Category: English

Vanessa threw away the ten thousand blessings she once demanded as the price for marrying her the moment Damon returned. That single action confirmed that the five years I spent with her carried no weight and that I was never more than a temporary stand-in. I did not argue, negotiate, or wait for an explanation. I submitted my resignation, closed every point of contact between us, and chose to leave the city and the life she controlled. After my visa was approved, I went home to pack. The moment I opened my closet, Vanessa popped out, startling me. “Adrian! I’m the hunter, and I’ve caught my prey!” She was beaming, her cheeks flushed, laughing heartily. I knew she’d used a “business trip” as an excuse these past two days, but she was really just traveling with Damon to avoid me. In the past, I would have greeted her with a warm smile, asking about her trip. Now, I just pulled her aside and started rummaging for my clothes. Vanessa stood there, looking a bit lost. After a long moment, she poked my arm. “Adrian, what’s wrong? Are you still mad about me not lending you money that day? I was trying to complete Damon’s dare. We’re friends, and he was about to lose in fifteen minutes. I didn’t have time to transfer money. Didn’t I soften up later and have the finance department give you an advance?” I gave a bitter laugh, suppressing the sting in my nose, and kept stuffing clothes into my suitcase. That day, Mom had just arrived from out of town when she saw her future daughter-in-law on a giant screen, holding another man’s hand and making their relationship official. She collapsed on the spot. I rushed to the scene, falling to my knees in front of Vanessa, pleading with her to give me back my savings for Mom’s medical bills. It would have taken less than three seconds to pull out her bank card from her bag. But she just coldly kicked me aside, telling me to figure it out myself. Then, she used every last cent from my card to buy Damon a luxury car. Later, when I went to the finance department for an advance, the finance officer rolled her eyes at me. “Adrian, who do you think you are, dreaming about someone like her? Mr. Damon and CEO Vanessa are the golden couple.” She deliberately dragged out the process. I ran around the company, completing eighteen different procedures, which took three hours, just to get a $200 advance. The finance officer said it was Vanessa’s order, and they couldn’t do anything about it. By the time I rushed to the hospital, Mom had already passed away. Vanessa saw I wasn’t speaking, snatched the clothes from my hands, and threw them onto the bed. “That’s what I dislike about you small-town guys. You’re so petty. You hand over a few hundred thousand, and then you try every trick to get it back. Honestly, I bought Damon that sports car just to cut off your idea of getting into my pockets!” My heart felt like it was squeezed hard. I took a deep breath. I thought if I just poured my heart out and gave her all my earnings, Vanessa would eventually let go of her suspicions. But I never imagined she still thought I was after her money. Damon and she had broken up and gotten back together three times. Each time, it was her winning him back with luxury cars and lavish homes. So why was it suddenly me who was being petty? I finished packing, picked up my suitcase, and curled my lips into a sarcastic smile. “It won’t happen again. Keep your money for Damon to spend.” Vanessa’s eyes widened. She grabbed me. CRASH! A storage box was knocked over, sending countless paper slips covered with blessings fluttering to the ground like snow. These were all the blessing messages I had pleaded with anyone and everyone I met on the street to write for me. She had said she’d had enough heartbreak. Unless I collected ten thousand blessings from strangers to prove my sincerity, she wouldn’t marry me. The ten thousandth blessing was from a passenger sitting next to my mom on the train ride into the city. When Mom handed it to me, she wished Vanessa and me a long and happy life together. But Vanessa still announced her relationship with Damon just because of one sentence from him. All my boundaries, all my efforts, were a joke. Vanessa picked up a slip of paper. Her beautiful brows relaxed, and she sighed. “Alright, Adrian, stop sulking. I’ll give you another three hundred. Take your mom to get some nice clothes and good food. Later, I’ll take her on a trip. I’ll do my duty as a daughter-in-law.” In the past, I would have taken the out and praised her as a good wife. But now, the bitterness in my heart wouldn’t let up. I just couldn’t swallow it. I covered her transfer screen with my hand and said coldly, “No need. You’re not her daughter-in-law. We’re over.” My words were swallowed by the sound of a key in the lock. “Vanessa, I’m here to pick you up! Didn’t we say we’d treat everyone to dinner to celebrate?” Damon walked in, looking surprised. “Assistant Adrian, why are you at Vanessa’s place?” Vanessa coughed, putting distance between us. “Adrian’s mom needed money, he just asked if he could get an advance on his salary.” We’d been in a secret relationship for five years. She always kept me at arm’s length, and I couldn’t even post about her on Ins. I thought it was because she didn’t want an office romance. Turns out, keeping it from everyone was just about keeping it from *him*. Damon looked righteous and reprimanded me sharply. “Assistant Adrian, don’t go too far. I didn’t even say anything about you causing a scene at the announcement, but you have hands and feet. You can’t just take advantage of Vanessa’s kindness and demand money from her!” Vanessa frowned, about to speak. I curled my lips. “You’re right, that’s exactly what I think. So I’m leaving now.” With that, I picked up my suitcase and walked past Vanessa, heading downstairs. She took a step as if to follow, glanced at Damon, then calmly said, “Be careful on your way.” As I walked out of the building, Vanessa sent me a SnapChat message: “Adrian, don’t worry. This is the last time I’ll help Damon out. I’ll make time in a couple of days to take your aunt out, and we can discuss our wedding plans and get married soon.” I scoffed. I just opened my chat with William, the HR from the overseas company. “William, my visa is done. Flight’s tomorrow afternoon. See you there.”

I hailed a cab to the company to pick up my files, but the HR officer looked impatient. “CEO Vanessa has been holding up your resignation application. Come back next Monday to ask again.” I called Vanessa, but it just rang busy. It was always like this when she was with Damon. I should have waited for her to approve my resignation before rushing off earlier. Frustrated, I frowned and left the company. Behind me, a burst of laughter erupted. “When Mr. Damon and CEO Vanessa made their relationship official, he was there singing and dancing, even kneeling and begging Vanessa for money! So embarrassing!” “Didn’t you see how awful his face looked when he couldn’t get through to CEO Vanessa just now? If I were her, I’d block a leech like that too!” I was used to these mocking words by now. My phone pinged with a notification – a taunting message from Damon. The photo showed the blessing slips stuffed into a reeking, greasy trash can. “Vanessa threw away all ten thousand blessings just because I said so. I heard you spent a year collecting them, so much effort, how sad.” “So what if you dated for five years? The moment I came back, you were kicked to the curb. She’s eating with me right now, peeling shrimp for me, her hands covered in sauce. You’ve never seen that, have you? If you’re curious, come to the restaurant’s private room, I’ll let you see all you want.” My hand tightened around my phone. Since he’d returned, I’d seen too many messages like this. Vanessa, who was a clean freak and so proud, would wash his clothes, cook for him, and even wash his feet and make his bed. Before, I used to dread Damon’s messages, yet I’d self-torture myself by watching Vanessa’s special treatment of him. I even tried to tell myself it was all Photoshopped, telling him not to stir up trouble, thinking if I didn’t see the truth, I could keep lying to myself. This time, I went. Not out of jealousy, but to get Vanessa to sign my resignation and sever all ties with her. Half an hour later, I arrived at the restaurant, only to hear Vanessa arguing with someone in the stairwell. I instinctively hid around the corner. “Vanessa, are you out of your mind?! Damon dumped you three times, each time worse than the last! He even tricked you to a cliff and almost broke your leg! And you’re making it official with him?! Adrian has been with you for five years, and you never gave him a title. Don’t forget he risked his life to save you before!” It was Sasha, Vanessa’s best friend. I touched the uneven scar on my forehead. A year ago, Vanessa and I were in a car accident during a business trip. To protect her, I was impaled by the windshield. I had a dozen steel plates implanted in my body, and a scar above my left eyebrow disfigured me, making my formerly gentle eyes look fierce. Colleagues secretly called me ‘Scarface,’ kept their distance, and even spread rumors that I was beaten by loan sharks. Vanessa, however, never clarified anything to avoid suspicion. The next second, Vanessa’s reply struck me like a lightning bolt. “It’s because he had the car accident. He has a scar over his eye. He doesn’t look like Damon anymore.” Sasha was furious. “So you were still treating him as a substitute! No wonder when he proposed, you made him do an impossible task. Ten thousand blessings? Even if he asked thirty people a day, it would take a year! If you didn’t want to marry him, you didn’t have to string him along! What kind of spell did a scumbag like Damon put on you?!” “Enough!” Vanessa snapped, her voice sharp. “Don’t you dare slander Damon like that! He said he’s turned over a new leaf. I’m just trying to make up for past regrets. Give me two more days, and I’ll break it off with him.” Sasha was speechless. “Aren’t you afraid Adrian will truly give up?” Vanessa seemed relaxed, in control. “Adrian’s job came from me, he lives in my apartment. He has nothing without me. I’ll take responsibility for him. We’ve been out too long, Damon will get impatient. Let’s head back.” Watching their retreating figures, I stood there for a long time, then sank to the floor, holding myself. When Mom got sick, I brought her to the city for treatment. When I was desperate because we had no money, Vanessa was the one who approached me, inviting me to work at her company. She was gentle and compassionate, like a goddess, and I fell for her. Now, looking back, I was wearing a mask then, only my eyes visible. And her eyes were filled with the joy of finding something she’d lost. Whenever she mentioned her ex, Vanessa would gnash her teeth, full of love and hate. Then she’d bury her head against my chest, sighing how lucky she was to have me. After Damon returned to the country, she deliberately ‘ran into’ him several times, clashing with him, but their ‘arguments’ were just her way of flirting and showing how much she missed him. No wonder Vanessa suddenly became distant after the car accident. I was foolishly thinking it was because Damon was back, and she was just conflicted. Turns out, the original was back, and I, the substitute, was useless, which was why she made me collect ten thousand blessings to politely reject me. After a while, I took a deep breath and pushed open the private room door. Inside, everyone was already tipsy, clapping and cheering. “Their dramatic reunion, their intense, complicated love – I’m totally hooked! Vanessa, you have to kiss Damon!” Vanessa openly kissed Damon on the lips. Her long lashes trembled, and her ears turned crimson, betraying her racing heart. She didn’t know how long it had been until the cheering died down. She opened her eyes in confusion. She saw me, standing behind Damon, my face emotionless. She shot up, her face pale. “Adrian, I can explain everything! It’s not what you think!” Her attempt to cover it up just made her look incredibly guilty. “Vanessa, we’re done.”

The next second, I pulled out my resignation application. “Also, please sign this so I can leave the company.” Vanessa was flustered. Everyone in the room looked on with mixed expressions, some hesitating, wanting to advise me. But then, whoosh! Damon swept the drinks and fruit bowls off the table, looking utterly humiliated. “You two are a couple?!” “Vanessa, I told you, the love I want is one where only I exist in your eyes. If you had a boyfriend, you should have just said so. There was no need to take revenge on me like this!” He stormed out. Vanessa snapped back to reality and, losing all composure, slapped me. “How dare you make a scene in front of Damon? Why did you expose our relationship? He’s sensitive and can’t handle shocks, don’t you know that?” My head was snapped sideways from the blow, my eyes cold. The fierce fire in her eyes suddenly died, replaced by a flicker of distress. The hand that hit me trembled violently. She turned her head away and said sharply, “You just want to force me into marriage, but your plan failed. I’d like to see how you’re going to cause trouble for Damon without the job I gave you!” She snatched my resignation application and signed it. The next second, she shouted “Damon!” and ran off, chasing him. I rubbed the crumpled paper, and with a sense of relief, I left amidst the stunned gazes of the crowd. Now, there was only one thing left to do. After Mom passed, I decided to take her ashes abroad, so I had only arranged a simple memorial. Tomorrow, I needed to pick up Mom’s ashes and belongings from the hospital. The next morning, I timed my arrival at the hospital perfectly, intending to leave straight for the airport afterward. As I passed a department, I overheard a doctor calling out Vanessa’s name. “You young people are crazy in love! Your eyes are inflamed, ulcerated, and bleeding. You could go blind permanently! You can’t keep doing this!” I unconsciously slowed my steps. Then I heard Damon’s whining voice. “Vanessa, I was just being dramatic yesterday when I said I’d only forgive you if you had eyes only for me! Why did you actually tattoo my name all over your eyeballs?!” Vanessa’s voice was full of deep affection. “For you, it’s nothing.” I turned my head and saw Vanessa’s eyes. Her eyelids were swollen, blood vessels burst, and they were hazy with blood. I could faintly see her eyeballs were dark, densely covered with Damon’s name. Yet, before, when I had just bought a pair of matching couple’s rings, she had cursed me out, saying I was deliberately claiming ownership and trying to tie her down, restricting her freedom. Turns out, in the face of love, everyone is equally desperate. I continued toward the morgue. Damon had already spotted me and deliberately picked a fight. “Adrian, Vanessa said you’re just a persistent admirer who won’t give up. What do you want now?” Vanessa, surprisingly, wasn’t angry at all. She quickly put on her sunglasses, adjusted her hair, and her lips curved upward. “Adrian, I know you came here looking for me on purpose. As long as you swear not to do anything out of line again, I can still let you come back to the company. I heard your mom is in our city recently. I could be generous and take her on a trip.” My eyes were full of sarcasm. What “out of line” things? Should I continue to be her secret lover, smilingly bless her and Damon, and then, after she’s had her fun and decided to settle down, gratefully marry her? To this day, she still didn’t know that Mom had already died, her last wish being for me to find someone who loved me. The nurse, however, couldn’t wait. She rushed out to find me, handing me Mom’s ashes and belongings. “Adrian, I have other families to attend to. Just sign here, and you can take your mother’s ashes.”

Vanessa’s triumphant expression froze. “What ashes?” The medical staff looked at her, surprised. “Adrian’s mother passed away two days ago because she couldn’t afford the medical fees.” Vanessa was speechless. It took her a moment to find her voice. “How is that possible? Adrian, you didn’t use the money I gave you for your mom?!” I bent down to sign the ash collection form. Damon frowned, then suddenly spoke. “Vanessa, I suddenly feel a little discomfort in my heart. Could you please ask the doctor to check me? Adrian and I are both men, maybe I can comfort him properly.” Vanessa hesitated, then finally called out to me. “Adrian, you stay here. Don’t move. Once I call the doctor, we can talk properly!” As soon as she left, Damon’s eyes filled with malice, and he deliberately knocked over my mother’s ashes. He whispered mockingly, “Adrian, you’re truly a persistent ghost. I deliberately told finance not to give you the funds. Your mom died because you didn’t know your place. And Vanessa even said she’s giving your vacant position to me. If you’re smart, you’ll get lost!” My pupils contracted. So Damon was behind my mom’s death! Furious, I didn’t hesitate to slap him. But he immediately collapsed, curled up in the corner, looking pained and begging, “Adrian, don’t kill me! I’m so sad your mother died too!” Passersby, not knowing the full story, all assumed I was just venting my anger. They had all seen Vanessa and Damon’s official announcement video and were now righteously indignant. “His own mom died, and he’s bullying another patient to vent?! Where’s security? Get this guy out of the hospital!” “Don’t you know that’s CEO Vanessa’s husband? The Sterling family has immense wealth, you just messed with the wrong person! It’s not too late to beg for forgiveness now!” My face was numb. I knelt down to pick up the shattered ceramic urn holding my mother’s ashes. The sharp edges of the fragments cut my fingers, leaving streaks of blood, but I didn’t seem to feel the pain. As everyone condemned me, Vanessa finally arrived with the doctor. They vied to speak, as if taking credit. “CEO Vanessa, your husband is being bullied! Aren’t you going to stand up for him?” Damon, looking triumphant, weakly cried out, “Vanessa, I’m fine. I was just kindly helping Adrian with his mother’s ashes, and I accidentally broke them. He didn’t mean to push me or slap me. I’m okay, I don’t think anything’s broken.” Vanessa took three swift steps towards me. I didn’t even lift my head, gathering my mother’s ashes. I figured she’d just say a few words to me. But to my surprise, the next second, she knelt directly in front of me, carefully cradling my hands and asking, “Does it hurt?” She held my bloody hands, her eyes filled with heartache. Everyone present stared at each other, stunned. Damon was dumbfounded, even forgetting to feign illness, his eyes wide. In the past, if he pretended to be sick, Vanessa would fuss like a chicken with its head cut off. But now, she was concerned about me, the ‘unreasonable’ one.

