Category: English

Adrian and Olivia had been together for three years, but she still couldn’t forget her first love. There was a locked room in her house, a promise she kept for her first love. If he ever came back, there would always be a place for him in her home. For his sake, she abandoned Adrian time and time again. The last time, Adrian left only a breakup message before vanishing without a trace. But she seemed to go mad, searching for him everywhere. Finally, at the cemetery, she discovered the truth behind everything. Red-eyed, she pointed at the black and white photo of a woman who looked strikingly similar to her and demanded: “Adrian, tell me—” “Who were you really thinking of every time you looked at me?” On Olivia’s birthday, Adrian brought a few of her close friends back to their place to prepare a surprise party for her. At the height of the celebration, everyone started chanting for them to kiss: “Olivia, you need to cherish such a thoughtful boyfriend!” Olivia gazed at Adrian, her eyes shining brightly, as she slowly leaned in. Adrian lowered his head to meet her, and just as their lips were about to touch amidst the cheers of their friends— The door suddenly burst open. A man drenched from the rain stood in the doorway. Olivia froze in place. Adrian turned to look and saw a face that bore a striking resemblance to his own. “Olivia…” the man called out softly. His tone intimate and familiar. Olivia seemed dazed for a moment before her expression changed: “Why are you soaked? Quickly go change into some dry clothes.” The friends around them reacted faster than Adrian, greeting the newcomer naturally: “Ethan, you’re suddenly back? Done with your wandering?” The man stood stunned in the doorway, a faint smile appearing on his face: “It’s been a while.” Olivia’s gaze remained fixed on him, not sparing Adrian a single glance. Adrian wanted to ask who he was. Before he could speak, Ethan walked straight upstairs. Towards that room in Olivia’s house that was always locked, the one she had repeatedly emphasized to Adrian was absolutely off-limits. Ethan skillfully pulled out a key and unlocked the door with ease.

When Ethan came back down, he had changed into dry clothes and casually took an empty seat at the dining table. The friends, tipsy from drinking, naturally draped an arm over Ethan’s shoulder. “Ethan, stay longer this time. Olivia will always keep a room for you anyway.” “How nice, to always have someone as your solid backup.” “I say, you two might as well get marr—” Olivia cleared her throat lightly. She moved closer to Adrian, trying to break the awkward atmosphere: “Adrian, thank you again for helping celebrate my birthday today.” The scent of lily of the valley enveloped him, but Adrian felt a chill run through his body. Adrian had always known that Olivia had a deeply meaningful first love – Ethan. When Olivia’s company was just starting out, Ethan had quit his high-paying job at a foreign firm without hesitation to support her. Even now, years after Ethan had left, Olivia’s friends were still so close with him. They laughed and joked together, reminiscing about old times. Adrian picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of food. But he couldn’t taste anything.

This celebration that belonged to them continued until 10 PM. As everyone was leaving, it started pouring rain. In the end, only the three of them remained in the house. Olivia’s face was flushed from alcohol as she leaned her head on Ethan’s shoulder, looking small and delicate. I, her actual boyfriend, felt like thin air at that moment. “I’ll take you to a hotel,” I said. “I’m not leaving,” Ethan replied coldly. “That room is mine.” “You promised,” he continued. “No matter what, there will always be a room for me in your home.” I felt like an insignificant backdrop, ignored by them both. Olivia was at a loss for words. She looked to me pleadingly: “Let him stay.” “The rain is getting heavier outside.” “Just for one night, okay?” Olivia gazed at me, her eyes flickering with a hint of apology on her face. “Adrian, I’m sorry.” I pressed my lips together and walked past them to go upstairs.

I didn’t sleep well that night. The storm raged on, and a loud clap of thunder woke me with a start in the middle of the night. I instinctively reached out to hold the person beside me. But my hand fell on empty space. I only felt cold sheets. A sliver of light seeped in through the crack in the door. I opened it slightly to peek outside. The living room lights were on bright. Ethan, wearing an apron, brought out a bowl of noodles and set it on the coffee table. Wisps of steam rose from it. He looked every bit the man of the house. I saw his lips curve into an indulgent smile as he spoke softly: “You’re still the same as always.” “Scared by thunder and needing someone by your side to feel safe.” Olivia stood nearby, a smile on her face. Ethan hugged her from behind. I clearly saw Olivia’s body stiffen for a moment. But she didn’t push him away. The warm glow of the living room lights fell on them, inadvertently revealing an air of intimacy. They looked like a couple that no outsider could ever come between.

I met Olivia when I was 22. I had just graduated and started working at her company. My desk was right in front of her office. When her office door wasn’t fully closed, I would peek through that tiny gap to look at her. To gaze at that face that looked 70% similar to the one that had appeared countless times in my dreams. They really looked so alike, especially the dimples that appeared when they smiled. Later, my colleague Sam caught me looking. He pressed an iced coffee against my face, startling me. I turned to meet his eyes as he said, “Adrian.” He smiled and handed me the coffee, his tone light as if joking: “Don’t go falling for Ms. Olivia.” “She’s got someone in her heart already.” I blinked at him. He leaned in to gossip: “Ms. Olivia has a first love she can’t forget.” “Not sure exactly how long they were together, but I think they knew each other since they were students.” “When the company was just starting out, they were still together. He’d come by sometimes to bring her lunch.” “Once during a meeting, she got a call saying he was sick. She immediately left everything behind to go to him.” “Can you believe it? Such a workaholic, dropping everything for her boyfriend.” “Pretty romantic, huh?” I held the coffee and asked softly: “What happened after that?” “They broke up later.” “I don’t know the details, but I think Ms. Olivia still has feelings for him.” “She even keeps his photo on her desk.” Sam shrugged and smiled, “I guess her first love probably hasn’t let go either.” “Loving each other but unable to be together – it’s like a bittersweet ending straight out of a novel.” I was stunned for a moment hearing this. Just then, Olivia’s office door suddenly opened and her secretary came out: “Adrian, Ms. Olivia is calling for you.” When I went in, Olivia was looking over some documents. Seeing me enter, she looked up with a smile. Two small dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth. My gaze fell on a framed photo standing on her desk. I stared at it, my mind full of Sam’s wistful expression from earlier. “…Adrian, will you be my boyfriend?” Olivia suddenly asked. Caught off guard, I answered reflexively: “Okay.”

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I was the most envied woman in the entire city. My billionaire husband adored me, treating me like a queen, and my powerful brother doted on me, loving me to bits. Three years ago, I was diagnosed with a rare illness. They told me they’d give anything, even their lives, to make me well again. And they meant it. Asher stopped several critical projects, blowing billions searching the globe for a compatible kidney; And Ryder canceled all his engagements, staying by my side day and night at the hospital, never leaving my bedside. Three years later, I was basically cured. I could finally return home. I didn’t tell them, wanting to give them a surprise. But I was stopped at the familiar villa gate. “Who are you looking for?” “This is my home. I’m Asher Vance’s wife,” I said with a smile. The guard froze for a second, then a look of pure disgust, like he was looking at a gold-digger, crossed his face. “Mrs. Vance doesn’t look like you.” As he spoke, the guard pulled out his phone and opened his photo album. The woman in the picture had eyes and brows strikingly similar to mine, and when she smiled, two shallow dimples appeared. I recognized her. It was Chloe Miller, the woman who donated her kidney to me back then.

I stumbled, my phone almost slipping from my hand. The guard’s disgusted look intensified. “See? If you had any sense of self-awareness, you’d know not to come here and make a fool of yourself.” “Mr. Vance treats his wife wonderfully; we can all see how much they love each other. You’re dreaming.” With that, the guard gave me a hard shove. I lost my balance, and coupled with the exhaustion from the long journey, I fell heavily. My head hit the ground, leaving me dizzy. Just then, the guard’s walkie-talkie buzzed. A familiar voice came through— “What’s all the noise out there?” The guard’s attitude instantly turned fawning. “Mr. Vance, it’s just a gold-digger, claiming she knows you.” “Get her out of here quickly. Mrs. Vance just fell asleep, don’t disturb her.” I distinctly heard Asher Vance’s voice. It was arrogant, impatient, yet filled with tenderness and care for the “wife” he spoke of. So, Asher Vance and “the wife” were living in this villa now. Living in the marital home he and I once shared. My blood ran cold. So many beautiful memories, of him and me, were in there. And he let another woman live in it? My blood boiled, and a bitter, metallic taste flooded my mouth. “Asher, who is it?” A woman’s sleepy voice drifted from the walkie-talkie. Then came Asher’s voice, softened to an almost unbearable degree. “It’s nothing, just a small matter. Go back to sleep.” “Stay with me.” “Alright, alright, you’re impossible.” “Tomorrow, I still have to see my brother…” The walkie-talkie clicked off abruptly. My heart felt like it was being squeezed tight, so painful I couldn’t breathe. That soft voice, filled with love. Before, he only spoke to me like that, as if he wanted to melt me in his palm. And my brother… Did my brother know about this too? Of course, how could anything happening here be hidden from Ryder? I don’t remember how I left. I walked along the road in a daze, my phone buzzing non-stop. Asher’s message came through right on cue. [Babe, are you feeling better today?] [Did you take your medicine? When is your surgery scheduled?] My brother’s message arrived at the same time. [My dearest sister, my adorable little sister, did you miss your brother?] [Brother’s been busy with work lately, couldn’t be abroad with you. Are you mad at brother?] Looking at these messages, my tears flowed uncontrollably. They seemed to love me so much, but why? Why would they let someone else take my place? Chloe Miller was the compatible kidney donor Asher and Ryder found for me years ago. She had a face strikingly similar to mine. The first time I saw her, I even joked that maybe we were alternate versions of each other from a parallel universe. Back then, Ryder cradled my face and said: “My sister is one of a kind. No matter how much she looks like you, she can’t compare even a fraction.” And Asher Vance hadn’t given Chloe Miller a second glance the entire time. Asher’s assistant talked with Chloe Miller about the compensation after the kidney donation. That’s when I learned Chloe Miller’s family was very poor. She was forced to donate her kidney to pay for her seriously ill mother’s treatment. I still remember Chloe Miller back then, wearing a faded T-shirt, looking at me awkwardly. “Miss, I’ll take good care of myself and cooperate with the surgery.” I looked at her, feeling a little soft-hearted. I slipped her a card: “Take this to pay for your mother’s treatment first.” But she refused to take it, saying she wouldn’t accept charity.

The memory abruptly stopped. I suddenly looked up, toward the brightly lit villa in the distance. On the second-floor balcony of the villa, Asher Vance held a petite woman tightly in his embrace. On a crazy impulse, I called him. The next second, he hung up. I called again. He hung up again. My heart ached, and I squatted on the ground, gasping for air. About ten minutes later, he scooped the woman up into his arms and went inside. Then, he reappeared on the balcony. And my phone rang. “Hello, babe, what’s wrong? I was just in a video conference.” I wanted to expose him directly. But the words caught in my throat, bitter and dry, I couldn’t squeeze out a single one. “Babe?” Asher Vance asked, confused. I still didn’t speak, biting my lip hard, forcing myself not to cry out. Asher finally realized something was wrong, and his voice turned worried: “Did someone upset you?” I wanted to say, the ones who upset me are you. I smiled bitterly: “Asher Vance, do you remember what day it is today?” The person on the other end was silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled. “Oh, so you’re mad I forgot our wedding anniversary? My little princess is throwing a fit again.” “I’m sorry, babe, I was just so busy today. I’ll come abroad and spend some quality time with you in a few days, okay?” Just then, I saw Chloe Miller come out again. She stood on tiptoes and kissed Asher Vance on the lips. A sickening smacking sound came clearly through the phone. A shiver of disgust ran through me. My voice was already hoarse: “No need. If work is busy, then focus on work. Don’t mind me.” “Alright, babe, you’re getting more understanding.” The call ended. The two on the second-floor balcony embraced tightly under the moonlight, looking like a truly devoted couple! My tears gushed out instantly. Was this what betrayal felt like? The eighteen-year-old Asher Vance and Aria Blackwood would never have imagined that the twenty-five-year-old Asher Vance would betray his beloved. He had loved me so much. That summer, a boy held a basketball, dazzling under the sun. The wind blew across my face, carrying the voice of an eighteen-year-old boy through time— “Aria, I love you, I’ll only ever love you. If I, Asher Vance, ever betray you, may I die a terrible death!” The night wind made me tremble uncontrollably. I leaned against the wall and slowly stood up, then turned to leave. I hailed a taxi. The place I went to was the small apartment Ryder had given me for my eighteenth birthday. My hand trembled as I inserted the key into the lock. The moment the door opened, a damp, dusty smell assaulted me. It was clear no one had lived here for a long time. The furnishings inside were just as I had left them three years ago. On the desk sat a photo of Ryder and me. Ryder was in a black suit, and I, standing next to him, had a high ponytail and was smiling brightly. Ryder and Asher learned of my return the next day. They both gathered at my small apartment. These two men, who commanded respect and power in the outside world, now faced me with looks of surprise and awkwardness. Asher stepped forward first, reaching out to take my hand as he used to. “Aria, you’re back? Are you… are you well?” I subtly avoided his hand. Ryder’s eyes welled up, his voice choked. “Sister, this is great, as long as you’re okay.” Asher’s hand froze in mid-air, a little surprised. Then, a deeper tenderness melted into his eyes. “Are you too tired from the long flight?” Hearing this, Ryder quickly walked to my side, worried, and reached out to feel my forehead. I didn’t move, my body stiff. Ryder checked carefully, “No, your temperature’s normal.” I forced a smile. “Yeah, I guess I’m just a little tired.” Asher smoothly picked up the conversation. “In that case, you should stay here and not run around.” “It’s close to the hospital, so it’s convenient for your follow-up check-ups.” My lips curved into a smile. Was he afraid I’d discover his secret mistress? How absurd. I, his wife, was living outside. While his lover was brazenly living in our home. It seemed I was the one who looked like the mistress. I chuckled bitterly, “Whatever.” It wouldn’t be for long anyway. Asher’s brow relaxed, his voice filled with his usual宠溺. “Good girl. Rest well here, I’ll come to see you often.” Ryder also visibly relaxed: “Okay, then I’ll have Mrs. Davis come over and tidy up. Tell me if you need anything, sister.” “Mhm.” I played along with their charade.

