Category: English

The day I found out I was pregnant, Ryan was tenderly cradling Chloe, who was supposedly blind. Then, he turned and *slammed* my pregnancy test report right into my face. “You abandoned me without a second thought when I crashed my car. If Chloe hadn’t given me her cornea, I probably would have died, left for dead in the middle of nowhere.” “Now you’ve gone to all this trouble to get pregnant with my child. You just want to use the baby to climb your way back into my life and resume your role as the lady of this mansion, don’t you? Let me tell you, forget it. Only Chloe deserves to be the wife of the CEO of *my* family!” Tears streamed down my face as Ryan’s hand clamped tightly around my neck, his voice a low growl. “I’ll give you a chance to make things right. All you have to do is seduce my older brother—the one who’s already married—and force him to marry you. Grandpa will definitely kick him out of the family business then, and I’ll be the sole heir.” But later, when the truth was finally revealed, and I became his sister-in-law, just as he’d wished… He knelt on the ground, begging for my forgiveness. I simply smiled, and took back the cornea I had once given him.

“Ava, weren’t you madly in love with me? How can you refuse to do even this small thing for me?” “You went to all this trouble to get pregnant with my child, just to force me to marry you and become the Ryan family matriarch you’ve always dreamed of, didn’t you? Two years ago, when I had that car accident, you ran faster than anyone. And after I woke up, you shamelessly came back and tried to claim the cornea Chloe donated to me. Is there a single truthful word that comes out of your mouth?” Ryan, seething with fury, hurled the pregnancy report at my face. I crumpled to the floor, powerless, passively enduring his baseless rage. Chloe, seeing this, melted into his arms like a wilting flower, coaxing him, her eyes betraying a smug triumph when she looked at me. “Oh, Ryan, Ava must have had her reasons for leaving you after the accident.” Chloe pretended to be blind as she fumbled to help me up from the floor, forcing a grateful smile. “Actually, I should thank you, Ava. If you hadn’t abandoned Ryan, how else would I have had the chance to come into his life?” I scoffed, my gaze fixed on Chloe’s bright, clear eyes. “That year, was it *really* your cornea you donated to Ryan?” Chloe shrank back into Ryan’s embrace, startled and flustered, sobbing heartbrokenly. “Ryan, is Ava still upset that I stole your affection by being with you? But after I lost my sight, you were the only person I could rely on. You’ve already been abandoned once; I don’t want to leave you and make you experience the pain of being deserted by someone you love again.” Ryan fumbled to console the woman in his arms with soft words. When he turned back to me, his expression instantly shifted to one of disgust, and he yelled, “Ava, haven’t you caused enough trouble?! That year, you were afraid I’d hold you back from marrying into wealth, so you turned and left without a hint of hesitation. I was bleeding on the ground, begging you, but you were completely indifferent. If Chloe hadn’t saved me, I probably wouldn’t even be standing here now, looking at your accusatory glare.” Chloe snuggled into Ryan’s arms, a sneer playing on her lips. “Ryan, since Ava is so certain, maybe your cornea really *was* donated by her.” Ryan scoffed, “I might have been blind to the truth back then, but I’m not an idiot. If she really gave me her cornea, then how did she regain her sight? How can she now stand here so boldly, accusing you?” A wave of bitterness washed over me. I clenched the bone ring on my finger, tears silently falling. All these years, no matter how much I explained, Ryan always unconditionally believed Chloe, constantly mocking me and giving me the cold shoulder, as if I were his mortal enemy. “Ava, I’m giving you a chance to make things right. You went to all this trouble to get pregnant with my child, didn’t you? Well, I might as well put you to good use. Grandpa is on his last legs, and my older brother, who’s been overseas for years, is coming back soon. I want you to seduce him, get into his bed, and then use the child in your belly to blackmail him into marrying you.” “Why? This is *our* child!” I stared at Ryan’s eyes, filled with longing, and spoke in disbelief. “Ava, stop faking that sentimental look; it’s disgusting. I told you, only Chloe is worthy of carrying my child. You’re not.” “Grandpa despises disloyal men above all else. Asher is a married man. If you seduce him, pretend to be pregnant with his child, and blow the whole thing up, Grandpa will never let him become the heir to the Ryan family. Then, the entire family will be mine.” “After it’s done, I’ll allow you to give birth to this child and let you stay by my side to attend to my needs. But give up your foolish dreams. The position of Mrs. Ryan will only ever belong to Chloe.” Watching the couple’s intense display of affection, I sneered. “Fine, Ryan. As you wish.” Second Chapter

Watching Ryan carefully lift Chloe and turn to leave, my tears finally burst forth, uncontrollable. Ryan and I met in high school. Back then, he was the distinguished adopted son of the powerful Ryan family, and I was just an orphan with no parents. He was the one who chose me, who pulled me out of the depths of despair. Later, I became a scholarship student sponsored by the Ryan family, gaining the opportunity to attend a prestigious university. I no longer had to worry about money or struggle to survive. Ryan and I naturally met, came to know each other, and fell in love. Everything felt so right. Ryan introduced me to his family, and we ended our long courtship, preparing to walk down the aisle. Just when I thought such a happy and peaceful life would continue forever, an accident shattered my utopian dream. Ryan and I were out for a drive in the countryside when we got into a car accident. In that split second, he shielded me with his body. His eyes were severely injured and required a cornea transplant, but there was no compatible cornea to be found in such a short time. So, I secretly donated my cornea to him. Immediately after the surgery, my mother had an emergency. I rushed back to our old family home in the countryside, missing the day Ryan regained his sight, which gave Chloe the chance to falsely claim credit. My mother, heartbroken that I would live in eternal darkness at such a young age, gave me her cornea on her deathbed. When I regained my sight and stood before Ryan again, I discovered he already had Chloe by his side. No matter how much I tried to explain, Ryan only believed Chloe’s version of events, convinced that I had abandoned him and left, and now, seeing that he had survived, I had shamelessly returned to try and reclaim my status as a wealthy lady. In truth, Chloe’s acting was terrible. She constantly forgot her blind persona, and her façade would crack more times than I could count over the years. Yet, Ryan chose to ignore it all, indulging her every whim and showering her with boundless affection. “Asher’s flight lands at 3 PM the day after tomorrow. Go pick him up at the airport.” My phone screen lit up with a message from Ryan. I gave a bitter smile. Ryan, I’m dying to know if you’ll regret your decision today when the truth is finally revealed.

A sharp sting in my eyes made me understand. My mother had been quite old and suffering from many complications when she gave me her cornea, so the transplant had left me with lingering side effects. I needed monthly check-ups and treatment at the hospital. Today was my scheduled appointment. “Ms. Yu, our examination shows a risk of retinal detachment in your eyes. You need a new transplant as soon as possible.” I gently shook my head. If finding a new pair of corneas were that easy, then Ryan wouldn’t have fallen for Chloe’s deception all those years ago. Seeing my indifferent expression, the doctor frowned, earnestly trying to persuade me. “Ms. Yu, you can’t take this surgery lightly. If you delay treatment, there’s a risk of permanent blindness.” The doctor sighed heavily. “I’ll start conservative treatment for now. Please go pay the fee.” Ten thousand dollars, a mere dinner bill for Ryan, became the last straw for me. I returned to the Ryan family mansion. The moment I opened the door, I saw Ryan, his eyes sparkling with delight, gazing at Chloe, who was surrounded by towering piles of luxury goods. I clenched my hands, lowering my head as I walked towards him. Third Chapter “Ryan, the doctor said there’s a problem with my cornea. I need ten thousand dollars for treatment. Could you please…?” “Enough!” Ryan impatiently cut me off. “Chloe was right. You’re just a greedy, unscrupulous woman who’ll stop at nothing to get what she wants. You’re only with me for my money, aren’t you?” I opened my mouth numbly, feeling utterly speechless. Chloe pouted, snuggling into Ryan’s arms and whimpering. “Ryan, if Ava wants it, just give her ten thousand dollars. That amount isn’t even enough to buy the cheapest bag I’m holding.” “But, Ava, you shouldn’t just lie to get money. Today, I clearly saw you getting into a strange man’s luxury car. How could you have been going to the hospital?” Chloe produced a blurry photo, a face barely discernible. Ryan’s anger instantly flared. “Ava, have you ever told me a single truth? A money-hungry, unfaithful woman like you—if you weren’t still somewhat useful, I’d be disgusted just looking at you.” Ryan seemed to recall something, and he suddenly clamped his hand around my throat, staring intently at my slightly swollen belly. “My child? Is that *my* baby in there?” I incredulously raised my head, my voice cold as ice. “Ryan, is that truly how you see me? As some kind of fickle, dishonest woman?” I remembered that night. Ryan had burst into my room, reeking of alcohol, clutching my waist like a large dog, burying his head in my neck. A few hot tears had fallen onto my skin, searing my heart. He’d held me tightly, pulling me into a deep, desperate embrace. It wasn’t until the heavy rain outside had finally stopped that he allowed me to catch my breath. I had thought that night was the turning point in our relationship, a naive belief that we could go back to how things were, that we were still the only ones in each other’s worlds. But I never imagined that what I’d perceived as sweet, uncontrollable passion was just his drunken mistake. If it hadn’t been me, it would have been anyone else. “Ava, since you want this money so badly, then open your eyes and watch me and Chloe make love.” With that, he pulled Chloe closer and kissed her passionately. Ryan’s strong, bony hands roamed over Chloe’s body, stripping off her clothes in a few swift movements. I watched their entwined bodies in the distance, listening numbly to the intimate gasps. I don’t know how long it lasted. As dawn broke, Ryan finally wiped his lips with a sated expression, then slammed a card down in front of me, his voice laced with venom. “Ava, for money, you actually watched me make love to another woman right in front of you.” “Take my money, then do what I tell you. You need to handle seducing Asher perfectly, or don’t even think about staying by my side.” I slowly picked up the bank card he had trampled under his foot. My heart felt like a gaping wound, a cold wind sweeping through, leaving behind an empty, hollow ache. Ten thousand dollars. Enough to sever our past and all our grievances. I had already repaid Ryan’s financial support with a pair of corneas. From now on, I owed him nothing. I opened my phone and scheduled an abortion for tomorrow. I gently stroked my slightly swollen belly. I had thought this child was the crystallization of Ryan’s and my love. Now, it seemed it was anything but. I didn’t want my child to come into this world burdened with stigma and humiliation. Mrs. Jenkins, the housekeeper, her face filled with pity, helped me up from the cold floor and then went to the kitchen to make me a warm mug of tea. “Ms. Ava, have some to warm yourself up.” I hadn’t cried when Chloe falsely accused me, nor when I endured Ryan’s baseless accusations and humiliation. But at that moment, receiving a long-overdue act of kindness, I felt an overwhelming urge to cry. Mrs. Jenkins sighed. “I’ve seen everything between you and the young master all these years. He has a sharp tongue, but a good heart. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have allowed you to stay by his side for so long.” I gave a faint, bitter laugh and shook my head. “No, he has no heart. No matter how much I burn myself, I still can’t warm him.” “I’ve decided to give up. To let him go, and to let myself go too.”

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Sixteen years of chasing him, yet his heart remained untouched. Then, one drunken night, I unexpectedly ended up in bed with my sworn enemy. My rival, tracing the marks I’d left on him, cornered me. “Alex, are you really going to keep running from me for that coward?” My childhood friend’s eyes were red, his voice raw with desperation. “I messed up. Just give me one more chance.” I stood outside the private room at the club. Clutching the carefully chosen gift, my heart hammered, threatening to burst out of my chest. It was Liam’s birthday today. My childhood friend. I’d planned this for an entire month, just to confess my feelings to him on this special day. My hand had barely touched the doorknob when I heard Liam’s voice from inside. “Alex? Don’t joke around. I’ve always thought of him like a little brother.” My fingers froze instantly, glued to the doorknob. “Really? But the way he looks at you is totally different.” Liam chuckled lightly: “Just a fleeting crush, nothing serious. He’ll get over it eventually. Besides, we’re practically siblings; dating would be weird.” I took two steps back. It felt like my heart shattered into a million pieces inside my chest. So, all the careful feelings I’d cherished for so many years were just a “fleeting crush” in his eyes? … Stepping out of the club, the cold wind hit me, and I realized my face was wet. My phone vibrated. Liam had sent a message: “Alex, where are you? Everyone’s waiting for you.” I stared at the screen for a few seconds, then just switched my phone off. Right then, all I wanted was to find a place to get blackout drunk.

“Another one…” I lay slumped on the bar, my vision blurry. The bartender looked troubled. “Sir, you’ve had too much…” *Slam!* I fumbled for my wallet and slapped it onto the bar. “Worried I don’t have money? I’m loaded!” Just then, a familiar figure sat down next to me. Tall, with broad shoulders and a lean waist. I squinted, a surge of wild joy rushing through me. “Liam? Did you change your mind?” The person seemed to say something, but I couldn’t hear it anymore. The alcohol had completely drowned out my reason. I lunged and hugged him, burying my face in the crook of his neck, inhaling deeply. “You smell so good…” It wasn’t Liam’s usual cologne, but it somehow made me feel strangely at ease. “Alex, you’re drunk.” The person’s voice was deep and magnetic, tinged with a hint of helplessness. I looked up at him. *Damn, he’s hot.* I leaned in and kissed him directly. The moment our lips met, he stiffened. I gnawed and bit at his lips like a puppy, my hands restlessly trying to slip inside his clothes. He grabbed my wandering hands, his voice hoarse. “Alex…” I giggled stupidly. “Don’t be shy… I know you like me too…” After that, my memories were fragmented. I remember him half-carrying, half-dragging me out of the bar, and my restless body rubbing against his in the taxi. Back at my place, he pinned me against the wall, warning, “Don’t move.” But I only got worse, biting his Adam’s apple… And then, a blank.

The sunlight stung my eyes. I groaned, struggling to open them, and found myself lying in a strange bed. “Awake?” My body stiffened. I followed the sound. And saw my sworn enemy. Ryder. He was leaning against the bedroom doorway, shirtless, watching me with a smirk. My gaze dropped, landing on his toned chest. There were several clear scratch marks there. “I… we…” My voice trembled. I pulled back the covers and saw I was only wearing my boxers. Ryder slowly walked over, looking down at me from above. “What, don’t remember what you did to me last night?” My mind went blank. Last night, while drunk, I seemed to have mistaken someone for Liam, kissing and touching them… “No way! How could I possibly—” Ryder raised an eyebrow. He pointed to a red mark on his collarbone. “You kissed and gnawed on me, then tore off my clothes?” My face went white. Flashes of last night flickered through my mind. I really did kiss someone, and said some… unspeakable things… “I’m sorry! I was drunk, I got the wrong person! I thought you were Liam—” Ryder’s eyes turned cold. “So all that passion was for Liam?” “Uh, it’s a misunderstanding. I’ll pay for your dry cleaning. Let’s just pretend nothing happened…” “Alex, you’re just going to sleep with me and not take responsibility?” He pressed me onto the bed. Up close, his handsome face made my heart pound uncontrollably. Ryder’s looks were truly flawless. A high nose bridge, thin lips, and those alluring, mocking eyes… *Wait, what am I even thinking?!* I struggled. “Nothing happened between us! I, I blacked out, there’s no way…” He frowned. “Do I need to describe in detail how you clung to me last night, kissing me while whispering, ‘I like you so much’?” My whole body burned. I was so mortified I wanted to crawl into a hole. “Those were just drunken words! Ryder, let’s just pretend this never happened!!” I abruptly pushed him away. Grabbed the clothes scattered on the floor and haphazardly pulled them on. Then, I fled.

