Category: English

The Prince of the Eagle Clan and the Prince of the Merfolk have come of age. As human princesses, my sister and I are to be married off to form alliances. My sister Willow chose the handsome and gentle Merfolk prince. I married the fierce-looking Eagle prince. A year later, I returned to my homeland triumphantly riding on Hawk’s back. Willow, however, looked pale and frightened as she glanced at Finn. When Willow and I were alone, I saw the wounds on her body. Just as I was about to help her seek revenge, Willow suddenly plunged a dagger into my body. When I opened my eyes again, Willow and I had returned to the day we were choosing our husbands. Before Willow could speak, Hawk eagerly said he wanted to marry her. Willow looked surprised and delighted, hastily agreeing. I raised an eyebrow and smiled. It seems we’ve both returned. Me? I’m an expert at taming beasts! “Aria, Willow, the two princes have arrived. Mind your manners!” a familiar voice called out. I was momentarily confused, then looked towards the cold expression of our father on his throne. In an instant, I understood – I had been reborn! My sister Willow was sitting beside me, muttering to herself. “We’re back! We’re really back! It wasn’t a lie after all!” I calmly picked up the teacup in front of me and took a small sip. How interesting. It seems I have this ungrateful sister to thank for this second chance at life. Willow leaned in close to whisper to me. “Sister, this time I will win Hawk’s love and enjoy all the glory. While you? You’ll be stuck living among stinking fish!” In my past life, Willow had tearfully shown me her injuries, claiming Finn was cruel and violent. She said she was covered in wounds and feared for her life. After all, she was my sister. Out of kindness, I had offered to help “tame” Finn for her. But as I turned away, Willow stabbed me in the back. I looked at her in shock as she pulled out the knife, her face twisted with hatred. She stabbed me again and again, finally slashing across my eyes. I let out an agonized scream. Willow just laughed, grabbing my chin and sneering: “Aria, why should you always be on top? Why should your life be better than mine? Even in death, I want you to suffer horribly.” The feeling of my eyeballs rupturing still lingered. I blinked and looked at Willow. Willow was grinning triumphantly, about to speak again when Hawk and Finn entered together, just like in my past life. Our father then gave his opening speech: “Princes, Aria and Willow are my most exceptional daughters. I will not arrange their marriages for them. Young people should decide such matters for themselves!” As soon as Father finished speaking, Willow eagerly stood up. But before she could say anything, Hawk spoke up, very different from his cold demeanor in my past life: “Princess Willow is beautiful and virtuous. I, Hawk, humbly request Princess Willow’s hand in marriage from Your Majesty!” Willow froze for a moment, then couldn’t stop the smile spreading across her face. Seeing Father look her way, Willow quickly curtsied. “Father, I also favor the Eagle Prince and am willing to marry him! Besides, my sister is delicate and frail. The Eagle Clan rules the skies and requires great strength. I fear my sister may not be able to handle such a demanding life!” Willow spoke excitedly, not noticing Hawk’s twitching lips as she called me weak and frail. Father nodded approvingly, agreeing with Willow. “Such grace and consideration! Truly befitting a princess!” You senile old fool, isn’t that basically insulting Finn by implying he’s weak? However, Finn still stood there smiling gently as always, though his teeth seemed to gleam a bit brighter. I had to admit, the Merfolk were renowned for their beauty. Finn’s face was truly captivating. When he smiled warmly, it was as if he could steal your soul away. No wonder Willow had fallen for him at first sight in my past life, eagerly choosing Finn before either prince could speak. On the way back to my chambers, Willow caught up to me. “Sister, the Merfolk Prince is so incredibly handsome. You’re so lucky! Though I wonder how long your frail body will last in his bed?” The malice in Willow’s eyes was almost palpable. She seemed eager to see me suffer a miserable fate. I replied with feigned confusion: “Sister, the Merfolk Prince seems very gentle. It’s the Eagle Prince who looks fierce. You should take care to protect yourself!” I truly hoped my sister would protect herself well. It would be a shame if she didn’t survive long enough for me to get my revenge! In my past life, I had married Hawk. He took me to the eagle’s nest high in the mountains. Before I could recover from the dizzying flight, I was overwhelmed by altitude sickness. I was violently ill, my head spinning. To make matters worse, the eagles relieved themselves right off the edge of the cliff. I nearly tumbled off to my death. At first, I couldn’t adapt to the eagle clan’s ways at all. But beast-men aren’t known for being gentle or considerate. The eagles were volatile and quick to anger, especially Hawk as their leader. I suffered greatly in those early days. It took half a year before I grew accustomed to the physical effects of living at such high altitudes. Only then could I begin the process of taming Hawk bit by bit. Long before I knew I would marry into a beast clan, I had begun studying their habits and weaknesses. Whether eagle or merfolk, I needed to know my enemy to survive comfortably. If Willow thought Hawk had a good temperament just because she saw me riding on his back when I returned home, she was in for quite a surprise. Her days would certainly be… eventful. Ever since the great war a thousand years ago, the royal families ruling the sea, land and sky were required to intermarry every hundred years. Though the eagle and merfolk clans were powerful, they had very small populations and struggled to reproduce. Humans may be physically weaker, but we are extremely fertile. The beast clans coveted this trait, which is why they demanded marriages with the human royal family. But since humans have much shorter lifespans than the beast clans, they always wait for the beast princes to come of age before arranging the marriages. This generation, it was Willow’s and my turn. In my past life, I had managed to tame Hawk. This time… well, aren’t merfolk beasts too? Taming beasts is my specialty!

Willow gave me a meaningful look before walking away. Soon, the day arrived for Willow and I to be married. Though we called it a wedding, it really just involved us walking out of the palace gates in red bridal gowns. The rest of the journey would be handled by our respective husbands-to-be. In my past life, as soon as we exited the gates, Hawk had grabbed me and taken flight. By the time we reached the eagle’s nest, I felt like my soul had been scattered to the winds. Then came the suffocating altitude sickness! Now, Willow and I walked along the palace pathway with our future husbands at our sides. Willow suddenly turned to Finn and said sweetly: “Brother-in-law, you must take good ‘care’ of my sister!” Finn blinked at her words, then replied gently: “Of course!” Willow beamed with satisfaction. Well, I couldn’t let that pass unremarked. I looked at Hawk and said: “Brother-in-law, I’ll be very upset if my sister isn’t… happy!” Willow was still smiling smugly, completely missing how Hawk’s body instinctively trembled when I addressed him. “Don’t worry, Princess. I will take good care of the Second Princess,” Hawk replied. Hearing this, Willow looked even more pleased as she strode ahead of me towards the palace gates. By the time I reached the outer gates, Willow and Hawk had already disappeared. I hope my sister’s beautiful black hair has a safe journey! Finn and I took a carriage towards the nearest coastline. Inside the carriage, Finn gazed at me tenderly. Predators are driven by hunger and lust. I was feeling a bit… restless. I shifted closer to Finn, taking his hand in mine. “Husband, you must behave yourself from now on!” If he misbehaves, I might get even more excited. Finn’s usually smiling eyes widened in surprise. He clearly hadn’t expected me to act this way. Then his smile broadened, revealing sharp fangs. “My lady, I’m thirsty. You know merfolk can’t be away from water for long!” As he spoke, Finn’s handsome face drew closer to my neck, burying his head there as if in an intimate embrace. I wrapped my arms around Finn. “Thirsty? Let me help you with that!” When I felt a slight pain on my neck, Finn’s body suddenly trembled. He jerked his head up, glaring at me furiously. I raised my hand to his lips, letting drops of blue liquid fall. “Drink up. Your own venom shouldn’t kill you, right?” Finn yanked out the dagger hidden behind his back and tossed it aside. Scales appeared around his ears as his teeth grew even sharper. He was transforming in his anger! Finn’s slender hand suddenly gripped my throat tightly. A wicked smirk played across his lips. “My lady, perhaps I should find out if your blood tastes sweeter?” I managed a strained smile and rasped out: “Go ahead!” There was a sudden squelching sound of a blade piercing flesh. Finn clutched his partially transformed tail in agony. A dagger was firmly embedded in it. I rubbed my sore neck. “My apologies. I prefer blades and always carry a few on me!” Finn held his wounded tail, his fake smile completely gone. The merfolk’s weakness lies in their tails, especially when on land. A wounded tail saps much of their strength. The scales on a merfolk’s tail are extremely tough. Ordinary human weapons can’t easily penetrate them. But everyone has their vulnerable spots! If my aim had been off by even an inch, I might have lost any chance at future “happiness”. “Finn, you won’t dare kill me outright. And if you try to torture me, well, remember I am your mate now.” I glanced meaningfully at his injured lower half. “It would be quite unfortunate if I were to… slip up one day!” Finn stared at me expressionlessly, then resumed his gentle demeanor. The carriage moved swiftly. Soon Finn and I arrived at the coast. After swallowing a water-breathing pearl, I unhesitatingly jumped into the sea with Finn. Perhaps due to the blood from Finn’s wound, we didn’t encounter a single fish on the way to the merfolk palace. The beast clans were incredibly efficient. As soon as Finn and I reached the merfolk palace, the bonding ceremony began. A new water-breathing pearl was hung around my neck. With that, the ceremony concluded. Three days after the bonding, I was to return home and present this new pearl to my father.

But I never expected Willow to return as well, riding on Hawk’s back. Willow clung to Hawk’s arm. Though her face was somewhat pale, she still lifted her chin haughtily when she saw me, deliberately showing off some faint marks on her neck. “Sister, Hawk truly cherishes me so much. We’re blissfully happy now. I think I’ll soon be carrying the next little prince or princess of the Eagle Clan!” Then Willow made a show of looking behind me. “Oh my! Sister, did you come back alone? Where is your husband? Didn’t he accompany you?” Of course, your brother-in-law is recuperating from his injuries! “Sister, you and your husband seem so close. I’m truly, deeply envious!” Willow took my words as genuine jealousy. She turned to Hawk and cooed: “Darling, I’ll give you a child very soon!” Beast-men place great importance on offspring. Hearing Willow say this, Hawk’s gaze towards her grew even warmer. I was rather curious how Willow planned to lay an egg! In my past life, Hawk couldn’t even look at me without his legs going weak, let alone consummate our marriage. I’d never witnessed the egg-laying process. How intriguing! “Sister, when the little eagle prince or princess is ready to hatch, be sure to invite me to watch. I’m so curious how humans lay eggs!” Willow glared at me angrily. “Aria, I swear I’ll have a better life than you this time!” I handed the water-breathing pearl to Father, intending to leave immediately. But thinking of Willow left me feeling unsettled. So I changed course and went to find Hawk instead. When Hawk saw me, he instinctively took half a step back. I mentally rolled my eyes. Just because I plucked all his feathers once, was that any reason to be so afraid of me? “It’s been a while, brother-in-law!” Hawk steadied himself, seemingly remembering this wasn’t his past life. He put on an intimidating front. “Princess Aria, we just saw each other today!” I sat down in a chair, popping a grape into my mouth. “Hawk, the grapes you picked from South Mountain were much sweeter.” Hawk’s expression changed drastically. His pupils dilated as he stared at me. “You… you…” When I returned to the Merfolk, Finn’s wound had almost completely healed. What disappointing news. Fortunately, within three days I received some good news. Willow had fallen from the eagle’s nest. Though Hawk managed to save her in time, she still broke her leg! Trading all his feathers for one of her legs seemed like a fair exchange! I was in a good mood and decided to seek out my absent merfolk husband. I called for a servant girl. “Where is His Highness?” Without even looking up, the girl replied curtly, “Don’t know!” Her tone was full of impatience. How delightful! That evening, as I was enjoying some fish soup, Finn stormed in angrily. He knocked the bowl out of my hands. “Aria, you truly have a heart of venom! Using my clan’s servant girl to make soup – are human princesses really so delicate that my merfolk can’t afford to keep you?” I ladled myself another bowl of soup. “What are you talking about, Your Highness? How could I possibly cook a merfolk servant? This is just ordinary fish. See for yourself!” Finn’s anger subsided slightly as he frowned. “Where is Snow Grace? Why haven’t I seen her?” Ah, so that servant was called Snow Grace. I pointed to a bloodied, lifeless body in the corner. “Snow Grace is right there! You misunderstood me, Your Highness. I don’t eat fish that have gained sentience. It’s unsanitary!” Finn stared at me in disbelief. He suddenly stood up, then immediately collapsed to the ground. I set down my soup and walked over to Finn, clearly seeing the fear growing in his eyes. “I hadn’t planned to kill that servant girl. But she called me a lowly human and spat at me. It would have been remiss not to kill her.” Ever since my mother died, I knew that only by being strong could one avoid being manipulated. Only by inspiring fear could one gain respect. This palace was filled with an incense of my own making. The antidote was hidden in the fish soup. “Your Highness, I’ve heard that every member of the Merfolk has a heart scale. They’re incredibly precious. Is it true that possessing a merfolk’s heart scale allows one to control them?”