Asher’s phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the screen, then awkwardly looked at me. Then he walked to the balcony, his voice deliberately kept very low. But blurry words still floated into my ears. “Good girl, I’m busy now, can’t come back yet… I’ll be done soon… Mhm, I’ll bring you a small cake…” When he hung up and turned around, the tenderness hadn’t faded from his face. Asher walked over, his gaze towards me now tinged with apology. “Something urgent came up at the company. I need to handle it. I’ll be back later to have dinner with you.” I nodded, saying nothing. Ryder looked at Asher with concern. “Is something wrong?” “Minor issue.” They were playing a charade in front of me, thinking I didn’t know. Ryder eventually left with Asher. At the door, they both turned back to look at me. Asher’s eyes were filled with lingering affection: “Aria, wait for me. I’ll be back tonight.” Ryder also looked at me with doting affection. “Sister, go to bed early. Brother will take you for your hospital follow-up tomorrow.” I smiled and nodded. The next second, the door was gently closed. The front door isolated me from them, and it also severed my last shred of hope. Only I remained in the spacious living room. The wall clock ticked, seemingly knocking against my shattered heart. It felt like Ryder and Asher were slowly killing me, all in the name of love. That night, Asher didn’t return. He only sent me a message: [Company business is hectic; I’ll have to stay at the office tonight. Babe, get some rest.] And the next day, Ryder, who said he’d come to pick me up for my follow-up, didn’t show either. I took a taxi to the hospital by myself. After my check-up, as I was about to leave, a commotion suddenly erupted nearby. I subconsciously looked up. Just one glance, and my blood instantly froze. Asher Vance was carefully supporting Chloe Miller, his face filled with tenderness and concern. Ryder followed on the other side, his tone cautious and worried. “Walk slowly. The doctor said you’re at risk of miscarriage, you can’t exert yourself now.” I froze. Chloe Miller was pregnant… Chloe Miller looked at Asher Vance coquettishly, her voice sickeningly sweet. “It’s all your fault, you didn’t come back to be with me last night for so long, that’s why I almost had a miscarriage.” “Yes, yes, it’s all my fault.” Asher Vance lowered his head, one hand supporting her shoulder, the other touching her belly. The doting affection in his eyes was impossible to hide. “I’ll stay with you from now on, okay?” “My husband is so good to me.” Chloe Miller burst into tears, then a smile. Ryder also chimed in: “As long as you’re well, we’ll do whatever you want.” The three of them stood there, backlit, their figures searing my eyes. Chloe Miller leaned against Asher Vance’s chest: “Husband, will you always be good to me?” “Of course. You’re my wife, and you’re carrying my child in your belly. Of course, I’ll be good to you.” Asher Vance looked at her, his profile unbelievably soft. Ryder joked from the side. “You’re just spoiling her rotten.” But there wasn’t a hint of blame in his tone, only pure indulgence. Chloe Miller giggled, clearly amused… That metallic taste surged into my throat again. I clapped a hand over my mouth, forcing myself to swallow the blood. Not long after leaving the hospital, my phone vibrated a few times. It was a message from Ryder: [Sister, how were your check-up results?] [Brother’s quite busy here and can’t get away. Next time, I’ll definitely go with you.] I looked at that text, smiling through my tears. After getting home, I took a cold shower. Finally, I felt a little clearer. Asher Vance’s words to Chloe Miller, “You’re my wife…,” kept echoing in my ears. I sent a message to a contact with a plain black profile picture. “Julian, help me look into Asher Vance…” About ten minutes later, he called me back. “Aria, I found out you and Asher Vance divorced six months ago.” “Asher Vance’s current wife is named Chloe Miller.” I clutched my cramping stomach, laughing and crying on the sofa. It was so absurd, so ridiculous. I was a joke. In three years, someone had completely taken my place. The person on the other end of the line sounded anxious. “Aria, are you okay?” “I’m fine, Julian, I’m fine. And—I agree to marry you.”

There was no room for me here anymore. And no need for me to stay and be an eyesore. After talking things over with Julian, I fell into a deep sleep. The next few days, I was busy with preparations to go abroad. And handling my assets here. Ryder and Asher always seemed to have something going on and no time to see me. I knew they were both with Chloe Miller. A few days later, I was woken up in the middle of the night by faint whispers. I was conscious, but my body couldn’t move. It was Ryder and Asher. “Are you sure she won’t wake up?” Ryder’s voice was worried. “No, this diffuser produces a scent that will put her into a temporary coma. She won’t wake up tonight.” Asher said with a chuckle. Then, he skillfully pressed my finger into an ink pad. And then pressed my ink-stained finger onto a document. “Alright, with this statement, we can clear Chloe of the mistress label.” My head felt woozy. What mistress label? Then I heard Ryder sigh, “She just got back, and bad rumors about Chloe started circulating – do you think Aria did it?” Asher let out a snort of laughter. “How could that be? Aria’s just a spoiled little princess; if she found out about Chloe, she’d make a huge scene, she wouldn’t just pull strings in secret.” I felt like I’d been plunged into hell. So, Ryder thought the so-called “mistress label” was spread by me? And Asher’s next words made me even more disgusted. “Chloe’s pregnant with my child, she’s very important to me now.” “I hope Aria didn’t do it, otherwise I…” Asher didn’t finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear. I really wanted to ask. Otherwise what? What do you, Asher Vance, intend to do to me for Chloe Miller? After they left, the room returned to quiet. I only found out what had happened the next day. It turned out, the truth about Chloe Miller being a mistress had been exposed. That day at the hospital, the three of them were photographed and posted online. Netizens were initially shipping them. But then an insider came forward and revealed the tangled web of our relationships. They even attached my photo. Suddenly, the hashtag “The rich family’s body double takes over” caused a sensation online. Of course, these hashtags didn’t stay up for long before they were taken down. Soon after, topping the trending list was a statement with my fingerprint: “I, Aria Blackwood, solemnly declare that Ms. Chloe Miller is my savior, and she is not a mistress.” I looked at my phone, my breathing quickening. How dare they speak for me? Pain, despair, confusion… In the end, only a stagnant pool of emptiness remained deep inside me. Chloe Miller came to my door at that moment. As she entered, she kept clutching her stomach. “Miss Blackwood, please don’t misunderstand. That day at the hospital, Mr. Vance and I met purely by chance.” “They were just thanking me for donating my kidney to you, and they saw I was alone for my prenatal check-up and felt sorry for me, so they stayed with me.” “You really shouldn’t overthink it, we’re innocent.” She clutched her stomach, her eyes red, and lowered her head, sobbing. “We… anyway, none of us did anything to wrong you.” “If you don’t believe me, I can only… only leave.” As she spoke, she covered her face and ran off. In her emotional state, she seemed not to notice the stairs in front of her. Her foot missed a step, and her body tilted. My heart leaped, and I quickly rushed forward, “Be careful!” I lunged to grab her. But the next second, a force knocked me over. I lost my footing and tumbled down the steps. In a split second, I saw Asher Vance and Ryder both rush towards Chloe Miller. Chloe Miller was pulled back by Asher Vance and held tightly in his arms. They spoke in unison, “Chloe, are you okay?” “I… I’m fine…” Chloe Miller’s voice was choked with sobs, tinged with lingering fear. She trembled as she pointed at me, “She looks… she looks pretty bad.” Following the direction of her finger. Only then did Ryder and Asher Vance notice that the person who had fallen down the stairs was me. Through my blurring vision, I saw the two men, faces pale with shock, rush towards me. “Aria!” At the same time, a message popped up on my phone: “Okay, the marriage certificate is done.” “Allow me to introduce myself, I’m your husband, Julian Reed.”

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My son had dwarfism. I quit my job, scouring clinics far and wide, giving him growth hormone shots, and accompanying him through rigorous training in all weather. Finally, I helped him become the youngest world champion. But the moment he stood on the podium, he accused me, his father, of being cold-blooded and selfish to the global media. Faced with an overwhelming wave of online hate and abuse, my wife threw divorce papers at me. She said I wasn’t fit to be a father or a husband, then turned around and married the single dad downstairs who cooked gourmet meals. It wasn’t until I was on my deathbed that I found out my wife had cheated on me with that man the very day I quit my job. My son even helped her hide it, claiming that was the only place he could find a moment of peace. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day my son was diagnosed with dwarfism. “Don’t listen to the doctor’s nonsense. Our son is just a late bloomer. Is bothering my mom the only thing you do all day?” Watching my wife and son look at me like an enemy, I curved my lips into a sneer. Fine, then. No treatment. I’m done catering to you all.

“Your son is seven years old now, and he’s only 3 feet 4 inches tall. He’s severely stunted. If you don’t intervene with growth hormone treatments in time, you’ll miss his growth spurt, and it’ll be much harder later on.” Listening to the doctor’s patient explanation, I felt a moment of dizzying confusion. I wasn’t barely clinging to life, hooked up to machines in the ICU anymore. My body felt light, a sensation I hadn’t experienced in years. I… had actually been reborn? Despite the disbelief, my body trembled with excitement. The doctor thought I was too upset and told me to calm down. Using that as an excuse, I rushed out and crouched by the wall. “I told you you were making a fuss. My mom was raising the kid just fine, but you insisted he was sick. Now look, you’re happy that he’s diagnosed with dwarfism, aren’t you? You believe everything the doctor says, even if it’s just nonsense. They’re only after your money.” “Yeah, Dad, Grandma said I’d be a late bloomer, just like Mom. I’m so smart, I’ll definitely get into college and be successful. You just can’t stand us being comfortable, always messing things up.” Even though I’d heard it once before, facing such doubt and mockery from my own flesh and blood still sent a sharp ache through my chest. I had tirelessly raised him until he was three. My mother-in-law only started helping out when he began preschool, under the guise of lending a hand. She brainwashed him daily, telling him I didn’t love him, and now she was openly accusing me of messing things up right in front of him. In my previous life, he inherited my mother-in-law’s side of the family’s dwarfism. I quit my job and poured all my time into him. I traveled the world to find him treatment. Each shot cost $200, given weekly, for years on end. My wife thought I was wasting money and simply washed her hands of it. I gritted my teeth and persevered through everything alone. I also exercised with him every day, and eventually, he was indistinguishable from his peers In fact, his consistent training gave him exceptional physical fitness, and he was chosen by a coach. After two years of training, he became the youngest long-distance running champion at the Junior World Championship. Yet, despite all that, he hated me. He believed I had tormented him all those years, preventing him from seeing his mother and grandmother, and robbing him of a happy childhood. The most agonizing part was that in my previous life, he already knew about my wife’s affair but helped her conceal it. I only found out when I was diagnosed with terminal cancer and wanted to see him one last time. Instead, I saw him excitedly stuffing his championship trophy and prize money into that lowlife’s hands. They… they had already been a cozy, harmonious “family” for a long time. And I, the one he accused of being a lunatic and a control freak, was subjected to overwhelming online abuse even in my final, dying days. Remembering the pain and despair of my deathbed in the previous life, I absolutely refused to be a foolish martyr this time. Since he also thought I was “messing things up,” then I’d just completely pull away and let things fall apart. Let’s see. Without me. Could he still become a world champion?

“Since you both feel that way, then let’s just go home.” Both mother and son looked surprised at my words. Usually, anything involving the child meant a huge argument. My sudden compliance made my wife think I was in the wrong, and she immediately started lecturing me. “I told you you were making a fuss. Go home and apologize to my mom. She helps with the kid every day and still has to put up with your attitude.” My wife’s words made me sneer. My attitude? For years, I juggled work and childcare. Who do you think handled all the big and small matters in this house? For the four years our son was with my mother-in-law, she extracted countless sums of money from me under various pretexts. Then she’d turn around and tell my wife I wasn’t committed to the family. Now, even my own son has been brainwashed to resent me, and she’s still claiming she has to “put up with my attitude”? She always felt that her marrying me was some great favor. She spent my money, enjoyed the life I provided for her. And she’d constantly play the victim to sow discord between us. I endured it all for the sake of family harmony and my son. But then she let my son develop dwarfism, and my wife still blamed me, saying I was “making a fuss.” Sure enough, back home, my mother-in-law started arguing with me again. “I told you you’re just rich and bored, can’t stand to see others doing well.” “The kid was fine, but you just *had* to take him to the doctor. If our neighbors hear our kid has dwarfism, they’ll laugh us to scorn.” After that, she started crying, wiping her tears, saying if I disliked her, she’d pack her bags and go back to her hometown to grow vegetables, so she wouldn’t bother our family of three. Leo watched his grandma about to leave, and I remained unmoved. He looked at me with a fierce, hateful gaze. “Dad is a control freak, selfish and cold-blooded. That’s why he was abandoned at an orphanage! I don’t want you as my dad. Mr. Jason downstairs is funny and makes great food. I want *him* to be my dad!” Those simple words hit me with unbelievable pain. Sure enough, only the closest people know how to twist the knife most painfully. He knew my orphanage past was my greatest wound, and now he was using it to tear me open. Thinking about everything he did to me in the previous life… Indeed, what kind of seed, what kind of fruit. Nature is unchangeable. I sacrificed my career, all my youth, for his healthy growth, only to be told I was worse than a home-wrecker. Seeing my wife’s deeply approving expression. So, without my knowing, that Jason had already infiltrated my home.

Jason had moved into the first-floor apartment in my building a few months ago. He was divorced with a daughter, tall, handsome, humorous, and a great cook – very popular. Within the first week of arriving, he’d added every well-off married woman in the neighborhood on SnapChat. He called it “exchanging parenting tips,” but his true motives were unknown. In my past life, I was entirely focused on my son’s medical treatment and his studies. I had no time to notice my wife’s odd behavior or Jason’s countless boundary-testing moves. “Alright, if you like him that much, then let him be your dad.” No sooner had the words left my lips than the doorbell rang. My wife, being closest, opened the door directly. Jason stood there, holding a box full of cream cakes and a plate of cola chicken wings. “Yesterday, I heard Leo say he wanted cake and cola chicken wings. I had ingredients at home, so I made some.” As Jason spoke, he naturally handed the items to my wife, then took off his shoes and put on slippers. He walked into the kitchen, took out plates, and started portioning the food. His movements were so skilled and natural, like the man of the house. Because of his arrival, not only my son Leo, but even my wife and mother-in-law, were utterly smitten. They immediately put on beaming smiles and squeezed into the kitchen to help. In my previous life, during the holidays, I’d wake up at five in the morning to prepare nutritious meals for my son. In the evenings, I’d massage and stretch him, leaving me with aching back pain. They only thought I brought it upon myself. Leo wasn’t just reluctant; my wife would spread rumors that I was petty and annoying, always finding something to complain about if I did even a little work. But now, with someone else, why was everything so harmonious? “Oh, Dean, you’re here too. I was so busy packing the cake, I didn’t even see you. I’m so sorry. Don’t get the wrong idea, it’s just that Veronica helped me out a few times, and I felt so bad, so I just made some gifts in return.” Jason acted as if he’d just noticed me, standing there awkwardly and nervously. He even looked a bit wronged and fearful, as if I were bullying him. God knows, I hadn’t said or done anything. “Mr. Jason, don’t mind my dad. He just wants to cause trouble and make us all follow his rules. Come quickly and eat with us!” Leo, while devouring the sugar-laden cake and chicken wings, scolded me. My mother-in-law and wife echoed his words from the side. My son didn’t even consider that his dad had been running around all day and hadn’t had a drop to eat or drink. That huge cake – the four of them didn’t even think to offer me a piece. Finally, Jason was coaxed back into the kitchen to eat cake with them. The warm yellow light in the kitchen shone on their faces, making them look blissfully happy, as if they were a natural family. Well, they were just a perfect match made in hell.

