Category: English

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

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

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

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

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

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Liam Cross forced me into a revealing bunny costume for our university farewell gala. He swore it was just a costume party. The moment I stepped inside, the room exploded with cruel laughter. “Wow, the valedictorian? More like the queen of kink, wouldn’t you say?” Professor Sterling, Liam’s mother, sneered, her voice dripping with disgust. “Summer Reed, you have absolutely no shame. Wearing this to such a formal event? Do you even deserve my son?!” My body trembled, tears blurring my vision. I looked at Liam, desperate for an explanation, for him to stand up for me. Instead, he scoffed, pulling Sophia Cross, who stood beside him, into his arms. Right in front of everyone, he kissed her passionately, then turned to me, his words like daggers. “Summer Reed, if you hadn’t taken Scarlett’s spot all those years ago, she wouldn’t have died in that car accident on her way to that other university!” “But heaven was kind enough to send me her sister, Sophia. She’s my true love!” “And you, you’re destined to be a pathetic orphan forever. Get out!” I fought to control my shaking body, feigning composure as I turned to leave. But inside, a burning resolve hardened my heart. If their love was so earth-shattering, then I’d make sure it shattered them both. 0

Months ago, I pulled countless all-nighters, coding for Liam. I helped him win the University Startup Challenge, along with a $1,000,000 prize. That allowed him to establish himself in the metropolitan hub even before graduation. He held me close, tracing my features repeatedly, murmuring sweet nothings. “Summer, we’ll get married right after graduation. I’ll give you the grandest wedding imaginable.” For those words, I turned down a $1,000,000 offer. And I willingly became pregnant with his child. But now I understood. All his kindness, every sweet gesture, had concealed a monstrous hatred. My legs swayed, the world blurring around me. I just wanted to escape, to walk away, step by agonizing step. But Liam wouldn’t let up. His mocking voice followed me. “I bet a million dollars she won’t even make it through the night. She’ll come crawling back, begging for my forgiveness, like a desperate alley cat.” The words hit me like a tidal wave, and the crowd’s laughter crashed down. My head swam. The baby inside me seemed to sense my distress, and a faint ache started in my belly. Clutching my stomach, I stumbled towards the staircase. Suddenly, someone grabbed me from behind. It was Sophia. She hugged me, her voice tearful, calling out to Liam. “Liam, my love, Summer didn’t mean it. Please, just let her go.” “You can’t just send her away. She’s pregnant and won’t find a job. Let her stay, even as a maid!” Her words sounded like a plea, but they carried a stinging, unbearable humiliation. I used every ounce of strength to push her away. A wicked, barely hidden smirk flashed across her lips as she abruptly shoved me forward, then dramatically fell backward herself. Caught off guard, I lost my balance and tumbled down the stairs. A tearing pain erupted in my abdomen. Warm blood instantly gushed down my thighs, staining the white fur of my bunny costume crimson. “My baby!” I shrieked. Liam’s face instantly paled, his chest visibly heaving. He instinctively lunged forward, reaching out to help me up. But Sophia’s whimpering voice cut him off, perfectly timed. “Summer, I really didn’t mean any harm! Why did you push me?!” She sobbed, but her eyes held a triumphant, wicked glint directed at me. “No… no, that’s not it…” I tried to explain, but the pain made coherent words impossible. Liam frowned, looking at me, a flicker of something complex in his eyes. Ultimately, he turned, helping Sophia to her feet instead. He swept a cold glance over me, his voice icy, filled with profound disgust. “Disgusting. This is what you get for hurting others. You owe us so much. Consider this child your atonement.” With that, he helped Sophia walk away, not looking back. I had no sin, so how could there be atonement! His idealized Scarlett – I’d never even met her. How could I have intentionally harmed her? I lay on the cold ground, trembling, blood spreading beneath me. Watching them leave, my heart hurt more than my body. The crowd gathered around me like spectators at a morbid show, no one offering a hand. I had to save my baby. Ignoring everything else, I bit down hard and struggled to my feet. Still in the bunny costume, covered in blood, I staggered onto the street. No driver dared to pick me up. Step by painful step, I finally reached the hospital. The surgery lasted three hours. When I woke, I heard what felt like a miracle. 0

“The baby is safe.” The doctor looked at me deeply, unable to resist a warning. “The fetus has been temporarily saved. Please be more careful in the future. Don’t harm the baby inside you.” The story was too long, I didn’t know how to refute it. I could only bow my head, stroking my belly, tears falling endlessly. Baby, from now on, Mommy will protect you no matter what! If I was going to leave, I was going to leave completely. I would take all my things with me. Back at the mansion, I ignored my physical discomfort and started packing. But I ran into Professor Sterling, who was about to leave. Seeing me, she raised her hand and slapped me across the face. “You brat, why haven’t you left yet? Are you still trying to seduce my son?!” I couldn’t imagine how she became a professor; she lacked any sense of decency. I gritted my teeth and explained that I was just there to pack my things and would leave completely in a moment. She still looked at me with disgust. “Someone like you doesn’t even qualify to be a maid here. I’m warning you, don’t try to seduce my son again, or you’ll regret it!” I had just packed a few simple clothes when the villa door swung open. Liam walked in, arm around Sophia. His eyes immediately fell on my slightly swollen belly, and a flicker of delight crossed his face. A mocking smile played on his lips. “I knew you’d come back,” he sneered. “Since the baby’s still there, you can stay as a maid. Take care of Sophia.” “And at my wedding with Sophia in three days, I’ll even let you be a bridesmaid. Consider it your indirect marriage to me.” I froze. Three days from now. That was supposed to be *our* wedding. He’d promised me countless times, a grand wedding. To love me forever, to build a happy family with our child. But now, the villain’s true face was finally revealed. And the bride had been replaced by Sophia. “Liam, my love, you’re so good to me,” Sophia simpered. “Even though Summer accidentally caused my sister’s death, you still let her be our bridesmaid.” “It’s just a shame about Scarlett, she didn’t even get to have a baby for you before she left.” She started crying as she spoke, but her eyes held a triumphant smirk directed at me. Liam’s face suddenly changed. He quickly pulled Sophia into his embrace, gently stroking her head. “Sophia, don’t be so sad. I’ll give all my love to you, to make up for her.” He glanced at me, hesitated for a moment, then finally made up his mind. “Yes, I can’t let Scarlett down.” The words had barely left his lips when he forcefully dragged me out of the room and shoved me into the mansion’s sauna. He tied me to a chair. “Liam Cross, you’re insane!” I suddenly understood his intention and struggled desperately. But I couldn’t fight his strength. He cranked up the heat and locked the door. His voice was cold as death, like a grim reaper’s judgment. “You can atone for your sins in here. Tomorrow morning, if the baby’s still alive, I’ll let you go. I guess Scarlett wouldn’t mind then.” With that, he seemed to not want to see me anymore and walked away with Sophia. The temperature in the sauna began to rise rapidly. In moments, my breathing became incredibly difficult. 0