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**Chapter One** “Breathing so heavily, aren’t we? How many dicks have you taken?” Julian Vance gripped Elara Thorne’s chin, his body pressing into her, a cruel force. His eyes were dark, simmering with fury. Just a curtain separated us. Outside, the college reunion buzzed with laughter and teasing. “Classic Julian, playing it rough! This girl sounds hot, mind if a few of us have a turn later?” Others chimed in, egging him on. Julian’s voice was lazy, dripping with mockery as he stared at me. “No way. I’m not done with her yet.” “Unless, of course, I get bored.” I bit my lower lip, a scorching wave of hatred washing over me. Julian’s fiancée, Anya Petrova, had drowned herself. He’d sworn I was the one who drove her to it. After that, he’d forced me to marry him, demanding I replace the wife I’d supposedly taken from him. Years into our marriage, Julian had never once acknowledged our relationship publicly. But the ways he found to torment me? They changed all the time. He’d humiliate me without a thought for my well-being, all to avenge his dead saint, Anya. I’d resisted sleeping with him once, and he locked me away for seven days and seven nights. I’d angered his trophy girl, and he’d turned around and leaked my private videos to the media. I refused to break, longing for home every single day, until news came that my parents had been run over and killed by a speeding sports car. Then, to make matters worse, a fire burned my house to the ground, leaving me homeless. To him, I was nothing more than a cheap plaything. The more I suffered, the happier he seemed. Julian watched my humiliated expression, then grabbed my wrist, his eyes sparkling with malice. “Impatient, are we? Just get on your knees and say you love me, and I’ll take back everything I just said.” I stared into his eyes, refusing to utter a single word. Kneel and say I loved the man who’d brought me so much bloody misery? I’d die before I ever did that. Julian just smirked, already used to my guarded demeanor. “Such a tough nut to crack,” he murmured, his fingertip tracing the tear-mole near my eye. “All these years, you’ve never once given in to me. Not even when your parents died did you shed a tear in front of me. You’re truly ruthless.” My eyes were already cold and numb. I endured the humiliation by his side to drag the entire Vance Group down with him, to bury it alongside my parents. But he was always so careful. It took me five agonizing years to find even a faint clue. Just three more days. In three days, I would have all the evidence of his crimes, enough to send him straight to hell. Julian, however, remained completely oblivious. He chuckled. “Your first love is out there, do you want him to see you moaning for me?” He was a madman… My nails dug deep into my palms. Sensing my trembling, Julian’s interest only grew. “Remember how you’d rather die than marry me? You ran out into the pouring rain to beg him, but he was too afraid of the Vance family’s power, so he shut the door in your face.” A playful glint flickered in his eyes, but his voice deepened. “What exactly did you see in him?” Seeing I wouldn’t answer, he leaned in, whispering into my ear. “No answer? Then how about I start a live stream for him? Let him get a good look at his ex-girlfriend enjoying herself under me.” With that, Julian raised his phone. My mind buzzed, then exploded. The accumulated shame and fury finally erupted. My nails raked wildly across his body, desperate to tear him apart. His shirt was loose and open, his exquisite collarbone marred by my messy claw marks, little beads of blood surfacing, a truly shocking sight. Julian’s eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of irritation darkening his brow. “You’re already married to me, and you still dare to think of him?” Ignoring my struggles, he pinned me beneath him, his actions growing more reckless, his voice a cold, low command. “Scream. Let him hear it loud and clear.” The brutal retaliation rained down on me. My muffled whimpers slowly transformed into uncontrollable moans of arousal, tears streaming down my face from the pain, yet he wouldn’t stop. A mix of shame and rage, I wildly slapped him across the face, my voice trembling, tearful. “Julian Vance, you animal!” He looked at my reaction, utterly satisfied, a cruel smile playing on his lips. Outside, the others finally sensed something was wrong. “Blake, doesn’t that voice sound like your ex-girlfriend, Elara?” **Chapter Two** The mention of Blake Carrington made me reel. Back in high school, local delinquents with dyed hair had whistled and leered at me. They were influential troublemakers in the area. Before, one female student had been assaulted, and the school, wanting to avoid trouble, expelled her. She later jumped to her death. I was terrified. A few of the punks dragged me into an alley, pinning my hands and feet, tearing at my underwear. Passersby ignored my desperate pleas. When I heard the sound of a zipper, I almost despaired. It was Blake Carrington, wearing his blue and white school uniform, who rushed in. He fought them off, almost breaking his arm. That day, he was covered in blood, his chin weakly resting on my shoulder. The proud young man, backlit by the sun, asked me with eyes full of tenderness and sincerity: “My 99th confession, Elara… will you be my girlfriend?” “Blake, you’re such an idiot.” I cried as I said yes, believing I’d found salvation. Our seventeen-year-old secret was him secretly writing “I love you” a thousand times on the flyleaf of my book, it was his profile from under the cherry blossom tree, my gaze lingering a thousand times. After Anya Petrova’s death, Blake was the only one who came to comfort me. He even gave me a fruit wine, disguised as a proposal. I thought I’d found love, a beautiful ending from campus to wedding gown. Who knew Blake had drugged my drink and sold my first time to Julian Vance? That night was the beginning of my nightmare. Later, I learned that he’d pursued me only to make Anya jealous, and the thugs were hired by him, part of a setup. As for the thousand “I love you’s” on the flyleaf of that book? They were love letters written to Anya… After Anya’s death, Blake hated me to his core. So, he feigned a proposal, when in reality, it was all to ruin my innocence. From start to finish, I was just a joke. “Why bring her up? She’s as flat as a board, and stiff as a plank in bed. Boring.” Blake Carrington swirled his wine glass, his lean fingers tapping restlessly. Hearing my name, he clearly looked annoyed. Someone chuckled, “Back then, she was so poor she only ate bread and drank tap water, so she was just underdeveloped. You can’t tell me, Blake, you never felt anything for that seductive face of hers?” “Blake doesn’t lack women, but plenty of brothers have had their eye on her for years, wishing they could get her in bed…” Those words seemed to stir Blake’s memories. He’d seen too many women. My figure held no appeal for him, but my face was undeniably alluring. One glance and his stomach would burn. He frowned, then started walking towards the curtain. The curtain was suddenly yanked open. I instinctively trembled and squeezed my eyes shut. If Julian Vance was a nightmare, Blake Carrington was a wolf in human skin, pretending to be kind but always scheming and exploiting. I’d die before I ever saw him again. The next second, a black suit jacket was draped over me, hiding the numerous hickeys covering my body. Julian pressed me into his arms, his voice mocking. “Well, well, Blake. In a hurry, aren’t we?” Blake’s gaze swept over the messy scene, his face darkening. “You and Anya were best friends. You drove her to her death, and you still have the nerve to do this with her fiancé…” His tone was cold and thin, a flicker of unconcealed disgust in his eyes. “Do you have any conscience left?” I closed my eyes slightly. “I told you, I didn’t force her…” That year, Anya had jumped into the sea. Before she died, she pointed at me, accusing me of stealing Julian Vance, then jumped to her despairing death right in front of me. But I never even liked Julian Vance. Why would I force Anya to die? Blake scoffed. “After her death, you grandly married into the Vance family. If it wasn’t you, who else could it be? And you still have the nerve to show your face at this reunion… Elara, don’t you disgust yourself?” Disgusting. The word was like a knife, plunging deep into my chest, causing a dull ache. After Julian took my first time, Blake had comforted me, full of feigned sympathy. Later, he indulged his appetite, whispering countless intimate words to me in hotel beds. Now, he called me disgusting. Perhaps Julian noticed the fleeting hurt in my eyes. His brow raised in amusement. “She’s my wife. Is it for an outsider like you to decide if she’s disgusting or not?” “You…” Blake’s face turned ashen, and he spun around and left. Julian, however, seemed to be in a good mood. He carefully covered me up, then personally carried me back to his latest Rolls-Royce. In the car, Julian’s fingers grazed my lips, then pressed down hard. “Your first love didn’t save you. Disappointed?” I closed my eyes, expressionless, unwilling to respond. Julian wasn’t satisfied. He bit my earlobe, his voice low. “If you don’t answer me, I’ll do it right here in the car. It’ll be a nice show for all the passersby.” People were coming and going all around us. I snapped my eyes open. “You’re insane!” **Chapter Three** Perhaps my tone was too agitated. Julian’s lips curved slightly, playing with my hair. “Just kidding, why so tense?” His voice was unusually gentle. He ran his fingers through my hair. “I’m not happy with your behavior today. I have some company matters to deal with, so go home, be a good girl, get cleaned up, and wait for me. I’ll be back later to keep you company.” Every time he wanted to punish me, he’d use every means to make me submit. Recalling those details, a wave of nausea washed over me. My gaze was cold as I said, “I’m not feeling well.” Julian’s expression subtly tightened. He brushed a stray lock of hair from my face. “I have tens of thousands of your private videos.” My face paled, my nails digging deep into my palms. Back then, Julian, to retaliate against me and ensure I couldn’t escape the Vance family, had recorded tens of thousands of intimate videos during countless nights—thousands of gigabytes, all stored on his computer. “Don’t look at me like that,” Julian loosened his tie. His black suit made his legs look exceptionally straight and long, and his eyes held a playful, unreadable smile. “Otherwise, I’ll think you’re inviting me right now.” His tone was incredibly suggestive. I bit down, straightened my messy collar, then got out of the car and hailed a taxi. Soon. My nails dug deeper into my palms. Soon, I would have collected all the evidence, sent Julian Vance to prison, and started a new life somewhere else. I opened my phone and suddenly saw an anonymous post. [Documenting the 99th humiliation plan: Making the heartthrob publicly humiliate his best friend at a party, embarrassing her in front of her ex-boyfriend!] The poster claimed she had a crush on a guy in high school, but he fell for her best friend. In a fit of rage, she found a corpse and faked her own suicide by jumping into the sea. Afterward, the heartthrob was filled with regret and married the best friend, tormenting her for five agonizing years. Just as the heartthrob grew disheartened, the poster went to the hospital, got plastic surgery to become her own double, and made the heartthrob avenge his “dead” self, orchestrating a “hundred humiliations plan.” As soon as he completed a hundred plans, she would accept his proposal. The contents of these plans were practically dog training, including but not limited to locking her best friend with chains for seven days and seven nights, recording thousands of gigabytes of private videos, and so on. Even more absurdly, the heartthrob actually carried out each one. The more I read, the tighter my brows furrowed. My heart pounded as I scrolled to the top and saw the latest post, uploaded five minutes ago. It included a picture of a girl in a white dress, smiling sweetly at the screen. That face was nine-tenths identical to the deceased Anya Petrova! And the content of the latest post was: [Documenting the 100th humiliation plan: Getting the heartthrob to abandon his wife to celebrate my birthday. Another day of being a little princess~] A sudden chill swept over me, my mind in turmoil, but I instinctively denied my suspicions. No way. It must be another one of Julian’s sick jokes. When Anya died, I had seen her body with my own eyes, bloated from the water. The birthmark on her shoulder couldn’t have been wrong. I stared intently at the address on the post, then told the driver in a low voice, “To the Imperial Luxury Hotel.” The car sped towards the opulent hotel. The lobby was grand and magnificent, illuminated like daytime by dazzling crystal chandeliers, filled with wealthy and renowned figures. I stared at the scene before me, stunned. The two men who had seemed at odds at the party—Julian Vance, CEO of Vance Group, and Blake Carrington, a powerful socialite—now stood beside a woman who bore an uncanny resemblance to Anya Petrova. Under the soft lighting, the noble and unruly Julian Vance inclined his head slightly, personally placing a silver tiara on Anya’s head. Beside him, Blake Carrington knelt on one knee, gently placing crystal shoes worth hundreds of millions on her feet. It was exactly like a scene from a romantic drama. Julian handed her an exquisite crystal bottle, his usually stern eyes softening a few degrees. “For you. Happy birthday.” Anya gasped. “This is the aurora sample I mentioned offhand last time, Julian. How did you get it?” Julian chuckled softly. “Knew you liked it. Saw it at an auction and just picked it up.” Only I knew he was lying. Such a rare, priceless item could only be found in the deepest parts of the polar regions, a place even professional exploration teams dared not venture. That day, Julian had traveled to the Arctic alone, nearly losing his life. When he was rushed to the ICU upon his return, he was still clutching that crystal bottle tightly. Looking at that aurora crystal bottle, my heart twisted inch by agonizing inch. Julian, such an arrogant and cold man, would only ever risk his life for one woman. “Thank you, Julian.” Anya deliberately rubbed against Julian’s neck, deliberately exposing a white molar-shaped birthmark on her shoulder. The expression, the tone, and the shape of that birthmark—they were identical! The ironclad evidence became the last straw that broke the camel’s back. I could barely stand. I stumbled forward, gathering every ounce of strength to walk over to Anya Petrova. Julian finally noticed me, his gaze unperturbed, showing no awkwardness at being caught. I opened my mouth, my voice trembling as I asked, “Who is she?” He raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on his face. “What answer do you want to hear?” “Julian Vance, is she…” My eyes reddened. I took a deep breath, then choked out the question, “Is she Anya Petrova?” Julian seemed genuinely surprised. No matter how much humiliation I suffered in the past, I never shed a single tear. Not even when my parents died did I bat an eye. But now, my entire body was trembling. Seeing my red eyes, he raised an eyebrow. “No.” “She’s not Anya,” Blake Carrington subtly stepped in front of Anya, his brow furrowed. “Elara, have you forgotten? Anya was killed by you long ago.” I had seen with my own eyes Anya “die” in front of me. Back then, Anya and I were the best of friends. After she drowned, I carried a crushing guilt for five years. Every night I closed my eyes, I’d dream of Anya’s desperate, helpless gaze. But now, the face from my memories merged with the face of the woman before me. Anya’s red lips curved slightly, and she smiled sweetly. “Hi, I’m Anya, Anya as in ‘Anya rising’ if you know what I mean, big sister.” **Chapter Four** Anya Petrova, Anya. Just an elaborate fake death scheme. I suddenly felt like a complete joke. My best friend, my husband, my ex-boyfriend—all of them had conspired together to weave this massive web of revenge, tormenting me until I was a walking corpse, wishing for death.

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When I got my second chance at life, the first thing I did was scatter my husband’s ashes. In my last life, he faked his death, leaving his ‘orphan’—his younger brother’s son—in my care. He told me to treat his family, a supposedly widowed sister-in-law and her nephew, well. I worried my daughter, Lily, wasn’t sharp enough to make her own way, and I thought maybe the nephew could look out for her if she couldn’t find a partner. So, I agreed to his dying wish. For Kyle, I gave up the secure job I’d worked hard and paid so much to get, and I emptied out our family savings to help Kyle and his wife settle in the city. Years passed. They rose through the ranks to become high-ranking officials. I took Lily, hoping they’d give her a stable job. But Dean, my supposedly dead husband, appeared at their office. He ordered Kyle to kick my daughter to the ground. “I thought you’d changed,” he sneered. “That you weren’t the desperate village woman who clung to me for a chance to move to the city anymore. But no, you’re still the same, trying to scheme for that worthless dead weight!” He instantly had us thrown out. To keep up his good name, he even forced Lily into a remote, abusive marriage as a second wife to Old Man Riley, deep in the mountains. I was so enraged, my old illness flared up, and I collapsed and died right there on the street. When I opened my eyes again, I was back—the day Dean faked his death.

“Oh, Dean, what are Lily and I going to do without you?” I dragged Lily, and we scattered all the ashes into the river. I turned to see Melody, teeth clenched, panting with barely controlled fury. She’d been waiting at the hospital for ages, expecting me to take the ashes to a proper burial site. She never thought I’d just come straight to the river, not even letting her see Dean one last time. “Big Brother Dean died because of you! How could you just throw his ashes into the river like that?!” Those were her *ex-husband’s* ashes! Melody had dug them up just to trick me, wanting me to re-bury them. But I’d just tossed them away, and she was livid. Still, she managed to rein in her anger and dragged out her son, Kyle. “Big Brother Dean always said you were such a good wife, but you’d do something like this, throwing his ashes away? How can I possibly trust you with my child?!” Dean hadn’t been able to entrust Kyle to me, so she had to step up herself. She pulled out a will from her pocket and tried to shove it into my hand. I immediately slapped it away. “I can’t read. And Dean never mentioned having any kids while he was alive. Don’t try to play your dirty tricks on me.” I turned to leave, but Melody panicked. She lunged, grabbing a fistful of my hair. “I’m Big Brother Dean’s sister-in-law! And Kyle is the only male heir to the family name! How dare you refuse to care for him? Get out of Big Brother Dean’s house, now!” “Who are you telling to get out? Say that again, I dare you!” Without another word, I rolled up my sleeves, ready to settle all the scores from my past life. But Leo, the man who’d brought Melody to find me, stepped in front of me. “No one jokes about a dead man, Jade,” he said. “Melody really is Dean’s distant sister-in-law. Everyone at the hospital and the factory knows it. Dean didn’t tell you because he didn’t want you to be burdened.” Leo had saved my life once. In my last life, I listened to his every suggestion, raising Kyle by hand until he was an adult. But I never knew he and Dean had been deceiving me for twenty-eight years! “Distant sister-in-law or not, I’m not raising anyone!” I yelled. “I’m a widow just trying to keep my daughter fed, waiting for a job assignment from the county. I don’t have time to babysit some dead man’s dead weight!” Melody’s face went scarlet. “Who are you calling dead weight? I’m a city girl from a sophisticated background! How dare you call me dead weight?!” Just as we were about to start fighting again, Leo pointed a finger at me, scolding, “Jade! You and Dean were married! No matter how tough things are, you can’t let his sister-in-law suffer!” He dragged me to the river, making me look at the ashes I’d just scattered. “Factory Manager Dean always cherished you above all else,” he said, his voice softening. “He’d worked so hard to get those special holiday dessert tickets, but he didn’t keep a single one for himself, making sure you and Lily had all the treats. And every month, he handed over every penny of his hundred-dollar salary the moment he got it. Now that Dean is gone, it’s only right that you look after his sister-in-law.” Leo gently patted my shoulder, speaking earnestly. “I know you adore Lily, but no matter how well you treat her, she’s still a girl. She’ll marry into another family one day. Melody has brought a boy, a son, into your life. If you take good care of him, you’ll honor Dean’s memory and ensure you have someone to rely on in your old age.” Suddenly, a dull thud came from behind me. I spun around to see Kyle squeezing Lily’s throat, his hands wrapped tightly around her neck. “You worthless dead weight! You money pit!” “While you and your mom were hauling sewage on a barge, my mommy, daddy, and I were eating mooncakes on a pleasure cruise! Do you even know what a mooncake is, you pathetic bumpkin who’s never even seen a movie!” I’d worked on boats for years, always slow to hear news from the county. If Leo hadn’t let it slip, I would have spent my whole life never knowing the truth. Dean had told me the factory was struggling, but for years, he’d actually been the factory manager, earning ten of the largest bills every single month. Ten of the largest bills. That money could have kept Lily from going to bed hungry. It could have saved me from wearing rags on the boat, freezing to death in the damp wind. All these years, through two lifetimes, he never told me the truth. Thinking of those days of meticulously budgeting every five dollars, I delivered a stinging slap across Melody’s face.

“Kyle is your and my husband’s bastard, isn’t he?! You shameless homewrecker, you stole my husband’s money and then you have the nerve to ask me to raise your child?! You’ve got some nerve!” I swore I would rip their smug faces apart, but Leo stopped me again. “Jade, Jade, calm down.” I wouldn’t listen. “Give me back my money! That’s my money, and my daughter’s money!” “Dean ate my food, drank my water. I even had to borrow money to buy him underwear fabric! How dare he give all his money to Melody?!” “When my daughter was burning with fever and turned stupid because I couldn’t afford her medicine, that vixen was probably cozying up in the same bed with Dean, you heartless monster! Why didn’t you just die with him?!” The grievances of two lifetimes finally erupted in that single scream. I couldn’t help but sob, expecting Leo to help me get my revenge. Instead, he raised his hand and slapped me twice. “Try cursing Melody again, I dare you!” he spat. “To say such filthy things over a bit of money—how could Factory Manager Dean have married such a selfish lunatic like you?!” Leo’s disgusted tone shocked me. He and I had worked on boats together. Since I was fifteen, he had been my most respected mentor. What was Melody to him? How dare Leo, like Dean, treat me this way for some stranger?! Leo’s face showed no hint of remorse. He turned, picked up Kyle, and placed him in the three-wheeled cart. “Don’t worry, sister-in-law. Dean was my good brother. If this ungrateful wretch Jade won’t help, I’ll look after you for Factory Manager Dean!” Melody smiled and thanked him. Leo helped her into the cart. Before leaving, he tossed a bundle of miscellaneous vouchers and ration coupons down the embankment. “If you won’t even help a dead man, don’t ever call me master again! I don’t have a cold-blooded apprentice like you!” He had thrown away the money and vouchers I’d given him to help me find a job. The official job placement letter he’d secured for me was tucked into Melody’s pocket. He looked at her with doting eyes. “This is the best factory in our county. Dean and I used to work there. If you need anything, everyone will be happy to help.” His words struck me. I suddenly realized that everyone knew. The doctors at the health clinic, the workers at Dean’s old factory—they all knew. They knew Dean was cheating, they knew his death was suspicious, yet they turned a blind eye. Not one of them told me the truth. And here I was, foolishly crying over his death, willing to sell my own blood, just to protect his belongings. Kyle, whom I had raised by hand in my previous life, sat in the cart, laughing hysterically, clutching his stomach as he watched Lily chase after the scattering vouchers, stumbling down the hillside. Melody’s face beamed with triumph. “Trash is trash, no matter how hard they try to climb. You and your daughter, you’ll always be beneath us.” I picked up stones and hurled them at the three-wheeled cart, screaming, “Dean’s crappy factory won’t last! Your worthless son will never amount to anything!” “Melody, just you wait! You and those two monsters from the family—none of you will have a good ending!” “One day, I’ll make you beg me, on your knees, to pick up every single one of those vouchers you threw away today!” I cried, hugging Lily tightly, watching yet another one of my closest friends abandon me. My heart was ripped to shreds. Lily wiped the fresh scrapes on her knees and carefully handed me each retrieved voucher. “I’m here, Mama. Don’t be scared. I’ll never leave you.” Her bright eyes reflected all my cowardice. I held my daughter close, vowing that this would be my last hysterical cry before I succeeded.