Watching that disgusting display, I found an excuse to go on a business trip and left the house. I urgently needed a quiet environment to clear my head. In my last life, I quit my job to treat my son, giving up a promotion that was practically in my hands. This time, I’m getting back everything that belongs to me. And in my last life, because I was so consumed with my son’s issues, I overlooked my wife’s affair and her attempts to transfer assets. As a result, after the divorce, I didn’t get a single dime and still had to pay child support. Now I’m back. The tables had turned. Let’s see if I don’t mess you all up this time. “Hello, Mr. Hayes, I have something I’d like to consult you about…” “Hi, I’d like to install some home security cameras. Yes, I’ll set the date. I need them with audio recording. Price isn’t an issue.” I hung up the phone, relieved that I hadn’t missed anything. Then my phone started buzzing with notifications for card deductions. I looked closely: an amusement park, a fancy restaurant, a clothing store, and even a watch store – forty thousand dollars in total. This card was one I always kept at home as Leo’s education fund. Every year, no matter how hard or poor things got, I’d consistently deposit two thousand dollars into it. And now, the one hundred and forty thousand dollars in it had dropped by over forty thousand in just one day. I instinctively clicked into my wife’s Ins. She’d posted a picture of her holding our son at the amusement park. Though not fully in the frame, a tall, handsome figure was clearly visible beside her. He even reached out to help my wife adjust her hair. That mechanical watch on his wrist must have been the one they just bought, right? We got married eight years ago. As an orphan, I desperately longed for a family. Even though my wife’s family was poor and couldn’t offer much in the way of a dowry, I still gritted my teeth and saved up for a significant sum for her family. I didn’t just buy all the traditional wedding jewelry, I gave her eighteen thousand eight hundred dollars, and threw her a grand wedding. For that, I worked my ass off for two full years, even taking the riskiest assignments the company sent me to. My wife just took my efforts for granted. She never reciprocated anything. And now, she was generously spending money on another man. “Oh, Veronica, is that your husband next to you? It’s rare for your family to go out, so happy!” “That’s not him at all! He’d just spoil the fun. Won’t let us eat this, won’t let us play that. That’s just a friend.” In my wife’s Ins, our mutual friends were commenting. Everyone thought the man adjusting her hair was me. And seeing that “spoiling the fun,” I couldn’t help but sneer. For years, my wife had stomach ulcers and diabetes from drinking and socializing. If she didn’t control it, she’d get stomachaches and cramps, even risking kidney failure. My son, fed by my mother-in-law, had a weak spleen and stomach; he’d get indigestion if he ate anything wrong, leading to fever, vomiting, and needing IV drips. Every time, I was the one rushing him to the hospital. For their sake, I had to give up my own dietary preferences and join them in eating bland, healthy food. And now she called me “spoiling the fun.” In my previous life, I might have endured it to protect my son’s feelings, but now, I didn’t care. “Why are there transactions on Leo’s card? What did you spend over forty thousand dollars on?” I FaceTimed her directly. I could even see Jason feeding my wife a bubble tea beside her. He was about to smile and say something, then suddenly noticed me. He quickly explained that my wife’s hands were full, so he was just helping her with the bubble tea, telling me not to overthink it. The sleazy vibe was practically seeping through the screen. That careful look in his eyes even held a hint of provocation towards me, but neither she nor my son seemed to notice. “It’s just spending, what’s the big deal? Leo accidentally broke Jason’s heirloom watch, so we had to pay for a new one, right?” I remembered this dialogue from my previous life. When I saw the card activity back then, I specifically asked, and she gave the same excuse. But it wasn’t until later that I found out Jason’s original watch cost him only fifty bucks. They had just made up the lie to appease me and to suck up to him. Then my wife went on about how pitiful Jason and his daughter were. After his divorce, he was left with nothing, and they were struggling. His little girl had never been to an amusement park, never eaten good food, and dressed in ordinary clothes. “So… you were just overflowing with sympathy? You spent the money I painstakingly saved for Leo on another man?” My questioning made my wife choke. As a pharmaceutical rep, she earned over ten thousand a month, which sounded decent, but she had so many social engagements. After all the networking, she not only didn’t bring money home, but I often had to cover her expenses. For years, she drove a twenty or thirty thousand dollar car, living a carefree life. She was out early and back late every day, socializing and charming clients. She never fulfilled any motherly duties, but she sure was quick to spend money. “Dad, why are you so selfish? Mr. Jason is so pitiful, of course we should help him when we have money. And that money was yours to save for me, so I have the right to decide how to spend it. If you keep being unreasonable, I won’t recognize you as my dad anymore.” This line had been used to manipulate me countless times in my previous life. Every time he wanted something I wouldn’t give him, he’d say that, and I’d soften and compromise. Because he was the only blood relative I had in the world; I cherished that connection. But thinking about his hatred for me in the previous life, it seemed he had never shown any warmth to me, his father, since he was a child. So this time, why couldn’t I cut my losses? My father-son bond with him, it was time to break it completely. “Okay, then I don’t want you either. From now on, you can live well with your mom and grandma. If you need anything, find them. I’m going away for a month on business.” With that, I hung up the phone. I immediately went to the bank, transferred all the money out of that card, and closed the account. Looking at the remaining cash, I thought, why shouldn’t I spend it on myself? Not a cent of my money would go to those scumbags. I switched off my personal phone, making sure they couldn’t reach me. First, I dropped two thousand dollars at a detective agency to thoroughly investigate Jason. Know your enemy, win a hundred battles. Then, with the rest of the money, I went to a phone store and bought the latest model. Next, I went to a clothing store and bought all the suits I’d admired for so long but never dared to buy. I even went to a foot massage parlor for the first time – turns out foot massages are incredibly relaxing. I got a two-thousand-dollar hairstyle design. Finally, I went to an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet I’d dreamed of my whole life, priced at $299. In a single day, I bought everything I’d ever wanted but never bought in my previous life. Lying on a five-star hotel bed, looking at the day’s spoils, I checked the cash I had left. Even with such extravagant spending, it was only about ninety thousand dollars. In my previous life, to pay for Leo’s growth hormone and meet his daily needs, I scrimped and saved, not spending a single cent on myself. Thinking about it now, it was laughable. It was time I started loving myself. The next day, I arrived at the company looking refreshed, and went straight to the General Manager’s office. The risk control department I worked in was personally built up by the GM. I was one of the first employees, and I’d always been hardworking and reliable, with excellent judgment—almost none of my chosen investments had ever lost money. He trusted me completely. I pulled out the agreement I’d printed. For the upcoming projects I’d take on, if successful, I’d get 5% of the profit. If not, I’d lose everything and even go to jail to compensate. The GM thought I was crazy, but the newfound confidence and wild determination in my eyes convinced him. “GM, let’s go crazy and make a huge fortune!” “Dean, Leo’s in the hospital with indigestion. You need to come back and take care of him. Mom isn’t feeling well and can’t handle the strain.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296858”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

I woke up in a delivery room, intense contractions making me see stars. Somehow, I had become the protagonist of a tragic romance novel, currently giving birth while my cheating husband plotted against me. I knew I was destined to die from complications if I didn’t act fast. Gritting my teeth through the pain, I tried to climb off the bed to save myself. But Quinn coldly shut the door, trapping me inside. “Zoe, stop being dramatic,” he said dismissively. Just as despair started to set in, the door burst open with a bang. A beautiful older woman stormed in and slapped Quinn hard across the face. “You bastard! How dare you mistreat the heroine while I’m around!” she yelled. Looking at her familiar features, so similar to my best friend’s, I realized I might have an unexpected ally in this story world. 0I had somehow woken up in the middle of giving birth, wracked by agonizing contractions. Unfamiliar voices drifted to my ears: “Mr. Quinn, are you sure you don’t want us to perform a C-section? Your wife has a high fever and the amniotic fluid is cloudy. If we wait much longer, we risk losing both mother and child!” Quinn’s icy reply sent chills down my spine: “Wait a bit longer. Once she’s delirious from the pain, have her sign the divorce papers before you operate. And as for the baby…get rid of it. Remove her uterus while you’re at it, to prevent any future complications.” As I listened in horror, I realized I had somehow been transported into the plot of a novel. The man trying to kill me was the cheating husband from the story. My character, Zoe, had married into the wealthy Quinn family five years ago to repay a debt between their families. Though initially happy, everything changed when Quinn’s older brother died in a plane crash. Quinn took in his sister-in-law Megan and nephew Felix, claiming it was to care for them. In reality, he had been having an affair with Megan all along, showering her with money and affection while neglecting Zoe. Once Zoe became pregnant, Megan felt threatened. She began sabotaging Zoe at every turn, even convincing Quinn to divorce Zoe and get rid of the baby. But Zoe loved Quinn desperately and refused to let go, believing he would come back to her. In the original story, she died in childbirth after Quinn and Megan delayed her treatment. Determined to avoid that fate, I summoned every ounce of strength to crawl off the bed towards the door. “Help! Someone help me! They’re trying to kill me!” I screamed hoarsely. But Quinn coldly shut the door, blocking my escape. “Zoe, stop making a scene,” he said coldly. I clutched desperately at his clothes, trying to stop him from closing the door. I felt liquid gushing between my legs as my strength faded. Just as I was about to give up hope, the door flew open with a bang. A well-dressed older woman rushed in and slapped Quinn hard across the face. “You bastard! How dare you mistreat the heroine while I’m around!” I looked at her in shock, noticing how similar she looked to my best friend Summer from the real world. Could it be…? “Summer?” I asked hesitantly. Her eyes lit up with recognition. “Rachel? Is that you?” I let out a huge sigh of relief. My best friend had somehow been transported into this world too – as my mother-in-law no less! With her here, I finally had a chance at survival. 01 Quinn held his reddening cheek, looking bewildered. “Mom? What are you doing here? Why are you hitting me over her?” I suddenly realized my friend had been transported here as well, incarnating as my mother-in-law! This was the best news I could have hoped for. I grabbed Summer’s hand tightly, my voice shaking. “Summer, it hurts so much. Please help me!” Summer snapped into action, shoving the stunned Quinn out of the way. “Get out of here, you’re in the way!” she yelled at him before turning to the doctor. “Give her an epidural immediately and prep for surgery!” “And get your best surgeons in here for my friend. If anything happens to her, your whole hospital will pay!” she threatened. “Offending my best friend means offending the entire Quinn Corporation!” The medical staff scrambled to follow her orders, quickly administering pain medication. As the agony started to fade, I drifted into a dreamlike state. Memories from the original Zoe’s life flashed through my mind, filling in the backstory. I saw how Quinn had slowly turned cold towards her, believing Megan’s lies about Zoe mistreating Felix. Despite Zoe’s desperate pleas and attempts to prove her innocence, Quinn chose to trust Megan time and time again. In my dream, I watched the tragic end of the original story play out – Zoe dying alone and in agony on the operating table while Quinn and Megan delayed her treatment. Just before the dream faded, I saw Zoe’s spirit cradling a baby, whispering in my ear: “Please, you must make Quinn regret his actions. In return, you’ll inherit all my wealth in this world and be able to return to your own. I’m counting on you.” I clenched my fists, silently vowing not just to make Quinn regret his choices, but to make him pay dearly for his cruelty. When I opened my eyes again, Summer was by my side. The cry of a newborn filled the air. Though I knew intellectually it wasn’t truly my child, I felt an inexplicable surge of protectiveness and love. Perhaps some of the original Zoe’s emotions were bleeding through. Summer gently wiped my brow, murmuring soothingly. “You did great, sweetheart. Don’t worry, I’m in charge now. I’ve taken control of 60% of Quinn Corp’s shares. This baby is as good as my own grandchild. I’ll make sure that bastard Quinn never hurts either of you again, even if I have to ruin him to do it.” I nodded gratefully through my tears, overwhelmed by everything that had happened. “God, I can’t believe this. All I did was leave one snarky comment on a trashy novel, and now I’ve been transported inside the story as the tragic heroine! If you hadn’t shown up, I don’t know what I would have done.” “Don’t worry, I’ve got your back,” Summer reassured me, patting my shoulder. “We’ll get through this together.” In the original novel, the heroine was supposed to die today along with her baby. The infant’s organs would then be harvested for Megan’s son Felix. Now that I had survived, who knew what Quinn and Megan might try next? I remembered how in the book, after marrying Megan, Quinn was mauled by vicious dogs she set on him for merely glancing at his secretary. As I fretted over how to avoid their schemes and make Quinn regret his actions, the man himself walked in with Megan in tow. He looked down his nose at me imperiously. “Zoe, how could you be so inconsiderate? Running around during labor and worrying everyone like that? And childbirth isn’t such a big deal – why on earth did you call my mother back? So immature.” He turned to look at the baby, his expression cold. “Since you’re clearly too irresponsible to care for a child properly, I’ll be taking the baby home with me. No need to trouble Mother with it.” I nearly laughed at the sheer audacity of his words. How could he say such blatantly awful things with a straight face? But my main concern was keeping the baby safe – in the book, this child was literally torn apart for organs. I clutched the infant protectively, my face pale with fear and anger. I locked eyes with Summer, silently communicating. “Fine, I’ll sign the divorce papers,” I told Quinn. “But this child will take my surname and have nothing to do with you. We’re going our separate ways from here on out.” Summer immediately caught on to my plan. I had always joked about finding a handsome sperm donor to have kids someday – this situation was oddly perfect. Meanwhile, Megan’s eyes glittered with poorly concealed excitement, though she put on a show of concern. “Oh Zoe, what are you saying? Blood is thicker than water – how could Quinn possibly have nothing to do with his own child?” “Actually, if you hadn’t pushed Felix into the pool that time, Quinn wouldn’t have gotten so angry and wanted a divorce in the first place,” she added slyly. “Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider the divorce?” Before I could respond, Quinn’s cold voice cut in: “There’s nothing to reconsider. We’re signing those divorce papers right now.” 0

“Mom, please don’t try to stop me. I’ve made up my mind to marry Megan. She and Felix need me!” Summer’s hand lashed out, slapping Quinn again. “How dare you make a scene in front of a woman who just gave birth! If you want a divorce so badly, fine – but you’ll leave with nothing but the clothes on your back.” Quinn held his reddening cheek, looking betrayed. “Mom, do you really love her so much that you’d choose her over your own son?” Without hesitation, Summer replied, “Yes, that’s exactly right.” Quinn glared at me venomously. “I see how it is, Zoe. You called my mother back just to force me to stay married to you? How devious.” He threw a stack of divorce papers onto the bed. “Sign them. I don’t care if I lose everything, I’m divorcing you today no matter what.” I had to suppress a surge of excitement. “Are you sure? No taking it back now!” According to the book, the Quinn family’s assets were worth billions. And since our families had been close, Quinn hadn’t signed a prenup. Most of his current wealth counted as marital property – if he really left with nothing, I’d be entitled to a divorce settlement worth hundreds of millions at least. Though Summer controlled the company now, Quinn’s personal assets were still substantial. This would definitely hit him where it hurt. I couldn’t help but smile slightly. Money, a baby, and no cheating husband – wasn’t that many women’s dream? Seeing my calm demeanor seemed to infuriate Quinn further. “What are you plotting now, Zoe? You used to beg me not to leave you, insisting on having this baby. Weren’t you just after the Quinn family fortune, hoping your son would be the heir? Now you’re acting all nonchalant – is this some reverse psychology tactic? It won’t work!” He pulled out another document, waving it in my face. “Whether you sign the divorce papers or not, I’ve already changed my will. I only recognize Megan’s child as my heir. Your son means nothing to me!” “Give up your little schemes. Clinging to the Quinn family won’t do you any good. Just sign the papers and get out of our lives!” I was about to happily agree when a sharp pain lanced through my chest. The original Zoe must be heartbroken right now. After all, she had just given birth to this man’s child, only for him to immediately demand a divorce and disown the baby. If I were truly her, I’d probably be in tears. But the woman who inhabited this body now wasn’t Zoe – it was Rachel Lin, a complete stranger to Quinn. I nodded, wiping away a single tear that had unconsciously fallen. “Alright, we’ll do things your way. I’ll sign the papers. The baby will take my surname and have nothing to do with you.” Quinn nodded in satisfaction. “Good, you’re finally being sensible.” Megan clung to Quinn’s arm, putting on a show of compassion. “I tried to talk Quinn out of making you leave right away. A woman is most vulnerable right after childbirth, you know? He wanted you out of the Quinn mansion today, but I convinced him to let you stay until you’ve recovered. Aren’t I considerate?” My friend Summer – now the Quinn Corporation’s major shareholder – rolled her eyes dramatically at this display. “Oh please, spare us the act. Like I can’t afford to take care of my bestie?” she scoffed. She pulled out her phone, barking orders to her assistant. “Book the best postpartum care center in the city. What, only $5 million a month? Too cheap, upgrade to the $10 million package. And book it for 6 months to start.” Megan’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. “Mom! What are you saying? When I had Felix, you didn’t book me anything nearly that nice. You have to be fair!” Summer laughed coldly. “You think you can compare yourself to my best friend? Get out of here with your fake nice act. Can’t survive without latching onto a man, huh? The minute big brother was gone you started seducing his little brother. Disgusting.” She turned to Quinn and Megan, her voice hard. “From now on, neither of you are allowed to bother Zoe at the hospital. If you try, you’ll regret it.” “As for you,” she said to Quinn, “I couldn’t care less what you do after the divorce. Go to the moon for all I care. Just stay away from us – you’re nothing but an eyesore now.” “And since you’ve chosen to leave with nothing, you three can pack up and get out of the Quinn mansion. I don’t need an ungrateful son like you around.” Quinn’s face turned ashen. He lunged towards Summer, sputtering in rage. “Mom, how can you kick me and Megan out? And Felix is your grandson! How could you-” “Zoe? What lies have you been telling my mother?” he demanded, rounding on me. I just rolled my eyes, not bothering to engage. At that moment, two huge, muscular men flanking Summer cracked their knuckles menacingly. “Mrs. Quinn said to leave. Now,” one of them growled. I tossed the signed divorce papers back at Quinn, flashing a victorious smile. “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!” 0

