Category: English

My girlfriend picked a dare and, even with my threat to break up, kissed her childhood friend for a minute. I picked [spend a night with a member of the opposite sex]. I chose Nora, the sweet girl. “Let him be, he’s just a traditional guy, really conservative.” The next day, she showed up with red eyes. “Why did Nora answer your phone last night? Are you two really together?” Adeline secured a major deal at her company. She threw a celebration party at a bar. As soon as I walked in, I saw Adeline with her group of girlfriends. “Here he comes! Adeline’s boyfriend! Beckett, super handsome! Oh my God, his body is incredible! Those pecs, those abs, he looks like he stepped out of a comic book! We’re in for a treat today!” “Sister Adeline, you’re so lucky!” Adeline’s girlfriends looked at me as if they’d discovered a new world. Their eyes were fixed on me, almost boring holes into my skin. Adeline specifically asked me to dress “sexy” today. But as a guy, what do I know about sexy? In the end, Adeline couldn’t stand it anymore. She pulled out a black shirt from the closet and handed it to me. “This one! Just unbutton two buttons to show your collarbone. I signed a major deal today and invited the company’s heiress over. Make a good impression!” I looked down at the shirt with the absurdly low neckline. But I try to meet Adeline’s requests as much as I can. Because I really love her. Adeline enjoyed the attention. She smiled and waved at me. Adeline introduced me to a man sitting across from her. Before I could react, Adeline pulled me over and sat me beside her. “Let me introduce you, this is my boyfriend. What do you think, not bad, right?” Adeline wrapped her arm around mine and nearly leaned against me. I shifted uncomfortably. Adeline, however, acted as if she didn’t notice and continued holding my arm tightly. She usually doesn’t do this. The man across from us smiled at me. I know him. Caspian, Adeline’s childhood friend. Adeline always told me they were just good friends, nothing romantic. But I know when Adeline says that, her eyes are evasive. Caspian was also startled by Adeline’s sudden move. He paused with his wine glass, and his expression turned a bit unnatural. He pretended to drink calmly, but his Adam’s apple moved up and down, revealing he wasn’t just “buddies” with Adeline. Adeline was clearly using me to make him jealous. I sighed softly. I didn’t want to ruin her mood after signing a big deal, so I smiled at everyone present.

Adeline pulled a girl over and almost pushed her into my arms. I didn’t understand what she meant. What’s the point of pushing other women onto your boyfriend? The girl seemed a bit shy, hiding timidly behind Adeline. “This is Nora, the beloved daughter of the company boss we signed the deal with today. She’s just graduated, so I brought her out to see the world. You guys better take good care of her!” Adeline introduced loudly. Everyone assured her they would. “Come on, let’s play something exciting, truth or dare!” Adeline pulled out a deck of cards from who knows where, eagerly inviting everyone to play. The cards passed around the group and eventually stopped in front of Adeline. “Wow, our protagonist is lucky today!” Someone teased. Adeline playfully rolled her eyes. She drew a card. “Kiss number 13 for a minute.” Everyone held their breath and looked at number 1

Caspian. He sat there, looking uncomfortable. Adeline is my girlfriend. How can I let another man kiss her? I stood up abruptly. “I’ll take her place!” People around us laughed. “No way, the game rules say no replacements!” Caspian took a deep breath and stood up. He walked to Adeline without a word. Adeline acted as if nothing was wrong. She turned to me and said, “It’s okay, just buddies having fun, don’t take it seriously.” I got anxious. “Adeline, if you kiss him, we break up.” Adeline paused, then impatiently waved her hand. “Oh, stop it, it’s just a game, don’t make a fuss.” She turned her head, closed her eyes, and tilted her face up. Caspian looked at me provocatively, then leaned down and kissed Adeline. I felt my blood run cold, my heart clenched by an invisible hand, making it hard to breathe. They kissed for a full minute. A minute felt like an eternity, leaving me completely chilled. 3. The second round of truth or dare continued. This time, it was my turn. I picked another card from the table. [Choose an opposite sex present to spend a night alone with.] I read the card’s content, a cold smile on my lips. “Wow, this is interesting!” Adeline wrapped her arm around mine, nearly leaning on me, laughing wildly. “Do you even need to choose? My boyfriend, of course, I’m the one to spoil him!” Her eyes darted towards Caspian, clearly trying to make him jealous. I shook off her hand. Coldly, I said, “It says ‘my choice.’” I looked around and finally fixed my gaze on the quiet girl in the corner. Nora, the boss’s daughter brought here to “see the world.” She seemed scared by the chaotic scene, shrinking into the sofa corner, head down, fingers nervously twisting her clothes. I walked over to her and held out my hand. “Let’s go.” Nora looked up in surprise, glancing between me and Adeline, her eyes full of confusion. “I…” “Come on~” I grabbed her hand and pulled her up from the sofa. “Hey, what are you doing!” Adeline finally realized something was wrong and shouted. I ignored her, pulling Nora with me as we left. “Hey! Come back here!” Adeline yelled, frustrated. Her girlfriends saw the situation. “Go after them!” “They’ll be gone if you don’t!” But Adeline just sat on the sofa, crossing her legs, indifferent. “Why chase them? Don’t I know him? His parents are highly educated, there’s no way he’d do anything inappropriate. Besides, he needs my support for his career.” She took a sip of her drink, smirking. “Nora is a good girl too, all fake propriety, super conservative, let him go.”

I drove Nora to her apartment building. “We’re here,” I said. She kept her head down, silent. “What’s wrong? Did Adeline say something to you? Don’t take it to heart, she’s just like that, no harm intended.” Nora stayed quiet, her shoulders trembling slightly. “Hey, don’t cry.” I panicked, I can’t stand girls crying. Nora suddenly looked up. Tears fell like broken pearls. “It’s not you… It has nothing to do with you…” She choked out, “It’s me…” “What’s wrong? Tell me what’s bothering you.” I was at a loss. “They all say I’m a good girl, that I listen, that I’m timid…” Nora’s voice grew louder. “But I don’t want to be like this, I want to be brave, just once…” As she spoke, she started unbuttoning her shirt. I was startled and quickly grabbed her hands. “What are you doing?!” “Aren’t they saying I’m timid? I’ll prove them wrong now!” Nora’s eyes were red as she struggled. “Calm down!” I held her tightly, “This isn’t bravery, this is just…” Suddenly, I didn’t know what to say. “What is it?” Nora asked, tears in her voice. “This is just…” I took a deep breath, “This is just punishing yourself for others’ mistakes.” Nora froze, her tears slowly stopping. “True bravery isn’t doing something ‘out of line’ in others’ eyes. It’s following your heart and doing what you believe is right.” I looked into her eyes, speaking word by word, “Do you understand?” She seemed to understand and nodded. “Can we make a pact, to break free from the good girl and good boy labels, together?” I tentatively asked, hoping to give her some strength. “How do we break free?” Nora sniffed, looking at me with tearful eyes. “What are you most afraid of?” I guided her, hoping she’d face her true feelings. “I’m most afraid of…” Nora bit her lip, hesitating, “I’m most afraid of my parents pressuring me to date and marry those rich kids.” “But I don’t like them at all, they’re all playboys, just eating, drinking, and having fun, no ambition whatsoever!” As Nora spoke, her emotions grew agitated again, tears flowing anew. I cautiously asked, trying to provide her with some support. “How do I break free?” Nora asked, her eyes glistening with tears. “What are you most afraid of?” I gently prompted, hoping she could confront her feelings. “I’m most afraid of…” Nora hesitated, biting her lip, “I’m most afraid of my parents pushing me into arranged dates with wealthy heirs.” “But I don’t like them at all. They’re playboys, only interested in partying and having no ambition!” As she spoke, her emotions surged again, and tears began to flow. I could feel her anguish, the despair of being trapped and unable to control her own life. “Then start with this. Be brave and tell your parents you need a few more years because you want to build your own career.” I encouraged her, hoping she could find the courage to stand up for herself. Nora paused, seemingly surprised by my suggestion. “But… but my parents are very strong-willed. No one ever changes their minds.” Her voice grew quieter, her eyes dimming like a balloon losing air. “You have to try. How will you know if it doesn’t work unless you try?” I encouraged her, clenching my fist for emphasis. “Just like you said, you want to be brave just this once, for yourself!” Nora took a deep breath, as if she finally made up her mind. “Okay, I’ll try!” A spark of hope reignited in her eyes. “What about you? What are you going to be brave about?” she suddenly asked, looking at me with curiosity. “Me?” I smiled, “I’m going to be brave and start my own business, even if there are many opposing voices. I have to try.”

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After My Brother Stole My Girlfriend Again, I Fell into the Arms of the Woman He’d Loved for Five Years. He Got Serious. At the dinner table, I dropped my fork. As I bent down to pick it up, I saw my brother’s foot stretched out between my girlfriend’s legs. He said, “Your current girlfriend has pretty slim legs. I approve.” Later, he got together with my girlfriend and told me, “What can I do, Adrian? It seems like none of the women around you can resist me.” I laughed and immediately fell into the arms of the woman he’d loved for five years. My brother Brandon broke up with my ex-girlfriend. “We only dated for a month. Isn’t it normal to break up?” Brandon said casually, as if he was discussing what to have for lunch. “But when you sent me those bedroom photos, you said it was true love and hoped I’d give you my blessing,” I said, taking a sip of coffee. I glanced at Emma, who was still waiting outside in the scorching heat, and clicked my tongue. Emma was the beauty queen of our department. Not only was she gorgeous, but she also excelled in her studies. Her family seemed quite wealthy too. Add to that her cool and aloof demeanor, and she was the quintessential campus goddess. Many guys at our college had fallen for her, including me. Emma was technically my ex-girlfriend, but not really. After all, I was just her fake boyfriend to ward off unwanted suitors. The day after we publicly announced our relationship, Brandon stole her away. That night, Brandon sent me several explicit bedroom photos. “I’m interested in her because you’re interested in her,” Brandon had said. “But your taste is truly garbage. For your first girlfriend, you chose such mediocre goods.” I knew Brandon wasn’t actually into Emma. He just wanted to steal everything I liked, even if he’d discard it later. He didn’t want me to have anything. Since childhood, he’d been jealous that my arrival stole all our parents’ love. So anything I liked, he’d find a way to take it for himself. It was like that with toys when we were little, with nice clothes, and now with the girls I dated. “My taste wasn’t great before, but this time, I’m dating someone high quality,” I said, my eyes filled with infatuation. Brandon looked intrigued by my expression. “Oh really? I find it hard to believe your definition of ‘high quality.’ When can you introduce us?” “She’s coming to meet me soon.” Just as I finished speaking, I saw Olivia appear at the café entrance. I smiled and said, “There, that’s my girlfriend.” She wore a white blouse and had a slender figure. A silver necklace adorned her neck, and she exuded a lazy, carefree aura. Compared to Emma, this kind of woman gave off an uncontrollable vibe. I was obsessed with women like her, and so was Brandon. He loved making all sorts of women fall for him, and he especially loved stealing my girlfriends. I saw Brandon’s eyes noticeably brighten. He looked Olivia up and down several times before finally curling his lips meaningfully. I was all too familiar with that expression of his. It meant he had his sights set on his prey. The more carefree and unrestrained a woman was, the more she aroused a man’s desire to conquer her. When Brandon saw that from the moment Olivia entered, her eyes were only on me, he got even more excited. I frowned in displeasure. The reason I dared to bring Olivia to meet Brandon was because I trusted her character. I’d known her for two years, and she was never the type to be seduced by good looks. Emotionally, she was a very loyal woman. But looking at Brandon’s flirtatious eyes and demeanor, I felt a bit uncertain. Brandon knew exactly how to manipulate women. Take Emma for example – she was so cool and aloof at school, but she became wild and flushed with desire when she was with Brandon. I held Olivia’s hand, and she smiled at me tenderly. I firmly believed I hadn’t misjudged her. Before leaving, Brandon kept his eyes fixed intently on Olivia. I observed Olivia’s expression. She seemed completely oblivious to Brandon, her attention fully focused on me. After we left the café, I accompanied Olivia to the sports field. She had plans to play badminton with some friends, while I sat on the sidelines holding her jacket and watching. Olivia exuded a uniquely feminine charm. Her aura was completely different from Emma’s – she was bold and uninhibited, like the June sun, bringing joy to those around her. Being with Olivia was actually the result of my careful planning. On the first day of college, I had noticed Olivia. At the time, she saw a guy taking advantage of the crowded hallway to grope a girl. Olivia immediately pinned the guy to the ground and beat him up. I still remember she was wearing a black t-shirt that day, with a silver necklace around her neck. She had her jacket slung casually over one shoulder as she walked past me with an indifferent expression. My first impression was that she was carefree and rebellious, with an innate bad girl vibe that deeply attracted me. Brandon had taught me that women like her were usually harder to pursue. Pestering them didn’t work – the key was using the right approach. Throughout freshman year, I didn’t make any aggressive moves. I just tried to become a familiar face to her. Sophomore year, I started messaging her frequently and occasionally asking her to hang out. To understand her likes and interests, I did a lot of research. Gradually, we started chatting more and more, eventually progressing to daily good morning and goodnight texts. The flirting intensified to the extreme, and we were just one step away from a relationship. My agreement to be Emma’s fake boyfriend to ward off other guys was what finally broke through that last barrier. That night when Olivia called me out with red-rimmed eyes, demanding to know why I was with another girl, I knew my strategy of playing hard to get had worked. When Emma was stolen by Brandon, it was the perfect opportunity for Olivia and me to get together. She was an excellent girlfriend. In the month we’d been dating, she fulfilled the role to the utmost. Even my roommates said they never imagined a girl like Olivia could be so devoted when she fell in love. Of course, I believed in Olivia’s feelings for me. But I didn’t know if she could resist the temptation of a mature man like Brandon. A cheer erupted from the crowd – Olivia had scored another winning shot. After spiking the final point, she walked towards me. The sunlight shone on her, giving her smile a golden glow. Olivia grinned and said, “Bored of waiting? I’ll treat you to something delicious later.” I smiled brightly back. “Sounds good.” We held hands as we walked along the edge of the sports field. The warm light shone on us, and I could feel the gentle pressure of her hand in mine. I wished this moment could last forever. As I had expected, Brandon finally made his move. Recently, Brandon had been coming to campus to see me much more frequently than before. Olivia would come to my dorm every day to walk me to breakfast, attend classes together, and go on dates. But lately, several times when I went downstairs, I saw Brandon waiting with Olivia. From a distance, Brandon was smiling brightly. Though Olivia’s expression remained neutral, she occasionally responded to him. Brandon seemed oblivious to his third wheel status, forcibly inserting himself into Olivia and my world. One day, Brandon suddenly invited me to dinner and specifically asked me to bring Olivia. I knew what he was up to, but I still asked Olivia to come with me. When Olivia and I arrived, Brandon was already waiting in the private room. He looked like he had dressed up carefully. Was his intention really that obvious? I brought Olivia because I had my own agenda. I wanted to see if she could resist the temptation of a man like Brandon. “Olivia, I heard you’re amazing at badminton. Could you teach me sometime?” Brandon asked in his magnetic voice. Olivia replied flatly, “If you really want to learn, you should find a coach.” Brandon was clearly dissatisfied with Olivia’s attitude, but it seemed to excite him even more. “Finding a coach is such a hassle. You’re my brother’s girlfriend, so why can’t I just ask you?” I stirred my soup with a spoon, listening to Olivia’s cold voice beside me. “You know very well I’m your brother’s girlfriend. It’s inappropriate.” Seeing Brandon’s visibly paled expression, I could barely hold back my laughter. Brandon rarely struck out with women. Aside from that one time five years ago, this was probably only the second time. I must have been smiling too obviously, because Brandon shot me an annoyed glare. My hand slipped and I said, “Oops, I dropped my fork.” With that, I immediately bent down to pick it up. They clearly didn’t have time to react. In the split second I lowered my head, I still saw Brandon’s foot that he hadn’t managed to pull back in time. Yes, just moments ago when I wasn’t paying attention, Brandon had stretched his foot towards Olivia, even between her legs… Olivia hadn’t refused. Was it because she didn’t have time to, or because she didn’t want to refuse?