“Liam Cross! Let me out!” I screamed desperately, but there was no response from outside. Time ticked by, second by agonizing second, and my body began to show signs of dehydration. The baby in my belly also squirmed uneasily, as if protesting the terrifying environment. “Baby, I’m sorry. Mommy is so sorry.” I looked down at my belly, tears mixing with sweat, streaming down my face. The high heat made me dizzy, and I started to hallucinate. I saw the first time Liam and I cooked together, my finger accidentally burned. He was so anxious he nearly cried, carefully applied aloe vera, then carried me to the sofa. He pretended to be angry, but his voice was gentle. “You’re not allowed in the kitchen again. If you’re hungry, just call your husband!” Whenever my period pain made me curl up in bed, he would clumsily brew ginger tea with brown sugar. He’d drop three drops on the back of his hand to test the temperature before personally feeding it to me. I looked into his loving eyes, thinking he would never change, not in three lifetimes. But now, he had tied me in this scorching room, abandoning me and our baby to die. Suffocating heat, unbearable pressure. I felt my consciousness slowly peeling away, the cramping in my lower abdomen growing increasingly intense. I curled up in the corner, using my last ounce of strength to protect my belly. Don’t be scared, baby. Mommy’s here… The next morning, when Liam opened the sauna door. What he saw was me, passed out, lying in a pool of blood. He rushed over, immediately picking me up. “Summer! Summer!” Through a haze, I heard the ambulance sirens. When my consciousness cleared, I was lying in the guest room bed, an IV drip in my arm. Liam sat nearby, focused on typing code on his laptop. “The baby…” My voice was hoarse, like a broken bellows. Hearing my faint whisper, he quickly leaned closer, his gaze slightly evasive. “The baby… it’s gone.” “You’ve paid your debt to Scarlett. From now on, just stay here in the mansion and be a good housekeeper.” He picked up a bowl of soup, scooped out a small spoonful. After blowing on it a few times, he brought it to my lips. “This is a restorative broth. I made it myself to help you recover. Drink it.” My chest constricted with pain. I pushed him away. “I owe Scarlett nothing! There were only two spots that year, but I was the top honors graduate in the entire state!” “That last spot was clearly stolen by you. The one who killed Scarlett should be you!” Liam’s movements stiffened. A flicker of panic crossed his face. But quickly, that panic was replaced by enraged shame. “Slam!” He shot up, a resounding slap landing hard on my face. My cheek instantly swelled, blood oozing from the corner of my mouth. “Summer Reed, what are you talking about?!” He roared at me, his face contorted in a sneer. “If it weren’t for you, I would have been with Scarlett years ago!” “You manipulative woman, you still refuse to admit your fault! You’re beyond hope!” I stopped arguing, only offering a faint, mocking laugh, reminding him. “Your true love is calling. Go answer it.” Liam glanced at his phone, then, as if trying to escape something, stormed out, slamming the door. I hadn’t eaten in days. That night, I was ravenous and had to use the wall for support to go downstairs to find food. But as soon as I reached the second floor, I heard sounds of intimacy coming from Liam’s room. 0

That had been our room. Now, the door was wide open, their entwined bodies clearly visible. “Liam, my love, gently. It’s only just three months. Look how impatient you are!” Her voice was brazen and grating, like a dull knife twisting viciously in my heart. My baby had just been lost, and Liam was already in the mood to carouse with his mistress, having the time of his life! And Sophia was already three months pregnant. I remembered vividly how overjoyed he was when I first became pregnant. He would lay his head on my belly every day, clumsily talking to the baby, reading stories. He imagined everything about our baby’s birth, promising to give our child the best future. He had loved our child so much. That tenderness and affection felt like it happened just yesterday. But now, our child was gone. And he didn’t show even a hint of sorrow. He was celebrating with his mistress. A wave of nausea washed over me. I didn’t hesitate any longer. I forced myself to pack my bags, and amidst their unrestrained moans, I left the mansion for good. In these past few years, I had poured all my energy into Liam. I seemed to have forgotten how brilliant I once was. I needed a job to support myself. And I needed a job to prove that I, Summer Reed, hadn’t been broken. I had just suffered a miscarriage, my body still recovering, but the very next day, I endured the pain to look for work. I chose a well-known tech company. With my professional skills and qualifications, I should easily get an offer. However, fate always seemed to enjoy playing cruel jokes on me. At the interview, I ran into Liam and Sophia again. “It’s okay, their loss if it doesn’t work out this time. I’ll arrange a few better ones for you!” Liam was with Sophia, a tender smile on his face, seemingly comforting her. “Summer?” He looked up and suddenly saw me, a flicker of surprise crossing his face, quickly turning to anger. “Why didn’t you come home last night? You just lost the baby and you’re already out running wild? Do you have no shame at all?” His voice wasn’t loud, but it was enough for everyone nearby to hear. In an instant, countless scornful, mocking gazes fell upon me. I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. “I’ve already moved out. We have nothing to do with each other anymore.” Sophia, standing beside him, immediately put on her innocent, pitiful act, her eyes slightly red as she said to me. “Summer, can you please give me a chance? This job is really important to me.” “How can you intentionally compete with me over what happened yesterday?!” “Please, you took my sister’s spot in college back then. Can’t you just let me have this now?” As she spoke, a hint of malice flashed in her eyes, then she burst into tears and threw herself into Liam’s arms. Liam, hearing her words, immediately believed Sophia. He thought I was deliberately coming to this company to compete with her for revenge. He pointed at me, his voice filled with even more disgust. “Summer Reed, you really are shameless! You’d stoop to such despicable tactics!” I stared at Liam, my voice cold. “If we’re talking despicable, tricking me into getting pregnant right after graduation, and making me give up a million-dollar job offer – that’s truly despicable, isn’t it?!” He gritted his teeth in rage, about to retort, when the interviewer called my name. I walked into the interview room without looking back. The process was exceptionally smooth. My professional skills and project experience received high praise from the interviewers. My hiring was practically a certainty. Just as the interviewer was about to announce the result, Sophia and Liam suddenly burst in. 0

Sophia, tears streaming down her face, pointed at me, her voice choked with sobs. “Interviewer, she… she has a very questionable personal life! She had a miscarriage during the day, and was out partying at night!” As she spoke, she pulled out her phone. She played the video of me in the bunny costume, publicly humiliated in front of everyone. “Someone like this would seriously damage the company’s image. She’s completely unsuitable for this job!” Liam chimed in from the side. “She’s a promiscuous woman, and she even caused the death of my fiancée. How can someone like that be trusted with such an important position?” The interviewer’s face instantly turned ashen, their appreciative gaze wavering. “No, that’s not true!” I tried to explain, but the interviewer no longer wished to hear it. Finally, they just shook their head, looking regretful. “We’re very sorry, Ms. Reed, but we’ll need to reconsider.” I clenched my fists, blood oozing from my palms. I knew what those words meant. Tears I could no longer control spilled down my face as I walked out of the building. Standing under the scorching afternoon sun, I felt utterly cold. I refused to give up, and went to several more well-known tech companies. But in every interview, I noticed strange looks from the interviewers, and ultimately, all my applications were politely rejected. It wasn’t until that evening that I discovered my bunny costume video had gone viral online. All sorts of offensive titles and malicious comments surged towards me like a tide. “Is this woman crazy?” “Disrespectful to her mentors, she deserves to be humiliated and abandoned.” “Doesn’t look like a decent woman.” My phone vibrated ceaselessly with rejection calls from various companies. Even some companies that had previously expressed interest cancelled my interviews. I stared at the overwhelming torrent of insults on my phone screen, listening to the harsh sounds of rejection in my ear, utterly speechless. A rush of hot blood surged to my head, my vision went black, and I passed out completely. When I woke again, I found myself back in the guest room bed at Liam Cross’s mansion. “Summer, you’re awake.” Sophia pushed open the door. Liam followed behind her, holding a bowl of dark herbal soup. Seeing I was awake, a hint of triumph appeared on his face. “Sophia was kind enough to see you collapse on the street, that’s why I brought you back. You should thank her properly.” Thank her? Thank her for pushing me back into this abyss of no return? I just wanted to escape this hellhole quickly. I struggled to get out of bed, but Liam pushed me back down. “Do you really want to leave this house so badly?” “It’s not too late to go after you’ve recovered.” He pointed to the dark, murky soup in the bowl, saying Sophia had personally brewed it for me to help regulate my body. Ignoring my resistance, he pinched my chin and forcibly poured it down my throat. As the soup went down, a strange numbing sensation quickly spread through my limbs. Sophia walked to the bedside, leaning closer. “Sister Summer, just rest well.” Then, in a voice only we two could hear, she whispered in my ear. “Tomorrow, I’ve prepared another big show for you.” An alarm blared in my heart. I wanted to escape. But I found myself unable to move, even my eyelids felt heavy as lead. Soon, I fell into a deep, heavy sleep. The next morning, I was jolted awake by a violent crash as the door burst open. Liam’s eyes were bloodshot, like an enraged lion. He grabbed me off the bed, slammed me onto the floor, and started slapping my face relentlessly. “You wretch! You venomous viper!” He gripped my collar, roaring, his face twisted in a sneer. “My mother… my mother suffocated to death last night! You were the only one home! It must have been you!” I was disoriented from the fall, and the lingering effects of the medicine made my head throb. Professor Sterling… dead? 0 “It wasn’t me…” I weakly protested. “You’re still acting!” Liam slapped my face again, the hatred in his eyes practically devouring me.