At last, peace and quiet descended. Summer bustled around, quickly arranging my baby’s birth certificate and household registration. As the mother, I was able to handle all the paperwork myself. The name and other details were entirely up to me. Even the ID bracelet on the baby’s wrist simply read “Son of Zoe Chen.” I thought of the poor woman whose body I now inhabited – the original Zoe who had suffered so much. In her memory, I named the baby Chen An, meaning “peace.” I knew that was likely her greatest wish for her child. Summer handed me the freshly printed documents. “There you go – just like you always wanted. A baby with no pesky husband attached! Even if we never make it back to our world, I promise I’ll make sure that scumbag never treats you like his punching bag again.” Seeing I had gone quiet, she worried I might be upset. She produced another file with a flourish. “Check this out – I’ve officially stripped Quinn and Megan of all inheritance rights. The entire Quinn empire belongs to you and the baby now. And that divorce settlement you squeezed out of that jerk? Just consider it pocket money.” “Even if we’re stuck here forever, the three of us will live like queens,” she declared confidently. Hearing her words, I finally broke down sobbing. Back in our world, I was an orphan with a congenital heart condition. My parents had abandoned me as a baby. Summer was the only one who befriended me in school, never treating me differently. Now here we were in this strange book world, and once again it was Summer coming to my rescue. Through my tears, I told her about the dream I’d had – how the original Zoe’s spirit had spoken to me. I sniffled, wiping my nose. “It’s all my fault, Summer. I left some nasty comment on this stupid novel and shared it with you. That’s how we both ended up transported into the story.” “It wasn’t until I took over Zoe’s body that I realized how much she suffered. Quinn is even more of a monster than I imagined.” “But Zoe’s ghost told me that if I can make Quinn truly regret his actions, we’ll inherit all her wealth in this world. And we might even be able to go back home.” Summer’s eyes lit up at this news. “Really? That’s amazing! I’ve been throwing money around like crazy, but it still doesn’t feel real. Like I’m spending someone else’s cash, you know?” “And I really miss my parents,” she admitted, her own eyes growing misty. I squeezed her hand tightly. “Don’t worry, I’ve read this whole book. After Zoe dies in the original story, Quinn finally realizes how good she was to him. He starts obsessively seeking out women who look like her to be his mistresses. It ruins his relationship with Megan too.” “Eventually he and Megan end up fighting over the inheritance. Oh, and get this – the real reason Quinn got together with Megan is because they had an affair while his brother was still alive. Quinn always thought Felix was his son.” My mind raced as I formulated a plan. “So I think the fastest way to trigger the plot is for me to fake my death with the baby. Then you can reveal the paternity test results to Quinn and watch him implode.” “Once Quinn truly regrets losing ‘the woman who loved him most in the world,’ we should be able to go home. God, I miss your mom’s lotus root and pork rib soup so much.” Summer’s eyes sparkled with excitement at my scheme. Just then, her phone pinged with a new message. It was a wedding invitation from Quinn. The ink on our divorce papers was barely dry, but he and Megan were already rushing to the altar. A sharp pain lanced through my chest again. The original Zoe’s lingering emotions, no doubt. Quinn had refused to hold a wedding when he married Zoe, claiming he disliked flashy events. In reality, he had been sulking because the woman he truly loved – Megan – had just married his older brother. As a result, though Quinn and Zoe were married for five years, the outside world never knew of Zoe’s existence as the Quinn family’s daughter-in-law. I stared at the photo of Quinn beaming as he embraced a white-gowned Megan, my mind made up. After a long moment, I looked up at Summer with steely determination. “Their wedding is in a week. That’s when I’ll stage my ‘suicide’ by jumping into the sea with the baby.” “Can you get my travel documents in order? We’ll flee the country after I fake my death.” “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to record all of that scumbag’s reactions for you,” Summer promised with a wicked grin. She nodded solemnly. Over the next few days, she worked tirelessly to prepare for my staged demise.

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I broke off our engagement without hesitation the day my fiancée’s family went bankrupt. Later, she rebuilt her fortune with the help of a mysterious benefactor, while I struggled to save my family’s failing business. After she snatched away my 88th life-saving contract, I silently used the last of my money to pay my employees’ final wages, then vanished without a trace. Three years later, my secretary accidentally found an old phone. Inside were my late-stage cancer diagnosis reports and a receipt for an anonymous billion-dollar donation. The recipient’s name on the form was my ex-fiancée’s. When the red wine splashed across my face, my first thought was—I won’t be getting the deposit back on this rented shirt. “Ethan, have you no shame?” Olivia’s voice cut into my eardrums like a knife. “How dare you show your face at this high-class event?” The cold liquid dripped from my chin onto the floor. I could hear the muffled snickers around me without even looking. I knew exactly what expressions those former business associates who once fawned over me were wearing now. Three years ago, I was the heir to the Thompson Group. Now I couldn’t even afford my own shirt. “I’m just here to discuss business,” I said, wiping my face. Even the expensive wine stung my eyes. Olivia let out a cold laugh. She was wearing a Dior haute couture dress I’d seen in a magazine last year. Her earrings must be new—I hadn’t seen her wear them the last time we met. Good for her. It seemed Olivia had been taking very good care of herself these past few years. “Discuss business?” Olivia raised her voice, making sure everyone could hear. “You mean beg me for scraps, just like that divorce settlement you so generously handed my family three years ago?” A sudden stabbing pain gripped my stomach, the familiar burning sensation crawling up my esophagus. The doctor had warned me last month that the cancer cells had spread to my digestive system, but how could I afford chemotherapy? It was already a miracle the company had survived this long. “Ms. Foster, you must be joking,” I said, bending down to pick up the broken wine glass. The sharp edge cut my finger. “I apologize for the disturbance. I’ll leave now.” As I turned to go, I heard Olivia’s assistant whisper: “Ms. Foster, Mr. Wang is waiting to discuss the East City project…” My heart clenched painfully. That was my last hope—next month’s wages for the company’s remaining 20 employees depended on that project. “Olivia!” I instinctively called out her first name, turning back. “The East City project—” “Has already been signed over to me,” Olivia cut me off, waving her phone to show the contract photo she’d just received. “Three minutes before you walked in, actually.” “By the way, this is the 88th contract I’ve snatched from you. What an auspicious number.” you. What I stood frozen, letting the blade twist in my heart. Looking at Olivia now, I found her face both familiar and foreign.

Olivia and I had been betrothed since childhood—childhood sweethearts, two peas in a pod. From a young age, my parents told me Olivia would be my future wife and that I should treat her well. Of course, that’s exactly what I did. Before high school, I saw Olivia as a little sister. Until one ordinary day, when Olivia came running towards me in her plain school uniform, ponytail swinging. She stood in the sunlight, and crashed right into my heart. Back then, Olivia’s skin glowed so brightly. As she ran towards me, she also ran straight into my heart. Olivia had always been clingy with me, sharing all her girlish secrets. As she put it: “Whether we end up as husband and wife or just friends, we’ll always be soulmates. You understand me, and I understand you.” At the time, I knew we didn’t have some grand, sweeping romance. Even if I liked her, I couldn’t say it out loud. My father had taught me from a young age that a man’s duty was to build his career. I had to keep my emotions in check—even if I liked someone, I couldn’t show it too much. My main task was to expand the family business. In our social circles, everyone talked about how the Thompson and Foster families would make a powerful alliance. Three years ago, the Foster family suddenly went bankrupt without any warning. My father told me to cancel the engagement. He said the Thompson family couldn’t be dragged down by anyone. It was the first time I’d ever defied my father. I rushed out in the pouring rain to find Olivia, but got into a car accident on the way. The good news was, I wasn’t seriously injured. The bad news was, I was diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer. Terminal. I cried for a long, long time that day. I don’t know if it was because I couldn’t control the fate of Olivia’s family, or because I was facing my own imminent death. Perhaps it was both. I followed my father’s orders and went to break off the engagement with Olivia. As luck would have it, the Foster family was in the middle of liquidating assets for auction, with many people waiting to watch the spectacle. I knew that even if I had to end the engagement, I shouldn’t humiliate Olivia and her family in front of so many people. Even if I couldn’t offer help in their time of need, I shouldn’t be throwing stones. Unfortunately, my father kept pressuring me, telling me this was the perfect opportunity. I gritted my teeth, unable to look Olivia in the eye. There was a watery sheen in Olivia’s eyes—helplessness, despair. She looked at me like I was her last lifeline. My voice shook as I spoke. Each word was agony. Sadly, there was no turning back for me, or for the Foster family. Olivia was wrong—she didn’t understand me at all. Otherwise, how could she not see my struggle at that moment? That’s when I knew for certain that I loved Olivia. It wasn’t habit or childhood indoctrination. It was that gut-wrenching pain of loss. Once news of the broken engagement got out, Olivia became a laughingstock. I agonized and wrestled with myself, wanting to tell Olivia the truth. But I couldn’t be that selfish—at the very least, I couldn’t make things even worse for her. Later, rumors spread in our social circles that Olivia had found a rich benefactor. This mysterious person had invested in her, allowing her to rebuild her fortune. Seeing her today, the dark clouds that had hung over Olivia had dispersed. She still shone brightly, standing in the spotlight.

It was raining when I left the hotel. I stood under the awning, counting the cash in my wallet: $327. Not enough to pay for the shirt. My phone buzzed with a notification from the hospital. “Mr. Thompson, your test results are ready. Please come in for a follow-up as soon as possible.” I didn’t reply, shoving the phone back in my pocket. The screen had a crack in it, just like my heart. It was late when I got back to the office. The entire floor was dark except for the light still on in the finance room. When I pushed open the door, Emma the secretary was hunched over her computer reviewing accounts. She jerked her head up at the sound, eyes bloodshot behind her glasses. “Mr. Thompson… the East City project…?” I shook my head, tossing my suit jacket onto the couch. The wine-stained shirt had dried, clinging to my body in wrinkles like a layer of skin I couldn’t shed. Emma’s pen clattered onto the desk. She opened her mouth, but in the end just silently took out some stomach medicine from her drawer, pouring a glass of warm water and pushing it towards me. “Pay out the wages tomorrow and then let everyone go,” I said. The pill stuck in my throat, its bitterness spreading. “How much is left in the accounts?” “Including the transfer from your personal account, just enough for three months’ severance pay,” Emma said, her voice shaking slightly. “But sir, R&D’s new product launch is next month…” I held up a hand to cut Emma off. I believe there’s karma in this world. My father died in an accident shortly after my diagnosis. The Thompson family’s former glory left with him. Outside the window, neon lights flickered. The LED screen on the opposite building was playing Foster Group’s latest advertisement, Olivia’s delicate profile especially eye-catching in the night. Three years ago on that rainy night, I had stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows of the hospital, looking at the last message Olivia had sent me on my phone. “Ethan, the biggest regret of my life is ever loving you.” I had just received my stomach cancer diagnosis. The doctor’s words still echoed in my ears. “Late stage. Three years at most.” My phone suddenly vibrated—a notification from the auction house that the payment had gone through. I stared at that string of numbers for a long time before finally opening my banking app and transferring the entire amount to a long-dormant account. The memo field was blank. The cursor blinked on and off, as if mocking my cowardice.

The farewell dinner for the employees was set at our usual hole-in-the-wall restaurant. Over 20 people crammed into the greasy plastic tent. The young guys from R&D brought two cases of beer, while the marketing girls strung up kebabs with teary eyes. No one mentioned the company’s closure—it was as if this was just a regular team dinner. “Try this, sir,” Emma said, putting a grilled chicken wing on my plate. “You’re too thin.” I forced myself to take a bite, but my stomach immediately revolted. As I rushed to the restroom, I heard someone whisper behind me: “The boss has been throwing up more and more frequently these past six months…” The man in the mirror was deathly pale, with traces of blood at the corners of his mouth. I splashed cold water on my face, suddenly remembering my 20th birthday. Olivia had snuck into my office to make longevity noodles, but ended up setting off the smoke alarm. Her face had been smeared with flour as she frantically tried to turn off the stove—so much more adorable than the polished business executive on the LED screen now. When I returned to the table, everyone was already drunk. The HR director, Old Wang, swayed to his feet, raising his glass. “When Thompson Group went bankrupt, it was the boss who shouldered all the debts alone, not letting us end up on the streets… This toast is to Mr. Thompson!” The clinking of glasses rose in waves. Someone started crying. I tilted my head back and downed my beer. The icy liquid burned my ulcerated esophagus, making my fingertips tremble with pain. Emma was the last to leave. She insisted on helping me clean out my office, but I knew she was just worried about me. “This is for you,” she said, handing me a manila envelope. “Your medical report from the hospital last month… I took the liberty of picking it up.” The envelope was light, but it felt like it was crushing my chest. The shadows on the CT scan had spread much further than six months ago, like a net slowly tightening. “Thank you,” I said, feeding the documents into the shredder. “Starting tomorrow, report to Foster Group.” Emma’s head snapped up. “What did you say?” “I recommended you as Olivia’s new assistant,” I said. The shredder’s noise covered my coughing. “She needs someone reliable by her side.” “I won’t go!” Emma’s usually gentle voice suddenly rose. “You know how she’s been targeting you all these years! Those projects, those clients… 88 times now! She’s trying to drive you to your death!” The shredder stopped with a click. The office fell deathly silent. I gazed out at the night sky and said softly: “88 is a good number.”