After sending Lily to the county boarding school, I brought out all of Dean’s clothes, pants, and the mahogany furniture he’d custom-made. “Half-new, plus a sturdy vintage bicycle! Come take a look!” People were drawn in, but before they could ask too many questions, Leo shouted at them. As the new factory manager, he was trying to make a show of support for Melody, inviting everyone to the most expensive restaurant in the county. “What are you doing here? These are Dean’s things! How dare you drag them out into the street to sell?!” Leo frowned, rummaging through my makeshift stall. He stopped cold when he saw a Hero fountain pen. “You’re selling this pen? Don’t you remember it was a gift Dean gave you on his first day assigned to the countryside?” I stared at the crowd pressing around my stall. For some reason, the bum at the back of the line looked suspiciously like Dean, who was supposedly dead. Was he following Melody to the factory, even in his fake death, just to protect her from potential trouble? I scoffed internally. What a devoted husband. “To put food on the table, I even sent Lily away. What’s so precious about a dead man’s belongings that I can’t sell them?” Many county leaders were nearby. If I blurted out that Dean was having an affair with Melody, she could easily accuse me of slander. I had more important things to do. Lying about selling my daughter would also make them less likely to target Lily. “Dean just died, and you’re already rushing to sell your daughter and his things? Even a brothel madam wouldn’t be as heartless as you!” The bum at the back of the line scoffed, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, making everyone around him start to murmur. “Who acts like this as a wife? Factory Manager Dean just died, and she’s already rushing to divide the property. Does she think she won’t live to see tomorrow?” “The new factory manager said she’s just jealous of her husband and his sister-in-law, that’s why she’s doing this to be spiteful. Such a rotten heart, no wonder she could only give birth to a worthless dead weight.” Leo cleared his throat, waiting for the crowd to quiet down. “You can sell them, but you have to give half the money to Melody.” “She came all the way from the city. Dean is gone, so she’s rightfully entitled to half of the things in his house.” “Exactly,” the bum at the back of the line said. “Anyway, you can’t have any more children, so why don’t you just give all the money to Melody? Let her raise her son properly. Maybe he can even become a top scholar for the family name.” I sneered, picking up a teapot and smashing it on the ground. The crowd gasped. I then picked up the fountain pen and threw that down too. “Don’t you all think I’m disloyal for selling my dead husband’s belongings? Fine then! I’ll just smash it all and burn it for Dean, so he’ll remember how good I was to him down there!” The boisterous crowd instantly fell silent. Melody, having enjoyed the show, came out smiling to smooth things over. “Sister-in-law still hasn’t gotten her job assigned, and Big Brother Dean is gone. She finally had a daughter, but even Lily has been sent away.” “She’s tormented herself into looking like an eighty-year-old just to put food on the table. How could I possibly ask her for money?” She placed her almost-empty jar of vanishing cream in my hand, her fair, soft fingers pulling out a brand new, crisp hundred-dollar bill. “I’m sorry, sister-in-law, I don’t have anything smaller.” “Please, help me clean the pen and figure out how much change you owe me.” I heard the bum behind me let out a mocking chuckle. Without a word, I handed her the pen and the bill. Melody, not getting the reaction she wanted, looked disappointed and walked away with Leo. The bum, who had been dogging their every step earlier, stayed behind. He picked up the suit jacket with red embroidery and examined it closely. “You recognized me, didn’t you? How did you know I wasn’t dead?” He pulled down his scarf and, without waiting for my answer, continued, “While the things haven’t been sold yet, take Melody and Kyle home and treat them well. When I’m done with my business and come back, I might even be magnanimous enough to pay you a nanny fee.” “But if you keep being this stingy, haggling over every penny, then your husband will truly be dead. No matter what happens to you and Lily, I won’t come back to look at either of you again!” I snatched a needle from my sewing kit on the table and jabbed it into his palm. Grabbing his arm, I burst out laughing. “You’d better be dead, Dean! Otherwise, I’ll make Melody pay back every single cent of the money you gave her for five years!”

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My brother Michael was in a terrible car accident on his way to meet me for drinks. His body was never found. When my wife Sophia heard the news, she slapped me hard across the face. Gripping my neck, she screamed in anguish, “I married you, but you still couldn’t leave him alone! Why? Why couldn’t it have been you who died instead!” Years later, I was working late one night when a serial killer started stalking me. As I held my breath, desperately trying not to be discovered, Sophia’s sudden phone call shattered the silence. She immediately launched into a tirade: “It’s so late, why aren’t you home yet? Are you dead somewhere? Or are you planning to get someone else killed?” I had no chance to respond before the killer’s knife plunged into my body. Later, I was dismembered, my bones dissolved in acid and scattered across the wilderness. When Sophia was called in to examine the remains, she didn’t even recognize me. It wasn’t until Michael returned with his new girlfriend, eight years his junior, that Sophia finally realized those scattered remains were mine. She collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. But it was all too late. 0

Sophia, a forensic pathologist, was urgently called back to the police station late one night. “Sophia, this murder case is extremely brutal,” said the gruff man speaking. I recognized him as Chief Zhang from the police department. “The victim was killed and their remains scattered across the city. We’ve only found partial remains so far. We need you to try to identify the victim from the bones.” Sophia nodded solemnly and opened the body bag. As soon as it was unzipped, a strong smell of decay filled the examination room. Inside were fragments of human bones. My bones. Seeing this, Chief Zhang frowned and cursed, “That bastard! Not only did he kill him, he dissolved the flesh too!” He clenched his jaw, clearly struggling to contain his anger. Sophia calmly nodded and began sorting through the bag. She didn’t recognize me. I suppose I can’t blame her – I was barely more than a pile of bones at that point. Still, I couldn’t help but wonder how she would react if she knew those were my bones. Would she cry? Or laugh? Probably the latter. After all, she hated me to my very core. All because of my dead brother Michael, who had once been the love of her life. Chief Zhang patted her shoulder. “I’ll leave you to it then, Sophia.” Soon, my bones were laid out on the examination table. Looking at my shattered remains, Sophia’s eyes reddened. “This bastard! Not only are the bones in pieces, even the flesh was dissolved!” After three years, this was the first time she had shed tears over me. As time passed, a skeletal framework gradually took shape. Chief Zhang pushed his glasses up his nose and said gravely, “I’m over 50 years old, but this is the first time I’ve seen such a cruel method of murder.” Sophia placed the final bone, her voice filled with righteous anger: “Indeed! This method is absolutely vicious! We must bring the killer to justice and give the victim justice!” As she spoke, she unconsciously clenched her fists. Sophia took a deep breath to calm herself before continuing: “Not only that, I’ve discovered something else.” “The victim’s flesh was dissolved while they were still alive, until they lost consciousness. Only then did the killer slowly dismember the bones.” “Based on the wear on the bones, I can determine that…the victim was still alive when the killer began dismembering them.” “I’ve also estimated the bone age – the victim was likely around 28 years old.” “Most of the victim’s bones are here now, only the left hand is still missing.” Chief Zhang inhaled sharply. Despite his years of experience, he couldn’t help but widen his eyes in shock. Gritting his teeth, he shouted, “That fucking animal! I’ll skin him alive when we catch him!” Then he noticed something about the skull. There was a small indentation. It was an old injury I had sustained years ago. He made a small sound of surprise. “Sophia, doesn’t this skull look familiar? Like Jack’s?” To my surprise, Sophia scoffed at his words. “Ha, if only it really was him. That would be great.” Chief Zhang pressed his lips together, seemingly at a loss for words. Sophia continued her tirade: “That beast deserves to die for killing his own brother!” Hearing those words, my heart felt like it was being stabbed by thousands of knives. Even the acid that had dissolved my flesh couldn’t compare to a fraction of this pain. I had hoped that, given our years of marriage, she might speak a little more kindly of me. But no. Instead, she wished for my death every single day. “Sophia, you were married after all…” Chief Zhang started to speak, trying to defend me. Sophia’s eyes widened as she shouted angrily: “Married? What good is being married?” “If he hadn’t insisted on going drinking with his brother, how could Michael have died in that car accident?” “If it weren’t for him, how could our happy family have lost someone!” 0

Seeing Sophia so adamant, Chief Zhang didn’t argue further. I knew Michael’s death had always been Sophia’s deepest wound. Because Michael had been the love of her life. Michael knew he didn’t love her, so he rejected her advances. That’s how I got the chance to pursue her. But after Michael died, everything changed. Sophia cursed me as a murderer, the one who killed Michael. She demanded I give my life in exchange for his! She slapped me over and over, until my mouth was bleeding and teeth were falling out, but it still wasn’t enough to satisfy her rage. “Tell me! Why wasn’t it you who died instead of Michael?!” Sophia gripped my throat tightly, like a vicious monster. “You won’t speak? If you don’t, I’ll kill you myself!” Yes, I wondered the same thing. Why was it Michael who died, and not me? If it had been me, I wouldn’t have had to endure all this suffering! Chief Zhang sighed heavily. “Sophia, don’t be like this. Michael is gone, Jack needs to stay safe and well.” Sophia clenched her fists, saying coldly, “If he were gone too, that would be justice served!” Chief Zhang shook his head and turned to leave. The woman I once loved more than anything now wished for my death. To say it didn’t hurt would be a lie. Just then, Sophia’s assistant walked in. He was holding a scrap of paper, stained with blood and mud. On it, barely legible, were the words: “Peach Blossom Gardens Purchase Contract” So I had been clutching that contract tightly when I died. I remembered – it was for the house I had bought to please her. A 3000 square foot beachfront condo. $300,000 down payment, $8000 monthly mortgage payments for 30 years. I had used up all my savings, just to see her smile. But she had only nodded and said dismissively, “This is what you owe me!” Sophia merely glanced at it and said flatly, “Mm, put it in an evidence bag.” Didn’t she recognize that Peach Blossom Gardens was the home I had bought for her? When we first got married, I was broke. Sophia’s biggest dream was to live in a beachfront home of our own. So I worked day and night at the company, putting in overtime, all to make her dream come true. “Thank you, honey. We’ll have our own home someday!” she would say tenderly whenever I worked late. But after Michael died, everything changed. The woman who once loved me became the one who hated me most. I watched helplessly as that contract was sealed away in an evidence bag, my heart aching. Oh Sophia, you missed your best chance to recognize me. After finishing up in the lab, she leaned back in her chair to rest. She frowned as she checked her phone, finding no messages from me. It irritated her. After all, before this, I would send her dozens of caring messages every day. Even though her only response was usually a curt “Mm.” She gripped her phone, scrolling up through our chat history. Finally stopping at my last desperate plea for help. “Sophia, save me!” Sophia’s face twisted in disgust as she spat on the ground. “Jack is such a liar! First he gets his brother killed, and now he dares to send this kind of message to trick me!” She scowled as she blocked and deleted my contact. But Sophia, don’t you know that once you delete me, you can never add me back? 0

A commotion outside caught everyone’s attention. “I need to file a report! I need to file a report!” Hearing the voice, Sophia got up and went out. I looked closer – it was my coworker Emily! Pretty and kind-hearted, always helpful to everyone. She looked very distraught, hands on her hips as she caught her breath. “What’s going on?” Chief Zhang handed her a glass of water. “Officer, my coworker Jack has gone missing!” Emily exclaimed. “He’s usually at the office by 6 AM, but today he wasn’t there even at 10. He’s not answering calls or messages either!” “He’s such a diligent worker, he would never skip work without a reason. Something must have happened!” She rambled on anxiously. Seeing how worried she was made my nose tingle with emotion. She was the first person to be so concerned about my disappearance. Thank you, Emily. To my surprise, Sophia became enraged hearing Emily’s words. “Who are you to Jack? How do you know him so well?!” Emily was taken aback. “Jack is just my coworker…” Sophia glared at her, breathing heavily as she shouted, “Coworker? More like his mistress, I bet!” “Whether he shows up to work or not is none of your business! He’s MY husband, what right do you have to interfere?” Emily’s face turned red from the verbal assault. “You…you’ve misunderstood!” Sophia waved her hand dismissively, telling Emily to leave. “Let me tell you, Jack isn’t missing. He’s just hiding to upset me. If you file another false report, I won’t be so nice!” Emily was forced out. As the door closed, I saw her eyes glistening with tears. I wanted to run after her, but there seemed to be an invisible wall in front of me. I tried to follow, but was bounced back. I tried again, only to be repelled once more. Emily wasn’t my mistress at all – she was the kindest, most considerate girl in the office! She would bring me stomach medicine when I had digestive issues. She would teach me unreservedly when I got stuck on a project. To me, she would always be that warmhearted girl! I followed Sophia as she hailed a cab after work. The destination was a cemetery on the outskirts of town. Sophia was holding a large bouquet of chrysanthemums. “Michael, I’ve come to see you,” she said to a gravestone. It was Michael’s cenotaph. After Michael’s fatal accident years ago, his body was never found. Sophia had broken down, gathering scraps of his clothing from the scene and insisting on burying them in the cemetery. From that day on, my good days were over. Every month on this day, Sophia would drag me here to repent. “Now, go repent to Michael!” she would command coldly. If I showed the slightest reluctance, she would take her scalpel and cut a gash in my arm. So I had to wear long sleeves year-round to hide the scars. I remember one time, there was a fierce windstorm. As bad luck would have it, my stomach condition flared up too. Sharp pains stabbed through my abdomen as large beads of cold sweat formed on my forehead. But she was relentless, still forcing me to the cemetery. The rain had washed debris and thorny branches down the hillside. Seeing the state of things, I hesitated. “Sophia, can I not kneel today?” I asked timidly, fighting through the pain. Sophia angrily knocked the umbrella from my hand, yelling: “This is nothing! You want to run away already? Don’t forget, you owe Michael your life, you murderer!” I stood there helplessly, letting the heavy raindrops pelt my face. “Sophia, I’m not feeling well today…just this once, please?” I begged, dropping to my knees. 0

