Category: English

When my boyfriend Ryan returned from his business trip with his first love Chloe, he immediately noticed something different about me. He pulled strings to help Chloe steal my project, but instead of storming off like I would’ve before, I threw myself into assisting her—even drafting proposals with enthusiasm. He sabotaged my hard-earned designs to secure Chloe the year-end bonus, yet I didn’t bother defending myself. I took full responsibility and let him mete out whatever punishment he saw fit. He even fast-tracked Chloe’s promotion to General Manager, and still I didn’t get upset. I voluntarily signed over all my shares, letting Ryan do with them as he pleased. Ryan smiled and called me “a good girl,” promising a promotion and—for the first time ever—proposing marriage. But he seemed to have forgotten that during our silent standoff, he’d already signed my resignation papers. And I’d already ended our relationship. From that moment on, we were thoroughly finished—no loose ends, no lingering connections.

“This project proposal is urgent. Have it on my desk by EOD.” Ryan’s voice was icy as he dumped a thick stack of files on my desk, turning to leave without another word. As soon as he rounded the corner, my coworkers swarmed around me, buzzing with commentary. “Aren’t these Chloe’s assignments?” “Her projects are always the worst—impossible deadlines, zero resources. You won’t finish by tonight, not even close.” “Ryan’s so obvious about playing favorites. She doesn’t even do her own work anymore; he just palms it off on everyone else.” They circled me, their voices carefully calibrated to carry. I knew better than to mistake this for solidarity—they were just here for the show. The whole office knew Ryan, our GM, was my boyfriend—but that didn’t stop him from blatantly playing favorites with my rival, Chloe. He’d not only fast-tracked her promotion to Project Director, but also handed her a million-dollar account I’d spent two months securing and developing, one that was days from completion. When I objected, Ryan called for a team vote on who should lead the project. My coworkers promised support to my face, then unanimously voted for Chloe. Later they claimed Ryan had pressured them, urging me to “cut the new girl some slack.” This wasn’t the first time. My colleagues kept up their pretend defense, but instead of marching to Ryan’s office like I used to, I simply took the files and got to work. My calmness clearly surprised them—their eyes widened, but they clammed up fast when Ryan appeared. Suddenly everyone had urgent work at their desks. Ryan was in an uncharacteristically good mood. He ignored the awkward silence and just told me to have the proposal on his desk by end of day. I nodded, and he left without a second glance. His hair was styled to perfection, suit crisply pressed—no prizes for guessing he was meeting Chloe. This had been our dynamic for years. It started when I found their late-night Snapchats. I asked a simple question, and Ryan—furious at my “insecurity”—hired Chloe on the spot as some kind of twisted payback. To punish me for questioning him, he showered her with opportunities, brought her to every corporate event, and even praised her publicly at company dinners. If I got upset, he’d stonewall me. If I apologized, he’d summon coworkers to lecture me about being “too demanding.” Everyone agreed I was the unreasonable one. I used to lie awake wondering if I was really that small-minded. But then I found out Chloe was his college sweetheart. Suddenly it clicked—all that “learning to compromise” talk was just cover for him to rekindle his old flame. Even without that first fight, he would’ve found another way to bring her into our lives. After their last business trip together, something shifted. They still did the same things—dinners, wine tastings, art shows—but there was a new tension between them. But for once, I didn’t care. Five years together, and I was finally done. This charade had gone on long enough. By the time I finished the proposal, I was the only one left in the office. Scrolling through Instagram, I found Chloe had posted again. The photo showed an upscale French bistro, candlelight casting a romantic glow over their table. Ryan was cutting Chloe’s steak for her, looking absurdly chivalrous. Caption: “When your CEO personally cuts your steak… tastes extra delicious.” The comments were full of coworkers gushing about what a “cute couple” they made. Chloe replied to one, bragging that Ryan—who never drinks—shared half a bottle of wine with her to celebrate “her” project win. The comment section blew up with wedding rumors. Ryan didn’t shut it down—just commented “My pleasure.” When someone asked when the wedding would be, he left ellipsis and Chloe responded with a blushing emoji. I didn’t spiral like I used to—no angry texts, no confrontations, no tears. I just texted Ryan the proposal was done, dropped the file on his desk, and drove home. When I got home, my phone pinged with his reply. “Alice, it’s Chloe! Thanks for crunching on the proposal—let me take you to dinner sometime as a thank you!” Ryan had always been obsessive about his phone privacy—got mad if I even borrowed it to check the time. Now he was letting Chloe reply to his messages? I couldn’t help a bitter laugh. Different priorities, different treatment. Plain and simple. But for once, my chest didn’t tighten. What used to feel like the end of the world now just felt… trivial. Feelings fade, but hard work? That always pays off. I pulled up my calendar. While Ryan and Chloe were gallivanting on their “business trip,” I’d submitted my resignation. As expected, he didn’t even read it before signing—too busy with her. Three more days of handover, and I’d be free. After a moment’s thought, I dialed Professor Miller, my old mentor from the research institute. Post-grad, I’d landed a dream role there with a killer salary. But when Ryan said he needed help launching his startup, I quit without hesitation. My mentor begged me to reconsider, but I was dead set on helping him build from the ground up. Now? I couldn’t believe how naive I’d been. He answered on the second ring. I braced for an earful, but instead he sighed, “I heard what happened. Been waiting for your call.” “You sure about this, kiddo?” “Absolutely. My resignation’s already finalized.” “Resignation? What resignation?” A shocked voice cut through the room. I turned to find Ryan standing in the doorway.

I glanced at my phone—Professor Miller had hung up. I locked the screen calmly. “Just a friend. They’re thinking about quitting their job.” Ryan frowned, eyes narrowing. “What friend discusses that at this hour?” Before I could answer, his phone chimed. Chloe had texted—she’d found a stray cat and bought it food. A smile tugged at his lips before he could stop it. Noticing me watching, he schooled his expression. “Tell your friend to stop being so negative. Focus on work instead.” His tone was frosty—nothing like the warmth he used with Chloe. I didn’t argue or remind him the project was technically Chloe’s now. Ryan brushed past me, grinning as he typed replies on his way to the bedroom. Minutes later, his laughter boomed from the bedroom. He’d forgotten all about the years I’d worked beside him, sacrificing my social life to build his company. But I didn’t care—it saved me the energy of fighting. I retreated to my makeshift study—the converted storage room—and pulled out my research materials. The institute’s research focus had shifted in five years. Even with my mentor’s support, I needed to get up to speed fast. Luckily, the fundamentals stuck—I’d catch up quickly. “Reading academic journals now?” Ryan appeared in the doorway as I focused on my research. He snatched the journal from my hands, flipped through it dismissively, and tossed it back on the desk. “Why bother with this stuff? You don’t actually get any of it, do you?” “Just curious.” I stacked the papers neatly, keeping my voice neutral. “Did you need something?” My calmness seemed to throw him off. He hesitated, looking suddenly uncomfortable. “Yeah, actually. Chloe just wrapped that big project, so I’m promoting her to set an example. What do you think?” He phrased it as a question, but his eyes made it clear it was a done deal. I nodded. “Fine by me.” “But I need to show consequences too, or the team won’t respect me. You haven’t led a project in a while, so I’m moving you to an entry-level role temporarily. Don’t worry, you’ll bounce back. As my girlfriend, you get why this is necessary, right?” I bit back a laugh. He still hadn’t noticed my resignation. He tracked Chloe’s every mood swing and coffee order, but couldn’t remember signing my resignation papers—papers he’d personally approved. Priorities made crystal clear. My silence must have looked like resistance because his tone turned sharp. “Agree or not, it’s happening. I already finalized the paperwork—Chloe’s moving into your office Monday. Either take the demotion or walk, but with the IPO coming, you’d be an idiot to quit now.” He spoke with absolute certainty that I’d stay. This routine was familiar—Chloe would whisper something, I’d get demoted, and I’d grit my teeth through it. He figured with the IPO looming, I’d never walk away now. I managed a tight smile. “I didn’t say I was against it.” “Good.” Ryan visibly relaxed. In his world, silence always meant consent. He started to leave, then paused like he’d just remembered an afterthought. “Hey, where’d our photo go? The one that used to be on your desk?” I almost laughed. Once, our pictures were everywhere—in frames on every surface, even my wallet. I’d needed the constant reminder that despite everything, he supposedly loved me. Now, after learning about his history with Chloe? Those photos just looked like evidence of my own delusion. I kept it simple. “The frame broke, so I took it down.” “Typical. You’re always breaking things.” Ryan grimaced, scanning the floor. “Clean up any glass properly—don’t want anyone stepping on it.” He left without another word. Watching him go, I laughed bitterly. Of course he wasn’t worried about me—he meant Chloe. This was our apartment, but he’d brought her here so many times I’d lost count. First he snuck her in, then when I caught them, he called it a “work emergency” and called me irrational. After that, he paraded her through like he was punishing me. For months I spiraled, obsessing over what I was doing wrong. Now I realize—if I’d spent that energy on my career instead of his ego? I could’ve had a PhD by now. The next morning, Ryan made the announcement: Chloe’s promotion and my demotion, all in one breath. Colleagues shot me sympathetic glances as they congratulated Chloe, clearly expecting a scene. But I just kept working like nothing was happening. While Ryan took Chloe out for celebratory dinners, I was filling out visa applications. While they hit up amusement parks, I was packing my life into one suitcase. While they played couple at industry events, I was wrapping up my handover documents… Two days later, my last day, I headed to HR to finalize exit paperwork. “Ryan wants to see you before you go—head up to the GM’s office,” the HR rep mumbled, barely looking up. I almost said no. But tonight was my flight. If he stayed out with Chloe again, this might be our last chance to talk. Five years deserved some kind of closure, right? I took the elevator up. Through the glass wall, I could see them on the couch—Chloe with her head in Ryan’s lap, looking way too comfortable.

I froze. I was about to backtrack when Chloe spotted me. She yelped and scrambled upright. “Alice! What are you doing here?” Ryan’s face tightened. He straightened his jacket like he’d been caught doing something wrong, then snapped, “Who let you up here? I told you not to come to the executive floor unannounced!” Funny—I remembered when that rule was first made: “Nobody comes upstairs without permission… except Alice.” I used to think it was my special privilege. Now? It was just his way of keeping me out while he played house with Chloe. But I didn’t care anymore. Too exhausted for drama, I just stated the facts. “HR said you asked for me.” Ryan snorted coldly and strode up to the desk, pressing the intercom. Within less than two minutes, the HR manager hurried upstairs. “Did you tell Alice I wanted to see her?” Ryan’s voice was icy. The manager sized up the room—Ryan’s scowl, Chloe’s innocent act—and visibly panicked. “I… I don’t recall, sir.” “Typical.” Ryan’s smirk was triumphant as he turned on me. “Real mature, Alice. Sneaking up here like some stalker. If you’re that desperate for attention, I can install cameras in my office for you.” There was no winning this argument. “Ryan, don’t be so harsh.” Chloe laid a hand on his arm, batting her lashes at me. “Alice was just worried about you. I had a migraine earlier, and Ryan was letting me rest my head. We’re both just focused on the company.” I saw right through her fake concern. HR would never contradict the boss’s new favorite—not when Chloe was calling the shots now. Even if she did, Ryan wouldn’t believe her. I stayed quiet, but Ryan was just getting started. “Save it. Personal relationships stay out of the office! Alice violated protocol—cut her pay by half and revoke this month’s bonus.” The HR manager tried to interject. “Mr. Ryan, Alice already—” Ryan cut her off with a glare. “Save the excuses. Just do it.” The manager scurried out, clearly relieved to escape. I turned to leave too, but Ryan stopped me. His tone softened, taking on that patronizing tone he used when he thought he was being reasonable. “Look, I’m not picking on you. Rules are rules. If I let this slide, everyone will think they can break protocol.” Chloe chimed in, sweet as poison. “Exactly, Alice. Next time you’re unsure about something, just ask Ryan… or me.” Ryan nodded approvingly. “Chloe gets it—she’s all about the company. You should take notes. Instead of overanalyzing everything, why can’t you be more like her?” Like her? Like how she steals credit and plays the victim? I bit back the retort. My silence must have looked like submission. Ryan stepped closer, adjusting my collar like I was a child. “I get it, you’re upset. But you’ve been better lately. Be good, and we’ll go pick out wedding venues next week. Not that marriage changes anything—” “I know why you’re making such a fuss. But you’ve been much more cooperative since you came back. As a reward, we’ll go take wedding photos tomorrow and settle the marriage. But don’t get ahead of yourself; marriage is just…” “Wedding?” I laughed, stepping back from his touch. I pulled the resignation letter from my bag and held it out. “We broke up, remember?” “And I quit. Effective immediately.” “From now on, we’re strangers.”

Chloe’s eyes flickered with triumph before she schooled her features into concern. “Alice, that’s so unnecessary. You two have been through so much…” “Chloe, leave us.” Ryan’s voice was dangerously low. Chloe bit her lip, shooting me a smug glance before murmuring, “Just talk it out, you two,” and slipping out. The door clicked shut. Ryan’s stare turned icy. “Cut the crap, Alice. I just offered to marry you, and you’re still pulling this nonsense?” “Take it back. I’m not accepting this resignation. Tear it up, and we’ll pretend you didn’t have this little meltdown.” I almost felt sorry for him—so used to getting his way that he couldn’t fathom me walking away. All those years I’d swallowed my pride to keep the peace, thinking patience would fix us. Turns out I’d just trained him to expect my surrender. He remembered Chloe’s coffee order but couldn’t recall signing my resignation papers last week. I tapped the paper. “Check the signature. You signed it yourself. HR processed everything—today’s my last day.” Ryan glanced at it dismissively, then did a double-take. His face paled slightly. “You faked this.” His voice cracked. “Your handwriting, your desk, your pen. Ring any bells?” “That’s impossible!” He slammed his fist on the desk. “You could go to jail for this!” “Impossible! How could I sign this?!” He raised his voice. “Forging a signature is illegal; I can call the police!” He grabbed his phone, ready to dial—his usual power move. It always worked before. He thought I’d panic about the scandal, about losing him. But he was wrong. I had nothing left to lose. “Be my guest. Call the cops.” My voice stayed steady. “You really don’t care?” “Why would I?” Ryan’s jaw tightened. He studied the paper, and I helpfully added, “You signed it during your trip to Singapore. Remember? The day Chloe ‘accidentally’ spilled wine on your laptop?” His shoulders went rigid. Recognition dawned, draining the color from his face. “That? I was distracted! I didn’t read it! It doesn’t count!” “Says who? HR has it on file. Your signature’s right there.” “Says me!” He loomed over me, trying to intimidate. I pulled out my phone and unlocked it. “Then we’ll let the police decide.”

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Liam cheated with an employee twelve years his junior. After I found out, he chose to come back home. Until I accidentally saw an unsigned text on his phone. “I’m getting married tomorrow. Can you come to Manhattan to see me one last time?” From our city to Manhattan, it was only a three-hour drive. If he left now, he’d probably get there around one in the morning. Watching him pack his bags, I said softly, “Taking so many clothes? Planning to sleep with her again while you’re there?” “Do you need me to pack a box of condoms for you two?” Liam looked up, his face etched with a weariness I’d never seen before. “Scarlett, I’ve already chosen you. What more do you want?” “Are you really going to push me until I break?” I remember the sheer panic on his face when I caught him and Chloe checking into that hotel room. Just like those wives on TV who catch their cheating husbands, in my extreme rage and heartbreak, I tore into them, hitting and scratching, snapping humiliating photos, and posting them online. Chloe was utterly disgraced. She was fired from her job and moved out of town shortly after. Liam, because of the scandal, lost a major contract worth hundreds of thousands, and was fired from his executive position. Under immense public scrutiny and moral pressure, he formally apologized to me and returned home. After coming back, he was completely devoted to me. Even when he was restarting his business, he took on the daily care of our newborn daughter, shouldering unprecedented stress, just so I could get some sleep. In just one year, despite being busy and exhausted, his new company had taken off. As his status rose, he was absolutely thriving, both professionally and personally. It was as if there were no real consequences for him at all. Except for a few bad colds he caught early on from overwork. And this was him saying I was pushing him until he broke? How ironic. I smirked. “Liam, how can you even say that?” “Did you forget you swore you’d never go near her again?” Liam folded his clothes one by one back into the closet, then closed his suitcase. “Scarlett, it’s been a while since we visited Mr. Davison and the kids at the orphanage. Let’s go together tomorrow.” “Let’s get some rest before Lily wakes up. You know how fussy she gets.” A hint of tenderness mixed with Liam’s sickeningly calm expression. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms, but I barely felt it. I hated his infuriating way of sidestepping the real issue. He was the one who screwed up, so how could he act so completely unbothered?! I scoffed, “What about Chloe then? You love her so much, aren’t you afraid she’ll be heartbroken if you don’t go to Manhattan? Or are you afraid you’ll be struck by lightning for breaking your vow?” His face remained impassive. “Scarlett, the kids love the puddings from that little dessert shop downtown. Remember to grab some tomorrow.” Liam was always like this. The colder and more detached he acted, the deeper his feelings ran. It used to be that way with me, and now it was the same with Chloe. I just wanted to tear that fake mask right off his face. I pulled open a drawer and took out a stack of letters. Fighting the nausea in my stomach, I read them aloud, word by word. “Chloe, you’re like a cloud in the sky, untouched by the world. Seeing you, I finally understood such pure goodness exists.” “They say love can be fleeting, like a cloud, but I want to keep you forever in my heart, year after year, protecting your pristine purity.” “All I ask for in this life is to be by your side, never apart.” “Chloe, the one next to me isn’t the one I truly want. Only in the deep of night, when I dream, can I see your eyes as pure as ever, so clean they make my heart tremble.” Finally, a crack appeared in Liam’s composure. He roared, losing control, “Shut up! Scarlett, I just made a mistake! Haven’t I paid enough for my mistakes this past year?” “It’s over! Why won’t you ever forgive me?!” I sneered, picking up the lacy thong that wasn’t mine and throwing it in his face. “Forgive you? Your love letters to her are just so… moving. I had to keep them. A constant reminder of the pure, beautiful Chloe you carry in your heart!”

