Category: English

New Year’s Eve, the ER buzzed. A patient came in with a severely injured penis, bleeding heavily. He was my best friend. And the one who brought him? My fiancée, Chloe. Her hands were drenched in blood, trembling as she clutched my white coat, begging me to save him. I glanced at the wound. Shards of the sex toy I’d bought Chloe just two days prior were still embedded there. She stammered, frantically trying to explain, “He was just drunk, it was an accident…” I calmly put on my gloves, cutting her off. “Go pay the fee. Sign as the responsible party.” There was a time I’d get furious if she just had dinner with a male colleague. Now, watching her bring my best friend to the hospital after they cheated, my heart felt unsettlingly calm. Chloe stared at my placid face, her eyes suddenly welling up. “Why aren’t you angry?” Angry? What’s there to be angry about? Something dirty? You just cut it off. 1 I expressionlessly pulled down the blinds. Turning around, Blake was groaning on the operating table. The anesthesiologist had just given him a shot, but it hadn’t fully kicked in. Blake was drenched in cold sweat, yet seeing me, he smirked smugly. “Liam, go easy. If you can’t fix me, Chloe will be heartbroken.” I probed the wound with a hemostat. “Endure it if it hurts.” The tweezers extracted a blood-soaked sex toy fragment. Blake flinched, letting out a pained shriek. “Quite the thrill you had, huh?” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. Blake gasped, his eyes defiant. “Chloe said she wanted some excitement. I didn’t want to, but she insisted. She said you’re a nerd and I’m more fun.” I looked at his penis, a wave of disgust washing over me. Half an hour later, the surgery was over. I peeled off my blood-stained gloves, packing the fragments as medical waste. Along with my last shred of feeling for these two, I tossed them into the biohazard bin. Stepping out of the operating room, Chloe rushed towards me immediately. “Liam, let me explain.” She stammered incoherently, her eyes bloodshot. “You’re the only one in my heart, really.” I forcefully pulled my hand away. “I’m a doctor,” I cut her off. “I only care if the patient’s sexual function can recover, and if there will be any lasting complications. How you two ended up like this, I couldn’t care less.” Chloe looked at me in disbelief. “You don’t love me anymore?” She actually had the nerve to ask that. I chuckled. “As a doctor, the surgery was a success, though it might not be fully functional going forward. As your ex-fiancé, I wish you both happiness.” Chloe’s face instantly went ashen. I stepped back, checking my watch. “I have three more emergencies waiting. Don’t block me from saving lives.” 2 The next morning at 7 AM, my clinic door was pushed open. Chloe stood there, holding a takeout bag. “Liam, this is your favorite burger. I waited in line for an hour to get it.” In the past, I would have been touched and hugged her. Now, I just felt sick to my stomach. “What happened last night, it was my fault. I won’t ever see him again. Please forgive me this one time, okay?” she continued to apologize. I said nothing, taking the burger and handing it to a security guard. Chloe’s smile froze, then twisted into shame and anger. “Liam, I’ve humbled myself to come apologize to you, what more do you want? Blake and I were just drunk. Last night was an accident!” Just then, the nurse station bell blared. A young nurse frantically ran over. “Dr. Liam, the patient in room 16 is making a fuss. He says his wound hurts, claims the nurse who changed his dressing was too rough, and insists you go personally.” Chloe immediately grew anxious at the mention of Blake’s pain. She grabbed my arm, her tone softening again. “Liam, you’re a doctor, go take a look. He is your best friend after all, and it would be terrible if it leaves a scar on his penis.” I almost laughed out loud. It was such a mess, and he cared about how it looked? I picked up the dressing tray. Chloe breathed a sigh of relief, following me into the patient room. Blake was lying in bed, whining and groaning. Seeing me enter, he immediately stopped. “Dr. Liam is finally here.” His eyes flickered towards Chloe, his voice becoming overly delicate and fake. “Chloe, I’m in so much pain, please tell Liam to check on me.” I put on my gloves and pulled back the blanket. The wound was red and swollen, and the exudate hadn’t dried. When I stitched him up last night, I definitely held back. I didn’t use absorbable sutures; I used the cheapest silk thread. It would hurt more when removed and was prone to pulling. “That toy was Chloe’s New Year’s gift to me,” Blake whispered. “Was it?” I replied coldly. Then, with a forceful twist of my wrist, I pressed a cotton swab firmly onto his wound. Debridement. Removing necrotic tissue. “AHHH!!!” Blake let out an agonized scream like a stuck pig. Chloe, who had been standing by the window, rushed over at the sound. “Liam! What are you doing!” She pushed me. Caught off guard, I stumbled back a few steps. My lower back hit the sharp corner of a metal cabinet with a heavy thud. Chloe shielded Blake, pointing at me with a furious face. “How can you be so vicious? Is this your medical ethics?” Blake cowered in her arms, playing the victim. “Chloe, he’s doing it on purpose, he wants me to suffer to death…” Chloe’s heart ached for him. I gave up entirely. Because the old Chloe, the one who loved me, was dead. The Chloe now was just a manipulative bitch. I leaned on the cabinet, straightening my body. “Cleaning a wound naturally hurts. If you can’t handle it, then don’t bother with treatment.” I tossed the dressing tray onto the table. “Frankly, I find it disgusting.” 3 Before noon, rumors spread through the hospital. “Did you hear that Dr. Liam in the ER is retaliating against a patient!” “I heard he’s fighting with the patient over a woman. It’s terrible.” The head nurse looked at me with a hesitant gaze. In the afternoon, the director called me into his office. “Liam, this incident is having a bad effect,” the director said gravely. “Ms. Chloe has filed a complaint. While the surgery itself wasn’t problematic, a doctor’s poor attitude is unacceptable. You’ll be suspended for a few days. Ms. Chloe said that as long as you apologize, this matter will be dropped.” I tightened my grip on the coffee cup. I had helped so many patients, and now, because of accusations from this cheating couple, I was being suspended. Stepping out of the director’s office, Chloe was waiting outside. She leaned against the wall, lighting a cigarette. Seeing me emerge, she stubbed it out and approached. “Liam, just apologize to Blake. I’ll withdraw the complaint. I know you feel wronged, but Blake is a patient right now, so humor him.” I looked at her hypocritical face. Suddenly, I found it utterly ridiculous. How could I have ever loved such a pathetic excuse for a human? “I’ll apologize to him, just don’t let me be suspended.” Chloe nodded, satisfied. “That’s right. Come on, Blake’s waiting for you in his room.” Back in my office, I pulled out a file from the deepest part of my drawer. It was from three years ago. I’d never been able to bring myself to throw it away, and now, unexpectedly, it was finally useful. I arrived at the patient room door. Inside, not only was Blake there, but also several of Chloe’s shady friends, and even a few colleagues. “That nerd, Liam, Chloe must have been soft-hearted to put up with him for so long.” Chloe pushed the door open and cleared her throat. The room quieted. All eyes turned to me. I walked to the center of the room. Then, I bowed deeply to Blake. “My apologies. My medical skills were lacking. I couldn’t perfectly stitch up that rotting hole down there.” Everyone stared at me, wide-eyed. Blake’s face instantly turned beet red. “Liam! Shut up!” he roared, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at me. I sidestepped, dodging it. Chloe’s face was ashen. “Liam, are you crazy? What are you talking about!” “I’m not talking nonsense,” I blinked innocently. “Didn’t you ask me to apologize? I’m just stating the facts. Everyone’s here, so you can all be witnesses.” I pulled out a yellowed pathology report from my pocket. I gently placed it on the bedside table, underneath a fruit basket. “Chloe, let’s settle the score from three years ago today.” Chloe’s pupils constricted sharply as she saw the paper. 4 That pathology report stopped Chloe dead in her tracks. Memories from three years ago flooded my mind. We had only recently moved in together. That day, I suddenly suffered from acute testicular torsion, writhing on the floor in pain, curled up on the sofa as I called Chloe. I told her I wasn’t feeling well, experiencing severe lower abdominal pain, and asked her to come back and take me to the hospital. Chloe impatiently replied on the phone, “Blake’s cat is sick, I need to help him. Can’t you just take a cab yourself? Don’t be so dramatic, you’re a grown man.” Then she hung up. I forced myself to get up and try to call a cab, but I passed out at the apartment complex entrance. By the time the security guard got me to the hospital and I woke up, it was already the next day. The doctor told me I was brought in too late; the lack of blood flow had been too prolonged, my left testicle had necrosed and had to be removed. When Chloe rushed to the hospital, she knelt by my bed, sobbing hysterically. She swore she’d only be good to me for the rest of her life, and that she’d never speak to Blake again. I believed her. Now, I slammed that blood-and-tear-stained report in front of her. “Chloe, do you see it clearly?” I pointed to the date on the report. “That day, you were at Blake’s house ‘saving a kitten,’ while I was here having a necrotic organ removed. Last night, you were on Blake’s bed playing some wild game, while I was in the operating room cutting away his rotten flesh.” “Liam… stop talking…” Chloe’s voice was hoarse as she reached for the report. I slapped her hand away. “Don’t touch it.” “It’s dirty.” In front of everyone, I unpinned my ID badge from my chest. Thwack! It landed by Chloe’s feet. “This doctor, I’m not being anymore. This woman, I don’t want anymore. Blake, Chloe, good luck to you both.” With that, I turned to leave. Chloe seemed to finally react. She lunged forward like a maniac, trying to block me. “Liam! You can’t leave!” she shrieked behind me, her voice filled with panic. A hand suddenly cut in, blocking Chloe. It was Dr. Scarlett Smith from our department. Usually a quiet person, Scarlett’s face was frighteningly cold. “Ms. Chloe, please respect yourself.” She pushed Chloe, sending her stumbling back a few steps. Chloe hit the doorframe, utterly disheveled. Blake cried out Chloe’s name from the bed, telling her not to chase me. The scene was chaotic. I didn’t look back. Walking out of the hospital building, I took out my phone and blocked Chloe on every contact platform. Even her parents, her friends. Then, I dialed a number. “Hello, Captain.” “It’s Liam.” “Is it still possible to sign up for the medical aid mission in the remote mountains?” A surprised voice came from the other end. “Yes! We desperately need a surgeon! You leave tomorrow!”

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My husband Derek bought his secretary Bella a diamond-studded lingerie set. Bella immediately posted on Ins to show off: “My boss gave me a reward. I’ll work even harder!” I commented: “Work harder in bed?” Derek called me right away to accuse me. “I just bought Bella some lingerie. Did you really have to make her cry? Why don’t you reflect on why I’m giving gifts to Bella and not you?” Before I could say a word, he hung up. I untied my apron and threw it on the floor. I’m done with the housework. And I’m done with this marriage. The first thing Derek did when he got home was yell at me: “You left the mop by the door. Are you trying to make me trip and die? I’m so sick of you!” My stomach hurt so badly I couldn’t stand up. I was bent over, but he didn’t even notice. He just walked right past me and sat on the couch. Derek tossed something in a red plastic bag onto the table. “Here’s some lingerie for you. You’re just old and jealous of younger women.” I looked at the price tag. $9.99. I touched the fabric. It was rough and cheap. I said: “I don’t want the lingerie. Give it to your secretary.” Derek froze. “Claire, who are you giving attitude to? Don’t be so ungrateful, okay? Don’t you know your own body…” He saw the look on my face and stopped talking. Did he really not know why my body had changed? Six months ago, I had a miscarriage after fighting with him about staying out all night. The hormone imbalance from the medication made me gain weight. And he was willing to spend over a hundred thousand dollars on diamond-studded lingerie for Bella, but bought me cheap $9.99 garbage. I looked at him with mixed emotions. “Derek, take this junk and get out of my sight, okay?” He practically roared: “Claire! Don’t push your luck. This is from Bella and me!” I laughed softly. “I don’t want this so-called gift.” Derek angrily threw the lingerie in the trash. “Since you don’t want it, I’ll throw it away for you. Don’t come begging me later!” He stood up and pointed at me: “And you need to apologize to Bella!” “I won’t.” My flat refusal made him angry again. Derek said sternly: “Tomorrow I’m bringing her home for dinner. You need to make a nice meal for her!” My body still hadn’t recovered from the miscarriage. And he wanted me to cook for his mistress as an apology? “Derek, I won’t apologize!” He said coldly: “I don’t care. You made Bella cry, so you have to apologize!” Then he slammed the bedroom door behind him.

When Derek started his business, he had no capital. I sold the house my parents gave me to raise money for him. The moment he got the startup funds, he knelt down and proposed to me. He said he would never let me down for the rest of his life. Now, he was cheating with his secretary. The next day, when he brought Bella home and saw nothing on the table, he was furious. “Claire! Didn’t I tell you to make dinner?” Bella’s little hand stroked Derek’s chest soothingly: “Don’t be angry. Claire doesn’t like me. I should just leave…” “Bella, don’t go. She’s the one who should leave!” Derek quickly grabbed her hand. “Claire! You’ve really disappointed me!” It seemed Derek wanted to kick me out so his mistress could feel better. I sighed. “Don’t forget, this house is my prenuptial property.” Derek’s expression changed. Then he said: “Since you’re my wife, when we have guests, you should at least pour some water, right?” I said calmly: “You’re the man of this house. You can pour it too.” “Claire, can you stop being so petty?” Derek pulled Bella to sit down. “This is Bella’s first time at our house. Can’t you be a good host?” Bella said shyly: “Derek, if Claire doesn’t mind, I can come visit more often to chat with Claire.” Derek nodded with satisfaction, then looked up at me: “Well? What’s your attitude?” I sighed. “I’m not feeling well today. Help yourselves.” I went into my room and closed the door, shutting out Derek’s scolding. Soon I heard clanging sounds and the laughter of Derek and Bella playing around together. Two hours later, I heard the front door close. I came out of my room to find the kitchen and dining room a complete mess. Leftover food and unwashed pots and dishes were just sitting there, waiting for me to clean up. Past midnight, Derek still hadn’t come home. I didn’t call him. I used to call him before 10 PM to urge him home. After doing it too many times, he got annoyed. We fought about it constantly. This time was different. Derek didn’t stay out all night. He even brought me a late-night snack. I said: “Tomorrow I need to go to the hospital for a follow-up. Can you drive me?” Seeing my pale face, Derek agreed. “If it weren’t for the fact that you’re sick, after your attitude today, I definitely wouldn’t forgive you.” He paused. “Don’t treat Bella like that again.” In the end, he came home early for Bella, not for me. The next day, there was thunder and heavy rain. Derek was driving me and we stopped at a red light. He watched the windshield wipers irritably: “I don’t know why you chose a rainy day to go to the hospital! The traffic is terrible!” I explained: “I made an appointment with the doctor. You know Dr. Harrison is hard to book…” Derek’s phone rang: “Your caring little secretary is online! Derek, you have a call~” Derek glanced at me awkwardly. “Bella’s being playful. Don’t be mad.” I smiled indifferently. He seemed surprised by my attitude. “You’re not angry?” “Why would I be angry?” Derek answered the call, confused. After connecting to Bluetooth, Bella’s sweet voice came through the speakers: “Derek… my stomach hurts so much…” Her breathing sounded especially suggestive. Derek unlocked the car doors and said to me: “Take a cab to the hospital yourself. I need to pick up Bella from the office.” I grabbed the door handle tightly and refused to get out: “Derek, are you crazy? It’s impossible to get a cab in this rain!” He pushed me out of the car without discussion: “Bella’s period pain makes her faint. I have to pick her up!” Derek didn’t care that I was getting soaked in the rain. He locked the car and drove away. He accelerated so fast that I didn’t let go in time. I was dragged several meters before falling heavily into a puddle…