But she just silently took out a scalpel from her bag. “Do you think you have any right to negotiate? Don’t make me get nasty.” Before I could react, she kicked the back of my knees hard. “Thud!” I collapsed to the ground. Instantly, rocks and thorns dug into my knees. It was an excruciating, searing pain. My stomach churned violently, the agony almost unbearable. I tried to slowly stand up, fighting through the pain. Sophia coldly pressed the scalpel against the crook of my arm. “You know the consequences of trying to bargain, don’t you?” An icy chill ran deep into my bones. Without blinking, Sophia slashed my arm over and over. New wounds overlapped old scars, a horrifying sight. Gritting her teeth, she drove the scalpel deep into my flesh. “Click…click…” I could even feel the blade scraping against bone. “Ahh!” I bit down hard, trying to stifle my cries. One cut. Two cuts. Carving into living flesh and bone – it was nothing short of torture. Finally, I passed out in the cemetery. But Sophia just left. She didn’t look back. Blood loss and hypothermia caused me to go into shock on the ground. As I lost consciousness, all I saw was her retreating back. And her cold warning: “Since you want to play dead for sympathy, just stay here then! Better if you actually die!” Resolute and merciless. It reminded me of when we first got together. Sophia had been gentle and sweet, often cuddling up to me. Back then, I thought I must be the luckiest man in the world. But I was wrong. The woman I had cherished now wanted me dead! I wanted her love too. I wanted the sweet, normal marriage other couples had. But I didn’t deserve it. I was just the sinner who got his brother killed. I would never deserve love in this lifetime. Just when I thought I was going to die, the old cemetery caretaker found me. Seeing my condition, his eyes filled with sympathy. “Oh dear, what happened to you, young man?” “Does it hurt?” At the hospital, he grasped my hand. “Son, should I call the police for you?” I shook my head. “Thank you for your kindness, sir. But this is my own sin to bear.” In the end, I dragged my battered body out of the hospital. Because I knew I still had to work overtime, still had to buy Sophia her dream beachfront home. As soon as I walked in the door at home, Sophia kicked me hard. Blood rushed to her head as she waved a phone in my face. “You bastard, are you trying to humiliate me?!” She clenched her jaw, looking ready to eat me alive. “Now you’ve even gone to the police? I’m telling you, it’s useless no matter how many reports you file. Everyone at the station is on my side.” “As long as I don’t kill you myself, no one can touch me!” Another kick landed, making me feel like my internal organs had been scrambled. I curled up on the floor, unable to move. Sophia, I don’t want to humiliate you. I just want you to love me… One kick wasn’t enough to satisfy her rage. So she started aiming for my head instead. “You killed Michael, and now you’re trying to ruin me too?” “I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!” That’s how the dent in my skull was formed. Even as she kicked me until my head was cracked and bleeding, I never blamed her one bit. Sometimes I would even fantasize that once she got her anger out, things would get better. But I died. I died the day I signed that home purchase contract. The happy little family that was supposed to be ours would never exist now. “Mom, Dad, today is the anniversary of your passing.” Hearing Sophia’s voice snapped me back to the present. She had already walked around to the other side of the cemetery, standing before two gravestones. Only then did I remember – today was also my parents’ death anniversary. She laid down the paper money and chrysanthemums. “A few years ago, Jack killed Michael – his own brother!” “He’s a monster! He destroyed our whole family!” She clenched her fists, face contorted with anger. But now I’m dead too. Shouldn’t that count as a life for a life? “Long time no see, sister-in-law.” Michael’s familiar voice came from behind. Sophia turned around in disbelief. “Is that…is that really you, Michael?” Michael nodded. Next to him stood a young woman with a delicate face. The paper money scattered from Sophia’s hands as she stepped forward, wanting to confirm it was really him. “It really is Michael! You’re back!” Michael uncomfortably took a step back. “Yes, I’m back.” “I came to pay respects to Mom and Dad on their death anniversary.” By now Sophia had lost all composure, moving to embrace him. Large tears rolled down her face as she broke down sobbing. “You’re back…I thought you were dead…oh god…” The young woman finally stepped forward to intervene. “It’s been a while, sister-in-law! I’m Michael’s wife, Rose.” Hearing this, Sophia froze in place. “You’re…Michael’s wife?” She couldn’t understand why Michael had returned with a wife. The atmosphere instantly became tense. Michael finally sensed the awkwardness and changed the subject: “Where’s Jack? Why isn’t he here for Mom and Dad’s death anniversary?” 04 At the mention of me, Sophia’s expression changed back to one of utter disgust. “Him? Who knows where he’s off fooling around now!” Michael nodded, not asking any further. But I’m not off fooling around – I’m right here beside you! Sophia shifted the topic back to Michael. “But weren’t you in a car accident years ago?” Michael sheepishly scratched his head. “That was actually just a ruse for me to disappear.” “Back then, I owed money to some loan sharks and was being hunted down by enemies. I had no choice but to fake my death.” Hearing this, I felt my blood run cold. A sense of helpless anguish welled up in my chest. All those years of kneeling and repenting in the dirt. The searing pain of the scalpel cutting to the bone. The endless self-loathing and guilt. All of it had been for nothing. A cruel joke. Sophia was stunned. Perhaps she was realizing she had wronged me all this time? But it was far too late now. I was already dead! In an instant, her demeanor changed to one of warmth and care. “I’m just glad you’re back safe. It’s wonderful to have the family reunited.” This gentle, caring side of her was something I hadn’t experienced in years. Michael nodded. Suddenly, as if remembering something, Sophia grabbed Michael’s hand excitedly. “You must be missing home-cooked food after being gone so long. Let me make you both a welcome home dinner!” “Sounds great!” Home-cooked food? I had long forgotten what home tasted like. The three of them returned home together. Not one of them remembered my existence. It was as if I had never existed at all. Soon the table was laden with dishes. It was all seafood. All Michael’s favorite foods. Sophia had remembered his tastes perfectly. But she had forgotten that I was deathly allergic to seafood. Three place settings were laid out. “Hey, where’s Jack? Why isn’t he back yet?” Michael asked her. Only then did Sophia finally remember me. She took out her phone, intending to call me. But she had long since deleted all my contact information. “Michael, why don’t you try calling? I just got a new phone and haven’t saved his number yet.” Michael’s expression was hesitant, but he complied. He called several times, but there was no answer. “That’s strange…” Michael frowned. Rose suddenly spoke up: “You don’t think something might have happened to your brother, do you?” Hearing this, Sophia exploded like an angry shrew: “That kind of man? It’s normal for him to disappear for days at a time!” That kind of man? What kind of man am I? The kind who worked tirelessly to support our family? Or the kind who silently endured her abuse? Now that Michael was safely back, she still refused to let me go! Looking at this woman before me, I felt like I no longer knew her at all. Michael’s brows furrowed as he suddenly demanded: “Are you saying Jack has been missing for 3-4 days already?!” Sophia was startled by his outburst. “Y-yes…what’s wrong?” Michael glared at her fiercely before grabbing his keys and rushing out the door. But his retreating figure looked panicked. A few hours later, Michael returned empty-handed. In just those few hours, he seemed to have aged years. “Jack…Jack is missing!” “How can that be?!” Rose jumped up from the couch. She steadied Michael, saying seriously: “We need to file a police report! We have to find Jack!” But Sophia just got up to pour Michael a glass of water. “Oh, it’s fine!” “Jack hates coming home. He’s either at the office or probably at that Emily girl’s place.” She spoke of Emily with utter contempt. Michael and Rose insisted on calling the police, leaving Sophia ignored on the sidelines. Only then did I realize that blood ties run deeper than romantic love. “Jack is just playing games. Why waste police resources?” Sophia said awkwardly. Even though Michael had returned safe and sound, Sophia still hated me. I didn’t understand why anymore. Was it just habit? Or had she never truly loved me at all? Just as Michael was hanging up from calling the police, Sophia’s phone rang. “Ms. Liang, we’ve found the victim’s left hand.” “The hand hasn’t fully decomposed yet. We’ve been able to mostly confirm the victim’s identity based on the remains…” It was her young assistant calling. Sophia absently fiddled with her hand as she replied, “Mm, go on.” “Ms. Liang, you should prepare yourself.” The call was on speakerphone, so Michael and Rose looked over. Sophia also seemed to sense the gravity of the situation. She raised her head, her expression somber. “It’s alright, just tell me.” 0

The person on the other end gathered their courage. “The victim’s true identity…is your husband, Jack.” In an instant, Sophia looked like she had been struck by lightning. “Wait…how is that possible?” Michael collapsed to his knees, covering his face as he broke down: “Jack…is dead?” Sophia, as if refusing to believe it, continued questioning. “How can that be? Are you joking? How could it possibly be Jack?” The voice on the phone sighed. “There’s no mistake.” “He had May 10th tattooed on his left hand. Everyone knows that’s your birthday.” Hearing this, the phone slipped from Sophia’s hand and clattered to the floor. That tattoo – I had gotten it on her 24th birthday. It covered my entire hand, quite eye-catching. Sophia had been teased about it plenty of times. “I don’t believe it! Couldn’t this be some kind of mistake?” She still refused to accept it. But what good would disbelief do now? I was already dead! The person on the phone quietly offered condolences before hurriedly hanging up. Sophia suddenly stood up, intending to rush out. She had barely taken a few steps before stumbling and falling. “How could it be Jack? There must be some mistake!” She muttered to herself. Soon, they all arrived at the police station. And there were my remains, laid out on the examination table. My entire body had been reduced to bleached bones, with only the left hand retaining some flesh. The faded tattoo was barely discernible. Michael collapsed by the table, wailing: “This…this really is Jack!” I watched as Sophia shook her head in disbelief, stumbling backwards. “No…this can’t be!”

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On my eighteenth birthday, a young girl showed up at our door. She tearfully recounted to my brothers how our adoptive mother had switched her with me at the hospital when we were born. She claimed *she* was the Sterling family’s true heiress. I’d intended to step aside graciously, but my obsessive brothers locked me up instead. “You’re not going anywhere without our say-so. You’ll die within these walls before you ever escape us!” A sudden, fierce fire erupted. I couldn’t escape in time and was burned alive. When I opened my eyes again, I was back—one week before the ‘true heiress’ appeared. This time, Chloe still stormed into Sterling Manor, interrupting the birthday song my four brothers were singing. “I’m your real sister!” Huge, glistening tears rolled down her cheeks as she spoke. “My adoptive mother deliberately swapped me with her biological daughter at the hospital, just so her daughter could live a life of luxury. If a routine medical check-up hadn’t flagged a discrepancy in blood types, forcing me to finally confess, I would’ve been kept in the dark my entire life.” She sobbed, a pitiful sight, recounting years of neglect and hardship with her adoptive family—starved and freezing. She exposed her slender arms, covered in red, swollen bruises, complaining that her adoptive father would beat her with a belt whenever he drank too much. My brothers remained silent, their gazes fixed on Julian, waiting for him to speak. “First, a DNA test. We’ll discuss everything else after that.” The Sterling empire was vast, and Julian, the eldest, had transformed Sterling Corp into the undisputed titan of the entire Metropolis City in just a few short years. He was, naturally, a ruthless, decisive leader. Mr. Henderson, the butler, nodded, preparing to escort Chloe away. There was no emotional reunion, no warm embrace, just a stunned silence from Chloe. Then, she suddenly pointed at me. “Don’t be fooled, brothers! This woman definitely wants to team up with her biological mother, empty the Sterling accounts, and vanish!” Julian raised an eyebrow, turning to look at me, his voice soft and low. “Blair, your brothers can give you as much money as you want. But if you two really were swapped, do you want to leave, Blair?” He had asked me the same question in my previous life. Back then, I was perhaps blinded by the word ‘freedom’. I hastily agreed that if Chloe was the true heiress, I would leave the Sterling family and make way for her. My ‘generosity’ successfully enraged my brothers. They locked me away. “You’re not going anywhere without our say-so. You’ll die within these walls before you ever escape us!” The confinement room was pitch black, not a single sliver of light. No one was allowed near me except them, and no one was permitted to speak to me. On the day the fire broke out, I cried and screamed for help inside that room. I screamed until my throat was raw and bleeding, clawed at the door until my fingernails ripped off, but no one heard me, and no one saved me. The flames devoured me completely. I really did die in the Sterling house, consumed by the cruel shackles of their twisted affection. Snapping out of my memories, my eyes welled with tears, my face a mask of grievance. “Julian, do you remember the dream I had a week ago? I can’t believe what happened in it is actually coming true. Even though I can’t bear to leave you all, I’ll follow whatever you decide. If you want to send me away…” I broke down, unable to finish the sentence. They remembered that day from a week ago, and my brothers’ expressions softened. They promised me, “Blair, no matter what the results are, your brothers will never send you away.” I nodded, satisfied, wiping away my tears. This time, I would meticulously execute the plan I hadn’t had a chance to start in my previous life.

I was reborn one week before Chloe showed up at Sterling Manor. That morning, I clutched at Julian like a scared little bird, sobbing into his embrace. “I had a terrible nightmare. Someone said I wasn’t your sister, and they wanted to kick me out of the Sterling house. Waaah… I don’t want that! I love my brothers more than anything, I want to be with you forever!” Julian stroked my hair, comforting me, while my other brothers stood behind him, smiling with satisfaction. I knew they reveled in my complete, unquestioning dependence. The kind of helpless dependence they craved. This time, when Chloe again accused me of trying to run away, I subtly brought up that morning’s ‘dream,’ playing the part of the long-suffering, obedient sister to perfection. It worked. I successfully avoided being imprisoned. Sebastian, my second brother, was a doctor, reportedly the youngest Chief Physician Metropolis General Hospital had ever seen. He pulled some strings, and the DNA test results were ready in less than a day. The next evening, he brought Chloe into Sterling Villa and instructed Mr. Henderson, the butler. “From now on, the Second Miss will live here with us. Please prepare her room.” The test results were obvious. Sebastian was busy. He left instructions for Mr. Henderson to take good care of her and returned to the hospital. With my brothers gone, Chloe dropped her innocent facade. She approached me, her face alight with triumph. She whispered a threat, “Blair Sterling, there’s only room for one young lady in this house. Soon, I’ll make sure you’re out.” Mr. Henderson showed her several rooms, all spacious and well-lit. Chloe picked and chose, clearly dissatisfied. “What, are you serious? Am I a charity case? Who wants to live in these cramped, corner rooms?” She pointed to the room in the very middle of the third floor. “That one. That’s mine.” Mr. Henderson looked troubled. “But… that’s Miss Blair’s room…” “It’s alright, Mr. Henderson,” I said, nodding at him. “If she likes it, let her have it. As long as my brothers are here, anywhere feels like home.” Nothing was a secret in this house. I knew this scene would reach my brothers’ ears very quickly, so of course, I had to play the part of the long-suffering, obedient sister to perfection. Besides, that room… it was perfect for my plans. While I was packing my belongings, Chloe came by to assert her dominance again. “Take all your stuff. I don’t want to move in and find the place still full of your trash. Oh, and you don’t even need to unpack. You’ll be packing your bags and disappearing for good soon enough anyway.” I put down the clothes in my hand, sighing softly. She really knew how to get under my skin. I grabbed her wrist, pushing up her sleeve. Chloe cried out in pain, tears streaming down her face, unable to wrench her hand free from my grip. “Does that hurt? What does it feel like to be hit with an iron pipe?” Her face was filled with terror. “How… how do you know?” Chloe used to be a delinquent, smoking, drinking, fighting—she did it all. The day after I was reborn, I rescued Stella, our class monitor, from an alley near school where Chloe was bullying her. The injuries on Chloe’s arm weren’t from her drunken adoptive father at all. They were from the iron pipe I’d picked up and used on her. “You’re the one who was wearing a mask and sticking your nose where it didn’t belong?” I didn’t answer, my finger tracing over her wound. “You know what? My brothers hate liars the most. If they found out…” I smiled faintly. “You’d be in a lot of trouble, wouldn’t you?”

To celebrate Chloe’s return to the Sterling family, the kitchen prepared an exquisite French meal. Despite Sebastian’s request for me to teach her dining etiquette before dinner, she still picked up the main course knife and fork when eating the appetizer. The utensils scraped loudly against the plate, producing a jarring, unpleasant sound. Sebastian frowned, pausing his own movements. He valued etiquette above all else; elegance was his motto. When I was little, I was too weak to hold my utensils steady and occasionally dropped them. He would make me stand in the corner for an hour, holding my knife and fork above my head, no matter how much I cried or begged. Chloe sensed the shift in atmosphere and cautiously put down the utensils, her eyes welling up. “I’m sorry. Life was so hard in that other house. I’ve never eaten such good, refined food before. And Blair taught me too fast; I couldn’t keep up. It’s my fault for being so slow…” My own movements faltered. I quickly apologized. “It’s my mistake. I should have been more patient and thorough in teaching Chloe. I accept my punishment.” I voluntarily stood up and moved to the corner of the dining room, raising my hands above my head, ready for my punishment. I had expected Chloe to be reprimanded too, but to my surprise, Sebastian said, “Considering this is your first offense, I’ll forgive you this time. But it must not happen again.” He picked up his knife and fork again, demonstrating the correct dining etiquette to Chloe, inviting her to learn from him. I lowered my gaze, watching the scene unfold. It made sense; their long-lost sister, found after eighteen years, deserved some leniency for the hardships she’d endured. But it was the first time I realized that a first offense could actually be forgiven. During dinner, Chloe couldn’t help but glance at me several times out of the corner of her eye, eating even more carefully. I knew she couldn’t understand. Everyone called me the Sterling brothers’ favorite, their treasured little sister, admired by countless people. But in reality, I was nothing more than a human puppet they held in their hands, playing with me as they pleased. After dinner, Julian instructed Mr. Henderson, “Starting tomorrow, Chloe’s entire curriculum will follow Blair’s schedule.” Chloe nodded eagerly, sweetly thanking Julian. She had no idea the crisis that awaited her. She was simply thrilled to be treated as my equal, receiving the same elite education. The next morning, Chloe was pulled from bed by a maid before five AM to join me for English morning reading. At six o’clock, during morning exercises, the yoga instructor was forcing her into deep stretches, her screams echoing through the hall the entire time. After breakfast, she endured three consecutive academic classes plus a calligraphy lesson, constantly nodding off and slumping in her seat. There was no nap time at noon; she had to study piano, chess, design, and various other skills. The afternoon consisted of two hours of intense physical training, followed immediately by etiquette lessons. At dinner, I saw her about to beg Julian for mercy, but she swallowed her words under his cold glare. After two more academic classes in the evening, plus time to complete homework, it was already past midnight before she could finally go to bed. When classes finally ended, I heard Chloe mutter a curse under her breath, grumbling, “Turns out being a rich girl isn’t so great after all.” I didn’t know what other rich girls were like. But my past eighteen years had been spent almost exactly like this every day, with never more than five hours of sleep. Every time my brothers randomly checked my homework, it was a nightmare. I could never meet their expectations; endless punishments always awaited me. My brothers always said these high standards were for my own good, to make me an even better person. Whether I became ‘better’ or not, I didn’t know. After all, this was just the person *they* wanted me to be.

Sunday afternoon, I was practicing flower arrangement in the garden. A middle-aged couple poked their heads tentatively out from the villa entrance. Their eyes lit up when they saw me. “Blair! Blair! Daddy and Mommy are here to take you home!” I coldly replied, “I’m sorry, I don’t know you.” Chloe heard the commotion and walked out of the living room, sneering, “People shouldn’t forget their roots, you know. No matter what, you shouldn’t abandon your own parents!” She opened the door, letting my former adoptive parents in. Julian and Ryder happened to come downstairs at that moment. Ryder, my youngest brother, ran the family’s underground dealings and always had a short temper. He glared at the couple. “I haven’t even come to settle scores with you about the swap, and you dare show up on our doorstep?” Brenda, my adoptive mother, quickly started wailing dramatically. “It’s a misunderstanding! We’re victims too! The nurse must have swapped the babies by mistake. We absolutely didn’t do it on purpose!” She looked at me and continued, “Blair is our biological daughter. Since Chloe has returned to the Sterlings, we want to take Blair home.” There was no genuine emotion, no maternal love in her eyes—only a calculating scheme hidden deep within. I wondered how many benefits Chloe had promised her to make her bold enough to come to the Sterling house and demand me. If I could see through such a flimsy trick, how could Julian, a seasoned old fox in the business world, not? He once again tossed the question to me. “Blair, I respect your choice. Do you want to go with them?”

