Category: English

I came home early from a business trip, only to find a purple nightgown on my bed. Slinky. Sexy. Definitely not mine. I demanded my husband give me an explanation. Jake exploded, slapping me hard across the face. “You’re questioning me? I’ll kill you, you bitch!” His parents, Robert and Judy, glared at me with disgust. “How did Jake ever marry a woman like you? Get out of our house, now!” Stunned, my cheek burning, I stumbled away and called my parents, sobbing. “Jake cheated! I found a purple nightgown. I’m going to find its owner and take Jake for everything !” The line went quiet. Then, my always-doting father’s voice came through, icy and final.”Don’t you dare dig into this. Forget the purple nightgown, or you’re no longer part of this family.” I was heartbroken and utterly bewildered. Why did the mere mention of a purple nightgown turn everyone I knew into a stranger? Just who the hell was Jake’s mistress? A sharp, stinging heat bloomed across my cheek. Then, a wave of pure rage. Clutching my cheek, my voice trembled with white-hot fury. “You cheat. You lie. And now you raise your hand to me?” Jake’s face was cold. “You’re accusing me? Where’s your proof?” I snatched the sexy purple nightgown from the the sheets and flung it at him. “That’s my proof! I hate purple! I have never, ever worn anything like that in my life!” Jake merely glanced at it, and his expression instantly turned furious. “You bitch! You shouldn’t have touched that!” His body coiled, and he lunged. The noise finally crashed through the door. Robert and Judy burst in, their faces going slack with horror at the scene. Robert lunged forward, hauling Jake back by the shoulders. Judy threw herself between us, her body a shield in front of mine. “Jake, what are you doing?!” Judy’s voice was filled with absolute fury. I’d been married to Jake for three years, and they had always treated me like their own daughter. The tears I’d been choking on poured out in ragged sobs. Judy hugged me, constantly reassuring me. “Maya, don’t worry. We’ll make sure you get justice.” Robert also angrily declared, “You have one chance, Jake. Explain yourself. Or I will deal with you myself!” Jake looked at me with pure disgust. “This is all her fault.” I wiped my tears, my gaze locking onto Jake’s with pure hate. “You’re the one who cheated! And when I caught you, you hit me!” I picked up the purple nightgown and showed it to them. “This is the proof. That mistress left her clothes on our bed.If my flight hadn’t been moved up, I’d still be living in his lie.” Their eyes fell on the purple nightgown. And something in the air shattered. Judy violently shoved me to the floor. Her gentle demeanor vanished, and she pointed at me, screaming. “We must have been blind to let a scourge like you into our family!” Robert also loomed over me, his expression cold and utterly disgusted. “Jake, divorce Maya right now and get her out of here!” I was completely dumbfounded. Jake was the one who cheated, so how dare they treat me like this? It was clear their act as loving in-laws was just that-an act. Now their true colors were showing. My hands trembled with anger. “Fine, divorce then! I’ll make sure that scum, Jake, leaves with absolutely nothing!” Jake’s expression was dismissive. “We’ll see who leaves with nothing.” His parents also looked at me like I was a clown. Embarrassed, I clenched my fists. My phone suddenly rang. It was a FaceTime call from my mom. My parents, David and Brenda, were known everywhere as incredibly doting parents. They had loved me fiercely since I was little. If they knew Jake cheated and hit me, they’d be furious enough to come over and tear him apart. “Maya, are you and Jake coming over this weekend? Mom will make your favorite steak.” My eyes welled up, and tears began to fall again. “Mom, I’m divorcing Jake!” The next second, my dad snatched the phone, his voice anxious and furious. “Did Jake hurt you? Don’t cry, Maya! Dad will make things right!” I choked back tears. “Jake cheated and hit me, Dad, Mom. I have to divorce him.” A sudden silence fell on the other end of the video call. My dad’s expression instantly turned cold and distant. “No, you can’t divorce Jake!”

My breath hitched in my throat. “Jake cheated! I found a purple nightgown on his bed-” My mom quickly cut me off before I could finish. “Maybe that nightgown is yours, and you just forgot. You’ve always been so forgetful, buying clothes and never wearing them.” “Alright, Maya, let’s not talk about this anymore. Jake is so good to you, he couldn’t possibly cheat. Stop making a fuss.” Across from me, Jake and his parents looked at me with increasingly mocking eyes. I desperately tried to explain, “But you know I hate purple! That nightgown absolutely cannot be mine-” “Enough!” My mom, usually so gentle and who had never said a harsh word to me, suddenly erupted. “Have I not been clear enough?” Her eyes were sharp, brittle with disappointment. “ Stop talking about that nightgown!” I fell silent, the words dying in my throat.A sickening cocktail of panic, helplessness, and betrayal churned inside me. I could only watch as my dad forced a fawning smile, speaking in a somewhat servile tone to Jake and his parents. “Please, forgive Maya’s nonsense. Young couples… they fight. It’s their business. We shouldn’t meddle.” Robert and Judy scoffed imperiously. “‘Their business’? Our son was gracious enough to marry her. And this is her repayment? Threatening to take him for everything? The only problem here is your daughter’s shameless greed.” My dad repeatedly apologized. “We’re really sorry about that. Maya, apologize to your in-laws and Jake right now.” I snapped my head up, staring at them in disbelief. “You want me to apologize? Why should I apologize?!” Jake was clearly the one who cheated. It was bad enough that Robert and Judy were biased towards Jake, but why were my incredibly loving parents not standing up for me? Why were they forcing me to apologize to Jake’s family? They were the ones in the wrong! I was furious and heartbroken, my rage almost burning away my reason. On the other end of the phone, my mom’s face suddenly darkened. “Maya, be sensible. We are doing this for your own good. You’re just being paranoid and misunderstanding Jake. Apologize now.” I felt as if someone had choked me, my heart sinking straight to the bottom. I struggled to utter a few words. “I didn’t do anything wrong.” Both my mom and dad looked deeply disappointed, as if I had done something utterly outrageous. “We’ll come by this weekend to apologize properly. Maya is still young and impulsive. We ask for your understanding.” The video call ended, but I couldn’t snap out of it for a long time. Jake and his parents seemed to want nothing to do with me, slamming doors as they left. Judy even gave me a warning as she walked out. “Throw that nightgown away! If it’s still there when I get back, this divorce is happening, even if your parents beg us on their knees!” My chest felt tight with indignation and anger, so I called my best friend, Chloe. When she heard I was upset, she took time off work without a second thought to be with me. After I told her everything, Chloe was fuming. “Why aren’t your parents letting you divorce him? That scum, Jake, should absolutely be stripped of everything! Maya, I support you. You *have* to divorce him!” “By the way, how did you find out Jake was cheating?” I frowned, about to mention the purple nightgown, when my in-laws’ and parents’ strange reactions suddenly flashed through my mind. The words died in my throat. “Come on, tell me! Are you going to keep secrets from me too?” Meeting Chloe’s expectant gaze, I drew a shaky breath and began. “Because I found a purple nightgown on my bed.” Instantly, all the color drained from Chloe’s face.

Her eyes flickered, and her earlier righteous anger vanished without a trace. “Purple?” She forced an awkward laugh. “Could you be mistaken? Jake is a good husband; how could he possibly cheat? Hahaha, you must be joking with me, right?” I grabbed her shoulders, both angry and frustrated. “I’m not joking! Jake really cheated, how could I lie to you about something like this?” “Why won’t any of you believe me? I have to find out who Jake’s mistress is, and I *will* divorce him!” Chloe fell silent. After a long moment, she lowered her head and began to persuade me, her voice low. “Let it go, Maya. This nightgown might just be a misunderstanding. Live happily with Jake, and don’t investigate whose purple nightgown it is anymore.” I stared at her, stunned. Chloe was someone with zero tolerance for emotional betrayal. Just a month ago, her childhood sweetheart of ten years, Daniel, had flirted online with an influencer, and she broke up with him without a word when she found out. No matter how much Daniel knelt, apologized, and swore never to do it again, she refused to turn back. At the time, I even tried to reason with her. “It was just online flirting, Daniel didn’t actually cheat. You’ve been together for ten years and even discussed marriage. Are you really not going to give Daniel a single chance?” Chloe, though sad, had shaken her head firmly. “Emotional cheating is as disgusting as physical cheating, Maya. Don’t believe those tears and apologies from cheaters, it’s all an act.” But in just one short month, she was now urging me to pretend I didn’t know Jake had physically cheated and to continue living happily with him. I took a deep breath. “Why? Why does everyone’s attitude change so drastically when they hear about the purple nightgown? Do you know who Jake’s mistress is?” Chloe’s eyes darted around, looking even more guilty. “How would I know? But Maya, trust me, your parents and I are doing this for your own good. Can you please just drop this?” A hint of pleading even entered Chloe’s eyes. I brushed her hand away directly. “I misjudged you. Just leave.” Chloe looked like she wanted to say more, but eventually left, looking worried. I picked up the unfamiliar purple nightgown again, staring at it for a long time. My inner doubts grew stronger, gradually overwhelming my burgeoning anger. Whose purple nightgown was this? Why was everyone so tight-lipped about it? I made a firm decision in my heart: I had to personally find the owner of this purple nightgown. Then, I didn’t believe my parents would continue to oppose my divorce from Jake. While everyone was out, I immediately contacted someone to secretly install cameras in the house. And, using the excuse of a cold shoulder, I checked into a hotel, giving Jake space for his affair. That night, I lay in the hotel bed, opening the surveillance video on my phone. A woman in a sexy purple nightgown was intimately with Jake on my marital bed. My eyes instantly widened.

I tried my best to see the woman’s face, but Jake kept blocking her. I could only see that hateful shade of purple. But that was enough. With this surveillance video, Jake’s infidelity was undeniable. This weekend, I would throw this video in Jake’s and his parents’ faces. My anticipated weekend quickly arrived. Jake and my in-laws still glared at me. The three of them even put on an arrogant front when my parents arrived, sitting haughtily on the sofa, waiting for my parents’ “apology.” My parents came bearing expensive gifts. Though clearly embarrassed by the blatant humiliation, they forced smiles. “Everything before was Maya being foolish. We apologize on her behalf.” Seeing my parents’ humble demeanor, my eyes instantly welled up, and I pulled them both up. “I’m not wrong! Why should we apologize? Jake is the one at fault, they should be the ones apologizing to us!” As I spoke, I pulled out my phone and started playing the surveillance footage. “I have surveillance video here. Now can you believe that Jake cheated with the woman in the purple nightgown?” The video began to play, and suggestive moans echoed through the living room. Everyone in the room’s face changed drastically. I smirked at Jake, about to speak, when a sharp pain shot through my wrist. My phone was snatched and slammed to the ground. The screen instantly went black, and the moans stopped abruptly. Before I could even react, my dad suddenly raised his hand and slapped me hard. “Filming such a video, have you no shame?!” He stormed into the bedroom like a raging bull and smashed the camera I had installed to pieces. “Dad, why?” I clutched my cheek, filled with disbelief. My mom gripped my shoulders tightly, her eyes filled with disappointment and agonizing struggle. “Why didn’t you listen? Why did you insist on investigating that purple nightgown? Now look, our entire family will become a laughingstock because of you!” “You are not to investigate this any further! If you don’t repent, your dad and I will disown you!” In that moment, they both stood on the same side as Jake and his parents. The air solidified, and I felt like I was suffocating. My head throbbed with a thousand tiny needles. I bent down, picked up my phone from the floor, and stumbled out of that suffocating cage. After getting my phone restored, I discovered the truth. They’d installed not just one camera in the bedroom, but several. The harder they tried to stop me, the more I was determined to dig up the truth! I tapped open the surveillance video and immediately saw the woman in the purple nightgown on my bed. From that angle, her face remained unseen. I frantically fast forwarded, freezing the video the second her face came into view. I jammed pause and pinched to zoom. The woman’s face filled the screen. My pupils dilated violently the moment I recognized her. The woman in the purple nightgown.. was…

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The day before our wedding, my fiancé, Julian, threw my medical report in my face. “You filthy whore. You’ve got HIV. And you hid it from me!” “That’s impossible! There has to be a mistake!” I tried to explain, but he kicked me away, as if I carried a plague he desperately feared catching. After that, I spent three years in a psych ward. When I was finally released, news was everywhere: Julian was getting married. The bride smiling in his arms was Vanessa, the same woman who had done my medical exam three years ago. Vanessa’s triumphant smile blazed from my phone screen, a brand of pure victory. Her wedding dress was a replica of the one Julian had commissioned in Paris for me three years ago. He’d said only a woman as pure and talented as I was deserved something so uniquely white. I had never tried it on. The day before our wedding, a single sheet of paper declared me “HIV Positive.” The media exploded with headlines: “Brilliant Doctor’s Promiscuous Lifestyle Exposed: Diagnosed with HIV, Goes Mad, Attacks People!” “Billionaire Julian’s Fiancée Diagnosed with HIV!” … Even now, you could find photos online of me pinned to the hospital floor by security guards, my face covered in blood. Back then, all I’d wanted was to run to the lab and demand a new test. Instead, I was treated as a violent, rabid thing to be contained. My hands and feet were ice cold, my stomach cramping, making me want to throw up. It was ridiculous. Socially isolated, biologically impossible. In seven years with Julian, I had no vector for infection.. But for three years, I just told myself it was sample contamination or a misdiagnosis. Only now did it all click. There was no misdiagnosis. Vanessa had set me up. No wonder when I tried to get re-tested, Vanessa was the first to scream, claiming I was trying to infect her with HIV! She even twisted the knife in front of the media. “I’d seen Dr. Ava getting cozy with male patients before, and I warned her to uphold medical ethics.” Fist clenched, I thought of all the humiliation I’d endured. My phone vibrated suddenly in my palm. The screen lit up with an unfamiliar text. “Ava, I heard you’re out?” It was Julian. The man who once promised to protect me for life, only to deem me “dirty” and personally send me to a mental asylum. I didn’t reply. I just deleted the message. Outside, the wail of a siren pierced the air. Instinctively, I clutched my head, curling into a ball under the counter, trembling uncontrollably. It was a lingering gift from the psych ward. Even back in the light of day, that sound still triggered me like a terrified animal.