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I am the top engineer at the National Deep Sea Technology Center and the only person in the world with deep-sea rescue experience. When my sister’s submarine had an accident and was trapped 10,000 meters deep in the ocean, I hung up her distress call. Then, without any rush, I went to the police station to turn myself in, claiming I had leaked confidential research information. A few minutes later, my father called in a rage, “Your sister’s life is hanging by a thread, where the hell are you?” “I order you to go to the accident site immediately to save her, or you won’t see a penny of the Land family fortune!” I calmly pulled the covers over myself and said into the phone, “No time. Don’t disturb my sleep.” When the rescue team captain came to find me, I was shaken awake from my deep sleep. “Engineer Snow! There’s been an accident!” “Your sister Stella’s ‘Deep Diver’ has lost contact at a depth of 10,900 meters in the Mariana Trench!” “They encountered an unknown underwater earthquake, all communications are down, and the chances of survival… are slim!” I opened my eyes groggily and looked at the person who had come. “So?” I asked indifferently. The captain was taken aback, seemingly not expecting this reaction from me. She urgently said, “We need you!” “You’re the only person in the world with successful rescue experience at depths of 10,000 meters. You’re their only hope of survival!” I calmly lay back down, turned over intending to continue sleeping, “Sorry, can’t help.” “What?” “I said, I can’t help,” I repeated, my tone as calm as if the person trapped at the bottom of the sea was my enemy. “Lucy Snow! Are you insane? Your sister is down there! Along with twenty other research team members! They only have enough oxygen to last 72 hours at most!” “My husband, Charlie Zhou,” I interrupted her, “He was the chief commander of the last rescue operation. In terms of experience, he’s more seasoned than me. You should go find him.” Captain Li looked at me in disbelief and yanked me up, yelling, “What the hell are you talking about? Of course we contacted Commander Zhou! But he’s not even in the country!” I chuckled lightly. “I know.” With that, I pulled the covers over my head and ignored her. She could only stamp her foot and storm out of the detention room, cursing under her breath. The world was quiet again. A few minutes later, a distinctive ringtone stubbornly rang out. It was my father, Harrison Land. I answered. “Lucy Snow! Why are you refusing to help with the rescue? Your sister is still down there!” As soon as he spoke, it was a barrage of accusations, his voice full of suppressed anger. “Dad, I just said, find Charlie. He’s more professional.” “I can’t reach him! His satellite phone is turned off!” Harrison’s voice grew increasingly anxious. I chuckled lightly, responding to him in a relaxed tone, “Oh, that’s normal.” “Because right now, he’s on the ‘Deep Diver’.” On the other end of the phone, Harrison’s breath caught sharply. Then came a thunderous rage: “What nonsense are you spouting! Charlie was personally assigned by me to go to the Arctic for the ‘Aurora Project’ last month! He won’t be back for another month! How could he possibly be on the ‘Deep Diver’!” “Is that so?” I feigned surprise, “Then maybe I remembered wrong.” “You…” I didn’t wait for him to finish before hanging up the phone. The next second, the phone immediately rang again. This time it was my stepmother, Fiona Woods. Her voice was thick with tears, sounding almost broken. “Lucy, please, I’m begging you, just go save your sister…” I leaned back in the chair, closed my eyes, and quietly listened to her performance. “Moreover, more than half of the twenty researchers on the submarine are students you personally mentored! How can you bear to watch them die at the bottom of the sea, 10,000 meters deep?” “Can you really be so heartless?”

I laughed. Of course I could be that heartless. An hour later, my father and stepmother found where I was being detained. I calmly watched the emergency rescue news of the “Deep Diver” being broadcast live on the wall-mounted TV through the cold iron bars. In the news, the host was dramatically introducing the list of missing personnel, portraying them as heroes who had sacrificed themselves for the country. The atmosphere was perfectly set. I raised my handcuffed hands and shrugged helplessly at them outside the iron bars. “As you can see, I’m in no position to help anyone right now.” “I’ve been detained for allegedly leaking core technology secrets of the ‘Deep Diver’.” Fiona’s expression transformed from shock to bewilderment to venom in a matter of seconds. Her well-maintained face twisted with anger as she accused in a shrill voice: “It was you! Lucy Snow! You did this on purpose!” “You’re jealous of your sister! You’re jealous that she became the chief designer of the ‘Deep Diver’ at such a young age!” “If you can’t have it, you want to destroy her! What a vicious heart you have!” Each of her accusations matched word for word with the media press releases from my previous life. It seems they had prepared this script long ago. My father, Harrison Land, was much calmer than her. He was anxious, but still maintained the dignity of a director. He stared at me intently: “What’s really going on?” “Not sure,” I leaned against the wall, my posture lazy, “Last night, the disciplinary department burst into my workshop, saying someone had reported me by name for selling the structural diagrams and underwater sonar identification codes of the ‘Deep Diver’ to foreign agencies.” Harrison’s face instantly turned ashen. He knew this was a frame-up, yet didn’t utter a single word of concern. Half of the core technology of the ‘Deep Diver’ came from my research results. How could I possibly leak my own life’s work? “Damn it!” He growled lowly, immediately pulling out his phone, “I’ll find someone right away, use every connection, and definitely get you out on bail within the day!” “Don’t waste your effort,” I flatly refused. “What do you mean?” “Before the official investigation results come out, if I leave here, it will only confirm the charges.” I looked at him, my gaze calm yet sharp, “Dad, you and I both know that once this charge is confirmed, my life is over.” Harrison’s movements froze. Of course he understood. I slowly asked him a question, “Dad, if today, only one of me and Stella could live.” “Who would you choose?” He opened his mouth, but couldn’t make a sound. Just then, Harrison’s phone rang. He grabbed onto it like a lifeline and immediately answered. The call was from the Arctic Research Center. “Director Land, we’ve just managed to contact Commander Zhou!” Harrison’s eyes instantly lit up. “That’s great! What did he say? Does he have a solution?” “Commander Zhou said he has already interrupted his Arctic mission and is trying to remotely connect to the ‘Deep Diver’s’ operating system using a backup channel! But…” “But what?” “But the submarine’s physical interface is locked, and the remote signal can’t fully access it! Someone must pilot a rescue vessel, reach the accident site in the deep sea, and perform a physical connection to have any chance of restarting the system!” “And this physical connection operation can only be completed by Engineer Lucy Snow!”

