Category: English

For a moment, everyone in the room held their breath and turned to look at me. I smiled faintly. After a brief pause, I broke the silence. “Go on, don’t ruin the game’s atmosphere.” * On Lily’s birthday, the private room was filled with college classmates. I sat on the sofa, dressed in a crisp suit. My girlfriend, Lily, was singing a love song with her close male friend. “Jack, when are you going to marry our Lily?” her friend teased from the side. I was about to speak when I witnessed a scene I’ll never forget. My girlfriend and her best guy friend were locked in a tight embrace. “Kiss, kiss!” the college classmates cheered in unison. Their attention had been drawn to another event – Lily and Ryan’s game. Lily had lost, and the loser had to kiss the other person. This rule was, of course, suggested by Ryan. Ryan was Lily’s ex-boyfriend and her longtime crush. He had suddenly reappeared in recent years as her “best guy friend,” clearly with ulterior motives. “This… doesn’t seem right,” Lily feigned reluctance, but her eyes were full of anticipation as she looked at Ryan. Ryan returned her gaze with equal intensity. Their eyes met, filled with affection. “Come on, guys, don’t you see her boyfriend is here?” Ryan looked at me with a victorious smile. Everyone in the room held their breath and turned to look at me. With a smile on my face, I broke the silence: “Go on, don’t ruin the game’s atmosphere.” “Look at Jack, he’s so cool about it. That’s the kind of boyfriend you should have!” Lily’s friends, eager to stir up drama, cheered again. I couldn’t be bothered to watch them and drank alone. “He said he doesn’t mind, let’s continue,” Ryan said smugly. Lily, however, was somewhat shocked, unable to believe I had said those words. Then she became a bit angry, glaring at me: “Jack, I’ll deal with you when we get home!” Eventually, the two of them kissed passionately. “Wow!” The people around immediately began to cheer. My mind was in chaos, recalling everything that had happened in the past. The nervousness when I first confessed to her, the joy when she accepted me, the caution I took in our relationship. Her smile, her tears. They never truly belonged to me. What’s borrowed must eventually be returned. It’s just a pity about my two years of devotion. I sighed deeply, my eyes full of disappointment. I knew this was a moment Lily had been waiting for a long time. Lily, you must be very happy right now. The feeling of getting what you’ve always wanted must be nice. Just like when I successfully pursued you. Unfortunately, it’s all over now. A woman who doesn’t love me isn’t worth keeping. From that moment on, I made a decision in my heart. To take back all my love. “Jack, what’s wrong with you today!” my girlfriend pretended to be angry after the party. Indeed, she was still such a good actress. She had clearly crossed a line, yet she was pushing the responsibility onto me. In fact, she didn’t care about me now, even if she might have in the past. I had known this for a long time, I just didn’t want to believe it. During college, Lily was charming, lively, and cheerful. Her smile was enough to make anyone fall for her. She excelled in arts and literature, was the president of the dance club, had a perfect figure, and consistently ranked at the top of her class. Such a girl could be said to be flawless. She was proud, beautiful, talented, and pure. Suitors lined up for her, and I was one of them. From the first time I saw her in freshman year, I fell deeply in love with her at first sight. To make her notice me, I studied hard to improve my grades. I learned calligraphy and dance just to have common topics with her. I constantly kept track of Lily’s news, trying to impress her time and time again. I never stopped sending her bubble tea, snacks, and fruits. I gave her countless designer bags and necklaces. All I hoped for was for her to look at me once. But she returned all the gifts. Of course, how could the universally acknowledged campus goddess change her mind for a few gifts? She was so proud, and that’s exactly what I loved about her. But she didn’t even see me. At that time, she was confident and radiant, only interested in one person. That person was Ryan, the universally acknowledged campus heartthrob. During college, Ryan was handsome, academically outstanding, and represented the school in many competitions. He could sing and dance, and played the guitar well. Whenever he appeared at school events, he would inevitably draw screams from countless girls. He even had his own fan club called “The Wind Chasers.” With so many admirers, Ryan could be considered a campus celebrity. No wonder Lily was infatuated with him. One was the campus heartthrob, the other was the acknowledged talented beauty, they were indeed a perfect match. Lily persistently pursued her crush, and when Ryan broke up with his girlfriend, Lily seized the opportunity and made her move. Finally, on the first Valentine’s Day of sophomore year. Ryan accepted Lily’s confession. This golden couple, famous throughout the school, officially started dating. And I, holding a bouquet of flowers ready to confess to Lily, could only stand aside, heartbroken. Becoming a complete bystander. The news of campus heartthrob Ryan dating dance club beauty Lily quickly spread to every corner of the campus, becoming a beautiful story of college life. Unfortunately, good times didn’t last long. Although Ryan was good-looking, he was extremely flirtatious. He flirted around, and Lily soon found out. On her birthday, Lily cried her eyes out. She took the cake to the rooftop, where she happened to meet me studying for exams. I showed her great care and concern. Every day I was busy taking care of her, bringing her tea and water. Finally, I won the goddess’s approval. Lily became my girlfriend. At first, she was indifferent to me and wouldn’t allow me any intimate gestures; I didn’t force it, thinking at the time that being goddess Lily’s boyfriend was already very satisfying. I treated her like a treasure, loving her dearly. I cared for her meticulously, took her traveling to cheer her up, went out for meals and shopping. No matter how busy work was, I would always keep her informed. I came home on time every day to cook, treating her like a princess. Slowly, she started to accept me. She asked about my joys and sorrows, smiled at me, and even started to care about my preferences. I believe that during that time, she did love me. But love that comes from begging is ultimately hard to last. Nourished by love, I became even more motivated. I worked hard and strived to improve my performance. I wanted to buy our own marital home through my efforts, truly giving her a warm home. I even imagined countless times having a child with her in the future. A family of three, three meals a day, four seasons a year. Living happily together. Everything seemed so beautiful then. I felt like I was in a dream, but finally, one day, I woke up. Her prince charming had returned. Ryan mysteriously appeared in our city, in Lily’s life. On the street, they exchanged a glance. With just that one look, I knew Lily’s heart no longer belonged to me. But I still couldn’t let her go, couldn’t let go of these years of being together day and night. I could only deceive myself, maintaining this relationship that existed in name only by pretending to be deaf and blind. Gradually, she started coming home late and leaving early, exchanging flirtatious messages with Ryan, showing annoyance at my care, and dressing up meticulously. Looking at Lily in the mirror, I knew I had lost. We had been together for two years, and to please her, I had given her countless expensive pieces of jewelry, clothes, and bags. But she had never seriously dressed up for me, telling me we were family and didn’t need to care too much about appearances. Now I realize, she probably thought I wasn’t worthy. A woman dresses up for the one she loves, and I was clearly not that person. The only one she cared about was Ryan. I struggled on, unwilling to give up, telling myself she was just wavering, that if I was good enough, she would surely change her mind. Until that birthday party when she kissed Ryan. I knew then that it was time to wake up from my dream. That night when we got home, I ignored Lily. I walked straight to the living room and slept on the couch. “Bang!” A loud door slam echoed through the house. Lily was clearly angry. She didn’t understand why her number one admirer suddenly stopped admiring her. In fact, it was simply because I no longer loved her. Love is just like that. When I loved you, you were the flowers, the sea, the wind, the clouds, all the beauty in the world. When I no longer love you, you’re just you, with no relation to me. I slept soundly that night, free from the troubles of love, my mind suddenly became much clearer. It was the most peaceful sleep I’d had in a long time, not having to worry about Lily being unhappy, not having to endure her bad temper, not having to fear Ryan taking her away. I only needed to consider whether I was happy. The next morning when I woke up, Lily had prepared breakfast. At the table, she kept staring at me. I ate silently. The food she made was still terrible. Just because she said doing housework would age her quickly, I had taken on almost all the household chores over the years. She only focused on enjoying life and staying beautiful. Back then, I thought life was good and peaceful. Now thinking about it, it just seems ridiculous. “Jack, don’t you have anything to say to me?” Lily interrupted my thoughts. She couldn’t hold back anymore. She was the goddess, and in her view, the fact that she personally cooked for me was already a great favor. I should naturally be overjoyed and obediently follow her lead. Answer her question, and then beg for forgiveness. I knew she wanted to ask why I didn’t care yesterday. But none of it mattered anymore. I didn’t want to waste words. “The food is a bit salty.”

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The year I loved Jack Thompson the most was the year he died in a car accident. Everyone thought I would break down, but I didn’t cry or make a scene. Two years later, I ran into him at a private party. Jack was passionately kissing a young woman. His friends rushed to explain to me: “Jack was severely injured in the accident and fell into a coma. He’s just woken up and lost his memory… We didn’t tell you to spare you from constant worry.” Jack pushed the girl away and came to me, frowning as he said: “I heard you’re my fiancée? Although I don’t remember, I’ll honor our engagement since you’ve been pining for me.” I smiled slightly and replied, “They’re lying to you. We don’t know each other.” Jack didn’t know that on the day he faked his death, I had received a video. In the video, Jack was laughing as he told someone: “The thought of being with only Emily after marriage is unbearable. “I’ll fake my death and play around for a few more years. Comfort her often, don’t let her do anything stupid.” He also didn’t know that during the two years he was “dead,” I had been with other men.

The friends around us were stunned, then quickly tried to persuade me: “Emily, how can you say you don’t know Jack? We kept it from you, it’s not Jack’s fault.” “Yeah, Emily, we did it for your own good, afraid you’d always be worried. Now that Jack’s finally awake, don’t be petty with him.” The room was filled with accusations. Before I could speak, a scornful laugh rang out. Jack stood up from the couch, cigarette between his fingers, looking lazy and smug as he said, “If we don’t know each other, then forget it. Saves me the trouble of being responsible.” The young woman by his side clung to Jack’s arm, looking up at him shyly and nervously: “Jack… I know you. She doesn’t appreciate you, I… I’m willing to marry you, okay?” Jack didn’t respond. He glanced at me coldly, then wrapped his arm around the girl’s waist and kissed her deeply. Seeing this, the friends around us quickly blocked my view. They comforted me: “Emily, Jack lost his memory. You know he loved you the most before.” “Yeah, Em, you should take care of Jack and help him remember you. Don’t be upset.” I opened my mouth, about to say something to Jack’s friends, when a sudden pain shot through my stomach. My face paled involuntarily. I didn’t linger, turning to leave the room. I left so quickly that the people in the room didn’t react in time. After I disappeared completely, they sighed to Jack: “Jack, you went too far. Emily’s really jealous and angry now, her face went white. Don’t let her really leave you.” Jack smiled, sitting back on the couch. “Emily’s easy to coax. After two years apart, I don’t believe she doesn’t miss me. “Besides, I’ve lost my memory now. When I’m done playing around, I’ll tell her my memory’s back, say the past wasn’t my intention. I won’t even need to apologize, just beckon and she’ll come running back.”

After leaving the room, I could no longer hold back and crouched down. The pain in my stomach came in waves, leaving me without the strength to even go to the restroom. Until a shadow fell over me. A familiar voice said: “What, heartbroken? Want to rekindle the flame?” I looked up to see Alexander Hughes leaning against the doorframe not far away, arms crossed, looking at me impassively. He was dressed all in black, with a high bridge nose and eyes hidden in the dim light, emotions unreadable. In the light, his thin lips had beautiful, clean lines. In that moment, a feeling of being wrongly accused welled up in my heart. Tears fell uncontrollably. Alexander panicked, quickly dropping his arms and walking over to me. “Don’t cry, I won’t say that again.” He had a great physique, strong and powerful. He picked me up from the ground with one arm. The scent of cedar entered my nose, stirring my heartstrings. I wrapped my arms around his neck and said: “My stomach hurts…” Alexander paused slightly: “It’s early?” I nodded, my lips inadvertently brushing his jaw as I rested my head on his broad shoulder. Alexander carried me to the car, turned on the heat and said: “Wait in the car, I’ll go buy you some things.” After saying that, he closed the car door and left. The dim streetlight poured down from above, outlining his tall figure. Not long after, a video call came in. It was from Alexander. “Your usual brand is sold out. Do you see any you like among these?” I was about to choose when a familiar voice tinged with surprise came from the video. Jack walked into the store with his arm around the young woman’s waist. He looked Alexander up and down in surprise and said: “We invited you out for drinks tonight but you didn’t come. Turns out you’re here buying things for a woman! “Are you on a video call with her? Let me see who the amazing woman is that got our Mr. Hughes to open up!” Jack reached out to grab Alexander’s phone. I instinctively moved my face away from the camera. But Jack didn’t touch Alexander’s phone. Alexander just gave him a cold look, and Jack’s hand retracted. “Alright, alright, I see you’re protective of your treasure. Next time you must bring her out to meet us! “By the way, Alex, I ran into Emily. She walked into the wrong room and caught me kissing another woman. I was scared to death, but luckily the other guys were quick-witted and said I had amnesia. I’ll play around a bit more, then regain my memory. “Of course, you really helped me out too, bro. Back then when I wasn’t done playing, your idea of faking my death was brilliant!” The phone screen shook, and the next second my end showed the call had been disconnected.

Alexander came back ten minutes later. He didn’t dare look at me, just handed me what he bought and quickly got into the driver’s seat, locking the car doors. “I had someone send over some ginger tea with red dates. It’s at home. Do you… want to go back and drink it?” Alexander’s words carried a hint of caution. It made me laugh a little. Alexander was a well-known second generation rich kid in the city. He was also Jack’s best friend. In the past when I went out to eat with Jack, Alexander was always there. Back then he was very cold towards me, especially when people around us urged Jack and me to show affection, he wouldn’t even give us a glance. He even sneered and showed disgust. To the point where people in that circle all thought he hated me. Until later, on the day of Jack’s “fatal” car accident, I received a video. A video sent by Alexander. In the video Jack was laughing as he told someone: “The thought of being with only Emily after marriage is unbearable. “I’ll fake my death and play around for a few more years. Comfort her often, don’t let her do anything stupid.” But I never expected that this fake death was actually Alexander’s idea. This man was quite scheming.

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“Boss, I’m pregnant.” My hand jerked, causing the pen to leave a long streak across the A4 paper. “What did you say?” Alexander’s Perspective I, Alexander, am a CEO worth billions. One minute ago, my assistant submitted her resignation, citing pregnancy as the reason. She wanted to go home and have her baby. I couldn’t wrap my head around it. How could she be pregnant? Was it because I wasn’t giving her enough work? She was practically tied to me 24/7. Apart from eating and sleeping, we were hardly ever apart. Where on earth did she find the time to get pregnant? I gazed out of the floor-to-ceiling window at the bustling city below, lost in thought. Where had things gone wrong? “Boss?” My assistant called out, pushing the resignation letter towards me again, clearly waiting for my final response. Of course, I didn’t want to accept it! I had gone to great lengths to get her as my assistant in the first place! Now, there were even rumors circulating that I was a harsh boss who had driven away 11 assistants in a row. But… I glanced at my capable assistant, her face etched with determination. I had no doubt that if I didn’t agree now, she might whip out a labor law book and slap it in my face the next second! “Ahem…” I cleared my throat, trying to appear unperturbed. “Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider? Our company offers excellent maternity benefits.” My assistant touched her still-flat belly, smiling as she declined, “No, thank you. I want to relax and take care of myself during the pregnancy. After all, this is my first child.” My heart ached, but I maintained my composure. “Very well, I respect your decision.” As I watched her leave, my facade of calm crumbled. I cursed under my breath, tossing the pen aside and leaning back in my chair, rubbing my temples in frustration. Damn it! I’ve been outplayed! Olivia’s Perspective I, Olivia, am a working-class hero who sells her soul to capitalism daily for mere scraps. Ten minutes ago, I handed my resignation letter to my boss. He seemed reluctant to let me go. This was within my expectations. After all, assistants like me – available 24/7, always rushing to meet his unreasonable demands, occasionally covering up his mistakes, working 365 days a year, even sending emails while on an IV drip with a 104°F fever – are hard to come by these days. But life can’t just be about work! When I came across several news stories about young workers my age dying from overwork and stress, I had an epiphany! You can always make money, but only if you’re alive to do so! After my insistence, my boss finally nodded and told me to inform HR and complete the handover before leaving. The moment I stepped out of the CEO’s office, even the air felt freer! … After completing the handover and signing the resignation documents as quickly as possible, HR handed me a thick envelope. Huh? I’d never heard of our company having any sort of graduation gift culture for departing employees. Besides, the envelope was so thick, it didn’t seem like just a farewell letter… “This is specially arranged by the CEO for you,” the HR lady said as she pushed the envelope towards me. I could see envy and… curiosity? in her eyes. “The CEO also asked me to tell you to take care of yourself and the baby.” ???? Bro? Don’t say it like that! It’s easy for people to misunderstand! The money felt like it was burning a hole in my hand. The HR lady’s eyes were clearly saying, “I never thought you and the CEO had that kind of relationship!” Miss! It’s not what you think! Alexander’s Perspective I’m Alexander. On the first day after Olivia left, I missed her… On the second day after Olivia left, I missed her even more… Does the new assistant who replaced Olivia have any brains at all? Why can’t she even make a decent cup of coffee? When I asked her to coordinate my outfit for the evening gala, she brought me a red suit, a black shirt, and a hot pink tie… Has her sense of style been flushed down the toilet? I’m going to a gala, not some eyesore competition! Don’t tell me it’s because she’s new and needs time to learn. Olivia was new once too, but she never made such basic mistakes! I cancelled the gala and didn’t even bother with the driver. Instead, I drove aimlessly through the city alone. I needed some time to myself… Without realizing it, I found myself outside Olivia’s apartment complex. She probably doesn’t know that I actually own the apartment she’s renting. I wonder how she’s doing now, if her partner is treating her well… As if the heavens had heard my thoughts, Olivia suddenly appeared in my line of sight! It looked like she had just returned from shopping, carrying several full bags. She seemed to be struggling, stopping every few steps to rest. The bag on her shoulder kept slipping off, and she had to keep adjusting it. Where was her partner? Why wasn’t he helping her? Letting a pregnant woman go out alone and carry so many heavy things? Damn it! What a jerk! Olivia’s Perspective Life without work is so great! It’s been ages since I’ve been able to sleep in without phone calls, emails, or work on my mind. I’ve rarely spent much time in this apartment before, so it lacks a homey feel. I don’t plan on starting a new job right away, so I’ve begun to decorate the place. The sofa cushions are too hard and need to be replaced with softer ones; the fridge is empty except for some bottled water, so it needs to be stocked; the kitchen doesn’t even have basic seasonings, which won’t do; also, there are no books or snacks in the cupboards, all of which need to be remedied! I went to the supermarket and before I knew it, I had bought a ton of stuff. Looking at the four full shopping bags that came from one overflowing cart, I took a deep breath and picked them up. They’re so damn heavy… The supermarket is two bus stops away from my place, so walking back is out of the question; the bus would be too crowded at this rush hour, and I’d be inconveniencing others with all these bags; as for a shared bike… I don’t think my skills are up to carrying this much stuff. In the end, I bit the bullet and decided to splurge on a taxi. However, the security at my complex is quite strict, and outside vehicles aren’t allowed in. The taxi could only drop me off at the entrance, leaving me to walk the rest of the way… I watched as the driver helped me unload the four shopping bags from the trunk, and I let out a heavy sigh. At times like these, it would be nice to have a boyfriend to help carry things… It’s all because of that damn job that took up all my personal time! Heartless capitalists!

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My boyfriend is a physics professor with a brain full of nothing but research. When the apocalypse broke out, he turned into a zombie. While other zombies were busy biting people, he was busy telling me dad jokes. “What does God ride?” he asked, pinching my cheek. His almond-shaped eyes had turned red with excitement. It was hard to imagine that this physics professor would seriously ask me a dad joke. I thought for a long time but couldn’t figure it out, so I stammered, “I don’t know.” Adrian lowered his eyes, then grabbed my neck, forcing me to look at a book of dad jokes. His sinister voice whispered in my ear: “It’s a Godsicle, because it’s a divine popsicle.” Me: … Before the zombie outbreak, Adrian and I had a big fight. “Adrian, let’s break up,” I said flatly. Adrian took off his glasses, loosened his tie revealing his sexy Adam’s apple, and sat down on the couch exhausted. He rubbed his forehead with his right hand and asked me wearily, “Emily, can you stop being unreasonable?” It was because he was so engrossed in his research that he forgot my birthday. Although he apologized early this morning, I was still very angry. Anger had taken over my brain. I angrily said, “How am I being unreasonable? It’s clearly your fault!” I choked up and said, “Yesterday was my birthday. What were you doing? You were researching your damn physics!” I have a tendency to cry easily. Before we’d even argued for long, tears were already streaming down my face. Adrian froze, looking at me with remorse. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he said hoarsely, “I’m sorry, I… yesterday-” I cut him off before he could finish. I didn’t want to hear his excuses. I grabbed my phone and ran downstairs. As I was leaving, I actually felt a bit regretful. After all, this was the only time Adrian had forgotten. He had always been very thoughtful before. I was just a little angry and wanted to vent, not make a big deal out of it. But I’m too proud, so I stubbornly got into a taxi. Once in the taxi, I asked the driver to take me to the supermarket in the suburbs. I don’t have any other special traits, but when I’m angry, I like to go on a shopping spree. Adrian’s black Volkswagen followed steadily behind the taxi. I took this opportunity to forgive him and used his card to buy two shopping carts full of snacks, bottled water, and instant food. There was too much stuff to fit in Adrian’s trunk, so I had it all delivered by a delivery guy. After finishing at the supermarket, I was in a good mood. He took this chance to coax me, saying he’d take me for Japanese food at the new mall. On the way to dinner, my phone received a message: Attention all residents, please quickly find a safe and secure location. Unknown creatures that bite people have appeared in the East District. Please protect yourselves first! The government and military are taking action! Please trust us! I clicked on the video. It showed a person walking strangely, with blood on the corners of their mouth. Their black pupils had turned blood-red, looking terrifying. It was a zombie! The zombie twisted its body and lunged at nearby people at an extremely fast speed, tearing and biting. Twenty seconds later, the bitten person also became a zombie. Adrian and I exchanged a glance, and he immediately stepped on the gas, driving me to the villa suburb in the south of the city as fast as possible. He told me to protect myself, then drove back to his lab. Watching his determined back as he left, tears filled my eyes. I cursed in frustration, “Adrian! Is that research more important than your life? What about me? What am I supposed to do?” Adrian stopped in his tracks and turned to look at me. The setting sun shone on him, and he still seemed relaxed. He smiled gently and said, “Emily, I’m just a mortal. If I die, I die. But the research results can benefit humanity. They can’t be destroyed.” With that, he quickly opened the car door and drove away. That’s just how Adrian is. Once he’s decided on something, he never looks back. I desperately closed the curtains, no longer watching his departing figure. The lab was in the East District. By going there, he was undoubtedly going to his death.

