my retreating back, a part of his heart sinking. He pulled out his phone and opened his photo album. The woman’s silhouette in the album overlapped with the person who had just left. He’d taken that photo in a desolate wilderness in the Mojave Desert. His companions had deliberately abandoned him, driving away and leaving him alone on an empty road. He didn’t know how long he’d walked. The sky had turned pitch black, and sand swirled violently ahead. He thought he would die there. In his despair, a hand reached out to him. “Hey, get in. It’s not safe out here.” The woman’s melodious yet serious voice descended upon his world like a savior. He stared blankly as she pulled him into the vehicle. The SUV sped across the desolate highway, only the woman’s stern admonishments filling his ears. “Who gave you the guts to cross the Mojave Desert without permission? Are you thrill-seekers trying to get yourselves killed?!” “Do you have any idea that if I’d been a minute later, that tornado up ahead would’ve taken your life…?” The woman said a lot, and though he didn’t hear a single word, her voice and face were deeply etched into his mind. For the first time in over twenty years, his heart pounded violently for a girl. He was taken to a remote ranger station in the desert. After getting out of the car, he was left behind by the woman. It was then that he took that photo. He still remembered what everyone there called her: “Officer Hayes.” After that mission, I moved out of the Davis family home. As the Davis family watched me pull my suitcase away, my father off-handedly remarked,

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Ten years after my college classmate died, I was dragged into a group chat. The group announcement read: Thirty days from now, welcome back to our alma mater for the class reunion. 1. Please attend with a black rose. 2. Anyone who tries to leave this city will die. 3. Anyone who doesn’t come will die. 4. Anyone who loses their rose will die. Thirty days later would be Rosalie’s tenth death anniversary. **1** I picked up my phone, staring at the cryptic group chat. I figured it was some old classmate’s prank and tried to type a question, only to find that all members were muted. I tapped on the black rose profile picture. “Cannot add user as friend.” I tried to leave the group. “Cannot exit.” What… what kind of tech was this? *Ding-dong.* The doorbell rang. I walked out of my study, standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the gate of my mansion. Someone was here, this late? I checked the security feed. At the tall iron gate, a single black rose lay on the ground. “Please attend with a black rose.” The group announcement flashed in my mind. *Beep beep~* A private message popped up. I checked it. It was Marcus Green, that old buddy—he was the only one who still kept in touch with me. He was in the group, too. “Alex, what’s going on with that group?” “Did you get that flower too?” “Is it… is she back for revenge?” He sent a string of frantic voice messages, clearly terrified. I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Don’t overthink it. It’s probably just a prank.” I didn’t take it too seriously, casually arranging my collectible tea set. “Just chill. Let’s see how it plays out.” After a moment’s thought, I called my housekeeper to bring the rose inside. My busy life continued. My company had several big deals to close, so I didn’t have time to focus excessively on this. The group remained silent. None of the busy “elites” seemed to take it seriously either. **2** Ten days later, Marcus suddenly called me, his voice trembling with terror. “Alex, this is bad! Really bad! Liam White is dead!” I frowned, trying to pull up his name from my mental Rolodex of contacts. “Liam White? How did he die?” “He was on a business trip to another city. On his way to the airport, he was hit head-on by a huge truck and died instantly. They say… his head was severed on impact, flying dozens of feet.” This was the first one. Someone who died for trying to leave the city. “Anyone who tries to leave this city will die.” Maybe it was a coincidence. I tried to reassure Marcus, and myself. I opened the group chat. One person was missing—the count went from 21 to 20. Liam White was gone. **3** The next week showed me this wasn’t just a coincidence. Two more people died in the group. A female classmate, Sarah Miller, whose father was critically ill back home and wanted to see her one last time. She definitely had to go back. But as she was heading to the elevator with her suitcase, the elevator malfunctioned and plunged 28 floors. She died instantly. Another male classmate, Kevin Baker, whose mischievous daughter played with the black rose and then presumably lost it. He was electrocuted in the shower at home. The group count dropped from 21 to 18. My irritation flared. I drove back to my mansion, placed the black rose in a safe, and told my secretary to cancel all my business trips. **4** Marcus came over to my place. He was terrified. He wanted to stay with me for the next two weeks, and I didn’t refuse. “Alex! Wow! I knew you were doing well, but I had no idea you were *this* successful!” He parked his car on my private driveway and gaped in amazement. I humbly replied, “Oh, it’s nothing. Everyone’s doing great.” It was true. Everyone pulled into that group chat was now a successful professional in their respective fields. That evening, we drank red wine and talked about old times. “Alex, maybe we should call the police?” Marcus’s dark eyes stared at me intently. I pondered for a moment, then shook my head. “No. If we call the police, they’ll reopen the investigation into what happened ten years ago.” Marcus took a sip of wine and chuckled. “Right. It would be a hassle, especially since Rosalie’s death is linked to all of us…” “Shut up!” I snapped, completely unlike my usual nice-guy persona, cutting him off. Rosalie. She was our classmate who died ten years ago. She was a girl as bright and beautiful as a rose. **5** For the next few days, no one else disappeared from the group, meaning no one else died. Every time I came back to the mansion after work, I saw Marcus on the phone, seemingly contacting the others in the group. Well, he was always a social butterfly back in college. The next day, I saw a petite figure in my mansion—my ex-girlfriend, Valerie Reed. She was in the group too. But we hadn’t had any contact since graduating college. “Alex, Marcus called me. I saw the group, and people dying, I was so scared… Don’t get the wrong idea.” She looked at me with that pitiable expression, a look both familiar and strange. My mansion had plenty of rooms, and having one more person for a few days was no big deal. I shrugged indifferently. Soon, it was time for the reunion at our alma mater. But before we left, my safe was gone—the safe containing the black rose. **6** We had to leave soon, there was no time to check the security footage. I looked at Marcus’s fawning face and Valerie’s gentle smile, a chill running through me. Someone was setting me up. They wanted me dead. **截断点** “Alex, what’s wrong?” Seeing my grim face, Marcus asked with concern. I glared at them both. “My rose is gone. The one in the safe.” “What? Oh no, what are we going to do?” Valerie also sounded agitated. I gritted my teeth. “Let’s just go.” Going would mean death, but so would not going. Might as well go and find out what was going on. The three of us walked towards the parking area. Suddenly, a massive shadow plunged down… “Ah!” Marcus, who was walking behind us, let out a short, sharp cry of pain, then fell silent. The scent of blood filled the air. I turned my head. A thick lamppost had fallen, landing squarely on Marcus. His head was crushed. He died instantly… The mansion’s security quickly ran over, calling the police. I staggered back two steps. It should have been me who died. “Alex, you should thank me. Last night, Marcus stole your safe. Luckily, I found out in advance and swapped his rose into your safe. So, what he threw into the furnace to burn was his own flower.” Valerie smiled, as if seeking praise, her eyes curving sweetly. She casually pulled two flowers from her large bag and handed one to me. **7** There were 17 people left in the group, including the group admin. Valerie and I returned to our alma mater. It was summer break, so the school was empty. Strangely, the main gate was open, and there were no security guards. Having witnessed Marcus’s death, my mood was heavy. “Those four people who died, they all did something terrible to Rosalie, didn’t they? Alex, who do you think is next?” Valerie asked softly, sending a shiver down my arm. This was a revenge plot. Today was Rosalie’s death anniversary. When we arrived at the classroom, it was already full of people. Marcus’s death had delayed us a bit. Dozens of eyes stared at us from the doorway, filled with fear, exhaustion, surprise, or indifference. *Beep beep beep…* Countless phones suddenly chimed. The black rose profile picture appeared. A group message. “Welcome, 16 classmates, to this year’s class reunion, on time.” “Next, let’s play a game of Truth or Dare.” “Each student must confess a wicked deed they committed against Rosalie during college, and others will vote by raising their hands. The person with the least severe offense will die.” 1. Do not lie. 2. Do not attempt to leave. 3. Do not disrupt the game. This was terrifying! We had to tell the truth, confess our gravest sins, and then be judged by others! The person at the bottom, the one whose mistake was deemed the least severe, would pay with their life! Who among us wasn’t someone important, someone with a reputation?! Now, everyone would be forced to confess their absolute worst sins… This was a test of human nature. Who exactly was behind this black rose profile picture? **8** “I’m not playing! I’m not playing! I’m going home!” A skinny guy, Mitch Evans, suddenly stood up and ran wildly out of the classroom. As soon as he ran out the door, a tortured shriek echoed. His throat seemed to be clutched by something unseen. We rushed to the doorway to look. He was writhing, kneeling in the hallway, his hands desperately clutching his own throat, eyes bulging. He actually strangled himself to death! “Ah!” The more timid female classmates screamed. Valerie clung to my arm, trembling all over. Now, no one dared to leave. There were 16 people left in the group. **9** “Are we just going to leave Mitch there?” Back in the classroom, a man with thick brows, Julian North, questioned us unhappily.