The phone was on speaker, and every word came through clearly to my ears. Harrison hung up the phone and looked at me with bloodshot eyes, his voice hoarse: “Lucy Snow, did you hear that? Now it’s not just about saving your sister, it’s about completing Charlie’s rescue plan! This is an order!” I lazily yawned, not even bothering to respond to him. Just then, there was a commotion outside the detention center. Several parents of the missing students, having somehow gotten wind of the news, had rushed here as well. As soon as they saw me, they fell to their knees in unison with a thud. “Professor Snow! Please! Please save our children!” “Yes, Professor Snow, we only have one daughter, she can’t die!” Cries and pleas rang out in a chorus. I looked down at them from above, my gaze as cold as ice. “What does their life or death have to do with me?” One sentence silenced all the crying. They looked at me in disbelief, as if looking at a monster. One of the mothers reacted, immediately pulling out her phone from her pocket, opening a screenshot of a transfer record, and holding it up in front of me. “How can it not be related to you! This is the record of my daughter paying you ‘research fees’!” “She said you stipulated that every month, we had to transfer $5,000 to this account, otherwise you wouldn’t let her participate in projects or graduate!” “Our children’s futures are in your hands, how can you stand by and watch them die!” Others also took out their phones, one transfer record after another, like heavy hammers, striking at me. “Yes! Our family paid too!” “We all paid! For two whole years!” Harrison, seeing those records, trembled with anger, pointing at my nose, his voice quavering. “You… you ungrateful daughter!” “Not only are you cold-blooded and heartless, but you’ve also done such despicable things as corruption and extorting students!” “You’ve completely disgraced our Land family!” He shouted in rage, as if I had really committed some unforgivable crime. But he and I both knew the truth. That receiving account didn’t belong to me at all. It belonged to his precious daughter, Stella. No matter how they begged, cursed, or even threatened to die, I had no reaction. I was like an outsider, coldly watching this farce unfold. Time ticked by second by second, and the golden window for rescuing the “Deep Diver” was rapidly closing. The online public opinion had completely exploded. #Chief Engineer Lucy Snow Refuses Rescue# #Lucy Snow Suspected of Leaking Secrets, Detained# #Lucy Snow Extorts Students# One glaring topic after another was pushed to the top of trending searches. My name, in just a few short hours, had become synonymous with cold-bloodedness, greed, and shamelessness. Just then, in the live rescue broadcast, a weak and intermittent electrical sound suddenly came through. It was Stella. “Sis… sis… can you hear me…” She seemed to be using all her strength, her voice full of fear of death and a desire for life. “Sis… I believe in you… I know you’ll save me…” “Ever since we were little… you’ve always been the sister I admired most… you won’t abandon me, right?”