“Besides, is that really atonement? Lily isn’t my daughter alone. You’re just taking responsibility for your child!” Liam was always romantic; he often wrote love letters when he was in love. I used to pretend to dislike them, but secretly, my heart would flutter. I thought he would only ever love me. Until one day, while cleaning out of boredom, I found this stack of papers in a box on the bottom shelf of his bookshelf. In two years, he had written her 600 love letters. The red rose lace thong Chloe had given him was her response to his affections. It was like I’d opened Pandora’s Box, and the demons inside immediately devoured my soul. That day, due to extreme emotional distress, I went into premature labor. Liam still didn’t know I’d discovered their secret. He continued to play the role of a tragic, star-crossed lover with Chloe until I finally exposed them. I had just given birth. I stuffed that thick stack of love letters into my bag and rushed to his company, ready to expose them in front of everyone. But the receptionist said Liam had taken Chloe out for some purchasing. A female colleague, seeing me looking weak and exhausted, thought I was just there to bring my husband some documents. She took pity on me and said, “This morning, I heard Mr. Liam tell Chloe he was taking her to the Butterfly Inn.” The last shred of hope shattered, and I didn’t care about anything else. When I arrived at the hotel, the staff thought I was there to cause a scene, so I had no choice but to call the police. With the police’s help, I finally found my husband in a suite, panicked but still tenderly shielding his mistress. I completely lost it and attacked them both. I cursed them with every hateful word I knew, taking photos to expose them. The whole process was surprisingly smooth and not difficult, but it completely drained all my strength. Liam rubbed his temples, annoyed. “Is this really necessary? Yes, I messed up at the hotel, but our intimacy was limited to that one time. You walked in and ruined everything, so we didn’t even finish anything, did we?” I shot back, “Don’t you dare act so righteous about cheating!” Liam smirked, his voice calm and cruel. “Scarlett, don’t you know? The more you make a scene, the more beautiful Chloe becomes in my eyes.” “You could never compare to her. Let’s see how long you can keep this up.” My breath hitched, and I stared at him, unblinking. His emotions finally wavered, but my chest tightened as if a massive stone was crushing it, suffocating me. The man who once loved me with all his heart was now utterly repulsive. I had even thought about letting it go. He had repented, changed, and returned home. We had a newborn daughter. But this past year, every time he tried to be intimate with me, I would always picture him entwined with Chloe. I was so disgusted I wanted to throw up. I couldn’t pretend nothing had happened. The accumulated resentment and fury in my heart finally erupted. I shrieked, “Then divorce me and marry her! Liam, stop pretending you’re some martyr, it makes me sick!” With that, I picked up the thong and tore it to shreds. “You pathetic excuse for a human! Both of you are!” Liam watched my fury with a satisfied smirk, then reached out to wipe away my tears. “See? You’re making yourself such a mess just to get a reaction out of me. Is it worth it?” “Scarlett, it’s over. Why can’t you just move on?”

“We have a daughter now. Don’t talk about divorce anymore.” I slapped his hand away, offering no response. Lily woke up from our commotion, crying incessantly. I walked to her crib, picked her up, and started to soothe her. Liam watched for a moment, then closed the bedroom door and left. After I’d calmed Lily down and went to the kitchen to make a bottle of formula, I was hit by the strong smell of alcohol. I looked at Liam. He was sitting on the floor, his eyes glazed with a hint of drunkenness, several empty bottles scattered around his feet. He looked completely lifeless. Was he wallowing in self-pity because his precious Chloe was getting married? His phone suddenly rang. He glanced at it, his eyes flickered, and with a trembling hand, he pressed answer. “Chloe, I’m here.” Chloe’s soft, almost childlike voice came through the phone, “Liam, she’s not letting you come see me, is she?” Liam’s eyes darkened. “Chloe, she’s my wife, and we have a daughter. I have to be responsible.” “I understand, Liam. You’re so responsible, so committed, a good man. My judgment about men is never wrong.” Chloe’s voice was barely a whisper, as if she were about to crumble. Liam gripped his phone, his voice gentle. “We shouldn’t see each other anymore. Chloe, I wish you happiness.” Just as he was about to hang up, Chloe pleaded, “Liam, can I say a few words to her?” Liam paused, then handed me the phone. “Chloe wants to say a few words to you. Try to keep your temper in check, don’t scare her.” I didn’t take it, but Chloe seemed to know I was right there. “Scarlett, since he’s returned home, I beg you to be good to him from now on. The hardships and exhaustion he faces earning money out there are no less than yours.” “He doesn’t like spicy food and prefers sweet lattes. Don’t let him eat too many cold things in the summer; his stomach isn’t good.” “Oh, and I bought him a massage device before. His neck and shoulders aren’t great, so remember to give him a massage when you have time. Also, his career is on the rise, and you just gave birth to Lily not long ago, so be careful when you’re intimate with him. Don’t get pregnant again and distract him. Remember to use protection…” I sneered, “Are you done?” “So you can’t let him go? Fine, I’ll package him up and send him straight to your bed tomorrow, how about that? You can have a new groom!” “Someone as shameless as you, you don’t care what people say, right? Let everyone see you for…!” Liam quickly snatched the phone away, yelling at me, “Shut up! What the hell are you doing?!” I looked at him, my eyes burning with hatred. “She did it, so I’ll talk about it! Liam, you two are absolutely disgusting! Flirting right in front of me!” Chloe’s soft whimpering instantly filled the room. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make your wife angry.” Liam’s face darkened further. “Scarlett, apologize.” All rational thought was burned away by my fury. It was like I was back in that hotel room, catching them in the act. I lunged at him, hitting and scratching. “Liam, are you even human?! You two deserve to rot in hell! Both of you!” Liam pushed me away, covering his face, uncontrollably furious. “Scarlett, are you deaf?! Didn’t you hear me say goodbye to Chloe just now?! If you keep acting like this, I swear I’ll go to Manhattan and find her!” As he said the last sentence, a clear spark of longing flashed in his eyes—a longing to see Chloe. But he still had to play the role of the long-suffering, responsible good guy. It made me look like the villain, as if I was the one who pushed him to this point. I scoffed, running back into the bedroom. I grabbed the clothes he’d just packed, threw them and the suitcase at him. “Get out!” “Liam, I can’t even stand to look at you; you make me sick.”

“Scarlett, you brought this on yourself. Let’s see how you manage to raise our daughter alone once I’m gone.” Liam gave a cold, mocking smile, grabbed his suitcase, and left. The living room finally fell silent. I collapsed to the floor, like all the strength had been sucked out of me, silently weeping into my arms. Only when Lily started crying again did I pull myself up, shaking the half-mixed formula evenly, and carry it back to her room. I held my daughter’s tiny body, staying awake all night. I was the one being pushed to my breaking point. By him. And by Chloe. In the year Liam had been back, our interactions seemed outwardly harmonious. But I was slowly losing myself. At night, I’d constantly dream of those naked bodies, entwined on the hotel bed. I started to cry for no reason, trembling uncontrollably, screaming, throwing things, even cutting my own arm with a knife. If Liam came home even a little late, I’d pick passive-aggressive fights with him. Over and over, I suspected he was seeing another woman. He’d patiently explain at first, but eventually, he just started sleeping in the guest room. Our relationship slowly froze over. It wasn’t until one day, holding Lily, I considered jumping from the eighteenth floor, that I had a stark wake-up call. I almost died. I’d become the “overly dramatic” and “crazy” new mom Liam always complained about—I had depression. I stood on the rooftop, the cold wind clearing my head. I started fighting back, seeing doctors regularly, taking my medication. But today, Liam, the root of all this, had pushed me back to the brink. This disgusting marriage was finally over. I stayed up all night until dawn. Liam still wasn’t back, but his parents arrived first. Mr. Hayes sized me up and started to lecture. “Fighting with Liam again? Scarlett, if Liam really loved Chloe, you wouldn’t be our daughter-in-law, would you?” “You have no foresight. If you’d just kept quiet back then, Liam wouldn’t have been fired, and we’d all be living comfortably off his bonuses, instead of him working himself to death.” Mrs. Hayes picked up her phone, feigning sympathy. “Scarlett, Liam is so exceptional, it’s natural for a man like him to have… companions outside the home. You need to have a son to truly secure him, otherwise, you’ll be crying for the rest of your life!” With that, she held her phone in front of me. It displayed Liam’s Instagram post from last night, after he’d left. In the photo, he was tightly embracing Chloe, wiping her tears, his face full of tenderness. [Traveled a thousand miles, just to see you.] I opened my phone, but Liam’s post wasn’t there. That’s when I realized he’d blocked me. I called him several times, but he declined every single one. Hanging up the last call, I quietly asked, “Are you sure he went to see Chloe?” Mrs. Hayes, her face practically glowing with triumph, called Liam right in front of me on her own phone. He picked up instantly. “Mom, what is it?” Mrs. Hayes said sweetly, “Liam, where are you? Are you fighting with Scarlett again?” Liam’s flat tone carried a clear hint of disdain. “It’s not really a fight, she’s just having one of her episodes. Probably bored stuck at home.” “I’m in Manhattan, Mom. Don’t tell Scarlett. I just needed to see Chloe one last time. I’ll be back soon.” The call ended in just one minute. So, he really had rushed there overnight. My chest felt hollowed out, yet strangely relieved at the same time. Seeing my lack of reaction, Mrs. Hayes smiled. “Hear that? Liam always complains that you’re so dull and stupid, always fighting with him. If it weren’t for Lily, he would have left you ages ago!” “I actually think Chloe is quite good. I heard her parents are well-respected teachers; she’s more than good enough for our Liam. Unlike some people who have no family, no roots, like an orphan!” “If parents have bad character, their children will also turn out bad. Since someone likes this kind of trash, they can have him!” I retorted calmly, then walked away with Lily without a backward glance, leaving Mr. and Mrs. Hayes to curse me out. I knew they didn’t like me, so I’d always tolerated them after Liam and I got married. But not anymore. Since Liam wasn’t in town, I’d go find him myself. I went to a lawyer’s office, got a copy of divorce papers, and took a cab to Manhattan. Following the photo Liam’s mom had shown me, I went straight to the hotel where they were meeting. In the lobby, Chloe was in a wedding dress, about to exchange rings with Daniel, her groom. Liam watched, looking utterly heartbroken, as if his soul had been ripped right out of him. He said, his voice full of aching, suppressed emotion, “Chloe, you have to be happy.” Chloe’s eyes welled up. One on the stage, one below it, they looked like star-crossed lovers tragically torn apart. I walked into the lobby from outside, stopping in front of Liam, and called out loudly, “Since you and Chloe love each other so much, I’ll grant you your wish!” “Liam, we’re getting a divorce!”

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On my wedding day, my fiancé Mason stood me up for the 99th time. He was off with Chloe, his newly hired assistant. I went looking for Mason, only to overhear an unexpected conversation between him and Chloe. “Mason, aren’t you supposed to be marrying Evelyn today?” Chloe asked. Mason scoffed, a sneer twisting his lips. “Evelyn? What’s she good for besides her looks? I got her that job, I rented her apartment. Without me, she’d be totally lost.” “I was just stringing her along. No way I’d actually marry her.” I turned and walked away, dropping my engagement ring into a nearby trash can. Then I posted an Instagram story: “Feeling down. Need someone to cheer me up. Don’t keep me waiting.” For a minute, everyone thought I was just being dramatic, throwing a fit. But no one knew that after being dumped 99 times, I could finally reclaim my rightful place as a daughter of the wealthy Davies family. Mason called while I was relaxing in a luxury spa suite. “What’s up?” I asked lazily, stretching out on the massage table. “What was that Instagram story you posted this afternoon supposed to mean?” Mason’s voice on the phone was as cold and condescending as always—the tone he always used with me. I used to think that was just his personality—stern, serious, cold as ice. So I’d act like a humble servant, choosing my words carefully, always trying to manage his mood. But then Chloe joined the company as his assistant. Every time she handed him documents, his eyes would soften with warmth, lighting up with a smile. That’s when I realized Mason wasn’t incapable of smiling; he just never smiled at me. Just then, my therapist’s polite voice broke through my thoughts. “Hello, ma’am.” I smiled and greeted her. “You can start. Go a bit harder—my neck and shoulders have been really tight lately.” Mason heard the unfamiliar sounds on my end and paused, his tone sharp with irritation. “Evelyn, you never used to go to places like that.” My life used to revolve around three things: my apartment, the company, and Mason. I didn’t just handle all the chores—I practically ran his whole life. Mason said he loved my cooking, so I’d spend every evening after work making him all kinds of dishes. Mason said he liked the pastries from the south side of town, so I’d wake up at five a.m. and drive three hours just so he could have them before work. When Mason came home from client dinners, I’d happily bring him a steaming bowl of soup, telling him it was good for his stomach. But he’d look at me with disgust. “Can you stop always being in the kitchen? My friends will make fun of me if they find out!” “And can you please get a life of your own? Stop clinging to me all the time—it’s annoying!” A faint smile tugged at my lips as I remembered those words. “I’m just tired from work, so I came to relax a bit. What’s the problem with that?” Mason seemed taken aback by my attitude. He paused for a second before scoffing. “Tired from what? You spend all day doing nothing at work.” He seemed to forget that when the company was just starting out, I was the one working nonstop at client dinners, landing deal after deal. There were even a few times I collapsed at the table and ended up in the hospital. Lying in that hospital bed, Mason held my hand and said, “I appreciate all your hard work.” “Once the company takes off, I’ll give you an easy role. You can relax and do whatever you want!” And now, just one day after I hadn’t shown up for work, he couldn’t handle it. Mason’s voice turned sharp with criticism. “Evelyn, you’re completely out of line! Unexcused absences are bad enough, but getting a spa treatment on company time? Why can’t you learn a thing or two from Chloe?” “She’s a new employee, but she’s eager and motivated. She just closed a major deal that brought in five million for the company!” I scoffed. “Are you sure *she’s* the one who closed that deal?” The deal Mason was talking about was one I’d worked tirelessly on, developing the proposal and pulling three all-nighters in a row to satisfy the investors. But right before the contract was signed, Mason suddenly came to me. “Evelyn, Chloe is new to the company and needs to establish herself. Can you involve her in this project and show her the ropes?” I agreed. But then Mason turned around and gave Chloe all the credit for the success. Furious, I confronted him, demanding an explanation. Mason, however, acted self-righteous. “Chloe is new and needs this deal to prove herself. You’re a senior employee—you should know how to be a team player.” I was speechless. It was painfully obvious who he truly cared about and who he didn’t. Thinking this, I laughed bitterly. “Since you think Chloe is doing such a great job, then from now on, just give all the work to her.” “Evelyn, what are you talking about?” Even through the phone, I could picture Mason’s icy, furious expression. But now, I didn’t care anymore. “It means I quit.” I said it calmly, then hung up the phone. I was tired—I was done being his doormat. After a moment’s hesitation, I dialed a number I hadn’t called in three years. The call went through right away. “I thought you’d never call me again.” Hearing that familiar voice, my eyes teared up. “Dad.” Three years ago, to be with Mason, I turned down my family’s arranged marriage, nearly cutting ties with my father over it. My father had warned me back then that Mason was selfish, cold, and untrustworthy. But I stubbornly insisted Mason was my true love. I even made a deal with my father: “If Mason lets me down 99 times, I’ll agree to the family’s arrangement.” Back then, I was so confident, certain I would win. How could anyone possibly let me down 99 times? Looking back now, I was such a fool. “Dad, I agree to the arranged marriage.”

