Category: English

For ten years, I was Jack’s secret lover, and during that time, I secretly gave birth to a child. In those days when I sought neither fame nor fortune, Lucas was my only salvation. Later, Jack found out about Lucas’s existence and said he wanted to give the child a family. I was moved to tears. Until that day, I saw Olivia, his first love who had disappeared for ten years, getting out of his car with a child. “Jack, are you sure that child can save Lily?” “Of course! I made her have my child to save Lily!” “I’ve been secretly monitoring his health condition, and all the test results are good! The doctor said as long as the bone marrow matches, Lily can live!” What I thought was stolen happiness turned out to be an elaborately designed scam. That night, I dialed a number I had never called before: “Can Lucas and I become your legal family?” “I’ll take care of the legal documents,” Noah’s firm answer rekindled my hope. As long as the change of Lucas’s guardianship is completed, Jack won’t be able to sign the surgery consent form! After hanging up the phone, I immediately canceled Jack’s guardianship application. We had agreed that the date for the guardianship change would be Lucas’s birthday. I had promised to take him to meet his father. Now it seems I’ll have to break that promise. The next second, Jack’s call came in. “Emma, why did you cancel the guardianship application?” “You think I’m that free? To play family drama with you?” “If you don’t want the kid to recognize me, get lost! I won’t pay a penny in child support!” His barrage of accusations made my fingers go numb. When I accidentally got pregnant back then, I was both anxious and excited. The relationship without status between Jack and me made me too eager to hold onto something. I thought Lucas was a gift from heaven, so I carefully cherished this stolen happiness. It turns out I was able to give birth to Lucas not because I was smart, but because of Jack’s careful arrangement. He wanted to use my child’s life to exchange for Olivia’s child’s life. The image of Lucas’s obedient face floated in my mind, and my heart felt like it was being sliced by countless blades. “Lucas has been sick these past few days, so the guardianship matter can only be delayed for a few days.” I answered with a straight face, but heard a woman’s voice from the other end of the phone: “Didn’t you say that child was very healthy? How could he be sick? She must be lying to you!” The voice was soft, but I guessed it was Olivia. “Jack, do you have a woman with you?” He obviously panicked and stammered: “I’m just worried that I’ll be on a business trip in a few days, and the timing won’t be good.” “Suit yourself.” Jack had always been hot and cold towards me, giving a slap followed by a piece of candy. For the past decade or so, I had been foolishly content with this treatment. I didn’t pursue the matter further and just calmly hung up the phone. Before Lucas was born, I had bought a two-bedroom apartment in the complex where Jack lived. My mom had always been helping to take care of Lucas. I sent a message to my mom, planning to pick up Lucas after school and go straight back to our hometown. But I didn’t receive a reply, and no one answered when I called. Just as I was thinking of going over to check, I bumped into Jack who had just returned as I opened the door. “A gift I bought for you on my business trip.” Jack threw a bag in front of me with an air of condescension. I looked at the bag in my arms and smiled bitterly. This was the third time he had given me this same bag, not even changing the size or color. In the past, I could still comfort myself that he was too busy, and it was already good that he remembered to buy a gift. But now, I couldn’t fool myself anymore. I coldly looked at Jack, his loose collar revealing several hickeys. There was a lipstick stain on the back of his shirt collar. Over the years, Jack would go on business trips every so often, lasting from three or four days to half a month. Now I knew that every so-called business trip was actually him accompanying Olivia and her child. “By the way, Olivia is back in the country.” His somber voice struck my heart. For the past decade, this was the first time I had heard Olivia’s name from his mouth.

Olivia was a year ahead of us in school, a campus beauty. She and Jack were the acknowledged golden couple of the school, everyone said they were meant to be together. Unfortunately, as soon as Olivia graduated, she dumped Jack and married a high-level executive at a foreign company. Jack hated her but couldn’t let her go. He drank excessively, got into fights, skipped classes, the works. It was I who quietly helped him organize his coursework, attended classes for him, wrote his papers, so he barely managed to get his diploma. At the graduation party, Jack and I had a drunken one-night stand. From then on, I became his hidden lover. I thought that someday Jack would see my goodness, but I never imagined he would only scheme to ruin me, and our child. Now that I’ve woken up from the dream, I should come to my senses too. “She’s here to treat her child’s illness, I heard it’s leukemia,” Jack continued, with a hint of regret in his voice, “She might need to stay at my place for a few days.” I nodded, “This is your home, you can let whoever you want stay.” Jack’s eyes flashed with surprise, just as he was about to ask further. At that moment, my phone rang, and I saw a message from my mom: [Lucas is in the hospital] A buzzing filled my head, and I didn’t care about anything else. I grabbed my coat and headed out: “I’m going out for a bit.” Jack blocked me, his eyes probing: “Where are you going so late?” I really didn’t have the energy to explain, so I pushed past him and rushed out the door. At the hospital, I saw my mom crying uncontrollably. “Emma, I don’t know what happened, he just ended up in the hospital…” “When I picked him up from school, the teacher said he had a stomachache. I went to the clinic to get some medicine, and he felt much better after taking it.” “In the evening, we were playing in the garden of the complex. I walked away for a moment, and he fainted…” Mom was both remorseful and frustrated, her tears unstoppable. I comforted Mom while looking at Lucas in the emergency room. His usually rosy little face was now completely pale. My heart clenched into a knot. Fortunately, the doctor said it was just mild food poisoning, and he would be fine after the IV drip. “Mom, when he’s done, go pack some things. I’m taking you and Lucas back to our hometown.” Mom looked at my grave expression and didn’t ask much, just nodded repeatedly. “Mommy…” Lucas lay on my shoulder and asked weakly, “Why are we going back to our hometown? Didn’t you say you’d take me to see Daddy on my birthday?” “Daddy, he…” “Emma!” Jack’s voice was like a summons from hell, sending a shiver through my body. “You’re delaying the guardianship because you want to take the child back to your hometown?!” “You dare lie to me?” Jack was furious, striding towards us. Lucas and Jack looked very much alike, the kind of resemblance where you could tell they were father and son at a glance. “Daddy…” Lucas cried out, wanting Jack to hold him, and refused to leave with me no matter what I said. My eyes grew hot, my nose stung, and tears fell. Lucas, meeting his father for the first time, made a fuss, insisting on going home with him: “Mommy, I want to see your home.” “Mommy, please?” Before I could answer, Jack was already coaxing Lucas to go home. No matter what I said, Lucas was determined to go with him.