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At my younger brother Brandon’s graduation party, he was absolutely beaming, declaring he was going to make a fortune this summer. “I’m going to start a live stream and become an influencer! I’m going to take on the ‘one hundred girls home’ challenge!” Recently, many people were doing this challenge, and the views were great. Plus, Brandon had just been accepted into a top-tier university, so everyone rushed to flatter him, praising his intelligence and innovative ideas. But I’d seen those videos. They called it “escorting girls home,” but in reality, it was just stalking and harassment. In my previous life, I was the only one who disagreed. I tried to convince Brandon that chasing this kind of viral trend would seriously blow up in his face, and he might even get his university admission revoked. But my mom slapped me. “You’re just jealous your brother is smarter than you!” Brandon’s tone dripped with sarcasm. “Sis, you just can’t stand that I’m more successful than you.” To stop him, I paid for and arranged a graduation trip for him, finally making him give up the idea. But just a few days later, those who took on the challenge blew up. Brandon started to resent me. He followed me after I finished working late, and under the cover of night, he pushed me into the river. I drowned. My parents claimed I’d accidentally fallen and drowned, then hastily buried me. After I died, my soul watched them laughing, celebrating that they had finally gotten rid of me, the obstacle holding them back from striking it rich. Reborn, I was back at Brandon’s graduation party. This time, I just offered a faint smile. “Oh, Brandon’s the smartest, absolutely.” 1 “Seriously? Didn’t you just say that was a terrible idea?” “What? Are you going to be so fake and wishy-washy even in front of your own family?” My mom looked at me with contempt, her voice dripping with scorn. My dad chimed in, sarcastically, “Oh, honey, just ignore her. This daughter of ours has no conscience. We might as well consider her a lost cause.” After dying once, I found myself much calmer than in my previous life. Before, I would have desperately tried to prove I was a good daughter and that I truly cared about Brandon’s well-being. But now, I just smiled politely. My brother, Brandon, saw my indifference and started wailing dramatically: “Everyone, she’s my own sister! Why is she so jealous of me? How can she be so cold-hearted?!” Encouraged by his performance, a chorus of relatives began to speak up: “Aster, you were indeed the only one who made it into a top-tier university in our family, but now Brandon is more promising. Don’t think you’re so special anymore!” “See? I told you. Girls just aren’t as good as boys; they’re not as smart and tend to be ungrateful leeches.” I looked around at them. They all seemed to have forgotten… When Uncle Ben was sick, I paid for his treatment; when Aunt Carol’s son needed money for a down payment on a house, I helped him raise it; when Aunt Sarah’s daughter couldn’t get into school, I pulled strings to find her a place. Even Brandon’s acceptance into a top-tier university was because I diligently tutored him for three years, helping him go from average to the top of his class. And anyway, if my dad hadn’t insisted I go buy fruit for Brandon on the day of my college entrance exam, how would I have been late? How would I, who was always number one in the entire city, have performed so poorly that my scores ended up being lower than Brandon’s? I closed my eyes. Before, I always lied to myself, convincing myself that they loved me too, maybe they just didn’t know how to express it. Sure enough, it’s hard for children to admit their parents don’t love them. I opened my eyes again. Thankfully, the Aster who craved family affection was already dead. I spoke calmly, almost nonchalantly, “Everyone…” I noticed my parents and Brandon staring at me intently, their faces full of schadenfreude. This scene was all too familiar. They often did this, blaming me back and forth, then watching me frantically try to defend myself like a lunatic. Then they could tell everyone I had mental issues, using it as an excuse to continue suppressing me. But this time, I offered a small smile. “Everyone, please don’t be upset. If Brandon wants to escort a hundred girls home, let him.” “You’re right. Brandon’s exam scores were higher than mine. He must be smarter.” 2 I noticed my mom’s expression instantly dimmed, and my dad pursed his lips. They were so disappointed that they hadn’t managed to drive me crazy and make a fool of me in front of everyone. My parents could still control their expressions, but Brandon couldn’t. He was too young. He looked a little flustered. “Aster, what do you mean by that?! Are you being sarcastic?! Do you think I won’t get famous?!” “I’m telling you, once I get famous and rich, everyone here today will be living the good life with me, except for you!” The relatives and friends present burst into laughter. Aunt Carol said, “Brandon, your aunt doesn’t want anything from you, but I just hope that when you make it big, you’ll help out my son’s kids.” Aunt Sarah smiled too. “Brandon, my daughter’s grades have always been a struggle. Why don’t you tutor her, perhaps?” “Your aunt won’t make you work for free. I’ll give you a red envelope.” Aunt Sarah pulled out a thick red envelope. Seeing this, many others also pulled out red envelopes for Brandon. These weren’t gifts for my parents; they were specifically for Brandon. Brandon held his head high, glancing at me triumphantly. My parents were also beaming with pride. I couldn’t help but remember my own graduation party a few years ago. Back then, no one valued me so highly, and no one gave me red envelopes. Instead, they all presumed I would become an ungrateful wretch, constantly reminding me to remember family affection and not to forget my family once I got a boyfriend. I still remember feeling like I was on pins and needles then. It was supposed to be a celebratory graduation party, but I was on the verge of tears from the injustice. I sneered inwardly. This time, I’d make sure they saw what a *real* ungrateful leech looked like. My parents and Brandon basked in others’ flattery, enjoying their moment of glory. Let them be proud for a while. I remembered clearly that not long after I died in my last life, those who were escorting girls home late at night did indeed face backlash. Many media outlets stepped in to criticize the phenomenon. If Brandon became one of them, would any university still accept him? After collecting all the red envelopes, Brandon turned to me. “Sis, where’s *your* red envelope?” I feigned surprise. “Why would you think I’d give you one?” “Don’t you know I’m cold-hearted? Don’t Mom, Dad, and all our relatives know I’m an ungrateful leech with no conscience?” This was the first time I had ever refused my family money. Everyone looked stunned, frozen in place. Before they could react, I stood up and walked away. I’d had enough of this place. As I reached the door, I heard Brandon’s furious roar behind me: “Aster! Don’t you ever think you’ll get a single dime from me in the future!” Everyone present started echoing his words. I scoffed. These people were flattering Brandon just to invest in a potential goldmine, hoping for double the profits. But trying to make money off someone with Brandon’s despicable character was like dancing with the devil. 3 Just a few days later, Brandon started his live streams. Brandon specifically targeted young, pretty girls, and the comments in his stream were utterly disgusting. But it was clear these girls didn’t want to be escorted by a stranger. They looked terrified, stumbling as they tried to run away, yet the number of viewers in his stream kept soaring. In the family SnapChat group, messages popped up one after another. “Brandon’s only been streaming for three days and he already has so many viewers!” My mom replied proudly, “Of course! He already has over ten thousand followers!” My dad also said, “Yeah! Brandon is just so much better than his sister!” How boring… I was about to turn off my phone when a private message from my mom popped up. “Your Grandma Rose is sick. If you still have any conscience, come see her.” My heart clenched instantly. When I was little, my parents were always busy. Grandma Rose raised me. But after Brandon was born, they suddenly weren’t busy anymore. When I felt lost because of my parents’ indifference, Grandma Rose was there, holding me, comforting me. Grandma Rose always said that no matter what my parents thought, she would always love me the most. I took a day off and went to Grandma Rose’s little house. Grandma Rose’s eyes welled up when she saw me. She said weakly, “Aster, Grandma is fine, just a little high blood pressure. You taking time off will just delay your work.” “It’s fine, Grandma. But your blood pressure was stable, wasn’t it? Why did it suddenly go up?” Grandma Rose sighed. It turned out that on the day of Brandon’s graduation party, Grandma Rose had seen me being bullied by everyone and was so anxious and angry that she fainted shortly after I left. My heart ached. Even for Grandma Rose, I had to find a way to get rid of these parasitic relatives. At dinner time, everyone at the table was loudly chatting. Brandon boasted to me, “Sis, I’m really going to blow up. Go check out my follower count now!” “Sis, I’ll let the red envelope thing slide from my graduation party.” “Now, if you give me ten thousand, I’ll use it to boost my content, and I’ll count you as an investor, how about that?” I shook my head. “I’m not interested.” “Brandon, if I really partnered with you, Mom and Dad would probably be worried sick every day, wondering if I, this ungrateful leech, would scheme against their precious son.” My dad slammed his fork down, ready to curse at me. But my mom glanced at a frail Grandma Rose and stopped my dad with her eyes. My dad quieted down, but Uncle Ben started acting pompous again. “Aster, everyone at this table is your flesh and blood, your closest family! You can’t be so petty with your own relatives!” “You young people nowadays are so selfish, not as righteous as us older folks!” Aunt Sarah chimed in, “My brother’s right. You have to have a spirit of dedication to your family. It’s just a little money you need to invest!” I was mindful of Grandma Rose and didn’t want to start a conflict with them. I mentally told myself to just pretend they were talking nonsense! Uncle Ben, with the alcohol kicking in, got even more excited: “What’s wrong with investing a little money in Brandon? Brandon isn’t an outsider!” “How many people in this world can truly treat you well? Only the few of us at this table, right?” “If you ask me, forget investing money! Even if Brandon loses it all, so what?! That’s family love!” I had reached my limit. I was about to retort… Just then, “Uncle Ben! Why don’t *you* invest in me then?!” Brandon’s eyes lit up as he looked at Uncle Ben. Uncle Ben froze instantly, his drunken eyes clearing up. “Uh… I…” Uncle Ben stammered. I almost burst out laughing. Brandon then turned to Aunt Sarah, who quickly looked down. But Brandon spoke anyway. “Aunt Sarah, you should invest a little too!” Aunt Sarah’s body stiffened. Brandon didn’t seem to care about their current awkwardness, talking to himself: “Thank you, Uncle Ben! Thank you, Aunt Sarah! I, Brandon, am so lucky! To have such loyal and devoted elders!” Uncle Ben and Aunt Sarah exchanged glances, their faces thunderous. At that moment, my parents quickly refilled Uncle Ben’s and Aunt Sarah’s glasses, ready to toast them. My dad said, “Our Brandon is a top-tier university student! You can invest with confidence! He’ll never lose it!” My mom wiped away fake tears. “Indeed, no one can be relied on but my own brother and sister! Not even my own daughter!” Uncle Ben and Aunt Sarah were completely cornered, gritting their teeth and nodding. At this point, Aunt Laura and Uncle Gary’s faces were even darker than the bottom of a pot. 4 I lowered my head, hiding the smile I couldn’t suppress. Just then, a sharp pain shot through my waist. My mom had pinched me hard. She leaned in close and whispered, “Even so, you still have to give your brother ten thousand!” “Otherwise, I’ll tell everyone you’re unfilial! You can just wait to be dragged through the mud and face online hate!” A chill ran down my spine. I didn’t care about what people said, but how much did she truly despise me? To go to such lengths against me? I vaguely nodded. Seeing my nod, she smiled with satisfaction. Ha, I just didn’t want to cause a scene in front of Grandma Rose. If I actually gave them money, wouldn’t I just sink deeper into this swamp of a family? After leaving Grandma Rose’s house, I immediately blocked all my relatives, including my parents and Brandon. And I didn’t forget to leave the family SnapChat group. Then, I quickly found a new place to live and moved in. After settling everything, my heart gradually calmed down. But I couldn’t understand why Brandon’s follower count was growing so fast and steadily. Did he even need to boost his content? And he’d received so many red envelopes at his graduation party, why did he still need so much money? Thinking this, I opened his live stream again. The girl Brandon picked this time looked quite young, still carrying a school backpack, probably only sixteen or seventeen. When she realized Brandon was following her, her face instantly turned incredibly pale. The girl quickened her pace. Seeing the girl try to escape, Brandon lunged and blocked her path. He smiled maliciously. “Why are you running, little sister? Do I look like a bad guy?” The girl tried to stay calm. “Get lost! I’ve seen enough creeps like you, and I’m not afraid!” The comments scrolled rapidly. “Good intentions wasted on an ungrateful person,主播 quickly teach her a lesson!” “This girl is such a jerk, can’t even take a joke.” Seeing that the girl had riled up the audience, Brandon smiled. “Little sister, I’m not a bad guy. I want to escort you home.” “I see you’re probably in high school, right? I just graduated from senior year.” He said smugly, “Plus, I’ve been accepted into a top-tier university. I could even come to your house and tutor you!” As Brandon said this, the comments exploded with excitement. “The streamer got into a top-tier university? This girl must be dumbfounded!” “This girl is so ungrateful! It’s an honor for a top-tier university student to offer to escort her!” The girl wasn’t buying any of it. She shoved Brandon hard and ran off. The comments became even more frenzied. “Hahahaha streamer, chase her! Chase her!” My anger flared. How pathetic must these people’s lives be to need to terrorize a girl late at night to prove their strength? Gift effects popped up one after another, and Brandon chased with increasing enthusiasm. I reached out and clicked “Report.” Just then, a sharp screech of tires pierced the air, and the girl fell to the ground. Brandon stopped abruptly, and his pale face was reflected on the screen. Comments scrolled wildly, and Brandon immediately ended the live stream. At that moment, I finally recognized the girl. She was the daughter of my company’s CEO, and he was the wealthiest person in the city. I quickly dialed 91 That night, I was sleepless. The next day at work, I found a layoff notice on the company HR computer that hadn’t been issued yet. My name was on it. Immediately after, my phone rang suddenly. It was an unfamiliar number. I answered, and the voice on the other end was harsh and shrill. It was my parents. Their numbers were blocked, so they had gotten a new one to call me. “Aster! Go find your CEO right now! Whatever you have to do! Fix this for your brother!” “That girl isn’t even dead! She just got a little hurt! Why should your brother’s future be ruined because of that?!” “Your CEO thinks so highly of you, doesn’t he?! Go sleep with him! You *have* to save your brother!” I hung up, my heart growing colder and colder. I no longer hesitated. I walked to the CEO’s office and knocked on the door. 5 After I went to see the CEO, Brandon really wasn’t held responsible, and I wasn’t fired either. Grandma Rose called me, extremely worried.