“You’ve finally come to your senses?” My father sounded surprised. I sighed. “I used to think that if I just gave enough time and genuine effort, even the coldest heart would melt. Now I see how naive I was.” My father sounded frustrated. “I told you long ago that Mason wasn’t a good person, but you wouldn’t listen. You stubbornly refused to see reason until it was too late. Do you really think your father would lead you astray?” I gave a self-deprecating smile but said nothing. Honestly, in life, you don’t always need advice from others. Some lessons you just have to learn the hard way. After some small talk, my father’s tone softened. “I’m relieved you’ve reached this decision. I’ll arrange for you to meet your fiancé right away.” “Also, come home and visit sometimes. Your mother misses you terribly and keeps scolding me, saying it’s all my fault for being too strict with you.” “Okay!” I nodded. After a moment’s thought, my father added, “Since that’s the case, why don’t you just quit that job too? It would be a good time for me to pull those projects.” I blinked. “What projects?” My father chuckled softly. “You silly girl, did you really think you were so capable, closing all those big deals just by going to a few dinners? If I hadn’t secretly had people backing you up, your little company would have already gone under.” I froze, then it hit me. I thought everything I’d achieved these past few years was purely my own hard work. It turned out my father was still the clever one. That night, I didn’t go home. I forgot the endless chores I used to do for him, forgot the trivial work, and forgot Mason. I felt so light, so free. I finally slept soundly, with no dreams at all. When I woke up, it was already eleven. I got dressed and slowly made my way to the company. Coincidentally, I ran into Mason by the elevators at the entrance. Mason frowned at me, his voice sharp with criticism. “Who told you to come to work so late? Your bonus for this month is gone!” I simply walked past him, indifferent. Go ahead and dock it. It’s not like it was much anyway. But Mason seemed to interpret my silence as submission, his eyes filled with contempt. “Didn’t you sound so arrogant on the phone earlier? Talking about quitting, then spending a night out God knows where. Now you have the nerve to come back to work?” “You must have blown all your money, huh?” Mason looked at me with that know-it-all expression, like I couldn’t survive without him. He held his head high, strutting around like a peacock. I knew he was waiting for me to grovel and apologize. But I just smiled faintly and handed him the resignation letter I’d prepared. “Mason, I think you’ve got it wrong. I didn’t come back to work—I came to quit.” Mason was clearly caught off guard, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief. “Evelyn, what’s your problem?” I shrugged. “Didn’t you always say the company doesn’t keep freeloaders? Since you think I spend all day doing nothing, how could I possibly have the nerve to stay?” “Besides, don’t you think Chloe is more outstanding than me? I need to quit early and make way for her!” Chloe, ‘coincidentally’ carrying a stack of files, walked over just in time to hear this. Her eyes immediately teared up. “Evelyn, are you arguing with Mason because you’re jealous of me?” “But everything I do is for the company, to help Mason with his workload!” “Waaah, it’s all my fault for overstepping and causing this misunderstanding… Mason, maybe you should just fire me!” Her acting was so terrible, anyone could see through it. But Mason? Oh no, he was completely fooled. A look of pity immediately flashed in his eyes as he comforted her. “Don’t blame yourself, you’re doing great.” Then he turned to me, shaking his head in frustration. “Look at Chloe—so mature and sensible. And you? All you do is get jealous. You’re so childish.” I saw Chloe, hiding behind Mason, shoot me a defiant look, like she was marking her territory. In the past, I might have been driven crazy with jealousy. But now, I watched it all with detached calm, like watching two clowns perform. At that moment, Chloe pulled a contract from her stack. “Mason, you need to sign this. I’ve been working on this nonstop for three days.” “Okay,” Mason said. He gently took the contract, ready to sign without a second thought. I hesitated, then frowned. “There’s a problem with this contract. You really shouldn’t sign it.”

Out of consideration for our past relationship, I still pointed out the issue. “I’ve seen this contract before. The partner’s qualifications are highly questionable, and the risks are extremely high. If you rush to invest, you could lose everything.” As I spoke, I raised an eyebrow. “Chloe was responsible for this contract—didn’t she do a background check?” Chloe’s eyes instantly turned red. “Evelyn, if you have a problem with me, just say it to my face. Don’t go slandering me like this!” The second Mason saw Chloe was about to cry, he melted. “Oh no, don’t cry! I believe you!” Then Mason turned to me, his voice sharp with anger. “Chloe has been working on this contract nonstop for three days—I’ve seen it with my own eyes. She’s dedicated to the company; do you really think she’d lie to me?” “You, on the other hand, keep picking on Chloe, bullying a new employee just because you’ve been here longer. How can you live with yourself?” “Apologize to Chloe right now!” Chloe, dabbing at her eye, tugged on Mason’s sleeve. “Mason, don’t be angry with Evelyn. I’m sure she just spoke without thinking. Please don’t be upset—it’s okay if I take the blame.” Mason immediately softened his tone, comforting her. He not only signed the contract right away but also promised, “Once this project wraps up, I’ll get you a designer bag so you’ll look professional meeting clients.” I shook my head and turned to leave. Since Mason was so infatuated with Chloe, whatever consequences came next, he’d have to face them alone. Mason looked confused that I had no intention of apologizing. In the past, I would’ve been on my knees begging for his forgiveness by now. What was wrong with me? He gritted his teeth and shouted, “Fine, leave! But once you’re gone, don’t even think about coming back!” Before stepping into the elevator, I heard Chloe whisper, “Mason, Evelyn’s just acting out. Maybe you should go after her and calm her down.” Mason’s voice was cold. “Calm her down? She’s just a pretty face. What other company would hire her after working for me?” “In a few days, she’ll come crawling back!” I forced a faint smile. Mason, the Evelyn who lived only for you will never return. The next day, Charles, the director of the family’s branch company, scheduled a meeting with me at a downtown restaurant. I came fully prepared, with unique insights in several areas. After our discussion, Charles was impressed. “With your talent, why were you content to stay at such a small company?” I gave a self-deprecating laugh. “I had a lapse in judgment back then, but I’ve come to my senses now.” Charles smiled, tactfully avoiding my past, and handed me a stack of documents. “Your father is planning an investor conference for the branch company. The word’s already out. You’ll be in charge of the follow-up details.” I understood. This was my father paving the way for me. “Okay, please compile all the names and send them to me.” When Charles and I stepped out of the private room, I was surprised to see two familiar faces in the main dining area. Mason and Chloe were sitting together, laughing and chatting like a happy couple. Mason noticed me too, looking slightly awkward. Before I could say anything, he quickly explained, clearly guilty. “Don’t get the wrong idea. We’re just discussing next month’s collaboration with the Davies Group.” I smiled faintly. “You don’t need to explain anything to me. It’s work—I get it.” Chloe chimed in at just the right moment. “Mason’s been working day and night on this Davies Group collaboration; he’s practically run himself ragged. So I specially ordered this nutritious meal to help him recover.” Hearing this, Mason looked even more fond of Chloe. “Chloe, you’re so thoughtful. Unlike some people who abandon you when things get tough. It’s really disheartening.” Chloe leaned against Mason’s shoulder, right on cue. “Of course! Didn’t I say I’d be your sweetheart from now on?” As she spoke, Chloe deliberately batted her eyelashes, looking sweet and innocent. Her overly sugary voice made my skin crawl, and I felt a little nauseous. But Mason, of course, ate it up. He affectionately ruffled Chloe’s hair. “Good girl. You’re such a little cuddlebug.”

Mason still thought I’d come to beg him. His eyes dripped with contempt. “I thought you had some backbone, but you’re crawling back already.” “This time, even if you get on your knees, I won’t forgive you. You’ve disappointed me way too much.” I found it absolutely ridiculous. “You must be misunderstanding. I’m here for work.” Mason frowned. “You? For work?” “Evelyn, I know what you’re capable of. What reputable company would want you?” “You must’ve gotten scammed!” He then sized up Charles, sneering dismissively. “All dressed up, but probably some fly-by-night operation.” Charles was annoyed and wanted to defend me, but I stopped him. “Not worth getting worked up over someone like that.” “I’ll see you at the investor conference.” “Oh, and for the record—we’re done!” With that, I smiled and waved at Mason, then turned and walked away, ignoring his darkening expression. With Charles’s help, I quickly took charge of the branch company. On the investor conference guest list, Mason’s company name stood out like a sore thumb. “Should we take his company off the list?” Charles asked, still annoyed about the restaurant incident. I shook my head. “Let’s play by the rules.” I was curious to see what kind of proposal Mason and Chloe would come up with. The next day, the investor conference went off without a hitch. When I arrived, the conference hall was packed. As I scanned the crowd for Charles, Mason appeared with Chloe at his side. Chloe wore an elegant, tailored suit dress, looking like a meticulously preened show bird in a gilded cage. “Evelyn?” Mason looked at me with a confused expression. “Your sketchy company is here for the investor conference too?” I didn’t say anything, just gave a polite smile and pointed. “Investor conference attendees should check in over there first.” My calm demeanor clearly irritated Mason. “Evelyn, we’re all here for the conference. Who do you think you’re fooling?” He paused, then frowned. “Also… all your stuff is gone from the apartment?” “Since we broke up, of course I took it with me.” In reality, I’d already thrown all that stuff out. Keeping it just felt unlucky. “You’re really breaking up with me?” Mason asked, his voice full of surprise and confusion. In the past, after every fight, I’d mope for a few days, then come crawling back. But my current attitude—cold and firm—felt completely foreign to him. It was like something valuable was quietly slipping through his fingers. Uncharacteristically, Mason softened his tone. “Evelyn, stop being so stubborn. I admit I’ve been distant lately, but it was all for work.” “Once I land the Davies Group project, I’ll take you to the Maldives. We’ll stay in an oceanview villa. Come home with me, okay?” I didn’t get why Mason was suddenly trying to win me back, but it didn’t matter anymore. We could never go back. “No need. If I want to go, I can go by myself.” My icy tone enraged Mason. “Evelyn, are you really being this heartless? I’m trying to make things right—what more do you want?” “Who else would put up with you besides me?” I scoffed. Even now, he was still so condescending. “Mason, it’s a shame, but today your arrogance is going to come crashing down.” Mason scoffed dismissively. “Bow down to you? You think you’re the head of the Davies Group Investor Conference or something?” When the time came, Charles took the stage to the audience’s attention. “I announce the official opening of the Davies Group Investor Conference! Please welcome our head of operations, Ms. Evelyn Davies, to the stage!”

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After we got engaged, my fiancé sent me a child from overseas. Included was an email: “Eleanor, I was so bored that Tiffany and I ended up with a kid. Since you will be my wife, I am entrusting him to you. Get to know him. You will be our nanny when we come home.” I turned the child over to the butler, Mr. Davies. Seven years later, Derek Blackwood finally pulled up to the gates in a flashy sports car. A cigarette dangled from his lips. He tilted his head, slid off his sunglasses, and smirked. “Did you miss me so much that you came to wait for me early? Tiffany and I married overseas for the kid’s sake. But do not worry. I will still give you a wedding.” He blew smoke rings toward me. The fumes stung my eyes and I stumbled back. Had no one told him in the past seven years that I’d married his mafia boss uncle? Seeing my reaction, Derek walked over and slapped my shoulder. “Wow, moved to tears! Keep Tiffany and me happy, and you might still get to be Mrs. Blackwood.” I almost laughed in his face. “Derek, what ever gave you the idea I’m desperate to marry you?” He stared at me like I’d grown a second head. “You got engaged to me at twenty. You’ve been raising my kid for years. Who else would have you?” Thank God I dumped that asshole seven years ago and married his uncle instead. A few years back, when we said goodbye at the airport, he’d held me tightly, promising solemnly, “Eleanor, wait for me for five months. I’ll make something of myself and come back to marry you.” Turns out, he’d only been gone a month. Then, his and Tiffany Reed’s child was sent back. They’d been secretly seeing each other all along. The thought of it made me raise my hand, ready to slap him. But before my hand could land, a child’s voice interrupted me. “Mommy!” Max suddenly popped out, holding his arms open for a hug. My husband was busy with meetings today, so I was taking care of Max alone. I bent down to pick up Max, but someone abruptly snatched him away. “Who are you calling Mommy?! I’m your mother!” Tiffany Reed burst out from behind Derek, seething, and slapped Max twice. My eyes twitched with rage. I spun around and pushed her. Before she could even fall, she grabbed Derek’s sleeve and began to sob dramatically. “Derek, I just want the child to call me ‘Mom.’ Eleanor refused and then tried to hit me!” Her cry instantly drew all the bodyguards. They surrounded Max and me, while Derek just watched with cold eyes. I shielded Max behind me, gritting my teeth. “Are you all blind?! You’re surrounding me for a mere housekeeper?! Do you even know who I am?” “Enough!” Derek snapped, then snuffed out his cigarette and pointed at me. “Eleanor, who gave you the guts to talk to Tiffany like that? She’s Mrs. Blackwood, the child’s biological mother! You not only stopped them from bonding, but you publicly insulted her?” I scoffed, pushing his hand away. “This child isn’t hers!” A low-class housekeeper, trying to claim my son as her own? If I hadn’t been kind enough to give her a job as a maid back then, she would’ve starved. Who knew she’d go and seduce my fiancé? Derek grew even angrier. He snatched Max from my arms and thrust him into Tiffany’s. Max’s cries echoed through the yard. “You’re bad people! Go away!”

Seeing Max’s face, red and tear-stained. My heart ached. But just then, Tiffany dropped to her knees at my feet. She stroked the child’s small face, weeping loudly. “Eleanor, even if you hate me, you can’t abuse my child!” With that, she pulled up Max’s shirt, revealing red marks on his back. Derek’s eyes widened, and when he looked at me again, his expression had changed. “Eleanor! I kindly entrusted the child to you for practice, I trusted you so much, and you dared to whip him?!” “Did you become this malicious just because you couldn’t have me?” Max’s back was covered in parallel whip-like marks, terrifying in shape. Derek couldn’t even imagine what kind of life his son had endured these past few years. But he didn’t know. It was just a high fever. I had taken Max to a specialized pediatric clinic where they performed a traditional therapeutic treatment to bring down the fever. A few days ago, Max had a high fever, but due to his sensitive constitution, he couldn’t take medication. So the doctor suggested trying the alternative treatment. At the time, even my husband couldn’t quite understand the treatment, and he’d had Mr. Davies, and even the nutritionists, all sent out of the mansion. If my husband knew Derek was bullying Max and me like this now, he’d probably have one of his hands chopped off. Seeing that my people were already streaming through the gates. I was done playing games. I pointed at the two disgusting creatures and roared, “Take them down! Teach them the Blackwood family rules!” Derek’s face flushed a furious crimson. As he fought off the bodyguards, he didn’t forget to yell at me. “Eleanor, if you keep acting crazy, I swear I’ll never want you! I’ll have you thrown out of the Blackwood mansion right now!” I sneered. “Just try it!” These bodyguards were carefully handpicked by Max’s dad. With them here, Max and I wouldn’t suffer. Seeing she couldn’t gain the upper hand, and noticing the bodyguards were wary of Max in her arms, Tiffany’s eyes darted around. She immediately gripped Max, threatening, “Stop now! Or I’ll choke him!” Max struggled desperately in her grasp, his face turning from blue to purple. Even his cries gradually faded. I instantly pulled out the small dagger from my pocket and lunged, stabbing fiercely at her. She shrieked and immediately let go. I pounced, quickly helping Max to breathe. “Max, don’t be scared, Mommy’s here!” Seeing the child convulsing, gasping for air. I quickly pulled out his asthma rescue inhaler, just about to give it to him. But Tiffany, reeling from her injury, threw her arms around me. She went wild, clawing and biting at me. “You bitch! You abused my child, and now you’re trying to murder him in public!” Derek’s face went pale. He bellowed, “Eleanor, how dare you!” But it was too late. The medicine was already in Max’s mouth. Almost simultaneously, the child’s convulsions and wheezing gradually subsided. Only then did the two of them fall silent. But Max had been over-stimulated and fainted. He needed an IV immediately. I ordered the bodyguards to hold them back, then turned and ran, carrying Max. Derek’s furious shouts exploded behind me. “Eleanor, you’ve made enough of a scene! If you leave, you’ll never be my woman again!” “Like I care!” He sneered. “So tough! If I don’t want you, who else will?” Too bothered to argue with a mad dog, I simply gave my orders. “To the estate!”

The moment I got out of the car, I immediately sent someone to inform my husband, then rushed Max to the family doctor. Max had woken up at some point. His small hand clutched my shirt tightly, and he didn’t forget to comfort me. “I don’t hurt, Mommy, don’t cry…” The more understanding he was, the more guilty and regretful I felt. If I hadn’t brought him back to the Blackwood house today, we wouldn’t have run into those two lunatics. “Ma’am, please don’t worry, the child will be fine!” The doctor reassured me. But just as I placed Max into the recovery chamber. The infirmary door was violently kicked open again. Derek burst in, carrying Tiffany. Seeing me, a triumphant smirk flashed across his face. He looked at me with disdain. “Just moments ago you said you didn’t care, and now you’re running back to my uncle’s estate?” Tiffany cowered in his arms, her eyes filled with venom. “Eleanor, do you even know Derek’s uncle is a mob boss?! If you offend him, he’ll throw you to the alligators!” With that, Derek put her down, shoved the doctor aside, and grabbed me, trying to drag me away. “Eleanor, hurry up and get out!” Max, seeing him bully me, picked up a nearby water cup and hurled it at him. “Ah-” Derek’s face darkened terrifyingly. He picked Max up with one hand. “Are you trying to die?! Daring to throw something at your own father!” Seeing Max scream hysterically, his face turning blue and purple again. I struggled desperately, slapping Derek across the face. “Let go of my son!” Tiffany grabbed a nearby sterile cotton pad, intending to gag me. “Bitch, keep your voice down! If you disturb his uncle, we’ll all be punished!” She suddenly went mad, unleashing a burst of strength I didn’t know she had, knocking me to the ground and clamping the cotton pad over my mouth. Tiffany and I began to fight. Amidst her shrieks, Derek looked at me, utterly stunned. “Eleanor, I thought you had some upbringing, that’s why I let you take care of my child, but look at you now! You’re like a maniac! From today on, Tiffany and I will raise Max ourselves!” The words had barely left his lips when he suddenly let out a cry of pain. Max, seeing me being bullied, was desperate. He bit down with all his might on Derek’s hand, right on the web between his thumb and forefinger. Max had always been incredibly attached to me. When he was four, he’d use his tiny fists to try and scare off stray cats for me, standing defiantly in front of me, his voice a sweet, determined squeak, “Don’t you dare bully my mommy!” Seeing Max drenched in cold sweat, but still refusing to let go. I felt both proud and heartbroken. I was about to snatch the child back when Derek yanked my hair and violently flung me away. “Eleanor! You turned my son into a bastard who doesn’t recognize his own parents!”