Three years ago, I was St. Jude Medical Center’s prodigy. A twenty-six-year-old attending physician, a candidate for a prestigious overseas fellowship, and engaged to a fiancé everyone envied. My fiancé, Julian, was the Dean’s son, the youngest star surgeon. We were the hospital’s golden couple, praised by everyone. As part of the pre-departure protocol, I underwent the standard battery of tests. The day the results came back, Vanessa, the head nurse, walked into my office. She didn’t offer it. Instead, she fixed me with a look I couldn’t decipher-a fleeting, performative pity drowning in a sea of cold, triumphant scorn. “Dr. Ava, your results… there’s a problem.” I smiled, taking the report. “What problem could there be? I’m perfectly healthy.” Until I saw that line of red text. HIV Antibody: Positive. I stared at the words. I knew them, but my brain couldn’t process their meaning. “This can’t be.” My hand shook, and the report fluttered to the floor. Julian pushed the door open just then. He bent down to pick it up, a smile still on his face. “What’s wrong? Not healthy enough to go abroad?” But when his eyes landed on that line of text, he recoiled three steps, as if burned. His face contorted with a horror and disgust I’d never seen before. The way he looked at me… it was like I was a pile of rotting garbage. “Julian, listen to me, this must be a misdiagnosis, I don’t have…” I instinctively reached out to grab his sleeve. “Don’t touch me!” He violently yanked his arm away, so hard I slammed into the corner of the table. All eyes in the vicinity turned to us. I watched him pull out a disinfectant wipe from his pocket, scrubbing at the spot on his sleeve I’d almost touched. Once, twice, three times. As if it had been contaminated by the filthiest thing on earth. “Julian!” I screamed his name, my voice cracking. He finally stopped, lifting his head. His handsome face was cold and resolute, a look I’d never seen. “Ava, our engagement is off.” “Effective today, you are no longer a member of St. Jude Medical Center’s medical team.” “The hospital’s reputation cannot be stained.” He signed my death warrant in front of everyone. I was kicked out of the hospital, utterly humiliated, like a whipped dog. I fled home like a coward, hoping to grasp my last hope. But my home didn’t want me either. I pushed the key into the lock, but it wouldn’t turn. My parents considered me a disgrace to the family name. They’d changed the locks overnight and tossed my luggage onto the street. No one listened to my explanations. No one believed me. That night, it poured. Homeless, I fell from grace into the mud. I developed a high fever, curled up in a cold alley, my consciousness fading. That’s when Vanessa appeared. She stood over me, holding an umbrella, dressed in a pristine white dress, looking down. “Dr. Ava, how pathetic.” Her lips said ‘pathetic,’ but her eyes glittered with malicious glee. She didn’t help me up. Instead, she took out her phone and snapped several photos of me. The next day, my story was all over the internet. Those photos, paired with sensational headlines like “Brilliant Doctor’s Promiscuous Lifestyle” and “STD Infection from Promiscuity,” nailed me to the pillar of shame. Every denial I made only became desperate, self-incriminating excuses. In despair, I thought of the most drastic way to prove my innocence. In front of everyone, I took a scalpel and deeply slashed my wrist. If my blood was clean, wouldn’t that prove my innocence? Blood stained the white coat Julian had given me. I thought death would clear my name. But Julian just stood there, coldly telling a nurse: “Clean up the blood. Don’t let it infect anyone.”

I didn’t die. I woke up encased in padded walls. No window. Just a single, heavy steel door. Julian had me committed to a psych ward. His reason: severe “persecutory delusions,” marked by “suicidal ideation and violent impulses. A forged diagnostic report was even more damaging than that HIV report. It stripped me of my last bit of agency as a normal person. Every morning at six, I was dragged out of bed. Ice-cold water was sprayed directly onto my face. They called it “physical cooling to eliminate viruses.” I’d huddle in a corner, teeth chattering from the cold. Julian never visited, but he sent boxes and boxes of antiviral drugs. They were HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). The side effects were brutal. He’d given a strict order: they had to watch me swallow them. Three times a day. The medication made me vomit violently, my hair falling out in clumps. I cried, I screamed, I begged them. “I’m not sick! I really don’t have it! Please, just one re-test!” My pleas, in the doctor’s notes, became another cold, impersonal line: “Patient’s condition is unstable, experiencing hallucinations, and resisting treatment.” Then came the electroshock therapy. As the current surged through my temples, my muscles spasmed uncontrollably. I started losing control of my bladder, drooling, convulsing like a true madwoman. But I still held onto a sliver of hope. I thought, Julian is a germaphobe so he’s just terrified. If only I could see him, if only I could explain… Three months later, Vanessa came. Through the thick glass of the visitation window, she showed me photos on her phone. They were her and Julian’s wedding photos. In the pictures, she wore the exclusive wedding dress I’d dreamed of countless times, smiling sweetly and triumphantly. “Ava, isn’t it beautiful?” “Julian said only someone clean in body and soul deserves to wear this dress.” “And you,” she gestured at my baggy patient gown, “deserve to rot in here.” I lunged at the glass like a madwoman, pounding it with all my might. “I’m not sick, it was a misdiagnosis! Vanessa, please, beg Julian to take me for a re-test!” Vanessa looked at me with pity, like I was a dying ant. “So what if it was a misdiagnosis?” “Ava, do you really think the truth matters?” “The whole world believes that report, and Julian only thinks you’re dirty. Do you think you have any chance of turning things around?” At that moment, I saw a familiar figure at the end of the hallway. Julian had arrived. I desperately pounded the glass, screaming his name. “Julian! Please, take me for a re-test! I’m really not sick!” Julian glanced at me from a distance. He frowned, then turned and walked away. Vanessa turned back to me, mouthing words: “He doesn’t want to see anything dirty.” In that moment, the light in my heart went out.

From that day on, I stopped fighting. I knew that here, being lucid was a crime. I wanted to survive. I stopped crying, stopped trying to explain. Whatever the orderlies told me to do, I did. When the doctors gave me medication, I swallowed it obediently. They all thought I had finally been “cured,” transformed into an obedient, soulless puppet. But they didn’t know. Every time I took my medication, I’d hide in a blind spot from the cameras, stick my fingers down my throat, and throw it all back up. To keep myself from going mad, I replayed surgical procedures in my mind, over and over again. Every incision, every stitch. I had to live. Live and walk out of this place. Then, I would uncover everything and clear my name. Three years. Over a thousand days and nights. I endured the withdrawal symptoms, the psychological torture. The hospital eventually declared me “stable, no longer aggressive.” I was finally “recovered” and discharged. No one came to pick me up on discharge day. I just thought I was unlucky, a victim of misdiagnosis and betrayal. … “Mommy!” A child’s innocent voice pulled me back to reality. Leo, with his little backpack, charged into the flower shop like a cannonball and hugged my leg. He was the son of a fellow patient I’d met in the psych ward. His mother had taken her own life, leaving him an orphan. I adopted him. Two people abandoned by the world, finding warmth together in this small flower shop. On a weekend, during the kindergarten’s parent-child event, Leo whispered excitedly in my ear, waiting for the activities to begin. The host’s voice rang out, full of enthusiasm: “And now, let’s give our warmest welcome to today’s special guest – St. Jude Medical Center’s youngest surgical authority, Dr. Julian, who will be giving a lecture on pediatric first aid!” Under the spotlight, Julian and Vanessa walked onto the stage hand-in-hand. Vanessa’s gaze swept through the crowd, and her eyes widened when she saw me. The next second, as if she’d spotted a monster, she deliberately raised her voice. “Oh, my… am I seeing things right?” She raised a perfectly manicured finger, pointing directly at me, her tone a masterful blend of false concern and pure malice. “Isn’t that… Dr. Ava? The one our hospital had to let go… after that whole nasty business with her lifestyle choices?” The entire auditorium fell silent instantly. Parents immediately pulled their children away, scurrying from Leo and me as if we carried a plague. Instinct took over. I pulled Leo firmly behind me, shielding him with my body. Julian also looked our way. When he saw Leo, his face instantly darkened, enough to drip ice. He strode over, directly blocking my path. “Whose kid is that?”

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Seven years after I vanished, my brother found me. Not through some private investigator, but on the organ donor registry. “Where is this person?” He asked the nurse. “On the 12th floor, in the palliative care ward. She’s scheduled for surgery tomorrow.” His face a thundercloud, he stormed upstairs and burst into my room. “Aurora!” I looked up at him and smiled calmly. “You must have the wrong person, Adrian. My name is Serena, not Aurora.” He walked closer to the bed, his voice stiff. “Come home with me. Apologize to Willow, and I’ll get you the best doctors money can buy…” “No need. I haven’t done anything wrong, and I don’t need to apologize to anyone.” I didn’t even lift my head, signing the last letter on the donation agreement. After a long, chilling silence, he sneered, “Quite the act. Seven years, and you’re still playing the innocent victim.” “You’re sick? What’s wrong? Why are you having surgery?” I chuckled. “Late-stage glioblastoma. Not long now.” “Might as well give my organs away. Better use for them than just decaying underground, right? At least I can save a few people.” Adrian’s face flickered, but quickly reverted to cold indifference. “Cut the crap. You think I’m going to fall for your pathetic act?” He swept his gaze across the sparsely furnished room, his tone mocking. “Things not going so well for you out here all these years? If you hadn’t pulled those stunts back then, you wouldn’t be in this mess.” I looked down at my emaciated hands, saying nothing. “Aurora…” He suddenly called my name, a flicker of struggle in his voice. “Are you really… that sick?” I looked up at him, my eyes terrifyingly calm. “Does it concern you, Adrian?” “I’m your brother!” “Your sister… she died seven years ago.” His face turned ashen, staring intently at me. “You hate me that much? What happened back then, Aurora, wasn’t it your own fault—” “Enough,” I cut him off. “Adrian, you’re not here just to taunt me, are you? If there’s something you need, just say it.” He opened his mouth, but found himself speechless. “Let me guess,” I said slowly. “Does she… need *another* liver?” Adrian didn’t answer. But his evasive gaze said it all. I leaned against the headboard and let out a light laugh. “So that’s it.” “Seven years, and she finally remembers she has a sister.” “So you’re here today, on her behalf, to demand my liver?” “Not ‘demand,’” he corrected. “It’s your duty. You volunteered your liver back then. Now Willow needs another, and you’re still her sister. It’s your responsibility.” I leaned against the headboard, finding it all utterly absurd. “Adrian, seven years ago, when you threw me out of the house, why didn’t you mention I was her sister then?” “You deserved it!” His voice suddenly rose. “If you hadn’t done all those malicious things back then, if you hadn’t framed Willow, why would I have kicked you out? You’re still lying. Still playing the innocent victim.” I closed my eyes, my heart turned to ash. He never doubted her, it seemed. He always believed I was in the wrong. “Just leave,” I said wearily. “I need to rest.” “Aurora!” He roughly grabbed my shoulder. “You listen to me! Willow needs your liver!” I opened my eyes and looked at him calmly. “Then let her wait for a donor,” I said, my voice flat. “Because my organs? They’re already pledged to strangers.” “You—” He was trembling with rage. “You’re truly that heartless?! Willow saved my life back then! Without her, the Sutton name wouldn’t be where it is today! And you, you ungrateful wretch!” I said nothing, simply turning my head to look out the window. “Aurora, I’m making myself clear today,” he released me, his voice icy. “If you don’t save Willow, I swear I won’t let you die so easily.” “I will use every resource the Sutton family has to treat you, to keep you alive. Living a life worse than death itself.” I listened to his threats, my heart utterly calm. “Whatever.” He gave me a deep look, then turned and left. The door slammed shut behind him. I lay on the hospital bed, tears silently streaming down my face.

My mind drifted back fourteen years. I was thirteen then, Adrian twenty-one. Our parents died in a car accident, leaving behind our sprawling estate and a horde of relatives hungry for the family fortune. Back then, Adrian was like a wolf protecting its cub. He kept me safe behind him, shouldering everything by himself. At the funeral, a drunk relative pointed at me and cursed. “You little menace! If it wasn’t for you, your parents wouldn’t be dead!” Adrian punched him, sending blood spurting across his face. “Anyone who dares lay a finger on my sister, I’ll make them wish they were never born.” That night, he held me as I sobbed, repeating over and over. “Don’t be scared, I’m here.” “I’ll protect you my whole life, Aurora.” I believed him. I thought we would always be like that, dependent on each other. But everything changed when my half-sister, Willow, came into our lives. She wasn’t well, so Adrian gave her *my* room, claiming it had the best sunlight. She didn’t like the food our housekeeper made, so Adrian took her out to eat every single day. She was scared to sleep alone, so Adrian would stay in her room until she drifted off. A month before I was supposed to start college, Willow was diagnosed with a rare liver disease, her life hanging by a thread. Adrian went frantic. He took her to the best hospitals across the country, sought out every specialist. Finally, the doctors gave them two options. Wait for a donor liver, or a living donor transplant. Waiting for a donor could take one or two years, time she didn’t have. A living donor transplant required a blood-type-matched direct relative. And in the entire Sutton family, only she and I had compatible blood types. Adrian came to talk to me when I was doing my final revisions for my college entrance exams. “Aurora,” his voice was gentler than it had been in years. “You know about Willow, right?” I didn’t respond. “The doctors say your liver has the highest chance of a match.” I turned a page in my textbook. “Aurora, she’s going to die.” His voice trembled slightly. “Please, I’m begging you, save her.” I finally looked up at him. “Adrian, do you remember what you were doing the last time *I* was sick?” He froze. “I had a fever of one hundred and four degrees Fahrenheit, lay alone in my room for two days, and no one checked on me.” “And you? You were out shopping with Willow. Because she said she was in a bad mood.” He opened his mouth. “Aurora, I was wrong that time…” “And,” I cut him off. “Do you remember that time I was pushed down the stairs?” “I told you Willow did it, and what did you say? You said I wasn’t watching where I was going, trying to pin the blame on poor Willow.” His face went pale. “Aurora…” “Adrian, you want me to save her?” I stood up, facing him. “Fine.” “But after this, we’re done. Our slate is clean. I’m no longer a Sutton, and you’re no longer my brother!”

He flinched. “What did you say?” “I said, I’m willing to donate my liver to her.” “But after the surgery, I’m leaving the Sutton estate.” “You can all pretend I’m dead.” He was silent for a long time. Finally, he nodded. On the day of the surgery, I was wheeled into the operating room. Before I went in, I saw Adrian standing at the doorway. His lips trembled, as if he wanted to say something. But ultimately, he said nothing. The surgery was a success. Willow lived. I, however, lost a third of my liver and never returned to the Sutton estate. That afternoon, Adrian came again. This time, Willow was with him. Seven years had passed, and she had grown even more beautiful, her dark eyes still sparkling. Adrian sat by the bed. “Aurora, Willow came to see you.” “Sister,” Willow walked closer, her eyes red. “I heard you were sick, I was so worried…” “Cut the act,” I interrupted. “It’s just the three of us. Who are you performing for?” Willow’s face went white, tears spilling from her eyes. “Sister, why do you hate me so much? What happened back then wasn’t my fault…” “Not your fault?” I scoffed. “Willow, you hacked into my SnapChat account to trash-talk yourself in the class group, wasn’t that you? You peeked at my test papers, wasn’t that you? You pushed me down the stairs, wasn’t that you?” “Enough!” Adrian suddenly stood up. “Aurora, it’s been seven years, and you’re still spreading those lies!” “All the evidence back then proved it was *your* doing! How long are you going to keep slandering Willow?!” “Just because you were jealous that Willow was better than you, just because you couldn’t stand her, that’s why you concocted all these lies!” Every word was like a knife twisting in my heart. “Adrian, are you truly so certain that I’m the one lying?” “And aren’t you?” he said coldly. “Everyone at school, teachers and students, saw what you did back then. You were always bullying Willow, always jealous of her!” I closed my eyes, not wanting to argue anymore. It was useless. He never believed me. “Sister,” Willow walked over and took my hand. “I know you hate me. But Adrian said you’re sick, and I’m truly upset about it…” “If you need money for treatment, I can give you all my savings…” I yanked my hand away from her. “Willow, cut out your games!” I looked at Adrian. “Alright, I know what you both want. But no. I won’t donate my liver to her.” “I’d rather give it to a stranger than save her again.” Adrian’s face turned livid. “Aurora, you’re really that heartless?!” “Yes, I am that heartless,” I looked at him. “Seven years ago I gave her a third of my liver, and what did I get in return? You kicked me out of our home!” “And now you come back for me, on what grounds?!” “You deserved it!” “Fine, good,” I nodded. “Then my not saving her now, she deserves it too.” “After all, I’m a cruel woman.” Adrian was shaking with fury. He suddenly grabbed my collar. “Aurora, don’t push me!” “What do you want to do?” I met his gaze. “Hit me? Or kill me?” “I’m dying anyway, so feel free.” His hand trembled. After a moment, he released me, taking a deep breath. “Aurora, I’m asking you one last time. Are you going to save Willow?” “No.” “Fine, good,” he sneered. “Then don’t blame me for what happens next.” He took out his phone and dialed a number. “Execute it. Just like I told you.”

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On my eighteenth birthday, I was kicked out of the Davies mansion. The true heiress, Tiffany, smugly watched me, her arm linked with the parents who once showered me with affection. Mrs. Davies scoffed, “Stella, the DNA results are in. You’re Maria, the nanny’s, daughter. Tiffany’s back now, so get lost. You make me sick.” I stood at the villa gates, soaked to the bone. Tiffany ripped off my jacket, a cruel smile playing on her lips as her fingernail dragged across my cheek. “Fake is fake, always will be. I’d rather shred this jacket and use it as bedding for a stray dog than let you wear it.” Right after I was thrown out, Maria, the nanny, casually took off her apron, got into a luxury car, and drove up to me. “Sweetie, don’t you dare be sad! The business empire I built? It’s all yours now!” The surrounding guests burst into laughter, but I turned my head to a corner. There, crouched low, was a middle-aged woman in a filthy apron, her hair matted with grease. That was my biological mother, Maria, the Davies’ lowest-ranking housekeeper. She’d worked for the Davies family for twenty years, notorious for her greed, crude manners, and constant scheming. At this very moment, she was clinging desperately to Mr. Davies’ leg, weeping hysterically, snot and tears streaming down her face. “Sir! Ma’am! You can kick this good-for-nothing out, but why fire me too?!” “I haven’t even gotten this month’s pay! And what about the five bucks overtime from last month, for washing her undies?!” “You can’t be this heartless! Twenty years, even if I didn’t contribute, I put in the hard work!” Mr. Davies shoved her away with a disgusted kick. “Get lost! Take your bastard with you! Or I’ll unleash the dogs!” Maria was sent sprawling, tumbling twice on the ground like a greasy bowling ball. Watching this, my heart felt utterly dead. This was my biological mother. During my twenty years as Miss Davies, she never once gave me a kind look. Whenever no one was watching, she’d viciously pinch my arm. She chopped off my beloved long hair and forced me into boyish shorts. I wanted to learn piano, but she’d secretly scatter thumbtacks on the keys, forcing me instead into grueling financial calculations. I dreamt of dancing, but she’d beat my legs with a feather duster, pushing me to learn combat from a retired security guard. I always thought she was jealous of my good fortune, trying to ruin me. Now that I was tossed out, all she cared about was a few measly bucks of overtime pay. A tidal wave of shame washed over me. I walked over and forcefully pulled Maria up from her pathetic display on the ground. “Stop begging! Can’t you leave me some dignity?!” Maria wiped the snot from her face, then slapped me across the cheek. “Dignity?! What good is dignity?! Can it buy food?! That’s three hundred bucks! Enough for how many loaves of bread?!” I covered my face, tears mingling with the rain streaming down. Tiffany stood on the steps, a triumphant smirk plastered across her face. “Oh, what a show! Like dogs fighting over scraps, tearing each other to pieces.” “Maria, take your useless daughter and get out! Don’t you dare dirty our property!” The security guards roughly shoved us, tossing us out of the ornate iron gates like garbage. The heavy gate slammed shut. It sealed off the glittering party lights, and with it, twenty years of my life. I collapsed into the muddy puddle by the roadside, sobbing uncontrollably. I hated the Davies family’s cold cruelty, but I hated Maria’s humiliation even more. My future felt pitch black, like my life was utterly over. Maria was still pounding on the iron gate, cursing incessantly. “Mr. Davies, you bastard!” I yelled at her, “Stop cursing! Haven’t you embarrassed us enough?!” Maria stopped. She turned, looking at me. The rain was still falling, but I noticed her eyes had changed. It was a gaze I’d never seen before—deep, icy, and full of mocking amusement. Slowly, deliberately, she straightened her perpetually hunched back. Her meek, submissive demeanor vanished in an instant. She reached out, tore off her filthy apron, and casually tossed it into a nearby trash can. Then, she ran a hand through her rain-matted hair, a scornful smile playing on her lips. “Alright, stop bawling. There’s a three-hundred-billion-dollar empire waiting for you to inherit. What’s there to cry about?”

I froze, even forgetting how to cry. Rainwater dripped from my chin. I wondered if I’d misheard, or if grief had conjured some auditory hallucination. “What did you say?” I asked foolishly. Maria shot a disgusted glance at the brightly lit mansion, then spat. “I said, this wretched Davies place? Too small, too stingy. I was sick of it ages ago.” From the inner pocket of her shabby cotton jacket, she pulled out a sleek walkie-talkie. Her movements were practiced, her tone cold. “Jenkins, bring the cars around.” I hadn’t even registered who Jenkins was. Eight black Maybachs materialized from the rain-swept darkness, gliding silently like specters before us. In the center was an extended Rolls-Royce Phantom, its pure silver Spirit of Ecstasy gleaming with an icy cold light in the rainy night. The car doors opened. A dozen burly men in black suits and white gloves poured out, moving with chilling precision. They lined up in two perfect rows in the mud, bowing at a sharp ninety degrees. Their voices, loud and resonant, sliced through the rainy night. “Miss Stella! Please, enter the vehicle!” The sheer display of power made me stumble back, nearly tripping into a mud puddle. A hand steadied me. It was Maria. Her hand, though rough, was now firm and full of an undeniable power. The brawling shrew who’d thrown herself on the ground for three hundred bucks? Gone. In her place stood a queen, her aura so commanding it was impossible to meet her gaze. An elderly, silver-haired butler approached, holding a black umbrella, respectfully offering Maria a trench coat. Maria slipped on the trench coat, her presence absolutely dominating the scene. She looked at me, wide-eyed and dumbfounded, and flashed a brilliant white smile. “Sweetie, let me properly reintroduce myself.” “I am Maria, founder of Stellar Capital, and, as the rumors go… the richest person in the world.” My mind exploded with a deafening roar. Stellar Capital? The enigmatic conglomerate that controlled half the world’s shipping and wielded unparalleled power in global finance? I stammered, “You… you were a nanny, right? Just now, you were begging for five bucks overtime…” Maria rolled her eyes, pulling me into the Rolls-Royce. Inside, it was warm as spring, the leather seats exuding a subtle, luxurious scent. The butler offered warm towels and ginger tea. Maria crossed her legs, took a wine glass, and swirled the ruby liquid within. “That was my persona, got it?” “If I didn’t play the part perfectly, how could I have infiltrated the Davies family’s den of vipers for two decades?” “As for those five bucks…” She let out a cold laugh, taking a sip of wine. “Mr. Davies owes me that. Forget five bucks; even a single cent, he’d have to cough up.” I held the ginger tea, feeling like I was dreaming. “Mom… what exactly is going on?” Maria glanced at me, her gaze finally softening slightly. From her limited-edition Hermes bag, she pulled out a black card and tossed it into my lap. “There’s twenty billion in here. Consider it pocket money from your mom. Go buy yourself something nice, calm your nerves.” Twenty billion? Pocket money? The three-hundred-dollar pay stub was still swirling in my mind. “The Davies kicking you out? That’s the biggest mistake they’ll ever make.” “They thought you were some unwanted bastard.” “Little did they know, their precious Tiffany? She’s not even fit to tie your shoes.” Maria reached out, gently touching the scratches Tiffany had left on my face. A flash of pure murder flickered in her eyes. “Does it hurt?” I instinctively nodded, then shook my head. “Mom, why were you a nanny at the Davies’? And why… why were you so incredibly mean to me?” This was the knot in my heart, the biggest question. If she was so rich, why did she let me suffer for twenty years? Why cut my hair? Why force me to learn things I hated? Maria sighed, looking out at the rainy night. “Sweetie, I was saving your life.” “Mr. Davies is a monster. He’s the one who killed your father, Arthur, all those years ago.” “If I hadn’t played the fool, if I hadn’t forged you into an unbreakable warrior, we’d both be dead in that basement right now.” “As for everything I forced you to learn…” She turned, her gaze burning into mine. “Starting tomorrow, you’ll realize every single thing I pushed you to learn? They were all weapons, sharpened just for you to take over this empire.”

The motorcade swept into Stellar Tower’s private underground vault. A private elevator whisked us straight to the top-floor penthouse, overlooking the city lights. I stood at the huge picture window. Beneath my feet lay a Persian rug, and in my hand, I still clutched that twenty-billion-dollar black card. The reality of it all was utterly dizzying. Maria had already changed into a sleek, casual outfit. She tossed a file onto my lap. “This is Stellar Group’s share transfer agreement. Just sign it, and tomorrow, you’re the Chairwoman.” I was so startled my hand shook. “Mom, I don’t know how to run a company! I’m only a sophomore!” Maria lit a cigarette, taking a deep drag. “Who said you couldn’t?” “Third grade, all those ‘boring numbers’ I made you memorize? They were actually real stock market charts from back then.” “In middle school, I sent you to the farmer’s market to haggle prices for me. That was teaching you business negotiation and psychological warfare.” “And all those complex accounts I made you balance in high school? That was the group’s foundational financial logic.” “As for the combat skills that retired security guard taught you…” She blew a smoke ring, her eyes sharp as blades. “The business world is a battlefield. Sometimes, fists speak louder than words.” I froze. My memories flashed back in a frantic rush. As a child, I cried, wanting to play the piano, but she’d cut me off with a slap: “What are you doing playing a tune?! Focus on these ledgers! No food until you get them right!” I felt wronged, I hated her. I thought it was abuse. Turns out, she was leveling me up. “And Tiffany, from the Davies family? What did she learn? Flower arranging, tea ceremonies, etiquette, piano.” Maria scoffed dismissively, “That’s how you raise a golden cage canary, meant to be married off for a good price.” “But I raised you to be an eagle, soaring through the heavens. I raised you to devour.” I looked at my hands. My fingers had thin calluses, souvenirs from combat training. In my mind, those financial models that once tortured me were now crystal clear. A strange sensation washed over me. Was I… actually a maxed-out character? “Tomorrow, Mr. Davies will come begging Stellar Group for financing.” Maria stamped out her cigarette and stood up. “The Davies’ funds have dried up. Tiffany, the fake heiress, only came back to bring in capital herself.” “Too bad her connections didn’t care for a family on the brink of bankruptcy. Stellar Group is their only lifeline.” Maria walked over to me and adjusted my collar. “Sweetie, tomorrow you’ll be sitting in the Chairwoman’s seat.” “Let them see who the ‘bastard’ they threw out really is.” That night, I didn’t sleep a wink. Not from excitement, but from the boiling revenge coursing through my veins. I remembered Tiffany’s sneering face as she ripped my clothes. I remembered Mr. Davies’ disgusted kick. I remembered how, for twenty years, I’d acted like a foolish people-pleaser, begging for a shred of affection that never truly existed. Since you showed no mercy, don’t expect any from me. The next morning. I donned the bespoke suit Maria had prepared for me. Its sharp cut exuded an intimidating aura. Looking at myself in the mirror, the timid, uncertain Stella was gone. In her place stood the new helmswoman of Stellar Group. Maria didn’t come to the office with me; she said she had ‘private matters to attend to,’ but I knew she was gathering evidence from all those years ago. I arrived at the company in the Rolls-Royce. Two rows of executives were already waiting. “Good morning, Stella!” Their voices boomed. I took a deep breath, strode on my heels, and entered through the revolving doors. The receptionist stared for a moment, then immediately lowered her gaze. “Stella, Mr. Davies and Miss Tiffany from Davies Group have been waiting in the conference room for an hour.” A cold smirk played on my lips. “Let them wait. Turn the AC down ten degrees. And no one gives them a drop of water without my permission.” The receptionist’s eyes widened, and she immediately responded, “Yes, ma’am!”

In the conference room. Mr. Davies paced nervously, his forehead beaded with cold sweat. Tiffany, meanwhile, impatiently touched up her makeup, grumbling incessantly. “Dad, the boss of Stellar Group has way too much nerve, doesn’t she? Making us wait this long!” “This miserable conference room is freezing! They won’t even offer water? What kind of service is that?!” Mrs. Davies was fanning herself beside them. “Exactly! Tiffany is a delicate flower; what if she catches a cold?” “Once we get the financing, we’ll teach this arrogant company a lesson it won’t forget!” From behind the one-way glass, I coldly observed the grotesque display of this pathetic trio. Yesterday, they’d been so high and mighty, kicking me out. Today, they were here, practically wagging their tails like stray dogs, begging for scraps. “Mr. Davies, long time no see.” I pushed the door open and strode in. My secretary swiftly pulled out the chair at the head of the table. I settled into the chair calmly, my fingers interlocked on the tabletop. The conference room instantly fell silent; you could have heard a pin drop. Mr. Davies’ eyes bulged, almost popping out of his skull. Mrs. Davies’ fan clattered to the floor. Tiffany, as if seeing a ghost, shrieked, pointing at me: “Stella?! What are YOU doing here?!” “Are you here to clean toilets?! Security! How did you let this trash in?!” She lunged at me, trying to grab me. “Get out! What makes you think you belong here?! This is a multi-billion-dollar business meeting! If you dirty the carpet, can you even pay for it?!” I remained still, merely tilting my head slightly. The bodyguard beside me simply raised a hand, seizing Tiffany’s wrist and twisting it hard. “AHH—!” Tiffany shrieked, stumbled back, and landed in an undignified heap on the floor. “Tiffany!” Mrs. Davies shrieked, rushing to her side. Mr. Davies’ face turned ashen, and he roared, pointing at me: “Stella! You ungrateful wretch! Did you follow us here?! Get out, now! Don’t you dare humiliate us any further!” I leaned back in my chair, a faint smirk playing on my lips. “Humiliate you?” “Mr. Davies, I think you’ve got two things wrong.” “First, this is Stellar Group, and I am the Chairwoman.” “Second, you’re the one begging me, not the other way around.” Mr. Davies stared, his face a mask of utter disbelief. “You’re… the Chairwoman? What kind of sick joke is this?! Your mother was a toilet-scrubbing nanny!” “Whose ID did you steal? Or did some old sugar daddy pay for you to be here?” Tiffany scrambled up from the floor, her face twisted with fury: “She definitely did! Dad, she must have sold herself to get here, just to cause trouble! There’s nothing a lowlife like her wouldn’t do!” I didn’t speak, merely gestured to my secretary. My secretary slammed a document onto the table in front of Mr. Davies. “Open your pathetic eyes and see for yourself.” Mr. Davies’ trembling hand picked up the document, his fingers fumbling as he turned to the first page. Shareholder Structure. Largest Shareholder: Stella. Holding: 100%. In that instant, Mr. Davies’ face went utterly ashen, like death itself. His body went limp, and he collapsed back into the chair. “This… this can’t be… Maria… Maria, she…” “My mother’s name is Maria, and she was the previous helmswoman of Stellar Group.” I stood up, bracing my hands on the table, looking down at Mr. Davies. “Mr. Davies, that precious Davies Group you’re so proud of? In my mother’s eyes, it’s less than nothing.” “For twenty years, my mother slaved away in your house, not because she was pathetic.” “It was because she was watching you, slowly but surely, dig your own graves.” “Now, I’m giving you two choices.” “First, get on your knees, kowtow to my mother three times, and cough up that five bucks of overtime pay you swallowed yesterday, with interest.” “Second, Davies Group goes into bankruptcy liquidation, and you three can go sleep under a bridge, covered in newspapers.”

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My pregnant wife posted photos with her ex and implied her child was not mine. She spent my money, trashed my name online, and expected me to keep supporting her lies. Her family pushed harder, demanding I pay for everything while she vacationed with another man. I finally stopped protecting her reputation and ended the marriage, cut off every benefit, and exposed the truth she tried to bury. For the first time, I get to walk away while she’s the one begging. My pregnant wife ignored my protests and went on an overseas trip with her high school sweetheart. She posted on Facebook, “Travis, even if we can’t be together as husband and wife, I’ll still give birth to your child.” The picture? The two of them were holding hands and snuggled up together. I commented under the post, “If you’re this in love, isn’t it time to divorce me and be with him instead?” After posting my comment, I didn’t waste any time. I contacted the Postpartum Care Center, where I’d previously booked and canceled the reservation. I also called Summit Ridge Women’s Clinic and canceled the appointments I had set up there. For the countless baby supplies I’d bought in advance, I either returned what I could or gave away the rest. When I was done, I let out a long breath of relief. I called up a few close friends and invited them out for drinks. I needed the distraction. We were laughing and enjoying ourselves when my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen, and my smile disappeared. It was Madeline Harper. The room grew quiet as my friends noticed my shift in mood. One suggested, “Ethan, is that Madeline calling? Maybe you should head home before she gets upset. ” “Yeah, we can call it a night here,” chimed another. They meant well. Since marrying Madeline, I haven’t spent much time with my friends. Whenever I did, Madeline would call them my “useless drinking buddies” and blame them for anything that went wrong. Everyone knew how overbearing she could be. But I hit the decline button right before them and forced a smile onto my face. “Forget about her. Let’s keep going.” “Ethan, maybe you should—” Dex started, concern in his voice. I cut him off, “I know you’re all looking out for me, but I’ll tell you this now: once Madeline returns, I’m divorcing her. She’s not going to be your sister-in-law anymore.” The group fell silent, exchanging uneasy glances but not saying another word. My phone buzzed again. After hesitating, I answered this time. Madeline’s sharp voice came through on the other end of the line, furious. “Ethan Vaughn! Who do you think you are ignoring my calls? If this happens again, you’ll sleep on the couch for a month!” I stayed silent as she launched into another tirade. “Tell me this, Ethan,” she demanded. “Why did you cancel the Postpartum Care Center? If they hadn’t called me, I’d still be in the dark! Are you even planning to be this baby’s father? If you’re not, don’t worry—plenty of men love to step up. The line of guys wanting to date me back in the day could’ve stretched to France!” When Madeline first got pregnant, I’d treated her like a queen. Whatever she asked for, I made it happen. I booked the best Postpartum Care Center in Napa Valley for $10,000 a month without a second thought. I loved her. I wanted her to feel cherished. But she used my devotion as a license to trample all over me. “Hey, are you listening?” Her shrill voice pulled me from my thoughts. “Yeah, I’m listening. What’s the problem?” I asked calmly. “The problem is, you’re going to fix this,” she snapped. “Rebook the Care Center. And send me another $10,000. Travis and I want to stay here for a couple more days.” Her words made me laugh out loud. “Madeline, have you lost your damn mind?” Chapter

The moment those words left my mouth, Madeline’s fury erupted. “Ethan Vaughn, what did you just say? Repeat it, I dare you! Do you want me to divorce you?” This wasn’t the first time she’d used divorce as a threat. It was her go-to move, no matter how small the argument. In the past, I always caved. I’d apologize, take the blame, and do whatever it took to smooth things. I thought that if I compromised enough, we’d eventually find happiness. But things never worked out that way. I took a deep breath, lifted my drink, and said calmly, “Alright. Let’s get divorced.” Then I hung up and turned off my phone. My friends stared at me, stunned. “Why are you all frozen? Let’s toast—to my freedom!” That broke the tension. Laughter filled the room as they raised their glasses with me. The drinks flowed, and I felt truly happy for the first time in years. Back at home, I collapsed into bed, the buzz of alcohol and freedom making me smile. For years, my life revolved around Madeline’s demands. She controlled everything, and I let her. I gave up smoking and drinking for her. I handed over my entire paycheck every month. I cooked, cleaned, and ran our household so she could play “princess.” But somewhere along the way, she forgot she wasn’t royalty. When I woke up the following day, loud banging echoed through the apartment. At first, I thought someone was renovating. But as the sound continued, I realized someone was at my door. I didn’t need to guess who. I took my time, pouring a glass of water as the voices outside grew louder. “Ethan Vaughn, open this door right now!” Dolly Carter’s sharp tone cut through the noise. “How dare you cancel the Postpartum Care Center and the hospital appointments? Are you even human?” Her voice grated on my nerves, but I was used to it. Whenever Madeline and I had even the slightest fight, her parents would rush over to scold me. When I finally opened the door, I was greeted by their furious faces. Without waiting for an invitation, they pushed past me into the apartment. “You better fix this immediately!” Dolly demanded. “Madeline’s coming home tonight, and everything needs to be in place.” “Is she bringing Travis Reese back with her?” I asked coolly. “What are you implying? Madeline’s coming back alone. Stop spreading nonsense!” Dolly shot back defensively. “Oh, and I heard you got a $15,000 bonus at work,” Walt added. “When’s Madeline getting that?” I let out a small laugh, shaking my head. It was going to be a long day. Chapter

I chuckled to myself. My father-in-law, Walt Carter, sure had his ear to the ground—he even knew about the bonus I’d received from my latest project. “So, when are you giving that money to my daughter?” Dolly, my mother-in-law, chimed in, her tone dripping with entitlement. “You must have misunderstood,” I replied flatly. “I’m filing for divorce from Madeline.” “Divorce?!” Dolly’s face twisted in shock. “Your darling daughter announced on Facebook that the baby she’s carrying belongs to her high school sweetheart, Travis. Whoever the father is, let him handle the hospital bills and the Postpartum Care Center,” I said, my tone cold. “You’re talking nonsense! That baby is yours!” Walt snapped, his voice rising in anger. Dolly, of course, doubled down. “Even if the baby isn’t yours, so what? You’re the one who married Madeline. If you truly love her, you should accept everything about her!” “And besides,” she added, crossing her arms, “that baby will take your last name anyway. So what exactly is your problem?” Listening to their absurd arguments, I realized trying to reason with them wastes time. I grabbed my car keys and left the house, ignoring their shouts as they trailed behind me. When they caught up in the driveway, I sighed and told them what they wanted to hear: “I’m going to sort out the Postpartum Care Center now.” That finally got them to back off. “You’d better,” Dolly said smugly. “After all, Madeline’s been carrying this baby for nine months. You can’t drop the ball now.” I didn’t bother responding and drove off. Once I was clear of the house, I called my former college classmate, Autumn Quinn, who now lived in Asheville, North Carolina. When she picked up, her voice lit up with excitement. “Ethan! You finally agreed! We’ve been waiting for the perfect leader for this project, and you’re it. The salary and benefits package we can offer you is top-notch!” Autumn had been trying to recruit me for months, but I’d always turned her down. I’d stayed because I thought Madeline and I were happy—and because she was pregnant. But now, I had no reason to stay. “Count me in,” I said decisively. She paused, catching something in my tone. “Ethan, is everything okay? Do you need help with something?” I chuckled softly. “No, nothing like that.” She didn’t push, but her excitement returned as she promised to arrange an interview. “Let me know if you need anything else,” she added warmly. “Thanks, Autumn.” We met in college when I was a junior and she was a freshman. We belonged to the same college society, and over time, we became good friends. After I got married, though, we drifted apart. With the interview set up, I turned my attention to the next step: consulting a lawyer to draft a divorce agreement. It was evening by the time everything was arranged, and I was ready to grab dinner when my phone rang again. It was Madeline. “Where the hell have you been?!” she demanded. “I’ve called you a dozen times, and you didn’t answer. I had to take a cab home, Ethan—a cab! Do you know how mad that makes me?” Chapter

Madeline’s voice dripped with anger as if taking a cab home was the most significant hardship she’d ever faced. Looking back, I realized I’d spoiled her too much. She wasn’t born into wealth or privilege, but I treated her like a princess, and over time, she began to believe she was one. “Sorry,” I said calmly. “I was busy and forgot.” “Busy? What’s your excuse? You don’t care about me at all! Get your ass home and apologize right now!” “Oh, and don’t forget to transfer the $10,000. My mom said you already withdrew it,” she added. I murmured an acknowledgment and hung up without another word. When I got home, Madeline was sitting on the couch, her pregnant belly prominent. But she wasn’t alone. Sitting next to her was Travis Reese, her high school sweetheart. Across the room, Dolly and Walt sat like they owned the place. “Ah, everyone’s here,” I said, stepping inside. All eyes turned to me, but Madeline was the first to speak. “If Travis hadn’t been kind enough to bring me home, I don’t know what would’ve happened,” she said, her voice laced with accusation. “Do you even care about the baby I’m carrying?” “Travis brought the baby’s father home. Isn’t that what he’s supposed to do?” I replied evenly, looking directly at Travis. His eyes widened in shock. “What are you talking about? What do you mean ‘the baby’s father’?” I handed him a stack of invoices. “Postpartum Care Center: $10,000. Summit Ridge Women’s Clinic VIP delivery package: $8,000. Baby supplies: $5,000. Total: $23,000. You’ll need to make those payments at the hospital soon.” Everyone froze, the weight of my words sinking in. “What’s that supposed to mean, Ethan?” Madeline finally asked, her voice rising. “It means I’m divorcing you. And whoever got you pregnant can handle the rest,” I said, pulling out the divorce papers I’d prepared. “Divorce?!” Madeline’s eyes blazed. “You think you can just leave me like this? If anyone’s divorcing anyone, it’s me! Travis’s better than you’ll ever be, Ethan. Once we’re done, I’ll marry him.” She smiled sweetly at Travis, oblivious to the horrified expression on his face. “Madeline, are you out of your mind?!” Travis blurted out, taking a step back. “Travis, don’t be shy,” she said, still grinning. “We’ve been waiting for this. Now’s our chance to finally be together.” Even Dolly jumped in. “Travis, you’re getting a wonderful girl here. My Madeline is one of a kind!” “And the baby will have your name, of course,” Walt added. But Travis’s expression darkened. “Madeline,” he said firmly, “we were just having fun. I’m not marrying you.” Madeline’s jaw dropped. “What? You’re joking, right?” He shook his head, stepping further away. “You thought I was serious? Madeline, you’re married! And honestly, who knows who else you’ve been with?” The color drained from her face, and her parents stared in stunned silence. I watched the scene unfold, saying nothing, a cold smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.

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The moment the mistress appeared on my husband’s screen, the world treated me like the problem. She mocked me. Strangers harassed me. My husband defended her at every turn. So I stopped trying to save the marriage they had already burned down. I cleared my name, exposed their tactics, and dismantled every lie they used against me. They thought I would collapse under pressure. Instead, I rose—and now they’re the ones scrambling to survive the fallout. During the company’s video conference, a different girl’s face appeared on Byron Adams’ screen. The girl, seemingly innocent, was playing with his computer, completely oblivious to the fact that the camera was on. It wasn’t until Byron returned from the bathroom that she said in a sweet tone, “I didn’t know you were in a meeting. You promised to spend three days with me, but now you’ve been in meetings for days. How annoying.” The colleagues who had been speaking earlier fell silent. Everyone waited to see how I would react. After all, they had witnessed more than a few of our arguments in the office before. But this time, I didn’t make a scene. Instead, I coldly told the colleague, “Please continue, don’t mind the irrelevant things.” I watched as the room became quiet, and my eyes focused on Byron’s screen where the girl was still playfully cuddling him. I ignored it and asked the colleague to continue. If this had happened at another time, I would have probably snapped and confronted Byron, but today, I was calm. After all, Byron never let me, his wife, touch his computer. The way the girl was interacting with it seemed so familiar, and their closeness was undeniable. I had never seen him like this before. Every time I tried to be affectionate with him, he would coldly push me away, saying, “Lydia, don’t you have your own things to do? We’re adults. Just don’t do this.” Even when I wanted to use his computer, he would immediately take it away, saying he didn’t like anyone touching it. As the meeting continued, my mind kept returning to these thoughts until Byron called me and asked, “Did you see what happened just now?” I replied, my tone calm, “See what? I don’t have time to pay attention to things that aren’t work-related.” I could almost hear him sigh with relief on the other end of the line. Then, I added, “Did you do anything?” He quickly explained himself, and after listening, I nodded and hung up the phone. For the first time, I didn’t argue with him.

He probably didn’t expect me to hang up, so he sent a follow-up message explaining again. I ignored it, replying with a simple “OK”. His dissatisfaction with my indifferent attitude was clear. [Byron, I don’t want to argue with you.] I replied and then turned on the “Do Not Disturb” mode for his chat. Just then, a friend request notification popped up. It was from a girl with a little bunny profile photo. I accepted her application. She didn’t say anything after adding me. When I clicked on her recent photo, I understood everything. It was a fresh selfie of the same girl who had appeared on Byron’s screen earlier. She was holding his computer, and it captioned: [Oops, I disturbed baby during his meeting, but he didn’t get mad at me.] Her post and friend request were clearly intended to provoke me, but I didn’t delete her. Instead, I let it linger, observing in silence. The post that caught my attention the most was one from my birthday. Byron, who was supposed to be on a business trip, was in a photo with her. They were seated at the center of the table, and the girl was wearing a crown, looking incredibly happy. Byron’s friend commented under the photo: [You two look so happy. Byron has abandoned me.] Byron replied: [Shut up, man.] I could feel the joy in his words through the screen. I suddenly remembered how, on my birthday, I had waited at home for him to return, only for him to ignore my many calls. When he finally picked up, his voice was impatient, and he only told me to sleep early. My call must have interrupted his good mood. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly at myself.

I scrolled through more of the girl’s posts but found them uninteresting. After washing up, I went to bed, intending to sleep. But Byron returned just as I was about to drift off. I heard his footsteps upstairs and pretended to close my eyes. Then I heard him undressing. After a while, I felt the bed dip as he sat down and pulled me into his arms. His body carried the scent of the cologne I bought him, mingled with a faint fragrance of gardenias. It wasn’t my scent. I couldn’t help but think, was she also wrapped in his arms like this? Was she leaving her scent on him too? The thought made me feel nauseous. Without making a sound, I pulled away from his embrace and resisted his intimacy for the first time. In the past, I would have snuggled closer to him the moment he lay down. I would have buried my head in his arms, greedily inhaling his scent. But now, I couldn’t stand it. He stiffened behind me, seemingly confused, and tried to pull me closer again. “Don’t hold me. It’s uncomfortable,” I said, my eyes still closed. He sat up, suddenly irritated. “What’s wrong with you? Did you hear something? Or is there something I’ve done wrong to upset you?” I couldn’t bring myself to say anything. What could I ask him? Who was that girl? Did he love me? Right now, those questions didn’t matter anymore. “I’ve worked all day and stayed up late to revise the proposal. I’m really tired,” I replied, my voice devoid of emotion. “Please, stop making this a big deal. I just want to rest.” He exploded. “You’re insane! I just wanted to hug you, and now I’m wrong?” With that, he slammed the door and stormed off, leaving me with his cold back. In the past, I would have chased after him, clinging to his hand, begging him not to be angry. But now, I just silently pulled the blanket back over myself and tried to sleep. My rest was more important than anything else. The wall between us felt thicker now, and neither of us reached out to the other. We stayed like that in a strange silence. For the next week, Byron didn’t come home for dinner or send me any messages. When he saw me at work, he only gave me a brief, indifferent glance. Colleagues whispered about whether we had fought, or if it was because of the events that day. But the girl kept posting frequently on her social media. I thought the cold war would continue indefinitely, until one evening, I received a message from home about a family dinner. I realized I had to reach out to Byron, but my message was met with complete silence. Reluctantly, I went to the house he had lived in before we got married. It was where he always went after our arguments, and this time was no different.

I stood at the door, listening to the laughter coming from inside the villa, and couldn’t help but frown. The familiar, coquettish voice sounded exactly like the one I had heard coming from Byron’s computer that day. With a scowl on my face, I pushed the villa’s door open. Suddenly, something white and fluffy pounced at me, knocking me to the ground. My back scraped against some small stones, and I winced in pain. I looked up to see a dog. Completely unsure of how to react, I froze. “Where did this dog come from? Get it off me!” I shouted. I had been terrified of dogs since childhood after being chased by a neighbor’s large dog. Now, with a big dog pinning me down, I couldn’t stop shaking. Just then, the dog was pulled off me. Byron’s hand reached out in front of me, his face filled with confusion. I ignored him, got up, and moved away to put some distance between myself and the dog. I took a good look at the dog. Its fur was well-groomed, and it even had a cute little butterfly ornament on its ear. When it saw me standing, it tried to pounce again. I instinctively stepped back a couple of steps. “Why are you here?” Byron said softly and squatted down to pet the dog. “Didn’t you see…?” “Byron, what happened? Where’s Peach?” A high-pitched, girlish voice called out, and the figure of the girl I had seen in the photos appeared before me. Seeing her face in person made my heart ache with bitterness, especially the way Byron looked at her—his gaze was full of warmth. He quickly stepped in front of the girl, blocking her from my view, and his soft expression disappeared immediately. “What’s wrong, Byron? Why are you standing in front of me? Did Peach have an accident?” The girl slipped from behind him, and as soon as she saw me, her smile faltered. She froze when she saw me standing there. As she came closer, I couldn’t help but feel drawn to her vibrant energy. “Who is she?” the girl asked, her voice filled with confusion as she looked up at Byron. But when her gaze shifted to me, there was an unmistakable hint of challenge in her eyes. She knew who I was, and after adding me on social media, she probably knew about me long before this. “She is…” “I’m his wife, legally his wife.” I interrupted Byron’s attempt to explain and smiled at the girl in front of me. As I expected, her expression faltered for a moment before she tried to regain her composure. Her little act only made me laugh. She took a few steps back, looking uncomfortable, and struggled to pull the large dog back inside. “Well, since your wife is here, you two can have a talk. I’ll go give Peach some water.” Her fake, sad demeanor made even me feel a little sorry for her. But Byron, of course, was completely captivated by her. After she left, Byron glared at me with clear frustration. “What are you even doing here?” he asked, his voice cold. “Your family invited us for dinner, and you didn’t respond to any of my messages, so I came.” I answered calmly, indifferent to his anger, as though I didn’t even feel it. My response shut him down, leaving him speechless. I ignored him completely and walked confidently inside the house. I sat down on the sofa and looked at Byron as he followed me in. “You have 20 minutes to get ready. We need to leave on time,” I said, my tone firm. As soon as I finished speaking, the same large dog that had tackled me earlier charged toward me, as if triggered by something. It viciously bit at my clothes. “Get off me!” I shouted, grabbing my handbag and swinging it at the dog. It hit the dog on the head, leaving a small cut. I called out for Byron, but by the time I was knocked down, he was already over by the girl, shielding her in his arms. Seeing that, my heart sank completely.

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For seven years, Adrian Foster and I lived in a marriage without touch. He would lean close, speak softly, brush past me as if something pulled him in, only to withdraw the second I tried to reach back. But when he publicly shamed me to defend another woman, the tension between us finally snapped. Those lingering glances no longer mattered. I’m done waiting for warmth from a man who only offers cold. This time, I walk away. To outsiders, marrying into the Foster family was like winning the lottery. As one of the most prestigious old-money families in the city, they usually opted for business alliances in marriage. And I was just an orphan living on others’ charity. I was only six when my parents died. More than grief, I felt terror about the future. My uncles fought bitterly over the inheritance, and none of them wanted to take care of me, claiming I brought bad luck. They decided to send me to an orphanage. I didn’t want to go to the orphanage. I’d heard stories about how terrible those places were. So I found my mom’s old phone and tried calling my uncle – it was my first time contacting my mother’s side of the family. Mom had been from a wealthy family too, but she’d cut ties with them to marry my father. When Uncle Jack heard my plea, he hung up without a word. I told myself he was just hurt by my mother’s actions and it was natural for him not to want anything to do with me. But I couldn’t stop the tears from falling. The next day, I woke up early, packed my little backpack, and prepared to run away. I’d rather go hungry and sleep under a bridge than end up in that orphanage. But just as I slipped out of my room, I bumped into a man. I recognized him as my uncle immediately – he looked so much like my mom. Uncle Jack patted my head and asked if I’d had breakfast. When I said no, he picked me up and took me to his home. My grandparents had already passed away. Aunt Lisa frowned when she saw how skinny I was. “I have to take care of Noah and Emma. I don’t have time for her. You brought this trouble home, you deal with it,” she told Uncle Jack. “Don’t worry, she’s a good kid. Just give her food, and she’ll take care of everything else,” he replied. To prove Uncle Jack right, I learned to feed myself, dress myself, go to school, and sleep on my own. I even helped look after my cousins. Emma was only two months younger than me, a proud little princess. She never called me ‘sister’, instead treating me like a servant. But I didn’t mind. We all have our own destinies, and she had reasons to be proud. As for me, I was just grateful to grow up safe and healthy. After high school graduation, Uncle Jack wanted to send Emma and me to study in England together. But Adrian’s appearance disrupted all those plans.

He came with Mrs. Foster to propose marriage. Apparently, our grandfathers had once jokingly arranged a marriage between their children over drinks. No one expected Mrs. Foster to take it seriously. The atmosphere was awkward. Adrian, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly stood up and walked towards the backyard. Aunt Lisa quickly told me to follow him and take care of him. At first, I didn’t know he had autism. I just thought this young heir was being rude. It was late spring, and the roses in the garden were in full bloom. Adrian took out a sketchpad from his backpack as if by magic and started drawing intently. Not wanting to disturb him, I stood behind him, watching silently. Without exaggeration, Adrian was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen. He had perfect bone structure and skin as fair as jade. His deep, soul-stirring eyes exuded an air of nobility. Just as I was secretly marveling at the lottery of birth, things took a sudden turn. Adrian seemed dissatisfied with his drawing and crumpled the paper in frustration. I wanted to comfort him, but he suddenly reached out and gripped a thorny rose stem tightly. Blood immediately started flowing, but he didn’t seem to feel any pain. Instead, he tilted his head, looking thoughtful. “Let go! Quick, let go!” I panicked like an ant on a hot pan. Young Mr. Foster was an important guest, and I didn’t know what trouble it would cause Uncle Jack if he got hurt under my watch. I called out loudly, but he had no reaction. Left with no choice, I reached out to pull his arm. The moment I touched his sleeve, he suddenly became enraged and pushed me to the ground. I was terrified. His expression was so frightening that I thought he might hit me. But he didn’t. He just turned back to continue drawing. Mrs. Foster heard the commotion and hurried over. She seemed used to such incidents and quickly left with her son. After they left, Emma burst into tears. “I don’t want to get married! I want to go to England! If you force me, I’ll kill myself!” Uncle Jack was heartbroken but also helpless. Most of the family’s business relied on the Fosters. Offending Mrs. Foster would have unthinkable consequences. Aunt Lisa comforted her daughter while secretly glancing at me. “The Thompsons don’t just have one daughter. Why do you keep focusing on Emma?” Emma nodded vigorously. “That’s right, let Aria marry him. You’ve raised her for so many years, it can’t be for nothing.” “What are you saying? Adrian is autistic. How could I push Aria into such a difficult situation?” Uncle Jack protested. “So you’d rather push your own daughter into the fire…” Aunt Lisa retorted.

Uncle Jack and Aunt Lisa argued all night. I hid in my room, listening silently, and made my decision. The next day, I told Uncle Jack that I was willing to marry into the Foster family in Emma’s place. “Emma is right. You and Aunt Lisa have been so good to me. It’s time for me to repay your kindness,” I said. Uncle Jack’s eyes turned red as he held my hand, wanting to say something. But in the end, he couldn’t get the words out. Because of Adrian’s condition, the wedding was very simple. I thought his willingness to marry meant he was prepared to live with me. But I was wrong. On our wedding night, as soon as I stepped into our room, his face darkened. “Get out!” “This is my room too,” I said. “You’re not allowed to sleep here.” I tried to reason with him, to explain the meaning of marriage. But he wouldn’t listen. Instead, he tore up all the red ‘double happiness’ decorations in the room. Helpless, I turned to leave. Mrs. Foster saw this and sighed, calling me to her study. She told me that Adrian wasn’t a bad person by nature, just socially withdrawn and unwilling to interact with others. Since I had married him, it was my responsibility to take care of him. She believed that if I tried hard enough, I could eventually open Adrian’s heart and make him accept me. I decided to give it a try. Taking care of someone with autism is both mentally and physically exhausting. Every day, I personally prepared his meals, reminded him to take his medicine, and took him for medical check-ups. To understand him better, I bought all the books I could find about autism and studied them late into the night. My efforts gradually paid off. Adrian slowly got used to my presence and no longer rejected me as he had at first. I was allowed to ride in the same car with him or sit at the same table for meals. Knowing I liked fruit, he would personally prepare beautiful fruit platters for me. When I caught a cold due to my weak immune system, he would force me to drink ginger tea. Time passed, and we both got used to this life. The only one unsatisfied was Mrs. Foster. She talked to me every other day, always with the same purpose: urging me to have a child. Forced into a corner, I had to tell her the truth. Adrian hadn’t shown any interest in physical intimacy and wouldn’t even allow me to sleep in the same bed. Mrs. Foster was anxious and angry. She took Adrian for a medical examination. The doctor said there was nothing wrong with his physical functions; he just couldn’t overcome his psychological barriers and accept such an intimate relationship. “When it comes down to it, it’s your problem,” Mrs. Foster told me. “Can’t you find a way to make him fall in love with you?” I was at a loss. I didn’t even know what love was myself, let alone Adrian.

In our seventh year of marriage, Mrs. Foster gave me an ultimatum. “The Foster family has only had one child for three generations. We can’t let the line end here. If you can have a child, do it. If you can’t, I’ll find someone else who can. But then I won’t have time to care about the Thompson family’s business!” Faced with such a blatant threat, I had no choice but to give in. That night, I found a romantic movie and invited Adrian to watch it with me. He agreed but left halfway through, saying it was boring. After my shower, I changed into the lingerie Mrs. Foster had specially made for me and nervously knocked on Adrian’s door. “I’m going to sleep,” he said. “We can talk tomorrow.” Adrian blocked the door, not letting me in. “I’ve painted a new picture of birds. I was hoping you could take a look,” I said. That’s right, to please Adrian, I had even taken up painting classes. Adrian finally agreed to let me in, but his expression remained cold and he wouldn’t look at me. “Where’s the painting?” he asked. “Don’t rush. The paper is quite large, we need to spread it out on the bed.” I tried my best to overcome my embarrassment and acted seductively, like in the movies. The nearly see-through nightgown left little to the imagination. But Adrian still had no reaction. His gaze was focused entirely on the non-existent painting. “Stop painting,” he said suddenly. “What?” “I said, stop painting from now on. Your brushwork is weak, you have no talent. Even a three-year-old could paint better than you.” I blushed, feeling extremely embarrassed. “If I’m not good, you could teach me. I’d be the most obedient student,” I said, reaching out to touch him. He pushed me away roughly. At that moment, the strap of my nightgown snapped. I stood there naked in front of Adrian, like a peeled egg. “Get out! Get out of here!” he shouted. “You filthy woman! Disgusting woman!” “Painting is the most sacred thing. How dare you desecrate it!” I had never seen Adrian so angry before. His bloodshot eyes stared at me as if I had committed some unforgivable sin. In the past, I would have run out immediately, terrified. But not today. Trembling, I wrapped myself in a blanket. “Adrian, we need to have a child. Otherwise, I won’t be able to stay here anymore.” “Who wants you to stay here?” he spat. “Look in the mirror. See how disgusting you are!” “I hate you. It would be best if you never appeared in front of me again!” “Do you really mean that?” I asked. Even though I knew he was ill, these words still hurt me deeply. After seven years of companionship, even a pet cat or dog would have developed some affection. Adrian nodded firmly, ignoring the tears in my eyes as he roughly pushed me out of the room.

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My husband gave another woman my birthday gift. Rachel Quinn posted the robot he and my son built for her, smiling like it belonged to her life. When I liked the post, he exploded, accusing me of starting drama. That was the moment the truth slammed into me: he defended her more fiercely than he ever defended me. Now the betrayal is undeniable—and so is the ending of our marriage. On my birthday, my husband’s childhood friend, Rachel Quinn, posted pictures on social media of the brand-new robot my husband and son had built for her. I casually gave it a thumbs-up. Not long after, my husband called to scold me: “We gave you one too, didn’t we? And Max even made you a cake himself. What else could you possibly want?” But Rachel’s robot was obviously the latest model. Even the cake my son made for her was bigger than mine. When my husband and son got home, the clock had just struck midnight. The untouched cake still sat on the table. The card read: “Happy Birthday, Mom!” “Why didn’t you eat the cake? Were you waiting for us to come home and celebrate?” My husband forced a smile as he and Max lit the candles and sang me a birthday song. But instead of feeling touched, I felt suffocated. I waved them off. “I’m not hungry. You two eat.” My husband’s expression immediately darkened. “I know you’re upset about Rachel. But can’t you understand her situation? She doesn’t have any family here. She had a tough day at work today, so Max and I just went to cheer her up. That’s all. Stop overthinking it.” Max chimed in, “Yeah, Mom. Rachel’s all alone. Can’t you be a little more understanding?” Looking at the father and son tag-teaming me, my heart felt colder than an ice cavern. It was my birthday, yet they left me to comfort someone else. Every time I got angry about how they prioritized Rachel over me, they’d trot out this same excuse. It always made me feel like I was the unreasonable one, like I was the villain. And every time, I’d end up crying alone late at night. But the next day, all it took was a kind word, or a small gift, and I’d forgive them. I’d go right back to being the mom and wife they took for granted. This time, though, I was tired of playing along. “You’re right,” I said calmly. “You should go spend time with her. I’ll celebrate with my friends instead.” I grabbed my purse and headed for the door. The two of them were stunned, frozen in place, clearly not expecting this response. When my husband finally realized I was serious, he quickly rushed over to grab my arm. “You’re forty years old. Can you stop acting like a child? I’m busy with work, and Max is swamped with school. We still made time to celebrate with you, but it’s never enough, is it? We’re exhausted, you know?” Exhausted? I stared at them coldly. They weren’t too tired to build Rachel a cutting-edge robot. They weren’t too tired to bake her a cake the size of a serving platter. But for me? They handed me an outdated model and a cake made from scraps, and that was somehow too much effort. “You’re overthinking it,” I said, voice icy. “I’m not upset. I just want to spend my birthday with my friends for a change. I haven’t done that in years.” “Mom! Enough with the drama!” Max suddenly snapped, slamming his hand down on the table. The cake tipped over, and the candles nearly set the tablecloth on fire. Lately, Max had been under a lot of pressure at school, and his temper was always on edge. Every time he lashed out, I’d patiently comfort him, no matter how much it hurt. But this time, I stayed silent. Seeing my lack of reaction, his anger flared even more. He started punching the furniture, kicking over chairs. “What do you want from us? Why can’t you just leave me and Dad alone? You’ve been emotionally manipulating us for years. Is it not enough? Do you want to drive us insane before you’re satisfied?” Watching him scream and destroy the living room, I felt nothing but a deep, hollow sadness. All these years, I’d poured my heart into this family. And now, on my fortieth birthday, just because I wanted a little bit of extra attention, I was branded a control freak. What a failure I’d become. I laughed bitterly, tears stinging my eyes, as my husband rushed to comfort Max. He turned to me with a grim look, his voice cold. “Look at what you’ve done to him. Do you even deserve to be a mother? If you’re so unhappy, why don’t we just get a divorce?” Every time I argued with him, he’d throw that line at me. And every time, I’d back down out of fear. But this time, I didn’t care anymore. “Fine,” I said. Their shocked faces were the last thing I saw before walking out the door.

Even though it was late, my friends agreed to meet me. We gathered at a food truck, drinking beer and eating greasy snacks. They teased me for disappearing after getting married, saying I’d practically forgotten they existed. The alcohol dulled my brain, and for a moment, it felt like we were back in college, laughing in our dorm room. Looking back, I’d sacrificed so much for my husband and son. And for what? After saying goodbye to my friends, I checked my phone. There were dozens of missed calls and messages, most from my husband. I was about to ignore them when one from Rachel caught my eye: “I’m so sorry, Lauren. There’s nothing going on between me and Tom, I swear. I just had a bad day and needed someone to talk to. I completely forgot it was your birthday. Please forgive me!” The alcohol churned in my stomach. I leaned against a streetlamp and vomited until my throat burned. Finally, I replied: “Don’t worry about it. I don’t care.” She started typing a response, but I didn’t bother waiting for it. When I got home, the house was a disaster zone—worse than when I’d left. I ignored it and headed for the bathroom to wash up. My husband emerged from the bedroom, his face scrunched in irritation. “You’re finally back? And drunk, no less. Clean this place up before you go to bed.” “Whoever made the mess can clean it up.” I flopped onto the couch, exhausted. Something hard jabbed into my hip. It was my husband’s phone, unlocked. On the screen was a chat with Rachel. “Tom, I shouldn’t have made Lauren upset. It’s my fault. Let’s not meet up so often anymore.” “Don’t blame yourself. She’s just petty and jealous. It’s just a birthday—it’s not like we can’t celebrate later. She’s so dramatic, acting like a spoiled brat.” “Don’t say that. She has every right to be upset. You should go make up with her.” “Thanks, Rachel. If only Lauren were half as understanding as you.” My husband snatched the phone from my hand, his face red with anger. “Why do you always have to invade my privacy? There’s nothing going on with us!” “Whatever,” I said, too tired to fight. “I’m going to sleep.” He was taken aback by my indifference but quickly recovered. “Oh, by the way,” he said, as if trying to change the subject. “I’ll show you how to use that robot we got you. It’ll make things easier for you.” I opened my eyes and looked at him coldly. “Tom, did you forget? I helped design that model.” He froze, glancing at the robot. Then he let out a sheepish laugh. “Oh, right. Well, never mind then.” Before we got married, we’d both worked as engineers at the same tech company. But after Max was born, I quit my job to stay home and raise him. Now, all I felt was regret for everything I’d given up. The room was silent, except for the faint hum of the robot vacuuming the floor. “I’m sleeping on the couch tonight,” I said. “You can go to bed.” “Fine,” he muttered. “Oh, and I’m working late tomorrow. Don’t wait up.” “Got it.” And with that, I closed my eyes.

My husband lingered in the hallway for a moment before retreating to the bedroom. I hadn’t been asleep long when I felt someone shaking me awake. Groggily, I opened my eyes to find Max standing over me, already dressed in his school uniform, looking thoroughly annoyed. “Why didn’t you wake me up? I’m going to be late! And where’s breakfast? You didn’t make anything?” Every morning, without fail, I’d sacrifice my own rest to wake him up on time and prepare a full, warm breakfast. The price of this routine was dark circles under my eyes and skin that had lost its luster. At forty, I looked closer to fifty. But not today. “You can set your own alarm from now on. As for breakfast, grab something on the way. Got money? I’ll send you some if you don’t.” Max stared at me, stunned, as if he couldn’t believe this was coming from me—the mom who used to do everything for him without complaint. “I don’t need your money,” he muttered, his voice heavy with disdain. Then, under his breath, he added, “Rachel would never be this lazy…” Though he mumbled it quietly, I heard every word. But strangely, it didn’t hurt. Max stormed out, slamming the door so hard the shoe rack rattled, and a small object tumbled to the floor. Curious, I walked over and picked it up. It was a toy car—one I’d modified years ago. With the push of a button, it could transform into a robot and even play theme songs from cartoons. When Max was little, he was often sick. Those days, he rarely smiled—until I showed him this car. The way his face lit up, the pure joy in his laughter, had inspired me to submit a proposal at work: a line of toys designed to bring emotional comfort to children. But Tom, my husband, had dismissed the idea outright. He argued that robots should be practical, useful tools—not frivolous “toys” that just transformed and played music. In the end, the proposal was shelved, and Max grew up, leaving behind the little car he once adored. I stared at the toy for a long moment before pressing its button. It still worked. An idea struck me, so I grabbed the car and went to find my neighbor’s child, Danny. Danny was just five, a lonely boy whose parents had divorced and left him in the care of his grandmother. He spent most of his days playing alone in the dirt outside our building. When I handed him the toy, his eyes lit up, and he clutched it tightly, turning it over and over in his small hands. “Wow!” he exclaimed, a grin spreading across his face as he began playing with it. Seeing his joy, I couldn’t help but think of Max as a little boy—and of the proposal I’d given up on all those years ago. Before I realized it, I had my phone in hand and was dialing my old manager’s number. Halfway through the call, I panicked and almost hung up, but it was too late. “Lauren? Wow, it’s been forever! What’s up?” “Oh, um…” I hesitated, nervously rubbing my nose. “I was just wondering… Are you hiring?” It felt absurd. After nearly a decade as a stay-at-home mom, I was trying to reenter a high-tech industry that had undoubtedly moved on without me. But to my surprise, my former manager sounded thrilled. “Are you serious? We’d love to have you back! Honestly, someone with your skills is exactly what my new company needs. That said… you’ve been out of the game for a while. You’d have to start from the ground up.” “I don’t mind!” I said quickly. “I’ll prove myself.” After hanging up, I was so excited I nearly jumped for joy. I ended up spending the rest of the day playing with Danny and his new toy. “You’re the best, Miss Lauren,” Danny said, looking up at me with wide, hopeful eyes. “I wish you were my mom.” I froze, unsure how to respond. All I could do was gently pat his head. Chaos Unfolds Just then, I heard the front door slam open. A man staggered in, reeking of alcohol, his face twisted with anger. “Who the hell are you? Where’s my mom?” he demanded, his voice slurred. Before I could respond, Danny’s grandmother hurried out of the kitchen, panic etched on her face. “What are you doing here?” she shouted, her voice trembling. “I’m not giving you another penny!” “You’re my mother! Your money is my money!” he snapped. “And if you don’t hand it over, I swear I’ll—” His eyes darted to Danny. “I’ll take that little brat with me. Maybe sell him off somewhere!” He pulled out a knife, waving it wildly as he stumbled toward Danny. Time seemed to slow as I threw myself between them, shielding Danny with my body. The blade sliced into me, and pain exploded in my side. Warm blood seeped through my clothes, pooling on the floor beneath me. Danny’s terrified cries echoed in my ears as everything around me faded to black.

The man was subdued by the neighbors and handed over to the police. Meanwhile, I was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. The knife had cut deep into my shoulder, leaving a gaping wound. The pain was excruciating, and cold sweat soaked my back. Everything had happened so fast that I was still trembling, my body locked in fear. At that moment, I desperately needed comfort—just a little would have been enough. So, I called my husband. “Tom, I’m at the hospital. You need to come right away.” “What’s going on? I’m working overtime right now.” His tone carried an edge of impatience, and the noise in the background didn’t sound like an office; it sounded more like a busy restaurant. “I was attacked. Someone stabbed me. There’s blood everywhere, and it hurts so much. Please, just come.” The moment I heard my own voice, my tears spilled over, cascading down my cheeks and carrying with them all the fear and frustration I’d been holding inside. But his next words threw me into a bottomless abyss. “Lauren, can you stop joking around? You’re at home all day—who would just show up and stab you? You’re forty years old. Can you stop being so childish?” “I’m not joking!” I shouted, my voice cracking with desperation. “I’m in the hospital right now. This is real!” But to him, my panic only sounded like another one of my so-called “tantrums.” “Look, I get it. You’re still mad about your birthday and how we didn’t celebrate with you. But making up a story like this is too much. I’m tired, Lauren. If you keep this up, I don’t think our marriage is going to last.” “Fine,” I whispered, my voice hollow. “Forget it. Pretend I didn’t call. You can go back to work.” And with that, he hung up. I stood there, frozen in place, before shakily dialing my son’s number. “Max, sweetie, it’s Mom. I’m in the hospital. Can you—” Before I could finish, he cut me off, his voice dripping with irritation. “Dad told me you made up some crazy story about getting stabbed. I didn’t believe him, but wow, you really went there. Mom, can you just stop? Please? Just leave us alone!” “What? Wait. You’re with Dad? Isn’t he supposed to be working overtime?” But before I could get an answer, Max hung up. At that moment, I felt like a lone leaf adrift in a vast, merciless ocean. Then, a thought struck me. My hands trembled as I opened Rachel’s social media profile. Sure enough, there it was—a new video. She was all dolled up, pouting playfully at the camera. Behind her was the unmistakable decor of an upscale restaurant. The caption read: “Grateful to have you by my side in this unfamiliar city.” I recognized the restaurant immediately. It was where Tom and I had gone on our first date. I’d wanted to revisit it several times after we got married, but Tom always said it was too expensive. The video only showed Rachel, but I caught a fleeting sound in the background—a voice I knew better than my own. “Mom,” it said. Tears blurred my vision as I set my phone down. There was no mistaking it. That voice belonged to Max. The tears came harder now, falling in heavy drops onto my lap. The husband I had stood by through thick and thin. The son I had raised with endless love and sacrifice. Both of them had turned away from me, only to offer their care and attention to someone else. I wanted to convince myself it didn’t matter, but the ache in my chest was unbearable. Even breathing felt like a monumental effort. “Lauren? Isn’t Tom and Max coming to see you?” Danny’s small, hesitant voice pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts. He had been sitting quietly by my bedside, worry etched across his tiny face. “No,” I said softly. “But it’s okay. Will you stay with me for a while?” He nodded quickly, his little head bobbing like a woodpecker. “Of course! I’ll stay as long as you need me. But…” His voice faltered, and he looked down. “Aren’t you mad? You know, because… it was my dad who hurt you.” Seeing his guilt-stricken expression, my heart ached. I reached out and gently ruffled his hair. “No, Danny. It’s not your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong. Neither did I.” I pulled him into a hug, both of us clinging to each other in search of comfort. For years, I had poured my entire heart and soul into loving my husband and son. That love had become the foundation of my world. But now, I realized that love couldn’t sustain me anymore. It was time to let go. There were other people—other things—more deserving of my time and affection. Starting today, I would rebuild my life, one piece at a time.