After Adrian left, the villa’s security system was activated. Anyone who touched the gate or walls would get electrocuted. The windows and doors were all sealed shut, but I didn’t know how long it would hold. The zombies spread very quickly, biting person after person. Now, just a few hours after the outbreak, there were already many zombies on the streets. The military had also shot and killed some zombies, but those zombies bit so quickly and were so strong that it was impossible to control. The entire city had fallen into chaos. The latest news was constantly updating on my phone. Officials had confirmed this was a zombie virus, and a vaccine and cure were being researched. Looking at the drone footage of the East District, I regretted why I had argued with him. It was only when he left that I remembered how good he was to me. I wished he would call me “Emily” one more time. If I had known this day would come, I would have cherished Adrian like my heart and soul. I definitely wouldn’t have fought with him. He loved me so much. He never got angry with me. When I was sick, he would take care of me without rest. On my birthdays, he would personally prepare gifts for me. Even when I caused trouble, he would quietly clean up the mess for me. On the contrary, I had always taken him for granted. The East District had already fallen. The streets were full of strangely walking zombies. I knew Adrian’s chances were slim, but I still prayed with wishful thinking that he could come back. Actually, I never believed in ghosts or gods, but for him, I was willing to believe in Buddha just this once.

At 10 PM, I sat alertly on the couch clutching a baseball bat, listening to the zombies’ howls and curling up in fear. I should have listened to Adrian and exercised with him every morning. Then I wouldn’t be so scared now. The sound of electric shocks at the door was constant. I gripped the baseball bat tightly, secretly peeking at the situation outside from behind the large floor-to-ceiling window. In the dim light, there was a man wearing a white shirt stained red with blood. His handsome face was also smeared with blood. His once-gentle almond eyes had turned red. He stared blankly, like a polluted white lotus. It was Adrian! He wandered in front of the villa gate like a lost puppy, only knowing to keep touching the gate, looking pitiful and wronged. My first instinct was to open the door for him, but reason told me I couldn’t. I pulled the curtains closed, no longer looking at him. I sat blankly on the couch for two hours, my mind empty but my ears catching the sound of footsteps not far away. I immediately grabbed the baseball bat tightly and hid behind the door, ready to strike at any moment. The entire villa was pitch black. The footsteps were particularly jarring in the night. I silently counted as I listened to the approaching footsteps. When I sensed someone touching the doorknob, I quickly emerged from behind the door and swung the bat down hard. “Ah!! Don’t hit me!” A cry of pain came from my right. But I couldn’t stop my momentum. The second swing had already landed. The person inhaled sharply, sounding very pained. He gritted his teeth and said, “I’m not a bad guy.” I crouched down cautiously and turned on my phone’s flashlight, illuminating the floor and allowing me to see the person to my right clearly. It was the delivery guy who had helped me with my groceries this afternoon. I recognized him. He looked very young and was now grimacing in pain, covering his bleeding head that I had hit. Using the flashlight, I could see his face clearly. He was a young man. He said, “Big sis, I’m the one who delivered your groceries today. My name is Leo.” “I’m a sophomore at State University. I can’t go back now. Can you take me in? I’m a sports major. I can be your bodyguard. I can definitely protect you!” Leo’s gaze was sincere. Afraid I wouldn’t believe him, he started to lift up his shirt to show me his muscles. I quickly stopped him and took a step back to distance myself. “My name is Emily. Let me be clear, I don’t support freeloaders. The zombies are so vicious. Are you sure you can protect me?” Leo didn’t immediately reply. Instead, he thought for a few seconds. His gaze was clear and transparent as he said seriously, “I’m not certain, but as long as I’m alive, I’ll definitely keep you safe behind me.” Leo must have stayed because of the two carloads of supplies in my basement. The number of zombies was increasing. When we ran out of supplies, how would a weak woman like me go out to fight for resources? The only option now was to take him in. The clock on the wall pointed to 1 AM. I felt the desolate autumn wind and lifted a corner of the curtain to look at Adrian at the door. The next second, as if sensing my gaze, he raised his face and looked over. When he saw me, his eyes flashed red, looking at me with a kind of forceful possessiveness and frenzied excitement. Before, he had never looked at me with that kind of gaze. But now, the bloodthirsty and crazy Adrian looked terrifying. I closed the curtains, not daring to look at him anymore.

I don’t know how I fell asleep, but when I woke up again, it was already 10:30 AM. The zombies’ howls outside had gotten a bit quieter. When I went downstairs after getting ready, Leo had already cooked breakfast and was waiting for me. After eating, he told me that the surrounding zombies seemed to have received some kind of signal and all headed towards the East District. He took advantage of this lull to go to the supermarket and get some more supplies. He also reinforced the villa’s walls a bit. Hearing this, I immediately ran up to the second-floor balcony to see if Adrian was still at the door. The villa gate was empty, with only bloodstains on the ground. I felt an indescribable sense of loss. I opened my phone to check the drone footage. The next second, my body froze, and my phone fell to the ground with a crisp sound. In the video, Adrian was standing on top of an SUV. Countless zombies were kneeling at his feet. His eyes were filled with undisguised madness. At this moment, he was looking directly at the drone, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, but only revealing a murderous aura. The next second, the video went black as the drone was torn apart. Adrian had undoubtedly become the Zombie King. “Emily, what’s wrong?” Leo’s voice suddenly sounded in my ear. I said flatly, “A Zombie King has appeared in the East District.” As soon as I finished speaking, he pulled out his phone to watch the latest drone footage. For some reason, when he saw Adrian’s face clearly, he said, “How can it be him.” What connection does he have with Adrian? “That’s my boyfriend. Do you know him?” I probed. Leo was visibly flustered and tried to cover it up: “No, I don’t know him.” Something strange was definitely going on.

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After losing my memory, I mistakenly thought my sworn enemy was my husband. I even moved into his house. On the day I regained my memory, I was tugging at his sleeve, asking for a kiss. As memories flooded back, I froze, about to run away. But he, usually cold and aloof, frowned and leaned down to kiss me, saying resignedly: “There, now will you stay put at home?” Before regaining my memory, I thought Liam Winters was the best husband in the world. I loved him to death. I’d cry if I couldn’t see him for even a second. At the breakfast table one morning, I was clinging tightly to Liam’s sleeve, refusing to let go. Tears welled up in my eyes. “Are you going to abandon me again?” “Aria, let go.” The man I was clutching looked at me coldly, tugging his arm. The buttons on his suit jacket made a dangerous creaking sound. I stubbornly hugged his arm, my tone plaintive: “You didn’t say that before, honey. You said you’d love me forever. I’ll die without you…” This kind of conversation happened every morning. On average, I’d throw a fit every two or three days. Only Liam could calm me down. Liam closed his eyes briefly, giving up the struggle. “I’m just going to a meeting. I’ll be back tonight.” “How late is ‘tonight’? I’m scared to sleep alone.” Seeing he didn’t respond, I started crying with my head down. A flash of exasperation crossed Liam’s face. Suppressing his temper, he asked quietly: “What do you want this time?” I turned my face, pointing at my cheek. “You haven’t kissed me goodbye yet.” My coquettish figure was reflected in the mirror. Liam’s tall frame sat beside me. We really were… a match made in heaven— Before I could finish that thought, my mind suddenly went blank. That handsome face gradually overlapped with the one in my memories. As my memories came flooding back, I froze in place. My loving gaze slowly turned to horror. Wait. What am I doing? I’m Aria Rose, CEO of Rose Corporation. Liam Winters and I have been locked in a cutthroat business war. And now I’ve lost my mind and called him my husband?! I tensed up, about to mock him. But then the usually cold Liam frowned and leaned down to kiss me on the cheek. That cool kiss was like an electric current. It instantly coursed through my whole body. Liam’s tone was resigned: “There, now will you stay put at home?”

Liam left. I stood there stunned, taking a full twenty minutes to recover. Did he just… kiss me? To describe my relationship with Liam Winters, we’d stab each other given half a chance. The last time we met, I cheerfully cursed him to “die young”. Liam gave me a cold glance and replied flatly: “If so, I’m afraid I’ll have to take Miss Rose down with me.” Who would have thought that in just two weeks, I’d experience a car accident, lose my memory, and fall in love with Liam at first sight. I even pestered him until he let me move into his private residence. What a mess… The mansion was eerily quiet. I sat in a chair, thinking calmly for a long time. I was certain of one thing: I absolutely could not admit that I had regained my memory. Liam would mock me for the rest of my life. I frantically searched the room for my suitcase, finally discovering my work phone in a hidden pocket. When my assistant answered my call, she nearly burst into tears: “Miss Rose, where have you been these past two weeks? Liam Winters has almost stolen all your business.” I gritted my teeth in anger. No wonder he’d been so unusually gentle with me these past two weeks. So he was secretly laughing at me while aggressively swallowing up my business? “The Yuzhou contract is being signed today, right?” My assistant was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan: “Yes, Yuzhou is planning to sign with Liam since you’ve been missing for over two weeks.” My heart sank. I immediately got dressed and headed out: “I’ll go stop Liam. Tell Hughes that if he can’t secure this deal, he’s fired!”