That day I developed a high fever and ended up in the hospital. The doctor called Derek a dozen times. He didn’t answer any of them. I called my lawyer Marcus to the hospital. Seeing my condition, he was shocked. “How did you end up like this? Is a man worth this?” I shook my head mockingly. “Not worth it. Is it too late to regret now?” Marcus sighed and took out his notebook from his bag. “I know no matter how much I tried to persuade you before, it was useless. You had to figure it out yourself before you’d turn back…” I showed Marcus the photos of Derek and Bella kissing. Marcus frowned. “Why does this homewrecker look so much like you?” Actually, he wasn’t the only one. The first time I met Bella, I thought she looked somewhat like me too. But none of that mattered anymore. I’d been married to Derek for five years. The first few years, we had a great relationship and were very much in love. But everything changed after Bella joined the company as Derek’s secretary. Derek and she were inseparable. They even shared hotel rooms on business trips. I told him countless times, but he kept crossing my boundaries. He would even go to Bella after fighting with me. My patience and communication became unreasonable trouble in his eyes. Gradually, I got tired. I became numb. “Claire, I’ll help you get back what belongs to you.” Marcus’s words pulled me back from my thoughts. I nodded. “I’m counting on you for the divorce papers.” On the day of the company’s fifth anniversary gala. I entered the venue in a black mermaid dress, immediately becoming the center of attention under the spotlight. “Didn’t they say Mr. Derek’s wife was fat? I don’t think she’s fat at all!” “Exactly! Who spread that rumor? That hourglass figure is what I dream of having!” “Those waves, that black lace… total bombshell!” “I heard it was Derek’s secretary Bella who said it. We don’t really know…” The company employees were buzzing with gossip. I walked forward without looking sideways, a faint smile on my lips. When Bella saw me, she dropped her glass. It shattered on the floor. “Bella, what’s wrong…” Derek was about to speak when his eyes fell on me. His pupils dilated in shock. Derek was so stunned he couldn’t speak. He stared at me blankly. In that moment, I saw in his eyes the same passionate devotion from five years ago. Bella snapped back to reality and quickly stood in front of Derek, blocking his view. “Derek, I’m not feeling well. Can you help me…” Before she could finish, Derek pushed her aside. Derek walked up to me: “Claire, uh no, honey, you look so beautiful tonight…” Bella grabbed Derek’s hand stubbornly. “Derek, my chest really hurts. Don’t believe me? Feel it.” She tried to put Derek’s hand on her chest. Derek pulled away awkwardly. “No.” I ignored them both and walked straight to the stage. Bella shouted from below: “Claire, today is the company’s fifth anniversary gala. That’s not your place to stand!” I laughed softly. “Should I come down so you can stand there?” Laughter erupted from below. I added: “Would that be appropriate?” The laughter grew louder. Bella’s face turned red with humiliation. She wanted to crawl into a hole. Derek came up on stage, took my hand, and proudly introduced me to everyone. “Claire, my beloved wife.” Amid the enthusiastic applause, I smiled slightly and spoke into the microphone: “Not for much longer.” Derek froze, thinking he’d heard wrong. “What?”

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After five years of marriage and two kids, I was left with C-section scars on my belly and loose skin. Predictably, my CEO husband cheated on me with his young secretary. Devastated and furious, I ran to my rich mom to cry my eyes out. She puffed on a cigarette, a dismissive look on her face. “He found a girlfriend, can’t you find a boyfriend? I’ve sponsored a dozen handsome college guys. Pick whichever one you like.” “Mom,” I stammered, “you want me to cheat?” My mom shook her head. “No, I’m teaching you to love yourself.” I was dropping my two kids off at school when I found out Brandon was cheating. Seeing the photos of him passionately kissing someone in an office on my phone, my hands trembled on the steering wheel. My older son, Leo, said, “Mom, please hurry, I’m going to be late.” He was so much like Brandon — polite, reserved, and not particularly dependent on me. I used to be so proud of that, thinking I’d raised a brilliant son. But now, looking at his calm, brown eyes, I felt a strange fear. I asked him, “Leo, if your dad and I separate, who would you choose?” Leo gave me an indifferent glance but said nothing. When we pulled up to the school, he slowly got out. He looked at me and said, “Mom, you don’t have a job, and you’ve fallen out with Grandma. So, if you two separate, I’ll choose Dad.” My younger son, Charlie, immediately echoed, “Me too, I want Dad!” I felt like I’d been plunged into an ice bath. After dropping Charlie off at kindergarten, I found an empty park before I dared to open the picture again. The message was from a strange woman. She wrote, “Mrs. Miller, you’re so kind, I didn’t want you to be kept in the dark. Mr. Miller is going on a business trip in a couple of days, and he even specifically booked a king-sized couple’s suite and flowers.” A king-sized couple’s suite, flowers. These were things Brandon only did for me when we were madly in love. Now, he was giving them to another woman. After thinking it over, I finally called my mom’s secretary. Half an hour later, Julia led me to my mom. I hadn’t seen her in five years. She was even more beautiful and formidable than before. She rolled her eyes. “You’re this old and still such a coward.” My eyes welled up, and my nose burned. “Yeah, I’m useless, that’s why my life turned out like this.” My mom didn’t care, continuing her taunts: “What else can you do besides act tough in front of me? You can’t even keep a man in line.” The more she spoke, the sadder I got, and the tears I’d held back all morning finally fell. “Yes, I’m useless, I’m a total failure, and I don’t know what to do when my husband cheats. Just yell at me, I don’t even want to live anymore.” My mom glanced at Julia. “You, record this. This pathetic display is perfect for the internet.” I instantly stopped crying, utterly incredulous. “Mom! How can you be like this?” My mom watched me for a moment, then walked over and sharply poked my head. “How did I give birth to such a wimp?” She was right; she was so powerful. After I was born, she found out my dad cheated, and she kicked him out without a second thought. She single-handedly grew a small electronics company into a publicly traded empire, shipping products to over a dozen countries. My mom, fierce as she was, had given birth to a wimp like me. From childhood, besides decent grades, I wasn’t like her in any way. I was also a hopeless romantic, a total love-struck idiot. Even though I knew Brandon was hard to pin down, I was so smitten by his looks that I practically begged to marry him. My mom glared at me for a while, then sighed. “He’s supporting a woman, why can’t you support a man? I have over a dozen sponsored college students. Which one do you like?” I couldn’t believe it. “Mom, you want me to cheat?” My mom shook her head. “No, I’m teaching you to love yourself.” I was a little dazed. My mom continued: “Relationships, male and female, are all about exchanging value.” “When you first got married, you were young, beautiful, and compliant, so he was willing to spoil you and put effort into you.” “But five years have passed, the novelty is gone, and you just stay home all day, like some frumpy old homebody.” “To Brandon, you have no commercial value and no emotional value. Tell me, what else could he want from you?” I mumbled, “But, but I gave him two children…” “Any normal woman can have kids! And you’re not a breeding machine.” My mom lit a cigarette, a faint, knowing smile playing on her lips. “Audrey, your grandparents raised you. I didn’t have time. I know they filled your head with a lot of old-fashioned ideas.”

I’d never done anything so rebellious. For a moment, I was still stunned. My mom sat at her massive office desk, tapping her index finger against the surface. “Audrey, choose: be a princess or a nanny. Remember, you only get one chance. Miss it, and I won’t help you again, and we won’t see each other.” She meant what she said. When I was hell-bent on marrying Brandon, she didn’t answer my calls for five years. She even went abroad and had a daughter twenty-five years younger than me. My mom made it clear she couldn’t entrust her vast empire to a fool like me. Her aura was incredibly powerful; I’d always been intimidated by her. If it weren’t absolutely necessary, I wouldn’t have swallowed my pride and come to her. I felt a bit guilty. “Mom, can I think about it?” She pointed to the office door. “You have 24 hours. After that, the offer’s off. Get out, I have a meeting.” On the way home, my mom’s words replayed in my head. She said the reason she didn’t want me to marry Brandon was because he was the youngest child in his family. People who are spoiled too much don’t cherish people’s feelings. And she’d secretly investigated; Brandon had been flirting with girls since middle school. I was just blinded by his good looks, utterly determined to marry him. I had to admit, my mom was truly prescient. As soon as I walked in, I noticed the house was quite lively. Brandon was already home and had brought someone with him. It was a young, beautiful woman in a white dress, with shoulder-length hair, stunningly gorgeous. She was curled up on my carefully chosen sofa, my two sons nestled on either side, while Brandon sat nearby, looking at documents. From my angle, they looked exactly like a family. But only I knew that the four of us hadn’t eaten together in a very, very long time. When Brandon finally had time off, he always stayed in his study. The kids didn’t like going out with me either. Now, Leo, who was usually quiet, was excitedly holding Chloe’s hand. “Aunt Chloe, you’re amazing, you actually beat the Demon King! My mom can’t even do that.” The girl named Chloe smiled, her eyes crinkling. “Of course not, I’m the star player on our school’s esports team.” Brandon handed her a glass of milk. “Alright, drink some milk first, you’ll get a stomachache later. Audrey will be back soon to cook. Her famous steak is delicious, you’ll definitely like it.” They spoke so casually, as if I wasn’t the lady of the house, but a hired cook. I looked at my sallow reflection in the mirror. Almost instinctively, I dropped the grocery bags on the floor and bolted. Twenty minutes later, I arrived at Vivian’s mansion. I rushed through the door, dropping to my knees with a thud. Loudly, I cried, “Mom, help me! I don’t want to be a tired, worn-out housewife anymore. I’ll listen to everything you say.” My mom walked over. “Starting tomorrow, go see Julia. She’ll help you.” Then she turned to hug Lily, my little sister. I wiped a tear and turned to leave. Back at the Miller house, Brandon and the boys didn’t realize I’d returned. Seeing the bags in my hand, Charlie cried that he was hungry. “Mommy, I want fried chicken wings! Leo wants shrimp.” Brandon and the boys had sensitive stomachs. We used to have a private chef, but after we got married, my in-laws said I stayed home all day and should learn how to take care of them. So, I started from scratch, learning to cook delicious, healthy meals tailored to their needs. I became a wife who perfectly catered to the Miller family, but I also became a complete nanny. I casually tossed the bags onto the table and turned to face them. “I’m a little tired today, so I won’t be cooking. Order takeout. Tomorrow, I’ll hire a chef. From now on, you can tell the chef directly what you want to eat.”

I started to head upstairs, but Brandon blocked me. “Audrey, what do you mean? We have a guest today, how can you make her eat takeout?” “Guest?” I slowly turned my head, looking at Chloe. “She’s just your company’s secretary. What, am I, your wife, supposed to personally wait on her?” Chloe immediately teared up. “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Miller, I’ve caused you trouble.” She picked up her bag, looking hurt. “I-I’ll leave right away. Please, don’t argue with Mr. Miller because of me.” Leo rushed forward first. “Mom, how can you be so rude? Aunt Chloe is my friend.” My younger son chimed in, “Yeah, Mom, you cook every day anyway. What’s wrong with making Aunt Chloe a meal? Dad married you so you could do these things, didn’t he?” Their righteous indignation made me feel like a complete joke. The slap from that afternoon started to sting again. My husband, whom I’d spent my youth with, and my children, whom I’d risked my life to bear, were all siding with someone else. I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. Audrey Foster, you are such a failure. Brandon, however, misunderstood, thinking I was throwing a tantrum. “Fine, if you won’t cook, then don’t. Come on, Chloe, I’ll take you out to eat.” Both sons clamored to go along. As they left, Leo deliberately took Chloe’s hand, flaunting their closeness in front of me. He usually disliked physical affection, even with me, he rarely let me hold his hand. Now, he was so eagerly trying to please Chloe; he really seemed to like her. I thought I’d be heartbroken. I instinctively touched my chest, but it felt hollow, filled only with an endless chill. After showering, I simply went to sleep. The next morning, no one knocked on my door to remind me to take the kids to school. I ended up sleeping until eleven. After waking, I took another shower, washed my hair, and checked my phone. Julia had booked a slew of appointments for me. Besides getting a haircut, buying clothes, and beauty treatments, there were over a dozen aesthetic procedures. When I got into the car, Julia looked at me as if she wanted to say something. “What’s wrong?” She gave an awkward laugh. “I just didn’t expect that there wasn’t a single dress in your closet.” I silently followed Julia. First, we went to the hair salon, where my messy hair was styled into loose waves. Then I bought dozens of new outfits. For the last appointment, Julia took me to the most reputable aesthetic center to consult about postpartum tightening and repair. Coming out of the doctor’s office, my face was flushed. “Julia, does it really have to be like this?” Julia was matter-of-fact. “This isn’t just a health issue. It’s about psychological and physiological satisfaction, and that’s extremely important.” To be honest, I had been bothered by leakage for a long time. And Brandon had even complained during sex. Over time, he stopped touching me. Sometimes when I initiated, he’d go hide in another room. Julia was right, sex was a very important thing.

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My husband Liam was a Special Forces captain. My best friend was a military doctor. They didn’t get along at first. I was the one who brought them together. Five months into my pregnancy, I found a heavy metal box at home. Inside, I found a stack of wills he’d written before every dangerous mission. As I opened them, a chilling dread washed over me. Seven hundred and thirty-two letters in total. Every single one started with, “My Dearest Chloe.” And every single one ended with, “I love you, Chloe.” Chloe. Not some stranger, but my best friend. I knelt amidst the scattered pages, my fingertips trembling so violently I couldn’t even grip a single sheet. Tears streamed down my face, blurring the words on the paper. “Chloe, make sure you have an extra slice of that apple pie from the west side tonight. You know the one you love.” “Chloe, I’m sorry to make you sad again.” “Chloe, after I die, please scatter my ashes under the old oak tree, so I can always watch over you.” The old oak tree. Our old oak tree. The devastating news of my parents’ deaths arrived when I was eight. I curled up in a corner of our home, crying until no sound came out. Liam and Chloe, one on each side, stubbornly held my hands and led me away from the house. We ran to the old oak tree on the back hill, the one that had stood there for who knows how many years. Tears still stained Chloe’s face, but she raised three fingers, pointing at the trunk, her voice choked but incredibly clear. “I swear, from now on, I’ll protect Alice for her mom and dad for the rest of my life! No one is allowed to bully her!” Liam immediately mimicked her, his face serious, his voice even louder. “Me too! I’ll protect Alice for the rest of my life! Even longer than you!” And they did. My world felt safe and bright because they were in it. My baby, sensing my turmoil, kicked uneasily within me. I instinctively clutched my belly, but my fingertips brushed against the scattered letters on the floor. My vision blurred again. I futilely tried to shove the letters back into the box. But my hands wouldn’t obey, just clawing at them aimlessly. Each letter felt like a burning ember, scalding my insides, making my stomach churn with agony. I don’t know how much time passed, but eventually, I leaned back against the wall, utterly drained, soaked in cold sweat. Footsteps drew closer from outside, accompanied by their familiar bickering. Chloe’s voice, bright and clear, carried her usual disdain for Liam. “Liam, slow down! You’re always so rushed. You nearly dropped the apple pie! Buying two wasn’t enough, you had to clear out the whole store?” Liam’s voice was deep, laced with his usual impatience. “What do you know? Alice’s cravings are unpredictable these days. What’s wrong with buying extra? What if she suddenly wants some?” The door opened. Chloe peeked her head in first. Seeing me on the floor, she rushed over, reaching out to help me up. “Why are you sitting on the floor? Pregnant women shouldn’t be sitting on the cold floor. Come on, up you go!” Liam also hurried over, feeling my forehead with one hand while steadying me with the other. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?” I let them both help me up. Chloe was the first to notice my puffy, red eyes. She pressed urgently. “Why are your eyes so swollen? Did Liam upset you? Tell me. I’ll make him pay!” Liam shot her an irritated look. “Chloe, don’t be ridiculous. I adore my wife. I’d never hurt her!” He turned back to me, his hands cradling my face gently, eyes full of concern. “Honey, what is it?” “Who upset you?” “Or is it your stomach? I’ll take you to the hospital now.”