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My mom was a DEA agent, lost in the line of duty. Since I was a little kid, I had one dream: to reclaim her badge number. The moment I found out my scores were high enough for the police academy, I called my dad, buzzing with excitement. But he blew up. “You, a good-for-nothing loser like you, want to be a cop? Reclaim your mom’s badge number?! Don’t you dare shame your mother! Get lost!” My heart froze solid, my world crumbling around me. I stumbled home, only to be surrounded by a gang of addicts in a dark alley. “Heard your mom, Sergeant Dana, was a narcotics expert, trained a bunch of hotshots, made it impossible for us to even get a fix? Come on, let’s talk!” Naturally, I fought back with everything I had. But they were ready. A sharp knife plunged into my lower back, draining all my strength. Before I blacked out, my dad’s last words echoed in my mind. Dad, did I really disgrace Mom…? It was the dead of night when the police got a call. A large pool of blood was found in a dark alley in South Bayport, but no one was around. The caller thought it was just some drunk fight and quickly reported it, hoping the police would find the injured person and get them to a hospital fast. The police rushed to the scene, only to find the heavy rain had already washed away most of the blood, making it a chaotic mess! There wasn’t a trace of the injured person nearby. They immediately launched a carpet search and soon found dismembered body parts in an abandoned factory nearby. The morgue lights flickered on. “What’s the situation with this case?” A calm, steady male voice broke the silence. A man in a crisp forensic uniform walked in with two young police officers. This was my dad, Dr. Miles, the top forensic pathologist in Bayport. “Dr. Miles, the victim’s condition is pretty grim. Maybe you should prepare yourself…” Dad waved a dismissive hand. “What kind of body haven’t I seen? Just start the autopsy. Let’s solve this case as soon as possible!” He was right. Dad had been practicing for nearly twenty years. He’d seen it all: bloated bodies, headless corpses, dismembered remains, even bodies encased in concrete or reduced to fluid. When it came to forensics, he was a pro. But Dad, did you ever think that the body on that autopsy table… would be your most disregarded daughter? I floated in the air, watching my dad work with a strange detachment. The moment he unzipped the body bag, his brow furrowed. It wasn’t just the jumbled mess of flesh and bone inside; it was the missing, most crucial part. “Where’s the head? Where did it go?” “Uh… Dr. Miles, we searched that abandoned factory thoroughly, but we couldn’t find it. Most likely, the suspect took it.” “Forget it! Let’s start the autopsy.” Dad put on his gloves and began his professional sorting. Bone fragments, tissue, finger pieces… Everything he could identify was carefully laid out. “The victim is female, growth plates were narrow, not yet fully fused, estimated age between eighteen and twenty-three. Height between 5’3” and 5’7”. Probably a student.” “Based on the vitality of the cuts, the culprits must have first brutally broken this kid’s finger bones, radius, ulna, humerus, tibia, and femur while she was still alive. Then they dismembered her limbs. It seems that wasn’t enough for them; they used other blunt objects. Her ribs and spine are almost entirely fractured into tiny pieces…” Dad reported the findings professionally, while the young officer in charge of recording had already gone paper-white. Just hearing the description made him want to throw up! It was even harder to imagine the pain and despair the victim must have experienced! Dad suddenly turned. “Was a murder weapon found at the scene?” “Uh, yes, sir.” The young officer quickly handed a set of photos to Dad. It showed a saw covered in rust and blood, and a large sledgehammer caked with blood and tissue. A dull saw, used to savagely cut off every one of the victim’s fingers, every joint… The pain such weapons would inflict on a living person was beyond words!

Dad frowned deeply. “This wasn’t a random attack, was it? How much hatred could they possibly have for this kid?” Normally, even in a revenge attack, the assailants wouldn’t go to such extremes. The young officer respectfully replied, “Dr. Miles, preliminary investigations by Detective Reed’s Serious Crimes Unit have ruled out robbery and random attacks. It’s definitely a vendetta. Detective Reed and his team are now checking all newly reported missing person cases across the city.” “Understood.” Dad quickly pieced together the body parts, hoping to find some useful information to help solve the case. But it was all in vain. Even teeth, which can identify a person no matter how disfigured, had been taken by the criminals along with the head. Identifying the true identity of a nearly pulverized body, without any clothing, was almost impossible! I floated in the air, half relieved, half wistful. Good, Dad didn’t recognize me. Otherwise, he’d probably call me a loser again… Dad sighed. “What a pathetic kid! Why inflict such cruelty on a child because of their parents’ feuds…” There were tears glimmering in Dad’s eyes. Dad, meticulously piecing together every inch of bone. Dad, desperately searching for every bit of useful information. Dad, showing sympathy for a stranger, a headless female corpse. He felt so… unfamiliar. I knew Dad didn’t like me. When I was in elementary school, I had a fever on a rainy night. He took me to the emergency room alone. Dad thought Mom, who worked tirelessly day and night, deserved some rest, so he didn’t wake her. But Dad didn’t know that Mom got an urgent mission notification shortly after. She didn’t even wash her face before rushing to the scene. And it was that rainy night that Mom died in a shootout with The Viper. Mom’s body… Dad handled that one too. I was too young then to understand what death meant, what it felt like. Now that I think about it, even Dad wouldn’t want to personally send off his own wife, right? It was all my fault, for getting that strange fever on that particular night. It was only natural for Dad to hate me. If I hadn’t been sick, Dad would have fought to stop Mom from going on that mission, and if she hadn’t gone, Mom wouldn’t have died. It was all my fault… I looked down at Dad, who still hadn’t recognized me on the autopsy table. I glanced at the body again, fragmented and soiled. Covered in what looked like mud or blood, each piece of flesh looked gray and black, no different from leftover food dumped in a sewer. Even I couldn’t have recognized myself. No wonder Dad didn’t. The tranquil morgue was suddenly pierced by a ringing phone. Dad stopped, frowning, and looked at the two young officers. They shook their heads quickly. “Dr. Miles, we didn’t bring anything in!” Dad then realized it was his own phone. He pulled off his gloves to check. It was Aunt Sarah. “Hello? I’m busy…” “Oh, Miles, I don’t know… Chloe, have you seen her? I can’t reach her phone…” “Chloe?” Hearing my name, Dad’s brow furrowed. “I don’t know! I disciplined her yesterday. She’s probably out messing around. Just ignore her!” Aunt Sarah sounded anxious. “Why did you scold her again? I heard Chloe scored really well on her college entrance exams, enough for the police academy! She was so happy yesterday!” “Police academy, my foot! Someone as worthless as her? She should just pick some easy major, get a regular job, and make money! Becoming a cop would be an insult to the entire profession!” Dad’s voice was as sharp as ever.

Aunt Sarah was silent for a moment. “That’s been Chloe’s dream for ages. She finally did so well on her exams, and I was planning to invite her over for a big dinner. I bought so much seafood…” Dad was furious. “I forbid her from applying to the police academy! If she does, then she’s no daughter of mine! She can go die for all I care!” With that, Dad hung up. He seemed to forget he wasn’t alone, his chest heaving with anger as he stood by the autopsy table, speechless for a long time. I’m sorry, Dad. I won’t apply to the police academy. Please don’t be angry; it’s not good for you. I wanted to say that so badly, but all I could do was float in the air, watching everything unfold, utterly powerless. I wanted to cry, but as a spirit, I had no tears. By now, Dad had pieced together most of the body, but he couldn’t put my ten fingers back together. He frowned deeply, instructing the young officer to record. “Right ring finger and pinky are missing. Have the officers at the scene search again. If they can’t find them…” My heart clenched. When I was little, I was mischievous and went to tease a police dog. It bit through the flesh of these two fingers, leaving terrible scars. That dog, because of my accidental injury, was forced into early retirement. Dad scolded me relentlessly for that incident. Had he forgotten? Of course, Dad didn’t care about me at all… No! It’s better if Dad doesn’t remember! I don’t want Dad to know that he personally sent off both his wife and daughter! The young officer saluted. “Understood! If they’re not found, it means those two fingers have distinct identifying features!” Dad nodded. “Exactly. To find the victim, look for individuals with old injuries or tattoos on their hands!” He cut a small piece of flesh. “Get a DNA test done. Compare it with the database. Find the direct relatives as soon as possible!” Hearing Dad say that, my heart clenched. If they checked DNA, wouldn’t I be exposed quickly?! Dad! Don’t check the DNA! Dad! Let this case go! Don’t investigate further! I screamed silently, but Dad heard not a single word. Dad worked in the morgue for over ten hours. He’d arrived at dawn, and by the time he emerged, night had fallen again. “Dr. Miles, you’ve worked tirelessly.” Dad nodded, about to head home for rest, but then he saw Aunt Sarah waiting anxiously at the police station entrance. “Miles, Chloe’s been missing for a whole day and night! I asked her classmates; no one’s seen her! I checked all the entertainment spots near the school, couldn’t find her! What do we do?!” Dad looked annoyed, his brows tightly knit. “This is just her using petty tricks to make me agree to her joining the police academy! Impossible! Someone as worthless as her just needs to be law-abiding. What, she wants to uphold justice too?!” Aunt Sarah was on the verge of tears. “Forget about college applications for now! Our child’s safety is more important! I just came here and heard about a major case! A young girl, just turned adult, was dismembered, right?! Aren’t you worried Chloe might have run into those people?” Dad snapped back. “Don’t pry into cases that haven’t been announced! Chloe is eighteen; she can take care of herself! If something happened to her, she can only blame her own bad luck! Knowing how dangerous it is out there, why did she have to go running off?!” Aunt Sarah paused. “I’m not prying, I… I’m just afraid something happened to Chloe!” Dad’s eyes held contempt. “If she can’t even manage basic risk assessment or know how to avoid danger, then what good is she for the police academy? She might as well go get a job!”