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I was cycling to my high school reunion when a speeding Cullinan slammed into me, sending me flying. I picked myself up, wincing in pain, ready to confront the driver. But then, my girlfriend stepped out of the car, glaring at me. “Alex, I told you to stay home! Why are you here, making a scene with that old bike of yours?!” Liam Davies, leaning out of the driver’s seat, sneered. “Well, well, if it isn’t our old class president! My bad, I thought it was just some clueless delivery guy.” He casually pulled a wad of cash from his wallet and tossed it at my feet. “Here, that should buy you a new one. Oh, and keep the change. Go rent a decent car. “I know you can’t afford a Cullinan, but seriously, don’t show up to the reunion on that beat-up piece of junk.” I glanced at my bike, sprawled on the ground, and a cold smile slowly curved my lips. This wasn’t just any ordinary bike. Its name was the Trek Butterfly. … I sank to the ground, my palms stinging, a dull ache throbbing in my right knee. An hour earlier, my girlfriend, Chloe, had called me. “Alex, don’t bother coming to the reunion today. I’ll just catch a ride home later.” “Everyone else’s partner is either a senior executive or a rich kid. I don’t want them to know you’re still just a low-level employee who can’t even afford a car.” But I was worried about Chloe, so I rode my bike to follow her. I was approaching the hotel intersection when a black Cullinan ran a red light, speeding straight into me. The car door opened, revealing a familiar face: Liam Davies, my old high school classmate. What made my chest tighten even more was seeing Chloe, my girlfriend, clinging to him, a sweet smile on her face. “Well, well, if it isn’t Alex, our straight-A class president!” Liam’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “Haven’t seen you in years since graduation. How’d you end up like this? Showing up to the reunion on a bike?” Chloe frowned, her perfectly made-up eyebrows furrowed, her voice laced with impatience. “Alex, I specifically told you to stay home. Why are you aimlessly riding that old bike of yours around?” I swallowed my anger and reached out to Chloe. “Come here. You’re my girlfriend. Stay away from him!” To my surprise, Chloe instantly bristled like a cornered cat. “Alex, what’s that supposed to mean?! He and I are just friends! Are you just so twisted inside that you see everything as dirty?!” “Liam’s driving a Cullinan at such a young age, and he was my first love! You’re just jealous of him!” She pointed disdainfully at my bike lying on the ground. “If Liam hadn’t specifically driven his Cullinan to pick me up today, did you expect me to sit on the back of your pathetic bike and be laughed at by the entire class?” Liam chimed in, feigning concern, “Class president, I’m really sorry about your bike. Just name your price. Chloe was my first love, after all. I can’t stand to see her living a hard life with you.” “If we hadn’t broken up back then, Chloe, you wouldn’t have…” He trailed off, and Chloe bit her lip, her gaze at me filled with even more resentment. My thoughts drifted away. Chloe was our class beauty. In high school, Liam skipped class all the time and his grades were a mess, yet Chloe always seemed to gravitate towards him. Later, because of his abysmal grades, Liam’s family paid to send him abroad. The day they broke up, Chloe cried her eyes out. I stayed with her on the rooftop all night. She leaned on my shoulder, sobbing, “Alex, you’re the best to me. Will you stay with me forever?” For that sentence, I gave up better opportunities and went to the same university as her. We naturally became a couple. I thought everything would head in a good direction, but then Liam suddenly returned to the country, making a grand show of it. Chloe often showed me his Ins posts, where Liam flaunted his luxury cars and mansions. Her complaints about me grew more and more frequent. I slowly stood up, brushing the dust from my clothes, my voice calm. “Liam Davies, my bike? I don’t think you can afford to replace it.” The two of them looked like they’d heard the funniest joke in the world. Liam even exaggeratedly covered his mouth. “Class president, did you hit your head? My Cullinan cost five million on the lot. You think I can’t afford your junk bike?” “Alex, what are you talking about?!” Chloe shot me a fierce glare, then turned to Liam, flashing a fawning smile. “Don’t mind him. He’s just a low-level employee now, hasn’t seen much of the world. Not like you, Liam, doing incredibly well! I heard your dad is the CEO of Meridian Holdings, right?” I watched them in silence, feeling a bit speechless. Meridian Holdings? Wasn’t that one of my family’s companies? Looks like the CEO of Meridian Holdings might need a change. I looked at the bike on the ground. Though it looked ordinary, I’d bid an insane amount for it at an auction last month. It was the only one of its kind in the world. I’d planned to give it to Chloe when I proposed and reveal my true identity, but it seemed… “Alright, take this money and buy a new car.” Liam pulled a stack of hundred-dollar bills from his wallet and tossed them on the ground. “Consider the extra a gift.” Chloe looked at me like I was a piece of trash. “Alex, hurry up and take your junk and leave! Don’t embarrass me!” With that, she linked her arm through Liam’s and got into the Cullinan without a backward glance. I pulled out my phone and dialed my lawyer. “Mr. Thompson, cancel all gifts in Chloe’s name. Yes, including that villa and the company shares.” After hanging up, I gently picked up the bike and shook my head. This was the one and only Trek Butterfly in the world. It was worth a hundred Cullinans. If Chloe couldn’t appreciate it, then so be it. 2 There was no need for me to go to the reunion anymore. I turned to leave, but then I heard exaggerated calls from behind me. “Hey! Class president! Don’t go!” A black Audi pulled up beside me, and a few familiar faces stepped out. “Old friends, it’s been too long! Let’s hang out.” I politely declined, but Jake threw an arm around my shoulder, squeezing so hard it hurt. “How can a reunion be complete without our class president? Come on, get in our car!” “No need.” I coolly pulled his hand away. “Don’t be shy!” On the other side, Ben had already taken the liberty of lifting my bike, which was still on the ground. “Your bike’s broken. We’ll help you put it in the trunk.” I frowned, about to refuse, but then I noticed them exchange a knowing look, a malicious smile playing on their lips. It suddenly dawned on me that these guys used to be Liam’s flunkies in high school. Clearly, Liam had put them up to this. I scoffed inwardly and decided to play along. “Alright, then. I appreciate your help.” I was curious to see what game Liam was really playing. Inside the hotel’s VIP room, I pushed the door open just as I heard a burst of exaggerated laughter. “Chloe is our class beauty, and she and Liam are a match made in heaven!” Mia, the former literature club president, raised her wine glass. “If only some loser hadn’t swooped in back then…” “Exactly!” Ryan, the former sports captain, chimed in. “Liam’s the young master of Meridian Holdings now. Some people aren’t even fit to tie his shoelaces!” The room suddenly fell silent—everyone had seen me. Chloe’s face instantly soured. She instinctively tightened her grip on Liam’s arm. Liam, on the other hand, flashed a smug, triumphant smile and raised his glass in a toast to me. “Well, well, if it isn’t our class president? Welcome, welcome!” “Alex,” Chloe’s voice was icy. “Who let you in?” “Your lovely classmates, of course,” I swept my gaze around the room, letting my eyes linger on Jake and the others. “Hard to refuse such a warm invitation.” Before I could say another word, Jake suddenly spoke up loudly, “There’s no reason you can’t come to a reunion! Since you’re here, join us!” He pushed me into a seat. “Come on, sit down! Everyone was just talking about you and Chloe!” Then, a snide voice piped up, “I say, Class President, Chloe and Liam only broke up because you took advantage of the situation. Now that the real guy’s back, shouldn’t you be smart enough to step aside?” Laughter erupted through the room. Someone even whistled. Jake stifled a laugh and patted my shoulder. “It’s just a joke, Class President. Don’t take it seriously.” Everyone was staring at me with mocking expressions, waiting to see how I’d react. I simply smiled faintly and clapped. “You’re right. They truly are a perfect match.” I looked directly at Chloe. “I wish you both a fresh start and a happy future together.” Chloe abruptly stood up, her face flushed crimson with fury. “Alex! What do you mean by that?! You shamelessly chased after me just to say something disgusting like that?!” “Don’t be mad, Chloe.” Liam gently put his arm around her shoulder, then turned to me with a cold smirk. “If your own life’s a mess, don’t blame people for speaking their minds.” Another round of grating laughter. “So what if he got good grades? He still has to work for others.” “Liam could just drop a few dollars, and it’d be enough for Alex to live a lifetime.” I stared coldly at these former classmates. “Since I’m not welcome here, I’ll take my leave.” Liam gave a subtle nod, and Ben stepped forward to block my path. “Class president, don’t be in such a hurry. Wasn’t your bike accidentally damaged?” He deliberately emphasized “bike.” Jake also feigned concern, stepping closer. “Yeah, how will you get back so late? Or maybe…” He pulled out a fifty-dollar bill. “How about we all chip in for your taxi fare?” I looked at these pathetic clowns, suddenly feeling utterly bored. So, they called me here just to watch their pathetic performance again. “This kind of boring reunion,” I straightened my collar, “don’t bother inviting me anymore.” Just as I was about to leave, two burly security guards suddenly blocked the doorway. Liam’s voice came from behind me, carrying a dangerous undertone. “Alex, are you… disrespecting me?” 3 The room instantly fell silent. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the show to begin. I slowly turned around, seeing Liam’s malicious grin. “Alright, here’s the deal. What you just said hurt Chloe’s feelings. If you get on your knees and bark like a dog three times in front of Chloe, then crawl between my legs, I’ll let you go. How about it?” Chloe averted her gaze but said nothing to object. All eyes in the room were fixed on me, some mocking, some pitying, but most were filled with schadenfreude. The security guards grabbed my shoulders, their grip so tight it sent a fresh wave of searing pain through my injuries. I stared coldly at Liam. “We were classmates. Do you really need to humiliate me like this?” Liam slowly swirled his wine glass, a victorious smile on his face. “Alex, do you remember high school? You, flaunting your class president status, always meddling, even reporting me to the teacher for being a few minutes late.” “And in the end, you even dared to touch *my* woman!” He suddenly smashed his wine glass on the floor. Glass shards scattered, making the surrounding classmates flinch. “Now, *I* call the shots here!” He stood up, looking down at me. “I booked this entire hotel. My dad is the CEO of Meridian Holdings. Here, who dares to disrespect me?” I scoffed. “So? Are you going to illegally detain me?” “Illegally detain?” Liam exaggeratedly spread his hands. “Classmates, did any of you see me detaining him?” Jake and the others immediately chimed in, “No! He’s clearly just refusing to leave!” I pulled out my phone. “Fine, then I’ll call the police.” Liam’s eyes hardened, and he signaled the security guards. “Teach him a lesson!” A guard’s fist slammed into my freshly injured knee. The sharp pain made me grunt, and cold sweat instantly drenched my back. I looked up at Chloe. She stood beside Liam, her eyes flickering, but in the end, she closed her mouth and remained silent. “Chloe,” I questioned her, my voice hoarse, “Are you just going to stand there and watch?” She bit her lip, finally speaking in a cold tone. “Alex, you’re the one who acted like an idiot first. Don’t blame Liam for getting angry.” The surrounding classmates also started chiming in, urging me to back down. “Alex, just swallow your pride!” “You’re just an ordinary guy. Liam’s family has massive wealth. You can’t win against him!” “Yeah, riding a bike, why are you still putting on airs?” I looked at the faces of these people and suddenly found it utterly laughable. Slowly, I straightened my body. Though my knee trembled with pain, my eyes were chillingly cold. “Liam Davies, I’m warning you for the last time. I’m not someone you want to mess with!” The room erupted in laughter. “Hahahaha! Did you hear that?!” Liam laughed, doubling over. “Riding a beat-up bike, and still talking like that?!” He clapped his hands, and two waiters brought my bicycle in. It still had scratches on it. “You said my Cullinan couldn’t afford your bike, didn’t you?” Liam sneered, kicking the wheel. “My car could lose a speck of paint, and it’d be enough to buy ten of these pieces of junk!” I almost laughed out of sheer anger. This Trek Butterfly was the only one of its kind in the world. Its frame was studded with Swarovski diamonds, and the custom craftsmanship alone took two years. When I used to ride it, discerning rich folks would respectfully ask specialists to handle it, terrified of damaging even a single diamond. But now, these people were treating it like some bargain-bin item? I looked at Chloe, deciding to give her one last chance. “Chloe, if you come back to me now, I can pretend none of this happened today.” I pointed to the bicycle. “This bike, I originally intended it as your engagement gift.” Chloe froze for a moment, then looked at me like I was insane. “Alex, are you trying to humiliate me? In your eyes, I’m only worth a pathetic bicycle?!” She clutched Liam’s arm. “Alex, let me tell you, I’d rather cry in Liam’s Cullinan than laugh on your pathetic bike!” Liam smugly pulled her closer. “Hear that? Give up now, alright?” Just then, my phone rang. It was my parents. They’d already heard what happened from Mr. Thompson. “We always thought that girl was ill-intentioned, son. It’s good you cut your losses now! We heard you were hurt. Where are you now? Do you want us to send someone to pick you up?” I thought for a moment, then spoke. “Actually, I do need your help with something.” I looked up, directly into Liam Davies’ bewildered face, and said, word by word. “Dad, can you tell that David Davies to come to the Meridian Hotel now? Yes, the CEO of Meridian Holdings.”

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At the reunion, my CEO husband deliberately lost a game. With his friends egging him on, he planned to tie the knot with his first love and announce it on SnapChat. Everyone present started cheering them on, and my husband eagerly pulled out the divorce papers, demanding my cooperation: “It’s just a game, don’t take it too seriously.” I stayed silent for a long time, and everyone expected me to explode. But I just took the divorce papers and said calmly: “Divorce is fine, but I need you to do three things first.” He readily agreed, rushing me to sign, even promising eagerly: “Forget three things, I’ll do three hundred, as long as you sign! And once we remarry, I’ll give you a lavish wedding!” But he didn’t know that the moment he decided to divorce me, my ‘capture’ mission had already failed, and the system was about to erase me. I could only survive by completing the three tasks the system gave me. Seeing me sign, my husband, Liam Sterling, happily put away the divorce papers. Everyone exchanged glances, a smirk of triumph on their faces. That’s when I finally understood: this reunion was a setup, a carefully laid trap just for me. On the virtual screen behind Liam, four blood-red words screamed: “CAPTURE FAILED.” The system’s electronic voice drilled into my mind: “Host, only if you marry your target for seven years can you offset the life-for-a-life exchange. You’re just an hour and a half short of seven years. In 48 hours, you’ll be erased.” Its tone shifted: “However, seeing your pitiful state, you can survive if you complete three tasks within the deadline.” “Now issuing Task One.” “Make Liam Sterling confess his love to you in public.” I laughed out loud. I just signed divorce papers, and now the system wants him to confess his love to me? Clara Davis stood up, her pretty face tight with resolve: “Liam, if you have to agree to Avery’s unreasonable requests because of me, then I’ll gladly accept punishment. I’ll drink three shots of vodka!” Liam’s eyes were filled with heartache: “It’s fine, she can’t stir up any trouble.” I gave a self-deprecating laugh. Seven years ago, on our wedding day, Liam was supposed to elope for love, but Clara ran off with all his savings and disappeared. After that, he firmly believed I was behind it and constantly clashed with me. We went from childhood sweethearts to bitter enemies. I thought that if I genuinely loved him, I could eventually win him over. For the past two years, he had almost accepted our situation, even remembering to leave work early to celebrate our wedding anniversary. But then, Clara came back. Only then did I realize he had never forgotten her, and he’d even set up this elaborate scheme just to marry her. He’d even forgotten that today was our seventh wedding anniversary. Now, the seven stolen years were finally to be returned. But I still wanted to live. I spoke up: “Liam Sterling, the first thing I want you to do is confess your love to me.” “Confess to me exactly how you confessed to Clara Davis back then.” Liam froze, his eyes wide with disbelief. The private room erupted: “Avery, don’t be unreasonable! You’ve already signed the divorce papers, there’s no need to be so petty and embarrass Liam!” “Liam, don’t listen to her nonsense! She’s just trying to cause trouble!” It was truly ironic. These people had received many favors from me in the past. Now that Sterling Corp. was so powerful, they constantly mocked me. Clara’s face was flushed with anger: “Avery, you’re really just messing with him! Liam, I won’t let you suffer this humiliation!” My own husband confessing to me was a humiliation in her eyes? I coldly scanned the room, then yawned: “I’m talking to Liam Sterling. Does it concern you to interrupt?” “Liam Sterling, if you don’t confess, I’m leaving. And I won’t bother with the divorce certificate.” After so many years together, I knew his temper. His brows furrowed, and he said impatiently: “I thought you were being sensible today, but it turns out you just thought of a new trick. If I confess, you’ll obediently get the divorce certificate?” It seemed he was truly desperate to marry Clara and make it official. “Yes.” Liam’s face darkened, and he spoke as if facing death: “Avery, be with me. I’ll buy you two bottles of milk every day and warm them with my body heat, so you always drink them at room temperature…” Clara’s eyes welled with tears, and she murmured: “Liam, you still remember.” Everyone in the room couldn’t help but applaud, marveling at Liam’s deep affection, still remembering his confession to Clara Davis eight years ago. Watching the two exchange increasingly loving gazes, I felt a wave of nausea and left my seat: “I have to go. Something came up.” Behind me, the room erupted in laughter, mocking me for shooting myself in the foot. As I walked out, my best friend, Chloe Miller, somehow heard the news and rushed to the restaurant, demanding answers: “Did you really sign the divorce papers with Liam, are you insane? You begged on your knees to marry him, giving up a marriage alliance with a billionaire’s son, and now you’re just divorcing him, letting that trash Clara snatch him up?” I was silent. Back then, the Sterling family was on the verge of bankruptcy. To help Liam, I gave up a marriage with the son of a billionaire and resolutely married him. My parents were furious and disowned me. I was ostracized by my family, and even as the CEO’s wife, I couldn’t interfere with anything in the Sterling family, leaving me in an awkward position. But Liam, after Clara returned to the country, immediately arranged a Vice President position for her without a word, even putting her in charge of billions of dollars. Love and lack of love, it was very obvious. My sky-high heels had rubbed my heels raw, and I uncomfortably shifted my stance, unable to stop myself from scoffing: “You think she’s trash, but Liam treats her like a treasure. What can I do?” Chloe sighed, giving me a supportive squeeze: “Men are like shoes, if they don’t fit, we just get new ones!” As she spoke, Liam came downstairs, dotingly ruffling Clara’s hair: “Clara, let’s go take our wedding photos first, then buy rings. When we go to the registry office, I’ll have a convoy of thirty cars pick you up!” His gaze met mine, and Liam’s lips tightened into a thin line, his voice cold: “Avery, there are still two things left. If you’re playing games, I won’t make it easy for you!” I lowered my eyes and smiled bitterly. He didn’t know I had wanted to keep my distance from him for a long time; I was only forced to interact with him to stay alive. After he walked away, I called out to the system in my mind: “Was that task completed?” “Barely satisfactory,” the system’s voice was flat. “Now, issuing Task Two.” “Go on a date with Liam Sterling for one day.”