That day, I took the flight after Liam’s and landed in Yuzhou. William Hughes, the company’s VP, had been handling this project. My unfamiliar face was perfect for making a splash. The evening banquet hall was filled with the clinking of glasses. I examined my pale gold mermaid gown in the lobby’s glass reflection, satisfied. I had bought this using Liam’s card while I had amnesia. Including jewelry, I had spent nearly 10 million in total. Even this flight ticket was charged to his card. Liam must know I’m here. I stood at the entrance, scanning the crowd, but didn’t see Liam. Just as I was about to leave, I suddenly bumped into a solid body behind me. Liam’s familiar cold, elegant woody scent instantly enveloped me. His icy voice dripped with sarcasm in my ear. “Done pretending, Miss Rose?” I froze for a second, then spun around and threw myself into his arms. “Honey, I missed you so much!” The movement was too big, exposing a large expanse of my back. It attracted quite a few stares. “Who’s that?” “Looks like Mrs. Winters.” Liam stiffened, then covered me with his jacket and led me by the waist into a prep room. The cold table edge dug into my backside, making the dishes clatter. Liam’s eyes were dark. “Aria, what are you trying to do?” He only called me by my full name when I had amnesia. Looks like I fooled him again. I played with his tie, my eyes wandering. “Nothing, I just missed you…” “Tell me the truth.” The smile fell from my face as I instantly teared up. “They said… you have a mistress in Yuzhou… I came to see…” There wasn’t a hint of warmth in Liam’s eyes. “That’s not true.” “You’re lying!” I kicked him petulantly. “I just saw you talking to a woman. You don’t love me anymore…” “…” Liam frowned. “That was a business partner.” Of course I knew it was a business partner. The VP of Yuzhou Minghua Group. I turned my head away. “I don’t believe you! Unless you take me with you tonight.” Liam was at a loss dealing with me. “Fine.” That night, I hung on Liam’s arm like a happy butterfly. I chatted animatedly with the Minghua Group representatives. Liam’s business discussions were interrupted by me several times. In the end, he sat in a corner, his dark eyes silently watching me. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. As soon as the banquet ended, Liam took me back to our room. The door slammed shut. Darkness fell. Liam’s rough fingertips pressed against my neck, gently caressing: “Aria, I never realized you were such a social butterfly.” His voice was steady, made even more seductive by the darkness. I had a few drinks tonight and was feeling a bit tipsy. I clung to him and whined: “I just didn’t want you talking to other women…” I secretly shook off the goosebumps. Damn, how embarrassing… Was I really like this when I lost my memory? Liam chuckled for no reason. “No commitment, yet so possessive.” He set me down on the bed as his phone suddenly rang. The flashing light was a bit blinding in the dark night. He answered the call. His assistant’s words floated out of the speaker. “Mr. Winters, Miss Rose’s people snatched the Yuzhou contract.” “Who did you say?” “Her subordinate, William Hughes.” The room fell dead silent. The clock in the corner ticked in time with my heartbeat, striking my nerves. I nonchalantly hooked my foot around him while holding my breath, waiting for Liam’s reaction. The rustling of his suit pants was audible. He hung up the phone, a cold smile playing on his thin lips: “Aria, you knew I was signing the contract today, didn’t you?” I nestled in his arms, breathing in his deep, mellow scent, staying silent. He gripped my chin, lifting it to examine me for a moment before suddenly smiling: “Memory back?” My heart skipped a beat. If I admitted it now, I’d be dead meat tonight. I gave him a blank look and mumbled: “Honey, it’s hot…” He saw my face flushed from alcohol. Those deep eyes fixed on my face, unmoving. Liam hid the calculation in his eyes, his tone gentle. “Aria, you think I’m that easy to fool?” “I like you… how could I be fooling—” Liam’s smile faded as he leaned down to bite my lip. The kiss held a trace of unresolvable anger. He bit until the taste of blood spread between our lips. Only when I frowned in pain did Liam release me, coldly laughing as he stroked my messy hair: “Go on, what other nonsense haven’t you said yet? Hubby’s listening.” I caught my breath, my gaze sincere: “I love you—ah!” Accompanied by a sharp ripping sound, my dress was torn in half at the waist. Liam’s eyes were completely tinged with cruelty. “You really won’t learn until you see the coffin.” He forcefully pinned me in the corner, his fingers intertwining with mine. Chuckling softly: “I hope you can say that again the day you regain your memory.” “Otherwise, I don’t mind killing you with my own hands.” …

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When the real heiress returned, James and I had been married for three years. She looked at our clasped hands, her eyes reddening with grievance. “So all those childhood promises to marry me were lies.” As soon as she spoke, James, who was usually calm and composed, instantly lost his rationality. I watched their tightly embracing silhouettes and silently prepared the divorce papers. The real heiress had returned, so it was time for me, the fake one, to exit the stage. But James tore up the divorce agreement and forcefully kissed my lips: “Lily, don’t overthink it. I only see her as a sister.” That day, the stars in his eyes were especially dazzling. I thought, perhaps he really belonged to me. But it wasn’t until the very end that I understood – what didn’t belong to me never would. In the Bennett family’s private clinic, Claire was banging her head against the stark white wall like a madwoman, until it was dotted with blood stains. This act was solely to keep James from leaving. “Go ahead and leave! If you go, I’ll kill myself. Then there will finally be no one left to interfere with you and that fake’s lovey-dovey act.” Claire cried heartbrokenly, her swollen red eyes fixed on James as his hand touched the door handle. “Claire, I haven’t been home in three days already.” Though he said this, James’s hand had already fallen away from the door. “James, please, we’re begging you. Stay with Claire a bit longer, alright?” “This child has had such a hard life. She finally made it back home, only to suffer another shock. We’re really afraid something might happen to her.” Mr. and Mrs. Bennett earnestly tried to persuade him to stay with Claire longer. They had completely forgotten that I was James’s wife. I looked at James without a shred of hope. Because I knew he would choose to stay. As I expected, he sat back down by the hospital bed, allowing Claire to clutch his hand as she wept. Perhaps out of guilt, he personally tended to the wound on her forehead, as if they were the married couple.

Not long after, Claire fell asleep. James took the opportunity to extricate his hand and hurriedly left the hospital. I instinctively followed him, watching as he repeatedly dialed my number, but no one picked up. “Throwing another tantrum, are we?” James’s brows furrowed, his voice thick with displeasure. This was already a precursor to his rage. But before Claire returned, he had never once been angry with me. Seeing he couldn’t get through, James drove home. Pushing open the door, the inside was deathly quiet. “Lily Sinclair? Come out.” He called for me, searching everywhere for any sign of me, but found nothing. He dialed the phone again, but there wasn’t a sound in the house. He realized I wasn’t home at all. “Beep beep beep.” He made several more calls, but still no one answered. Finally, he lost his patience. [Lily Sinclair, have you had enough of this tantrum?] [You were clearly in the wrong this time. What are you sulking about now?] The voice messages were sent, but sank like a stone. I wanted to say I wasn’t throwing a tantrum, and I hadn’t done anything wrong. But I was dead, and James couldn’t hear me. “If you’ve got the guts, then don’t come back! Let’s see how long you can hold out!” He gripped his phone, grabbing whatever was nearby and hurling it. There was a crisp “crash”, and he turned to look, but his phone rang again. The screen lit up with “Wife”, and he answered the call, his tone cold: “Finally remembered to call back?” But it wasn’t my voice on the other end. That number belonged to Claire now. “James, come back quickly and check on Claire. She’s climbed up to the roof again.” The anxious voices of the Bennett couple rang out, interrupting James’s train of thought. Hearing that Claire was about to jump off the building, his expression turned panicked. He hurriedly grabbed his coat and rushed back to the hospital.

Watching James’s anxious retreating figure, my heart began to ache sharply. I wanted to stop following him, but I couldn’t control my soul from chasing after him. He walked very quickly, running almost every red light along the way. This was a side of him I had never seen before. James had always been steady, but I didn’t know – did he get this anxious every time he heard Claire was jumping off a building? How many times had Claire tried to jump now? I lowered my head in thought, realizing this was already the sixth time. Yet James had never grown impatient with her antics. But when I asked him to stay with me a while when I was sick, he exploded in anger. By the time I came back to my senses, I had already seen Claire. She stood on the roof of the hospital, her expression vacant, tears in the corners of her eyes, like an abandoned child. James ran up to the roof breathlessly, calling out to her cautiously: “Claire!” “Why did you come? Wouldn’t it be better to let me die?” “I have nothing left, everything’s been stolen by her.” “You promised you would marry me. Why did you lie?” Claire saw James and her tears fell more violently. Her eyes gradually reddened, as if she had suffered a great injustice. I clenched my fists, my heart unbearably sour. He didn’t just lie to you. The one who was deceived… was me too. I was the one who married James. She was the one who smiled and gave her blessing after being rejected. But later, she jumped off buildings again and again, went crazy again and again, and pulled James away from my side again and again. She always said I stole her things. But I didn’t gain anything either, except for James. And that was already in the past. The James of now no longer belonged to me. From beginning to end, the one who had nothing was me.

I originally had birth parents. But they called me Daisy, wouldn’t let me go to school, and always beat and scolded me. Later when they had a son, they sold me. That day, I was cleaned up and sent to the Bennett family. They said I was lucky to be chosen by a wealthy family, and told me to please them so they could benefit. But how could the Bennetts not see through their true nature? So they were driven out of the city. I looked timidly at the elegant lady before me, not daring to speak. “Child, let mommy hug you.” She embraced me, holding me tightly in her arms. It was the first time I felt such warmth. Just as I was about to respond, I heard her choke out “Claire”. But I wasn’t Claire, I was Daisy. At that moment, I lowered the hand that wanted to hug Mrs. Bennett back. Afterwards, they gave me a new name. Lily Sinclair. Pretty, isn’t it? But later I learned they only adopted me because my features resembled their kidnapped daughter. Lily, thinking of Claire. The name I had longed for was just their way of coping. I tried calling them “Mom and Dad”, but was scolded. They wouldn’t let me live in their house, instead setting up a small attic for me not far away. My purpose was just for them to look at when they missed their daughter. They would hold birthday parties for me every year, but carve Claire’s name on the cake, and not let me eat a bite. I didn’t have a birthday, because I didn’t know when it was, and no one cared. All these years, I never touched Claire’s room or any of her things. I didn’t steal anything from her, not a single bit. Only after meeting James did I develop selfish desires. But he was Claire’s childhood sweetheart. I couldn’t have him, and didn’t dare to.