“Miles Chen! Listen to yourself! Chloe lost her mom when she was little; she’s already had it tough enough! She didn’t let it get her down; she became even more driven, and you keep knocking her down every single day! Are you even human?!” Aunt Sarah shrieked, tears streaming down her face. “I’m telling you, you’d better pray to God the victim in this case isn’t Chloe! Otherwise, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life!” My heart leaped. Had Aunt Sarah found out? But looking at her expression, it didn’t seem like she knew the truth. It was more like she was deliberately trying to provoke Dad. Sure enough, at her words, Dad’s face instantly changed. “Impossible! Don’t you think I’d know my own daughter?! The victim in there absolutely cannot be Chloe!” Aunt Sarah bit her lip. “If it really is Chloe, don’t even think about claiming her body back! You never liked the kid anyway; let her come back to our family!” Dad raised his voice. “Fine! Take her! Do you think I care?! I’ve wanted that bad luck charm out of my life for years!” Aunt Sarah trembled with rage. “You rotten Miles Chen! If you don’t want Chloe, I do! Such a good kid, she’s suffered enough injustice living with you! You cold-blooded, heartless bastard! Ugh!” I floated in the air, a little overwhelmed. I knew Aunt Sarah was incredibly good to me. After Mom died, Dad rarely paid attention to me. Beyond making sure I ate, he ignored everything else. I still remember Aunt Sarah being the one who bought me my first bras and sanitary pads during my teenage years. I wanted to study hard and get into the police academy, but Dad wouldn’t pay for tutoring classes. In the end, it was Aunt Sarah who secretly took me to enroll. From the smallest daily necessities to tutoring, smartphones, tablets, and computers, Aunt Sarah almost always paid for them out of her own pocket. To Aunt Sarah, I was practically her own daughter. Aunt Sarah, fuming, stormed out of the police station, her trembling fingers typing a message on her phone. I floated over, peering at the screen. ‘Chloe, it’s not safe out there right now. No matter how angry you are at your dad, you still need to come home! If you don’t want to come home, that’s fine. Come to Aunt Sarah’s. I’ll send you to college and pay your tuition! We don’t need your dad. Aunt Sarah’s place will always be your home, sweetie. Be good.’ I blinked, feeling tears well up. Aunt Sarah had lost her only sister on that rainy night years ago too. Yet, she didn’t hate me like Dad did. Instead, she poured all the love she had for her sister into me. I’m so sorry, Aunt Sarah. I’m afraid I’m destined to disappoint you. It seemed that because my body was inside the police station, I couldn’t follow Aunt Sarah further than a certain distance. I could only watch helplessly as she left. When I floated back into the station, I found Dad slumped in a chair, looking exhausted. Officer Miller saw him and couldn’t help but advise, “Dr. Miles, you’ve worked for twenty hours straight. You should go home and rest!” But Dad shook his head. “No, I’m a bit uneasy about this case… I’ll just rest here briefly, then go back and see if there are any more clues on the body.” “Uh… alright.” I watched Dad’s swaying body, both admiring his dedication and wishing he’d get some proper rest. … “The DNA results are in!” A shout echoed through the police station, instantly energizing everyone! Even I couldn’t help but feel a surge of tension! Dad, who had been staying at the station for two nights, rushed to the data room. “The database, has it been checked? Have you identified the victim?” “Still comparing. It’s taking a bit. Don’t rush!” Everyone gathered around the computer, nervously watching the progress bar crawl forward. 75%… 88%… 95%… 100%! Everyone held their breath, waiting for the final result.

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Everyone knew I was the woman Mr. Sterling, the family patriarch, had personally chosen for an arranged marriage. He’d decreed that whoever I married would be the one to inherit the vast Hayes fortune. At the engagement party, I wore my custom-made gown, ready to step onto the stage and announce the union between the Hayes and Peterson families. But my fiancé, Derek Hayes, had Tiffany Peterson, my adopted sister, clasped firmly by the hand. He pulled her into the center of the crowd, standing shoulder to shoulder with her. “Tiffany and I are deeply in love; she’s the only woman I’ll ever marry.” “Scarlett is too headstrong, too unruly—she’s simply not fit to be a Hayes.” My engagement was suddenly switched to my adopted sister, and everyone’s eyes on me were a mix of pity and mockery. What they didn’t know was that Mr. Sterling had chosen me because my mother was the heiress to the formidable Vance family, a discreet yet incredibly powerful lineage. Someday, I would return to the Vance family and inherit its empire. Since Derek had made his choice, the Hayes heir would naturally have to be someone else.

Derek tightly clutched Tiffany Peterson’s hand, pulling her to stand before the gathered crowd. Tiffany gasped, trying to pull her hand back. “Bro-Derek, you can’t do this! Grandpa Sterling himself arranged your marriage to Scarlett.” “You’re the one I love, Tiffany. I won’t marry anyone else.” He held her hand firmly, his fingers intertwined with hers, as he looked up at Mr. Sterling, who sat on a raised platform. “Grandpa, I’ve always loved Tiffany. I will only marry her.” The guests looked on with a mix of sympathy and ridicule. Everyone knew that Derek and I had grown up together, childhood friends, and that I was Mr. Sterling’s chosen future granddaughter-in-law. Yet here, in front of everyone in our social circle, Derek had just publicly humiliated me. Derek’s voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. “While Scarlett and I grew up together, I’ve always seen her as a sister, nothing more.” “Tiffany and I are deeply in love; we’ve been together for a while now. In my heart, she’s the only woman I’ll ever marry. No other woman compares.” Mr. and Mrs. Hayes’s faces fell as they nervously glanced at the patriarch’s expression. Derek put an arm around Tiffany’s waist and looked at me, a hint of sarcasm in his eyes. “Scarlett, you know I don’t have romantic feelings for you. You wouldn’t want to waste your life marrying a man who doesn’t love you, would you?” “Besides, Tiffany and I are already together. You can’t just rely on Grandpa Sterling’s favor and try to muscle in and break us up, can you?” I glanced at the two of them, then bowed to Mr. Sterling. “Grandpa Sterling, since they’re so clearly in love, how could I possibly come between them? Let’s just let them be together.” “Wishing my sister and Mr. Hayes Jr. a lifetime of happiness and everlasting love.” Derek’s face flashed with annoyance at my words, but Tiffany cautiously slipped her arm through his. “Bro-Derek, Grandpa Sterling arranged your marriage to Scarlett. Won’t he be upset about this?” Derek gently patted Tiffany’s hand, soothing her softly. “No, he won’t. Grandpa spoils me rotten. Why would he get mad at me over *her*?” “Besides, you’re the Peterson family’s true daughter, their heiress. This was always meant to be an alliance between our two families. Why would he care about an outsider?” An outsider? Only my father, Mr. Peterson, and Mr. Sterling knew my true identity. My mother is the heiress to the formidable Vance family. My father and mother’s marriage was merely a strategic alliance disguised as a union, and I would inherit the Vance family fortune, so I took my mother’s surname. Moreover, he thought Tiffany was my father’s biological daughter? Mr. Sterling frowned at Derek’s words. “Derek, don’t be foolish. Are you certain you want to marry Miss Peterson?” Derek firmly slipped the ring onto Tiffany’s finger, then kissed it with devotion. “Grandpa, I’ve thought it through. I will only marry Tiffany.” Mr. Sterling looked at Derek with disappointment. If it was just a change of fiancée, he wouldn’t have had much of an opinion. But Derek had deliberately chosen today to humiliate me in front of so many people, proving he was unreliable. “Fine, have it your way.”

Once Mr. Sterling spoke, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. This alliance had invited many business magnates to witness the event, and everyone was eager to see how it would unfold. Amidst the whispers of the crowd, Derek, holding Tiffany’s hand, faced the guests who had come to celebrate and announced, “Thank you all for attending my and Miss Peterson’s engagement ceremony today.” The guests’ faces were a mix of expressions. No one had expected the Hayes and Peterson families to actually swap fiancées on the spot. My father was equally stunned, his face instantly darkening. My own expression wasn’t much better, but I forced myself to stand tall, holding my head high amidst the murmurs, and raised my glass to offer a generous gift. “Mr. Hayes Jr. actually swapped fiancées on the spot? He gave Scarlett no face at all!” “Didn’t Mr. Sterling insist on Scarlett becoming his granddaughter-in-law? How did he agree to the change?” “Changing fiancées on the day of the engagement party—that’s truly embarrassing. Who knows what she did to make Mr. Hayes Jr. do something like that?” The guests’ whispers weren’t quiet. My father glared at Tiffany, showing Derek no deference either. “How much gossip will you cause your sister by doing this?” “And you, you’re not a child anymore. Acting without thinking of the consequences—are you trying to make a fool of me?” Tiffany, scolded by my father, timidly tried to take off the ring to give it to me. Mr. Sterling waved his hand, stopping her. He touched my head apologetically, his voice deep. “Scarlett, don’t worry. Grandpa Sterling will see to it. If you’re willing, the Hayes family has several other excellent young men.” Mr. and Mrs. Hayes heard Mr. Sterling’s words and simply assumed he was comforting me, so they didn’t pay much attention. To their shock, I pointed to Julian Hayes, Mr. Hayes’s illegitimate son, who was watching the drama unfold from a corner. “Actually, I’ve always liked Julian. I hope Grandpa can grant us his blessing.” Everyone’s gazes fell on Julian, flickering between him and me. Julian was Mr. Hayes Sr.’s illegitimate son. After Mr. Hayes Sr.’s passing, Julian wasn’t well-regarded in the family and had a difficult life. But since he was still a Hayes, Mr. Sterling didn’t want others saying the Hayes family mistreated its own blood. So he had taken Julian in and raised him personally. My father stared at me in shock, then whispered, trying to persuade me. “Scarlett, Dad knows you’re upset, but he’s an illegitimate son. The Hayes family doesn’t value him.” I casually swirled my glass, raising it to Julian in a silent toast. “He didn’t choose to be an illegitimate son. I think he’s quite good. I’m willing to give it a try with him.” Julian’s eyes met mine, his demeanor relaxed. “Since Miss Vance likes me, then let’s give it a try.” The guests’ gazes on me became even more meaningful. News of the Hayes family changing fiancées on the spot spread like wildfire in our social circle. As soon as the party ended, I received a message from my mother. In a private room, my mother held me close, her eyes glaring at my father. “Mr. Peterson, how dare you let my daughter suffer such humiliation? Are you trying to get yourself disowned?” I squeezed my mother’s hand, redirecting the conversation to the main issue. “Grandpa Sterling found me a new fiancé. His name is Julian Hayes, and I actually quite like him.” My father wiped the sweat from his forehead and sighed again. “He’s just an illegitimate son, a nobody in the Hayes family. Why would you choose him?” I looked at my parents’ confused expressions and slowly began to explain. “Grandpa Sterling and my grandfather made this arrangement, so I definitely have to marry into the Hayes family.” “Even though Julian is an illegitimate son, he’s the most capable among the younger Hayes generation. From a business perspective, he’s the most suitable partner.”