I stumbled. “Are you serious? Liam Sterling barely tolerates me today. If I ask him to go on a date with me, he’ll definitely think I’m messing with him!” The system was cold: “Host has no right to question. You can choose to abandon the task and be erased.” At midnight, I tossed and turned, thinking about the system’s task. Bang! Liam kicked open the door and dragged me out of bed. In the darkness, his angry eyes glowed ominously: “Are you happy now? Because of the scene you caused today, Clara went home sick. I took care of her until past midnight before her fever broke!” I pried his hand off and forced a smile: “It was just a game. Couldn’t you have called it off? Who would take a CEO like you seriously?” Liam choked, then sighed softly: “It was just a game, why didn’t you cooperate?” I said nonchalantly: “Second thing. Tomorrow, you cancel all your work and spend the day with me.” Liam’s face immediately turned cold: “Avery, are you pushing your luck? You’re really taking advantage!” He slammed the door shut and left. A bitter taste filled my mouth. I knew this would be the outcome. The next morning, however, he still knocked on my door, his face sullen: “I lost a million dollars today because of you. What do you want, spill it.” Because of me? More like to get the marriage certificate with Clara as soon as possible. The system told me the date wasn’t the main point; the key was for Liam Sterling to spend six consecutive hours with me. I took Liam to the mall to pass the time. The whole way, he never looked up from his phone. Occasionally, he’d stop outside a women’s clothing store or a luxury boutique and just casually buy a ton of stuff. All of it was for Clara. In our seven years of marriage, he had never bought me anything. The dress I was wearing was worn out and pilled. He retaliated against me by poaching my family’s business. My dad scolded me for betraying our family, and I was blacklisted by the industry. No one knew that beneath my glamorous exterior, I lived on the meager salary from online part-time jobs. I persevered until noon. Liam looked impatient, so I quickly took him to a hot pot restaurant. Just as we ordered, his face changed as he looked at his phone. He made a call, his voice filled with urgent worry: “How can you not eat? No appetite without me? Okay, I’m coming back right now!” He then grabbed his coat and rushed to leave: “Urgent company business. I’m leaving first.” I knew this must be Clara’s doing. “Will you come back?” My task wasn’t finished yet. He seemed to remember something and nodded: “I will.” But I never expected him to return with Clara. Liam carefully tended to Clara, feeding her, wiping her mouth, acting like he was nursing a paralytic patient. They looked like an affectionate couple, while I was just a stranger sharing their table. After that, whatever I wanted to eat, Clara would point to and demand. I lost my appetite and pushed my forks aside. She looked triumphant, saying with exaggerated sweetness: “The food Liam feeds me tastes especially delicious…” Under the table, she deliberately stomped on my foot. I hissed in pain, but Liam paid no attention. Fortunately, we just needed to watch a movie to reach six hours, so I grudgingly endured her. Who knew there were only two tickets left at the movie theater? Clara spoke first, her eyes red: “Liam, you and Avery go watch it. I know she’s using the divorce as an excuse to spend time with you, but it’s okay, I won’t be a third wheel! I’ll leave now!” Liam panicked, quickly grabbing her hand: “What nonsense are you talking about? Forget the stupid movie, I’ll spend the whole afternoon with you instead, okay?” I pleaded calmly: “Liam Sterling, just watch this movie with me, and I’ll let you go, I won’t bother you anymore.” But Liam pushed me away with a shove, and the popcorn I was holding scattered everywhere. “Avery, stop pretending! I’ve already told you I could never like someone as selfish, arrogant, and self-righteous as you. Clara is generous and kind enough not to blame you, but that doesn’t mean I’ll indulge you. I’ve already been more than generous by taking you shopping today!” He held Clara’s hand and turned to leave. “Warning: Host is performing passively. Electric shock penalty. Please convince Liam Sterling to return within one minute.” The next second, a powerful current surged through my body. I instantly collapsed to my knees, my kneecaps hitting the ground with a loud thud, my body convulsing. Gritting my teeth, I begged with all my might: “Liam Sterling! Please, come watch the movie with me, or I’ll die! Please…” Liam turned back frantically, his pupils constricting when he saw me on the ground. He instinctively took a step. “Liam, go ahead. Avery is usually so healthy, but now she’s suddenly fainted. She must be seriously ill. Go with her, don’t worry about me.” Clara suddenly spoke. Liam’s steps halted, and his expression turned cold: “Avery, now you’ve learned to fake falls? What are you trying to prove, playing helpless? Don’t make me look down on you.” He abandoned me. No matter how much I called out, he never looked back. After a long time, the system’s punishment ended. My face was pale, as if I’d been pulled from water. Many people gathered around, offering to take me to the hospital. The system warned sternly: “Task Two completion rate is only fifty percent. If Task Three cannot be completed perfectly, Host, you will still be erased.” The panel changed, displaying only one line of text: “Make Liam Sterling propose to you.” I gave a desolate laugh, losing all my strength and collapsing onto the ground. This was an impossible task. When I opened my eyes again, I was in the hospital. Chloe rushed to hand me water, her eyes filled with sympathy: “The doctor said you have organ failure and won’t live for more than three days. Does Liam know? Is this why you divorced him?” I knew this was a side effect of the system’s punishment. Three days? Only twenty-four hours left. I didn’t want to grovel and make Liam pity me. After all, I had once been a wealthy young woman; I had my pride. I shook my head: “No. Chloe, as friends, I have one favor to ask. After I die, just tell everyone I traveled abroad and settled there. Don’t let them see how miserably I died.” Chloe’s eyes reddened, and she wiped her face: “You saved Liam’s life during the avalanche back then, but he thought Clara saved him. He’s misunderstood and tormented you for so many years, you—” My phone on the table rang urgently. It was Liam. Chloe answered, unable to help herself: “Liam Sterling, do you know Avery is sick!”

I struggled to sit up and stop her. On the other end of the phone, Liam paused for a second, then scoffed coldly: “Did Avery tell you to act? What’s a little fall going to do?” “Tell her to hurry up and state her last demand so we can get this over with. I don’t have time for her games.” Seeing how impatient he was, I took the phone and said seriously: “The third thing is simple. All you have to do is propose to me.” CRASH! A harsh sound came from the other end of the phone; something seemed to have fallen. Liam was frantic: “Clara, what’s wrong? Don’t scare me!” The next second, he lashed out at me: “Avery, are you crazy? Are you out of your mind? I’m not playing with you anymore! Go get the divorce certificate or don’t, I don’t care. We’ll be automatically divorced in thirty days anyway. I’m not like you, desperate to live. I can wait!” He hung up. My heart ached. I knew Liam wanted to get rid of me, but I never expected him to despise me so much. The system was still urging me to complete the task. But now I had no leverage over him. What else could I do? Fatigue washed over me like a tide. Even if I begged Liam on my knees, he would just think I was pulling tricks. If that’s the case, I might as well die with dignity. With that thought, I called him. He answered impatiently: “If you’re going to talk about me proposing to you again, just go to hell!” He didn’t know his words would turn out to be prophetic. My voice was calm: “I was just kidding. See you at the registry office tomorrow morning.” Liam was surprised: “That’s it? Are you being so cooperative?” “Don’t want to? Fine then.” “No! You better not be playing games!” He quickly agreed. Nine A.M. the next morning, at the registry office entrance. Liam yelled at me for being one minute late: “Avery, what are you doing now? You were really faking being sick yesterday! They say the wicked live forever, so you’ll probably live to be a hundred!” His friends also looked at me with mocking expressions. They were all waiting for Liam to get his marriage certificate with Clara, specially bringing confetti to celebrate. I found it amusing. In the past, when Liam and I made plans, he was never on time, repeatedly breaking promises, deliberately enjoying my distressed reactions. Today, I was only one minute late, and he was so anxious. “That’s right, I was doing it on purpose. I’ve changed my mind. The third thing is, I want you to carry me in to get the divorce certificate!” From where we stood, it was less than a hundred feet to the entrance. Liam looked at me suspiciously: “That simple?” Clara still rushed out to object, as if I were committing an unforgivable sin: “Liam is a CEO! How can you treat him like a servant and make him carry you? We don’t have to get this divorce certificate, I’ll wait for Liam forever!” Everyone else’s faces also darkened: “Avery, you’re shameless! This is clearly a deliberate obstruction! You just don’t want the divorce certificate!” I curved my lips into a smile, composed. Liam, however, declared decisively: “Fine. But if you cause any more trouble inside, I’ll make your life a living hell.” He walked up to me. I jumped onto his back without any hesitation. Liam gave a small “oh.” I was too light. Frighteningly light. You see, I used to have a fiery personality. I loved racing, hiking, rock climbing. My muscle mass was not to be underestimated. He instinctively asked: “Are you starving yourself?” I replied faintly: “You and Clara disgusted me so much I couldn’t eat.” Liam curled his lip: “That’s enough.” When we married years ago, he was practically dragged into the registry office by ten bodyguards, forced to get the marriage certificate, his face filled with disgust. Now, he walked steadily towards the registry office, step by step, but it was to divorce me. In a daze, I remembered when I was seventeen. Liam was caught in an avalanche while skiing. I rushed into the snowy field without a thought, screaming until my throat was hoarse before I found him. At that time, he had snow blindness, and his leg was injured, preventing him from standing. I half-carried, half-dragged him down the mountain for a day and a night, even cutting myself to give him my blood, hoping to restore his strength. In his semi-conscious state, Liam’s hot tears streamed onto my neck: “You’re so good to me! I’ll marry you!” I laughed, coaxing him not to break his promise. By the time we reached the bottom of the mountain, I should have died from hypothermia. The system bonded with me then. It said our love was truly great, and as long as I could marry him for seven years, it would grant me health and a long life. I agreed, secretly delighted that this was a freebie, and that we would surely be happy. But I never expected to wake up and see him confessing to Clara Davis in front of the entire school. He said he would marry me. But what I got was his endless gratitude towards Clara. I tried to explain, but he didn’t believe me. “The person who saved me was gentle like a goddess. You’re so rough and bossy, how could it be you?” Snapping back to reality, I whispered into Liam’s ear: “Liam Sterling, we’re even now.” He stopped walking: “What did you say?”

My throat itched, and I coughed up blood. The system’s punishment yesterday had ruined my internal organs. Even as I covered my mouth, a drop of blood splattered onto Liam’s neck. He flew into a rage: “Avery, are you trying to die? Coughing on my neck, how disgusting! Clean it up!” I wiped the blood from my lips, then gently pushed his head back to face forward. My voice was calm: “Look ahead, not at me.” Liam quickened his pace, walking closer to the divorce counter. Before he could put me down, I jumped off his back and quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe his neck. He still seemed unsatisfied, pulling out tissue after tissue, as if he’d been contaminated with something filthy. I couldn’t help but say: “Liam Sterling, since you’ve decided to be with Clara, don’t let her down.” Liam frowned, finally looking at me properly: “What nonsense are you talking about? It’s just one day, and you’re already this petty and intolerant? Don’t worry, once the game is over, I’ll give you a lavish wedding. I won’t go back on my word.” I curled my lips into a weak smile. On the divorce papers, I fumbled to find where to sign. My eyesight was the most severely affected of all my declining organs. Liam held my finger and pointed to the spot, scoffing: “What’s wrong with your eyes? Are you crying them blind because you’re sad about divorcing me?” I snorted: “It was so sickening it gave me a stye.” Since Clara returned to the country, I hadn’t bantered with him like this in a long time. Liam angrily pushed my arm: “Avery, you just can’t say anything nice, can you!” I grunted in pain, taking a while to recover. His face suddenly changed: “Are you really sick?” I acted nonchalant: “No. Hurry up and finish the procedures. I’m planning to travel abroad for a few days. There are plenty of other fish in the sea, why obsess over one person?” Everyone present couldn’t help but scoff, looking at me with expressions that clearly said, “Stop acting,” filled with disdain. Liam’s face remained grim, and he suddenly stood up. “No divorce.” “No divorce?” Clara exclaimed in surprise, then her eyes welled up with tears, saying aggrievedly: “Liam, if you can’t bear to, that’s okay. I’m willing to be punished. I just have a slight alcohol allergy, I won’t die. I’ll go buy liquor right now!” I was speechless, not understanding what Liam meant. I deliberately provoked him: “Stop messing around. Or are you really reluctant to let me go?” Liam, predictably, couldn’t stand the provocation and quickly signed the papers. “If it weren’t for your pitiful, pale face, I…” He trailed off. Then he took the divorce certificate with a sullen face, turned around, and sat with Clara at the marriage counter. Everyone crowded around them, their faces joyful. My business here was done. I turned to leave, but Liam suddenly called out to me: “Don’t go. Wait until Clara and I get our marriage certificate and post on SnapChat, then I’ll remarry you right away!” Divorce and remarrying? Did he think this was a game? I perfunctorily agreed and walked out of the registry office. On the virtual screen, the countdown showed thirteen hours left—enough time for me to handle my affairs. But I never expected my vision to turn blood-red: “Host Avery Hayes, task failed. Detected official divorce between the two. Countdown reset to zero!” I never imagined the system had this trick up its sleeve. I leaned on the registry office doorframe, collapsing softly to the ground. Inside the registry office, Liam Sterling was posing for photos with Clara Davis, their heads close together. The photographer kept calling out: “Closer, lovebirds! Yes, more intimate!”