“Don’t hit my mommy!” Seeing me thrown to the ground, my forehead bleeding. Max screamed hysterically, ready to bite again. But Derek saw right through him. He squeezed Max’s jaw, then looked towards Tiffany in the corner, applying constant pressure to Max’s face. “Bastard! Your real mother is right there!” “She’s not my mommy! You’re bad people!” Max stiffened his neck, his mouth bloody and bruised, tearing and biting at him. Derek completely lost his patience. He roughly threw Max to the ground, placed his foot on the child’s chest, and smirked. “This kid has been completely ruined by Eleanor! He doesn’t even recognize his own parents!” “Alright, fine! This is a perfect opportunity! Today, I’ll teach you how to apologize to your parents!” With that, he pressed down harder with his foot, grinding it into the child’s chest. Max’s muffled whimpers of pain echoed through the room. “Let him go! You monster! You don’t deserve to touch my son!” I shrieked, my voice raw, clawing towards Max, tears of blood in my cries. “He’s having an asthma attack! Can’t you see he can’t breathe?! If anything happens to him, Derek, you’re dead!” Derek scoffed as if he’d heard a joke, then twisted his head to glance at me, then at Tiffany, who was disheveled and covered in blood. A cruel glint appeared in his eyes. “Asthma? Can’t breathe?” “He doesn’t even recognize me anymore, why should I care if he lives or dies? Even if I accidentally kill him today, it’s all your fault for ruining him!” With that, he yanked Max’s hair, forcing him to kneel. The poor child couldn’t even stay kneeling. He couldn’t even scream for help. I charged at Derek like a madwoman, wanting to tear him apart. He kicked me to the ground, then grabbed me and forced me to kneel before Tiffany. “The child was ruined, ultimately it’s your fault! Get down on your knees and apologize to Tiffany!” I was held down tightly, my head slamming against the floor. Blood ran down my face, mixing with tears from my eyes. I stubbornly remained silent, glaring at him with cold fury. He pulled a dagger from a fruit bowl, brandishing it before my eyes, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. “Just apologize, and I’ll consider forgiving you, otherwise…” Before he could finish, I spat a mouthful of blood at him. Derek was completely enraged. He wiped his face, then roughly yanked my hair and contemptuously patted my cheek. “Don’t blame me for being cruel. I gave you a chance, but you refused it!” Then, he looked down, kicked Max’s side, and sneered coldly. “Watch closely, this is the first lesson your father is teaching you! If you’re stupid, if you make a mistake, you pay the price!” Max was jolted awake by the pain. His eyes snapped open to see a knife plunging towards my heart, and his pupils immediately constricted. “Mommy!” I don’t know where he found the strength, but he struggled free from Derek’s foot, leaping to shield me. “No!” I wrapped my arms around Max, my tears mixing with the blood on my face. My heart was clenching. Max’s lips trembled as he lifted a shaky hand toward me, his voice breaking. “Mommy, don’t cry.” Derek’s eyes were bloodshot. He raised the knife again, aiming straight for my heart. “You let my son die for you?!” Just as the blade was about to plunge down, a gunshot cracked from behind. “Who’s making such a racket in here?!”

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I went to pick up my drunk husband. The moment I pushed open the club door, I heard him complaining: “My wife reeks of grease and cooking smoke. Makes me want to puke.” His secretary cut him off with a flirty whine, “If you hate her so much, why don’t you just divorce her?” Marcus ran his hand along her thigh, eyes glazed over: “She’s just a free maid. How could she compare to you?” When he noticed me standing in the doorway, he froze. Then he stumbled over to me: “I was just messing around with my friends. Don’t take it seriously.” Whether it was a joke or not didn’t matter anymore. I’d received a job offer from another city. In seven days, I could finally dump this drunk of a husband. Marcus clearly relaxed when he saw I wasn’t angry. He waved awkwardly at the others: “My wife and I are heading home.” Barely suppressed laughter and gossip followed us out. “Claire used to be the Queen Bee at school. Can’t believe her body turned out like this.” Back home, Marcus woke up in a daze and leaned in to kiss me: “Happy birthday, honey. I really had too much to drink today. I was talking nonsense. I’m sorry.” I turned my head away. He followed, wrapping his arms around me from behind: “Are you really mad? I messed up. I won’t drink anymore.” “Let me make it up to you right now?” His hand slid down habitually. “Claire, we should have a baby.” I closed my eyes. “Marcus, I’m tired. I need some quiet.” He mumbled: “Fine, whatever you want.” Ten years as a housewife. Every day shopping for groceries, cooking, cleaning. Every friend who visited praised how warm and tidy our home was. My hands were covered in calluses from exhaustion. But in Marcus’s eyes, I was just a maid who slept with him. The next morning, Marcus shook me awake. “Amber is coming over today to discuss company business with me. She’s been having stomach issues lately, so make something light.” “If her stomach’s bothering her, why doesn’t she eat at her own place?” Marcus said matter-of-factly, “Just make two extra dishes. How hard can it be?” How hard can it be? I sat up and looked at this man I’d loved for ten years. His brows furrowed slightly, wearing that “why are you being so unreasonable” expression. “Fine,” I said. Then turned around and ordered a whole table of takeout. Not playing maid anymore. At the dinner table, Amber sat in the seat closest to Marcus, constantly serving him food. Talking about their work stories. “Marcus, do you remember? When we went to the beach, you helped me put on sunscreen. You were so clumsy.” Marcus tapped her nose playfully: “Don’t even mention it. I almost got beaten half to death by your parents that day when we got back. They wanted me to take responsibility for you.” Amber covered her mouth: “I was just young back then. You bad boy~” Then she looked at my stomach. “Claire, you have so much fat on your belly. Could use it as a flotation device.” Marcus frowned too: “Honey, you really should lose some weight.” I touched my stomach. There was a tiny life inside. “Marcus, I…” Before I could finish, an urgent voice cut me off. “Claire, Amber and I have work to discuss.” Before finishing his sentence, Marcus and Amber went into the study together. Instantly, a wave of nausea surged through me. I forced down the disgust and slowly walked to the study door. Soon, muffled panting came from behind the wall, mixed with Amber’s moaning. “Marcus, ah, me or your wife, who’s better?” Marcus grunted in response, “Of course it’s Amber. You’re so sexy! I love you the most.” So careful, so affectionate. Turns out Marcus at thirty could still go at it. After listening for a while, right when they were finishing up, I knocked on the study door. The sounds inside suddenly stopped. Marcus’s voice came out hoarse: “What is it, Claire?” “Looking for something.” The door opened. Marcus sat in his chair drenched in sweat, while Amber leaned against the desk, face flushed. “Is Amber okay?” I took a step forward. “Just feeling a bit off. I’ll take a shower and be fine. You do your thing, Claire.” She ran off. Marcus chased after her, “Amber’s not feeling well, I’ll go check on her.” I pulled out the ultrasound report from the drawer. If Marcus had really been discussing work, he would have seen it when he opened the drawer. I’d originally planned to tell Marcus this surprise, turn down the job offer, and settle down to prepare for the baby. Not anymore. Because the baby had already miscarried. And I was completely done with him! I tore the ultrasound report to shreds and tossed it in the trash. When I came out, I saw Amber wearing that silk nightgown I’d been too precious to wear myself.

The nightgown was last year’s birthday gift from Marcus. Water blue. He said it was like the ocean, that it suited me. When she saw me, she showed no embarrassment. Instead, she tilted her head, her tone innocent and sweet. “Claire, I was just looking for nightwear and accidentally went through your closet. Everything in there looks like old lady clothes.” “Marcus just got promoted to general manager. How can he take you anywhere dressed like that?” Hearing this, Marcus’s gaze swept over my faded home clothes. “She has zero sense of style. All day around the stove, all she can think about is housework.” My expression turned cold. Amber seemed frightened, her eyes reddening: “Those clothes were too dated. This was the only decent one.” Marcus stepped in front of her, reaching out to protect her. “Why are you arguing with a young girl?” “Which part of what I said was arguing?” Amber hid behind Marcus and said quietly: “I was just trying to protect this nightgown. One touch from those hands and it’ll snag.” Marcus nodded, “Honey, just let Amber have it. The calluses on your hands will ruin it anyway.” I laughed, “How about this—you can have the husband too?” After that day, Marcus seemed a bit guilty and tried to smooth things over. He bought me flowers, apologizing awkwardly. I didn’t accept the flowers or acknowledge his apology. I started going out frequently, to the library, staying all day. I was picking up those dusty professional books again. Physics, chemistry, bioengineering, cryptography. Complex formulas and theories had once been part of my life. Later, for so-called love and family, I’d sealed them away with my own hands. But now I could restart. Marcus flipped through the books I brought home, his face full of disbelief: “Why are you reading this gibberish? Claire, you’re a housewife. Have you lost your mind? Or are you just putting on a show for me?” He was convinced I was performing, trying to get his attention. I didn’t explain. Explaining would be like talking to a brick wall. Four more days, and I’d be gone. On Amber’s twenty-fifth birthday, Marcus threw her a birthday party at our house. “Isn’t Claire coming down to join us?” “I’m not feeling well.” I lowered my eyes. Marcus put his arm around her shoulder, laughing: “Claire’s been like this lately, don’t mind her. You’re the star today.” As I turned to go upstairs, I heard Amber’s sweet voice: “Marcus, you’re so good to Claire. You’re not even mad when she acts like this.” “She’s getting older, it’s normal for her temper to get weird.” Marcus answered carelessly. I put on my noise-canceling headphones and listened to academic lecture recordings. Better to prepare early so work wouldn’t be so hard to handle. Halfway through the party, I got terribly thirsty and went downstairs for water. At the stairway landing, Amber deliberately tilted her wine glass and bumped into me. Red wine splashed all over me and her dress too. “Ah, my dress!” Amber screamed, tears immediately welling up, “Claire! Why did you push me? This is the birthday gift Marcus gave me!” The commotion drew Marcus and the guests. Amber cried, face streaked with tears, pointing at the stain on her dress, then at me. Then she whispered in my ear: “Could it be that because you’re sagging and your husband won’t buy you body-hugging dresses like this, you’re jealous of me?”

Marcus looked at Amber’s tears, his face dark with anger. He didn’t even ask me a single question. He grabbed my wrist, gripping so hard it felt like he’d crush my bones. “Claire! That’s enough!” He roared, his eyes full of fury and disappointment. “I know you’re resentful, but what did Amber ever do to you?” “She’s innocent, just trying to get along with you. And you? Look what you’ve become!” “Spiteful, vicious. Weren’t you afraid you could’ve hurt Amber pushing her like that? Apologize! Apologize to Amber right now!” The guests whispered among themselves, their eyes full of contempt for me. “I heard last time she threw a fit for days just because Amber mentioned her sagging.” “Women, after thirty, they’re all like this. Sensitive and paranoid.” “Amber’s so young and beautiful, of course she’s jealous.” I used all my strength to pry his fingers off me, one by one. “Let. Go.” He froze, apparently not expecting me to fight back. “Marcus, this kind of stunt is eight hundred years old. Only you would fall for it.” Marcus turned red with rage. Amber made a show of trying to calm things: “Maybe Claire’s just in a bad mood. I’m fine. The dress can be washed…” “It’s a limited edition! It can’t be washed clean!” Marcus got even angrier. He yanked his hand away forcefully. I stumbled backward, my back hitting the wall. I slowly slid down to the floor, a sharp pain in my lower abdomen. When I woke up, I was in the hospital. Marcus’s eyes were bloodshot. “You were pregnant—why didn’t you tell me earlier!” I shook my head, “What would be the point? After I gave birth, would you just start making jokes about my breast milk, my stretch marks, my loose belly?” Marcus’s expression froze. “Why are you taking jokes so seriously?” “Jokes?” I looked at him, “Every time you said my body had gone to hell, that I couldn’t compare to younger women, that I was an old hag—those were all jokes?” “Last time I spoke without thinking!” He said urgently, “I was wrong, I apologize. Whatever exercise you want to do, I’ll support you. I’ll pay for the most expensive personal trainer, the most expensive beauty treatments, okay?” He reached out to touch my face. I turned away. He came closer, hugging me from behind: “Are you really that angry? I was wrong, I was wrong. I won’t drink anymore.” “Can I make it up to you properly now?” His hand slid down habitually. “Claire, we should have a baby.” I closed my eyes. “Marcus, I’m tired. I want some peace.” He muttered: “Fine, whatever.” Ten years as a housewife. Every day grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning. All our friends praised how warm and cozy our home was. Exhausted until my hands were covered in calluses. But in Marcus’s eyes, I was just a maid who slept with him. The next afternoon, Marcus came back, with Amber following behind him. “Claire, I’m sorry.” Her eyes were red and swollen, like she’d been crying for hours, “I hope you can forgive me.” Her attitude was impeccably sincere. Marcus said: “Amber felt so guilty she hasn’t eaten all day. She insisted on coming to see you. Claire, she’s apologized like this, just let it go.” I looked at the two of them, one handsome and wealthy, one young and beautiful, standing together like a poster for a romance series. And me, lying in a hospital bed, pale-faced, body out of shape, the picture of a bitter wife.

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It was a weekend, and I was with my wife, Chloe Peterson, at her company party, celebrating her promotion. When we arrived, her colleagues enthusiastically pulled Chloe away for photos and congratulations, leaving me feeling completely isolated in a corner. After the photos, Chloe’s boss, Mr. Sterling, walked over to me, a drink in his hand. “What’s wrong with you, kid? Are you useless? You’ve been married to Chloe for so long, and she’s still a virgin?” As he spoke, he gave Chloe’s butt a heavy pat. “Your wife is so hot, and you can’t satisfy her. What a damn shame.” I clenched my fists, trying to rein in my fury, and turned to look at Chloe, whose eyes were distant and hazy. “Chloe, did you really sleep with him?” At that moment, every single eye in the room landed on me. My wife hadn’t expected me to confront her publicly, and her face instantly dropped. “Julian, what the hell is wrong with you now? Today is my big promotion day, do you have to make a scene and embarrass everyone?” I stared her down, my gaze unwavering. “Chloe, answer my question! Did you or did you not sleep with this old man?!” My tone clearly struck a nerve. She shoved me hard. “So what if I did? Julian, we’ve been married for almost two years, and you haven’t even bought me a decent handbag!” “Look at Mr. Sterling! He just bought me a Hermès bag today.” Chloe was incredibly agitated, spittle almost flying onto my face. I suppressed the anger bubbling inside me, my eyes locked on her. “Chloe, do you even realize Mr. Sterling here is almost fifty? He’s old enough to be your father!” I thought that would embarrass her, but she didn’t care in the slightest. “So what if he’s old? It’s better than being with a loser like you!” “Mr. Sterling just promised me that as long as I stick by him, the CEO Assistant position will be mine sooner or later.” After saying that, Chloe actually leaned in and kissed her boss right in front of me. Mr. Sterling’s wrinkled face now bore a vibrant lipstick mark from my wife. “Did you bring me here today just so I could watch you cheat?” The words were barely out of my mouth when Mr. Sterling, who had been silent for a while, chuckled. “Kid, are you truly stupid or just faking it? Can’t you see such an obvious answer?” Mid-sentence, he unabashedly pulled my wife into his arms. “I told her to call you. And the purpose? It’s simple: I want you to divorce her!” I looked up at the two, their fingers intertwined, and let out a cold laugh. “From the looks of it, you two must have planned this out a long time ago, huh?” No wonder the moment I walked in, something felt off. She must have been hooking up with her company’s boss for ages. And it finally made sense why, after all this time married, Chloe never let me touch her. She was saving her first time for her boss. “Stop wasting my time. Just say if you’re divorcing me or not.” Seeing my prolonged silence, Chloe’s tone grew impatient. “Julian, I must have done something awful in a past life to end up with a loser like you.” “If someone hadn’t told me your family owned a villa back then, I wouldn’t have dated you even if you begged me!” I paused for a moment, then slowly spoke. “So you married me because my family had a villa, not because you loved me?” The moment I finished speaking, Chloe scoffed. “What else? You didn’t seriously think I’d fall for a nerd like you, did you?” Her words hit me like a physical blow. I was completely stunned. Everyone at our university knew Chloe had pursued me relentlessly for three years. I only agreed to date her on graduation day. Though I had no idea how she knew about my family’s villa, it didn’t matter now. I wouldn’t keep a woman who had cheated. “Chloe, you’re absolutely right. My family does own villas in the West End, and more than just one.” My gaze suddenly sharpened. “But I regret to inform you that, from this moment on, none of those things have anything to do with you.” My words were met with a burst of laughter from the crowd. “Knock it off, punk! Don’t you dare try to impress me. Do you even know how much a villa in the West End costs? Even our Mr. Sterling can’t afford one, and a pathetic loser like you claims to have several? Who are you trying to fool?” As the employees continued sucking up to their boss, I just offered a faint smile. “What I said is the truth. Believe it or not, it’s up to you.”