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I never thought my boyfriend would go to such extremes just because I inadvertently upset his half-sister while showing our affection. During an extreme sports event, Lucas pushed me off a high platform. The head injury left me blind, but he stayed by my side, seemingly devoted. It wasn’t until the third year of my blindness that my sight finally returned. To surprise Lucas on his birthday, I deliberately told him I couldn’t make it. When I arrived at the movie theater he had rented out, filled with excitement, I was horrified to discover my intimate videos playing on the big screen. “Lucas, bro, thanks for sharing such interesting videos with us,” one of his friends said. “She can’t make it today. Don’t breathe a word of this to her, or you won’t get to see any more,” Lucas replied coldly. “Lucas, if you’re so afraid of her leaving, why did you push her off that platform back then?” “She deliberately provoked Rachel, which led to Rachel’s suicide attempt. This is just teaching her a lesson.” I fled the scene, my heart shattered. I immediately made an appointment for an abortion and agreed to go abroad to take over the family business.

The moment I left the theater, my legs gave out, and I collapsed on the ground. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. My mind was reeling from Lucas’s words and the intimate videos on the big screen. I took out my phone and called my parents overseas. “Dad, Mom, I’m ready to go abroad now.” “Mia, you’ve finally come around. We need to fly to another country for a while, and getting visas and passports will take some time. Your father and I will wait for you here in a month. That should give you enough time to settle things at home.” After hanging up, Lucas’s call came through. “Mia, my friends want to come over tonight. Let’s have a little get-together, okay?” His tone was gentle, completely different from his cold voice in the theater. “Okay…” I struggled to control my emotions, trying to sound normal. “I knew you’d understand, baby.” Lucas’s voice echoed in my mind, mockingly. Lucas and I had been classmates since high school. Back then, our grades were neck and neck. We were both rivals and teammates. In college, he fell in love with extreme sports, while I focused on my studies but still accompanied him on his adventures. He said he loved my boldness, and I loved his sincerity and courage even more. Perhaps the Lucas of the past was too dazzling, which is why I couldn’t let go for so long. But he chose to hurt me without hesitation for Rachel Sullivan. That night, Lucas brought the group from the theater back to our home. I pretended I still couldn’t see, carefully asking, “Lucas, is that you?” Lucas glanced at me, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. “It’s me, baby. I brought some friends over.” Several disgusting gazes roamed over my body. “Sister-in-law is quite a beauty,” one of them said, his tone filled with malice rather than compliment. They sat down in the living room, and I quietly sat to the side. At first, they chatted about other things, but suddenly, my intimate video was cast onto the TV screen. They boldly watched the video in front of me, but muted it so I wouldn’t notice. My hands clenched into fists, nails digging into my palms as I struggled to control my emotions. As they watched my video, they kept eyeing me lecherously, grinning. My body trembled uncontrollably. “Baby, what’s wrong?” Lucas asked. Once, when Lucas called me ‘baby,’ I would pretend to find it cheesy while secretly feeling sweet inside. Now, hearing those words only made my skin crawl. “It’s nothing, Lucas. I’m a bit tired. Can I go back to the bedroom?” Lucas studied me for a moment, seeming to sense something was off. He hesitated for a long while before letting his guard down. “Go ahead, baby. We’ll chat for a bit longer and then leave.” I nodded and made my way back to the room, holding onto whatever I could for support. Those sickening, leering gazes only disappeared after I entered the bedroom. “She’s quite a dish. Even hotter in person than in the video.” I leaned against the door, gasping for air. It felt like an invisible knife was piercing my arteries, leaving me bleeding profusely. That night, I lay quietly against the bedroom door. Lucas hugged me from behind, wrapping his arms around my waist. “Baby, are you asleep?” I didn’t respond, but my tears had already soaked the pillow. Early the next morning, Lucas left for work, and I went to the hospital alone.

“Your uterine wall is very thin. If you abort this child, there’s a high chance you won’t be able to conceive again.” I placed my hand on my belly. My nose stung with unshed tears. I’m sorry, baby. Mommy is so sorry. But I can’t keep this child. I have to do this for myself. An hour later, I was lying on the operating table. As the cold instruments entered my body, I slowly closed my eyes. When I left the hospital, there was no longer a little life growing inside me. I had originally planned to share this good news with Lucas on his birthday. But now, it seemed pointless. My phone rang, interrupting my thoughts. “Baby, are you pregnant?” My heart skipped a beat. “I found your test results in a gift box at home. Baby, why didn’t you tell me earlier? Where are you now? I’ll come pick you up.” “At… at the hospital.” Soon, Lucas’s car pulled up in front of the hospital. He got out to help me. “Why did you come for a check-up alone? It’s dangerous.” “It’s fine…” Perhaps feeling guilty after learning about my pregnancy, he unexpectedly took me shopping for jewelry. Just as we entered the jewelry store, a familiar voice sounded from behind. It was Rachel Sullivan. “Sister Mia, what a coincidence!” “Rachel?” I didn’t respond. Back then, Rachel had attempted suicide just because I posted a photo on social media. If it weren’t for her suicide attempt, I would never have known she was deeply in love with Lucas. “Brother Lucas, what are you two up to? Can Rachel join?” “Sure.” Lucas was always like this. Whenever it came to Rachel, he would agree to anything. Rachel linked her arm with Lucas’s, and they walked side by side towards the counter. The sight stung my eyes. I gripped my cane tightly, my knuckles turning white. “You two make such a lovely couple,” the sales assistant said sweetly, as they often do when seeing couples. Lucas looked a bit embarrassed, finally noticing me behind him. “Please help her find a suitable bracelet.” The assistant paused but didn’t say anything. She took out a new design from the counter. “This lady has very delicate wrists. This bracelet would be perfect.” The assistant put the bracelet on my wrist. I pretended to feel it carefully. “Do you like it?” Lucas leaned down to ask. I nodded. Did I like it? How could I? “Brother Lucas, I want one too,” Rachel said, tugging at Lucas’s arm. “Please get me another one just like it,” Lucas said to the assistant. “I’m sorry, sir, but this is a limited edition. We only have one in stock.” “Brother Lucas, I really want this one.” Lucas glanced at me, then without hesitation, took the bracelet off my wrist. “Baby, let’s give this one to Rachel. We can choose another one for you.” Of course, she could have it. I’ve already given you to her anyway. Behind Lucas’s back, Rachel looked at me triumphantly, as if declaring victory. “Sister Mia, can I come home with you today? I’d love to taste your cooking.” I remained silent, waiting for Lucas’s response. “Of course you can. Mia, I know you can’t see, but Rachel doesn’t come over often. Don’t be so stingy.” He didn’t consider the danger of me cooking while blind. He only cared about what Rachel wanted. “Alright.”

Soon, I had laid out all the dishes on the table. In the living room, Lucas was watching extreme sports videos with Rachel. “Brother Lucas, when will we see you take on new extreme challenges?” “I don’t like it anymore. Haven’t since three years ago. But if Rachel wants to see, I could consider it.” Just like me, his once-favorite hobby was abandoned three years ago. Otherwise, how could he give up so easily? At the dinner table, the two chatted happily in front of me, completely ignoring my presence. Feeling unwell, I retired to the bedroom early. But I was soon awakened by Lucas’s angry shouts. “Mia Anderson! What did you put in the food?!” Lucas grabbed my neck and dragged me to the dining table. “You might be blind, but don’t you know Rachel is allergic to cilantro? Are you trying to kill her? How could you be so vicious!” Rachel looked weak at the table. In the past, I might have believed I had accidentally added her allergen. But now, I was absolutely certain I had never put cilantro in the food. “Brother Lucas, don’t blame Sister Mia. It’s my fault for being allergic to cilantro.” “I didn’t put any in!” I replied firmly. My definitive answer seemed to fuel Lucas’s rage. He flipped the table and slapped me hard across the face. “When did you learn to lie? How can you be so sure, you blind woman? Lying without even thinking it through.” With that, Lucas picked Rachel up in his arms and left our chaotic home. As they left, Rachel gave me a contemptuous look, mouthing the words, “You deserve it.” Lucas didn’t come home for many days after that. During those days, Rachel kept sending me photos of Lucas taking care of her. Her social media was also updated daily. “Being cared for like a child, so blissful.” “Even food tastes better when fed by the man you love.” I turned off my phone and burned all our photos together to ashes. It wasn’t fair that only I was trapped in memories, and it shouldn’t be. On the seventh day, Lucas returned. Seeing the house restored to order, a flash of guilt crossed his face. “Mia…” Lucas hugged me from behind once again. “I’m sorry. I know I was a bit too emotional the other day.” Lucas buried his face in the crook of my neck. Not every apology deserves forgiveness. “Lucas, do you like me?” My voice was flat, devoid of emotion. “I do.” “Then do you like Rachel?” Lucas frowned, pulling away from me. “Mia Anderson, Rachel is just my sister. Can you stop being so suspicious all the time? It’s annoying. I’m tired, you know?” “Okay.” Realizing his tone had become harsh, Lucas hugged me again to comfort me. “Mia, how about we go out for some fresh air these next few days? Let’s go camping, okay?” I nodded. Seeing my obedience, Lucas smiled with satisfaction. It’s almost over, Lucas. We’re nearly done.

Every time Lucas took me out to relax, I used to be excited for days. But this time, my heart couldn’t stir even a ripple. As we drove along, Lucas seemed very happy. I just quietly watched the changing scenery outside the window. “Lucas.” “Hmm?” Hearing me call his full name, he seemed a bit uncomfortable, furrowing his brow. “Do you still like extreme sports?” “I used to love it, but that kind of passion has an expiration date.” Does that include me too? But I never voiced that question. I should have realized earlier that he had long lost his former courage and passion. Soon, the car entered deep into the mountains. The scenery here was beautiful, but few people ventured this far, perhaps because it was too remote. Lucas didn’t let me do anything, setting everything up himself. For a moment, I thought I saw that radiant boy from the past. At night, Lucas held me as we sat under the stars. “Baby, I know you can’t see, so let me describe it to you.” Lucas described the starry sky to me, while my heart was in endless turmoil and pain. I couldn’t even tell which was the real him anymore. “Lucas, if you lost me one day, what would you do?” But this question was drowned out by the sound of a ringing phone. Seeing it was Rachel, Lucas immediately answered. “Brother Lucas, I’m so scared. Can you come and stay with me?” Lucas turned to look at me, hesitating for a few seconds. During those few seconds, I was in utter torment. I stared straight ahead, maintaining the appearance of being blind. “Rachel, wait for me. I’ll be right there,” Lucas said soothingly. “Baby…” “Go ahead.” “I knew you’d understand. Wait for me, I’ll be back soon.” Lucas left. The moment he departed, the surroundings became terrifyingly quiet. My eyes were brimming with tears. I looked up at the sky he had described. There wasn’t a single star, only a blanket of dark clouds. All the beauty was just his fabrication. How foolish had I been these three years? In his eyes, I was probably nothing more than a clown. I sat there dazed all night. At dawn, I opened my phone. The first post on social media stabbed my eyes. It was a photo of Lucas holding Rachel’s hand tightly as they slept peacefully. Their ambiguous relationship, disguised under the name of siblings, went far beyond acceptable boundaries. Everything was so sickening. As daylight broke, my tears had dried up. I stumbled down the mountain, each step feeling like it took all my strength. When I arrived home, I found Lucas and Rachel watching an extreme sports documentary in our living room. It was the documentary Lucas and I had treasured from our past. Seeing me, Lucas was startled, as if suddenly remembering something. “I’m sorry, baby. I forgot. Are you hurt?” “No,” I replied, my voice calm and indifferent. “I’m really sorry, Sister Mia. It’s all my fault. Otherwise, Brother Lucas wouldn’t have left you alone,” Rachel said. I didn’t respond, heading straight to the bedroom. “Mia Anderson, I’ve already said I forgot by accident. Why are you giving Rachel the cold shoulder? If you have any complaints, take them out on me. Don’t hurt Rachel.” A slap followed by a sweet gesture – this had become Lucas’s norm. I closed the door tightly. In the afternoon, Rachel knocked on my door. “Sister Mia, let’s go out together.” I pressed my lips together, not responding. The next moment, Lucas kicked the door open. “Mia Anderson, what do you mean by not answering? Rachel has already humbled herself to ask you. What more do you want? You don’t have the status of a princess, but you sure have the temper of one.” I was forcibly dragged out. Walking side by side on the street, the two of them chatted happily, completely ignoring me. Suddenly, we heard the screech of brakes nearby. A car came speeding straight towards us. Instinctively, I reached out to grab Lucas. But Lucas hugged Rachel and threw themselves to the side, holding her tightly in his arms. I was hit by the car and thrown several meters away. It felt like my internal organs were shattering. I lay in a pool of blood, my consciousness fading. In moments of danger, a person’s instinctive actions reveal their true feelings. I was never… his first choice. How can love be divided between two people? Seeing me close my eyes, Lucas panicked. His hands trembled as he dialed for emergency services. “Mia… hang on a little longer.”

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After I Got Sick, He Cried His Eyes Red from Worry and Ran All over Town to Raise Money for Me, But I Still Broke His Heart I, Elodie Sterling, got sick while working at a club and drinking with guests. The doctor told me to raise money fast. I begged my mom, Nova Sterling, to lend me some. Nova shoved me aside and sneered, “Your mouth down there’s a mess. What was wrong with the one up here? Still works fine, doesn’t it?” I was so broke I didn’t even have pride left. I was scrambling for money anywhere I could. Then my boyfriend, Beckett Hastings, found me, eyes bloodshot. He kept shoving money into my account. “You need cash, right? I’ll give you whatever you want! A hundred grand, will that cover it? A million, just say the word!” I let out a cold laugh. “I’ve got a gynecological disease. You still wanna send me money?” Beckett pulled me into his arms, his voice shaking. “I’ll send it. I’ll send it all…” I clutched my stomach as I walked out of the hospital. The doctor told me I had a serious gynecological condition and needed money fast for treatment. This was all thanks to Nova. I didn’t even know when it started. At some point, my dad got addicted to gambling. Nova not only didn’t stop him, she made me pay off his debts. She said, “We raised you till you were eighteen. It’s time to pay us back.” Nova told me being a prostitute was the fastest way to make money. Then she hooked me up with a shady club, just like that. The money did come fast. But so did the filth. I was about to call Nova when she beat me to it. “Your dad lost money again. Send me five thousand dollars now. I heard you’ve been busy lately. You must’ve made a lot, right?” I hesitated, then spoke, “Mom… I’m sick. Didn’t I already give you all my money? Can you loan me just a little? I’ll pay you back once I get better.” Nova exploded, “Sick? Oh, cut the crap. You just don’t wanna pay, huh? You want me to tell the whole school what you’ve been doing behind closed doors?” I was choking on tears. “Mom, I’m not lying. I’m really sick. I can show you the diagnosis…” She interrupted me without mercy, “Quit the damn excuses. Send the money, or you’ll regret it.” She hung up on me with a loud snap. I needed thirty thousand dollars for surgery. I only had five hundred dollars left to my name. All the money I’d made at the club had gone straight into Nova’s pocket. I even picked up a part-time job at school to make ends meet. But I had no choice now. I had to ask him for help.

Just as I got to the school gates, Beckett stopped me. I’d met him while working part-time at the campus café. He took one look at my pale, weak face and pulled me into his arms. “What happened to you? You look terrible. Are you sick?” Hearing the concern in his voice made me break down and start sobbing. I couldn’t imagine how he’d react if he ever found out I was a prostitute. I tried my best to steady my voice. “It’s nothing, just a stomach issue. I just got back from the hospital. I’ll be fine after some rest. Don’t worry.” “How can I not worry?” he frowned. “You didn’t reply to my texts all morning. And didn’t you say you loved taro cake? Look, I got you some. Maybe if you eat it, your stomach will feel better.” He gave me a goofy grin, dangling the bag in his hand. Beckett was loaded. His clothes, pants, backpack, laptop, and any single item cost more than I could make in two months of entertaining clients. I thought, “Life was just unfair. Some people are born into wealth. Others can’t even afford a train ticket in their whole lifetime.” He was one of the sugar daddies I targeted at school. I hesitated for a long time, looking conflicted, before I finally spoke, “Beckett… can you lend me some money?” “Of course,” he said instantly. “How much do you need? I’ll transfer it right now.” He never said no to anything I asked. I couldn’t say it out loud. I just held up three fingers. “Transaction complete. Three thousand dollars.” I froze for a second at how fast he sent it. For a moment, I almost wanted to say yes to his confession, to throw it all away and just be with him. “I’ll pay you back,” I told him, looking into his eyes. He pouted playfully, pretending to be angry, “What, are we strangers now? If you keep being so formal, I’m gonna get mad.” But I knew I didn’t deserve him. I only approached him for one reason, his money.

The surgery money was still far from enough. Desperate, I went back to selling my body. Things were already awful. What was a little worse? While others went to class, I skipped school to sleep with clients. After a week of no attendance, my academic advisor noticed my week-long absence and called me in for a talk. “Can you explain why you’ve been skipping class for an entire week? Is something serious going on?” Just as I opened my mouth, a sharp pain twisted inside me, like a blender was tearing my insides into pulp. I broke out in a cold sweat. My vision blurred, and everything went black. I collapsed to the ground.

I woke up to the smell of antiseptic. Nova was outside talking to the doctor. The moment she saw I was awake, the doctor hurried over to check on me. Nova stood there, arms crossed, throwing me disgusted glances every few seconds. The doctor told her, “Her condition is serious. She needs to stay hospitalized for a few days and then schedule surgery. If we wait any longer, it might be irreversible.” Nova looked doubtful. “Surgery? For something like this? Can’t you just give her some meds? Young people heal fast. Look at her. She seems fine. And I don’t have money for surgery.” The doctor got visibly angry. “This isn’t some minor illness! Medication alone won’t help. She’s already in the late stage. As her guardian, you have a responsibility…” Nova snapped, “What kind of doctor are you? This isn’t about responsibility. If I had money, of course, I’d get her the damn surgery. Since you care so much, why don’t you pay for it?” Frustrated, the doctor stormed off. I stared blankly at the ceiling, desperate inside. For the first time, I thought, “Maybe dying wouldn’t be so bad. If I died, I wouldn’t have to sell myself any more. I wouldn’t have to be sick. I wouldn’t have to feel what it’s like for my mother to throw me away like trash.”

After the doctor left, Nova tossed two thousand dollars in cash onto my face. She could’ve sent it digitally, but she wanted to humiliate me. I didn’t even know if these two thousand dollars were my money or hers. It didn’t matter. Whoever earned it, it was all the same, equally dirty. Nova had a job. She also worked as a hostess at a nightclub. Back when I was still in high school, she came home around 3 a.m., reeking of booze and smoke. Her chest was barely covered, makeup smeared. Before she came home, I had to cook and leave dinner out for her. But every time, she’d complain that my cooking sucked and then throw the entire table of food onto the floor. She’d drag me out of my room, away from my homework, and force me to cook all over again. She’d rip up my finished assignments and scream, “Study? What good does it do?! Do you think studying puts food on the table?! Go find some man to support you already. Stop wasting my damn money!” She never used her earnings to pay off my dad’s debts. She blew it all on designer perfumes, Chanel bags, and luxury makeup. I once asked her, “Don’t you have money too? Why make me earn it to pay Dad’s debts?” She slapped me hard. “You think raising you was free? Now it’s your turn to pay us back. We’re not here to support you. You’re here to support us. Got it?” Nova said I was nothing more than a money-making tool. The cash was scattered across the floor. I lay motionless in bed, letting her spit poison at me. “What did I do to deserve such a useless child? Can’t do anything right. Maybe if you had a brain, you wouldn’t have gotten yourself sick. “You’re just dead weight. “You know what? You should just jump out the window right now and die. Save me the trouble of wasting more money on you.” I listened quietly as her words cut through me like knives. I didn’t say a word. Seeing me stay silent, she started shoving me and then hitting me in a frenzy. Covered in blood, I begged her to stop.

I always seemed to run into Beckett at my lowest. After Nova finally cooled off, I snuck out quietly. And, of course, I ran right into him. “What happened? Who hit you?” He grabbed my hand and gently brushed my cheek. I wanted nothing more than to throw myself into his arms and tell him everything that had just happened. But I couldn’t. If he found out I was sick, he’d turn and walk away in a heartbeat. Even if Beckett liked me, really liked me, it wouldn’t matter. On the first day of college, Nova had made it clear. I wasn’t here to study. I was here to bait a guy. That was the mission she gave me. She said her life was already hard enough, and she needed me to help her live a better one. At first, I refused. Then she threatened me with my nude photos. Eventually, I met Beckett. And once I found out he came from money, I set my sights on him. I’d link arms with him, call him sweetly, and Beckett would melt every time at my sound. Whenever Beckett made coffee, I’d lean in close, pretending to admire it. When he got scalded by hot water, I put his fingers in my mouth, pretending to soothe the pain, but really, I was flirting with him intentionally. I made cute little desserts for him. I would often prepare small, inexpensive surprises for him. And finally, one day, Beckett confessed his feelings. But I kept stringing him along because he wasn’t the only guy I selected.

I pushed Beckett’s hand away. But he followed behind me, voice low and pleading. “What’s wrong? Did I do something? Why won’t you talk to me? “Please… just say something. You’re scaring me right now.” The more Beckett cared, the more disgusted I felt with myself. I hated myself. I thought, “What did I ever do to deserve someone like him? Why was I using such a good guy? But did I really have another choice? If I could, I’d confess for real. I’d tell him I like him too.” I walked faster, his voice fading behind me. I didn’t want to let his kindness go to waste anymore. Back in my dorm, I sent him a long message on WhatsApp. Then I shut off my phone.

I was getting worse. If it went on like this, I really wouldn’t make it. I opened a loan app and withdrew ten thousand dollars. I could earn more money later. Right now, saving my life came first. I went to the hospital again. But as I stood at the entrance, someone called out from behind me. “Elodie? Wow, what a coincidence. What are you doing here?” I turned around. A blonde guy in a black tracksuit was pushing a bike, grinning at me with that sly, up-to-no-good look. He squinted those seductive eyes, staring me down. It was Ronan Carver, another rich guy I was stringing along. He walked right up, eyeing the names of the gynecological departments on the hospital sign. “Oh? Are you sick? Here to see a doctor?” I didn’t say anything. He kept going. “Well, well. Didn’t expect you to catch something like this. Just wait. Beckett’s gonna find out soon. Let’s see how he reacts then.”

ack at school, people kept turning to look at me as I walked by. I told myself I was just being paranoid and kept going. Then a guy ran past me, did a double-take, and shouted to his buddies, “It’s really her!” Free Point “Stay away from her, man. You don’t wanna catch something.” Exaggerated laughter followed from behind. I quickened my pace back towards my dorm. The campus utility poles were plastered with my photos. One of them showed me standing outside a gynecology clinic, and someone had scrawled words like whore and slut beside it. For a second, I didn’t even feel shocked because maybe I was a whore. I let out a bitter laugh and started tearing the pictures down. But then, garbage, eggs, and even ink started flying at me from all sides. I just stood there, silently letting them vent, mock, and humiliate me. I didn’t know how long I stood there until suddenly, someone picked me up. Beckett wrapped his jacket around me and stepped out of the crowd, carrying me in his arms. “Don’t be scared. I’m here now. I’ll protect you.” Beckett held my head to his chest and gently stroked my hair.

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After I was forced to donate my kidney to my sister, she finally got pregnant with my husband’s child. My parents and brother took my savings, my car, and my house to congratulate the newlyweds. On their wedding day, my best friend – the only one who knew about my death – sent a row of funeral wreaths… along with my death certificate. I watched as a flicker of panic crossed the faces of my parents and brother, which had been cold towards me for over twenty years. On the day of Mark and Evelyn’s wedding, they each called me, wanting me to come back. Although the calls didn’t go through, it didn’t stop the three of them from discussing how to transfer my house to Mark and Evelyn. My dad said, “It’s just a house. Lily is being too stingy.” My mom said, “It’s been six months. Evelyn just had a kidney transplant and got pregnant. She needs someone to take care of her. Lily hasn’t even come to help.” My brother said, “Hmph, don’t let me see her. If I do, I’ll force her to sign over the house to Evelyn.” My dad took a deep breath and nodded, “That’s all we can do. If she won’t consider Evelyn’s needs on her own, we’ll have to make the decision for her.” They finished their discussion in a few sentences and turned their attention to wedding preparations. I floated in the air, watching them busily prepare for the wedding. Surprisingly, I felt no ripples in my heart. Perhaps it was because I had never felt any familial love from them. Even in death, I didn’t expect them to show any concern for me, who had been missing for six months. Because my sister needed cord blood, my 40-year-old mother desperately gave birth to me. Whenever my sister had a need, I, as her younger sister, had no right to say “no.” From something as big as a kidney to something as small as a pencil. This range also included my Harvard acceptance letter and my husband, Mark. Mark was a classmate I met after retaking the SATs and getting into Yale. We were in the same class. We got together because of our shared interests. We were very much in love and happy. So, with no one paying attention to me, we got married very smoothly after graduation. I think if it weren’t for that chance encounter with my sister on the street, I probably would have lived out my life peacefully like this. The first time my sister saw Mark, her eyes seemed to light up. It was a look I was all too familiar with. Since childhood, whenever she set her eyes on something, they would emit this light – that intense desire to possess, which loomed over me like a nightmare. I knew she had her sights set on Mark. And in the days that followed, she deliberately seduced him. From the moment Mark said, “I don’t think your sister is as bad as you say,” I watched them grow closer and more intimate. They even had sex in my house.

Before it happened, my parents gave me a report of uremia. It was my sister Evelyn’s. My father looked troubled and said, “I know it’s difficult to ask you to donate a kidney to your sister, but without your kidney, your sister will die.” My mother’s tears had already fallen. “Your sister is still so young. You’re sisters, you can’t not help her. If your father and I had kidneys that matched your sister’s, we wouldn’t have to come to you.” I looked at the report and at my birth parents. I asked, “Did Jack also do a kidney matching test?” Jack is my brother. Like my sister, he’s the apple of my parents’ eyes. From childhood, whatever my sister had, my brother had, and whatever my brother had, my sister also had. Only I… had nothing. My parents fell silent, their eyes not daring to meet mine. I tugged at the corner of my mouth, my heart like still water. Their attitude had already made it clear that they hadn’t planned to ask Jack to donate a kidney. In this family of five, if someone had to be sacrificed, it would definitely be me. If someone could benefit, it definitely wouldn’t be me. I refused my parents’ request. They started scolding me. They scolded me for being inconsiderate, for being ungrateful, for disregarding the bond between sisters. I walked in front, and they followed behind, scolding me. They didn’t care how passersby looked at them. They were determined to make me agree to donate the kidney. I didn’t listen or speak, letting them make a scene. Until we got home. I opened the door. The three of us simultaneously saw Evelyn and Mark, both naked, in the throes of passion. Actually, before this, I had already seen Mark and Evelyn’s chat history. The explicit content had made me nauseous for many days. Now, seeing their naked bodies entangled, I thought I would scream and go crazy, then pull away the blanket they were using to cover themselves and call the neighbors to come and see. But in reality, I was incredibly calm. I even managed to pull out a smile and say to my parents, “Under these circumstances, do you still want me to donate a kidney to her?” My parents looked embarrassed, but only for a moment. They quickly regained their composure and asked Mark and Evelyn to get dressed. Under my dad’s organization, the five of us sat on the sofa. The four of them sat together, opposite me. Looking at their happy faces, I felt I should take out my phone and take a “family photo” for them. In this marriage, I was the extra one. In this family, I was also the extra one. My dad broke the silence. He said, “Since this is the case, you and Mark should get divorced soon, while you don’t have children. Neither of you has lost anything.” My mom hesitated for a moment, but still bravely said what was on her mind: “Mark doesn’t have a future with you, but he’s still our son-in-law. In the future, when we meet, we’ll still be family.” The meaning was very clear. They had already accepted Mark and Evelyn. I had anticipated this outcome. When I looked through Mark and Evelyn’s phone chat history, I also saw their family group chat. In the family group, there was my dad, my mom, my sister, my brother, my husband, but I didn’t exist. That group had been established last year. The five of them would often inform Mark and Evelyn about my schedule in the group. Several times, to let Mark and Evelyn date smoothly, my brother, who disliked me, would ask me to go shopping, and my parents, who didn’t like me, would ask me to come home for dinner. During that half year, I once thought that I had finally gained the love of my family. I didn’t expect it to be just a fleeting illusion in the end.

Evelyn was already used to this kind of scene. Faced with my silence, she brought out her usual coquettishness, which only I found affected. “Lily, don’t blame Mom and Dad, and don’t blame Mark. If you want to blame someone, blame me. It’s all my fault.” I looked at her and said slowly, “Mm, it’s your fault. So are you going to kneel down and apologize to me?” Evelyn was momentarily speechless. At this moment, my mom’s eyes darted towards me: “How dare you speak to your sister like that? Apologize.” When Evelyn snatched my pencil, I cried and made a fuss. In the end, I apologized to Evelyn to end the matter. When Evelyn took my college acceptance letter, I still cried and made a fuss. Again, I apologized to Evelyn to conclude the affair. Now, my husband had been snatched by Evelyn. I didn’t cry or make a fuss, showing self-awareness, yet my birth mother still said that one word: “Apologize.” I smiled slightly and looked at my mother: “Alright, I’ll apologize.” I stood up and bowed 90 degrees to Evelyn. Then, devoutly and seriously, I said: “I’m sorry, sister. If I had known earlier that you liked Mark, I shouldn’t have married him. I should have sent Mark to your bed.” Hearing me say this, my parents and sister’s faces darkened slightly. Mark hadn’t expected me to be like this. He hurriedly stood up and supported me, his face full of guilt: “Don’t be like this, Lily. We’ve wronged you.” The guilty expression on his face should be genuine. Mark wasn’t someone who could pretend. I tried to find a hint of reluctance to part with me on his face. But his next words made me feel that the world’s malice towards me was truly great. Mark said: “Your sister’s uremia is in the late stage. If you don’t help her, she really has no way out. Lily, people have two kidneys, you won’t die with one less. Your salary is so high, with good care you can recover to a normal person’s level.” The guilt on his face was gone without a trace. Instead, it was replaced by full calculation. Pitiful calculation. At the mention of kidneys, Evelyn’s whole body weakened. Seeing Evelyn’s discomfort, my parents, along with Mark, pressured me. My dad said: “This is your sister, donating a kidney is your responsibility.” My mom said: “I gave birth to you because of your sister, you should be grateful.” Mark said: “Evelyn is the person I love most, I can’t live without her. For the sake of our past love, help us.” I didn’t have the ability to argue against the group. I also didn’t have the attitude to act weak and pitiful. I certainly didn’t have a compassionate heart that embraced all of humanity. So, I chose to escape. I fled that place empty-handed, not even taking the bankbook hidden in the cabinet. I refused their request. I refused to save Evelyn. I refused to be forced to give up everything like when I was a child. I’m grown up now, I have the ability to resist, I choose my own life, I protect my own body.

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Terminal Cancer, Husband Falls for His Young, Juicy Secretary I return home after chemotherapy to find my husband in our marital bed with his secretary, their bodies intertwined in passion. Seeing me, the secretary giggles coyly: “Oh sis, don’t be angry. I’m just helping take some of the burden off you, since I was worried it might be too much for you to handle.” My husband casually lights a post-coital cigarette: “You never let me touch you anymore. You’re as cold as a dead fish in bed!” “I’ve been so pent up I’m about to lose it. Amber here has been working overtime to help you out. From now on, give her half your allowance!” On the verge of death, I cough up blood in shock. The secretary laughs at me, saying I must have bought fake blood to make such an unconvincing performance. My husband is embarrassed by me and ignores my unconscious state. He takes his secretary to a 5-star hotel to reignite their passion. But later, when he receives my critical condition notice, he goes mad.

My husband is away on a business trip, so I have to go to the hospital alone. Seeing the word “cancer” on the diagnosis report, I’m struck as if by lightning. If I die, how will my husband who loves me so deeply go on living? I drag my heavy feet home. As soon as I open the door, I smell an intimate scent in the air. My already heavy heart sinks even further. The bedroom door is wide open. A man’s low growls and a woman’s gasps shamelessly rise and fall. Ryan’s secretary Amber clings to him like a vine, her face flushed red. Her exposed skin is white and tender, smooth as satin. Ryan’s muscular back is covered in red scratches, as he passionately grips the woman’s soft curves. Amber’s long hair is spread out like seaweed on our custom-made bed. This bed was my late father’s wedding gift to me, the only one of its kind in the world. Yet Ryan has brought another woman to do unspeakable things on our marital bed. Their intimate sounds threaten to pierce my eardrums, my very soul trembling. “Oh Ryan, you’re so bad, not being gentle with me at all.” “Hmm? How else could I satisfy an insatiable little vixen like you?” Ryan is lost in passion, their bodies tightly joined. He hasn’t noticed me at the door at all. I think I must have been delusional. Even if I died right now, he probably wouldn’t care at all. Amber peeks out from under Ryan and glances at me with a coy smile. “Darling, this is your marriage bed. Won’t your wife be upset if she finds out?” Ryan brushes his hand over Amber’s red lips, leaving a suggestive trail in the sunlight. “What does she have to be upset about? Being my lawful wife is a blessing few women could hope for in several lifetimes!” “She may be a competent wife, but she’s as stiff as a board in bed. Only a seductive little minx like you can truly excite me!” Amber shoots me a challenging look, then rakes her nails down Ryan’s back again: “You’re so bad! What am I to you? You’re my first and only man!” “Alright, alright. I’ll buy you that lakeside villa tomorrow as a gift!” Amber lets out an incredulous gasp: “Really, darling? But that villa costs at least $5 million. I’m afraid your wife won’t agree.” Ryan laughs dismissively: “So what if she finds out? She loves me so much she’d never leave me!” Amber turns away from me and clings tightly to the oblivious Ryan. My chest aches, a metallic taste rising in my mouth. I stumble, nearly falling to the ground. The noise I make interrupts their passionate moment. Ryan moves quickly, pulling the large red comforter over to wrap Amber up tightly. My stomach churns. I have to grip the doorframe to stay standing: “What’s this? You’re shameless enough to have sex in broad daylight, but too afraid to be seen naked?” “How did you sneak in like a ghost without making any sound? Barging in like this, don’t you know to respect others’ privacy?” Secure in his favoritism, Amber shrinks behind him, her face unable to hide her smugness. “Sis, Ryan was feeling unwell from the heat today. I was just helping him feel better with a massage. Please don’t misunderstand.” She coyly stretches out her delicate hands towards me: “People with heatstroke need to stay cool, so we’re a bit underdressed. But Ryan’s feeling much better now…” “Look how swollen my hands are from working so hard… I only had good intentions, please don’t be angry at Ryan!”

I don’t respond. Ryan’s brow furrows, his voice icy: “Weren’t you supposed to be at the hospital? Why are you back so soon?” It feels like every bone in my body has been crushed by a massive weight, crumbling to dust. I shake my head, hardly able to believe my ears. Has the world gone mad? How could the man who once loved me more than life itself speak such cruel words to me? Tears fall uncontrollably, blurring my vision. I use all my strength to barely choke out: “Ryan, we promised to love only each other for life!” Ryan impatiently waves his hand: “Love is love, sex is sex. Don’t confuse the two. Amber is sacrificing herself to help take your burden with no recognition. She hasn’t complained, yet you’re the one feeling wronged!” “Wake up! We’ve been together for 10 years since we were 18. Would you still wear clothes you’ve had for 10 years? Everyone in our circle has lovers on the side. Why should I have to repress myself and suffer with an old, frigid fish like you?” I look at my reflection on the floor, my heart turning cold. It’s true, I’m already 28 years old. And a 28-year-old with terminal cancer at that. Since starting chemo, my hair keeps falling out. The harsh side effects have left me gaunt and sallow. I lie awake night after night in agony, tearing holes in the sheets from gripping them so tightly. I really do look like an old, worn-out piece of clothing now. I’ve changed so drastically, yet Ryan comes and goes without noticing, as if he’s gone blind. Later, medication made me swell up all over. I looked like I’d gained a ton of weight. His gaze finally changed from indifference to disgust. I had thought that I was letting him down by having an uncooperative body that couldn’t accompany him through life as promised. I endured the torture of illness, pretending not to notice his change in attitude. But how could he compare me, with my numbered days, to a worn-out piece of clothing unfit to be seen? I shouldn’t have tied my short life to such a rotten cucumber. “Ryan, let’s get divorced.” Ryan’s mocking expression freezes in place. He sneers contemptuously: “Divorce? Where would a useless old hag like you go? Who else would pamper you like I do?” “Just be a good Mrs. Zhou and you’ll never go hungry…” Seeing my tears fall rapidly, Ryan’s tone softens slightly. “Be a good girl and listen to me. I promise I’ll never abandon you in this lifetime!” Amber pinches his waist in displeasure: “What about me? Will you toss me aside when you’re bored?” Ryan grins wickedly and pushes Amber’s head down: “Afraid I’ll get tired of you? Then you’d better learn some new tricks to keep me satisfied, you little minx!” These two shameless dogs are so brazen right in front of me. They’re not just disrespecting me as Ryan’s wife, they’re not even treating me as a human being. I can no longer control myself. A mouthful of blood sprays out. The bright red blood is shocking, splattering everywhere. Even Amber, hiding behind Ryan, isn’t spared. Her previously flawless makeup is now a mess, transforming from a beauty to a hag in an instant. She’s furious, her affected cutesy voice cracking: “You disgusting old woman, how revolting!” Anger flares in my chest. I lunge forward and grab her hair, yanking hard: “You little slut, get off my bed right now!” She effortlessly pushes me to the ground: “Ryan, I’m so upset! It took me hours to do my makeup and now it’s ruined. You have to get justice for me!” Ryan gently wipes Amber’s face with a wet wipe from the bedside table, not forgetting to turn back and warn me. “Olivia, stop acting like a shrew!” What little life force I had left is not enough to withstand such a vicious attack. My broken body collapses helplessly to the floor. I want to get up but have no strength, only able to struggle weakly on the ground. But Ryan pays me no mind, allowing Amber to mock me freely. “Ryan, it’s such a waste of talent that your wife isn’t an actress. Look how convincingly she’s faking coughing up blood!” “Even her half-dead look after spitting blood is flawless. Who knows how many times she’s rehearsed in private! What a terrifying jealousy!” My heart aches. I want to cry but have no tears left. I try to call out but my parched throat makes no sound. It feels like a million steel needles are churning in my brain. My soul is instantly riddled with holes. My vision darkens. The air seems to be thinning. I’m struck with fear… With my last shred of hope, I look pleadingly at Ryan, my lips moving weakly: “Husband, save me.” “Quickly, take me to the hospital…”

A flicker of guilt flashes in Ryan’s eyes as he pulls away from Amber’s clinging arms. “Don’t worry, honey. I’ll take you to the doctor right away.” But Amber refuses to let go, pressing herself against him again: “Don’t go, Ryan. I’m so cold, hold me! She’s clearly acting, don’t believe her!” Ryan roughly yanks Amber’s arm off him, tossing her onto the bed: “Get off me! Don’t tell me what to do! If anything happens to my wife, you’ll be in big trouble!” Amber doesn’t give up. She switches to an even more alluring pose, showcasing her body’s softness to the fullest. Her tone is seductive: “Ryan, can’t you smell it? That’s clearly chicken blood!” “How could a healthy person cough up so much blood? Look how lively your wife seems. She must have held the blood in her mouth beforehand!” Ryan’s expression turns doubtful. His steps towards me come to a halt. “She’s even using the ‘playing dead’ trick to compete for attention. Look, she’s even put on ‘seriously ill’ makeup!” “Not content with being the first wife, she’s getting a bit greedy…” Ryan’s body, which had tensed up from nervousness, completely relaxes. He stands in place, carelessly looking me over. After a long moment, his face twists with intense disgust. He picks up the trash can by the bed and dumps its contents over my face. “You want to compete for attention? Then open your eyes wide and see clearly who can truly bring out the joy of being a man!” “The stuff at home that was about to expire – Amber and I used it all up this afternoon!” “Please… you… hospital…” I beg. He can’t be bothered to look at me as I struggle on the brink of death, pleading desperately. He flips the trash can over my head, his tone ice-cold. “Give it up. Stop acting. You’ve been exposed. There’s no point in continuing this performance!” “Amber understands you lonely, bitter old women best!” Amber, feeling validated, cheers excitedly in her coquettish voice: “Of course I do! I’ve watched so many palace dramas, I know all about these troublemaking old women!” With the heavy trash can over my head, I can barely breathe. I bite my tongue to maintain my last shred of clarity: “Save me, I’m really dying. Call 911…” Amber lets out a shrill scream. “I know this one! The next act is ‘diagnosed with terminal illness’!” “Tsk tsk, sis, where did you take your acting classes? That tuition was well spent!” “But have you considered how much money Ryan could be losing? He makes millions in deals every minute. You’re being so inconsiderate!” The stench of the couple’s lovemaking from inside the trash can assaults my senses, jolting me awake. It’s better to rely on myself than others. Using my last ounce of strength, I shake off the trash can and crawl towards the door on trembling hands. The security guards patrol regularly. If I can just get outside, I have a chance of being rescued. Behind me, Amber’s mocking voice rings out loudly. “Ryan, your wife is really going all out. She’s really selling this ‘struggle for life’ act.” “It’s a shame about this fine hardwood floor though. She’s making such a mess, it’ll definitely leave marks.” My whole body is shaking, every cell trembling. Tears and sweat mingle, stinging my eyes fiercely. I ignore Amber’s sarcasm and finally reach the door. With great effort, I raise my hand to reach for the doorknob. Again and again I try, I don’t know how many times, until I finally grasp it. But the door doesn’t open. Ryan violently swats my hand away. “If your brain’s not working right, hurry up and go see a doctor. No one has time to watch you act out this sob story!” It feels like millions of insects are gnawing at my body. I clench my fists tightly, my palms bleeding. “I’m really sick, I feel terrible. Let me go to the hospital myself, I promise I won’t bother you!” The immense psychological trauma combined with extreme pain makes me feel like I’m seeing two figures, one black and one white. No, I can’t die now. I still have so many unfulfilled wishes. In this desperate situation, I can only play along, swallowing my pride and begging: “Please open the door. I’ll go to the hospital myself, I really won’t cause you any trouble…” Ryan looks at the blood smeared on his calf with disgust and kicks me hard. I’ve completely lost all my strength. I can only lie on the cold floor, feeling my heartbeat grow weaker and weaker. Ryan grabs my hair and drags me towards the door without a care.

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