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I led our design team, working tirelessly for my husband’s company, and finally secured a multi-million dollar brand collaboration. At the celebration party, however, my husband credited all the success to the new intern, saying her creativity was “the finishing touch.” As a reward, he publicly gifted her a limited edition designer “labubu” worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The team felt sorry for me, but when I confronted him, he pushed me away. He gave me ten dollars and said with a smirk, “At your age, you should go buy a cheap toy from a street vendor.” I finally woke up and resigned the next day, taking the entire design department with me. My husband mocked us, holding the intern, “You think you can find better jobs without any real skills? I’d like to see where you end up!” Three months later, at the industry’s largest brand bidding conference. My ex-husband took the stage with the intern, presenting our proposal and talking about future brand strategies. What he didn’t know was that I had already been hired by a top client company with a high salary, and I was the sole decision-maker for this bidding conference. “Olivia Lin, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Women who’ve lost their youth shouldn’t be jealous of young girls’ opportunities.” He said, turning away with a swagger. I looked down at the crumpled ten-dollar bill in my hand. So, in his eyes, all the hard work of my team and I was only worth a cheap toy. I smiled, but tears kept falling. I wiped my tears and returned to the table. My deputy, Jack, looked at me with concern. “Boss, are you okay?” I slammed the ten dollars on the table, my voice low but clear. “Jack, get ready.” “We’re all resigning tomorrow.” The next morning at nine. I walked into Andrew Chen’s office with resignation letters from the entire design department. He was holding Bella White, both intimately looking at the computer screen, laughing at something. Seeing us come in, he wasn’t surprised at all. He took the resignation letters and tossed them on the desk without even looking. “Olivia Lin, you really dare to make a scene.” He sneered, holding Bella tighter. “You think you can find better jobs without any real skills? I’d like to see where you end up without my platform!” Bella leaned into his arms, glancing at me timidly before flashing a smug smile. Andrew stood up and announced in front of all of us. “Well, I might as well announce something too.” “From today on, Bella White is the new Design Director of the company.” The whole office was in an uproar. An intern who had only been there for three months and could barely use design software was now the Design Director. It was the biggest joke in the industry. The members of my team had looks of absurdity and disdain on their faces. I didn’t say another word and left with my team. Walking out of the company gates, I looked back one last time at the place where I had poured eight years of my heart and soul. I felt nothing but disgust. That afternoon, I consulted a lawyer. The answer I got felt like a bucket of ice water. The legal representative of the company had always been Andrew Chen alone. I didn’t have any shares in my name. When we got married, he had promised earnestly that the company belonged to both of us, and he would give me half the shares after we succeeded. For him, I had resigned from a top internet company in the country and worked day and night by his side. Now I realized that all those promises were nothing but empty checks. Eight years of dedication might all be in vain. I sat in the coffee shop, looking out the window in despair. Just then, a call came in from an unknown number. “Hello, is this Design Director Olivia Lin?” “Yes, it is.” “Hello, I’m the project director from the brand collaboration we just signed. My name is Zhang. I’d like to discuss some detailed design specifications with you for the follow-up.” It was the client’s director. I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice as calm as possible. “Director Zhang, I’m sorry, but I’ve already resigned from that company.” There was silence on the other end for a few seconds. “Resigne on the other end for a fewd? The whole team resigned?” “Yes.” Director Zhang’s voice suddenly became excited. “That’s great! Director Lin, to be honest, for this collaboration, we were interested in your team, not your company!” I was stunned. “We’ve internally assessed that your design concepts highly align with our brand’s future development direction. To be honest, we were worried that the personnel might change later, affecting the project quality.” “Now that you’re out, things are much easier.” Her words were like a beam of light, shining into my despair. “Director Lin, on behalf of our company, I’d like to formally invite you and your entire team.” “The salary will be double what you were getting before.” “The position is a core brand management role in our newly established group, which you’ll be directly responsible for.” “We hope you can bring your entire team to join us.” Double salary. Core position. The entire team packaged together. I suppressed my heart that was almost jumping out of my chest, my fingers tightly pinching my palm. “Director Zhang, thank you for your appreciation. It’s just that we’ve just completed the resignation process, and there are still some procedures to handle.” “No problem, we can wait. Talented people are worth waiting for.” “I’ll send the formal letter of intent to your email later. Take a look first, no need to rush with a reply.” After hanging up the phone, I looked at the sky outside the window, feeling it was brighter than ever before. My phone buzzed again, it was a WeChat message from Andrew. “Olivia, I know you’re still angry. Stop making a fuss, doesn’t our years of relationship mean more than a moment of anger?” “I know I was wrong, I shouldn’t have said that to you.” “Come back first, help Bella out, finish handing over the project. When this blows over, I’ll give you a grand apology ceremony, okay?” Looking at the words on the screen, I felt nauseous. Help Bella out. How could he say that? I turned off my phone, completely ignoring that message. The game had just begun. I used my savings to throw a grand “resignation party” for the team at the best five-star hotel in the city. Celebrating our escape from trash, welcoming new life. Everyone raised their glasses and cheered, their faces radiating relief and hope for the future. “Boss, it’s a good thing we left with you, or we’d have been infuriated to death in that company!” “Yeah, making an intern the director, has Andrew Chen lost his mind?” “He must be in a panic now!” After a few rounds of drinks, we started to review the collaboration proposal for this project. “The core design language ‘Breakthrough’, and all the VI application standards, the most detailed version is actually only in our heads,” said my deputy Jack. “I held back at the time, only submitting the basic version. Many extended applications and special scenario specifications weren’t included in the final document at all.” I nodded. “Well done. These are our real value.” The new week began. Andrew and his new “Design Director” Bella officially started interfacing with the client. Soon, they ran into trouble. The client needed a complete brand VI usage manual for subsequent material production and market promotion. They searched through all the design files but couldn’t find it. Bella, relying on her own intuition, worked overtime to produce several design drafts. The next day, they were all sent back by Director Zhang. Zhang’s email was copied to everyone, with harsh wording. “These designs completely misunderstand our brand tone. The colors, fonts, and compositions are all problematic! Are you even professionals?” Bella cried on the spot in the office. Andrew’s call quickly came to my phone. “Olivia Lin! What do you mean? You took the design source files and standard manual when you left?” His voice was full of anger. I was in my new company’s office, looking out at the river view, my tone calm. “Mr. Chen, you can eat carelessly, but you can’t speak carelessly. All the files I handed over are on record.” “As for that manual you mentioned, that’s our team’s core creative asset, a trade secret, no comment.” “You dare!” he roared in exasperation, “Don’t you believe I’ll sue you for stealing company trade secrets!” I chuckled lightly, reminding him of a fact he had overlooked. “Mr. Chen, I don’t think we ever signed a confidentiality agreement or non-compete agreement.” “Moreover, according to copyright law, the creative copyright for this proposal is in my personal hands. Are you sure you want to sue me?” On the other end of the phone, there was only heavy breathing left. He hung up. The client side pressured again. Because the design specifications couldn’t be confirmed, the entire collaboration project came to a standstill. Several channel partners who had already signed contracts began to express dissatisfaction. Andrew’s company’s reputation in the industry began to be affected. Bella was completely at a loss, crying every day and complaining to Andrew that the client was deliberately making things difficult for her. The company’s internal morale was low, and rumors were flying. Andrew was in a frenzy. He spread the word that he would spare no expense to hire top designers who could solve this brand design problem. However, a week after the news was released, no one responded. The circle was only so big, and everyone knew this project was led by me. In this situation, no one was willing to wade into these muddy waters, let alone offend me and my new employer behind me. He had pushed himself into a dead end. Just when Andrew was about to despair, a team calling themselves “Wind and Cloud Design” actively contacted him. They claimed that they had been studying my design style and were 100% confident that they could perfectly recreate a VI manual identical to the original. Bella grabbed onto this lifeline. She whispered in Andrew’s ear, saying this team must have seen that I had gone to the client’s side and came specially to help. “Honey, this shows we have more supporters! That Olivia Lin is just petty!” Andrew was convinced by her and gritted his teeth to hire this outsourcing team at three times the market price. Three days later, they delivered a seemingly flawless VI manual. Andrew immediately sent it to the client. After reviewing it, Director Zhang only replied: “We can proceed now.” Andrew and Bella were overjoyed. They thought the crisis was completely over. The next day, Andrew called a company-wide meeting. At the meeting, he singled me out by name, criticizing me for “lacking professional ethics, holding back after resigning, attempting to blackmail the company.” He was beaming, full of vigor. “This proves that the earth keeps spinning without anyone! Some people shouldn’t overestimate themselves!” “From today on, our company officially cuts ties with all resigned design department personnel, no more entanglements!” The employees below had various expressions, but no one dared to speak. I sat in the conference room of the new company, watching the video of his impassioned speech, and smiled. This was exactly what I was waiting for. I immediately had the lawyer send a lawyer’s letter to his company based on this public “cut ties” announcement. Demanding that he pay the multi-million project bonus promised earlier to the entire team, as well as severance pay for everyone. The promise in black and white, plus his public acknowledgment of “no more entanglements,” left him without even an excuse to default. To maintain the company’s reputation, he was forced to pay this huge sum. The company’s cash flow, already tense due to the project stagnation, instantly went from bad to worse. I looked at the string of zeros added to my bank card, feeling no ripples in my heart. This was all we deserved. On the same afternoon. On my desk, I received an email from the group headquarters. The sender was the secretary of the client’s big boss. I opened the email, the title clearly stated: “Notice on Appointing Ms. Olivia Lin as the Overall Responsible Person for Next Year’s Full Product Line Bidding Conference for This Brand”. Three months later. Late autumn. The industry’s largest annual brand bidding conference was held at the International Convention Center. I sat in the center of the judges’ seats, in the capacity of the client’s Brand Director. Below were top advertising companies and design teams from all over the country. My ex-husband, Andrew, and his new director Bella, also came. They walked into the venue with high spirits, their faces wearing confident smiles. Andrew soon saw me. He was stunned for a moment, then a contemptuous smile appeared on his face. He said something in a low voice to Bella beside him. I read his lips. “Look, some people can only come to such occasions to steal ideas after leaving me.” Bella covered her mouth and let out a coquettish laugh, her eyes full of superiority. They thought I was just a former employee coming to listen and learn. The client colleagues beside me and some industry peers who knew me all looked at him with eyes as if looking at a clown. But he was completely unaware. The host began to introduce today’s judges according to the procedure. “First, let’s welcome with warm applause the overall responsible person for this bidding conference, who is also our brand’s core Brand Director – Ms. Olivia Lin!” The spotlight instantly shone on me. I saw the smile on Andrew’s face freeze instantly.

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My wife went on a 3-year business trip abroad. When she returned, I went to pick her up at the airport. To my shock, she wasn’t alone – there was also a 6-month-old baby. My coworkers joked: “The kid may not be yours, but at least your wife still is!” But then my wife handed me divorce papers. This time, I was the one who didn’t want her anymore. Amber was my wife. She was a stunning beauty, a real knockout. Soon after joining the company, she quickly climbed the corporate ladder. Three years ago, she left for an overseas assignment. “Three years for a million dollars,” she said. “When I come back, we’ll be set for life.” Today was the day of her return. I took the day off specially to pick her up. At the airport, I spotted her from afar. After three years apart, my wife’s figure had filled out a bit, which suited her well. I waved to her, then noticed a woman in her 50s next to her, holding a baby. As they got closer, Amber took the baby in her arms. I was stunned, then assumed she must be helping out. How kind of her. “Honey!” I called out excitedly. Amber walked over and handed the baby to the older woman. “You two go wait in the car first.” The baby started crying. The woman comforted him: “Don’t cry, sweetie. Mommy will be back soon!” I froze. Mommy? I stared at Amber. “What did she mean by ‘mommy’?” Amber said grimly: “Jack, we need to talk.” She walked to the side and I hurried after her. Up close, I noticed she smelled of baby powder. Her body also had the shape of a new mother. “Amber, what’s going on with that baby?” “Don’t tell me you were gone for 3 years and had a kid!” Amber’s face was cold. “You’ve seen it all. I won’t lie to you. The baby is mine, but I’ll explain everything.” “Go home first. I’ll contact you after I wrap up some work stuff. That’s all for now!” Without another word, she turned and left. I was dumbfounded. It took me a while to react and chase after her. But I saw her being embraced by Eric as they got into a Mercedes. Eric! My heart sank. Three years ago, Eric had also gone abroad on business. When he left, I’d given him some expensive gifts and asked him to look after Amber. Looks like he took “looking after her” way too far! I clenched my fists and drove back to the office. With the baby, Amber would surely go home first. I didn’t care which home – it certainly wasn’t mine anymore! Red-eyed with anger, I stormed into the office. I overheard some people gossiping in the break room. “Amber got promoted as soon as she came back. Goes to show how being pretty helps your career!” “More like she used her son to get ahead. Eric can’t marry her officially, so he had to give her something!” “Jack’s pretty chill about it though. Doesn’t seem to mind his wife being a surrogate!” Hearing their words felt like a knife to the gut. They all knew Amber had hooked up with Eric abroad, and kept it from me! I’d been played for a fool, left in the dark while joking with them about missing my wife. I’d told Amber I wanted to visit her abroad, but she made excuses about it being inconvenient and a waste of time and money. She’d pleaded: “Jack, I’m doing this for our future. Can’t you just be patient?” Patient? I’d waited faithfully for 3 years, only to get this result. I cleared my throat. The group turned and saw me, their faces turning awkward. “Jack, uh… came for some coffee?” “Yeah, and to hear you guys gossip,” I replied coldly. One of them boldly said: “Hey Jack, it’s really not a big deal. Most guys would kill for this chance!” “You got your full salary these 3 years while your wife was making bank abroad. Now she’s back as a director!” “How’s it feel? Got any tips to share?”

He looked at me smugly. I knew he’d never respected being on my team and slacked off constantly. He was good at kissing ass though. Team 2 had asked for him, and I’d planned to transfer him at the end of the month. Now I realized I couldn’t fire him anymore – might as well let him go early. But before that, I had to put him in his place! I smiled at the guy who spoke. “For a grown man, you sure love to gossip. You’d make a great busybody.” “You know, I do have some advice. Want to hear it?” to hear it?” I beckoned him closer. He leaned in and I growled in his ear: “How about you strip naked and sell yourself, asshole!” “What did you say?!” I shrugged. “Isn’t this the advice you wanted? Can’t handle the truth?” “Jack, you’ve got some nerve! Yeah, you’re fine with being a kept man. The kid’s not yours, but at least you’ve still got your wife! When Eric moves to HQ, you can have her pop out another one. Two for one deal!” The group burst out laughing. I snapped and punched him, pinning him to the ground. This chicken-legged punk was no match for my fists. He wailed and begged for mercy. The others watched and laughed at first, but when they saw I was really going to town on him, they rushed to pull us apart. I shook out my hand. “Who’s the kept man now, loser?” “Jack, I’m calling the cops!” “Go ahead!” Just then, Eric showed up. “What’s all this commotion about? Who’s calling the cops?” “Mr. Cui, Jack beat me up! Look what he did to me!” Eric glared at me. “Jack, what’s wrong with you? This is a workplace, not a boxing ring!” “Your performance bonus is getting docked this month!” Mike sneered. “Jack, I won’t press charges. Just pay me $5000 and we’re good.” I laughed. “Sure, go ahead and call the cops. I recorded your trash talk earlier. If this gets out, none of us will look good!” Mike was about to explode but Eric held him back. “Enough! Everyone get back to work. Adults need to take responsibility for their actions. Mike, come with me.” Mike stormed off angrily with Eric. I looked around coldly at the group. “Anyone else want to gossip behind my back? This is what you’ll get!” “Jack, aren’t you afraid of getting fired?” “Yeah, you’re being pretty cocky!” I shrugged. “What’s there to be afraid of? Worst case, I find a new job. I’m not worried – can you guys say the same in this economy?” That shut them up. I may not brag, but my skills speak for themselves. To be honest, I would never have joined this company if Amber hadn’t insisted. In 5 years, my performance was outstanding. We all knew how Amber got her management position. At first she was grateful, but over time she started believing it was all her own merit. No rush. I wanted to see what they were really thinking. When Mike came out half an hour later, HR was with him, watching him pack up his desk. I was surprised. “Listen up everyone. From now on, anyone who harasses or provokes others at work will be fired immediately!” “Mike is the example!” Everyone turned to look at me. My heart sank. They were doing this on purpose! As Mike passed me, he sneered: “Jack, you sold out your wife to get ahead. You disgust me!”

I laughed but said nothing, just watched him leave. Then I turned to look at Eric’s office. The bastard was clearly trying to provoke me. I was about to storm into his office when HR stopped me. “Hold on, Mr. Cui is in a video call. You can’t go in.” I glared at him. “I just beat up Mike and got away with it. What do you think will happen if I punch you? Will Eric fire me or you?” The HR guy froze, not daring to stop me. I was about to go in when Eric came out. Seeing me at the door, he frowned. “What do you want?” “Mr. Cui, you seem to have forgotten. Didn’t you say you’d give me an explanation?” “Or would you rather discuss this here?” Eric thought for a moment. “Let’s talk outside. Follow me.” He gestured for me to come along. I followed him, watching his furrowed brow. In the parking garage, Eric handed me an envelope. I felt it – about $1000. “What’s this supposed to mean?” “Jack, take the money and you can keep working here normally. Don’t make a fuss about this.” “Keep working normally? You slept with my wife and you want me to act like nothing happened?!” I grabbed his collar. “Tell me the truth. When did it start?!” Eric’s face darkened. “I don’t need to give you details. Besides this, there’s also a bank card with $3 million. That’s $1 million for each year – not a bad deal.” “You have 3 days, Jack. This is my final offer. For each day you delay, I’ll deduct $1 million!” I was about to say more but he cut me off. “Think it through before you speak to me again.” “After all, I call the shots at the company now. If you don’t agree, once word gets out, I can crush you easily!” He was threatening me! I scoffed and slapped him hard across the face! I dragged him out of the car and started beating him! Eric was 7-8 years older and half a head taller, but he was all talk. He was no match for me at all! Soon I had him pinned on the hood. He yelled furiously: “Jack, you dare hit me?! I’ll fucking kill you!” I kneed him hard. His face went white with pain. I grabbed his throat and roared: “Eric, you bastard! How dare you touch my wife!” Suddenly a strong force knocked me over. Security had arrived and pinned me to the ground. Eric got up, livid. “Call the police! Call the police!” “Don’t call the police!” It was Amber. She came through the emergency exit. I realized she’d been there the whole time! “Let him go. I need to talk to him.” Eric waved the guards off and got in his car. The guards released me but stood nearby, ready to jump in. I glared at her with bloodshot eyes. “You told me you were forced into it. Just say the word and I’ll help you get justice!” Amber sighed impatiently. “Don’t be stupid! Jack, let’s end this peacefully!” I stared at her, suddenly filled with rage. “Amber, we’ve only been married 4 years! You’ve been cheating for 3!” “How could you do this to me?!” But Amber was eerily calm. “Should I call you naive or just plain dumb? When has a newbie like me ever gotten an overseas assignment?” The company had a policy of only sending men on foreign projects. I was shocked when Amber was chosen. But she said she was talented enough to be the exception. Even with the policy, they’d make an exception for her. Now she was using this to mock my naivety. She glanced at her phone. It showed a family photo of the three of them. How ironic! “Jack, you can’t give me what I want. Let’s get divorced!”