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The day I was released from prison, my guys took me to a bar for a welcome back party. But the table next to us was playing a game, and suddenly they wanted me to foot the entire bill for the bar. I politely declined. The guy actually kicked my chair out from under me, grabbed me by the collar, and started screaming. “I’m *the* man, Valentina’s husband! The King of the Emerald City’s underworld! Asking you to pay is doing you a favor, so try saying no again, I dare you!” It wasn’t just me; even my guys behind me were stunned. “Boss, you covered for her for three years. How could she dare to get a new husband outside?” “Has she forgotten what you’re capable of?” … The joy of my release instantly faded. I lowered my head and texted Valentina to demand an explanation. Seeing this, the man flew into a rage, snatched my phone, and tossed it straight into an ice bucket. “Thinking of calling the cops? I’m telling you, the whole Emerald City is my territory. No one can save you!” A nameless rage flared in my chest. I slammed my fist on the table. Behind me, over a dozen of my guys sprang up, rushing forward to form a protective circle around me. “Let go of Jaxson if you don’t wanna die!” The man, instead of getting angry, scoffed and mimicked my gesture, slapping his own table. The bar’s chaotic music suddenly cut out, and the dazzling lights went dark. In the sudden silence, half the people in the venue quickly converged on us. “Ever since our boss, Victor, married Valentina, we haven’t had a troublemaker like this in Emerald City for three years.” “Daring to cause trouble in our man Victor’s place? Today, we’ll show you what real power looks like!” My guys, who had voluntarily stuck by me through three years in prison, stared in disbelief. “Our boss, Jaxson, went to jail for that woman, Valentina, for three years. What the hell happened in those three years?” It wasn’t just them; my mind was reeling too. Three years ago, Valentina hit someone with her car. She was just pregnant then, and she cried and begged me to take the fall for her, promising to look after the crew and raise our child. I didn’t hesitate for a second. But now, everything happening before my eyes made me seriously doubt the past. I slightly lowered my head. Victor thought I was scared and reached out to pat my shoulder. Using the moment he extended his arm, I slammed a beer bottle on the table, shattering it. In a flash, before he could even react, I twisted his arm and body, pressing the sharp, broken edge of the bottle directly against his vulnerable throat. “You say Valentina is your wife. What does that mean?” Victor, who had been so arrogant just moments ago, was scared stiff. His whole body trembled uncontrollably. “What else could it mean? We were in love, I married her, so of course she’s my wife.” When he spoke of Valentina, Victor seemed to regain his confidence. “I’m warning you, don’t touch me. Everyone in Emerald City knows Valentina is crazy in love with me! For my birthday, she booked giant billboards all over the city for three days and three nights to declare her love, and she bought me a downtown high-rise as a wedding anniversary gift! If you dare touch me, my wife won’t let you off the hook!” My scalp tingled with disbelief. I turned my head, signaling my guys to check things out. Taking advantage of my distraction, Victor shoved me hard. The crowd that had been standing behind him instantly swarmed me! I was on my own turf and completely unprepared. I took several hard punches to the chest, almost throwing up blood. Seeing me humiliated, my guys roared and plunged into the brawl. I kicked away the guy pinning me down and, my first priority, stopped my crew. “Don’t fight! You just got out; I can’t have you going back in for me.” Then I jumped onto a table, crossed the chaotic crowd in a few quick steps, and grabbed Victor, who was trying to hide. “Listen up, clearly! My name is Jaxson, and I’m legally married to Valentina!” Victor, seized by me, was flustered at first, then burst out laughing. “I knew it! Who in Emerald City would dare to touch me? Turns out it’s just a lunatic!” Cheers erupted in agreement with his words. “Valentina is madly in love with our man Victor. She sends him luxury cars and mansions every other week. Who are you, some random outsider, to even utter our Sister Valentina’s name?” “Our man Victor and Sister Valentina are a model couple. Who the hell are you, showing up with a few low-level thugs to cause trouble, do you really think we’re scared of you?!” I gritted my teeth, my whole body trembling. I never dreamed that the woman I gave up everything to protect would become a model couple with someone else! My guys around me were fuming, gritting their teeth just like me. “Boss, it’s been three whole years! We can’t just let them get away with this!” “You abandoned everything for that woman at the peak of your power. We have to make her pay for her betrayal!” I took a deep breath, steadying myself. I couldn’t just listen to one side of the story. Valentina depended on me so much back then. Could she really have changed so drastically in just three years? No, I had to get to the bottom of this! My phone was ruined by the water. I rattled off my number and told one of my guys to dial. Hearing the digits I spoke, Victor’s face changed. “You actually got my wife’s private number?!” I reluctantly pressed my lips together. “I told you, I’m Valentina’s husband, legally.” As soon as the words left my mouth, the crowd around Victor surged toward me! “Plenty of white-collar types have coveted our Sister Valentina over the years, but no one has ever dared to challenge our man Victor like you did! Today, we’ll show you what real trouble looks like!” They rushed at me ferociously. I took down a few in quick succession, but then countless more swarmed me. I was outnumbered, and I took some cheap shots, my face stinging from several hard hits, blood trickling from my lip. My guys, seeing this, couldn’t hold back any longer. They grabbed chairs and lunged into the fray, turning the bar into a chaotic mess. These guys were my top enforcers back in the day, skilled fighters, but even a tiger is no match for a pack of wolves. For every one of them that went down, three more stepped up. Before long, everyone was exhausted, protecting me in the center, backs to each other. “Boss, what the hell is going on? Valentina clearly had a lavish wedding ceremony with you back then. When did you two get divorced? How come none of us, your closest guys, knew?!” My teeth felt like they were about to shatter. “Don’t even get me started! I didn’t even know, damn it! Stop fighting for now, preserve your strength, and run!” Knowing we couldn’t win, it was no shame in retreating to regroup. My guys protected me, fighting and withdrawing. Victor watched me fleeing in disarray and burst into laughter. “The woman I, a tiger, protect wouldn’t look twice at a stray dog like you! Chase them!” I’d been in prison for three years, but I still remembered the bar’s underground passage. I took a shortcut to the parking garage, thinking I could shake them off, but somehow, they came down from somewhere and were even faster than me! The front exit of the underground garage was completely blocked, and Victor’s men had locked down the back entrance. A group of them, armed with baseball bats and machetes, swaggered closer, faces full of smug satisfaction. My palms were sweating buckets. I, Jaxson, started from nothing at fifteen, and by twenty, I was the boss of the Emerald City’s underground. I can’t believe that after three years away, I’d come out of prison today only to go down in a gutter! My guys, seeing there was no way out, stood defiantly in front of me. “Boss, we’ll get you out of here, but once you’re out, you have to get a clear explanation from Valentina. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be fair to us, your brothers, for the three years we spent in prison with you!” With that, they roared, ready to fight to the death. At the crucial moment, I pulled them back. “Don’t panic, there are cops!” I never thought in my life I’d be calling on the police for backup. My guys looked a bit lost. “Are you sure about this, Jaxson? We just got out…” I sighed helplessly, but no matter what, better to bend than break, right? A smart man knows when to adapt. I jogged closer, seeing two traffic cops who were slacking off in the bar’s underground garage, supposedly doing a DUI check. I casually offered them a cigarette, plastering on a slightly ingratiating smile. “Officers, my friends and I were having a party, and they not only told me to pay the entire bill but also started hitting me and my friends. Now they’ve surrounded the bar and won’t let us leave. What do you think about this, sirs…?” The two cops lit their cigarettes off my lighter, giving me a smirk that didn’t reach their eyes. “You mean, they hit you?” I nodded repeatedly. To my surprise, the next second, those two cops flicked their cigarettes, sending the lit ends directly onto my shirt, then stomped them out with a kick. “He’s Sister Valentina’s husband, hitting you is doing you a favor!” “Our man Victor told you to pay the bill for the whole bar, that’s your blessing. You didn’t do it and tried to run, so you deserve to be hit!” My heart lurched. It seemed everything they said earlier was true. Valentina really had betrayed me after I went to prison. Otherwise, why would even these traffic cops show Victor such deference?! Victor and his crew had seen me talking to the cops and deliberately held back, only approaching gleefully when they saw the officers twisting the truth. “If our man Victor hadn’t been making good karma for our pregnant Sister Valentina, do you think you’d even be standing here today?” “Our Sister Valentina is due any day now. It’s her first child, precious beyond measure. Victor swore before Buddha he wouldn’t take any lives to pray for the baby’s blessings. You remember this: it’s Victor and Sister Valentina’s son who saved your pathetic life!” “First child?!” I was astonished. I grabbed Victor, who was standing in front of me. “Are you saying Valentina got rid of my baby?!” Victor went ballistic. He swung a punch at my temple. “Are you really crazy or just playing dumb? Who the hell are you, spewing such disgusting lies about my Valentina?!” My last hope shattered. Three years, all for nothing, a complete joke. My mind was spiraling. I threw caution to the wind and lunged at Victor, fighting him with everything I had, every punch connecting, making him howl in pain. Both sides of the guys were terrified and rushed to pull us apart. “Boss, we just got out, don’t send yourself back inside for that awful woman!” My hand movements suddenly paused. The traffic cops seized the opportunity, pulled tactical flashlights from their car, and shone them directly into my eyes. I was blinded instantly, everything went stark white. They quickly pulled the swollen Victor away. Then, taking advantage of my blindness, they swarmed me, punching and kicking. I gritted my teeth, covering my eyes, while frantically swinging my other arm to ward them off. But Victor, having lost all face, was now completely insane. When I finally blinked my eyes open, I saw him lunging at me with a wicked-looking blade! For a split second, someone screamed, someone cheered. My guys bravely threw themselves forward, trying to shield me. My mind went blank, but then I seemed to hear Valentina’s voice. “What are you doing here?!” The blade, with its blood groove, stopped mere inches from my eyes. Victor turned back in surprise, the fury on his face instantly vanishing, replaced by a wide smile. “Valentina, why are you out here? You should be resting!” “This stray dog dared to badmouth you right in front of me. I was just about to teach him a lesson, planning to cut out his tongue!” I ignored the hands trying to help me up, my gaze fixed on Valentina’s rounded belly. “Valentina, care to explain?” Victor kicked me hard in the face. “Still daring to question my wife? You really have a death wish!” A huge black boot print marred my face. My guys, seeing this, glared furiously at Valentina. “Sister-in-law, our boss Jaxson spent three years in prison for you! He had so many chances to get out early, but to atone for you and the child, he served the full three years! Now that you’re doing well, you just let others humiliate him like this?!” “Don’t you have any conscience, woman?! Even if there’s no love left, don’t you have any gratitude? Did our boss Jaxson waste the prime of his youth for you for nothing?!” I stared fixedly at Valentina, my nails digging into my palms until they bled, but I didn’t even notice. Yet, Valentina lowered her eyes, looked at me, and actually let out a disdainful laugh. Yes, she laughed, as if she had seen something utterly ridiculous. “Jaxson? There’s only one ‘Boss’ in Emerald City now, and that’s Victor.” “Jaxson, you don’t need to hold it over me, bringing up how you went to jail for me. You were enjoying your ‘break’ inside all those years, leaving me to struggle to keep things afloat out here. Victor was there for me through my toughest days.” “If you want money as compensation, just say so. There’s no need to cause trouble on Victor’s turf. So childish!” A suffocating pressure built in my chest, making it hard to breathe. “Valentina…” Before I could finish, the smile vanished from Valentina’s face, replaced by a look of malice. “I’m not finished yet, you don’t get to interrupt!” “I can give you what I owe, but you touched my man, so you’re leaving an arm behind today as an apology to Victor!” Immediately, someone with a knife approached me. I looked at Valentina’s resolute expression, my heart aching to the extreme. “Are you trying to make an example of me, just like I used to do for you, to boost your new man’s reputation?”

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I had just left the biggest tech summit in the world when my mentor, who I considered a mother, called me. She’d arranged a marriage for me, with Charlotte Thorne, the daughter of her good friend. Charlotte was one of the most brilliant business minds in this city. I’d licensed several of my patents to her company, and they were currently the core technology for their new products. I finished up my lab work, slipped into a carefully chosen suit, and headed to the engagement party. But Charlotte Thorne’s male assistant, Leo Stone, blocked me right at the entrance of the ballroom. He was wearing a sharply tailored, luxury suit, looking meticulously groomed, more like the groom than I did. “If you know what’s good for you, just scram. An orphan with no connections, do you really think you’re good enough for our Ms. Thorne?” I shot back, “Does Charlotte Thorne know you’re acting so high and mighty?” Leo Stone sneered, a dismissive chuckle escaping him. “A pretty boy who only climbs high because of his mentor’s name, how could you ever understand how important I am to Ms. Thorne?” As he spoke, a trace of obsession and smugness actually flickered in his eyes. I watched him for a moment, then pulled out my phone and called Charlotte Thorne. “If your hospitality means keeping your fiancé blocked at the door, then I suppose I could just let you see the contract for my patents, and then sell them to your rival company?”

I was an orphan. The only reason I finished school and got into the top research lab in the country was all thanks to my mentor’s guidance. She’d given me so much care, almost like my own mother. So, when she chose an engagement for me, I was willing to be patient. If Charlotte Thorne could handle this properly and give me a decent explanation, I was ready to give her another chance. “Asher Vance? What is it?” The other end of the line was noisy, with guests seemingly talking around her. She first responded to her guests, then casually brought the phone to her ear, as if she hadn’t been listening to me at all. “Come pick me up and let me into the venue, your assistant…” Before I could finish, she let out a disdainful “Tch,” cutting me off impatiently. “Do you have some kind of prince syndrome? Can’t walk on your own two legs?” “I have guests to entertain. How would I have time to pick you up? Just come in yourself.” A busy signal buzzed in my ear. Leo Stone clapped a hand over his mouth, letting out a suppressed giggle, his eyes alight with undisguised mockery. “I’m just following Ms. Thorne’s orders. If you want to go in, go ahead. I definitely won’t stop you now.” I could calmly complete even the most difficult experiments. But talking to someone so utterly unreasonable? All I felt was a throbbing in my temples. “Mr. Stone, do you think your position as an assistant is very secure? Harassing your CEO’s fiancé at the ballroom entrance – is that part of your career plan?” “Oh, too bad. Compared to a professional elite like me, the CEO despises a useless kept man like you even more.” I lifted my gaze, staring at him with a cold intensity. “Professional elite? The kind of elite who harbors inappropriate fantasies about his female boss?” “Does Charlotte Thorne even know her assistant acts like a lapdog, wagging his tail and begging at her feet every single day?” Leo Stone instantly flew into a rage. He raised his hand, lashing out with a sudden swing towards me. I took two steps back, dodging it. “Lost your cool and resorted to violence? So when you have a business deal go south, do you just slap your partners too? What an ‘elite’ move.” “You! Hold him down!” His thoughts exposed, Leo Stone’s shrill voice cracked. He gasped, staring intently at me, his finger trembling as he pointed. The nearby security guards, who had been watching the show, started walking towards me at his command. “Leo Stone’s being an idiot, but are you all going to follow suit? Do you realize the person you’re about to use force on is Charlotte Thorne’s fiancé?” I tried to appeal to their reason. The security guards exchanged glances. The lead guard spoke, feigning apology, but his eyes held clear derision. “Mr. Vance, we’re just following orders. Please understand.” “Mr. Stone is the CEO’s right-hand man, while you’re just a pawn in an arranged marriage with no connections.” “If your dead parents suddenly came back to life with some earth-shshattering background, then we’d definitely apologize to you.” To attend the engagement, I was dressed in a perfectly fitted suit, with expensive leather shoes on my feet. After dodging a couple of attempts, I was quickly grabbed by two security guards, my arms pinned, half-pressed and held in front of Leo Stone. He stared at my face with a dark expression, then suddenly stretched his lips into a smile. He raised his hand, his designer watch glinting coldly, about to slap me. I squeezed my eyes shut. “Stop!” A clear, cold voice, laced with anger, rang out. Leo Stone’s hand froze in mid-air.

Charlotte Thorne walked towards me. Tall and slender, her face strikingly beautiful, even more captivating than in her photos. She scanned me with a look of disdain, her gaze sweeping over my face, pausing for a fraction of a second. “It’s our engagement party today. What disgraceful scene are you making here?” I broke free from the security guards’ grip, straightened up, and adjusted the collar of my suit, letting out a cold scoff. “Can’t you see what’s happening?” “Charlotte Thorne, I’d like to ask you, is having your security guards assault me at the ballroom entrance your idea of hospitality?” “Do you know what your assistant just—” Before I could finish, Charlotte Thorne cut me off with a frown. “Enough! You’re late for the engagement party and instead of coming in, you’re causing trouble at the door. If my security guards didn’t stop you, were they supposed to just let you run inside and disturb the guests?” “My time is precious, and you’ve just wasted it. “You’re a worthless orphan, and foolish. I really don’t know why my mother wants me to get engaged to you.” The guests who had followed her out to watch the drama discreetly looked my way, whispering amongst themselves. Those condescending stares made me feel like a clown. I felt my time was wasted too. I’d spent so much effort preparing, even taking a special day off. With that time, I could have updated the data for my new experiment. “What a coincidence, I also feel my time has been wasted.” “Since we clearly can’t stand each other, why don’t we just call off the engagement?” Charlotte Thorne froze, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Are you threatening me?” “Causing trouble in front of me isn’t enough, now you’re trying to use breaking off the engagement as leverage? Do you really think that will make me bend to your will?” I looked at Charlotte Thorne’s expression and suddenly felt speechless, a sense of talking to a brick wall. Beside her, Leo Stone stood respectfully, yet his voice held a hint of familiarity and grievance. “Ms. Thorne, he’s causing such a scene at the engagement party. What’ll happen when you’re married? Will he turn everything upside down?” “And just now, he saw that I’m your capable assistant and thought I was stealing his thunder, so he got angry and tried to hit me.” “If those security guards hadn’t protected me, he definitely would have gotten away with it.” Charlotte Thorne looked at me with disbelief. “Leo has been my assistant for two years. He’s handled countless things for me. Do you think he’s some useless freeloader who got his position through connections, like you? What do you have to be jealous of?” I tugged at the corner of my lips, but there wasn’t a shred of a smile in my eyes. “Though I’m curious why you think I’m useless.” “But you just believe your assistant’s words like that?” “It was your assistant—” Charlotte Thorne interrupted me again. “If I don’t believe my assistant, should I believe a lunatic like you?” Leo Stone raised a hand to cover his rising smile, then blinked, and tears welled up in his eyes. “Ms. Thorne, my heart aches for you.” “You’re already one of the most powerful people in this city, yet you’re still constrained by your mother and forced into an arranged marriage with a lunatic.” Charlotte Thorne had only taken over Thorne Corp. two years ago, and Mrs. Eleanor Thorne still interfered with the company’s affairs. She had accumulated a lot of anger due to her mother’s meddling. After Leo Stone’s words, the atmosphere around her immediately became heavy. “Asher Vance, you’d better apologize to me properly, and compensate me.” “Otherwise, not even my mother can save you.”