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Arthur Vance was signing his organ donor papers when Lily Albright’s call came through. “Brandon’s flight is at five. Make sure your things are gone by three. I don’t want him upset.” The call disconnected, followed by a SnapChat transfer notification from Lily, just as always. Arthur lowered his gaze and smiled sadly. Five years. And he still hadn’t managed to melt her heart. But it didn’t matter anymore. He was dying anyway. ………………………………………. “Mr. Vance, regarding the organ donation policy, we do require a signature from a direct family member. You see…” Arthur’s eyes fell on the space for a family member’s signature, a sudden pang of bitterness in his chest. Direct family… Five years ago, his parents had died in a car accident, leaving Arthur all alone in the world. Besides Lily Albright, he had no direct family left. But he didn’t want Lily to know. So, he forced himself to speak. “I’ve agreed. Is a family signature really necessary?” The doctor paused. “It’s standard procedure. Given your current condition, you have about a month left. You should inform your family. Moreover, your records show you’re married. We can’t proceed with the donation without your wife’s consent.” Arthur’s gaze dropped. As hard as it was to accept—leukemia at thirty—it was happening. No matter how much he wished, there was no way back from this. He thanked the doctor, took the organ donation papers, and walked out. Actually, the day he was diagnosed, he’d already made up his mind: donate any usable parts of his body to those in need. He might not have much going for him, but his corneas, at least, were good. Arthur checked his watch. Two hours until Lily’s deadline. Two hours was enough time to visit Martha, the housekeeper who had served the Albright family for twenty years. Martha had lost her sight three years ago due to corneal disease. For the past three years, the Albrights had always sent Arthur to visit her. Over time, Martha had grown incredibly fond of Arthur. He often did things she couldn’t do herself and even hired a caretaker to look after her daily needs. For three years, consistently, Martha had come to treat Arthur like her own child. If she had anything good, Arthur was the first person she thought of. Arthur stepped inside. Martha was sitting on the sofa, sipping tea. Hearing his footsteps, Martha immediately recognized him. “Arthur’s here!” Arthur smiled faintly. “Your ears are so sharp! You guessed it was me so quickly!” Martha pursed her lips in a smile. “I might not know others, but I’d know yours anywhere.” With that, she handed him a plate of osmanthus cakes from beside her. “Lily bought these.” She paused mid-sentence. “Why didn’t you two come together?” Arthur froze slightly, his throat tightening. “When did she come?” Martha looked a little surprised. “Just now.” She gently took Arthur’s hand. “Are you two arguing?” Otherwise, why would she have been accompanied by a stranger? Martha didn’t voice that last thought. Arthur and Lily had an arranged, contract marriage. The Albright family had been pressing hard back then, wanting Lily to settle down quickly. At the time, Lily had a boyfriend, but he was a dead-end street, with no ambition and no future. Under constant pressure from the Albrights, he was eventually forced to leave the country. Lily was devastated, drowning herself in the nightlife every day. Seeing things worsen, the Albrights hired a professional therapist for her. And that therapist was Arthur Vance. The moment Arthur saw Lily, he was captivated. Her delicate features, those full lips, and that small, perfect nose. But it was her eyes, dark and sparkling like stars, that truly captivated him, making him want to get closer. Yet, Lily absolutely despised Arthur. The first time she saw him, she said he radiated this intellectual, almost gentle vibe that she immediately decided wasn’t “manly enough.” Arthur didn’t get angry. Every day, he diligently tried to guide Lily, telling her stories that might lift her spirits. Even when she’d cover her ears, turn her back on him, or even lock him out in the dead of winter just to shut him up, Arthur never showed anger. In his eyes, someone suffering from emotional pain often had uncontrolled emotions. And besides, this was Lily. Over time, Lily seemed to dislike him less. She began to tentatively accept Arthur’s guidance. During his patient counseling sessions, she would turn her back, whispering her deepest, most hidden feelings. Later, when the Albrights suggested another blind date for Lily, she unexpectedly grabbed Arthur’s hand, declaring, “I’ll get married, but I choose him!” Arthur was stunned. He thought Lily had genuinely changed, that she had truly developed feelings for him. It wasn’t until Lily pulled out a marriage contract that he realized the truth. She had only done this to escape the blind dates, using him as a shield. Arthur took a deep breath, forcing a smile to reassure Martha. “No, she’s busy with work. Our schedules just don’t align, so we couldn’t come together.” After he spoke, Arthur slipped a bank card from his bag into Martha’s hand. “My job situation is changing recently, and I might not be able to visit for a long time. Please keep this card. Buy anything you need, don’t hold back.” Arthur glanced at his watch. Before Martha could respond, he was gone. He needed to get back to the mansion before Lily’s deadline. Five years. He knew Lily’s temper all too well. If he didn’t follow her instructions today, she would undoubtedly tear the house apart. Most importantly, he still needed Lily’s signature. With her signature, he could proceed with the donation, and Martha could regain her sight. So, he had to rush back to the mansion now. The car drove on, and Arthur arrived at the mansion at two-thirty. The yard was as quiet as ever. He pulled out his keys, ready to unlock the door. But before he could step inside, Lily opened the door first. **Chapter 2** “Do you have no sense of time? Or are you doing this on purpose?” Arthur instinctively swallowed. “No, of course not. We said three, didn’t we? I didn’t realize you’d be back so early.” Lily’s eyes darkened, as if she realized she was in the wrong, and she lightly coughed. “My flight was moved up. Is that not allowed?!” Arthur said nothing. Lily’s attitude towards him had always been like this. She was a spoiled princess through and through. Her word was law, and whatever she wanted, Arthur had to deliver. So, for five years of their marriage, Arthur had gone along with her every whim, terrified of upsetting Lily. He didn’t want her unhappy, didn’t want to make her angry, because he loved her. But Lily was different. To show off her status as a rich heiress, every time she was happy, she would transfer a sum of money to Arthur. Her goal was to make him understand that he’d only get money if he made her happy. Arthur moved past Lily, who was blocking the doorway, and walked straight into the room to pack his things. Lily had already instructed him yesterday that their contract marriage would end the moment her ex-boyfriend, Brandon Miller, returned. So, he was now diligently packing his bags. As he reached the stair landing, Brandon stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel. Their eyes met, and Arthur’s heart felt like it had been pierced by a thousand thorns, an indescribable agony. “What are you standing there for? Do you want Brandon to look at you all day?” Lily’s sharp words came from behind him. Arthur’s hand instinctively recoiled. Of course he wanted to leave quickly, but Brandon’s arm was blocking his way. It was clear Brandon didn’t want him to go inside. Arthur tried to walk upstairs, but Brandon still didn’t budge. “Mr. Vance, you haven’t changed your shoes. Aren’t you afraid of bringing germs into the room?” Brandon’s blatant provocation was completely normal in Lily’s eyes. She grabbed Arthur’s shirt, her voice icy as she commanded him, “Didn’t you hear Brandon? What are you waiting for?” Arthur looked down at Lily’s veiny hand on his arm, her eyes clearly showing impatience, as if telling him, “I can’t wait, hurry up.” Arthur turned and walked towards the entrance, putting on the disposable slippers Lily had personally set out for him. These were specifically for him last night because Brandon had a germ phobia and disliked using things others had used. This was also why, in five years of marriage, Arthur and Lily had never slept in the same room. Arthur changed into the slippers and slowly walked towards the stairs. Before returning, he had slipped the organ donation agreement into the divorce papers. He had originally planned to pack his things and then have Lily sign, but now, it seemed better sooner rather than later. Lily always dismissed Arthur, so when he handed her the papers, she only glanced at them. Seeing the bold words “Divorce Agreement,” she quickly signed her name. Arthur flipped the page, revealing only the signature box on the second page. Lily didn’t even look, signing her name directly. Everything was settled. Arthur sighed softly. He was about to say, “We’ll finalize the divorce tomorrow!” Then he swallowed the words. Their marriage had been a contract from the start. They hadn’t held a wedding or even officially registered their marriage. Just a single piece of paper had defined their entire five years together. Arthur walked directly into his room. At that moment, he didn’t look back at Lily, but he could still feel her burning gaze on his thin back. Arthur’s room was a converted study. When he first moved in, Lily had told him. Brandon would return one day, and all the rooms in the mansion were to be reserved for him. And on the day he returned, Arthur was to leave discreetly, without any delay. This was a warning, and the most crucial term of their contract. That was why Arthur had always slept in the study, and why he was so cooperative in choosing to leave. Arthur folded all his belongings into his suitcase. The room’s furnishings were mostly books. Besides his laptop and some clothes, Arthur had almost nothing. Once everything was packed, he picked up his suitcase, ready to leave. Brandon suddenly walked in, blocking Arthur’s path. “This mansion is huge, and Lily’s family has a lot of valuables. Are you…?” He trailed off, his eyes instinctively glancing at Arthur’s suitcase. Arthur understood his implication, but Brandon had no right to question him, nor to inspect his suitcase. Legally speaking, he and Lily hadn’t finalized their divorce yet, so he was still the man of this house. Arthur ignored him, walking straight past him with his suitcase. But Brandon persisted, lunging forward to block the doorway. As he rushed past, Arthur was simultaneously walking out, and by sheer accident, Brandon bumped into the doorframe. When Lily walked in, Brandon was on the floor, clutching his forehead. Arthur, meanwhile, stood expressionless, looking