The concern in their eyes wasn’t fake in the slightest. Chloe’s eyes were even red-rimmed. But when Liam’s hand brushed my cheek, and he asked me so tenderly, I clearly saw a fleeting flicker of heartbreak and forced composure in Chloe’s eyes. I never noticed it before. Now, it was so glaringly obvious. The cold words from the letters crashed into my mind again. “Chloe, I’m going to propose to Alice tomorrow.” “I know this is selfish, and unfair to you. But Alice… she needs me more. She’s too lonely.” “And you, Chloe, you will always be the one I love most, my best comrade, the one I can trust with my life.” “If there’s a next life, I promise I’ll marry you.” At the end of the letter, there was a dark, irregular stain. Like the mark of dried tears. That must have been tears. I once believed marrying Liam was the greatest fortune of my life. I thought his kindness was genuine, born of love for me. I never imagined it was all just a cruel act of pity. How benevolent, yet how utterly ruthless. A strong, metallic tang rose in my throat, which I frantically swallowed down. I doubled over, dry-heaving violently. But nothing came up, only cold, sour bile burning my esophagus. My baby seemed startled, kicking even harder. A tearing, dull pain erupted from my lower abdomen, swiftly engulfing my entire body. “Alice!” “Honey!” Chaos. A blur of motion. Liam’s arms, holding me, were rigid as iron. Chloe’s sobbing voice drifted in and out. A warm dampness spread beneath me. The cold hallway of the military hospital, stark white lights flashing across my vision. I don’t know how long passed before the doctor removed his gloves. “I’m sorry, the fetal heartbeat has stopped. Sudden, severe intrauterine distress, leading to violent contractions… we couldn’t save the baby.” The baby. Couldn’t save. Those three words, so light and airy, yet they sucked the last shred of strength and warmth from my body. Chloe’s and Liam’s voices, broken with grief, echoed in my ears. “Honey, it’s okay… we’ll have a second, a third baby later.” “Yes, Alice, don’t be scared. Once you’ve recovered, you’ll have another one.” They sounded so pained, so genuine. I just lay there, my eyes open, my mind replaying not the words on the letters, but much older memories.

Back in high school, when I innocently started to realize my feelings for Liam had grown beyond friendship, I told Chloe everything, without reservation. Chloe froze for a second, then her face contorted with pure disdain. “Alice, why would you ever like him?” “He’s completely beneath you.” After that, Chloe couldn’t stand Liam even more, and they practically fell into a silent standoff. The day Liam and I officially became a couple, Chloe got into a fight with him. Her eyes were red from crying, but she refused to say anything. Later, Liam went to military academy, and Chloe went to medical school. They both joined the military, and Chloe became the squad’s medic. Because my body couldn’t adapt to the rigorous military environment. Chloe held my hand and said, “Alice, don’t worry, I’ll keep a close eye on Liam for you.” Then, when Liam proposed to me, Chloe cried uncontrollably at our wedding. She grabbed Liam’s collar, her voice choked but fierce. “Liam, if you ever dare to treat Alice badly, I’ll come after you first.” Liam, uncharacteristically, didn’t talk back. He just looked at her trembling lips, his eyes red, and whispered, “Okay.” From then on, Liam’s attitude towards her subtly shifted. When Chloe snapped at him, most of the time he just listened. Sometimes he would even indulge her whims, saying, “You’re always right.” The day I found out I was pregnant, Chloe cried again. That night, she drank a lot of wine, crying as she drank. She said, “Alice, I’m so happy for you. You’re going to be a mom…” “I probably won’t ever get married in this life. From now on, your child will be my child.” “Alice… I really envy you…” She was incoherent, but I just thought she was drunk. Later, Liam walked her home. He was gone for a long time. When he returned, his eyes were red-rimmed, and his lip was busted. He said it was too dark downstairs, and he accidentally ran into a wall. And Chloe was never one to cry easily. But it seemed that whenever it involved Liam and me, her tears flowed effortlessly. Once I asked her, “Chloe, all these years, have you really never liked anyone?” She suddenly looked up, quickly glanced at Liam, and smiled. “Yes, I have. I recently started liking a younger guy. I’ll bring him to meet you sometime.” As soon as Chloe said that, the glass in Liam’s hand clattered to the floor. And that younger guy? I never saw him again. So, everything, everything had been there all along. I just never saw, or didn’t want to see. Now, they knelt by my bedside, heartbroken beyond words. I looked at their two faces, drenched in tears, etched with pain. And suddenly, even breathing felt cold. Finally, I simply closed my eyes and said, “I’m tired.”

Late that night, Liam and Chloe left the room. I opened my eyes, got out of bed, and followed them. At the end of the hallway, Liam pulled Chloe into a comforting embrace, soothing her softly. “It’s okay, don’t be so sad.” His hand stroked her back with a practiced tenderness, full of raw concern. Chloe’s face was buried in his shoulder, her shoulders shaking subtly. “But… the baby…” Her voice was fragmented. “Alice… she loved that baby so much…” “If I hadn’t insisted you come with me to the west side to watch the sunrise today, to watch that movie, to buy those warm donuts from that artisanal bakery…” “It’s not your fault, this was an accident. No one wanted this.” Liam cut her off, pressing his chin into her hair. That intimate gesture made my stomach churn once more. Earlier that morning, Liam had said he had a small mission and Chloe needed to go with him. His tone was normal; he even tucked me in carefully, telling me to rest more. I’d seen the bloodshot veins in his eyes and just thought he was tired, worrying about his safety. How could I have doubted them? They were my husband and my most trusted best friend. My unwavering trust, how utterly laughable it seemed now. Chloe looked up, tear tracks glistening in the dim light. “Liam, I suddenly feel so guilty towards Alice. She’s your wife.” Liam looked at her, his eyes brimming with emotions so thick they almost spilled over. It was pain, tenderness, and torment-all tangled into a gaze reserved for one person, a gaze that had never, not once, settled on me with such profound intensity. “Chloe, don’t think like that,” his voice was hoarse. “I’m the one who’s sorry.” “As for Alice… I’ll take care of her.” A deeper pain and self-reproach flickered in Chloe’s eyes. She opened her mouth, then buried her face in his embrace once more. And I stood there, in the shadows. Watching my husband and my best friend. Comforting each other in their shared grief, on the very night I lost my child. It turned out the deepest pain wasn’t their deception. It was the unspoken, bone-deep connection and anguish between them. That shared, secret world that completely shut me out. I didn’t disturb them. I just slowly, step by step, retreated back to my hospital room. The next day, Chloe’s eyes were still swollen, but she’d already put on an expression of disdain. She picked apart Liam’s porridge for being too hot, and the side dishes for being too salty. Liam frowned, refuting her occasionally. But neither of them mentioned the baby. If it had been before, seeing them like this, I would have felt relieved, felt happy. But now, I leaned against the headboard, watching them in silence. Every deliberately averted gaze. Every unnatural pause. Every raised voice, meant to cover their guilt-ridden arguments. They were like countless tiny needles, piercing my heart. I grew silent. All day, I either stared blankly out the window or closed my eyes, pretending to sleep. Talking required strength. Dealing with them required energy. And all my strength and energy had drained away with the tiny life I would never meet.

On my birthday, they tried to cheer me up. They took me to that old restaurant, my favorite childhood spot. They ordered a table full of my favorite dishes. Liam sat beside me, blowing on a spoonful of soup to cool it for me, his actions still meticulously gentle. Chloe took two sips, then her face suddenly paled. She clapped a hand over her mouth, shot up, and rushed out. Liam practically sprang to his feet on instinct. A clear, undeniable panic flashed across his face. His steps were already directed towards the door, but then he stopped halfway. As if remembering something, he turned to look at me. “Alice,” his voice was a little dry, “I’ll go check on Chloe. You eat first.” In the past, I would have rushed to check on Chloe myself. But this time, I didn’t even look up, just gave a faint nod. My gaze settled on the bowl of chicken soup Chloe had been drinking. He immediately turned and walked out quickly. I sat quietly for a moment, then got up and followed him out. From the old restaurant’s back garden, I heard Chloe’s trembling voice. “Liam, I… I think… I’m pregnant…” “What do I do…” “How can I be pregnant with your child? You’re Alice’s husband, and I’m Alice’s best friend…” Liam reached out, gripping Chloe’s arm tightly, his voice low and strained. “Chloe, look at me. None of this is your fault.” “It’s all my fault.” “If I hadn’t been afraid of hurting Alice, if I hadn’t accepted her confession back then, none of this would have happened.” “Chloe, not being able to marry you is already the biggest regret of my life. Now you’re carrying my child…” “Let’s keep the baby.” “But… Alice just lost her baby…” Chloe’s voice broke into a desperate sob. “How can I…” “No, I can’t keep this baby!” Her voice suddenly became frantic and despairing. “Liam, I’ve thought a lot these past few days.” “You and Alice are married. There’s no possibility for you and me anymore.” “You’re right, Alice needs you more than I do… I’m going to apply for a transfer with my superiors.” “From now on… let’s not see each other again.” “Please, be good to Alice.” “No, Chloe,” Liam’s voice held an undeniable pain and resolve. “I can’t lose you again, and I certainly can’t lose our child.” Watching their entangled figures. Listening to this agonizing conversation. How absurd. I suddenly felt like I was the villain, the shadow who had stolen someone else’s happiness. My heart felt like it was clenched by an icy hand, then suddenly released. Leaving only a numb void. All the pain seemed to peak at that moment, then strangely subsided into a dead calm. I stepped out from behind the pillar. My footsteps startled them. They quickly pulled apart. I didn’t look at Chloe, just walked step by step towards them.

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Everyone knew how much Julian Sterling loved me. He started a film and television company just for me and proposed to me live on a global awards show. But then, my mother was diagnosed with late-stage kidney disease. Julian found a donor named Briar, but on the day of the surgery, she was “in a car accident.” I watched him carry a seemingly injured Briar, whose forehead only had a small scrape, out of the hospital. “She’s scared. Let’s reschedule the surgery.” My mother flatlined on the operating table. At that very moment, Julian was in bed with Briar at her place. I signed the divorce papers and left for Finland. Yet, there he was, covered in snow, standing outside my door. “I gave her back her kidney. Please, come home.” I turned toward the kitchen. “Leo, could you take out the trash by the door?” Scarlett POV Everyone knew how much Julian Sterling loved me. As CEO of the Sterling Group, when I said I wanted to be an actress, he poured a fortune into building a film and television company just for me. He poached the industry’s top talent at premium rates and soon became celebrated in elite circles as the ultimate devoted husband. Later, I achieved my dream, winning the coveted Actress of the Year award. At the globally televised awards ceremony, he got down on one knee in front of all the cameras, pulling out a custom-made diamond ring, and proposed to me with heartfelt devotion. From then on, I gradually stepped back from the spotlight and settled into my role as his full-time wife. For three years after our marriage, our relationship was seen by the outside world as the perfect example of enduring love. Until one day, my adoptive mother, Martha, was suddenly diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease in both kidneys. Her life depended on a kidney transplant. Julian offered a hefty reward and found us a highly compatible kidney donor-Briar. But on the day of the surgery, she was nowhere to be found. I was practically frantic, dialing her number dozens of times before the call finally went through. “Briar! Where are you?” My voice trembled beyond my control. “We agreed on the surgery for today! Why are you-” Her voice on the other end was weak and shaky. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Scarlett, I… I got into a car accident on my way over…” I froze. “A car accident?” She sniffled softly. “I’m hurt, so I might not be able to donate my kidney. Can the surgery be rescheduled?” Before I could even answer, a deep male voice, one I knew all too well, suddenly came from her phone. “Okay, stop crying. Reschedule it is. I’ll take you home to rest first.” It was Julian. The call was abruptly disconnected. Listening to the dial tone, I stood rooted to the spot. Like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over my head, my mind went completely blank. The doctor beside me asked anxiously, “Ms. Scarlett, how much longer until the donor arrives? Your mother has already been moved into the operating room; her condition is critical, we really can’t delay any longer.” I snapped back to reality, my face pale. “Please wait, I’ll go get her right now.” I practically stumbled out of the corridor. Soon, on the other side of the hospital, I saw Julian. He was carrying Briar, emerging from the emergency trauma department. The man who usually only held me, was now, in a public place, holding another woman in his arms. Briar had a bandage on her forehead and was leaning against his chest, her voice soft. “Mr. Sterling, aren’t you getting tired holding me? Maybe you should put me down, I can walk.” “Aren’t you dizzy? The doctor said you have a slight concussion. It’s safer if I carry you.” He looked down at her, his tone gentle in a way I’d never heard before. I stood not far away, completely frozen. My chest felt like it had been pierced sharply. And the “car accident” she’d claimed? It had only left a slight scrape on her forehead. Other than that, she had no obvious injuries. Then, I heard her speak hesitantly. “But… I promised Ms. Scarlett I’d donate my kidney today. Now I can’t go through with the surgery, I’m worried she might get angry…” Julian’s tone was calm. “You had an accident, it’s unavoidable. If the surgery is delayed a bit, she won’t blame you.” She looked up at him, her eyes slightly red, her hands resting on his shoulders. “Mr. Sterling, I’m actually really scared of the surgery. Just thinking about having a kidney removed from my body, I just…” Julian paused, then said, “If you’re truly scared and don’t want to donate, I’ll find another suitable kidney donor for her mother as quickly as possible during this time.” “Really?” “Of course.” Just as I saw him carrying Briar towards the elevator, I finally snapped out of my shock. I rushed over, my voice out of control as I shouted: “Julian! The doctor said Mom can’t wait any longer! Briar has to go in for the kidney transplant right now, immediately!”

Scarlett POV I don’t know if Julian heard me call out to him. The elevator doors slowly closed before my eyes. He stood inside, holding Briar, without looking back, without reaching out to stop them. The numbers on the elevator display steadily dropped. I didn’t waste a second, turning and rushing down the emergency stairwell to the underground parking lot. But by the time I got there, I only saw his car speeding out of the exit, disappearing into the distance. He just left with Briar. Completely disregarding my mother, who was currently lying on the operating table, and me. A chill spread from the depths of my heart. I couldn’t stop trembling, my fingers stiff as I fumbled for my phone and dialed Julian’s number. The phone rang twice, then was abruptly hung up. I dialed several more times. This time, only a cold, robotic voice answered: “The subscriber you have dialed is unavailable.” Unavailable. I couldn’t believe it. Not only was he not answering my calls, he had deliberately turned off his phone. The person lying on the operating table was my mother. I dragged my jelly-like legs back to the operating room waiting area, my throat so dry I could barely speak. “The person who promised to donate can’t make it,” I told the doctor. “Is there really… no other suitable kidney donor at the hospital?” The doctor shook his head. “I’m sorry, Ms. Scarlett, currently there isn’t.” “What about mine?” The doctor looked at me, his voice cautious and objective. “You and your mother are not biological relations. We already did compatibility tests, and it wasn’t a match. Even if you were willing to donate, it couldn’t be used.” I was an orphan. Mom adopted me from a foster home, raising me little by little. All these years, she treated me like her own daughter, never mistreating me. My only wish was to one day earn a lot of money and repay her properly. But now, I couldn’t even find a suitable kidney for her. My throat tightened, I could barely form a complete sentence. “Doctor… can you find a way to keep her going for a few more days…” Before I could finish, the operating room door suddenly opened from the inside. A nurse walked out, her expression solemn. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Scarlett.” “We’ve done everything we could, but your mother… flatlined a minute ago.” In that instant, my world shattered. Everything went black. I couldn’t stand anymore, collapsing directly onto the cold floor. After that, I don’t remember much. I moved like a numb automaton, mechanically signing all the paperwork, and sending Mom for her final arrangements. “Mom, I’m so sorry…” “I was useless…” My chest felt like a vital piece of my soul had been ripped out, the pain making it almost impossible to breathe. Clutching Mom’s urn, I returned home in a daze. The moment I collapsed onto the bed, my eyes, which hadn’t closed for days, finally gave out. I fell into a fitful sleep, punctuated by sobs. In my dream, I kept returning to the year I turned twenty. Back then, Julian hadn’t taken over the family business yet. And I was just an unknown extra, trying to make it in the industry. That day, we were filming a scene involving a high fall. The safety harness suddenly malfunctioned, and I plummeted five meters straight down. The anticipated pain never came. I landed in a warm, strong embrace. Looking up, I met a pair of deep, captivating eyes. Julian Sterling. The scion of a powerful, well-known dynasty. He held me, looking down at my panicked expression, a light laugh in his voice. “Good thing I caught you. Otherwise, that fall would have caused quite a bit of trouble.” It was from that day on that he began to pursue me. He appeared on set again and again, sharing the most ordinary crew meals with me. I casually mentioned wanting to see the Northern Lights, and he arranged everything, taking me on a trip. Because I said I didn’t like the smell of smoke, he actually quit smoking. Later, he established a film company that served only me. Against his family’s objections, he insisted on marrying me, a woman with no background. The media called our wedding the “Wedding of the Century.” In front of everyone, he held my hand and said: “Scarlett, in this life, I will only ever love you.” But it had only been three years. Yet, because Briar was afraid of losing a kidney, He abandoned my critically ill mother.