I finally understood. Leo Stone wasn’t so much a capable right-hand man as a fawning sycophant. He knew exactly how to twist his words to get into Charlotte Thorne’s head. This perception of me as “useless” definitely stemmed from him whispering in her ear. Charlotte Thorne was used to being flattered. Playing along with her seemed the easiest way to solve the problem. I glanced at her, feeling a surge of weariness. “What kind of compensation do you want?” She scoffed. “I want you to personally call my mother and tell her that you’re the one who wants to break off the engagement.” I nodded sharply. “Fine.” With that, I pulled out my phone and opened my contacts. Charlotte Thorne looked at me in surprise, pursing her lips. “Think carefully. Once you make that call, all the prestige and wealth of Thorne Corp. will have nothing to do with you.” I didn’t reply. I just found Mrs. Eleanor Thorne’s contact and pressed the call button. “Not only that, I want him to kneel down and apologize to me in front of everyone!” Leo Stone’s tearful, exaggerated voice cut in. “Ms. Thorne, I’ve worked for Thorne Corp. for so long. Everything I’ve achieved is based on my work ability.” “To be bullied and insulted like that just now, I really can’t bear it.” “Unless he apologizes to me, I will absolutely not forgive him.” I actually laughed. Those security guards were still standing there. Who was bullying whom, exactly? “Leo Stone, you just casually twist the truth, do you think everyone’s an idiot?” “You instigated the security guards to restrain me, and you even tried to hit me. Now you’re saying I bullied you?” Charlotte Thorne stepped in front of Leo Stone. “You must have provoked Mr. Stone first. He was just trying to protect himself.” “If you have any basic human dignity, then apologize to Mr. Stone.” “Otherwise, I’ll have to force you to apologize.” She glanced around, and the security guards received the unspoken instruction, eyeing me menacingly. “Asher certainly has dignity. I, on the other hand, think you and your male assistant have completely lost all shame.” A clear voice echoed from behind Charlotte Thorne. It was Seraphina Hayes, CEO of Hayes Industries. She walked gracefully, the beauty mark beneath her phoenix eyes gleaming. Hayes Industries was Thorne Corp.’s rival, with many overlapping business areas. Seraphina Hayes had taken over her family’s business early on, and her company was thriving. She and Charlotte Thorne had always been like two queens who avoided each other’s direct sight. However, thanks to my patent technology, Thorne Corp.’s recent product upgrades had subtly put them ahead of Hayes Industries. Charlotte Thorne was quite surprised that Seraphina Hayes had come to the engagement party at all. “Ms. Hayes, you must be quite闲, to not only attend a rival’s engagement party but also interfere in my private affairs?” Charlotte Thorne said, displeased. I, too, was a bit surprised to see Seraphina Hayes shielding me. I’d discussed collaborations with her before, and our interactions had been pleasant enough. I just hadn’t expected that halfway through our dealings, she would actually try to use her charm on me, which scared me into fleeing back to my lab overnight. It was the same with this patent. Since my mentor and Mrs. Eleanor Thorne had been good friends for years, I had licensed the patent to Thorne Corp. I hadn’t expected Seraphina to actually step forward and help me.

“Asher, dear? How’s the engagement going? Are you happy with the venue?” Mrs. Eleanor Thorne’s gentle voice came through the phone. “I’m calling to tell you that I’m breaking off the engagement.” “Ms. Thorne’s assistant blocked me and wouldn’t let me into the venue, and he even had the security guards lay hands on me.” “And Ms. Thorne came out, didn’t bother to get the full story, and then demanded I kneel and apologize to her assistant.” “Your family’s standards are too high. I won’t be coming in.” Silence hung on the other end of the line for a moment. “What?!” “That little punk always causes trouble for me… I’ll be right over to deal with her…” Mrs. Eleanor Thorne muttered, followed by the sound of a car engine starting. “Mrs. Thorne, don’t listen to this conniving little man! He’s just a freeloader trying to take advantage of your generosity!” Leo Stone snatched my phone, his face twisted with feigned grievance. “I was properly greeting Mr. Vance at the door, but he refused to come in and just caused trouble there instead.” “I’ve worked tirelessly for Thorne Corp. for so many years. Can’t I even get a simple apology?” Mrs. Eleanor Thorne’s voice turned chilling. “Mr. Stone, is it?” “You’re fired. Go to HR and process your resignation.” Leo Stone’s face froze. “My daughter’s engagement – what business is it of yours to meddle?” “Do you think those lies can fool me?” I hadn’t expected Mrs. Eleanor Thorne to believe me. Leo Stone’s face twitched, his hand tightening around the phone. He squeezed his eyes, then looked at Charlotte Thorne, feigning tears. “Ms. Thorne, if Mrs. Thorne doesn’t care about her own daughter, can’t I care?” “Just to gain favor with a professor, you forced Ms. Thorne to get engaged to an orphan with no connections. Are you treating Ms. Thorne as just a tool for an arranged marriage?” Silence fell on the other end of the line again. After a long pause, Mrs. Eleanor Thorne sighed, her voice suddenly sounding much older. “Charlotte, do you… do you feel the same way?” “Do you think… it’s my fault? So you did all this, unwilling to get engaged to Asher?” Charlotte Thorne glanced at me, then averted her eyes. “As long as Asher Vance is willing to apologize properly to my assistant, I’m still willing to go through with the engagement.” A scratching sound came from my phone case as I looked over. Leo Stone’s face was contorted. “This… Asher… what do you say?” The other end of the phone seemed to be waiting with bated breath. Waiting for what? For me to apologize to Leo Stone? All my previous patent collaborations had been with Mrs. Eleanor Thorne, and I’d always found her to be a fair person. I trusted her family’s upbringing, which was why when my mentor said my fiancée was Charlotte Thorne, I’d come with an open mind. But in the end, a businesswoman is still a businesswoman. To achieve her goal, even knowing the truth, she was willing to sacrifice me. I was curious, did she really think I had no other options besides Charlotte Thorne? I suddenly felt a surge of amusement. I lightly tapped the shoulder of the person in front of me. Seraphina Hayes’ body trembled slightly. She had been furious from Mrs. Eleanor Thorne’s words, about to retort with a sarcastic jab, but I had interrupted her. She softened her expression and looked at me, tilting her head slightly, blinking, and signaling for me to speak. “Seraphina Hayes, I’m planning to find a new engagement partner.” “Are you volunteering?”

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For seven years, **Alistair Vance** still called out his **Sera’s** name when he was drunk, even to me. “Sera, please, don’t leave me.” I’d softly agree, then take out his hearing aid. And whisper **Liam’s** name to him. He always believed I was so madly in love with him that I’d willingly play the substitute. Until **Liam**, who was supposed to have died seven years ago, suddenly returned. Seeing the divorce papers I handed him, **Alistair’s** eyes blazed. “You never loved me?” “Of course not.” “Don’t you have anything to say to me?!” I smiled gently. “Thanks for the five million. Otherwise, I still wouldn’t have found him.” 1 The day news of **Seraphina Hayes’s** divorce spread back home. I was with **Alistair Vance** at the hospital for his follow-up. His permanently damaged hearing was beyond recovery, and his legs still couldn’t walk. But hearing that the culprit behind it all was back in the country. A flicker of joy still crossed his usually indifferent eyes. That evening, he got drunk. His eyes hazy, he held my hand and whispered, “Sera, now that you’re back, don’t ever leave me again.” I obediently said, “Okay, I won’t leave you.” But he looked at me again, his expression slowly fading. “You’re not Sera.” My movements stilled. **Alistair** grabbed the small blanket draped over his wheelchair and flung it at my face. “Just because you have a face like Sera’s, you think you can *be* her?” “You don’t deserve her, **Audrey**.” “If there’s nothing else, get out.” His tone was calm, unhurried, as always. The blanket didn’t hit hard, but it felt like a slap across my face. A wave of intense humiliation washed over me, pulling me back years. I was eighteen, the night before my art school auditions. It was **Seraphina Hayes**, **Alistair’s** white moonlight, who tore up all my paintings. She took a small silver hammer, studded with jewels, and systematically broke my fingers, one by one. Even after they healed, my hands would tremble uncontrollably the moment I picked up a paintbrush. I could never paint again. **Alistair** found me, acting as **Seraphina’s** protector. He pushed a check across the table. “If it’s not enough, name your price.” I gripped my trembling hands, biting back the urge to scream at him. “What’s the use of your money? My dreams, my future, she destroyed them all!” Then, **Alistair**, sitting across from me, smiled. He looked at me with an expression of gentle contempt. “Just take it. Aren’t your ‘dreams’ just a way for people like you to earn a little more cash?” Back then, he was aloof and aristocratic, just twenty-three, already the youngest head of the Vance family. He looked down on me, completely. Neither we, nor anyone else in the Vance family, would have guessed then— **Alistair** and I would marry two years later. 2 On my twentieth birthday. It was also **Liam Carter’s** fourth year as a police officer. He fell into the open sea while rescuing our citizens kidnapped by pirates. The country searched that sea for a month afterward, but he was never found. They all said **Liam** was dead. I was in a daze for two months, on the verge of a breakdown. But then, in the corner of a blurry photo on a hidden overseas website, I saw his figure. The image quality was terrible. But **Liam** and I had known each other for over ten years, and I had a gut feeling—that was him. Still, finding him based on that photo was like searching for a needle in a haystack. I needed a lot of money. That’s when it happened. **Seraphina Hayes** abandoned **Alistair**, who was injured because of her, and went abroad to get married. And **Alistair**, once healed, found me. … **Seraphina Hayes** returned seven nights later, late at night. **Alistair** had specially sent people to wait at the airport for a whole day to pick her up. Compared to her triumphant departure, **Seraphina** looked considerably more haggard. She wore a simple white dress, her expression stubborn. “Alistair, you still remember me.” Her gaze shifted to me in the corner, and she suddenly froze. A moment later, she shrieked, almost losing control. “Audrey Stone, you poor, cheap knockoff, what are you doing here?” I silently watched her. **Alistair** calmly stated, “She is my wife now.” **Seraphina** looked incredulous, her eyes red as she demanded, “What do you mean by this?” “You said you’d wait for me forever, and now? You can like *this* kind of person?” She stood stubbornly, tears streaming down her face. That face, which was seventy percent similar to mine, held a fragile beauty. **Alistair** turned his head and ordered me, “Push me over there.” The wheelchair was pushed in front of **Seraphina**. **Alistair** took her hand, sighing softly. “Sera, you were gone so long. I missed you too.” “She’s just a cheap stand-in, don’t mind her.” “Oh, so she’s just a stand-in.” She picked up the steaming cup of water from the table and threw it straight at my face. “Now that I’m back, can I be annoyed by this knockoff face?” **Alistair** didn’t spare me a glance, just looked at her with indulgent understanding. “Of course, you can.” The liquid streamed down my neck, soaking my clothes, leaving a burning sensation on my skin. I was in so much pain I could barely stand. Tears welled up instantly. “Why are you crying? Playing pitiful again, are we?” **Seraphina** looked at me with disgust. “It’s sickening.” **Alistair** finally spared me a glance. He looked at my scalded red face, frowning slightly. And calmly said, “**Audrey Stone**, get out.” 3 The next morning, I received five hundred thousand dollars in my account from **Alistair**. No memo, no explanation. But I knew perfectly well. It was his compensation to me for **Seraphina’s** actions. I was no longer as naive and stubborn as I had been at eighteen, fantasizing about getting justice. I accepted it calmly, even sending him a text saying thank you. After my injuries healed, **Alistair** looked at my face and suddenly smiled. “**Audrey**, I thought you’d always be so proud.” I meekly lowered my gaze. “Mr. Vance, people always change.” There was a gala tonight. **Alistair** had specially prepared it for **Seraphina**. After she went abroad and married, the Hayes family’s influence back home had waned. **Alistair** was using his connections to pave the way for **Seraphina**. During the dinner, **Seraphina’s** old rival, **Mason Reid**, suddenly stood up with a drink in hand. “Seraphina Hayes, weren’t you supposed to be a princess for some royal family overseas?” “How did you end up sneaking back like a stray dog, looking so pathetic?” **Seraphina’s** face instantly turned pale. **Mason** had someone bring a bottle of high-proof liquor and pushed it in front of her. “I know what Mr. Vance’s purpose is for this party tonight.” “Alright, Seraphina. You drink this whole bottle, and all our past grudges are settled.” “If you want to establish yourself here in the future, maybe I can even help you out.” **Seraphina’s** eyes reddened. She looked at **Alistair**, tears trembling on her lashes. “This is hard liquor, I’ll die if I drink it all.” “Alistair, didn’t you say you’d always protect me?” **Alistair** reassuringly squeezed her hand and looked at **Mason**. “Sera used to be stubborn and she probably offended you, so it’s normal that you want to get even.” “How about this drink, someone else can drink it as an apology.” He paused, then looked at me. “**Audrey**.” “Go drink it, then apologize to Mr. Reid.” **Mason** leaned back in his chair, one hand on the backrest, looking amused. “If your wife agrees, I have no problem with it.” The wounds on my face hadn’t fully healed yet. The doctor had specifically told me not to drink. I froze in my chair, pinching my slightly trembling wrist, silently meeting **Alistair’s** gaze. He calmly said, “I’ll have my assistant transfer you a million after this.” The atmosphere was still for a moment. I stood up, picked up the bottle, and tilted my head back, chugging it down. The intense burning sensation from the strong alcohol spread from my throat all the way to my chest. The potent fumes surged up, climbing my windpipe, making my eyes stream with tears. **Mason’s** buddies applauded and cheered. “What a drinker! What a woman!” “Mr. Vance’s wife is so fond of money, what, was she poor in her last life?” Their tone was full of mockery. After I finished, I put down the bottle and bowed deeply to **Mason**. “Mr. Reid, I apologize for any past offenses. Please forgive me.” **Mason** toyed with his glass and smiled. “A million dollars, Mr. Vance certainly has deep pockets.” “Alright, Seraphina. Our grudges are settled.” 4 The restroom outside the banquet hall was dimly lit, permeated with a faint, sweet scent. I clung to the toilet, throwing up until my vision blurred. My stomach and throat were numb with pain, so much so that when I saw streaks of fresh blood in the vomit, I realized— It seemed I was quite seriously hurt. I forced my aching body to call 91