down at Brandon. Seeing this, Lily panicked. She pushed Arthur aside roughly. “Are you crazy?! Why would you do that to Brandon?!” Lily’s shove was powerful. Arthur lost his footing and hit his head against the bookshelf. Blood immediately seeped from his forehead. Arthur quickly pressed a tissue to the wound. Leukemia. The scariest thing was bleeding. Once he started bleeding, it wouldn’t stop. In severe cases, it could lead to infection. **Chapter 3** But Lily didn’t know, and she didn’t care. She flung Arthur’s suitcase out the door, her voice sharp as she warned him, “You, now, immediately, get out of my sight!” Arthur hadn’t eaten all day due to his check-ups. The hunger made him feel weak, almost unable to stand. Brandon, seeing this, grabbed Lily’s hand. “Baby, I’m in so much pain. Can you take me to the doctor? It really hurts…” Brandon clutched his forehead, which showed no trace of injury, pleading with Lily through a pained expression. Lily glared back at Arthur. “You’d better be gone before I get back, or else, don’t blame me for what happens next!” With that, she helped Brandon leave, completely ignoring Arthur, who was still bleeding profusely. Arthur leaned against the corner, gasping for air. He had still held onto some hope for Lily. After all, she had once been inseparable from him, even if that time was because she’d thrown a ceramic vase at him in a fit of rage. But even then, he’d felt a strange warmth. Now, though, he was utterly and completely disappointed. Arthur slowly got up from the floor. The tissue was soaked with blood. He held it to his wound and pulled the first-aid kit from the cabinet. He’d specifically stocked it the day he was diagnosed with his terminal illness. In the five years he’d been with Lily, he had never left the kitchen, often cutting his hand every few days. Each time, the bleeding wouldn’t stop. Ever since Martha got sick, Lily had never hired another housekeeper. She believed that Arthur, by marrying into the Albright family, should contribute something. So, all the household chores were handled by Arthur. He woke up early every day, prepared breakfast for Lily, and then rushed to catch the bus before eight. The first thing he did after coming home from work was prepare ginger tea and dinner for Lily, making sure everything was ready three minutes before she got back. Arthur was immersed in a life of tirelessly tending to Lily. At first, his colleagues at work used to mock him, calling him a “whipped” husband. But Arthur didn’t care. He loved Lily, and he loved doing things that made her happy. Back then, he felt it was all worth it. But now, he didn’t. Arthur sprinkled some hemostatic powder on his wound, then carefully lay down on the bed. Even though his life was counting down, he wanted to cherish the remaining time. Regrettably, the hemostatic medicine had no effect. His blood continued to flow, and the wound throbbed. Arthur forced himself up, hailed a taxi outside the mansion. He leaned his entire body against the back seat, trying to keep his forehead flat against the cushion. When he arrived at the hospital, Arthur’s face was pale, and he stumbled several times from weakness. Finally, a kind stranger helped him into the emergency room. Arthur lay on the bed, his consciousness slowly fading. But he could still feel the doctors and nurses frantically trying to stop the bleeding. The pain made him forget that Lily and Brandon were also there. As Lily walked past the emergency room, a nurse happened to call out Arthur Vance’s name. Lily stopped, casually asking, “Which Arthur Vance?” Brandon pulled her arm. “There are tons of people with that name. Isn’t your Arthur Vance at home?” Lily instinctively turned her head. Seeing Brandon’s jealous expression, she quickly pulled her hand away from the nurse. The two disappeared down the hallway without looking back. Meanwhile, Arthur, due to excessive blood loss, was admitted to the intensive care unit. Fortunately, the hospital had recorded Arthur’s emergency contact. Otherwise, he might have died in the hospital with no family showing up. Martha, supported by Daisy, rushed to the hospital. After the doctor’s explanation and persuasion, Martha collapsed onto the floor. She couldn’t believe it. How could Arthur, who had been perfectly fine, be diagnosed with aggressive leukemia? And with less than a month left? This was even more painful than when she learned she was blind. Martha stood by the ICU room, her eyes filled with tears, the rhythmic beeping of the machines tightening her entire chest. Daisy comforted her kindly. “Arthur’s a good person, good things happen to good people. He’ll be fine!” But Martha knew it was just a way to comfort herself. Arthur’s life was already counting down. Even if she wanted to try her best to save him now, it was too late. As time ticked by, nurses began to emerge from the room. Daisy quickly approached to ask, but was met with stern criticism from a nurse. “How can you be such irresponsible family members? You know the patient can’t get injured at this stage, how could you be so careless? Luckily, we acted quickly today, otherwise, if the bleeding hadn’t stopped, his life would have been in danger!” Daisy stood stunned, unsure how to respond to the nurse’s accusations. But she knew that Arthur’s injury must have something to do with Lily. Martha slowly walked over, crying as she apologized to the nurse, promising to be more careful in the future. But Daisy couldn’t stand it. Arthur was always so careful and steady. How could he get injured without reason? Even if leukemia made bleeding easy, without a violent impact or cut, how could he bleed without cause? The more she thought, the angrier she became. Just as she was about to defend Martha, the doctor stepped out. “The patient is awake. You can go in now!” **Chapter 4** Daisy quickly helped Martha inside. Arthur lay weakly on the bed. Seeing Martha, his heart felt like it was being gnawed by a thousand ants. When the hospital registered his emergency contact, he hadn’t thought much of it. He assumed he would be careful, and no emergencies would arise. But with the hospital’s insistence, he reluctantly gave Martha’s number. He hadn’t wanted Martha to know, worried she wouldn’t be able to handle it. But now, it was impossible to hide. “Arthur…” Martha choked out the name. Arthur raised a weak arm, softly calling out, “Aunt Martha.” Their hands clasped tightly together. Martha fought back tears, bringing Arthur’s hand to her ear. “Why are you so foolish? You’re sick, and there’s no one by your side. How can I not worry?” Arthur’s throat was tight, but he forced a smile to comfort Martha. “It’s okay, I’m much better!” Martha, though blind, wasn’t foolish. She guessed Arthur hadn’t told Lily about his illness. She also guessed that something had gone wrong between Lily and Arthur, likely because of that other man. But she couldn’t ask, couldn’t say anything. Because with Lily’s temper, rushing over to question her now would only lead her to blame everything on Arthur. Besides, she wanted to respect Arthur’s decision. If he chose not to tell Lily, there had to be a good reason. Martha wiped her tears and turned to instruct Daisy to prepare some bland food for Arthur. Though she couldn’t see, she could feel that Arthur was very weak right now. Daisy ran out of the hospital like a flash. When she first came to Martha’s house, it was Arthur who taught her about the local shops and Martha’s preferences. Occasionally, if she broke something, Arthur never blamed her. Instead, he’d comfort her, “Don’t be scared, Aunt Martha won’t be angry. I’ll get her something new.” For three years, whenever Daisy clumsily broke something, Arthur would use his own money to replace it. He treated Daisy like his own younger sister. When Daisy was upset, she would actively seek out Arthur to talk. They had almost no secrets. But now Arthur was sick, and Daisy felt her world had collapsed. She was terrified of losing Arthur, terrified of losing the Arthur who had protected her, taught her, and guided her for three years. She walked and cried, her sorrowful thoughts causing her to not notice Lily approaching from the opposite direction. They collided with force, both falling to the ground. Lily immediately snapped, “Are you blind?! Don’t you look where you’re going?!” It took Daisy a moment to recover. When she saw Lily in Brandon Miller’s arms, her face instantly changed. “What are you doing here?” Lily looked at her in surprise. “Is Aunt Martha not feeling well?!” Daisy was about to speak, but Brandon clutched his forehead and moaned. Lily ignored everything else, reaching out to help Brandon up. By the time she looked back, Daisy had vanished into the crowd. In the hospital room, Arthur seemed to sense something bad was happening. He gritted his teeth and reached for his phone. Before his fingers could touch it, Lily’s call came through. Arthur glanced at Martha, then lowered the volume to the minimum and answered. “Arthur Vance, what good are you? Do you know I just saw Aunt Martha’s caretaker at the hospital? If anything happens to Aunt Martha, I’m holding you responsible!” Lily’s accusing words exploded in his ear. Arthur swallowed, his throat dry. It took him a moment to speak. “I know. She’s fine, just picking up some medicine.” Arthur’s body ached, and he didn’t have the strength to argue with Lily. He also didn’t want Lily to know he was sick, because he didn’t want to receive her shallow, pathetic sympathy. Besides, even if she knew, she wouldn’t feel sorry for him. Instead, she’d blame him for being careless. So, this time, he chose to remain silent. Lily was slightly stunned. She felt Arthur was a bit strange today. Normally, whenever she lost her temper, Arthur would immediately admit his mistake. But this time, he hadn’t said anything, clearly just brushing her off. However, before she could speak, Arthur hung up. This undoubtedly pushed Lily’s last nerve. She quickly started the car, ignoring Brandon’s reaction, and floored the accelerator. Pushing open the mansion door, she shrieked Arthur’s name in a sharp voice, but the house was unusually quiet. Even the magpies that usually chattered noisily in the trees were silent. Lily grew angrier. She strode upstairs and kicked open the study door. But the room was empty, save for a pool of blood on the floor. Arthur was nowhere to be seen. Lily’s brow furrowed. She stepped closer to the bloodstain. After confirming it was human blood, Lily’s heart instantly panicked. She opened her phone and dialed Arthur’s number. The phone rang for several seconds before being hung up. Immediately after, a SnapChat message popped up: “Something came up at work. I’ll pick up my luggage as soon as possible.” Lily’s heart sank like a heavy stone, feeling a mix of suppression and anger. Arthur had never refused her calls, no matter how busy he was. He would always answer without