Scarlett POV When exactly did Julian start falling for Briar? I vaguely recalled that when Briar first appeared, she was almost identical to how I had been back then. Also a fledgling actress, just starting in the entertainment industry, with no real name for herself. She was young, with the same innocent, clear eyes I’d once had. To thank her for agreeing to donate her kidney, Julian established a dedicated studio team for her, arranged for her to live in a luxurious house, and personally accompanied her for medical check-ups and health consultations. Later, he even started taking her to private dinners. He would interrupt important meetings because of a single message from her. He would meticulously pay attention to her diet, her sleep schedule, and her emotional state. I wasn’t oblivious; I had asked him. “Don’t you think you’re paying too much attention to Briar?” “Are you… falling for her?” That time, he was visibly displeased. “What are you talking about?” he said. “I’m only taking care of her so she can rest and recover, to donate her kidney. Don’t overthink things.” For the sake of my mother’s condition, I didn’t press the issue. I could only choose silence, enduring his care for Briar, which had long crossed the line of normalcy. I thought that if I just endured it, my mother’s kidney source would be secured. But in the end, this was the outcome I got. Over the next few days, Julian never showed up. He did send me a message: “Briar got into a car accident, and her emotions are a bit unstable. Let’s put the kidney donation on hold for now. I’ll take her out to clear her head for a while. Take care of yourself and your mother.” I looked at that message, then down at the urn in my arms, a cynical laugh escaping me. He still didn’t know that my mother was gone. And no longer needed anyone’s kidney. But then again, why would he? He clearly didn’t plan on letting Briar donate anymore anyway. I didn’t reply to him. Instead, I privately contacted the relevant personnel and chose a quiet, suitable burial place for my mother. From the final arrangements to the burial, I didn’t inform anyone. Five days passed by the time everything was done. That day, I opened my social media. The first post on my feed was from Briar. It was a photo of her and Julian at a ski resort. In the picture, her head rested naturally on his shoulder, and the expression on his face was one of gentle softness I hadn’t seen in a long time. The caption read: “Mr. Sterling brought me out to relax. The trauma from the car accident has faded so much. So happy!” I stared at that photo, feeling my heart being pierced by countless tiny needles, making it almost impossible to breathe. I exited the page and dialed another number. The call connected, and the voice on the other end was cold. “Scarlett? Why are you calling me?” “Mrs. Sterling,” I said calmly, “haven’t you always thought I wasn’t good enough for Julian? Well, now, I agree to leave him, to divorce him.” There was silence on the other end for a few seconds. “What made you suddenly see sense?” They had always despised my humble background. In their eyes, being an actress, a celebrity, was nothing more than an undignified profession. Even if I had won the highest honors, and later completely left the industry for Julian, learning the lifestyle they approved of, the Sterling family had never truly accepted me. If Julian hadn’t insisted on marrying me back then, I would never have set foot in that house. “Mrs. Sterling,” I didn’t explain why, but continued, “you must have a way for Julian and me to end this marriage quietly, right?” She seemed to understand something, her tone immediately lightening. “This is your decision to divorce, so don’t say I forced you later.” I replied, “Don’t worry, it’s my choice.” “Good,” she said, “I’ll have someone send you the divorce papers tomorrow. Sign them, and once the process is complete, your marriage will be over.” “Understood.” She added, “Remember, once the paperwork is done, never appear before Julian again.” I gripped my phone, silently answering in my heart. I wouldn’t. More than anyone, I hoped to have no further ties with Julian Sterling in this lifetime.

Scarlett POV The next day, Mrs. Sterling sent someone to the house with the divorce papers. I carefully read through all the clauses, found nothing unfavorable to me, and signed my name without hesitation. “Then I won’t disturb your rest.” The butler took the agreement, placed it in a file folder, and turned to leave the mansion. He had just reached the door when he met Julian, who was driving back. Whenever someone from the family came over, it was rarely for a good reason. Julian saw the butler, and his face immediately darkened. “Is my mother bothering Scarlett again?” His tone was clearly displeased. “Go back and tell her that as long as I’m here, anyone who dares to secretly cause trouble for Scarlett is going against me.” In the past, every time I was targeted or bullied, he would stand in front of me like that. And back then, I truly loved him, couldn’t bear to leave. So no matter what cold treatment or injustice I received, I chose to endure it. But this time, it was different. The butler stood there, looking somewhat awkward. I calmly intervened for him. “No one’s bothering me. He just came to drop something off.” Julian frowned, looking at me. “Drop something off?” I nodded, gesturing to the butler. “You can go back.” “Alright.” After the butler’s car left, Julian looked back at me, still with a hint of suspicion. “What did he give you?” I managed a slight smile. “Nothing important.” If he had returned five minutes earlier, he would have known what that “something” was. Unfortunately, he came back too late. I didn’t want him to press further, so I changed the subject. “Didn’t you go out to relax with Briar? When did you get back?” His attention was indeed diverted. He looked at me, testing the waters. “Still angry?” I didn’t answer. His tone softened. “These past few days, you’ve been alone at the hospital taking care of your mother. It must have been hard. I apologize, okay?” Apologize? He suddenly took my hand. “I heard a new restaurant opened. I’ve already made reservations. Let’s go grab something to eat.” Without waiting for my response, he pulled me out the door. Only when the car stopped did I realize that Briar was already waiting in the restaurant. She sat at the table, saw us, and smiled, raising her hand to wave. “Mr. Sterling, Ms. Scarlett, over here.” My steps faltered, and I instinctively looked at the man beside me. Julian then explained. “This restaurant’s food is supposedly good for post-operative recovery, so I brought Briar to try it out first. If it’s suitable, after her donation, we can arrange meals here for her and your mother.” After the surgery. How ironic. But my mother had already been cremated and buried. And he, to this day, was completely oblivious, still bringing Briar here to sample so-called “nourishing meals.” I only felt a bitter irony. But I said nothing, letting him lead me to the table. He ordered a whole spread of dishes. He picked up a piece of pan-fried fish and placed it in her bowl. “I checked; this fish is high in protein and low in fat, easy on the body. Eat more.” Briar’s face flushed slightly, and she obediently replied, “Okay.” Julian smiled, then served a bowl of soup and pushed it in front of her. “This soup is good for recovery. Try it and see how it tastes.” She took a sip, her eyes lighting up. “It’s really delicious.” “You’re too thin. Eat more.” A smile on his lips, he kept serving her food. Almost every dish on the table was for body recovery. I sat there quietly, watching the tenderness in his eyes as he looked at Briar. That kind of gaze once belonged only to me. Including his current focus, patience, and thoughtfulness-they were once exclusively mine. But now, he gave all of it to another woman. Briar seemed afraid I would misunderstand, and explained softly, “Ms. Scarlett, please don’t overthink it. Mr. Sterling is only being kind to me to ensure I’m in the best possible condition to donate my kidney to your mother.” I lowered my gaze, a cold, indifferent curve on my lips.

Scarlett POV I could barely eat that meal. After a few bites, I put down my cutlery, made an excuse about going to the restroom, and temporarily left the table. When I returned after nearly ten minutes in the restroom, Julian was no longer at the table. Briar spoke up. “Mr. Sterling went out to take a call. He said something urgent came up at the company.” I pursed my lips, offering no response. She studied me, then suddenly chuckled. “Ms. Scarlett, Mr. Sterling is so good to me, and you don’t mind at all?” In the past, I certainly would have minded. And I suffered for it for a long time. But now, I was about to leave Julian. What was there left to mind? I sat back down calmly. “Didn’t you say he’s only being good to you to keep you in shape to donate your kidney to my mother?” “Do you really believe that?” Briar laughed out loud, her words loaded with obvious insinuation. “Mr. Sterling has already fallen for me. You can’t possibly not see that.” I gave a faint, cynical smile. “Is that so?” “Mr. Sterling told me you’re too cold,” her voice held undisguised triumph. “Spending time with you is like being with a block of ice, utterly boring.” “Unlike me, I’m young, vibrant, and always bring him new excitement.” Cold. Like a block of ice. My heart stung faintly. Just as I was about to speak, our phones chimed almost simultaneously. It was a message from Julian: “I’m waiting for you downstairs. Come down.” Briar glanced at it, picked up her bag, and stood. We left the restaurant together. In the elevator, it was just the two of us. She didn’t seem ready to stop, continuing, “Ms. Scarlett, do you know what Mr. Sterling told me the day I had the car accident?” I closed my eyes, not looking at her, simply waiting for the elevator to descend. She went on. “He said, if I didn’t want to donate…” Before she could finish, the elevator jolted violently. Then, after a brief pause, it began to plummet rapidly. A powerful sense of freefall instantly overwhelmed me. Briar shrieked. “What’s happening?!” “Back against the wall, knees bent!” I was closer to the control panel, instinctively pressing all floor buttons and the emergency call button. In less than a few seconds, the elevator jolted to a violent halt mid-descent. A voice crackled over the intercom. “Please remain calm and do not move. Rescue personnel are on their way.” “I’m so scared!” Briar’s voice was hysterical. “Help me! I don’t want to die!” No sooner had she spoken than the elevator shook violently again. Screams filled the confined space. My palms were drenched in cold sweat. I dared not think what would happen if the elevator continued to fall. Soon, urgent, chaotic sounds came from outside. Julian’s voice vaguely reached us from outside. “Scarlett? Are you two in there?” Briar immediately cried out, “Mr. Sterling, save me! I’m so scared!” “Don’t worry, rescue is here.” The staff’s voice sounded again. “The equipment malfunction hasn’t been completely resolved. The elevator could fall again at any moment. We can only get one person out first.” The air suddenly went silent. Just a few seconds, yet it stretched like an eternity. “Briar is timid. Get her out first.” Julian’s voice came through. In that instant, I felt completely frozen. So, in a life-or-death situation, the answer was still so clear. Rescue personnel pried open the elevator doors, creating a gap just wide enough for one person to squeeze through. Julian rushed forward and pulled Briar out. She collapsed into his arms, trembling all over, sobbing uncontrollably. “It was so horrible… I was really terrified…” “It’s okay, it’s okay now.” He patted her back, just about to instruct the rescuers to continue- The elevator suddenly vibrated violently again. The next second, a powerful sense of freefall returned. The elevator plummeted. I felt a dizzying disorientation, my heart seemingly stopping at that very moment. “Scarlett!” Julian’s shout was completely swallowed by the rapid descent.

Scarlett POV When I woke up, looking at the stark white ceiling, I briefly thought I had arrived in the afterlife. Until Julian’s joyful voice came from beside me. “Scarlett, you’re awake?” My consciousness slowly returned. I turned my head and found Julian sitting by the hospital bed. “How are you feeling now? Is there anything that’s especially uncomfortable?” His tone was gentle, and he reached out to touch my forehead, but I instinctively turned my head, avoiding his touch. His hand paused in mid-air, then slowly retracted. “I’m sorry, Scarlett,” he said. “The situation was so urgent then. Briar is timid, and I pulled her out first because I was afraid she’d panic too much in the elevator and do something dangerous, making the situation even more uncontrollable…” I only felt a bitter irony. Pain rippled through every inch of my body, yet it still couldn’t compare to the distinct, twisting ache in my chest. Seeing that I hadn’t spoken, he continued to explain. “Besides, she was going to donate her kidney to your mother. She couldn’t suffer any accidents, which is why I saved her first.” “Julian,” I finally spoke, my voice hoarse. “Did you really save her just because she was going to donate her kidney to my mother?” He froze. After a brief silence, he said, “Of course. What else could it be?” I didn’t press further. I closed my eyes, not wanting to speak anymore. His voice was filled with remorse. “I’m sorry. I really didn’t expect the elevator to start plummeting right after I got her out, causing you to get hurt… If I had known, I would have saved you first.” But even with those words, I felt no comfort. Perhaps out of guilt, for the next few days, whenever he wasn’t working, he stayed by my side in the hospital. But he was always distracted. His phone was practically glued to his hand, as he replied to messages one after another. Each time he looked down at the screen, his voice would soften noticeably, even carrying an unconscious smile. He was so engrossed that he didn’t even hear me when I said I was thirsty. I didn’t need to look to know he wasn’t handling work. He was chatting with Briar. Because that expression, I knew it too well. It was almost identical to when he was pursuing me. A little over a week later, I was discharged from the hospital. The day I was discharged happened to be the Sterling family’s annual gathering. Every year around this time, they would return to the Sterling family estate, and we were no exception. Just as the car pulled up to the entrance, his phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the screen and answered. “What’s wrong?” “Mr. Sterling.” Briar’s tearful voice came from the other end. “It’s thundering. I’m so scared. Can you… can you come stay with me?” He looked up at the sky outside. Dark clouds gathered, and thunder rumbled across the sky, as if a heavy storm could break out at any moment. Then, he looked at me, hesitating for a moment, and said, “I’m sorry, Scarlett, something urgent came up at the company, and I need to go deal with it. You’ll be alone…” I lowered my eyes, not looking at him. In the past, he never felt comfortable leaving me alone at these family gatherings. Because he knew very well they didn’t like me, and only with him present would I avoid being deliberately targeted. But this time, I didn’t expose his excuse. I just calmly said, “Go ahead.” He seemed relieved, reaching out to ruffle my hair. “I’ll finish up quickly and come back. Wait for me.” I got out of the car and stood there, watching his car quickly disappear into the night. At the gathering, apart from Victoria Sterling, who already knew about my impending divorce from Julian and no longer bothered me, everyone else still gave me the cold shoulder. They despised my humble background. From beginning to end, they barely gave me a kind look, their words laced with sarcasm. And that night, Julian never returned. He only sent me a message mid-way: “Still busy, can’t leave.” Looking at that message, I felt my heart completely turn to ice. After the gathering, no one cared for me. It was hard to get a cab in that area, so in the end, I walked for four whole hours alone before finally getting back to my place. That night, having just been discharged, I developed a high fever again and completely passed out. Julian called a doctor to the house, who gave me an IV drip to bring down the fever. When I groggily woke up, the first words he said to me weren’t an apology, but a reproach. “Why didn’t you have the staff arrange a car for you? Why didn’t you wait for me to pick you up, instead of walking back in the rain and getting yourself like this?” For a moment, I wondered if I had misheard him. I looked at him, drained. “Are you saying I deliberately walked back in the rain and made myself sick?” He knew they didn’t like me. And he hadn’t shown up until after the gathering was over. But now, he was blaming me. “Fine, I was just worried about you,” he sighed. “The company was genuinely busy that day. I couldn’t get away in time to pick you up. I’m sorry.” All I felt was a wave of utter exhaustion. In that moment, I finally understood what it meant for a heart to truly die. Julian, I will never love you again.