Under the amused glances of the crowd, I turned to leave. But before I could take more than a few steps, a familiar voice called out from behind me. “Julian, stop right there!” I paused, then slowly turned my head. “What, Ms. Peterson? Are you planning to invite me for dinner?” Chloe looked at me, a smirk playing on her lips, her eyes brimming with mockery. “Hey, you! Did you forget something?” I raised an eyebrow, my voice cold. “What?” Chloe pulled a divorce agreement from her bag in front of everyone, then handed it to me. “You’re not leaving until you sign this!” Chloe, still unaware of what she was about to lose, wore a triumphant expression. “Julian, as long as you agree to divorce me, you can name your price. Money or a house, I’ll give you anything.” I sighed deeply, looking at the woman before me—familiar, yet suddenly a stranger. “Chloe, are you really that eager to become someone else’s sugar baby?” Before she could respond, I suddenly chuckled. “I can divorce you, but I have one small condition.” Chloe’s eyes instantly lit up. “What condition? Just name it!” “As long as you agree to the divorce, I’ll agree to anything!” Hearing those words, the last shred of affection I had for her vanished completely. “My condition is simple: I just need to make a quick FaceTime call to your father.” “As long as David agrees to our divorce, I won’t say another word.” The moment I finished speaking, Mr. Sterling, who had been standing nearby, burst out laughing. “You really think you’re someone important, don’t you? I brought you here as a courtesy, I’m not negotiating with you.” “I don’t give a damn who you call; you’re divorcing her today, understand?!” I picked up on the thinly veiled threat in Mr. Sterling’s voice, but I couldn’t care less. My only concern was David’s stance. A significant part of why I married Chloe was because David Peterson had been my family’s chauffeur and a man I considered like an uncle. He watched me grow up, and I’d long considered him part of my family. After we got married, I kept it a secret from Chloe, mostly out of consideration for her feelings. But this woman, whose head was completely clouded by joy, naively believed I was calling her father to try and win her back. It was laughable. “Honey, let’s be magnanimous. No need to stoop to his level.” “If he wants to make a call, let him. My heart is already completely with you.” I was about to retort when Chloe quickly added: “Julian, don’t say I didn’t warn you. No matter who you call today, the outcome will be the same.” “I’m divorcing you today, and that’s final!” Seeing her arrogant expression, I almost couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Chloe, I think you’ve misunderstood me. I’ve never had any intention of trying to win you back.” “I’m only making this call to tell your father that I’ve been nothing but fair to you and your family.” I had initially thought, out of respect for our families’ long-standing ties, to let the Petersons off the hook. But some people simply didn’t appreciate it. Like this woman, Chloe, who was once the campus darling. “Oh, please!” “Julian, I’m telling you clearly, even if my father stood right here, I’d still divorce you!” Chloe was about to say more, but I quickly raised a hand to cut her off. “Enough!” “That’s all I needed to hear.” Then, in front of everyone, I dialed David’s number.

“David, it’s Julian Hayes.” On the other end, David heard my voice and immediately spoke cheerfully. “Mr. Hayes, why didn’t you let me know you were back? I would’ve brought Chloe to pick you up!” I glanced at Chloe out of the corner of my eye and spoke unhurriedly. “No need for that. I’m with your daughter at her company right now.” David sensed something was off in my tone and quickly interjected. “Mr. Hayes, has my spoiled girl been throwing another tantrum? I’ll apologize for her right away…” David hadn’t even finished speaking when Chloe snatched my phone. “Hello, Dad, it’s Chloe! I’m divorcing this loser, Julian, today!” “My boss here said that as long as I stick by him, he’ll make me CEO Assistant tomorrow!” Before David could respond, she hung up the phone. Given Chloe’s behavior, I certainly wouldn’t show her any more mercy. “Chloe, I already gave your family a chance, but you still refused to listen.” “Since that’s the case, don’t blame me.” I took the divorce agreement, signed my name without hesitation, and handed it back. Chloe saw how decisive I was, and a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes. “Hey, you! What are you smiling at?” I looked up at her, my voice completely devoid of emotion. “What? Am I not allowed to be happy?” “Ms. Peterson, you don’t seriously think I’m still pining for you, do you?” “The ‘backer’ you rely on is merely a company CEO. To me, it’s nothing, honestly.” Chloe’s cheeks flushed crimson from my retort, and Mr. Sterling, standing beside her, immediately looked displeased. “You little jerk, are you trying to act tough in front of me now?” “Let me tell you something right here, right now: whatever tricks you have, bring them on! I’ll take them all.” Chloe, seeing Mr. Sterling stand up for her, straightened her back. “Exactly! You’re just a government official. How can you compare to my dear Mr. Sterling?” “Mr. Sterling’s monthly allowance is probably more than you’ll make in a lifetime!” A government official? She wasn’t wrong. All public servants could generally be called government officials. However, I wasn’t just a regular public servant. My position came with a certain… distinction. “No, no, no. I think Ms. Peterson is mistaken.” “Mistaken about what?” Chloe looked at me, self-righteous. “You’re not seriously going to say that the CEO of a publicly traded company can’t compare to a petty government official like you, are you?” I offered her a slight smile and nodded gently. “You’re right.” “In the face of absolute power, money is nothing.” The moment I finished speaking, the previously silent room erupted. “Oh my god, this guy is such a show-off! Mr. Sterling was on the Forbes list, how could he possibly be less than this guy?” “Exactly! Look at his outfit, he just looks like an intern. His salary probably isn’t even as high as mine.” “I’ve always said, people should know their place. Marry a wife who’s your equal. A poor guy like him, with no connections and no money, his wife was bound to run off with someone else sooner or later.” The people around me continued to suck up to Mr. Sterling, none of them seemingly finding anything wrong with their boss stealing someone else’s wife.

Mr. Sterling, seeing I hadn’t spoken for a while, assumed I was intimidated. He motioned for security to kick me out. I calmly waved my hand at him, my expression grim. “The Sterling Group, listed on the market late last year, with a market valuation of around one billion.” “Of that, the largest shareholder, Richard Sterling, holds thirty percent.” “These figures should be correct, wouldn’t you say, Mr. Sterling?” Hearing my words, the usually arrogant Mr. Sterling’s eyes flashed with surprise. “Kid, what do you mean? Are you investigating me?” I lowered my head, sighing softly. “Investigating? A tiny, newly public company like yours isn’t even worth my time.” Then, I let out a cold laugh. “Mr. Sterling, I’m just pondering one question right now.” “What question?” The middle-aged CEO’s forehead glistened with a bead of cold sweat. “I’m wondering if it’s better to just acquire your company directly, or let it go bankrupt.” “Perhaps you could help me answer that question, please?” Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Chloe, the moment I finished speaking, bravely stepped forward. “Honey, don’t listen to his nonsense! With our company’s influence, those figures are easily found online!” “I’ve known this loser for years, he’s a total nobody, no connections whatsoever!” “He’s only staying here because he wants to extort more money from you!” Looking at the woman who wouldn’t stop taunting me, my anger reached its boiling point. “Chloe! Do you really think you’ve found a good backer?!” I swept my gaze coldly across everyone present. “Every single employee standing here today, you’re all fired. Every last one of you!” The moment I said that, Richard Sterling’s face instantly changed. “You little jerk, are you really pushing my buttons now?” “Do you even know whose company this is? How dare you try to lecture my employees in front of me?!” “I’m giving you three minutes to get out of my sight, or don’t blame me for getting rough!” As Mr. Sterling roared, the surrounding employees also turned hostile towards me. “Are you saying this guy’s crazy? What a pathetic piece of trash, daring to fire us?” “Yeah, a loser whose own wife ran off with someone else, and he still has the nerve to talk?” “If I were him, I’d crawl into a hole and hide right now, instead of making a fool of myself here.” Looking at these insignificant pawns, one after another, oblivious to their own standing, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Alright, alright. I’m tired of playing along with you all. It’s time to show you what real power looks like.” With that, I unhurriedly took off my jacket. Then, I slowly turned, facing Mr. Sterling. “Mr. Sterling, I believe you once said that money can solve everything.” “So… now I’d like to ask you, can you solve this?” Richard Sterling’s eyes widened, fixated on something. It was my family crest?! The next second, he gasped, “How do you have that family crest?! How is that possible?!”

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As the year ended, my husband, Mark, awarded a million-dollar bonus to his company’s top salesperson, Cassandra, taking it directly from our son’s medical fund. When I confronted him, his face was full of impatience. “What are you complaining about now? It’s just a million! That’s nothing compared to what Cassandra brings in. You contribute nothing to the company, and you dare question her bonus?” But those orders came from clients I introduced! Cassandra ran her hand up Mark’s thigh, a mocking smirk on her lips. “Mark and I are both dedicated to this company. After all, you just live off him now.” I watched them with a cold smile. Mark never knew that my parents had strongly opposed our marriage years ago. They made a deal with me: if Mark truly loved and valued me for three years, they would accept him. Clearly, I had lost. Thinking of my son in the hospital, I pulled out the divorce papers. You took my son’s lifeline. Now my parents will take yours! When Mark saw the divorce papers, he froze. “What’s this, another mind game? Trying to scare me with divorce?” Impatiently, he tore the documents to shreds and threw them in my face. A jagged edge caught my cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. My phone was flooded with their explicit photos and videos. I’d screamed and pleaded with him countless times before. His answer was always the same: “You’re always going to be Mrs. Miller. She’s just a bit of fun.” I refused to admit I’d loved the wrong man, so I waited for him to change. But he actually took our son’s medical funds to give to his mistress! He had crossed my line! “Give the money back! Leo has a matched donor organ, and his surgery can happen tomorrow!” Mark paused for a moment, then frowned. “Leo is so young; what’s a month or two more? Without Cassandra, there’s no company. You wouldn’t be living this pampered life as Mrs. Miller, you wouldn’t have that million dollars!” I stared at Mark in disbelief. Years ago, to help him gain my parents’ acceptance sooner, I worked tirelessly, pulling in clients even while heavily pregnant. That’s why Leo was born with a rare heart condition. The doctors said he needed a heart transplant before he turned three, or else… Cassandra rose from the sofa, a triumphant glint in her eyes. “Scarlett, a housewife like you probably has no idea how much revenue I bring in. That million is rightfully mine.” “Mark and I both came from nothing. How could you raise a child so spoiled, he can’t even wait two months? He’s nothing like Mark!” A year ago, Mark hired Cassandra straight out of high school. He said she had the same relentless drive he used to have. They also shared the experience of having abusive fathers. I didn’t object. I trained Cassandra and handed her my own client contacts. Later, to care for my son with his congenital heart condition, I resigned and became a full-time mother. I never imagined Cassandra would repay me by stealing my husband and stabbing me in the back. The thought made me slap her across the face. But in the next second, Mark’s palm connected with my cheek, sending me stumbling. My back slammed hard into the corner of the table, and I gasped, a cold sweat breaking out. Mark helped Cassandra up before even looking at me. “What’s gotten into you? You’re being completely unreasonable! Leo is my son too, and I care about him, but the company comes first right now. If Cassandra gets this million, she’ll create even more value for the company in the future.” He paused when he saw the slap mark on my face, then spoke, as if granting a favor. “Alright, you wouldn’t understand company matters anyway. Apologize to Cassandra, then get out.” I braced myself against the table, straightened up, and pulled another document from my bag, tossing it at his face. “Divorce!”

Seeing the divorce papers again, Mark exploded in a fit of rage. He pulled out a pen and scrawled his signature. “Fine, I agree! I’d love to see how a mere housewife manages to survive with a sick child!” I numbly collected the divorce papers, watching the sheer delight on Cassandra’s face. I’ll be back with my family in three days. Let’s see if she still holds onto that million-dollar bonus then. As I was about to leave, Mark blocked my path. “Scarlett, I’m giving you one more chance. Apologize to Cassandra, and these divorce papers mean nothing. You’ll still be my wife.” Cassandra wrapped her arm around Mark’s, then deliberately tugged her collar open, revealing a fresh hickey on her neck. “Scarlett, if you just get down on your knees and apologize to me, I’ll ask Mark to withdraw the divorce papers.” I let out a cold laugh. “I don’t have a habit of fighting over garbage.” With that, I pushed Mark aside and stormed out. Behind me, I heard his furious shout. “From this day forward, Scarlett Miller and any stray dogs are banned from this company!” Years ago, I’d left my family to start this company with Mark. I’d wanted to prove to them that I hadn’t chosen the wrong man. In the end, it was all just a joke. Walking out of the building, I dialed my father’s number. It rang for a long time, but no one answered. The tears I’d held back for so long finally broke free. My son was running out of time. I could only try to sell the jewelry and designer bags Mark had given me. But every luxury consignment shop and pawn broker in the city told me they couldn’t take them. At the last store, Mark and Cassandra were there. He looked annoyed when he saw me. “Scarlett, those were my gifts to you. Are you really just going to trash my generosity like this?” It clicked then. Mark had told all these stores not to buy my things. I lunged forward and slapped him hard. “You bastard! Do you even deserve to be Leo’s father?! The doctors said Leo won’t live long if he doesn’t get a new heart before he turns three! If it weren’t for you, he’d be fine by now!” Six months ago, the hospital found a matching donor organ. I already had the surgery funds ready. But that’s when Cassandra’s father showed up at the company, demanding money to pay off his gambling debts. Mark used that million to pay off Cassandra’s father, then used the remaining two hundred thousand to set Cassandra up in her own place. And now, he was blocking me from getting Leo’s surgery funds. The thought made me rush him, ready to hit him again. But he grabbed me, holding me tight. “What’s wrong with you?! How could you lie about our son’s condition just for attention?! Cassandra asked the doctor; waiting two more months won’t hurt him!” I shifted my gaze to Cassandra, and my eyes landed on the bracelet on her wrist. That was my eighteenth birthday gift from my parents, one of a kind in the entire world. I sold it years ago to give Mark his startup capital. He’d promised to buy it back for me, but instead, he’d given it to Cassandra. Mark only flinched for a second under my gaze. “You hit Cassandra and didn’t apologize. This bracelet is her compensation.” I blinked back the stinging tears, gritted my teeth, and walked away. My son’s surgery was tomorrow morning; I didn’t have much time. I’ll deal with you both later!

The next day, I managed to scrape together the money just before the surgery. But when I went to pay, the staff told me there wasn’t enough balance. I frantically opened my mobile banking app. The transaction history showed a two hundred thousand dollar withdrawal made fifteen minutes earlier. That’s when I remembered, Mark also had access to this card. Ignoring my fury, I quickly asked the staff to process the remaining balance. Then I begged Dr. Davies, promising that the remaining two hundred thousand would be paid in full. Seeing my desperation, and knowing the severity of Leo’s condition, which truly couldn’t wait any longer, the doctor agreed to proceed with the surgery. But just as Dr. Davies changed into his scrubs and was about to enter the operating room, Mark and Cassandra arrived with a group of people, blocking his way. “Dr. Davies, we have an elderly patient in Orthopedics needing immediate surgery. Their heart might not handle the strain, and we need your expertise.” Cassandra, tears streaming down her face, grabbed Dr. Davies’s hand. “Please, Dr. Davies, you have to save my grandmother!” After some frantic questioning, I learned Cassandra’s elderly grandmother had merely sprained her ankle. Mark had pulled strings to get every specialist in the hospital to attend to her. Seeing their relentless determination, my face went ghostly pale. I was terrified Dr. Davies would give in. But thankfully, Dr. Davies firmly refused. “I have an emergency surgery right now. You’ll have to find someone else.” Mark didn’t listen. He simply ordered his bodyguards to drag Dr. Davies away. My eyes blazed red. I clutched desperately at Mark’s sleeve. “Mark, our son is in there! Are you trying to kill him?! He’s already under anesthesia!” Mark impatiently shook me off. “Scarlett, you used to be so understanding. How did you become so selfish?” “Cassandra’s grandmother broke her leg. I couldn’t save my own grandmother when I was young, and I can’t let Cassandra go through that pain now.” “Leo is only three, he can wait. Cassandra’s grandmother can’t! Tell Leo, he’ll understand his father’s ‘difficult decision’!” I rushed forward, clinging to Dr. Davies, refusing to let go. Leo was almost three; this was his last chance. Mark stepped forward and yanked me away, flinging me with the momentum. I hit the corner of the wall, and blood immediately welled from my forehead. I watched helplessly as Dr. Davies was dragged away. Inside the operating room, the other doctors were pacing frantically. “What do we do? Only Dr. Davies can perform this surgery!” Bracing my dizzy head, I scrambled to my feet and ran after them. I hadn’t gone more than a few steps when several bodyguards blocked my way. “Sorry, Mrs. Miller, Mark ordered us not to let you leave until Ms. Cassandra’s grandmother is out of surgery.” My fists clenched so tight my nails bit into my palms. All I could do was stare with helpless fury in the direction Mark had vanished. Mark, I don’t just regret loving you. I hate you! Gathering the last of my strength, I pulled out my phone and dialed. “Save my son…” My hands went slack. I couldn’t hold on any longer. As I fell, a familiar silhouette blurred at the edge of my vision.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “347164”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #重生Reborn