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My A-list actor husband and I were a picture-perfect couple, but it was all an act. In public, he adored me, even throwing punches for me when other guys got too close. Behind closed doors, he hated my guts, keeping a beautiful young mistress on the side. He wore matching wedding rings with her. He called her his “good wife.” His friends even called her, “sister-in-law.” I didn’t cry or make a fuss. I just quietly deleted the old texts where he’d promised to love me forever. We were each other’s first love, entangled for years. Until I fell ill and slowly started forgetting everything about him. That’s when he panicked. He tried to create romantic surprises for me, desperate to make me better. But he could only watch as I fell in love with someone else. It was the seventh year of my love-hate relationship with Brandon Hayes when he met the woman he truly liked. Her name was Willow Green, a budding actress fresh out of school. She was pure and sweet, and her smile reminded me so much of my younger self. Our friends said Willow was just a stand-in for me. They thought Brandon was probably just looking for something new, playing around. After all, Brandon and I had been on-again, off-again for years. Everyone had seen how a proud man like him would laugh and cry for me, how he’d bend over backwards for me. Everyone knew he loved me, loved me to the point of obsession. I suddenly remembered that night we’d broken up and gotten back together. Brandon ripped my dress, taking from me tirelessly. I was a puddle of exhaustion. In my daze, I heard him whisper in my ear, coaxing me, “Baby, we’re meant to tangle, to torment each other forever.” I used to think Brandon would never love another woman the way he loved me. But then, in our third year of marriage, our relationship shattered. And that’s when Willow appeared.

At first, Brandon despised Willow. They were on a set, playing lovers. Willow was a huge fan of Brandon’s. Every time they held hands or hugged, her face would flush, her crush obvious. Back then, Brandon and I were still good. He’d often tell me how much he disliked Willow acting like a total fan. Willow wore cartoon T-shirts, and Brandon called her childish and silly. Willow wore hot shorts, and Brandon called her so tacky. Whatever Willow did, Brandon found annoying. Yet, perhaps he didn’t even realize it himself, but every time he mentioned Willow, he was smiling. During our nightly phone calls, he slowly started to drift off. Most of the time, it was because Willow was so clueless. She’d constantly bother Brandon with all sorts of questions. Brandon would complain, but patiently answer her every time. Before we hung up, I’d ask Brandon, “Tomorrow, can we please not talk about Willow anymore?” He’d flash that mischievous grin and tease, “Are you jealous, baby?” He’d joke around with me, then block Willow’s number right then and there. Until a few days later, Willow posted something on Ins: “A passionate kiss scene, with two hearts truly moved. “Can’t sleep tonight, I’m pulling an all-nighter talking to the person I like!” That night, Brandon didn’t call me. I tried calling him, but his line was busy. I knew then, this time, Brandon was falling for Willow, playing make-believe for real.

After that night, it was like Brandon suddenly stopped loving me. We started giving each other the silent treatment. He didn’t explain, and he didn’t try to sweet-talk me into making up. For a whole month, we didn’t speak. Then, on the last day of filming, during a live interview on set. A reporter asked him, “Work’s done, what do you want to do most right now?” He pulled out his phone, showing a photo of me wearing an apron, flirting with him. He smiled gently and said, “Right now, I miss my wife the most. I want to eat her home-cooked meal.” In some ways, Brandon was my financial backer. If he didn’t love me anymore, I could just hide my true feelings, follow his lead, and make some good money. That night, I cooked a feast. But Brandon never came home. I didn’t wait up for him; I went to bed early. Then, in the middle of the night, he called me. He sounded drunk, mumbling and whining. “Wife, my sweet wife, I miss you so much. Come pick me up, please.” He hadn’t called me ‘wife’ in ages. My eyes stung, and I didn’t say a word. His buddies were hyping him up in the background: “Who’s the big star calling? Is that Willow?” They kept shouting into the phone, “Sister-in-law! Brandon wished tonight that he’d be with you forever, always…” So, Brandon had called Willow. He called her his “good wife,” and his friends called her “sister-in-law.” He had already brought Willow into his life. A sharp headache flared, and I quickly hung up, burying myself deep in my covers, pulling them tight around me. It’s fine. I could pretend not to care. My acting was always top-notch.

Word quickly spread that Brandon and I were having problems. Everyone in the industry said he’d fallen for Willow. He took her to candlelit dinners, bought her houses and cars. Sometimes he’d even rent out an entire amusement park just to ride silly carousels with her. He liked her so much, he practically wanted to give her the world. Even that ruby necklace I’d wanted so badly, the one I could never find, Brandon recently bought it. I thought he’d give it to Willow. But one morning, I woke up to find the necklace resting quietly on my bedside table. Next to it was a note that read: “Happy Anniversary.” It was Brandon’s handwriting. I silently crumpled the note and tossed it in the trash. I couldn’t understand Brandon’s intentions anymore, and I didn’t want to.

A few days later, at a private dinner party, I met Willow for the first time. She smiled as soon as she saw me. She stared at my necklace and said in a sweet, soft voice, “Mr. Hayes bought me a ton of jewelry a few days ago, but this necklace felt a bit too old for me, so I asked him to give it to you. “I just knew you, Skylar, being more mature, would look perfect in it. “Mr. Hayes always said he spoiled me like a child, and I used to argue, I mean, I’m twenty-two! “But compared to you, Skylar, I suddenly feel like I’m really too young.” I froze, suddenly feeling utterly ridiculous. My cherished anniversary gift, the one I loved so much, was just Willow’s hand-me-down. Willow saw my displeasure and smiled even sweeter. She tossed her hair and continued to gloat, “Skylar, don’t be shy about me giving you the necklace; just wear it. “Mr. Hayes buys me so many things; I can’t even wear them all. If there’s anything else you like, just tell me. Feel free to take whatever you want.” I smiled back at her, asking softly, “You’ll give it to me, just if I like it?” Willow nodded smugly. I reached out and touched the dazzling diamond earring on her ear, then suddenly pulled hard, tearing it right off. Willow screamed in pain, clutching her ear and bending over. Blood seeped through her fingers. I looked down at her, still smiling, and asked softly, “Thank you for the gift. Can I have the other earring too?”