It wasn’t until I ran out of the apartment complex that I dared to stop and catch my breath. I also switched my phone back on. There were dozens of unread messages and missed calls. All from Liam. “Alex, where are you? I’m so worried.” I stared at the message for a few seconds, a pang of bitterness in my chest. Just yesterday, this kind of concern would have made my heart race. But now, it only felt ironic. My finger hovered over the screen for a long time, but I didn’t reply.

Back at my apartment, as I stepped out of the elevator, I saw a familiar figure. Liam. His eyes lit up when he saw me. “Alex!” “Where were you last night? I looked for you all night, and you didn’t even come to the birthday party.” “…Something came up.” Avoiding his gaze, I pulled out my keys to open the door. But he grabbed my wrist. “You’ve been drinking? You still smell like alcohol—” His voice cut off. His gaze fell on my neck, and his pupils constricted. I pulled away. “I’m tired, I want to rest.” “Is that a hickey? Who were you with last night?” “None of your business! You said you only see me as a brother, right? My private life doesn’t need to be reported to you, does it?” Liam’s face turned ashen. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. I took the opportunity to open the door and quickly slipped inside. I tried to close the door, but Liam blocked it with his arm. “Move!” “Who was it? Ryder?” My heart skipped a beat, and the force in my hand loosened slightly. Catching my reaction, Liam’s eyes darkened. “It really was him? You were with Ryder last night?” I turned my face away. “I told you, it’s none of your business.” Liam grabbed my chin, forcing me to look him in the eye. “Alex, Ryder is known for being a player—” “So what? At least he doesn’t treat me like a child!” I slapped his hand away.

Ignoring his hurt expression, I firmly closed the door. Leaning against the door, I slowly slid to the floor, burying my face in my knees. My phone vibrated. Ryder: [You ran fast. Did you know your shirt was on inside out?] I looked down at my T-shirt. Infuriated, I threw my phone onto the couch. But a few seconds later, I couldn’t resist picking it up to reply: “Nothing happened last night, right?” [Typing…] This status lasted for a long time. Finally, he sent a photo. On a messy bed. My shirt and Ryder’s tie were tangled together, looking incredibly intimate. [What do you think?] “You took advantage of me!” [Who was it clinging to me, saying ‘You’re so hot, big brother’?] “No way! I never said anything like that!” Ryder sent a voice note directly. It was my own sticky, drunken voice: “Big brother… you’re so hot… way hotter than Liam…” I was so mortified my toes curled, almost crushing my phone. “Delete it! Delete it now!” [Beg me. Or, come to my place tonight and beg me in person.] “In your dreams!”

I tossed my phone aside and rushed into the bathroom for a quick, hot shower. As I was drying my hair, the doorbell rang. I thought it was Liam, back again, so I quickly threw on my pajamas and opened the door. “Did you forget anything—” The words caught in my throat. Standing outside was Ryder, holding a paper bag. “Your clothes.” “How did you know where I live?” “Hardly. Star debater for the Law School. Just had to ask around a bit.” I reached for the paper bag, but he suddenly raised his arm, using the momentum to slip inside. “What are you doing! You delivered the stuff, now leave!” Ryder closed the door behind him and took a step closer. “Alex, did you forget something?” “W-what?” He backed me against the wall, one hand braced beside my head. “Last night, you promised to go on a date with me today.” “…Do drunken promises count?” Before I could finish, Ryder pinched my chin, rubbing my lower lip. “This place… it was very enthusiastic in responding to me last night.” I was both mortified and angry, and pushed him away hard. “Ryder! What do you want?” His eyes darkened, and he dropped his playful expression. “Simple. Give me a chance.” “A chance for what?” “A chance to pursue you. I know you’ve liked Liam for years, but since he doesn’t appreciate it…” My heart jolted. “You… how did you know?” “Alex, did you really think Liam was the only one paying attention to you?” Before I could fully process the meaning of his words, He suddenly leaned in and kissed my forehead lightly. “Get some rest.” By the time I came to my senses, he was gone. At the same moment, my phone vibrated. Liam had sent a long message. I hesitated for a moment, then opened it: “Alex, we need to talk. About what I said last night… that wasn’t what I truly meant. Can you give me a chance to explain?” I stared at the message for a long time, my fingertip hovering above the screen, but ultimately, I didn’t reply.

Three in the afternoon. I sat down at a desk in the Law School library, dark circles under my eyes. The senior student across from me, Chloe, immediately winked. “Alex, you really missed out yesterday. Ryder completely crushed the Economics Department’s debate team. It was epic.” I was stunned. “He had a debate yesterday?” Chloe shot me a knowing, amused grin. “Yeah, in the lecture hall. Packed house. Speaking of… that thing on your neck, could it be…” I quickly covered my neck, my ears burning. “A mosquito bite!” Chloe’s smile deepened. “Oh, a very *big* mosquito~” I was so embarrassed, I wanted to crawl into a hole. Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind me. “Excuse me.” My body stiffened. I didn’t need to turn to know who it was. “What a coincidence?” Ryder sat across from me, taking his laptop out of his bag. Chloe’s eyes darted between us, and then she wisely packed up her things. “I just remembered I have a date. Gotta go.” Once Chloe was gone, I lowered my voice. “Are you stalking me?” “The Law School library is a public space.” “Then why did you specifically sit across from me?” He quirked his lips. “Because the lighting is good here… makes it easier to see your expression.” I ground my teeth in frustration, but there was nothing I could do. I buried my head in my case files. But his presence was simply too strong. Even without speaking, he made it impossible for me to concentrate. Ten minutes later, he suddenly spoke. “You keep staring at me.” “I do not!” “You’ve looked at me seven times since you sat down. If you want to look, just look openly. I don’t charge.” I flared up, mortified. “Ryder! Can you just—” “Shh, library. Quiet.” That’s when I noticed a few other students nearby were looking at us curiously. Suddenly, my phone vibrated. Liam: [I’m downstairs at the library, waiting for you.] Ryder glanced at my phone screen. His eyes immediately turned cold. “He wants to see you?” “None of your business.” I instinctively locked my phone. “That day, you hugged me and said, ‘I never want to like Liam again.’ You’re going back on that so soon?” “Those were drunken words!” “Then what’s the truth?” He clasped my wrist. “Alex, do you dare admit you feel something for me?” I shot up, my chair scraping loudly. Students around us all turned, but I didn’t care anymore. “Ryder, nothing will ever happen between us. That day was a mistake. Just let it go.” With that, I fled the library as if my life depended on it. iam leaned against a ginkgo tree nearby. When he saw me, he immediately straightened up. “Alex, Ryder didn’t bother you, did he?”

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The day my wife became CEO of the corporation. Before I could even celebrate with her, thugs kidnapped me and tossed me into a pool. I begged and pleaded, gasping for air, a pathetic mess. She stared down at me with disgust. “If you hadn’t left him for dead, Liam wouldn’t have died. This is your karma.” It was then I realized she’d always hated me for not saving her idealized first love, Liam, all those years ago. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on that fateful day. “When I confess later, can you play the music for me?” I heard that familiar voice. I looked up, meeting Liam Miller’s familiar face. In that instant, I knew I’d been reborn! On this very day in my previous life, Liam had asked Rachel Dawson—who would later become my wife—out to confess his feelings. But as the three of us left the mall, just as we were about to reach the confession spot, a billboard suddenly came crashing down from above. I was the first to react. I shoved Rachel, who was closest to me, out of the way. Both of us dodged just in time, escaping with only superficial scrapes. But Liam was crushed by the billboard, paralyzing him from the waist down, ending his street dance dreams forever. Two years later, Liam died by suicide, consumed by depression. Rachel didn’t even attend his funeral. So I always thought she didn’t care much for him. It wasn’t until after we were married, after I helped her rise to CEO, that she immediately had someone throw me into the water. Only then did I understand she’d been waiting for an opportunity to get her revenge. “You left Liam for dead to get to me! If it weren’t for you, he and I would have had a perfect family!” “You made me lose the man I loved! Die!” Gasping for air, drowning, I struggled, but Rachel pulled a plastic bag over my head. Layer after layer, her eyes filled with cold malice. She didn’t stop until I was like a fish out of water, completely out of breath. Then, with a look of pure disdain, she tossed my body into the ocean. Now, seeing Rachel coming down the escalator after shopping, a look of excitement on her face, I simply responded without a ripple of emotion. This life. I chose to stand by and watch.

Rachel held two coffees. One she drank herself, the other she handed directly to Liam. “Julian, I know you don’t drink coffee, so I didn’t get you one. You don’t mind, do you?” I smiled calmly. In my last life, her favoritism was so obvious. But I was foolish enough to think she was just being direct. Two minutes later, Rachel, laughing hysterically at something Liam said, finally realized I hadn’t caught up. She saw me standing at a trendy cafe, buying fruit tea. She called out to me from about fifteen feet away. “Ugh, what’s taking you so long? Can you hurry up?” I held up the order slip for my tea and waved it at them. “There are still a dozen orders ahead of me. Why don’t you guys go ahead?” “Seriously? Do you *have* to get that tea? The taxi will be here soon, and we’re not waiting for you!” “It’s fine. I can just call my own ride.” Seeing me dryly licking my lips, Rachel looked annoyed. She grabbed Liam’s arm and started walking away, muttering as she went. “Honestly, such a spoiled rich kid. Can’t he just wait until he gets home to drink some water?” Watching them walk away, I calmly picked up my fruit tea from the counter and followed slowly. A few yards from the exit, I heard screams erupt from the street. “CRASH!” The sound of tearing metal. The next second, the billboard came down from the sky. Rachel heard the commotion and immediately shoved Liam away. But she was the one caught, hit by the fifteen-foot metal frame. She crumpled to the ground, blood splattering from her head. The crowd instinctively formed a circle, children’s cries rising in a chaotic chorus. Liam, who had only suffered minor scrapes, scrambled to his feet. Urged by the onlookers, he finally remembered to call an ambulance. Gulp, gulp. I took two long pulls from my fruit tea. I guess this is what Rachel wanted to see in her last life.

I just got back to my dorm when I saw dozens of missed calls. I called my mom back. Her voice, close to tears, came through the phone. “You brat, where are you?” I told her I just got back to the dorm and my phone had died. My mom finally breathed a sigh of relief. “I told you not to go out in this stormy weather, but you wouldn’t listen. Look how scary things got!” “Your dad heard Rachel was injured near the town square and thought you were with her, so he rushed over too.” “From now on, when the weather’s bad, just stay in your dorm and read, got it?!” I used to hate my mom’s nagging. Now, hearing it over the phone, my heart felt warm. In my last life, when my parents found out I was missing, they knelt in the rain outside the police station, begging them to open a case immediately. And after Rachel became CEO, she not only purged my father’s loyal employees but also forced my dad, the former CEO, to live in a basement apartment. Yet, even that wasn’t enough for Rachel. Knowing my parents couldn’t handle the shock, she showed them videos of my abuse, blaming them for raising such a cold-blooded son. Learning I had died so painfully, my parents couldn’t take it. They literally died of shock and grief. Thinking of this, my eyes welled up. Hearing my silence, my mom raised her voice. “You knucklehead, not talking again! You probably put your phone aside to slack off!” “No… Mom, I was wrong before.” My mom paused, hearing the emotion in my voice. She thought I was worried about Rachel. “It’s okay, Julian. Rachel is a lucky girl, and your dad will help her out.” After hanging up with my mom, I stood on my dorm balcony and sighed softly. Rachel and I met when we were ten. My dad had just started his business, and her parents were divorcing. Since we went to the same school and were in the same class, we often did homework together. Later, in high school, Rachel and I both got into the honors class. Both our parents thought we’d continue like that forever, until Liam Miller showed up in our senior year. Liam was an arts student, not only good-looking but also an amazing street dancer. Ever since Rachel saw his performance, she’d been dying to meet him. I didn’t pay much attention at first. After all, Rachel always admired strength, and Liam was a total slacker when it came to academics. Besides, I’d personally seen Liam kissing a troublemaker in an alley, and his phone had a dozen backup girls. But Rachel wouldn’t believe me. She said I was just jealous. Well, this time around. I’m going to watch and see if she and Liam really end up together!

Rachel didn’t regain consciousness all night. My homeroom teacher, Ms. Evans, found me and urged me to visit her at the hospital. Everyone knew how close we were, so to avoid drawing suspicion, I followed her without a word. At the hospital. Rachel had internal bleeding in her brain. She was still in a coma when I arrived. On the hospital bed, only her nose was visible, hooked up to an oxygen machine, her legs encased in plaster casts and propped high. The doctor said she’d suffered a spinal injury and might be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life. Rachel’s mom, Mrs. Dawson, sobbed uncontrollably, kneeling on the floor. “Doctor, please! My daughter is a senior this year; her life has just begun!” Ms. Evans also pleaded. “Doctor, this child is Ivy League material. She has a math competition next month. You can’t give up on her!” In my last life, after Rachel won that competition, she soared, earning a guaranteed spot at a top-tier university. Now, hearing Ms. Evans mention the competition again, I clenched my fists. Math was my strong suit, but to avoid competing with Rachel, I hadn’t even signed up. Though I later got into a decent state university, a top-tier one was always my dream. Reborn, I wanted to make up for the regrets of my last life. Just as Ms. Evans finished speaking, a woman burst into the room, charging in recklessly. She grabbed Mrs. Dawson’s hair and yanked hard. “It’s all your fault! If your daughter hadn’t asked my son out shopping, he wouldn’t have been hurt!” “Flirting around at such a young age, and still trying to get my son to date her, ugh! You owe me for the medical bills!” At the doorway, Liam stood to the side, watching the whole spectacle like a detached observer. It wasn’t until my dad, Mr. Reed, came in to break up the fight that Liam’s mom, Mrs. Miller, was finally chased out. As Liam brushed past me, he threatened in my ear. “Remember, Rachel was the one who asked me out last night!” “If you say anything stupid, you know the consequences!” With that, he didn’t even spare Rachel a glance, chasing after his mom like she was contagious. I followed too. But I wasn’t chasing him; I was catching up with Ms. Evans. After all, Rachel always found me bothersome, and now she got exactly what she wanted. Even if she spent the rest of her life partially paralyzed. She should be happy, thinking she was hurt for the person she loved, right?