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My husband treats me as if I do not exist unless he needs someone to blame. My son has learned to follow his lead and sees my boundaries as hostility. I work alone, parent alone, and fight alone. When I discover Dan drinking with other women while claiming he is the victim, I understand the dynamic fully. This marriage no longer protects me or my child. It only drains me. Filing for divorce becomes the first decision I make for myself in years. Sunday nights are the hardest. Tyler is dragging his feet, crying over homework that’s due tomorrow, while Dan is lost in his own world, gaming with his headphones on, utterly indifferent. No one wants anything to do with me. Tyler is glaring at me, teary-eyed from my scolding; Dan is pretending not to notice, clearly annoyed by my presence. I’m left standing by the table, clearing up their plates, whispering to myself that it’s all my own fault. But my heart aches. Late at night, Dan slips away to the study, Tyler falls asleep, tear stains on his cheeks, and I find myself in the bathroom, looking at my own weary reflection. This is the third month of Dan’s silent treatment. Three long months—I can hardly remember why we’re fighting. Under the same roof, he hasn’t said a word to me. I refuse to give in; I’m convinced he’s at fault. But sleeplessness nags at me. I walk to Tyler’s room to tidy up his backpack. And there, on his desk, I see the new journal I got him. Under “Rewards,” written in that innocent, clumsy handwriting, I see: “I wish Mom would just disappear.”

I blink, thinking I’ve read it wrong. I pick up the journal and take it to the living room, reading that line again. “I wish Mom would just disappear. “She’s so scary when she yells at Dad; she chased him away.” I collapse on the couch, numb, feeling an overwhelming, dull ache settle in. The study light flips off as Dan emerges, grinning. The moment he sees me, his usual icy expression returns. He doesn’t say a word, just picks up his car keys from the coffee table. As he walks past, I catch a whiff of his cologne—Vanilla Musk. It’s the same scent I picked out for him in college when we started dating. Back then, he was a tech geek, always in black-framed glasses and a white T-shirt, hopelessly oblivious to style. I remember teasing him, “A little cologne goes a long way with girls.” He promised he’d keep it because I liked it. And he’s used it ever since. The familiar scent stirs memories of who he was, of our better times, and of the family I desperately want to keep whole for Tyler’s sake. The pain my son caused me rushes back, and without thinking, I stand up and grab Dan’s arm. “Dan, please, can we talk?” Tears silently slip down my face as I stand behind him. He jerks his arm away. I notice his phone screen: he’s on a call. Who is he talking to this late at night, wearing cologne? “Dan, are you coming down? I’ve been craving BBQ all week!” A girl’s voice comes through, laughing flirtatiously. That soft, sweet tone brings back all the reasons we’re in this fight. I turn to leave, but Dan grabs my arm again. With a smirk, he says, “Beg me, and I’ll stay with you and Tyler tonight.” Dan has always reveled in the moment I give in, that satisfaction of seeing me break, especially now that some young girl is competing for his attention. The way he stays—like he’s doing us a favor.

I laughed, but not in amusement. “Beg you? As if I made Tyler all by myself. You’re his father, too, aren’t you? “Am I the only one responsible for him? Don’t you care at all? “Do you even realize the toll this is taking on him?” Dan’s expression hardened, his mouth a thin line. Like I was some madwoman, he grabbed his jacket and slammed the door behind him. Tyler’s journal, with its wish for my disappearance, was still lying on the couch. Dan had left his study lights on as usual. He never bothers with issues—either saying something sharp to rile me up or storming out the door, leaving me to pick up the pieces. The slam of the door woke Tyler. Barefoot, he padded out of his room, staring at the direction his dad left. He came over, picked up his journal from the couch, frowning. “Mom, why do you always make Dad so mad?” I didn’t answer. Downstairs, the sound of Dan’s car engine roared, and the car drove off. Guess I’ll be biking Tyler to school again tomorrow. I looked at the journal clenched in his little hand, at the eyes he inherited from his father. For the first time, I realized just how trapped I’ve been all these years.

I managed to make it to my bedroom, collapsed onto the bed. Closing my eyes, I kept seeing, “Mom would just disappear.” Those four words. Honestly, I’d never screamed at him hysterically. In fact, I went out of my way to avoid conflict, humbling myself to keep Dan around for Tyler’s sake. I pleaded with Dan to come home, to spend time with his own son. Sleep was impossible. My phone lit up on the nightstand; it was a message from Linda. “I heard Dan storm out again. Did you two argue? Are you okay?” I met Linda through Craigslist, where I sold handmade crafts after Dan cut off my access to our joint account during one of his silent treatments. I had no income, so I took on small jobs to make ends meet. Eventually, we discovered we were neighbors. She even bought from me, supporting my small business and showing care. As I heard Tyler’s door close, I texted back: “Thanks, Linda. I’m fine.” The next morning, I woke up completely drained, my eyes swollen. Dan had returned. The scent of Vanilla Musk was barely there, drowned in alcohol. His gaze lingered on me for a moment, then shifted away. This wasn’t the silent treatment. This time, he muttered from the bathroom doorway, scornfully. “Don’t you think this look is a bit dramatic?” He expected me to lash out, to scream and cry so he could leave, feeling justified. But I’d grown tired. I didn’t react. He seemed surprised, watching me with something like uncertainty. He walked into Tyler’s room and spoke in that bright, affectionate tone. “Hey, buddy, Daddy’s taking you to school today.” The two of them left hand in hand, happily chatting, his kindness for Tyler a sharp contrast to his coldness with me. Neither of them thought to ask how I was doing. It felt like two knives twisting in my chest.

Taking out the trash, I ran into Linda. She noticed my eyes and took me inside, rolling a cold spoon over the bruises under my eyes. She looked at me, her own eyes brimming with tears. “Does it hurt?” Her kindness brought back memories of Dan from when we were first married. Back then, Dan and I had nothing. Living in San Francisco was expensive, and we could only afford a tiny basement apartment on the outskirts. Our bathroom and kitchen were communal, and we slept on a small twin bed. One day, after cooking in the shared kitchen, I accidentally ran into someone in the hall. In my reflex to avoid them, I burned the back of my hand with hot food. When Dan came home, I wore gloves to hide it, not wanting him to worry, but he noticed immediately. I tried to laugh it off, saying it didn’t hurt. Dan, frantic, rushed to get me first aid. He cried so hard, his tears wouldn’t stop. I teased him, saying, “What kind of man cries so much?” He replied through sobs, “Evely, I’ll make sure you never suffer again!” That night, he held me close, promising all the beautiful things we’d do together. “Evely, I won’t ever let you get hurt again.” I believed then he truly loved me. But when did he change? Now, it feels like we’re two ticking time bombs, bound together, ready to explode at the slightest friction. Except Dan is a dud—no noise, just a silent smoke that fills every corner, choking me in fear, making me scream. Returning home, I found the place empty. The kitchen was cold, Tyler’s dirty clothes scattered across the wet bathroom floor, muddy footprints tracked through the living room. I sank onto the couch and opened my laptop. I started drafting the divorce papers. I didn’t lack qualifications compared to Dan. Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, I was a college grad, passed the bar, and worked as an attorney for two years. I once earned a good salary, winning cases and thriving in my career. Then, I got pregnant. Dan convinced me to quit and focus on raising Tyler. At first, he’d said: “When your maternity leave’s over and Tyler’s a little older, we can hire a nanny. You can get back to work whenever you’re ready.” Later, he changed it to: “Tyler’s used to you now, and I’m in a career upswing. Going back would mean hiring a nanny, and her salary would eat up yours. It just doesn’t make sense for us financially. “Let’s wait until Tyler’s a bit older.” My son hugged mine and babbled for mommy. I went soft. Blame me for not insisting. Thinking about it now, Dan’s cold violence appeared a little bit from that time. Having finished drafting the divorce agreement, I noticed it was almost evening. Dan still hadn’t come home with Tyler.

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The city remained, but we were strangers. The tenth time I found Julian cheating in our bed, his reaction wasn’t as intense as before. He glanced at his watch, then gently draped a coat over the young woman in his arms. Turning to me, he said, “Your prenatal appointment isn’t until this afternoon, is it? Why are you back so early?” When I didn’t answer, he gently stroked her head. “If you want to argue, argue with me! Don’t hurt her!” He thought I’d throw another huge tantrum, just like always. But what he didn’t know was that our ten-year pact was almost up. I was finally going to be free of him. On our wedding photo by the bed, two clear handprints stood out. One on my face, one on Julian’s. It was easy to imagine exactly what they’d been doing moments before. I took a deep breath and turned to Julian. “Didn’t we agree you wouldn’t bring anyone home?” “Do you even remember what day it is today?” Julian scoffed, unfazed. He lit a cigarette, blowing the smoke right into my face. “Had too much to drink, how could I remember so many things?” The young woman beside him, Chelsea, flinched. She scrambled to put on her clothes, nervously glancing at me. “Mrs. Sterling, I didn’t mean to.” “It was last night…” Seeing her fumbling, I walked closer and zipped up the back of her dress. “It’s fine. You can go.” “I know exactly what kind of man Julian is.” This wasn’t the first time this had happened in all these years. Drunk, in a bad mood, bored, looking for fun. Anything could be an excuse for him to cheat. As for this young woman, I couldn’t even keep track of how many there had been. Why bother getting angry at her? Chelsea scurried away, terrified. I called Maria, our housekeeper, to clean up the room. The messy room, the scattered contraceptives on the floor. It was sickening to look at. I covered my nose and mouth, spraying disinfectant everywhere. Julian came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. His head, fuzzy from sleep, nuzzled into my neck. “Honey, when did you become so understanding?” “Are you worried I won’t come back, or have you finally learned how to be a proper socialite?” He squeezed my cheek, smirking. “This is so much better.” “As long as you’re obedient, I’ll never let anyone take your place as Mrs. Sterling.” With that, Julian expertly pulled a pair of earrings from a pile of gift boxes and put them on me. “This is your reward.” “Alright, don’t be mad. I know today is our tenth wedding anniversary.” “Wipe your tears, I’ll take you out to celebrate.” He said it so casually. But he didn’t know that in these ten years, my tears had long since run dry. I avoided Julian’s touch, holding out the divorce papers I’d already prepared. “Julian, let’s get a divorce.” He froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. “Don’t be ridiculous, Aurora.” “You know we can’t divorce.” He pinched my cheek, his hand trailing down my body, stopping at my lower abdomen. “Go pack your things. I’ll take you to your prenatal appointment.” “Don’t cause trouble for yourself.” Years ago, to be with Julian, I broke ties with my family. My father declared I was never to set foot in our home again. To punish my willfulness, he pulled some strings, binding Julian and me together. No breakups, no divorce. For life, whether in love or hate, we were to remain with each other. Back then, Julian knelt before me, swearing he’d love me for life, promising I’d never regret my choice. But in the second year of our marriage, he betrayed us. Julian, arm-in-arm with his mistress, looked at me defiantly. “Yes, I cheated. What can you do about it?” “Aurora, you have nowhere to go.” “For the rest of your life, you’re stuck with me!” I cried, calling my family, saying I regretted everything. My father coldly hung up. My mother stood by, doing nothing. They said it was the path I chose, and I had to walk it till the end, even if I was crying. And so, knowing I couldn’t leave, Julian grew more brazen, more reckless. He had endless affairs, his scandals constantly in the tabloids. Now, he was openly bringing women into our home. But what he didn’t know was that when I left, I made a ten-year pact with my father. A gamble on how long our love would last. If I won, he would do everything to support our marriage. If I lost, I would return and accept the family’s arranged marriage. Because of Julian, this marriage, this gamble—I lost everything spectacularly. While Julian was driving, I dialed that familiar number. “Dad, I lost.” “A bet’s a bet. I’ll be back in three days to marry him.”

My father had never lost a bet. Facing this expected outcome, he showed no surprise. He simply hummed in acknowledgment, giving a few brief instructions. “Aurora, you are my eldest daughter. This empire still needs you to inherit it.” “What’s past is past. I won’t argue with you, but there’s one thing you must remember.” “Don’t take what shouldn’t be taken, and don’t leave what shouldn’t be left behind.” What shouldn’t be taken was the child in my womb. What shouldn’t be left was the fortune I’d built for Julian. These ten years of pain were the lesson he wanted me to remember. “I understand, Dad.” After I hung up, Julian was already honking the horn downstairs, urging me to hurry. I got into the passenger seat—the one that had another woman’s name written all over it. On the way, neither of us spoke. He pretended not to notice the distance on my face. I pretended not to notice the suffocating perfume in the car. When we got out, Julian instinctively reached for my arm to steady me. His rolled-up sleeve revealed a long, jagged scar. For a moment, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of melancholy. To be with me, Julian had once taken eighteen knife wounds, barely clinging to life. The man who had once loved me enough to risk his life… how had he become this? Before I could ponder it further, a woman linked her arm through Julian’s. “Julian, you haven’t visited me in so long!” “What brings you here today? Did you argue with your old hag at home, or couldn’t your new fling satisfy you?” It was Chelsea. The most favored of Julian’s many mistresses, and the one who had been with him the longest. Chelsea intimately snuggled up to Julian, her ample chest rubbing against him. Julian beamed, ignoring me completely. He magically pulled out a ruby necklace to appease her. “What are you talking about? I’d forget anyone before I forgot my little darling!” “I saw how fair your skin is, so I specifically bought you this necklace.” “Alright, go entertain yourself for a bit. I still need to take my wife to her prenatal appointment. I’ll come find you when I’m done.” He even gave Chelsea’s backside a pat before he finished. Looking at the sparkling necklace, I almost laughed out loud. A man who clawed his way up from nothing truly knows how to be frugal. A single jewelry set, split and given to so many different women. The earrings in my ears burned, stinging my heart. I casually took them off and tossed them into a nearby trash can. As I turned, I overheard some passersby gossiping about us. They were curious about our tangled relationship. One person leaned in to listen closer, but a friend pulled her back. “Are you crazy? Didn’t you see the woman next to him? She’s the group’s heiress.” Before I could react, Chelsea scoffed. She shot me a disdainful look, her face full of scorn. “What heiress? She’s just a useless nobody, kicked out of her family, clinging to the Sterling name!” “An old, fading wife, only getting a second glance from her husband because of the baby in her belly.” “What’s there to be afraid of? I despise parasitic old women like her!” A parasite? So what did that make Julian, who had built his empire on my back? And what about Chelsea, Julian’s kept woman? When did they hook up? Was it the first time I miscarried? Was it when I drank myself to stomach bleeding to help Julian secure a deal? Or when Julian was being hunted by his enemies, and I took a bullet for him, falling into a coma? It had been too long; I couldn’t remember. I only remembered Julian getting involved with this nurse during my hospital stay. Their passion was a raging inferno, their love a whirlwind. During that time, I often received texts from Chelsea. I lay in my hospital bed, pale and alone. Chelsea lay on a different bed, flushed with passion, my husband wrapped around her. All these years, Chelsea was still this arrogant. It was clear how much Julian had spoiled her. But it didn’t matter. Once I left, they could be together openly and without shame.

I ignored the bickering couple and walked into the operating room. The doctor regretfully told me, “I’m so sorry, your body is too fragile, and your emotions are unstable. We couldn’t save the baby.” I gave a bitter laugh. “It’s fine.” The doctor looked startled. “You’re still young, you’ll have other chances…” Would I really have other chances? This wasn’t my first miscarriage. The first time was when I was 20. Back then, we were both dirt poor, squeezed into a basement apartment, unable to afford a warm coat in winter. I collapsed from the cold on my way to deliver food to Julian. When I woke up, the baby was gone. And my body was damaged. I was young then, and with proper care, I could have recovered. But we were too poor. Busy making money, busy surviving. By the time our business finally showed some promise, I was busy catching him cheating, busy fighting off mistresses. In and out, it dragged on until now. In the beginning, Julian had nothing. He knelt by my bed and said, “Aurora, I will definitely make something of myself and make up for all your suffering.” Later, Julian became successful. He held his mistress, looking at me. “Aurora, I know everything you’ve done for me.” “I promise you, I won’t let any woman take your place, and I won’t let them have a child before you do.” “Everything I have will only be for our flesh and blood.” Now… I looked out the window at the two of them, tightly embracing. I shook my head, a bitter smile on my face. “Forget it. I’m leaving soon, and a child would be inconvenient.” “Besides, Julian smokes, drinks, and has a chaotic private life. How could a child born in such circumstances be healthy?” My father also built his empire with my mother’s help. After he became successful, he had a string of mistresses. Because of this, I yearned for a genuine connection even more. But the first time I caught him cheating, Julian showed no remorse. Instead, he righteously told me, “Aurora, what’s your problem?” “Your dad has more than one lover; what’s wrong with me occasionally having some fun outside?” “Think about what your mother did!” “You grew up around them, immersed in that world, how have you still not learned how to be a socialite?” He used my most private pain as a weapon to hurt me. At that moment, I knew. Our love had reached its end. But because of that ten-year pact, I couldn’t leave Julian. I could only watch him shamelessly insult my dignity and trample my feelings. The wedding I had fought so hard for became a cage. The love that once ran so deep became Julian’s weapon against me. I had eaten enough of the bitter fruit of family and love. Looking at the city gradually being swallowed by darkness, I couldn’t help but wonder. Julian and I, why did we end up like this? Was it because of Chelsea? Or was it… that incident?

It didn’t matter anymore. Whatever the reason, betrayal and hurt were undeniable facts. I hailed a cab, intending to go home and pack. While waiting, I saw Julian at the crossroads. He and Chelsea were strolling hand-in-hand down the bustling street, looking like a couple deeply in love, sweet and charming. Chelsea kissed Julian’s cheek and giggled. “I had my check-up today, and the baby is very healthy.” “The doctor says it’s a boy! In five more months, you’ll have a son!” Julian smiled. He thoughtfully took off his coat and draped it over Chelsea. “You silly girl, you’re pregnant and still don’t take care of yourself.” “I bought you a villa in Bali. Move in with me. Winter here is too cold; I’m afraid you won’t be able to bear it.” Then Julian prattled on about many other things. He spoke of pregnancy precautions. He spoke of postpartum care methods. He said he would do everything he could to protect this child. Those words, mixed with the cold wind of winter, slowly tore my heart apart, piece by piece. Finally, Julian took Chelsea’s hand. He fastened the lucky charm I had once bought for our child around Chelsea’s neck. “I’ve named our baby Lucky. Lucky and prosperous.” That was the name I had chosen for my first child. That was the eternal wound in my life. I remembered Julian and I, once truly in love. But now, Julian was giving that gift to another woman. He was making up for his failings to me and our child by showering his mistress and illegitimate son with attention. How absurd and tragic. I took a deep breath, trying to pretend I didn’t care. But Chelsea, sharp-eyed, spotted me. “Julian, your old hag is here to check up on you again.” “Honestly, some people just need to stop seeking attention, okay?” She fiddled with the lucky charm, scornfully adding, “Your useless dead child, how could he compare to the baby in my belly?” “Instead of crying here, why don’t you go home and rest? You’re old enough, even if you manage to get pregnant with a second child, it’s not certain you’ll carry it to term.” “If you lose this baby, Julian won’t even look at you!” She was trying to provoke me, hoping I’d miscarry again and lose my child. But what she didn’t know was that the child was already gone. And I no longer needed Julian’s love. When morning came, I would leave this place. By then, Julian and I would both return to our original paths. He would become that penniless nobody again. I took one last look at Julian, completely without attachment. “Julian, you will regret this.” “Because you forgot who gave you everything you have.” Julian tried to say something, but Chelsea held him back. He looked back again and again but ultimately didn’t follow. Moonlight streamed down, casting silver-grey light everywhere. I dragged my weary body away, alone. In the last few hours, I paid off the housekeeper, Maria, and asked her to dispose of all my old things with Julian. Then, I waited alone at the airport for dawn. As the sun began to rise, a private jet landed before me. “Miss Sterling, I’ve come to take you home.” The plane flew over the city, letting all the past condense into nothingness. From now on, Julian and I would be separated by an ocean, never to meet again in this life. *** Julian woke suddenly from a nightmare. He remembered that sorrowful look in my eyes from last night, and a sudden unease settled in his heart. He picked up his phone, intending to make a call. But the breaking news headline caught his attention— “Heiress to Fortune Weds Shipping Tycoon.” “Numerous corporations announce divestment, Sterling Group faces severe repercussions.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “314834”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #重生Reborn #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

Everyone believed Spencer loved me to death. Little did they know, for four years he hid another woman in a private hospital suite. His “business trips” were nights in her arms. Now, I couldn’t wait to see his face when he got the news. News of my “death”… on our wedding day. Hayley POV “Ms. Hayley, your Digital Ghost Protocol is activated. The execution date is set on the day of your wedding with Mr. Spencer. We stage an accident and erase you. Please authorize with an iris scan here.” I leaned into the scanner. A cold red light swept over my pupils. On the screen, my digital signature instantly appeared. I left the unmarked building and vanished into the crowd. At a newsstand, a magazine cover stopped me cold: Spencer and me. The headline screamed: BILLIONAIRE HEIR: A DECADE OF DEVOTION, ALL FOR HAYLEY. I remembered that photo. It was taken after Spencer successfully proposed. He knelt on a mountaintop covered in white tulips, his hands, usually so steady, trembled uncontrollably as he placed the ring on my finger. When I said yes, tears streamed down his face. Beside me, two girls at the bus stop were huddled over the magazine. “Oh my god, the way Spencer looks at Hayley, it’s absolutely melting!” “I know,” the other said. ” Did you hear about when she got hurt climbing? The blood bank was empty, so Mr. Spencer chartered a private jet to Europe for blood.He stayed by the ICU door for three days. And that observatory Spencer built for Hayley? It’s still one of the hottest dating spots around! This isn’t a romance novel. It’s better!” I looked away, a ghost of a smile touching my lips. Everyone believed Spencer loved me to death. So, no one would believe it. For four entire years, he’d hidden another woman in a private hospital’s VIP suite. I discovered the truth. Those countless “business trips” were nights spent in her arms. The betrayal didn’t crush me all at once. It was a slow freeze, my heart fracturing into a thousand cold, silent pieces. I opened the encrypted cloud drive, filled with that woman’s diaries and recordings. Closing my eyes, my thoughts drifted back. Back then, my family had just gone bankrupt, and relatives were all scrambling to get a piece of the pie. It was Spencer who directly called in his legal team. He signed the guardianship transfer agreement for me. His voice wasn’t loud, but every word carried immense weight. “From now on, her problems are my problems. I am responsible for her future.” From that day on, he gave me the world. He’d drank until he was hospitalized in my stead. He knew all my food allergies. His social media was practically a shrine dedicated to me. To everyone, he was “Hayley’s Knight.” When he proposed, he kissed my hand, his voice hoarse, pleading, saying he only wanted me for the rest of his long life, and if I left, he would completely lose control. He was the one who first said he couldn’t live without me, and he was also the one who betrayed me first. So be it. I would give him a staged death. I would make sure he could never find any trace of me, ever again. A black Bentley glided silently to my side. The car door opened, revealing Spencer’s sharply defined profile. “Get in.” He said concisely. I got into the car. He didn’t ask any questions, just turned up the heat a few degrees and handed me his still-warm coffee. “Your hands are freezing. Aren’t you afraid of catching a cold?” His voice held a hint of concern. Spencer squeezed my hand, then pulled me into his embrace, trying to warm me with his body heat. “You’re so cold… And you didn’t even dress warmly. Are you trying to break my heart?” I said nothing, just looked up at him. The concern in his eyes was so genuine, so flawless. And precisely because of that, I found it even more chilling. Just then, a financial reporter with a camera hurried over, eyes gleaming, peering in through the window. “Mr. Spencer, Ms. Hayley! I’m a reporter from the Capital Frontier. It’s such a thrill to meet you both! Your love story inspires so many people. Could you spare a minute for a photo?” I initially wanted to refuse, but after a moment’s hesitation, I nodded. Spencer, who usually disliked cameras, still obediently pulled me closer and smiled for the lens. After the photo, the reporter thanked us, her face flushed, her words full of blessings. She wished us a fairytale ending, living happily ever after. Happily ever after? I turned my head to look at Spencer. He happened to be looking down at me too, his eyes filled with a tenderness that could drown a person. As if he, too, believed in this fairytale ending. Only I knew, our road had reached its end.

Hayley POV The wedding reception was to be held on a private island Spencer had bought specifically for me. As soon as we landed, the wedding planning director and her team greeted us, their voices respectful and envious. “Ms. Hayley, as Mr. Spencer instructed, we’ve prepared a thousand varieties of Dutch tulips, air-freighted here for your selection. Would you like to visit the flower house now?” I didn’t speak, my gaze sweeping past everyone to Spencer, who stood a short distance away. He was looking down at his phone, his eyes filled with that raw, undisguised desire. I’d only ever seen that look in his eyes when he viewed photos attached to that woman’s audio diaries. Noticing my gaze, Spencer immediately put away his phone and hurried over, his face etched with apology. “Hayley, there’s a glitch at the company. A document needs my immediate signature in person. It can’t wait; I have to leave right away.” With that, he pressed a kiss to my forehead and rushed towards another helicopter, which was already preparing for takeoff, leaving me alone on this island that was meant for me. The planning director cautiously stepped forward. “Ms. Hayley, shall we-” I cut him off with a shake of my head. “No need. I don’t want any of this.” After all, the star of this grand wedding would be a “missing” bride. In the car back to the city, my burner phone pinged to life. An encrypted message came, sender unknown. An audio file. Only seconds long. In the background, the rhythmic drip-drip of an IV machine. A fragile female voice, tinged with sobs, spoke haltingly. “The medicine…it’s so bitter. And my hand…it hurts. But just thinking of you…I can…I can stand it.” Immediately after, a message from Spencer’s black profile picture appeared. “Be a good girl. I’ll be there soon.” I turned off the screen, closed my eyes, and tried to suppress the gut-wrenching pain in my heart. I thought I’d become numb after reading so many explicit diary entries and listening to so many intimate recordings. But that bone-deep agony still easily swept over me. Finally, I forced myself to lean back against the seat and set my phone to silent. Late at night, I curled up in bed, my eyes red and sleepless. The phone beside my pillow pinged with encrypted message notifications every hour. I didn’t open them until dawn. The number periodically sent photos-sometimes a hand hooked up to an IV, sometimes a half-finished cup of warm milk, sometimes the breaking dawn outside a window. The last photo was accompanied by a line of text. “He says he only finds peace with me.” I lay motionless, just like that, my eyes red, staring at those photos again and again. When Spencer returned, I hadn’t changed my position. He seemed to pause for a moment, then lunged forward, pulling me into his arms, his voice tight. “Hayley, who hurt you?” Had I cried? I only then snapped back to reality, belatedly touching my cheeks. They were cold and wet. After a long time, I managed a faint smile. But the smile couldn’t hide the lifeless gaze in my eyes. “Nothing, I just saw a really touching set of photos.” Spencer kissed my face, dotingly saying, “What photos made you cry like that? Babe, are you trying to give your husband a heart attack?” Just as I was about to speak, the butler respectfully knocked on the door from outside. “Sir, the car is ready.” He hummed in response, then turned to kiss me again, still in his arms. “Hayley, it was my fault for leaving you alone on the island yesterday. As compensation, at tonight’s charity auction, whatever you want, I’ll bid on it for you, okay?” I didn’t answer. He took my silence as consent, sweeping me into his arms and personally choosing my gown and jewelry.

Hayley POV At the auction. To win a smile from me, Spencer bought every single item in the entire first half of the auction, even though I didn’t spare a single glance for any of them. During the intermission, a few of Spencer’s childhood friends came over to chat. “I was wondering who was being so possessive. Of course, it’s you, Spencer.” “You totally swiped that antique I wanted to get for my mom’s birthday right from under my nose. Guess I missed my chance.” “Hey, Spencer, give us a break for the second half, okay? We just want to buy one thing!” Spencer barely bothered with them, focused instead on peeling a blood orange for me. Only after they finished complaining did he slowly lift his eyes and say nonchalantly, “What’s the rush? My fiancée hasn’t even started picking yet.” The group let out a chorus of dramatic complaints but could only reluctantly accept defeat. Spencer’s lips curved upwards as he held a perfect segment of orange to my mouth. I turned my head away, my expression cold. “No appetite.” The second half began. Just then, the side door of the venue opened. A slender woman in a simple white dress, guided by a staff member, walked in. I felt Spencer’s body beside me instantly stiffen. I looked up, and Mia’s pale yet fragile face drifted into my line of sight. Mia softly thanked the staff member, declined the empty seats in the front row, and chose to sit alone in the least conspicuous corner at the very back. Everyone in the room cast curious glances, whispering to each other. “Isn’t that Mia, the famous artist from social media? I heard she has really poor health and rarely makes public appearances.” “Why would she be at a place like this?” “Shh, don’t you know? She has a mysterious patron, rumored to be incredibly powerful. Looking at her, she’s probably here to bid on something for her patron.” I was about to look away when I saw Mia take out her phone, snap a photo of a painting about to be auctioned, and then send a message. Almost simultaneously, Spencer’s phone lit up. He quickly glanced at it, then put it back in his pocket, but his posture unconsciously straightened. My heart sank. Throughout the second half, I remained distracted until the final item, the grand finale, was presented. It was a yellowed manuscript of poetry, said to be the sole surviving copy left by a deceased niche poet-my favorite poet. The auctioneer passionately described the manuscript’s rarity and uniqueness. Perhaps sensing a flicker of interest in my eyes, Spencer didn’t hesitate to raise his paddle. “One million!” A cool female voice rang out from the back row. “Two million, one thousand.” It was Mia. Her voice was soft but carried a stubborn edge. Spencer’s brows furrowed, “Five million!” “Five million, one thousand.” “Ten million!” “Ten million, one thousand.” Mia’s voice trembled slightly, as if she was exerting all her strength. … Finally, Spencer, expressionless, made a gesture to his assistant. The assistant immediately stepped forward and whispered to the auctioneer. The auctioneer excitedly struck his hammer. “Ladies and gentlemen! Mr. Spencer has exercised his right of first refusal and has just completed a full acquisition of the auction house’s parent company! This manuscript, and all items auctioned today, now belong to Mr. Spencer!” The room erupted in applause. Spencer gently squeezed my hand and whispered in my ear. “Stay here, I’ll go handle the transfer paperwork.” I watched him stand and leave. At the other end of the room, Mia also stood up, giving me a deep, unreadable look. After everyone had left, I slowly uncurled my tightly clenched hand, my nails leaving deep, bloody marks in my palm. I didn’t feel the pain. I just stood up and walked towards the exit. My phone screen was still on the message I had just received. “Underground parking.”

Hayley POV The parking garage was so empty you could hear echoes. Only a Maybach sat in a corner. Spencer’s driver stood nearby, politely redirecting anyone who tried to approach. Therefore, no one noticed the faint mist covering the car’s rear window. A woman’s low sobs and a man’s suppressed gasps drifted out intermittently. I instantly lost all strength, leaning against a cold pillar, staring intently at the scene unfolding before me. The car window wasn’t completely closed, revealing glimpses of the interior. Mia was pressed against the window by him, the precious manuscript tossed aside, its pages crushed and distorted. “Spencer, please… the manuscript will be ruined.” Spencer’s voice was hoarse and thick, “Isn’t this exactly what you wanted? Now, along with me, all of this is yours.” With that, he thrust deeper. I clamped a hand over my mouth, turned, and fled in shame. I don’t know how long I ran, finally collapsing on the steps of the fire escape, gasping for breath, tears streaming down my face. I thought everything at the auction had already hardened my heart, but that scene in the car completely suffocated me. When Spencer and I first started dating, he was as innocent as a schoolboy. The first time we held hands, his palms were slick with sweat. The first time we kissed, his lips trembled. Our first time truly being intimate was the night he successfully proposed. I used to often tease him about his restraint, but he would just hold me tight, his voice hoarse. “Babe, no man can hold back when he’s with the woman he loves. It’s just that I love you too much; I wanted to wait until everything was settled, to give you the utmost respect.” He cherished me so deeply. But now, reality had slapped me across the face with the harshest truth. I buried my face in my knees, shaking uncontrollably as I cried. After what felt like an eternity, I numbly got up and walked towards the restroom. My phone vibrated in my hand. It was from Mia. A photo. The back seat of the car was a mess, the manuscript casually tossed in a corner, its cover damaged. “This car is filled with our scent. And, Spencer promised to give me this manuscript. Now, this unique love is mine.” I didn’t look again, just turned off my phone. By the time I’d touched up my makeup and emerged from the restroom, I ran into Spencer, who had returned to look for me. His hands, sure enough, were empty. The next second, I was enveloped in an embrace, carrying a faint, unfamiliar perfume scent. Just as I was about to push him away, his apologetic voice sounded above my head. “Hayley, the author’s family for the manuscript changed their mind at the last minute and demanded an exorbitant price, refusing to sell. I promise I’ll find you an even better one next time, okay?” I took a deep breath, looked up, my voice carrying an almost imperceptible choke. “What if I just want that one?” Spencer softly cajoled. “Babe, don’t cry. That one actually had a lot of flaws. I won’t allow my girl to own anything imperfect. I’ll send people to search the world for it right now, okay?” Hearing this, I smiled. In the past, whatever I wanted, he would immediately place before me. Now, for another woman, he had a thousand excuses. Just as he was about to say something more, I pushed him away, my voice weary. “Forget it, I don’t want it anymore.” I turned and walked away. “Hayley!” Spencer called my name from behind, his hurried footsteps following me. I didn’t stop until, at the corner of the corridor ahead, a figure slowly emerged. It was Mia. She was clutching the manuscript tightly, the creases on its cover clearly visible. The footsteps behind me abruptly stopped. I paused and glanced back. Spencer’s face instantly turned ashen. He froze, his gaze fixed on the item in Mia’s arms, utterly flustered and at a loss. I turned back around, expressionless, and walked past Mia as if I hadn’t seen her. From behind me came Spencer’s low growl, filled with suppressed fury. “Are you insane? I told you not to appear in front of her!” I didn’t look back, just slowed my pace, listening to this absurd drama unfold. Mia’s voice was weak and innocent. “I’m sorry… I just wanted to say thank you to her. She didn’t even notice, did she? I won’t do it again…” Immediately followed by a pained gasp. “Spencer, I feel so dizzy… I think I have a fever again…” The next second, I heard the rustling of fabric-the sound of a man frantically steadying a woman. “Why are you so hot?” Spencer’s voice, the anger that had flared just moments before, instantly vanished, replaced only by undisguised urgency and concern. He didn’t chase after me. In that long corridor, he stopped pursuing me, turning instead to embrace the “feverish” woman. I looked at the empty exit ahead, a sarcastic curve to my lips. No need to look back now.

Hayley POV Spencer didn’t come home that night. He only said the company had an urgent merger. I didn’t question him, didn’t argue. If I was going to disappear completely, I had to erase every trace of myself from this world. I categorized, packed, donated, and destroyed all my belongings. Finally, I opened the safe in the study. Inside were all the design sketches Spencer had given me over the past ten years. At ten, my first dress drawn with a boy’s unsteady hand. At fifteen, a pair of high heels he designed. A note beside it read, “Let me walk every path with you.” At seventeen, the blueprints for The Hayley Observatory, his tribute to Halley’s Comet calling me his eternal miracle. At eighteen,a wedding ring of his own design, with a vow to propose anew each year until I was ready, until I said yes. … Without hesitation, I scanned the artworks, packaged them, and anonymously shipped the entire collection to one of the nation’s largest art charity foundations. Note: Unrestricted donation for public auction. All proceeds to fund art education in underserved regions. News of the priceless, exclusive manuscripts being donated without compensation instantly went viral online. I finished everything and was about to rest when the front door burst open. Spencer rushed in, bringing with him the biting night wind. He grabbed my hand, his voice trembling. “Hayley, you donated all those manuscripts. What does that mean?” I looked up at him. He looked like he’d rushed back as fast as possible, his expensive coat still damp from outside, his face etched with unconcealed panic. I asked softly, “How did you know?” “It’s already a trending topic on social media!” Before I could speak, he pulled me into a fierce embrace, his trembling words filled with terror. “Hayley, tell me why? Those are our memories, how could you…?” “What did I do wrong? Tell me, I’ll fix it. I’ll change everything. Just don’t leave me, okay?” Finally, he almost cried. But I just gazed calmly into the empty space before me, my expression utterly indifferent. If he was so afraid of me leaving, why was he keeping another woman outside? Was he too confident, or did he think I was too foolish? Now, with just the tip of the iceberg, he was already panicking. Well, I eagerly awaited the look on his face when he received news of my “death” on our wedding day. I slowly pushed him away, my face calm. “You’re overthinking it. Those things were just taking up space. Ideally, they should serve a meaningful purpose, helping those in need. Wouldn’t that be better? Why are you so nervous… do you think I should cling to the past?” At my last question, his expression shifted slightly, but he immediately gripped my hand tightly. “That’s not what I mean, Hayley.” He said decisively. “You know how much I love you! We’re getting married soon, nothing will go wrong.” I pulled at the corner of my mouth, “If nothing’s wrong, what are you worried about? It’s late, I’m tired.” With that, I turned and walked away.

Hayley POV Because of my recent, consecutive strange behaviors, Spencer changed. For several days straight, he was like a shadow, clinging to me every step of the way. Until one morning, his phone vibrated. He opened the message, and the sleepiness in his eyes vanished instantly. He glanced at me, “asleep” beside him, pressed a soft kiss to my forehead, then silently slipped out of bed and left the room. The moment he left, I opened my eyes. I checked my phone. The “Digital Ghost” agency had sent a message. my new identity’s biometric data collection was complete, requiring only a final in-person confirmation. In a covert biological laboratory. I stared at the newly generated digital identity on the screen. From gene sequence to iris data, it was completely different from my own. The entire process went smoothly. It seemed Spencer would never suspect a thing. Everything was ready. As I finished my business and was about to leave, the person in charge called me back and handed me a file. It was the final report from the investigation I had commissioned into Mia’s background. I opened the folder. The first page was a medical scan. Under the “Diagnosis” section, it read. “Pregnancy, 12 weeks.” And under “Emergency Contact,” two words were signed. Spencer. They had a child? I don’t remember how I left, or how I got home. In the dark room, my phone screen emitted a faint glow. Just as the screen was about to dim, a notification popped up. Mia was live-streaming. I tapped it open. Mia glowed in her maternity dress, sharing her pregnancy bliss with an adoring stream. The chat flooded with congratulations. Then a man’s hand entered the frame. Long fingers, a distinctive scar. Ice flooded my veins. I knew that hand. It had held my face, wiped away my tears, and put a ring on my finger. But now, this hand was gently caressing Mia’s swollen belly. “Doctor’s orders, love. Time to rest.” As this deep, magnetic voice spoke, the chat went wild. “Wait…is that Spencer Corp’s CEO?” But the comment was quickly drowned out. Mia smiled shyly, letting his hand hold hers. “He’s very private. He doesn’t want to show his face.” Fans began to tease, asking about their love story. Mia glanced beside her, smiling. “Him? He once loved me so much. In high school, he wrote me love letters, but he was too nervous to say anything, afraid I’d reject him. Finally, I had to snatch his letter and tell him I would…” My grip on the phone tightened abruptly. That was our story. “Plink.” Tears splattered onto the screen. In the live stream, Mia suddenly announced she was going offline. Facing her fans’ protests, she playfully complained. “It’s not me who wants to stop streaming. It’s the baby’s dad, he’s pestering me, saying he wants to start teaching the baby in utero.” No sooner had she spoken than Spencer reached out and cut off the video feed. But he forgot to turn off the microphone. A gasp was heard. “Oh, what are you doing…” Then came the man’s low chuckle and the woman’s suppressed moans. “Shh. The doctor said, be gentle, it’s good for the baby…” I couldn’t listen anymore. I slammed the power button. Soon. Soon, I would be free.

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Three years in a coma, I woke up to a video clip of my husband announcing my death. “To let my late wife rest in peace, I must embrace a new life.” There was my husband, Liam, arm wrapped around my best friend Chloe, holding a photo of me while sobbing for the cameras. The internet was eating it up. They called him a devoted husband. He’d gained a million followers and even planned a lavish funeral for me.. But I was very, very alive! I left the hospital and went home to confront Liam. The moment I stepped through the door, Liam’s son shoved me away. “You evil woman! Get out of my house!” I didn’t budge. Instead, I smiled and clapped my hands. A swarm of reporters flooded in, cameras flashing. “Everyone, come see! A devoted husband is holding a funeral for his living wife!” Liam grabbed my hand, his eyes flashing with guilt and panic, but no surprise. “Scarlett, you… you’re really awake?” “Disappointed?” I snorted, pulling my hand from Liam’s grasp. “How could I be? For the past three years, I’ve prayed for this every day. I’m so happy you’re finally awake.” Liam said, pushing a little boy in front of me. “Leo, this is Scarlett, the lady I told you about!” “Scarlett isn’t dead? She is a liar!” Leo scrambled to hide behind Liam, shooting me a glare. “A child of impeccable manners, I see.” I snapped. Hearing my words, Liam immediately shielded him. “He’s my son. And Chloe’s. Watch your tone!” It was then I noticed the kid’s eyes and brows were a mix of Liam’s and Chloe’s, my best friend from college. I’d only been in a coma for three years, but this child was clearly older than three. This meant Liam had been cheating on me with Chloe for more than three years behind my back. My heart sank. Seeing me stare blankly, Liam continued. “Don’t worry, now that you’re awake, you’re still my wife. You and Chloe were good friends; you’ll surely get along. I’m sure she’ll accept you too!” Suddenly, I felt like I’d never truly known Liam. We’d been married for ten years. When he couldn’t find a job right after college, I worked three jobs a day to support us both. Later, I thought things were finally getting better. We finally moved out of the basement apartment and had our own small place, but then I had to help his family pay off debts. Now, after three years as a comatose patient, I finally woke up to find he’d issued a death certificate for me. And he’d been cheating on me for ages, even having a child with my best friend. “Liam, doesn’t your conscience bother you?” I asked him, my eyes red. “This is my home! Get out, and take that bastard child with you!” Liam sighed, shielding Leo tightly behind him, as if afraid I’d hurt the boy. “The child is innocent, don’t yell at him. I know you can’t accept this right away, but what I’m saying is true. I love you deeply. But Chloe has sacrificed so much for me these past few years; I can’t let her down either!” He hugged me so tightly, his tears dripping onto my neck, as if he genuinely couldn’t bear to let me go. “Please, let’s not fight. I really missed you. But I have to be responsible for Chloe, and for Leo.” He took my hand and pressed it against his chest. “Listen, my heart is beating faster for you. Can you just be magnanimous for me this once? From now on, we’ll all be a family and live a good life.” A family? I laughed, a bitter, hollow sound. But he was completely immersed in his role as the devoted husband. “Scarlett, I have money now. I can give you a good life. Here.” He handed me a bank card. “There’s ten thousand dollars on the card. You’ve been through too much hardship with me. Trust me, I’ll make you happy from now on. You can swipe this card whenever you want.” Ten thousand?! He thought ten thousand dollars would make me forgive his betrayal? Ten thousand dollars could buy back ten years of my unpaid dedication? “Liam Hayes, I’m not that cheap!”

“That ten thousand dollars isn’t even a fraction of what I helped you pay back in debt.” I disdainfully flung the card onto the ground. But to my surprise, a heavy slap landed on my face. “Scarlett Hayes, you’re going too far! You’ve been married to Liam for ten years and couldn’t even give him a child. You were in a coma for three years, and Liam didn’t abandon you. You should be kneeling and thanking him right now!” Couldn’t have children? The reason I couldn’t have children wasn’t because of Liam! Before I fell into the coma, I had been pregnant. But at the time, because I had to help Liam pay off debts, I stubbornly kept working even while pregnant. Eventually, I collapsed at my desk. By the time I woke up in the hospital, I had already had a miscarriage. The doctor also told me my uterus was damaged, and it would be difficult to conceive again. Hearing our argument, Chloe also came downstairs. She feigned remorse, dabbing at her dry eyes. “Scarlett, don’t blame Liam. He really missed you; I know how much he loves you. If you truly can’t share him, then Leo and I will just leave.” As Chloe spoke, she made to leave, but Liam immediately stopped her. “Don’t go, you’re my wife now! No one can make you leave!” Liam then turned to me. “Scarlett Hayes, you’ve disappointed me deeply. I never abandoned you, but the moment you wake up, you try to destroy my happiness. If you don’t want to be in this home, then get out.” I looked at Liam, fighting back the tears in my eyes. “Fine, I’ll go.” Perhaps because I had just been discharged from the hospital, my body hadn’t fully recovered. The moment I reached the door, my legs buckled, and I fell to the ground. Liam rushed over, intending to help me up, but his mother stopped him. “Don’t bother with that bitch! When she can’t survive on her own, she’ll come crawling back eventually.” I heard the door slam shut behind me. Raindrops fell on me. I didn’t have an umbrella, and I was completely soaked. My damp hospital gown clung to my body. But I had nowhere to go. Just then, Liam opened the door and threw a hundred-dollar bill out. “Find a motel to stay in.” I hesitated for a moment, then miserably picked up the money. I had no money at all now; I could only endure this humiliation. The next morning, the motel owner kicked me out. My money was only enough for one night. Now I had no money for food either. I suddenly regretted it. I should have taken that ten-thousand-dollar bank card yesterday. Just then, my phone rang. I received a text from Liam. “If you regret it, come home anytime. I’m always waiting for you.”

He’s such a master of deception! He wasn’t texting me because he loved me! He was afraid I’d expose his true colors. After all, he was now an influencer with millions of followers on Instagram. His ad revenue alone was at least a hundred thousand dollars a month. I texted Liam back. “I can divorce you and make things official between you and Chloe. I only have one condition. revoke my death certificate and restore my identity.” Liam quickly replied. “Actually, you don’t need to restore your identity at all. Just stay home and relax; I’ll give you money every month, and you won’t have to work hard like before.” After seeing that message, I gripped my phone tighter. Liam was still trying to deceive me with sweet talk! I once believed he was just poor but fundamentally good. But maybe, from the very beginning, he was just pretending. Ten years ago, he didn’t have any leverage with me. But now that he had money, he seemed to have no problem revealing his true nature. I looked up his company’s address online and couldn’t help but go to confront him. A security guard immediately blocked me. “Hold it. What do you want?” “I’m here to see Liam Hayes.” The security guard scrutinized me from head to toe, his gaze lingering on my soaking hospital gown. “Tsk, you’re here for Mr. Hayes? Who are you? You can’t go in without an appointment.” “I’m his ex-wife.” As I said that, I didn’t even have confidence in my own words. I knew the guard wouldn’t believe me. Sure enough, the next second, the guard snorted with laughter and pulled out his walkie-talkie. “Send more people. There’s a crazy woman who escaped from a mental asylum at the entrance.” A few guards roughly escorted me out and dumped me outside the entrance. “You crazy woman, don’t come back! Everyone in the company knows Mr. Hayes’s wife is Ms. Miller. Mr. Hayes’s ex-wife is dead!” The judging eyes of the bystanders fell on me. Many recognized me. “Isn’t that the woman from last night’s news?” “Who?” “The one who ran to Liam Hayes’s house like a madwoman, insisting she was his wife.” “Look, she’s still wearing a hospital gown. She must be mentally unstable.” Listening to these words, my face went completely white. Why was it so hard to even prove I wasn’t dead? “Why are you here again?” Liam walked up to me, frowning. The people around him also asked in confusion. “Mr. Hayes, who is she?” “Just a crazy woman who insists she’s my deceased wife and even had plastic surgery to look like her.” Liam sighed, putting on a pained expression. “Everyone, please don’t yell at her. I believe she’s not doing this on purpose. She might really be experiencing a psychological disorder. How about this, I’ll take you to see a therapist. Consider it charity work in memory of my deceased wife.” The surrounding onlookers immediately praised him. “Mr. Hayes is such a good person; he’s even willing to help a scammer.” “Exactly! That’s why he’s such a big influencer!” Liam approached me and extended his hand. What a brilliant move! If I took his hand, it would be an admission that I was mentally unstable and impersonating his deceased wife. No one would believe me if I ever said I wasn’t dead. I stood up and spit right at Liam. “Want me to give up my identity? Dream on!”

“Why are you doing this, Scarlett?” Liam put on a heartbroken expression. Then, behind everyone’s back, he texted me again. “That’s enough, we’re in a win-win situation now.” “If I’m rich, doesn’t that mean you’re rich too? I’ll still love you as always, isn’t that good?” “Do you really want to cause trouble?” Who was causing trouble? You’re the one who erased my identity! I clutched my chest miserably, a sharp pain twisting in my heart. I pushed through the crowd and left. Just you wait, you jerk! I didn’t know where to go. I’d been starving for a whole day, so I stumbled into a diner, standing awkwardly at the entrance. “Sir, could I please have a bowl of soup? I don’t have any money.” I emptied all my pockets and took off the beautiful stone bracelet from my left wrist. This was the first piece of jewelry Liam ever gave me. I really liked stones, and Liam said he’d buy me one. We were poor then, so I said he didn’t have to, but I didn’t expect Liam to save up for a bracelet by eating instant noodles every day. “You really bought it.” “Yeah, it looks so good on you, just as beautiful as I imagined.” He smiled and took several photos of me. I’d already guessed-he’d measured my wrist late at night. “A bracelet this fine for just a bowl of soup?” “Yes, I don’t want it anymore.” “No need, it’s on me.” The owner stubbornly refused to take it, so I just placed the bracelet on the table. “Did something happen to you?” the owner cautiously asked. My mouth opened and closed, but I couldn’t speak. How could I explain that my own husband had issued a death certificate for me and erased my identity? “Tell me about it. Consider it a bowl of spaghetti for your story.” Finally, I told the owner my experience. I originally thought the owner wouldn’t believe me, but to my surprise, he actually wanted to introduce his daughter to me. “My daughter is a journalist. I think she’ll definitely be interested in your story! She can help you! Trust me!” “Really?” My eyes lit up. Soon, the owner’s daughter, Anya Henderson, arrived. She patted my shoulder and said, “Don’t worry! Tomorrow, I’ll give this world the truth!” My funeral was tomorrow. Liam had booked a spectacular venue to perform his deep devotion to me. The place was packed with media. His eyes were red-rimmed, his voice a sandpaper whisper of grief. “Thank you for honoring my late wife,” he told the sea of lenses The livestream views skyrocketed. “Let us commemorate Ms. Scarlett Hayes.” That’s when I walked in. Still in my hospital gown. All eyes locked on me. “I hear you’re holding a funeral for someone who’s still alive?”

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I watched, utterly detached, as my childhood friend, her eyes hazy with unnatural desire, was led into the storage room by my closest friend. I turned away. In my past life, I had rushed in to stop the horror. But that act of heroism only served to frame me. When the police arrived, all they found in that storage room was me and my drugged childhood friend. “He’s no academic star; he’s a violent criminal!” My reputation was shattered, and I was expelled. To salvage her name, my childhood friend was forced to marry me. But marriage was my real hell. I sank into severe depression, my mind fractured, even losing my ability as a man. Rumors spread that I was promiscuous, that I’d contracted a disease from my wild ways. My parents, desperate to compensate her, poured all their efforts into propping her up. Yet, the first thing she did after gaining control of our family company was to frame my father for financial fraud. My father went to prison, dying there from a broken heart, consumed by rage. My mother couldn’t bear the shock; she had a car accident while driving and died on the spot. The news broke me. I was inconsolable. But then, my childhood sweetheart of ten years appeared before me, wrapped around my best friend: “You bastard, if you hadn’t interfered back then, we would have been together already. But I still have to thank you for raising our child all these years.” I coughed up a mouthful of blood, my eyes wide with an unyielding fury as I died. I opened my eyes again, back to the very day she was drugged.

After school, the hallways were mostly empty. I gulped down the fresh air. To be yanked back from the edge of death, from that cauldron of hatred and terror, left my emotions raw and volatile. Mason was handing Chloe a bottle of water. A bottle laced with a potent, illicit drug designed to cloud her mind and steal her will. In my previous life, I had accidentally discovered Mason pouring unknown white powder into that water. I exposed him on the spot. But my childhood sweetheart didn’t believe me. She insisted on drinking the water. She even asked if I was just jealous that Mason was more popular than her, always trying to undermine him. This time, I wouldn’t interfere. Chloe took the water, her gaze flickering to me. “Are you really going to tell me what I can and can’t drink now?” “Suit yourself.” I waved a hand dismissively. Mason, ever quick to twist things, immediately jumped in: “Alex, you’re way too controlling with Chloe. Doesn’t she even have the freedom to make friends?” At his words, the few classmates still lingering in the room shot me weird glances, full of suspicion. Chloe’s face hardened further. “Who does he think he is? Just an arrogant jerk.” I tightened my grip on the pen in my hand, my eyes burning with hatred. “Are you two ever going to stop? From beginning to end, have I said a single word?” Chloe paused, her face stiff, then fell silent. Mason continued to stir up trouble. “You didn’t say anything, but your face is terrifying. The way you look at me and Chloe just talking, it’s like you’re about to hit someone.” Chloe shot me an irritated glare. As if to spite me, she chugged the entire bottle of water. In my last life, I had knocked the bottle away, so she only took a single sip. But even that one sip was enough to make her mind hazy. I couldn’t even imagine what consuming the whole bottle would do to her. A dark anticipation stirred within me. Watching her finish the water, Mason couldn’t hide his triumphant glee. He took Chloe’s hand. “Chloe, I’ll walk you home. You don’t look so good.” Chloe didn’t resist. Still in a daze, she let him lead her out of the classroom. Ten minutes later, Daniel, the class monitor, burst into the classroom, his face ghost-white and frantic. At that moment, I was the only one left in the room. Daniel stammered, clearly struggling to speak, as if it was something terribly embarrassing. “What’s wrong? Did something happen to Chloe and Mason?” I asked, feigning concern. Daniel grabbed my arm. “Yes, it’s them… they…” “What exactly happened?” I met Daniel’s eyes, pretending to know nothing. I used to trust Daniel deeply. He wasn’t just the class monitor; he’d been my deskmate for all three years of high school. I thought we were close enough to talk about anything. But after the incident, he’d kick me when I was down. He spread rumors that I had drugged Chloe out of love-turned-hate. He even live-streamed, exposing my “true nature.” “I was his deskmate for three years! I always knew he was emotionally volatile, and that he liked Chloe, but I never thought he’d actually do something like this.” “Alex has a violent temper. He once hospitalized someone from outside school over a minor issue.” “I tried to warn him, but he wouldn’t listen. Even his elderly neighbor, who lives alone, said she always felt like he was stalking her, and she was terrified…” That live stream pushed the situation to a terrifying climax. My life was utterly destroyed, and the school expelled me. Later, I ran into him once. He held a high-ranking position then. “Thank you, you know. If it weren’t for your downfall, I wouldn’t have gotten your Ivy League scholarship and made it into a top-tier university.” Memories flooded back. I glared at Daniel. In my previous life, it was he and I who discovered Chloe being half-carried, half-dragged by Mason into an abandoned storage room in the old building. I rushed to stop them, while Daniel, claiming he’d go get help, instead hid and watched, recording the whole thing. Seeing my lack of urgency, Daniel stammered, completely incoherent. “Mason took Chloe into the abandoned storage room in the old building! Chloe was crying and pushing him away… Mason, Mason looks like he’s going to do something terrible to her!” “But aren’t they dating? How do you know Chloe isn’t going along with it?” At my words, Daniel froze. Everyone knew Mason was after Chloe, and she seemed to reciprocate his feelings. Daniel grabbed my wrist frantically. “But Chloe doesn’t look conscious at all! This isn’t right!” “Come on, let’s go check! We can’t just ignore this!”

The calculation in Daniel’s eyes was almost palpable. He just wanted to ruin me, to get his hands on that Ivy League scholarship. I didn’t say anything more, just followed him downstairs. On the way, I discreetly sent a pre-drafted emergency text to Principal Bennett and a few senior faculty members, and reached out to a few influencers who happened to be live-streaming nearby. Chloe was the principal’s daughter. In my last life, when she expelled me, Principal Bennett utterly humiliated me, calling me a criminal in the making, rotten to the core. This time, I was going to let her see this “spectacle” unfold for herself. As we neared the old storage room, we heard sounds of struggle and muffled whimpers, along with the crude jeers of several men. “This chick’s a looker, alright…” “What’s with this guy? He egged us on then ran off himself?” “Who cares? No sense in letting a good opportunity go to waste…” Daniel’s eyes darted around. “Alex, you’re strong. You go in first and stop them. I’ll go get help!” “No, there seem to be more than one person inside. We should wait here and call the teachers.” I hunched my shoulders, trying to look terrified. Daniel shot me an angry glare. He reined in his temper, lowering his voice. “If you don’t go in now, Chloe will really be in trouble! Can you bear to see her get hurt?” The storage room door wasn’t fully closed. Through the crack, I saw Chloe, her clothes disheveled, being held down by two rough-looking men in work clothes. Her eyes were unfocused, and she struggled and cried weakly. Mason was huddled in a corner, his face pale and bruised, as if he’d tried to run but was cornered. I pressed my lips together, feigning reluctance. “Alright, you’re right. I’ll go in and see.” Just as I was about to push the door open, I turned back to Daniel. “Go find a teacher quickly. I… I don’t think I can hold them off for long.” Daniel readily agreed. He turned and ran, then made a quick turn, coming back around. A look of excitement on his face, he pulled out his phone, started recording, and carefully wedged it into the door crack. The chaotic sounds from inside spilled out, completely unfiltered. Having done all this, Daniel finally ran off, seemingly satisfied, to find teachers and school security. By the time a group of people rushed down to the old building, the sounds of struggle and crying were still coming from inside. Daniel, his voice thick with tears, covered his face and stopped Principal Bennett. “I… I don’t know how this could have happened…” Principal Bennett’s face was grim. She had no idea her daughter, Chloe, was inside. Daniel hadn’t specified who was involved. Daniel wasn’t just out to destroy me; he wanted to ruin Chloe’s reputation too. After all, in his eyes, we were both his competitors for that Ivy League scholarship. And it just so happened that several district officials were here for an inspection today. Now, a group of local government officials were following Principal Bennett to “handle an emergency,” and the situation was incredibly awkward. Principal Bennett was trembling with fury. With government officials watching, her career path was likely over. She probably wished she could just make everyone involved disappear at that moment. Principal Bennett tried to move forward. Daniel blocked her again, crying and wailing. “Principal, inside is… is…” He feigned reluctance. Principal Bennett gripped his shoulders. “Who is it?!” Daniel, looking terrified, sniffled and stammered. “It’s Alex… I, I saw him creeping around…” Principal Bennett recognized me, of course. My grades were the best in the school, and I was the most likely to be admitted to a top-tier university. Her eyes blazed with fury. The angry curse died on her lips. The Education Department officials were still watching; Principal Bennett couldn’t afford to say anything too harsh right now. The chaotic sounds from inside grew clearer. Daniel clutched his chest, speaking to the officials with a pained expression. “Alex, what have you done?! How could you do such a thing! I knew you were hot-headed and prone to drastic actions!” At his words, the Education Department officials’ faces were grim. They prided themselves on being dignified and couldn’t just barge in at this moment. A group of them waited downstairs, exchanging uneasy glances, their expressions varied. “Me? What about me?” I finally emerged from the shadows where I’d been hiding.

“What are you doing here?!” Daniel shrieked, his face instantly draining of color. Principal Bennett eyed me suspiciously. “Not you? Then who’s in there?” I shrugged, feigning ignorance. “I don’t know. Daniel called me over; I just got here and haven’t seen inside yet.” Since Daniel was deliberately hiding the truth, there was no need for me to expose him. Just then, several influencers, having gotten the news, pushed past the school security and burst in. “Whoa, what’s happening at your school? Sounds like a big commotion!” “Principal, has some serious incident occurred?” “Principal, can you explain the situation to our live audience?” Principal Bennett’s face was chalk-white, her jaw tight, but she said nothing. Daniel glared at me, finally losing his composure. He gripped my arm. “Didn’t you go in? Then who was it that went in just now?!” “I… I got to the door, and the sounds from inside… there were so many men’s voices, I got scared. I didn’t dare go in…” I tried to look as panicked and helpless as possible. Daniel was so furious he raised his hand, clearly intending to push me. But just as his hand was about to make contact, he stopped himself just in time, giving me a vicious glare. The influencers’ cameras turned to us. The live chat exploded. “There’s a girl crying! Are they bullying a female student?!” “What are the school security guards doing?!” “Streamer, call the police now!” The streamer’s face turned serious. “Folks, this situation might be very serious. I’ve already called the police.” Stepping out of the camera’s view, a faint, cold smirk touched my lips towards Daniel. He gasped, his eyes widening in shock. “You…” “Daniel, what’s going on?” I asked, my voice laced with ‘innocence’. The Education Department officials’ faces were like thunder. One pointed towards the storage room. “Principal Bennett, no matter who’s in there, you must stop it immediately! Student safety is paramount!” This incident could no longer be kept under wraps. Principal Bennett’s face twisted in fury. “Alright, alright, this is just fantastic!” As Principal Bennett was about to rush towards the storage room, I moved to block her path. “Principal, the situation inside is unclear, it might be dangerous! You should wait for the police and more security to arrive!” Principal Bennett tried to push me away forcefully. “Get out of the way! Now you’re talking about danger? What were you doing before?!” The onlookers frowned, watching our exchange. Daniel, by now, had recovered his wits. He retreated behind the crowd, glaring at me. Then, he seemed to have a sudden thought and jogged over, donning a mask of urgent concern. “Alex, don’t block her! I know you and Chloe are close, but what if… what if there really are criminals inside? Let the teachers handle it!” He pretended to care about me and the school’s reputation, trying to pull me away. Seeing me still resisting, Principal Bennett shoved me aside forcefully. I, however, turned to the live cameras, feigning extreme anxiety and worry: “But it sounds like there’s more than one person in there! If we just rush in, what if we provoke them and they hurt our classmate?” In front of the cameras, I had to appear concerned and thoughtful. This time, I had to be the one standing on the moral high ground. At my words, Principal Bennett and the officials paused. If they acted rashly in front of the cameras and made the situation worse, they would bear greater responsibility. So, a group of people waited anxiously, hesitating about fifty yards from the old building’s storage room. The screams and struggles from inside seemed to have weakened, but that only made the situation more unsettling. An influencer tried to get closer to film, but was stopped by security and the stern gazes from the officials, whose faces were ashen. And so, everyone waited in agonizing suspense. After nearly half an hour, the violent commotion inside gradually subsided, replaced by some faint whimpers and men’s muffled curses. The storage room door was abruptly pulled open from the inside. But to everyone’s surprise, out walked several cursing, disheveled construction workers, two of whom had scratch marks on their faces. “What are you looking at? Get lost!” growled a fierce-looking man at the front. Seeing they were just rough-looking strangers, Principal Bennett’s face went ashen, and she knew instantly that something terrible had happened. Then, someone shrieked— “Oh my God! Inside…”

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I married an idiot. For three years, I spoon-fed him, bathed him, and gave him my entire world. Then, one day, he woke up. He was the CEO of a major company. He spent millions to propose to me publicly, across the entire city. After we married, I became the envy of everyone. He declared his love for me at every turn. But the moment his “true love,” Cassandra, appeared, he instantly kicked me out, leaving me with nothing, just to make space for her. With nowhere to go, I swallowed an entire bottle of sleeping pills. I had been in this world for twenty-five years, painstakingly trying to win over four different men, only to lose everything in the end. The system told me that if this body died, I could go home. But just before my consciousness faded, I heard someone desperately begging me to live. “Skylar, I know you’re awake. Couldn’t you have chosen any other time to off yourself? You just had to do it on the happy day Cassie returned?” “What, are you trying to fake your death to frame Cassie?” A cold voice sliced through the air. I opened my eyes to see Julian’s icy gaze, brimming with hatred. Julian, one of my targets, had once been the husband who loved me more than anything. When we first met, he was battling for his family’s inheritance and had been ambushed, leaving him mentally impaired. He clung to me, insisting we get married. For three years, I bathed him, did his laundry, took care of his every need, and truly gave him my whole world. Yet, when the family heirs had all but eliminated each other, he suddenly snapped back to his senses, becoming the sole successor. Turns out, he’d been faking his condition all along to avoid danger. And I was the real fool, the one he’d tricked. I turned to leave, but he knelt, begging me not to. He spent millions on a lavish, city-wide proposal. “Skylar, please don’t go. I can’t live without you, not really. I was faking it, but I genuinely fell for you.” Amidst a shower of rose petals, looking at the familiar face I’d woken up to every day, I said yes. But then Cassandra appeared, and his feelings changed. He started staying out for long periods, using work as an excuse. “Why can’t you be more understanding?” he’d say. “If I don’t work hard, where would your food and clothes come from?” I believed him. But soon after, I found him and Cassandra intimately tangled in his office. Used condoms lay scattered on the floor. When I confronted him, he demanded I leave the house with nothing. I refused. So Cassandra faked her own death, jumping into the ocean. She then posted a ten-thousand-word accusation against me on Ins, claiming I had been tormenting and abusing her, driving her to suicide. I was relentlessly cyberbullied. Julian took the opportunity to throw me out of the house. Even Finn, my own brother, wanted to disown me, calling me a wicked sister. No matter how I tried to explain, no one believed my innocence. I still didn’t know why Julian had brought me back to life, but his eyes were blazing with hatred. I forced out the last bit of air from my lungs, speaking with immense difficulty: “Kill… me.” Julian instantly let go of me, his eyes full of rage, and slapped me hard. “If you want to die, go somewhere else! Don’t you dare dirty my hands!” The blow left me dizzy and disoriented. When I finally regained my senses, his bodyguards had already dragged me out and dumped me on the road outside the villa. Julian stood with his arms crossed, his expression utterly cold, looking at me like I was trash. “If you hadn’t bullied and tormented Cassie, she never would have been driven to jump into the ocean. If you’re going to kill yourself, do it far away from me. Just looking at you makes me sick to my stomach.” I let out a bitter laugh. They were the ones slandering me, yet I was the one in the wrong! Did power and wealth really mean they could turn black into white? But he probably forgot that without me, he wouldn’t be where he was today! Fine then, I wouldn’t bother his sight anymore! I stumbled away, reaching a busy street. Watching the relentless traffic, I took a leap. Once this body died, I could finally go home. The next second, a screech of tires and a blaring horn filled the air. Someone grabbed my hair, dragging me back to the curb. “Skylar, what the hell are you doing?!” I looked at Julian, his face twisted in shock and anger, and quietly asked, “Why? I already stayed far away from you.” Despite his harsh words, I saw his body trembling. He used to tremble like that, shrinking behind me, whenever he was scared, back when he was my silly husband. What was he scared of now? Scared I’d die? But wasn’t I just giving him and Cassandra what they wanted? Julian slapped me again, harder this time. “What are you playing at? This is the only way for Cassie to get home! What if you die here and dirty her eyes?” I lowered my gaze, a self-deprecating smile on my lips. So that’s what it was. I walked obediently towards the river. Here, it wouldn’t dirty his precious Cassie’s eyes, would it?

I walked step by step into the river. The next moment, another hand grabbed me. I turned, confused, and saw Finn, my younger brother. He was holding a cake with Cassandra’s initials on it. It must have been a cake to celebrate Cassandra’s return after faking her death. Finn’s eyes were blazing with anger and hatred. “What are you doing here? Did you know I was bringing Cassie a cake, so you came to stop me?!” “Skylar, have you forgotten? I’ve already cut ties with you!” In this world, if anyone hated me more than Julian, it would be my own brother. But he wasn’t always like this. We lost our parents young, and I raised him alone, naming him Finn, hoping he’d be as resilient and free as a maple leaf. He dreamed of studying music, so I dropped out early, working three jobs to send him to the best training programs. Once, when our house caught fire, he ran barefoot into the flames, crying that if I died, he wouldn’t live either. We were each other’s only support in this world, the closest blood relatives. But everything changed after he met Cassandra. Just because Cassandra said she wanted something good to eat, he forced me, even when I was seriously ill, to cook a table full of dishes for her. When she didn’t eat, I couldn’t help but ask why, and he snapped back: “Your cooking is awful! How dare you yell at her!” With that, he dumped my hard-earned meal into the trash. Later, Cassandra and Julian conspired to frame me, faking her death by jumping into the ocean. Finn hated me to his core because of it, disowning me, watching coldly as I suffered, even pushing me deeper into despair himself. Thinking of this, I didn’t answer him. I slowly pulled my wrist from his grasp, inch by inch. Julian saw this and immediately sneered. “Cassie’s back. She was kicked out with nothing, so she probably can’t accept it and wants to kill herself.” Finn frowned, a cold laugh escaping his lips. “Someone as afraid of death as Skylar? She wouldn’t really kill herself. She’s probably just putting on a show.” “Great minds think alike,” Julian chuckled. “She just put on two shows for me.” After his mocking laugh, Finn looked at me with renewed hatred. “Skylar, a vile person like you? Even if you really died, no one would care!” “Now get out of the way. Don’t block me from finding Cassie.” I slowly lowered my eyes. “Fine, I’ll go.” The words were barely out before I plummeted into the rushing river. Finn’s face went white. The river was swift, and in the blink of an eye, I was swept over ten yards away. A sense of relief washed over me. This time, I really could die, couldn’t I? But then, with a splash, I was pulled out by Finn and thrown onto the muddy grass, disheveled and covered in grime. He was soaked, kicking me like a madman. “Skylar, are you trying to make everyone think I forced you to die, and ruin me?!” “You sicken me!” “You… when did you learn to swim?” I coughed violently, bitter water spewing from my mouth. Finn kicked me hard again, then sneered. “After Cassie jumped into the ocean, I went and learned to swim.” “What? Disappointed your plan didn’t work?” I couldn’t help but scoff. Love truly was amazing. I had tried countless times to teach him to swim. But each time, Cassandra stopped me. “With me around, Finn doesn’t need to learn to swim. I’ll always be with him, to save him if he’s ever in danger.” Finn would also coldly dismiss me: “Skylar, that’s the difference between you and Cassie. You only force me to do things I don’t want to. You don’t deserve to be my sister!” Later, Finn accidentally drowned, but Cassandra just watched coldly. It was me who jumped in and saved him. Yet he thought Cassandra had saved him, giving her all the credit, and even accused me of being heartless, watching my own brother drown without moving. Now, Finn, who had always been terrified of water, had learned to swim for Cassandra. “What does my taking my life have to do with you? You’re nothing but a stranger to me.” Hearing this, Finn’s face turned beet red. He swung his hand and slapped me. “If it weren’t for the vow I made after Cassie died, to accumulate good karma for her, do you think I’d save you, my biological sister whom I’ve disowned?” “Today, I’d save even a dog if it fell into the water!” I let out a self-deprecating laugh. “Biological sister? That’s a fresh one. What about Cassandra? Your ‘good sister’? But she’s marrying Julian.” Finn’s hand froze. The cake in his hand dropped to the ground as he stared at Julian. “Marrying?! Julian?” I was about to speak when another target, Dr. Beckett, rushed over, his words like a thunderclap: “Cassie’s gone missing!” “Skylar, did you hide Cassie?! Hand her over right now!”

Julian, who had been unperturbed until now, showed a hint of panic for the first time. “Cassie’s missing?” “Skylar! No wonder you’re acting so strangely today. You must have done something bad and are trying to fake your death to clear your name! Tell us, where did you take Cassie?!” Finn’s eyes instantly turned red. He slapped me hard. “Cassie just returned after so much hardship, and you dared to harm her! I should have just let you drown in the river earlier!” “Give her back to me right now! If she dies, I won’t live either!” The taste of iron filled my mouth. I parted my lips, and a few drops of blood trickled out. Cassandra had disappeared again. She truly couldn’t stand to see me have even a moment of peace. If that’s the case, I might as well grant her wish. I was about to speak when Dr. Beckett, who once claimed I was his only salvation, pressed a scalpel to my throat. “Talk! Where did you hide my Cassandra!” Dr. Beckett, one of my four targets, was a renowned surgical authority. Initially, someone tried to steal his family’s medical patent, leading to the murder of his entire family. I was the one who risked my life to save him. Perhaps it was witnessing his family’s murder. Dr. Beckett became extremely resistant to anyone getting close. I still have a scar on the web of my left hand, a bite mark from when he lashed out in panic. But I never abandoned him, staying by his side through that difficult period. Finally, Dr. Beckett recovered his sanity, determined to refine his medical skills and find evidence to avenge his family. Through countless silent struggles, I faced numerous life-or-death moments, personally helping him rise to power and take down all his enemies. That day, he cried, saying I would forever be his sister, his kin without blood. That day, I cried too, because he really reminded me of my brother from my other world. I missed my brother. But later, after Cassandra appeared, he gradually distanced himself from me. All because Cassandra said she didn’t like me calling him “brother.” He even declared that if I came within three yards of him, he would use a scalpel to slice my throat. The day he learned Cassandra had faked her death and jumped into the ocean, Dr. Beckett went mad. He used various medical procedures on me, making me suffer unimaginable torment, all to avenge Cassandra. “Cassie must have been tormented by you to such an extent to take her own life.” “If that’s the case, then every day from now on, you will suffer a hundred times worse than she did!” Seeing my silence, blood vessels popped in Dr. Beckett’s eyes. The sharp blade pressed against my throat, drawing a thin line of blood. “Not talking? It seems a few days without torment has made you forget our methods!” Dr. Beckett advanced with a chilling expression, knocked me unconscious, and took me to the dark room in Julian’s villa. He injected me with drugs that heightened nerve sensitivity, using various torture instruments to amplify the pain to an unbearable extreme. Julian and Finn didn’t stop him. Instead, they gnashed their teeth, glaring at me with furious hatred. I struggled ceaselessly, a dense, stinging pain spreading through my body, reaching deep into my bones, forcing a scream from my throat. But Dr. Beckett backhanded me, his voice sharp: “You can’t even handle this much pain? Don’t forget how you tormented Cassie!” “If you don’t tell me her whereabouts, I’ll return every single thing you did to her, one by one!” Hearing that, my eyes widened, as if I’d seen a glimmer of hope. I didn’t want to be tortured by them; I just wanted to die quickly. I just wanted to go home, to finally get some sleep! I cried, whimpering and screaming: “Your Cassandra is dead! I chopped her into pieces with a knife!” “Come on! Kill me!! Let her keep me company in death!” “Come on!!!” I screamed at them wildly. Dr. Beckett was probably too enraged. How dare I be so defiant even now? “Do you really think I won’t kill you? Cassie is dead, and you trash deserve to be buried with her!” He suddenly grabbed a scalpel and lunged, stabbing towards me. He used all his strength, probably expecting me to resist, but I just stood there, watching the tip of the blade plunge into my heart. Dr. Beckett froze, staring at the blood gushing from my chest, as if he couldn’t believe it. But I stretched my lips into a smile. Was I finally going to die?! As my consciousness began to fade. Cassandra’s voice suddenly came from the doorway: “Oh, why is everyone here? I’ve been looking for you all…”

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My dad loves orchids. So, when he retired, I bought him a beautiful manor perfect for his passion. But the moment he stepped inside, the security guards brutally beat him until his head bled. “Leo, you said this place was mine. They’re calling me a scammer. A trespasser.” My dad’s voice trembled through the FaceTime call. I was about to explain when another man walked into the video frame. The guards’ attitude flipped instantly. They fell over themselves fawning, muttering to each other. “The CEO’s husband is here! Get this old con artist out of here!” It hit me like a truck. My wife was having an affair. And she’d given the manor I bought for my dad to her lover. I called the research institute immediately. “I’ll publicly release all my smart chip data and research. For free.” Let’s see if Seraphina Thorne’s company can survive without me! After authorizing the data release with the institute, I drove straight to Willow Creek Manor. I had been married to Seraphina for seven years. In that time, she rose from nothing to become the formidable CEO, all thanks to my research and data support. The world saw a self-made genius. I saw the ghostwriter standing in her shadow. As I arrived at Willow Creek Manor, I saw a frail figure lying on the ground. It was my father. Beaten. Discarded. He was covered in dirt, and his eyes were bloodshot from the beating. A crowd of staff stood around my dad, watching. No one helped. They kept kicking his body. “Hasn’t the old fraud had enough? Want more?” “This estate belongs to Seraphina Thorne’s family. Who do these losers think they are?” They jeered, slapping my dad’s face. Rage boiled within me. I shoved through the crowd and rushed to him. Seeing me, my dad let out a long sigh of relief. “Leo, explain quickly. It must be a misunderstanding.” The estate manager, Gordon, scoffed, a sneer twisting his lips. “Have you no shame? This property belongs to Ms. Thorne. And you two… what is this? A pathetic attempt at cosplay?” Gordon wasn’t done. He eyed my cheap beat-up car. “That junk can’t even buy a tire on her husband’s ride. And you dare pretend to be him?” Just then, the “CEO’s husband” they spoke of sauntered out of a luxury car. As he got closer, I realized it was Blake Harrison, Seraphina’s sweetheart. After Seraphina and I married, someone casually mentioned Blake’s, but I never cared. Now, Blake was brazenly claiming to be Seraphina’s husband. Blake met my gaze and walked towards me. “Blake, how dare you steal our Willow Creek Manor?” I confronted him. Blake showed no hint of guilt, just a smirk. “Well, well, isn’t it the pathetic leech trying to latch onto my wife?” “Still obsessed, huh? Chasing her all the way here?” “If you want to see my wife, you can. Get on your knees and kowtow a few times, and maybe I’ll be charitable enough to let you have a glimpse.” As if that wasn’t enough, Blake pointed at me, addressing the Willow Creek Manor staff loudly. “This gold-digger wants to score big, constantly hounding my wife. “Can you believe he’d even follow us to our love nest? What a psycho!” The surrounding staff looked at me with disgust after hearing Blake’s words. “A homewrecker, trying to break up someone else’s family, actually has the nerve to show up here?” “Ugh, what a disgrace. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, especially when the tree’s rotten. The old one’s a fraud, and the young one’s a complete bastard.” “Blake is truly exceptional, driving a luxury car and wearing designer watches. That’s a real success story.” Gordon, feeling emboldened, grabbed my dad’s collar, ready to throw him out. “I smelled the stench of these two low-lifes from a mile away. They actually dared to impersonate Seraphina Thorne’s husband? You’ve got a death wish. Today, I’m going to rip you father and son apart.” My dad’s whole body trembled with anger at their taunts. “You can’t distinguish right from wrong! My son bought Willow Creek Manor for me!” Blake spat at my dad. “You pathetic old man, there’s a limit to your daydreams.” “Seraphina bought this estate for my father. This is Seraphina’s gift to her father-in-law, got it?” I was speechless with fury. This woman, who only managed to establish her company by leveraging my research. Not only did she cheat on me, but she also let her ‘old flame’ seize my dad’s estate. This surreal world was utterly ridiculous. I pulled out my phone, found the purchase receipt for Willow Creek Manor, and showed it to everyone. “I bought Willow Creek Manor! I paid for it!” “Now! Apologize to my dad!”

Gordon burst out laughing. “Showing a doctored image and thinking the estate is yours? I could Photoshop a receipt for the White House and claim it’s mine too.” “You con artist just won’t give up, will you? You won’t believe it until I show you the proof, then you’ll finally scram, right?” A staff member, sensing Gordon’s mood, brought out Willow Creek Manor’s order information and projected it for everyone to see. The order clearly stated: Purchaser, Blake Harrison! My mind went blank. Every step of buying Willow Creek Manor was correct. The payment was deducted from my card. How could someone else’s name appear on the order now? Then I remembered that two nights ago, Seraphina, who was usually cold and distant, uncharacteristically urged me to rest early. Seeing my phone on the bedside table, Seraphina even deliberately put it away. Seraphina knew my payment password. Was she encouraging me to sleep early just to change the payment details? Damn it, that bitch! I grabbed my phone and called Seraphina. Her voice on the other end was filled with annoyed impatience. “I’m busy. Don’t call me if it’s not important. Not everyone is as idle as you, a jobless bum!” “Seraphina, who gave you the guts to give away my Dad’s estate? And why is Blake Harrison telling everyone he’s your husband?” Seraphina frantically hung up the call. I knew Seraphina was completely panicking. After all, without my technical support, Seraphina’s massive tech company was nothing but a house of cards. Blake clearly realized the consequences too; his face turned ashen with fear. I walked past Blake and headed straight for the luxury car behind him. I found the owner’s information inside, and Blake Harrison’s name was prominently displayed. That scumbag Seraphina truly spared no expense. She even gave Blake the Rolls-Royce I bought her when we got married. Blake saw my actions and instantly regained his confidence. “You pathetic loser, not content with trying to scam my estate, now you’re eyeing my car too?” I was so consumed by anger that I lost all sense of reason. I just wanted to clench my fists and punch him hard. Blake, seeing my intent, immediately ducked behind the estate’s security personnel. “Look, everyone, the gold-digger couldn’t scam his way in, so now he wants to resort to violence! Shameless!” Gordon immediately rallied all the security guards, surrounding us. “Damn it, I knew it! These two low-lifes are no good. Get these two bastards out of here before they dirty our estate.” Punches rained down on us from the security guards. I could only hold my dad close, shielding him. Just then, a screech of tires pierced the air. I looked up. Seraphina had parked her car and was frantically running towards us. I expected a tearful apology, filled with remorse. Instead, I was met with a torrent of scathing accusations. “Leo Sterling, you pathetic excuse for a man, how dare you cause trouble outside!”

Blake immediately pointed at me, reporting to Seraphina. “Seraphina, this gold-digger who’s always been harassing you is back.” “For money, he even brought the old fraud along. Shameless!” Seraphina looked at me with utter contempt. “Leo Sterling, I warned you long ago, I’m beyond your reach.” “Now you’re not just stalking me every day; you’ve brought your dad along to stalk me too. Can you not have some decency?” I looked at the woman I had spent seven years with, and a chill ran through me. For seven years, I’d turned down countless high-paying job offers. I had selflessly given Seraphina the smart chip data I had developed over many years, all because she said she wanted to become a successful entrepreneur. I thought we were building a beautiful future together, but I now realized I was just setting her and her lover up for success. My dad was utterly furious. Clutching his chest, he challenged Seraphina. “How can you say that? Leo paid for this estate himself! How can you talk such nonsense?” Seraphina sneered dismissively. “He paid for it? Does he even have money? A jobless bum!” “You pathetic old man, get out of the way!” “I bought this estate for my father-in-law. It has nothing to do with you or your pathetic son!” Her words pierced my heart like a sharp blade. I held my father, who was clutching his painful chest, and stared intently at Seraphina. “Seraphina, dare you repeat what you just said? Who is your father-in-law?” “Who is your husband?” Seraphina froze, clearly not expecting me to challenge her when I was so isolated and vulnerable. But she quickly recovered. This was her turf; what did she have to fear? Seraphina swiftly grabbed Blake’s arm, intertwining with him sweetly. “My father-in-law will only ever be Blake’s father.” “And my husband will always and only be Blake Harrison.” Seraphina’s eyes swept over me from head to toe, full of disdain. “As for you, you’re just a gold-digger, a perverted version of one who wants to scam people when he can’t get what he wants!” Blake beamed, pulling Seraphina into his embrace. After a loving gaze, they shared a kiss. “Honey, I’ve seen plenty of these gold-diggers wanting to latch onto wealthy people. Let’s head inside quickly; let’s not let this ruin our vacation!” As soon as Blake said that, the estate staff began to whisper amongst themselves. “So, he’s just a desperate gigolo wanting to climb up the ladder. Seriously messed up. Blake and Seraphina are a perfect match!” “This pretty boy looks decent enough, but who knew he had such a malicious heart? Constantly harassing a married couple and trying to scam their luxury car and estate?” Blake looked at me with utter contempt. “You bastard, hear that? Seraphina only has one husband, and she only loves me!” My dad gasped for air, clutching his heart. He exerted all his strength, blocking the estate gate, and loudly explained. “My son bought this for me! You won’t take it from us!” Blake’s face darkened. He grabbed a security guard’s baton nearby and swung it at my dad’s head! “You old bastard, if I don’t teach you a lesson, you’ll think your buddy Blake is easy to mess with!” Seraphina stood with her arms crossed, watching indifferently as if it had nothing to do with her. I struggled against the security guards, desperate to reach my dad, but Seraphina’s bodyguards held me down firmly. The baton landed squarely on my dad’s head. Blood immediately gushed from his forehead. Blake still wasn’t satisfied. He yelled at the bodyguards around him, “Get me the taser gun!” With one shot, my dad’s body convulsed. “You old bastard, today Blake’s going to show you what’s what.” The taser gun was set to maximum power. After another shot, the surrounding skin was charred black. I struggled wildly, my eyes fixed on Seraphina. “Seraphina, he’s your father-in-law! You know he’s always had a weak heart!” Seven years! Even if she didn’t care about our marriage, didn’t years of companionship mean anything? Even a pet cat or dog wouldn’t be treated with such heartlessness! Seraphina showed no trace of compassion. She lifted the hem of her dress, stepping back, afraid my dad’s blood would stain her new outfit. “The old man constantly causes trouble. Let Blake beat him up, blow off some steam. Maybe then we’ll let you off the hook.” Blake’s confidence swelled after hearing Seraphina’s words. He ordered the bodyguards to tie my dad to the back of Seraphina’s luxury car and started driving onto the paved road. “So, the old man likes the estate, does he? I’ll have the bodyguards give you a tour of the estate.” With a roar of the engine, my father was dragged alongside the car, leaving a long trail of blood. Blake still wasn’t satisfied. “Can’t you go faster? Let this old geezer bleed a bit more.” Watching the blood stream from my dad, I felt my world sway. Then, the massive outdoor screen of the estate lit up with a national news bulletin. “BREAKING: Scientist Leo Sterling has just released his entire smart chip research database to the public, free of charge. Experts say the move will instantly revolutionize the field of AI.” Seraphina stared at me in disbelief. Her triumphant, arrogant expression instantly crumbled into ash.

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My life was cursed from the start. Broken leg at three. Deaf in one ear by five. Eye lost by eight. After my rich parents finally took me home, Chloe, the fake heiress, hissed a cruel threat. “Even if you’re back, I’m still the only Hayes daughter! Try anything, and I’ll break your other leg!” I stared, uncomprehending. Then, without a word, I detached both my prosthetic legs. My parents’ faces drained of color as they saw my empty pants legs. My brother Caleb’s expression darkened. He leaned in, his voice a low warning not to upset Chloe. I just pointed to my ear with an innocent look and shouted. “WHAT?! Someone beat me deaf in this ear! I CAN’T HEAR YOU!” He staggered back, looking like he’d seen a ghost. At the gala, Chloe tried to frame me, faking a fall down the stairs. In the process, she tore my dress. Just as Caleb led my parents over to confront me, they saw my body covered in scars. The world froze. My father rushed to wrap me in his arms. “What happened?! Tell me!” Seeing their horror, Chloe scrambled to her feet, desperate to distance herself. “I didn’t do it! Don’t you dare blame me!” I nodded. No, she didn’t do it. The traffickers did. I was the only child from my village to ever escape alive. I’d made a promise to the little friends I left behind. I would make the monsters pay.

“It wasn’t me.” Chloe’s voice dissolved into a perfect, trembling sob, her eyes seeking refuge in Caleb’s. Caleb understood immediately. He moved to shield her, his voice hardening into a blade of conviction. “Mom, Dad, listen to me. Aria’s just playing the victim to frame Chloe!” “You know Chloe. She could never do something so cruel. Never.” I wrapped myself in the clothes the butler, Mr. Davies, handed me, hiding the scars that covered my body. Even though I couldn’t stop trembling, I tried to smile at them. “Mom, Dad, Caleb’s right. My injuries really have nothing to do with Chloe.” “I did all of this to myself to play the victim and frame her.” During those years with the traffickers, I’d learned to be compliant to avoid another beating, to suffer a little less. Accepting charges I didn’t commit was always better than resisting and earning a fiercer beating. But to my surprise, as soon as the words left my mouth, my parents’ faces darkened. Smash. Dad slammed the glass he was holding onto the floor. His hand trembled as he pointed accusingly from Chloe to Caleb. “Look! See what you did? Aria’s not making any sense!” Chloe and Caleb stared, their faces paling. Just then, a girl in an evening dress caught Chloe’s look and stepped out. “Who hurt her earlier is one thing,” she declared, then thrust an accusing finger toward me. “But she just kicked Chloe down the stairs! In front of everyone.” Caleb jumped on it instantly. Her left foot! I saw it too!” he shouted, backing her up. All eyes were on me again. I peeked out from behind Mom, my face etched with confusion and helplessness. Under everyone’s gaze, I timidly bent down and slowly pulled up my left pant leg. It was empty. I looked up, my eyes fearful. “Mom, Dad, even though… even though my left prosthetic leg is being serviced today…” “But since Caleb and Tiffany saw me kick Chloe down the stairs, then… then it must have been me.” As I spoke, I tugged at Chloe’s dress, trying to appease her. “I’m sorry, Chloe, it was my fault. I’ll apologize to you right now.” With that, I used my one remaining prosthetic limb to support myself, hopped to the second floor, and without a second thought, leapt over the railing. Silence descended for a moment. Then, a piercing scream erupted from the crowd. “Aria!!” Mom and Dad frantically caught me. Mr. Davies stumbled and crawled to find a doctor. Caleb and Chloe stood frozen, dumbfounded. The other guests’ expressions were like they’d collectively seen a ghost. “Doctor! Get a doctor, now!!!” Excruciating pain shot through my limbs. Amidst the shouts, the light in front of me faded, and I slowly closed my eyes.

That night, Mom and Dad reviewed the surveillance footage from every corner of the house. Chloe’s entire self-orchestrated scheme played out clearly on the screen, leaving nowhere to hide. The evidence was undeniable. Facing their questions, Chloe rubbed her red, tear-stained eyes, her voice full of grievance. “I’m so sorry.I really didn’t mean to frame her.” “I was just so scared. What if she shows up and you just replace me?” Caleb was beside her in an instant. “You heard her! Chloe’s just insecure!” “She’s lived here for over a decade. Someone suddenly comes back to take everything away from her… isn’t it normal for her to be scared?” “She didn’t mean any harm, so stop being so aggressive!” As he spoke, he seemed to remember something, his brow furrowing tightly, his voice now filled with disgust. “But Aria, I think there’s something seriously wrong with her head, isn’t there?” “Who jumps from the second floor just because someone says something?” Mom and Dad shot him a harsh glare, but they still took his words into consideration. The next day, they pulled some strings and brought in a top psychologist. To everyone’s surprise, I was incredibly cooperative with the doctor’s questions. “Aria, can you tell me how you got these scars?” I thought carefully for a moment, then answered softly. “I did them to myself.” A flicker of surprise crossed Dr. Miller’s face. He pressed on, “And why would you hurt yourself?” My answer was utterly natural. “Because that way, before someone gets angry, I’ve already punished myself. When they see I’m sorry, they might calm down and won’t hit me anymore.” I still remembered that whenever I made a mistake, as long as I punished myself before those people got angry, I’d always end up with fewer injuries, fewer beatings. Dr. Miller stared at me, looking like he wanted to say more but held back. After a long pause, he tried to guide me. “But have you ever thought that hurting yourself like this doesn’t solve the problem? It only hurts those who truly love you.” I blinked, asking curiously, “What is love?” “Is it like those traffickers from before, breaking my legs but saying it was for my own good, saying it would let me live by begging for pity and charity?” “Or is it like my parents now…?” “One second they’re hugging me, crying and swearing they’d fight for me, but the next, even after seeing Chloe framing me on the surveillance footage, they just… let it slide? Instead, they thought I was the problem and brought in a therapist for me?” I leaned closer to him, speaking each word distinctly. “Dr. Miller, I used to have many friends who loved me. We got beaten together, starved together, and we promised each other we’d escape…” “But now…” I paused, then continued, “The people who loved me… they’re all dead.” The pen in Dr. Miller’s hand froze mid-air, his face instantly turning ashen. Dr. Miller relayed every word I said, verbatim, to my parents. His final diagnosis was. I had severe psychological trauma. All my compliance, and the way I hurt myself preemptively when feeling threatened, were self-preservation mechanisms forced upon me to survive in such a terrible environment. After Dr. Miller left, Mom and Dad stayed in their room all day. Until Caleb kicked open their bedroom door.