What I didn’t expect was that Olivia and her daughter were waiting for us at home. “Jack, you’re finally back…” As soon as she saw Jack, Olivia clung to him like a bee to a flower: “Lily has a fever again… When can we schedule the surgery?” Her voice was soft, but I still heard it. I carried Lucas back to the room, and he kept asking when Daddy would come to tuck him in. But even late into the night, Jack didn’t appear. “Mommy, the day after tomorrow is my birthday,” Lucas said expectantly, “Is it true that Daddy will throw me a birthday party? I heard from my classmates that birthday parties are so much fun…” I couldn’t refuse a five-year-old child’s longing for fatherly love. Before this, Lucas had never asked about his father, but because of my promise last time, he now had expectations. I hugged Lucas tightly, my heart aching. “It’s true, Lucas’s birthday party will definitely be the best birthday party in the world.” I cried while comforting him to sleep. As soon as we get through the birthday, I’ll take Lucas away from here forever. I swore silently in my heart, not knowing that the next day I would experience an even bigger shock. “Horsie ride! Horsie ride!” I was woken up by a child’s laughter, and as soon as I opened the door, I saw Lily riding on Lucas’s back. She was waving a toy whip in her hand, urging Lucas to crawl faster. “Hurry up! If you don’t go faster, I’ll tell my daddy to beat you!” “That’s my daddy!” Lucas heard this and angrily straightened up to retort. “Jack is my daddy! Not your daddy! My mommy said you were born just to cure me!” “He’s not your daddy!” Lily cried as she swung the whip, leaving a bloody mark on Lucas’s face. “What are you doing!” I rushed forward and snatched the whip from her hand. Lily’s cries grew louder, and I heard a door opening behind me. Olivia saw the whip in my hand and immediately ran over to pick up her daughter. “Emma… how could you hit a child?” Jack followed closely behind, grabbing me and Lucas, his eyes bloodshot: “Emma, who told you to bully her?! Don’t you know this child is in poor health? If something happens to her, will you take responsibility?” “Apologize right now!” Jack forced me to apologize to Lily. “Mommy, if I apologize, will Daddy stop disliking me?” Lucas bit his lip, tears welling up in his eyes, and quietly apologized. Lily looked smug, which broke my heart. “Daddy, will you still throw me a birthday party?” Lucas asked cautiously. Jack was still angry and had forgotten all about the promised birthday party. He shook off Lucas’s hand impatiently and said, “What birthday party for a little brat? You’re just as troublesome as your mother.” Lucas’s crying stopped abruptly, and the light in his eyes completely disappeared. That day, Lucas didn’t cling to Jack anymore. He just sat quietly beside me, watching Jack play with Olivia and her daughter. In the evening, Lucas hugged my neck and suddenly said, “Mommy, he’s not my daddy, is he?” “He’s different from the daddies of other kids in kindergarten. He never smiles at me or hugs me.” “Mommy, is my daddy in that hometown you talked about?” “Let’s go back to our hometown!” Lucas said all this without crying, but it made me burst into tears. I held him tightly, comforting and soothing him. It was I who gave him hope, and then made him face the cruel reality. In the darkness, my phone lit up. [Legal documents are done. Meet at the airport tomorrow at 2 PM.] My anxious heart finally settled. I could finally take the child away without any worries. At this moment, I heard the sound of keys outside the door. I alertly got up and met Jack’s eyes. He made a gesture to keep quiet: “Emma, I was wrong about today. How about this, I’ll throw Lucas a birthday party tomorrow, okay?” “Don’t be angry anymore.” This was the first time Jack had been so patient in coaxing me. I knew he was just trying to keep us here. To avoid raising his suspicions, I nodded in agreement.