“Besides, as an illegitimate son, if I marry him, the Vance family will be his foundation for establishing himself in the Hayes family. He’ll certainly treat me well.” Now, Tiffany was the talk of the town, everyone flattering and trying to curry favor with her. Countless people rushed to meet and connect with her. After all, the Hayes and Peterson families were a powerful union. If anyone could get a chance to collaborate, they would surely rise to the next level in their respective industries. I didn’t have time to bother with such things. I was focused on completing the task my mother had given me abroad. One day, Mr. Sterling was celebrating his birthday. Tiffany specifically sent me an invitation and called me several times, so I had no choice but to go. The moment I stepped through the Hayes family’s front door, all eyes fell on me. I showed no embarrassment, smiling as I handed my gift to the Hayes butler. “Why is Scarlett here? Didn’t the engagement switch?” “You don’t know? Mr. Hayes Jr. insisted on switching fiancées, so she, in a fit of pique, chose the Hayes family’s illegitimate son to marry.” “To marry an illegitimate son just to get into the Hayes family… Miss Vance really is something else.” Just as everyone was chattering, Tiffany appeared, ostentatiously holding Derek’s arm. Unlike her usual low-key, gentle attire, she was wearing a haute couture gown today, adorned with several sets of intricate and luxurious jewelry, making her look gaudy and somewhat tacky. Seeing me there, she came over intimately, wanting to link arms with me. “Sister, it’s wonderful that both of us sisters can marry into the Hayes family! As a sisterly favor, I’ll make sure Bro-Derek promotes your husband more.” I almost laughed at Tiffany. Even now, she still believed all I cared about was marrying into the Hayes family. Derek thought so too. In his eyes, I was desperate to marry into the Hayes family, using any means necessary. He looked at me as if I were something dirty. Too lazy to bother with the two of them, I turned to leave, but then I noticed the pair of exquisitely crafted heirloom bracelets on Tiffany’s wrist. These were the Hayes family’s heirloom bracelets, always kept by Mr. Sterling. I hadn’t expected them to be on Tiffany’s wrist, and with at least three or four other bracelets on her arm, I hadn’t recognized them at first glance. The Hayes family heir hadn’t even been confirmed yet. How did those bracelets end up on Tiffany? I pointed at the bracelets on Tiffany’s wrist, my gaze filled with a hint of inquiry. “Where did those bracelets come from?” Derek looked momentarily guilty, while Tiffany caressed the bracelets on her wrist, a hint of grievance on her face. “Sister, these bracelets were meant for you before, but now I’m the one marrying Bro-Derek, so of course, they belong to me.” Derek nodded, his expression righteous. In his mind, he was the undisputed heir, so there was no harm in letting his beloved wear the bracelets beforehand. “These are my Hayes family’s heirloom bracelets. I can let anyone I want wear them. What does it have to do with you?” He then scanned me up and down, taking a step back with a disgusted look. “Don’t you dare try to use this method to cling to me. I won’t ever like you. My heart only belongs to Tiffany.” Derek’s voice wasn’t quiet, and several gazes around us landed on me. “Scarlett usually seems so proud. I can’t believe she’s trying to steal her own sister’s fiancé just to marry into the Hayes family.” “They’re clearly in love. Why is she still trying to cling on?” Tiffany blushed, her face coyly hitting Derek on the arm. “Don’t be so mean to Sister. We’ll be family when she marries in. You’ll have to help them out then.” Derek glanced at me, then dotingly pinched Tiffany’s cheek. “Fine, for Tiffany’s sake, I won’t dwell on it. But if you have any improper thoughts about me, don’t blame me for being ruthless.” The two of them were still lost in their tender moment when a voice suddenly chimed in from behind them. “Why would my wife have improper thoughts about you? “Derek, that’s incredibly rude, talking about your future sister-in-law like that.”

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I was the only daughter of the city’s wealthiest family, born late in my father’s life, and notoriously delicate. Even as an adult, I needed three maids just for my daily needs, because the slightest scratch would lead to uncontrollable bleeding that wouldn’t heal for weeks. My father replaced every cook, gardener, and maid in our mansion with top-tier doctors, terrified of even the slightest mishap. “’Pick a husband who’ll live here, someone I can trust to protect you,’ my father had insisted.” Naturally, I chose Julian, the most handsome and gentlemanly of them all. But on our wedding night, with no warning, he brutally violated me, his voice chilling. “‘Seraphina! Do you truly die if a top-tier doctor isn’t by your side?’” “‘Chloe only asked to use one of your doctors, and you let her miss her optimal treatment window, leaving her with a scar! Today, you’ll feel the despair she felt!’” Julian’s words grew coarser, and immediately, I felt a sticky wetness beneath me as the blood flowed uncontrollably. When he finally stopped, I had already lost my breath. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day I chose my husband. My father was swiping through photos on the projector, one by one. This time, I had my father scroll straight to the man wearing an eye patch. “‘I choose him!’”

“‘Miss, Mr. Sterling wants you in his study,’” Mr. Davies, the butler, knocked on my door. I shot up in bed, drenched in cold sweat, the agonizing sensation of Julian tearing me apart still lingering. I had actually been reborn to the day my father told me to choose a husband. In his study, six photos were displayed on the wall, illuminated by the projector. My father turned and smiled at me. “‘Which one do you like best?’” I scanned the faces, my gaze pausing for a second on Julian’s gentle, refined smile. In my previous life, that face had completely fooled me. “‘This one,’” I said, pointing to the first photo. “‘Atticus Davies.’” The man in the photo wore an eye patch, his brows cold, his aura distant. My father froze. “‘Seraphina, are you sure? While his medical skills are superb, he…’” “‘He what?’” My father’s face wrinkled in a frown. He cleared his throat, trying to rein in his emotions. *This man was the most outstanding in every aspect, yet he was considered a last resort.* “‘Darling, there are several more options. Why don’t you look at them first? His eye…’” Meeting my gaze, he suddenly seemed to recall some forbidden topic and quickly changed his tune: “‘He’s a recluse! Not very talkative.’” My father quickly reached out to slide the photo, but I pressed his hand down. “‘Just him,’” my voice was firm. In my previous life, those other men were either fake or greedy. He was the only one who wasn’t. Seeing my resolute attitude, my father could only agree. I returned to my room, still feeling a bit dizzy. Mr. Davies knocked again. “‘Miss, young Master Julian is here.’” My heart instantly tightened. Julian pushed the door open, with Chloe trailing behind him. Her right wrist was wrapped in gauze, and her eyes were red and swollen, looking utterly pathetic. “‘Chloe accidentally cut herself on some glass, and the wound is a bit deep. It needs professional medical attention,’ Julian said, his voice gentle. If it had been before, I would have agreed without hesitation.” Chloe started to whimper on cue. “‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have bothered you, but an ordinary hospital might leave a scar…’” I watched their act with cold eyes. In my previous life, it was always like this. Chloe would always get “injured” at crucial moments, and Julian would bring her to me. Every time I showed the slightest hesitation, he’d call me cold-blooded. “‘The Sterling family’s doctors only serve me,’ I said flatly. ‘Her injury is minor enough for a regular hospital.’”

Julian’s face darkened. “‘Seraphina, Chloe is your childhood friend. Can’t you help her?’” “‘She’s a maid’s daughter, not my friend.’” In my previous life, I treated her like a real sister. As long as I was happy, my father would be thrilled. Chloe’s lifestyle and upkeep were arranged to be exactly like mine, all at my request. Gradually, she started making all sorts of demands, and I tried my best to fulfill them. All because, to a “monster” like me, she was the only playmate who seemed genuinely willing to be around me. If only I hadn’t found out what happened later… I scoffed inwardly. Now, she probably thinks she’s actually one of us, doesn’t she? Chloe lowered her head, masking the coldness in her eyes, then looked up at me, eyes filled with tears. “‘Seraphina, I know your top-tier doctors only treat you. And I’m just a maid’s daughter, I don’t deserve them.’” “‘But I’m really in pain, and I just forgot my place for a moment, even bothering Julian…’” “‘Then go to the hospital.’” I stood up to leave, but Julian grabbed my wrist forcefully. “‘Seraphina! When did you become so cold-blooded? Is it because I said a few things to you yesterday?’” “‘Chloe grew up with you, she’s so kind, she never treated you like an outcast. She just had a craving and drank some of your tonic. Do you have to be so petty?’” Petty? Even my father, the wealthiest man in the city, had to pull every connection and spend half his fortune, taking ten years just to gather the ingredients for *that one bowl of tonic*. For ordinary people, it was just a health supplement, good for beauty and wellness. For me, it was literally a life-saver, especially crucial during childbirth to prevent fatal hemorrhages. “‘Her one craving cost me a lifetime of infertility?’” I pried his fingers off my wrist, one by one. His body stiffened, and he let go of my wrist. Chloe suddenly let out a soft whimper, and he snapped back to reality, immediately stroking her hair with concern. He turned, gave me a deep look, then pulled Chloe away. I sank back onto the couch, feeling drained, and called my father. “‘When can Atticus return?’” “‘About another month. His research in Germany has entered a critical phase.’” “‘It’s supposedly specifically for your condition.’” My heart warmed. In my previous life, how could I have overlooked someone who, though a man of few words, always showed his devotion through actions? It must have been because my eyes were only on Julian then, a man who was only sweet and gentle with his words. In the afternoon, Chloe came again, her face full of fawning smiles. “‘Seraphina, Julian and I shouldn’t have bothered you this morning,’ she said softly. ‘These are rose pastries I made myself, your favorite.’” I looked at her fake smile, a wave of nausea rolling through my stomach. In my previous life, I had eaten her pastries and nearly gone into shock on the spot. “‘Dr. Miller,’ I pressed the intercom. ‘Please analyze the ingredients of these pastries.’” Chloe’s face subtly changed. “‘Seraphina, what do you mean by that?’” “‘Routine check,’” I answered coldly. Ten minutes later, Dr. Miller rushed in. “‘Miss, these pastries contain a large amount of mango protein,’ he said, his face grave. ‘You’re severely allergic to mangoes. If you had accidentally consumed them, given your condition…’” “‘I’d be dead,’” I finished for him. Chloe instantly turned pale. “‘I’m sorry, I didn’t know…’” Didn’t know? Everyone in this mansion knew. And she, who grew up with me, didn’t?

I stood up, stepping closer to her. “‘Chloe, were you trying to kill me?’” “‘I wasn’t!’” She shook her head wildly, tears streaming down her face. “‘Seraphina, how could you think that of me? We grew up together…’” “‘Enough,’” I interrupted, disgusted. “‘Mr. Davies, call the police.’” Chloe instantly fell to her knees. “‘Seraphina, please, I really didn’t mean to!’” Julian rushed in, seeing Chloe on her knees, and immediately helped her up. “‘Chloe, what’s wrong?’” “‘Julian…’” Chloe was crying pitifully, tears streaming down her face, and as she rubbed her eyes, she deliberately exposed the burned spot on her wrist. “‘Seraphina says I tried to harm her, but I really didn’t. I just saw her eat so little at lunch and worried about her health, so I specially made her some pastries. I had no idea about any mango protein allergy…’” Julian’s eyes immediately landed on her red, swollen hand, filled with concern. He turned, his face ashen, to look at me. “‘Seraphina, are you insane? Chloe was kind enough to make you pastries, and you accuse her of trying to harm you?’” “‘The evidence is clear,’” I pointed to the pastries. “‘She added mango protein to them, trying to make me die from an allergic reaction.’” “‘Nonsense!’” Julian roared. “‘Chloe is so kind, how could she do such a thing? She already said she had no idea.’” “‘I know you’re still angry and trying to find an excuse, but aren’t you being a bit too obvious this time? Don’t you feel ashamed?!’” Seeing him so fiercely protective of her, a chill ran through me. “‘Julian, get out of my room.’” “‘What did you say?’” “‘I said, get out.’” Afternoon, I tried to get myself together to try on my custom-designed wedding gowns. When I opened the door, the ten neatly arranged gowns were gone, only empty racks remained. “‘Miss Sterling!’” The store assistant immediately rushed over. “‘Mr. Julian said you weren’t feeling well, so he took them back on your behalf…’” I took a deep breath. “‘Where did they go?’” “‘They seemed to have gone to that photography studio on the back street.’” When I arrived at the photography studio, what I saw was Chloe, giggling and sweetly snuggling up to Julian’s arm, posing for photos in *my* wedding dress. The other nine gowns were carelessly thrown on the sofa, some even on the floor. “‘You look so beautiful,’” Julian murmured, gently caressing Chloe’s face. I spoke coldly, “‘Take off the dress.’” They sprang apart in alarm. Chloe’s eyes immediately turned red. “‘Seraphina, we were just…’” Julian began to explain, but I cut him off directly. “‘Take it off.’”

I forgave Julian Davies twice. The first time, he cheated, and I caught them red-handed. The girl herself pleaded on her knees, claiming Julian was drunk and unaware. I believed her. The second time, he told me, “Willow is pregnant. Once she has the baby, things will go back to how they were.” I believed him again. It wasn’t until later, all because of a single word from Willow, that he tore down my dance studio—my only solace—and stomped on our cherished love token. When I cried, he lashed out, calling me cruel. “Can’t you just give her a break? Once the baby is born, we can go back to how things were.” That time, I picked up my phone and called my lawyer. “Please draft a divorce agreement for me, as soon as possible.” No one knew that Julian Davies, the “model husband” everyone praised, had betrayed me three times. The first time, he had a one-night stand with Willow, whom I considered my own sister. Afterward, they both knelt before me. Willow’s eyes were red. “Miss Aria, Mr. Davies was drugged! He just thought I was you. Please, don’t be mad at him!” Julian’s face was etched with pain. He hadn’t even had time to shave before rushing to confess his wrongs. “Aria, you’re the only one in my heart. Please, don’t leave me.” He wouldn’t get up until I spoke. So, my heart softened. The second time, he was absent from our wedding anniversary celebration. He told me, “Aria, Willow is pregnant.” “She had a terrible stomach ache and was crying from fear. I couldn’t leave her alone.” I accidentally put him on speakerphone, and the entire room of guests fell silent. My mother-in-law, hearing this, immediately grabbed me anxiously and dragged me towards the hospital. “Quick, quick, save our baby!” In the hospital room, Julian held Willow’s hand, comforting her softly, “Don’t be afraid. The doctor said the baby is fine.” He only let go frantically when he saw me. Willow struggled to sit up, her eyes red, her voice trembling but incredibly firm. “Miss Aria, you and Mr. Davies have always been so kind to me since I was little.” “Since you can’t have children, I don’t want money or status. I’m willing to bear this child for you.” Julian’s mother even threatened to die. “The baby is six months along! I’ve heard its heartbeat. If you can’t accept this child, then I’ll just die with it!” Julian also repeatedly held my hand and promised, “I’ll send her away after she gives birth. Nothing will change.” His hand felt as warm as it always had. I couldn’t bring myself to pull mine away. The third time, Julian tore down my dance studio because Willow said, “A spiritual guide told me the baby needs to live in the southeast room to be healthy.” He didn’t even ask me. I watched blankly as workers moved in and out. Willow intimately held Julian’s hand, dreaming aloud, “We can play games with the baby here later!” Julian fondly ruffled her hair. “You’re still such a kid yourself.” But as he turned and saw me, his smile vanished. “Aria, just give her a break. Once the baby is born, we can go back to how things were.” How things were? Before we married, I was almost a principal dancer in a top troupe. But my mother-in-law said, “A Davies family wife doesn’t perform publicly.” For love, I gave up my dream. As compensation, Julian specifically set up this dance studio for me. He even bought the potted plants and figurines himself. Later, it became the only place in this house that truly belonged to me. Willow stroked her visibly swollen belly and looked up at me. “Sister, this is all for the baby’s good.” She was the daughter of our housekeeper. She used to call me “Miss Aria” no matter how many times I told her not to. It was only today that I finally saw her true colors. I couldn’t help but scoff, “It’s your baby, so of course, you call the shots in this house.” Willow’s face instantly turned pale. She awkwardly stood up, her eyes red, and said, “Miss Aria, I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. I didn’t mean to stay.” The next second, she suddenly clutched her belly and screamed in pain. Julian panicked. He scooped her up and rushed out. He only threw over his shoulder, “She’s pregnant. Do you really have to be so cruel?” He knocked my bracelet off my wrist, and stomped on the bell charm attached to it. It was a gift he clumsily made for three days and three nights for my sixteenth birthday. When I looked up again, I couldn’t even see his retreating back. My tears fell uncontrollably. That was the first time he had ever spoken to me so harshly. This liar. How could anything ever go back to how it was before? I pulled out my phone. “Ms. Hayes, please draft a divorce agreement for me.” I had told Julian before that the way Willow looked at him seemed off. But he didn’t believe me. He said she was just starved for affection and saw him as a brother. He continued, without restraint, to buy her a high-end laptop worth thousands just because she mentioned envying a classmate.

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On my engagement day, I discovered that my father’s affair partner was actually my best friend. Seeing the two of them embracing in the distance, I nearly collapsed. Instinctively, I reached for my fiancé Parker’s hand, seeking comfort. But I touched only the cold, tense back of a clenched fist. Confused, I looked at Parker. His eyes were bloodshot, his face contorted with jealousy and madness. Before I could react, he charged forward and punched my father square in the face. “Henry, you dare touch my woman? I’ll kill you!” Parker roared. I stood on a busy street corner in my engagement dress, feeling as if I’d been plunged into an icy abyss. My fiancé and my father were brawling on my engagement day, all because of my best friend. I couldn’t imagine anything more scandalous and absurd than this. All the guests stared in shock at the unfolding scene, their expressions a mix of concern and schadenfreude barely concealed by hushed whispers. Yasmin, my so-called best friend, sauntered over to me with a smug grin, looking me up and down. She didn’t seem the least bit flustered, just utterly pleased with herself. “Oh Hazel, why should you have everything handed to you on a silver platter while I had nothing? It wasn’t fair. But now, one way or another, it’s all mine.” Dazed, I turned to look at my mother, desperately seeking even a shred of comfort despite knowing she was another innocent victim in all this. To my surprise, Mom watched the chaos unfold with cold detachment. My heart plummeted. In disbelief, I walked towards her. “You knew about this all along, didn’t you?” Tears streamed down my face unbidden, ruining my carefully applied makeup and painting an ugly, messy portrait of my life. Mom sighed, her expression devoid of the warmth she’d shown earlier at the engagement party when she’d held my hand and told everyone I was her precious darling. “Yes, I’ve known for a while,” she admitted flatly. “Why didn’t you tell me?!” I shouted, feeling like the world’s biggest fool. “What good would that have done? It would have only caused you pain. The merger between our family and the Parkers was never going to be called off. Did you have a better option?” I laughed bitterly, the sound hollow and despairing. “So in your eyes, I’m just a pawn for this merger? My happiness doesn’t matter, loyalty doesn’t matter, and honesty from my own family matters least of all?” Mom averted her gaze, looking towards my father and Parker, who were being pulled apart by their assistants. “Hazel, what do you have to complain about? In this family, none of us have it easy.” I stumbled backwards, shaking my head vehemently through tear-blurred vision. “How wonderful. On my engagement day, one of the most important days of my life, my father, mother, fiancé, and best friend all betrayed me at once. What a pathetic excuse for a human being I must be.” With that, I turned and ran, ignoring the voices calling my name behind me. It was all too sickening. Every single person here disgusted me to my core.

When Parker returned, I had already smashed everything in our shared apartment. The servants cowered in corners, watching me fearfully, too afraid to intervene. I finally collapsed on the floor, utterly spent. Parker casually unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt. The injuries on his face were stark. He looked down at me imperiously, his expression devoid of any guilt for his actions. “Are you done with your tantrum?” he asked coldly. I remained silent, glaring up at him with as much venom as I could muster through my tears. “Hazel, ours is just an arranged marriage. I thought we had an understanding. Who I’m with or what women I play with is none of your business.” Parker’s voice was weary, the injuries marring his once-handsome face making him look grotesque. I grabbed a half-broken vase near me and hurled it at his head. He dodged easily, letting it shatter against the wall behind him. Parker sneered, stepping back and gesturing to a servant. “Bring a mirror!” All the mirrors in the apartment had been smashed in my rampage. A servant timidly brought over a small shard that was barely usable. Parker grabbed it carelessly by the jagged edge and thrust it in front of my face. “Look at yourself, princess. Look what you’ve become. Disgusting. You’re nothing like the refined lady you’re supposed to be – just a shrew! How can you even compare to Yasmin?” I gazed at my reflection in the mirror shard. My ruined makeup mingled with sweat and tears, matting my hair to my face. Black tear tracks streaked down from raccoon eyes. I looked worse than a ghost. “You’re right, I can’t compare to Yasmin anymore. She’s taken everything from me. Congratulations Parker, you get to share a woman with your future father-in-law!” SLAP! Parker’s hand connected hard with my cheek. The force sent my head snapping to the side, slamming into the nearby coffee table. Blood trickled down from my temple, mixing with the colorful mess already adorning my face. “Shut your mouth, you bitch,” Parker snarled. “I’m sick of your holier-than-thou attitude. Say one more word about Yasmin and I’ll end you.” “As for your dad, how dare he try to steal my woman? I’ll make him pay. The family business isn’t in his hands yet anyway. Marrying you was already me doing your family a favor.” Parker shook out his hand and straightened up. His gaze raked over me, brimming with disgust. Just then, his phone rang. The speed at which his expression transformed was truly impressive. Parker’s voice turned soft and sweet as he cooed into the phone, his demeanor suddenly loving. Even though the person on the other end had just publicly humiliated him in front of dozens of people. A wave of nausea washed over me. I struggled to my feet and lunged at Parker, pummeling him wildly wherever I could reach. “You bastard! You said you loved me, that’s the only reason I agreed to this marriage! Otherwise, how could I have ever consented to this arrangement?!” Liars, all of them. Consummate actors who had staged an elaborate farce, playing me for a fool. Parker snapped. In a rage, he kicked me away forcefully. My back slammed into the already shattered glass, the impact sending waves of agony through me and leaving me immobilized. He stepped forward and viciously ground his foot into one of my hands, crushing my palm into the glass shards on the floor. “That’s your own damn fault for being so gullible. I said I loved you and you believed it? Don’t blame others for your own stupidity.”

I returned to my family’s house like a soulless zombie. The servants were nowhere to be found, leaving the massive mansion eerily quiet. My parents were in a standoff in the living room. “Henry, I can smooth over this engagement fiasco, but I want 10% of the company shares in return,” Mom said calmly, sipping her tea as she negotiated with Dad. Dad leapt up from the sofa, eyes blazing. “Mia, don’t push your luck!” Mom scoffed. “I’m pushing it? You’re the one who couldn’t keep it in your pants. At least have the decency to be discreet and not let Hazel find out. You’re relying on her marriage to the Parkers to gain leverage in the company. You could have any woman you wanted, why go after Yasmin of all people? Talk about poor taste.” Dad settled back down, casually smoothing his hair. “Hazel and Yasmin were such good friends. I was just… strengthening family ties,” he said with a smirk. Mom rolled her eyes. “You’re truly shameless. Enough talk – are you giving me the shares or not?” I stood silently in the foyer, tears rolling down my cheeks. So in their eyes, I wasn’t a daughter or even a person. Just a tool to be used for their benefit. All these years of pampering me were just an investment, like fattening up livestock. And now it was time to cash in on their investment. I slowly walked out to face my parents, my expression dead and hopeless. “So why even have me in the first place? If you just wanted a pawn, wouldn’t adopting have been more cost-effective?” Dad’s expression instantly reverted to normal when he saw me. He casually picked up an ornate ruler from a side table, weighing it in his hand as he fixed me with a stern look. “Hazel, is that any way to speak to your father?” Mom watched coldly, even moving to leave. I ignored Dad’s intimidating aura and turned to Mom. “You never loved me either, did you?” So all that maternal affection was fake. All that gentle guidance had ulterior motives. All those choices forced on me in the name of love were just cold calculations. Mom looked me over and sighed. “Hazel, coming home looking like this… it’s embarrassing.” The pain that lanced through me was even worse than when Parker had slapped me. “Embarrassing? Ha! Is there anyone in this city more embarrassing than Henry and Parker right now?” Dad slowly stood and approached me, disappointment etched on his face. “Hazel, you seem to have forgotten your place. We didn’t invest all these years raising you just for you to act so recklessly.” I laughed bitterly, staring at him through my tears. Even his fatherly concern looked twisted and grotesque now. “Of course. How foolish of me to seek genuine family love. I forgot – in the deep waters of high society, there are always monsters waiting to devour you.” Dad nodded, utterly unmoved. “Since you insist on being obstinate, you need to be taught a lesson. Go kneel in the ancestral hall. Have Chen bring the red cushion.” I looked up at him in horror. The “red cushion” was something Dad used to punish disobedient employees. It was covered in hard, sharp spikes that would shred your knees to a bloody pulp within minutes. Seeing my reaction, Dad smiled. “Hazel, Daddy’s in a very bad mood today. You’ve misbehaved – did you think there’d be no consequences?” I tried to flee this hell, but the guards outside instantly restrained me. At Dad’s command, they dragged me kicking and screaming to the ancestral hall and forced me onto the red cushion. The pain was excruciating, tearing through me. I fixed my parents with a crazed, bloodshot glare as they stood watching impassively in the doorway. Through gritted teeth, I spat out: “I will never marry Parker or stay in this family again. As long as I’m alive, I’ll stay far away from all of you and never look back!”

The guards had to drag me back to my room. Late that night, I heard the roar of a sports car speeding away outside. Soon after, someone entered my room. I couldn’t open my eyes, but I sensed them bend down to examine me closely. The familiar scent instantly revealed the visitor’s identity. It was Yasmin. She chuckled softly. “No need to pretend, Hazel. I know you’re awake. Your mom left the mansion, so I came to check on my dear best friend.” I slowly opened my eyes to look at her. That beautiful face was twisted with mockery and disdain. “Why are you doing this to me?” I asked weakly. Yasmin clicked her tongue. “Your memory really is terrible. Didn’t I already tell you? I want everything you have.” She paused, then added with feigned regret: “But I didn’t expect you to be fool’s gold – shiny on the outside, worthless within. Not a single person truly loves you. How disappointing, Hazel. You’re so pathetic.” “But now they all genuinely love me. They’ll do anything for me, forgive any mistake. From that perspective, I suppose I’ve won something real after all.” Just then, my father walked in and wrapped an arm around Yasmin’s waist. Right in front of me, they began kissing shamelessly before leaving together, wrapped in each other’s arms. A hatred deeper than the ocean consumed me, drowning out even the physical pain. I grabbed my phone and sent Parker a message, then waited silently for round two of tonight’s battle royale to begin. Soon enough, the sounds of fighting and yelling erupted outside. Things being smashed echoed through the night. I knew this was my only chance to escape. Ignoring the blood still flowing from my legs, I crawled and stumbled out of the mansion. The mountain road down was pitch black and terrifying. Not a glimmer of light to be seen. Yet it filled me with hope and relief. The frantic escape left my pants completely soaked with blood, leaving a trail on the asphalt behind me. But I couldn’t stop. Just as my energy was about to give out, a pair of headlights appeared on the opposite mountain road. Someone got out of the car and walked towards me. My vision went black as I collapsed into a broad, warm embrace. Then I lost consciousness completely.

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My wife claimed to be super fertile and spent all her time messing around, even though we’d been married for five years. She never let me touch her, and she’d supposedly given birth to hundreds of kids from other men. But the first thing she did after getting AIDS was try to drag me down with her: “You swore to me we’d live and die together, remember? Are you really going to just cling to a pathetic life now?” I insisted on a divorce, but she got furious. Then she aimed her rage at the only true friend I had left in the world: “If I can’t live, I’m taking your friends with me!” I tried to reason with my friend, seeing him in trouble, but he just scoffed at me: “Why hide such a super fertile wife? Let her have a kid for me, man, help me carry on the family name.” It escalated fast. They wanted me to hand over the special cure. So they sent my brother, Leo, who was wheelchair-bound, into that notorious private club, letting over a dozen men abuse him until his lower body was… shattered. They hung my elderly parents on the Pendulum ride at an amusement park, swinging them until they died from a cerebral hemorrhage. I watched those two heartless monsters with cold eyes. They had no idea I already had the latest HIV vaccine, fresh from my lab.

My friend, Jax, ignored my warnings and insisted on sleeping with my HIV-positive wife. He thought he’d be fine after taking PEP meds, but as his body weakened day by day, he lost his last shred of sanity. Enraged, they sent my disabled brother, Leo, to that vile club, letting those perverts fulfill their sick desires. By the time I rushed into the private room, Leo was naked, his once clean body now covered in bruise after bruise. His lower body was completely ruined, and I could still smell the foul odor of someone else’s urine lingering in the air. Seeing me, he trembled, reaching up to wipe away the tears from my eyes. Leo squeezed his eyes shut, opening his mouth as if to say something, but something was stuck in his throat. Moments later, his face turned deathly pale. He suddenly lurched forward, coughing up a milky white fluid. I screamed his name, desperate, but it was no use. This was a private room in *that* kind of club. Nobody came here except *those* people. No one would care if we lived or died. Gradually, Leo went still in my arms, his body growing cold and stiff. In disbelief, I pressed my fingers to his nose… there was not a single breath. My heart seized, and tears streamed uncontrollably down my face. In my despair, I sobbed hysterically, but my wife’s mocking voice cut through the air: “Can you believe he endured so much humiliation and still held on to see you one last time?” “Asher, do you like the big gift I sent you? This is what happens when you ignore my demands!” I gasped for air, glaring viciously at my wife. She stood there, smiling helplessly: “What could I do? He wouldn’t cooperate with my plan to threaten you, right? Everyone has their fate. He was already disabled, just a burden. He was better off dead.” I lunged forward, grabbing her sleeve and roaring: “Even if my brother was disabled, it’s not your place, an outsider, to judge him!” “Besides, he always treated you like family! And you let over a dozen men assault him? How could you be so cruel?!” By the end, I was gritting my teeth, barely holding back. But she simply shrugged off my hand, stepping back with a look of disgust. “Who wanted that useless guy to be good to me? Didn’t you two brothers do all this willingly?” “He promised me so much before, and now he won’t even verbally threaten you with me. Talk about being good to me? Please!” Her brazen audacity made me see red. I was about to charge at her, ready to make her pay for Leo’s death. Then Jax stepped forward. He kicked me hard in the chest, spitting venomously: “What the hell are you looking at, you idiot? If you don’t give us the special cure, your brother’s fate will be your parents’ fate!” He kept hitting me harder, brutally breaking one of my legs completely before he finally snarled: “If you hadn’t tried to stop me back then, how would I have slept with her and gotten AIDS?!” “You’re a doctor, aren’t you? If you don’t give me the medicine to live, I’m dragging you down with me! We’ll die together!” He kicked my broken leg again, and I cried out in agony: “I *did* try to stop you! But you were the one gambling, hoping you’d get away with it! Why are you blaming me now?!” Hearing that, my wife raised her hand and slapped me hard across the face: “So what?! You were the one who swore we’d live and die together! Are you going to go back on your word now?!” “And besides, aren’t you supposed to be a compassionate doctor? If I die and you live, you’ll be infamous for letting two lives die!”

The mention of “two lives” made me realize that Blair, my super fertile wife, was pregnant again. I froze on the spot. Seeing me still unmoving, Jax panicked. He grabbed my head, forcing me to look him in the eye, then leaned in and threatened: “If either of us reports you to the hospital, your career, your entire life, will be ruined!” With that, he tied me up, then proceeded to plunge ninety-nine silver needles into my veins, his voice chillingly calm: “The needles will travel through your bloodstream to your heart, slowly causing a myocardial infarction until you die.” “You and I are tied together now, whether you like it or not. If I don’t live, you won’t either.” A fierce repulsion surged through my body, and I writhed on the floor in pain. My wife stood by, completely detached, as if it had nothing to do with her. She slowly said: “This useless guy’s been working like a dog for fifteen years, and he’s still just a junior doctor. What good is he?” “Expecting him to steal medicine from the hospital? You’d have better luck waiting for him to die first and pave the way for us to hell.” Hearing that, Jax spat a glob of thick phlegm at me, where I lay on the floor: “Maybe the old him wouldn’t have, but those silver needles are covered in both our infected blood…” “Even if he doesn’t want to save us, he’ll have to for his paralyzed brother’s funeral. He’s selfish enough to save himself.” Listening to them shamelessly discuss my brother right in front of me again, I couldn’t take it anymore: “Don’t you dare slander my brother! Even if I die, I’ll drag you both down with me to pay for what you did to him!” I pushed through the pain in my body and stood up, feeling the silver needles twitching wildly in my veins. Seeing my defiance, Jax grabbed Leo’s corpse with one hand, waving it in front of me, and sneered: “Do you still think you’re the renowned Dr. Asher from back then?” “The moment you chose to marry her, sacrificing your brother’s legs, you lost the right to wield a scalpel.” His taunt made my eyes widen, and I turned to glare at my wife, my gaze burning with fury: “Blair! I told you my secret because I valued our marriage, and you truly want to destroy me?!” Her eyes were filled with mockery, not a hint of apology as she spoke: “You’re just too stupid. That secret you’ve hidden for so long? I already broadcasted it to everyone. Your parents, your colleagues, they all know what a rotten person you are!” “Ten years ago, you watched your brother become crippled. Ten years later, you’ll watch your wife become a death that takes two lives! Asher, once these things happen, you’ll never wash away your sins!” Jax, meanwhile, continued to cruelly manipulate Leo’s lifeless body. The video call he dialed on his phone tore away my last layer of pretense. My parents’ pleading voices came through the phone, mixed with frantic shouts, and I froze solid. I could only watch, helpless, as they hung my parents on the Pendulum ride at the amusement park, then cranked the speed to maximum. Seeing me utterly broken, Jax stomped on my face, sneering viciously: “Asher, surprised, huh? You never thought you’d be this pathetic, this powerless, did you?” “You abandoned your own brother for fame and fortune, so I guess you wouldn’t care about your parents either, right?” “You always crushed me before! But now you’re so desperate, worse than a stray dog, a useless piece of trash who can’t even protect his own parents! Hilarious, hahahaha!” I realized that she and Jax were deliberately trying to trigger my deepest pain, but at that moment, I felt utterly powerless. After all, the woman who once promised to be my one and only, for life, had changed long, long ago.

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My wife accused our son of trying to harm someone, just because he poured a glass of cold water for her male bodyguard who was coughing. “Don’t you know cold water makes a cough worse? You’re so young and already learning to hurt people. What will you be like when you grow up?” She grounded Leo for 24 hours, saying she wanted to teach him a lesson. I begged her, telling her Leo had a high fever and urgently needed treatment. I even offered to take the punishment instead. But Victoria scoffed, “You’ve spoiled him rotten. Now he’s faking sickness to avoid responsibility? He needs to be locked up for a few more days to learn some manners.” She was afraid I’d make trouble, so she locked me in another room. I crashed through the door, desperate, but Leo didn’t make it. He died on the spot from the fever. Three days later, as I was packing Leo’s things, Victoria returned from her trip with Julian, the male bodyguard. She was beaming, plucking a single rose from the 999 Julian had given her and handing it to me. “Stop acting. He was just grounded for a few days, what’s the big deal? Worst case, I’ll take you two on a trip in a couple of days to cheer him up.” But she didn’t know. Our child was dead. And I couldn’t live with her anymore.

If it had been before, her giving me a flower would have thrilled me to no end. But now, clutching Leo’s tiny clothes, my heart was in pieces, numb from the pain. Her raised arm started to ache, and she angrily threw the rose at my face. “I only brought Julian with me for protection. There’s nothing going on between us. Who are you putting on this face for?” A thorn from the stem left a small scratch on my face, a trickle of blood oozing out. A flicker of distress crossed Victoria’s eyes, and she reined in her temper. “Whatever. I can’t be bothered arguing with you. I’m just letting you know something: I’m going away on a business trip for a year. You manage Leo and don’t make trouble, I…” As she spoke, she suddenly retched. Julian rushed over to pat Victoria’s back, then seemingly “accidentally” dropped a pregnancy test from his pocket. I picked it up. It read “Four weeks pregnant.” No wonder. Before, her trips with Julian would last for months. This time, she just left and came right back. So, she was pregnant. “A year-long business trip.” Clearly, she wanted to disappear and secretly have this child. My poor Leo. To please Victoria, he saw Julian, Victoria’s favorite, coughing, and, just like his teacher taught him, he poured him a glass of water. But because it was cold water, Victoria decided he was learning bad habits, trying to harm Julian. Even with him burning up with fever, she ignored my desperate pleas and locked him in his room. I fought to break free from the bodyguards, crashing through the door to save him. My tiny boy was hot as a furnace, and his last flicker of consciousness made him shake his head. “No, Daddy. Mommy said three days. Time’s not up. Mommy will hate Leo if she knows.” They say men don’t cry easily, but that day, I couldn’t stop. Tears streamed down my face. “No more. We don’t want this mommy anymore, Leo. I’m taking you to the hospital…” Sadly, it was too late. He couldn’t be saved. Before his last breath, he clutched my sleeve, choked out, “Why didn’t Mommy come see Leo? Was Leo a bad boy?” Meeting his hopeful eyes, my throat went dry. I couldn’t utter a single word. Now, looking at this pregnancy test, I felt nothing but bitter irony. If Leo knew that the mommy he adored had given all her attention to another child, how heartbroken would he be? I couldn’t control my rage any longer. I slammed the pregnancy test down in front of Victoria. “Victoria, is this what you meant by ‘nothing’ going on? Have you ever considered our child’s feelings?” A flash of surprise crossed Julian’s face. He hadn’t expected me, who usually endured all grievances in silence, to finally fight back. He immediately lowered his head and explained to Victoria: “I’m sorry, I was just so happy about being a dad that I kept the pregnancy test in my pocket. I didn’t mean to drop it, and I certainly didn’t mean for Alex to see it. Victoria, please punish me.” Victoria raised an eyebrow, reassuring Julian, “It wasn’t intentional. Don’t overthink it.” Then, she glared at me. “You have the nerve to bring up our child? Aren’t *you* the one who caused all of this?” “Alex, everything happening today is your deserved karma.” My eyes darkened. Years ago, Victoria wanted to use IVF to have a child for Noah, her first love who was supposedly battling cancer. But it turned out Noah was faking his illness and then ran off with all the donation money. Her grandma, Eleanor, fearing Victoria would lose her mind, begged me to tamper with the IVF. I flat-out refused. Even though Victoria and I had signed a marriage certificate, we had a contract: we were only a contractual couple, not to interfere with each other’s private lives. But Grandma Eleanor knelt before me, showing me records of all the money she’d given me, from elementary school through my PhD, pleading for my help. “My son and daughter-in-law are gone. Victoria is my only granddaughter. If anything happens to her, I won’t live either.” Without her, I wouldn’t be where I was today. I couldn’t refuse. I had to do it. Victoria gave birth to my child, believing him to be Noah’s last descendant, and lovingly cared for him. During that time, she saw how good I was to the child and her attitude towards me greatly improved. She even suggested canceling our contract and truly spending our lives together. Then Julian appeared. She became utterly infatuated with Julian’s face and demeanor, which were ninety percent similar to Noah’s. She started staying out all night. She thought I didn’t know. At first, she met him secretly, then she arranged for him to be her bodyguard. But life remained relatively stable, so I just turned a blind eye. When Victoria learned the truth, she felt guilty towards me and decided to send Julian away. But Julian suddenly pulled out a DNA test, accusing me: “Alex used your trust to tamper with the IVF, making the person you loved most infertile. And you, Victoria, you’ve been foolishly enduring and sacrificing for him. You’re a complete joke.” Victoria flew into a rage on the spot. From then on, her attitude towards me and Leo completely reversed. It was constant abuse, harshness, and punishment. I could bear the suffering, but I never imagined that our child would lose his life because of it. Now, facing Victoria’s accusations, I couldn’t help but want to reveal the truth. “Victoria, about what happened back then…”

Just as I was about to speak, my phone suddenly vibrated. Grandma Eleanor’s name flashed on the screen. I looked up and saw the security camera in the living room blinking red. A bitter smile touched my lips. Grandma Eleanor had been monitoring me. She wouldn’t allow me to reveal the truth. “Alex, if you’ve got the child’s clothes ready, come over. He’s waiting.” Grandma Eleanor’s voice was kind, yet a chill ran down my spine. I nodded and hung up. Victoria watched me suddenly pack my things without a word. She raised an eyebrow. “What about what happened back then? You’re not trying to say you had your reasons, are you?” A flicker of anxiety crossed Julian’s eyes, and he quickly interjected, “Victoria, no man can accept his wife having another man’s child. You should consider his pride as a man.” Victoria exploded. She grabbed a cup from the table and hurled it at me. “A good-for-nothing freeloading off my family still dares to talk about pride?” I didn’t say a word. As her cup shattered, I walked out of that suffocating house and headed to the old family estate. The moment I arrived, Grandma Eleanor pressed a bank card into my hand. “Alex, you and the child have suffered. Please take this money.” I knelt before her. “I don’t want money. I just ask for one thing.” Grandma Eleanor quickly helped me up. “If you want to leave, I’ll agree.” “You’ve endured so many years of hardship. The kindness I showed you back then has long been paid in full. You don’t owe me anything.” My eyes reddened as I looked at Leo’s body. “Besides that, I want to take Leo with me. I want to change his last name and bury him in my family’s cemetery back home.” Grandma Eleanor hesitated. After all, I had married into their family, and Leo not only bore Victoria’s family name but was also listed in their family tree. Knowing she wouldn’t easily agree, I handed her the crumpled pregnancy test. “Victoria is pregnant. She’ll have other children. But Leo only has me.” Grandma Eleanor remembered what Victoria had done to Leo, and she couldn’t bear it. Finally, she nodded. After handling Leo’s funeral, I clutched his urn and returned to get my documents. *Click!* The lights flickered on. Victoria was sitting in the living room, waiting for me. Julian stood beside her, a smug look on his face. The atmosphere was eerily silent until Victoria broke it, angrily. “Look at the good your son did.” I raised an eyebrow, confused. Leo was dead. What could he possibly have done? Julian slowly patted Victoria’s back. “Calm down, don’t stress the baby.” “Leo put peanuts, which you’re allergic to, in your nutritional meal. He was just jealous of his unborn brother and wanted to harm him. It’s our fault for not discussing having another baby with Leo. He’s young and doesn’t know any better. You shouldn’t take it to heart.” Victoria was furious. “It seems the last punishment was too light. He hasn’t learned his lesson.” He was only a three-year-old child. How would he know how to do that? Besides, he was already dead… “Leo didn’t do it.” He was such a good boy. Even until his death, he regretted pouring cold water and making Victoria angry. Yet Victoria believed someone else’s slander and wanted to punish him. Ultimately, Victoria had transferred her hatred for me onto our child. I’m so sorry, Leo. Mommy hated you because of me. You didn’t do anything wrong. I hugged the urn tightly, fighting back tears. Julian sighed. “If he didn’t do it, then did you?” Victoria grew even angrier, grabbing a tissue box from the table and throwing it at me. “It’s because you always cover for him that he became so unruly at such a young age! Today, he needs a lesson to learn some manners!” “Hand Leo over now, or don’t make me punish you instead.” He was so small. How could he possibly take the blame for such a big thing? I couldn’t take it anymore. Holding up the urn, I yelled, “Victoria, Leo was locked in his room by you and died from a high fever!” “His ashes are right here. How could he possibly harm you?”

Victoria shot to her feet. “What did you say?” She rose too quickly and nearly stumbled. Julian quickly steadied her, looking disappointed. “Victoria, he’s lied to you before. How can you still believe him?” “This afternoon, I distinctly saw the child wandering around the kitchen with a bag of peanuts, and then Grandma Eleanor picked him up.” Victoria immediately sighed in relief. She pulled out her phone and video-called Grandma Eleanor. “Grandma, is Leo with you?” Leo was dead. She would soon realize how terrible her actions had been. On the other end of the line, Grandma Eleanor smiled. “He’s with me.” “Leo, do you want to talk to Mommy?” I rushed forward. Through the camera, I saw Leo squatting among a pile of toys, shaking his head, and burying himself in his play. Grandma Eleanor scowled and reprimanded Victoria. “It’s all your fault for being so harsh on Leo. Now he doesn’t even want to talk to you.” My face turned ashen. I’d almost forgotten. Victoria’s grandma had the most prestigious high-tech team in the world. Back when AI wasn’t even popular, she had used it to make me appear with Noah’s face in a video call for Victoria to say her final goodbyes. Now, she was using someone else’s child to impersonate Leo, just to put Victoria at ease. In this family, my son and I were nothing but tools that no one cared about. It’s okay, Leo. Even if everyone in the world doesn’t love you, Daddy will always love you. I caressed the urn, speechless. Victoria’s face darkened. She hung up the phone and angrily said, “Alex, you dared to lie to me!” “Fine. Your son is with Grandma Eleanor, so I can’t punish him. Then I’ll punish you.” “Julian, smash that broken thing in his hands.” I struggled desperately, but I couldn’t fight off the several bodyguards who restrained me. Seeing Julian raise the urn high, I fell to my knees, pleading: “Victoria, I beg you, give Leo back to me!” “I’ll do anything you want, please!” Victoria’s heart also twisted. Just at the crucial moment, she suddenly called out, stopping Julian. She waved her hand. “Forget it. It’s just a broken box. Smashing it is pointless. Give it back to him.” Julian disappointedly threw the urn back to me. I lunged forward, catching the box securely. Relieved to have it back, I hugged Leo’s ashes tightly to my chest. Julian sighed. “Victoria, you’re too kind.” “Don’t worry, I’ll keep a closer eye on things from now on. After all, protecting you and the baby is my job.” Victoria placed a hand on her abdomen and suddenly called out to me as I was about to leave. “Wait. I said I wouldn’t punish Leo, not that I wouldn’t punish you.” “Since you love taking the blame for your son so much, then you can experience what an allergic reaction feels like.” “Order him ten thousand lobsters. He’s not allowed to leave until he’s peeled every single one.” She knew I was severely allergic to lobster. Just touching it would make me break out in hives. Even when our relationship was at its worst, she never allowed a single lobster on the table. Now, she must be completely furious. I tightly clutched the urn. Looking at the huge basin of lobsters in front of me, my eyes stung. As soon as I grabbed one to start peeling, my fingers began to redden from the allergy. Victoria turned her face away, then stood up with her back to me. “I’m tired. I’m going to rest. Don’t think about slacking off. I’ll have someone watch you.” Julian helped her to her room. Seeing the line of burly bodyguards, I didn’t resist. I numbly continued peeling lobsters. As time passed, my entire body was covered in red welts, and my breathing became increasingly difficult. In a haze, a pair of polished leather shoes appeared before me. Julian grabbed my chin, his voice cold. “Just peeling lobsters is too light a punishment. You’re allergic, right? Then eat them.” He forced lobster meat into my mouth. With a single movement, I easily pushed him away. With his weak physique, he wasn’t even as strong as me. The only reason he was a bodyguard was because Victoria missed Noah so much, she kept him by her side. Seeing my resistance, Julian grew angry. “If you struggle again, I swear I’ll smash your son’s urn.” I glared at him. He knew. He’d been intentional earlier! Julian saw me compromise and maliciously shoved a handful of lobster meat into my mouth. For Leo, I didn’t dare to resist. Just at the crucial moment, Grandma Eleanor appeared behind me, tapping her cane. She angrily told Julian, “No one gets to bully my family’s son-in-law. Get out.” Julian looked like he wanted to say more but was ultimately kicked out. Grandma Eleanor dismissed everyone else. Ignoring the grease on my hands, she helped me up. “Alex, stop peeling. You’re having a severe allergic reaction. I’ll take you to the hospital first, then help you leave.” I nodded, wiped the grease off my body, and then picked up the urn. A flicker of shame crossed Grandma Eleanor’s eyes. She explained, “Victoria is pregnant, and her emotions can’t fluctuate too much. I thought I’d tell her about Leo’s death once she was more stable.” “You and the child have suffered again. Alex, you must take this money.” She pushed two more cards toward me. I shook my head. “No, thank you. You’ve given enough. I just want to leave peacefully with my child.” Grandma Eleanor pressed the cards into my hand, hinting, “Take them. Back then, Victoria’s first love ran off with her money and abandoned her. I was the one who forced you to switch the IVF sample, making Victoria conceive your child.” “But I never imagined that my decision, as an old woman, would kill poor Leo.” “I regret it deeply. I shouldn’t have forced you.” “The money here isn’t much. It’s my apology. I hope you’ll accept it.” “And please, don’t blame this old woman. Victoria is my son’s only daughter, she’s my life.” She seemed to be pleading, but in reality, she was threatening me. If I didn’t take this hush money, I wouldn’t be leaving with Leo today. “Then, thank you, Grandma Eleanor.” I helplessly reached for the cards. *Crash!* A glass shattered. Victoria, dressed in her pajamas, stood frozen in the doorway. We turned to the sound, seeing Victoria’s face drained of color. “Victoria, why are you up?” Grandma Eleanor’s face was even paler than Victoria’s. She wanted to slap herself silly right now.

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After the bankruptcy, I was drugged and practically thrown into my childhood friend Liam’s bed. From that day on, he brought someone new home every night, then tossed a divorce agreement at me. “Ellie, beg me, and I won’t go through with it.” He’d look down on me, watching me grovel in the dirt again and again, just to get him to change his mind. He even openly ordered me to massage his new assistant, Chloe’s, feet right there in his office. Until the day Sterling Corp needed just ten million dollars to completely turn things around, Chloe blocked all my desperate calls for help. I waited a grueling twenty-four hours, until Sterling Corp utterly collapsed, and my parents, driven to despair, jumped from a building. Liam, however, walked in with Chloe, practically throwing the signed divorce papers at me again. “Ellie, weren’t you just looking for me to get money to save your family? Beg me. As long as I don’t divorce you, no one would dare touch Sterling Corp.” This time, I signed my name with a quiet, devastating calm: “Mr. Hayes, it’s not necessary. Sterling Corp doesn’t need your help anymore.”

The moment I signed the divorce papers, the smug triumph on Liam’s face instantly froze. He snatched the signed agreement, his eyes bloodshot, his fingers tightening around my throat, nearly insane. “Ellie! What new game are you playing now?!” “Don’t forget, you *begged* your way into my bed! You’d stop at nothing to marry me!” “What? Now you’re putting on a show of purity? Debasing yourself like that was all for money, wasn’t it?!” Each word was uglier than the last. For three years, he’d repeatedly brought up these things, constantly humiliating me. As if he was afraid I’d forget that it was I, Eleanor Sterling, who was shameless enough to slink into Liam’s bed. I would always cry and deny it. For three years, every day, I’d explain myself to him, believing that one day, he’d finally see my true feelings. But now, my heart was utterly dead. Whether he believed me or not no longer mattered. Watching him rage, his voice hoarse, I only felt an overwhelming weariness. That crushing weight, so deep it felt like it was in my very bones, made me think death wouldn’t be so bad. “Ellie! Say something! How dare you look at me like that! You’re the one who wronged me!” Liam’s furious shouting finally died down. After he had calmed slightly, I slowly raised my head. “Are you done talking?” “If you’re done, can I leave?” For the first time in three years, I felt this calm. Liam, however, panicked. He scoffed, trying to hide the fleeting alarm in his eyes. “Leave? Where do you plan on going?” “You want to leave? Fine. Every single thing on you, isn’t it all *my* money? You want to leave? Fine. Go back the way you came – with nothing!” He stood there, looking down at me, and through him, I somehow saw the Liam of my youth. Back then, he was so afraid I’d leave him, he’d pull me close every day, just begging me to say I loved him. But all of that had long since vanished with the wind. Now, standing before him, I only felt the utter humiliation of being stripped bare and shoved into his bed. Looking at his eyes, practically screaming “beg me,” I forced a smile. “Alright.” I took off the watch from my wrist. He’d threatened me this way countless times. Each time, I would cry and plead with him, begging him not to humiliate me like this, for the sake of our past. Back then, I still had hope for him and for our future. But now. Living was more torturous than dying. These humiliations were just icing on the cake of my suffering. It hurt, but it didn’t matter. I took off the last jacket he’d given me, then removed the wedding ring he’d bought. I stared at him, then let go of my fingers. The wedding ring clattered to the floor, a sharp, clear sound. Something I once cherished above all else now felt no different from a cold stone. I didn’t look back at his trembling form. Barefoot, I walked step by step toward the door. “Ellie! Are you insane?! Stop right there!” Liam’s furious roar echoed behind me. But the bruises marring my thin body – a canvas of black and blue – became the ultimate mockery of him. I walked faster and faster, heading toward the sunlight, leaving him completely behind. Watching my retreating figure, Liam, whether from rage or grief, trembled violently and collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air. “Mr. Hayes, Ms. Sterling is just being so ungrateful. She’s throwing such a tantrum just because you didn’t answer her call. Does she have someone else?” Chloe’s words were laced with insinuation. Liam suddenly pushed her away, his eyes blazing red. “Get out!” “Mr. Jenkins, take her clothes to her. How dare she leave? How dare she walk out on me!” “Ellie, you were the one who wronged me first!”

The biting spring chill made my body tremble as I walked barefoot on the asphalt road. I had walked this road countless times. The most degrading time was when disaster struck Sterling Corp. My family elders drugged me and shoved me into Liam’s bed like a piece of merchandise, all to buy Sterling Corp a lifeline. Now, Sterling Corp was completely gone. I no longer had to humble myself, and surprisingly, I felt a sense of liberation. “Ms. Sterling!” Mr. Jenkins’ voice called from behind, his footsteps hurried. Before I could turn around, a coat was draped over my shoulders. “Ms. Sterling, Mr. Hayes asked me to bring you this coat.” “Mr. Hayes still cares for you. You two love each other, why do you have to…” “Mr. Jenkins, please thank him for me.” I interrupted him. Mr. Jenkins sighed and said no more, turning to leave. I looked at the familiar coat on me, sinking into memories. Liam bought this coat for me. Back then, I was still the adored princess of the Sterling family. When he gave me the coat, his eyes were full of love. He promised to protect me for a lifetime. From childhood, he had always shielded me, never allowing me to suffer the slightest injustice. The first time I was bullied, he brought his friends and beat the person up. When my family found out, he faced severe family punishment. Even lying in bed, he couldn’t stay still, making funny faces to cheer me up. At that time, I cried with heartache, and he frantically wiped my tears. “Ellie, don’t cry. With me here, no one is allowed to make you cry!” In high school, I was cornered by some bullies from school. He rushed in alone, like a beacon of light, and was beaten black and blue. Even when my family arrived, he couldn’t stand straight, but still foolishly asked if I was scared. I laughed through my tears, exasperated by him. Back then, he never got close to any other girl except me. Every time, he’d proudly brag to his friends, saying, “My little jealous one keeps me on a short leash.” Liam and I were childhood sweethearts, innocent and inseparable. Everyone envied us, saying we were a match made in heaven. We were just waiting for the day our families had set, when we could walk hand-in-hand into marriage, becoming the most important people in each other’s lives. But fate had other plans. Sterling Corp faced a major financial crisis due to a flawed decision. They were afraid the Hayes family would back out of the engagement, so they drugged me and shoved me into Liam’s bed. And the glass of wine Liam drank, the one laced with drugs, I had handed to him myself. I explained to him countless times that I truly didn’t know there was medicine in the wine. But every time he looked at me, it was with the same look he’d had the moment he woke up in that bed. Full of disgust and contempt, looking down on me as if I were an object. He was convinced that I had used manipulative tricks, offering myself to him, to force his hand and save my family. From that moment, I was utterly condemned in his eyes, nailed to a pillar of shame. I no longer had any right to defend myself. Yet, he still honored the engagement. He gave me a grand wedding, making everyone envious. He still saved Sterling Corp. I thought he still had feelings for me. But on our wedding night, he brought a woman home. After that, he brought a different woman home every single day. Everyone in the city knew the rumors: Liam’s place had enough women to open a whole club. He found endless ways to humiliate me, seemingly only happy when he saw my pain. I endured it day by day, thinking that once he’d vented enough, he’d finally sit down and listen to me. That we would have a day when we reconciled. I never imagined that this endurance would last for three years. And what I finally got was… Sterling Corp’s complete collapse, and my parents’ desperate suicide.

Penniless, I had no choice but to walk barefoot from the Hayes family mansion on the hillside down to the city below. By the time I reached the park, my feet were bleeding and raw. Thankfully, the pen I’d used to sign the papers was still in my hand. I asked someone for a few sheets of paper and sat on the park steps, quietly sketching the scenery before me. This moment of tranquility seemed to transport me back to before I married Liam. I laid out the finished drawings, one by one, on the ground. Each one was small and intricate. Until a little girl knelt in front of me. “Miss, your feet are bleeding. Doesn’t it hurt?” I looked down, my gaze fixed on my feet. After walking such a long distance, the soles of my feet were already a bloody mess. But I felt nothing. It turned out the pain in my heart truly overshadowed any physical agony. Not wanting to scare the little girl, I tucked my feet away and smiled. “No, it doesn’t hurt.” The little girl tilted her head, then pulled out a crumpled ten-dollar bill from her pocket. “Miss, I only have this much. Can I buy one of your paintings? They’re so beautiful, they remind me of someone I used to know.” Hearing her speak like such a grown-up, I couldn’t help but smile. How old was she to have “someone she used to know”? “It’s enough that you like them. Take all of these. Thank you for your ten dollars.” I never thought. One day, the only ten dollars I had would come from a child. But I truly needed that money. Holding the bill, I walked into a small internet cafe, exchanging the ten dollars for an hour of online time. I opened the computer and logged into the social media account that had been my torment for three years. “A true woman is submissive and puts her husband first.” “Wives should be meek, compliant, and never voice a single complaint.” “A woman’s honor lies in her purity; she must guard it fiercely.” These sickening, pinned posts were all things Liam had forced me to publish. When we first got married, I still had hope for him. Every time he brought a woman home, I would argue with him. Later, the first time he punished me by making me kneel in the garden, making his mistress watch me as he read from some ancient treatises on female conduct he’d bought, I resisted fiercely. The consequence was that he forced me to post these things online. He told me I was merchandise he’d bought, and I should act like it. He said he wanted everyone to see what a ‘virtuous and benevolent’ wife I, Eleanor Sterling, truly was. After that, whenever I made him angry, he’d force me to publish these statements online. It became our twisted routine. And my account became a battleground for countless online users to condemn me. They called me a “brainwashed traditionalist,” a “feudal relic,” a “disgrace to modern women.” I couldn’t refute them, nor was I allowed to. Silence became my best escape from everything. Liam gradually grew dissatisfied with just that. He made me personally ‘attend’ to the women he brought home. The ones who even slept in his bed? I was forced to ‘prepare’ them myself. He’d sneer, “Someone as shameless as you knows best how to please a man.” Each time, he’d stand by, watching my humiliated, pained expression with a look of amusement and mockery. Later, I gradually grew numb. I no longer resisted, no longer argued. He found it boring, too, and stopped scrutinizing me. Instead, he changed his method, making me beg him, beg him not to divorce me. I compromised again and again for my family, but now, I had nothing left, and I no longer needed to beg him. Looking at the emptied page, I let out a long breath. As the last post was finally deleted. I felt as if the shackles on my body had shattered. I collapsed onto the table, utterly drained, my entire being emptied from the inside out. In that moment, I didn’t even know if I was alive or dead. Until someone gently tapped my back. “Ellie?”

I spun around abruptly, seeing a kind face with a hint of surprise. It was my university mentor, Professor Hayes. When the news of my marriage to Liam got out, he strongly opposed it, calling me countless times, and even didn’t attend my wedding. But I had my reasons, and I could never bring myself to tell him. Now, he was the only elder I had left. Looking at him, my eyes instantly welled up, my voice trembling involuntarily. “Professor Hayes, it’s me.” Just three short words, and my tears became uncontrollable. All the suppressed grievances I had kept buried erupted. “Don’t cry. The little girl who just bought your drawing was my daughter.” “Your professor is asking, do you still want to pursue further studies?” His gaze, just like it was back then, was full of expectation. I nodded, tears still in my eyes. If it weren’t for what happened with Sterling Corp, I would have gone abroad with Professor Hayes and held my first art exhibition. Professor Hayes and I went to complete the formalities, then headed to the airport to wait for our flight. Inside the Hayes family mansion. Liam paced restlessly in the living room. “You still haven’t found Ellie?” The butler shook his head. “Find her! If you can’t find her, then keep looking!” His voice was sharp and cold. His eyes, usually calm and emotionless, were now filled with panic. “Mr. Hayes, Ms. Sterling might just be out having fun. She has no friends, no family, what do you have to worry about?” Chloe, wearing my nightgown, leaned into Liam’s arms, twisting her body, trying every trick to kiss his lips, but he pushed her away sharply. “Get out!” Liam’s voice was icy, his gaze fixed on Chloe as if she were a dead woman. “Who gave you permission to wear her clothes? Take it off! None of you have the right to touch her things.” Chloe ran off, her eyes red. He sat on the couch, stubbornly waiting. Every tick of the second hand only amplified his frustration. He gritted his teeth, calling my number again and again. After countless times, the automated voice prompted him to leave a message, he let out a frustrated growl. “Ellie, you’ve gotten brave, haven’t you? Running away from home now?” “I’m giving you one hour. Get back here right now! Otherwise, I’m really divorcing you!” Another hour passed. He left me another message. “Ellie, if you don’t come back, even if you cry and beg me, I’m still divorcing you!” By the third message, his voice was starting to sound frantic. “Are you deliberately trying to see if I care about you? Just come back! Is it money you want? As long as you come back, I’ll give you whatever you need.” “Ellie, you’re the one who wronged me, why are you throwing a tantrum?!” “Just come back, say you love me, and I’ll let it go.” “Why don’t you care about all those other women but you can’t tolerate Chloe? I already sent her away, so come back quickly, don’t be so ungrateful!” He waited for a day and a night, calling me countless times, but he never received any news from me.

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