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I had dedicated years to figure skating, and to repay the immense sponsorship from the Harrington family, I married Julian Harrington. In our seven years of marriage, he’d taken on dozens of women, even setting them up in the same exclusive community. His twisted excuse? It made it easier for me, his legitimate wife, to ‘manage’ them. I became adept at handling the women he grew tired of, all while maintaining my grueling training schedule. Just as I was on the brink of winning the Grand Slam, a teammate accidentally grazed my neck with her skate blade during a competition. Streams of blood dripped onto the ice, freezing into crimson streaks. Julian merely glanced at me. “If you’re not dead, then get back on the ice and win!” Only later did I discover she was Julian’s new favorite. This was her twisted display of power, his warning. When I regained consciousness, I stared at the familiar room, yet couldn’t recall where I was. All I knew was that my debt was paid. I could finally leave…

“You’re finally awake! I’ll call the family doctor!” Julian’s sister, Elara Harrington, immediately sprang from the chair, rushing out to usher a team of doctors into my room. “Skylar Xu is our Harrington family’s treasure! Make sure you check her thoroughly!” I lay there like a fish on a chopping block, pinned to the bed, letting them poke and prod. Just answering a few robotic questions confirmed I was mostly fine. As they left, I overheard someone sigh softly: “Treasure? More like a cash cow, if you ask me.” I looked down at the countless scars, old and new, etched onto my body from years of intense training. Even if they saw them, they never once asked if I was in pain or if I was tired. The only thing they ever cared about was whether my performance on the ice could generate more income for the Harrington family. “Elara, I’ve done everything you asked. Can I leave now?” She stared at me, surprised. “Why the sudden urge to leave?” My gaze dimmed as I shifted my eyes from her face to the window. Soon, her secretary rushed in, breathless, reporting everything that had happened during the competition. Listening to him, she took a deep breath, her voice low and stern as she gave an order: “Bring Julian to me!” The usually decisive businesswoman, after hearing the full story, seemed to feel a pang of compassion. Pity, regret, and a touch of helplessness mingled in her gaze as she looked at me. “I’m so sorry, Sky. I thought he’d settle down once he’d had his fun. I never imagined he’d let some outside woman hurt you…” I shook my head. “It’s fine. It was my obligation to repay their kindness. Once it’s fully paid, please let me go.” My phone rang at an inconvenient moment. I answered, and a voice, arrogant yet deceptively sweet, came through the line: “Skylar Xu, you’re 27 now. It’s time for you to step down.” “You should thank me. That cut was merciful; I didn’t aim for your face, but it’s enough to end your glory days.” “Whether it’s the Ice Princess or Julian Harrington’s wife, that position will finally be mine!” As soon as she finished speaking, she let out a delicate giggle and quickly hung up. I lifted my head and met Elara’s gaze. The unspoken understanding between adults kept us silent. Recalling Tiffany’s words, I almost wanted to laugh. Did she really think being Julian’s wife was as glamorous as it seemed? Learning how to discreetly handle the women Julian grew bored of. Knowing how to deal with those who would threaten suicide to demand legitimacy. These were my mandatory lessons. From clumsy fear and cluelessness at the start, I had evolved into someone who handled it with practiced ease. Outsiders only saw my calm exterior, unaware it was the result of five years of emotional attrition. Five years that had mercilessly tortured a vibrant, beating heart until it barely clung to life. Perhaps it was a woman’s empathy, but Elara didn’t try to persuade me to stay. She sighed deeply. “The doctor said you injured your head, and it might cause stress-induced memory loss.” “You need to avoid strenuous exercise and excessive fatigue for a while.” “Once you’ve recovered, I’ll help you get a divorce and send you abroad.” “As for Celeste Johnson, I don’t want to hear that name from outsiders ever again.” She was warning me, subtly telling me not to leak the old scandal. I softly replied, “I know.” My family was poor when I was little, but I was discovered to have a talent for figure skating. The Harrington family covered the substantial cost. The price of accepting their sponsorship was marrying Julian Harrington. To win the Grand Slam and help launch Harrington Sports’ brand. Originally, this kind of good fortune wouldn’t have fallen to me. Julian Harrington had a long-term girlfriend, Celeste Johnson, who he’d grown up with. But then Celeste cheated on him with Julian’s brother-in-law. Elara caught them in bed. She didn’t want this incident to ruin the relationship between her and her brother. So she found some random excuse to divorce and sent Celeste abroad. To completely sever this toxic connection, she even went as far as to drug Julian and me, ensuring we ended up in bed. Unexpectedly, Julian agreed to marry me without any fuss. When we first got married, I had just graduated, at an age when my heart was easily stirred. Plus, I’d secretly admired Julian for a long time, so marrying him felt like a dream. During that time, besides training, I would carefully inquire about Julian’s preferences. I knew the staff looked down on me, thinking a country girl like me wasn’t worthy of their young master. But I liked Julian. Even enduring their cold stares and impatience, I’d brazenly ask them to teach me how to make Julian’s favorite dishes and his preferred soups. I meticulously remembered he disliked spicy food, loved sweets, preferred plain, understated clothes that made him seem composed. Even for water, he liked… What temperature was it again? I suddenly couldn’t recall. I shook my head, but it didn’t help; instead, it triggered a headache, making me gasp. Elara looked worried and asked, “Are you okay?” “I’m fine. I’ll only stay for one more week at most.” Because in one week, I would be joining Team E, becoming their youngest-ever head coach for figure skating. She nodded her agreement. Before sleeping that night, I felt a faint blank spot in my memory, specifically about Julian. I tried hard to recall it, but it wouldn’t come back. Instead, it only brought on palpitations. It didn’t matter. Let it be forgotten. From the moment he started bringing various women home, being intimate with them right in front of me. Whispering sweet nothings, entwined with them on the very bed we shared on our wedding night. I should have given up on him then, instead of lowering my standards, endlessly tolerating him. He knew I was allergic to smoke, yet after every session, he’d light a cigarette and blow the smoke in my face. He’d mock me in a contemptuous tone: “The moment you worked so hard to climb into my bed, and said all those bad things about Celeste in front of my sister, you should have foreseen this outcome.” “Skylar Xu got rid of Celeste Johnson, taking her place like a homewrecker. So you should know that after marriage, there will be other ‘Skylars’ who will get rid of you in the same way.” “Do their actions on my body look familiar to you?” “Are they just like the night you begged me for intimacy?” “If so, you’re practically their mentor.” He suddenly leaned close, the smoke from his nostrils stinging my eyes, making tears stream down my face. He clasped the back of my neck, a warning in his grip. “No matter how many I’ve slept with, none of them feel like you did that night.” “Why don’t you personally teach them a few tricks, so they can please me better?” “Or perhaps…” He narrowed his eyes, looking at me like a predator about to bite my neck. His gaze sent a shiver down my spine, an indescribable emotion swelling within me. His hand expertly found my sensitive spots, leaving me utterly paralyzed. “Is your body’s sensitivity and softness the result of all that scandalous figure skating practice?” I stared at him, wide-eyed in disbelief, unable to believe those words came from his mouth. In that moment, the romanticized image of him I’d held since childhood shattered into a million pieces. I saw the ugliest, most primitive state of a man in him: vulgar and perverse. I couldn’t bear it any longer. Tears welled in my eyes, my nails digging into his arm. “Julian Harrington, you can say whatever you want about me, but don’t you dare desecrate the sport of figure skating…” Amidst a whirlwind of thoughts, my pillow grew damp, my wet hair sticking to my cheeks. It was itchy, and a little painful. Drowsiness prevented me from discerning whether the pain came from my face or from the depths of my heart… I just felt certain memories drifting further and further away…

Julian returned the next day around noon, bringing Tiffany along. The staff were all discussing it: “The young master has so many women outside, but this is the first time he’s brought one home.” “Looks like the Lady Harrington position is about to change hands.” They never bothered to hide their discussions from me, nor did they ever show me the respect I deserved. Tiffany overheard their words and shot me a challenging look across the room. It was as if she was saying, ‘You can’t even control the staff, how could you ever hope to keep Julian’s heart? The position of Lady Harrington will definitely be mine!’ I pursed my lips, a soft laugh escaping my nostrils involuntarily. How to keep Julian’s heart? His heart was as hard as stone; no matter how sincerely I treated him, it wouldn’t stir him in the slightest. He’d even think I was trying to flatter him or grab his attention. It would only make him despise me more. Julian pulled out a chair at the dining table and said, “Get me a glass of water.” The staff didn’t budge. For five years, they’d silently agreed that serving Julian was my job. Just a little longer, I told myself. Five more days, and I’d be free. I picked a clean glass and poured him some water, handing it to him. He frowned slightly, took a sip, and set it down. “Are you trying to scald me with this temperature?” “I only drink water at 55 degrees. You’ve never messed up before. What’s wrong today?” Before he could finish, I reached for the glass, but he pressed my hand down. “New tactics now? Trying to provoke me, get my attention?” “Are you jealous?” I calmly met his cold gaze, speaking with detached composure. “I forgot.” A flicker of surprise crossed his face at my reaction. After all, I used to be obedient to his every word, quick to explain if I fell short. My indifference today piqued his suspicion. But he said nothing more. At the dinner table, he proposed that I retire. The Harrington family’s club was planning to sign Tiffany. He wanted me to coach her. I had thought that by winning the Grand Slam and making my name known worldwide, Providing free advertising for the Harrington brand, and helping Julian expand his business empire, That would be enough. Now, even my life after retirement—was that to be invaded and exploited too? It turns out that in his eyes, I had always been an inexhaustible, free resource. “My contract with the Harrington family is almost up. As for a club coach, I can recommend someone to you.” Thinking back, this was the first time I had ever refused Julian’s demand. As I expected, he flew into a rage. “So, you think your wings have grown strong enough to leave the Harrington family, huh, Skylar Xu? I’m telling you, don’t even think about it!” “You would never have achieved what you have today without the Harrington family!” With that, he abruptly stood up and went upstairs with Tiffany. I silently bowed my head, picking at my rice, tears steadily falling into it. He wasn’t wrong, but my contributions to the Harrington family over the years had long exceeded the amount of their sponsorship. I wanted to leave. I wanted my own life, my own plans. To no longer be a puppet subservient to the Harrington family. Heading upstairs to pack my bags, I passed Julian’s door and heard quite a commotion inside. “Julian, please divorce Skylar, okay?” “Anything she can give you, I can give you too. Anything she can’t, I have it all.” “Touch my skin, isn’t it softer and firmer than hers?” If I had known it was going to be such a disgusting conversation, I would never have stopped. Just as I was about to leave, Julian’s sharp voice cut through the air. “I will not divorce her! Get rid of those inappropriate thoughts of yours.” “Do your job, become the next Skylar Xu, and don’t waste my investment in you.” Why wouldn’t he divorce me? There was no love left between us, only hatred. Perhaps this was his revenge, for me occupying Celeste’s place. To bind me in this marriage and torture me for the rest of my life. At that thought, my head felt like it was splitting open, the pain radiating from my scalp to the tip of my nose, half my face going numb. I lay rigidly on the bed, taking half an hour to recover. When the pain finally subsided, the blank space in my brain, that missing memory, began to expand. I felt like I had forgotten something, but I just couldn’t recall what. The following days, I was busy with preparations to go abroad. As the contract still had a few days left, I had to follow Julian’s instructions, spending my free time training Tiffany. The day I received my passport, I was called to the training rink. Tiffany, wearing my competition outfit, paraded in front of me, tossing her head as she said, “Julian said your support team and costume designers are all mine now.” I just softly said, “Oh.” Suddenly, she lay down on the ground, placing her arm near my skate, and with her other hand, grabbed my clothes. I momentarily lost my balance, and the tip of my blade carved a shocking gash on her arm. “Skylar Xu!” Julian strode quickly towards us, roughly pushing me to the ground. He bent down, picked Tiffany up, and placed her on the mat. Then he told someone to call the team doctor and dragged me into an empty changing room. “Are you insane! If you want to hurt someone, can’t you find a place without cameras?” “If this gets out, accusing you of bullying a teammate and intentional injury, what about your reputation? What about the Harrington family’s standing?” His actions lately, I understood them less and less. His words contained no reproach for me harming his new favorite; instead, he seemed to be considering my welfare. I was about to reply when he bent down and picked up a piece of paper from behind me. “What is this?” He leaned closer to read it. “An offer from Team E?” My heart instantly clenched, sweat breaking out on my palms. I took a steady breath, then calmly pulled the offer letter from his hand. “Didn’t I say I’d recommend a coach last time? Many people want to join Harrington Sports, so I had them submit their resumes for screening.” His expression visibly relaxed, then turned stern again. “When did I agree to let you leave?” “Here’s the new contract, another ten years.” He tossed a stack of documents into my lap. I pretended to agree, but secretly, I deliberately misspelled my name on the contract, like random scribbles. I also slipped a divorce agreement among the papers, watching him sign them all. The huge weight on my heart finally lifted.

The day before I left, Celeste Johnson returned to the country. She hadn’t changed at all, still as arrogant as before, tossing her jacket onto me. “Are you enjoying your role as Lady Harrington?” “I know you had a crush on Julian back then. My five years away gave you a five-year trial.” “So, you should probably be kneeling and thanking me.” “Still, Julian never forgot me, did he?” I released my grip, and her jacket dropped straight to the floor. I stepped over it. “Was cheating fun? What do you think Julian’s reaction will be when he finds out the truth?” She hadn’t expected me to know about it and, enraged, raised her hand and slapped me. It was too fast; I couldn’t dodge. When I registered it, my face was stinging. Seeing Julian approach, Celeste began to play the victim, clinging to his arm and whining, “Julian, I’m back now. It’s time for this stand-in to leave, isn’t it?” I held back my tears, turning to go upstairs and change my flight. I’d leave tonight. Julian sensed something was wrong. He paced outside my room, wanting to explain but unsure what to say. When he finally twisted the doorknob and saw the empty room, he froze. Realizing what had happened, he roared, “Where’s Skylar Xu?!” Just then, Elara returned from her office, her brows furrowed in confusion at her brother’s frantic demeanor. “Didn’t she tell you? She’s becoming the head coach of Team E’s figure skating team tomorrow.” It was as if a light bulb went off in his head, finally understanding the source of his deep-seated unease all this time. But he simply couldn’t accept the fact that I had truly left. “Impossible! We signed a renewal contract just two days ago! If she just leaves like this, I can pursue legal action!” The undisguised fury in Julian’s eyes was fully directed at Elara. It was the first time Elara had ever seen her brother speak to her in such a tone. His strong, hot hand gripped her shoulder, his gaze sharp, radiating an intense pressure. Elara had a fiery temper herself. After their parents died, she truly became like a mother to her younger brother. As the elder, she wouldn’t tolerate her brother treating her this way. She raised her hand and slapped him directly. “You can’t even keep your own wife in line, and now you’re coming to me asking where she is?” “That contract isn’t valid.” Julian rubbed his stinging cheek, a bewildered look on his face. “What do you mean, not valid?” Elara sighed, a helpless expression washing over her face. “She intentionally misspelled her own name. Her message was crystal clear.” “For all these years, the revenue she brought to the corporation has long surpassed the Harrington family’s initial kindness.”

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