Willow’s pupils trembled slightly, as if she was scared of me. Her blood splattered on the floor, and the people around us started to murmur. Brandon arrived shortly after. He saw the blood on the ground, and his expression turned cold and savage. He pulled me into his arms, checking me over from head to toe. The concern and tension in his eyes looked so real. Willow released her hand, letting the blood stream down her ear and drip onto her white gown. She reached for Brandon, saying softly, “Mr. Hayes, I’m in so much pain…” Brandon raised his arm, dodging her, and gave her a cold glance. That look made Willow freeze, biting her lip in humiliation. She didn’t understand. Brandon came from a wealthy family; keeping a mistress privately was one thing, but if it became public, it would be a huge scandal. In front of others, Brandon could only love me. His fingers caressed my furrowed brow, and he coaxed me gently, “Who upset you?” I didn’t speak, and no one else dared to. Two seconds later, Brandon suddenly grabbed a vase from a nearby table and smashed it on the floor, snarling, “Are you all deaf? Who upset my wife? Speak up!” The atmosphere was terribly oppressive. Willow clenched her fists, then burst out, “It was me! It was all my fault, okay, Brandon Hayes!?” She finally couldn’t hold back, her tears streaming down as she looked at Brandon defiantly, choking out, “It’s my fault for wanting to get close to Skylar but being hated by her! “It’s my fault for falling for the wrong person, willing to be called a mistress just to be with him no matter what! “It’s my fault for being delusional, thinking he liked me too, my fault for being an idiot!” She lifted the wine glass above her head and poured it over herself. The wine and blood mixed, staining the front of her dress. Crying, she asked Brandon, “Mr. Hayes, is this enough? Is your beloved wife satisfied?” Brandon’s hand tightened on my shoulder, squeezing harder and harder. He must have felt pain for her. He asked me, “Satisfied?” I chuckled, tears almost falling from my eyes. I asked Brandon, “Is it exhausting, pretending to love me? “Brandon, I have a great idea. I can make it so you can openly love whoever you want. “Give me money. Lots and lots of money. Then, we get a divorce.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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In my previous life, I gave my heart and soul to Noah, the little fox. But he hated me for separating him from the little rabbit, and pushed me off a cliff. Given a second chance, I no longer trust beast-men. I only want to tame them. So when I face Lucas the wolf, I put away all kindness. I only test and punish him repeatedly. Until I tire of this game, but he tries to overstep his bounds and become my bedmate. Hah, it’s not so easy to share my bed. 0 A row of beast-men knelt before me, iron chains around their necks. My sister and I sat on either side. She looked down arrogantly and laughed, “Little sister, you choose first.” I scanned the row of beast-men, my gaze lingering on a pitiful-looking little rabbit. Immediately, an intense, hateful gaze shot towards me. I smirked and moved my gaze away, landing on the owner of that gaze. Then, under his anxious, pleading look, I pointed to the beast-man on the far left. “I’ll take that one.” The little fox visibly relaxed. I lowered my head and smiled faintly. In my previous life, I had chosen that little fox. My sister laughed, “I thought you’d pick the fox.” I shook my head, and my sister ended up choosing the little rabbit. In my previous life, I chose the fox and my sister chose the rabbit, which is why the little fox hated me for separating him from the rabbit. Even though I nursed him back to health, took him traveling all over the country, and treated him extremely well, it still didn’t erase the hatred in his heart. I still remember when I took him mountain climbing, the twisted expression on his face as he pushed me off the cliff. He said: “It’s all your fault. If it wasn’t for you, the eldest miss would have taken me too, and I wouldn’t have been separated from the little rabbit. You really deserve to die.” Hah, given a second chance, I chose to let them be together. 0

After we chose our beast-men, the rest would be sent to the fighting arena. That little fox wasn’t chosen by my sister. He crawled forward desperately, disregarding everything else. “Miss, please, take me with you too, I’m begging you.” Chloe’s eyes flashed with disgust. She covered her nose, frowning as she waved her hand. “Take him away, take him away.” Chloe loved beautiful and cute things, and naturally her beast-men were no exception. The little fox Noah was filthy all over, with wounds on his face. In my previous life, I was soft-hearted and liked foxes, so I took him away. My sister was different – except for those she cared about, she was equally cruel to everyone. Seeing Chloe had no interest in him, Noah turned his gaze to me. “Second Miss, don’t you want me anymore? I’m Noah, I’m your little fox, Second Miss.” Noah’s captivating eyes were pitiful. So he was reborn too. Perfect, I was curious to see what kind of life he’d have without my protection. I turned my head away, stroking the new beast-man at my side. “My beast-man is clearly a wolf, when did he become a fox? A beast-man without self-awareness deserves to be taught a lesson.” As I finished speaking, Noah was roughly dragged out of the room. Only when the door closed did it finally cut off his wailing. Chloe beckoned, and her little rabbit immediately came forward. Just as the rabbit was about to touch her, there was a loud crack as a whip fell on the rabbit’s body. “You filthy thing, how dare you touch me? Who gave you the courage?” The little rabbit immediately shrank back pitifully. Seeing this, the disgust in Chloe’s eyes gradually dissipated. She stood up, tossing the whip to an attendant, then said goodbye to me before striding away. Behind her, that little rabbit followed closely, step by step. 0

I snorted with laughter, then looked back and realized my beast-man’s gaze had been fixed on a certain spot the whole time. I followed his line of sight and sneered. So, I’d chosen an ungrateful wolf. Did he want to be chosen by my sister that badly? I stood up, looking down at him coldly. My voice was icy. “If you don’t want to follow me, you can say so. I’ll have someone send you back. But if you follow me with ulterior motives, I’ll make you suffer.” The beast-man looked up, his gaze piercing as he looked at me. “I’m willing to follow you, with no ulterior motives.” His words were firm, but I didn’t know how much I could trust them. I nodded slightly and said flatly, “Then follow me.” Leaving the main villa, I made my way back to my own territory. As we entered, I handed the beast-man over to the butler. “Teach him the rules, and get him cleaned up.” The butler bowed in acknowledgment. This beast-man was really too dirty, with wounds all over his body and a strong smell of blood. I left the beast-man behind and went upstairs alone. After the lesson from my previous life, I had developed a deep aversion to beast-men from the bottom of my heart. They were disloyal and ruthless, but our clan had rules that every woman must choose a beast-man as a guardian when she came of age. If we didn’t choose, the clan leader would forcibly pair us up. In my previous life, I was probably too indulgent with Noah, which led to him daring to overstep his bounds. This time, I was determined to tame this ungrateful wolf into an obedient cat. 0

An hour later, that wolf was brought before me. His wounds had been bandaged, his body cleaned, and that bloody smell had dissipated. Looking at that cold, aggressive face, a desire to conquer rose in my heart. “What’s your name?” “Lucas.” His voice was low and powerful. Even wrapped in bandages, it couldn’t hide the intimidating aura around him. I looked him over carelessly, only now noticing his pale complexion and deliberately straightened back, though without much strength. “How did you get these injuries?” Lucas pressed his lips tightly together, his voice cold: “In the fighting arena, I was clawed by a tiger a few times.” Dissatisfaction flashed in my eyes. I had been distracted when choosing him, but thought a wolf couldn’t be too bad. I didn’t expect him to be a weak wolf. Suddenly, I had the idea of sending him back to the fighting arena. I sneered, “So weak? How will you protect me in the future?” Lucas’s expression froze, disgust flashing briefly in his eyes. Very good, he really was an ungrateful wolf. I smirked and laughed coldly, my eyes instantly turning cold. “Hmm? Answer me, if you’re so weak, how will you protect me in the future?” Lucas’s gaze was deep, his voice louder. “I fought for five days straight. On the last day, I encountered a tiger at full strength, which is why I was unfortunately injured. But even so, I still won. I don’t think I’m weak, and I’m capable of protecting you well, Second Miss.” He practically spat out the last sentence through gritted teeth. This was still an untamed wolf. 0 Cold sweat broke out on Lucas’s forehead, his lips much paler than before. Clearly, this wolf had his own ideas. He wanted to go to my sister’s side, and he didn’t submit to me. Since that was the case, I’d let my sister be the first to tame him.

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Seven years into my marriage, I was diagnosed with cancer. After another coughing fit, I collapsed at home, blood staining my lips. That very evening, Liam walked in, holding the woman he’d lost and just found again, his first love, Serena. He kicked open my hospital room door with a violent crash. He shoved a kidney donation consent form directly into my hand. “Serena’s condition can’t wait. You’re young, you’ll recover quickly. I’m begging you.” “Don’t worry, I’ll cover all the surgery costs, and I’ll take care of you afterward.” I didn’t cry out in pain. My hand fumbled, shakily signing my name on the paper. The nurses outside looked at me with disdain. “No wonder she holds her position as Mrs. [Liam’s Last Name]. She’d even give her life for him. Who else could compare?” Liam gently held Serena in his arms, tossing a line at me without even looking back: “After you’re discharged, I’ll take you to Switzerland to see the snow-capped mountains. Isn’t that what you always wanted?” He had no idea my body couldn’t handle the surgery anymore. I was destined not to make it to that day.

