Category: English

The news hit me like a train wreck: my first love had died in a car crash. And then, at my own engagement party, my fiancée slit her wrists, giving up on everything. It was then, and only then, that I finally understood: her heart had always belonged to Julian. I was reborn, back to the very day of our engagement. But she never showed up. Instead, she booked a billion-dollar luxury yacht and married Julian. I watched their wedding trending across every major news headline, then turned and walked away. Six years later, I returned to the country with my wife. At an exclusive high-society gala, I unexpectedly ran into Chloe again. By now, she was the heiress to a massive business empire, celebrated as an outstanding female executive. She was clinging intimately to Julian, chatting with the guests, radiating success. When I pushed through the crowd, looking for someone, her brows furrowed in annoyance. “Six years, and you still haven’t given up on me? Even if you offered to be my assistant and polish my shoes, my feelings for you wouldn’t change.” I ignored her, reaching under a long table to pull out my daughter, who was secretly stuffing her face with cake. Suddenly, Chloe’s eyes widened, turning red. Her voice trembled as she accused me, “How could you marry someone else and have a child? Didn’t you say you’d only marry me?!”

I never thought I’d run into Chloe again, not at a gala on my very first day back in the country. She was dazzling, draped around Julian, her gaze soft and affectionate. Amidst the clinking glasses and flowing conversations, guests showered them with compliments. “Ms. Davies and her husband have been married for years, yet they seem even more in love than when they first tied the knot.” “Mr. Julian is truly blessed. Ms. Davies threw this party tonight to welcome the Princess Royal of the East Coast elite. Her business ventures are about to take off like a rocket!” Chloe smiled, looking tenderly at Julian. “Marrying Julian is the greatest blessing of my life. His touring art exhibition is coming up in a few days; I hope everyone can come show their support.” At the mention of the art exhibition, someone in the crowd asked, puzzled, “Ms. Davies, you’ve been married for six years, but why has Mr. Julian never held an exhibition before?” Julian cared so much about his art. How could he not have held an exhibition for six years? It was a question I’d always wondered myself. In my past life, Chloe loved Julian so fiercely she was willing to die for him. Even after I was reborn, she defied her powerful family, the Davies, just to marry him. Julian’s pleasant smile faltered instantly when he heard the question. “Painting is quite draining, and Chloe is simply worried I might strain my eyes.” The men in the room listened, both envious and praising Chloe as the perfect wife. In my past life, after I married Chloe, I wanted to hold a design exhibition. But Chloe’s mother scolded me, accusing me of trying to steal the spotlight. She constantly felt I wasn’t good enough for Chloe and repeatedly tried to get her to divorce me. After Chloe became the group heiress, her mother actually had a lawyer draft divorce papers. Now, Chloe handled Julian’s art exhibition entirely herself, with him not lifting a finger. It turned out, in my last life, I was the one who was never truly loved. I let out a soft, bitter laugh, shaking my head. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a figure beneath the long table, ready to follow them. But then I bumped into a waiter carrying a tray of red wine. Glass shattered everywhere, and wine splattered all over me. “Watch where you’re going! That was for the Princess Royal’s husband!” “If the gentleman complains, you’ll be out of a job!” The waiter’s loud scolding immediately drew everyone’s attention. I looked up and explained, “It’s fine, I didn’t really like that wine anyway.” Chloe looked over, startled. “Alex, what are you doing here?” Others quickly chimed in, “Who is this?” Chloe’s tone was dismissive. “Just a university classmate. He was totally obsessed with me back then; the whole school knew he wanted to marry me. After graduation, he still spent all his energy trying to chase me down.” “But my heart has always belonged only to Julian.” Hearing this, everyone’s gazes and voices filled with mocking amusement. Chloe gripped her wine glass, her voice stern. “Please, don’t spread rumors! I don’t want my husband to misunderstand!” Julian wrapped an arm around Chloe’s shoulders, his voice soft. “Oh, darling, don’t be upset. Mr. Alex must just be terribly infatuated to follow you all the way here.” Chloe’s brow furrowed. She turned to someone beside her. “Take him out. I’ll handle this.” With that, she leaned in and kissed Julian’s cheek, her eyes filled with sweet affection, not even sparing me a glance. “It’s only because Ms. Davies is so kind, otherwise, you’d be in serious trouble.” “Get out of here. This isn’t a place for someone like you.” I struggled to break free from their grip. “I’m here looking for someone.” The staff smirked, looking at my rough linen clothes with blatant disdain. “We’ve seen plenty of men like you, trying to win Ms. Davies’ favor with pathetic infatuation. Don’t waste your breath.” They finished speaking, then forcibly shoved me out the door. “Stop.” Suddenly, a familiar voice called out from behind me.

Chloe walked over, instructing the staff, “He’s here for me. You can go.” She approached me, her tone sharp with warning. “This is a reception for the Princess Royal of the East Coast elite. Don’t make a scene here!” “No matter how much you adore me, you shouldn’t be here.” “I’m going to make things perfectly clear to you today!” She leaned into Julian’s embrace, her eyes overflowing with tender affection for him, but when she faced me, her voice was ice cold. “In this lifetime, I only love Julian. No matter what you do, I will never like you. Just give up!” Julian’s face lit up with a smug grin. “Mr. Alex, I’ve seen desperate people, but I’ve never seen anyone as shameless as you.” “If word of your behavior gets out, what woman would ever agree to marry you?” He was practically oozing mockery. “Still, Chloe is so exceptional, I can understand why you can’t forget her. After all, she’s the heir to a huge conglomerate now, and there are always men trying to curry favor with her.” He glanced at my rough linen clothes, his expression even more contemptuous. “You’re thirty years old and still so unkempt. What woman would ever look at you?” With that, he took off the gold watch from his wrist and tossed it at me. “I’m a charitable man. Consider this watch my gift to you. Go buy some decent clothes.” I glanced down at my clothes. I’d rushed out of the house and hadn’t changed, but what I found comfortable and practical, they saw as a disgrace. Seeing my silence, Chloe’s brow furrowed. She then pulled off the ruby pendant from her neck, her voice laced with impatience and warning. “And this pendant, it should be enough for you to live on. Just stop coming to find me.” When I remained unmoved, her face instantly darkened, and her voice held a touch of anger. “Alex, what do you mean? You don’t want my things?” What a joke. I was already married. I shouldn’t accept anything from another woman, especially not jewelry. Besides, my wife was the Princess Royal of the East Coast elite. Taking these cheap trinkets from Chloe would be a direct slap in her face. I said calmly, “Didn’t you say you didn’t want me to take your things anymore?” Chloe’s face turned even colder. “You…” She pointed at me, but ultimately said nothing. I politely refused. “I don’t need any of these.” My refusal again made Chloe’s expression turn even worse. She gripped the pendant tightly in her hand, veins bulging. “If I wasn’t looking at you as an old university classmate, seeing you in such a pathetic state, do you think I’d bother with you?” “Alright, alright, don’t get angry.” Julian wrapped an arm around her waist, gently comforting her. “Darling, you’re just too sentimental. Since Mr. Alex is so ungrateful, just let him figure things out for himself.” “Look, Mr. Alex has a pretty face. I’m sure he’ll find a way to survive. We don’t need to worry about him.” Every word Julian spoke was meant to imply I was a frivolous man. But I remembered all his disgraceful past actions perfectly well.

In my previous life, Chloe didn’t marry Julian, not just because of family status, but because Julian used to be a kept man, supported by some rich socialite. Mr. Davies Sr. had declared that if Chloe insisted on marrying him, she would be stripped of her heir status and thrown out of the Davies family. Chloe was willing to give up everything for Julian. Her mother became so ill with rage she had to be hospitalized. But Julian wasn’t willing to live a life of poverty. He turned around and became the trophy husband of a wealthy foreign woman. Chloe was consumed by grief and illness. If I hadn’t stayed by her side, caring for her and helping her through those painful days, she probably would have died. Afterwards, she developed a habit of heavy drinking at social events, and I would always be there to help her finish glass after glass of hard liquor, which eventually ruined my stomach. She loved skiing, so I’d accompany her, even if it meant tumbling down snowy slopes and injuring myself; I’d always insist on staying by her side. Later, she said she was willing to marry me, swearing she would love me for a lifetime. I asked her if she still thought of Julian. After all, her home still contained all of Julian’s things, untouched. I’d seen her more than once, holed up in that room, drinking miserably. She looked at me, her voice firm. “Now, my heart is only for you. You are the one I want to marry. From the moment Julian trampled on my true feelings, we had no relationship whatsoever.” “I will love you well and stay by your side forever.” I thought my sincerity had won Chloe’s true heart. But after six years together, not only did I give up my beloved design career, I became a house husband. Chloe even kept delaying our wedding. I asked her repeatedly, only to be verbally abused by her mother, who claimed Chloe was at a critical stage in her career and that I wasn’t supporting her, constantly bringing up the wedding. Because of this, the entire East Coast elite circles laughed at me, saying I was nothing more than a glorified house husband in the Davies family. I got angry again and again. Chloe, just to calm me down, agreed to get engaged first. But at our engagement party, I accidentally overheard her conversation with her mother. That’s when I realized she didn’t want to marry me at all. Even the wedding suit she’d had designed was custom-tailored to Julian’s exact measurements. I had a huge fight with her. Right then, news broke that Julian had died in a car accident. Chloe stood there, stunned and silent, then eventually slit her wrists. Before dying, she calmly looked at me, weeping and kneeling before her. “From beginning to end, Julian was the only one in my heart. He was my truest love. Everything before was a lie.” “If he’s gone, I won’t live either.” Tears streamed down her face. “Julian, I’m coming to marry you now.” In that moment, my heart turned to ash. So, when I was reborn back to the engagement party, and Chloe didn’t show up, I wasn’t surprised at all. Media headlines reported that she’d spent a billion dollars on a luxury yacht to marry Julian, their wedding becoming a top trending topic. And I simply turned and walked away. I never thought I’d see her here, in this life. I was about to leave, but Julian still wanted to humiliate me further. “Mr. Alex, if you really don’t want these designer things, how about you come work as a security guard at our company?” “Our security guards get to see celebrities and important figures every day, it’s quite prestigious.” “If you give up trying to seduce Chloe, I might even promote you to head of security.” As soon as he finished speaking, people around him immediately chimed in. “A security guard job at Davies Group is a great gig! Why aren’t you kneeling and thanking Mr. Julian?” “Mr. Julian is truly benevolent. If anyone tried to seduce my wife, I’d tear them apart.” Seeing their taunts and sneers, a flicker of anger flashed in my eyes. “I’m already married, and I have absolutely no inappropriate thoughts about Chloe.” “Stop spreading fabricated rumors!” Chloe scoffed. “Alex, do you think saying that will make me regret anything?” “Using marriage to make me jealous? You’re not even worthy.” After leaving Chloe, I went abroad. I met the Princess Royal of the East Coast elite while rescuing a stray cat. Over time, she fell for me. She pursued me for two years before I finally agreed to be with her. After we married, I discovered she was the Princess Royal, a radiant beauty with countless admirers. But she earnestly and seriously told me that I was the only one she truly loved. When our daughter, Lily, was born, Chloe almost had a difficult labor. She immediately called her lawyer on the spot to change all beneficiaries of her assets to my name. The entire East Coast elite circles gossiped that the Princess Royal was madly in love with her husband. But to reduce unnecessary disruptions, most people hadn’t actually met me. Yet now Chloe thought I was using my marriage to make her jealous? She still believed I was in love with her. Since she didn’t believe me, I couldn’t be bothered to explain. After all, I had no one with me right now who could verify my identity. My daughter, Lily, heard there was cake at the party and secretly snuck out. I was so worried I didn’t even change, just rushed out in my comfortable linen clothes to find her. I tried to go around the crowd, but the previous waiter stopped me. “His clothes… they look like a luxury haute couture piece.” “Only two were ever released globally. One is owned by the British Royal Family, and the other belongs to the Princess Royal’s husband.” “What audacity! How dare you steal something belonging to the Princess Royal’s husband!” “These clothes are mine.” Julian scoffed when he heard me. “How could *you* afford haute couture? You didn’t steal those clothes, did you, just to come here and try to win Chloe’s favor?” Chloe looked at me, her face full of disdain. “Don’t dream! I only love Julian.”