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I shivered, wrapped in a vibrant, thigh-high red dress, as the night breeze whipped around me on the street opposite the bar. I was suffering out here, all just to snag some drunk guy nobody was watching, to absorb a little life essence. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to be like my cousin, Blair, and just dive into the bar for prey. But it was way too loud in there. Fox ears are naturally sensitive, especially for an accomplished fox spirit like me. A tall boy stopped in front of me, almost six feet three inches. I had to crane my neck to look at him. He was in a blue tracksuit, his eyes clear and bright, his nose and mouth delicately shaped. His skin was so smooth and flawless, he looked like he’d melt at a touch. Honestly, he looked good enough to eat. But seeing his age, he was probably still in school. Was this too wrong? “Are you working, Miss?” Just hit on me, why are your eyes darting around like that? And what’s with the blush?! Did this kid just mistake me for a streetwalker? Another cold gust of wind made me shiver. Wrong or not, I needed that life essence. So, I went for it. I put on my most innocent, charming face, the one I used on elders. I gently tugged his sleeve, gazing up at him, blinking my eyes. “I’m freezing, sweetie. How about a kiss to warm me up?” “Why should I give you a kiss?” “Because I’m craving… ugh, I mean, I’m starving.” The boy didn’t seem to notice my slip-up. His eyes twinkled with amusement, and he took a step closer, slowly lowering his head towards me. I widened my mouth, practically drooling, ready to suck down that sweet life essence. My ninth tail was practically waving at me! It wasn’t until he pulled me into a convenience store and shoved a sandwich into my hand, no questions asked, that I finally snapped out of it. Wait, this isn’t what I’m hungry for! The scent of chicken wings wafted to my nose. I watched him pop a chicken wing into his mouth, then looked down at the whole-wheat bread in my hand. He just stared at me, looking completely innocent. “Why aren’t you eating, Miss? Aren’t you hungry?” Unbelievable! He didn’t even offer me a chicken wing! I clutched my bread, turned, and stomped off, feeling incredibly wronged. Ugh, men are the worst! 2 Back home, I looked at the empty sandwich wrapper in my hand, then smacked myself on the head twice, fuming. How did I eat it all? I didn’t even get a drink. Oh right, Davey didn’t buy me one. Just thinking about today’s epic fail made me cringe. Nine hundred years old, and I got clowned by a kid who hadn’t even shaved yet. What an absolute disgrace! No way. Next time, I’m going on the offensive. I *will* get my man! Once that burst of adrenaline faded, I deflated like a punctured balloon. Seriously, seducing people is hard. My face just has a mind of its own. It blushes whenever it damn well pleases, no matter how much I tell it not to! Especially today, when Davey got close. He was so handsome, way better looking than any male fox in our clan. I patted my burning cheeks, trying to hype myself up. Willow, don’t get sidetracked by pretty faces. You’re carrying the hopes of your entire clan! You have to be a professional fox spirit. You need to make those jerks who said you couldn’t seduce a man eat their words. I puffed out my chest again, ready to conquer. Listen up, my prey! The Nine-Tailed Queen is here! Tremble, mortals! 3 It was a dark and stormy night. Perfect for murder… *cough, sputter*… I mean, for *hunting*. Let’s see which lucky soul falls into my hands tonight. I randomly picked a guy, pinned him against the wall, and went in for a kiss. Just absorbing life essence, no need for all that fancy stuff. A little ‘take-charge’ approach is always popular, isn’t it? Except, could my little wallflower stop squirming already? Seriously, what’s this guy on? He’s surprisingly strong; I can barely hold him down! “Move again, and I’ll kiss you to death!” I growled, grinding my teeth. Huh, he actually stopped. He just went completely rigid. “Are you craving again, Miss?” A large hand gently cupped the back of my head, an utterly intimate gesture. I looked up, and in the dim light, I saw his face. Handsome, tall, with that sly smirk—it was that arrogant jerk from yesterday! “Do you just go around ambushing random guys every night?” he suddenly leaned in, whispering into my ear, “That’s dangerous, you know. What if you run into a bad guy?” My face flushed hot. He ruffled my hair, then, just as I was getting flustered, he slipped out of my grasp. Walking away, he called out, “This isn’t good for you, Miss. You should head home.” I snapped back to reality. I failed again! As I stamped my foot in frustration, he looked back under the streetlamp, still not far away. “Or, you could come home with me?” My fox ears practically shot straight up. Was this for real?! 4 Davey’s house was huge. If I shouted, would I hear an echo? “It’s just me here, Miss. Make yourself at home.” He lives alone in a place like this? I changed into slippers in the entryway, taking in my surroundings. The room was decorated in dark, cool tones, full of cold, minimalist vibes. Then I looked at Davey, with his sweet, innocent demeanor, and a million question marks popped into my head. It didn’t match at all. Davey, what kind of taste do you have? The shoe rack was filled with identical black leather shoes, except for the white sneakers he wore the first day, sticking out like a little lamb in a wolf’s den. Through the window, on the balcony, I saw perfectly stacked, uniformly spaced, identical black suits. I gasped, sucking in a cold breath. “I didn’t realize you were so cool on the inside,” I said, surprised. “Cool kid.” Davey turned back with a smile. “My name’s Devereaux. I’m a freelance worker. And you?” So, he wasn’t a student. I sat on the sofa. “I’m Willow. I’m a Community Development Specialist.” *Just the great cause of revitalizing Fox Clan, that’s all.* Davey was putting on an apron. “You always seem hungry when we meet, Miss. What do you want to eat today?” “You,” I blurted out. The moment I said it, my face burned. I was about to backtrack, but then I saw Davey’s eyes widen, his face even redder than mine. My heart fluttered with excitement. “No, I’m really tired today. Don’t have much energy,” Davey shook his head. I got even more excited. Davey and I stared at each other. After a long moment, he gave in, lowering his head, his earlobes flushed. “Whatever you want to do, shouldn’t you eat something first?” “How about chicken, three ways?” Davey looked at me with a gentle smile. What fox could ever say no to triple the chicken? 5 Davey’s chicken was absolutely delicious. After gnawing on the last drumstick and seeing the mountain of bones on the table, I let out a satisfied burp. Davey naturally began clearing the table. He was wearing a white T-shirt, his bangs neatly combed back, making him look soft and warm, as if bathed in a gentle light. His eyelashes fluttered like tiny brushes against my heart, tickling me. His apron strings dangled loose, highlighting an impossibly narrow waist. *Gulp.* It’s okay. Soon, this slender-waisted boy would be all mine. I shot up, wanting to pull him into a hug. But after two steps, my head felt so dizzy. Huh—? One Davey, two Daveys, so many Daveys! “That ‘drunken chicken’ dish had a lot of booze. You ate too happily and got tipsy.” Tipsy? But what about my big meal? I hadn’t absorbed his life essence yet! No way I’m letting you get away tonight! I pounced, biting down. “Good girl, settle down.” Suddenly, I was airborne. Davey had picked me up. He looked so skinny, how did he have so much strength? What did you say? What was Davey’s expression? How would a drunk fox know? But I was definitely happy, that much was true. 6 When I sobered up in the middle of the night, I saw my clothes were still perfectly on. I pouted. Remembering my cousin Scarlett’s teachings, I transformed into a thin nightgown, my legs bare, and slipped out of the guest room. It was the middle of the night, and I felt a little guilty. But Davey had explicitly agreed! I was just finishing what we started. He couldn’t blame me. I tiptoed to the master bedroom. The door wasn’t locked; it was even left ajar. Wasn’t that an invitation?! I quietly pushed the door open, slowly crawled onto Davey’s bed, and snuggled up next to him. My mouth was aimed right at his. Life essence, come to mommy! I sucked hard. Davey’s eyes suddenly snapped open, and he clamped a hand over his mouth. We stared at each other like two startled deer caught in headlights. The absorption process was interrupted, and I started coughing so hard the room shook. He did that on purpose! He totally did! 7 Davey switched on the lamp, looking at me with exasperation. Maybe he’d just woken up, his hair was messy, and his pajama top was open, revealing his abs. I instinctively knelt obediently on his lap, looking up at him. “You promised me,” I said, trying to straighten my back, my voice a little shaky. “Miss, you don’t do this with everyone, do you?” I froze. Thinking back, I usually just knocked them out and absorbed. This was the first time I’d met someone so difficult. I shook my head. “Only you.” “Are you serious, Miss?” “Super serious!” I pouted. The tense lines on Davey’s face softened. He shook his head helplessly, then chuckled softly. He shook his head again, then opened his arms to me. What a turnaround! What a ray of light! This was it! I leaped into his arms, giddy with excitement, and he wrapped me in a tight embrace. A single layer of fabric couldn’t stop the warmth from spreading. Davey was like a furnace, radiating warmth. Davey’s face drew closer and closer. I slowly closed my eyes, my other senses sharpening. I felt his scorching breath, felt his lips capture mine. So soft! His tongue began its conquest, and I had no power to resist, dizzyingly following his rhythm. It wasn’t until I was about to gasp for air that Davey finally released me. My lips and tongue were numb. Good thing I got that life essence, or it would have been a total waste. …I went silent. Did I just forget to absorb life essence? I jolted upright, startled, my head hitting Davey’s chin. My ears *hurt*. Wait, my ears!!! I quickly reached for the top of my head. Sure enough, they were out. I quickly pulled them back in. With my hair covering them, and in this darkness, Davey probably didn’t notice, right? Fox spirits can’t reveal their true forms to humans. I didn’t want to end up singing the blues in a jail cell. The next second, my entire body froze. My tail… it was out. Like a broken record, I slowly lowered my head, staring at the tails wildly waving around the room. I closed my eyes in despair. It was just a kiss! How could I get so emotional?! If the clan found out, I’d be laughed to death! Next time I need life essence, I’m finding a blind guy. A soft chuckle came from above my head. “So you really are a fox, Miss. No wonder you’re so beautiful—and so soft.” Davey was holding one of my tails, gently kneading it. I tentatively tried to pull it back. Davey narrowed his eyes, looking at me meaningfully. Then, he stroked my tail from the very tip all the way to the root. All my fox fur stood on end. My entire body felt like it was zapped with electricity. “Are you sick?!” I shrieked, furiously trying to snatch my tail back. I pulled. It wouldn’t budge?! Suddenly, he flipped over, pinning me down on the bed. In the darkness, I could hear both our heartbeats quickening. “Don’t get distracted, my little fox.” 8 I successfully absorbed the handsome Davey’s life essence. But I ended up in the hospital, unlucky me. That arrogant jerk at least had a conscience; he got me a VIP room. “Awake?” He looked at me with a cold face. I was the one who passed out from absorbing *his* life essence, why was he giving *me* attitude? “The doctor said you had food poisoning. He told me to warn you to be careful next time.” *Food poisoning.* *Careful next time.* He emphasized those words particularly heavily. If my human university professors had highlighted key points like that, I wouldn’t have failed so many classes and almost not graduated. “What kind of poisoning did I get?” I felt a little panicky, but then I sensed my body. My ninth tail seemed to have grown out. I ignored the pain all over my body, grimacing as I rushed to the bathroom. Locked the door. I released all nine of my tails, ready to admire my nine-tailed glory. This was it, nine tails! Let’s see who dares say I’m a bad cultivator now. However, I looked at the tails behind me, then at my reflection in the mirror. What the hell?! I’m a white fox! A snow-white fox with not a single stray dark hair, so how did I grow a black tail?! I hugged the dark, ugly tail and burst into tears, whimpering like a puppy. I’m so ugly now! Who wants this tail? Can I just cut it off? I seriously couldn’t face anyone like this! 9 The first thing I did when I got home was tie that arrogant jerk up tight. Seeing him restrained by eight of my tails, lying motionless on the bed, I weirdly felt he possessed a certain tortured beauty. That thought scared the crap out of me. Was something wrong with my fox brain? I let that ugly tail out separately, using it as a whip. In my excitement, the black tail snapped against the floor with a loud crack. That arrogant jerk shivered all over. I felt a little satisfied. “Confess leniently, resist severely. Tell me, which temple sent you to harm me? Why did I get a stomach ache and grow a black tail after absorbing your life essence?” I looked at the dark tail, sniffled, and fought back tears. “Miss, I didn’t do anything. You forced me.” “That’s nonsen…!” I slammed on the brakes. Huh, he was right, wasn’t he? Suddenly, my conscience felt a little pain. “How can you turn the tables on me like that?!” Oh no, my conscience hurt even more. 10 “No playing the victim! Confess honestly, or I’ll eat you, Miss.” I bared my fangs. Don’t think foxes only have ears and tails; I eat meat too! Davey shrank back in fear, his shoulders trembling. Tears clung to the corners of his eyes, and I felt a little soft-hearted. He was still young, after all. “Miss, you’re far too easy to trick.” What kind of horrible personality was that? I must have been blind to think he was a sweet, innocent boy. I was furious. I lunged, biting at his neck. Suddenly, black mist filled the air, and my tails were forcibly flung away. Before I could recover, Davey turned the tables. A large scythe, covered in black cloth strips, appeared out of nowhere, held horizontally in front of me. Davey was wearing a black robe, with smoky eyeliner circles so dark, it looked like he hadn’t slept in three days. If he just had a guitar, he’d be a middle schooler trying to be a death metal rock star. The scythe hooked my waist. With a slight pull, I tumbled into his arms.

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My wife was reported for embezzling company funds, and I took the fall, serving time in prison for her. She promised she’d wait for me in our home, but she never visited, not once. I figured she was busy and didn’t think much of it. Until the day I was released. I found my wife, Serena, leaning into a man’s embrace, gazing happily at two little kids, a boy and a girl, playing in the yard. No wonder she didn’t have time to see me. She was too busy living her happily ever after. I’d sacrificed four and a half years in prison, thinking I was a martyr, but they hadn’t cared at all. The little boy caught my eye, still crouched behind the iron fence. He turned, screaming with excitement: “Mom, Dad, look! A beggar’s here for food!” The man’s gaze fell on me, and a chilling cold spread through my chest. Wasn’t that Vincent Blackwood, the man who’d reported my wife all those years ago? … Vincent Blackwood pulled the two children behind him, his eyes wary. “Go on, sweethearts, play with Mom.” The two kids bounced around Serena. She just looked at me, her brow furrowed. Vincent reached out as if to pat my shoulder, hesitated for a few seconds when he saw my ragged clothes, but completed the standard guy-to-guy greeting anyway. “Next time you visit us, remember to call ahead and make an appointment. You… nearly scared the kids.” “I don’t recall you being due out so soon.” Vincent pulled out a cigarette and offered it to me. I didn’t take it. “Good behavior, got some time off,” I repeated his words in my head, the taste bitter. “The property deed for this house is still in my name, you know.” My life’s work, all those years of struggle, now just a freebie for Vincent because he started a family with *her*. Vincent fell silent. He lit the cigarette himself and took a drag. Serena Miller approached, and his free hand naturally rested on her shoulder. Serena’s eyes swept over me, making me uncomfortable. She let out a soft sigh, those expressive eyes looking at me. “You’ve lost weight.” As if we were truly long-lost lovers, finally reunited. I desperately wanted to ask her if her words from back then still held true, if she’d thought of me at all during all these days. Vincent suddenly clapped his hands, the cigarette still dangling from his lips. “I almost forgot! My mind’s a mess, all thanks to your son.” “Honey, don’t eat that.” He picked up a dog bowl, still wet with dog drool, and haughtily tossed it at my feet. Then, with a sneer, he blew a puff of smoke directly into my face. “Liam, I’m not trying to insult you. Our dog’s monthly food bill is definitely more than what you got in prison. The food won’t be bad.” “I’m just curious, I heard people who’ve done time would eat anything, even rotten scraps, and find it delicious. I just want to see if that’s true.” I had arrived hungry, but in my rush to see Serena, I hadn’t eaten anything before coming. And it wasn’t as if I’d relish rotten scraps, as he suggested. I just hadn’t expected Serena to already have two children. She had forgotten me completely, forgotten my sacrifice. Vincent treated me like dirt, and Serena just offered a faint smile. Infuriated, I grabbed Vincent by his collar with one hand. “What are you showing off for? You framed my wife and stole my family, and I haven’t even settled that score with you yet!” Serena’s fingernails scraped my arm. She snapped, annoyed: “Liam Anderson, Vincent was just joking with you. Why are you overreacting like this?” I swallowed the bitter taste in my mouth and let go. The moment I released him, Serena quickly took Vincent’s arm, meticulously smoothing out his collar. “Serena Miller, aren’t you going to give me an explanation? He and those twins…” Serena raised her hand to check the time, her voice cold and distant. “We can talk about this minor issue later. It’s almost time for Leo and Mia to go on the swings.” They treated me as if I were invisible, walking away hand in hand. My anger felt like shouting into a void; no one cared. Serena pulled a hundred-dollar bill from behind her phone and tucked it into my hand. “You’ve worked hard for over four years. Go buy yourself something nice.” I stood there, stunned, clutching the hundred-dollar bill. Keeping cash behind my phone was a habit I’d had for years. That was from a trip with Serena long ago. She’d fainted from heatstroke, my phone had died, and I had no cash. I’d asked countless passersby before finally borrowing money from a girl who’d had a previous spat with Serena. The condition was five bucks for every slap to my face. Since then, to be prepared for any emergency, every morning before leaving, I’d check both our phones to make sure there was cash behind them. Serena’s actions still carried a shadow of my influence, but she no longer loved me. Only this house, where we’d lived for so many years, told me. Those loving memories, they were real. I suppressed the bitterness in my heart, felt under the rug, and found the key, ready to enter the house and change into some slippers. Mrs. Jenkins, the housekeeper, suddenly shouted, accusing me loudly. “Mr. Anderson, what are you doing? Your muddy footprints are all over the tiles! Can’t you think about how hard we work to keep this place clean?” Mrs. Jenkins was a housekeeper I’d hired years ago, back when I was just starting out. She had been incredibly grateful to me at first. I hadn’t expected that in four and a half years in prison, Serena wouldn’t be the only one to change. Ignoring Mrs. Jenkins, I reached for a pair of slippers. Mrs. Jenkins shrieked again, “Mr. Anderson, you still don’t know the rules! These slippers are for guests!” I was about to explode, but Mrs. Jenkins rushed back, bringing me a pair of my old shoes and two red plastic bags to use as shoe covers. She patted my back like an elder. “Mr. Anderson, don’t be mad at me. I have to follow the orders of whoever pays me, right?” “Your things? Mrs. Miller already had me put them all in the storage room. Hurry up and take that pile of junk and move out.” I shook my head and went to the storage room. Expensive watches and custom suits were haphazardly piled on the floor. But on the top shelf of a spotless glass cabinet sat a single shoe box. I quickly and carefully took it down, only to find a pair of canvas shoes cut into shreds, with several burn holes on the upper and traces of cigarette ash. When I carried the shoe box out, the cozy family of four had returned. Seeing my grim face, Serena stepped forward and touched my forehead. “No fever. Why do you look so pale? I’ll have Mrs. Jenkins make you some chicken soup later to perk you up.” “I just discussed it with Vincent. Since we’ve known each other for so many years, you can continue to stay in our house. We won’t kick you out to wander the streets.” I took a few steps back to avoid her touch and opened the shoe box. “Who ruined my shoes?” Serena glanced at them. “Oh, the pair your mom sewed for you, right?” I nodded. Serena pointed at me, letting out a clear laugh. “Vincent, look, a twenty-dollar pair of old-fashioned sneakers, and he treats it like a treasure.” “Who could stand such a mama’s boy? He wore those worn-out shoes every single day, and if it rained, he put them in a safe. Why didn’t he just spend his whole life with his mom?” The little boy, who had been hiding behind Vincent earlier, bravely stepped forward, raising his hand high. “I ruined them! Don’t blame my mom.” He seemed proud of himself. Serena gently ruffled his hair. “If you ruin someone’s things, you have to pay for them. Go buy him a new pair.” Then, she said to me, seemingly helpless: “Liam Anderson, don’t fuss over a kid. He’ll pay you for a new pair, just let it go.” The chubby boy ran over with an alligator-skin wallet, pulled out a handful of coins, and scattered them all over me. He grinned, his smile strikingly similar to Vincent Blackwood’s. Serena praised the boy for being sensible, but then she saw me again, and her brow furrowed. “This is over. Kids are always mischievous. Giving you twenty bucks for those old-fashioned shoes is already generous of him.” Vincent extended a cigarette butt, making a cryptic gesture. The shoes had been placed so high, a child of a meter tall couldn’t have reached them. Besides, there was cigarette ash on them. Serena followed my gaze, playfully punching Vincent’s arm. But when she turned back to me, her face was cold as ice. “You’re not still suspecting Vincent, are you? Even if he knew those old shoes were your family heirloom, Vincent wouldn’t bother with your trash. Can’t your mom just make you another pair?” She couldn’t make another pair. This was the last pair of shoes my mom ever sewed for me. In all those years I suffered in prison, my mom only visited once. She even specifically told me to be good to Serena when I got out. But was it my fault that I couldn’t have a good life with Serena? For five years, I yearned for her. She was laughing in another man’s arms. Serena ignored me, picking up the children. “My darlings must be hungry. Let’s go eat. Hubby, you too, hurry up.” Vincent casually glanced at me. “Honey, it’s been so many years, and the kids and I don’t like Spicy Tripe Stew. I’ve never even seen you touch your fork to it, so why do you still insist Mrs. Jenkins makes it?” Spicy Tripe Stew was my favorite dish. Before, Serena had disliked it, calling it a strange, unpresentable dish. Only on holidays would she allow Mrs. Jenkins to make it for me. Serena froze, her back to me, not answering Vincent. “Liam Anderson, stay and eat. I don’t want the neighbors seeing our guest leave looking upset, thinking we’re bad hosts.” The phrase “our home” had stabbed at me countless times today. Vincent gritted his teeth, then put his arm around my shoulder, acting friendly. “Liam, tonight, we drink until we drop.” A few years ago, he’d solemnly told me he would pursue justice and the law to the very end. His face hadn’t looked like this then. At the most prominent spot on the table, a steaming bowl of Spicy Tripe Stew sat. Seeing me staring at the dish, Serena picked up the bowl and dumped it into the trash can. She didn’t look at me, but smiled sweetly at Vincent. “I can’t believe I used to put such a disgusting dish on the table.” “Only someone with a psychological defect would enjoy a dish like that.” More than her sarcasm, I thought of our marriage, just an empty piece of paper. She must have regretted it long ago, right? I wasn’t incapable of accepting Serena falling in love with someone else, having children with another man, but why didn’t she tell me sooner? Even a message through someone else would have been enough. My place setting was still on the table, but I knew that in this home, which I had fought so hard for, there was no longer a place for me. Serena and Vincent, with their two children, harmoniously enjoyed dinner, while I was isolated outside. I directly asked the question that had been haunting me. “Was what happened five years ago a joint effort between you two?” Serena pressed her lips together and handed the two children to Mrs. Jenkins. Vincent stared at my face and laughed. “Liam, you’re too full of yourself. If I wanted to go against you, it wouldn’t have been just four and a half years. Besides, look in the mirror, see that receding hairline? If I played dirty with you, my subordinates would laugh me to death.” Serena laughed too, glancing at the top of my head with a look of disdain. “What’s past is past. Liam Anderson, you’re just not generous enough. After all these years in the industry, you’re still just an upstart.” Could four and a half years of repetitive prison life just be brushed off with “what’s past is past”? My buzz cut, it was a mark left by them both, yet they laughed so happily. Serena suddenly turned serious, glaring at Vincent. “That’s enough laughing, it’s getting excessive. Show Liam Anderson some respect. I think a buzz cut isn’t bad at all.” She picked up a chicken drumstick and placed it on the plate in front of me. I wiped the fork, which had the little boy’s drool on it, and gently turned over the chicken skin, seeing specks of white maggots lying on the drumstick. It felt like the entire universe was telling me to leave, to stop being moved by little things. Finally, I made up my mind. “Serena Miller, let’s get a divorce.” Serena’s lips turned pale. “Are you sure? Once we divorce, there’s no turning back.” I nodded. “This house has the traces of your partner and children living in it. I don’t want it. Sell it to me at market price.”

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The night before the college entrance exam, my stepsister poured boiling water all over me. My forehead, face, and hands were all burned to varying degrees. The doctor told me I needed to be hospitalized immediately. I refused. I still had to take the exam. This was the biggest turning point in my life, and I couldn’t miss it. The doctor shook his head as he prescribed burn cream and antibiotics. My dad impatiently scolded me: “Why did you provoke her in the middle of the night?” I was already in pain, and years of pent-up resentment finally burst out! Standing on the empty street, I shouted: “How did I provoke her? I was sound asleep, how could I have provoked her?” “Dad, your favoritism is too much! That kettle in our house had just boiled water! She was trying to kill me!!!” “People in hell always try their best to drag others down with them!” My dad slapped me across the face. I was stunned. The burn layered with the slap, and I was in so much pain I could barely breathe. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. I was just a child no one cared about. In the eyes of my dad and my birth mom, I was always unwanted… I kept thinking over and over: “Why didn’t I just die? All these years, why did I fight so hard to stay alive?” My trembling hand touched my face. The burning, stinging areas had indeed broken skin. My dad didn’t continue scolding me. He turned and walked towards home, and I silently followed behind him.

My dad had a mistress. I knew about this since kindergarten. My mom would cry and threaten suicide every other day. Later, one afternoon, she heard my dad was at a hotel with that woman and rushed over. But then a once-in-a-century earthquake struck. My mom was crushed under a concrete slab and lost a leg. My dad and his mistress escaped unscathed. It was May 12, 2008, in Hanwang, Sichuan province. That year, there were many heartwarming stories in the news. Influenced by the overall atmosphere, my dad didn’t divorce. But my mom lost her job due to her disability. Her personality became even more volatile and weak. She would threaten suicide frequently, saying she wanted to die to spite my dad. The following year, my dad divorced my mom against all odds and married that woman, moving to a new city. I went with my dad. First, because my dad was in a better financial situation, while my mom had no job. Second, my mom didn’t want me. She said I was from the Parker family, so why should she raise a Parker child? As for that woman… Her name was Bella White. She was my mom’s best friend. When she got together with my dad, she was already married. In other words, she and my dad were having an affair with each other. When she married into our family, she brought along a daughter who was the same age as me, just two months younger. She claimed the girl was my dad’s child. From then on, I had a stepmother and a stepsister. What’s it like having a stepmother? Like the evil queen in Snow White, always plotting to kill the daughter of the original wife? Or treating the original wife’s daughter like her own, no matter how much the daughter hates or mistreats her, always having a kind and forgiving heart, leading to a happy ending? Reality isn’t so extreme. It’s hard for anyone to be completely fair, let alone a woman who had an affair and even stole her best friend’s husband. What could you expect? Those years… Whatever my stepsister had, I had too! Whatever my stepsister didn’t have, I still had! My stepsister’s clothes would eventually become my clothes. When they were old, short, or no longer liked, they became mine. My stepsister was a picky eater. The dishes she didn’t want to eat, leftover snacks, stationery she thought was ugly or didn’t like – those all became mine. We were in the same school and same class. Everyone knew we were sisters. Some people secretly asked me: “Zoe, were you adopted?” “No.” “If not, why do you always take Olivia’s leftovers?” I explained over and over that I was my dad’s biological daughter, that my mom was my dad’s legal wife, and that Olivia’s mom was the mistress who stole my dad. This spread quickly, passing through countless mouths, embellished countless times. By the time it reached my ears again, it was completely distorted. Because of this, Olivia became famous at school. Many people cursed her for being the daughter of a mistress, stealing what belonged to others. My dad and stepmom beat me harshly. They said I was an ungrateful wretch, that when they divorced they shouldn’t have kept me, they should have left me to fend for myself with my crippled mom. They transferred Olivia to the best and most expensive private school in the area. Her clothes, shoes, and stationery were all replaced with better ones. My stepmom said to give me the old ones. Olivia screamed, smashing the old stationery on the ground, using scissors to cut up the clothes, poking holes in the shoes, saying she’d rather destroy them than give them to me. I stood at the bedroom door. Not waiting for Olivia to finish her tantrum, I turned and went back to my room. This was my and Olivia’s room: “Two closets, one bed, one floor mat.” The bed had a pink mosquito net and matching pink bedding. The first time I lay on that bed, it felt so comfortable! Lying there, I felt like I had become a princess. A few minutes later, Olivia screamed again: “Zoe Parker! You rotten person, how dare you sleep on my bed? Get off right now!” My stepmom ran in with Olivia. Together, they grabbed my hair and dragged me off the bed, throwing me to the floor. I clutched my aching scalp, looking at them defiantly and angrily: “I’ve been sleeping on the floor for 4 years. It’s time I slept on the bed!” Back then, when we first moved to this city and this home, my dad and stepmom had told me and Olivia to discuss who would sleep on the bed and who on the floor, or to take turns. I was so stupid! I volunteered to let Olivia have the bed. My dad and stepmom praised me greatly, saying I was sensible and knew to let my sister have it. To get their praise, many things after that followed the same pattern. New clothes – Olivia wears them first. New stationery – Olivia uses it first. New toys – Olivia plays with them first… Whatever Olivia doesn’t want, don’t waste it, just give it to me… In this family, I was basically treated like a beggar. My stepmom walked up to me and kicked me, looking down at me condescendingly: “Zoe Parker, people need to know their place. In our family, you’re just a dog.” “If we want to keep you, you’re a house dog. If we don’t want to keep you, you’re a stray dog.” Her voice wasn’t loud, but every word dripped with viciousness.