In my last life, I was the perfect trophy wife. I swallowed every insult, endured his affairs, and even nursed his “true love” through her pregnancy. The day he finally clawed his way to the top, he served me divorce papers. The shock stopped my heart. I woke up in the year he was still living in a basement, staring at my pathetic ex-husband. I pulled my hand back from the stove, where his comfort food was simmering, and tossed him a five-year blueprint for the empire he had not yet built. “Want out of this dump? Sign this. You work for me now.” He stared, eyes lit with the raw hunger of a man who’d just seen real power. Along the way, I took over his mistresses. His dream girl Chloe needed cash? I funded her. His ex Blair wanted fame? I launched her. The starlet Harper had big dreams? I made them happen. Three years later, my ex-husband knelt, begging me to take him back. “Audrey, darling, I don’t need a title. I just want to be by your side.” Before he could finish, Blair and Chloe-now an A-list actress and a top influencer-kicked him out together. “Back off! Audrey’s ours tonight.” 1 Audrey POV “Audrey, let’s get a divorce.” “You’re amazing. You’re the perfect wife. But you’re too perfect, so perfect…it suffocates me.” Liam handed me the papers, his face a pitiful mask of anguish. As if he hadn’t used my family’s money to build his empire. As if I hadn’t spent years polishing his image and opening every door, only for him to bring his “true love” into our home while painting me as the wife who smothered him. I couldn’t breathe. My chest seized, and I fell. He had literally choked the life out of me. In my last conscious thought, I wished. If there’s a next life, I am absolutely not going to be some perfect trophy wife! “Audrey? What’s wrong?” A familiar voice rang out. I snapped my eyes open. A flickering bare bulb buzzed overhead. Peeling wallpaper, plastered over with old newspapers, clung precariously to the walls. The air was a stale mix of cheap ramen seasoning and that unique, damp basement mildew. Liam’s face, ten years younger, hovered inches from mine. At this point, he hadn’t yet donned his million-dollar bespoke suits. He wore a faded, threadbare T-shirt, a scruffy beard, and bloodshot eyes. And I wasn’t dead yet. I was back, ten years in the past. Back to that summer when Liam had failed at his startup, been kicked out of his family’s home, and was forced to live with me in this grim basement apartment. In my past life, he’d been this same half-dead mess, sitting on the edge of the bed, wallowing in self-pity. “Audrey, am I a failure? Everyone looks down on me, only you…” In my past life, I would have hugged him, my heart aching, then gone to our tiny kitchenette to make him a comforting bowl of cream of mushroom soup. I’d hold his hand and tell him, gently but firmly. “You’re just having bad luck. I know you’ll succeed.” For that promise, I sold the Cartier bracelet my mother left me, maxed out my credit cards, and choked down stale bread for three years, just to drag him out of the gutter. And the result? The first thing he did after succeeding was to dump me. Now, just looking at him made me sick to my stomach. “Audrey, I’m so hungry. Is there any food left?” Liam sniffled, his eyes watery as he stared at me, waiting for me to act like his personal, all-purpose maid. I looked at him and let out a cold laugh. My love-drunk brain from the last life had been cured by a heart attack. My tolerance for hardship was zero; my appetite, however, was strictly for money. I sat up straight, not heading for the kitchen. Instead, I turned and pulled a calculator and a notebook from my canvas bag. “Hungry?” I tapped on the calculator. “If you’re hungry, drink some cold water to fool your stomach. Because right now, you’re not just a failure, you’re a broke failure.” Liam froze, his dejected expression instantly replaced by shock. “Audrey, you… what did you say?” “I said you’re poor.” I slammed the notebook onto the rickety wooden table in front of him. “Liam, let’s talk numbers.” “Last month, you wanted to give this basement ‘startup hub vibes,’ so you maxed out my credit card on a secondhand leather sofa. That’s three thousand eight hundred dollars.” “The day before yesterday, you rented a suit for eight hundred dollars for that project that was doomed to fail anyway.” “Add that to the last two years of rent, utilities, your cigarette money, your booze money, and all the money you lost from my investments instead of making any.” I paused, and the calculator’s cold electronic voice chimed. “Zero. Total. eighty-eight thousand four hundred and twenty dollars.” I held out my hand, palm up, and looked at him. “Care to settle up?” The air was dead silent. Liam’s eyes were wide with disbelief. He opened his mouth, his face turning a furious crimson, and after a long moment, he managed to stammer, “Audrey… we’re husband and wife! Talking about money… isn’t that a bit harsh?” “You actually remember we’re husband and wife?” I scoffed, standing up to look down at this future billionaire. “Liam, I haven’t left you yet because you haven’t paid back my money. And since you’re broke, you’ll have to pay with yourself.” Liam instinctively clutched his chest, looking terrified. “Pay… pay with myself?” What beautiful fantasy is he cooking up? I rolled my eyes, pulling out a ‘Labor for Debt Agreement’ from my bag-or, to put it simply, a contract selling him to me. “Sign it.” I shoved a pen into his hand. “Starting today, I’m the capital, and you’re the labor. Every minute of your time, every idea, even you yourself, belong to me. Your salary will go towards your debt, and your dividends will be held by me.” “If I tell you to go east, you don’t go west. If I tell you to make promises, you don’t make anything else.” Liam held the pen, his hand shaking. “Audrey, what’s gotten into you? You weren’t like this before. You said I was your world, that you’d always support my dreams…” “That’s right, I support your dreams.” I leaned down, close to his ear. Looking at this stubborn rock of a man, who I couldn’t warm up no matter how hard I tried in my last life, I gave him the kind of sweetly condescending smile you’d reserve for a dim-witted child. “So, for your dreams, you can handle a little hardship, right?” “You need a killer instinct. Stop fixating on these petty struggles. If you can’t even sign these terms, how will you ever achieve greatness? How will you conquer the business world?” This was his exact line, word-for-word, that he used to manipulate me in our previous life. Now, I was serving it right back to him. Liam was dumbfounded by my ‘boss-speak.’ “Fine! I’ll sign!” He gritted his teeth, scrawled his name on the paper, then looked up, his eyes gleaming with the unmistakable awe of a man completely captivated by power. “Audrey, I’ll do whatever you say! How do we turn this around?” I looked at his signature on the paper, satisfied, and flicked the edge of the document. Turn this around? Last life, I used love to inspire you, and you treated me like a maid. This life, I’m using money to train you, and you’re treating me like a savior. “It’s simple.” I collected the agreement and smiled. “First, get dressed properly and shave that beard. Don’t sleep tonight. I’m going to outline your business plan for the next five years.” Your “good” women are still waiting in the future for me to harvest. Since I’m your boss this life, Your backup plans are naturally my company’s assets. 2 Audrey POV The night he signed the contract, I didn’t let Liam sleep. I made him practice his “gaze” in front of the mirror for three whole hours. That specific look. a blend of detached coolness, casual indifference, and the unspoken certainty of having the world at his fingertips. In our past life, it was his trademark after he became successful. This life, I made him master it ahead of time. The next morning, Liam, sporting two massive dark circles under his eyes, eagerly extended his hand to me. “Audrey, since we’re starting a big business, what about the initial capital? I returned that suit yesterday. I need some decent clothes to meet investors today, right? And a car, we can’t take the subway, can we?” I was sipping a two-dollar carton of milk, and wiped my mouth. “Clothes? A car?” I rummaged in my bag and pulled out a chipped car key, slapping it onto the table. “Your car’s been ready.” Liam’s eyes lit up. He grabbed the key, then his face instantly crumpled. “A Volkswagen? And… a vintage Jetta?” That’s right, a Jetta. It was the same car he’d pointed to in the company garage after he struck it rich in my last life, just to spite me. He’d sneered, “This car reminds me of you. Tough, reliable, a bit worn out but still usable. It’s yours.” I’d driven that beat-up car on countless frigid nights, bringing him hangover remedies. Now, it was back where it belonged. “What? Not good enough?” I raised an eyebrow. “It’s not that I look down on it, it’s just…” Liam’s face looked like he’d just bitten into a lemon. “The paint is peeling, and you have to slam the door just to close it. I’m supposed to drive this to a multi-million-dollar project meeting? Security won’t even let me past the gate!” “Shallow!” I slammed my hand on the table, making Liam jump and nearly drop his half-eaten bagel. It was time to unleash my masterclass in manipulation. “Liam, your thinking is still stuck in the gutter!” I said, “What do investors look for now? Fancy suits? Luxury cars? That screams ‘new money’! They want a story! A narrative! That ‘rising from the ashes with nothing but grit and vision’ kind of vulnerable authenticity!” I walked up to him and straightened the slightly wrinkled collar of his old shirt. “Think about it, where did Steve Jobs start his company? In a garage.” “If you roll up in a luxury car, they’ll think you’re some rich idiot who just burns money, and they’ll be on guard. But if you drive this beat-up Jetta, what does that signify?” Liam blinked. “It signifies… I’m unconventional?” “Wrong!” I snapped my fingers. “It signifies hard work! It means you’ve poured every single dollar into R&D and product development! It means you’re a pure entrepreneur, willing to sacrifice material comforts for your dream!” “What’s this called? It’s a strategic psychological advantage. It’s building an impenetrable brand narrative. Get it?” Liam’s jaw dropped, his eyes went wide as saucers. Clearly, this advanced internet jargon was a massive shock to him. He looked at the broken key in his hand, his eyes slowly shifting from disgust to reverence. “Audrey… you’re right. I used to be so superficial, I didn’t truly grasp the essence of success.” “Exactly.” I stifled a laugh and pulled a PowerPoint presentation from my bag. This PPT was actually the business plan he’d used to earn his first fortune in my previous life, one he’d bragged about in countless interviews after he succeeded. I already knew the content by heart and had even patched up a few logical loopholes. “Take this, drive your car, and go meet Mr. Henderson at the downtown office tower.” Liam took the PPT, flipped through a couple of pages, and his hands began to tremble. “This… the underlying logic, the seamless business model, the way it addresses core pain points… Audrey, you came up with this?!” “Less talk, more action.” I checked my watch. “Remember, once you’re in there, say little. Use the jargon I’ve annotated on each page. ‘Empowerment,’ ‘synergy,’ ‘disruptive innovation’-hit them with everything you’ve got.” “If you’re not embarrassed, they will be.” Liam took a deep breath, his eyes hardening with determination. He carefully tucked the broken car key into his pocket, like a warrior heading to battle. “Audrey, don’t worry! If I don’t close this deal, I don’t deserve to eat your food!” Watching him charge out of the basement with such gusto, a moment later, the decrepit Jetta roared to life outside, sounding less like a car and more like a dying tractor. I finally couldn’t hold back my laughter. You idiot. Mr. Henderson was a known sentimentalist, a total sucker for a ‘rags-to-riches’ story. In my last life, Liam had rented a luxury car to look impressive, only to be thrown out. This life, that desperate, ‘scraped-from-the-bottom’ vibe combined with the clunker Jetta? It was guaranteed to hit Mr. Henderson right in his sweet spot. With the grunt work sorted, it was time for my core assets. I pulled out a brand-new notebook and opened to the first page. Stuck there was a photo printed from an old college social media profile. The girl in the picture wore a white dress, standing under a tree, her face streaked with tears, so pure it was almost heartbreaking. Chloe. Liam’s ‘true love,’ a future viral sensation. In my past life, this was right around the time she came to him begging for money. To play the hero, Liam gave her the money I needed for rent, forcing me to beg the landlord for a week. This time… I checked the time on my phone. If the script was right, in half an hour, this ‘innocent little flower’ would arrive at this basement to put on her dramatic act. I pulled a dusty ring light from under the bed and found a secondhand phone stand, propping it up on the rickety table. “Come on, my little ATM.” I adjusted the camera angle, a capitalist’s smile playing on my lips. “Nowadays, tears shed into the ocean are just wastewater. But tears shed into a live stream… those are pure gold.” 3 Audrey POV As expected, that beat-up Jetta worked wonders. When Liam returned, the car’s sputtering noise sounded like a tractor plowing a field, audible three blocks away. But he stepped out with an unexpectedly imposing stride. “Audrey! It’s done! All of it!” He burst into the basement, excitedly waving the letter of intent. “Mr. Henderson said I have that… that ‘built-from-nothing’ kind of drive!” I took the letter and glanced at it. As expected, the first round of funding was secured. “Not bad.” I poured him a glass of cold water. “Looks like your ‘pity play’ marketing has real potential.” “What ‘pity play’? This is about narrative!” Liam chugged the water, instantly swelling with self-importance. “Since we have money now, we need to register the company right away, recruit staff! I want a new office, and I need an administrative assistant, a secretary-preferably someone with great image and temperament.” There it was. A man’s inherent flaws, like a leopard never changing its spots. The moment he had a warm meal, he started looking for trouble. In my last life, this was the stage where he used “hiring” as an excuse to bring in a string of attractive women. Back then, I’d argued with him countless times, and he’d always wear that innocent expression, saying, “It’s all for work, don’t be so unreasonable.” This life, I looked at the predatory glint in his eyes and just found it amusing. “Hire? Of course, we’ll hire.” I pulled out my pre-prepared laptop and opened an Excel spreadsheet. “Not just hire, we’ll hire the best.” Liam paused, clearly surprised by my enthusiasm. “Really? You’re not mad?” “Can anger make money?” I rolled my eyes. “Liam, we need to scale up and strengthen our business. Our thinking needs to evolve. Just being a tech company is too slow. What era are we in now? The age of traffic!” “We’re building a content empire, creating an MCN. Every single employee is going to be a walking ATM!” Liam looked utterly bewildered. “MCN? What’s that? I just wanted to hire a secretary…” “Too small! Your vision is too small!” I turned the laptop towards him, pointing at a list I’d already compiled on the screen. This list was a mental download of “his lovers’ names” from my past life. It detailed each woman’s name, special skills, and their current dire circumstances. 1. Chloe (Note. Future top influencer, current status. needs money for her mother, skilled at crying on cue) 2. Blair (Note. Future PR genius, current status. bar singer, skilled at witty insults) 3. Harper (Note. Future hit scriptwriter, current status. washed-up aspiring writer, skilled at fantastical narratives) “Look.” I pointed at the screen. “Chloe, she looks like a tragic heroine. Perfect for building a ‘most pitiful sister on the internet’ persona, attracting a large female fanbase. Blair, her name means ‘fire,’ she’s perfect for a ‘fiery queen’ vibe, attracting female fans. Harper, her name sounds sophisticated, let her write scripts and capture the mass market.” Liam’s eyes were practically bugging out as he looked at the names. “Audrey, how do you know them?” He nervously swallowed. “I swear I don’t have anything going on with them, I just… I just met them a few times…” “I know you don’t have anything going on with them.” I looked at him, a smirk playing on my lips. “But I know you want to have something going on with them.” Liam nearly fell to his knees in fright. “Audrey, I’m so sorry! I’ll block them right now! I definitely won’t hire them!” “Don’t be silly!” I grabbed his hand. “Why block them? What a waste! This is our own exclusive, God-given audience!” “Think about it. instead of letting them wander out there, getting tricked by some other shady guy, why not bring them into the company? You’re the boss, they’re the employees. Not only can they make you money, but you get to look at them every day. What’s that called? Killing two birds with one stone.” Liam was speechless. Slowly, his expression changed. From fear to gratitude, then from gratitude to a kind of unbelievable euphoria. He must have been imagining a scenario where. Audrey loves me so much, she’s even willing to help me find women and manage them right under her nose. What kind of wife does this? A truly magnanimous one! “Audrey…” Liam’s eyes welled up with tears of gratitude again. “You’re so good to me. Don’t worry, even if they join, I’ll only treat them as employees. My heart is only for you!” Duh, of course, you’ll only treat them as employees. Because this life, I’ll use contracts that would make a shark blush, turning them into my personal golden geese. As for you? You’re just a glorified figurehead. “Alright, enough with the emotional stuff.” I closed the laptop and stood up. “That Chloe woman, isn’t she coming to borrow money from you this afternoon?” Liam gasped. “How do you know that too?” “Don’t ask. Just call it a woman’s intuition.” I pulled a phone stand with a built-in ring light from my bag and shoved it into Liam’s arms. “When she gets here, don’t rush to give her money. Set this up and start a live stream.” Liam looked utterly confused. “Start a live stream for what?” I patted his shoulder and smiled. “These sweet girls are too naive, the world out there is dangerous. Don’t you dare mess with them, let me handle it.” “I’m going to give them a warm home-a ‘home’ with no days off and a fifty-million-dollar buyout clause.” “Get ready. It’s time to reel in our first batch of unsuspecting fish.” 4 Audrey POV At three in the afternoon, the girl in the white dress appeared at the basement door right on schedule. Chloe. True to her name, Chloe was delicate and utterly captivating. She wasn’t carrying the designer bag that would later make her famous, just a faded canvas tote. Standing there, she was the picture of a fragile, innocent damsel in distress. “Liam…” That emotionally charged whisper almost melted the resolve of Liam, who had just sworn to become a ‘ruthless entrepreneur.’ Liam instinctively stood up; his old, irritating hero complex kicked in. He hurried over, his face etched with concern. “Chloe, don’t cry. Is it your mother’s illness again…?” “Your mother’s medical bills are five thousand dollars short, aren’t they?” I sat on the broken sofa, fiddling with the phone stand, cutting Chloe off before she could speak. Chloe froze, her tear-filled eyes turning to me in alarm. “How do you know that?” I ignored her, merely nodding towards Liam. “What are you waiting for? Move.” Liam looked anxious. “Audrey, Chloe is really in trouble. Even though I don’t have money now, can’t we-” “Shut up.” I pushed the annoying obstacle aside and shoved the phone, already set with a beauty filter, directly in front of Chloe’s face. “Want to save your mother?” Chloe was startled by my aggressive stance, instinctively nodding, her tears falling even faster. “If you want to save your mother, listen to me.” I turned on the ring light. “Don’t cry to this broke guy, he can’t even spare five hundred dollars. If you’re going to cry, cry into this.” I pointed to the phone camera. “This is…?” Chloe was bewildered. “This is called live streaming.” I deftly changed the live stream title. “Shocking! Pure Beauty Will Do ANYTHING to Save Her Mom… Friends, Who Can Relate?!” “Come on, look at the camera. Recreate that emotion from your ‘Liam’ earlier, but change ‘Liam’ to ‘friends.’ Three, two, one, we’re live!” Chloe hadn’t even reacted, and the number of viewers in the stream began to skyrocket. After all, in an era saturated with loud, obnoxious influencers, a natural, wholesome beauty like Chloe, crying with such raw vulnerability, was pure gold. “Cry!” I mouthed silently from off-camera, shaking a wad of cash to encourage her. Chloe looked at the rapidly scrolling comments on the screen. The mix of injustice, fear, and worry for her mother’s condition erupted. “I… I just don’t know what to do anymore…” In that moment, I had to admit, some people are just naturally gifted. Chloe’s crying performance had so many layers. It wasn’t a wailing cry, but rather red-rimmed eyes, a pink nose, and tears that trembled on the verge of falling. The comments section exploded. “Her crying is literally breaking my heart!” “Who is this angel? So much better than all those filter freaks!” “Does she need money? Send me her Venmo!” In just ten minutes, the backend revenue soared from zero to fifty thousand dollars. That was more money than Liam made in a whole month in my last life! The live stream ended. I turned off the phone, looking at the string of zeros in the backend, and snapped my fingers in satisfaction. “One hundred thousand dollars.” I showed the phone screen to Chloe, who was still sobbing softly. “After platform fees and my management cut, you get fifty thousand dollars. That’s enough for your mother’s surgery.” Chloe stared blankly at the number, forgetting to cry. She looked at me, then at Liam, as if her entire worldview had just shattered. “You’re my savior!” Chloe suddenly grabbed my hand. “Can I stream again tomorrow? I can cry more! I can cry in even more creative ways!” I smiled. See, that’s human nature. In the face of absolute profit, love means nothing. I pulled out a pre-prepared ‘Exclusive Artist Management Contract’ from my bag. “Sign it.” I smiled. “From now on, I’m your manager. Forget medical bills; as long as you’re obedient, I’ll make you the number one influencer on the internet. You’ll be crying in a pile of designer bags then.” Chloe didn’t even read the terms, signing it more decisively than Liam had. Done. When Chloe left, Liam was still in a daze. He watched her retreating back, hugging the contract and grinning foolishly-the same girl who used to cling to him-and couldn’t help but run after her. “Chloe, um… don’t you have anything to say to me?” Chloe stopped, turning to look at him. Her eyes were clear, with a hint of disdain, and a touch of impatience. “Oh, Liam.” She waved her phone. “My manager says I can’t interact with anyone outside my top ten followers now. It’ll hurt my engagement.” “Besides, I need to go home and study live streaming strategies tonight. I don’t have time to chat with you.” With that, she walked off with light steps, not even looking back. Liam stood there, wind-swept and utterly bewildered, looking like a lost puppy. He turned to me, his face full of hurt. “Audrey, she’s changed. She wasn’t like this before. She used to be an angel who lived on dew drops…” “Wake up.” I patted his face, transferring my half of the commission into the company account. “Even angels need to eat. She drank dew before because she couldn’t afford a soda.” “And stop moping around. This is just the beginning.” I looked at the next name in my contacts. Blair. “Get ready. We’re going to a bar tonight. Our next core asset is still out there, getting harassed.” “Our company needs a head of security. That feisty girl with the sharp tongue would be perfect.” 5 Audrey POV With Chloe sorted, the company account now had fifty thousand dollars in liquid funds. Liam felt invincible again. That night, he specifically changed into a ridiculously flashy Hawaiian shirt, doused his hair in half a bottle of hairspray, and drove that beat-up Jetta-the one where everything rattled but the horn worked-taking me to the Nightfall Bar on the south side of town. “Audrey, Blair is singing here.” Liam explained his philosophy of seduction while backing up the car. “You don’t understand, Blair is different from Chloe. Chloe is water; Blair is fire. Her untamed wildcat nature is exactly what excites a man’s desire to conquer… Holy crap!” With a loud crash, Liam backed into a garbage can. I looked at him. “You can’t even conquer a garbage can, and you think you can tame a wildcat? Get out.” Inside the bar, heavy metal music blared, deafening. No need to search; the most chaotic corner of the bar was where Blair was. At that moment, Blair, dressed in a black studded leather jacket and combat boots, was surrounded by several drunk men. “Hey, cutie, nice singing. How about a drink with us?” If this were before, Liam would have charged right in, usually ending up with a bruised face, then Blair would tearfully tend to his wounds, and their relationship would deepen. But this time, I grabbed Liam by the back of his collar. “What’s the rush? Enjoy the show.” Blair merely sneered, her beautiful face showing no fear. She didn’t even lift a hand. She simply stood with one hand on her hip, took a deep breath. Then, a verbal barrage began. “Had a shot or two and forgot if you were born or hatched? Look at that underdeveloped brain of yours, is public lewdness some kind of evolutionary throwback? Even if you tried to get a do-over in your mother’s womb, the amniotic fluid would reject you as non-recyclable waste…” Her words came fast, logical, and overwhelmingly powerful. For a full five minutes, the drunkards were stunned into silence, their faces turning crimson, unable to get a single word in edgewise. The onlookers were amazed, some even wanting to applaud. Liam was also stunned. He swallowed, retreating slightly. “This… this is too scary. Who could ever handle her?” “I think she’s great.” This isn’t a shrew; this is an internet-savvy PR genius! What’s the biggest fear for influencers nowadays? Haters and trolls. We need someone like Blair. If anyone dares to stir up trouble in Chloe’s live stream, or badmouth our company, Blair’s mouth alone could replace a whole PR department! Just as the drunkards, red-faced with anger, were about to get physical- “Stop!” It wasn’t Liam who yelled, it was me. Of course, I wasn’t foolish enough to rush into a physical fight myself. I snapped my fingers, and two burly men I’d hired by the hour immediately stepped forward like iron towers, blocking Blair. “Company business. You randos, clear out.” I’m quite good at putting on a show. Seeing the situation, the drunkards grumbled and left. Blair tossed her red hair, looking at me warily. “Who are you? Don’t think just because you helped me, I owe you a drink.” “A drink?” I glanced at the cheap, blended liquor on the table. “Even a dog wouldn’t touch this swill.” I pulled out a newly printed business card-MCN agency founder-and handed it to her, holding it between two fingers. “Your insults were pretty good just now. Great rhythm, rich vocabulary. Interested in a different place to do your yelling?” Blair looked bewildered. “Huh?” “I run a media company.” I pointed to Liam, who was cowering behind me. “This is my number one employee. I think you’re a natural talent for verbal sparring. I’d like to hire you as our company’s PR Director and Head of Security.” Blair looked at me like I was crazy. “Are you nuts? I only sing.” “Singing is a dead end. How many singers end up as homeless people?” I hit her with the harsh truth. “But you can argue! Do you know how annoying those keyboard warriors online are these days? I need someone specifically to deal with them.” “Eight thousand dollars a month. Bonuses if you win the arguments. If you lose… I don’t think you’re capable of losing.” Blair’s wariness slowly faded, replaced by a hopeful glint in her eyes, like someone who’d found a stroke of luck. “Really?” Blair raised an eyebrow. “Can I curse out the boss?” She pointed at Liam. I glanced at Liam, who was about to try and chat her up, and smiled. “If he acts like an idiot, go nuts. It’ll count as overtime.” “Deal!” Blair gave me a firm high-five, then turned to Liam. Liam had just formulated the line, “Blair, I’ve come to rescue you.” Blair looked him up and down. “Well, well, isn’t this the loser who was hiding behind a woman earlier? So much hairspray, aren’t you afraid a spark will roast that walnut-sized brain of yours?” He looked at me for help. “Audrey, she… why is she attacking her own team?” I patted Liam’s shoulder, stifling a laugh. “Ms. Blair is undergoing her job assessment. Looks like her skills are top-notch.” “From now on, behave yourself at the company.” I walked out with my newly recruited general, Blair, leaving Liam with a cold, retreating back. “Blair has a temper. If you mess up your affairs in the future and she curses you into therapy, the company won’t be responsible for your shrink bills.” 6 Audrey POV Having lost both Chloe’s tender affection and Blair’s admiration, Liam fell into a deep depression. He huddled in a corner of the basement, sighing over his rickety old computer. “Audrey, you don’t understand.” He held a book of poetry, his eyes melancholic. “Chloe and Blair are too materialistic; they only care about money. My soul has nowhere to rest. I need someone who truly understands me, a soulmate to discuss poetry with, to watch the stars and snow…” I was busy calculating Chloe’s sales commission from last night and didn’t even look up. “Spit it out. Are you trying to go after Harper, the aspiring writer, again?” Liam choked, then straightened up indignantly. “Harper is different! She’s a writer, an intellectual! She doesn’t care about money; she’s the last pure soul in this superficial world!” “Pure soul?” I closed my ledger. “Fine. Let’s go see if this ‘pure soul’ really doesn’t need to eat.” When we found Harper, this ‘pure soul’ was squatting outside her rental apartment, gnawing on a dry bagel. That’s right, no water, just dry bread. Her landlord stood over her, hands on hips, yelling, “Don’t tell me I’m picking on you because you’re poor! These piles of scrap paper aren’t paying the rent! If you don’t fork over the cash, you and your precious manuscripts are out!” Scattered across the ground were piles of manuscripts, all full of meaningless rambling. Liam’s face twisted with anguish at the sight. His old male complex kicked in again. “Stop! How dare you insult her? Harper, don’t be afraid, I’m here…” He reached for his pocket, then remembered I’d confiscated his wallet long ago. He was even poorer than Harper. “Move.” I once again pushed aside this useless windbag and walked up to Harper. Harper looked up. Her face indeed had an artistic quality, her eyes filled with stubborn defiance. “Are you here to mock me?” She bit her lip, shielding her manuscripts on the ground. “Even if I’m poor, my words have soul…” “Can ‘soul’ pay the bills?” I bent down, picked up a manuscript, and scanned it. ‘My Star Has Vanished…’ I shook my head in disdain. “What era are we in, still writing this kind of stuff? Readers are under so much stress these days, who wants to read your self-indulgent navel-gazing? People want satisfaction!” Harper’s face flushed crimson. “What do you know! This is art! I don’t write that market-pleasing trash!” “What if writing ‘trash’ could get you a villa, a luxury car, and lobster for every meal?” I pulled out a ‘Hit Scriptwriting Contract’ from my bag. “I’m the CEO of a media company. I’ve seen your writing skills; you have potential for Alpha-CEO dramas.” “We’re going to produce vertical short dramas with a plot twist every minute, a dramatic slap every three, and the male lead on his knees begging for mercy every five. Things like ‘My Arrogant CEO Loves Me,’ ‘Rebirth as a Billionaire,’ ‘The Abandoned Heiress and Her Secret Babies’…” Harper’s eyes went wide. “You… you want me to write that meaningless garbage? I’d rather die! It’s blasphemy against literature!” Liam chimed in from the side. “Exactly! Audrey, you’re going too far. Harper writes pure literature, how can you make her write for the mass market…” “Twenty thousand dollars base salary, plus ten percent royalties for a hit.” I interrupted them, calmly laying out my offer. “Based on current market trends, a single hit script can earn a writer… this much.” I held up five fingers. “Five… five thousand dollars?” Harper tentatively asked. “Five hundred thousand dollars.” The air suddenly went silent. The half-eaten bagel in Harper’s hand clattered to the ground. In that instant, I saw the ‘soul of literature’ in her eyes furiously battling against ‘five hundred thousand dollars.’ In approximately 0.01 seconds, five hundred thousand dollars round-kicked the soul right out. Harper abruptly stood up, brushed the dirt off her pants, her eyes blazing with newfound determination. “As long as the money’s right, forget an arrogant CEO loving me-I’ll write about an arrogant CEO loving a dog!” Back at the company, I set aside a special corner for Harper, christening it the “Billionaire Scriptwriting Center.” Harper truly was a talented writer; her creative drive was like a raging river. “I’ve got the first script! It’s called ‘After 1800 Hours of Overtime and a $20,000 Deduction from My Bonus, the CEO Panicked When I Quit’! That will definitely resonate with every overworked employee!” Harper, disheveled and with her glasses reflecting an eerie glow, furiously typed away. “Excellent.” I nodded in satisfaction. “But a pain point isn’t enough; you need a character. You need a… well, a greasy, overconfident, and particularly dishonest CEO as your prototype.” Harper chewed on her pen, looking stumped. “That kind of extreme character is hard to find…” Both Harper’s and my gazes slowly, precisely, shifted towards Liam, who was quietly drinking water in the corner. Liam felt a shiver run down his spine. “What… why are you two looking at me like that?” Harper’s eyes lit up, like a hungry wolf spotting prey. “He’s perfect! Right there! That ‘detached coolness with a hint of condescending amusement’ kind of look! That ‘Woman, you’ve successfully caught my attention’ air of self-importance!” “Mr. Liam!” Harper rushed over, grabbing Liam by the collar. “Quick! Say all those lies you used to tell your employees again! I need to record them as dialogue!” “And that subtly evil expression you had earlier, do it again! I want to write it into the climax of the first episode!” Liam was so scared he pressed himself against the wall, trembling. “I’m the boss… I’m the CEO! You can’t do this to me…” “Mr. Liam, just cooperate.” I leisurely cracked open some sunflower seeds. “If Harper’s show is a hit, our company’s cash flow will be stable. Didn’t you say you’d sacrifice everything for your startup? What’s a little contribution of your likeness and reputation?” Liam was on the verge of tears. The next month, Liam entered his darkest hour. During the day, he was dragged by Chloe to be a live stream background prop, holding up signs. At noon, Blair pulled him into ‘insult training,’ serving as her punching bag. At night, Harper made him run lines, repeating cringeworthy Alpha-CEO dialogues over and over. If his emotions weren’t quite right, Harper would snap, “Your acting is terrible; you’re messing up my writing schedule!” A month later, the first short drama, ‘Rebirth. I’m the Heiress’s Nanny,’ premiered. The male lead was a complete replica of Liam, even using his favorite line, “How can you achieve greatness if you can’t even handle this little bit of hardship?” In the show, the male lead eventually went bankrupt and ended up picking garbage, only to be kicked into a trash can by the female lead. The show was a massive hit. Total views across the internet exceeded ten billion. Harper became an overnight sensation, with six-figure royalties. Watching the constantly fluctuating numbers in the company account, I patted Liam, who was thoroughly questioning his existence. “See, that’s the power of knowledge monetization.” “Don’t go looking for soulmates anymore. Your soul is too cheap. Harper charges by the word now. A single conversation with you would cost two hundred dollars. Can you afford that?” Liam looked at Harper, who was counting money so fast her hands were cramping, and silently retreated back to his corner against the wall.