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“On full-moon nights, my throat still oozes blood – that is the ‘hickey’ torn by the hands of my loved ones.” They took away my wolf howl, but they didn’t know that the silent mother wolf is the most dangerous. When I crawled back from the abyss with my broken vocal cords, I saw my fake sister crowning me with my war song – She wore my scars, my crown, and even imitated the trembling arc. “Dear sister…” “You said that when my claws scratched your throat -” “What kind of beautiful begging for mercy would you sing?” After being exposed for plagiarizing the adopted pup’s song, I was dragged into an abandoned factory by a dozen rogue wolves and brutally tortured. When I was rescued, a bloody hole had been torn into my throat, my vocal cords shredded by claws, and my fingers and legs twisted and broken—rendered useless. My parents, the revered Alpha and Luna of the Silvermoon Pack, used all their influence, vowing to hunt down those who had harmed me. My brother, the Pack’s Beta, frantically summoned the finest healers from across the territories to tend to my wounds. Outside the healing den, my mother’s hesitant voice drifted in, “Though it was wrong for Veyra to steal Ashbane’s song… is this punishment not too severe?” My father, Alpha Hendrix, growled low in his throat. “She brought this upon herself! Ten years ago, we took her in as a stray, and she repaid us by stealing Ashbane’s place in our hearts.” “But that wasn’t enough—she’s never satisfied, always trying to outshine Ashbane in everything. And now, she dares to claim Ashbane’s song as her own!” My brother, Beta Lucas, snarled in agreement. “She was given the Hendrix name, yet she uses it to crush Ashbane at every turn. This time, we make sure Ashbane wins the Howling Crown —the highest honor for our pack’s singers. As for Veyra… let her keep a mutt’s voice, if she must speak at all.” The agony of my wounds was nothing compared to the betrayal tearing through my chest. Tears burned down my face. They had promised to protect me—their own blood. Yet for the sake of a pup they’d adopted, they allowed me to be broken. It was Ashbane who had stolen my song. But they believed her lies and chose to ruin me instead. I no longer wanted this pack. At the entrance of the healing den, the pack’s lead healer spoke cautiously. “Alpha Hendrix, while Miss Veyra’s vocal cords are damaged, they can still be restored with a graft from a willing donor. And if her bones are not set soon… she may never walk or use her hands again.” “She is a singer,” the healer pressed. “Her voice and hands are her life. Should we not act quickly—?” My father cut him off with a sharp bark. “Delay it.” My mother hesitated. “My Alpha… Veyra has suffered enough. She cannot attend the Howling Crown ceremony now. She is still our blood. Must we let her become crippled?” Beta Lucas scoffed. “Good. If she can’t sing, she won’t overshadow Ashbane. If her legs never heal, she’ll stay where she belongs. And if her hands are ruined, she’ll never steal another song.” “The Hendrix Pack will feed and house her,” he sneered. “What more does she need? She made her choice when she betrayed Ashbane. The Howling Crown was always meant for Ashbane—she is the future Song Luna of our pack.” “And Veyra?” My brother’s voice was ice. “Let her keep a dog’s whimper. That’s all she deserves.” Chapter 2  My mother, Luna Hendrix, sighed and whispered to the pack healer, “Give my daughter the strongest pain-dulling herbs. As for her broken claws and legs… just keep the wounds from festering. My daughter has always feared pain.” Hearing those words, my body trembled violently, hot tears streaking through the dried blood on my face. So it wasn’t just rogue wolves who had done this—my own pack, my own blood, had allowed it. All because I stood in Ashbane’s way. They never questioned her lies. Never even asked for my side. A howl of agony threatened to tear from my throat, but my shredded vocal cords only let out a broken whimper. I stared at the den’s ceiling, my vision blurring. When Luna Hendrix stepped inside, her breath hitched at the sight of my mangled paws—still twitching, still bleeding. She let out a wounded sound, rushing to my side. “Veyra! My sweet pup, does it hurt? We’ll call the healers at once!” Beside her, my brother—Beta Lucas—snarled into his phone, his voice thick with false grief. “Find the finest throat graft for my sister. Her voice cannot be lost—not when she was meant to sing for our pack!” He turned to me, eyes glistening. “Sister, I swear on my fangs, I’ll hunt down every rogue who did this. They’ll know what it means to have their bones snapped, their howls ripped from their throats!” My father, Alpha Hendrix, gazed at me with wet eyes, his massive frame shaking. “Veyra, the best healers from the northern packs are coming. Just hold on.” His voice cracked. “When you heal… I’ll compose a hunt-song for you. We’ll sing it together under the full moon, and the whole pack will know—you are my greatest pride.” I watched their performance numbly. With trembling, bloodied palms, I dragged my phone closer and typed: [I didn’t steal Ashbane’s song.] The screen smeared crimson. Beta Lucas snatched the phone away before they could read it. “We know, little wolf,” he murmured, stroking my matted hair. “Just rest. Everything will be alright.” They nodded, their eyes darting away—unable to meet mine. I knew the truth. They didn’t believe me. They never would. This was the same brother who’d found me a decade ago, lost and starving at the edge of pack lands. He’d wept into my fur, vowing to spend his life making up for the years I’d suffered alone. Now, he’d shattered my dreams with his own claws—all so Ashbane, could shine. Tears burned. Through them, I couldn’t tell who was truly their blood anymore. I’d never measure up to Ashbane’s place in their hearts. In this pack… there was no room for me. The healer injected wolfsbane-laced painkillers into my veins, his gaze lingering on my ruined throat and twisted limbs. “Miss Hendrix,” he said gently, “the experts will arrive by moonrise. Endure a little longer.” But no herb could dull the betrayal carving through my chest. I choked back a sob, biting my lip until copper flooded my tongue. My parents’ eyes turned wolf-gold with distress. Beta Lucas pressed his forearm to my mouth. “Sister, if you must bite, sink your fangs into me. Don’t harm yourself further.” They looked at me like I was their most precious pup. And yet—I’d never felt so cold. When I woke again, the pale light of dawn seeped through the den’s entrance. Chapter 3  The pack healers had barely left when I caught the hushed conversation between Beta Lucas and Luna Hendrix outside my den. “Krevv,” my mother murmured, her voice laced with false concern, “Veyra has suffered enough. Must we truly send the pack chroniclers to expose her as a song-thief today? We have no proof.” My brother’s growl was ice. “It must be done. Her voice is already ruined—what does she have left to lose? But for Ashbane to win the Howling Crown*, she needs the judges’ pity.”* “Ashbane was raised under our moon,” he snarled. “She wouldn’t lie. Even without evidence, I’ll stand as her witness before the entire pack.” Alpha Hendrix’s command rumbled through the walls. “Don’t defend Veyra to the chroniclers. Let this humiliation teach her obedience.” “Yes, Alpha.” I lay on the furs, my claws digging into the pelts beneath me. No tears came—only the metallic taste of blood where I’d bitten through my lip. Ten years ago, Beta Lucas had tracked my scent to that orphanage after hearing my howl-song in a recording. They’d brought me home, a ragged stray welcomed into the Silvermoon Pack’s golden den. I’d worked twice as hard as Ashbane, earning my place at the Lunar Conservatory. My hunt-song, “Moon-Drowned”, had been nominated for the Howling Crown—until Ashbane claimed it as her own. And now… my own brother would lie before the pack to destroy me. The den’s entrance flew open with a crash. A dozen pack chroniclers surged in, cameras flashing like silver fangs in the dim light. Helpless, broken, I could only watch as they circled me. “Veyra Hendrix,” sneered a female chronicler, shoving a recording stone in my face, “is it true the rogues tore out your voice because you stole your sister’s howl?” Another laughed, yanking the pelt from my body to expose my twisted limbs. “Look at her! No claws left to scribble stolen songs, no legs to run from the truth!” The male beside her bared his teeth in a mockery of a smile. “Perhaps she’ll learn to sing through her wounds instead. Wouldn’t that be… poetic?” Their laughter was a chorus of snapping bones. Flash after flash immortalized my shame—the broken Alpha’s daughter, reduced to a mute, twitching creature. Hot tears carved paths through the dirt and blood on my face. I should have stayed a stray. Chapter4  “Veyra,” the female chronicler sneered, shoving her recording stone closer, “still playing the wounded pup? Won’t you beg forgiveness from your sister?” Her claws clicked as she activated a pack-wide broadcast. “The disgraced howler Veyra Hendrix—mauled by rogues for stealing her sister Ashbane’s hunt-song!”

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On the day my ex-wife Natalie, a renowned perfumer, announced her engagement, we crossed paths again at an upscale club. Five years had passed. She had become a millionaire, while I, driven by desperate circumstances, had taken a job as a male escort at the club. Her fiancé, intent on humiliating me, dangled $200,000 as bait, challenging me to compete with a dog for food. Natalie watched as I bent down, her lips curling in disdain. “So, this is the ‘better future’ you spoke of when you left me? Becoming an escort for others’ amusement?” “Lucas, I should thank you for abandoning me. Looking at you now makes me sick to my stomach.” What she didn’t know was that I was in the final stages of uremia. Five years ago, when she was on the brink of death, I had given her my kidney. Now, as I swallowed my pride and allowed others to trample on me, it was only to secure a decent burial plot. As I woke up, I saw the blood-stained sheets and couldn’t hold back my tears. While I was clumsily trying to clean the bloodstains, my phone buzzed. It was a message from the cemetery manager: “Mr. Foster, the burial plot you’re interested in only needs another $200,000 to complete the transaction. If you’re certain, please make the payment soon.” This burial plot was the final resting place I had chosen for myself. After replying, I changed into my club uniform, preparing for work. A few days ago, I had been hired as a male escort at a high-end club. Although the job was far from respectable, I had no other choice if I wanted to quickly save up $200,000. Little did I know that as soon as I stepped into the club’s lobby, I’d hear a familiar voice. I looked up to see Natalie and her fiancé Simon standing not far away. My heart clenched, and I instinctively wanted to avoid them. But Simon deliberately called out loudly: “Isn’t that Lucas? So you work here now? Let me see your number tag.” I lowered my head, not wanting them to see the expression on my face. Simon, however, was relentless. He grabbed my arm and read out the number on my tag loudly: “250! What a fitting number.” Natalie’s face darkened. “Lucas, how did you end up like this?” I clenched my jaw, not wanting to appear weak in front of them. But Simon didn’t give me a moment’s respite: “Lucas, I hear being an escort here pays well. With your looks, you must make at least $50,000 a day, right?” The onlookers burst into laughter, and I felt a sharp pain in my chest. But I knew I couldn’t cause a scene here. “Simon, what do you want?” He smiled slightly. “Nothing much, just want to give you an opportunity.” Saying this, he pulled out a check from his pocket and waved it in the air. “$200,000. It’s yours if you’re willing to compete with my pet dog for food.” My heart skipped a beat, and a wave of humiliation washed over me. But looking at that check, I felt torn. Natalie, standing nearby, had contempt in her eyes. “Lucas, are you really willing to give up your dignity for money?” My heart ached, but I turned to Simon and said, “Fine, I’ll do it.” Natalie looked at me, her eyes full of disappointment and disgust. “Lucas, you’re still as revolting as ever.” She turned and left. Simon dragged me to a private room and placed a dog bowl in front of me. Then he sneered, “Come on, eat up. Don’t disappoint me.” With trembling hands, I reached for the food in the bowl. At that moment, Simon suddenly grabbed my hair and shoved my face into the dog bowl. My face pressed against the bowl, humiliation and anger nearly made me lose my mind. “Hahaha, Lucas, you’re such a fucking loser.” Simon laughed out loud and released his grip. After a long while, I finally raised my head. Wiping the food residue from my face, I felt utterly hopeless. “What’s with that look? Not happy? Should I say sorry, big bro Lucas?” Simon exchanged glances with his friends, their faces filled with undisguised mockery. Natalie sat there with a dark expression, silently downing her drink. Seeing this, Simon’s eyes flashed with jealousy, and he stood up, intending to humiliate me further. But this time, Natalie stopped him. She grabbed my arm and coldly left the room.

A loud crash came from behind us, and I knew it was Simon venting his frustration. When we reached the end of the hallway, I quickly shook off Natalie’s hand. She let out a cold laugh, her tone full of disdain. “So this is the great future you spoke of?” “Lucas, you abandoned me when I was on the verge of death, all for the sake of becoming an escort? You really have foresight.” Five years ago, Natalie had fallen seriously ill, with both her kidneys infected by a virus. Without her knowledge, I had myself tested for compatibility and, surprisingly, was a match. I didn’t hesitate to make the exchange. But my body had a severe rejection reaction, and I lost ten pounds in just three days. The doctor said I wouldn’t last a year. To spare Natalie from experiencing the same pain as me, I staged a scenario to trick her into divorcing me. But I never expected to hold on for over five years. After being heartbroken by me, Natalie met a benefactor who helped her rise to become a top perfumer. She also established herself in the entertainment industry and fell in love with the superstar Simon. They had just announced their engagement yesterday. Coming back to my senses, I gave her a bright smile. “You’re right, the money comes fast. It suits a gold digger like me.” “Natalie, congratulations on your engagement to Simon. I wish you a lifetime of happiness.” As soon as I finished speaking, Natalie slapped me hard across the face. Her eyes were red, and the air around her became heavy. “This is for the me who once dreamed of growing old with you. Lucas, get lost. I never want to see you again.” I suppressed the urge to cough and used all my strength to stand up, but the medical report in my pocket accidentally fell out. Natalie picked it up first. After reading it, her brows furrowed. The next second, she slapped me again. “You knew I was coming today, so you deliberately prepared a fake medical report, didn’t you?” “Lucas, you’re wrong. Even if you died in front of me, I wouldn’t shed a single tear for someone like you.” Hearing Natalie’s words, my heart felt like it was being stabbed by countless needles, making it almost impossible to breathe. But in the end, I managed to nod, forcing a smile that looked worse than crying. “It’s best if you think that way.” With that, I turned to leave. But before I could take more than a few steps, my vision suddenly went black, and I collapsed to the ground. In the last moment of consciousness, I vaguely thought that leaving like this wouldn’t be so bad. At least I wouldn’t have to see Natalie’s eyes filled with disgust anymore.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself lying in a hospital bed, feeling a surge of panic. If Natalie were to find out about my condition, everything I had been holding onto would have been in vain. I tried to get up, but my body felt as heavy as lead. Just then, I saw Natalie come and sit down in the chair next to the bed, looking at me with a complex expression. The disgust and contempt were gone from her eyes, replaced by an indescribable complexity. “You’re awake,” Natalie said softly, with a hint of concern that was barely noticeable. I was stunned for a moment, then quickly recovered and managed a smile. “Yeah, I’m awake.” Natalie frowned slightly. “Why did you suddenly faint? The doctor said you have severe hypertension.” My heart tightened, but I quickly composed myself. “Oh, I might just be too tired lately, not getting enough rest.” But Natalie clearly didn’t believe me. She stared at me, her eyes full of inquiry. “Lucas, what are you hiding?” “Was that medical report really fake?” I panicked a bit but tried to maintain my composure as I explained, “Of course it was fake. What, don’t tell me you’re having old feelings resurface and want to get back together?” Just then, Natalie’s phone suddenly rang. She glanced at the caller ID, her brow furrowing slightly, but she still answered the call. Simon’s voice came from the other end of the line, with a hint of tears. “Natalie, where are you? Are you still choosing him?” Natalie looked at me, hesitation flashing in her eyes, but she quickly soothed Simon in a gentle voice, “No, don’t overthink it. I just came to check on him, after all, he was once my husband.” Simon on the other end of the line clearly didn’t believe her, his voice becoming more agitated. “Natalie, don’t lie to me. Just tell me, do you still love him?” Hearing this, Natalie was silent for a moment, then said, “Simon, I love you. Only you. Don’t overthink it, I’ll be back soon.” I closed my eyes tightly, not wanting to hear her profess her love for Simon. After Natalie hung up the phone, she still didn’t leave. We stared at each other for a long time, neither of us saying anything. After a while, I was the first to look away. “What do you mean by this? Didn’t you say you were leaving? Why are you still sitting here?” “Lucas, have you ever regretted it in these five years?” Natalie stared at me calmly. “We were together for seven years. If it wasn’t for that illness, I never would have believed that you would be the kind of person to abandon me at a critical moment.” Back then, I had given my heart and soul to Natalie, so after our abrupt divorce, she fell into severe depression for a time. At this moment, my nails dug deep into my flesh, and only the intense pain allowed me to calm my nervous emotions. “I’ll never regret it, Natalie. When love is gone, it’s gone. Why are you so insistent on asking me for an answer?” She slapped me, her long, sharp nails leaving deep red marks on my face. Then she turned her back to me, tilting her head back to wipe away her tears.

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I was the chaotic queen of trending topics, the infamous woman always breaking the internet. Every single day, I’d ditch my kid and parade around in crazy outfits, hawking goods on live streams. Everyone called me an unfit mother, said I was profiting from misery. But instead of listening, I’d pick fights with my son, right there on camera. Netizens would hurl insults, and my son would scream for me to just die. Yet, the overwhelming storm of hate couldn’t stop me from going live for even one day. After a hundred days, I vanished, just like they wanted. But then, their feeds flooded with messages: “Mom, come back!” **1.** It was peak summer. I was draped in a robe made from three bedsheets, a crown of toilet paper perched on my head. Sweat dripped constantly from my forehead, smudging my makeup, making me look utterly ridiculous. I didn’t care, though. I kept up my exaggerated expressions, pushing products. “Don’t miss out, fam! This dish soap has insane cleaning power…” This was day 49 of my live streams. Since I started acting crazy, playing dumb, and wearing wild clothes, my stream finally started gaining traction. But gradually, that wasn’t enough to satisfy people’s morbid curiosity. [Where’s your son, streamer?] [We wanna see your son! Call him over, and I’ll send a Carnival gift!] [Not yelling at your son today?] One time, I accidentally had an argument with my son during a stream. After that, the stream’s popularity surged. Plenty of bored folks would camp out in my live stream, intentionally egging me on to fight with my son. But the traffic was booming, and I was all for it. Seeing someone promise a Carnival gift, my heart soared. I rushed to drag my son from the next room into the camera’s view. “My son’s here! Oh, thank you, big bro, for the gift!” I grinned obsequiously, looking like a complete clown. But Leo pulled away reluctantly, yelling at me, “Aren’t you embarrassed?! I told you I don’t want to be on stream with you!” “Isn’t it enough for you to act crazy by yourself? Why do you have to drag me into it?” Leo shoved me hard. I stumbled up awkwardly, my toilet paper crown falling to the floor. He furiously picked it up, then slammed it back down. The crown was crushed to bits, Leo using it to vent his frustration. I didn’t back down either. For every yell he gave, I fired back with three: “You ungrateful brat! I feed you and clothe you every day, and you make such a fuss just for showing your face on camera?!” “I think you’re just bored and looking for trouble. Apologize to these big brothers right now!” “Do you know how hard it is for me to raise you? If it weren’t for these guys, we’d have starved long ago!” “You’re only ever this loud with me. If you put this much energy into your studies, you’d be successful by now!” Leo’s eyes welled up, but he stubbornly held back his tears, grinding his teeth. “Successful? How could I ever be successful with a mom like you?!” “I hate you! If you couldn’t afford to raise me, why did you even have me?!” A sharp smack cut off the confrontation. Leo clutched his face, glaring at me, hatred undisguised in his eyes. Rage boiled in me. I stormed into his room, grabbed all his comic books and novels, and violently threw them onto the floor. “I guess I’ve been too nice to you! I let you read all these useless books every day!” “They make you dense, with no real skills, just knowing how to argue with your mother!” Leo rushed to pick up the books, cradling them as if they were more precious than me standing before him. Seeing this, my anger flared even more. Without a second thought, I yanked him away and tossed all the books into the trash. Leo screamed, “No!” He charged at me like a feral beast, knocking over the phone I was using to stream. We instantly started wrestling. A mother and son fighting like cats and dogs isn’t a common sight, and it drew a swarm of onlookers. The live stream was instantly packed, with gifts showering in non-stop. The colorful lights of virtual gifts illuminated our faces as we screamed at each other, twisted into grotesque masks. [Oh my god, how can she hit her child?] [Love to see it.] [Subscribed to the streamer. Disobedient kids just need a beating.] [But forcing your kid to stream isn’t right, is it?] The footage of me hitting Leo that day was saved and went viral. People even made parody videos of it and posted them on every platform. In the videos, my viciousness when hitting him contrasted sharply with my fawning gratitude when thanking for gifts. Netizens mockingly called me “Face-Swap Mom.” Suddenly, terms like “Face-Swap Mom stream,” “Face-Swap Mom hits son,” and “Face-Swap Mom memes” shot up the trending topics. So, on the fiftieth day of streaming, I was officially famous. **2.** *“Ugly Acts for Attention, Publicly Assaults and Makes Child Cry.”* A news headline like that instantly ignited the curiosity of the melon-eating crowd, and I was thrust into the eye of the storm. Countless people came forward to condemn me, recounting similar experiences as if drinking poison to quench their thirst. They sympathized with my son, branding me the quintessential failed parent, relentlessly criticizing me. It was as if by defeating me, they could overcome the helpless pain they had to swallow in their own weak moments. I scrolled through their comments about me, then calmly put on a crown I’d woven from leaves. I put on an elf costume made from a long green dress, white plastic bags, and wildflowers, using heavy foundation to hide the dark circles under my eyes. Then I started another live stream. Huge numbers of netizens quickly flooded into the stream, the comments scrolling by so fast that all I could see was insults. But I showed no sign of remorse. Instead, I brazenly scoffed, “My son? That little leech is in the next room.” “Hmph, it’s only because I’m so kind that I’m still raising an ungrateful brat like him. Anyone else would have sent him to an orphanage.” “Thanks for the gifts, fam! Keep those Carnivals coming!” [You don’t deserve to be a mom.] [How can there be a mother like you?] [The child is so pathetic, you should just give him away.] “Pathetic? Have I not fed him or clothed him? Why don’t you pity me?” I rolled my eyes, but the next second, I became incredibly fawning when thanking for gifts. “If you pity him, then buy more stuff and send me more gifts.” “Let me tell you, yesterday I only gave him leftovers. Who told you to insult me? If I don’t sell well today, he won’t even get leftovers!” “Alright, alright, today we’re bringing you a set of dish soap again. It’s still that familiar brand, ten bottles for nine ninety-nine. Get on board!” … [Seriously, she has no shame. Still in the mood to sell stuff?] [If I had your mentality, I’d succeed at anything.] [Face-Swap Mom not hitting her kid today?] [Unfit mother!] [The way she raises her child…] [She’s crazy for money, acting silly every day.] I kept my smile strained, until one comment froze it on my face. [I hate people who abuse children like you the most. Just wait to be doxxed.] A moment later, our entire family’s personal information, from names to home address, was detailed right there on the public screen. It sent shockwaves! Netizens devoured the info, discussing it heatedly. [Turns out it’s a single-parent family. Seems tough.] [Being a single parent doesn’t mean you can hit your child randomly.] [Maybe that’s why her husband left her, she likes hitting people.] [Are you blind? Her husband’s dead!] [Could Face-Swap Mom have killed her husband?] [Y’all are ruthless above! Keep it coming, lol.] … As the comments grew more and more outrageous, I froze for a moment. But then, Leo suddenly burst into my room. “It’s all your fault! Now everyone knows it’s me! Are you happy now?!” I quickly regained my composure and snapped back, “What do you mean it’s all my fault! If you’d been more obedient, would this have happened?!” “You don’t study well day in and day out, and going live with your mom is too much for you? Seeing so many people defend you, you think you’re so tough now, don’t you?!” “If you’re so ashamed, then don’t spend a single cent of my money!” “I won’t! I’m ashamed of how you make your money!” Leo’s eyes widened in fury, his neck stiff as he confronted me. “You never cared about me, but when we argue, you bring up studying. When did you ever go to a parent-teacher conference? You don’t care about me at all, so what are you pretending to be here for?!” He stared at me, enunciating each word: “If only it had been you who died back then, instead of Dad.” I stood frozen, only the booming slam of his bedroom door echoing in my ears. [Fighting again in front of so many people.] [Can someone call the police?] [Doxxing is a bit much, isn’t it?] [Support the doxxer! It’d be a shame not to expose this kind of person.] [Clown, even your son can’t stand you.] [Face-Swap Mom, just die! Don’t drag your son down.] From that comment onward, the entire feed was filled with “Face-Swap Mom, just die.” But I didn’t care if they laughed at me, and I cared even less what they called me. Anyway, I made two hundred thousand dollars from that one live stream. That was money I couldn’t have saved in ten years of toil and struggle. **3.** On the fifty-third day of streaming, I enabled the co-streaming feature, charging an outrageous ten thousand dollars per call. People watching my stream cursed me, saying I was crazy for money, but at the same time, they scrambled to send me gifts for the publicity. The number of co-stream requests was countless, and my pockets were overflowing. [How dare you hit your child? Why do you force him to stream if it’s just your thing? Can’t you get a job with your own two hands and feet instead of making a spectacle? How will your child ever hold his head up at school?] Questions like these were repeated by almost everyone who called in. My answers didn’t disappoint them; I was utterly shameless and without boundaries. “He’s my son, I can do whatever I want with him.” “I haven’t starved him, and I haven’t stopped him from going to school. If you don’t discipline a child, they won’t amount to anything. I hit him for his own good.” “If you care about him so much, why don’t you send me more money? If I’m in a good mood, maybe I won’t hit him.” “Anyway, if you insult me, I’ll take it out on him. What are you going to do about it?” These co-stream clips were cut and reposted endlessly by various influencer accounts. “Face-Swap Mom” became even more infamous. An online frenzy of attacks against me swept through the internet. People, driven mad, tried to utterly destroy me. Takeout piled up outside my door, sent for my son, while wreaths for *me* clogged the hallway, blocking passage. My door and windows were pelted with rotten eggs and vegetable leaves. In the middle of the night, people would knock on my door, yelling insults. My front door was even vandalized with notices. These were all minor annoyances. My photos were Photoshopped into funeral portraits, and even my late husband’s tombstone, buried years ago, was found and splashed with paint. Reporters and busybodies camped outside my apartment building at all hours, everyone wanting to scrape off some profit while I was still trending. I curled up at home like a street rat everyone wanted to beat, and Leo couldn’t even go to school. But even then, I never missed a day of streaming. Yet, I seemed to have overestimated my own strength. The continuous worry and pressure eventually broke me. On day 79 of streaming, during a co-stream, just as I was about to open my mouth to answer a question, a metallic taste suddenly filled my throat. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t suppress it. Large mouthfuls of blood gushed out. I rushed off camera, but the blood sprayed from between my fingers, and I couldn’t stop it. The live stream was silent for only a second before comments started flooding in furiously. [Scared of being insulted, so now you’re going for the pity party persona, huh?] [If you knew this would happen, why did you do it in the first place?] [So scary, what happened to the streamer?] [If she’s really sick, she deserves it. Heaven has eyes and finally punishes the wicked.] [Just die already.] … For a moment, there was no one on screen, but my son’s voice and mine came from the next room. “Stop faking it, okay? If you’re really sick, just go die!” “What if I am faking it? You genuinely want to see your mom get insulted, don’t you?!” “If you hadn’t hit me back then, would it be like this now? You deserve it!” “You little brat, how dare you talk to your mom like that! You’re just like your dead father!” My furious shouts clearly reached everyone’s ears. [LOL, it’s really like a script.] [You have to admit, Face-Swap Mom’s blood pack looks pretty real. Quick, cut that part into a meme too!] [I was just starting to wonder if there was a hidden story, turns out she’s just pure trash.] [Type 1 to wish Face-Swap Mom a speedy death.] [1111] In the next room, I hastily wiped the blood from my hands and mouth, but the stains on my clothes wouldn’t come off. The co-streamer was urging me loudly, so I had to rush back and connect. [Remember me? I hate child abusers the most.] A male voice, distorted by a voice changer, spoke. I immediately realized it was the guy who had doxxed me. [You said you had no money to raise your child, but someone told me that’s not true.] [Your mother-in-law said you took all of her son’s bereavement pay, every single cent. Where did that money go?] I remained silent, my face turning even paler, a storm raging inside me. Seeing my silence, the person thought he had caught me and spoke even more agitatedly. [Putting aside you using your child as a tool to make money, you are shameless enough to hog your deceased husband’s bereavement pay? Have you thought about how your mother-in-law’s family is supposed to live?!] [How can you stomach profiting from misery like that?!] I didn’t respond, simply ending the live stream. But in everyone’s minds, this was as good as admitting guilt, further solidifying my wicked deeds. The anonymous person’s words were like a thunderclap, shaking up the “Face-Swap Mom” incident, which had started to fade with time. People’s attitudes towards me plummeted. The few who had spoken up for me before now turned their backs and joined the attacks. My mother-in-law, Brenda Reed, who had ignored us for eight years, suddenly appeared before various media outlets, tearfully accusing me of my wickedness. She claimed I had swallowed all the bereavement pay, forcing her, at nearly eighty, to pick up bottles just to get by. And now, I was heartless, abusing her son’s only child. In her description, I was a rotten-hearted ingrate, mean, harsh, and greedy—the absolute worst scum. Brenda’s assessment of me, coupled with my own son telling me to die on stream, seemed to confirm everything about me. As an undeniable villain, I deserved to be condemned. The online hate campaign against me intensified, yet I lay on my bed, laughing freely. I was very satisfied; everything was going according to my plan. **4.** On day 81 of streaming, my popularity surged. Brenda was still relentlessly attacking me, fabricating all sorts of nasty rumors: how I stirred up trouble between her and my son, how I disrespected her, how my husband and I had no love for each other… I knew telling blatant lies had always been her forte. But during my live streams, I never defended myself, not once. Not only did I calmly accept all the harsh criticisms, I actually felt their reactions weren’t extreme enough. So, I started actively seeking more trouble. I streamed leaning on a cane, hunched over and dressed like an old woman, but with thick white foundation and pink blush on my face, looking comically grotesque, like a clown from a street parade. Then, with that appearance, I deliberately mimicked Brenda’s actions during her interviews, giggling all the while. I also intentionally read out netizens’ comments about me during streams, then provocatively, sarcastically, mocked them back. I caused mayhem during the day, and at night, I was still busy. I used my main account to jump onto all sorts of platforms, arguing with Brenda, with netizens, with the world. Contrary to what the public expected—remorse and reform—I was trying to provoke public outrage. My chaotic behavior indeed attracted more attention. My popularity climbed steadily, but with it came an even more furious wave of online hate. But this was exactly what I wanted. I needed the popularity, I needed the money, the more the better. However, on day 99 of streaming, just when everyone expected me to make another fortune, I bowed deeply to the camera. Facing everyone watching the stream, I calmly said: “I admit, everything that happened before this was a script I planned myself. Tomorrow, I will tell everyone the truth.” After saying that, I ignored all the questions and quickly rushed to the bathroom, throwing up blood into the toilet. Leo had appeared behind me at some point, sobbing uncontrollably. Tears streaming down his face, he pleaded with me, his words threatening to shatter my resolve:

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I was at the engagement party with my childhood sweetheart, Jasper, when my foster sister burst into the hall, crying that she’d miscarry without him. She claimed Jasper got drunk, entered the wrong room, and mistook her for me, taking her again and again. Jasper was flustered, and the gentle hand that was on Phoebe’s shoulder fell away: “Adeline, let me explain!” I looked at the champagne roses filling the hall, removed my ring, and clapped: “The trash can is out the door on the left.” The whole room erupted, and Phoebe bit her lip as tears streamed down her face. The bodyguards quickly came forward to escort her out. They didn’t know that after they had plotted to kill my parents, seized the property, and poisoned me, I was reborn. Reborn to the engagement party where none of it had happened yet. “Sister!” Phoebe screamed and struggled. “I didn’t mean to… Jasper was drunk and mistook me for you.” … She spoke, deliberately revealing the ambiguous red marks on her neck. I felt a wave of nausea and my fingertips dug into my palms. A few hours earlier, I’d woken up in the lounge, with my whole being in a daze. The last moments before my death kept replaying in my mind. I was forced to drink poison, my insides felt like they were pierced by a thousand steel needles. I fell to the ground, seeing Phoebe holding Jasper’s arm, looking down on me with a smile. “Sister, rest in peace.” Phoebe caressed her slightly swollen belly. “Jasper and I will take good care of the Anderson family.” My vision blurred and finally fixed on the news of my parents’ tragic deaths— “Anderson Corporation’s chairman and wife die in a car crash, only daughter Adeline suffers a mental breakdown…” All these past events made my head spin. The two people I trusted most, my childhood sweetheart and my sister, both betrayed me. “Adeline? Adeline!” A familiar voice snapped me back to reality, and behind me was my worried mother. “Why are you daydreaming before your engagement?” My mother adjusted my diamond necklace, “The Harris Family is all here.” I looked at everything familiar in the hall, things I had personally arranged for Jasper. In hindsight, it was truly ironic. The banquet hall was resplendent, and Jasper, in a white suit, was gracefully accepting blessings. A hint of amazement flashed in his eyes. “Adeline, you look beautiful today.” I looked at the face I used to be infatuated with, feeling a surge in my stomach: “Mr. Harris.” I subtly avoided his outstretched hand, “The emcee is calling us.” Jasper’s expression froze for a moment, then he raised a smile: “Adeline, there’s no need to be distant. After today, we’ll be the closest of people.” I secretly smiled. 3, 2, 1… I silently counted down, anticipating the upcoming drama. Sure enough, halfway through the engagement ceremony, the doors to the banquet hall were suddenly flung open. My sister stumbled in, her dress neckline torn half open, and rushed straight to Jasper. “Jasper, how could you do this to me…” Jasper’s face changed drastically, but instinctively he caught Phoebe, “Phoebe, what are you…” “I can’t go on!” Phoebe screamed hysterically, “Sister, Jasper got drunk last night and, and…” She deliberately let her strap slide down, revealing more marks. The guests’ eyes darted between the three of us, and murmurs filled the room. Mrs. Anderson was the first to lose composure, striding over to Phoebe, her gaze sharp. “Didn’t you say you twisted your ankle and couldn’t attend?” Phoebe sobbed, while Jasper comfortingly wiped her tears away. What a pair of lovers! What a display of uncontrollable emotions! It’s just a pity; one is my fiancé, and the other is my dear sister. I stood still and suddenly laughed. 2 I slowly walked to the emcee’s platform and took the microphone from the bewildered MC. “Everyone, it seems today’s engagement party will have an added show.” “Adeline!” Jasper urgently let go of Phoebe, “Let me explain, I was drunk last night and mistook Phoebe for you…” “Really?” I opened my phone, “Then on the 15th of last month, room 2808 at the Hilton Hotel, did you mistake someone then too?” The large screen suddenly lit up, playing a high-definition video— Jasper was holding Phoebe’s waist as they entered the elevator, kissing eagerly, and Phoebe even provocatively made a V-sign at the camera. The date was clearly displayed: 23 days ago. “No! This can’t be!” Phoebe screamed and lunged at the control panel, then turned to me, “Sister, you misunderstood! It’s fake!” I easily sidestepped and pressed play on the recording pen pinned to my skirt— “Jasper, I don’t want you to marry my sister, when will we…” Phoebe’s voice was sickeningly sweet, and the moans made one’s blood boil. “Don’t worry, she’s not as good as you, really a waste of a pretty face, our Phoebe is better~” “The kind that… can’t be detected.” The moans rose higher and higher, and the children in the room had already been taken away by their elders when the video started. The faint sounds were abruptly cut off. The room was dead silent. “What misunderstanding? That you’re calling me sister while climbing into my fiancé’s bed?” I wanted to laugh out loud. Jasper’s face was ashen: “Adeline, were you monitoring me?” “Monitoring?” I threw the engagement ring at his face, “I was afraid of dying for no reason!” I sneered inside. In my past life, they had imprisoned me in a mental hospital, forcing me to listen to this pair of scum flaunt their deeds. Things like “I had him before your engagement~” Or “We pick a hotel on the 15th of every month~” Or “Even though I promised Jasper to hold back at the engagement party, I just couldn’t help it~” Or “Sister, everything you have is inferior to me~ I want you to live in my shadow forever~” Jasper would only fondly tap Phoebe’s nose while laughing at my drug-induced torment. “You were impulsive at the engagement party, but fortunately, we convinced Mrs. Anderson to switch people on the spot.” “Indeed, who cares about alliances in the face of benefits, honey, luckily it was you~” The two shamelessly performed their live show in front of me, and just recalling it made me sick. “Trash matches scum, I wish you both an eternal bond.” By this time, my mother was already furious, and my father swung his fist at Jasper’s head. “I gave you face and you want to sleep with my precious one!” Jasper was so frightened by the fierce punch that he instinctively dodged. My father, even angrier, grabbed his collar and punched him again. Tears welled up in my eyes, not everything is about interests. My parents weren’t. It was they who wanted to estrange me from my parents before I died. In my past life, I was enraged by Phoebe’s act of snatching my fiancé, and the mocking and ridiculing eyes from so many people. Having always been smooth sailing, I covered my face and went to the bathroom to fix my makeup. My pride wouldn’t allow me to want something used, even if… This person was my beloved childhood sweetheart. But I fainted in the bathroom and woke up to be told the engagement party was over. The alliance partner was not me. The engagement party, broadcast live, had me mocked to no end. Comments like “Anderson’s young lady is nothing special” were unbearable. My mother visited once when I first woke up. “Adeline, Jasper is not your soulmate.” My conversation with my parents ended with that sentence. Afterwards, there was no word from them. Watching my parents rage and beating Phoebe and Jasper, I suddenly understood. It was their scheme. This time, I didn’t play into their hands, didn’t beg, didn’t plead, and didn’t have any ridiculous infatuation. 3 “Adeline, trust me once! I really know I’m wrong!” Jasper, being beaten, desperately grabbed my hand, his face bruised and swollen, pleading with me. The Harris family also realized what was happening and began to urge me. I knew I was susceptible to this. My usually gentle and elegant parents had their lips tightly pressed; they knew I liked Jasper, liked him dearly. They feared I would soften and plead. I raised my lips and slapped him backhanded. “Slap!” The crisp sound echoed throughout the banquet hall. Jasper’s face turned to the side, and another red mark appeared on his face. “Jasper, Mr. Harris,” I sneered, shaking off my numb hand, “Do you think I’m still as stupid as before?” I took out my phone and pulled up the bank statements: “In the past three months, what you’ve embezzled from Anderson Corporation…” “Adeline!” Several voices drowned out my next words. Luke Aiden’s rebuke, Jasper’s interruption, and Phoebe’s shame and anger. Luke Aiden was the first to react, slamming the table and questioning: “Adeline! Are you trying to ruin the cooperation between our two families?” I paused for a moment, and Luke Aiden was satisfied with my reaction, bringing all the business pressure onto me. “Miss Anderson,” Luke Aiden’s face was dark, his voice low, “It’s normal for young people to have conflicts, why be so aggressive?” Jasper understood, limping to turn off the screen, then confessing. “Adeline, today is our engagement day, I know I’m wrong, give me another chance.” The face Jasper wore made me sick. My mind whirled, my gaze meeting my mother’s wink. A childhood signal, whenever this happened, my father would lose the game. I smiled inside, my parents were supporting me. They wanted to see my performance, they were willing to back me up. I had a plan, and instead of looking at Jasper, I stared directly at Luke Aiden. “Uncle Aiden, your son slept with my foster sister, and you call this ‘a little conflict’?” Jasper limped over to switch off the big screen, then turned to seek forgiveness. “Adeline, it’s our engagement day. I realize my mistake. Please give me another chance.” Jasper’s face was truly unpleasant to behold. My mind was racing, and I caught my mother giving me a knowing wink. It was a childhood signal. Every time this happened, my father would inevitably lose the game. I smiled inwardly; my parents were backing me. They wanted me to succeed, and they were ready to support me. Resolute, I ignored Jasper and addressed Mr. Harris directly. “Uncle Harris, your son slept with my foster sister, and you call that ‘a minor disagreement’?” Mr. Harris’s expression grew even darker. “Jasper made a mistake any man might make, but the cooperation between Anderson Corporation and the Harris Family cannot stop. Does your father know you’re causing such a scene today?” He was trying to intimidate me. I was well-acquainted with Mr. Harris’s tactics. In my previous life, he was the one who orchestrated the downfall of the Anderson Family, step by step. “Uncle Harris,” I put on an innocent facade, “I just want some fairness.” “Fairness?” Mr. Harris sneered, turning to my father, whose clothes were slightly rumpled. “Mr. Anderson, don’t forget, the project in the west of the city is still under my control.” He left the sentence unfinished, but I understood, as did everyone present. It was my father’s most crucial project recently, with a significant part of Anderson Corporation’s funds invested. “And also, last month’s loan, the approval materials seem to have some issues…” My heart sank heavily. So, the Harris Family had started laying the groundwork this early. Mr. Harris, seeing his point made, signaled for Jasper to approach and take my hand. “Get away! Uncle Harris, are you threatening me?” “Adeline! You don’t…” Jasper protested. “Ha.” My mother, who had been silent, chuckled and clapped. “What a show, truly a farce. Adeline, come to your mother.” I smiled and lifted my dress as I headed toward my mom. My mother was a strong woman, with a sharp eye, and she naturally saw through the Harris Family’s intentions. She never thought much of Jasper’s weak methods, and this time it was beyond her expectations. “Mr. Harris, are you threatening the Anderson and Yin Families?” My mother was from the Yin Family, a clan that had remained hidden from the world, and today they sent her to congratulate her granddaughter’s wedding. Since she married my father, she had never suffered such humiliation. She elegantly curved her lips, her eyes filled with coldness. “Young Mr. Harris, my Adeline has never owed you anything, but you… are ungrateful.” “Phoebe, come here.” Caught off guard, Phoebe trembled as she was brought forward. Watching this scene, I felt truly delighted. I didn’t mind my parents taking it out on them. It would be best if this pair were locked away forever. “Mom.” Phoebe’s pitiful voice sounded, and I clearly saw Jasper’s eyes avoidantly shifting. “Call me aunt, I have only one daughter.” My mother mercilessly stripped away this layer of pretense. She could love Phoebe, but Phoebe couldn’t take it for granted. After all, Phoebe had always vaguely hinted at Mrs. Anderson’s affection for her. “Tell me, was it Adeline who slandered you on the 15th of last month?” Before Phoebe could speak, my mother turned to Jasper. “And you, tell me, where was the mistake in this matter?” Jasper’s lips moved but he didn’t speak, and I chuckled lightly. How poor my judgment must have been to like this person for over ten years. Phoebe couldn’t sit still. She knew her parents’ personalities too well, they were resolute and clear in their likes and dislikes. Without my mother’s affection, she feared she wouldn’t survive till tomorrow, with her father being so spineless. “Auntie, I know I wronged my sister, but Jasper and I… we truly love each other.” Phoebe looked pitiful, evoking sympathy from several men present. Jasper made his choice, kneeling on the spot and knocking his head twice in front of my parents. “Uncle, Auntie, I’m the one who was foolish, I’m the one who wronged Adeline.” He looked deeply at Phoebe. “I’m sorry to Phoebe, I want to marry her, please Uncle, Auntie, allow it!” I watched this play with amusement, wondering if the new couple could go far without financial support. Phoebe was the daughter of a friend who was abandoned after a friend’s accident. After the accident, my father discussed with my mother to adopt her. Back then, I was full of hope, looking forward to my new sister’s arrival. I remember the first time I saw her, so small and thin, and took her hand. But later, why did it turn into self-destructive pleasing of the other? When did the other gain such control?