I didn’t want to be a dog. I’d rather fend for myself with my mom. I took the $300 I had stolen from home and returned to my hometown. My mom lived in resettlement housing, still unemployed, surviving on welfare. My mom didn’t welcome me. She snatched away the $300 I had, then told me to get lost, to go find my dad. In that moment, my whole world collapsed. I was unwanted. In my mind, the thoughts of ‘suicide’ and ‘clinging to life’ were like two little people pulling desperately at each other. In the end, I gritted my teeth and returned to the place where I was treated like a dog. Waiting for me were cold mockery and sarcasm. My dad beat me, saying I was up to no good, running away from home. A few days later, Olivia finally discovered her allowance was missing. My dad was about to beat me again, telling me to hand over the money. I shouted that my mom had taken the money, if he had the guts he should go ask her for it! My dad fell silent and let go of me. That night, Bella covered my mouth with one hand and viciously pinched my thigh over a dozen times with the other. I was in so much pain I broke out in a cold sweat. I struggled and bit down hard on the webbing between her thumb and index finger. I asked her: “My mom was your best friend. Aren’t you afraid of going to hell for treating me like this?” She sneered: “Your mom doesn’t even care about you. What do I have to be afraid of?” I was momentarily speechless. I went to the bathroom and took off my pants to look. My thigh was covered in bruises. After that day… It was as if Bella had discovered a new world. Whenever she was in a bad mood, she would pinch my thighs. This spot was good – hidden, wouldn’t be seen by others. Olivia’s grades weren’t good. She had been below average in our class before, and remained below average at her new school. Bella felt embarrassed, especially after comparing Olivia’s grades to mine. She would curse loudly at home… “Look at you! All the family’s money is spent on you, and what’s the result? As stupid as a pig! Can’t even do better than Zoe! I’m telling you, if you don’t score higher than her next time, don’t call me mom anymore!”… Olivia hated me. Besides secretly cutting holes in my pants, hiding needles in my coat, she would also steal my homework notebooks, tear up my textbooks, pour ink on my books… This went on for several years. One night, after I finished washing up and was about to apply face cream, I noticed obvious signs of tampering in the baby lotion, with a faint smell of nail polish remover. I hesitated for a moment, then decisively scooped out a dollop of cream and applied it to my face. My face immediately felt like it was on fire. To be honest, compared to my dad hitting me or Bella pulling my hair, this really wasn’t much. But I screamed and ran into the bathroom to look in the mirror. My cheeks turned red at a visible rate, with countless small rashes appearing on the skin surface. I angrily ran back to the bedroom, scooped out a large glob of cream, and lunged at Olivia to smear it on her face. Olivia screamed too. My dad and Bella rushed in and pulled me away to save Olivia. I shouted at my dad, accusing him of favoritism, asking if he would only be happy once Olivia killed me. Bella was very calm. She interrupted me, saying we should go to the hospital first, that a girl’s face couldn’t be ruined. My dad nodded. Then they took me to a clinic. Again, a clinic… They had just said we’d go to the hospital, but we ended up at a clinic. Hah, all these years, every time Olivia got sick it was the big hospital, while for me it was always the small clinic. That’s right, Olivia was the precious darling who couldn’t risk anything going wrong. I was just a pebble on the roadside – keeping me barely alive was enough. The doctor asked what I had used. I angrily pointed at Olivia and shouted that it was the baby lotion she had poisoned. Bella rushed forward and slapped me across the face, saying I was talking nonsense, that I was just a child making baseless accusations without seeing anything! The clinic fell silent. Everyone looked at us. I planted both hands on the doctor’s desk, my chest heaving violently. I bit my lip as big teardrops fell onto the desk… People around us pointed and whispered, saying Bella had hit me too hard. Bella panicked and explained that things had happened so suddenly, that she was just worried I would develop bad habits. The result of this incident was… Bella gave me $50 to buy a new bottle of baby lotion, telling me to keep the change as pocket money and not to talk about this outside. My dad finally gave up the facade of family harmony and fairness, telling me to live in the school dorms.

I laughed. I had traded a brief allergic reaction on my face for a degree of freedom, no longer having to see those three people every day. In the years that followed… In 8th grade, my grades plummeted from the top 3 in the class to the bottom 5-10, especially in math and science. I was always last on every test. I often cried under the covers on weekends at home. I wouldn’t speak during the day, and would pull my hair out while doing homework. Every time I couldn’t finish my homework, a clump of hair would fall out. Bella sneered countless times: “Hmph, I thought you were some kind of academic genius. Now you’re showing your true colors!” “Whether you’re a donkey or a horse, you only find out after running a few laps!” In 9th grade, my grades stabilized at second to last in the class. Why second to last? Because the last place was firmly occupied by the king of underachievers in our class, Ethan. On 100-point tests, I would hover around 60 points. But him? He didn’t even hover. He was always below 60, occasionally in the 30s. Very eye-catching. During this time, without the pressure of my academic superiority, Olivia had an easier time at home. Then came the high school entrance exam. I scraped by, accidentally performing poorly and scoring just a few points higher than Olivia. My dad couldn’t bear to send his precious daughter to a regular high school, so he spent $5000 to get Olivia into a key high school. As for me, of course I went to a regular high school. In my dad’s words, Olivia had underperformed, while I had overperformed. In 10th grade, as luck would have it, Ethan and I were classmates again. On registration day, he whistled at me, his smile incredibly smug: “What a coincidence! Eternal second-to-last.” I finally understood. He was like me – those terrible grades we got all year were deliberately achieved. With our actual scores, we couldn’t have gotten into high school at all. I walked over and looked him up and down: “Mr. Method Actor, what score did you actually get?” He told me a number. Wow! My score was already barely scraping by. His was even lower, just barely above the admission cutoff. “You didn’t do your research, did you? The admission scores for the past 5 years have varied by less than 3 points.” His smile held a hint of mockery: “We’re in high school now. Want to keep competing with me?” “For last place?” I smiled back. He raised an eyebrow. High school material was much harder than middle school, especially math. For some people, it was like entering hell mode. Olivia’s grades plummeted. No matter how much Bella watched her study, how many tutoring classes she signed her up for, how many practice books she bought her, it was all useless. I still went home every weekend. First, to maintain my image as a student driven crazy by poor grades. Second, to see how Olivia was doing, and to witness Bella turning into a roaring beast every time she heard about Olivia’s grades. Olivia would occasionally rebel. “You’re so amazing, why don’t you do it? You can’t even do middle school math, what right do you have to yell at me? Zoe’s a bad student too, how come you don’t yell at her?” … “Are you just projecting what you can’t do onto me?” … “I hate studying, and I hate you!” My dad couldn’t stand it anymore. He pointed at me countless times and told Bella: “Don’t push too hard. Let the kids find their own way. Don’t drive Olivia crazy!” Bella was both distressed and exasperated. She turned to take out her anger on me, her claws swooping towards my waist. Did she think I was some pushover who would be afraid of her? As soon as her hand reached out, I slapped it away. Then I curled up in a ball in the corner, pulling my hair and screaming hysterically. “Aunt Bella, have mercy, have mercy!” Bella cared about face to some extent. Afraid the neighbors would hear and spread rumors of an “evil stepmother”, she had no choice but to back off. After that, my life got a little better. I would scream.

Ethan shamelessly held onto last place in the entire grade. Converting to a 100-point scale, he would score in the 30s for math, physics and chemistry each time. His language, English, history and politics were slightly better, in the 50s! I really didn’t want to comment, but I had secretly flipped through the “5 Years of College Entrance Exam, 3 Years of Simulations”, “Golden Exam Papers”, “Must-Do Exam Questions” and “Dragon Gate Special Topics” hidden in his drawer… Damn, this guy was doing even more practice problems than me! His handwriting was messy and rushed. “Ethan, what exactly are you doing?” I asked one day at lunch when no one else was in the classroom, drumming on his desk. “What’s the point of scoring so low every time?” “There is a point,” he suddenly looked up and stared at me intently, his eyes bright. “More valid than your reasons.” I couldn’t help but clench my jaw, wanting to ask if he had investigated me. Before I could speak, he smiled. … “Zoe, want to make a bet?” … “Bet on what?” … “See who can get into Clearwater University.” Clearwater was my goal too. I had been preparing since elementary school and had some confidence. “Alright, loser buys dinner.” “Let’s add one more condition – loser has to be the winner’s girlfriend.” Me: “…” Ethan and I weren’t dating, except for that vague hint of attraction. Olivia knew how to dress up and was pretty. She often had many boys surrounding her like stars orbiting the moon. It would be a lie to say I wasn’t envious at all. Occasionally when we ran into each other on the way to and from school, Olivia would roll her eyes at me and whisper something to the group of boys. The boys would hiss at me and throw trash at me. One time, on the way back to school on a Sunday, a group of people were waiting for me at a street corner. They started walking towards me as soon as they saw me. Olivia was chewing gum as she walked in the middle. I took two steps back and turned to run. But I couldn’t outrun them… Someone grabbed my clothes from behind and flung me hard to the side. I slammed into a wall. The group swarmed me. Some kicked my legs, some punched my stomach. I was in so much pain I could barely scream. After the group finished beating me, Olivia told them to hold me down. She took out a razor blade and walked towards me. She said she was going to cut up my face. That day I was lucky. Among the people who shouted and tried to stop them was a teacher from their school. He yelled: “Which class are you from?” I vaguely heard someone say “Mr. Song” with a hint of fear in their voice. The group scattered. I slid down the wall. My body hurt and my legs were weak. I couldn’t stand up at all. “Young lady, are you alright? Should I take you to the hospital?” Mr. Song asked. I curled up in the corner, shaking my head as tears streamed down my face. Olivia and the others received major demerits at their school. Everyone in town was gossiping about this incident. Bella pinned Olivia to the bed and beat her viciously with a clothes hanger. However, she still felt I was the root cause. She thought I shouldn’t have run at the street corner, shouldn’t have screamed, and most of all, shouldn’t have freeloaded in their home all these years, making people dislike me. When she beat Olivia, she would beat me too, cursing me for being vicious. By now she no longer feared the reputation of being an evil stepmother. I avoided them whenever I could, and gradually stopped going home on weekends. Teenage boys and girls are at their most rebellious stage in life. Olivia didn’t feel there was anything wrong with getting people to beat me up. On the contrary, she thought it was cool! She grew even closer with that group of boys. I hid at school. Without all the chaos at home, I frantically did practice problems every day. If I wanted to change my fate and leave this family, studying was the only way.

There were three days off before the college entrance exam. I reluctantly returned home. To create a good study environment for Olivia, my dad and Bella tiptoed around like cats. Olivia was a poor student. She sat at her desk either spacing out or chewing on her pen, frowning. I couldn’t be bothered with these people. I just sat cross-legged on my floor mat and read. No matter what happened, once the exam was over, this family would have little to do with me. Two days later, the night before the exam. As if summoned by fate, I woke up in the middle of the night. A huge shadow inches away startled me! Olivia was standing next to my floor mat, holding a kettle of water motionless in both hands. I shot up… “What are you doing?” Olivia let out a piercing scream, as if she was the one who had been frightened. A large kettle of freshly boiled water splashed towards my face. I instinctively pulled up the blanket to shield myself… This was my first time in a hospital since 2008. My dad brought me. Bella stayed home to comfort the “traumatized” Olivia. My forehead, face and hands all had varying degrees of burns. What do burns feel like? It’s like the flesh under a thin layer of skin has been scalded and cooked. It’s a constant, unrelenting pain that no nerves can block out. You can’t sleep, and it’s a living hell! Even with my writing skills, I still can’t fully describe it. The doctor told me I needed to be hospitalized immediately. I refused. I still had to take the exam. This was the biggest turning point in my life, and I couldn’t miss it. The doctor shook his head as he prescribed burn cream and antibiotics, telling me to be very careful these two days and not let the skin break, to avoid infection. Afterwards, on the way home, my dad impatiently said: “Why did you provoke her in the middle of the night?” I was already in pain, plus I was anxious and worried about not getting enough rest affecting the exam tomorrow. On top of that, years of pent-up resentment finally burst out. My temper flared up like a volcano erupting. Standing on the empty street, I shouted: “How did I provoke her? I was sound asleep, how could I have provoked her?” “Dad, your favoritism is too much! That kettle in our house had just boiled water! She was trying to kill me!!!” “People in hell always try their best to drag others down with them!” My dad slapped me across the face. I was stunned. The burn layered with the slap, and I was in so much pain I could barely breathe. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. I was just a child no one cared about. In the eyes of my dad and my birth mom, I was always unwanted… I kept thinking over and over: That year, when my mom snatched away the $300 I had stolen and told me to get lost, why didn’t I just die? All these years, why did I fight so hard to stay alive? My trembling hand touched my face. The burning, stinging areas had indeed broken skin. My dad didn’t continue scolding me. He turned and walked towards home, and I silently followed behind him. That night, the moon was high, clear and bright. The shadows were long. I didn’t sleep at home. I took my exam admission ticket, packed my bag and left. I didn’t have money for a hotel, so I found some steps outside the exam school and sat there all night, hugging my knees with my eyes closed. The next day, exam takers started arriving early. I didn’t want to move at all. Exhaustion swept over my whole body, and my mind was foggy. “Zoe Parker!”

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My sister Emily is dead. Someone threw her into a den of beggars, where she was abused to death by more than a dozen vagrants. The person responsible for this is Olivia Johnson, the wife of Alexander Thompson. All because my sister accidentally overheard one of her secrets. Before marrying Alexander, Olivia had an illegitimate child with another man. My sister begged Olivia on her knees, pleading that she had no parents and only a younger sister still in school who needed care. She even offered to have her tongue cut out if it meant sparing her life. But Olivia still had her dragged away. I clutched the friendship bracelet in my palm tightly. Sisters united, we were. Our family was poor, and our parents passed away early. Emily became a hostess at a high-end nightclub, using the money she earned to support my education and raise me. She always held me close and said, “Don’t be afraid, Lily. Your big sister will always protect you.” Now my world has crumbled. I’ve lost my sister. And I’ve come to hate Olivia Johnson. I’m planning my revenge. Olivia made me lose the person I loved most, so I’ll make her lose the person she loves most. Of course, the person Olivia loves most is her husband, Alexander Thompson! If she loses him, she’ll probably go insane. The thought alone excites me. I picked up a photo of Alexander Thompson. In Oceanville, Thompson Corp has always been the dominant force. In the picture, Alexander looks young and handsome. His status, power, and position make him particularly charming and alluring. The key is, he’s also a good husband. Married for three years, he an he and Olivia have been deeply in love, with no other women on the side. I laughed out loud. Is that really true? I gently traced Alexander’s handsome face in the photo. Olivia, what do you think? If I try to seduce your husband, will he take the bait?