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My wife mentioned she’d need to work late tonight. I thought I’d surprise her by dropping off her favorite macarons at the office. But as I approached the door, I overheard her laughing with her male assistant: “Babe, I really wanna go to Hawaii with you.” “Worried your husband’ll find out? Simple. Just tell him you’ve got cancer and need overseas treatment. We’ll have our fun and come back whenever we feel like it.” I played it cool and left without a word. At daybreak, my wife came home. The second she saw me, tears started rolling down her cheeks: “Honey, the company did health screenings today. They found me get breast cancer. Stage four.” “I don’t want to be a burden. Let’s get a divorce.” I stared at Claire, frozen in place for what felt like an eternity. I still couldn’t wrap my head around it. My wife was actually cheating on me with her male assistant. From our wedding day onwards, Claire had always seemed perfect—beautiful and upstanding. Maybe she had her reasons? What if her assistant was blackmailing her? What if she had no choice but to go along with it? I must be overcomplicating things. I took a deep breath and pulled her close. “Honey, we’re married. We made vows—for better or worse, in sickness and in health. We promised to stick together no matter what.” “I don’t care what illness you have. I’m not leaving you, no matter what happens!” Claire suddenly pushed me away. “Jason, can you just face reality here?” “I have cancer! Stage four!” “I don’t have much time left.” “Just think of this as granting my last wish before I die.” “Please?” Tears streamed down her face. Seeing her cry like that tore me apart. Under these circumstances, I couldn’t bring myself to argue. Instead, I pulled her back into my arms, my voice tight with emotion. “Honey, what do you need me to do?” “Whatever you need, I’ll do it without hesitation.” Claire stopped sobbing. She looked up, her hands cupping my face, eyes red and puffy. “I wasn’t actually working late tonight,” she said softly. “Then why’d you come home so late?” “My assistant was consoling me. He mentioned there’s a new laser therapy overseas that can eliminate 99.99% of cancer cells.” “I wasn’t sure if it was legitimate, so I met with him in person to get more details.” Hearing the word “assistant” made my suspicions deepen. My wife’s new male assistant was young and good-looking. She was always comparing me to him, teasing me about being an old man. I never called her out on it or questioned her. Instead, I played along. “And what did you find out?” “He said it’s real, but expensive. I want to use the money from our joint account for treatment. Even if there’s the smallest chance, I don’t want to give up.” “Honey, you’ll support me, won’t you?”