On our seventh wedding anniversary, I received my late-stage lung cancer diagnosis. “Ms. [Aria’s Last Name], based on the test results, you’re seven weeks pregnant.” The doctor’s voice seemed to drift from a far-off place. “However, given your current condition, you must begin chemotherapy immediately.” I clutched the diagnosis in my hand, unable to stop myself from asking, “What if… what if I want to keep this baby?” The doctor pushed up his glasses, his tone heavy. “The cancer cells have already spread. If you don’t get immediate treatment, your survival period might not exceed six months.” “And chemotherapy drugs could cause fetal deformities or even death.” I whispered, “So, if the baby lives, I have to die?” “Ms. [Aria’s Last Name], I advise you to terminate the pregnancy as soon as possible.” The doctor’s voice was tinged with professional sympathy. “You’re still young. Once your condition stabilizes…” I didn’t hear the rest of what he said. Seven years. Liam and I had longed for this child for seven whole years. Every negative pregnancy test felt like it was mocking my foolish hopes. Now it was finally here, but it had to be my killer. As I walked out of the hospital, I touched my abdomen, making a decision. I was going to tell Liam the good news. Maybe this child could save our increasingly cold marriage. Maybe, just maybe, he’d hold me tight like he did seven years ago, saying, “Aria, don’t be scared, I’m here.” The villa was empty. Liam wasn’t back again. I had grown used to it. Ever since Serena returned three months ago, he rarely stayed overnight at home. I changed into his favorite white dress and began preparing our anniversary dinner. Candlelight, red wine, his favorite steak. I wrote “Happy 7th Anniversary” on the cake, then sat at the dining table, waiting for him. My phone screen lit up. It was a video from an unknown number. The moment I opened it, my blood froze. Fireworks bloomed in the night sky, forming the letters “AL forever.” That was our special fireworks display, the one he designed for me when Liam and I got married. AL, for Aria and Liam, our initials. But now, standing under the fireworks was Serena, Liam leaning in to kiss her forehead. The video ended on Serena’s smug, triumphant smile. “Aria, did you really think what you stole could ever truly be yours?” “Take a good look, see who he truly loves.” My phone slipped from my hand and clattered to the floor. A metallic taste rose in my throat. I stumbled, grabbing the dining table, and a mouthful of fresh blood splattered onto the pristine white cake. In the last second before darkness claimed me, I seemed to hear Liam, seven years ago, whispering in my ear. “Aria, in this life, I’ll only set off fireworks for you.”

The ceiling swayed in my vision, the antiseptic stinging my nostrils. I blinked, the metallic taste of blood still lingering in my throat. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. My hand unconsciously went to my abdomen. It was still flat, yet it already held the life I’d yearned for seven years. The ward door suddenly kicked open, slamming against the wall with a thunderous bang. I jumped, my IV tube swaying violently. Liam strode in, his suit as crisp as if he’d just left a board meeting. In his arms, Serena, like a lazy cat, was wearing that Chanel dress I’d seen in a magazine last week. “Finally awake.” Liam’s voice was edged with impatience. “I’ve waited three hours for you.” My fingernails dug into my palms. Three hours? I’d been unconscious for a whole day and night. Serena peeked out from his arm, her lips slightly pouted. “Liam, it smells awful in here. I’m getting dizzy.” Liam immediately clutched her tighter, pulling out a delicate small bottle from his pocket and placing it at her nose. “Peppermint essential oil. Just sniff it.” I watched silently, like a surreal play unfolding before me. The man who once took an entire day off because of my period cramps was now carefully attending to someone else. Liam turned to me, suddenly pulling a document from his briefcase. “Aria, Serena has kidney failure and needs a transplant.” “The matching results show you’re the most suitable donor.” The document was shoved into my hand. I looked down at the words ‘Living Kidney Donation Consent Form’ and suddenly wanted to laugh. “She’s young and afraid of pain.” Liam’s voice softened. It was the first time today he’d used that tone with me. “You’ve always been strong, and you recover quickly.” A tear splattered onto the signature line, blurring a small patch. I looked up at Liam. His brows were slightly furrowed, but his gaze was fixed on Serena. His fingers gently ran through her long hair. “Pen.” I reached out, my voice so hoarse it didn’t sound like my own. Liam visibly froze, as if he hadn’t expected me to agree so readily. He hastily pulled out his fountain pen and handed it to me. Our wedding anniversary was still engraved on it. I shakily signed my name, each stroke like I was personally burying my own love. After signing, I quickly tucked the cancer diagnosis under my pillow. Liam visibly relaxed, a long-lost tenderness appearing on his face. “Thank you. I’ll cover all the surgery costs, and afterward… I’ll take care of you.” What generous charity. I turned my face away, looking out the window. The sun was still so bright, shining on the small wildflowers on the windowsill. “After you’re discharged, I’ll take you to Switzerland to see the snow-capped mountains.” He continued, his tone lighter now. “Didn’t you always want to go?” My heart clenched violently. It was something we promised during our honeymoon. To go to Switzerland together on our seventh anniversary. He remembered after all. But now the promise sounded so bitterly ironic. “Liam…” Serena suddenly cut him off in a delicate voice, “It’s so stuffy in here, I feel sick…” Liam’s face instantly changed. He scooped her up in his arms. “We’re going back right now.” He turned to leave, then paused. “The surgery is scheduled for next Wednesday. Get some good rest these next few days.” The ward door closed again, his footsteps fading away. “Tsk tsk, how impressive.” The nurses’ whispers drifted from the doorway. “No wonder she can be Mrs. [Liam’s Last Name]. She’d even give her life for him.” I pulled the blanket up over my face, finally letting the tears flow freely.

The next day, I found the doctor again. “Ms. [Aria’s Last Name], are you sure you want to sign this ‘Consent to Forgo Treatment’ form?” The doctor’s pen hovered above the paper, his eyes behind his glasses showing confusion. I slowly nodded. “Given your current physical condition, a kidney transplant is almost equivalent to suicide.” The doctor lowered his voice. “Not to mention keeping the fetus.” “I understand.” I reached out for the fountain pen, saying indifferently, “But the surgery must be done.” “At least wait until the fetus is twelve weeks…” “He can’t wait anymore.” I cut off the doctor, signing my name on the consent form. The ink bled, like a black tear. At the end of the hallway, a long line of women waited at the obstetrics and gynecology clinic, each pregnant woman touching her swollen belly, her face radiating a happiness I dared not dream of. I clutched the examination report, the words ‘Termination of Pregnancy’ stinging my eyes. The operating table was colder than I imagined. As the instruments clinked, I bit down hard on my lip, staring at the ceiling. A sharp pain spread from my lower abdomen to my entire body. My nails dug into my palms, but it was nothing compared to the pain in my heart. Tears streamed down my temples into my hairline. I thought of the hope and disappointment with every pregnancy test over the past seven years, and the euphoria of last week when I learned I was pregnant. This child, unwanted by its father, perhaps it was better if it never came into this world. The nurse wiped the blood from between my legs. “You can leave after half an hour of rest.” I nodded mechanically, my hand instinctively touching my flat abdomen. There had once been a heartbeat. Now, only a desolate silence remained. It was dusk when I returned to the villa. I pushed open the door, and a sweet, cloying scent of ginger tea hit me. In the living room, Liam was half-kneeling in front of the sofa, one hand holding a bowl, the other gently stroking Serena’s hair. “Just one more sip, hmm?” His voice was achingly gentle, completely unfamiliar. “Drink it, and your stomach won’t hurt anymore.” Serena was wrapped in *my* wool blanket, her face pale, yet the moment she saw me, a triumphant smile appeared. She deliberately let out a soft moan, burrowing deeper into Liam’s arms. “Liam, it hurts so much…” Only then did Liam notice me standing at the doorway. His gaze lingered on my pale face for a second, then he frowned. “Where have you been? You didn’t answer your phone.” I opened my mouth, but no words came out. Was I supposed to say I’d just gone and killed our baby? “Go make Serena a bowl of brown sugar water.” He commanded, then turned to gently coax the woman in his arms, “Aria makes the best brown sugar water, try some.” Aria. He hadn’t called me that in a long time. In the kitchen, I mechanically sliced ginger, the knife blade grazing my fingertips several times. Pains in my abdomen came in waves, cold sweat beaded on my back. When the water boiled, I felt a dizzy spell, grabbing the counter to keep from falling. “Not done yet?” Liam’s voice came from behind me. “Serena’s waiting uncomfortably.”

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