Early the next morning, the apartment was decorated for a birthday party. But the style was all girly, with a Frozen princess theme. The blue and white decorations were full of Jack’s love for Olivia and her daughter. The name on the backdrop wall was Lucas’s, but I could see at a glance that it was wrong – “Gu Yangyang” instead of “Gu Yanyang”. “Do you like it? Lucas, this is what Daddy specially arranged for you. There will be many little friends coming to celebrate your birthday later!” Jack smiled and pinched Lucas’s cheek. Lucas said he liked it, but secretly grabbed my hand and whispered, “Mommy, when are we leaving?” Seeing the disappointment on the child’s face, my heart felt like it was being cut by a knife. This was even more painful than when I discovered Jack’s betrayal. Just as I was about to answer, the door suddenly opened. Olivia and Lily came in with a group of children and parents, obviously Lily’s classmates. They greeted each other warmly, and Jack politely responded. He and Olivia looked every bit like a married couple, and the whole birthday party turned into Lily’s show. I sat with Lucas in the corner, texting my mom to wait for us directly at the airport. “Wait a bit, we’ll leave after Lucas blows out the candles, okay?” Today is Lucas’s birthday, and I don’t want to deny him even the chance to make a wish. But as Lucas stood in front of the cake, he was forcefully pushed away by Lily: “Who told you to stand here and blow out the candles!” “Get away from here!” Lily pushed hard, and I pulled Lucas away to dodge. She missed and fell to the ground, her foot catching on the table corner, overturning the entire dessert table. Lily, covered in cake, cried and screamed. Olivia shrieked for Jack: “Jack, Lily… she fainted!” Hearing this, I immediately pulled Lucas towards the door. But Jack grabbed us: “You can’t leave!” “Only he can cure Lily’s illness!” Jack picked up Lucas and rushed to the hospital with Olivia and Lily. “Mommy! Mommy! I want Mommy!” I chased after them closely, my heart shattering with Lucas’s cries. “Dr. Zhang! Arrange the bone marrow transplant immediately! My daughter is dying!” The hospital seemed to be prepared. As soon as Jack appeared, everything was arranged. I finally understood that the originally scheduled date for the guardianship change was the surgery date. Lucas had been given a sedative and was already asleep. “Jack, I beg you, don’t hurt Lucas!” I knelt in front of Jack, grabbing his pants leg and pleading: “I know you want to use Lucas to save her, but Lucas is a life too! He’s our child!” “Let’s find another way, please?” The immense fear made me incoherent. Jack looked down at me coldly: “Emma, I have no other way!” Jack’s outright refusal left me completely desperate. I rushed to the operating room door trying to stop the doctor. But Jack held me back, kicking me in the stomach several times. As the operating room door closed, my breathing stopped. “This surgery can’t be done!” Hurried footsteps echoed in the corridor, and a doctor wiping sweat opened the operating room door. Jack looked bewildered and stepped forward to question: “I’ve paid all the money, why can’t it be done?” The doctor looked Jack up and down angrily and said, “Mr. Gu, is this your child? Non-guardians have no right to sign for surgery! Do you know this is illegal?”

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After my parents divorced, my dad dumped me on my mom’s lover to raise. He beat and scolded me constantly, only hoping I could quickly repay the debt my mom owed him. But ten years later, when my mom wanted to take me away, he cried and said he’d give up everything just to keep me. [1] When I was seven, our once-harmonious family shattered overnight because of my innocent comment: “When daddy’s not home, mommy brings other uncles to sleep over.” My mom moved out that very night, and my dad dumped me on my mom’s lover to raise. The man’s name was Frank. My dad looked at the man before him and said coldly, “If it weren’t for you, our family wouldn’t be in this mess.” “As compensation for destroying my family, take care of Mandy for a while until I get settled in my new job.” With that, my dad pushed me towards the man opposite him. Seeing the scar on Frank’s face, I cried and turned back to run to my dad. “Daddy, I promise I’ll never say anything wrong again. Please don’t leave me!” My dad didn’t hide the disgust in his eyes. Even though I had his blood, I was still the child of that unfaithful woman. But my dad still forced a smile, “Mandy, be good and sensible. Only then can daddy come back for you sooner.” I could only wipe my tears and obediently return to Frank’s side. Frank hadn’t looked at me once. As my dad was about to leave, Frank grabbed him and said, “Room and board not included.” My dad gave an awkward smile and took out $50 from his bag to hand to him. Watching my dad’s retreating figure, Frank said coldly, “If you don’t come back for her within a month, I’ll dump her.” My dad nodded repeatedly, “She’s my own daughter after all. How could I possibly abandon her?” With those words, my dad turned and left without looking back. And so, I was temporarily taken in by Frank. As we lived together, I discovered that although he was my mom’s lover, he was actually a pitiful man who had been scammed out of his money by my mom. He originally had some small assets, but after my mom took everything and ran, he could only move into a run-down house rented in the countryside. Within a month, I endured all kinds of cold treatment from Frank. He always dumped all the dirty and tiring chores on me. “Seeing your face that looks just like your mother’s makes me angry! You’re both good-for-nothing freeloaders!” I knew he was taking out all his resentment towards my mom on me. To be able to stay in this house temporarily, I could only humbly obey any of Frank’s arrangements. Every day, my only motivation was the hope that my dad would come to take me away from this misery soon. But as the one-month deadline approached, there was no news from my dad’s side. Frank’s calls to my dad went unanswered. Frank’s face grew darker and darker. He spat on the ground viciously, “You little brat, if your dad doesn’t come to get you in the next couple of days, I’m going to sell you to old man Johnson at the end of the village!” A wave of panic washed over me, and I could only work even harder. The month passed, and I waited from dawn till dusk, but still didn’t see my dad. It was then that I realized I had truly been abandoned by my father. Frank grabbed me and said, “Come with me.” He dragged me towards the direction of the village’s end. Seeing he was serious, I panicked completely and desperately clung to the ground. “I don’t want to go! I don’t want to!” “You think you have a choice? Since you’re your mother’s daughter, you should pay off her debts!” Just as I was still struggling desperately, old man Johnson from the village’s end actually came to the door. [2] “Frank, I couldn’t wait any longer at home.” Old man Johnson grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. The fear in my heart was like a lake, drowning me until I could barely breathe. Frank took advantage of my daze and hoisted me onto his shoulder, following old man Johnson towards his house. I desperately pounded on Frank’s back, “I don’t want to! I don’t want to go with him!” Tears of grievance soaked Frank’s back, but he showed no sign of stopping. “I’m begging you, I’ll do whatever you say from now on, just please don’t send me away.” Frank ignored my fear and helplessness, casually discussing the price with old man Johnson. “As agreed, $400 a month.” At old man Johnson’s house, he turned and went inside to find an iron chain. Frank’s brow furrowed slightly, “Old man, what are you doing?” Old man Johnson smiled slyly, “Well, since I paid for her, I naturally have to prevent her from running away.” With that, he locked the huge iron chain to my foot. Old man Johnson handed the money to Frank, who counted it, satisfied, and turned to leave. No matter how much I cried for help behind him, he never looked back at me once. Abandoned by my parents, and now abandoned by my mother’s lover, it seemed I was destined only to be discarded in this life. Old man Johnson closed the door and immediately slapped me across the face, “From now on, you’re my property. You’ll cry when I tell you to cry, and laugh when I tell you to laugh, got it?” I nodded, clutching my stinging cheek. “Now take off your clothes!” I looked up in disbelief, meeting old man Johnson’s leering gaze. My whole body trembled uncontrollably. Seeing my reluctance to move, old man Johnson slapped me again. “What are you playing at, acting all pure?” “Your mom is a big slut who seduces men everywhere, and you’re just a little slut too! Do you want me to do it myself?” Despite the tears of humiliation falling non-stop, I still hugged myself tightly, not giving him any opportunity. Old man Johnson grew increasingly impatient. Sure enough, the next second he pounced on me like an evil ghost. “No! No!” I closed my eyes tightly, hearing only the sound of clothes being torn. His disgusting, dry hands groped all over my body. Fighting the nausea, I bit down hard on his hand, but it only earned me an even more vicious beating. “You little slut, you dare bite me? I’ll teach you a lesson today!” I wanted to scream for help, but found I was too scared to make a sound. Just as I was about to be forced to accept my miserable fate, the door behind me was kicked open. Before I could even look back, I saw a figure rush in front of me and kick old man Johnson away hard. “You bastard!” “Didn’t I say I was bringing her over just to do your laundry and cooking? What the hell are you doing?” Old man Johnson looked at Frank with an awkward smile, “Frank, why are you protecting this little brat so much?” “Don’t forget, she’s the daughter of that woman who hurt you. Didn’t you want revenge on her?” “How about this, I’ll give you an extra $50 a month, just let me play with her a little…” Before he could finish, Frank punched old man Johnson in the face, “If you dare touch her again, I’ll kill you!” With that, he threw the $400 old man Johnson had given him earlier onto the ground. He unlocked the iron chain from my foot and picked me up. “Let’s go home.” [3] After returning home, Frank stopped making me do heavy chores. He turned around and sent me to the only elementary school in town. “Your mom owes me so much money, it would take forever if you just worked to pay it back. Better to send you to school, you’ll make money faster that way.” “Remember, you’ll have to pay me back double for your school fees in the future!” He rubbed his stomach, “I’m hungry, go make dinner.” Frank used to be a small factory manager. He had the opportunity to gradually expand his business, but then he met my mom. He gave my mom everything he could, but she turned around and betrayed him. The factory went bankrupt almost overnight. I heard all this from the neighbors. Soon it was time to start school. Frank handed me a new backpack and clothes with a blank expression. “I’m telling you, if your grades aren’t good, I’ll send you off to work!” I excitedly took the clothes and backpack, “Thank you, Uncle!” Frank said he was afraid I’d run away, so he personally took me to and from school every day. He now worked at a parts factory just outside the small town. Although his work hours didn’t match my school schedule, he still managed to drop me off and pick me up on time. I thought things would continue peacefully like this, but before long, the story of my background spread through the school. The school bully, Fatty, and some other kids cornered me in a secluded spot by the school wall. “Mandy, my mom said your mom is a big slut who seduces men everywhere. You little slut came to our school just to corrupt us.” “You should go seduce men everywhere like your mom. Our school doesn’t welcome people like you!” Looking at their faces, I mustered up the courage to retort, “Your whole family are the sluts!” Fatty glared at me, nostrils flaring, and with a few others, locked me in the equipment shed. “Mandy, no one wants you. Even if you die in here, no one will know!” They laughed at me as they ran away. Frank waited for me at the school gate for two whole hours. By the time he found out where I was, it was already midnight. Curled up in a corner, I shivered from the cold. In my daze, I heard his scolding. “Useless thing, don’t you know how to fight back when they bully you?” “Your mom is so capable, how did she give birth to such a wimp?” His reprimands gradually grew quieter until he held me in his arms, wiping away my tears with his calloused hands. All my insecurities instantly vanished. Later I found out that to find me, he had searched every corner of the small town. Those bad kids only revealed my location after he repeatedly questioned them. Seeing the scrapes on his arms, he must have fallen in his haste to find me. The next day, Fatty’s mom came to the school to make a scene. She pointed at my nose and started cursing. “This little bastard not only uses foul language but also tells lies.” “My son was just joking with her, and look how badly beaten his face is now?” I looked at Fatty’s swollen face, knowing it must be Frank’s handiwork. “Principal, you must expel this little bastard!” “You’re the bastard!” I snapped back immediately. The fat woman flew into a rage, “You unwanted child, if you’re not a bastard, what are you? Am I wrong?” “Let me tell you, it’s your honor that my son even joked with you…” Suddenly the office door opened, and Frank, who should have been at work, appeared. “You call that a joke? How about I lock your son up for a night too?” Seeing Frank, Fatty quickly hid behind his mother. Such a comical sight made me burst out laughing. “If your kid dares to bully my daughter again, I won’t be so lenient next time!” At that moment, I felt the whole world go quiet, with only Frank’s word “daughter” echoing in my ears. My eyes stung, and I quickly ran out of the principal’s office. [4] By 2008, I was old enough to start middle school. Remembering Frank’s “threat,” I got into the best middle school in the city with the top score in town. At this time, there were layoffs at the factory where Frank worked, and he was on the list. He wasn’t cut out for physical labor in the first place, and these years had taken a toll on his health. He hadn’t saved much money, and now things were even worse. A female employee who had once been helped by him at his factory suddenly approached him, saying she wanted to marry him and live together. Although friends advised him to send me away, he sighed helplessly: “The child is so big now, we can’t let someone else benefit from the bride price for nothing.” The woman’s arrival gave this home a chance to breathe. This pieced-together family finally had a hint of home-like warmth. Frank relied on a second-hand motorcycle he got from a friend to start a passenger transport business in town. The income wasn’t much, but it was stable. But good times didn’t last long, and the woman gradually revealed her true intentions. Whenever Frank wasn’t home, she would drag me to meet various old ladies. “Mandy, remember, these might all be your benefactors.” At that time, I didn’t understand what she meant, and seeing how hard Frank worked every day, I didn’t dare to bother him. But that day, she and an old lady said they were taking me to a banquet. I was forcibly dragged to someone’s house, only to see a big red “Double Happiness” character pasted on their front door. I was pushed into the main seat, and next to me sat a man wearing a red flower on his chest. “Mandy, just enjoy your meal. I’ll come pick you up later.” With that, the woman left with the old lady, and they were counting some cash that had appeared from somewhere. It was then that I finally realized – she had sold me! I threw down my chopsticks and tried to run, but the man next to me grabbed me, “Wife! Where are you going?” “After we finish eating, it’s time for our wedding night!” I panicked but forced myself not to cry. “Let go of me. If my uncle finds out, he’ll kill you!” The man smirked, “You mean that lousy motorcycle driver? The money I gave him is more than he could earn in decades of driving. He’d be overjoyed!” “Just stay here obediently and give me a big fat son. I promise I won’t mistreat you!” The man hoisted me up to leave when suddenly there was a loud bang. Frank had crashed right in on his motorcycle. He threw his motorcycle aside with a flourish, “Put her down!” The man was intimidated by his aura, and I quickly broke free to hide behind Frank. “Frank, I’ve already given the bride price to your wife. You’re not thinking of going back on your word, are you?” Frank snorted coldly, “I never married that woman!” Just then, the woman came back crying with the money. “Frank, why are you doing this? I really wanted to live with you!” “If we sell this girl, you could open your own factory again. You wouldn’t have to ride that motorcycle in the wind and sun anymore!” But faced with such a huge temptation, Frank didn’t even bother to look. He directly slapped away the money the woman was offering. “I don’t need it.” With that, he put me on his motorcycle and left. After that, the woman never came back. But one day, the motorcycle he relied on for a living was smashed to pieces. It didn’t take much guessing to know who did it, but without evidence, he could only swallow his anger. As the start of my school term drew nearer, Frank started coming home later and later. I also tried to find whatever part-time jobs I could do. But when I came home that day, I saw Frank had returned early. He sat on the doorstep, chain-smoking the cheapest cigarettes. Seeing me, he slowly raised his head, his eyes filled with an emotion I couldn’t understand. Putting out his cigarette butt, he finally spoke, “Your mom’s back. She’s inside.”

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Preschool called to inform me that my daughter Nora had been pushed down the stairs by a classmate. I hurried to the hospital, where I found my husband, who should have been at work, talking with the doctor: “Mr. Asher, your daughter’s injuries are serious. Should we begin with emergency care or conduct the bone marrow test first?” “Do the test first! We can’t hesitate; my precious daughter can’t wait any longer!” I was completely baffled until I saw another little girl, about four or five years old, come over and cling to my husband’s leg, sweetly asking, “Daddy, I did what you told me and pushed Nora. Am I saved now?” She was Nora’s preschool classmate, a child suffering from leukemia. I felt numb, my whole body trembling uncontrollably. Tears blurred my vision as Asher picked up the little girl, softly saying, “Daddy is going to save you, don’t worry.” A slender figure appeared, leaning close to the father and daughter. “The one who got hurt is also your daughter. You won’t blame our Freya, will you?” Asher frowned slightly and replied nonchalantly, “I specifically asked Freya to do it. Her mother is always watching her too closely. I couldn’t do anything myself, so I had to ask Freya to help, just to get a chance to do the match at the hospital.” “Back then, to save Freya, we needed a sibling’s umbilical cord blood but didn’t want you to go through another pregnancy, so we stopped your medication and had Fiona give birth to her. In the end, she should thank Freya; without her, she would never have been born.” “The only person I truly love is you, and the daughter I care most about is Freya.” The woman turned, and I finally saw her face. It was Celeste, Asher’s old flame and a top actress in Hollywood. Celeste wiped her tears, murmuring, “Oh, my poor Freya, having to endure another bone marrow transplant because of the relapse.” The three of them hugged tightly, appearing as the perfect family. But what about me? Legally married to him for six years, with a lovely daughter—what am I to him? Tears fell uncontrollably as their conversation replayed in my mind. Freya, the little girl Asher pitied and always brought home, turned out to be his daughter with Celeste. His daughter had leukemia. To spare Celeste the ordeal of pregnancy, he had me give birth to Nora just for the life-saving umbilical cord blood! After the relapse, he targeted Nora’s bone marrow, instructing his daughter to harm our child just for a chance to secretly do the match at the hospital! No wonder… no wonder I couldn’t conceive after a year of marriage—the problem lay in the medicated milk Asher gave me every night. Even after stopping the medication and successfully conceiving Nora, I was extremely cautious to ensure a safe pregnancy. When giving birth, I was on the brink of death and ended up unable to conceive again. Asher’s gentle face urging me to drink milk and sleep every night twisted into something monstrous in my memories. My hands shook violently, and the phone slipped from my grasp. The noise interrupted the scene not far away. Asher looked over at me, the tenderness on his face freezing instantly. He awkwardly pulled his hand away from Celeste’s arm, stammering, “Honey, what are you doing here…” I pretended not to see, wiped my eyes hard, and asked with a trembling voice, “The teacher called me. How’s Nora?” Now wasn’t the time to confront him. My daughter’s safety was more important. Asher walked toward me, visibly uneasy, while Celeste looked at me with a fierce gaze but spoke in a soft voice, “Nora’s mom, it’s really my daughter’s fault for being impulsive…” “Enough! My daughter’s safety is the priority now. If anything happens to her, I won’t let you off!” Celeste covered her mouth, crying, while her daughter Freya pointed at me, shouting, “Bad woman! You made my mom cry! I’ll tell my dad to hit you!” I didn’t want to get entangled with them any longer and headed straight to my daughter’s room. “Now! Save my child immediately!” When Nora was wheeled back into the room from the emergency room, I saw her pale face. Her head was wrapped in thick gauze, looking so fragile and pitiful. A four-year-old girl, at such an innocent age, yet she had to endure this cruel treatment. Even her birth was a calculated plan by the father she admired so much. Asher wrapped his arms around me from behind, speaking softly, “The doctor said Nora isn’t in any serious danger. She might need to stay in the hospital for a while, so don’t worry too much.” “As for the little girl who pushed her, I’ve talked to her mom. She didn’t mean it; kids… accidents happen during play.” His sudden niceness was just to prevent me from holding anyone accountable. I didn’t respond, only asking him, “Why didn’t you tell me Celeste’s daughter and Nora are classmates?” His hand, which was holding me, froze, and he said guiltily, “I only found out today at the hospital, honey. How could I hide anything from you?” I remained cold and silent. He awkwardly let go, tucking Nora’s blanket. The phone notification sounded at an inappropriate time. He glanced at the screen, then stood up, trying to be accommodating, “Are you hungry? The doctor said Nora will wake up soon. I’ll get her favorite custard bun.” After he left, I quietly followed him. I saw him head to the doctor’s office. “I’ve already informed Fiona that Nora needs to stay in the hospital. We should be able to do the match during this time, right?” “We can, but Nora’s health isn’t great. Are you sure you want to rush the match? She’s really pitiful. When she was brought in, she didn’t cry out in pain, only kept calling for her dad.” Asher was silent for a long time before hoarsely saying, “I’ll compensate the mother and daughter.” The doctor sighed, “Asher, I’ve known you for years, and I have to advise you. Fiona loves you so much. Despite her weak body, she risked everything to have the child. Can you really be this heartless?” “Enough!” Asher shouted angrily. “It was Fiona who insisted on marrying me. If she hadn’t taken advantage of my vulnerability when I was down, maybe none of this would have happened! Doesn’t she bear any responsibility?” “I only found out after marriage that Celeste was forced into a marriage by her family. She divorced for me and endured so many rumors to have Freya for me. The child was born with health issues and was called an illegitimate child. I owe them more!” “But unfortunately, the person she was once married to was my cousin. My parents would never allow her into the Aiden family again. Once Freya recovers, I’ll recognize her as my goddaughter, then send Celeste abroad and visit her every year. Fiona and Nora won’t know anything. I’ll be the best husband and father, making it up to them for the rest of my life.” He closed his eyes in pain, as if making a heavy decision. Seeing him ready to leave, I quickly returned to the room. My mind was still chaotic, as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer. Asher and I had a marriage of convenience. That year, I had just returned from studying overseas and met Asher at a banquet. At that time, the Aiden family was in the middle of a power struggle. Asher and his father were at a disadvantage, marginalized and suppressed, making him look like a somewhat defeated young master. When I sprained my ankle, a group of men surrounded me with concern, but only he knelt down to gently massage my ankle. So when it came time to choose a marriage partner, I chose him without hesitation. Later I learned from others that he once had a close childhood friend who married someone else when he was at his lowest. But I didn’t mind, because he treated me so well during that time. He worked part-time to save money to buy me roses, got up at four in the morning to make soup, and had our photos taped to the back of his phone. I thought this love, expressed in such details, couldn’t go wrong. But now he says I took advantage of his vulnerability? Thinking back, the roses stopped coming long ago, the soup hasn’t been made in ages, and the photos… when did they get removed? Ah, it was a month after we got married. He came back from a reunion, disoriented, muttering about how “everything is too late.” Maybe it was then that he and Celeste rekindled their relationship. I opened the class group chat and saw a student’s name—Freya Aiden. Looking at the birthdate, it matched six years ago. Asher named our daughter Nora to bless Freya… Bless Freya… One is his precious jewel, the other a tool to bless his precious jewel. No wonder he volunteered to pick up the kids despite being so busy at work. It was to see his daughter and also reduce my contact with her. I dropped my hand in defeat, tears betraying me once again. At that moment, I received a friend request through the parent group chat. The request was from Freya’s mom, and after accepting, I scrolled through her Facebook. It was filled with photos of her child and a man whose face wasn’t shown. But six years of living together made me instantly recognize the man’s back. [Today, Daddy took the baby to the amusement park again and let such a big child ride on his shoulders. What a doting father!] [The child’s dad spent the whole day playing princess dress-up games with the child, even pushing back meetings, sigh.] [A happy family of three, this life is enough!] She posted almost every two days. It turns out Asher’s excuses of being busy with work were just to spend time with them. A new message popped up; it was from Celeste: “Sorry, Nora’s mom, our Freya has been spoiled by her dad and doesn’t know her own strength. You won’t be angry, right?” I was about to reply, but Nora woke up, unconsciously calling for her dad. My heart tightened. I quickly put down the phone, comforting her by stroking her forehead, “Daddy will be here soon. Be good, Nora. Mommy is here.” **A Happy Family of Three, This Life Is Enough!** Almost every two days, Asher would share a post on WeChat Moments. He always claimed that work kept him busy, but it was just an excuse to spend time with us, his wife and daughter. A message popped up from Celeste: “Sorry, Nora’s mom. Our Freya has been spoiled by her dad since she was little. She doesn’t know her own strength. You’re not upset, are you?” I was about to reply when Nora woke up, mumbling for her dad. My heart tightened. I quickly set my phone aside and gently stroked her forehead to comfort her: “Daddy will be here soon. Be good, Nora. Mommy’s here.” She weakly opened her eyes and saw my tear-stained face. The little four-year-old seemed to forget her pain and asked me, her voice trembling: “Mommy, why are you crying? Did I make you sad by being naughty?” I shook my head desperately, forcing a strained smile: “Our Nora is the best, Mommy’s most obedient treasure.” She looked down sadly and whispered: “But whenever Daddy picks me up, he always says Freya is more obedient and sensible. But she’s not nice at all and always takes my toys.” My heart ached as if it were being squeezed. I could handle my own failures, but what had my daughter done to deserve such treatment from her own father? Nora grew more upset, her little mouth pouting in guilt. I gently leaned over and hugged her. After a long while, I finally made up my mind. “Nora, would you like to go abroad with Mommy?” She loved to play and just blinked at me, asking: “Are there kids to play with abroad? Will they take my toys?” “No, they won’t.” “Daddy will get them back for me, right?” I wiped my tears away haphazardly and said: “No, Daddy won’t be going. Only Mommy will take you. Is that okay? There’s also your uncle and grandparents. They will all protect you.” I watched her nervously, fearing she wouldn’t want to leave her dad. She did look conflicted for a long time and finally said, a bit reluctantly: “Okay, I love Mommy the most.” I comforted her until she fell asleep, then couldn’t hold back my tears any longer and rushed out of the ward, sobbing uncontrollably. After crying, I called my brother in Australia: “Brother, prepare new identities for Nora and me abroad. We’re planning to come over.” He paused for a moment and asked, “Did you and Asher have a fight? If you’ve been wronged, just get a divorce and reunite with Mom and Dad with Nora.” I had thought about divorce, but why should my Nora have to write down such a degrading father in the family relations section? What if, when things turn ugly, Asher uses his status as her father to fight for custody or force her into a bone marrow transplant? I couldn’t bear to think about it. I took a deep breath: “I’ll explain later. Once Nora recovers, I’ll book the flight.” A slightly panicked voice suddenly sounded from behind me: “Flight? Where are you going?”

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I was kidnapped. But my kidnapper turned out to be my future husband. So the question is, should I call for help first, or should I call him “honey” first? After my dad refused to pay the ransom. I could only weakly ask, “How about… I offer myself instead?” “Boss, this is the Winter’s kid!” a voice said as the blindfold was pulled off my head. As my eyes adjusted to the light, I began to assess my surroundings. It was clear that I had been kidnapped. But when I focused on my captor, I was shocked to realize it was my future husband! Well, a 10-year younger version of him. Liam Reeves frowned slightly as he got a clear look at my face. He turned to the chubby guy beside him and said, “Wasn’t the Winter’s kid supposed to be a boy? How did it turn into a girl?” “That boy was surrounded by bodyguards, it was too risky,” the chubby guy explained with a dejected look. “But I found out this girl is also Old Winter’s daughter!” Liam scrutinized me, bending down slightly to meet my eyes. “Little girl, we don’t want to hurt you. But your dad has gone too far. As long as he pays the ransom, we’ll let you go. Nod if you understand!” I nodded frantically! When the phone call connected… “I have your daughter Zoe. Prepare $500,000, or you know the consequences!” “Daddy, save me…” I cried pitifully and helplessly, following Liam’s instructions. My dad very decisively — hung up the phone. Liam, not giving up, called again. My dad was decisive once more: “No money. Take the girl if you want!” This behavior was so typical of my dad. Liam and I exchanged an awkward glance. I tentatively suggested, “How about… I offer myself instead?” Liam looked at me like he’d seen a ghost. The chubby guy laughed and said, “Sis, you’ve got guts!” What could I do? After all, he was my future husband. I had to pamper him.

Liam coldly ordered, “Lock her up!” So I was untied and locked in a room. From what I could tell, we were in the countryside, probably at Liam’s grandparents’ old house. I could even see some of his childhood photos. Who would have thought that my husband was so… adorable as a child. Although I was kidnapped, the fact that it was him made me not feel scared at all. I had just been reborn, so I might as well take this chance to rest and sort out my thoughts. I carelessly took off my shoes and socks and lay down on the bed. Liam and I had an arranged marriage, but that was ten years in the future. By then, Liam had become a renowned business tycoon, while the Winter family was in decline due to my father’s extravagance. For the sake of benefits, my dad decisively chose to sell his daughter for glory, and I was naturally the one being sold. Liam’s father had been driven to death by my dad, so I always felt that he married me only for revenge. But at that time, I had no choice but to agree to this marriage. After getting married, Liam and I maintained a cold and distant relationship, not interfering with each other’s lives, like strangers living under the same roof. It wasn’t until I was kidnapped by his business rival and he risked everything to save me that I finally saw his true feelings. After that, we broke down the barriers between us and began a sweet and passionate married life… Perhaps I had to experience being kidnapped once to truly become his wife?

“Wake up, wake up!” In my dream, the past and present intertwined. Looking at Liam, I instinctively grabbed his hand and softly whined, “Honey, I’m hungry.” Liam was once again stunned by my bold words. The chubby guy, on the other hand, couldn’t stop praising me, “Sis, you’re really something! You’re really getting into character!” Liam, somewhat irritated, frowned again and said to the chubby guy, “You, get out!” Then he coldly said to me, “Get up!” I got up reluctantly, taking my time to make the bed. I showed no signs of the fear a kidnapped person should have. Liam stood with his arms crossed, frowning as he looked at me, his eyes full of assessment. I looked up at him, full of obedience. “Don’t think you can get away with this kind of trick!” “Mm-hmm.” Please don’t let me get away. “Didn’t you say you were hungry? Come out and eat!” “Okay.” I gave him a sweet smile. Whether in the future or now, my husband is always so adorable.

The so-called meal was actually just two cups of instant noodles. Looking at the mushroom chicken flavor in front of me, I instantly felt full. Then I glanced at his beef flavor noodles… “I want yours.” “What right do you have to make demands as a hostage!” “You’re right, but I still want yours.” “Damn it,” Liam cursed. “I’ve already eaten from mine.” “I don’t mind!” “You…” Liam took a deep breath and reluctantly pushed his beef noodles towards me. I really dislike instant noodles, but I was indeed hungry, so I had to eat in small bites. Liam seemed unable to stand the way I ate and urged, “Hurry up and eat. Finish quickly and leave!” “Ah? That doesn’t seem right!” “What else then? You can’t be exchanged for money, what use is keeping you here — to steal my noodles?” I immediately put on a pitiful look and pushed the noodles in front of me towards him, “I’m not eating anymore.” “Damn it.” “You shouldn’t curse, you know.” “You dare lecture me!” I continued to act like a poor, helpless little thing. “This is ridiculous!” Liam cursed under his breath, but still pushed the noodles back to me, “Hurry up and eat.” I ate less than half a bowl before putting it down. Liam frowned as he looked at me. “I’m full…” “We’re in a poor rural area, this is all we have.” “Mm, I don’t mind.” I smiled at him and said, “But you should eat less instant noodles, it’s not good for your health.” After all, you’ll die of stomach cancer at a young age, leaving me a widow, which isn’t a good life. Thinking of that, I immediately realized I should urge my husband to eat well and have regular check-ups. I can’t let that tragedy happen again! Perhaps my concern was too obvious, as Liam seemed a bit uncomfortable. “Don’t you think you should act more like a hostage?” “Theoretically, I should, but you…” “What about me?” I looked at him with a coy expression: “I like you, you know!” “Clang!” Liam’s chopsticks fell, his expression shattered. Perhaps he had never seen such a bold hostage before, he seemed a bit scared.

Liam was a bit speechless, “What, hostage falling for the kidnapper, not following the usual script?” “I might have Stockholm syndrome.” “You actually know what that is!” “Wow, you’re so smart!” The atmosphere suddenly became awkward. “Um… I know you, we went to the same high school.” I blinked at Liam with starry eyes, trying hard to show my sincerity. Of course, I didn’t know all this information from the beginning, but discovered it when sorting through Liam’s things after we got married. It turned out he had been paying attention to me since I entered high school, silently protecting me. Later, when he insisted on marrying me, it was purely because he liked me. How could I miss out on such a good husband! Sure enough, a suspicious blush flashed across Liam’s face. Based on my understanding of my future husband, I continued to push forward. “I also know that time when I was being stalked by a creep, you helped chase him away, and then you kept secretly walking me home. I know everything you did.” I looked at my husband, who I had lost and found again, and poured out my heart: “Liam, I like you.” Liam looked very calm, but his reddening ears betrayed his emotions. He turned away strategically, coughed, and pretended to be indifferent, “Do you think it’s appropriate to say these things now?” “Why not?” Liam looked at my innocent face and sighed quietly. “I’ll take you back first thing tomorrow morning.” “Ah… but I don’t want to leave you. I haven’t seen you for so long since you went to college. How’s college? By the way, you haven’t dated anyone, right?” “Don’t you think you’re overstepping?” “Can’t I reasonably claim the rights of a secret admirer?” “Why are you so troublesome!” “You’re the one who kidnapped me and brought me here, you have to take responsibility!” “I…” “So that means I still have a chance, right?” “You…” Liam was suddenly rendered speechless by me. Of course I knew he hadn’t dated anyone, I just regretted not meeting him earlier in my previous life. Now that I’ve been reborn, I must cherish this opportunity! Perhaps the burning love in my eyes was too pure, Liam seemed unable to handle it. He put on a cold and heartless facade and pushed me into the bedroom, commanding, “Go in and stay there, don’t talk.” “Okay, honey!” “Don’t call me honey!” “Okay, future boyfriend.” Liam: Are young girls nowadays all this bold?

I had taken a nap after they brought me back in the afternoon, so now I was bursting with energy to the point of wanting to tear the house apart. Plus, with the person I’d been thinking about just outside the door, I was feeling restless. Although it might be a bit early to get intimate with my husband now, it didn’t seem entirely impossible. Thinking about our shameless married life before, how should I deal with this blushing and heart-pounding feeling! Although the mirror showed a high school student, the soul inside was actually that of a woman in her 30s. Especially after Liam passed away, I had been quite lonely and cold. Now I was at that age where I felt like a hungry wolf. No, no, I can’t get carried away! I patted my face to dispel these wild thoughts, and decisively decided to take a shower to cool down. Now that I’ve been reborn, I can’t let the previous tragedy happen again. ———-This is the breakpoint———- First was Liam’s dad. From what I knew, it was because my dad owed his family a large sum of money for a project that Liam’s father had a heart attack. He was now in the hospital waiting for surgery fees, money was a big issue.

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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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