“Yes, of course I’ll support you!” I nodded and gently kissed her forehead. “I can drop everything and go overseas with you for treatment.” “If it’s about money, I’d even sell a kidney!” Claire immediately pulled back. “You don’t know anything about that country. Besides, my assistant will go with me. You should stay here and take care of my parents.” “This new therapy has risks. I might not make it, so I need you to lie to my parents.” “Tell them I died from cancer. If the treatment works and I recover, I’ll come back and surprise them.” I frowned. “You think they’ll buy that?” “Don’t worry, my parents are easy to fool. If they insist on seeing my body, just tell them I didn’t want them to suffer, so you had me cremated and my ashes scattered at sea, like I wanted.” “You’ve really thought this through.” “Tomorrow we’ll file for divorce, then I’ll go abroad for treatment.” “You’re just going for treatment, not dying. Why do we need to get divorced?” “My assistant said there’s a new policy there. Unmarried women with breast cancer get a discount on this new therapy.” “Honey, I’m just trying to save you money. Can’t you see that?” “And it’s just a fake divorce, not real. When I get better, we’ll remarry.” “If it’s for your health, I’ve got no objections.” “Thank you, honey. I love you so much.” Seeing I agreed, Claire happily stood on tiptoes and gave me a quick kiss. The next morning, we went to file for divorce. She said she needed to discuss the overseas treatment with her assistant. Then she left. Less than half an hour later, my wife’s male assistant posted on Instagram. “I’m a genius! Convinced my boss to fake cancer so she’d divorce her husband. We just bought tickets and we’re heading to Hawaii!” “I’ve been waiting for this day forever. Once we get to Hawaii, I’ll post regular updates of me and my boss.” “Let everyone witness our happiness!” The post included several photos. Their faces weren’t shown, but their fingers were intertwined. I could clearly see the woman was wearing a black patterned shirt—the same one I’d personally picked out and bought for Claire. If yesterday I only had suspicions, now I was absolutely certain. Claire was cheating on me with her assistant. She divorced me just to go on vacation with him in Hawaii. In that moment, it felt like a ton of bricks hit my chest. I could barely catch my breath. We’d been married for years. We were always so loving. I never imagined she’d actually cheat on me. Claire didn’t come home that night. She texted saying she was planning the overseas trip with her assistant. They were flying out early the next morning. I asked if she wanted me to see her off at the airport. She said it wasn’t necessary. When I sent another message, there was no response. I put down my phone and took a deep breath. At this point, she was probably tangled up with that assistant. If I kept bothering her, I’d just look pathetic.

I tossed and turned all night. The next day, Claire and her assistant showed up at the airport. They were all over each other. Sharing a cookie between them. Stopping to kiss every few steps. They looked more like a married couple than we ever did. Worse yet—they walked right past me. Claire didn’t even notice me. I calmly recorded everything on my phone. I didn’t leave until they boarded the plane. At the same time, Derek posted another update. The photo showed them holding hands as they boarded. “Successfully boarded with my boss!” “Destination: Hawaii.” “I think I’m the happiest guy in the world right now!” The comments were full of envy and congratulations. Derek replied to each one personally. When someone in the comments asked, “I thought your boss was married? What about her husband?” Derek replied: “That middle-aged slob? He’s greasy and disgusting.” “My boss lying next to him every night was pure torture.” “But now it’s great—they’re divorced. From now on, she’s all mine.” “She’s finally free!” Since Derek had videos showing his face on his profile, everyone could see he was young, handsome, and charming. So no one blamed him for breaking up a marriage. Instead, they all said he and his boss were a perfect match. I was livid. I created a burner account and commented: “Your boss had a child with another man. Doesn’t that bother you?” Less than two minutes later, Derek replied. “How could she have had a child with that man?” “They didn’t have kids?” “She got pregnant before, but I didn’t want my amazing boss to ruin her figure from childbirth, so I convinced her to get an abortion.” Reading that response, rage shot through my veins. So that’s why Claire couldn’t get pregnant all these years. We went to the hospital for tests, and they said there was nothing wrong. Margaret and Mr. Anderson even reassured me not to stress about it. They said pregnancy happens when it happens. Just let nature take its course. But I never imagined the truth. It wasn’t that we had physical problems. It wasn’t that Claire couldn’t get pregnant. She did get pregnant. She just didn’t tell anyone. Then, at Derek’s urging, she secretly went to the hospital and had an abortion. Suppressing my murderous rage, I asked: “Aren’t you afraid of karma for convincing her to abort?” Derek replied: “Afraid of karma? Don’t make me laugh. There’s no such thing as karma in this world.” “As long as my boss belongs only to me forever, I don’t care.” “Even if I get struck by lightning, I’d accept it.” “Gotta go—we’re off to enjoy our time together in Hawaii. Bye, see you in the next video.” After that, Derek didn’t reply again. Meanwhile, I quickly made a major decision.

A few days later, during dinner, Margaret and Mr. Anderson asked me where Claire was. They hadn’t seen her in days. I hesitated before answering: “Claire’s been really busy with work.” They looked a bit suspicious but accepted the explanation. A week later, they were in a car accident. Mr. Anderson died on impact. Margaret was seriously injured. Fortunately, after emergency treatment at the hospital, her life was no longer in danger. But when she learned her husband had died, she cried hysterically and fainted several times. I took care of her in the hospital for two weeks. The question she asked most often was: “Where’s my daughter?” I never gave her a straight answer. Until one day, after I helped her finish her meal, she suddenly dropped to her knees. “Jason, ever since you married my daughter, I’ve treated you like my own son.” “Please, I’m begging you—tell me what happened to my daughter.” “Why can’t I reach her on the phone?” “When I asked her coworkers, they all said she quit a long time ago.” “What happened between you two?” I quickly helped Margaret to her feet. I couldn’t hide it anymore. I let out a long sigh and said, “Claire… she passed away from breast cancer. Her body was cremated, and her ashes were scattered at sea, just like she wanted.” “What… what?” Margaret gasped, staring at me in shock. I wiped my tears and explained through choked sobs. I told her that over two weeks ago, Claire found out she had stage four breast cancer. She didn’t want her family to suffer, so she chose to bear it alone. “Why didn’t you tell us sooner?” “Claire said to keep it secret as long as possible.” “You… you…” Margaret was both furious and devastated. First, she learned her husband was dead. Now she learned her daughter was gone too. Under the double blow, she fainted again from grief. When she woke up, she cried until she lost her voice. Later, I received a text from Claire using an unknown number. “How are my parents?” “You didn’t tell them the truth, did you?” I smiled and replied: “Did exactly what you told me to.” “You’re the best. Keep hiding it from them.” “Something happened at home. Do you want to come back?” “I’m busy. Whatever it is, don’t bother me.” “You handle it.” When I sent another message, there was no response again. Keep enjoying yourself with Derek, Claire. A cold smile crept across my face. After that, Claire and I completely lost contact. I could only occasionally catch glimpses of them having a great time through Derek’s videos. As for Margaret, after she was discharged from the hospital, she became depressed and talked to herself constantly. I could tell—she was losing her mind. One day, she suddenly called me into her room and handed me a sealed envelope. Her eyes were red as she said, “Jason, I can’t hold on much longer. I’m afraid I’ll completely lose my mind. Before that happens, take this. This is everything the Anderson family owns.”

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The entire preschool was under lockdown, held by kidnappers. “No cops! We release children based on who pays the most!” a voice roared through a megaphone. In my previous life, I paid double the ransom, desperate for my daughter, Lily, to be the first one safe. But my husband, David, the leader of the rescue team, insisted on “fairness,” placing her last on the list. Lily died. After I was reborn, one of David’s teammates stopped me, bowing deeply. “Sarah, you’re truly selfless, agreeing to swap your child with the one at the very end of the list.” I cried, yelling, “Don’t you dare switch them!” But David slapped me hard. “As the team leader, I can’t let people think I’m playing favorites and deliberately saving my own child first!” I was on the verge of a breakdown. “What if something happens to Lily?” David remained unmoved. “Nothing will happen. Don’t be a jinx.” My body trembled with rage. “David, you don’t deserve to be Lily’s dad!” “Lily is only five! Watching all the other kids get rescued one by one, leaving her alone at the end, how terrified she must be!” “What if the kidnappers get agitated? Have you even thought about what could happen to our daughter?!” The memory of her pleading eyes just before she died in my previous life made my heart ache, stealing my breath. David was still unyielding. “I’m the rescue team leader. Lily might be my daughter, but she has to be treated fairly.” “What would people say if Lily was released first?” “David!” I tore my hand from his grip and slapped him across the face. “Our daughter’s life is hanging by a thread, and you’re still thinking about your reputation? Are you even human?” The slap echoed sharply, making David’s teammates turn their heads. That blow ignited David’s fury. He grabbed my hair and slammed my head against the ground. “You have no sense of the bigger picture!” “What about my reputation if Lily is saved first?” I froze. For the first time, I saw his true colors. Turns out, from beginning to end, in his eyes, Lily’s life was never worth as much as his ridiculous reputation! I struggled, crawling towards the other team members, my voice choked with sobs, but every word was clear. “I paid double the ransom precisely so my daughter could be out of danger sooner!” “But my husband secretly changed the list! He swapped Lily with the little boy whose family paid the least!” Everyone froze. After a brief silence, an older team member, John, spoke first, his voice filled with disappointment. “Sarah, we truly overestimated you.” “Captain David is doing this for the greater good!” Another teammate, Kevin, immediately chimed in, his brows furrowed tightly. “He’s sacrificing his own daughter for the rescue team’s reputation. How selfless is that? Why can’t you understand, Sarah?” “Exactly, Sarah,” a younger team member muttered, his tone dismissive. “If you keep making a scene, you might anger the kidnappers. Not only will Lily be in danger, but all the other kids will be affected too! How can you be so selfish?!” “Selfish?” I looked at them in disbelief, shaking with anger. “So I’m supposed to be ‘great’ enough to sacrifice my daughter’s life to uphold your reputation?!” “Enough!” David roared. “Take her to the back. Don’t let her cause trouble here and hinder the rescue!” The teammates immediately responded. Several of them surrounded me, ready to grab me.

“Get away from me!” I fought back with all my limbs. “David, you cold-blooded monster! You’ll get what’s coming to you!” The kidnappers heard the commotion. A coarse roar came through their megaphone. “What’s all that noise?! If you keep making a goddamn racket, nobody’s leaving today!” David’s face paled. He clapped a hand over my mouth. “Shut up! Do you want to kill everyone?!” Consumed by rage, I bit down hard on David’s hand. “You bitch!” David kicked me in the stomach. “Ugh! You… you actually dared to hit me!” I curled up in pain. He showed no hesitation, looking down at me. “That’s a lesson for you. If you cause trouble again, don’t blame me for being ruthless!” Then, he turned towards the megaphone and yelled. “Sorry! My wife is worried about our child, she’s having a mental breakdown! I’ll handle it right away!” The kidnappers’ voice came back, full of disdain. “You better handle it quickly! If you don’t, the kids’ release will be delayed!” At those words, the surrounding parents instantly erupted. “What’s wrong with Sarah? Her child is precious, but ours aren’t?” “Exactly! Delaying our kids’ release, how selfish!” Accusations and curses, like countless sharp knives, stabbed into my heart. I fought desperately. “No, the order is wrong! My daughter is supposed to be released first—” The people around me cut me off. “The list has been announced! Whoever paid more gets their child released first, it’s not up to you!” “If you keep delaying and anger the kidnappers, what if they kill all the kids?” Just as I was about to explain, a burly man grabbed my throat. “You bitch, I’m telling you, if anything happens to my son, I’ll make sure you die a terrible death!” I couldn’t breathe, casting a pleading look at David. But he was completely unmoved. It was as if I, his wife of six years, was a stranger! Cold tears streamed down my face. The grip on my neck tightened, and I was on the verge of blacking out. I faintly heard my daughter’s voice. “Mommy, Mommy, help me!” I snapped my eyes open, seeing Lily being pushed forward. A grim-faced kidnapper held up a megaphone and shouted. “To prevent anyone from secretly calling the police, the child last on the list will now serve as our hostage!” Just like in my previous life, I could almost see the kidnapper’s sharp blade slice across my daughter’s pale throat— “No—”

I let out a desperate wail, tearing myself free from the crowd. The whispers around me started again. “Oh, so she’s the hostage’s mother. No wonder she’s so emotional!” “Pfft, whose fault is it if she wasn’t quick enough with the ransom? Just don’t drag our children into it!” “One daughter dying to save all our other kids? Worth it!” I trembled with anger, charging forward and grappling with a passerby. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my back. David, who had been watching coldly, couldn’t sit still anymore. He hit me with a stick, knocking me down, then apologized to the people around him. “I’m so sorry, everyone. My wife is being unreasonable. I’ll take her away right now!” The anger of the crowd subsided by half. “Her man really knows how to prioritize the bigger picture!” “If anything really happens to your child, we’ll all pay our respects to her.” David put on a look of profound sorrow. “If my daughter’s death can pave the way for other children to live, then her death will have meaning!” I lay on the ground, my consciousness fading, tears silently falling. “Tie her up and take her to the back room!” David stood up and instructed his teammates. They immediately complied, turning to grab some rope. I struggled frantically, flailing my arms and legs, hoarsely screaming. “Let go of me! David, you beast! You’ll get your comeuppance! Lily is your daughter!” But how could I, a powerless Sarah, possibly resist several strong team members? The rough rope cut harshly into my wrists, the pain nearly making me faint. “Take her away!” Two team members grabbed my arms, dragging me like a dead dog towards the back room. I looked at the tightly shut preschool gate, And could almost hear Lily’s heart-wrenching cries. “Lily… Mommy is so sorry…” I choked, a metallic taste rising in my throat. I was dragged into a dark room, the door slamming shut with a “bang.” My wrists were raw and bloody from the rope. I twisted my body desperately. “Let go of me! I need to save Lily! David, you animal!” The force on my wrists suddenly intensified. David himself stepped forward, Snatching an electric baton from a teammate’s hand and unhesitatingly jabbing it into my side. Current surged through my limbs, making me convulse, my bones feeling like they were being pierced by countless needles. I curled up on the ground, foaming at the mouth, but my eyes remained fixed on the closed door, In that direction, was where Lily was being held.

“Sarah, I advise you to calm down.” David’s voice was icy. “If you keep making a scene, not only will you not save Lily, but you’ll ruin the entire rescue team’s reputation.” “Reputation?” I laughed, tears streaming down my face from the effort. “Your reputation, it needs my daughter’s life to uphold it, does it?” David’s eyes turned vicious. He raised his hand and landed another brutal slap across my face. A sharp “smack,” and my cheek instantly swelled. “Hit her! Hit her until she can’t make any more trouble!” The teammates exchanged glances. Seeing me covered in blood, yet still glaring defiantly at David, some subconsciously recoiled. “Captain, if we keep hitting her, Sarah might…” “What are you waiting for?!” David snarled. “She’s a lunatic right now! I’m her husband, I’ll take responsibility if anything happens.” At his words, the teammates had no more reservations. Fists rained down on my back and legs, The pain almost made me pass out. I bit down hard on my tongue, my consciousness blurring, All I saw was Lily lying in a pool of blood in my previous life. I can’t faint! I can’t faint! If I collapse, no one else can save my daughter. I suddenly lifted my head and spat a mouthful of bloody foam onto the face of the nearest teammate. “You bunch of accomplices! If Lily dies, I’ll never forgive any of you, not even in death!” The teammates were enraged and hit me harder. Someone picked up a steel pipe from the corner and smashed it onto my knee. A soft “snap,” the sound of bone breaking. The excruciating pain made my vision go black. David walked forward and pinched my jaw. I gathered all my strength and bit off his finger. “Ah— you bitch!” David clutched his finger and kicked me away. “I’m telling you, everything you’ve done today, I will expose it to the public! I’ll make sure everyone sees that your rescue team is nothing but a bunch of beasts!” David sneered, turning to his teammates. “Get that thing out.” A teammate rummaged through a toolkit and pulled out a glass bottle. It contained a pale yellow liquid, emitting a pungent, sour odor. My pupils contracted sharply. A chill shot straight from my feet to the top of my head. “David! What are you trying to do?!” “What am I trying to do?” He sneered, stepping closer to me. “You’re so good at yelling, aren’t you? I’d like to see how you’ll spread rumors outside once your throat is ruined!” The teammates swarmed me, pinning down my arms and legs, covering my mouth. I struggled desperately, tears mixing with blood, streaming down my face. But my strength was pitifully small against these strong men.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “346592”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn