Category: English

Rocky Mountains expedition met with severe weather. In a life-and-death situation, my boyfriend Nolan and my best friend Adeline took my gear and supplies, leaving me to survive on my own. Just when I was isolated and desperate, Adeline’s uncle Asher arrived by helicopter to save me. My frostbitten fingers required amputation, and he tenderly cared for me as I healed. As we spent time together, our connection deepened, leading to marriage. In the fourth year of our marriage, I unexpectedly overheard a conversation between Asher and his Trusted Assistant. “Keep investigating if Madam has any evidence against Adeline.” “Mr. Fu, Madam has been in the Fu family for a long time now; she even has a child. Miss Adeline is already the Orchestra’s Principal Violinist. Do we still need to be cautious of her?” “Of course, marrying her was to prevent the Rocky Mountains incident from coming to light. I’ve put up with those amputated fingers of hers for so long, I can’t afford to slip up.” Asher’s expression was one of tenderness I had never seen before: “I absolutely cannot let Adeline face any risk of disgrace. Even if the world disapproves, I will protect her for life.” 1 My world seemed to crumble all at once. I never imagined that my proud and happy marriage had been built on lies from the very beginning. What I thought was my lifeline, a true love by my side, was actually filled with deceit. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my abdomen, the bond between mother and child. Instinctively, I bit my incomplete hand, stifling a groan of pain. In the office, Asher gently caressed Adeline’s face in a family photo. “Since my love can’t be publicly declared, clearing obstacles for her is the only thing I can do. As for Cora… I’ll ensure her life is comfortable, that should be enough…” The assistant hesitated: “Mr. Fu, you tricked Madam into believing her frostbitten hand needed amputation so that Miss Adeline could become Principal. Aren’t you afraid Madam will leave if she finds out?” Asher paused, then let out a mocking laugh. “Then I’ll keep it from her forever.” “Besides, where can a disabled person go if she leaves me? Once the child is born, she’ll be even more bound to me.” The assistant looked uneasy: “But Miss Adeline and Mr. Nolan’s actions on the Rocky Mountains were premeditated murder, and you’re covering for her—” “Enough!” Asher interrupted angrily. “You’re too bold! I don’t want to hear this again! Adeline and I grew up together; I know her better than anyone. She wouldn’t harm an ant, let alone intentionally hurt Cora.” “I’ve already sacrificed my life for her, what more does she need to be content with?” The assistant sighed and took his leave. “Mr. Fu, Madam doesn’t know that Miss Adeline is not related to you by blood. She hasn’t targeted Miss Adeline because she doesn’t want to trouble you. She loves you deeply; don’t wait until it’s too late to regret it!” Tears blurred my vision. Despite my limited mobility, I managed to put on a nonchalant smile. The assistant left awkwardly. When Asher saw me at the door, his expression froze. He quickly got up and walked to my side. “Cora, why are you here? How long have you been here? Why didn’t you come in?” His gaze fell on my incomplete hand, a flash of disgust crossing his face before he put his arm around my shoulder. I quietly hid my hand in my sleeve. “I just got here. I came to pick you up after my Prenatal Checkup.” “Don’t push yourself next time. You’re pregnant; what if you get bumped into while running around?” He said, then pressed his lips to mine, kissing intently. His lips were warm, but my heart was cold. The truth poured over me, and I realized how laughable I was. Caught in the web of his gentle lies, mistaking the bait he threw as love. Asher helped me sit on the couch, offering my favorite snacks. “By the way, Adeline is returning from her Tour soon. With Nolan gone and our Eldest Brother and Sister-in-Law on a World Tour, it’s unsafe for her to be home alone. I wanted to discuss having her stay with us.” “I know you still have reservations about what happened back then. I’ve explained many times; Adeline was misled by Nolan. I know her true nature—” “Mm, I know,” I interrupted Asher, “We’re family.” Asher seemed pleased, his smile more genuine. “Tonight, I’m hosting a welcome party for Adeline at the Clubhouse. Everyone will be there. If you don’t come, people will say you’re not on good terms…” I nodded perfunctorily. Lowering my eyes to hide the bitterness and despair. 2 Asher wanted the driver to take me to the Clubhouse, while he went to the airport to pick up Adeline himself. The guests had all arrived by the time they showed up. I watched as Asher and Adeline held hands tightly, looking down at my own incomplete fingers. Asher treated me well but never touched my hand. I used to think he was avoiding making me feel self-conscious, but now I realized it was disdain. Adeline wore a white gown, like a proud white swan. She dragged Asher to me, her smile pure but her eyes challenging: “Aunt Cora, Asher insisted on throwing such a grand party for me. You didn’t stop him?” I suppressed my emotions, barely managing a polite smile. She never called Asher “Uncle,” only affectionately “Asher.” Asher affectionately ruffled her hair. “I just wanted to show off. I want everyone to know the world’s best violinist is right at home!” Others chimed in: “Yes, indeed, a great artist! It’s hard to get tickets to your Orchestra’s concerts. Give us a taste of your art!” Like a scene from a drama. Even the ballroom lights seemed to focus on them. Asher wore a gentle, proud smile. He carefully led Adeline to the stage. Standing in the center, he bent slightly, adjusting her violin with practiced ease. As if he’d done it a thousand times before. As the music played, guests whispered around me: “Adeline truly deserves to be Principal Violinist, talented and beautiful! If she wasn’t Mr. Fu’s niece, I’d think she and Mr. Fu were meant to be. Don’t know why Mr. Fu would marry that disabled wife of his.” “This Mrs. Fu was the original Orchestra Principal. A few years ago, she lost a couple of fingers; what a pity… Why would a man like Mr. Fu marry such a woman?” “Maybe she’s something in bed.” Their words pierced my ears, making me paler. Over the years, I had grown immune to such irrelevant remarks. But today, I felt uncomfortable. Just as Adeline finished playing, applause erupted. Asher hugged her tightly, pride evident in his eyes. Unable to bear it, I grabbed my bag and left. Asher, just offstage with Adeline, saw me and followed, grabbing my arm. “Cora, where are you going?” “I don’t feel well. I want to go home.” I bit my lip, holding back my feelings of injustice. Asher frowned, suppressing his temper: “Cora, don’t be unreasonable. This is the Fu family’s event. Leaving now looks bad.” “I’m really not feeling well.” He turned dark, losing patience. “If you want to leave, go. You’re spoiled. I think you just feel sick seeing Adeline…” He let go of me, turning back to the party. 3 Stepping out of the Clubhouse, rain was falling. The fine rain soaked me instantly. Coldness seeped in, tears silently falling. I called a familiar attorney, asking him to draft divorce papers. I also scheduled an Abortion Procedure on my phone. Returning home, I washed away the rain, opening Asher’s computer. The password was Adeline’s birthday. A folder on the desktop was like a sharp knife, piercing my heart. Asher had meticulously kept every concert ticket of Adeline’s. He lied about business trips, attending every stop on her Tour. Sitting front row, capturing her brightest moments. Tears flowed uncontrollably. I hated Asher and hated my own stupidity. I never questioned his flimsy excuses. Like a fool, I was played. Leaving was my final dignity. After the party, Asher and Adeline returned home together. They stumbled into Adeline’s room, not coming out all night. I put on earplugs, forcing myself not to hear or think about what might happen in that room. The next morning, I found Asher making breakfast. In all our years of marriage, even when I had a 104-degree fever, he’d never cooked. It was clear who this low-fat, loving breakfast was for. Seeing me, he seemed to forget last night’s unhappiness. He came over to kiss me. “Love, I was wrong last night. Let me make it up to you. You’re kind, don’t hold it against me.” His scent was steeped in Adeline’s perfume. I felt nauseous, pushing him away to retch into the trash can. “Love, you’re four or five months in. Why is the morning sickness still so bad?” Asher knelt beside me, patting my back and offering water, overly attentive. But all I felt was chilling disgust. Once the truth was revealed, no amount of tenderness could mask the lies. Adeline, in a lace nightgown, gracefully descended the stairs, placing Asher’s Wedding Ring on the table. “Asher, your ring was on my bed.” One night was enough for Nolan to be engulfed in Adeline’s perfume. The intensity of the scent made me feel sick, and I pushed him away to retch into the trash can. “Asher, I’m four or five months pregnant, yet my morning sickness persists,” I muttered as Asher knelt beside me, patting my back and offering me water with genuine concern. But all I felt was a chilling emptiness inside. Once the truth is unveiled, even the kindest gestures feel hollow. Adeline descended the stairs in a lace nightgown, placing Asher’s wedding ring on the dining table. “Asher, you left your ring in my bed,” she said to him, but her eyes provocatively lingered on me. I let out a dry laugh and slammed my water cup down over the ring with a loud clatter. Asher awkwardly explained, “Cora, please don’t misunderstand… Adeline was scared of the thunder, so I stayed in her room to comfort her.” “Misunderstand? You’re both married adults. Is it really appropriate to share a room?” I retorted. “What’s inappropriate?” Adeline smirked. “Asher and I grew up together. We are the closest to each other. What’s the big deal about sharing a room?” Asher added, “Yeah, Cora, don’t be petty… we’re family. Besides, I was just sitting by her bed to keep her company.” In the past, I might have believed their excuses. But now… I really wanted to drag them to look in the mirror. Fresh red scratches on Asher’s neck. Kiss marks on Adeline’s chest and fingerprints on her thighs. Who’s really being indecent here? Using family ties as a cover to do despicable things. I didn’t argue anymore. I went upstairs, printed out the Divorce Agreement, and signed my name. The scheduled Abortion Procedure is tomorrow. After that, I will completely disappear. Three’s a crowd in love, let alone four. — Adeline flaunted the breakfast Asher made on Facebook. Nolan, who was on a business trip, was upset and called to argue. After hanging up, Adeline felt wronged and lay on Asher’s lap, complaining. Asher’s expression turned cold. “That Nolan, not very capable, but quite the temper. The Fu family doesn’t need him bossing around.” Adeline smiled sweetly and wrapped her arms around Asher’s neck. “Yeah, he’s so annoying! You’re the best to me. How about I divorce him and become your wife?” Asher was startled, pulling her arm down and helping her sit properly. “Don’t say such things. I’m your uncle. If Cora hears, she’ll overthink.” Seeing her pout in dissatisfaction, he coaxed her, “Alright, eat some dragon fruit.” Adeline arrogantly instructed, “I don’t want those tiny black seeds. You have to pick them out for me.” Asher couldn’t refuse her and indulgently agreed. When I came downstairs for water, I saw Asher, who never lifted a finger, using tweezers to pick out each black seed for Adeline. Seeing me, Asher casually asked, “Cora, what fruit do you want? I’ll have Auntie wash it.” Before I could refuse, Adeline playfully nudged Asher with her toe. “You should personally wash it for your wife, or she’ll think you favor me.” Asher always listened to Adeline, immediately getting up to go to the kitchen. I never understood why Asher thought that after the Rocky Mountains incident and him taking my boyfriend, I should still welcome Adeline with open arms. Now I finally understood. It’s because Asher never cared about the harm I suffered. His heart was always with Adeline. With Asher gone, Adeline dropped her facade, quickly switching to another persona. “Cora, weren’t you always proud? Look at you now, as ridiculous as a toad.” She covered her mouth, snickering, deliberately showing off the pink diamond ring on her finger. “You should recognize this ring, right? Asher bought it at an auction. There’s only one in the world. Isn’t it beautiful?” Adeline’s lips curled up, her tone full of bragging. She deliberately shook her hand to make the ring more conspicuous. “Did Asher ever give you a ring? Is your wedding ring this flashy? Oh, I forgot, your finger was amputated. How could Asher give you a ring!” My heart clenched tightly, as if being mercilessly squeezed. I tried to maintain composure but unconsciously hid my hand behind my back. Adeline leaned forward, laughing provocatively. “Cora, Nolan is so boring. How did you ever fall for him? If it weren’t for competing with you, I wouldn’t have seduced him…” “Should I dump him and be with Asher? Oh, and you probably don’t know, Asher and I aren’t related by blood… Here’s a secret only Asher and I know, we dated secretly for a long time, shared all our firsts…” “Asher married you because he was afraid you’d expose the Rocky Mountains incident… You must be so angry now! But so what? It’s been years, and you have no proof!” “Cora, you’re truly pathetic. The two men you loved both love me. You’ll always be my defeated opponent.” My hand trembled slightly. The hand hidden behind my back had already started recording as soon as Adeline opened her mouth. My gaze fell on her smug face. I deliberately provoked her: “So what? Whether Asher loves me or not, I’m the legitimate Mrs. Fu. And you? You’ll always be his niece. If it weren’t for my finger injury, you’d never become the Orchestra’s Principal Violinist. You’re just my replacement!” Adeline’s sore spot hit, she flew into a rage. She stood up and slapped me hard. She used all her strength, and my face quickly swelled red. “You wretched woman! I hate your arrogant face! You think your hand froze and died in the Rocky Mountains, and you had to amputate it?” “Haha! Let me tell you, your hand was fine! I whispered to Asher in bed, saying you always flaunted your skills in front of me. Asher didn’t hesitate to vent for me, amputating your finger!” Adeline’s mockery cut into my nerves like a sharp knife. Seeing her arrogant, mocking face, the fury buried deep in my heart could no longer be contained. Like a long-restrained volcano, it erupted instantly. I stepped forward, full of anger and disgust, and slapped her across the face. Adeline’s face was slapped to one side. She covered it with wide eyes, changing to a pitiful and incredulous expression. “Aunt Cora, why did you suddenly hit me?” I shook my numb hand but hadn’t reacted yet. A shadow rushed out from behind, knocking me aside. My stomach hit the edge of the sofa hard, sending a sharp pain through me. Asher’s eyes were full of anger as he looked at me. “Cora! Are you crazy!” Adeline cried pitifully, sniffling as she explained: “Asher, I don’t know why Aunt Cora hit me. I just wanted to clear up the misunderstanding from back then. I meant to call for help after getting out. I just didn’t explain it clearly…” “Cora, apologize to Adeline! How many times have I told you, Adeline didn’t do it on purpose! Why do you keep holding on!” His gaze was fierce, looking at me with only cold contempt, not even bothering to disguise it. I curled up on the sofa, clutching my belly, even though a bright red handprint was on my face. Asher chose to ignore it. I laughed coldly at him: “Asher, I lost the most precious fingers of a violinist. Don’t I deserve an explanation?” Asher frowned, a hint of panic in his eyes. “What explanation? It was frostbite. If the fingers weren’t amputated, you’d lose your whole hand!” Before I could speak, Adeline raised her hand to cling to his shoulder. “Asher, my head hurts…” Asher didn’t spare me another glance, scooping Adeline up and anxiously heading out. “Don’t worry, Adeline, I’m taking you to the hospital!” All I got was a parting line: “Cora, if anything happens to Adeline, I won’t forgive you.” Watching them leave, the pain surged like a tide, overwhelming me completely. The world before me began to blur, my consciousness fading. But I could still feel my baby slipping away inside me. Maybe my child knew I didn’t want her and chose to leave. Tears flowed uncontrollably, sliding down my cheeks. I called an ambulance for myself. At this moment, all ties between me and Asher were completely severed. The Abortion Procedure went smoothly. After the procedure, I lay weakly on the hospital bed, listening to the nurses gossiping. “Did you see that man with his niece? Over a slap, they did a full-body check-up and booked a whole floor of rooms.” “I saw them. The uncle and niece are so close. If not told, I’d think they were a couple.” I listened, indifferent, and called the nanny at home to give them all a break. I also hired a team of organizers online to pack my belongings and donate them to charity. As for the mementos and photos from my years with Asher, I asked them to destroy them all. Changing into clean clothes sent by a brand, I rescheduled my flight, originally set for tomorrow night, and left the hospital. In the elevator, I impulsively pressed the floor where Adeline stayed. At the door of the only lit room, through the glass, I saw Adeline hugging Asher’s neck, sobbing while kissing his chin, throat. “Asher, please want me… You clearly love me. I’ll stop being a Fu family daughter.” Asher dodged, looking hesitant. As for the keepsakes and photos from my years with Asher, I asked for everything to be destroyed. I changed into the clean clothes provided by the brand, rescheduled my flight originally planned for tomorrow night, and called a car to leave the hospital. On an impulse, I pressed the button for the floor where Adeline was staying. It was the only room with a light on at the end of the hallway. Through the glass on the door, I saw Adeline clinging to Asher’s neck, sobbing and repeatedly kissing his chin and throat. “Asher, please, be with me… You clearly love me. If it comes to it, I won’t be a daughter of the Fu family anymore…” Asher looked evasive, his expression uncertain. “Adeline, don’t do this—aren’t we fine the way we are now? Saying things like that would hurt Eldest Brother and Sister-in-Law, and I swore I’d make it up to Cora for a lifetime.” Adeline shook her head, crying. “This isn’t good at all! I’m no longer satisfied just being with you in secret…” She took Asher’s hand and placed it on her chest. Asher tried to pull his hand away, but eventually couldn’t resist. He tightened his fingers and leaned down to kiss her lips. I touched my now flat stomach, feeling suffocated by the pain engulfing me. I leaned against the wall and turned to leave. Walking out of the hospital, I got into an Uber heading to the airport. After sending one last email to Asher, I canceled my phone number and deleted all my social media accounts. I’m sorry, it looks like you’ve provided placeholder text instead of the specific content you want translated. 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1 After my collision with my boss, Liam Beckett, landed me in the hospital, something felt very wrong. Wait, are these my veiny hands? And this perfectly tailored suit and tie? And, oh, this… noticeable bulge? I think I’ve somehow ended up in the body of a CEO. Not completely sure, better check. Seeing no one around, I discreetly reached for my waistband to confirm my suspicions—only to be interrupted by a shout. “Ava Adeline, stop right there!” I turned to see the person in the next bed pulling back the curtain, glaring at me, and flicking my forehead. That was my body! Oh no, I’ve really switched bodies with the CEO! My name is Ava Adeline, but now I’m in the body of my boss, Liam Beckett. And the person in front of me is Liam Beckett, now in the body of Ava Adeline. The situation is awkward, with my hand hovering in that questionable area of the CEO’s body. Liam, trying to keep me in check, placed his hand on his chest. “Go ahead, feel it, there’s nothing much there,” I said, breaking the tension. Liam lowered his hand, “Looks like you’re quite self-aware.” “Thank you, Mr. Beckett,” I replied with a smile, “Although I’m curious if Mr. Beckett has anything noteworthy.” “Ava Adeline!” Liam glared at me. Honestly, seeing my face from this angle, I never realized how attractive I look! “Glaring won’t help, Mr. Beckett,” I chuckled, “We should focus on how to switch back.” Liam sat on the bed’s edge, “We swapped because we bumped our heads and passed out, right?” “Yeah, that’s right.” “Then theoretically, if we bump our heads again, we should switch back.” Liam leaned forward, tapping his head, “Go on, bump it.” I was incredulous, “You want me to hit myself?!” Liam was puzzled, “What else? You want me to hit myself?” “I’m a girl, what if I damage my face?” At that moment, I used Liam’s commanding voice to express the most delicate thoughts. Liam glared, covering my mouth, “Don’t say things like that using my face! We swapped bodies, and your forehead’s fine, which means you’re tough enough, go ahead and bump it!” “You’re the tough one!” “What’s wrong with being tough?” Our argument was endless, so I rubbed my forehead, “Mr. Beckett, how about this, let’s meet halfway, we’ll bump our heads together on the count of three.” “Alright.” Liam slightly bowed his head, and I leaned in, our foreheads touching in what seemed like an intimate gesture, but we were both filled with animosity. “Three, two, one…” Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the hospital room, and the door swung open. “Mr. Beckett, we’re here to see you…” Company colleagues barged in, and we couldn’t stop the momentum we’d built up. Our foreheads collided sharply, and stars danced before my eyes from the pain. I clutched my forehead and fell back, “That hurt!” The stunned colleagues quickly gathered around my bed. “Mr. Beckett, are you alright?” “Mr. Beckett!” “Mr. Beckett!” … Honestly, I lost myself in the chorus of “Mr. Beckett.” Suddenly, it didn’t seem so bad. So, I looked with interest at the real “Mr. Beckett,” who was pushed aside. He looked aggrieved, receiving a heartfelt lecture from the Sales Director. “Ava, I know you often complain about Mr. Beckett, but he’s already in the hospital bed, and you’re still tormenting him, that’s not fair.” “Liam” frowned, “Ava… I complain a lot?” The Director lowered his voice, “Yes, you complain about Mr. Beckett every day in the office, did you bump your head silly?” Why does this Director talk so much! I cleared my throat and assumed Mr. Beckett’s demeanor, “Thank you, everyone.” “No need to thank us, Mr. Beckett!” I deliberately looked in Liam’s direction, trying to stay calm, “Ava, I know I’ve been a bit hard on you, like only wanting five ice cubes in my iced Americano, using single-sided print paper, entering with the right foot in the morning…” Liam raised an eyebrow. “Here, I promise, and ask everyone to witness, I won’t treat Ava like that anymore!” “Great! Mr. Beckett is so considerate!” “Mr. Beckett is awesome!” Company colleagues applauded, while “Liam” glared at me with a dark expression. “Ava, keep up the good work!” I said cheerfully, going in for a high-five with “Liam.” Liam was furious but couldn’t say anything at that moment, so he forced a smile and high-fived me. It was less a high-five and more like a slap on my hand. I gritted my teeth against the pain and cheerfully dismissed the colleagues. As they left, they murmured that Mr. Beckett seemed more approachable. Once it was just Liam and me in the hospital room, Liam finally exploded, “Ava Adeline! Are you tired of living?!” Looking at my face saying such words, I suddenly felt a sense of nostalgia, “Mr. Beckett, honestly, every day working under you, I felt like I didn’t want to live.” Liam paused. “But now that I’m Mr. Beckett, suddenly life seems a bit interesting.” Liam was at a loss for words. “Mr. Beckett, as a temporary measure, let’s keep it this way, is that alright?” Using Liam’s voice and body, I said the most ordinary, humble words of Ava Adeline. Liam suddenly fell silent. After a while, he spoke, “I guess bumping our heads isn’t a solution right now, so let’s stay this way for a while.” Still the ever-proud Liam finding an escape route for himself. “Okay, Mr. Beckett.” “When we leave the hospital, you’ll move to my place, it’ll be more convenient, and we won’t get caught.” “Alright, Mr. Beckett.” “I have no interest in you,” Liam added. “I know that, of course.” “Since you know, then handle the discharge.” Always so proud, always that high-and-mighty attitude. I silently complained, just about to get up when I suddenly felt the urge to go, “Mr. Beckett, I think I need to use the restroom.” Liam’s face turned red with embarrassment, “Go!” Just around the corner from the hospital room was the men’s restroom, I hesitantly went in and came out with confidence. Back in the room, I threw a suggestive look at Liam. Liam’s twisted expression seemed to tell me to shut up. But I wouldn’t. “Mr. Beckett, quite impressive,” I gave a thumbs up. “Get out!” 2 I first took Liam back to my place to pack up. Liam looked at the somewhat shabby apartment, a hint of disdain in his eyes. “Ava Adeline, you live in this dump?” I opened the wardrobe and suitcase, slowly packing my things. “Yeah, just living in this dump.” “No wonder you have so many complaints, it’s because of your poor quality of life.” I rolled my eyes, “My poor quality of life is because someone won’t give me a raise and keeps docking my bonus.” “Docking pay for mistakes is justified.” “Whatever, suit yourself, now I can give myself, oh no, give you, Ava, a raise.” I stood up, proudly using Liam’s height to look down at “Liam.” Haha, I love how Liam can’t stand me but can’t do anything about it. “When we switch back, I’ll dock your pay in a second.” “Well, say that when we switch back.” I shrugged. Liam silently clenched his fists. While packing, he glanced over again, full of disdain, “You usually rotate between these few ragged clothes? Really shabby.” I was about to retort, but Liam spoke, “Take my card and buy a few outfits later.” “Really, Mr. Beckett!” “Deduct from your bonus.” I was deflated. “Look at you, alright, it’s a reward, but only three outfits,” Liam added. Three outfits are fine, better than nothing. I quickly zipped up the suitcase, “Let’s go, Mr. Beckett.” Liam: “…” So I happily pulled the suitcase out, casually walking into a chic women’s clothing store I never dared enter before. And “Liam,” like a fool, followed behind with a resentful face. “Hello sir, are you buying clothes for your wife here?” the sales associate greeted warmly. The “Liam” behind me said coldly, “I’m not his wife.” “Sorry… then, is it… sister?” I jumped in, “Yes, yes, just a sister, I’m here to buy my sister some clothes.” I forcefully put my arm around Liam’s shoulder, and I must say, using a man’s strength feels great. The sales associate smiled, showing me the latest styles of the season, and I was dazzled. “This white set, that blue set, the pink one over there, and another new style I just saw, and…” I looked around, directing like a general. The sales associate took them down one by one, and I turned to Liam, who was already bulging with veins, grinning brightly, “Sister, what do you think?” Liam gritted his teeth, he wasn’t out of money, he just hated my cheeky attitude. Liam gave me a warning look, making a three with his fingers. I immediately got the hint, “My sister says they’re all okay, wrap them up in size S, and charge it to the card.” When I walked out of the store, satisfied with six shopping bags, Liam was fuming beside me. Ah, this feeling of treating myself is just too satisfying! If you can’t have a CEO husband, then make yourself the CEO! Thinking this, my steps became even more cheerful. As Liam and I were about to leave the mall, I heard a sharp female voice calling “Ava Adeline.” Liam Beckett clenched his jaw. It wasn’t about the money; it was my irritating attitude he couldn’t stand. Liam gave me a warning look and held up three fingers. I quickly caught on: “My sister said everything’s fine. Wrap it all in size S, and I’ll pay with my card.” As I left the clothing store, pleased and burdened with six shopping bags, Liam was beside me, fuming and pacing. Ah, the thrill of maxing out a card is just unbeatable! If I can’t marry a CEO, I’ll become my own! With that in mind, I walked with a spring in my step. Just as Liam and I were about to leave the mall, a sharp female voice shouted, “Ava Adeline.” That voice was all too familiar. It was my mom! Without a second thought, I grabbed Liam and sprinted away. We stopped only when we reached the underground parking, both of us out of breath. I looked around to make sure my mom hadn’t followed us and finally felt relieved. “Someone called your name, why did you run…” Liam panted, annoyed after being dragged for what felt like forever. “I owe some money to a loan shark. Be careful when you go out from now on.” I said, trying to sound serious, as I loaded the shopping bags into the trunk of Liam’s Maybach. “With your timid nature, you dared to take out a loan? You’re a riot.” Liam mocked. “Not worth my time.” The next day at work, I arrived at the company entrance with “Liam Beckett,” only to find it swamped with people. I wanted to push through the crowd but remembered I was now Liam. So, I put my hands in my pockets and cleared my throat twice. No one noticed. I cleared my throat again. Still, no response. Liam almost burst out laughing. I had no choice but to speak loudly: “Why aren’t you all working? Gathered here like this, do you want to lose your attendance and year-end bonuses?” Finally, the crowd reacted and parted, murmuring “Mr. Beckett” as they did. Strangely, they were all whispering among themselves. Curious, I went to see what was happening and found a woman hanging a banner at the company entrance, ignoring the security’s attempts to stop her. That woman was my mom! I halted in my tracks. How did she find the company? Linda Nolan, calling her my mom is an exaggeration; she’s more like a debt collector. She’s never fulfilled her motherly duties, only seeing me as a money-making machine. “Ava!” The voice was the same as in the mall yesterday. Liam instantly reacted and asked me what was going on. Before I could answer, Linda Nolan lunged at “Liam Beckett” like a madwoman: “Ava! You’re so hard to find! Living the high life in the city, have you thought about your mom, or your brother?” Linda Nolan sat at “Liam’s” feet, wailing. “Liam” frowned and stepped back in disgust. Linda Nolan cried even louder: “Ungrateful daughter! Now that you’re doing well, you don’t recognize your countryside mom!” Linda Nolan was even scarier than Betty Wilson’s mom, always exploiting me. My mind nearly shut down; I didn’t know how to handle this scene. It was “Liam” who raised his voice: “What is security doing? Don’t you know to take her to the police station for disturbing public order?” Hearing her daughter being so heartless, Linda Nolan cried even more fiercely: “Everyone hear this? Ungrateful daughter! A daughter wants to send her own mother to jail!” She cried and pounded the ground, while many colleagues started recording. I calmed myself, trembling, and spoke as Liam: “Just say it, what do you want by creating such a scene?” Seeing me speak, Linda Nolan rolled and crawled to my feet: “You’re my daughter’s boss, right? Please judge this! Everyone come judge this! My daughter has a brother who’s about to get married.” “Usually, we don’t ask her for money, but now that her brother’s getting married, we thought of borrowing some from her, but this ungrateful girl blocked me! She even said she’s no longer a daughter of the Adeline family!” Hearing this, it felt like something was stuck in my throat. My vision blurred, and the words “ungrateful daughter” seemed to tear my brain apart, making the world spin. “Enough!” I shouted. Linda Nolan was stunned by my shout. Taking a deep breath, I said, “You said you rarely ask Ava for money? But as far as I know, Ava takes six thousand from me monthly, spends two thousand on rent, one thousand on herself, and gives you three thousand! She’s living tight, and now you want more?” Linda Nolan was momentarily speechless. I was about to continue when “Liam” suddenly spoke: “Did you know about these things? I bet you didn’t care to know, right? And about your brother’s wedding, I heard he just got out of the detention center a few months ago, probably back in and needs money to bail out, right?” How did Liam know that? Linda Nolan’s guilty eyes darted around, trying to come up with an excuse, but her tongue twisted, and she could only rush to “Liam’s” feet, pulling her hair and cursing. “You good-for-nothing Ava! I can’t believe I have such a shameless daughter! Accusing your brother and consorting with shady people!” ———-This is the truncation point———- Liam was seized by the hair, grimacing in pain. The tension in the air was palpable as I stepped forward to pull Linda Nolan away. The security guard, who had been merely observing until then, quickly intervened and restrained Linda. Suppressing my anger, I said, “My employees contribute to my success; they aren’t weaklings to be exploited by parasites like you.”

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Managing the restaurant for thirty years, I finally had the chance to hand it over to my son and see my grandson start kindergarten. I eagerly asked my husband, “Do you remember the island road trip we talked about thirty years ago?” My husband frowned and shook his head, “Adeline, you’re a grandmother now, and you’re still thinking about having fun. Aren’t you embarrassed?” My son and daughter-in-law also objected, “Mom, how can we run the business without you in the kitchen? Stop dreaming.” But that night, I unexpectedly saw an RV reservation on my husband’s phone. It was booked for five people: my husband, son, daughter-in-law, grandson, and his childhood friend Nora. They were leaving the day after tomorrow. I felt a chill run through me. Before they left, my son reminded me, “Mom, the restaurant relies on you. We’ll bring you some local treats when we return.” Watching them leave with laughter, I turned around, sold the house, and bought a second-hand RV for myself. From then on, I set off on my own journey, free to go wherever I wanted. 0

After closing the restaurant, the sunset’s afterglow streamed through the glass windows, casting a warm glow on the tables and chairs. I wiped the last table with a cloth, my movements familiar but numb. Thirty years, every day the same. I heard footsteps at the door as my husband, Asher, walked in. He was looking down at his phone, slightly frowning, as if dealing with something important. “Why are you back so early today?” I asked casually, not pausing my work. “Finn said he’s ready to take over the restaurant. We’re having dinner at home to celebrate,” Asher said without emotion. My heart skipped a beat, feeling both anticipation and something else. At dinner, my son Finn was exceptionally excited, raising his glass. “Dad, Mom, the restaurant is in my hands now! You two can just relax!” I looked at Asher and mustered the courage to speak. “Asher, since Finn’s taking over, what about that island road trip we talked about thirty years ago? Is it still on?” The air seemed to freeze for a moment. Asher’s brows immediately furrowed, his face showing clear displeasure. “Adeline, you’re a grandmother now, why are you still acting like a child, always thinking about playing?” His tone carried the usual disdain and reproach, “The restaurant just got handed over to Finn. Shouldn’t you help him keep an eye on the kitchen? Be sensible.” My daughter-in-law chimed in immediately, “Yeah, Mom, we can’t do without you in the kitchen.” Finn put down his chopsticks, slightly impatient, “Mom, stop meddling.” “What’s so great about a road trip? It’s costly and tiring. Enjoy peace at home and help me with the kitchen, that’s better than anything.” Their words easily shattered my hopes. I lowered my head, looking at the cold rice in my bowl. Thirty years of dedication seemed only to earn the judgment to “be sensible” and “don’t cause trouble.” The promise of a distant journey was nothing more than an untimely joke to them. 0

A crisp doorbell broke the stalemate. Asher immediately stood, a warm smile on his face, quickly greeting the guest. “Nora, what brings you here? Come in, come in!” A well-dressed figure appeared at the door, accompanied by a sweet perfume. Nora, Asher’s childhood friend, always delicate and in need of care. She held a beautifully wrapped gift box, her face showing the perfect amount of surprise. “Asher, I heard Finn is taking over the restaurant, so I came to congratulate him.” Her gaze lightly swept over me, her smile sweet, with a hint of superiority in her eyes. “Adeline, you’re so lucky. Finn is so capable, you can enjoy life at home now.” Asher laughed heartily, “Isn’t that right?” Nora giggled, “Adeline’s cooking is the best. Finn must learn from her.” “Unlike me, clumsy and only busy outside, clueless about kitchen work.” With a few words, she lightly positioned me as just a cook. Finn enthusiastically welcomed, “Aunt Nora, have a seat! Try this fish my mom made; it’s her specialty.” My daughter-in-law also offered tea, “Aunt Nora, have some tea. My mom made it herself.” The whole family surrounded Nora, chatting happily. I stood aside, feeling like an out-of-place servant. Nora suddenly turned to Asher, speaking coquettishly. “Asher, remember to take me on the road trip next week!” “I’ve never been in an RV. I’m so excited just thinking about it!” Asher looked at her indulgently, “Don’t worry, your spot is reserved.” He turned to me, his tone turning stiff. “Adeline, we’re going out next week for about a week.” “The house and restaurant are in your hands, especially the kitchen. Make sure nothing goes wrong.” I was stunned, my heart like being gripped by an invisible hand. The island road trip? They were going to fulfill the promise I’d waited thirty years for, but without me. “What about me?” I blurted out, my voice dry. Asher frowned, “What would you do there? Someone has to watch the house, right?” “Besides, you get carsick so easily, you’d just suffer.” Nora chimed in, “Yes, Adeline, staying home and enjoying yourself is much better. Road trips are exhausting.” My son and daughter-in-law echoed, as if not taking me along was perfectly reasonable. I watched their joyful demeanor, my throat felt stuffed with cotton, unable to utter a word. 0

After dinner, I quietly cleaned up the mess. In the living room, I heard my grandson, Milo, whining with childishness. “Grandma Nora, are we really going on a big RV trip next week? That’s awesome!” Nora’s voice was so gentle it could melt, “Yes, Milo, are you happy?” “Happy! It’s more fun than going to the market with Grandma!” Nora looked up at me as I came out of the kitchen, her smile unchanged. “Adeline, look how much Milo is looking forward to this trip.” “Take care of yourself at home while we’re gone.” Asher sat on the couch, browsing travel guides without lifting his head. “Adeline, pack our luggage these days, especially the documents, don’t lose them.” “Finn and the others are young, inexperienced, help them pack too.” His tone was matter-of-fact, as if I was their free servant. Thirty years of marriage couldn’t compare to Nora’s coquettishness. The promise of an island road trip turned into a joke. In the days that followed, I moved like a lifeless shell, preparing their travel items according to Asher’s instructions. Buying various daily necessities, checking documents, arranging restaurant affairs… I was like a tireless spinning top, never stopping. Watching them excitedly discuss the trip details, my heart twisted like a knife. They were immersed in anticipation for the journey, sharing the surprises Nora brought. Meanwhile, I, the mistress of this restaurant, the mistress of this house, felt like an outsider. In the evening, after seeing off the last table of guests, I began cleaning. Asher leaned against the doorframe, looking at his phone, suddenly spoke. “Adeline, could you make some braised beef tonight?” His tone was casual, as if he was asking for something insignificant. Braised beef at this hour meant I wouldn’t have any rest tonight. But he wouldn’t care. “Make sure it’s ready by morning, Milo…” He quickly corrected himself, “Milo loves your cooking, so he’ll eat well on the road.” I took a deep breath, swallowing the lump in my throat, “Got it.” 0

The day of departure, dawn was just breaking. I showed up in the kitchen as usual. I opened the fridge, taking out the carefully marinated braised beef. The meat was firm, the sauce rich, a recipe I had perfected through countless trials. I packed them neatly into containers, along with some snacks they liked for the road. Oil pastries, mung bean cakes, all handmade by me. Asher put on the freshly ironed shirt, tying his tie in the mirror. “Adeline, the trash downstairs is full, could you take it out?” He asked without looking up. I nodded, picking up the heavy, full trash bag and heading out. Just as I reached the stairs, Asher’s call came through. “Oh, and Nora said she’s driving over to pick us up. Parking is tight around here, could you go down to the alley and hold a spot for her?” With the phone to my ear, the chilly early spring wind made me shiver. “Alright,” I replied dryly. I stood in the cold, windy alley for nearly half an hour, my hands and feet numb. Nora’s car finally arrived with headlights on. She rolled down the window, her makeup flawless, smile bright. “Oh, Adeline, you’ve been amazing! Parking here is a nightmare!” I forced a stiff smile, watching her expertly park in the spot I had saved with effort. “Asher, Finn, Phoebe, are you all ready?” Her voice was clear, filled with laughter. “Grandma Nora!” Milo immediately ran over. Nora bent down, hugging Milo, affectionately nuzzling his cheek. “Sweet Milo, Grandma brought you lots of treats.” Asher immediately approached, his face openly gentle. Finn and Phoebe also gathered around, warmly greeting her. “Aunt Nora, do you need anything else?” I managed a stiff smile as I watched her expertly park the car into the spot I struggled with. “Asher, Finn, Phoebe, are you all ready?” Her voice was clear and cheerful. “Nora!” Milo immediately rushed over to her. Nora bent down, picking up Milo and affectionately rubbing his cheek. “Good boy, Milo. Grandma brought you lots of treats.” Asher immediately approached, his face showing open gentleness. Finn and Phoebe also gathered around, exchanging warm greetings. “Aunt Nora, do you think we need anything else?” “No need, everything’s ready. Let’s go!” The family surrounded Nora, chatting and laughing as they headed out. Asher lingered behind, pausing as he passed by me. He looked me up and down, frowning slightly. “Adeline, look at your clothes, they’re covered in oil stains.” “Always so sloppy, no femininity at all.” He sighed, his tone filled with helplessness and comparison. I was freezing and just wanted to go into the kitchen to warm my hands with a hot drink. Maybe my hands were numb with cold, but I accidentally knocked over the kettle on the stove! Boiling water splashed onto my hand, and an excruciating pain hit me, making me scream. My hand rapidly swelled and reddened, burning with pain. Hearing the noise, Asher walked over with a frown, glancing at my hand. “What happened? So clumsy! Can’t handle such a small thing!” His voice was full of disgust and impatience, with not a hint of concern. “Quick, rinse it with cold water! Don’t waste time, we need to leave!” Finn and his wife stood at the door with Milo, looking impatient. Milo pouted, “Grandma is so clumsy, now we’re going to be late.” No one asked if I was in pain. No one offered to take me to the hospital. Their only concern was that I wouldn’t delay their trip with Nora. Asher waved his hand irritably, “Alright, alright, take care of it yourself, we’re leaving!” With that, he led his son and family out without looking back. They rolled their luggage, chatting and laughing as they left. I looked up, watching the five of them. Asher walked closely with Nora, talking quietly, intimately. Finn and Phoebe were arm in arm, all smiles. Milo hopped along, holding Nora’s hand. The sun shone on them, creating a scene of perfect happiness. Except it didn’t include me. I felt like an old, forgotten object in the corner, watching someone else’s joy. The RV engine started, slowly driving out of view. The dining room returned to silence, only the hum of the exhaust fan remained. The air was filled with the aroma of food mixed with lingering tobacco and Nora’s strong perfume. In that moment, my heart was completely dead. I turned, walked into the kitchen, and took off my apron, folding it neatly. I no longer needed his promises for my island trip. I should take a journey of my own. 0

Sunlight streamed through the restaurant’s glass windows, casting dappled shadows on the floor. The lingering smell of cooking oil seemed to fade a bit. This place had once been where I poured my sweat and soul. Now, it felt cold and unfamiliar. My phone screen lit up, showing a call from “Finn.” The ringtone kept ringing, over and over. I picked up the phone, looking at the familiar name, and swiped to silence it. The screen went dark, and the world returned to peace. I opened my laptop, starting to search for second-hand RVs. Different brands, various configurations, with prices all over the place. Some RVs looked cozy and comfortable, others rugged and off-road. Imagining myself driving one on endless highways, a long-lost excitement stirred in me. The phone vibrated again, this time it was “Phoebe.” I glanced at it, ignored it, and continued browsing RV forums. I read about road trip tips, modification experiences, and precautions from fellow travelers. A whole new world was slowly opening up to me. The phone rang persistently again. The caller ID showed “Asher.” After a moment’s hesitation, I answered. His slightly impatient voice came through the receiver. “Adeline, where did you go? Why isn’t anyone answering the restaurant phone?” “Did you count the new batch of seafood in the freezer? Where’s the receipt?” He ordered me around as usual, just like countless times over the past thirty years. “Also, Old Wang said the air conditioner in his reserved room is broken, get someone to fix it.” “Did you hear me? I’m talking to you!” I held the phone, slowly exhaling three words. “I’m not there.” I hung up before he could react. Almost immediately, Finn’s call came through again. I answered once more. “Mom! What’s going on? Dad said you’re not at the restaurant? Where did you go?” His voice was anxious, with a hint of blame. “The exhaust fan in the kitchen seems off, you should check it out!” “And the payment for Zhang’s order needs settling, the receipt’s in your drawer, right?” He fired off questions rapidly, laying out what I should do. I’m sorry, but it looks like the text for translation is missing. Please provide the text you’d like me to translate.

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Five years ago, I was found by the wealthy Collins family and discovered to be their long-lost daughter. Later, I married Jack Thompson, a principled lawyer who grew up with my brother. Jack was the childhood friend of my brother Ethan, a forensic pathologist. On the night of my birthday, my brother and husband went out in the pouring rain to rescue Olivia, who had been kidnapped. Olivia was the girl who had been raised as the Collins’ daughter before I was found. In an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town, Jack discovered a mutilated female corpse. My forensic pathologist brother Ethan, wearing a mask and gloves, calmly dissected the body. He carelessly tossed aside an undeveloped fetus he had cut from the dead woman’s womb. After Jack burned the fetus to ashes, he poured sulfuric acid that he had prepared in advance over the corpse that Ethan had already processed. They worked together seamlessly to destroy all evidence of the crime. But what they didn’t know was that the corpse belonged to me.

A sharp bolt of lightning tore through the curtain of rain, illuminating two shadowy figures in the abandoned warehouse. Jack Thompson dragged a mutilated female corpse to an open space. “This must be what they were talking about.” Ethan Collins swept his cold gaze over the scene, putting on a mask while handing one to Jack. “The smell is unpleasant.” He gripped a scalpel, his eyes falling on the corpse, seeming to zone out for a moment. “What are you spacing out for? Just open up the chest and abdominal cavities. I’ll pour the acid. We can’t waste time, Olivia is still in the kidnappers’ hands.” Ethan snapped back to attention, skillfully cutting open the woman’s body. He pulled out a shapeless lump of flesh from the corpse’s abdomen. Jack took one look and couldn’t help but retch. “What is that?” Ethan casually tossed the bloody mass aside, his tone flat: “The victim was pregnant, probably about three months along.” Jack found some discarded cardboard boxes and set them on fire, burning the bloody embryo to ashes. Even though Ethan had performed countless autopsies over his years in the field, he couldn’t help but be shocked at the gruesome state of this female corpse. Thirteen steel nails, each about three inches long, were driven into the skull. Almost all the ribs had punctured the lungs. The heart had been brutally excavated. The bones in all ten fingers had been ground to powder. The leg bones were bent at extremely unnatural angles. It was clear the victim had endured unimaginably horrific torture before death. Ethan couldn’t help but sigh, “I hope once we’re done with this body, the kidnappers will release Olivia. Their methods are extremely cruel. Olivia must be terrified right now.” Ethan stood up and stepped back a bit. “It’s done. Go ahead.” Jack poured the sulfuric acid he had prepared into the open abdominal cavity, then doused the entire corpse. The already mangled flesh quickly shriveled and fused together upon contact with the acid, making a sizzling sound as it emitted large clouds of white smoke. Soon, the corpse was damaged beyond recognition, barely resembling a human form. As a professional forensic pathologist, Ethan knew exactly how to destroy evidence of a crime on a body. My soul hovered in midair, watching them work together seamlessly to destroy the evidence. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. These two men were my biological brother, the renowned forensic pathologist Ethan Collins who had cracked many difficult cases, and my husband, Jack Thompson, the principled lawyer with an undefeated record. And here they were, out in the pouring rain, doing something that went against all their professional ethics, all because they had received a distress call from Olivia White two hours ago. Olivia, the fake heiress, the one they had always cherished and protected above all else. “Ethan, Jack, save me… I’m so scared…” As soon as they heard Olivia’s tearful voice, Ethan and Jack couldn’t sit still. “Olivia, where are you?!” “I—” Olivia’s phone was snatched away by the kidnapper. “I hear you two are some big-shot forensic pathologist and lawyer. Want this woman to live?” Jack anxiously asked, “How much money do you want? I can give you anything, just let Olivia go!” Even the usually calm and collected Ethan was as agitated as an ant on a hot pan. “Don’t hurt Olivia. Whatever your conditions are, just name them!” The kidnapper unhurriedly said, “I know the Collins are a wealthy family. Ten million dollars is nothing to you. Plus, do something for me, and I’ll let this woman go.” Ethan agreed without hesitation: “I’ll do it!” Jack quickly followed, “Whatever it is, we’ll do it. Just don’t harm Olivia!” They agreed without even asking what the task was, all to ensure Olivia wouldn’t be harmed in the slightest. “I killed someone and dumped the body in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. Go destroy the evidence for me. Otherwise, this Olivia looks quite delicate and juicy…” “Ah! Don’t touch me! My brothers will save me! Don’t tear my clothes! Brothers, help me!” Olivia’s voice came through the phone. Ethan and Jack roared in anger, “Don’t you dare touch her! We’re going right now!”

Ethan and Jack watched as my body was corroded by the acid, emitting wisps of white smoke. They finally furrowed their brows in discomfort, but only for a moment. Right now, Olivia’s safety was more important than this unknown female corpse. Jack took a few photos and sent them to the kidnapper. “We’ve done what you asked. The police won’t be able to trace this back to you. Now release Olivia!” My soul hovered in the air, watching as the lump of flesh Ethan had cut from my abdomen was consumed by flames. That was my child with Jack! He was so tiny, not even given the chance to come into this world and see his parents. Yet he was cut out and carelessly tossed aside by his own uncle, then burned to ashes by his own father. I floated over, desperately trying to save him from the flames, but my body passed right through him. Only the flames flickered slightly. Why?! Today was my birthday. I had planned to share the happy news of my pregnancy with the two most important people in my life tonight. But today was also Olivia’s birthday. Ethan and Jack had spent the entire day with Olivia, shopping with her, taking her to the amusement park. At noon, Jack had messaged me to come to the amusement park, saying he and Ethan had rented out the whole place to celebrate my birthday. I was overjoyed. I first met Jack at an amusement park. It was also at an amusement park where my long-lost brother Ethan recognized me and brought me back to the Collins family. In the first two years after I returned to the Collins family, Ethan and Jack were quite nice to me. Though I couldn’t compare to Olivia’s status in their hearts, they did pamper me to some extent. For the first time, I tasted what it was like to be loved. Until two years ago, when Olivia voluntarily suggested giving her birthday back to me, changing hers to the next day. She said, “Big sister Aria shares the same birthday as me every year. She must feel sad about it. I’ll give the birthday back to her. As long as big sister Aria is happy, I don’t mind not celebrating my own birthday!” Though Ethan and Jack didn’t refuse Olivia’s suggestion, their attitude towards me changed dramatically after that. My brother never again called me “Ari” affectionately. Instead, he addressed me coldly as “Aria Collins.” Jack also stopped holding me close every night, whispering sweet nothings about wanting me to bear him a daughter. He used to say he loved daughters, and wanted one as cute as me, with a smile as bright and beautiful. Now, all that remained were the nights when he was drunk, roughly throwing me onto the bed to forcefully satisfy his desires. But on my way to the amusement park, I was drugged and kidnapped, then tortured to death. At that time, Ethan was stopping Olivia from eating ice cream during her period, while Jack was queuing to buy her rainbow cotton candy. “Once I receive the ten million dollars, I’ll naturally release this woman!” The kidnapper’s tone was arrogant. “You’d better not try any clever tricks. Otherwise, this woman will end up just like that corpse!” Ethan nervously said, “The money is ready. Don’t touch her!” Ethan and Jack exchanged a glance before hurriedly leaving. As they reached the door, something caught Ethan’s attention under his feet. He bent down to pick it up. It was a wedding ring, the one I wore every day and never took off. Jack frowned, wondering why Aria’s ring would be here. He looked back at the unrecognizable corpse in the warehouse. Ethan interrupted Jack’s train of thought: “Let’s go quickly. If we’re late, Olivia will be scared!” Jack nodded, pocketing the ring and hurrying to catch up. Saving Olivia was more important right now. I floated behind them, unable to help but mock myself. In their hearts, Olivia was indeed still the most important person.

My body was discovered by a scavenging old man the next afternoon. Ethan arrived at the abandoned warehouse with the police. He calmly crouched in front of me, putting on gloves and a mask to begin the autopsy. Last night, the lighting had been dim, and they had been focused on quickly destroying the evidence. Only now did he carefully examine this body from a forensic pathologist’s perspective. “The victim is a young woman, approximately 25 years old…” “Height around 5’6″…” “The victim’s heart was brutally excavated while she was still alive…” As Ethan examined and turned over the body, the figure seemed increasingly familiar. How could it look so much like Aria? Before I was killed, I had managed to call Ethan for help. He had only said one thing. “Stop playing these despicable tricks to compete with Olivia for attention!” I then called Jack, but he too only said one thing before impatiently hanging up. “Honey, save—” “Aria Collins, when will you ever stop?! Olivia already gave her birthday to you. What more do you want?!” Ethan’s movements became somewhat frantic as he went to check the victim’s left ear. I had three moles in a row on my left ear lobe. That was how he had recognized me years ago. But where the ear should have been was now bare. Both my ears had been cruelly cut off by the kidnapper. It couldn’t be, right? It must just be his imagination. Ethan reassured himself and breathed a sigh of relief. He told his assistant to record the conclusion that the victim had been brutally tortured and murdered, then walked away. Meanwhile, Jack was at the hospital, accompanying Olivia who had just been rescued from the kidnappers and was still in shock. Olivia was eating the nutritious meal Jack had personally prepared for her. Since Olivia had given her birthday to me, I had never again tasted anything Jack made himself. Jack sat by the bed, absentmindedly scrolling through his phone. He kept refreshing our chat window. He must find it strange that I hadn’t confronted him yet. Yesterday was my birthday, but he had stayed at the hospital all night to take care of Olivia out of concern for her. Based on what he knew of me, I should have been bombarding him with calls and messages by now. But at this moment, our chat window was still quietly displaying my last message from two days ago, asking if he would be home for dinner. He hadn’t replied. The call log also showed my last call to him yesterday afternoon, lasting only five seconds. “Still sulking? Olivia’s in the hospital, so I had to stay and take care of her. Can’t you be more understanding as her sister?” He sent me a message on his own initiative. Then he started refreshing the chat window again, expecting me to reply instantly. In the past, I always responded to his messages immediately. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t happen this time. He frowned, growing increasingly irritated. Olivia observed all of this. “Jack, I want you and Ethan to take me to ride the Ferris wheel at the amusement park.”

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At the product launch event, my stepson pulled off my dress in front of everyone. hat day, the trending topics were filled with photos of me trying desperately to cover myself. He smugly held up his phone: “Just a stand-in, and you think you can have both a family and a career?” “Since you’re using my mom’s eyes, you should stay home and be a servant!” The cruel comments online were hard to read, but nothing hurt more than the cold, hateful look from Asher Thompson. Twenty years ago, I had no choice when I was abducted. Twelve years ago, when my biological parents found me, I had no choice. Eight years ago, I had no choice when I was married off as a stand-in for my foster sister to Declan Thompson. But now, I want to make my own choice. I won’t continue down this path with you. 0 I quickly wrapped myself with a tablecloth, fumbling to end the live stream. Asher smirked, satisfied: “This is what you deserve for causing my mom’s death. This is your punishment!” “Letting you live without making you pay with blood is already merciful!” He was only eight years old, so it’s clear where he learned such words. I frowned and explained, “Your mother’s death had nothing to do with me.” Years ago, my foster sister Adeline Carter died in a drunk-driving accident; I wasn’t even there. Asher’s expression showed a hint of guilt. He kicked the table and stormed off, his face full of anger. In the past, I would have chased after him, patiently explaining. But now, I silently returned to my room. I didn’t expect to find all the clothes prepared for the event slashed and torn, scattered on the ground. Especially the Xiangyun silk dress ordered by a client—it was completely destroyed. The fabric was out of stock and couldn’t be quickly remade. Behind me, I heard Asher’s gleeful laughter. He held a pair of scissors, looking menacing: “Nora Carter, who told you to take my mom’s eyes?” “I want you to know what it’s like to lose something.” He plunged the scissors into a cloth doll on the table, his eyes filled with malice. I stood amidst the destruction, speechless as I watched him leave. Years ago, after being abducted for over a decade, I returned home, only to find Adeline had already won everyone’s hearts. The home I longed for was not as warm as I imagined. After her death, my mother sent me to the Thompson family. Declan’s only request was for me to bear the child for him and Adeline. At 30, I’ve never known the love of family. The child I carried for ten months and raised for eight years now sees me as an enemy. My eyes felt dry and painful; my heart seemed encased in ice. I kneeled to clean up the mess. A pair of feet stopped in front of me. Looking up, I saw Declan Thompson with his eyes downcast, sighing. His gaze was gentle, but his voice was cold and distant: “Nora, you were wrong from the start.” He extended a hand to me as if offering charity: “Asher is only eight years old; he needs your full attention.” As I stood up, the torn fabric fell again to the ground. Declan’s gaze softened, maybe pitying my futile struggle. “You should cherish Adeline’s eyes. I’ve seen you stay up late to design sketches. What if you damage her eyes?” “Take this opportunity to close your online store. I’ll help with the compensation.” His hand caressed my face, intensely staring into my eyes: “Be good. You know why I keep you around.” Of course, I understood. Because of these eyes that once belonged to Adeline Carter. Someone can love another so obsessively. Every time we were intimate, he wouldn’t let me close my eyes. Through me, he was looking at another woman. I served them wholeheartedly for eight years but never warmed their hearts. He pulled me into his embrace, his hot breath on my neck. “Nora, if you’re really lonely.” “I might allow you to give me a child.” His lips were warm and soft, landing on my cheeks and lips. Though his embrace was burning hot, I felt like I was in an ice cave. Back then, Declan didn’t want to accept me. But my mother said Adeline had frozen her eggs early, and I could be the incubator for their love child. Only then did Declan agree. Later, when he drunkenly pinned me down, his first words upon waking were: “Don’t dream of having my child; you’re not worthy.” He watched me take birth control pills again and again. Now, eight years later, faced with his rare generosity, I didn’t feel grateful. Instead, I turned my head away from his kiss. “The eight-year term is up.” “Declan Thompson, it’s time for me to leave.” 0

After the interruption, Declan’s expression turned angry: “Just because of a torn dress?” “Asher is only 8 years old; he’s still a child!” “You’re supposed to be his mother. I haven’t asked what you’ve done in these eight years to make him hate you so much. And you have the nerve to throw a tantrum?” Mother? How am I even qualified? I’m not even his lover; just a surrogate tool, something to satisfy his needs. There are too many who could replace me. Back then, he was engaged to me but fell for my foster sister Adeline. He declared that even if I was found, he would only marry her. Declan arranged a grand proposal, pledging eternal love amidst everyone’s blessings. But later, Adeline suddenly died in a drunk driving accident. My parents didn’t want to give up the alliance with the Thompson family. Seeing Declan’s deep sorrow, they came up with the plan to send me into the Thompson household. I had suffered abuse from my adoptive parents, nearly losing my sight. So my mother had Adeline’s corneas transplanted to me. Declan was obsessed with Adeline and wanted a child related to her. Because of my eyes, he agreed to take me in. We agreed that I would stay with him for eight years, raising Asher, and then I could leave. No wedding dress, no ceremony, not even a marriage certificate. From beginning to end, no one asked if I was willing. I lowered my eyes and said calmly, “I’m not throwing a tantrum.” “We agreed on eight years from the start.” “Staying with you without a name or status also delays you from finding someone new. ” Declan relaxed his brows, his tense body also easing a lot: “Nora. ” He sighed, gently coaxing: “You’re making a fuss just to get a title, right?” “If you’re obedient, this time, if you give me a son, I might consider marrying you.” “No.” As a child, I was abused by my foster parents, not even getting enough to eat. After being found, I was like air in the Carter family, just a tool for use. I’ve never been loved. How could I bear to bring a child into this world to suffer? I stepped back, taking out a prepared document from my bag. “I’ve organized all the recipes on a USB drive.” “Asher’s preferences, study progress, extracurricular arrangements, I’ve detailed everything.” “Asher has grown, and now he hates me so much. Staying would only affect his growth.” “You should find a good tutor to teach him.” Declan grabbed my chin, cracks appearing in his gentle facade: “Nora Carter, since when do you get to decide?” He took the USB drive and smashed it against the wall, shattering it, pieces scattering everywhere. His long fingers slowly tore the remaining papers. Expressionlessly, he said: “Don’t test my patience.” “For raising Asher and for your eyes, I’ll let this go.” “When you get back, close the online store. You can’t leave the house this month!” He opened the door, coldly instructing his subordinates: “Send her home immediately. Keep a close watch on her.” On the way home, we passed a park where many parents were flying kites with their children. The kites seemed to soar into the high sky, but they were always tethered by a thin string. Before being sent to the Thompson home, my mom took me to a beauty salon to undergo procedures to resemble Adeline’s face. She instructed me on all of Adeline’s preferences, including her clothing style, favorite perfume, and foods she loved. I looked at the increasingly unfamiliar reflection in the mirror. Mom stood behind me, placing a jade bracelet on my wrist: “This was Adeline’s. Wear it to remind yourself what got you into the Thompson family.” “Don’t feel wronged. The Thompson family is worth billions. Many would do anything to be by his side.” “Remember, this is your leverage to stand firm in that family.” “Once you become Mrs. Thompson, you’ll thank me.” I was obedient, mimicking Adeline’s every move. Declan was pleased with me over the years. That’s why he allowed me to start my online store and design. But a fake can never become real. Charity can be easily withdrawn. … I was just about to head upstairs. A bucket of dirty water fell from above; Asher stood on the steps, laughing wildly: “Nora Carter, does my pee smell good?” “If you don’t leave my house, next time I’ll make you eat shit, believe it or not!” Covered in filth, the servants all stood aside, watching the show. He was very proud of his prank, forgetting all the teachings I had given him. When my mom visited during my postpartum period, she said: “Even if he’s not your blood, you carried him. Raise him well, and you’ll reap good in your old age.” The moment I held the tiny baby in my arms, my heart softened completely. In the ordinary, mundane times, I had an unwarranted hope. Now, the falsehoods have ended. It’s all become empty. 0

“Stay at my house any longer, and next time, I’ll make sure you regret it!” I was covered in dirt, and the servants stood by, amused by the spectacle. He was pleased with his prank, forgetting everything I had taught him. When Mom visited during the postpartum period, she said, “Even if he’s not your flesh and blood, he’s still the child you raised.” “Raise him well, and you’ll find comfort in your old age.” When I held the tiny baby in my arms, my heart melted completely. In those ordinary moments, I allowed myself hopes I shouldn’t have. Now, the illusion has shattered, leaving nothing but emptiness. 03 I clenched my fists, looking up at him: “Asher Thompson, don’t underestimate small misdeeds. Have you forgotten already?” Then I saw a woman, scantily dressed, lazily emerge from Declan Thompson’s room: “Nora, Asher is still young. It’s normal for him to be a bit mischievous. Don’t be too harsh.” Asher immediately leaped into her arms: “Aunt Rosalie, you’re the only one who’s good to me. You have no idea what I’ve endured these years.” “I heard after she was abducted, she lived in a pigsty every day. No wonder she always smells bad!” “Not like Aunt Rosalie, who’s always fragrant and soft.” My heart tightened. Back then, I rarely had a full meal at my foster parents’ house, and my health was always poor. Even at the Thompson house, I fell ill frequently. Declan Thompson disliked me, and the servants at home didn’t treat me well. Only little Asher Thompson would sneak into my room at night, stuffing handfuls of candy into my hands. “Aunt Nora, eat this. Candy will make the pain go away.” His tiny hand covered the scars on my body, and in his childish yet determined voice, he said, “When I grow up, I’ll beat up the bad guys for you!” Back then, how could I have imagined that the little one who promised to protect me would grow into a blade that hurts me? The onlooking servants didn’t bother to lower their voices: “Didn’t they say she was making a fuss about leaving? How does she have the face to come back?” “Ha, she’s just trying to pressure Young Master Aiden into marrying her. Don’t you get her little scheme?” “Young Master Aiden never planned to marry her. Her mother practically forced her here. Not even asking for a title, and she’s been with him for eight years. If it were my daughter, I’d have broken her legs and thrown her out.” Rosalie Summers is supposedly Declan Thompson’s secretary, but she’s really his kept woman. She looked at me with a mocking smile: “Nora, holding onto something that doesn’t belong to you is exhausting.” I lowered my gaze and ignored her. As I was heading upstairs, the door suddenly opened. Mom walked in, her face turning cold at the sight of me. “Why do you look like such a mess?” She pushed me into a room to clean up. Through the bathroom door, her voice sounded all too real: “Nora, it’s enough to throw a little tantrum. Do you really think you’re Adeline Carter, threatening Declan Thompson with leaving?” “How can you be so foolish, letting some outsider outdo you so easily?” Seeing my continued silence, she yanked open the bathroom door. Water sprayed down, blurring the line between tears and water on my face. “Mom, but I’m not doing well.” Mom paused, and I wrapped a towel around myself, walking past her. She grabbed my wrist and slapped me hard. “Nora, are you awake now?” “Understand your position. Without Declan Thompson, you have no education or skills. How will you survive?” I covered my face, tears streaming down. Seeing my unresponsive state, Mom softened her tone, reaching for my hand: “Nora, what mother doesn’t care for her child? I’m doing this for your own good.” “Your dad’s company relies on the Thompson family’s support to stay afloat. Our family just bought a villa, and there’s still a few million in loans to repay.” “Your brother and sister-in-law are about to have their third child. It’s a time when money is needed. If you offend Declan Thompson now, are you trying to send our whole family to ruin?” “Asher is just a kid, no matter how harsh his words. Deep down, he must still remember your kindness. You’ve taken care of him for eight years. Even if you raised a dog, there’d be feelings. Just coax him well, and he’ll surely come around.” When disappointment reaches its peak, the heart no longer feels pain. Deep down, I knew she never truly loved me. But after being abducted and harshly treated by my foster parents, I clung to memories of my birth mother holding me. Thinking of it often enough, it became a faint glimmer of light. But falsehood is still falsehood. When I let go of my obsession and burst this illusory bubble, the hidden grim reality emerged. I pulled out the suitcase I had long prepared. “Mom, I’ve never had a choice in my life.” “But now, I want to make a choice for myself.” “I won’t accompany you on the road ahead.” I yanked open the door. Declan Thompson stood there, his brows furrowed, eyes simmering with barely contained anger: “Who gave you permission to leave?” I’m sorry, but it seems that the text to be translated was not provided. Could you please provide the text for translation? 04 He massaged his temples, as if dealing with an unruly pet. Half-heartedly, he tried to reason with me: “Why are you suddenly being so stubborn? Apart from your parents, there’s your brother, sister-in-law, and their two kids. Where would you even stay if you went back?”

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The criminal tortured me to death while my father, a leading detective, and my mother, the chief forensic pathologist, were with my sister Lydia at her competition. A criminal that my dad had once apprehended sought revenge by cutting out my tongue and using my phone to call him. My dad said just one thing before hanging up: “Whatever happens, Lydia’s competition is the priority today!” The criminal laughed bitterly, “Seems like I kidnapped the wrong person. I thought they’d care more about their own flesh and blood!” At the crime scene, my parents were horrified by the gruesome condition of the body, angrily condemning the killer’s brutality. Yet, they didn’t realize that the person who died such a tragic death was their own daughter. …… My body was discovered in an abandoned building. Construction workers, unable to stop vomiting, called the police. My parents rushed from Nora’s celebration to the crime scene. The forensic specialist frowned, signaling them to put on masks. Dad, a top detective, and Mom, the best forensic pathologist in the city, had seen many crime scenes, but even they were shaken when they saw the body. In the sweltering summer heat, the body had swelled like a giant. The face was smashed beyond recognition, making identification impossible. Covered in bruises, the head was barely attached to the neck. The severely decomposed body emitted a nauseating stench. Mom closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and put on gloves to begin the preliminary examination. Her eyes showed a pity that I had never received from her in life. I watched uneasily as she removed the blood-stained ring from my hand. I had made identical rings for my family, but because it didn’t fit Nora, my parents had scolded me. “All you do is cause trouble, deliberately picking on your sister!” “Lydia, even though you are our biological daughter, Nora has been with us for eighteen years. She will always be more important than you!” Even though their angry words still echoed in my ears, I believed my parents still loved me. Surely, they would recognize the gift I gave them! But Mom just unemotionally signaled her assistant to put the ring into an evidence bag. I shouldn’t have expected anything. In my parents’ hearts, I never existed, even though I am their biological daughter. My brother said our parents adopted Nora because they couldn’t find me after I was taken. They still loved me the most. But when I returned home, there was no place for me anymore. I felt like an intruder. After examining the crime scene, Dad sighed and asked Mom, “What’s the situation with this body?” Mom took off her gloves, rubbing her furrowed brow, “The deceased is estimated to be around 20 years old. Preliminary cause of death is a throat cut, after prolonged torture.” “The method is extremely cruel, and the social impact is severe. We need to solve the case quickly before public opinion escalates.” My dad lit a cigarette, taking a deep drag as if he was troubled. Even in death, I seemed to be causing more trouble for my parents. The forensic specialist reminded, “The killer hasn’t been caught. Remind your family to be careful. You have two girls at home; don’t let them go out at night.” Mom said impatiently, “Nora is always obedient, but I can’t control Lydia.” The forensic specialist, an old classmate of my parents, naturally knew our family’s situation. Dad was rubbing his right shoulder. The forensic specialist noticed and asked, “Old Lin, is your shoulder acting up again?” Dad waved it off, “It’s nothing, just using the patch Lydia bought…” Saying this, he froze. The so-called disobedient daughter cared deeply for their health. The forensic specialist patted Dad on the back, “Be kinder to Lydia. After all, she’s your biological daughter.” Dad shook his head, “The other day, Nora’s tennis match was coming up, and she kept asking Lydia to watch. But she didn’t even answer her phone. Nora was so disappointed she only got third place.” “Lydia hasn’t been home for days. Who knows if she’s dead somewhere? It’s not the same raising someone else’s child.” Listening to my parents’ accusations, I felt like I was plunged into an icy cave. Mom and Dad, it’s not that I don’t want to come home. I just can’t anymore. The ungrateful child you speak of died the day you accompanied Nora to her tennis match. My body is right in front of you.

At the case discussion, after hearing Mom’s autopsy report, the officers present had solemn expressions. Because of my horrific death, facial recognition was impossible. The abandoned building where my body was dumped wasn’t the first crime scene, making it much harder to solve. Dad instructed his officers to search for suspicious individuals near the location where my body was found. “Please have the forensic team examine the body again to see if there’s anything new. Send the extracted DNA to the lab as soon as possible,” Dad told Mom before rushing off with his team. My parents seemed to care more for the corpse than for me. Mom once caressed Nora’s hair, saying forensic work gives a voice to the dead, a noble profession. I remember Nora nodding in agreement, only to wipe her hair in disgust when Mom turned away. That time, I slapped Nora, but Dad punished me by shaving my head. Now, Mom gently touched my hair, whispering, “To die so tragically, the family must be heartbroken.” I smirked bitterly. My family would probably be happy about my death. Maybe only my brother would be a little sad. Mom’s gloved hand ran across my back. There were large burn scars from when I was kidnapped. When I was brought home, Mom was both surprised and displeased, “What happened to your back? It’s disgusting. Don’t scare Nora.” Could Mom have recognized me through these scars? I bit my lip nervously, sweating at the temple. But the next second, Mom casually said, “These aren’t from this time.” The assistant suddenly exclaimed, “Sister Zhang, there’s a piece of paper in the victim’s stomach!” Mom’s eyes widened, sighing softly, “It’s been corroded by stomach acid. Let’s see if the forensic department can analyze it later.” Her phone suddenly rang—it was Nora’s favorite song. Mom took off her gloves, hurrying to the hallway, speaking in the gentlest voice, “Sweetheart, what’s up? Mommy’s working.” “Tomorrow? Really?” Mom paused, then promised, “Dad and I will definitely be there to cheer you on. Your brother is away on a business trip and can’t make it.” Nora’s playful voice echoed in my ears, “Love you, Mom! I still hope Lydia can come watch my match. With her encouragement, I’ll definitely win.” “Even if she doesn’t want to come, it’s understandable. After all, I’ve been hogging your and Dad’s love for so many years.” Though she and I never got along, Nora loved to put on a show of sisterly affection in front of our parents. Based on past experience, Mom was probably about to scold me again. Sure enough, Mom’s voice rose, “You’re Dad’s and my darling. Lydia is nothing! Stealing from the family and bullying you behind our backs, she’s not fit to be my daughter.” “Don’t worry, even if she breaks her leg, I’ll make sure she wheels herself to watch your match!” Nora laughed sweetly, “Dad called me today, reminding me to be safe. Mom, if you have time, remind Lydia too.” “Take care of yourself. As long as Lydia doesn’t die in front of me, who cares where she goes to mess around?” Mom always spoke with disdain when mentioning me. Maybe it’s because the daughter they found had been raised poorly, not meeting their standards. After they found me, they never even bothered to change my last name. To them, their only daughter was Nora. While they worried about Nora’s safety, no one remembered I was their biological daughter. If they knew the reason for my death, I wonder how they would react. After all, my death was orchestrated by Nora, and it involved them too.

Gently telling Nora to rest early, Mom received a call from my brother. “Nolan, when will you finish your business trip? Your sister is waiting for you to watch her match!” Mom asked before my brother could speak. The day I was brought back home, my parents were comforting a crying Nora, but only my brother took my hand, telling me not to be afraid. The only warmth I felt at home came from him. My brother was taken aback on the other end of the line, “Is it Lydia’s math competition? Isn’t that next month…” Mom, annoyed, interrupted, “Lydia, Lydia! Nora is the sister you’ve spent years with! I’ve told you countless times, Lydia was raised poorly outside. She’s not fit to be part of our family.” My brother sighed, seemingly unable to understand Mom’s hostility towards me, “Mom, you shouldn’t always believe everything Nora says. Lydia is kind and hardworking. If you paid more attention to her, you would see that.” “I just tried calling Lydia. She didn’t answer, and she hasn’t replied to my messages from days ago. Isn’t she home?” Mom scoffed, coldly saying, “Her legs are her own. Do you expect me to tie her down? I suspect she’s out messing around again. Tomorrow is Nora’s tennis match. If you can’t make it, fine.” Pausing, she added harshly, “Tell Lydia if she doesn’t come to watch Nora’s tennis match tomorrow, she shouldn’t bother coming back. It’s better without her in the house anyway!” Ignoring my brother’s attempts to defend me, she hung up the phone coldly. Dad returned with his team, seeing Mom’s displeased expression, and asked, “Is the body giving you a hard time?” Mom shook her head, complaining, “It’s Lydia again, probably calling Nolan to complain. Now her brother is playing this disappearance game with her.” I paused for a moment, and My mom sharply remarked, “Tell Lydia to stop playing dead or vanishing. If she doesn’t attend Nora’s tennis match tomorrow, she should never come back. Frankly, it’s better without her at home!” Ignoring My brother’s attempts to defend me on the other end of the call, she hung up the phone coldly. Dad returned with his team and noticed My mom’s displeasure. Curious, he asked, “Is the case giving you trouble?” Mom shook her head, complaining, “It’s Lydia again. She’s probably complaining to Nolan, and now Her brother is playing disappearing games with her.” Dad sighed deeply, frustrated. “They know we’re busy with work, yet they pull these unnecessary stunts. So immature! I’ll call her and set things straight!” But no matter how many times he tried, the calls went unanswered. “Rebellious daughter, it’s almost better if she doesn’t come back. All she does is cause trouble!” The forensic specialist, who had been listening, sighed, “Remember when Little Lydia was abducted, and you both took a year off to find her? How did it come to this, where now that she’s back, it’s like she’s an enemy?” I couldn’t help but press my lips together, a bitterness rising within me. Because the one they found and brought back was me, an awkward, timid country girl. When I was found at fifteen, in the grand living room, my Parents were comforting a sobbing Nora patiently. I stood there awkwardly in patched-up clothes, staring down at the rubber shoes with a toe poking out. When Nora saw me, she stopped crying and asked with feigned innocence, “Who’s this little beggar?” My Parents’ faces darkened instantly, but not because of Nora. It was because I wasn’t the Daughter they had imagined. “Officer Lin, Medical Examiner Blake, I’ve checked the records. There have been no reports of missing persons in recent days,” an Officer approached with the report. “A Daughter goes missing and the family doesn’t even notice. Could it be their relationship is bad?” “Are there really Parents like that? Not caring about their kid at all!” Hearing the whispers around me, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sadness. The weight of sorrow enveloped me, making it hard to breathe. My Parents would feel for the deceased’s parents who didn’t report their child missing in time. But they never considered if I was safe during the days I was gone. Back when I was abducted, they even left work to find me. Now they suspect my disappearance is just a stunt to get their attention. Maybe from the start, when I was found, I shouldn’t have returned to the Lin household. This was Nora’s home, not mine. The years my Parents cared about me were long occupied by Nora. The affection and love that should have been mine would never tilt toward me again. My mom handed the acid-corroded paper to the forensic specialist. She rubbed her sore back, sighing as she spoke to Dad, “I hope this paper brings some results. Did you remind Little Nora to lock the doors?” Dad nodded gravely, hesitating before speaking, “Wife, what if something really happened to Lydia? She’s not answering, and Nolan hasn’t responded either. Should I have someone investigate…?” My mom interrupted, annoyed, “Enough! Don’t you know her by now? She’s hiding, waiting for us to find her! It’s not the first time she’s done this.” “She just doesn’t want to go to Nora’s game. By tomorrow, she’ll be calling us in tears to apologize.” The last time I went missing, it was during summer break when Nora locked me in the school bathroom. The school was empty during the holidays; no one could hear my cries for help. I exerted all my strength to climb out, filthy and with a twisted ankle, and walked home. What awaited me was Dad’s large palm and My mom’s scolding. “Nora said she saw you go to a motel with some thug? How did I raise such a shameless thing like you!” I couldn’t defend myself, only watch as Nora secretly smirked in triumph. My brother applied ointment for me, gently advising, “It’s not that Mom and Dad don’t love you; they just don’t know how to relate to you.” But I knew that compared to the smart and clever Nora, I, who wasn’t articulate, would never receive my Parents’ attention. The scales of affection always tip toward the one they love more. Sadly, that person isn’t me. If I were still alive, I would be the one making nourishing soups for them to take to the station when work kept them from coming home. But unfortunately, this time, I can’t appear and apologize as my Parents expect. After all, I’m just a dead person. The forensic results came out quickly; the paper was a receipt. The killer, in contempt, forced the paper into my mouth, making me swallow it: “Bought this for your Parents? They’d probably just throw it in the trash.” Dad, puzzled, asked, “Where is this place?” The forensic specialist hesitated, then said, “I checked. It’s a place that sells charms and blessing bags.” When my Parents and other Officers entered the shop, the shopkeeper jumped in surprise. She took the tattered receipt, looked at the numbers in the upper right corner, and flipped through the orders. “A young girl came to buy it some time ago, said it was for her Parents because their work is dangerous.” “But she never came to pick it up, and there was no answer when we called.” Saying this, the shopkeeper took out two red blessing bags, whispering, “The words ‘peace and joy, long life’ are on them, symbolizing safety and longevity.” Dad took the blessing bags, sighed, and asked, “Do you still have the surveillance footage from then?” The shopkeeper nodded, “The girl was very quiet, took a long time choosing the style for her Parents’ blessing bags. I remember her clearly.” But when the footage played, all the Officers present fell silent. My mom swallowed hard, staring at the screen, “Why does this girl look so much like Lydia?” The shopkeeper heard this and said, “Lydia? That’s the name on the order!” Dad’s expression wasn’t good either, trying to remain calm, “Maybe it’s just someone with the same name. Lydia must be hiding, laughing at us somewhere!” “Shopkeeper, are you in cahoots with Lydia, daring to mess with the police?” The phone suddenly rang, and My mom answered shakily, “Little Lee?” The examination department’s voice was urgent: “Sister Blake, we have the DNA test results of the deceased.” I’m sorry, but it seems there isn’t any specific Chinese text given for translation. Could you please provide the text you’d like translated? 5 My mom seemed to sense something was wrong. She clutched Dad’s arm, her nails pressing into his skin. “The deceased is your daughter, Lydia.”

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In my previous life, after adopting a seemingly innocent black cat, my Daughter’s behavior changed drastically, becoming excessively obedient. But soon after, our family business collapsed, and my Husband died in an accident. As I tried to uncover the truth, I was pushed off the twentieth floor. On my deathbed, my Daughter, who was always so well-behaved, pulled out my oxygen tube and laughed maniacally, “This body is mine now!” I died there, only to discover that my Daughter’s life had been exchanged with the cat’s. When I opened my eyes again, I was faced with those familiar, greedy black cat eyes. “Mom, it’s so pitiful. Can we keep it?” my Daughter asked. I shook my head firmly and pushed it away, “This treacherous cat is not welcome in our home.” “You can’t be serious! This cat is blind and injured, and you still kicked it?” My neighbor rolled her eyes at me and called to the black cat, “Mimi, come here, I’ve got a treat for you.” But the cat ignored her, meowing pitifully at my Daughter. My Daughter paused and looked back at me, confused. She couldn’t understand why her usually supportive mother was saying “no” today. The black cat stared at me with its piercing eyes, tugging at my Daughter’s skirt. I could almost see the longing and jealousy in its eyes. “This cat is so smart, it’s like it can understand human speech,” someone passing by commented. My Daughter Phoebe heard this and became even more attached to the Little Black Cat. She crouched down to shake hands with it. “Wow, it really seems to understand human speech! I said shake, and it shook. I said sit, and it sat.” “Mom, it only listens to me. This must mean we’re meant to be together! Please let me adopt it,” she pleaded. “Anyway, one more cat in the shelter won’t make a difference…” But I remembered the last life, that grotesque mix of viscera and bones. Rage boiled up inside me. Being cooked alive—how painful must that have been? I didn’t dare to imagine. With red-rimmed eyes, I pushed the cat away and held my Daughter tightly. “Sweetheart, in our home, you’re the only little darling we cherish.” “Those cats, you can only care for them in your spare time…” But never at the cost of your life! My Daughter took my serious tone seriously. She tilted her head, pondering. I shooed away the onlookers. The black cat cried woefully outside the door, refusing to be taken by anyone else. My Daughter felt sympathy, “But it’s so small; what if it starves outside?” Phoebe, sharing my last name, was always more empathetic than other kids. Even with that gambling ex-husband of mine, despite the domestic violence, she thought he might have his reasons. She had the potential to be a saint. Thankfully, there was one thing she couldn’t figure out on her own, but she listened to me enough. “Mom can’t fully explain yet why we can’t keep that Little Black Cat.” “But look at it, with just a few meows, it charmed everyone else, making it seem like only we two are the heartless villains!” “And since it can meow so coyly, surely someone will adopt it. You don’t need to worry unnecessarily.” My Daughter was temporarily convinced. After dinner, she sneaked out to check, and seeing no cat, she breathed a sigh of relief and slipped back inside. I pretended not to notice. But I thought to myself, it seems I still need to teach her about the darker sides of human and cat nature. Two days later, my Daughter couldn’t bear it anymore and begged for understanding. “Mom, where do all these bad people and bad cats come from? And Little Black is so amazing, it even caught fish for me to eat!” She blurted out excitedly, and when she saw my face darken, she belatedly covered her mouth. “Oops, Phoebe accidentally let it slip…” I was filled with anxiety when suddenly, I heard persistent meowing outside the door. So, I hadn’t been imagining things at night. Despite all my precautions, it still got close to my Daughter. What would it do next? Was it going to swap my Daughter’s life again?! I quickly called the Stray Cat Rescue Center and sent it out of the province. Half a month later, while taking out the trash, I stumbled upon something. “Oh dear, poor thing. Even if you don’t want to keep it, don’t abuse it! Look at all its wounds, it’s still bleeding,” a neighbor returning with groceries saw the scene and immediately scolded. My Daughter was doing her homework inside, but upon hearing this, she immediately dropped her pen and rushed out. Seeing the red on the tip of my shoe, she couldn’t believe it. “Mom, didn’t you always say you hate violence the most? How could you be so harsh on a small animal?” Her disappointment pierced my heart. Even the meowing behind me seemed to mock my helplessness against it. How can one argue with a cat? Especially when everyone around sides with the “weak Kitty.” I couldn’t defend myself, even if I checked the surveillance; it was just one intentional or unintentional kick. In the end, I had to pay for its care and repeatedly warned the vet at the clinic, “It has a rage disorder. All its injuries are from family members of the people it’s harmed. Make sure to lock it up tightly to prevent it from escaping and hurting others again!” “Or find it a mate; maybe if it gets pregnant, it’ll become gentle.” My Daughter looked at me with a strange expression, “Mom, you…” I covered her mouth. “Sweetheart, I’ll explain everything once we’re home.” It seemed impossible not to talk it out. She didn’t understand the seriousness of the situation! Amidst the cat’s miserable cries, my Daughter kept looking back. I felt like the evil Queen Mother tearing apart the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, judged by everyone’s eyes along the way. At the Cat Shelter’s entrance, even the neighbor across the street eyed me suspiciously. “Stop lying. I’ve checked the surveillance. You deliberately pretended not to see, aggravating the poor little cat’s injuries…” “Maybe you’re the Heartless Widow who’s been abusing the neighborhood’s cats and dogs!” “I’ll keep watching you, never letting you harm them again!” Neighbors surrounded me, pointing fingers. My Daughter felt utterly ashamed. She stomped her foot and ran inside. “That’s not true!” In the end, she still believed in me, her birth mother. I felt somewhat comforted and went to the community security to get a copy of the surveillance footage to clear my name. After all, they couldn’t just say black was white, right? My Daughter still had to attend elementary school in the community. “Ms. Harper, the surveillance backup has encountered some issues and has been overwritten. Maybe you could ask the neighbors if they happened to have recorded anything?” I didn’t expect things to become so difficult. Normally, most people would ignore a stray cat. Handling it should be simple. Yet now, I’ve got fur all over me, and my reputation’s tarnished. Right, after all, that’s an unknown evil thing… At my doorstep, a volunteer from the Animal Protection Society reached out to stop me. “Hello, we’ve received a report that you are suspected of privately abusing stray cats, Ms. Harper. Please cooperate with our investigation. ” I laughed out of anger, pointing at the yard full of well-kept, glossy cats. “Fine, investigate! If there’s one injury, I’ll accept the penalty!” The final investigation concluded with no issues. But the Mommy Neighbor couldn’t stand my composure, showing an edited surveillance video as evidence. A piercing “meow” sealed my fate. My Daughter watched as her Kitty friends were taken away, her heart breaking. “Waa… Mom, I hate you!” She ran away in a panic. I searched all night, not daring to close my eyes, fearing nightmares about my Daughter’s countless tragic deaths. The next day, a nightmare came true. My Daughter brought the cat back, refusing to speak to me out of spite. “Sweetheart, can we not keep cats for now?” I tried to negotiate, noticing a bit of Snowy tucked inside her jacket, feeling slightly relieved. But my Daughter held the Kitty tighter, “No, right now, I only have Little Black… Little White, and I can’t lose it again! Otherwise, everyone will think I made up having cat friends…” She rarely had her own opinion, but she was stubborn about the Kitty. I sighed, using my advantage as an adult to snatch up the white cat with the scent of disinfectant. I pulled her into the master bedroom. “Phoebe, I can’t hide it from you any longer.” Worried, I looked into my Daughter’s innocent eyes and chose my words carefully. “Actually, that Little Black Cat from yesterday, I’ve seen it somewhere else before…” I claimed I saw a cat with the same injuries and sweet meowing on a business trip. “…Later, the family that adopted it all died horribly, not a single one left!” “Mom, is this a story?” My Daughter blinked, glancing outside, “But it’s not night yet. And I’m grown up now, I’m not afraid of ghost stories.” I held back my fear, torn between telling her everything from my past life and fearing it would scare her young mind. Seeing her hand on the door handle, clearly thinking about the pure white cat in the living room, I panicked. I squatted down, hugging her tightly, whispering, “Anyway, what Mom said is all true. I’m really scared that you’ll be harmed by the cat…” “Sweetheart, please listen to Mom, don’t think about that Little Black Cat anymore. Let it leave with someone who can care for it better, okay?” Phoebe, with her back to me, tangled her little fingers in confusion. I only heard a muffled nod. “Okay…” I wanted to share everything about my past life with her, but I feared it might overwhelm her young heart. I watched as my Daughter reached for the doorknob, obviously thinking about the pure white cat in the living room. I became anxious. I knelt down and hugged her tightly, whispering softly. “Everything Mommy tells you is true. I’m genuinely afraid the cat might harm you…” “Sweetheart, please listen to Mommy. Let’s not think about that Little Black Cat anymore. Let it go to someone who can take better care of it, okay?” Phoebe had her back to me, and I couldn’t see her fidgeting fingers. I only heard her quietly nod. “Mm…” She blinked repeatedly, her gaze wandering aimlessly. I prepared breakfast for my Daughter and only felt relieved after watching her enter kindergarten. “Huh?” I thought I saw a black-and-white tail retract near the zipper of her backpack. It confused me. Upon closer inspection, it was just a new fluffy accessory she had. I rubbed my eyes, realizing maybe I was just tired from not sleeping all night. I turned and headed to work. At noon, I called the Vet Clinic I’d been in touch with earlier, sending a client with a signed certificate over. “That cat is dark with green eyes. Just keep it locked inside your house.” “If it can’t catch mice, I’ll send you another one!” Thinking of their family’s excellent skills, I figured there wouldn’t be any major issues. After all, even creatures respect strength. But at 5 PM, I checked messages on my Phone. “This Little Black Cat seems clueless, not as clever as you described…” The client who went on this errand wasn’t satisfied, as mentioned in Instant Messaging. I opened the photo she sent. The eyes of the black cat in the picture looked completely unfamiliar. It was a feeling I couldn’t describe. My heart raced with anxiety. In the parent group of my Daughter’s class, other parents and the Homeroom Teacher were repeatedly tagging me. “Ms. Harper, are you being responsible?” “Why did you let your daughter bring a stray cat to school? It’s scratched my Daughter. What are you going to do about it?” I rushed to the Community Elementary School. I grabbed the Homeroom Teacher, asking, “What’s happening? Where is my Daughter now?!” The Homeroom Teacher was also at a loss. “Well… I saw her in the first two classes, but after free activities, um, don’t worry, I’ll check the surveillance and ask the security at the front and back gates.” I was anxious, surrounded by a group of parents demanding an explanation. I was on the verge of breaking down and suddenly shouted. “Enough, stop it! If anyone needs to go to the hospital, just go. We’ll discuss any issues later. I don’t have time for this right now!!” Maybe it’s because I’ve managed the Taylor Group alone for the past few years, making me more assertive. Or maybe I did have a point—the priority, after all, is the children. The parents with kids scratched by the cat quickly left to get vaccines. Others still wanted to argue with me. I redirected them all to my nearly all-capable Assistant. I questioned the kids one by one. I asked if they noticed anything unusual about my Daughter this afternoon. They couldn’t say for sure, only mentioning that the cat had a strong, pungent smell. “Yeah, like the smell Mommy sometimes brings back from the salon!” “And the little cat had a bandage on its hind legs.” “By the way, the Little Black and White Cat’s scratches really hurt. It’s fierce, not gentle like it sounds.” “But it can count, super impressive!” I spotted a cat hair on one child’s clothes. Seeing the black and white pattern, and hearing familiar praises for the Kitty, I suddenly broke down. “Damn it, could it really be it?!” “Why?! Why won’t it leave our family alone?!” The Phone slipped from my hand as my Assistant continued to report. “It turns out… last night the young lady went to the Dry Cleaner. The bleaching agent on the coat matches the one on your sofa. Also, the Little Black Cat was switched…” The Homeroom Teacher rushed over with her Phone, looking relieved. “Don’t worry, someone saw your Daughter with Snowy, and she called a man Daddy.” “It’s only been an hour, she should be safe.” But I felt even more hopeless, collapsing to the ground in despair. “But he killed my Mom and Dad seven years ago!” With my Daughter now with two murderers, can she really come back safe and sound?! 5 In the hospital, everyone was struck silent. Anyone with even a basic understanding of criminal psychology knows that a murderer’s second crime is often more brutal than the first. Many have heard of that Gambler Arson Case from back then.

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I had been loved and hated by my husband for five years. After our seventh breakup, he flaunted his new girlfriend at various high-profile events. I didn’t cry or make a scene. I just calmly observed the girl’s face, which was 90% similar to mine before the accident. The first breakup happened because that girl’s eyes resembled mine. The second breakup was due to her mouth being similar to mine. The third was because of her figure. I understood him. Gabriel was a perfectionist. He spent five whole years trying to recreate the pre-accident version of me. And this was the seventh time. He had managed to piece together my pre-accident appearance, but he could never piece together my shattered heart. I didn’t wait for Gabriel’s seventh attempt at reconciliation. I quietly disappeared from his world. But later, he knelt in a crowded square, begging me to give him one more chance. The light from Gabriel’s phone screen scattered in the bedroom as he watched a woman giving an acceptance speech. His gaze held an adoration he hadn’t even noticed himself. I turned over, catching a glimpse of the familiar necklace around her neck on the screen. It was the diamond necklace passed down through generations in my family, the proof of love I had once given to Gabriel with my own hands. Now, it was once again adorning another woman’s neck. Gabriel turned off the screen, his voice low and gentle: “Did I wake you?” I shook my head, pulling the covers down to bury my face further. Gabriel gently patted my back, a tender smile on his lips: “Go back to sleep, I’m here with you.” I knew his momentary tenderness wasn’t for me, just a lingering effect from earlier. He hated me. He hated that I had saved him, leaving behind a scarred, overmedicated version of myself with a changed figure. No matter how hard he tried to hide it, he couldn’t mask the disgust in his eyes when he looked at me. My hand touched the scars on my cheek. Burned by the fierce fire, uneven scars were etched into my skin. A bitter smile flickered across my numb heart. This was the seventh time. I was all too familiar with this routine. The unfamiliar perfume, the sudden departures in the middle of the night… In my hazy state, he removed his hand from my back and quietly left the bedroom. Standing on the balcony, he made a call. A clear, lively voice came through the phone, piercing my ears: “Gabriel, did you see my award ceremony?” He chuckled softly, his voice full of affection: “I did. That necklace suits you well.” His gentle laughter was like a thorny rose vine, strangling my heart while its thorns pierced deep. Soft laughter echoed from the other end of the line as well. It turns out that this kind of pain, even after experiencing it so many times, doesn’t completely numb you. It still stings. By the time the pillow had lost its warmth, he finally bid Tessa goodnight, reluctantly. His hand, chilled by the night breeze, brushed my hair aside. He lay back down, holding me a bit tighter than before. I heard him murmuring: “Aria, I love you so much, so so much…” The love he professed over and over didn’t seem directed at me. It was as if he was weaving a cage to trap my heart, stripping away my last shred of dignity and self-respect. I slowly opened my eyes: “I love you too, very very much.” But I want to give up now. Gabriel smiled and lowered his head slightly, holding me tighter. I heard my own voice, tired and hoarse: “Gabriel, can I have a goodnight kiss?” Even though I knew it was too much to ask, I still couldn’t help but clutch his collar in the darkness. If only Gabriel would give me just one kiss, I’d be willing to wait for him one more time. Even if I knew it was fake, even if, even if a kiss didn’t mean anything. But please, Gabriel. Don’t let my heart die so quickly. Gabriel just smiled and let go of me, ruffling my hair: “I have to go to the office for some overtime work. Wait for me to come back, okay?” My fingers, which had been gripping his collar, loosened helplessly. In the darkness, he couldn’t see my tears. I listened to the door close and the car start up and drive away downstairs. Gabriel, I think I can’t find a reason to keep loving you anymore. I’m too tired.

When I woke up again, the pillow was still damp. The trending topics on my phone were all about Tessa Taylor winning the Best Actress award. The title of “Little Aria Moore” was no longer mentioned by anyone. Similarly, no one would mention the name Aria Moore anymore. Gabriel, who had gone to work overtime last night, unsurprisingly appeared at the wrap party for the little girl’s new drama. Photos of them with their faces close together, making heart shapes with their hands, or kissing with just a piece of paper between them – these ambiguous poses were nothing new. Gabriel would always do this, openly displaying his love. As for me, his secret wife who had been divorced seven times, no one cared anymore. I caressed the screen, looking at Tessa’s face that was 90% similar to my past self, and couldn’t help but sigh. If my face hadn’t been burned, perhaps I could have had a shot at that Best Actress crown too. But now, I’ll never have that chance again. Do I regret it? Not really. No matter how many times I could go back, I would still rush into that fire without hesitation to drag Gabriel out, shielding him with my body during the explosion. But if you ask me if I have absolutely no regrets, that would be a lie. At least everything will be over soon. At the hospital, I still asked the same old question: “Is there really no chance for my face to recover?” “I’ve already had skin grafts, but there are still scars…” The doctor’s brow furrowed as he listened to me ramble on about the current defects on my face. Skin, eye size, symmetry of the left and right sides of the face, eyebrows… Finally, after a long silence, the doctor adjusted his glasses: “Miss Moore, I understand how you feel, but the chances of recovery are very slim now…” “You might need to visit the psychology department to help alleviate some of your psychological stress.” I was stunned. I hadn’t expected the doctor to say something like that. The doctor turned the mirror towards me, and I instinctively averted my gaze, not daring to look at the scars on my body. I fled from the office like I was escaping. As I was going downstairs, I bumped into Gabriel with his arm around Tessa’s waist on the second floor of the obstetrics and gynecology department. I touched my abdomen and met Gabriel’s gaze. Once upon a time, Gabriel and I had a child too. The fire that took away my beauty also robbed me of my right to be a mother. Gabriel calmly shifted his gaze, as if he had seen a stranger of no importance. Tears welled up in my eyes. I could only silently pull my hat down further, blocking my view. Tessa, supported by Gabriel, walked into the elevator and stood next to me. I tried my best to lean into the corner, listening to the two of them flirting back and forth. The sweetness in Tessa’s voice was almost overflowing: “The doctor said our baby is very healthy. What should we name it when it’s born?” Gabriel replied without hesitation: “Let’s call it Miles. When he grows up, he’ll go far. Miles Harrison.” I widened my eyes in shock and looked over at him. This name was clearly the one I had chosen for our unborn child back then. Now, it was to be given to another child. I bit my lip, trying hard to hold back my tears. Tessa’s gaze flickered between me and him, a smile playing on her lips: “Are you here for a prenatal check-up too, sister?” She turned towards me, taking my hand and placing it on her still-flat abdomen. It was warm, with no movement yet, but enough to make me envious. Suddenly, Tessa let out a sharp scream, yanking my hand away and shrinking into Gabriel’s arms: “How could you be so cruel as to press on my belly!” “Just because you’re jealous that I’m having a baby doesn’t mean you can hurt me like this. This is the most precious child of me and my husband.” I was startled for a moment, staring blankly at Gabriel: “No… I didn’t…” He frowned, his expression barely concealing his anger as he held Tessa protectively in his arms. Tessa burst into tears almost instantly, burying her face in Gabriel’s chest. Gabriel forcefully pressed the button for the nearest floor, glaring at me ominously. His voice turned cold and distant: “A vicious woman like you doesn’t deserve to have her own child.” Something in my heart seemed to collapse with a crash. I didn’t even notice when Gabriel left, shielding the young woman. It wasn’t until I got home that I received a text from Gabriel: [Sorry, I was a bit out of line earlier.] [Things aren’t what you think. I’ll explain when I get back.] My fingers were still trembling, my heart felt squeezed and breathless, the jumping text before my eyes appeared blurred, soaked by tears. In the end, I didn’t reply to the message. What does it matter if Gabriel dates his current girlfriend or goes for prenatal check-ups? What does it have to do with me, his ex-wife? The house was eerily quiet, endless loneliness engulfing me. It wasn’t until late at night that Gabriel returned, startled when he turned on the lights and saw me. He handed me a sickeningly sweet cream cake, his voice gentle and concerned: “I bought you a little treat.” I stared at the cake in my hand, stunned for a moment. He had forgotten that ever since my figure changed, cake was the thing I hated most. It was also something he had never cared about. “Why aren’t you asleep yet? Still angry?” Gabriel picked me up and carried me to the bed, his voice low and gentle, once again becoming my attentive husband. I no longer had the energy to answer him, pulling the covers over myself and mumbling a perfunctory ‘no’. He lowered his head and kissed the tip of my ear in the darkness: “Goodnight.”

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After I Chose to Marry the Country Boy, My Three Rich Fiancés Were Devastated I’m the true daughter of the Sinclair family, brought back from a small town. To make up for lost time, my father specially gave me three fiancé candidates to choose from. Back then, only Ethan Grant didn’t look down on me for coming from a small town, and I gradually grew dependent on him. Even when he later started deliberately distancing himself from me like the others, I still tried hard to win his favor, thinking he would be moved by my sincerity. But on the night before our engagement party, I overheard him comforting Ivy Chen, the fake daughter: “Just bear with it a little longer. She’s from a small town after all. Once we’re married, I’ll be the one managing the Sinclair family business. Then I’ll make her kneel down and apologize to you. You’re the true lady of the Sinclair family!” So at the banquet, I turned to my father and said I didn’t want to choose any of these three men. I wanted to choose Liam Kennedy, who grew up with me in that small town. Last week, he was just brought back to the Kennedy family and was about to be announced as their sole grandson – the next leader of the prestigious Kennedy family in New York!

The day before the wedding, my father asked me: “Have you decided on your fiancé for tomorrow?” I nodded, “I’ll choose Liam Kennedy.” Father was very surprised: “That boy who grew up with you in the small town? No, that’s not a suitable match!” I whispered a few words to Father, and he exclaimed in shock: “Really?!” I nodded. Liam Kennedy and I were both actually the true heirs mistakenly raised in that small town. He was brought back to the Kennedy family last week and is their sole grandson. He’s guaranteed to be the next leader of the Kennedy family. Father patted my shoulder: “It’s an honor to be able to form a marriage alliance with the prestigious Kennedy family of New York. But weren’t you always fond of that Grant boy?” I calmly replied: “For the benefit of our family, an alliance with the Kennedys is the best outcome I’ve considered.” I didn’t want to tell him how Ethan had scorned my small-town origins and hurt me in every interaction after that. If I did, Father would surely confront him, which would also cause trouble with the Grant family behind him. We still have business dealings with them, and I don’t want the two families to become enemies. Now that I have a better solution, it’s about letting him go, and also freeing myself. After Father and I finalized the marriage plans, he left my villa. Ethan and Ivy Chen hurried over to see him off. After he left, Ethan frowned at me: “You were pestering your father about rushing our marriage again, weren’t you?” I was too tired to argue. But Ethan grabbed my arm: “As expected of someone from a small town – poor and vulgar. All you know how to do is marry a rich man!” Ivy Chen chimed in at this moment: “Don’t worry, sister. In our big city, women are no longer mocked for not being able to marry. But you lack ambition – I sent you that business proposal yesterday and you didn’t even look at it.” She had sent me a document at 4 AM last night, of course I didn’t have time for her games. But hearing Ivy say this, Oliver Lawrence and Zach Johnson also came over to mock me. “As expected of a woman raised in poverty – even becoming the true heiress hasn’t changed anything.” I was brought back to the Sinclair family from that small town. Father was overjoyed and let me choose from several young men who were already interested in marrying into our family. The Grant, Lawrence and Johnson families weren’t considered top-tier, so marrying into the Sinclair family for resources was a step up for them. But as soon as they found out the marriage candidate was me, this small-town true heiress, their attitudes immediately changed. They looked at me mockingly, waiting for my reaction. I didn’t say anything. Foolish people never realize their own foolishness. It seems they still don’t understand the rules – I’m the one representing the Sinclair family in choosing them. They were never in a position to look down on me.

But even though they looked down on me, they still lived in the villa Father gave me. In the end, they couldn’t let go of the benefits of this marriage alliance. I looked at them and said: “If you think marrying me is embarrassing, you three can get out of my villa right now. Or -” I glanced at Ivy Chen beside me: “You can choose to marry Ivy, who has no inheritance rights.” Hearing the words “no inheritance rights”, the people in front of me immediately moved to protect Ivy. Ethan was especially angry: “Don’t think you can bully Ivy just because you have power now. Was it her choice to be switched as a baby?” The usually hot-tempered Oliver Lawrence directed all his anger at me: “You think we want to marry you? It’s all your Sinclair family using your power to force us!” Zach Johnson also snorted arrogantly, looking at me sideways: “Shameless. You think you can do anything just because you got some power!” They despise power, but in reality, they are the ones who most desperately want to obtain it. Ivy Chen started crying pitifully behind them, suddenly kneeling down to me: “Sister, please don’t be angry anymore. It’s all my fault. I should have just died back then!” With that, she suddenly rushed to bang her head against a marble pillar in the living room. Blood immediately flowed down. Ethan and the other two quickly ran to hold her back, hugging Ivy Chen with concern. Ivy Chen leaned weakly in Ethan’s arms and looked at me: “Sister, are you happy now? If it weren’t for me, Ethan and the others wouldn’t dislike you. You’ve always thought it would be better if I just died, right?!” I was utterly speechless. She had started putting on an act all by herself. Since returning to the Sinclair family and being confirmed as the true heir, I’ve been studying with private tutors. Recently I’ve also been going to the company early and returning late to learn the business. Where would I have time to be jealous of her? I had glanced at her business proposal this morning too – it was childishly simple stuff that I couldn’t even be bothered to comment on. But she had used all of this to her advantage. Hearing this, Ethan looked at me with disappointment: “How can you still not change your small-town bad habits? Lazy, jealous, telling Ivy to die – aren’t you afraid of karmic retribution?” But I’ve been standing here the whole time, not doing anything at all… Ethan continued lecturing me: “Quickly kneel down and kowtow to apologize to Ivy. Otherwise, don’t blame me for breaking off the engagement!” When I first arrived, I had fallen for Ethan who was kind to me then, and confessed to him. But later, with Ivy’s repeated crying and accusations, he became convinced that I was just a stupid and vicious small-town woman. Since then, he has used my love as leverage, forcing me to apologize to Ivy again and again. Kneeling, kowtowing, admitting my faults – I was young then, and thought this would keep his affection. But he only used this love to manipulate me for five whole years. Now that I see through everything, his love has become as cheap as air to me. This time I just gave him an indifferent look: “She banged her own head. I didn’t force her to do it. Let her apologize to herself in the mirror.” It was the first time Ethan saw me refuse to give in, and he felt like he lost face. He angrily pointed at me: “You dare to talk back? Small-town people really are vicious!” Oliver Lawrence suddenly snapped his fingers and said: “You must have found out we let Ivy try on your Alifilos wedding dress, and are deliberately torturing her, right?” Zach Johnson also frowned: “Small-town people are so petty, not understanding the beauty of sharing.” Hearing this, my expression turned cold: “My wedding dress?”

Alifilos means “wings of the clouds” in Latin. When Father found me, he had joyfully commissioned this luxurious wedding dress for me in Switzerland. It also symbolized my position as the heir of the Sinclair family. But now they’re saying this meaningful, once-in-a-century wedding dress was tried on by Ivy Chen first. I looked at Ethan. He was in charge of having the wedding dress flown back from Switzerland. Ethan looked a bit guilty under my gaze, but quickly straightened up and said to me: “Can’t you be less petty? Ivy was raised in luxury, but as soon as you came she was labeled as the fake heiress. She’s been mocked and insulted by you so many times. What’s wrong with lending her the dress to try on and satisfy her love of beauty?” He sighed, closing his eyes as if making a painful decision: “Fine, I’ll agree to the engagement party! I’ll let you have your wish of wearing that dress and getting engaged to me. Satisfied now?” Hearing him say this, Oliver Lawrence and Zach Johnson complained on his behalf: “No way, that’s exactly what that evil Aria wants! Why give in to her?” “Now Aria’s going to be smug about getting her way. What a shame, sigh.” Even Ivy Chen leaned into Ethan’s arms, tenderly caressing his face: “Ethan, you don’t need to make such a big sacrifice for me…” I stood watching them, my heart bitter. I was also a young girl longing for love, yet they despised me to this extent. I held back my tears and said to Ethan: “Don’t worry, I will never marry you.” Hearing this, Ethan looked at me as if he saw through me: “What trick are you trying to play now?” Oliver Lawrence and Zach Johnson beside him looked at me warily, as if afraid I would reject Ethan and choose one of them instead. At this moment, Ivy Chen suddenly crawled over and kowtowed to me: “I’m begging you, sister. Stop torturing these three men. You’ve already taken away my inheritance rights and my father. Do you have to drive away the few friends I have left?!” She kowtowed forcefully, making her already bloodied forehead even more battered. Ethan and the others were frightened and quickly went to hold her. The group of them huddled together glaring at me, pushing me to the opposing side. I held back the tears of grievance about to fall and turned to leave. But Ethan grabbed my hand: “I said I’m willing to marry you. You’d better not think about hurting Oliver and the others!” “You say you won’t marry me, but do you really have the guts to reject me at the engagement party? The fact is, besides me, who else would want a small-town girl like you!” I slowly pried his hand off mine and looked at him: “I, Aria Sinclair, always do what I say. No need for Mr. Grant to worry.” I strode forward, still able to hear Ethan’s voice behind me trying to persuade me not to throw a tantrum. He spoke with exasperation and loudly, as if I had exhausted him. I didn’t see them again until the engagement party. When the party started, I was surprised to see Ethan appear with a cold expression. How strange, I clearly didn’t invite them, Yet somehow these people all showed up uninvited to my engagement party.

At the engagement party, my assistant asked if I wanted to kick them out. I shook my head. Forget it, the stars of this engagement party aren’t them anyway. Let’s just treat them as a few extra guests. But as soon as they entered, the other CEOs around eagerly went over to toast them. “Young Mr. Grant is so accomplished, acquiring American Vikey at such a young age.” That was actually me negotiating the acquisition as the Sinclair heiress. He just went to sign his name. “I heard Mr. Lawrence has had success in racing. It would be quite a story if he inherits the Sinclair family in the future.” If it weren’t for the Sinclair family’s funding, his racing club would have gone bankrupt long ago. “Mr. Johnson’s paintings have fetched sky-high prices in art circles. The Sinclair bloodline must be full of artistic talent!” I was the one who bought his third-rate paintings, otherwise they would have been a laughingstock at auctions. The guests fawned over those men endlessly. They assumed my fiancé would definitely be chosen from among Ethan, Oliver and Zach. Flattering them was the same as flattering the Sinclair family. But they didn’t realize at all that I was the one with inheritance rights. Whoever I choose will be the next co-heir of the Sinclair family! The main event of the party hadn’t started yet. I was tired of watching these people bootlick and was about to step away for a moment. But then Ethan suddenly received a phone call and shouted in disbelief: “What?! Ivy was deliberately kidnapped?!” As soon as he said this, I immediately felt dozens of gazes shoot towards me. I turned my head, only to be slapped across the face by Oliver Lawrence who had walked over. “You’re truly vicious! Insulting Ivy wasn’t enough, you even had someone deliberately kidnap her today!” The banquet hall immediately burst into hushed whispers. They all thought I was from a small town – stupid, vicious, with evil thoughts. So they were also more willing to flatter my fiancé candidates, even disdaining to interact with me. I held my face and coldly looked at him: “Do you have any evidence that I’m behind the kidnapping?” Zach Johnson stood beside him with his arms crossed, sweeping a contemptuous glance at me: “Do we need any evidence? Anyone with eyes can see what’s going on.” Just then, the doors of the banquet hall were thrown open – “Ethan, save me! Ivy is so scared!” Ivy Chen ran in looking disheveled, her hair a mess, as if she had suffered some unspeakable abuse and humiliation. She threw herself straight into Ethan’s arms, ignoring all decorum. Ethan immediately took off his jacket to cover her, comforting her not to be afraid. “Given what’s happened, what do you have to say for yourself? Ivy almost lost her virtue. This isn’t over between us!” Ethan glared at me angrily, directly carrying Ivy away. Oliver Lawrence violently pushed over the champagne tower next to him. Before leaving, he pointed at me and said: “Without us, let’s see how you manage to pull off this engagement party!” Zach Johnson also looked at me with disdain: “You reap what you sow. Don’t blame us for not giving you face anymore.” The surrounding guests pointed and whispered between Ivy and me. Saying what a lovely Sinclair princess Ivy used to be, yet now she’s been tortured to this state by me, this vicious true heiress. As Ethan and the others left, many people looked at me mockingly through their noses. “Well now, who would still be willing to marry this wild woman?” “Looks like the Sinclair family is finished this time.” “All the fiancés ran off. Let’s see how she holds this engagement party now.” I collected myself and had people clean up the scene and reassure the guests. I announced to everyone present: “The engagement party of Aria Sinclair officially begins!” On the big screen, the handsome face of a young man suddenly appeared. The guests whispered, wondering which family’s young master this was. I said: “This is Liam Kennedy, who grew up with me in that small town.” As soon as I finished speaking, the whole hall burst into laughter. “The Sinclair family actually wants to find a small-town person as their co-heir, hahaha!” A second after he finished speaking, on the big screen, an electronic invitation unique to New York’s Kennedy family slowly unfolded. The stern yet kindly voice of Old Mr. Kennedy rang out: “Thank you all for attending the engagement party of Sinclair heiress Aria Sinclair and my sole grandson, Liam Kennedy!”

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My fiancée is pregnant with a male colleague’s child, and she’s due soon. When she returned from her business trip, visibly pregnant, I was setting up our wedding room. I confronted her, my voice raw from disbelief. She looked at me innocently and said, “He just donated sperm. I have nothing to hide from you.” With that, she left with the colleague to pick out a gift for the baby. I immediately shared the news with the family group chat and called off the wedding. But everyone thought I was overreacting. Adeline’s mother said, “Adeline is beautiful and well-educated. Her genes deserve to be passed on. It’s for the greater good.” Adeline’s father added, “She didn’t cheat. Why are you making this a big deal?” My father was so furious he had a heart attack, “You stubborn fool! How could you back out of such a good marriage?” My mother lamented, “If you call off the wedding, no one will ever marry you!” With tears, I replied, “Then I won’t marry at all!” Yet someone sent a message: “Jasper, when will you let me step up?”

That evening, Adeline walked in carefully with Asher by her side. They had brought a box full of toys for the unborn baby. Adeline gently touched her belly, and they shared a smile filled with the joy of impending parenthood. Seeing me, Asher handed me a small gift box with a smile, “Jasper, I picked this especially for you. I only realized today how much this means to you. Consider it… a small apology.” Without looking, I tossed the gift box into the trash. Asher’s smile vanished, tears falling like broken pearls, “Jasper, I… I’m sorry.” He choked up and hid behind Adeline. Adeline immediately shielded him, looking at me helplessly, “Jasper, don’t be like this.” “Asher just responded to the workplace’s call for quality gene donation. Plus, his mom has lung cancer and wanted a grandchild before she dies… I just wanted a child as excellent as him.” “We’re just ordinary colleagues; there’s really nothing between us.” “Ordinary colleagues?” My voice trembled, “Saying good morning and good night every day is ordinary? Sharing music playlists is ordinary? Covering for him at dinners and driving him home after overtime is ordinary?” She rubbed her temples tiredly, “Here you go again. Haven’t I explained all this? You’re always overthinking and suspicious.” I laughed coldly. Her explanations were flimsy, talk of normal colleague interactions and mentoring. Full of holes, yet I chose to believe them time and again. But five years of feelings, I couldn’t just let them end like this. Clenching my teeth, I pointed at her belly, testing her on purpose, “Fine, let’s say I overthought it, I misunderstood you!” “Abort the child, and I’ll act like nothing happened. The wedding will go on.” “Impossible!” Adeline raised her voice, suppressing her anger, “The child is Asher’s; I have no right to decide.” Asher’s face went pale, and he suddenly knelt before me. He tightly protected Adeline’s belly with his hands, voice choked, “Jasper, there’s really nothing between me and Adeline. The baby is already eight months old, kicking my hand in her belly. I can’t, I can’t…” He cried his heart out, shaking all over. Adeline’s face tensed, struggling for a few seconds before softening. She helped him up, showing a helpless smile: “Jasper, asking me to abort the child now is no different from cutting out his heart.” I stared at her, a cold smile on my lips, “What, feeling pity now?” Adeline was visibly stunned, then showed a pained expression, “I didn’t expect you to be so heartless. If that’s the condition for marriage, then we’re really not the same kind of people… Let’s break up.” “Jasper, Adeline is innocent. Don’t take it out on her!” Asher suddenly cried out, “If you want to blame someone, blame me. I can’t bear to lose the child… But I’ll prove our innocence with my life!” Before I could react, he rushed toward the balcony, acting like he was about to jump. My heart leapt to my throat, and I instinctively moved to stop him. But Adeline was quicker, rushing over in a panic. Before we could get close, Asher collapsed on the floor, crying uncontrollably. Adeline pulled him into her arms, shaking all over. After a while, she raised her head, her eyes cold as she looked at me still standing there, “Jasper! Your baseless accusations almost killed Asher!” Her gaze was cold, like she was looking at a stranger. “Asher’s mom is dying! Do you want to drive him to death too? You can be indifferent, but I can’t.” Her voice trembled. She helped Asher up gently, facing me with a stern voice, “Move!” I stood frozen, trying to speak, “I didn’t mean…” “Asher, the baby… seems to be coming.” Adeline suddenly let out a weak moan and then fainted. “Adeline!” Asher’s face turned ghostly pale, shoving me aside to carry Adeline out the door.

I collapsed to the floor, biting my lip hard, unable to suppress the coldness surging in my heart. I stayed awake until dawn, and finally, my phone lit up with a message from Adeline: “I was too anxious last night and spoke harshly.” “Jasper, I’m sorry.” My nose tingled, and tears welled up instantly. All these years, she was always the first to apologize after a fight, and I’d forgive her down the steps she offered. But this time was different. I could never get over this. Before I could reply, she sent a photo. It was a picture of her with the newborn. The tiny baby was cradled in her arms, her gaze tender as spring water. “I gave birth early, naturally, but luckily the baby is healthy.” “The baby looks a lot like Asher.” “I need to stay in the hospital for three days.” “Let’s postpone the wedding for a week; I can’t handle much right now.” These seemingly ordinary words, each one pierced my heart. I numbly stood up, tearing off the wedding decorations from the wall, and took scissors to shred her wedding dress. As I packed, my fingers trembled uncontrollably. Just as I zipped my suitcase, Adeline’s mother entered, her face unable to hide the joy. “Adeline asked me to bring some clothes for her to the hospital. As her future grandma, I’m anxious to see my granddaughter too.” Seeing me silent, she warmly took my arm, “Jasper, Adeline was wrong to hide it from you and hurt your pride. But it’s not an unforgivable thing, right?” “Auntie knows you two have deep feelings; how can it end over such a small thing? What we said in the group chat was just in anger, let’s not take it seriously.” “Come, go to the hospital with me to see the baby. Give Adeline a way out, and let’s move past this.” Like a walking corpse, I let her lead me, and before I knew it, I was standing at the hospital room door. Asher lay weakly on the bed, his pale face still streaked with tears, clearly terrified during Adeline’s delivery. Adeline was gently holding the baby, softly humming a lullaby. Adeline’s father rarely smiled, “Adeline is a flight attendant, so let’s name the child Yang Jihang, to carry on the aviation career!” “What nonsense!” Adeline’s mother scolded, “How can a girl have such a name?” Eagerly, she reached to hold the baby. But Adeline turned away, “Mom, you don’t know how to hold her, don’t hurt her.” She glanced at me, her eyes lighting up, “Jasper, come look at her. Her tiny hands and feet, aren’t they adorable?” She leaned down to kiss the baby, but suddenly stopped, like a child caught doing something wrong, “No, no, Mommy can’t pass germs to you.” I had never seen this side of her, clumsy yet tender as a new mother. She was eager to show off this joy to the world, but I shouldn’t be part of it. I forced a stiff smile, turning to leave. Adeline caught my arm, carefully presenting the baby to me, “Jasper, look, her nose and mouth, don’t they look just like Asher’s?” I glanced down; the small face was indeed a spitting image of Asher, like they were carved from the same mold. The resemblance stung my eyes, my throat suddenly tight with pain. I coldly pushed the swaddle away, seeing Adeline’s hopeful eyes, suddenly not wanting to oblige her, “Take it away, looks so annoying, it’s irritating just to look at.” The baby wailed out loud. Adeline’s eyes turned cold, soothing the baby gently. Adeline’s mother’s gaze cut like a knife, “You’re the most annoying one!” Adeline’s father pointed to the door, “You’re not welcome here, get out!” Asher had woken up at some point. “Jasper…” he pleaded with Adeline’s family, “I want to speak to Jasper alone.” Once the room door closed, Asher wore an apologetic look, “Jasper, I don’t want to break you and Adeline up; she really loves you. Actually, that night, Adeline was drunk, and we just…” My mind buzzed, “It wasn’t a sperm donation?” He turned his face away, “Adeline said to hide it from you, afraid you’d be hurt.” Adeline’s father pointed sharply at the door. “You’re not welcome here. Get out!” Asher had woken up at some point. “Jasper…” he implored, looking at Adeline’s family, “I need to speak with Jasper alone for a moment.” Once the hospital room door closed, Asher looked apologetic. “Jasper, I don’t want to come between you and Adeline. She truly cares about you. That night, Adeline was drunk, and we just…” My mind reeled. “It wasn’t about sperm donation?” He looked away. “Adeline wanted to keep it from you because she was afraid you’d be upset.” “By the time she found out she was pregnant, three months had already passed. She was furious and wanted to terminate the pregnancy. But my mom’s health was deteriorating, and she really wanted to see me have a child. Adeline felt sorry for me and agreed to keep the baby.” “Why are you telling me this now?” I asked coldly. “Why not keep it a secret forever?” He didn’t expect me to confront him so directly. His expression changed several times before he pressed his lips together and said nothing. I let out a bitter laugh. “Now that Adeline and I have broken up and your child is born, you three can live happily ever after. What else are you worried about?” He suddenly glared at me, his lips curling into a strange smile. The next moment, unexpectedly, he rolled off the hospital bed right in front of me, hitting the ground with a thud, then screamed in terror, “Jasper, I know I was wrong, please don’t hit me!”

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