I entered the Thompson mansion, becoming one of their maids. In the evening, I went to Alexander and Olivia’s master bedroom to make their bed. Just then, two bright headlights shone through the sparkling floor-to-ceiling windows. I knew Alexander was back. I reached out to turn off the wall lamp in the room. As darkness fell, I heard a “click” – the door was pushed open. Alexander had returned. He walked over and suddenly embraced me from behind. The man had been drinking. His slightly tipsy voice was low, mellow, and magnetic as he softly called out right next to my ear, “Honey~” I wanted to laugh. What a good husband indeed! But then, what about my sister’s life? I squirmed a little, my delicate body wriggling in his arms like a small water snake. Alexander’s large hand fell on my waist and pinched it, saying with a hint of confusion, “Why is your waist so slim today? So thin and soft.” I heard his breathing quicken. Soon, his hand slipped under the hem of my clothes, kneading gently as he said in a husky voice, “So big~” I smirked inwardly. Do you like it, Alexander? Years ago, when my sister and I went to Heavenly Paradise, Madame Rose had her eye on me immediately. With my delicate figure, slim waist, and ample bosom, she said I was blessed by the heavens, born to please men. If I was willing, the position of the top hostess at Heavenly Paradise would be mine. It was my sister who protected me. She corrected Madame Rose, saying that her little Lily was meant for studying, destined to live an upright life. I knew I was alluring. In college, those rich kids and campus heartthrobs would follow me with just a crook of my finger. Sister, I don’t want to live an upright life anymore. I just want to drag them all to hell with me! Alexander’s body was pressed tightly against mine. I could feel his scorching body heat and the iron-hard thing in his pants. I immediately began my performance. I struggled to turn around, my hands pressing against his chest as I called out timidly, “Sir, please don’t!” Hearing my voice, Alexander froze. “Who are you?” I reached out and turned on the wall lamp with a “click.” My watery eyes, like those of a startled fawn, looked up at him. “Sir, you’ve mistaken me for someone else. I’m not your wife. I’m Lily, the maid here!” Alexander stared at my face, frozen in place. Just then, “click, click, click,” the sound of Olivia’s high heels suddenly echoed from outside.

Olivia was coming! I was truly excited, but my doe-like eyes were filled with panic. My small hands pushed against Alexander’s arms. “The madam is coming, sir. Please remove your hand…” Only then did Alexander realize his hand was still inside my clothes, cupping my soft, ample flesh. He quickly withdrew his hand. “I’m sorry, I thought you were my wife.” As he said this, he turned to leave. But I grabbed his arm, continuing to feign panic. “The madam doesn’t allow us maids to get close to you, sir. If she sees us alone together, she’ll surely be angry. What should we do now?” Soon, with a “click,” the door opened and Olivia walked in. Olivia was a beautiful woman with red lips and curly hair. She looked up and saw Alexander sitting at the desk. She curved her red lips into a sweet smile and said, “Honey, you’re back?” Olivia only saw her husband sitting in the chair. She certainly couldn’t see where I was at that moment. Earlier, I had pulled Alexander over, made him sit down, and then I crawled under the desk. The space under the desk was too narrow. Alexander’s long legs, wrapped in black trousers, were spread apart, and I was crouching between them. Alexander lowered his handsome gaze to look at me. I tilted up my exquisitely beautiful face, looking back at him with incredibly innocent, pure eyes. I shook my head pitifully at him, begging him not to expose me. I knew this look of mine was the most alluring – a mix of purity and seduction that was irresistible to men. Sure enough, Alexander played along. He nodded at Olivia, “Honey, I just got back.” Olivia didn’t come closer. Instead, she opened a package containing a sexy lingerie set. She held it against herself, looking at Alexander provocatively. “Honey, do you like it?” Alexander raised his head to look at Olivia. I knew Olivia was quite experienced. Before marrying Alexander, she had dated several well-endowed, skilled lovers and even got pregnant, giving birth to a son. Later, when the Thompson and Johnson families arranged their marriage, those boyfriends and her illegitimate child were all “taken care of.” How much blood was shed for this marriage of hers? I curved my red lips. Olivia might be experienced, but wasn’t I too? Alexander’s crotch was right in front of me, its outline clear and massive. To be fair, Alexander was even younger and more handsome than in his photos. He was well-endowed, making Olivia’s ex-boyfriends pale in comparison. No wonder she, a former wild girl, was now so devoted to him. I immediately pretended to accidentally bring my small face close to him. My innocent, soft face, looking almost childlike, barely touched the man’s swollen black trousers. Through the thin fabric, I exhaled softly. This kind of teasing – what man could resist it? Alexander tensed up. I saw that part of him grow even larger. Soon, I heard him say to Olivia, “I like it.” The words “I like it” were said extremely perfunctorily. After saying this, his gaze fell on my face. I knew I had succeeded. I had drawn his attention away from Olivia. I played innocent, my doe eyes darting around in fear, my small face quickly retreating. But as I pulled back, my red lips “accidentally” brushed against him. Alexander shuddered. I was overjoyed inside. Alexander, how does it feel to be unfaithful with me? Olivia, oblivious, said happily, “Honey, then I’ll go take a shower and put it on for you to see.” Alexander’s voice was very hoarse. “Okay.” Olivia walked towards the bathroom. I felt a bit urgent. How could we let Olivia leave like this? She should come and see what her good husband was hiding between his legs, see how her good husband was trembling with excitement for another woman. That would be truly thrilling. I deliberately knocked my hand against the table, making a “thud” sound. Olivia’s footsteps immediately stopped at the bathroom door, her sharp eyes darting towards where I was.

Olivia quickly turned back. “Honey, what was that sound?” Hidden under the desk, I saw Olivia’s diamond-studded stilettos approaching step by step. My eyes gleamed with excitement. Thump. Alexander deliberately knocked some files off the table, then bent down to pick them up. “It’s nothing, just some files falling.” Olivia walked over. She was wearing a red dress and leaned against Alexander. She noticed the swollen area on Alexander and reached out with her small hand, painted with bright red nail polish, to stroke it from top to bottom. “Honey, why are you so excited already?” I wanted to hear what Alexander would say. Alexander looked at Olivia. “Baby, it’s all because that nightgown was too sexy. I’m already captivated by you.” Hah. I laughed inwardly. Men’s mouths, full of lies. But I was laughing on the inside. The one who actually laughed out loud was Olivia. She laughed with joy and rewarded Alexander with a kiss on his thin lips. “Wait for me, honey~” Olivia entered the bathroom. I didn’t stop Olivia. The noise I made earlier was just to tease her. This was only the beginning; I’d let her see even more exciting things later. Alexander immediately stood up, distancing himself from me. I stood up as well. Alexander turned his back to me, his handsome figure taut with annoyance. “Get out! Don’t ever come into this…” Before he could finish saying “room,” I had already turned and run away. Alexander watched my figure, running like a little rabbit, and smiled a bit helplessly. … That night, Alexander, fresh from the shower and wearing a black silk robe, leaned against the headboard. Olivia, wearing that sexy lingerie, straddled his muscular waist. The atmosphere was intimate. Olivia wiggled a bit, her eyes seductive. “Honey, do I look good?” Alexander’s desire had reached its peak. His clean, long hands gripped Olivia’s waist. Soon, he let out a meaningful chuckle. “Honey, have you gained weight recently?” Olivia pouted her red lips. “No, I haven’t.” Alexander’s hand slipped under her clothes. Olivia was also well-endowed, but Alexander had touched better today. He narrowed his eyes and applied some force. Olivia felt like he was on drugs tonight. She melted like water on top of him, moaning softly, “Ah, it hurts. Be gentle, honey~” Alexander’s eyes, full of desire, stared at her. “Would being gentle satisfy you?” Olivia kissed his thin lips. Alexander’s hand fell on her shoulder, pushing her down, indicating he wanted her to pleasure him. Olivia gave him a coquettish look, then buried her head… The room was full of spring passion. What they didn’t know was that at this moment, a pair of eyes was peeking through the door crack. This person was me. I stood outside, watching this live erotic show, watching Alexander touch Olivia with the hands that had just touched me. Alexander, are you comparing my body to Olivia’s in your mind? Do you prefer me? Now, are you imagining Olivia as me? I clutched the friendship bracelet tightly in my hand. You two are so loving and intimate, but did you hear my sister’s heart-wrenching cries that night? I went to see my sister for the last time. Her body was tortured beyond recognition, covered in cigarette burn scars, her body broken. Madame Rose told me to accept my fate, saying that in your eyes, our lives were as worthless as grass. I refuse to accept this fate! If heaven is unjust, then I will become the devil rising from hell. Evil will be met with evil! Alexander, Olivia, let the game begin! … The next morning. I was working in the living room when Olivia stormed in with a group of people. “Catch Lily!” Two maids grabbed me, one on each side. I was startled and looked at Olivia fearfully. “Madam, what have I done wrong?” Olivia looked down at me coldly and sneered, “Lily, I’ve seen many women try to seduce my husband. Did you think you could get away with it right under my nose?” My heart skipped a beat. Had I been exposed before the game even began?

I quickly explained in panic, “Madam, I didn’t, I didn’t try to seduce the sir!” Olivia snorted coldly and pulled out a long hair. “This hair was found on my husband’s trousers. Don’t try to deny it.” I became more flustered. “Madam, that hair isn’t mine. You’ve misunderstood.” Olivia glared at my face viciously, then came to my waist and pinched the soft flesh hard. “You little slut, you think you’re a match for me?” My face turned pale with pain. Just then, from the corner of my eye, I saw Alexander approaching. My eyelashes trembled, and large tears began to fall. I pleaded pitifully, “Madam, it really wasn’t me. Please, forgive me.” Olivia pinched my waist hard twice more. “You like seducing men, don’t you? Come on, strip her clothes off and throw her out on the street!” The maids started pulling at my clothes. I cried helplessly, “No, please don’t.” At that moment, Alexander strode over. “Stop!” The maids immediately stopped. My legs gave way, and I collapsed onto the carpet. My small face was covered in tears. I hugged my exposed shoulders and looked up at Alexander with a tear-stained face. Without looking in a mirror, I knew how pitiful and alluring I looked to men in this state. Alexander looked at Olivia and spoke up for me. “She didn’t try to seduce me.” Olivia held up the long hair. “Honey, this was found on your trousers. How can you still defend this little slut?” Alexander took the hair and held it up to the sunlight. The hair had a reddish tint, while my hair was black. Alexander angrily said, “Look for yourself. This hair isn’t Lily’s!” Olivia was dumbfounded. Just then, a maid in her fifties ran out in panic. “Madam, that hair is mine. It must have fallen on the sir’s clothes when I was tidying them. At my age, I would never try to seduce the sir!” It turned out to be a misunderstanding. Olivia stood there, frozen. Alexander looked at Olivia. “Olivia, apologize to Lily!” Olivia’s face turned ugly. She stamped her foot in anger. “Honey, how can you ask me to apologize to a lowly maid?” I couldn’t help but curve my lips. Actually, I had planted that hair there! Olivia, are you surprised? Shocked? I knew exactly how to provoke Olivia. I decided to teach her another lesson. I reached out my small hand, like a pitiful little cat, and timidly grabbed Alexander’s trousers. Playing the role of a master manipulator, I sobbed, “Sir, please don’t argue with the madam because of me. It’s all my fault.” Women have an innate ability to detect manipulation, and recognizing my act, Olivia exploded in anger. “Lily, shut up!” Alexander’s tone became cold and hard. “Olivia, don’t make me say it a third time. Apologize!” Olivia was fuming but had to swallow her pride. She lowered her noble head. “Lily, I’m sorry.” I shook my head pitifully. “No, madam. You’re not wrong. It’s all my fault.” Olivia: “…” Her gaze could kill now. … I returned to my room and sat on the bed. Then, with a “click,” the door opened and someone came in. I knew he would follow me in. It was Alexander! I looked at him with my watery doe eyes and shrank back a little. “Sir, please don’t come near me. If the madam finds out, she’ll beat me again~” Alexander reassured me, “She won’t beat you anymore.” I looked doubtful. “Really?” Alexander: “I promise.” I immediately gave him a sweet smile. “You’re so kind, sir~” Alexander put a tube of ointment on the bedside table. “Apply some of this yourself.” He turned to leave. I called out to stop him. “Sir.” Alexander turned to look at me. I said, “Sir, I can’t reach. Could you help me apply the ointment?” In front of him, I reached down and lifted the hem of my clothes, revealing my soft, pale waist.