hesitation just as the ring was about to end. But this time… She glanced at the suitcase by the door, suddenly feeling indignant. Saying something came up at work, and then mysteriously leaving a pool of blood—this was clearly deliberate, an excuse to not leave. Thinking this, she lifted her foot, ready to walk out. She wanted to confront Arthur and ask him how he dared pull such a childish stunt. Did he have no shame? But she hadn’t taken many steps before Brandon stopped her from behind. “Lily, my wound hurts. Can you please help me with it again? You know I hate pain…” Lily’s outstretched foot immediately retracted. She looked at the suitcase outside the door, then at the weak, pathetic Brandon. Yes, he hated pain the most. Normally, if he got even a small scratch, he’d desperately pull her arm, begging her to kiss it better. How much more so now? Lily helped Brandon up and then took a cotton swab to gently dab his forehead. At that moment, everything was replaced by Brandon’s cries of pain. **Chapter 5** Three days later, Arthur was discharged. His first priority was to rush back to the mansion to retrieve his luggage. Given his current relationship with Lily, he didn’t want to stay there a minute longer, nor did he want any more entanglement with her. He just wanted to get his bags and spend his remaining time in peace. But the mansion’s password had been changed. Lily and Brandon weren’t there, and Arthur couldn’t get in. He glanced at the time. He still had to go to his office later to hand in his resignation. Waiting indefinitely wasn’t an option. So, he bit the bullet and called Lily. The call connected, and Brandon’s cold, mocking voice came through. “Lily and I are on vacation in Westview. Mr. Vance, if you’re not in a hurry, would you mind waiting outside for a while?” Arthur paused. There was a very important patient list in his suitcase, and his body was getting weaker by the day. If he couldn’t get it today, he didn’t know when his next chance would be. So, he weakly asked, “How long will that be?” Brandon sneered. “That depends on my mood.” Arthur checked his watch again. “I’m afraid I can’t wait. Can you text me the password? I’ll grab my luggage and leave.” Brandon suddenly burst out laughing. “How can I do that? No one’s home. If you take your luggage and something goes missing, how do we account for it?” Arthur’s throat instantly tightened, but before he could say anything, Brandon hung up. Arthur rubbed his hands, which were red from the cold. It was December, and the frigid air made his hands and feet numb. He didn’t dare move around freely. These past few days, Lily had often posted photos of herself and Brandon on Ins, enjoying outdoor excursions. Their locations varied, sometimes far, sometimes near. He was terrified of missing their return. Arthur huddled by the mansion gate, quietly waiting for Lily’s return. Time ticked by, minute by minute. The cold seeped into his entire body, but there was still no sign of Lily. Finally, just as the sun was about to set, a black Rolls-Royce slowly pulled into the driveway. Seeing Arthur huddled by the gate, Lily’s eyes instantly darkened. She quickly opened the car door and walked up to Arthur. “What are you doing out here? It’s so cold, couldn’t you find somewhere to take shelter?” Arthur opened his eyes. Seeing Lily’s irritated expression, the words he was about to say caught in his throat. He just managed to say, “I came to get my suitcase.” Lily’s face immediately fell. “Are you that impatient? So eager to move out?” Even she felt strange saying this. She had been the one to repeatedly urge Arthur to leave, yet now she was questioning him. It truly made no sense. Arthur said nothing, just stood with his head down by the door, waiting for Lily to open it. “The previous lock was broken, and I wasn’t home during the day. For safety, I changed it.” Arthur paused, surprised for half a second. Was she explaining herself to him? But this was her house. She could do whatever she wanted. Why tell him all this? The door opened, but Arthur didn’t go inside. Only Lily’s and Brandon’s slippers were by the entrance. “Could you please bring my suitcase out?” Lily instinctively glanced at them. “Brandon doesn’t like disposable slippers, so I threw them out.” Her eyes flickered slightly as she spoke. “Why don’t you come in? You’ve waited so long, a hot drink wouldn’t hurt.” Arthur smiled. “I have other things to do. I won’t bother you.” Just then, Brandon brought out the suitcase. Lily seemed to want to say more, but Arthur left with his suitcase. Snow fell from the sky, and Arthur’s figure looked desolate and lonely. For some reason, at that moment, Lily felt Arthur had changed. He seemed thinner, quieter. In short, he was completely different from before. Arthur took his luggage to his office and handed over the patient list and his resignation to Dr. Lawrence, the head of the clinic. As a psychologist for five years, Arthur had helped countless patients with mental illnesses, but when it came to himself, he was powerless. Dr. Lawrence looked troubled, his eyes filled with regret. “Actually, with current medical technology, there have been cases of leukemia being cured. Your father-in-law…” “No need,” Arthur smiled. “No need to bother. I’ve already been checked. I don’t have much time left, and I don’t want to waste it on treatment, especially for a disease that can’t be cured anyway.” He looked up at the neon lights outside the window. He and Lily were no longer bound. They hadn’t even registered their marriage back when they signed the contract; at most, they were contractual partners. How could he trouble a top-tier hematology professor for someone who had already been given a death sentence by the hospital? Dr. Lawrence sighed, then put the resignation letter in his drawer. “If you need anything in the future, just tell me. I’ll do my best.” Arthur’s eyes shimmered. “Nothing else, just one thing: please don’t tell the Albright family about my illness and resignation.” “I’m afraid they won’t be able to handle it.” His certain tone and serious expression didn’t arouse any suspicion in Dr. Lawrence, who gritted his teeth and agreed. Arthur walked out of the hospital with his luggage. He had promised Martha that he would stay with her for his remaining days. So, after leaving the hospital, he went directly to Martha’s house. Halfway there, Arthur suddenly stopped. He started bleeding from his nose again, unsure if it was due to the day’s exhaustion or the cold weather. He tilted his head back, wiping with one hand, letting the blood flow back into his nose. The strong metallic taste of blood spread in his throat, making him cough violently twice. Just then, his phone suddenly rang. Arthur, still with his head tilted back, didn’t look at the caller ID. He answered, and Lily’s voice came through. “Do you cook lily bulb and snow fungus soup with cold water or hot water? Brandon’s sick, and I don’t really know how. Could you please…?” “Cold water.” Arthur cut her off before Lily could finish. “Just put the ingredients in when the water boils. You decide how long to cook it.” Arthur’s voice was hoarse with fatigue, sounding distant. But to Lily, it felt like defiant indifference. “You don’t have to be like this, do you? I just asked you to temporarily move out. I didn’t say you couldn’t come back. Why are you overreacting and giving me the silent treatment?” Arthur suddenly laughed. He, giving her the silent treatment? She just asked him to “temporarily move out”? Their contract was expired, both had signed, and she had signed with unusual haste. Now that everything was settled and they could go their separate ways, she was saying she hadn’t forbidden him from returning? Did she really think of him as a pet, summoned and dismissed at will? Arthur didn’t speak, simply hanging up the phone. He was feeling too unwell to argue with her now. But Lily reacted as if she had received a severe shock. She started dialing Arthur’s phone again and again. Arthur carried his luggage with one hand and clutched his continuously bleeding nose with the other. His phone only stopped ringing when it finally died and he stepped into Martha’s house. Daisy quickly brought a basin of hot water and carefully wiped Arthur’s face. Blood trickled down his nose, staining the front of his shirt. Daisy immediately started crying, her voice choked and trembling. “Does it… hurt?” Arthur smiled and shook his head. “It’s just a nosebleed. Normal people get nosebleeds too. It doesn’t hurt.” But Daisy knew Arthur was just trying to comfort her. How could a leukemia bleed be the same as a normal nosebleed? Once it started, it was hard to stop. How could it not hurt? Arthur leaned back on the pillow. Just as he closed his eyes, an urgent knocking came from the door. Daisy quickly ran over. The moment she opened the door, her throat instinctively tightened. “Is Arthur Vance here?” Lily’s aggressive questioning left Daisy momentarily stunned. She pushed past Daisy and walked straight in. Seeing Arthur lying on the sofa, covered in blood, Lily’s expression instantly darkened. “What happened to you?” Arthur paused. In five years, this was the first time she had ever asked him. It made Arthur feel, for a fleeting moment, as if she were concerned about him. But a fleeting moment was all it was. Just as Arthur was about to speak, Lily’s phone rang. He didn’t need to guess who was on the other end. “Lily, where are you? I feel so awful. Please don’t leave me!” Hearing Brandon’s voice, Lily looked directly at Arthur, as if under a spell. “Brandon’s sick and wants your lily bulb and snow fungus soup. Come back with me, and I’ll pay you for your trouble.” Hearing those words, Arthur’s chest began to heave. So, in her eyes, he was just that worthless. But before Arthur could speak, Daisy was already enraged. “Your boyfriend is sick, why should Arthur serve him? He’s sick too, Arthur’s not well! If you want service, do it yourself!” With that, she resolutely stood in front of Arthur. This scene instantly ignited Lily’s already bad mood. She brutally pushed Daisy aside, then grabbed Arthur’s arm and tried to drag him out. Arthur’s nosebleed had just stopped, but his body was still weak. He broke free from Lily’s grip, telling her in a faint voice, “I can’t go. I don’t feel well.” But Lily acted as if she hadn’t heard him. “You just have a nosebleed, but Brandon has a fever! It’s just a bowl of soup! I’ll pay you, isn’t that enough?!” She kept talking, dragging Arthur towards the door. In their struggle, Arthur accidentally tripped on a stone at the entrance, and blood immediately covered his entire face. Lily waved her hands in distress. “Why is there so much blood?” Daisy screamed and rushed over. “Lily Albright, haven’t you caused Arthur enough harm?!” “He’s dying!” **Chapter 6** The air suddenly went silent. Lily hesitated for a moment, then resumed her composed demeanor.