It wasn’t until I was hooked up to an IV drip that I received a call from **Alistair**. “Where are you? Did you get lost throwing up, or are you throwing a tantrum?” His tone carried an implicit note of displeasure. I paused. “At the hospital, on an IV.” He chuckled. “Spending all these years with me has made you quite delicate, hasn’t it?” I didn’t say anything, just looked up at the flickering fluorescent light above me. Perhaps the light was too harsh, stinging my eyes, filling them with tears. “I’ll have my driver pick you up from the hospital later. No one else takes care of me as thoroughly as you do.” With that, **Alistair** hung up. He had injured his legs and ears saving **Seraphina** back then. **Seraphina** abandoned him and went abroad, and I married into the Vance family in her place. Because **Alistair** was paralyzed, we didn’t even have a marital life. I, his wife in name only, was nothing more than his personal caregiver. When I got home late that night, **Seraphina** was already asleep. **Alistair** was waiting for me in his study. He’d had some wine, looking at me hazily. “The money has been transferred to your card.” “Okay.” “Audrey, don’t blame me. Sera has never suffered any grievances since she was a child. She’s not like you.” I sniffled and softly said, “I understand.” “Mr. Vance, I’d like to go abroad next month to see an art exhibition, if I may?” **Alistair** smiled. “Of course, you can.” “Audrey, see? Your so-called dreams are only worth this much money, aren’t they?” I said yes. Perhaps due to the alcohol, he leaned back in his wheelchair, eyelids heavy with drowsiness. Looking at that face, which was maybe thirty percent similar to the one in my memory. I reached out, took off his hearing aid, and spoke in a hoarse voice. “Liam.” Just that one name, and tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. “It’s been seven years. Please, let me find you next month, okay?” 5 Perhaps because I was going to look for him. That night, I dreamed of **Liam** again. We grew up in the same orphanage. He was always brave and had a strong sense of justice. Later, he became a SWAT officer. I wanted to study art, to go to art school, and he sent me all his income. “Go to a good art studio, don’t skimp on materials.” He came to visit me at school, ruffled my hair, and slipped me a debit card. “You just pursue your dreams. Leave everything else to me, Audrey.” I wanted to become a famous painter, to make **Liam** proud of me. But all of that was destroyed by **Seraphina Hayes**. The second month after my fingers were broken, **Liam** returned from a mission. He almost lost his mind. The unit’s expert marksman, capable of shooting accurately from thousands of yards away, his bullet never deviating from its trajectory. But he held my hand, trembling uncontrollably. He couldn’t suppress the anger in his voice. “I’ll kill them.” “Don’t say such things, **Liam**.” I rested my head on his shoulder, closing my eyes wearily. “I’m so tired.” “I need to sleep for a bit.” For that entire month, my injuries healed slowly. **Alistair** kept sending people to torment me mentally. Every day, I woke up repeatedly from pain and nightmares. It wasn’t until I leaned against **Liam**, smelling his familiar scent, that I finally relaxed. The Hayes family’s influence was too great, and they had the Vance family allied with them. They produced a psychiatric diagnosis certificate for **Seraphina**. And paid me a large sum for medical expenses. **Liam** was a man of integrity and honor, risking his life to protect others. But he was helpless against **Seraphina Hayes**. After I recovered, he returned to his unit. Before he left, he held me and promised, “One day, I’ll see **Seraphina Hayes** brought to justice.” “You believe me, Audrey.” Tears streaming down my face, I nodded desperately. I had always believed him. I just… didn’t wait for him. 6 With **Alistair’s** relentless help, **Seraphina Hayes** perfectly integrated back into the social circles within half a month of her return. The night before I was to leave the country, I dropped them off at a business meeting and prepared to head back. “My flight is early tomorrow morning.” I softly told **Alistair**, “Mr. Vance, I’ll head back and rest now.” He nodded, his expression indifferent. **Seraphina**, standing nearby, suddenly spoke up. “Hold it.” She held a glass of red wine, tilting her head slightly as she looked at me. “I heard you’re going abroad to see an art exhibition?” “Your hands are useless, you can’t even hold a paintbrush. **Audrey Stone**, are you still dreaming of being a great artist?” I ignored her and continued towards the door. She directly smashed the wine glass against my back. The wine splashed out, staining the back of my dress. “Did I say you could leave?” **Seraphina** lowered her voice. “Get back here and help me drink tonight.” “Anyway, you common folk, you’re born to serve.” I froze in place, unmoving. **Alistair** sighed softly, speaking to me with a resigned yet indulgent tone. “Listen to Sera, Audrey.” “Otherwise, I’ll have to cancel your flight for tomorrow.” In that moment. I suddenly thought of **Liam** again. Back in the art studio, the first time **Seraphina Hayes** publicly humiliated me. She pinched her nose, standing several feet away, and said loudly, “It stinks.” “How dare people like you stay in the same art studio as us?” That night, I called **Liam**. “Are people born with different statuses, high or low?” He was on his way to a mission then. The car window was open. The wind from the open field whistled through the phone into my ear. **Liam’s** voice was slightly muffled, but it seemed to carry the force of a thunderclap. “Audrey, all humans are born equal.” “No matter where they’re born or raised, for example, right now, the same moon shines on all of us.” 7 Under **Alistair’s** protection, no one dared to mention **Seraphina Hayes’s** messy divorce anymore. Everyone praised her instead. “I hear Ms. Hayes is a renowned painter and artist abroad.” “Her works are priceless, even royal families from various countries compete to buy them.” **Seraphina** was very pleased, her smile elegant. “You all flatter me. I just have a bit of talent for painting.” She was allergic to alcohol, so she couldn’t drink. I had to drink for her. That night, I went to the restroom several times to throw up. My neck broke out in red rashes. When I went back, I happened to hear people quietly discussing. “That woman Seraphina is with, is that Mr. Vance’s wife? She looks so much like her.” “What wife? She’s just a servant. She sold herself to be a stand-in for money, lost all her dignity.” “That knockoff will be kicked out of the family soon, won’t she?” A few people laughed, their eyes full of scorn. My back was soaked with cold sweat. I leaned against the hallway wall, trying to catch my breath. I opened my phone. **Alistair** had transferred another million. “I hung ‘Moonlight Over the Wild’ in the exhibition. Sera is in a bad mood, don’t blame her.” I knew. Recently, she was holding an art exhibition, and someone offered a high price, wanting her to paint another piece exactly like ‘Moonlight Over the Wild.’ But that painting wasn’t by **Seraphina Hayes**. It was a piece I’d painted after that phone call with **Liam**, when I was seventeen, staying up all night. Later, to raise money, I sold it for twenty thousand dollars. After marrying **Alistair**, I found out he was the anonymous buyer. The wind in the wilderness had shape, and the moonlight shone equally on every piece of land. This was something **Seraphina Hayes**, who constantly called people “inferior,” could never paint. 8 The seventh year. I finally found the photographer who took that picture. “Do you know where he is now?” He shook his head. Seeing my disappointment, he hesitated, then lowered his voice. “Actually, I photographed this person again six months ago.” I stiffened abruptly. “But the place where the photo was taken is very dangerous. If I expose it to you, I’ll have to move from here immediately and move across the ocean.” “If you want it, you’ll have to pay a high price.” I was still two million short of the money I needed. After returning home, I found **Alistair**. Before he could say anything, **Seraphina Hayes**, who was beside him, laughed. “How shameless. Do you really think you’re worth that much money?” I ignored her, my gaze fixed on **Alistair**. “Mr. Vance, whatever your terms, just name them.” He met my desperate gaze, a slight愣. But still said, “**Audrey**, Sera isn’t happy lately. I need to console her.” “This matter, she’ll decide.” **Seraphina** looked at me, smiling slowly. “Audrey Stone, aren’t you proud that your talent is higher than mine? Don’t you despise us rich people the most?” “You want money? Fine, then get on your knees and beg me.” The moment I knelt before her. My lips were chapped and bleeding. **Seraphina** suddenly burst into laughter. “You actually believed that? How stupid can you be?” She narrowed her eyes. “Just kidding.” “Back when I broke your hands, your brother went to my uncle just like that, saying he’d bring me to justice—he didn’t know that when he was begging like that, I was sitting right next door, enjoying the show.” “Your brother is just like you, naive and foolish, one of those common folk.” “I heard he died? Well, that’s truly—” She leaned slightly closer, her smile as sweet as a poisonous flower, mesmerizing. “Per-fect.” The taut string in my mind snapped. Before I even realized what I was doing, I was grabbing her hair, slamming her head against the edge of the table. I bit into her shoulder, wanting to tear a piece of flesh off. **Seraphina** had never suffered like this. Tears streamed down her face from the pain. But she was used to living in luxury, utterly no match for my strength. “Audrey Stone, are you insane?!” She struggled desperately to push me away, screaming hysterically, “You rabid dog!” Finally, **Alistair**, sitting in his wheelchair, called for the butler and servants. His face was cold, for the first time dropping his facade of gentle politeness in front of me. “Audrey, you’ve been married into this family for seven years, and you still haven’t learned what decorum means.” “I’ve been too good to you, letting you lose your sense of proportion.” When I was forcibly pulled away by several people, my mouth was full of blood. **Seraphina** was nearly hysterical. She slapped me twice, then ordered the others to drag me into the bathroom. The bathtub was filled with cold water. My face was shoved in. Water flooded my nostrils and eyes, making me tremble and convulse with pain. Just as I was about to suffocate, I was yanked up by my hair. And shoved back down again. In the second before I lost consciousness. I wondered. When **Liam** fell into the open sea. Was it like this too? Was he this desperate too? Did he think of me like this? 9 **Seraphina Hayes’s** attack was too brutal. In the end, I was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment. I fell seriously ill. As compensation, **Alistair** transferred three million dollars to me. He said, “It’s more than what you asked for, so don’t make a fuss with me anymore, Audrey.” I didn’t bother arguing with him. I transferred the money, wanting to buy that photo. But the money was sent back. The photographer’s account was deactivated. I sat blankly in the hospital. The sunlight poured in like molten gold through the window, illuminating me. But I felt like I couldn’t perceive any warmth at all. I don’t know how much time passed, but then there was a knock on the door. I looked up and saw a serious-looking middle-aged man. On the day I was discharged, he led me into an unassuming, secret small building. “The situation is very dangerous. Don’t look for **Liam** anymore. We can’t even contact him right now.” He said, “Whether he’s alive or dead, we’ll have an answer in at most a month.” I looked at him blankly. “So, he’s not dead?” “He wasn’t before, but now it’s hard to say. His mission is extremely dangerous. He went off-grid a week ago.” Tears streamed down my face. My voice trembling, I asked, “Then why didn’t he let you tell me?” “Liam knew you were married, and that you married… **Alistair Vance**.” “He said it was to avoid disturbing you.” “He wanted you to believe he died seven years ago.” … When I left the small building, darkness had fallen. I looked at the setting sun, feeling as if fate had played a cruel joke on me. When I returned, **Alistair** was waiting in his wheelchair in the villa’s courtyard. Seeing me, he spoke in a low voice, “Where did you go after the hospital, Audrey?” “Are you mad at me?” I looked at his arrogant face, subtly hinting at displeasure. In truth, it bore only a fleeting resemblance to **Liam’s** sharp, battle-hardened face after going through so many life-or-death situations. I just… I just missed him too much. Even that small resemblance was enough to pull me back from the brink of suffocation. But after today, it seemed everything was meaningless. I walked past him numbly, ignoring him. But my wrist was grabbed. “If it’s about Sera, I admit, I did favor her a bit.” His tone was deliberately softened. As if he’d made a huge concession for me. “As compensation, I’ll have my assistant transfer another sum of money to you.” “Don’t make a scene anymore.” I didn’t speak, just stared into the distance, at the setting sun during twilight. It was swallowed by the distant mountains, little by little. The moment night fell, I spoke quietly. “Alistair, let’s get a divorce.” 10 He frowned, warning me, “These years, I’ve really spoiled you, made you forget your place.” “Who else would give someone in your position this much money if you leave me?” I covered my face and laughed. “What use is money to me?” “Useless? Did you forget how you knelt and begged me before?” I ignored him, simply placing the drafted divorce papers on his desk. And moved out of the Vance mansion. Days passed. A month later, I received an invitation from the orphanage where I grew up. To attend their charity fundraiser. These days, **Alistair** initially thought I was just sulking, not wanting me to push my luck. Later, he seemed to realize I was serious. And started lowering himself to coax me. “Don’t make a fuss with me, Audrey.” “Come back, and I’ll have Sera personally apologize to you.” I never replied. On the day of the fundraiser. I walked onto the stage and immediately spotted **Alistair** in the audience. He was staring intently at me. The host asked me, “I hear Ms. Stone grew up in this orphanage and has made multiple donations since.” “Yes, I want the children who come after to have a better life.” This was something **Liam** had been doing ever since he graduated. He was gone, so it fell to me. “As far as I know, Ms. Stone had a brother who grew up with her here, working a very commendable profession, named **Liam Carter**?” Hearing **Liam’s** name, I suddenly froze. My gaze swept across the room, then settled on a dim corner of the hall. The heart in my chest suddenly began to pound wildly. It took a long time to find my voice. “…Not my brother.” “He’s not my brother.” “Liam is six years older than me, but I never called him brother, because I love him.” Below the stage, **Alistair**, sitting in his wheelchair, his face abruptly turned ashen. The most fervent, unmasked affection of my life had always been reserved for **Liam** alone. The host was stunned. “But… Ms. Stone seems to be connected to Mr. Vance, who is also here tonight—” “It was just a transaction. **Alistair** and I are already divorced.” I said, “Thank you, Mr. Vance, for the compensation all these years, which gave me ample funds to search for **Liam**.” “Whether he’s alive or dead, I had to find him.” “He will always be a hero in my heart.” As I said these words, I didn’t look at **Alistair**, whose eyes were red. I just stared intently at that dim corner. Watching that familiar figure step out of the shadows. Into the light. Walking step by step toward me. He was so much thinner, his cheeks slightly sunken, and exposed skin was covered in scars. But those cold, sharp eyes were fixed on me, bright as stars, softening in an instant. “Now, you’ve found me.”

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The first time I caught Derek Hayes cheating, he cried, swore on everything, and begged for my forgiveness. I caved, but what waited for me was his second affair. That time, he dragged my family into it, playing the victim, and I had no choice but to let it go. By the third time I caught him, Derek didn’t even bother to put on an act. He just smirked, completely at ease, “If you don’t like it, go find someone yourself!” So, I found a young male model and didn’t come home all night. Derek finally panicked. It was the night of my fifth wedding anniversary with Derek. I walked into the house and saw a woman’s purse on the living room sofa. Derek was nowhere in sight. My gut told me Derek was cheating again. I headed straight upstairs, and Mrs. Davis, our housekeeper, scurried after me. “Mrs. Wallace! Mrs. Wallace! Mr. Hayes is in a meeting upstairs!” I kicked open the study door. Sure enough, Derek, supposedly “in a meeting,” was standing at the desk. But beneath him was another woman, Amber Reed, his secretary. The air hung heavy with a sickening, messy scent. “What are you doing back so early?” Derek touched his nose, his voice sharp, slowly moving away from Amber. I was so enraged I laughed. “Do you even know what day it is?” Before Derek could speak, Amber, clearly annoyed by my interruption, cut in, “What’s wrong, sis? Isn’t it just your wedding anniversary today? Mr. Hayes remembers! He even had me prepare a gift.” She pulled down her bodycon skirt, which Derek had wrinkled, and swayed her hips as she walked towards me. With a flick of her hand through her long hair, she took off the necklace from her neck and dangled it in front of me. “Look, it’s Van Cleef & Arpels’ new collection, costs a fortune!” I snatched the necklace from her hand. While she was rolling her eyes and admiring her nails, I slapped her across the face. “How dare you hit me!” “I’ll take the necklace. And that slap? It’s to tell you, don’t just take what’s not yours!” “Serena Wallace! What are you doing?!” Derek rushed forward, shielding Amber behind him, squeezing my wrist until it bruised. He looked at me and then, unexpectedly, smiled. “We were just having some fun. Is that really worth this kind of outburst?” “I provide for you every month, food, clothes… what more could you possibly want?” “If you don’t like it, go find someone yourself!” I wrenched my hand free and slapped him again, leaving his face ashen. “Fine! I will! And I don’t need your reminder!” Downstairs, Mrs. Davis nervously approached me. “Mrs. Wallace, Mr. Hayes truly cares about you. Look at this table, it’s all for your anniversary…” On the dining table, a perfectly cooked Wellington beef, Bordeaux red wine, and candles flickering gently. Everything felt like a cruel joke. Without hesitation, I grabbed Amber’s purse and swept everything off the table. The crashing and shattering sounds were the perfect soundtrack for this anniversary.

This wasn’t Derek’s first time cheating. And he never doubted I’d make up with him. The first time I found out was in the car. I found a woman’s lipstick in the passenger seat. He tried everything to cover it up with lies, but he didn’t fool me. Finally, Derek confessed, claiming it was someone a client forced on him, and he had to play along to secure a deal. To beg for my forgiveness, Derek, running a 102-degree fever, knelt all night in the pouring rain outside the villa, swearing he’d never do it again. It wasn’t until he collapsed in the rain and our driver took him to the hospital that I finally gave in. I hadn’t forgiven him; I just felt sorry for him. Unexpectedly, less than six months later, I found a used condom under his office desk. I didn’t say a word that time. I just smiled, grabbed my bag, and left. Derek was both ashamed and furious. He immediately called my parents. As the CEO of a major company, Derek was someone my financially dependent parents and sister couldn’t afford to cross. He knew he wouldn’t have to say much; others would naturally “reason” with me on his behalf. Sure enough, the night I moved back in with my parents, my dad literally threw my bags out. “We know what happened, but the Hayes family has been nothing but generous to us! If you break up with Derek, who’s going to get your brother-in-law that job? Who’s going to cover your mom’s medical bills? And all my friends, they only kiss up to me because of Derek! You’d really just throw all that away?” “Exactly! You can’t be so selfish! If you ask me, you’re just not capable enough to keep a man’s heart!” My mom chimed in viciously. “Sis, maybe you should just have a kid like I did. You know, a baby really makes a man settle down!” My sister pretended to offer kind advice. I tried to argue with them, but not only did no one speak up for me, my mom even pulled her classic ‘heart attack’ move, clutching her chest and collapsing to the floor. “You get back to Derek right now and apologize! Or I’ll die right here in front of you!” Completely broken, I returned to Derek. Derek was overjoyed and gave me a large sum of money as an apology. But from that moment on, my heart turned to ashes.

This time, I didn’t go back to my parents’ place. I went straight to a high-end club and booked a private room. People say the best way to forget someone is to meet someone new. I took the black card Derek gave me, waved my hand, and told the manager to send a few male models over. Five minutes later, several young, muscular men, all over 6 feet tall, entered the room. Each one was tall and toned, and as they sat beside me, their raw masculine energy filled the air. We played games, chugging an entire case of foreign liquor. Finally, I swayed an empty bottle, tipsily asking them, “Each of you, tell me one good thing about me. The one who says the most will stay with me tonight.” The male models were instantly hyped. Finn, a red-haired guy, spoke first. “You’re gorgeous, sis! Beautiful skin, stunning and those long legs…” “Your personality is amazing, sis, you’re so cool and sweet at the same time, I love that!” “Your style, sis, it’s just so tasteful…” Perhaps it was the sudden rush of emotions from being drunk, but listening to them babble, I suddenly smashed the wine bottle to the floor. A loud *CRASH* echoed, startling everyone. I covered my face and started crying. “If I’m so great, why does he keep cheating on me?! Why?!” “What did I do wrong…” The young models were all taken aback, exchanging bewildered glances, speechless. Then, a male model who had been standing silently by the door spoke. “When you use someone else’s mistakes as a mirror, all you’ll see is a distorted version of yourself.” “True worth is never about who loved or betrayed you, but how you choose to love yourself.” At his words, I stopped crying and looked up. This male model seemed unfamiliar. He had sharp, striking features and dressed impeccably, with the best aura among all the models there. He looked like someone who could help me forget Derek. I wiped my tears and, choked up, reached out to him. “What’s all that philosophical mumbo jumbo? Come on, sleep with me.”