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My parents and sister Maya died when their yacht exploded at sea. There were no survivors. Staring at the empty house and mountains of debt, I was absolutely heartbroken and ready to jump off the roof when a flood of cruel comments suddenly appeared before my eyes: 【Your parents actually won $300 million in the lottery and took Maya overseas to live the high life.】 【Maya has no clue her poor, blind ex-boyfriend—the one she dumped—is actually Liam King, heir to the wealthy King family. He was just faking being poor with her.】 【When Maya blows through all the money and comes back, Liam King will be furious and lock her up to punish her.】 【Chloe, jump already! We’re waiting for Maya to get back.】 I suddenly changed my mind about dying. That night, soaked to the bone and drunk, I stumbled into Liam King’s apartment. After a wild night with Liam, I woke up with every muscle in my body sore. Liam opened his eyes right at that moment. He was blind. He’d lost his sight in a car crash six months earlier. My sister Maya had dumped him countless times, disgusted by his poverty and disability. But for a split second, I had this weird feeling he was staring straight at me. But just as quickly, his eyes went back to their usual empty, unfocused stare. He spoke in a rough, hoarse voice: “Maya, is that you?” The malicious comments surged again: 【What the hell? Chloe didn’t kill herself? How is she sleeping with Liam?】 【Unbelievable! Is she trying to impersonate Maya? Liam’s vision was restored ages ago. If she dares lie to him, she’ll regret it big time!】 So he could see this whole time. I bit my lip, trying to calm my racing heart, forcing helplessness into my voice: “No, I’m her sister, Chloe. My sister… she’s gone.” “Yesterday, I meant to bring you some of her things, but I got drunk and don’t remember anything after that.” Glancing at our torn clothes balled up on the floor, I looked away awkwardly. “Did you mistake me for Maya last night? I’m so sorry—I shouldn’t have drunk so much, but I was just so heartbroken.” “I’m all alone now, after all.” I let out soft, trembling sobs. The comments swirled: 【What an idiot! She’s still making excuses for Liam. Liam wasn’t really blind. Yesterday, when she threw herself at him soaking wet, I saw Liam react right away.】 【Any guy would react to a hot, wet girl throwing herself at him. This chick’s a total schemer, isn’t she?】 A slight tremor ran through my body. The thin blanket slipped off my shoulder, exposing red marks on my pale skin. Liam’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. After a long pause, he finally spoke: “I’m sorry. I thought you were someone else.” With teary eyes, I fumbled to wrap the torn clothes around myself. “In that case, let’s just forget this happened. I’ll leave now. Please don’t be upset.” I stood up, my legs wobbly, nearly collapsing. Liam reached out to steady me. The second his fingertips brushed my wrist, I flinched. The comments started again, spewing insults: 【Liam won’t be upset. He already knows Maya faked her death.】 【Even those debt collectors? He hired them. Pushing Chloe to suicide was his first warning to Maya.】 【Maya has no clue her spot’s been taken.】 【This is so frustrating! Chloe, just die already!】 I ducked my head and rushed out the door. When I got home, the debt collectors who’d been hanging around downstairs were gone. My heart dropped. They really were sent by Liam. I shut the door and collapsed onto the floor, completely drained. Every inch of my body ached. Of course, I hadn’t been drunk. Originally, when I was desperate, I just wanted to get a little sympathy from Liam, hoping he’d go easy on me. I never expected him to react so intensely, keeping me up all night. I curled my lips into a bitter smile. Liam had lost his eyesight in a car crash while saving Maya. But after he went blind and became “disabled,” Maya wouldn’t even look at him. She never answered his messages. She made him wait three hours in the freezing winter rain while she video-chatted with someone else upstairs. She hated his cheap gifts, tossing them in the trash right in front of him. I used to think he was wasting his time. But now, it seemed like it was all just some rich kid’s game.

The comments suddenly erupted into an argument for some reason: 【I think Maya made the right choice. Who doesn’t want a rich guy? Who’d want a boyfriend who’s both blind and broke? Even if Liam wanted to test her loyalty, playing games like this is totally unnecessary.】 【Let’s be real, Maya might be selfish, but she’s just lucky. Once she and Liam make up, she’ll become Mrs. King, and Liam will still spoil her rotten.】 【Exactly. Good girls finish last, bad girls get everything.】 Reading those comments, I thought they were completely ridiculous. Growing up, my parents always favored Maya over me. She stole my toys, my clothes, my scholarships. After I started working, I pulled all-nighters every day, and they’d take my paycheck to pay for Maya’s expensive dance lessons and designer stuff. They wanted me to prop her up, make sure she succeeded. Now they’d won $300 million in the lottery. Not only did they abandon me with mountains of debt, but they wanted to use my life to pave her way too. Why should she get everything while I die like a dog? Resentment coiled around my heart like a poisonous vine. I’d always picked up Maya’s leftovers anyway. Since Liam was one of her castoffs, I might as well take him and use him. My next run-in with Liam happened sooner than I expected. As I walked out of the hotel where I worked part-time, completely worn out, I looked up and saw Liam standing across the street. A cigarette hung from his lips, and a white cane leaned against his leg. The rich really have the strangest hobbies. Maya was gone, but Liam King was still keeping up his little act. Not far away, a guy seemed to recognize him and approached with a fake smile. I called out suddenly, “Liam!” I marched right over to him. Before he could say anything, I grabbed his wrist. “Come with me.” I spoke quickly, lowering my voice: “I saw someone suspicious approaching you. Probably debt collectors.” “My sister took out a huge loan before she left, and since you were her boyfriend, they’ll definitely come after you. You can’t see—you’ll be in danger.” “You got hurt saving my sister, so I’ll look out for you in her place.” “Don’t worry. As long as I’m around, I won’t let them hurt you.” “I’ll never leave you.” My voice was so sincere it almost sounded religious. “Will you trust me?” I don’t know what part of that got to him. Liam hesitated, then took a lazy step forward. He let me lead him, and I took him back to my place. And I kept my word, taking care of him like he was my own family. When his stomach acted up, I’d get up in the middle of the night to buy him medicine. Since he couldn’t see, I’d hold his hand and guide him to feel his way around, over and over until he knew where everything was. Even when I was starving myself, I’d spend every cent I had to take him to eye doctor appointments. Through it all, Liam would just look at me coldly, a hint of amusement sometimes flashing in his eyes. At the hospital, the doctor shook his head and said there was no improvement. I could barely hide my disappointment and heartache. Walking out of the exam room, Liam suddenly laughed bitterly: “I heard you sigh. Is this really worth it? You’re not the one who’s blind—why are you so upset?” I stopped and suddenly cupped his face in my hands. Liam’s eyes flickered with surprise, barely hidden. “You mean a lot to me,” I said, looking straight into his eyes. “So your pain hurts me too.” “You have such beautiful eyes. I won’t give up on them.”

Liam’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he gave me a complicated look. My face showed how sad I was, but I forced a smile into my voice: “Honestly, I was thinking… if you could see again, I’d do anything.” When we got home, I dragged him inside with teary eyes. While pouring water, I accidentally spilled half the cup on myself. The thin fabric clung to my body when it got wet, showing off my curves. Liam’s expression changed. I noticed the subtle shift in his posture. Biting my lip, I pulled him close by his collar and kissed him first. Liam froze for a second before taking control of the kiss. The next morning, my body ached even more than the first time. I pushed through the discomfort and got up. Liam was already up. He tossed a necklace at me. “I picked this up at a street vendor a while back. It’s not worth much, but it’s pretty. For you.” The comments suddenly exploded: 【Unbelievable! How did Liam end up with this Chloe? Doesn’t he know Maya got tricked into gambling and is in real danger?!】 【Isn’t that the diamond Liam bought at the auction? Why’s he giving it to Chloe? It was supposed to be a peace offering for Maya after she flipped out about being locked up!】 【Are you crazy, Chloe?! How dare you go after Maya’s guy!】 I ignored the crazy comments, looking at the necklace in my hand with fake surprise. A diamond from an auction… That must be worth a fortune, right? If I sold it, would that set me up for life? Just then, new comments popped up: 【Relax, everyone! Can’t you see Liam’s just stringing Chloe along?】 【The King family head found out about his wild behavior this year and flipped, ordering him home immediately.】 【Liam’s worried Chloe will cling to him, so he’s putting on a whole show. He’ll hire guys to fake his kidnapping, then stage his death at sea right in front of her to crush her hopes completely.】 【Chloe’s such a lovesick fool! Can’t she tell Liam looks at her like she’s a stray dog?】 Liam was leaving? I tightened my grip on the diamond, suddenly feeling cheated. I’d played my part so well these days, and all I got was a lousy diamond. Meanwhile, Maya did nothing and would get everything just by coming back. That wasn’t fair. That afternoon, Liam said he needed to go out alone and told me not to follow. I knew exactly what he was up to. And I had my own plans too. I went to the pharmacy and bought a pregnancy test. Thinking about the recent changes in my body, my heart was racing. When I saw the two bright red lines on the test, I let out a huge sigh of relief. I still had an ace up my sleeve in this game. Just then, my phone rang. “Chloe, right? You don’t pay up, you pay the price. Liam’s with me now. If you don’t want him dead, get to this address.” When I got there, I saw Liam’s back. He was tied to the railing of an abandoned cargo ship, hands bound behind his back. The kidnapper gave me a evil grin: “I only gave you twenty minutes. You’re too late. His time’s up.” With that, he cut the rope right in front of me. Liam, still tied up, fell straight into the ocean. My eyes went wide. The next second, I ran forward without thinking. I jumped in. The water was freezing, and my vision started to blur. Through the haze, I saw the “Liam” figure untie himself and swim smoothly toward shore. I scoffed to myself. Liam’s hired double wasn’t very convincing. But I still jumped in without hesitation. Because I was gambling on a possibility. Betting my life on it. I gambled that I would win.

The water was so cold I quickly lost strength, sinking slowly toward the ocean floor. Just as I thought I’d lost the bet, someone gasped and dove into the water. I forced my eyes open. The last thing I saw was Liam’s panicked face—a look I’d never seen on him before. When I came to in the hospital, my whole body felt icy cold to the bone. I heard the doctor scolding Liam beside me. “Do you realize she’s pregnant? And you took her to a place like that! What kind of boyfriend are you?” “Thankfully the baby’s okay, but she’s severely malnourished. If you want this child, you need to take better care of her!” Liam didn’t argue. He turned to look at my unconscious form, his expression complicated: “Chloe, do you really love me that much? You’d risk your life to save mine?” And just then, I opened my eyes. Our eyes met for two seconds before I quickly looked away. My voice was weak but steady: “Doctor, I want to terminate the pregnancy.” Liam’s eyes sharpened: “What did you say?” I turned my head away: “This baby shouldn’t be born. I’m getting rid of it.” “Your eyes have been fine for a long time. Why did you lie to me? Since you don’t need me anymore, I’ll leave on my own.” “If you don’t want me, just say so. I’m not the type to beg.” Liam opened his mouth: “That’s not what I meant.” He stared at my pale face like he was making up his mind. “Chloe, have the baby. We’ll get married.” “I’m not marrying you.” I sniffled and looked away, my voice dropping with disappointment. “Besides, we can’t even afford to raise a baby right now. Why bring a child into this to suffer with us?” After a few seconds of silence, my phone pinged with a text. Bank account deposit: $5,000,000. Liam walked over and put his hand on my stomach. “I promise he won’t want for anything.” I pretended to be shocked as he told me everything. No one saw my hand under the blanket, shaking slightly with excitement. I won the bet! I moved into Liam’s mansion. Liam was even richer than I imagined—even the decorations were worth more than I’d make in a lifetime. With the staff taking such good care of me, I had a healthy baby boy a few months later. Liam’s parents were hesitant about me at first, but their attitude changed completely when they saw their chubby little grandson smiling at them. They gave me $100 million just for pocket money. Our son had multiple properties in his name from birth, all managed by me. I checked my bank balance and smiled—this was better than I could have dreamed. When our son was seven months old, I went back to my old house to sort through some things. As I walked out, someone suddenly grabbed my hair and slapped me hard across the face. “Where the hell have you been! Do you know how long we’ve been looking for you?!” It was my mother. Her hair was a mess, her face dirty, and she was glaring at me like I was her enemy. Behind her were Maya and my father, both looking just as disheveled and pathetic. Maya checked me out from head to toe, shock and jealousy written all over her face. She suddenly stepped forward, linking her arm through mine with a fake smile: “Chloe, did you land yourself a rich boyfriend?” “You got lucky, unlike me—always stuck with poor, blind losers. Good thing I dumped that one ages ago.” “Now that we’ve survived this whole mess, why don’t you introduce us to your new man?” She ran her hand over my expensive designer bag, practically drooling. I knew exactly what she was up to—she wanted to steal from me again. That’s how it had always been, ever since we were kids. My cheek burned from the slap. I looked past them. Liam had just parked the car and was walking over—he’d heard every word. I smirked: “No need. He’s right here.”

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When I was ten years old, my parents died on their way to pick up my brother from prison. At the funeral home, I stared at the man kneeling by the caskets—my brother, just released after serving five years. I rushed at him and shoved him with all my strength: “This is all your fault! If you hadn’t been in prison, Mom and Dad wouldn’t have gone to get you! They wouldn’t be dead!” Damian stumbled from my push but didn’t look up. He just kept praying harder. From that day on, I never called him my brother again. Mom kept treasures in an old metal box. Young and curious as I was, I couldn’t resist sneaking a look when the adults weren’t home. Inside the box was a very old ultrasound report. It read: [Umbilical cord blood match successful. Donor: Fetus. Recipient: Damian] Damian was my brother, fifteen years older than me. For as long as I could remember, he’d been in prison. Mom and Dad never talked about what he’d done. But every time they came back from visiting him, Mom’s eyes would be swollen from crying, and Dad would chain-smoke in silence all night. Before I turned ten, everything I knew about my brother amounted to this: a blurry name, a stranger who made our parents cry, and the entire reason for my existence. Yes, I knew. I was never the product of my parents’ love. I was just proof of how much they loved him. Mom’s health was poor. She risked a late-life pregnancy with me only because Damian had leukemia and needed cord blood from a newborn to survive. The day I was born, Damian’s surgery was a success. And me? I was just a “useful tool” in this family. Karma’s funny that way. Who would’ve thought the brother wrapped in our parents’ love would commit murder and end up behind bars? I was five that year. I was too young to remember why Damian went to prison. Not that it mattered. What mattered was that I would go from being the family’s “tool” to being Mom and Dad’s only child. That didn’t last long. When I turned ten, Damian was released. Mom and Dad left early that morning, full of hope about giving him a fresh start. Then the news came. A truck’s brakes had failed. It crashed into their car. Dad died instantly. Mom held on until we got to the hospital. She only said one thing to me: “Claire, take care of your brother.” I didn’t understand. Why was I supposed to take care of him when I was the child who needed taking care of? Before I could argue with her, Mom closed her eyes. At the funeral home, I looked at the stiff smiles in Mom and Dad’s photos, then at the stranger kneeling before their caskets—my brother, whom I hadn’t seen in five years. His forehead pounded against the floor, blood seeping out and mixing with his tears. Relatives whispered, their stares like needles in my back. “Poor thing, losing her parents so young…” “Living with a murderer for a brother—what’s going to happen to her?” I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms. Then I rushed at him and shoved with all my strength: “This is all your fault! If you hadn’t been in prison, Mom and Dad wouldn’t have gone to get you! They wouldn’t be dead!” Damian stumbled but didn’t look up. He just kept hitting his head against the floor, harder than before. The night after the funeral, Damian found me in the dark living room. He wore an ill-fitting old shirt, his eyes sunken, looking like a skeleton. “Claire.” His voice was hoarse as he reached to touch my hair. I dodged away. “Don’t touch me,” I said. His hand froze mid-air, then slowly dropped.

We lived in a small town where there were no secrets. Everyone’s business became everyone’s gossip. So it didn’t take long before everyone knew: Damian was out of prison. He was a murderer. Not only morally corrupt, but he’d also brought death to his own parents. And his little sister Claire had lost both parents at such a young age and now had to live with her killer brother. When I returned to school, my homeroom teacher gave me a pointed look during roll call. “Claire, given your family’s special circumstances, if you need anything, talk to me.” The whole class turned to stare. During break, boys crowded around my desk, smirking: “Claire, did your brother really kill someone?” “How’d he do it? With a knife or a rope?” “Are you gonna kill people too?” I buried my face in my arms, pretending not to hear. Walking home from school, girls from another class pointed at me. “That’s her. Her brother’s been to prison.” “Stay away from her. A murderer’s sister can’t be any good either.” I ran home and threw my backpack on the floor. Damian was in the kitchen making noodles, wearing Mom’s old apron, clumsily frying an egg. “You’re home, Claire?” He turned around, forcing a smile. “Dinner’s almost ready.” Looking at his face—so similar to Dad’s—I suddenly exploded: “Why did you come back?! Why didn’t you just die in prison?! Do you know everyone’s laughing at me?! Saying I’m a murderer’s sister!” The pot of water boiled, steam obscuring his face. He turned off the stove, his back to me, shoulders trembling slightly. After a long time, he finally said: “…I’m sorry.” That night, I heard him crying in the living room—suppressed, like a wounded animal whimpering. But I didn’t go out there. I hugged Mom’s pillow and told myself: I hate him. I had no obligation to understand or feel sorry for him. If it weren’t for him, my mom and dad wouldn’t have died in that accident. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be pointed at every single day. He was someone who’d only survived because of my cord blood, yet he “repaid” that debt by turning my life into chaos. I was sick of him. I hated him. Damian started working. During the day he worked construction, at night he helped at the market stalls, and late at night he took on odd jobs assembling cardboard boxes. Probably because of the major surgery he’d had, his health was poor. He coughed constantly and always looked pale. But he spent every penny he earned on me: new backpack, new clothes, even books I mentioned in passing. I had to admit, Damian took good care of me. But my environment was still a swamp. In eighth grade, I ranked first in my year. For parent-teacher night, he borrowed a nicer shirt and combed his hair neatly. But the moment he walked into the classroom, the whispers started. “That’s Claire’s brother?” “He looks pretty harmless. Hard to imagine…” “Murderers don’t have it written on their faces.” Throughout the whole meeting, he kept his head down, fingers gripping his knees tightly. On the way home, I followed behind him, watching his slightly hunched back, and suddenly said: “Let’s move away.” He stopped but didn’t turn around. “Where to?” “Anywhere,” I said. “Everyone here knows you’re a murderer anyway.” He was silent for a long time. “Okay.” A month later, we moved to a city two hundred miles away. Damian used all our savings to rent a tiny studio apartment. We slept in bunk beds. He found work at an electronics factory, working rotating shifts on the assembly line. The night we moved in, I lay on the unfamiliar top bunk, staring at the cracks in the ceiling. “Hey,” I suddenly spoke. Rustling came from the lower bunk. “Yeah?” “Why did you go to prison?” Silence. Long, suffocating silence. Just when I thought he wouldn’t answer, he said quietly: “…I did something wrong.” “What wrong thing?” “Something very bad,” his voice was soft as a sigh. “Claire, don’t ask anymore.” “Just know that I’m sorry—sorry to you, sorry to Mom and Dad…that’s enough.” I turned to face the wall. Always like this. Forever like this. I was never entitled to know the truth.

Apparently, miracles do happen. After working at the electronics factory for half a year, Damian caught the eye of the boss’s daughter. The boss’s daughter was named Vivian, five years younger than Damian, fresh out of college, sent by her father to learn management at the factory. Supposedly, the moment she saw Damian, she couldn’t look away. Fine, I’ll admit—Damian was good-looking. Even I couldn’t deny it. Despite being malnourished, despite always looking exhausted, he’d inherited all of our parents’ best features: deep eyes, a straight nose, and when he was quiet, a kind of broken beauty. Vivian pursued him so openly that the whole factory knew. She brought him meals, medicine, even kept him company when he worked late. His coworkers all urged him: “Damian, just say yes! That’s the boss’s daughter! You’d skip twenty years of struggle!” Damian always shook his head. “I’m not worthy.” Until Vivian’s father—Mr. Palmer himself—came to talk to him. Damian came home very late that night and sat in the dark living room, smoking cigarette after cigarette. He never usually smoked. “What’s wrong?” I couldn’t help asking. He stubbed out his cigarette, his voice dry: “Mr. Palmer…knows I was in prison.” My heart sank. Of course. The background check came through. That was it. He’d lose his job. We couldn’t stay in this city anymore. “He asked me about what happened back then,” Damian continued. “I told him everything.” I closed my eyes in despair. “And then?” “And then…” Damian looked up, his eyes strangely bright in the darkness. “He said next month has an auspicious date, and asked if I wanted a traditional or Western-style wedding.” I was stunned. He must be crazy. I thought. Mr. Palmer must be insane to want a murderer for a son-in-law. But good for him being crazy. I also thought. After all, the Palmer family was truly wealthy. Who wouldn’t want to latch onto a family like theirs? The wedding was simple, just ten tables set up in the factory cafeteria. Damian wore a rented suit, looking like a puppet. Vivian wore a white wedding dress, smiling sweetly. During the toast, she walked up to me, her expression complicated. “You’re Claire, right?” She raised her glass. “We’re family now.” I raised my soda without saying anything. She smiled, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. On their wedding night, Damian moved into the Palmer family’s two-story house. I stayed in the rental apartment, thinking I could finally have some peace. The next morning, Damian came to get me. “Pack your things. You’re moving in.” “I’m not going.” “Claire,” for the first time, he used such a firm tone. “You have to.” “Why? Vivian obviously doesn’t like me!” “Because you’re my sister,” Damian looked at me, his eyes suddenly reddening. “You’re my only family left in this world, Claire. I can’t leave you behind.” In the end, I moved in. Vivian prepared a room for me—north-facing, small, but clean. She was polite on the surface, but that politeness carried an icy distance. I could feel it. She hated me. Not me as a person, but the identity of “Damian’s sister.” Living at the Palmers’, I’d describe it as living under someone else’s charity. Vivian never mistreated me. Food, clothes, everything—even better than what many of my classmates had. But she barely spoke to me, looking at me like I was a defective product she had no choice but to accept. Damian was caught in the middle, growing quieter and quieter. He got promoted to team leader at the factory, became busier, and when he came home, he still had to deal with Vivian and her extremely controlling father. I could see his exhaustion, but he never complained. When I was fifteen, I got into Central High, the best high school in the state. Most importantly, Central was a boarding school. The day I got my acceptance letter, Damian was happy as a kid, specially cooking a whole table of dishes. Vivian was happy too—happier than Damian, even. At dinner, she gave me a genuinely warm smile for once: “Claire’s so impressive. Boarding school is great—you can focus on your studies.” I understood what she meant: I’d be boarding, so she wouldn’t have to see me every day anymore. The night before school started, Damian came to my room and handed me a bank card. “The PIN is your birthday. If you need anything, buy it. Don’t try to save money.” “Does Vivian know?” “…Yes.” He wasn’t telling the truth. I could see the unease in his eyes. “Don’t worry,” I said. “I’ll study hard and become independent soon. Then…I won’t be a burden to you guys anymore.” Damian opened his mouth to say something but ended up just ruffling my hair. “Claire’s all grown up.” His palm was warm, but I pulled away.

I did well at school. Nobody knew my family background. I could finally be a normal student. Good grades, a few friends I could talk to, and sometimes I’d even dream about the future— I’d go to college far, far away from here. Get away from this place completely. Get away from Damian completely. When I came home for winter break in tenth grade, I noticed Damian had lost a lot of weight. “It’s nothing, just work stress.” He brushed it off. But Vivian seemed unusually anxious, snapping at everything. One night I got up for water and heard them arguing in the master bedroom. “…You have to be hospitalized! How long do you think you can keep dragging this out?!” “Vivian, just wait a bit longer, the factory’s been…” “The factory, the factory! Do you have a death wish?!” I quietly retreated to my room, an ominous feeling settling in my chest. After New Year’s, Damian collapsed on the factory floor. The diagnosis: End-stage kidney failure. He needed a transplant. In the hospital corridor, the smell of disinfectant was pungent. I looked at Damian unconscious in the bed. He was so thin he looked skeletal, his hands covered in needle marks. Vivian sobbed into her hands, shoulders shaking. The attending physician was a family friend of the Palmers, Dr. Harrison, and he was blunt: “It’s best to have a close family member donate. Highest success rate, lowest rejection risk.” I almost blurted out: “Use mine.” Vivian’s head snapped up, eyes bloodshot. “No!” “Why not?” I was confused. “I’m his sister. The match rate would be high.” “I said no!” Her voice was shrill. “Claire, this isn’t your concern!” When Damian woke up, I brought it up again. His reaction was extreme. He nearly jumped out of the hospital bed: “Absolutely not! Claire, don’t even think about it!” “Why? You’re my br—” “Because I’m your brother!” He grabbed my hand with frightening strength. “Listen to me. Study hard, go to college. My situation…I’ll handle it myself.” “How will you handle it? Waiting for a donor could take forever! The doctor said your condition—” “Then I’ll wait!” He cut me off, his eyes more severe than I’d ever seen. “Claire, if you dare go behind my back to get tested, I will never forgive you. Ever.” I was scared by the determination in his eyes. What confused me more was Vivian’s attitude. Someone who hated me so much should be thrilled at the idea of me trading a kidney for her husband’s life. But this time, she stood firmly with Damian. I went to find Dr. Harrison, wanting to secretly get tested for compatibility. Dr. Harrison looked at me, hesitating: “Claire, your brother specifically told me…not to use you as a match.” “Why?” “He said…” Dr. Harrison sighed. “He said you’re not suitable.” “We haven’t even tested yet. How does he know I’m not suitable?” Dr. Harrison avoided my eyes. “Your brother said you were injured as a child. Your health isn’t good.” The excuse was too flimsy. I didn’t know anything about being unhealthy. I rarely even caught colds. But I was helpless. Damian and Vivian were like two walls, blocking me completely from the truth.

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After six years of marriage, my wife Vivian Williams suddenly posted on social media: “Well, well—look who’s here. Sore loser still won’t admit it, wants a rematch?” The photo showed a young guy in a skull-print tee, pouting with a scowl, cross-legged in a gaming chair. That was Leo Miller, the new artist her company had just signed. I was staring at the screen in a daze when a mutual friend commented below: “Vivian! You forgot to switch accounts!” A few seconds later, Vivian’s post disappeared entirely. But not long after, the exact same post showed up on Leo’s Instagram. Vivian called me right away. In the past, I would’ve screenshotted it, marched over to confront her, and demanded answers. But this time, I just stared at my phone screen in silence, letting it ring until it stopped. When Vivian got home, I was curled up on the couch watching a movie. She tossed her car keys onto the entryway cabinet and bent down to change her shoes. “Why didn’t you answer when I called? You were home, right?” Vivian never used to question me like this—unless she was feeling guilty. I kept my eyes on the TV as I replied casually: “The movie was too good. Didn’t hear the phone.” “Work dinner ran late, so I’m home late. You don’t have to sit around waiting for me every night. No one’s impressed by this little act.” Before, I would’ve patiently explained it was just how I showed I cared. But today, I couldn’t even be bothered to say anything else. Vivian stood in front of me, tossing a luxury brand shopping bag my way. Today marked the premiere of her company’s big new drama series. To celebrate, I’d left work early like always, cooked a whole spread, and invited some mutual friends over to watch the premiere with her when she got home. But after four episodes, our friends had eaten dinner in awkward silence and left, and Vivian—who’d promised to be home early—still hadn’t shown up. I pretended not to notice the ten hours of straight gaming on her phone, took the paper bag, and set it casually on the carpet. I’d seen this bag before, not long ago—when she missed our anniversary. Same size, same style. Vivian stared down at me for a second, then frowned, her voice turning cold: “Jonathan, are you gonna keep moping around?” Buying gifts was Vivian’s go-to apology move. Once I accepted a gift, no matter what had happened before, she’d act like everything was fine. If I brought it up again, I was just “nagging.” Now that I wasn’t letting her off easy, she was clearly ticked off. “Here, let me open it for you.” Without waiting for a response, she ripped open the packaging, pulled out a brand-new handbag, and held it out to me: “The sales girl said this style is super hard to get—you’ll love it.” I looked up. Vivian followed my gaze to the bag I’d tossed on the couch earlier—the one I’d grabbed in my rush to make dinner. It was exactly like the one in her hand. The room went dead silent. “It’s getting late. You should get some sleep—you have work tomorrow.” I said flatly, standing up to head to the bedroom. “I’ll have my assistant take you tomorrow so you can pick out another one.” Vivian’s voice held a rare note of caution. “No thanks.” I refused without turning around. The next morning, maybe realizing she’d gone too far, Vivian uncharacteristically suggested we carpool to work. I hadn’t slept well, so I just nodded. She stood by her car, face tight with bottled-up irritation and impatience. I couldn’t remember when it started, but Vivian had begun making excuses not to let me ride with her. She treated that passenger seat like her personal space—wouldn’t even let me touch it—until I finally bought my own car. Every time I asked, she’d snap that I was being ridiculous, obsessing over “shotgun rights” like some internet weirdo, and that she didn’t have time for my petty jealousy. Now that seat clearly belonged to Leo. It was covered in race car models and stickers. The seat was custom-fitted to his body, and even the sun visor had been adjusted so he could fix his hair easier. Vivian glanced at me, sighed, then opened the door and carefully moved all his stuff to the back seat. Watching her, I frowned a little and said: “Don’t bother. I’ll drive myself.” Vivian kept tidying up the clutter: “I said we’d go together. Leo’s just a kid—he likes that stupid stuff. Don’t take it personally.” Even with the decorations gone, that custom seat still looked totally out of place in her car. In the end, I still didn’t get in Vivian’s car. No real reason—just this sick, twisted feeling in my gut.