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My girlfriend returned from a month-long business trip with her old flame, only to find that I had changed. She helped her old flame steal my project, but instead of quitting in anger, I busied myself helping him write proposals. For the sake of her old flame’s year-end bonus, she ruined the design I had worked so hard on. But rather than trying to prove myself, I took all the blame and accepted her punishment. Even when she wanted to promote her old flame to general manager, breaking company rules, I didn’t get angry. Instead, I voluntarily gave up all my shares for my girlfriend to distribute freely. My girlfriend was puzzled by my sudden obedience. Her old flame was smug. “See? I told you the cold treatment would work. Make him lose you once, and he’ll become docile.” My girlfriend had a moment of realization and smiled, saying I was being good and that she would promote me. She even unexpectedly suggested I propose to her. But she seemed to have forgotten that during our cold war, she had already signed my resignation letter. And I had already broken up with her. From now on, we would have a clean break, with no more entanglements. 0

“This project proposal is urgent. Have it done before you leave work,” Fiona said coldly, dropping a thick stack of documents on my desk before turning to leave. As soon as she disappeared around the corner, my colleagues gathered around, chattering away. “Isn’t this Zack’s project?” “His projects are the hardest, with lots of requirements and difficult research. Forget finishing by tonight, it might not even be done by tomorrow evening.” “The boss is really biased towards him. He doesn’t do his own projects but pawns them off to others.” “…” They clustered around me, speaking without restraint. I knew full well they weren’t really speaking up for me, just stirring up drama. Everyone knew that CEO Fiona was my girlfriend, yet she heavily favored my rival, Zack. Back then, she not only broke protocol to promote Zack to project manager, but she even handed him the million-dollar project I had spent a month securing and over a month of sleepless nights nearly completing. When I protested, Fiona put it to a public vote to decide the project’s ownership. These colleagues who pretended to speak up for me unanimously voted for Zack when it came time to cast ballots. Afterwards, they explained to me that they were pressured by Fiona’s intimidation and asked me to look after the new colleague. This kind of thing happened many times after that. My colleagues were still “sympathizing” with me, but this time I didn’t storm off to Fiona’s office to confront her like before. Instead, I calmly accepted the project brief. Seeing this, my colleagues’ eyes widened. They were about to say something more when Fiona came down from upstairs. They immediately fell silent and hurried back to their desks. Fiona seemed to be in a good mood and ignored their little movements. She reminded me to leave the completed proposal on her desk. Seeing me nod, she turned on her heel and left without looking back. She had put on elaborate makeup and was wearing a skirt that barely reached her knees. It didn’t take much imagination to know she was off to meet Zack. This had been happening frequently over the years. It all started when I discovered Fiona and Zack’s goodnight messages to each other. When I confronted her about it, Fiona thought I was being petty and angrily brought Zack into the company, breaking protocol. To punish me for my suspicions, she deliberately favored Zack, taking him to various social events, and even feeding him and wiping his mouth in front of everyone at company dinners. When I got angry, she gave me the silent treatment. When I apologized, she would use it as an opportunity to team up with colleagues to lecture and criticize me. Everyone said I wasn’t being a big enough man. I often reflected on this, wondering if I wasn’t open-minded enough, which led to our current situation. But later, when I accidentally discovered that Zack was her first love, I finally understood. She was just using the excuse of desensitizing me to my “pettiness” as a cover to openly maintain her connection with her old flame. Even without the incident of me seeing their chat history, Fiona would have found other excuses to be with Zack. After they returned from their recent business trip together, although they still frequently met for meals, drinks, and sports like before, I could sense that their relationship had become more subtle. But fortunately, I no longer cared. Our five-year relationship had come to an end. This farce needed to end too. After finishing the proposal, I was the only one left in the office. I opened my phone to find that Zack had posted several updates on SnapChat. The background was a fancy restaurant, with a romantic candlelit dinner on the table in front of them. Fiona was elegantly cutting Zack’s steak for him. The caption read: “Steak cut by the lady boss herself must taste extra delicious.” In the comments, several colleagues were praising how sweet they looked together. Zack jokingly boasted further that Fiona, who usually doesn’t drink, had half a bottle of red wine to help him celebrate the project’s success. The comments section became increasingly lively with various speculations. Fiona didn’t explain, only saying “It’s what I should do.” Some clueless person asked when they could drink to their wedding. Fiona replied with three dots, while Zack sent a “naughty” emoji. I didn’t get angry and call Fiona like I used to, only to be scolded by her for their ambiguous relationship. Instead, I sent her a message saying I had finished the proposal, then left the file in her office before driving home. When I got home, I saw that Fiona had replied to my message. “Lucas, this is Zack. Thanks for your hard work on the project. I’ll treat you to a meal sometime.” Fiona always kept her phone close and would get angry if I so much as checked the time on it, accusing me of invading her privacy. Now she had handed it to Zack, letting him read our chats and reply to my messages. I let out a scornful laugh. Different status in her heart indeed led to different treatment. However, I felt strangely calm at this moment. Things that used to feel earth-shattering now seemed trivial. Feelings always change, only hard work never betrays you. I pulled up my calendar and checked the date. Not long ago, when Fiona and Zack went on a “business trip” that was really just a vacation, I took the opportunity to submit my resignation. As expected, when Fiona was with Zack, all her attention was on him. She approved it without even looking. Now, I just had to wait three more days for the handover to be completed, and I could leave for good. After some thought, I called my former advisor at the research institute abroad. I had joined the institute as an outstanding graduate, enjoying preferential treatment. But when Fiona said she needed people to start her company, I quit without hesitation. Despite my advisor’s repeated attempts to dissuade me, I resolutely returned to China to help her build the company from scratch. Looking back now, I realize how foolish I was. When the call connected, I explained my intention. I thought I’d be scolded, but to my surprise, my advisor sighed and told me he had known about my situation for a while and had been planning to invite me back. “But this time, have you really thought it through?” he asked. I nodded, “Yes, I’ve thought it through. I’ve already taken care of the resignation process.” “Resignation? What resignation?” A startled cry came from behind me. I turned around to see Fiona pushing open the door. 0

Looking down, I saw that my advisor had already hung up. I naturally turned off my phone. “A friend who’s planning to quit his job,” I said. Fiona frowned, suspicion rising in her mind. “What kind of friend talks about work stuff with you this late?” As I was pondering how to explain, her phone suddenly pinged with a message from Zack, saying he had encountered a stray kitten on his way home and had specially gone to buy a sausage for it. A smile involuntarily lifted the corners of Fiona’s lips. Seeming to realize I was still there, Fiona suppressed her smile and said perfunctorily, “Don’t chat about negative things with your friends. Use that time to learn more about the project instead.” Her cold tone was completely different from how she spoke to Zack. I didn’t argue or complain that the project had already been given to Zack. Fiona didn’t pay me any more attention either, smiling as she replied to the message while heading to her room. Soon after, her hearty laughter could be heard from the room. She had completely forgotten how I had been by her side all these years, working tirelessly day and night, cutting off all contact with my friends. But it was just as well, saving me the trouble of arguing with her. I returned to the small study converted from a storage room and took out the English materials I hadn’t finished reading. After five years, the direction of the research institute had changed. If I wanted to go back, even with my advisor’s help, I needed to have strong skills myself. Fortunately, my foundation was solid, so it wouldn’t take too long to pick things up again. “You’re reading English magazines?” Just as I was engrossed in my studies, Fiona suddenly entered the room. She reached over and took the magazine, flipped through a couple of pages, then tossed it back. With a sneer, she said, “Why are you reading this? Can you even understand it?” “Just browsing,” I replied coldly. I put away the materials and asked, “Did you need something?” In the past, whenever Fiona came to me on her own initiative, I was always very enthusiastic. Perhaps not expecting me to be so cold, she was taken aback for a moment. Her expression became somewhat unnatural. “There is something,” she said. “Zack just completed a big project, and I’m planning to promote him. It’s also a good way to encourage other employees. What do you think?” Fiona looked at me. She asked for my opinion, but I knew this was just a notification, not a real consultation. I still nodded, “I have no objections.” “But there need to be penalties as well as rewards, otherwise the team will be hard to manage,” she continued. “You haven’t completed a project in such a long time, so I’m thinking of temporarily transferring you to an entry-level position. I’ll bring you back later when the time is right.” “Don’t worry, it won’t be for too long. I’m thinking of the overall situation here. You’re my boyfriend, so you should support me, right?” I laughed inwardly. So even now, she didn’t know about my resignation. She could deduce Zack’s mood from the slightest hints and know what he liked from small details. But now, as her boyfriend, my resignation letter had been signed by her own hand, and she was completely unaware. Indeed, care and indifference can be seen in just a few words. Seeing that I didn’t speak, Fiona thought I was going to argue with her like before. Her expression immediately darkened. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t agree. I’ve already sent out the notice, and your office has been given to Zack.” “Either you accept the transfer, or you leave,” she threatened. “But let me advise you, the company is about to go public. You should think carefully before you walk away.” Her tone was confident that I wouldn’t leave. This kind of thing had happened too many times. In just one year, because of a few words from Zack, my position in the company had been lowered again and again. If I could endure it then, Fiona was sure I would be even less willing to leave now. I smiled bitterly. “I didn’t say I disagreed.” “Alright then, that’s settled,” Fiona said, her mood lightening. I didn’t say I disagreed, so that meant I agreed. Just as she was about to leave, she seemed to notice something and came back. “I remember you used to have our photo on your desk. Where is it now?” I finally realized what she meant. Actually, not just on the desk, but on the walls of my room and in my wallet, there were photos of us everywhere. I had been constantly reminding myself that no matter what Fiona did to me, she still loved me. But when I learned about Zack and Fiona’s relationship, I realized how ridiculous I had been. These photos, each one of them, were mocking how much of a clown I was. I didn’t want to explain much, so I said flatly, “The frame broke accidentally, so I put it away.” “Why are you so clumsy with everything?” Fiona frowned in disgust, immediately looking down to check if there was any broken glass on the floor. “Make sure you clean up properly when you have time. Don’t let anyone get hurt.” With that, she stood up and walked out of the study. Watching her back, I couldn’t help but laugh self-mockingly. Of course, she wasn’t concerned about me. Her words clearly meant she didn’t want Zack to get hurt. This was our home, but she had brought Zack here many times. At first, she came secretly. Later, when I questioned her about the strange occurrences, she immediately produced evidence that it was just for work. She then took the opportunity to rebuke me for being jealous and petty, and subsequently began bringing Zack home openly out of spite. As time went on, I fell into self-doubt. Every day I reflected on whether I was wrong. Now that I think about it, if I had used that time to focus on anything else, I could have been successful. The next morning, Fiona announced the good news of Zack’s promotion, as well as my demotion to the lowest level. My colleagues didn’t know I had already resigned. While they congratulated Zack, their eyes were full of sympathy when they looked at me, secretly speculating whether I would throw a tantrum again. To their disappointment, I remained calm, as if nothing had happened. Over the next few days, while Fiona was hosting a celebration party for Zack, I was applying for a visa. When they were relaxing at an amusement park, I was clearing out my things. In the end, the stuff I wanted to take with me didn’t even fill one suitcase. When they were entertaining clients at a club and being urged to drink from the same glass, I was handing over all my work. … Two days later, on my last day at the company, I completed the final procedures at HR. “Go to the CEO’s office before you leave. The boss is looking for you,” the HR person said without looking up. I was about to refuse, but then I thought, I’m leaving tonight. If Fiona goes out with Zack as usual and doesn’t come home, this might be our last meeting. After all, we’ve been together for five years. There should be some kind of farewell ritual, right? Thinking of this, I went upstairs to the CEO’s office. Just as I was about to push open the door, I saw through the glass wall that Fiona was sitting on the sofa wearing a short skirt, while Zack was lying down with his head on her lap. They looked very intimate. 0

I hesitated. I was considering whether I should step back when Zack spotted me first. He cried out in surprise and hurriedly sat up. “Brother Lucas, why are you here?” Fiona’s face also showed a hint of nervousness. She hastily pulled down her slightly disheveled skirt, then angrily said to me, “Lucas, who allowed you to come up?!” “Didn’t I say before that without my permission, you’re not allowed to come upstairs and disturb me?” Fiona had mentioned this rule before. But the original wording was that except for Lucas, no one was allowed to come upstairs and disturb her without permission. Before, I thought Fiona was giving me special treatment, but now I understand what she really meant. However, I’m used to it now. Not wanting to dwell on it, I said flatly, “HR said you were looking for me.” Fiona snorted coldly, strode to her desk, and angrily pressed the intercom. Less than two minutes later, the HR person came upstairs. “Did you tell Lucas I was looking for him?” Fiona asked coldly. Sensing the tense atmosphere, the HR person looked at Fiona’s icy face, then at Zack, and became so nervous they couldn’t speak. After a while, they finally said, “I don’t remember.” “Hmph.” Hearing this, Fiona seemed like a victorious general, coldly glancing at me and speaking sarcastically. “Interesting, isn’t it, Lucas?” “I thought you had really learned your lesson, but I didn’t expect you to still be so scheming. Since you’re so worried about me, why don’t you move upstairs and keep an eye on me all the time?” “Or maybe put a camera on me to satisfy your curiosity?” I was speechless. “Fiona, don’t be angry. I believe Brother Lucas is just concerned and didn’t mean any harm,” Zack gently rubbed Fiona’s back, then looked at me and said, “Brother Lucas, don’t misunderstand. I was just tired earlier, my head was hurting, and the boss wanted to help me feel better so I could continue working.” “Everything we do is for the company, don’t overthink it.” I looked at his smug expression, as if he wanted me to overthink. Even though I didn’t know the whole story, I was sure this was Zack’s mischief. The HR person was shrewd, knowing Zack was Fiona’s favorite. So when they sensed the atmosphere was off, they didn’t dare to tell the truth. But even if they had, Fiona probably wouldn’t have believed it. I remained silent, but Fiona was still fuming. She angrily said, “No need to explain to him.” “Personal matters are personal, company matters are company matters. Since we’re at the company now, let’s follow company rules!” “Lucas didn’t follow company regulations, so all of this month’s bonus will be deducted, and his salary will be cut in half.” The HR person hurriedly said, “Boss, Lucas has already…” They probably wanted to mention my resignation, but before they could finish, Fiona glared at them. “I don’t want to hear any of his excuses. Do as I say!” The HR person didn’t dare say anything more and turned to go downstairs. I thought for a moment and prepared to leave too, but Fiona suddenly called me back. Perhaps because she had vented her anger, she now looked calmer. She spoke earnestly, “Lucas, I’m not deliberately targeting you, but this is the rule I set. If I don’t punish you, it might be hard to convince others in the future.” Zack nodded in agreement, “That’s right, Brother Lucas. Next time when you’re unsure about something, you should ask the boss first. If not, you can always ask me too.” Hearing him say this, Fiona nodded approvingly. “Zack cares about the company. He knows more about company affairs than anyone else.” Then she glared at me again, “Unlike you, what can you do besides being jealous? Can’t you learn from Zack?” Learn what? Learn how to deliberately interfere in other people’s relationships, or learn how to deliberately steal other people’s achievements and set them up? I sneered but couldn’t be bothered to expose them anymore. Seeing that I didn’t speak, Fiona thought I had realized my mistake. She took a couple of steps towards me, straightened my collar that wasn’t even messy, and said earnestly, “I know why you’re doing all this, and I’m really disappointed in you.” “But I have to say, since coming back this time, you’ve indeed become more sensible. To reward you, we’ll go take wedding photos tomorrow and put the wedding on the agenda. But don’t get too excited, marriage is just…” “Marriage?” Before she could finish, I let out a light laugh. I brushed off her hand. I handed her the resignation letter I had prepared. “But we’ve already broken up.” “Also, I’ve resigned. From now on, we have no relationship whatsoever.”

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I’m a forensic pathologist. While shopping at the grocery store, I discovered human flesh displayed at the butcher counter. After reporting it to the police, I immediately contacted my niece to warn her to be careful. A friend reminded me that I should also be concerned about my daughter. I angrily cursed: “It would be better if she died out there. I never want to see her again.” But what I didn’t know was that she had already seen me. I failed to recognize that the pile of flesh in front of me, waiting for my examination, was my own daughter. In the trash bin behind the butcher counter at the grocery store, there was a pile of yellowish fatty tissue that turned out to be human remains. Detective Johnson rushed to the scene as soon as he received the report. I felt relieved when I saw my old partner arrive. “Johnson, this is a serious situation,” I said. Detective Johnson nodded with a frown. Finding dismembered body parts at a grocery store butcher counter – any part of that phrase was enough to send the whole city into a panic. To avoid causing public alarm, Detective Johnson sealed off all the meat counters in the entire store. He asked me, “How long will it take you to examine all these samples?” I had a grave expression. As a dedicated and responsible forensic pathologist, I replied, “At least two days.” I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. With my mother’s skills, she would surely be able to help catch the real culprit quickly. Detective Johnson’s brow relaxed a bit. “Make arrangements at home. You should stay at the station for the next few days.” I nodded and pulled out my phone. The moment the call connected, the normally serious and professional female pathologist became gentle and affectionate. “Emma, sweetie, Mom has to work overtime for the next few days. Be good and stay at home. Don’t go out. If anything happens, contact Mr. Wilson next door, okay?” After giving detailed instructions, I hung up the phone feeling reassured. As I turned to get in the car, Detective Johnson called out to stop me. “Shouldn’t you call Abby too? Tell her to be extra careful.” My face instantly darkened: “It would be better if she died out there. I never want to see her again.” I smiled bitterly to myself. Who knew that even souls could feel pain! Mom said she never wanted to see me again, but I was already right in front of her. Many of the samples she was intently focused on examining came from my own body. She just hadn’t recognized me yet.

After two sleepless days and nights of hard work, I finally managed to separate the human tissue from the animal tissue. The results shocked everyone. Detective Johnson looked at me in disbelief: “You’re saying only a quarter of this is human?” I nodded coldly: “That’s right.” Everyone’s faces were grim. They had originally thought only the head was missing, but now it turned out so much of the body was gone too. If human tissue had made its way onto citizens’ dinner tables, it would cause huge waves of panic across the city. The higher-ups were taking this very seriously. The situation was becoming more and more difficult to handle. Detective Johnson’s gaze swept over the display rack nearby, landing on one of the tissue samples. He took down the sample and handed it to me: “What’s this?” My soul began to get excited. They were finally going to discover it was me. I believed that as soon as Mom realized the victim was me, she would surely be able to find the real killer. I had a serious expression: “I was just about to tell you about this. It’s currently our only lead.” “There’s a scar on the victim’s ankle. DNA comparison will take time, but this clue can effectively shorten the comparison process.” Detective Johnson’s brow furrowed slightly: “Doesn’t Abby have a scar on her ankle too? I remember…” Detective Johnson wasn’t just my parents’ old partner, he had also been our neighbor for over 20 years. The scar on my ankle was from when I was riding on the back of his bicycle and got caught in the wheel. He still remembered that incident! Before Detective Johnson could finish speaking, Mom angrily interrupted him. “Johnson, stop it. I know you’re trying to improve my relationship with Abby and get me to show more concern for her. But whenever I think of her, I’m reminded of my husband’s death. I can never forgive Abby.” “She’s the one who caused my husband’s death.” My heart was suddenly pierced with pain, my soul trembling. After all these years, Mom still couldn’t forgive me. I was the one who caused Dad’s death. I deserved to die! Years ago, my aunt and uncle died in an accident, leaving my cousin Emma an orphan. Dad felt sorry for Emma having no one to rely on, so he took her in to raise. But Emma and I didn’t get along well, and we often argued over trivial things. Three years ago on a rainy night, Emma and I had a huge fight and she angrily ran out of the house. Dad drove out to look for Emma. He got into an accident on the way and died at the scene. Mom cursed me as a murderer, saying I had caused Dad’s death. She kicked me out of the house and stopped taking care of me. Mom said Emma was the only blood relative left in the Su family, and she treated Emma like her own daughter. Now, I had been killed in the most cruel way. I, the “murderer”, had received the harshest punishment! Could Mom forgive me now?

As we left the police station, Mom’s phone rang. My grandmother’s anxious voice came through the speaker: “Olivia, Abby is missing.” The moment I heard Grandma’s voice, my heart clenched. If she found out about my death, that kind old lady would be heartbroken. Ever since Mom kicked me out of the house, Grandma had taken me in. Grandma and Mom’s relationship wasn’t good to begin with. After taking me in, they completely cut off contact. Mom snorted disdainfully: “She’s pulling this childish stunt again. Does she think she’s still three years old?” Grandma said worriedly: “But I haven’t been able to reach her for three days…” Before Grandma could finish, Mom angrily scolded her. “I’ve told you before, don’t talk to me about that troublemaker anymore.” Mom hung up the phone and blocked Grandma’s number. After returning home from the police station, Mom immediately went to Emma’s room. “Emma, Mom’s home,” she called out in a gentle, affectionate voice. The kind of loving voice all doting mothers use. I once had that kind of love too, but now it no longer belonged to me. She was only Emma’s mom now. Emma got up and threw herself into Mom’s arms, acting coy. “Mom, you work too hard. I’ve missed you so much these past few days.” Mom stroked her head lovingly: “Don’t worry, once Mom finishes the case I’m working on, I’ll take some vacation days and bring you to see the capital.” The capital! The place I had always dreamed of visiting to see the flag-raising ceremony. Now, all those wonderful things were given to Emma instead. Emma nodded with a smile, then casually asked: “Is this dismemberment case Mom’s working on very troublesome? Will they catch the killer?” With her professional instincts, Mom immediately picked up on the key point. “Emma, how do you know it’s a dismemberment case?” My heart leapt. If they pursued this lead from Emma, they might be able to find the killer quickly. Emma paused for a second, but reacted quickly, snuggling into Mom’s arms. “That day when you called me, I was worried something had happened to you. I know the rules at the station so I didn’t dare ask directly. I just searched online myself and heard about the dismemberment case.” Although Detective Johnson had quickly suppressed the news, we’re in an era of rapid information spread. There were still plenty of rumors circulating. Mom’s brow immediately relaxed. She hugged Emma tightly. “Don’t worry, nothing will happen to Mom.” I shrank dejectedly into the corner. This lead had been cut off too!

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“I’m going on a business trip for a month. Could you feed my cat at my place? Oh, and the mango juice in the fridge is about to expire.” It was two in the morning, and the vibration of my phone jolted me awake. I picked up my phone and saw it was a message from my best friend. The next second, all my sleepiness vanished. A cold sweat broke out. First, she’s a freelancer. “Business trips” aren’t really her thing. Second, she doesn’t own a cat. Third, she’s allergic to mangoes. “Aubrey, I’m going on a business trip for a month. Could you feed my cat at my place? Oh, and the mango juice in the fridge is about to expire.” It was two in the morning, and the vibration of my phone jolted me awake. I grabbed the phone from my nightstand. It was a message from my best friend, Chloe. I’m a light sleeper. No exaggeration, a needle dropping on the floor at night would wake me up instantly. Chloe knew this, which was why she never messaged me in the middle of the night. The next second, a realization hit me. All my sleepiness vanished, replaced by a cold sweat. Chloe and I had been friends for over a decade. She was my closest friend, and no one knew her better than me. First, she’s a freelancer. “Business trips” aren’t really her thing. Second, she doesn’t own a cat. Third, she’s allergic to mangoes. A while ago, Chloe and I watched a thriller about the safety of women living alone. There was a scene where two best friends agreed on a secret code word to alert each other if they were in danger. “Aubrey, if I ever send you a weird message, you *have* to come save me.” My heart pounded with panic. My first instinct was to call Chloe. But then it hit me. If she was using these bizarre messages to hint at something, instead of just telling me what was going on, it could only mean one thing: the attacker was right there, watching her every move. It was two-thirty in the morning. Outside, the power seemed to be out; everything was pitch black. In the darkness, it felt like countless eyes were secretly watching me. My heart hammered against my ribs, the rapid thumping echoing clearly in my ears, as if it would burst out of my chest. I quickly pulled out my medication from the drawer and dry-swallowed two pills. It took a while for me to calm down. Once I had my composure, I called Asher first, then the police. Asher is my boyfriend. He’s incredibly smart and tall. Whether it was facing the police or going to find Chloe, having him by my side always made me feel safer. The moment I saw Asher, I threw myself into his arms and started crying, completely ungracefully. “Don’t be scared, Aubrey. I’m here. No one’s going to hurt you anymore,” Asher whispered, gently patting my back. Breathing in his subtle scent, my fear slowly dissipated. Thank goodness, I still had Asher. About five minutes later, the police arrived. I sat on the sofa, listening to Asher talk to them. “Aubrey Jiang?” a slightly surprised voice from the police rang out. I finally looked up, toward the doorway, and saw the familiar face of the lead officer. I was surprised too. It was Devin. Funny enough, Devin and I were old acquaintances. We were middle school classmates. If you really went back, he was even my first love. However, the way we broke up was quite brutal, something I’ve never forgotten to this day. Back then, we were young and naive. That kind of childish, pretend-play romance wasn’t meant to be serious. Still, seeing Devin in this situation made me feel strangely awkward. Devin, however, was professional. He had no intention of reminiscing. He stated matter-of-factly, “We understand the situation. We’re heading to Chloe’s place now.” “I’m coming with you,” I said, mustering my courage. Devin shot me a disapproving glance, as if he thought I’d just be in the way. Asher also tried to persuade me, “I know you’re worried about Chloe, but it’s better to let the police handle this.” I bit my lip, stubbornly insisting, “Chloe is my best friend. I have to see her safe with my own eyes to rest easy. Plus, I have her house key. I can help.” Seeing my persistence, Asher and Devin had no choice but to compromise. They knew how stubborn I was, that I’d always stick to something once I’d made up my mind. Left with no other option, Devin brought Asher and me along.

As an heiress, Chloe lived in a luxury townhouse with top-notch security. Devin immediately sent his team to check the surveillance footage, while he, Asher, and I headed straight for Chloe’s private residence. The moment we reached the door, a strong metallic smell of blood hit us. I shivered, a chilling premonition gripping me. My breathing became shallow. I reached into my bag for the key, but the more nervous I got, the less I could do anything right. The key, which was usually in the outer pocket of my backpack, was nowhere to be found. As if sensing my fear, Asher gently wrapped his arms around me from behind, softly reassuring me, “Aubrey, don’t be scared. I’m here.” I took a few deep breaths, forcing myself to stay calm, and finally found the key, handing it to Devin. Devin shot me an annoyed look, probably thinking I was too slow. Without a word, he turned and unlocked the door. Chloe’s house was dark. The pungent, sickening smell in the air made it hard for me to breathe. I stared at the closed door, an inexplicable dread filling me, as if a flesh-eating monster would leap out of that dark doorway any second. I clung tightly to Asher’s arm, as if it could bring me some peace. The door opened. Devin went in first, fumbling to switch on the living room light. Still reeling, I looked at the center of the living room. This scene, I will never forget. Chloe was dead. In her own living room, in a terribly gruesome state. She was kneeling, crucified, her face slashed beyond recognition, and her body stabbed countless times. Blood was everywhere. I screamed, terrified, and almost collapsed. Thankfully, Asher caught me in time and pulled out the pills he always carried, handing them to me. After taking the medication, I felt a little better, but I was still sobbing uncontrollably. “It’s all my fault. I came too late. If only I had come sooner.” Devin stood a short distance away, glaring at me irritably. “The killer is extremely brutal. If you had come sooner, there’d only be one more body.” I flinched. Devin’s words were as cutting as ever. Still, good to know he hadn’t changed. The police quickly secured the scene, taping it off. The officer who went to check the surveillance footage came back empty-handed. “The surrounding cameras were destroyed.” I sat blankly on the steps outside the door, a wave of numbness washing over me. My best friend, brutally murdered in her own home. It was hard for anyone to accept. Just as I was lost in thought, a fluffy head suddenly appeared in front of my face, scaring the living daylights out of me. Thankfully, Asher was still by my side and immediately pulled me into his arms. “Buddy! Back!” Devin called out sharply. That’s when I saw it clearly: it was a police dog. “Excuse me, Aubrey is afraid of dogs. Could you please keep your dog on a tighter leash?” I heard Asher’s displeased voice. Devin, holding the dog’s leash, shot me a thoughtful glance. I guessed he was probably wondering when I became afraid of dogs. After all, when we were dating back then, we even adopted a puppy together. But people change. As the person who reported the crime, Devin questioned me privately as standard procedure. “What was your relationship with the deceased, Chloe Chen?” “She was my best friend.” I thought, Devin should know the answer to that question without asking. The three of us were middle school classmates, and Chloe and I had been closest ever since then. More than just my best friend, she was my *only* friend.

My father was a compulsive gambler, always buried in debt. My mother… well, she ran a massage parlor in our town. You know, one of *those* places. The news spread like wildfire, and soon, the whole school knew. No one wanted anything to do with me, except Chloe. My entire adolescence, thanks to Chloe’s companionship, didn’t seem so bleak. She meant more to me than my own parents, with whom I had long since cut ties. “What was her job? Did she have any enemies?” “She was a food influencer. She rarely got into arguments with people. I honestly can’t imagine anyone hating her enough to kill her so brutally.” As I spoke, I started to choke up again, lowering my head and covering my face. “Did she have any romantic entanglements?” I racked my brain for a long time, then shook my head blankly. “I don’t know. I didn’t really pry into her love life.” “Weren’t you best friends?” Devin narrowed his eyes slightly. I felt a little awkward. “Even best friends don’t tell each other *everything*, do they?” Devin said nothing, then continued to ask, “What about you? What do you do for work now?” I paused, then answered truthfully, “I just quit my job recently. I’m currently unemployed.” “Why did you quit?” “Officer Devin, how are these questions relevant to Chloe’s death? Or are you implying *I’m* the killer?” I was angry, but Devin coldly continued, “Chloe died in her home. There were no signs of forced entry. The killer must have been someone Chloe knew, someone she let in, or someone who had her house key.” “You reported receiving a strange message from Chloe, but we haven’t found Chloe’s phone at the scene.” When he put it that way, I understood perfectly: he was genuinely suspicious of me. I scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping me. “So you think I, someone with no stable job or income, killed my best friend out of jealousy because she lived a better life than me?” “Answer my question.” His voice was devoid of warmth. I caved. “Fine. I quit my job because I suffer from severe anxiety. It makes it impossible for me to live and work normally.” I kept my head down, not wanting to see pity or sympathy in his eyes. Honestly, his distrust disappointed me. But then again, when we were together all those years ago, he never really believed in me with that much conviction either. To him, I was, at best, a familiar stranger. Why *should* he believe what I said? Devin stared intently at me, seemingly trying to read guilt or panic on my face. We sat in silence for a long time. Then, he suddenly pulled out an evidence bag and gently placed it on the table. “This phone, it’s yours, isn’t it?” It was an outdated, old phone. The screen was lit up, displaying my selfie. Given Chloe’s family wealth, she wouldn’t own a generic phone like this. Her phone had always been the latest model from a certain fruit company. I stared at the phone for a long time before nodding. “It’s mine.” “Can you explain why your phone was found at the crime scene?” Devin asked. That’s when I noticed the bloodstains on the back of the phone. I shook my head. “I have no idea. Honestly, I lost this phone three years ago. The one I’m using now was a gift from Chloe.” My expression must have been terrible. Otherwise, Devin wouldn’t have been staring at me with such a complex look. “Tell me, what happened?”

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