After being with Julian Carter, I gradually understood why Derek always cheated. The vibrant, youthful body and just the right amount of emotional intimacy – I had no reason not to like it. After that night, hooked on the thrill, I stayed at Julian’s place for several days straight. If I hadn’t run into Derek and Amber at the mall, I might have completely forgotten I was still a married woman. “Serena Wallace?” I heard someone call my name while I was picking out clothes at The Grand Pavilion Mall. I looked up, meeting Derek’s confused gaze. “What are you doing here?” How annoying. Amber was clinging to Derek’s arm, pouting. “Oh, wow, I didn’t realize you came to places this high-end now, sis.” In the past, I’d been with Derek through his struggles, knowing how hard he worked to start his business, so I never splurged. No wonder Derek’s friends used to say I was tacky and stingy, not classy enough. I wasn’t annoyed. I just tossed the men’s clothing I was holding onto the counter and waved to Liam, the sales associate. “Excuse me, could you bag these up for me? Mr. Hayes will be paying.” Liam, the SA, eagerly brought over the POS machine. I looked at Derek and Amber and said, “Well, I just realized something. If I don’t spend my own husband’s money, some random gold-digger will spend it for me.” “So I might as well be the one to spend it!” “Mr. Hayes, look at her! Is she saying *I’m* some ‘random nobody’?” Amber whined, shaking Derek’s arm. Derek, surprisingly, ignored her. Instead, he asked hesitantly, “Why are you buying so many men’s clothes?” “None of your business. From now on, I won’t meddle in your affairs, and you won’t meddle in mine!” I smiled, snatched his card, swiped it on the POS machine, grabbed the clothes, and walked away. “Serena Wallace, wait.” Derek quickly caught up to me, his voice dark. “I know you’ve been staying with your parents lately. Stay there as long as you want, but I’ll just say this: my mom is still waiting for a grandchild. If you don’t have one, plenty of other people will.” “So I advise you to know when to quit, before things get messy!” I nodded, feigning innocence. “I never said I wouldn’t have a baby. It just might not be yours. Would you like that?” “What do you mean?!” Derek was furious. “Isn’t it obvious? I found a man!” I left Derek standing there, walking away without a backward glance.

That night, Derek lay in bed, the memory of Serena’s words from earlier swirling in his mind. He tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Amber heard the movement and whined, “Mr. Hayes, are you going to let me sleep or not? We have work tomorrow!” Derek mumbled, “Don’t you think Serena’s been acting a little strange? She rarely went out alone before, never really shopped, and she barely ever wore makeup…” Amber’s hand became restless, stroking down from Derek’s chest, her voice casual. “Has she gotten lonely because you’re always out? Started sneaking around?” For some reason, Derek suddenly erupted in an unprovoked rage, grabbing Amber’s wrist. “What the hell did you just say?!” Amber’s hand hurt so much tears welled up. “I’m sorry, Mr. Hayes, I was wrong! Serena wouldn’t possibly cheat!” Derek scoffed, “Watch your mouth! Know your place!” After making Amber leave, Derek was completely unable to sleep. He smoked a cigarette on the sprawling balcony, and finally, unable to bear it any longer, dialed his in-laws’ number. The line rang busy for a while before his mother-in-law finally picked up. “Derek? So late, what’s wrong?” “Mom, tell Serena to come home tomorrow. I want to take her to see my parents.” “Serena? She’s not with you? She hasn’t been back here for days!” Derek’s mind exploded with a sudden *buzz*.

Being young is great, though it’s almost too much for me to handle. Julian Carter was thrilled with the clothes I bought him, saying he wanted to thank me properly. So… He kept me busy for most of the night, until the first hint of dawn appeared, and still he wouldn’t let me sleep. I clutched the sheets, drenched in sweat. “I really can’t anymore…” “Almost there.” Julian kissed me. “You paid me, so I have to work hard, right?” I was about to say he didn’t have to work *that* hard when my phone rang. It was Derek. I hesitated about answering, but Julian just pressed the screen off. “Serena, focus. Otherwise… I might never finish.” So I had no choice but to respond to his kisses with full attention. My phone screen went dark and lit up again, dark and lit up. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and answered. As Julian gave one last powerful thrust, almost on purpose, he let out a satisfied sigh right next to the phone. Derek, sensitive to the abnormality, his voice icy, “Serena Wallace, where are you?!” “I…” Julian covered my mouth, and I couldn’t speak. “Speak up!” Julian snatched the phone, his voice sharp. “Serena’s with me. Do you have a problem with that?” “Who the hell are you?!” Derek roared, enraged. “The other man, ever heard of it?” Julian scoffed, laughing. Derek cursed and threatened Julian, promising to make him pay. Even if Julian was brave, he was still just a male model. I didn’t want him caught up in my mess with Derek, so I quickly took the phone back. “What’s wrong, didn’t you yourself tell me to go find someone? Now that I actually did, Mr. Hayes isn’t happy?” “Serena Wallace, come home right now. We need to talk.” Derek’s tone was somewhat defeated. “Home? You mean your love nest with Amber Reed? Sorry, I find it dirty.” I intentionally emphasized the word “dirty.” Then I hung up, lay back without another word. Julian came to hug me. “What’s wrong? Hearing his voice upset you?” “No, I’m worried he’ll retaliate against you.” I sighed. “It won’t come to that. He can’t touch me.” Julian held me close. The pleasant scent of pine wood emanated from him, and I felt completely safe. I stopped worrying about any consequences and fell into a deep sleep. The next morning, I timed it so I would arrive home after Derek had left for work, intending to pick up some clothes. But Derek hadn’t left. He was lying on the sofa. The moment I walked in, he sat up, his eyes swirling with an emotion I couldn’t decipher. “Serena, that male model… what exactly does he have that I don’t?” I put my bag down and sat across from Derek. After more than a week apart, Derek seemed to have grown a few shades paler.

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To save my childhood sweetheart, Serena, who suffered from congenital heart disease, my wife Valerie tricked me into signing an organ donation agreement. Then, she found a semi-truck and had me run over right outside the hospital. As I was barely clinging to life, Valerie coolly removed my heart. When my body was wheeled out of the operating room, Serena rushed to my side like a madwoman. She saw the gaping, unstitched void in my chest and screamed, tears streaming down her face: “I’m so sorry… I was too late… If there’s a next life, I won’t let you suffer like this again…” Her tears landed exactly where my heart used to be, and I even felt a strange warmth. She spun around and stormed into the operating room. When she emerged, Valerie and Dylan Hayes were lying in pools of blood. Then, she slit her own wrist, taking her life for me. Before she died, she ordered them to bury us together. When I opened my eyes again, I was reborn. Valerie, dressed in a wedding gown and holding a bouquet, was proposing to me. I immediately flung the bouquet in her face, then turned and embraced Serena in the crowd. But after just a year and a half of marriage, she changed. Valerie and Dylan Hayes became inseparable, openly letting him move into our home. She even let him drive over my cat—my beloved cat that I’d raised for seven years—claiming its incessant meowing was disturbing his sleep. I couldn’t believe this was the woman who had loved me so fiercely in my last life. My eyes burning, I demanded, “What the hell is wrong with you?” But Valerie’s eyes were glacial. “Nothing. Just fell out of love.”

After burying my cat, I stopped by a copy shop on the way back and printed two copies of a divorce agreement. As soon as I got home, the housekeeper came up to me. “Sir, the madam has been busy in the kitchen all morning. She’s probably trying to apologize to you. She really cares about you.” I could only force a hollow smile. Clutching the divorce papers, I walked towards the kitchen. Valerie was packing up the food she’d just made. The kitchen was a disaster zone. When she saw me, she immediately stopped, pulling off her apron as she headed for the door. “I’m going to change. Help me pack this up. Eat whatever else is on the table, and then come with me to bring food to Dylan.” So, all that effort was just to make a meal for Dylan. Of course. Knowing Valerie, she would never cook personally just to apologize to me. I reached out and stopped her hurried exit, handing her the divorce agreement. “Sign this.” She frowned, staring at me. Her hand already flipped to the last page, where she scribbled her name. She casually stuffed the papers back into my chest, then rushed off, saying, “Hurry up. I’ll be down in two minutes.” I scoffed. She had signed the divorce papers, so I was free to leave. As I was about to head out, Valerie, already changed, ran down the stairs. She saw me by the front door, without the lunchbox she’d prepared, and immediately blew up. “Caleb Reed! I’m stressed out of my mind, and all I asked you to do was put the lunchbox in a bag! Why are you just standing there like an idiot?!” “Dylan works hard overseeing the site. He only gets a short break to eat. Are you going to take responsibility if he misses his meal?” She stormed into the kitchen, packed the lunchbox in two swift movements, then grabbed it and strode back to me, shoving it into my arms. The steaming hot container made me flinch, but before I could react, she dragged me out the door. After tossing me into the car, she stomped on the gas, and the car sped off. When we arrived at the construction site, Valerie was wiping Dylan’s sweat and fanning him. They looked so intimate, truly like an affectionate couple. Even I, her actual husband, was green with envy. Valerie insisted on dragging me along, no doubt just to mess with me. I was almost gone anyway, so I didn’t care anymore. “Look out!” A startled cry rang out. Valerie, beside me, reacted first, but she shoved me aside. As I fell, I saw Dylan embracing Valerie, leaping away. A steel beam crashed down exactly where we had been standing, sending up a cloud of dust. I scrambled to my feet and rushed over. Valerie pushed Dylan off her, her hands flying to her lower abdomen in a panic. “My baby!” Dylan scrambled back to Valerie’s side, carefully helping her up, his eyes overflowing with urgency. I stood there, stunned, staring at Valerie’s belly. “You… you’re having a baby?” Valerie was pregnant? But the last time we were intimate was a year ago. So… she loved Dylan enough to have his child?

The car keys Valerie threw at me hit my forehead, giving me my answer. “What else? You think it’s yours?” Maybe it was my imagination, but as the heavy keys struck my head, I distinctly saw a flicker of something in Valerie’s eyes. But her voice remained icy. “What are you waiting for? Get in the car! Take me to the hospital!” Stunned, I unconsciously obeyed, starting the car and speeding towards the hospital. It wasn’t until I went to pick up Valerie’s lab results that a passing nurse gasped, looking at my head. “Your head is bleeding!” I reached up and touched it, realizing the blood from the gash on my forehead had already coagulated. After cleaning the wound, I returned to Valerie’s exam room with the results. Just outside the door, I overheard the doctor’s caution: “Ms. Thorne, it’s a miracle your baby is alright this time. Please be extremely careful from now on.” “This pregnancy was conceived through IVF, and with unstable implantation, the risk of miscarriage is very high.” IVF? Why IVF? I was a bit confused. Valerie and Dylan’s relationship was almost public. Was IVF really necessary? As I was pondering, Valerie walked out of the room and bumped into me. I looked steadily into her eyes and asked, “What’s this about IVF?” She froze for a second, her gaze darting away. Even her words were stuttering. “Wh-what IVF? There’s no such thing!” Her reaction was exactly like someone caught in a lie. My brows furrowed. Could it be… this child… A sudden pang in my chest. I stared at her, my voice rising unconsciously. “Valerie! What’s going on with the IVF?!” Under my direct gaze, Valerie’s shoulders began to tremble. Her breathing grew rapid, as if she was about to break and tell me the truth… “Valerie, is the baby okay?” Dylan’s concerned voice suddenly broke through, making her jump. She immediately shoved me away and yelled, “Mind your own business! Caleb Reed, don’t you dare try to hurt Dylan and my baby!” Her words hit me like a bucket of ice water. All my desperate hopes crumbled. Indeed, this was her and Dylan’s child. How they conceived it was their business. I scoffed, a self-deprecating smile on my face, and handed the car keys back to Valerie. “I guess I was meddling.” “If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave. I won’t disturb you resting up for the baby.” I turned to leave, but Dylan clapped his hands. “Caleb, I still have to learn from your acting skills!” “I knew you took a long time getting the lab results. Turns out you were staging a scene.” “It’s just a small cut, why wrap it up like that? All to make Valerie feel sorry for you, right?” Valerie finally noticed the gauze on my forehead. A fleeting look of concern crossed her eyes. She reached out, as if to check my injury, but then grabbed my arm instead. “I can’t drive. Dylan can’t drive. You’re taking us home.” “And make dinner. Then bake a cake. It’s Dylan’s birthday tonight.” It hit me then. Today was Dylan’s birthday, but it was also mine. Even though I was five years older than Dylan, our birthdays were on the same day, same month. In my last life, when I was with Serena Vance, she never celebrated my birthday. Only Valerie Thorne did. But the Valerie Thorne in this life had completely forgotten about me. I looked into her eyes, my voice firm. “No.” This was the first time I had ever refused Valerie. In my last life, she avenged me after my death, and insisted on being buried with me. From the moment I was reborn, I had decided to love her with everything I had. But now, I was truly exhausted. Dylan gently tugged Valerie’s sleeve. “Caleb doesn’t want to, forget it. No cake, no big deal. It’ll just be an incomplete birthday.” “Enough! You don’t have the right to refuse!” Without giving me a chance to argue, Valerie dragged Dylan and me into the car. Back at the mansion, seeing me methodically start on the cake, Valerie finally looked satisfied and left the kitchen. I remembered the first time I made her a cake. Her eyes were full of stars as she watched my every move. Sure enough, anything, given enough time, becomes tiresome. I sighed softly and opened the oven, ready to take out the baked cake base. “Not ready yet? I’m starving, man.” Dylan’s voice came from behind me. I ignored him, but the next second, a strong push came from behind, and I stumbled forward uncontrollably. In my panic, my hand landed squarely on the scorching hot oven rack. “Ah!” A burning pain shot through my palm. I struggled to pull my hand away, tearing off a piece of skin that sizzled in the oven. Dylan immediately tapped the oven with his finger, then clutched his hand and sank to the floor. “Caleb! I’m sorry!” “What happened?!” Valerie rushed into the kitchen, asking anxiously. I clutched my wrist, my palm trembling slightly. I expected Valerie to go to Dylan first. But a familiar scent filled the air, and she actually ran straight to me, grabbing my wrist. Seeing my horribly mangled hand, her eyes filled with concern. “How did this happen…” She urgently looked up at me, meeting my confused gaze, and her eyes instantly filled with panic. “Caleb, I know you’re upset about making my cake, but I was just trying to help you get the cake base. You didn’t have to try and ruin my hand…” Dylan’s tearful voice drifted over. Valerie immediately dropped my hand, turned to help Dylan up, and glared at me, her voice unnatural: “Caleb Reed! Do you really have to be so vicious? You’d hurt yourself just to frame him? You don’t need to go this far…”

I scoffed, my gaze locked on Valerie’s eyes. “There’s a security camera in the kitchen. Just check it yourself and you’ll know…” “No need for that.” She cut me off directly, refusing to back down. “Dylan wouldn’t lie.” Her words were a dagger plunged into my heart. With every beat, the pain intensified. Clearly, the Valerie Thorne of now wouldn’t feel anxious for me. But the next second, she suddenly placed a first-aid kit in front of me. “Handle it yourself. Once the cake is done, get out. Go to the hospital or wherever you want, I don’t care.” With that, she turned and pulled Dylan away, gently applying medicine to him in the living room. I endured the excruciating pain in my hand and finished the final step of the cake. Consider it the last thing I’d ever do for Valerie. After tidying the kitchen and setting the cake out, I walked straight to the door. She didn’t spare me a single glance until I closed the door behind me. The night wind was a bit chilly, but at that moment, I felt completely light. Walking to the hospital alone, I saw a figure running towards me from a distance. When they got closer, I realized it was Serena Vance. Breathless, she grabbed my wrist, carefully examining the injury on my hand, and her eyes instantly welled up. “Caleb, you’re so badly hurt. Did she bully you?” “She already has you this life, why isn’t she cherishing you properly?! Just wait, I’m going to kill her!” I coldly shook off her hand. “It’s none of your business.” But she looked at me stubbornly, tears streaming from her red eyes. Her expression seemed genuine. I stood there, stunned. The person who hurt me most in my last life was now weeping for me in this one. And the person who loved me fiercely in my last life was now the source of all my suffering. Serena’s hand trembled as she pulled a share transfer agreement from her bag and presented it to me. “Last life… I did a lot of things to hurt you. This… this is a birthday gift, and my apology.” “I owe you… too much… Can you forgive me?” After my rebirth, I had cut all ties with Serena Vance, but she had continued to pester me. From small things like clothes and accessories to big things like houses and cars, she gave me so much, eventually running her family’s fortune into the ground. I sighed softly. “I can’t forgive you.” “I won’t take these things. It wasn’t easy for your parents to build this company. Don’t let it fall apart in your hands.” Serena was now crying tears streaming down her face. She stubbornly grabbed my hand, choking out, “But… if I don’t have you, what’s the point of having any of this…” Her words were drowned out by the wail of an ambulance. A stretcher was then pushed out of the ambulance and rushed towards the hospital entrance. “Make way! Make way!” “Caleb Reed! What grudge do we have?! Why would you poison me?!” It wasn’t until Dylan Hayes’s voice rang out that I realized the person on the gurney was him. The next second, a slap landed on my face. I turned my head to see Valerie, her eyes red, rushing to my side. She forcefully pulled Serena Vance’s hand from mine and roared, “Caleb Reed, you’re becoming more and more irrational!” Before I could reply, she had already grabbed Serena and chased after Dylan, who had disappeared into the hospital. I gently touched my still-stinging cheek, letting out a bitter laugh. I turned and walked in the opposite direction from her. Perhaps, leaving such an impression on Valerie’s mind in the end wasn’t so bad. I picked up my phone and booked a flight to Europe for tomorrow. I planned to find a hotel for the night, pick up the divorce papers tomorrow morning, and then head straight to the airport. But as I was walking, Valerie’s call suddenly came through. My hand trembled, and I accidentally answered. Her urgent voice blasted through the phone. “Caleb Reed! Dylan’s heart condition flared up because of the poison you gave him! Get to the hospital immediately and get a match for him!” Alarm bells blared in my mind. Painful memories from my previous life, right before my death, flooded back. A hint of terror colored my voice, trembling as I spoke. “No, I won’t go.”

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