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Daughter’s illness urgently needed money for treatment, but my wife held onto all my money and lavishly spent it on her wealthy new lover. I begged her to visit our daughter, but she threatened me to quit my executive position and become a servant for her new lover. Helplessly, I agreed, yet my wife went back on her word. “I’m her mom, not a doctor. Visiting her won’t cure her,” she said. Later, our daughter passed away despite rescue efforts, calling for her mom until the end. At that moment, my wife was celebrating her marriage registration with her new lover. When I confronted her, she dismissed me with a light remark, “Stop using this to manipulate me.” She didn’t know yet that the man she painstakingly wanted to marry was a conman. I suppressed my hatred and called my boss at the police department. “All the evidence has been collected. We can proceed with the arrest.” I was in the villa making dinner for Adeline and her boyfriend when the hospital called about my daughter. Hearing the doctor questioning why I hadn’t answered earlier, I feebly replied, “I didn’t hear it.” The doctor informed me my daughter had just been through a rescue, but fortunately, she was saved in the end. I felt slightly relieved. After hanging up, I checked my contacts and found that the hospital had indeed called several times before. “Why didn’t you pick up?” I stood in front of Adeline, fists clenched, unable to hide my anger. I had been cooking in the kitchen, leaving my phone with her, having instructed her to answer any calls. Adeline put down her crossed legs, scoffing. “Jude, get it straight. We’re divorced. I have no obligation to answer your calls.” “Right.” I took off my apron and walked toward the door. “Then I have no obligation to stay here and take your orders.” As I reached the door, Adeline spoke leisurely, “The door’s right there. Leave if you want. But I’m afraid I won’t have time to visit our daughter.” Remembering why I came here, I paused. Adeline had promised to visit our daughter at the hospital once I finished cooking. I held back my temper and asked, “Can we leave now?” “What’s the rush?” Adeline admired her newly done nails, not taking my words seriously. “Nash hasn’t come back to eat yet.” Just then, Nash entered with his daughter. Adeline quickly greeted him, took his coat, and led him to the dining table with a smile. “Dinner’s ready, come eat.” As Nash sat down, he glanced at me with a mocking smile. “So what if you graduated from a top university? You’re still just a servant here.” Adeline laughed, agreeing, “Exactly, how can he compare to you? He’s just a useless person.” Nash chuckled, pretending to be displeased, “Isn’t that harsh on your ex-husband?” Adeline snorted, “What’s the harm? It’s the truth.” Watching their disgusting faces, I wanted to leave, but thinking of my daughter waiting for her mom in the hospital, I gritted my teeth and endured. Just then, Nash’s daughter, Cora, kicked Adeline’s chair. “Hey, Adeline, do homework with me after dinner.” Adeline looked a bit troubled. I quickly said, “Adeline, you promised me. Lydia is still waiting for you.” Cora pouted, “Do you have something?” “No, no,” Adeline hastily replied. “Auntie has time. I’ll do homework with you after dinner, not going anywhere.” Before I could question her, Adeline pulled me outside. “You go by yourself. You saw I have no time, and it’s not a serious illness anyway.” I was furious, dragging her out. Adeline shook off my arm. “Jude, don’t think I don’t know your intention. You’re just using our daughter as an excuse to tie me down.” Adeline took out a wad of cash from her bag and threw it at my face. “Is this enough? Take the money and get lost. Don’t embarrass yourself in front of me.” Adeline turned back inside. I stood there for a long time, squatted down, and picked up the money one by one. As I picked up the last bill, Nash came out, stepped on my hand, and patted my face. “So pitiful, and you’re a high achiever?” “Yes, Mr. Nash, can you spare some help?” Seeing my calm response, Nash lost interest and turned back inside. I was penniless. Pride couldn’t compare to my daughter’s life. Back at the hospital, my daughter, seeing it was just me, lowered her eyes in disappointment but sensibly didn’t ask anything. My heart felt like it was gripped tight, suffocating. Hearing from her attending physician that there was a new treatment for her condition, but it required a million, guilt filled my heart again. I had entrusted all our money to Adeline, and when our daughter got sick, I had quit my job. What used to be easily accessible money was now hard to gather even a fraction of. I was about to call Adeline when I looked up and saw her approaching. Just as I thought she might still love our daughter, a loud slap landed on my face.

Adeline’s eyes were like daggers, wanting to kill me. She asked, “Did you ask Nash for money?” To chase after Nash, Adeline had portrayed herself as wealthy, lavishly spending my hard-earned money on high-end gifts for him. That was our daughter’s emergency fund. “So what if I did?” “Our daughter needs a million now, Adeline. You took at least five million from me. I’m not asking for much, just give me some back.” I saw the gifts Adeline gave Nash today were worth over a million. Adeline sneered, poking my chest, “I’ve never seen a man ask a woman for money, using a sick daughter as an excuse.” “Does our daughter know you curse her like this?” Apparently, she didn’t believe me. I pulled Adeline toward the hospital room, “Come see our daughter with me now.” “I’m not going!” Adeline struggled violently. Seeing the strange looks from people around, I released her. Unexpectedly, as soon as I let go, Adeline ran off. Back in the room, my daughter’s eyes sparkled, “Daddy, did Mommy come? I thought I heard her voice.” Tears welled up, and I turned away, not letting her see me cry. I lied, “She came, but she’s too busy with work and had to leave.” I took out a teddy bear I had bought earlier, saying it was a gift from Adeline. Seeing her smile, I let out a sigh of relief. Now I had to deal with the medical expenses. I instinctively touched my wrist, only to find my watch missing. Cold sweat trickled down my brow. It was the only memento left by my father before he passed, worth a million. I had decided to sell it to save my daughter. I forced myself to stay calm, thinking where I could have lost it. I had it when I came to the hospital. After checking the surveillance, I found that Adeline had taken it when I wasn’t looking. When I found her, Adeline had already sold the watch. “Jude, why are you so stingy? Think of it as a loan. When I marry Nash, I’ll have all the money I want. I can pay you back.” Adeline noticed my gaze on her suit and shamelessly asked, “Does it look good?” Not hearing my answer, she stepped back, holding the suit protectively. “It’s custom-made, not worth much if sold. Don’t get any ideas. I’m giving it to Nash.” Hatred surged. I wanted to drag her down with me. But for my daughter’s sake, I couldn’t. I said nothing, turned, and left. Rain poured like a waterfall. Walking through the rain, tears mixed with raindrops. Desperate, I dialed the number I knew by heart.

“Boss, can you lend me some money?” The deputy director at the police department replied without hesitation, “Yes, the organization knows your situation and will help.” After thanking him, I hung up. Adeline only knew my public identity as a company executive, but in reality, I was an undercover agent. I had been gathering evidence on Nash’s crimes. Nash, an uneducated man, loved seeing high achievers tormented. He didn’t know it gave me a chance to get close to him. Adeline thought I was stopping her from pursuing happiness, unaware she was after a wolf. Back at the hospital, the attending physician informed me that my daughter’s account had received a million, enabling the new treatment. I smiled. Returning to the room to accompany my daughter, I found her crying. I hurried over to ask what was wrong. With a choked voice, she said her teacher and classmates visited today. “Classmate Cora said Mommy doesn’t want me anymore, and she wants to be her mom now.” I held my daughter’s small hand in mine, overwhelmed with heartache. “Mommy loves you. I’ll go find her to come see you. Wait for Daddy.” I rushed out, blaming myself for being too busy with work and neglecting my daughter. Adeline used to be a good mom, which is why our daughter relied on her so much. No matter what, I had to bring Adeline to see her. At Nash’s place, Adeline was kneeling, washing Nash’s feet, with his foot on her back. Adeline still wore a smile. My heart ached; she had never done this for me. Seeing me, Nash whistled. “Mommy loves you. I’ll go find her for you right away. Hang in there, sweetheart.” I rushed out in a hurry. It’s my fault for being so busy with work before and neglecting my daughter. Adeline was always a wonderful mother; that’s why our daughter depended on her so much. I had to bring Adeline to see our daughter, no matter what. When I got to Nash’s place, Adeline was kneeling, washing Nash’s feet. Nash’s foot rested on Adeline’s back. Adeline still wore a smile. My heart ached once more. Adeline never treated me this way. Seeing me enter, Nash whistled. “Going to see that little one still hanging on? Still not gone?” Impulse surged through me. I couldn’t hold back and swung my fist at Nash’s face. When the foot bath water splashed on my face, a slap followed. Adeline, holding the empty bucket, glared at me: “Jude, who gave you the nerve to treat Nash like this?” I wiped my face and closed my eyes. When I opened them again, applause erupted behind Adeline. I took a closer look and was momentarily stunned. The girl applauding was the most beautiful person I had ever seen. She flashed a charming smile and said to Adeline: “Sister Lin, you’re really something.” Calling a woman “fierce” isn’t considered a compliment. Adeline’s face turned extremely unpleasant. I seemed to recognize who this girl was. A few days ago, Adeline complained to me that Nash seemed to have taken a liking to a younger, prettier girl. So she was trying her best to impress Nash. Nash’s face darkened upon hearing this and pointed at Adeline and me: “You’re making such a mess every day. Today, I don’t want to see you. Leave, both of you.” Nash ordered people to throw Adeline and me out. Adeline banged on the door, but no one opened it for her. When she raised her hand to teach me a lesson, I grabbed her wrist. “Two choices: come with me to the hospital to see Nian Nian, or I won’t hesitate to show Nash your pre-surgery photos.” “You’re threatening me!” Adeline stomped her foot in anger. But it didn’t take long for her to choose to come with me to the hospital to see our daughter. With that girl around, she didn’t dare let me show Nash her old photos. Before surgery, Adeline wasn’t just ordinary; she was downright unattractive. When we arrived at the hospital, our daughter’s eyes lit up seeing Adeline. Adeline pushed me out, saying she wanted to have a private conversation with our daughter. I stood on the hospital rooftop for half an hour. Thinking Adeline’s patience was probably wearing thin, I went back to the daughter’s room, only to see her being resuscitated. My head buzzed. I couldn’t understand how she could be fine just now and suddenly need resuscitation. The doctor came to me and said something. I didn’t catch it clearly, only vaguely heard words like “mental preparation” and “doing our best.” I knelt on the ground, pleading with the heavens not to take my daughter away. I don’t know how long passed, but my legs went numb from kneeling. A doctor came over, patted my shoulder, and told me: “We’ve done our best.” “There’s still some time, talk to your daughter.” I stumbled to my feet and went to my daughter’s side. She wasn’t as happy to see me as before, mumbling “Mommy, Mommy…” I trembled as I called Adeline, but no one answered. My daughter closed her eyes. Tears trickled down from the corners of her eyes. The monitor sounded an alarm, and I stared blankly at everything. Then the door to the room opened. Adeline walked in, her laughter clear and bright, “Jude, take a look at my marriage certificate with Nash. Since you used our daughter’s death to trick me, it’s only fair to make you give up…” I turned around, stepping aside. Adeline stopped mid-sentence when she saw our daughter lying quietly on the bed. 5 “Lydia, Lydia, why are you lying in bed without saying anything?” “Mom’s here. You always wanted to see her the most. Get up and talk to her.” Adeline approached her daughter slowly.

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Before I agreed to marry my husband, I was aware he had a childhood sweetheart. Their relationship had ended badly, beyond repair. I was pregnant and preparing confidently for our wedding when, unexpectedly, his first love lost her memory and reverted to the innocent 16-year-old she once was. My husband asked me to be understanding, to treat her like a patient. If she wanted my jewelry, makeup, or clothes, I should give them to her. If she wanted to stay in our home, she could. On the wedding day, with friends and family gathered, his first love appeared in a wedding dress with her wrists cut, pushing me down, claiming it was her wedding as my husband had promised. My husband, filled with pity, carried her out, saying, “Alright, alright, let’s get to the hospital first; we’ll plan the wedding later.” Plan later? What planning? He didn’t notice me, bleeding heavily on the ground… … On the wedding day, I touched my belly, forcing a smile. If I weren’t pregnant, I wouldn’t even want this marriage. Who could have imagined? My husband’s supposedly severed relationship with Adeline, his first love, suddenly turned into an amnesia case. She remembered only being 16, and my husband, also 16, promising to marry her. In his eyes, she became that pure, unblemished girl again. At the most crucial moment of the wedding, Adeline stormed in wearing a blood-stained wedding dress. Her wrists bled continuously, staining the hem of her dress, as she looked at my husband, “Declan, you promised you’d only marry me. This is my wedding, right?” I felt sick. Amnesia, melodrama, constant suicidal attempts—who believes that nonsense? My husband Declan is the one who does. He gently comforted her, trying to stop her bleeding, while she kept acting coy, forcing him to swear oaths. I stood on stage, feeling cold from head to toe, my heart nearly frozen. Below, friends and family whispered, their murmurs feeling like countless hands stripping me bare, exposing me publicly. This was my wedding. A woman’s most glorious, significant moment in life? Ridiculous. Even more ridiculous, Declan finally embraced Adeline, waving at me without looking back, “Fiona, you saw it yourself. I need to get her to the hospital quickly.” Of course, he had to rush her to the hospital. Any delay and she might magically heal. Adeline clung to Declan’s neck, acting all cute, “Say it’s my wedding, or I won’t go to the hospital.” Declan doted on her, “Yes, yes, it’s your wedding. All yours.” I bit my lip, blocking him, “Declan, think it through. You’re the groom. This is our wedding. Are you sure you want to leave?” Declan hesitated a moment. Adeline suddenly raged, pushing me violently, “You homewrecker, go die.” After pushing me, she fainted dramatically in Declan’s arms. Declan carried his first love away, saying, “I’ll get her to the hospital first; we’ll plan the wedding later.” Plan later? There’s no more planning! None at all. I lay there, holding my belly, watching the blood pool beneath me, feeling utterly desolate. … “My baby, my baby…” “My belly hurts so much…” After the runaway groom incident, amidst my cries, the wedding turned into a farce. Friends and family from both sides cursed Declan and took me to the hospital. The emergency room doctor glanced at me, and his face changed. As I was pushed into the operating room, he kept calling for consultations, mentioning miscarriage and massive bleeding. The critical condition notice came out, but no one was qualified to sign it. I struggled, repeatedly dialing Declan’s phone. Friends and family also tried calling him. No one could reach him. Before losing consciousness, I received a message from him: “Fiona, stop calling. Tell them to stop too. It’s affecting her mood, and I won’t let it go.” Affecting her mood… Our child is dying, I’m dying, and you’re worried about Adeline’s mood. Let it be. I was resigned, letting the medical staff do as they pleased. Before losing consciousness, I heard a doctor yelling, “Damn it, save her, I’ll take responsibility…” … Days later, I was alone at home, numb and lost, like a wandering soul. Declan came home, a suit draped over his shoulder, kicking off his shoes as he sank into the couch. “Bring me a basin of water to wash my feet.” I didn’t move, quietly leaning against the door, watching him. He closed his eyes, didn’t hear a response, and rubbed his temples in frustration. “I’ve been exhausted for days, don’t make me more annoyed, be sensible.” Before, seeing him like this, I’d feel sorry, even if Declan had a bad attitude. I’d massage his shoulders and legs, doing my best to be gentle. Now, I was indifferent, calmly saying, “Declan, let’s divorce. You’re tired, and so am I.” I regretted getting the marriage certificate first. Without that paper binding us, there wouldn’t have been this wedding, nor would he have kept compromising until… I touched my belly, feeling emptiness, like a part of my heart had been cut out. Now, I only felt ridiculous and didn’t want any connection with him. Declan paused, opened his eyes, and looked at me coldly, “Fiona, do you think this is fun?” “Adeline is a patient. Why are you competing with a patient?” “Do you know if the cut was half a millimeter deeper, she could have died?” “How can you be so cold-blooded?” I sneered, unmoved, finding it laughable. I’d heard similar things countless times, memorized them. “Oh… really?” “So what’s the result?” “Did she really die?” “Last time, the time before, and the time before that, did she die?” Maybe I once had sympathy, now there’s only disdain. Sympathy for her, who has sympathy for me? Since Adeline got sick, she turned my legally wedded husband into her exclusive possession. She monopolizes my husband, yet insists on more. She wants what I have, and more of what I don’t. It started with small Valentine’s Day gifts, flowers, chocolates, cards. She questioned my husband publicly about his infidelity, asking if he didn’t love her anymore. The result was Adeline threatening to jump off a bridge, forcing my husband to snatch the flowers and chocolates meant for me and give them to her. My husband promised to only spoil her, and she was satisfied, pulling him home with a smile. That Valentine’s Day, I sat dazed in a hotel while my husband comforted another woman at her place. That time, Declan felt guilty, showing up the next morning with flowers outside the hotel room as compensation. He said she was just sick, and once she got better, he’d leave her immediately. So I believed him. Believing led to retreating step by step, endlessly until there was no retreat left. I even began to doubt myself, wondering if fighting for a little space and rights was bullying a patient. Was I too unsympathetic? Of course, Declan thought so too. In this endless entanglement, I went from anger to numbness in less than half a year. Until I discovered Adeline was faking it, I finally woke up. But when I explained to Declan, it was too late. My heart had cooled, and I knew our marriage had reached its end. Yet, at this critical moment, I found out I was pregnant. I thought maybe having a child would make Declan come to his senses, see the truth, and return to me. But the truth was utterly ironic. He didn’t care about me, how could he care about a child? Now, the child is gone. Is he satisfied? Declan’s pupils contracted, standing abruptly from the sofa, staring at me, “Fiona, do you know what you’re saying?” I heard his suppressed anger, but I didn’t back down, “Does it sound harsh? Afraid I tainted your precious first love?” “Or are you scared my words will come true, and you can’t handle it?” “If she’s so important to you, why keep entangling with me? Let’s divorce. Once we divorce, you’re free.” From school uniform to wedding dress, from university to now, it’s been six years. For six years, I always gave in. Now, I won’t endure anymore! Declan, furious, slapped me, leaving five finger marks. I covered my face, avoiding his instinctively reaching hand, eyes full of disgust and hatred. Declan was at a loss, “Fiona, I didn’t mean to…” I turned to leave, but Declan grabbed me, hurriedly pulling out a jade bracelet, trying to remedy the situation, “Fiona, I know you’ve always liked my family’s jade bracelet, so I brought it today. I promise I’ll make it up to you with a grander wedding in the future, and you won’t suffer any more grievances.” “Adeline is just sick. Once she gets better, I’ll leave her. Just bear with it a bit longer, for me.” Seeing the jade bracelet, I found it laughable. He’s probably lost between me and Adeline. I never liked the jade bracelet. I only cared about him finding the matching rings we made out of candy wrappers in college. But those rings have been taken by Adeline, maybe burned or thrown in the trash. Who knows? The glaring marks on my face didn’t diminish my smile, “And next time? If she gets sick again, will you watch her die?” Declan tried to explain, “Adeline is just unwell right now. Once she’s better, I’ll leave her for sure. Please bear with it for now, for my sake.” The jade bracelet seemed absurd to me. He appeared confused, torn between me and Adeline. I never cared for jade bracelets. What mattered to me was his promise to find the matching rings we made with candy wrappers back in college. But Adeline had already taken those rings, possibly burned or thrown them away. Who knows? I had noticeable scars on my face, but my smile remained unfazed. “What about next time? If she falls ill again, will you just let her die?” Declan tried to assure me, “Next time, I won’t let her disrupt our wedding.” “Answer me directly.” “Fiona, why are you being so confrontational? You know Adeline is ill!”

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My husband’s mistress set a trap for me, and we both tumbled into the water. Derek didn’t twist the story or blame me. Instead, his fury exploded, and he aggressively pulled off Chloe’s designer jacket, practically forcing her to grovel at my feet. “So, you wanted to cool off because it was too hot, huh? Fine. I’ll make sure you get *really* cool.” But I didn’t feel a shred of gratitude. My heart was aching so much I curled into myself. Derek had long forgotten how he’d sacrificed half of his own heart to save me, years ago. Because of that, his every joy and sorrow vibrated through me. And right now, he was suffering deeply over Chloe’s pitiful state. “It’s fine, I’m just going to take a shower.” I quietly slipped away, leaving them space. I hadn’t gone far when I heard Derek’s tender, soothing voice. “Don’t be mad, babe. I knew you could swim, that’s why I didn’t pull you out. How else could I get Stella off my back and have you all to myself?” “Come here, baby, let me kiss you. Seeing you all wet like that just now, my pants were practically bursting.” I waited for the dull ache in my chest to subside, slowly morphing into a cold excitement. Then, I went up the mountain to find Sage Elias. “Master, is my Ethereal Heart ready?” “Have you thought this through? Once you replace your heart with the Ethereal Heart, you’ll be severed from the mortal world, with no turning back.” “Yes. After all, mortals and immortals are destined to walk different paths.” “Then you must retrieve a strand of hair from his beloved, a tear from their eye, and a drop of blood from their heart. Only then can you return his heart and create space for your own.” I nodded, swearing under my breath: Derek, I don’t want your heart anymore.

“Stella, where were you? Do you know how frantic I was searching for you for ages?” Derek was working on his laptop in bed, his leg injured from pulling me out of the water earlier that morning. The moment he saw me, he immediately dropped everything. He muted his microphone and turned off his camera on the video conference, then spun to face me, stretching out his arms like a child begging for a hug. “Can I have a hug? Tell me, am I sick? A few hours without you and I can barely stand it.” “I should claim workers’ comp! Come here and compensate me!” He completely ignored the screen where “Mr. Thorne” was being urgently called. If I hadn’t felt Derek’s heart thrumming wildly in my chest, I might have actually fallen for his sweet words. This feeling was all too familiar, the kind Derek only had when we were lost in passion. My gaze instinctively flickered to the strange bulge beneath his blanket. Suddenly, I understood his reaction. It was the middle of a scorching June day, and sweat beaded on Derek’s forehead, yet he’d pulled the blanket up to his waist, tucking it in tightly. Noticing my gaze, he gave a pitiful, wounded smile. “It’s a little chilly in the room. Don’t think I’m being delicate.” But Derek’s slightly ragged breathing, his continuously rising and falling chest, and his slightly hoarse voice betrayed him. If I wasn’t mistaken, his mistress, Chloe, was having her “meal” right under that blanket. He’d always been insatiable in bed, a true glutton for pleasure. Doing this right in front of me was just for the thrill of it. I suppressed a wave of nausea rising in my stomach, forced a smile, and a wicked thought formed. “Of course not. Want me to help you work up a sweat?” My uncharacteristic attitude left him momentarily speechless. Before, he’d been glued to my side, wanting to carry me in his pocket even when I just stepped out. Now, my forwardness visibly flustered him. The closer I got, the tighter his heart clenched. Under such violent fluctuations, it felt like I’d been punched in the chest. I let out a muffled groan of pain, finally stopping. Derek gazed at me, full of concern, but made no move to get out of bed. “What’s wrong?” Suddenly, it felt like all the strength had been drained from me. I didn’t want to make things hard for him, or for myself. “Never mind. It’s… dirty. It smells.” Derek didn’t grasp the deeper meaning of my words, thinking I was talking about myself. He subtly let out a sigh of relief. “What? My darling always smells wonderful.” I turned and walked straight out of the room, not looking back. He only managed to call out a perfunctory concern to my retreating back. “Stella, are you really okay? I’ll come be with you as soon as I finish this meeting!”

I hid in the study, gasping for a few breaths to recover, then looked at our wedding photo hanging on the wall and felt a sudden pang of ridiculousness. Memories flooded back, and I seemed to see Derek back then, holding me, his gaze fixed on my face, beaming with pure happiness. As if nothing else in the world mattered to him but me. Even the photographer had been amused by his intense devotion, teasing him, “I’ve been a wedding photographer for years and never seen a groom like this. Relax, your wife isn’t going anywhere. Don’t be like this when you take her out, or you’ll lose your money and not even notice.” Derek, utterly unashamed, boasted, “What could possibly be more precious than my wife? Forget a little money; I wouldn’t trade her for my life. I have to watch her. If she ran off, where would I cry?” Everyone laughed, calling him a soft-hearted wife-slave. Watching Derek come home every day with handfuls of cupcakes, never forgetting to lift his shirt to warm my feet, I also felt it was a bit much. I gently advised him, “You’re acting like a big CEO, you know. You won’t have any credibility. Be careful, all your subordinates might leave.” But he didn’t care. He rubbed against my neck, complaining playfully, “I’m so wronged! I don’t treat anyone else like this, only you. This lifetime, only you.” Derek’s solemn promises back then gave me such a sense of security, filling me with an indescribable satisfaction, the joy of a gamble won. Years ago, I came down from the mountain for training and happened to save Derek when his house caught fire. He escaped the blaze, his parents gone, and followed me every day. Calling me “Immortal Sister,” he launched an intense pursuit. I only saw him as a child, lacking love. Until later, during an accident, I was severely injured, nearly on the verge of fading away completely. It was Derek who, without hesitation, offered half his heart to me. Initially, after becoming linked with Derek, to avoid my own discomfort, I stopped resisting his pursuit. But a young man’s love is sincere and fervent, each tremor unforgettable, slowly swaying my resolve. My Master, learning of my injury, had forged an Ethereal Heart for me, which could restore my divine body, free me from desires, and return my powers. Yet, the thought of forgetting him, of a separation like death, was unbearable. Derek had already quietly drifted into my heart amidst the gentle winds and rain. Master, seeing my thoughts, earnestly advised me, “All things in the world change in an instant. The deep blue sea can turn into mulberry fields; what then of the ethereal human heart?” “If you truly insist on not retrieving your Ethereal Heart, you will only become a mortal.” “The Ethereal Heart can only be preserved for ten years. I can keep it for you. If you change your mind, come find me anytime.” Although Derek gradually lost his memories of that time due to his heaven-defying act of sacrificing his heart, and my powers were stripped away, making my body increasingly frail from the impact, what did it matter? I couldn’t use inner energy to dry my hair; Derek dried it for me. My cold feet, unable to maintain warmth with magic; Derek warmed them for me. I worked alongside him, building from nothing to becoming a rising star in the business world. We survived the seven-year itch. But I never expected that a month before our tenth anniversary, I’d find women’s underwear in the back seat of his car.

I waited until the sun set before the “battle” ended there. Once I was sure Derek had gone to the bathroom to shower, I returned to the bedroom to find the first item Sage Elias had requested: Chloe’s hair. The bed was neatly made, not a single wrinkle. The air freshener scent wafting through the room was my favorite sandalwood. Even the trash cans around the room held no trace of a secret tryst. After all, he’d used the same meticulous care when picking fish bones out for me back then. Only now, that patience was being used to clean up the aftermath of his affair. I was still feeling a pang of regret when I was suddenly embraced from behind by a hot body. “Babe, what are you doing? Come on, dinner’s ready.” Under Derek’s gentle pushing and pulling, I had to put it aside for a moment and follow him to the dining room. He scooped a wonton, blowing on it thoughtfully to test the temperature before bringing it to my lips. “My Queen, please grace me with your acceptance. I just learned to make these today. They might not look perfect, but I promise I’ll do better next time.” All these years, no matter how busy Derek was, he always made me three meals a day. From scrubbing vegetables to mastering gourmet dishes, he always did it all himself. It was only because I’d become mortal and had to bear dual emotions that my body grew exceptionally weak. To keep him from worrying, I lied and said I had a sensitive stomach. So he became extra diligent about my diet, cooking for nearly ten years. Initially, the food lacked color, aroma, and taste, but I still ate contentedly. Now, his cooking skills had improved so much he’d even earned various chef and nutritionist certifications. But I gradually couldn’t taste anything anymore. It was his heart that had changed. I stared into Derek’s eyes, saying nothing. I took the wonton from his spoon and chewed it roughly. However, just as I was about to swallow, I suddenly felt something long and coiled wrap around my tongue. The moment I realized what it was, I sprang up, rushed into the bathroom, and locked the door. Looking in the mirror, I indeed pulled out a tangled strand of long hair from my mouth. It was exactly what I’d been looking for—Chloe’s hair. The belated surge of revulsion made me almost throw up my guts. Derek, locked outside, hammered on the door. “Stella, what’s wrong? Are you okay? Don’t scare me, let me in to see you!” I ignored him. With shaky hands, I finally managed to pull out my phone and open the kitchen surveillance feed. I’d installed it years ago, worried about my pets getting onto the counters and knocking things over. Now, it was serving a different purpose. I pressed play, and the shocking scene on the screen instantly made my head spin.

In the dining room, Derek lifted Chloe by her butt and placed her on the long prep table. Their breathing was ragged, and they entangled themselves passionately, in no time at all, squashing the perfectly round, snowy-white wontons on the table into a crooked mess. “Why did you go to all that trouble, pretending these wontons were homemade when you clearly ordered takeout? What’s the point?” “You don’t understand, babe. Women fall for the effort. I want to make her happy, so Stella doesn’t keep suspecting I don’t love her anymore.” Chloe frowned, then turned her head, refusing his kiss. “She gets to be pampered, and I don’t?” Derek tried to peck her lips several times but failed. Growing impatient, he pulled a black card from his pocket. “Here, baby, take this card. Caviar, foie gras, black truffles – swipe it for whatever you want. Why would you bother with cheap takeout when you have this?” “Besides, I’m doing this so we can spend more time together, you know? You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to try it in the kitchen.” Chloe took the black card with her teeth, finally satisfied. She stopped resisting and instead reached for a jar of peanut butter, smiling meaningfully. “Alright, tit for tat. My turn to treat you. I remember you love peanut butter. I bought this specially for you on the way here.” Then, she generously scooped out a large spoonful and suggestively dabbed it on her intimate areas. Derek instantly became like a hungry wolf, his eyes turning red. He lunged and bit deeply into Chloe’s neck. Under his intense assault, Chloe squirmed uncontrollably. The two of them left various marks all over the food on the table. They were completely oblivious to when hair got mixed into the food. Was this how all the meals I’d eaten all these years were made? With a loud crash, Derek burst through the door, his face going pale the moment he saw my phone screen. “Stella…” “Where does it hurt? Is it serious?!” A second before he burst in, I had already switched the monitor screen to my dialing interface. My nails dug deep into my palms as I forced a smile, despite the discomfort.

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My wealthy wife would ‘gift’ me an investment property every time she spent the night at her male assistant’s place. Two years into our marriage, I held titles to 96 properties scattered across the city. Each one a stark reminder of the 96 times she’d wounded me. When the 97th property deed landed in my hands, her male assistant immediately sent me a taunting video. “So what if Celeste gives you money? I have her heart, her very being. What good is being an international supermodel if you still can’t even get your own wife into bed?” I didn’t stoop to his level. Instead, I thoughtfully mailed him a new, high-fashion outfit straight from the latest runway. When my wife found out about my generous gift, she rewarded me by inviting me to an exclusive high-society party with her. During a party game, her male assistant lost three times in a row and was dared to lick the cream off Cassie Vane’s thigh. He shattered a wine bottle, pressing the jagged edge to his throat, vowing not to comply. “Celeste, I refuse to let anyone humiliate me!” My usually aloof wife instantly panicked. She pleaded with me to take the punishment for him. “It’s just licking some cream. I promise that after this, I’ll go home and spend some quality time with you.” Everyone waited for me to make a fool of myself, but I quietly accepted without a fuss. She didn’t know this was the 97th time she’d hurt me. And I no longer wanted to be her plaything. I was simply waiting to repay her kindness for saving me. Once that was done, we’d have nothing left between us.

“Oh, the international supermodel actually agreed to lick it? What a woman Celeste is, she really knows how to handle her men!” “What if he doesn’t lick it, then? Are we really going to let Leo do it? That’s Celeste’s precious Leo, the one she’s always pined for!” The mocking chatter around me was incessant, and I felt nothing but humiliation amidst it all. Yet, amidst this sickening display of condescension, Celeste Kingston half-knelt in front of Leo Thorne, carefully applying a bandage to his neck. Then she turned, her eyes cold as she gestured at me. “Asher Hayes, don’t play games. Leo is waiting for you to finish so we can continue the game.” Leo, Leo… She only cared about Leo, never once asking if I was willing. She completely forgot I was her husband. Seeing me frozen, someone abruptly shoved me. “Why are you just standing there? Go on, lick it! You’re not backing out, are you?” I stumbled, regaining my balance, and looked at Celeste again. Her gaze was already fixed entirely on Leo once more. “Ninety-six times. This is the ninety-sixth time.” I silently counted, stiffly walking towards Cassandra Vane, the notorious socialite who had cream on her leg. But just as I stooped down, her hand suddenly clamped onto my chin. She looked at Leo. “Mr. Thorne, this isn’t right. You lost three rounds to me. Just one lick won’t do.” “How about the ‘Egg Challenge’? If you can convince him to do it, the punishment is null and void.” The ‘Egg Challenge’? What in the world was that?! An unknown dread immediately surged through me. I quickly looked to Celeste. But the next second, Leo was already looking at Celeste with pleading eyes, clinging to her arm, whimpering playfully. “Celeste, it’s just a dare. Can you get Asher to agree just this once…?” Seeing Leo’s fragile body trembling, Celeste was filled with nothing but tenderness. Her eyes blazed as she looked at me. “Asher, you’re willing to lick cream, so you won’t mind taking another dare for Leo, right?” “Yay! Thank you, Celeste!” Leo jumped up, beaming with triumph. Watching Celeste gently ruffle Leo’s hair, her expression doting and indulgent, I started to laugh. My dignity had been trampled. I was nothing but a toy, to be tormented and played with. Celeste, how could you be so heartless as to make me perform some twisted act, to be humiliated for him again? Oh, right, I almost forgot. Leo was her unattainable moon. She’d pursued him for years with no success. Then, their families had torn them apart, and Leo had left the country overnight. Now that she finally had what she desired, how could I possibly compete? Suppressing the bitterness in my heart, I spoke stiffly. “So, does that count as a forgiveness voucher?” A forgiveness voucher? Everyone laughed at my strange question, but Celeste suddenly looked at me. She knew what I was talking about. After a moment, she nodded. “It counts!” I gave a bitter laugh. “Alright, I agree.” Eight years ago, I had just entered the modeling world when I was noticed by a powerful, ruthless circle of women, who essentially confined me on an island. There, alongside other young men, I became their… ‘entertainment.’ I was lucky. Celeste Kingston was the first woman I met there, and she fell for me instantly. For my sake, she systematically took over their businesses, ensured they ended up behind bars, and rescued me from that life. Only later did I learn that my features bore an uncanny resemblance to Leo’s. But on the night I was rescued, I asked her how I could repay her kindness. Her eyes were sincere. “Marry me.” I gave her a playful squeeze. “I’m serious.” Her breath hitched as she clung to me, her words a tangled whisper: “Then… give me ninety-nine forgiveness vouchers.” “Forgiveness vouchers?” I was curious, clinging to her, not understanding. At that moment, she smiled. “Silly boy. If—and I mean *if*—if one day, I hurt you ninety-nine times, I’ll use these vouchers to make you forgive me ninety-nine times. Once the vouchers are used up, this debt of gratitude will be paid off.” For the next five years, she poured massive resources into my career, turning me into an international supermodel. She cherished me like precious treasure. Until two months ago, when Leo returned. Everything changed. This was the 97th time. Just two more. My debt would be repaid. Seeing Celeste agree, Cassie Vane pulled me into her private VIP room, a dimly lit chamber draped in silk. Boiled eggs were scattered across a low table, and on the floor, two or three men lay in disheveled heaps, a cloying scent of decay and degradation hanging in the air. A shiver of dread crawled up my spine. My blood ran cold. So the “eggs” Leo talked about meant… stuffing them into a private place… Celeste, who had followed us in, suddenly stiffened, her pupils constricting. She turned to Leo. “Wasn’t it about eating eggs?! What is this?” But Leo ignored her. He simply pushed me forward. “Cassie, Mr. Hayes used to be a dancer, his flexibility is sure to… impress you.” “Don’t you want to try it yourself? Challenge the limits?” As Leo’s words fell, I, already terrified, trembled violently and immediately looked to Celeste for help. At the very least, I was still her husband. She had loved me once. Though she’d put me through a lot for Leo, she wouldn’t really hand me over to a pervert, would she? But to my shock, the next second, Celeste walked to the table, poured a glass of wine, and pressed it into my hand. “Why don’t you offer Cassie a toast? Get this party started, Asher.” Get the party started? Was she serious? She… she actually agreed? In a daze, I saw Leo give me a strange, knowing smile. “Asher! Didn’t you hear Celeste?” As I watched Leo approach, unsure what to do, he suddenly kicked me in the knee. My body instantly lost balance, and the wine in my hand splashed across Cassie Vane’s face. Then I fell onto the shattered glass, my arm instantly gushing with several cuts. My eyes met the twisted, pale face of one of the men on the floor. Leo’s sharp accusation rang in my ears: “Asher, if you don’t want to toast, just say so! There’s no need to pretend to be crazy to provoke Cassie. Is that how Celeste’s husband acts? You’re just trying to embarrass Celeste!” Cassie’s expression froze for a moment, then she reacted, her eyes widening as she looked at me. “You… you’re the rumored husband of Celeste Kingston?” I was speechless, slumped on the floor, my body and heart aching almost to the point of suffocation. Cassie reached out to grab my arm, but Celeste immediately caught her wrist. Celeste’s gaze swept over my blood-soaked face. Her eyes suddenly turned dark and chilling as she looked at Cassie, gritting her teeth. “Get out!” Cassie was intimidated. She could only swallow her anger and slink away, muttering under her breath as she left. “Celeste Kingston! You’re crazy! If I’d known you were this lunatic’s husband, I wouldn’t have touched him!” As Cassie disappeared, I tried to get up, but a large hand clamped onto my arm again. “Asher, you’re happy you didn’t have to take the punishment, aren’t you? Did those two years on the island teach you nothing about obedience?” “All you had to do was offer a toast, and this whole thing would’ve been over. Why did you have to play crazy? You knew perfectly well that by asking you to toast, I wanted to end this! Are you blind?” As I stared at an enraged Celeste, my bloodshot eyes were my only answer. This time, I finally didn’t hold back. I retorted: “Celeste Kingston! I’m your husband! If you had just stated my identity, this whole thing could have been resolved just as easily!” My words were clear. It was *her*. It was her vanity, her desire to protect Leo at that moment, that made her keep my identity secret. My accusation hit a nerve. Celeste looked momentarily flustered. Seeing this, Leo tried to interject on her behalf. But Celeste, unusually, frowned and cut him off. “Enough! Shut up, go wait for me in the car.” Once his footsteps faded, she sighed. “I’m sorry, but I still need to explain. I genuinely didn’t know what the ‘Egg Challenge’ meant. If I had, I never would have agreed in the first place.” “As for Leo, I hope you can understand. After all, he just returned to the country and saw that I was married…” Celeste’s words trailed off, but I could still guess the rest. She wanted to say that Leo was upset about her marriage and deliberately made things difficult for me, so I should forgive him. Our eyes met. Celeste seemed to grasp the mockery in my gaze, and she sighed again. “Alright, I see you’re hurt. I’ll have the driver take you to the hospital. Leo’s not doing well, I need to check on him. We can discuss this more when I get back.” Without waiting for my reply, she added, “Even though you didn’t complete the task, I’ll allow you to count it as a forgiveness voucher.” With that, she turned and left. Watching her walk away, I touched my still bleeding forehead and laughed out loud. But I didn’t care anymore. Two more times. Once the debt of gratitude was paid, I would leave. From then on, I wouldn’t suffer her indignities anymore.

The driver took me home. It was late, and Celeste hadn’t returned. I didn’t ask. The next day, her assistant delivered her gifts: two commercial property deeds. She had specifically emphasized that one was compensation for forcing me to lick the cream, and the other was an apology for making me do the ‘Egg Challenge.’ I expressionlessly labeled the deeds 96 and 97, then casually tossed them into the safe. Next to me, Mrs. Davis, the servant, gave a knowing, doting smile. “Madam Kingston certainly spoils you, Mr. Hayes. These gifts are becoming more and more frequent.” I smiled without a word. She didn’t know these were just Celeste’s compensations each time she hurt me. Looking at the overflowing safe, I knew I would be leaving soon. But before I left, I only wanted to take one thing: a camera containing something I had to destroy. Celeste had a strong exploratory curiosity when it came to intimacy. In moments of passion, she would impulsively use the camera to record us. Before, those videos were just a part of our marital fun. But now, I didn’t want them to remain. If they were ever exposed, my life would be ruined. I searched every corner of the room, but I couldn’t find the camera. Just as I was about to search again, Mr. Harrison, my agent, called, his voice booming with rage. “Asher Hayes, have you lost your mind? Look online, private photos of you are everywhere! How dare you secretly accompany other wealthy women behind Celeste’s back? If you want to die, don’t drag the whole company down with you!” In an instant, my mind exploded. I only heard my agent’s last line. “You’d better give me an explanation for the online videos immediately! And Celeste’s fury… otherwise, we’ll haunt you even from the grave!” The call ended. I quickly opened my phone. The top trend was a series of my private videos. And the bold, explosive headline: **[International Supermodel Asher Hayes Sleeps His Way To The Top]**. Celeste was pixilated, but my face was clearly visible in the center, flushed with desire. Millions of netizens were online, spewing hateful comments, calling me a slut for sleeping with multiple wealthy women for resources, a man who could be used by anyone. My legs gave out, and I collapsed to the floor. But in the last moment of exhaustion, Celeste, who had suddenly appeared, firmly caught me in her arms. “Don’t look at those. It’s okay. I’ll handle it. Trust me!” Her comforting words had barely faded when she turned, her face cold, and roared at everyone in the room. “Who did this! Tell me! Who did this!” Seeing her raw, unbridled fury, my eyes instantly stung with tears. At the same time, Leo’s casual voice drifted into the room. “Celeste, you mean the videos? I uploaded them!” The hand wrapped around my waist tightened abruptly. Celeste and I simultaneously looked at Leo. “Don’t look at me like that! I just happened to see them and thought Asher’s body was too amazing to be seen only by you, Celeste. What a waste! So I took it upon myself to share them!” “After all, beautiful things are meant to be shared for everyone to enjoy, right?” Immediately, blood rushed to my head. I stood up to slap Leo, but Celeste firmly caught my hand. “Asher! That’s enough!” I was grief-stricken and furious. I shouted, “But he…” To my surprise, before I could finish, Celeste glanced at a triumphant Leo, then turned back to me, frowning. “I’ll have the trending topics taken down. This matter ends here. Don’t cause trouble for Leo, okay? You know, he’s just…” “No! Celeste, why should I let it go?! He’s ruined my reputation! Why should I let it go?!” “I’m going to sue him for defamation! He has to pay for this!” My bloodshot eyes met Celeste’s, refusing to back down even an inch. “Asher! You!” Celeste took a sharp breath, about to continue persuading me. But Leo tugged at Celeste’s sleeve, feigning sobs, his eyes red. “Celeste! Don’t say anymore. I know I was wrong. Just let Asher sue me. It’s my fault for being jealous, jealous that Asher married you. It’s all my fault! If only I had tried harder back then!” As he spoke, Leo’s eyes turned red, and he actually started to sob. “Asher, I truly know I was wrong. I’ll get on my knees and apologize to you. Please, don’t make things difficult for Celeste.” “Whatever makes you happy. I’ll go confess right now and clear your name! What’s the worst that can happen? I’ll be ruined too. But please, don’t let this ruin your relationship with Celeste.” Seeing Leo about to kneel to me, Celeste’s eyes turned icy again, and she said to me in a low voice: “Asher! Leo already knows he made a mistake. It’s best to be merciful when you can.” “Anyway, your reputation is already gone. Why don’t you just retire from the industry and live a life of leisure as a wealthy young man at home? Wouldn’t that be better?” I was shocked by her blindness, disbelieving that Celeste would still indulge him to this extent. I was about to say more, but the next second, I received a stinging slap across my face. My cheek burned. Her knuckles were red, her breathing ragged, and a never-before-seen violence surged in her eyes. She threw a disclaimer at me. “Be a good boy and sign this. Once the storm passes, I’ll help you make a comeback.” “But if you dare to call the police again, don’t even think about stepping out of this door!” “I won’t sign!” I gritted my teeth, staring fiercely at her. But no matter how I struggled, how I refused to sign, Celeste forcibly pressed my handprint onto the disclaimer. The moment I collapsed to the floor, exhausted. An unprecedented sense of powerlessness and piercing pain swept over my entire body, like a thousand needles pricking my heart. They left, their casual conversation like venomous insects burrowing into my ears: “Celeste, is Asher okay…?” “He’s fine. As long as he wants to make a comeback, he’ll listen to me. At worst…” “I’ll give him a forgiveness voucher. There are still dozens left anyway. He’ll be obedient.” No, there weren’t. Only one last one remained. Celeste Kingston, I won’t be your puppet anymore. I lay stunned on the floor for a long time before returning to my room and retrieving my journal. Though everyone said the modeling industry wasn’t much cleaner than entertainment, I truly loved my career. Standing on that runway, enveloped by the spotlight, that surge of confidence was where I found my worth. But now, it was utterly destroyed. Perhaps even fate was telling me it was time to leave, to let go. Tears streaming, I wrote about the day’s events in my journal, ending with “98.” Each time she hurt me, I would record it in my journal, reminding myself not to soften. But then, Celeste’s voice suddenly came from behind me. “What does 98 mean?”

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I secretly sent Stella’s first love, the one she’d harbored for ten years, overseas. That very night, Stella kidnapped our daughter, who had just graduated high school, and hid her at a remote reservoir. A ticking time bomb was strapped to her body. Her eyes were eerily calm, as if she was just negotiating a deal. “David, you’d better tell me where Noah is. Otherwise, our daughter will be blown to bits because of you.” I screamed, losing it, “That’s your daughter too!” Stella didn’t flinch. She just glanced at the time. “You have ten minutes.” Agony ripped through me as I revealed Noah’s whereabouts, in exchange for the reservoir’s address. I ran, desperate, to the location. I saw my daughter tied up, and the rapidly shrinking countdown on the bomb— 00:00:59 00:00:58 00:00:57 My hands trembled as I frantically fumbled with the ropes. But the bomb on Chloe, it just wouldn’t come off. The sound of the countdown shrinking pounded in my ears, like a death knell. Tears streamed down my face. I wished it was me tied up there. “Don’t be scared, sweetie. Daddy will save you. Daddy won’t let anything happen to you…” Chloe’s face was deathly pale. She was crying, saying goodbye to me. “Daddy, you have to go. Don’t try to untie it. I’m so happy to have been your daughter in this life. And Mom, you can have another sibling in the future. Don’t be sad for me…” Even then, Chloe didn’t know the person who kidnapped her was the very ‘Mom’ she spoke of. Tears wouldn’t stop falling. My emotions were spiraling out of control. I called Stella, begging for help. “Tell me! Which wire do I cut to disarm the bomb?!” Stella scoffed, her voice laced with suppressed fury. “Red. Cut the red one.” The next second, the call was abruptly cut. I stared at the countdown, found the red wire, and pulled it with all my might. The red wire snapped. Then, with a deafening *BOOM*, the explosion rocked the ground. I was thrown ten feet back by the impact. Ignoring the searing pain, I opened my eyes to find Chloe, but all I saw was a bloody mess. “Chloe—!” I couldn’t understand how this happened. I cut the red wire, exactly as Stella told me. I crawled over, cradling Chloe’s mangled body, sobbing so hard I couldn’t breathe. In the last moment, Chloe had pushed me away. But now, I could only watch her lie there. I mustered every ounce of strength to carry Chloe on my back, called for an ambulance, and stumbled onto the road. I was covered in blood – some mine, most hers. The doctors and nurses arrived quickly. They gasped in horror at Chloe’s condition. “Quick, rush her to emergency!” I waited outside the operating room. The nurses tried to treat my wounds, but I refused. I prayed again and again, offering my own life in exchange for Chloe’s. But what awaited me was a critical condition notice. I fell to my knees, grabbing the doctor’s scrubs, begging him, my forehead scraping the ground. “Please, save my daughter. She just graduated high school. Her life was just beginning…” The doctor looked pained. After a moment, he said, “I’m truly helpless. In this situation, only top specialists might be able to save her.” I rushed to beg the specialists as the doctor suggested, only to find out they had all been pulled away. And the one who pulled them away was my wife, Stella. I didn’t know whether to cry or laugh. My hands shaking, I called Stella again. “Stella, Chloe is dying, she needs emergency help! You have to let the specialists—” Before I could finish, Stella cut me off, her voice icy. “David, there’s a limit to your lies. Don’t think you can use Chloe to trick me into coming home.” I pleaded, broken, “I’m telling the truth! Chloe was injured by the bomb!” Stella’s voice grew even colder. “Enough! Those bombs were fake! How could they hurt Chloe?! You’re truly a ruthless man, fabricating such lies!” The next second, the call was slammed shut. When I tried to call back, her phone was off. I collapsed to the ground, utterly shattered.

I pleaded for hours, my face smeared with blood from kowtowing, but I couldn’t get any specialists to save my daughter. Back in the ward, I looked at Chloe, her body a raw mess on the bed, and wept uncontrollably. “Chloe, I’m so sorry. Daddy is useless…” Daddy can’t save you. Chloe’s eyes slowly turned to me, her lips trembling. I leaned closer to hear her voice. “Daddy…don’t be sad…I…it doesn’t hurt…” “Mom…where is she…I want to talk to her…” “If I don’t say it…now…it might be too late…” Tears streamed down my face. I couldn’t bring myself to tell Chloe the truth. How cruel would it be for her to know that her own mother, for another man, had bombed her? She was the daughter Stella had longed for, cherished for so many years. We were once such a happy family of three. I didn’t know why things had turned out this way. I pulled out my phone to call Stella again, but it was still off. I called her assistant instead. He finally answered. I heard a voice on the other end: “Ms. Jiang, it’s Mr. David. He says Miss Chloe has something she wants to tell you.” Stella sounded annoyed, “It’s just another one of his excuses. From now on, hang up whenever he calls.” I wanted to scream that it wasn’t an excuse, that Chloe was really dying. But before I could say a word, the call was disconnected. When I turned and met Chloe’s sorrowful gaze, my heart felt like it was being ripped apart by a giant hand. “Mom…doesn’t want to talk?…Is it because…I didn’t do well on my last test…” “Daddy, please…tell Mom I’m sorry…” “Daddy, will Mom…be sad for me…after I die?” Hearing Chloe’s words, my heart ached so much I could barely breathe. Chloe had always craved her mother’s approval, studying exceptionally hard. But Stella’s heart had long since drifted away from her. I clutched Chloe’s hand, shaking my head violently. “No, darling, Mom…Mom is just busy. She doesn’t know.” “Chloe, don’t fall asleep. Look at Daddy…Just hold on a little longer. You’ll see Mom soon…” I kept calling, but the calls were hung up again and again. Broken and desperate, I could only hold Chloe’s hand, begging her to wait. But I watched as Chloe slowly closed her eyes, her hand slipping from my grasp. In an instant, the world spun around me. My vision went black, and I collapsed, losing consciousness. When I opened my eyes again, I stared at the white ceiling, momentarily disoriented. I felt like I’d had a terrible nightmare. Then I heard a nurse’s voice nearby: “Ms. Jiang pulled all our hospital’s specialists to standby, just for her beloved’s check-up. So enviable.” “But that father and daughter yesterday, they were so pitiful. I heard the girl who died had just finished high school. Oh, I guess some people are just born with different fates.” They didn’t know that the girl who died yesterday was Ms. Jiang’s own daughter. Tears slid from the corners of my eyes. I didn’t want to open them. I hated so much. Stella, you killed our daughter. I pulled out the IV needle from my hand and got out of bed. As I stepped out, I unexpectedly saw Stella, carefully supporting Noah, treating him like a rare treasure. “Stella, I told you I’m fine. You just had to make me get checked.” Stella’s voice was gentle, devoid of the cold ruthlessness she showed me. “No, it’s not enough. I’ll only be at ease after your check-up.” I watched the scene, my eyes burning. When we first got together, Stella was just as meticulous with me. If I even scraped my skin, she wouldn’t rest until the family doctor had checked me over. After Chloe was born, if she had a fever, Stella would worry and care for her all night. If Chloe coughed a few times, Stella would personally炖 (stew) her some rock sugar pear soup. She said Chloe was the crystallization of our love. I once believed we would live happily ever after. But a few years later, other men started appearing in her life. She started coming home late, and spent less time with Chloe. And now, to find out Noah’s whereabouts, she kidnapped and bombed our daughter. To give Noah a full body check, she left Chloe with no medical care, just waiting to die. Poor Chloe, even in her last moments, she was still thinking of her mother… More tears fell. The pain in my chest had begun to turn numb.

I didn’t even have the strength to confront her. I turned, wanting to leave. But Noah pointed in my direction, a timid expression on his face. “It’s… Mr. David… Why is he here? Is he trying to send me away again?” He nervously clutched Stella’s clothes, as if he was terrified of me. Stella’s brows furrowed. Her cold, piercing gaze instantly swept over me. “David, you really don’t give up, do you? You actually followed me to the hospital!” She ordered her bodyguards to restrain me. I struggled, and blood started to seep from the back of my hand. Stella saw it and sneered, “Using a pity play now?” “Yesterday you lied about Chloe being injured by a bomb, today you’re faking your own bleeding. Tell me, what’s next? Are you going to buy an urn next and set up a whole funeral service?” I sharply raised my head, my eyes burning with intense hatred. “Stella, do you have any heart?! Chloe is dead! You killed her with that bomb!” Stella froze, startled by my frantic state. A flicker of hesitation crossed her face. Noah stepped forward, frowning slightly, and spoke disapprovingly. “Stella arranged for fake bombs. How could they possibly kill little Chloe? Mr. David, if you’re going to make up a story, at least make it believable.” “I know you don’t want me near Stella, but you can’t joke about Chloe’s life.” Stella’s face instantly turned cold. “David, having a father like you is Chloe’s biggest disgrace!” I stared at Stella in disbelief. Chloe was dead, and she still thought I was lying. I wanted to laugh, but tears hit the floor first. It didn’t matter anymore. Chloe was gone. Nothing else mattered. I got up from the ground, wanting only to find Chloe. But Stella had her bodyguards firmly pin me to the ground, her words chillingly cruel. “You will kneel here and reflect. When you realize your mistake, then you can get up.” She walked away with Noah, leaving me kneeling there, surrounded by the passing crowds. I tried to stand, but every time I moved, a bodyguard would kick me in the back of the knee. I crashed onto the floor, blood already seeping from my knees. I turned, glaring at them. “Don’t you dare forget who I am. How dare you stop me?!” The bodyguards were expressionless. “We only follow Ms. Jiang’s orders.” I was forced to kneel for ten hours. The blood beneath me had already stained the floor crimson, but I stubbornly tried to get up. When they kicked me again, my body went limp, and I passed out. The two bodyguards exchanged glances, then called Stella. “He fainted after only a few hours of kneeling? He must be faking it again. He’s at the hospital, he won’t die. Don’t bother with him.” When I woke up, I was still lying on the cold floor. The bodyguards were gone. Ignoring the pain in my knees, I staggered, leaning against the wall, to the morgue. But when I saw Chloe, there was a gaping hole in her chest. Her heart had been taken!

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