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Julian suffered from emotional detachment. We were together for seven long years, yet he never once believed I truly loved him. Every heartfelt word I poured into those letters was dismissed as nothing but a lie, a cheap charade. Everyone else branded me a gold-digger. And he? He just met their scornful gazes with a cold stare, utterly indifferent. It wasn’t until the sunflowers I’d planted for him in the backyard finally bloomed, and my sacrifices were laid bare for the world to see, that Julian finally believed I loved him. But what he didn’t know was this: I was already dead. I died exactly one year ago today. The mountain crumbled, burying me, but not before I used every last ounce of strength to push him to safety. Yet, Julian walked away without a single glance back, never even mentioning me to anyone. Trapped in that mountain, waiting for a rescue that never came, I slowly, painfully starved to death. He always longed to hear me say ‘I love you.’ He knew I couldn’t speak, but never bothered to learn my sign language. He never knew that every single morning, my first thought, my first silent word, was ‘I love you.’

It was a full year later when my remains were finally discovered. After the accident, the area had been sealed off, no one allowed in or out. Massive boulders blocked the path completely, and I couldn’t find my way out, trapped in a tiny cave. By the time the rescue team arrived, all that was left of me was a skeletal remains. Rats and insects had long since picked my flesh clean, leaving nothing but bone. Even the remnants of my clothes were scattered, dragged yards away. I don’t know why my soul hadn’t dissipated. After a year in that lightless place, I had long since moved from initial despair and terror to a strange calm. I stood in the corner, watching them carefully gather my bones, taking them away for DNA comparison. When I floated out of the cave with the rescue team and the sunlight found me, it felt incredibly unreal, like a daze. On the way down the mountain, one of the female team members, Sarah, was excitedly waving her phone. “Julian is talking about his fiancée again in an interview! He’s so devoted, why would she just disappear like that, so ungrateful for his devotion?” Hearing that name after so long, I instinctively looked up. “Oh, remember when his fiancée planted that field of sunflowers for him? When they bloomed, Julian posted so many updates that day, just showing them off.” “But if they really loved each other, they’ll surely clear up any misunderstandings and get back together, right? Julian’s rich and handsome, after all!” A few of them huddled together, chattering away, their eyes shining as they gushed about Julian’s meteoric rise and impressive success story. Listening to their words, I froze, my mind a chaotic mess. Julian rarely had other people around him. For all those years, the only woman he’d been close to was me. It wasn’t that he was a saint. It was that I was relentlessly, stubbornly, *desperately* clinging to him. The day before we went to the mountains, I’d planted the entire backyard with sunflowers. I’d squatted for so long that when I stood up, my vision blurred, and I fell to the ground. Julian just walked past, utterly indifferent, not even sparing me a glance. He’d always been distant, even after seven years together; most of the time, he still treated me like I was invisible. When I scrambled awkwardly to my feet and chased after Julian, he looked at me with a calm gaze. I frantically tried to explain, signing wildly, but as our eyes met, it was like a sudden, icy splash of reality. Julian didn’t understand sign language, and I couldn’t speak. Our everyday communication was always through written words. “Julian, when the flowers bloom, can we get married?” I carefully typed out the sentence, showing him the screen. Even though everyone else dismissed our relationship, I stubbornly held onto Julian. He didn’t answer for a long time, and my previously tense emotions slowly calmed down. The scrapes on the back of my hand, the cuts on my calf from the sharp spade. His gaze, light and dismissive, swept over my scrapes and the desperate mess I was, before he simply turned and walked away. He never believed I loved him. Over the years, I’d wanted to marry him countless times, but he always refused. I never even got the chance to explain myself, only able to helplessly write ‘I love you’ over and over again. When others mocked and questioned me, Julian never seemed to care, even letting their rumors fester. The phone screen automatically dimmed, but I remained standing there, my expression dazed. If he didn’t believe me, why did he choose me in the first place?

I didn’t know where I should go. When my thoughts returned, my spirit was already floating at the entrance of the villa. Before I even got close, I saw the vast golden flower sea—the entire area filled with sunflowers. On the way here, I’d already heard so much about Julian. Everyone said he’d been searching for me all this time, desperate to salvage our relationship. People dismissed me as ungrateful, calling me cold and heartless. If I truly loved him, why would I disappear for a whole year, not even giving Julian a chance to change? But they didn’t know I’d waited for Julian for seven years, and loved him for seven years. Julian claimed I loved sunflowers, so the media eagerly reported how he’d planted an entire field of them for me. This grand gesture, supposedly proof of his deep affection, actually reeked of insincerity. I didn’t even like sunflowers. That field was just the last gift I’d left behind. They even kept repeating the flower’s meaning: “silent love,” pinning it onto Julian. His public display was so overwhelming that no one bothered to care about the small patch of flowers in the backyard that truly belonged to me. Returning here after a year, I felt utterly lost. My hands passed right through the glass door, the lightness of my body once again reminding me of the grim reality of my death. I saw many framed pictures on the living room wall, displaying the love letters I had written. That was the first time Julian ever questioned my sincerity. He didn’t believe in love, and his friends looked down on me, a mute girl. They would jokingly ask if I was only with Julian for his money, their voices dripping with casual disdain. My face flushed crimson, and I frantically signed my explanations, forgetting that these rich kids couldn’t understand sign language. Julian never said a word, just stood there, watching the whole circus with a cold expression. To prove myself, I wrote countless love letters, articulating my affection word by word. But these letters were eventually thrown to the floor during one of our arguments, dismissed as trash by Julian. He claimed he didn’t believe those hollow words, sneering at my supposed insincerity. I cried, trying to pick up the scattered papers, unable to make a sound. But now, red markings covered those letters. Every one of my sentences had a response—Julian’s belated confession. So, he had always known I was telling the truth. He had always paid attention to everything I did. But Julian always pushed me away, again and again, all for his ridiculous pride. He’d deny me countless times, saying hurtful things, only to beg me to come back later. Because of Julian’s attitude, everyone around him looked down on me too. They all thought I was the one relentlessly clinging to him, but they didn’t know Julian and I were each other’s salvation. I loved the handsome boy from school, and he liked having me by his side. He’d pour out his heart to me, always standing up for me, always swearing he’d never let me suffer. He’d even tried to learn sign language for me once. But as time wore on, he simply… forgot. Those precious memories, along with his willingness to learn, were abandoned somewhere along the way.

The house felt familiar to my body, yet my memories were strangely distant. For the past year, trapped, I’d barely seen the sun, always engulfed in pitch darkness. As I fumbled my way to the study, the first thing I saw was a Julian I didn’t recognize. His desk was piled with books, all of them on sign language instruction. After I died, Julian finally began, belatedly, to learn my language. He started to study the things he had ignored, the things he’d thrown into corners as if they weren’t worth mentioning. Like the paper stars with every word I’d wanted to say to him written inside. Like the clothes I’d sewn for him myself, the clumsy stitches proof of how many times I’d pricked my fingers. It had hurt so much, but I’d been so full of hope that Julian would finally see me differently. Instead, he’d just given it a dismissive glance, tossed it into the closet, and I never saw it again. He never even tried it on. And now, Julian’s long, artistic fingers held a piece of fabric, completely at a loss. The pampered rich boy was finally humbling himself, trying to appease his late lover, a faint hint of guilt flickering in his heart. But Julian only knew the old me. He didn’t know I no longer liked plain white, or that my size had changed. Once, Julian had held me, heartbroken by how thin I was, swearing he’d make me plump and healthy. Later, he was indifferent even when I wasted away to skin and bones. When doctors subtly hinted that my condition was worsening, he just frowned at me. “Did I starve you? Why would you do this to yourself? What’s wrong?” He didn’t care, and he didn’t know. He didn’t know I was being gaslighted by his friends, spending sleepless nights tossing and turning, consumed by self-doubt. He didn’t notice the mistreatment from the household staff, or that the groceries they bought were often insufficient. He only saw the surface: he had given me so much, materially I had nothing to complain about. Julian didn’t care about my feelings. He just thought I was making a big deal out of nothing, complaining about problems that weren’t real. The day we went to the mountains, we were actually trying to salvage our relationship. Julian was coming home less and less, and our silences grew longer and longer. When the accident happened, Julian hadn’t even reacted yet. Because of my natural physical limitations, I’d always been acutely sensitive to my surroundings. But in that final moment, I resolutely pushed Julian out. And he just left, never looking back at me. I hoped he would bring a rescue team to find me. I fantasized about him appearing like a knight in shining armor, saving me from disaster. I don’t know how long I waited, but I remained trapped, despairingly huddled in the cave. The wind howled in my ears, the cave was cold and dark, and I was driven to the brink of madness. I was found a year after I died. Yet Julian sat there, composed, as if nothing had happened, simply *waiting* for me to magically reappear. He never even bothered to search for me. If he had thought of me, even once, during those agonizing days, I wouldn’t have died. I was only twenty-seven. I didn’t even die in the landslide; I starved to death. When I was alive, no one loved me, not even Julian, who constantly doubted me. It took my death for Julian to finally acknowledge me, to mercifully prepare to repay me. I was suddenly curious to see Julian’s reaction when he learned I was truly dead. In media interviews, he repeatedly spoke of his plans to propose to me. That was all I’d ever wanted, something I couldn’t have when I was alive. But now, I’d never get the chance to wear a wedding dress. Julian told everyone he missed me, but now I was right in front of him, and he couldn’t see me. The room was silent. Just then, Julian’s phone, resting beside him, abruptly rang. “Hello, is this Mr. Julian? We’ve found Ms. Harper’s remains. Do you have time to identify them?” I didn’t see Julian’s expression. Because I was too busy admiring the sunflowers in the backyard.

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My fiancé, Declan, married me because it was what his family wanted. I actually thought he’d finally given up on Chloe, the girl who held his heart. But for three years after we got married, he was barely ever home, always out and about with her. I couldn’t be bothered to catch them red-handed, so I just got bored and started an online relationship. Then, to my shock, I found out my online boyfriend was none other than Julian, Declan’s best friend. I just couldn’t reconcile the sweet, clingy guy who begged for hugs every day online with the intimidating Julian I knew in real life. I freaked out and broke up with him. But Julian burst into my apartment, crying and begging me to forgive him, not to leave him. As he was pleading, Declan suddenly walked in. Panicked, I shoved Julian into the closet. Declan hugged me, whispering, “It’s over with her. From now on, I’ll focus on you. Let’s have a baby.” Julian, furious, kicked open the closet door. “No way! I don’t agree!” *** Declan threw a lavish birthday party for Chloe on a cruise ship. My best friend, Taylor, couldn’t stand it and insisted on dragging me along to catch them and humiliate the other woman. I was about to refuse, but then I remembered my online boyfriend had sent me his location, and it was somewhere nearby. So, hoping I might bump into him, I went along. But as soon as we arrived, the birthday party was already over. We didn’t even catch a glimpse of Declan or Chloe. Taylor was so mad she started swearing like a sailor. I let her rant for half an hour before I finally managed to calm her down. “Let me take you home. I told you, don’t bother trying to catch them.” Even if we did, what would be the point? After dropping Taylor off, I walked alone down the street, glancing back at the bar behind me, and then stepped inside. I ordered a glass of red wine at the bar, but it tasted bitter, so I only took one sip. My online boyfriend sent me another message. **[My friends moved to a new spot, a bar, but don’t worry, babe, I won’t have any contact with anyone else.]** A thought flashed through my mind. Could it be the very bar I was in right now? I typed a reply. **[What’s the bar called? Do you have a room number?]** He actually sent me the address and the room number. And a teasing remark, too. **[Missing me, babe? It’s too late now. Next time you want to see your husband, let’s pick a proper time. Our first meeting has to be special.]** A smile played on my lips. What I didn’t say was, we might just meet tonight. I hurried upstairs. The corridors were a maze, but I finally found the room number he’d given me. The door wasn’t fully closed; it was slightly ajar. They seemed to be playing a game inside, and I heard Chloe’s voice. A surge of alarm went through me. Had I gone to the wrong room? I glanced back, realizing I hadn’t made a mistake at all. This was definitely the room number my online boyfriend had given me. “Julian! Your turn. Truth or Dare?” From my angle, I couldn’t see Julian’s face, only his back. His shoulders were broad, and he had a great physique. He was Declan’s best friend, closer than brothers since they were kids. Julian lazily drawled, “Truth.” “Who were you just texting, smiling so happily?” Chloe casually asked. Julian glanced at Declan, who was sitting beside him, and said, “Aubrey. My girlfriend.” The room fell silent for a moment. Chloe gave a dry laugh. “What a coincidence.” She quickly looked at Declan, who seemed oblivious, and instantly breathed a sigh of relief. My heart lurched. That was my name, and my online username. It couldn’t be such a coincidence… But the very next second, my heart sank. Julian’s phone screen was projected onto the big monitor. And there, glaringly obvious, was my chat window. “Whoa, Julian, you’re into online dating? And she’s older?” Julian frowned, smacking the person next to him. “Give me my phone back.” He snatched his phone, his expression faltering slightly, and started to walk out of the room. I was terrified and immediately fled the scene. As soon as I reached the stairwell, my phone vibrated in my pocket. In my panic, I just hit hang up. **[Babe, why aren’t you answering? Do you not like me anymore?]** The messages that followed were a rapid-fire flood of pathetic, adorable emojis. Seeing those messages, I took a deep breath. How could Julian, with his unapproachable face, say such things to me? And he’s actually older than me, yet he pretended to be some younger college guy! **Chapter 2** I sprinted all the way home, my back drenched in sweat. My phone now had several new photos of abs. The muscles were perfectly defined, very eye-catching. But I was in no mood to appreciate them. **[Don’t be mad, babe. I’m coming home now. I’ll never go to shady places again.]** **[Babe, please talk to me…]** I sent a voice message. “Sorry, my husband’s home. Don’t text me today.” There was a pause on the other end. Soon, another message came through. **[Babe, didn’t you say your husband was never home?]** I replied without batting an eye. **[He came back today.]** **[Okay, babe. I know I’m not supposed to be seen.]** I knew Julian understood I was lying, but he couldn’t call me out. I had never hidden the fact that I was married, and he also knew my husband was Declan. When we first got together, he said he didn’t care, that he could wait for me to get divorced. Before that, we could be platonic, just a spiritual connection. But I never thought he’d hide his identity. His age and even his name were all fake. And the big question: Did Declan know what Julian was up to? Hooking up with his best friend’s wife behind his back. I slapped my face, annoyed. It was all my fault for not insisting he send me a photo. My fault for trusting a stranger online so completely. I ignored Julian for a few days, planning to ice him out until he got the hint. I didn’t think he’d dare to just show up and expose everything. Julian had to have some shame, right? But Julian, shamelessly, kept sending me messages. Constantly asking, *Is your husband gone? Is your husband gone?* I typed a single word. **[No.]** Not long after, I saw Declan and Chloe trending on Ins. The two of them were shouting declarations from a hot air balloon. “Chloe! I love you!” “Declan! I love you too!” It had gone viral just because the hot air balloon cost a staggering fifty million dollars. Netizens were gushing with envy, joking that they were just NPCs in a grand romance, witnessing another fairytale billionaire love story. All I felt was awkwardness. Didn’t they think shouting from the sky was totally ridiculous? What if a bird pooped on them? Not long after, the trending topic was completely scrubbed clean. My mother-in-law called me. “Aubrey, Declan’s just having a bit of fun. Don’t make a fuss, dear. He’s very busy with work, it’s normal for him to unwind. A man, well, who doesn’t have a few people around them? The Maxwell family only recognizes you as their daughter-in-law.” My voice was flat. “Don’t worry, Mom. I won’t make a fuss.” Hearing that, my mother-in-law quickly hung up. They were being so public about it that people had forgotten I was the original wife. What good would a fuss do now? Honestly, before the marriage, I actually did make a fuss. Declan and Chloe were childhood sweethearts, while Declan and I met later. Strictly speaking, I was the latecomer. My father was Declan’s father’s army buddy. After my dad was killed in action, Declan’s father adopted me. I was sixteen then, and my looks had blossomed; I was quite pretty. Declan was smitten at first sight and made a grand show of pursuing me. Declan’s father thought it was a great idea and decided to arrange our engagement. But Declan’s mother didn’t like me. She thought I was from a common background and wasn’t good enough for her perfect son. Not long after the engagement, Declan changed his mind. He said his feelings for me were just a passing fancy, and the one he truly loved was Chloe, his childhood sweetheart! I was furious and constantly at odds with Chloe. We competed in academics, in dancing, in talents. But other than academics, I was inferior to Chloe in everything. I’d never had any exposure to classical arts. Declan and his friends often mocked me, calling me an unsophisticated country bumpkin. Yet, whenever I scored better than Chloe on a test, Declan would accuse me of being too competitive and not as gentle and lovely as Chloe. Right after high school, I poured every ounce of my effort into my exams and became the top student. While I was basking in joy, I heard Declan scornfully say, “She only knows how to bury her head in books. What good is that? She’s not worthy of being my wife.” **Chapter 3** My heart instantly sank. I had actually thought Declan still had some feelings for me. Turns out, he’d always looked down on me.

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My brother always hated me. He once told me to my face that he wished I would just die. So I granted his wish and got stomach cancer. But he regretted it. I still died anyway. With a smile on my face, right in front of him. Jake’s call came just as I arrived home. The diagnosis report in my bag was already crumpled into a ball. He never used to call me on his own initiative before. “It was Dad’s birthday two days ago,” he said, his voice cold as ice. As always. “Why didn’t you come back…” “Because I didn’t want to,” I cut him off. “You went back, didn’t you? That’s enough.” “Tina came back from abroad at the beginning of the month.” Tina was my uncle’s daughter who had lived with us since childhood. “If she was there, that’s fine. After all, you only treat her like a sister anyway.” The person on the other end seemed to suddenly flare up in anger, calling my name in a low voice: “Mia!” I hung up. The last bit of sunset glow fell into the room. I sat at the desk, tearing the diagnosis report into tiny pieces. As the shreds of paper fluttered down onto the table, my phone screen suddenly lit up. Jake: Mom’s death anniversary is coming up soon.

Jake was my brother. He had always hated me. Because I was the culprit who took away his mother. Over twenty years ago, my mother died in childbirth. As I was born, she lost her life forever on the operating table. It was a murder disguised as new life. No one welcomed my arrival. Because of me, Dad lost his beloved wife. And Jake lost his mother. This long-standing resentment began from the day I was born and has continued until now. I didn’t intentionally skip Dad’s birthday. It’s just that day, the abdominal pain was so severe I nearly passed out. That’s when I first realized something was wrong. But actually, if I didn’t go, he would probably be more at ease.

Jake didn’t contact me again. I was standing outside the company building when I took a deep breath. After graduation, I had joined his company. Working my way up from the bottom, but no one ever discovered our connection. The number of times I met with him was even fewer than his meetings with ordinary employees. Last week, a senior executive left, and this Monday they were to announce the successor. Everyone said the position was mine for sure. At least before I got the diagnosis report, I had thought so too. In the hallway, I ran into a colleague who greeted me and then excitedly came closer: “Mia, don’t forget to treat us to a big dinner when you get promoted.” I smiled and looked down: “It’s not certain yet.” “It’s definitely going to be you,” she linked arms with me, “You’re the best out of everyone here.” When we entered the conference room, Jake was there. I happened to meet his gaze for a moment before we both looked away like strangers. “Good morning, Mr. Jiang.” He didn’t look at me, just nodded slightly. As indifferent as if our argument that night had never happened. People gradually filled up the conference room. Jake cleared his throat, and my colleague immediately gave me a meaningful look. I lowered my eyes to avoid her gaze. The next second, I heard a familiar name. “Tina Tang.” A familiar figure entered from outside. Slender and graceful, Tina smiled as warmly as ever. Jake stood beside her, introducing her to everyone: “Miss Tang has just returned from abroad and will be taking over the deputy manager position.” Some people instinctively glanced at me. I avoided their eyes and looked at the beaming Tina on the stage. The atmosphere in the room seemed to stagnate for a moment. Invisible undercurrents stirred. I smiled and applauded. Scattered applause broke the slightly awkward atmosphere in the conference room. Tina met my eyes, her expression warm and friendly.

The coffee smell in the break room was so strong it seemed about to overflow. I stirred it with a spoon, took a sip, and felt some acid reflux as I swallowed. My colleague stared angrily, fuming with indignation. “How is this fair? She just parachutes in and steals your position? Is this blatant nepotism?” “Mia, aren’t you angry?” “This position was meant for you. You worked so hard, even almost ended up in the hospital from overworking last time.” Her gaze fell on the dark circles under my eyes: “Mia, I’m telling you, there’s no need to work yourself to death like this. Cut back on the coffee.” The warmth of the coffee seeped through the ceramic mug into my hands as I thanked her softly: “Mr. Jiang must have his reasons.” The girl’s eyes widened as she was about to complain in a low voice when a phone rang abruptly. Jake’s voice was crystal clear in the small break room, tinged with barely suppressed anger: “Mia, come to my office.” My hand shook, spilling a few drops of coffee on my white shirt. The heat seeped through the fabric, scalding my skin. I responded quietly: “Okay.”

The moment Jake’s office door opened, I saw Tina sitting on the sofa, her head slightly bowed. She was clutching a piece of paper in her hand. And Jake, sitting there with a cold expression, suppressing his anger. People used to say that even though Jake and I came from the same womb, only our eyes looked alike. Upturned at the corners, when not smiling, they naturally carried a cold aura that kept people at a distance. Unfortunately, neither of us liked to smile. And Jake had never smiled at me. “Although Tina is new, she has the qualifications for this position.” “Mia.” Jake frowned deeply as he called my name. “If you have complaints, say them directly. Gossiping behind people’s backs, ganging up with colleagues to isolate Tina – Mia, is your viciousness ingrained in your bones?” In just half a day. I glanced sideways at Tina. She happened to look up and meet my eyes. Her face, in her early twenties, was full of collagen. Her eyes were slightly red, with tears reflecting tiny flecks of light. Then she quickly lowered her head again. All the actors in this farce were in place, just waiting for me to play my part. But I really had no interest in acting out their drama. “What other people say with their own mouths has nothing to do with me.” “Besides-” “Everyone’s not stupid.” A sob and the sound of something falling to the ground rang out simultaneously. The expensive pen that had been on the desk was now shattered into pieces. Black ink spread by my feet. “Mia! You…” A light piece of paper fell on his desk. Jake’s words were cut off. When he saw the text clearly, his anger immediately resurged: “Mia!” “Are you still a child?” “Are you throwing a tantrum?” The crisp new resignation letter was crumpled into a ball and thrown back at my feet like trash. It’s not a tantrum at all. I’ve known for a long time. I don’t have the right to throw tantrums. Only children who are coddled have that privilege. And I don’t. “I’ll go to HR myself.” As I closed the door, his roar was shut out along with it. But I hadn’t walked far before Tina caught up with me. “Mia.” Her voice still had a nasal quality, and she carefully reached for my hand. “Mia, don’t be angry. I don’t want this position. I’ll go talk to Jake. Don’t be upset.” “If I had known, I wouldn’t have come back. Mia, don’t let me ruin the relationship between you and your brother.” There was no one in the hallway. I stopped and looked at her. Tina’s eyes naturally carried an air of innocence and pitifulness. Combined with her slightly reddened eyes and nose tip, she could easily win others’ favor. She looked just like she did over ten years ago, when she first came to our home. “Tina.” I moved closer to her, gripping her chin, “This trick never fails-” “Does it?” Tina’s face instantly turned pale. The elevator arrival chime sounded. I let go of her and walked towards the elevator. She seemed not to have recovered, standing rooted to the spot. I smiled at her: “You know very well, there was never any sibling affection between him and me.” “Come to think of it, you’re more like his sister.”

As the elevator doors closed, I saw my expressionless face reflected in them. My abdomen cramped with pain. Actually, in the beginning, my relationship with Jake wasn’t as bad as this. When we were young, although he didn’t like me, he never did or said anything too extreme. Compared to Dad who treated me like I was invisible, Jake as a brother was the only person I felt close to. Back then I thought, even if Jake didn’t like me, we were still family. That’s what blood ties meant. Until middle school, when Tina came to live with us. That’s when I realized. Brothers could actually be so nice to others. Not always wearing a cold expression, not telling her to “get lost,” not mocking her with sarcasm. That was how a brother should really treat a sister. But Tina wasn’t satisfied. On the fifth day after she transferred to my middle school, when I came home from school, Jake slapped me hard across the face. I held my cheek and stared at him in shock. He was saying things I couldn’t understand. Bullying. Evil. Vicious. Apologize. But when I saw Tina standing behind him, head bowed and clutching his shirt, These scattered words suddenly pieced together into a complete lie in my mind. I tried to explain. But he didn’t believe me. The argument that erupted that day and the obvious favoritism suddenly shattered the naive and foolish thoughts I once had. Jake wasn’t stupid enough to be unable to tell right from wrong. It was simply that he chose not to. I seemed to belatedly realize on that day. My brother truly harbored genuine hatred towards me. My relationship with Jake deteriorated rapidly. Unfortunately, in my foolishness and immaturity at the time, I only thought that rather than having him treat me like a stranger like Dad did, I might as well antagonize him. At least then, Jake would see me. The tense relationship between us continued until I was eighteen. At eighteen, I was dragged into hell. After eighteen, my relationship with Jake suddenly became that of strangers. Like a war that abruptly ceased. We no longer argued, no longer lashed out hysterically, no longer confronted each other. Just cold indifference, as if we didn’t know each other at all.

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The first thing I did after my rebirth was to dump my devoted boyfriend and immediately accept the pursuit of the obsessive guy. Why? Because in my previous life, my best friend Emma had bound an app that could transfer all my boyfriend’s love for me to herself. The 999 golden roses he prepared for me ended up in her arms. The hotel he bought for me was registered under her name. His gaze towards me changed from passionate to cold and distant, yet when he turned to look at her, it was filled with the tenderness I once knew so well. When I cried and asked him why he had changed, he looked at me with disgust. “We broke up long ago. Stop harassing my girlfriend!” On my birthday, Emma livestreamed, showing off the entire amusement park my ex-boyfriend had rented for her, with fireworks blazing behind her. As for me, they joined forces to send me to a mental hospital. They said I was a madwoman who couldn’t accept rejection. I died in despair amidst endless electroshock therapy and drug injections. When I opened my eyes again, I was reborn. This time, I didn’t invest an ounce of true feelings in my ex-boyfriend. Instead, I played along with the obsessive guy’s pursuit. When Emma opened the app again to absorb all of the obsessive guy’s overwhelming love, I smiled. I wanted to see if she could handle it. 1 “Lily, I love you!” The deafening confession, accompanied by the screams of the crowd around us, yanked me back to reality. My boyfriend, Lucas, was holding a bouquet of golden roses, professing his love to me. Cheers erupted from all sides. “Say yes! Say yes!” I was momentarily dazed before realizing I had been reborn. I had returned to the day when Lucas was about to publicly declare his love for me in front of the entire school with 999 roses. In my previous life, I had waited here, full of anticipation, for him to approach me. But just when he was one step away from me, he suddenly turned and handed that bouquet to my best friend, Emma, who was standing behind me. I could never forget that moment. The love in Lucas’s eyes that was originally meant for me extinguished in an instant, only to reignite when he turned towards Emma. Later, I learned that Emma had an app on her phone that could steal love. It was her, like a thief, who stole Lucas’s love for me. And now, history seemed to be repeating itself. I could even sense Emma behind me, quietly raising her phone, ready to use her old trick again. The cheering around us grew louder, and Lucas’s smile became more radiant. I beat him to the punch, saying in an extremely calm tone: “Lucas, let’s break up.” Everyone’s expressions froze, and the cheering came to an abrupt halt. Lucas’s smile stiffened, and he looked at me in disbelief, as if he hadn’t heard clearly. “Lily, what… what did you say?” “I said, let’s break up,” I repeated, my tone as cold as ice. “I don’t like you anymore. I’ve lost feelings for you.” These words exploded like a bomb in the crowd. “What the hell? What’s going on? Has Lily gone crazy?” “Lucas treats her so well, everyone knows that. How can she say break up?” “Is she playing hard to get? That’s too cruel!” Lucas’s face instantly turned pale. His hands holding the flowers trembled slightly, and the deep affection in his eyes was replaced by immense shock and pain. “Why? Lily, tell me why? Did I do something wrong? I can change!” In my previous life, I had also pleaded with him like this, only to be met with his disgust. Now, it was his turn to experience this pain. “Lily!” A hand grabbed my arm. It was Emma, looking at me anxiously. “Don’t be impulsive! You and Lucas have such a good relationship, how can you break up just like that? Quickly apologize to him, stop fooling around.” I looked at her hypocritical face and laughed coldly in my heart. She was panicking, as expected. I suddenly understood that her app probably could only transfer the love of my current boyfriend. Once I broke up with Lucas, she wouldn’t be able to steal anything. That’s why she was so anxious to persuade us to reconcile. I forcefully shook off her hand, abandoning the weakness of my previous life, and stared at her with a piercing gaze. “My business is none of your concern.” With that, I turned and pushed my way through the crowd, leaving behind a commotion and Lucas’s heartbroken calls. 