Seeing Mom and Dad’s attention completely fixated on me, Caleb couldn’t help but let out a cold, mocking laugh. “I bet she’s just putting on an act for the doctor, trying to be pathetic and gain sympathy, all to get Chloe kicked out of this family!” “She’s disgusting, so manipulative and calculating!” Chloe, however, stepped forward and linked her arm through Mom and Dad’s, her voice soft and sweet. “Mom, Dad, Caleb’s just saying that in the heat of the moment. Please don’t take it to heart.” “I was wrong before, I promise, I’ll get along with Aria from now on.” “There’s a social event in a couple of days. We’ll definitely take Aria with us, so she can meet some new friends, and it’ll also… help us sisters bond!” Mom and Dad exchanged glances, thinking it might help me integrate into their circle sooner. After a moment of consideration, they agreed. Soon, the evening of the gala arrived. I limped into the grand hall, only to be bumped by a server coming the other way. I fell to the ground, wine spilling all over me. Chloe let out a little giggle, then quickly changed her expression. “Oh my gosh… Quick, I’ll take you to the lounge to clean up!” She grabbed my wet arm without asking, half-dragging, half-pulling me away from the crowd’s view. Halfway there, she leaned in close to my ear, her voice dripping with malice. “Don’t think that just because you make yourself look pathetic, acting crazy and dumb, you’ll get Mom, Dad, and Caleb’s love! Dream on!” “They still love me! Always will!” A cruel smile twisted her lips. “Wanna make a bet? If I prove it, you’ll get out of the Hayes family and never show your face again!” As soon as she finished speaking, a huge push slammed into my back! “Splash!” The icy pool water instantly swallowed me whole. Then came another, louder splash, and a piercing scream. “Caleb! Help me!!! I’m terrified of water!!!” Caleb rushed over at the sound. Without thinking, he plunged into the water, swimming frantically towards Chloe, who was thrashing around. The moment I hit the water, my body’s memory kicked in before my conscious mind, making me choose the “safest” way to cope. Stay still, cause no trouble, just wait for it to be over. I let my body be enveloped by the pool water, slowly sinking to the bottom, bubbles escaping from my mouth and nose. Caleb didn’t pull Chloe to the edge of the pool until he heard the gasps and warnings from the surrounding guests. “There’s another one in the water! The one who isn’t moving!” He whirled around, his face instantly pale. He frantically jumped back into the water, clumsily pulling me out. I lay curled on the freezing floor, spitting out mouthfuls of pool water. Caleb ignored my trembling, grabbing my wrist with a force that felt like it would crush my bones. “Apologize to Chloe! Look how terrified you’ve made her!” I clutched my eyes tightly, my body shaking even more violently. Seeing this, he let out a cold laugh, his tone even more cutting. “Now you’re scared? Now you want to cry? I’m telling you, tears won’t help!” “Don’t even try to say you didn’t push Chloe on purpose!” “Chloe is terrified of water. If you hadn’t pushed her, how could she have…” As he spoke, he forcefully pushed my head towards the ground. My head hit the floor with a heavy thud. My hand, which had been clamped over my eyes, slipped away, revealing my empty left eye socket. When I looked up, the entire room fell silent. In the profound stillness, I cautiously looked up, forced a small smile, and whispered softly, “My… my eye fell out… I was afraid of scaring everyone…” All of Caleb’s accusations and anger froze on his face. “You…” He opened his mouth, but only one word escaped. Just then, a sharp crack echoed overhead. The rope holding the crystal chandelier snapped, sending it plummeting straight down! In a flash, I saw the image of my friend, crushed by a collapsing beam while trying to save me. My body moved faster than my brain. With a strength I didn’t know I had, I slammed into Caleb, who was still stunned. Fragments of glass grazed my cheek, leaving a trail of blood. Caleb stumbled a few steps and fell to the ground. He turned back, his pupils constricted in shock. His face registered disbelief, then, after a long moment, frustration and anger. “Aria, are you insane?! I’m supposed to protect you! I don’t need you to save me!” Though his words were harsh and cutting, he scrambled to his feet with incredible speed. As he neared me, his hand hesitated, but ultimately, he swept me up into his arms, shouting at the surrounding crowd. “What are you standing around for?! Get in the pool and get her… get my sister’s eye out!” He carried me into the lounge, snatched a blanket, and wrapped me up tightly. Then he placed the freshly cleaned prosthetic eye next to me. “The, uh, the doctor’s too slow, I’ll… I’ll go find him myself!” With that, he bolted, his footsteps frantic. Darkness and the cramped space made me feel drowsy. After I don’t know how long, a pungent, choking smell filled the air. Fire.

Chloe’s voice drifted to me, faintly. “Quick! It’s our chance now. Hurry and take her away in the chaos!” “I’ll just tell Mom and Dad there was a fire, she didn’t make it out, and she burned to death!” “Mom and Dad only need one daughter! Who asked her to come back?! She can go back to wherever she came from!” “The money’s already been wired to you, double! Be quick about it, don’t leave any traces!” Several grinning faces moved closer, chillingly familiar. I didn’t struggle or cry for help. Instead, I submissively waited for them to tie my hands. The smell of sedatives spread through my nose and mouth, and I passed out. I was slapped awake. A burning pain erupted on my cheek, and my already deaf ear rang, bleeding again. In front of me were several twisted faces. The human traffickers always disguised themselves as locals, stuffing one stolen child after another into this remote village. They shoved people into dog cages, mutilated them to appear disabled, and forced them to beg on the streets for profit. A scar-faced man fiercely yanked my hair, his eyes leering. “Damn it, you little bitch, you’re hard to kill! Almost got away for good!” “Boss, I say we just make sure she’s a permanent fixture here, no more running!” The prosthetic limbs with their embedded trackers were brutally ripped off. They tore my evening gown. I knew struggling was useless, so I could only try to buy time. I looked up, my gaze calm. “You disguise yourselves as villagers, but behind our backs, you kidnap children, commit arson, murder… Aren’t you afraid of karma for all the evil you’ve done?” As soon as the words left my mouth, they burst into triumphant laughter, as if they’d heard the funniest joke. “Hah, karma?! We are the karma around here!” My lips curved into a faint, bitter smile. “One last question, then. Who got me out of the banquet hall?” Perhaps to savor my even more desperate expression, they erupted in another round of gleeful laughter. “Your sister! The Chloe from the Hayes family!” “Didn’t expect that, did you? You didn’t die with us, but you came home, and someone there was just itching for you to die!” I feigned a look of disbelief, stubbornly shaking my head, my voice trembling. “Impossible. Chloe… she would never do that to me!” They were enraged, as expected. To prove it, they pulled out the transfer records. “Open your damn eyes and look! The sender! Chloe Hayes! See it clearly?!” With that, their last shred of patience ran out, and they reached out to strike me. Just as those disgusting hands were about to touch my body. Bang. The door was violently kicked open from the outside! Along with countless police officers who stormed in with guns drawn. And my parents and Caleb, their faces filled with shock and fury. And… Chloe, her face ashen white.

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Ten years as DINKs. Then his mistress got pregnant. “I want to be dad.” He announced. I had two choices: take a $300 million settlement and divorce, or stay Mrs. Hayes and be the child’s nominal mother. He thought I’d pick the second. He knew how much I loved him. But I chose the first without blinking. I’d been reborn. In my last life, I fought Richard’s mistress my whole life. In the end, her son still seized all our assets. This time, the money’s mine. The freedom’s mine. And maybe, a young man or two will be mine as well. In my last life, I literally worked myself to death. After discovering my husband Richard’s affair, a cold, focused fury consumed me. I spent 48 sleepless hours plotting. First, I sidelined him at Hayes Corp, seized control. Then I executed reforms so brutal our share price quintupled. Richard’s mistress, Jasmine, and her son, Kevin, were crushed under my heel. They hid abroad, too terrified to return or contact Richard. Not a single Hayes family member dared to challenge me, not even Richard. I thought I’d won. Then I hit forty-five, still not pregnant. Years of grueling IVF, constant injections, and non-stop work took their toll. My body gave out. I collapsed and died on a business trip. My body hadn’t even been buried when Jasmine returned with her son. Richard, Jasmine, and Kevin wept, hugging each other as if they were the ones who’d suffered some great injustice. My ashes and photo? Casually tossed into the trash. Watching Jasmine eagerly move in and Kevin take over my company, I finally realized I’d spent my entire life building an empire for someone else. That night, I heard Jasmine and Richard sharing sweet nothings in bed. Jasmine, teary-eyed, whispered to him, “Richard, you’ve suffered so much for me these past twenty years. You secretly got a vasectomy for me, and even deliberately set Sera up to pave the way for our son! Thank you, my love, I adore you.” Richard kissed Jasmine’s forehead. “Jasmine, I love you too. You’ve been with me since you were twenty. I’d do anything for you.” No wonder no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get pregnant later on. Richard had gotten a vasectomy ages ago. I couldn’t tell if I felt regret or fury, only that my entire life had been a cruel joke. I opened my eyes again, back to the moment Richard laid it all out for me. He’d just gotten home from a business trip, still wearing the custom suit I’d ordered for him. He sat on the sofa, radiating an undeniable charm. Richard sighed. “Sera, let’s part amicably. Jasmine’s pregnant. It was… an accident, but she’s given me everything, and I can’t abandon her.” “I’m going to marry her and keep this child. I’m afraid you’ll have to make sacrifices.” “Besides the $300 million settlement for the divorce, I’ll buy back your shares at market price. This villa we live in and the cars? They’re yours. I truly owe you for all these years.” Honestly, Richard’s terms were pretty generous. If I didn’t love him, it would’ve been a total windfall. But I’d known him since I was eighteen, married him at twenty. Richard built his empire, and I helped manage the company alongside him. Later, when his parents got older and their health declined, I stepped back to care for them. I never imagined Richard would stab me in the back. And twist the knife. That betrayal fueled a hatred so fierce, I burned the rest of that life on nothing but revenge. Now, I gazed at my thirty-year-old face in the mirror. My eyes looked tired, exhausted from cooking and managing the household for my in-laws. My clothes were dated, a testament to my frugality. I reeked of “housewife.” My heart ached. I felt a pang of pity for myself. How had I let my life become this? Why hadn’t I learned to enjoy it? As I drifted, Richard repeated his demand for divorce. He sounded impatient. Just as he was about to deliver a warning, I calmly said, “Fine.” Richard froze. “What?” “I agree to the divorce,”I repeated, my voice calm. “And to you buying back my shares at market price. Let’s end this amicably.” Stunned by my decisiveness, he could only stare for a beat. “As long as you agree,” he muttered. “My lawyer will contact yours tomorrow.” Then he left in a hurry. I took a deep breath. Turning around, I saw his parents on the second floor. They’d known about Jasmine. They’d come for a show. Seeing not a tear but cold resolve, their faces tightened with awkwardness. My mother-in-law forced a thin smile, nudged her husband, and they vanished. I was left alone in the living room, savoring the reality of my rebirth.

Richard’s assistant worked fast. Within a week, Jasmine was strutting into my house as if she owned the future. In my previous life, Richard coddled her because she was young, keeping her well-protected. I rarely dealt with her. So, facing twenty-year-old Jasmine now, a strange resentment still flared. But I fought to hide it. I knew Richard was ultimately to blame. Jasmine was just the fly attracted to the rot. She was practically revered by the Hayes family. My mother-in-law, who’d given me the cold shoulder for ten years, was smiling warmly at someone for the first time. She constantly fed Jasmine fruit, stroked her belly, looking utterly delighted. I didn’t go in to make things worse. I retreated to my car and called Richard. “Have your assistant come out. I’ll sign in the car.” “Since you gave me the villa, tell your parents to move out tomorrow. I don’t like strangers in my house.” “Transfer the money to my account first. Let’s expedite the share transfer paperwork. Once that’s done, we’ll finalize the divorce.” Richard didn’t say anything for a long moment, then let out a sarcastic chuckle. “You’re certainly quick about this.” He made it sound like I was just after his money. I didn’t bite. There was no point arguing with him now. The priority was getting everything finalized ASAP. My attitude must have provoked him, or perhaps Richard just didn’t want to upset Jasmine. Either way, a month later, I received a total compensation of nearly $800 million and my divorce certificate. The second I walked out of the courthouse, I listed the villa online, ready to sell. Richard was still trailing me. When I almost stumbled, he grabbed my arm. His expression was surprisingly remorseful. “Sera, what are you… going to do now?” I was busy calculating the villa’s value and didn’t quite hear him. “Huh? What?” “What are you planning to do?” “Me?” I looked at him strangely. “I’m going to get a haircut and buy some new clothes. Divorce is like a rebirth, after all. Gotta celebrate, right?” Richard choked on his words, his face hardening. “You’re still so stubborn.” “Even though we’re not married anymore, we’ve known each other a long time, and I want to offer some advice. When we were younger, money was tight, and we carelessly decided to be DINKs, not truly understanding what that meant.” “Now that my parents are getting older and my career is successful, I’m starting to understand how important having children is.” “I know you hate your dad for cheating and your stepmother for the abuse, so you stubbornly refused to have kids.” “But Sera, life is long. If you never have your own bloodline, you’ll be lonely and regretful when you’re old.” “I just didn’t want my parents to die without seeing grandchildren, I didn’t want to be unfilial. That’s why I chose to be responsible for Jasmine. I hope you understand.” He rambled on and on, and just then, my ride arrived. I casually pulled my hand from his, got straight into the car. As the car started to pull away, I flipped him the bird. “Richard, you cheated. Don’t try to make it sound so noble.” “You can spin it any way you want, but Jasmine is still your mistress, and that child is still illegitimate. No matter what, you can’t change that fact.” “I’m thrilled about the divorce, because I don’t have to deal with you two anymore, or clean up your mess. May you and your mistress be ‘happily ever after,’ you deserve each other. And don’t ever contact me again.”

Cursing Richard felt incredibly cathartic, and the divorce didn’t affect me in the slightest. Maybe my previous life had completely drained all my love for him. Now that we were separated, it felt like excising a rotting piece of flesh. Utterly liberating. The day after the divorce was finalized, I found a high-end salon, got a perm, and dyed my hair with highlights I’d always wanted. Then I went on a shopping spree, buying dozens of outfits and completely overhauling my wardrobe. Seeing my new, younger reflection, tears finally fell. “Sera,” I whispered. “you’re actually beautiful. You’ve worked so hard all these years.” A sum with nine zeros sat quietly in my bank account. I could live off the interest in blissful idleness. There was no more need to rush. I lounged on the sofa, then wiped out Richard, his parents, his relatives, and most of his friends from my contacts. My contact list felt so much cleaner. As I scrolled, I saw Mia’s name, a friend who owned a bar. After a moment’s thought, I called her. I’d been so wrapped up in family life before, rarely keeping in touch. So, when I suddenly called, she sounded surprised. “Hey, Mrs. Hayes, what’s up? Long time no talk!” I smiled faintly. “I’m divorced. Don’t call me Mrs. Hayes. From now on, you can call me Sera, the rich lady.” “Holy shit!” Mia shrieked. “Seriously? Where are you? I’m coming to get you right now!” Her eagerness for gossip was obvious. Half an hour later, Mia had heard the whole story. She looked at me, clearly wanting to say something but hesitating. I quickly stopped her. “Hey, don’t pity me, girl. I’m loaded now.” Mia just stared. “You’ve got a point.” She wiped her face. “So, what’s next, boss?” I pondered for a moment. “Well, ever since Richard hooked up with Jasmine, it’s been two years since I’ve, you know, been intimate with anyone.” “You know a lot of people. Any clean-cut, fit, handsome guys you could hook me up with? Maybe two?”

The moment I mentioned wanting a male escort, Mia got excited. Within half a day, several profiles landed in my hands. My eyes immediately gravitated to Leo, the one with the cleanest vibe. It wasn’t just his looks; his background was surprising – a top student from A University. How could such a brilliant guy go down this path? I raised an eyebrow and told Mia to bring him to my hotel that evening. That night, in the Grand Hotel’s Presidential Suite, I met twenty-three-year-old Leo for the first time. He was tall, with eyes and brows even more striking than in his photo. His skin was lightly tanned, and his gaze held a hint of veiled resentment. With years of interviewing experience, I could tell he was a textbook good student. Dressed in a shirt and slacks, he was stiff as a board, his face flushed with shame. Too bad I wasn’t feeling charitable. I was focused on getting what I wanted. I walked over and gently lifted his chin. “You’re Leo, right?” Leo mumbled a shy “M-hm.” His youthful awkwardness delighted me. He truly was gorgeous. Clear eyes, long, curling lashes, full, red lips – a pure, captivating temptation. IMy grip on his chin tightened, forcing those deep, wary eyes to lock onto mine. “Half a million is a lot. But I like you, so I’ll pay. Whether you get all that money…well, let’s see your performance tonight.” Leo took a shaky breath. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’re satisfied.” His hands trembled violently, and he was flushed from his earlobes all the way down his neck. When he kissed me, he was so inexperienced he bit my lip with his teeth. I couldn’t help but let out a low laugh. So innocent. So pure. So utterly adorable. I reversed our positions, pinning him beneath me, and slowly unbuttoned his shirt. “You’re lucky. It’s my first time hiring an escort. I don’t have any strange kinks.” “I’m buying a good time to clear my head. After tonight, you’ll get what you came for.” Leo let out a choked moan, his hands instinctively finding my waist… The next morning, I woke up feeling refreshed. Leo was still asleep. I left the card on the nightstand, kissed his cheek, then got up and left. Decisive as I was, I didn’t notice the tears streaming down his face the moment the door clicked shut.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “314001”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #狼人Werewolf