I unlocked my car, but Vivian hurried over, opened the driver’s door first, and slid in. “I’ll drive. That way we’re still going to the office together.” I stood quiet outside the window, catching the flicker of guilt in her eyes. Guess even she knew decking out the passenger seat like that was over the top. Vivian paused, like she was trying to think of an excuse. Not wanting to hear it, I cut her off: “We’ll be late. Just drive.” She shut her mouth and started the car. Not even ten minutes into the drive, her phone rang—some loud electronic music blaring. Leo’s voice came through, breathless and whiny: “Vivian, my heart’s racing… We went street racing last night and now I feel dizzy. I think I’m gonna die! You gotta come… I need a doctor.” After hanging up, Vivian didn’t say a word—didn’t even look at me. She pulled over immediately, reached across, and unbuckled my seatbelt. Her voice was all business—sharp and to the point: “My client’s not feeling well. I have to go. The office isn’t far—you can walk from here.” I barely closed the door before Vivian hit the gas, peeling out into traffic and leaving a cloud of exhaust behind her. This was a tech campus—everyone drove. No one walked to work here. A scooter came around the corner, not expecting anyone on foot, and plowed right into me. I scraped up my forehead, palms, and knees pretty good. The clinic nurse cleaned me up, put on some waterproof bandages, and warned: “Take these off before showering tonight so the cuts can breathe. Keep them dry until they scab over.” On the Uber to the office, the driver had two phones going—one for navigation, the other streaming Leo live. The comments were blowing up with people worried about his health. “Thanks for all the love, guys! I’m doing way better now that Vivian showed up like my knight in shining armor. Having her here makes everything better.” “No, no, you guys—don’t get the wrong idea ~ Vivian’s just the best, she takes such good care of me.” While he babbled on, my phone pinged with two texts. “Jonathan, my assistant said you missed the morning project meeting? Where were you? Work comes first—do I really need to spell that out?” “I ask you to walk a few blocks and you throw a hissy fit? Seriously?” You could practically feel the eye-rolling through the screen. Sometimes I swear she must have a split personality. How else could she play favorites so hard? That evening, I changed my bandages in the bathroom mirror, then dragged my sore leg back to the couch to watch TV. The front door unlocked, and Vivian’s snarky voice cut through the room: “I thought maybe you’d finally gotten over that attitude problem, being so quiet lately. Turns out you were just saving up to cause bigger problems?” My silence must have ticked her off, because she marched over and yanked the TV plug out. “Jonathan, are you nuts?! This is an award-winning project—do you have any clue how much money we lose with a one-day delay?!” I didn’t move or say a word, just watched her freeze mid-rant. She squinted at the scab on my forehead and the bandages on my elbow and knee, then frowned: “What happened?” I met her eyes and said flatly: “Nothing major. Got hit by a scooter on the way to work.” Vivian blinked, then suddenly dropped the attitude and stepped closer to check my injuries. “You got hurt and didn’t even call me?” I pulled my hand away, voice light: “Just a scratch. I’m not dying. Besides, you were busy taking care of your client’s ‘health emergency’ at the time.” Some care comes too late. She could talk a big game, but every time I actually needed help, all I got was criticism. Vivian had stopped caring if I was okay a long time ago. After all that, if I still expected her to rush to my side, I really was an idiot. That comment hit a nerve. Vivian shot to her feet, sneering down at me: “Must you be so sarcastic, Jonathan? Asking you to walk a few blocks is a crime now? You’re 28, not 2! You got hit by a scooter while walking—are you really gonna play the victim here? I bet you did this on purpose to get back at me!” I stared at her meltdown, too exhausted to even roll my eyes. What was there left to say? One sentence and I’m getting accused of intentional injury. Too drained to fight, I tried to stand up to go to bed. When she saw me struggling, Vivian dialed back the attitude, sighed, and moved to help. “I’ll sleep in here tonight. Just yell if you need anything.” Vivian hadn’t been in our bedroom before 2 AM in months. Because Leo needed to stream every night to build his following. He claimed late-night streams got too many trolls, and he “couldn’t handle it alone” without someone watching his back. So Vivian locked herself in the home office every single night, glued to his stream. She’d send him virtual gifts to boost his visibility or jump on camera with him, making sure everyone knew Leo was her “priority talent.” I’d argued with her a hundred times—begged, pleaded, fought—but nothing changed. She said it was just work. Then threatened divorce when I pushed back. My throat tightened, but I gave in. I looked at her, not fighting the idea. But when she reached for me, I said quietly: “Vivian, let’s get divorced.”

That sentence hit harder than I expected. Vivian grabbed her keys and bolted, disappearing for a whole week. Classic move when she was mad. Clearly, she still wasn’t taking me seriously. Back in the day, her silent treatment would’ve sent me into a panic—no eating, no sleeping, terrified I’d lose her. I’d stay up all night calling, writing essays of apologies, promising to never upset her again—anything to get her back. Now? I was too busy updating my resume. Working at my ex-wife’s company post-divorce? Not a good look. Ten days later, as I was wrapping up work, Vivian called. For her, initiating contact was a big olive branch. Not accepting would be ungrateful—at least in her book. “We hit Q1 and Q2 targets. Admin’s throwing a celebration tonight. Let’s go together.” I waited downstairs for almost an hour before Vivian showed up—fashionably late, of course. The passenger window rolled down, and Leo—full makeup, perfectly styled—popped his head out, grinning: “I got bored with my wardrobe, so Vivian took me shopping. Hope you didn’t wait too long, Jonathan.” “Oh, and I get car sick super easily, so Vivian said I should ride up front. Cool with you?” Vivian’s knuckles were white on the wheel, eyes darting like she expected me to blow up. But I just opened the back door and got in. Who cared about the stupid front seat? Wasn’t worth the energy. Leo spent the whole ride flirting with Vivian and subtly showing off, but I just stared out the window, tuning it all out. Vivian, though, was weirdly quiet—jaw tight, not really engaging with Leo. She kept checking my reflection in the rearview mirror. When we got to the hotel, Vivian’s childhood friend Michael spotted us and jogged over, grin plastered on: “Jonathan! Been too long. Sorry I didn’t text you personally—work’s been crazy.” Michael was Vivian’s ride-or-die—knew all her business. He never invited me to plus-one events anymore. Because Vivian’s plus-one was Leo now, and if I showed up? I’d cause a scene. And that would embarrass her. I smiled politely: “No worries. Just here to make an appearance.” Michael froze. He glanced at Vivian, then just shrugged. Inside, Vivian worked the room with a drink, then found me holding a slice of cake. “Matcha cake. Thought you’d like it.” I used to love matcha cake in college. Not so much anymore. Before I could say no, Leo appeared with his phone out. Of course he was live streaming. “Hey guys! Look who I found!” “The guy next to her? Just a coworker. Vivian’s being nice, giving him cake. No big deal.” “Oh come on, don’t start that. Vivian and I are just friends~” I held up a hand to block the camera, then got up and left. I found a quiet spot on the outdoor balcony to get some air, but Vivian followed. She actually sounded nervous: “I’m sorry, Jonathan. I didn’t know Leo was streaming.” “Don’t pay attention to the chat. We just play it up for the stream—it’s not real.” “I told him to turn it off. It’s fine now.” I nodded. Whatever. I didn’t care either way. Back inside, the host was hyping up the crowd. I grabbed a drink, and when I turned around, Leo was there with champagne, clinking my glass. “Jonathan, my fans say Vivian and I have crazy chemistry. Who do you think she likes more?” I lifted my glass, deadpan: “Ask her. But right now? Probably you.” Leo laughed, like that was exactly what he wanted to hear, then leaned in and whispered: “Thought so!” Something felt off. I stepped back, but Leo moved faster—he stumbled backward and fell. Before I could react, someone shoved me hard. I tripped and crashed into the champagne tower. Glass exploded everywhere. My arm and back screamed in pain. My vision went fuzzy. I grabbed a table to steady myself. Through the chaos, I felt warm blood running down my back and arm. Vivian helped Leo up gently, then spun around and yelled at me in front of everyone: “Jonathan, are you gonna keep this up forever?! Do you need to see a therapist or something…?” She stopped mid-sentence, staring at the blood spreading across my arm and shirt. Her voice shook: “You… why are you bleeding so much? Where are you hurt?!”

Vivian ran over, yelling at the crowd: “Call 911! Now!” But Leo stopped someone from dialing, pulled Vivian aside, and pulled a bandage roll from his backpack: “Jonathan, you gotta be more careful. Here, press this on your cut.” Vivian froze. She looked at me, face going white: “Just take care of it. Stop making a scene.” So that was it. With Leo around, even the pretense of being a married couple was too much. I bit back the pain, stood up, and called my friend. Shawn picked up right away: “Jonathan? What’s wrong?” I closed my eyes, barely able to speak: “Shawn, I’m hurt. Need to go to the hospital.” Before I could finish, the room spun. Footsteps rushed over. Everything went black, and I fell into someone’s arms. When I woke up, the doctor said I had glass cuts on my arm that needed stitches and a bruised back that needed rest. Walking out of the exam room, Shawn was waiting with sunflowers: “Dude, you’re banged up like this and you still wanna divorce? You really over Vivian?” The numbing was wearing off, making me pale, but I managed a smile. After seeing who Vivian really was? I didn’t want the marriage, let alone anything else. Six years of marriage felt like one big joke now. “She did this to herself.” “Whatever you need, I’m in. Since you’re sure, our lawyer friend will hook you up. Right, Emma?” Emma Hayes, standing next to Shawn, nodded: “Absolutely. She won’t get more than she’s entitled to.” “I’ll draft the papers ASAP, but we should prep for court too.” I thanked her: “I really appreciate this, Emma.” For everything—tonight, the divorce, all of it. Emma knew what I meant and smiled: “Anytime.” I took a week of sick leave. Vivian never called. I didn’t either. After the incident, they’d reassigned my project, so my being out didn’t matter. When I went back to file paperwork, I ran into Leo in the hallway. He blocked my path, smirks all around, eyes daring me: “Heard you took sick leave. Back already? Thought you were hurt bad—shouldn’t you rest more?” I turned to him: “You did that on purpose?” So his little fall wasn’t just for show? He actually planned to make me trip? Leo acted shocked: “Was it that big a deal? Oops. My bad. I just slipped a little. Didn’t think you’d overreact…” Leo grabbed his cheek where I’d punched him, eyes blazing. Then his face changed—suddenly his eyes got all red and watery: “Vivian! I was just being nice and he hit me!” Vivian ran over, checked Leo’s face, then turned to me, totally fed up: “Jonathan, how long are you gonna keep this up?! Faking sick is one thing, but don’t act out at work! Take your drama elsewhere!” I saw Leo’s little victory smirk. He mouthed: “You can’t win. ” I stared at them, then walked away. No looking back. Trash belongs with trash. Hope they stay stuck together forever. I went home, made some soup, and crashed in bed. Being hurt made me tired. Slept till evening. Felt better, so I ordered a healthy dinner. Of course Vivian walked in with the delivery guy. I ignored her, set my plate, and ladled hot soup. Vivian went straight to the kitchen—old habit, grabbing milk to warm. She saw the food and paused. Put the milk back, voice soft for once: “Thanks for the soup. ” I moved her hand away, picked up my bowl, and sipped: “This is mine. Not for you. ” Her hand froze mid-air. Her face went dark. “Jonathan, you know I have a sensitive stomach. ” “Jonathan, you know perfectly well I have a sensitive stomach.” I took another sip, warm and good. “I know. ” “That’s why I used to cook every night after work—followed nutritionist recipes, made sure it was easy on your stomach. Hoped you’d feel better. ” But what did I get? ” You out with him. ” Me sitting there like an idiot, watching food get cold. ” Just like how I felt about you. ” Burned out. Frozen over. ” I kept eating. ” But that’s done. ” “You have Leo now. Let him handle your stomach. ” Vivian stared, jaw tight. Finally, she went to the kitchen and warmed her own milk. No words. ” After dinner, I went to the bedroom. Vivian was already showered, leaning against the headboard—no phone, just grinning like an idiot. She jumped up when I walked in, got close, and whispered in my ear: “Let’s go to bed early. ” I pushed her away. She came back, arms around my waist, voice way too soft: “We haven’t… in so long. What if we have a baby? Hm?” She tried to kiss me. I moved. She got mad, pushed me onto the bed, and started unbuttoning my pajamas. I slapped her. Vivian’s face flashed angry, but she held it in: “Jonathan, you’re my husband! What’s wrong with wanting a baby? Fine, be mad about Leo—but enough is enough!” I looked her in the eye. ” Vivian, I want a divorce. ” “If you want a baby, find someone else. I’m sure there’s a line. ” Vivian stared, like she couldn’t believe it. ” What did you say? Say that again, you—?!” “I want a divorce. ” Vivian just stood there. Then she laughed, bitter. ” You sure about this? ” I held her gaze. ” Absolutely. ” She got off the bed, got dressed. Smirking. ” “What new game is this? Some internet trend? Aren’t you tired of this act?” She slammed the bedroom door so hard the walls shook.

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It was three years after our breakup when Julian Kingston and I unexpectedly crossed paths again at a luxury hotel. I was working the front desk. He checked into the presidential suite, accompanied by a young and sexy woman. That night, I received three internal calls from his room. The first time, he said, “My girlfriend got the sheets dirty. Send someone to change them.” I called housekeeping to handle it. Two hours later, he called again, demanding another sheet change. I followed procedure. At 2 AM, his third call came through. Before he could even speak, I politely refused. “I apologize, sir, but housekeeping has already clocked out for the night.” The man chuckled lightly, his tone nonchalant. “Then you come change them.” I ignored him and hung up. My job is front desk. It’s not my responsibility to clean rooms. My colleague, Chloe, leaned over, asking conspiratorially. “Was that the guest from the presidential suite again?” When I nodded, Chloe covered her mouth, stifling a giggle. “He must be incredible in bed, making them change sheets three times in one night!” “So, what did he say when you told him housekeeping was off?” I told her honestly. “He told me to go up and change them.” Chloe froze, then scoffed, laughing derisively. “Just because he’s in the presidential suite, he thinks he can treat people like dirt? So disrespectful.” “He acts like the hotel is his personal home! He thinks we front desk staff are 24/7 personal servants…” Before she could finish, the phone in front of her rang abruptly. She cleared her throat and answered it. The next second, she respectfully addressed the manager. I couldn’t hear what was said on the other end. Chloe’s eyes suddenly widened, and she looked at me. “Did you say to send Aubrey Reid to the presidential suite to change the sheets right now?” Fifteen minutes later, I stood outside the presidential suite, grimacing as I pressed the doorbell. Julian, wearing nothing but a bath robe, answered the door. He had an incredible physique, ripped abs, and water still trickled down his collarbone. Seeing me, he stepped aside to let me in. The hem of his robe swayed with his movement, almost revealing too much. The faint sound of rushing water came from the bathroom. He led me to the bedroom. Then he casually sat down on a nearby sofa. With an air of calm, he took out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, and lit it. I silently pulled back the duvet. The wet stain on the sheets unexpectedly caught my eye. It felt like I’d been punched in the chest. My heart ached dully. He exhaled a smoke ring, his voice laced with the languid contentment of a man utterly satisfied. “My girlfriend gets so wet every time; the sheets are completely soaked. There’s no way we can sleep on them without changing them.” “Please hurry. She’s a bit tired.” I tried to keep my voice steady. “Five minutes.” I efficiently stripped the dirty sheets and quickly put on fresh ones. Once I was done, I gathered the soiled sheets and turned to leave. But then, he suddenly closed in, pressing me tightly against the edge of the bed, leaving me nowhere to go. He leaned in further, and I stumbled backward, falling onto the bed. The next second, he had me firmly pinned beneath him. His powerful forearms braced on either side of my head, and his knee pushed my legs apart, pinning them so I couldn’t even close them. His bath robe had completely parted, his ripped abs pressing taut against my lower stomach, the scorching heat of his skin radiating through the thin fabric. The water in the bathroom still hadn’t stopped. I clenched my fists, trying to push off the bed to stand up. But the power imbalance was too great; I couldn’t move him an inch. I frowned, pushing against his chest, my voice a low whisper. “Your girlfriend will get the wrong idea, let me up.” His eyes turned cold. He suddenly grabbed my resisting wrists, twisting them behind my head. His other hand slowly slid under my top, his calloused thumb tracing a path along my waistline, sending shivers through me. “All these years, I still don’t understand.” “Why, of all people, did you cheat on me with him?”

The sound of water in the bathroom abruptly stopped. But he remained utterly unmoved. In a panic, I bit down hard on his arm. He grunted, wincing, and his grip loosened slightly. I took the chance to push him away, clutching the sheets as I fled the room. As the door closed, the woman’s soft, languid voice faintly drifted out. “Oh, stop it. If you make them change the sheets again, I’ll be too embarrassed to show my face tomorrow.” I couldn’t quite make out his answer. Walking down the silent corridor, my wildly pounding heart slowly began to calm. It wasn’t that I hadn’t imagined what it would be like to see him again someday. But I never expected that after three years, he would hate me this much. Better if we’d never met again in this lifetime. Back at the front desk, Chloe leaned over to gossip with me. “Do you know who that guest in the presidential suite is?” It was late, and I was tired; I didn’t feel like engaging. But she grew more excited. “I just looked him up online! He’s actually the heir to the incredibly wealthy Kingston family in New York!” I said flatly, “Snooping on guest information, that’s against the rules.” “I was just curious!” She continued to share. “Everyone online is still talking about their billion-dollar inheritance battle from three years ago!” “This Mr. Kingston suddenly fell gravely ill at a critical moment and almost lost his inheritance rights.” “And his first love, seeing him so ill, actually cheated on him at his lowest point.” “Oh, I haven’t even told you the craziest part yet. Do you know who she cheated on him with?” Chloe’s chatter buzzed in my ears. “Yeah, I know.” She raised her voice slightly. “You know? You saw the news too?” I slowly turned my head, calmly looking at her astonished expression. “I don’t need to see the news.” “I was his cheating ex-girlfriend.” The expression on her face instantly froze, and it took her a long moment to process. “OMG.” Meeting Julian was an unusual accident in my life. I saw something wrong and kicked a pervert right in the groin. I dragged the pervert to the police station, and Julian followed me the whole way, thoroughly amused. He waited outside the precinct for me, then got my contact info. And that’s how we started. The day he confessed his feelings to me. I asked him why he liked me. He just smiled without speaking, then after a moment, he took my hand and said, “I was captivated by the way you kicked that guy in the groin.” Fine, sometimes I didn’t understand his taste. But I liked him just the same.