2 The news of me dumping Lucas spread like wildfire across the campus. I became a heartless woman in everyone’s eyes, ungrateful and playing with feelings. Wherever I went, I could feel the pointing fingers and whispers behind my back. “That’s her, the one who dumped Lucas, such a good boyfriend.” “I heard she’s just riding a donkey to find a horse, must have found someone richer.” “Who would have thought, she seemed so quiet usually, but she’s so manipulative.” I didn’t care about any of this. These rumors and gossip, compared to the electroshock therapy and torture I endured in the mental hospital in my previous life, were like a gentle breeze. Emma had been buzzing around me like a fly these past couple of days, earnestly trying to persuade me to get back together with Lucas. She kept hinting at how miserable Lucas was, how he couldn’t live without me. “Lily, Lucas hasn’t been able to eat for days. He’s lost so much weight. Can you really bear to see him like this?” She held my hand, speaking with apparent sincerity. “You two were the campus’s golden couple. Don’t give up because of some small misunderstanding.” I pulled my hand away, looking into her hypocritical eyes, finding it all so ridiculous. “If you care about him so much, why don’t you date him yourself?” I said flatly. Emma’s face froze for a moment before she quickly recovered. “I’m saying this for your own good. I’m your best friend. I can’t stand by and watch you make a mistake.” “Oh, really?” I smiled. “Then I should thank you for your kind intentions.” I ignored her and walked straight towards the campus basketball court. On the court, one figure stood out. He was tall, with skin so pale it was almost sickly. His eyes were startlingly black, with a beauty mark under them that gave him an otherworldly allure. He wasn’t playing basketball, just leaning lazily against the hoop. Within a three-meter radius around him, there was no one else. This was Ethan, from a prestigious family background, but with a volatile temperament and unpredictable mood swings. He was the epitome of a yandere. In my previous life, I had heard about his exploits. A girl who had dated him for less than a month was forced to transfer schools. I took a deep breath, walked across the court, and stood in front of Ethan. He seemed to sense someone’s presence and lazily lifted his eyelids. Those pitch-black eyes fell on me, carrying a hint of scrutiny and impatience. “What do you want?” His voice was as cold and indifferent as his person. I looked straight into his eyes and said word by word: “I’ve broken up with Lucas. Now I’m agreeing to be your girlfriend.” As soon as I finished speaking, Ethan was stunned. He slowly straightened up, looking down at me with a playful smile tugging at his lips. “Didn’t you say you were deeply in love with Lucas when I pursued you before?” “What, now you’re willing to break up with him?” Ethan’s words suddenly reminded me of the time I had spent with Lucas over the past few years. Back then, we were very much in love, but that was before Emma transferred Lucas’s love away. I tried to keep my voice as calm as possible, “Not interested? If not, forget it.” I was about to turn and leave when he suddenly chuckled softly. “Of course I’m interested.” As soon as he finished speaking, Ethan’s lips came crashing down on mine. 3 The news of me getting together with Ethan spread even faster and wider than when I had dumped Lucas. The entire school was in an uproar. “Oh my God, has Lily lost her mind? Dumping Lucas to go after Ethan?” “Does she think Ethan is as good-natured as Lucas? Just wait, she’ll be a wreck within three days.” “I bet a week before she comes running back to Lucas, crying for reconciliation.” I became the laughingstock of the entire school, with everyone waiting to see how this drama would unfold. Lucas, whom I had ruthlessly dumped, finally couldn’t take it anymore when he heard the news. He burst into my classroom, his eyes bloodshot, and confronted me in front of everyone. “Lily! What the hell are you trying to do?!” He pointed at me, his voice filled with the anger of betrayal. “You broke up with me just to be with him? Why are you torturing yourself like this?!” Before I could respond, Emma immediately stepped forward, putting on an act of deep concern. “Lucas, calm down.” She held Lucas back but turned to scold me, “Lily, how could you be so foolish!” “Throwing away someone as good as Lucas, and for what? To go after someone like Ethan? What’s he worth that makes you do this?” “As your best friend, no matter how much you hate me, I have to knock some sense into you!” She stood on her moral high ground, speaking righteously, as if she truly had my best interests at heart. The classmates around us chimed in. “That’s right, Lily. Emma’s right, you should break up with Ethan right away!” “Lucas treats you so well, don’t be stupid.” I looked at this farce unfolding before me and found it laughable. “Lucas, you’re already in the past. Why can’t I start a new life?” I then turned to Emma, my eyes full of mockery: “And you, Emma, do you live by the sea? Why are you so concerned with everyone’s business?” Emma’s face turned pale instantly, probably not expecting me to publicly embarrass her like this. Lucas was so angry he was shaking all over, trembling so much he couldn’t utter a word. Suddenly, a male voice rang out. “Since when did my girlfriend become someone you could lecture?” Ethan was leaning against the doorframe, hands in his pockets, looking at everyone present. He slowly walked to my side, naturally shielding me behind him. His gaze fell on Lucas, and he immediately launched into a tirade of mockery. “Losing to me isn’t shameful.” “After all, whether it’s family background or looks, you’re far behind. Instead of barking here like a defeated dog, why don’t you go look in a mirror and see why you got dumped?” Lucas was humiliated to the point of turning red, he glared at me fiercely before turning and running out. At this moment, I noticed Emma’s gaze was glued to Ethan, even more intensely than when she used to look at Lucas. I smirked coldly. The fish had taken the bait. From that day on, she no longer tried to persuade me to get back together with Lucas. Instead, she began to do everything she could to promote my relationship with Ethan. She revealed almost all of my preferences to Ethan. From small things like my favorite color to big things like what kind of person I liked. Ridiculously, Ethan actually listened to Emma’s advice and molded himself into a perfect boyfriend. Until one day at a class gathering, Emma deliberately locked me, who had drunk too much, in an empty private room with Ethan. As she closed the door, she turned back and gave me a meaningful smile. She thought that after tonight, Ethan’s love for me would reach its peak. Then she could reap the benefits and steal all of this intense love. She wasn’t wrong. But what she didn’t know was that I had been waiting for this moment too. 4 In the private room, only Ethan and I remained. He was indeed drunk, his eyes unfocused, his usually pale face flushed an unnatural red. He approached me step by step, calling my name in a low voice. “Lily, you’re mine, only mine…” He wanted to forcibly possess me. At this moment, I was eerily calm. Just as his lips were about to fall, I didn’t dodge. Instead, I raised my hand and, using all my strength, delivered a precise chop to the back of his neck. Bang—! Ethan’s tall figure collapsed softly, unconscious. I panted heavily, looking at him lying on the ground, without a shred of pity in my heart. The night was long. I sat on the sofa, quietly watching Ethan sleeping on the floor. During this time, I felt that suffocating love emanating from him. It was a hundred, no, a thousand times more intense than Lucas’s. It felt like countless invisible chains binding and suffocating me. In my previous life, it was in the mental hospital that I felt Lucas’s disgust after his love was stolen, dying in despair. And in this life, I wanted Emma to personally experience what it was like to be wrapped in this kind of distorted love. Time passed minute by minute, second by second. Finally, just before dawn, I felt the heavy feeling on my body suddenly being forcibly pulled away! What followed was an unprecedented sense of lightness. I smiled. Emma, you finally made your move. Almost at the same time, there was a soft click from the door lock. The door opened. Emma stood in the doorway. Seeing me unharmed, she was visibly stunned. “Lily! Are you okay? I… I accidentally lost the key last night and spent all night looking for the spare key.” “You and Ethan… how are things?” As she spoke, she anxiously looked into the room, searching for Ethan. I played along with her act, putting on a heartbroken expression, my eyes instantly reddening. “We… we broke up,” I choked out. “When he woke up, it was like he had become a different person. He said he had no feelings for me anymore and told me to get lost.” Hearing this, Emma’s eyes instantly filled with poorly concealed triumph and wild joy. She forcefully suppressed her upturned lips and came over to hug me with fake concern. “Lily, don’t be sad. You’re better off without a man like that! He doesn’t deserve you! It’s not worth crying over someone like him!” “Mm…” I buried my face in her shoulder, revealing a victorious smile where she couldn’t see. “I’m going to leave now. I need some time alone.” I pushed her away and walked out, looking lost and dejected. Emma almost eagerly saw me off. I didn’t actually go far, but hid around the corner of the hallway, coldly observing. Sure enough, as soon as I left, she immediately tidied her hair and clothes, and with a smile of certainty on her face, pushed open the door and entered the private room. The door wasn’t completely closed, leaving a small gap. Soon, I heard a man’s deep, suppressed voice, and a woman’s coquettish laughter from inside. “Mr. Ethan, you’re awake?” “…Who are you?”