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I let my boyfriend drain my blood to save his dream girl. For seven years, I completed every humiliating request he made, and he still treated me like I was nothing. But I wasn’t here for love. I was here to save my dying husband in another world. Now that I’ve finished the final task, they’re about to learn the price of taking me for granted. When my wealthy boyfriend wanted to drain my blood to save his dream girl’s life, everyone thought I would break up with him. Instead, I voluntarily inserted the needle into my vein and agreed to the full blood transfusion surgery. Those who had been waiting to see me humiliated now looked at me with shock and confusion in their eyes. But after just a brief moment of silence, a burst of laughter erupted in the room. “Evelyn, you’re such a loyal dog! Seven years, and you’re still so obedient to our Adrian.” “Adrian, how do you train her? Teach me too, I want to keep one for fun!” “Nonsense, she’s just a poor girl, what else does she have besides her looks? If she doesn’t lower herself and cling to him, how else could she get close to a rich young master like Adrian?” Suddenly, countless sharp and sarcastic words stabbed at me like blades without mercy. But I endured it all with a blank expression. After all, I had been in this world for exactly seven years and had long since grown accustomed to these rumors and gossip. These people were all Adrian’s fair-weather friends. To please Adrian, they never missed an opportunity to humiliate me over the past seven years, highlighting their pathetic sense of existence. But I didn’t care. My purpose for coming to this world had always been only one thing. That was to cure my husband’s cancer. Back then, he inhaled a large amount of toxic smoke while rescuing me from a fire. In less than a year, his condition deteriorated from diagnosis to late-stage lung cancer. In my despair, it was the system that appeared and told me. As long as I willingly went to another world and fulfilled a thousand of Adrian’s requests, the system could cure my husband’s lung cancer, and I could return to the real world. Seven years had passed, and this was Adrian’s last request. Let alone taking my blood, even if he wanted my life, so what? After all, once the task was completed, this body would disappear anyway. Thinking of this, I looked up at Adrian, expecting him to eagerly take me to the hospital as usual. After all, in his eyes, I had been worth less than a strand of his dream girl Camilla’s hair for all these years. Previously, when Camilla failed to get a job, he demanded that I give up the interview opportunity I had worked hard to get, insisting I give up my spot for her. When Camilla fell ill with a fever, he ordered me to go out and buy medicine at three in the morning during a typhoon. When Camilla got drunk and had a car accident, he didn’t hesitate to cross the line and make me take the blame for Camilla. Each time, I completed his requests without complaint, but in return, I only received his increasingly cold gaze. But this time, Adrian’s pupils trembled slightly, his eyes filled with hesitation. “Evelyn, I’m asking you one last time…” “Are you serious?” Among the crowd, Camilla noticed this and a flash of displeasure crossed her eyes. But she quickly put on a sympathetic expression, pretending to walk forward and hold my hand, her tone full of guilt. “Sister Evelyn, my leukemia has worsened. The doctor said I need a full blood transfusion to survive.” “Now in the whole city, you’re the only one with the matching rare blood type.” “If you really replace all my blood alone, you might be drained dry, and you might even die…” Camilla said halfway through but suddenly raised her head, looking as if she was about to cry. “Ah, it’s bad enough that I’m suffering alone, how could I drag you into this…” As I watched her poor performance, I couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. Seven years, and she’s still the same. Playing the victim, seeking sympathy, pushing all responsibility onto others. But anyway, my task was about to be completed, so it didn’t matter what she did. Thinking of this, I just smiled faintly. “Don’t worry, Miss Camilla. I’m volunteering.” “Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda, and moreover…” “I’ve said it countless times over these seven years, I’ll fulfill whatever Adrian asks.” “This 600cc is enough for you to get through this period, so please accept it with peace of mind.” With that, I handed the blood bag to Adrian with blood on the corner of my mouth. After all, I would soon be able to see my husband again, just thinking about it made me happy. And curing Camilla’s illness meant they could be together properly, it was a win-win situation, no one lost out. But Adrian, who had been so arrogant moments ago, was now stunned for some reason. He stared at me for a long time, as if seeing me for the first time. After a while, he finally took the blood bag, though his voice was suddenly a bit hoarse for some reason. “The surgery is tentatively scheduled for next week…” “Take this money, don’t collapse by then and prevent Camilla from having the surgery.” I looked at the check Adrian handed me, somewhat surprised. In seven years, this was the first time Adrian had offered to compensate me. However, I was about to return to my own world, so this money was completely useless to me. I shook my head, refusing his kindness. “I’m simply fulfilling your wish, I don’t need money.” “Being able to help you is enough for me.” Hearing this, Adrian looked at me in surprise, his eyes full of confusion. I didn’t bother to explain anything, just smiled at him and turned to leave. But perhaps because I had just donated 600cc of blood, I felt a bit dizzy. After walking a few steps, my high-heeled boots slipped on the smooth ice, and my already thin down jacket was torn by pebbles, letting the cold wind constantly blow in. “Pfft—” Seeing my sprained ankle, a burst of laughter immediately erupted around me. “It was just 600cc, look how weak she is, she can’t even walk. It’s hilarious!” “Alright, stop pretending to be fragile in front of our Adrian. You’re just a poor girl who throws herself at him, do you really think you can climb the social ladder with such childish tricks?” “That’s right, she’s just an outsider. Why should Adrian care about her? Adrian, let’s go, I’ve called quite a few beauties for the next party, they’re all waiting to meet you!” Among the crowd, Camilla also secretly gave me a challenging smile, then hooked her arm through Adrian’s and sat in his passenger seat. I didn’t say anything, just silently gritted my teeth and slowly stood up, leaning against the wall. Such humiliation had become commonplace for me over the past seven years. Just as I thought Adrian would leave with Camilla without looking back as he had done before, he suddenly stopped and walked over to me. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke in a low voice. “Never mind, get in the car.” “I’ll have the driver take you back.”

When I heard Adrian tell me to get in the car, I was stunned. In seven years, this was the first time. Before, he was always very harsh with me, looking as if he despised me to the bone. Not only did he never let me touch his car, but he also said that a woman of my class getting into his car would be an embarrassment to him. I remember once when I accidentally steadied myself by touching his car door, he immediately pushed me down, and the next day he even sold the new car he had bought less than three months ago. But now, he was actively telling me to get in the car. For a moment, I really couldn’t react. The people around us were also stunned, including Camilla. Everyone’s eyes were focused on Adrian, their gazes full of surprise. It wasn’t until this moment that Adrian seemed to belatedly realize his own slip, a flash of panic unlike his usual self crossing his eyes, but he quickly returned to his usual indifferent demeanor. “She’s the only one in the city with the rare blood type. I just thought that if it gets dark and the roads are slippery, it would be a waste of all that rare blood if she froze to death outside.” “For Camilla’s safety, I have to ensure this blood bag doesn’t have any accidents.” This reason, I had already guessed in my heart earlier. Hearing him say this, I didn’t feel much turmoil in my heart. After all, Adrian being madly in love with Camilla was something everyone knew. Once when Camilla made a mistake at work and was just scolded by her supervisor, Adrian directly brought down that company. He even used his family connections to blacklist that supervisor, completely ruining his career. Now, for Camilla’s safety, he reluctantly let me get in the car once, which was normal. However, I get carsick anyway, so I still declined his kindness. “No need, I’ll just walk back.” Adrian’s face immediately turned cold. “Suit yourself.” With that, he got in the car and left without looking back. Immediately, a burst of mocking laughter erupted around me. “Adrian just took pity on you for a moment, and you’re getting cocky? Did you really think anyone could get in Adrian’s car?” “With such poor judgment, no wonder Adrian hasn’t even bothered to look at you properly in seven years.” Camilla even gave me a smug smile from the car. But I just wrapped my coat tighter and turned to walk towards my home in this world. The night sky in this world was different from my hometown’s. Looking at the unfamiliar starry sky, I couldn’t help but think of my husband. Although the system had temporarily saved his life. But after not seeing each other for seven years, he must be very worried about me now. But fortunately, all this was about to end. Thinking of this, I couldn’t help but smile slightly. But just then, someone suddenly pushed me hard from behind. Caught off guard, I fell directly into the cold lake water. I had just donated 600cc of blood and was already weak, now I felt like my whole body was turning into an ice cube, unable to move. Struggling in the freezing cold water, I saw Camilla standing on the shore, looking at me with a cold smile. “Well, well, if it isn’t our little wife Evelyn? Still alive, are you?” She walked to my hospital bed, looking down at me with contempt in her voice. “I’m surprised you actually signed the surgery consent form. I thought you’d refuse to save my life for the sake of your pathetic self-respect.” “Looks like you do have some self-awareness after all.” “You know that the only use for your worthless life is to save mine.” She paused, her tone becoming even more cutting. “But don’t even think about marrying Adrian.” “Forget about me not agreeing, Adrian’s family would never allow it.” “How could they possibly let someone like you, with such an unclear background, marry into their wealthy family?” With that, Camilla took a bank card out of her pocket and threw it onto my hospital bed. “Take this money after the surgery and get as far away as possible.” “If you ever show up in front of Adrian and me again, you’ll face the consequences.” But I looked at the bank card and just shook my head. I was about to leave this world anyway, what use did I have for money? “I don’t need your money.” Camilla’s face immediately darkened. “You’re asking for trouble!” “Since you care so much about your image in Adrian’s eyes, I’ll make sure you give up completely.” The next moment, she grabbed the bowl of hot medicine Adrian had left on the table and suddenly splashed it on her own face. Then, she covered her face and started screaming loudly, pretending to be in pain. “Ah! It’s so hot!” She moaned in pain while secretly glancing at me from the corner of her eye, her lips curling into a sinister cold smile, but her voice still pretending to be sincere: “Miss Evelyn, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. I didn’t realize the medicine was so hot.” “But if doing this makes you feel better, I won’t tell Adrian you splashed me.” I saw through Camilla’s poor acting at a glance. It was the same old trick. She had used this method to frame me more than once or twice. Every time, Adrian would punish me without considering the consequences. Sure enough, the next moment Adrian pushed open the door and walked in. He saw this scene, and his face immediately turned ugly. He then quickly walked up to me and raised his hand, about to hit me. But the next moment, his hand suddenly stopped in mid-air, followed by a sigh. “Evelyn, don’t let this happen again.”

Seeing that Adrian didn’t actually hit me, not only was I surprised, but Camilla also looked at Adrian as if she had seen a ghost, her face full of astonishment. “Adrian, she splashed me, why aren’t you doing anything about it?” “Don’t tell me… you’ve actually fallen for this bootlicker?” Adrian sighed helplessly, then held Camilla’s hand tightly. “Camilla, you can act up however you want usually, it doesn’t matter.” “But Evelyn’s safety is very important right now. Without her, your life might not be saved.” “Let’s focus on the big picture, okay?” Hearing this, I was suddenly shocked. So, for these seven years, Adrian had always known that Camilla was doing it on purpose. He just loved her too much, so he knew but didn’t say anything. For a moment, Camilla knew she was in the wrong, her face alternating between shades of green and white. “Evelyn, don’t get cocky. Don’t forget what I said earlier, Adrian will absolutely never marry you!” She glared at me fiercely before storming out, slamming the door behind her. Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Adrian took the initiative to offer to take me back. I nodded, after all, my body was still quite weak. On the way, we passed by a shopping mall. In the window display, a pair of platinum rings shimmered under the lights. The style was exactly the same as the one my husband gave me when he proposed. I couldn’t help but stop, my gaze fixed on that ring. “You like it?” Adrian followed my gaze, his tone indifferent. “Let me make this clear in advance. Although I agreed to marry you, it’s only for Camilla’s surgery.” “Don’t even think about wedding rings and such.” “I only have Camilla in my heart. You’re just a wife in name, don’t fantasize about anything.” But I just smiled faintly. “It’s okay, I don’t mind.” “As long as I can help you fulfill your wish, I’m satisfied.” Hearing this, the smile on Adrian’s face suddenly froze. For the rest of the journey, he didn’t say another word. Until a car at the intersection couldn’t brake in time and suddenly lost control, rushing towards us. Adrian was still looking down, seemingly lost in thought, completely unaware of the approaching danger. My heart suddenly tightened. If he died, what about my task? What about my husband’s illness? Almost instinctively, I suddenly pushed Adrian away. “Evelyn! Are you crazy?” Adrian stumbled from my push, frowning as he looked at me. But the next second, he saw me being hit by the car and lying on the ground covered in blood. His pupils suddenly contracted, his face filled with disbelief. “Evelyn!” He stumbled towards me, his voice trembling. “Why… why did you still save me?” I was in so much pain I could barely speak, but I still managed to force out a smile. “I just… didn’t want to see you die…” Hearing this, the usually cold and arrogant Adrian’s eyes reddened. “Fool, you really are a fool.” “How can there be someone like you in this world?” I looked at him, but just managed a weak smile. He had grown up in a world of intrigue and deception among the wealthy elite, how could he have ever seen pure kindness? In the end, he was also a pitiful person. Just as Adrian was about to call an ambulance, his phone suddenly rang. It was Adrian’s secretary. “Young Master Adrian, it’s terrible! Miss Camilla’s condition has suddenly worsened, she might not make it!” “We need to operate immediately! Please bring Evelyn over for the blood transfusion right away!” Adrian was stunned, looking at me, then at his phone. “But… Evelyn is injured too, she needs treatment now…” On the other end of the phone, the secretary was shocked: “Young Master Adrian, what are you saying?” “Who is Evelyn compared to Miss Camilla’s life?” I looked at Adrian, somewhat surprised. In seven years, this was the first time he had hesitated between me and Camilla. Probably because I had just saved him, and he felt guilty. But I didn’t care. I was happy to have the surgery early and complete the task. I struggled to get up from the ground, a wave of intense pain spreading through my body. “Let’s go.” “Let’s go perform the surgery for Camilla now.” Adrian’s eyes immediately widened. “But… but you’re injured now! If you have surgery recklessly, you could die!” I waved my hand dismissively. “It doesn’t matter.” “Saving someone is the most important thing, isn’t it?” Adrian stared at me blankly, his eyes complex. He probably never imagined that in this situation, I would still be thinking about saving Camilla. He was silent for a moment, and finally said nothing, turning to walk towards the car. On the way, neither of us spoke. It wasn’t until just before entering the operating room that Adrian spoke again. “Evelyn…” “Why… why are you doing this?” But I just smiled. “Of course it’s because you’re very important to me.” Adrian was immediately stunned, a barely noticeable flicker of emotion passing through his eyes. I turned and walked into the operating room. Just before the door closed, Adrian suddenly said softly. “Evelyn.” “You’re not allowed to die…” His voice was very quiet. Although I heard it, I didn’t respond. After all, once this surgery was completed, I would leave this world. Such a promise meant nothing to me. In the operating room, under the cold light. I lay on the operating table, watching my blood slowly flow into Camilla’s body. Camilla’s face gradually regained its rosy color, and her breathing became steady. The doctors all breathed a sigh of relief. I also breathed a sigh of relief, forcing out a weak smile. It’s over. These seven years of strategy were finally over. “Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the task. Your husband’s cancer has been successfully cured, and you will return to the real world soon.” … Meanwhile. Upon learning that the surgery went smoothly, Adrian took a deep breath and walked into my hospital room with an exquisite ring box, clearing his throat: “You worked hard today.” “I don’t like owing people favors. You’ve been eyeing that ring, right? I saw it wasn’t expensive so I bought it on a whim. Try it on.” But there was no response from me on the hospital bed. Adrian called out in confusion. “Evelyn?” “Did you hear what I said…”

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I’ve always had a terrible sense of direction, constantly getting lost since I was little. The worst time was when I was eight; I almost got kidnapped by traffickers. So, Leo, my brother, gave me a GPS watch and taught me how to use it again and again. “Just follow the GPS, and you’ll find your way home, got it?” I nodded hard, and from then on, the watch never left my wrist. But soon after, Mom’s biological daughter was found, and my family changed completely towards me. Even if I didn’t come home for a whole night, they wouldn’t worry anymore. It was New Year’s again, and Leo, completely out of character, took me on a trip. He spent over ten days playing with me. The last stop was a remote village. He asked for my watch and tinkered with it for ages. The next day, I couldn’t reach him at all. Looking at the strange location on my watch, I suddenly understood everything. When I was leaving, a villager wondered, “You’re leaving too? Where are you going?” I just smiled at him. “Home.”

I died on New Year’s Day. My soul floated out of my body and drifted back home. Finally, I understood why Leo had suddenly wanted to take me on that trip. It turned out the “real” daughter, Chloe, wanted to celebrate New Year’s without me. The dinner table was filled with laughter and warmth; Chloe was the happiest. “With her gone, the food tastes so much better!” Mom and Dad looked embarrassed, and Leo frowned slightly. “Why don’t you like Stella? She never bothered you, and she’s always been so considerate.” Chloe’s eyes flashed with annoyance, and she raised an eyebrow, retorting: “Why do I need a reason? Do I have to be bullied to dislike someone?” Leo fell silent. Ever since Chloe was found, she’d been diagnosed with depression. At home, she was the princess, her word was law. The slightest inconvenience, and she’d threaten to kill herself. No one dared cross her. When I was alive, I even walked around her. “What, you all miss her, huh?” Seeing no one speak, Chloe threw down her forks. “I just don’t get it. I’m your real daughter! What’s so great about that fake anyway?” The atmosphere at home instantly grew heavy. Mom quickly grabbed Chloe’s hand, gently soothing her: “Chloe, don’t be upset. We don’t like her. It’s just… we’re a little unaccustomed.” “If you even mention her again, I’m running away!” Chloe’s face completely darkened. She yanked her hand away from Mom. “If you miss her so much, then just bring her back!” “We’re not…” “I just wanted to celebrate New Year’s without her! What’s so wrong with that?!” Mom’s comforting words were cut short as Chloe’s emotions flared. “I’m the victim here! She grew up in this family, enjoying everything that should have been mine. I just hate her!” “I’m begging you, just leave her alone! I’m seriously going to break!” Saying this, she covered her face, tears instantly flowing. Mom and Dad’s faces went pale with worry, trying desperately to comfort her. Only Leo frowned. “For you, I changed Stella’s GPS watch location.” “If she gets lost and something happens, we’re all responsible.” Mom shot Leo an angry glare, signaling him to stop talking. Chloe took her hands from her face, her chin jutted out, demanding: “What could possibly happen to a grown person? Is she going to die or something?” Her emotions were clearly spiraling out of control. Leo stared at her, his face grim, for a long moment, then finally sighed. “Let’s just leave it for now. After New Year’s, I’ll go pick her up myself.” Chloe immediately broke into a satisfied smile. And I, floating in the air, let out a bitter laugh. Chloe’s words were prophetic. I really was dead.

Leo forgot that I was twenty-two now, not an eight-year-old child anymore. I could read electronic devices, use navigation. So even without the watch, my soul could find its way home accurately. The reason I didn’t come back, why I stupidly followed the modified location, was because I understood: I was superfluous in this family. Leo was a terrible actor. When I got lost as a child and was finally found, he would scold me with a stern face, but his voice was full of worry and concern. It was the same now. Two days ago, I asked him what was so fun about the small mountain village, and why we weren’t going home since New Year’s was approaching. He smiled at me, but his eyes were full of guilt. “No rush to go home. I finally have time to spend with you, let’s enjoy a few more days.” I sensed something was off then, but I didn’t say anything. Until he asked for my watch, saying he wanted to take a picture so he could buy one for Chloe too. I took off the watch and handed it to him. His fingers trembled as he tinkered with it. Even after he put the watch back on my wrist, his grim expression didn’t improve one bit. I smiled and asked, “Leo, this watch is so old-school. You should just get Chloe a new one, or she’ll be upset.” Leo couldn’t even look me in the eye. “It’s fine, we’ll just get this one.” I became even more certain he was hiding something. That night, I took off the watch and inspected it carefully. Sure enough, I found the location had been changed. Though on the surface, the address still looked like our home in the city, if you clicked on it and did a quick hack, you’d find the GPS was set to a forest outside Oakwood Village. Leo probably just picked a random spot, not realizing it was a forest. My heart plummeted to hell in that instant. But I didn’t go to him, and I didn’t ask. Because I knew he was in a difficult position too. Chloe always found me unbearable, and with her ‘depression,’ she’d threaten to kill herself at the drop of a hat. He’d been torn between me and his biological sister for nearly ten years; it hadn’t been easy for him either. The next morning, Leo didn’t come to knock on my door as usual. I knew he had probably gone home. So I went out too, following the location on my watch. On the way, a villager recognized me: “Aren’t you from the city, here on vacation? Your brother left early this morning. Are you leaving too? Where are you headed?” I swallowed the bitter pill in my heart, forcing a smile. “Home.” The villager frowned. “The road to town isn’t this way. Don’t go any further, there are wolves, snakes, and traps in that forest.” I smiled and said, “It’s okay, I’ll be careful.” Even if it was hell, if Leo wanted me to go, I would. The villager gave up and went home. I had planned to leave the watch at the designated spot so Leo wouldn’t worry, and then leave the forest to find somewhere else to live. Who knew I hadn’t walked more than a few steps before I fell into a trap. There was no cell signal, and I couldn’t call for help. I fell into despair, completely helpless. Even worse, there was a poisonous snake in the pit. That night, I was bitten and died. … “Stella’s watch signal is gone!” Leo’s frantic voice snapped me out of my thoughts. He was staring at his phone, face grim, then he got up to get dressed. “Stella won’t be in trouble, will she? No, I have to go find her!”

“Maybe she just turned off the watch herself, why are you so anxious?” Chloe grabbed Leo, “You can’t leave! It’s New Year’s, and you promised to spend it with me!” Leo helplessly patted her head. “Chloe, behave. I’ll just go check on her. If she’s not in any danger, I’ll be right back.” “I’ll send someone to look.” Chloe insisted, “You have to stay home with me today!” Leo furrowed his brow, about to say something else. Chloe suddenly grabbed a fruit knife from the table and held it to her throat. “If you dare walk out that door today, I swear I’ll kill myself right here!” Mom and Dad screamed, and Leo gasped in horror, quickly raising his hands to placate her. “Okay, okay, I won’t go! Just put the knife down!” A flicker of triumph crossed Chloe’s eyes. She tossed the knife aside. “It’s just finding someone, right? It doesn’t have to be you. Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.” Leo bent down, shaken, picked up the knife, and returned it to the kitchen. “Don’t grab knives like that all the time. What if you get hurt?” Watching his worried expression, a dull ache spread through my chest. When I was little, if I didn’t come home for more than two hours, he would panic. Back then, he was the same way, scolding me verbally, but his face was full of worry. “Do you know how long I looked for you? Who told you to run off? What if something happened?” But ever since Chloe came back, I became invisible. Even if I deliberately didn’t come home for a whole night, no one cared. When I was a teenager, I couldn’t understand and once asked Leo, my eyes red, why he didn’t look for me. He shook his head, amused. “Stella, didn’t you have your GPS watch?” “I told you, that was the way home. You could find your way back yourself.” Years later, that sentence still echoed in my mind. What I couldn’t understand before, I understood perfectly now. The way home? From the moment Chloe returned, I had no home anymore. The next day at noon, Chloe showed Leo a video. The video showed my back, happily picking mushrooms. Chloe’s assistant asked, “Stella, do you want to come home?” I didn’t even turn around, impatiently saying, “Tell Mom and Dad I’m doing great here, and I’m never coming back.” The assistant asked again, “Where’s your watch?” My tone was flat, “It’s off.” The video was clearly doctored, but Leo didn’t notice. He didn’t care what I said; instead, he sighed in relief, smiling. “It’s good that Stella’s okay. Looks like she’s quite used to living there.” “I’ll go pick her up after New Year’s.” Chloe was furious. “Didn’t you hear her say she doesn’t want to come back?” Leo didn’t care. “It’s just a phase. Nowhere’s better than home. She’ll get tired of it after New Year’s.” Saying this, he didn’t forget to add, “Tell your assistant to leave Stella some extra cash, so she doesn’t run out.” He said this and then left for work, completely missing the fierce jealousy in Chloe’s eyes. The door clicked shut, and Chloe immediately called her assistant. “Bury Stella’s body somewhere, anywhere. Even dead, she’s still got Leo wrapped around her finger. What a bitch!” The assistant, who had never done anything like this, his voice trembling, “What if they find out…?” “What are you scared of? You didn’t kill her. Burying her is practically doing a good deed!” Saying this, she remembered something else, and a strange, chilling smile played on her lips. “Oh, and get her phone back for me.” “Leo will definitely text her. If no one replies, he’ll get suspicious.”

Just like that, after New Year’s, Chloe didn’t act up for several days. Mom and Dad were happy. When they occasionally talked about me, the topic was often: “If we’d known Chloe would be normal once Stella left, we should have sent her away sooner.” In the whole family, only Leo still thought of me. He often sent me messages on SnapChat, asking if I’d eaten, slept, or if I was having a good time. But “I” replied very coolly, usually no more than three words. Leo thought I was just having too much fun and didn’t think much of it. Until the week before New Year’s Eve, Chloe threw out all my belongings and turned my room into a dog’s room. Leo came home from work and saw workers dismantling my bed and nailing dog toys to the walls. His face instantly darkened, his voice icy. “Who told you to do this?!” The workers jumped in fright. Chloe spoke from behind him. “I did. Stella isn’t coming back anyway, so there’s no point in keeping this room.” When Leo turned around, his eyes flashed with strong displeasure. “I said I was going to pick Stella up after New Year’s. How could you just take matters into your own hands and turn her room into a…” “Took matters into my own hands?” Chloe’s voice rose several octaves. “What? Isn’t this my house? Just because I’m redecorating, I’m ‘taking matters into my own hands’?” Leo was barely restraining his fury. “At least tell me! There are no empty rooms left. Where do you expect Stella to stay?” “Stella, Stella! Is Stella the only one you care about?!” Chloe’s chest heaved with rage, her emotions instantly collapsing. “I’m your real sister! Do I even exist to you?!” “What’s all this commotion?” Mom and Dad, hearing the commotion, rushed out. Seeing the tension between Chloe and Leo, they started sweating with anxiety. Chloe grabbed her hair, screaming wildly. “I told you I don’t like her! Why do you keep bringing her up in front of me?!” “Do you want to drive me to my death to be happy? Huh? You’d be thrilled if I died right now, wouldn’t you?!” Mom’s face went white with fear. She quickly grabbed Chloe’s hand and snapped at Leo. “What did you say now?!” Leo was exhausted and helpless, his voice hoarse. “She turned Stella’s room into a dog’s room, and I just said…” “Can’t you just make things easy for me?!” Before Leo could finish, Mom roared. “Stella has sent you so many messages saying she’s not coming back, can’t you understand?! For a room, you’re upsetting Chloe like this. What kind of brother are you?!” Leo froze, slowly pressed his lips together, and remained silent. And Chloe, as if she’d caught a trigger word, shook off Mom’s hand and lunged towards the wall. “I don’t want to live! Let me die! He’ll be happy if I die, won’t he?!” Mom was thrown to the ground. Luckily, Dad reacted quickly and grabbed Chloe. The house was in chaos. The workers didn’t know whether to continue or stop, standing awkwardly with their tools. Chloe was crying hysterically, constantly shouting that she wanted to die, to be free. Mom suddenly stood up from the floor, rushed to Leo, and slapped him twice! Leo’s head snapped to the side, his fair face rapidly swelling and turning red. I gasped, covering my mouth, unable to believe Mom, who was always so gentle, now glared at him with red eyes and screamed: “I’m warning you, Leo! If you dare mention Stella in this house again, I’ll disown you!” “We weren’t bad to Stella all these years. She said she wasn’t coming home, we didn’t abandon her!” “If anything happens to Chloe because of you and Stella, I’ll haunt both of you even after I’m dead!” Those words were too harsh. Leo’s eyelashes trembled slightly, his eyes slowly turning red. His jawline tightened, and after a long moment, he spoke with a hint of sarcasm. “Fine, I’ll never mention Stella’s name in this house again.” Saying this, he turned and walked into his bedroom, slamming his door shut. Dad and Mom were busy comforting Chloe, completely missing that Leo’s mood was off too. I floated into his bedroom, just in time to see him pull out his phone and text me. “Stella, I’ll come pick you up tomorrow.” His eyes were bloodshot, as if about to bleed. Growing up, I’d never seen him look so utterly broken. But the reply was ruthless: [No need. I’m not coming back. I have a new brother now.] Leo’s pupils constricted, and he completely panicked. [What about the watch I gave you? You promised you’d always wear it!] If the watch was on, he could find me by its location. But my reply made him clutch his phone in an instant. [Threw it away. What’s the point of keeping something useless?]

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “312154”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #重生Reborn #魔幻Magic #狼人Werewolf