He always loved to tease me. We were together for a long time. He bought an apartment near campus. We lived the loving life of an ordinary couple. My parents divorced when I was young, so I grew up living with my grandmother. Once, while I was on a FaceTime call with her, he overheard her mention that her teeth were falling out and it was getting hard to eat. The very next day, he took my grandma to have a full set of new teeth fitted. Later, I brought up the cost awkwardly. A full set of teeth was over $200,000. He signed the bill without a second thought, but I had no idea how I could ever repay him. He saw through my hesitant expression. “Don’t worry about the cost. I’ll take care of it.” I cautiously said to him, “What if we break up later? You wouldn’t ask for the money back for her teeth if we broke up, right?” He burst out laughing. Back then, I only knew he was rich, but not how rich. It wasn’t until I muttered to him one day about my scholarship not being disbursed yet. Coincidentally, from that day onward, the Kingston Group scholarship process at school was streamlined and began to be announced and disbursed on the same day. That is how I learned he was a son of New York’s Kingstons. Later, his father died. The Kingston family’s inheritance battle was a sensation. Besides Julian, his father had several illegitimate children scattered around. At the peak of the inheritance dispute, Julian was suddenly hospitalized. The diagnosis was acute kidney failure. He stayed in the ICU for over ten days. After two rounds of dialysis, his kidney function still hadn’t recovered. The doctors, with no other options, suggested a kidney transplant. But we waited and waited, but no suitable donor could be found. I even went to each of his half-siblings, begging. But not a single one was willing to be tested for a match. And who would agree to be a match? Without Julian, they’d get a bigger piece of the pie. They were practically praying for him to die; why would they step in to save him? During that time, I felt lost in a fog, unable to find a way out. Julian seemed to have a premonition. He had his lawyer transfer all his assets to me. He lay in the hospital bed, his pale hand gently stroking my face. Patiently, he wiped away my endless tears. He said meeting me in this lifetime meant he had no regrets. But to everyone’s utter shock… No sooner had I accepted his gift than I threw myself into another man’s arms. I chose not to stay with Julian through his final days. I betrayed Julian, eagerly pledging allegiance to another. And that man was his father’s most favored illegitimate son.

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My boyfriend is stunningly handsome, successful, and rich. After three years together, I decided it was finally time to bring him home for the holidays to meet my parents. But the moment I posted a photo of Liam and me in our family group chat, it exploded! “Chloe, I get that you might be desperate, but you can’t just date anyone who’s breathing!” “Are you trying to skip those blind dates by bringing home some random guy just to upset Mom?” I stared blankly at Liam beside me. He’s over six feet tall, with chiseled abs, wearing a custom Armani suit. But the next second, Dad sent back the photo I’d just posted with a message. “Chloe, are you blind? You picked such a short, ugly loser for a boyfriend?” I looked at the man in the photo. He looked old, balding, with a beer belly, and barely five feet tall. He was wearing shabby clothes and holding me in a creepy way. But the photo wasn’t AI-generated, and there were no signs of editing. I looked up at Liam again, still standing there like a Greek statue. I kept asking people around me, but everyone described Liam as short, poor, and ugly. I could not handle the shock. I slowly began to lose my mind. Eventually, I was sent to a mental hospital and accidentally killed by another patient. When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the moment I was about to introduce my boyfriend publicly.

My parents always played favorites with my sister Lily, and I suspected they wanted me to ditch Liam for her. This time, I didn’t send a photo of us together to the family group. Instead, I sent only Liam’s picture and told a little lie. “This is my best friend Ashley’s new boyfriend. What do you guys think of him?” But to my shock, their replies were exactly the same. “How could Ashley date such a loser? Is she going through something lately?” “Chloe, as her best friend, you need to talk some sense into her. Don’t let her just date anyone.” “Chloe, you need to tell Ashley to break up with him! He’s clearly punching above his weight!” I was stunned. If last time they were just messing with me because they knew Liam was my boyfriend… This time, they had no reason to trick me about Ashley. Just as I was lost in thought, Mom’s message popped up. “Didn’t you say you found a boyfriend? The holidays are coming. Bring him home.” Dad chimed in. “Exactly! It’s time our family of four became five. You’re not getting any younger, after all.” “Chloe, when are you bringing Liam home? Don’t you dare end up like Ashley.” My hand, holding the phone, started sweating cold. I couldn’t imagine the expressions on their faces if I actually brought Liam home. Liam’s tall frame enveloped me from behind as he buried his face in the crook of my neck, his tone a playful pout. “Chloe, what did your family say? Are you taking me home to meet your parents for the holidays?” I looked at his handsome profile, sunlight shining on him like he was an angel descended from heaven. How could he possibly be the short, poor, and ugly guy my family was describing? That height difference… that chiseled, sculptural face… the luxurious fabric of his clothes… Every detail reminded me that Liam was the living definition of a ‘dream guy.’ This time, I was cautious and didn’t agree right away. “Of course, I’ll take you to meet my parents. But before that, can you do me a small favor?” He chuckled softly and kissed my forehead. “Anything, baby. You name it.” An idea sparked in my mind. “Liam, would you mind taking a few photos with Ashley at the park later?” Liam’s face instantly fell, looking hurt. “Chloe, are you trying to set your man up with someone else?” I quickly reassured him, lying that I’d lost a dare, and it was just a request from Ashley. “Just three photos in the park, then you’re free to go. No touching or anything.” Liam looked at my pleading face and finally softened. “Just this once.” I sighed in relief and called Ashley. “Ashley, are you free? I just need you to take three photos with my boyfriend at the park.” But I didn’t expect her to refuse so vehemently. “Are you serious? You want me to take pictures with your short, ugly loser boyfriend? You’d be better off killing me!” It was one thing for my family to fool me, but why was Ashley saying the same thing? Ashley had seen Liam many times before. Why was she suddenly calling him short, poor, and ugly now? “Chloe, I wanted to tell you to break up three years ago. But you were so deeply in love, I was afraid you’d do something stupid, so I kept quiet.” “You’re such a love-struck fool. How can you treat that kind of trash like a treasure? The smell of him makes me want to puke, how have you endured it for three years?” My heart leaped. Could it really be that love was blind for me? Even what she called his ‘old man smell’ seemed like a pleasant fragrance to me, actually quite nice…

I still didn’t believe it. I took a deep breath and decided to bribe Ashley. “If you agree this time, I’ll get you the new LV bag that just came out.” “Deal. But don’t ask me again.” After Ashley hung up, the more I thought about it, the more absurd it seemed. Even with a beauty filter, the difference couldn’t be this drastic. Three days later, the photos Ashley sent me shattered my illusions. The man in the photo was the exact same one my dad had sent me in the previous life, the one I was supposedly hugging. I looked at the photos on my phone – they were perfectly natural, no signs of alteration. Just then, Liam came home. I rushed to him. “Liam, did you keep any of the photos from today?” “Of course, I did. Wouldn’t want you nagging me about it.” He handed me his phone. In his photos, he and Ashley stood together, looking like absolute gods. How could this be… Where did it go wrong? I took his phone to the balcony, comparing the two sets of photos repeatedly. Same park, same time, same poses, only the people were different. The other two photos were the same. Liam came to the balcony, wrapped his arms around me, and complained playfully. “Baby, I did what you asked, why do you still look upset?” His scent was still so fresh and clean, like orange soda, utterly captivating. But the thought that the man holding me now could be that man in the photos made my skin crawl. “No… no way. I… I was just jealous, that’s why I looked upset.” Liam instantly perked up at my words. “Then since I completed your mission, you have to give me a kiss.” I looked at his angelic face, about to lean in, but the image of the man in the photos instantly killed my appetite. I gently pushed him away, giving a nervous, guilty smile. “A kiss? That’s nothing! I’ll cook you dinner tonight as a reward.” Liam didn’t notice my odd behavior. He just kissed my cheek and said, “Okay!” I went to the kitchen and sent the photo to the family SnapChat group, along with a message. “Is the man you saw last time the same one in this photo?” Replies quickly poured in. “Why hasn’t Ashley broken up with that guy yet? They’re completely mismatched! Ashley is 5’5″, even in heels, she’d be taller than him!” “Chloe, has your best friend been brainwashed by this man? What does he even have going for him?” “Chloe, look at his clothes, they smell like an old man’s. He’s probably wearing his dad’s hand-me-downs!” As if I wouldn’t believe them, Dad sent a separate photo of the man into the group. “See? This is the same guy you posted in the group last time, isn’t it?” I carefully examined the single photo – still the same time, same background, same pose, but a different person. Why were the photos I took so different from what they saw? Liam, who hadn’t seen me come out yet, knocked on the kitchen door. “Chloe, why are you zoning out in the kitchen? How about I cook instead?” “No, no, it’ll be ready in a minute. Just wait at the dining table.” I quickly finished two dishes and carried them out. But as Liam sat down, I glimpsed the butterfly birthmark on his neck. It was Liam’s unique mark. I immediately pulled out Ashley’s photos and the family group photos to compare. My jaw dropped. The birthmark on that man’s neck in the photos was identical to Liam’s…

I picked at my food, my mind a mess. Looking at Liam beside me, I cautiously spoke. “Liam… there’s something I need to ask, but please don’t get angry.” Liam turned to me, smiling gently. “Okay, I won’t be angry, no matter what you ask.” “Has anyone ever told you what you look like?” He was silent for a moment. My heart sank. Had I accidentally brought up a sore spot? Did everyone think he was ugly? The next moment, he chuckled, taking my hand and guiding it to his face. “Everyone has always told me I’m handsome since I was a kid. I was voted Campus King every single year since junior high.” He seemed to worry I wouldn’t believe him, so he pulled out his phone to show me pictures from his college days. For four whole years, Liam’s photos were displayed on the ‘Hottest Guys’ wall, and he consistently ranked number one by a landslide. Seeing my bewildered expression, Liam flicked my forehead playfully. “What? Can’t stand that your boyfriend is just naturally this gorgeous?” “I don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours. You didn’t doubt me when we first started dating, but now that we’re about to meet your parents, you’re getting suspicious? Are you looking for an excuse to break up with me?” Liam feigned a serious look, and I could only push my doubts down. During dinner, I was distracted, constantly glancing at Liam, trying to find anything unusual. But I came up empty-handed. It wasn’t until we were in bed that my mind started racing again. Watching Liam sleep beside me, an idea formed. If love was blind, how did that explain the height difference? Why did everyone else see him as barely five feet tall, while I saw him as over six feet? I carefully slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Liam. I walked to the entrance and checked all of Liam’s shoes – no insoles. Still not satisfied, I pulled a tape measure from the drawer and crept back onto the bed to measure his height. If six feet was just my visual perception, a tape measure would be accurate, right? But Liam kept turning over precisely when I was trying to measure him, preventing me from succeeding. I retracted the tape measure and then stared at his stomach. The man in the photos had a beer belly, but Liam had eight-pack abs. Were his abs fake? Was he wearing something under his shirt? I’d seen videos about guys faking abs, and my hand slowly reached towards his stomach. Just as I was about to confirm, he caught my hand. Liam opened his eyes, a playful smirk on his face. “Honey, are you feeling a little restless tonight? Looking for some action?” Cold sweat instantly dripped down my back. Thankfully, he didn’t notice I’d been trying to measure his height. “No, I was just worried your stomach might get cold… It’s late, let’s just go to sleep.” I quickly lay back down, pretending to be asleep. But Liam rolled onto me, his warm lips claiming mine. “Baby, you’ve definitely stirred something up, and it’s not going away easily.” I didn’t find out anything all night, but Liam definitely wore me out. What a waste of an investigation! The next morning, Liam looked utterly satisfied as he gazed at me, still sprawled exhaustedly on the bed. “Baby, when are you going to take me to meet your parents?” “You’re so adorable, I’m almost tempted to just lock you up and keep you all to myself.” Liam’s reminder made me quickly pull out my phone. The date I’d promised to bring Liam home was tomorrow.

I thought about how good Liam had been to me for three years-gentle, meticulous, attentive, and generous. Even if he was short and clumsy, I’d accept it. But he couldn’t be poor… And in these three years, he had spent at least a million on me. That couldn’t be fake. “Tomorrow, then. Happy?” Liam’s eyes sparkled with joy, and he kissed me. “Why didn’t you say so sooner? Now I don’t have time to prepare gifts for your parents.” “Chloe, don’t sleep in. Get up quickly and take me to pick out their gifts.” I gave him an unamused look, not bothering to point out who had worn me out so badly last night. Liam pretended not to notice, pulling out a custom-tailored suit from his closet and looking at me. “Chloe, can I wear this to meet your parents tomorrow?” I felt a pang of déjà vu. Last time, my parents had looked at him with disgust and disdain when he wore this. They’d almost physically attacked him. But to me, Liam was a walking clothes hanger; everything looked good on him. Especially this custom suit, which perfectly showcased his flawless physique. After getting everything ready, Liam called to reserve the entire luxury mall and drove me there in his Maybach. The sales associate at the jewelry store bowed respectfully to Liam. “Sir, how may I help you?” “I need nearly a hundred pounds of gold bars, and please pick out the most exquisite gold rings and earrings for my parents.” The sales associate’s face lit up with an irrepressible smile. I couldn’t help but look at him. “This is so expensive, won’t it be too much?” “They’re my future in-laws, how can it be too much? What’s mine is yours, honey.” Liam also picked out a Patek Philippe watch for my dad and bought Lily the entire new collection from LV. I figured he couldn’t possibly be poor. I took photos of all the gifts he bought and sent them to Ashley. But I received a skeptical reply from her. “Chloe, be careful! This could be a romance scam! A lot of guys who look respectable on the surface lure you in by taking out huge loans, then stick you with massive debt, claiming it was all for you.” “These guys work with shady loan agencies, earning huge interest fees.” I didn’t believe her. I sent her photos of Liam’s luxury car and mansion. “Those can all be rented! Don’t be so naive and believe everything.” My cheerful mood instantly died down. The next day, I brought Liam home with a mix of excitement and anxiety. My family’s expressions shifted from blatant shock and disdain to forced, strained smiles. Dad accepted Liam’s gifts. “So this is Chloe’s boyfriend? You shouldn’t have bought so much and gone to all this trouble. Come, sit down and eat.” Mom, meanwhile, dragged me aside. “So, all this time, the ‘best friend’s boyfriend’ you mentioned was actually yours? Were you too embarrassed to admit it?” Lily even went so far as to dramatically cover her nose, staying as far from Liam as if he were a monster. Dinner passed in stiff silence. It wasn’t until Liam and I were on our way out that I caught the three of them flashing a synchronized “V” sign behind our backs. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but I hadn’t expected the group chat to explode the moment we got home. “Chloe, look at what he brought! Fake gold bars, a knock-off watch, a replica bag! Is he trying to make fools of us? All of it put together isn’t even worth a thousand! How can he be so shameless?” “Your dad and I are telling you right now: if you don’t break up with him, we’re cutting you off.” “Chloe, you can’t imagine how bad he smelled at dinner. It made me want to vomit.” But I just scoffed, nestling into Liam’s arms, and sent a reply. “Cut the act. I know exactly why you’re all calling Liam some short, penniless nobody!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “345389”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn