Category: English

On our third wedding anniversary, I saw a text message from my wife Celina’s first love. “Thank you for taking such good care of my son and lover.” Only then did I realize that my adopted son was actually the child of my wife and her first love. Furious, I called to confront her, but was met with a barrage of angry words. “Are you still jealous over nothing? Ryan just came back to the country and I was welcoming him home, what’s there to fuss about?” “Oh, and Ryan’s sick. Bring some medicine over!” Before I could say anything, she had already hung up. The next second, I was hit by an oncoming truck. As I was losing consciousness, only one thought remained in my mind: If I survive this, I’m getting a divorce. I lay dazed in the operating room. In my ears were the doctors’ constant urging: “Has the patient’s family still not answered the phone?” The young nurse’s voice sounded indignant: “They answered, but she said not to use such a childish and clumsy excuse to fool her.” “Even if the patient dies, it has nothing to do with her…” My heart ached uncontrollably. Strong willpower made me wake up. “Doctor, can I sign for myself?” At first, the doctor hesitated, but with a life hanging in the balance, he gritted his teeth and agreed. Fortunately, the surgery was very successful. I lay in the hospital bed without any anger. That evening. I went to get some water but was knocked down by someone. The wound opened up, and quite a bit of fresh blood seeped through the bandage on my head. The person in front of me was a familiar face. It was none other than Ryan Collins, Celina’s first love. “What are you doing here? Following us, aren’t you?” Before I could speak, Celina had already slapped me. “Why would I follow you?” With a self-mocking smile, I turned and went back to my room, handing her the divorce papers I had prepared. “Let’s get divorced.” She tore up the divorce agreement in her hand, her expression impatient: “Enough! Don’t think backing down will make me feel sorry for you. Get lost!” The next moment, Ryan clutched his chest, his expression pained. He couldn’t help but cry out in agony. “Ryan, are you okay? Is your chest hurting again?” Celina visibly panicked. While supporting Ryan, she glared at me. After sending Ryan back to his room nearby, she angrily ran over. “Bang—” She kicked me, and I fell and hit the wall, caught off guard. Blood seeped through the bandage and stained the wall. Celina stood tall and proud: “Arthur Wilson, it’s one thing to be jealous, but causing Ryan’s heart attack is unforgivable!” “How did I end up with such a vicious husband?” She shook me frantically. “What are you doing? He just had surgery, you can’t…” A nurse nearby finally noticed the situation and pushed Celina away. She looked at Celina warily. First, she helped me back into the room, then lectured Celina for a while. I don’t know how long it was before the voices outside gradually faded away. I was woken up by the sound of the door being pushed open forcefully. She seemed a bit guilty, yet impatient: “Can’t you be more careful when you go out?” “Did you have to end up in the hospital to give me a chance to misunderstand you?” “Fine, I’ll stay here tonight to look after you.” She heavily put down some fruit on the table, took out an apple and handed it to me: “Peel an apple for me, will you? You always peel them the best.” I smiled self-mockingly. See, she was always so presumptuous. What made her think I would definitely take the olive branch she offered? I closed my eyes, ignoring Celina’s peace offering. The room was quiet for a long time. I said: “I’ll move out. I’ll mail you the divorce papers later.” I looked at her. Celina’s body stiffened for a moment. She picked up the fruit knife and started peeling an apple for herself. I didn’t care. Once I had made up my mind, even if she didn’t respond, it wouldn’t change anything. “Bang—” The sound of a cup falling to the ground interrupted the silent atmosphere between Celina and me. At the door of the room. Ryan stood there with a pitiful look, barefoot. Noticing us looking over, he hurriedly tried to clean up the broken pieces on the floor. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I just wanted to come and apologize to Arthur. I know I made you—” Celina’s expression changed. She hurriedly took my coat and rushed out. “I’ll borrow this for a bit.”

The coat was put over Ryan’s feet. Celina muttered: “Can’t you be a little more careful? Doesn’t it hurt if this stuff gets stuck in your foot? If you’re not in pain, I still feel bad.” Ryan smiled with an infatuated look. But when he glanced at me, there was a hint of hidden smugness in his gaze. “Ouch—” Celina cried out in pain, with some blood appearing on her hand. Ryan panicked and quickly took Celina’s hand, blowing on the wound: “A girl’s hands are so delicate, how could you do something like this?” “See, when you get hurt, I’m the one who feels the pain…” I covered my head, not wanting to listen to the voices outside. Probably seeing that I was unmoved, Celina’s words also carried some sarcasm. “Ryan cares about me so much, unlike some people who just lie in bed waiting to be served even when I’m hurt.” I knew she wanted me to clean up, and in the past, I probably would have gone over without hesitation. But now, I didn’t want to. Why should I pay for their mistakes? Celina continued cleaning up the broken pieces with dissatisfaction, making a huge noise. It seemed she was deliberately trying to get my attention. Or perhaps she was trying to vent her frustration. Until the man in the bed next to me couldn’t help but curse: “Go torture yourselves somewhere else, do you have to disturb patients trying to rest?” The man raised his hand, making a gesture as if he was going to hit someone. Celina finally quieted down. “The doctor looking after Ryan is calling me, I’ll go over for a bit.” Having stayed in my room for less than ten minutes, she casually found an excuse to leave. I waved my hand, not even looking up. With a beauty by his side, how could she possibly care about me? Sure enough, she didn’t come that night. The next morning, the sun was already high in the sky. I had already finished one IV bag before she appeared. Holding a bag of crab roe buns and milk in her hand, she threw them on my table, guiltily opening her mouth: “You were already asleep when I came back, so I went to buy you breakfast.” “Your favorite crab roe buns, and milk.” As she spoke, she took out the things from the bag. There were only three buns in the box. I remembered that all items from this place were sold in sets of four. I guess it was probably what was left after the two of them ate. I pushed away the things in her hand. “No need, thank you.” “I’m lactose intolerant and allergic to seafood.” She was stunned for a moment. Just as she was about to speak again, Ryan walked in from outside. He glanced at the things on the table, smiling brightly: “Arthur doesn’t like these things? I specifically chose them for a long time.” “If Arthur doesn’t like them, I’ll go buy something else for him.” He made a move to leave. Celina’s face darkened, and she grabbed Ryan’s arm: “Ryan, you’re not fully recovered yet, why are you running around?” “He can’t possibly reject your kind intentions, can he?” Celina glanced at me sideways, pushing the food towards me, emphasizing each word: “He will eat every bit of it.” I smiled faintly and dismissed them. Ryan immediately put on a hurt face: “Arthur, don’t worry, I won’t come here to bother you anymore.” He turned and left without hesitation. Celina hurried after him, and through the door I could see the two of them hugging in the distance. But I no longer felt any ripples in my heart. The man in the bed next to me looked at the breakfast on my table and swallowed. I chuckled lightly and handed the breakfast to him: “Here, you eat it. I can’t eat this stuff, it would be a waste.” The scene of me handing over the food was just caught by Celina. She came over with a gloomy face and snatched it back. Holding the crab roe bun, she tried to stuff it into my mouth: “This is all Ryan’s goodwill, you have to eat it even if you don’t want to!”

My breathing gradually became difficult. My vision blurred. I wanted to push Celina away, but found my body weak, unable to move an inch. “Stop it! He’s almost gone, how can he still eat—” The man next to me was quicker, pushing Celina away and forcefully digging the crab roe bun out of my mouth. Seeing the situation wasn’t right, Celina stepped back in confusion. “I didn’t mean to, I didn’t do it on purpose.” “I didn’t want to hurt him—” “It’s all his fault, he didn’t explain clearly.” Probably afraid of taking responsibility, she stumbled and ran out. With the help of the man next to me and the medical staff, I finally caught my breath. A flash of desolation passed through my eyes. I looked at the man apologetically: “I’m sorry, I didn’t expect she would actually…” The man waved his hand and sighed: “Let me give you some advice, leave this woman as soon as possible.” “She’s not a good match.” I remained silent. I should have seen it clearly earlier, true love can’t be exchanged for true love. “I will divorce her,” I mumbled after a long while. I didn’t know if I was responding to the man’s words or comforting myself. Until I was discharged, Celina never appeared here again. I guess she had already put me out of her mind. The first thing I did after being discharged was to go home to pack my things and draft a divorce agreement. As soon as I opened the door, I saw John staring at me intently. I was startled. “What are you doing?” I frowned in displeasure. In the past, I might have wanted to reason with this kid. But since I found out he was Celina and Ryan’s biological son, I felt uncomfortable every time I thought about it. John completely ignored my cold attitude. He pouted, looking arrogant. “Hurry up and cook for me. These past few days you weren’t home, I’m tired of eating Mrs. Yang’s cooking.” “I want beef stew and BBQ chicken wings.” He pushed me towards the kitchen. I turned around, avoiding his hand. I glanced at him coldly and said, “If you want to eat something, make it yourself. I have nothing to do with you.” John, who was brutally rejected, burst into tears: “You’re a bad person!” “Why won’t you cook for me?” “You’re just a dog we keep at home, how dare you refuse your master?” My body shook. Looking at John, my eyes became a few degrees colder. What could a child of a few years understand? It was nothing but the thoughts instilled by adults. I laughed coldly, raising my hand high and bringing it down: “I’ve raised you for so many years. Even if you’re unwilling to call me dad, you shouldn’t insult me like this!” “You have no right to humiliate me!” John cried even louder. This sound attracted Celina. She rushed out of the room in a hurry, her clothes disheveled. “Arthur Wilson, stop making trouble! The child is innocent!” I looked at Celina coldly. Her unzipped robe revealed half of her figure. The ambiguous red and blue marks could be vaguely seen through the robe. I smiled mockingly: “If he’s innocent, then you and Ryan taught him to call me your family’s dog?” “So you and Ryan are the ones at fault, right?” Celina frowned, seeming a bit conflicted. “If that’s the case, let’s get divorced then.” “I’ve already signed the divorce papers.” I took out the agreement from my bag and put it on the table. Seeing that I wasn’t joking at all, Celina visibly panicked. I pushed the divorce agreement towards her, reiterating: “Alright, sign it.” Celina stared at me for a long time, gritting her teeth: “Fine, I’ll sign! Don’t regret it!” “You’ll never find someone who loves you as much as I do!”

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I was doxxed by my boyfriend of three years, exposed online for all to see. His stepsister caused my allergic reaction, and I demanded an apology. Three years of love couldn’t compete with an outsider who wasn’t even blood-related. I always thought it was my fault until I overheard his conversation with friends… “She just had an allergic reaction, not like she died. Why should my sister apologize?” That sentence from my boyfriend became the last straw that broke me. I watched him protect his two-faced stepsister, my heart turning to ashes. Three years. I loved him for three years, only to realize it was all a big joke. I deleted all contact information and blocked him. Until one day, he appeared at my doorstep with bloodshot eyes: “What do you want from me?” I smiled: “I want you… to die.” … I sat at the dining table, feeling terribly uncomfortable. My throat felt like it was blocked by something. Chloe smiled at me sweetly: “Aria, I made this shrimp fried rice especially for you.” I shook my head with difficulty, wanting to say that she knew I was allergic to shrimp, but I couldn’t speak. My body started itching, and red rashes appeared all over. I looked at my arms in horror, finding it increasingly difficult to breathe. “Aria, what’s wrong?” Ethan finally noticed my distress. I wanted to answer him but could only make choking sounds. I collapsed onto the chair, my vision blurring. In my daze, I heard the sound of an ambulance. When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed. “You’re awake? How do you feel?” Ethan sat by the bed, asking with concern. I looked at him weakly, my voice hoarse: “Chloe did it on purpose, didn’t she?” Ethan frowned: “Don’t overthink it, how could she…” I interrupted him: “I want her to come and apologize to me in person.” Ethan’s expression turned unpleasant, but he nodded. The next morning, just as I was about to be discharged, my phone suddenly started buzzing frantically. I opened it and froze. My photos, ID number, home address – everything had been posted online. I had been doxxed! Even worse, some of my private photos were being sold online for a dollar each. I trembled all over, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably. This blatant humiliation and hurt nearly broke me. I called Ethan with shaking hands, but no one answered. I dragged my weak body, taking a cab to the hotel where Ethan usually stayed. In the elevator, I leaned against the cold wall, my heart full of expectations for Ethan. He would comfort me and help me solve this problem, right? As I reached his room and was about to knock, I heard voices from inside. “Haha, that stupid girl must be terrified now, right?” “Serves her right for messing with Chloe and demanding an apology!” I froze, unable to believe my ears. I stood there, ear pressed against the door, listening to the conversation inside. The sound of clinking glasses and unrestrained laughter of several men came from the room. “Guys, check out these photos. What a body!” a drunken voice said. “Tsk tsk, who knew she was so wild in private when she acts so proper in public,” another chimed in. My heart ached, tears falling uncontrollably. Those photos, those scenes were all taken at Ethan’s place. My intimate moments with Ethan had become their entertainment. “Ethan, you dog! You scored such a hot chick!” I heard Ethan chuckle: “She’s alright, just for fun.” My heart instantly turned cold. I gripped the doorframe to keep from falling. “Hey, I heard there’s no info on her parents. Is she an orphan?” “An orphan? Even better! No one to protect her if we mess with her.” I bit my lip hard, trying not to make a sound. “Ethan, what made you do this?” someone asked. Ethan laughed coldly: “It’s all because that bitch dared to ask Chloe to apologize. Who does she think she is?” “This is her lesson, to know her place.” I trembled, unable to believe these words came from Ethan’s mouth. “So, are you still going to marry her?” “Are you kidding? Someone like her? You guys can have her if you want.” My heart shattered completely, tears blurring my vision. So in his eyes, I was never a lover, just a toy to be played with. I covered my mouth, trying hard not to cry out loud. Listening to the laughter from inside, my despair reached its peak. I struggled to support myself on shaky legs. Countless memories flashed through my mind, piercing my heart like shards. “Baby, let’s try something new today?” Ethan had looked at me lovingly in bed. At the time, I thought he wanted to deepen our relationship. Now I realized how disgusting it was. So all those intimate moments had been recorded by him. I covered my mouth, trying hard not to vomit. Suddenly, a cheer erupted from the room. “Guys, I’ve got videos and audio too. Want something more exciting?” Ethan’s voice came through the door. I felt cold all over, as if I’d fallen into an ice pit. The scene at Ethan’s house that day involuntarily flashed through my mind. Chloe came over with a plate of fried rice, smiling sweetly: “Sis, I made this especially for you.” I was so touched at the time, but ended up covered in rashes after eating it. Ethan had said Chloe accepted me and invited me for dinner. Now I realized how ridiculous that was. So they had been plotting against me from the start. I remembered what Ethan’s drunk friend had said last time: “Ethan, when are you going to marry Chloe?” I thought he was just drunk and got the name wrong. Now I understood the truth. In his heart, I was never his true love. Just a substitute, a toy to be discarded at will. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. With trembling hands, I pushed open the hotel doors. The harsh sunlight instantly hit my face. I instinctively lowered my head, feeling the strange gazes of people around me. Shame and fear overwhelmed me like a tidal wave. I quickened my pace, wanting to escape this place. Suddenly, a stranger pointed at me and whispered: “Isn’t that the girl from the internet…” I shuddered and hurriedly hailed a cab to leave the hotel entrance. Sitting in the car, tears streamed down my face. My trembling fingers scrolled through my phone, finally finding my parents’ number. The call connected quickly, my father’s gentle voice came through: “Aria, what’s wrong?” Hearing the familiar voice, I could no longer control my emotions. “Dad… I… I…” I choked, tears bursting forth. My father sensed something was wrong, his tone becoming urgent: “Aria, what happened?” I took a deep breath and told my parents everything that had happened. By the time I finished, I was sobbing uncontrollably. My parents were silent for a moment, then my mother’s soothing voice came through: “Don’t be afraid, sweetheart. We’re here for you.”

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After a multi-car collision, my girlfriend rushed to care for the culprit who caused my injuries. Faced with my plea for help, she remained indifferent. “If it weren’t for you, Ethan wouldn’t have broken his leg!” “Now you’re whining about a little pain, I never knew you were such a crybaby!” It was then that I realized the injured man across from me was my girlfriend’s first love. Watching their intimate expressions, I suddenly felt like I was in the way. “Dr. Parker, this patient’s injuries are severe and require immediate surgery!” “Put him aside, he won’t die.” My girlfriend Olivia was currently supporting her first love, hurriedly rushing him to the emergency room. As for me, lying on the ground bleeding profusely, she acted as if she couldn’t see me. Just as I felt my life slipping away, she finally walked slowly to my side and coldly said, “If you hadn’t suddenly rushed out, how could Ethan have broken his leg!” “That was his brand new motorcycle, you’ll have to compensate him when you recover!” I tried my best to explain, but was met with her hateful glare. In that moment, my heart sank into endless darkness. Today, I had originally planned to give her a surprise. I didn’t expect that as soon as I turned into that small alley, I would be knocked down by a motorcycle. The culprit was Ethan, the first love Olivia could never let go of in her heart. He was clearly speeding, but ended up in much better shape than me. When he was finally rescued, he only had a broken leg. I called Olivia for help, but when she arrived she ignored me, She even kicked me hard, causing my wound to tear open and bleed heavily. We had been together for five years and were at the stage of discussing marriage. But now I just felt incredibly stupid. In Olivia’s heart, I probably wasn’t even worth a thousandth of Ethan. As if to punish me, Olivia used her position as a doctor to deliberately delay putting me in an ambulance for fifteen minutes. By the time I arrived at the hospital, my last shred of hope had been shattered. As I gradually lost consciousness, I passed out. The last thought in my mind was to completely break things off with Olivia. Since she was so infatuated with Ethan, even disregarding my life for him, I should recognize my place and let them be together! When I regained consciousness, Ethan was in the bed next to mine. Olivia was smiling as she fed him some nutritious soup, “I brought it in a thermos so it’s the perfect temperature, try it.” Noticing I was awake, she glared at me impatiently. “If you want to eat something, order delivery yourself. Don’t expect me to take care of you!” I thought my heart had already turned to ashes, but hearing her speak like this, tears still involuntarily streamed down my face. Seeing this, Olivia took it as me making a fuss. “What are you crying for? You’re always causing trouble, it’s so annoying!” “Let me tell you Jack, Ethan is irreplaceable in my heart. You could never measure up no matter how hard you try!” Hearing this, Ethan’s eyes were full of smugness as he looked at me provocatively, “Sorry bro, Olivia and I go way back. You don’t mind, do you?” In the past, hearing words like this would have sent me into a rage. But now, I just calmly wiped away my tears and smiled indifferently. “Of course I don’t mind. She’s your girlfriend, not mine.” Olivia’s face turned ashen as she glared at me. I ignored her and called my mother directly, “Mom, I’m in the hospital. Can you come pick me up?”

Olivia thought I was bluffing, “Don’t think calling your mom over will scare me. Jack, this is all you’re capable of.” I closed my eyes tightly, not wanting to waste any more words. When my mom arrived with her assistant in a hurry, Olivia was shocked to realize I wasn’t putting on an act. She blocked my mom, “Auntie, he’s still hospitalized. It’s not appropriate to take him away right after surgery, is it?” My mom already had a poor impression of Olivia, and now she pushed her aside without hesitation. “You’re just a small-time doctor, how dare you delay my son’s treatment? Let me tell you, this hospital’s major investor has deep ties with our family. If you keep causing trouble, I’ll make sure you can never work in this field again!” Olivia had become an attending physician at a young age and prided herself on her medical skills, which made her attitude arrogant. In reality, I had been quietly supporting her all along. To protect her pride, I never revealed the truth. So now she didn’t believe it at all, thinking my mom was just bluffing. “You’re lying! I got to where I am today through my own abilities and experience. How could I possibly rely on this good-for-nothing?” The assistant immediately stepped forward, glaring at her fiercely. Olivia instantly shut her mouth, and Ethan beside her was too scared to make a sound. Afterwards, mom carefully carried me out of the hospital and transferred me to the city’s best private hospital. “Rest easy and focus on recovery. The Taylor family’s daughter has been waiting. Now that you’ve agreed, we can set the wedding date today.” I nodded weakly and closed my eyes, my mind in chaos. Not long after, a message came from Olivia. “Isn’t your family just a small company? Why bother putting on this act? Who are you trying to fool?” “I’m warning you Jack, stop making up ridiculous stories to trick me, or we’re completely done!” Even at this point, she still thought I was lying to her. I took a deep breath to calm myself, then replied bluntly, “Let’s break up. Consider these years as me feeding a dog.” “I hope you and your dear Ethan live happily ever after. Don’t go ruining anyone else’s life.” After sending that, I promptly set her to Do Not Disturb. Thinking back to when we first got together, Olivia was the one who actively pursued me. She told me Ethan was just a close friend. It wasn’t until I accidentally discovered their flirtatious text messages that she admitted they had been in a relationship before. “Don’t worry, you’re the only one in my heart now. He’s in the past for me.” She was so earnest then, and I chose to believe her. I thought she truly loved me as she claimed. But I never expected that behind my back, she and Ethan had already rekindled their old flame. This accident also let me see her true colors completely. As I was lost in thought, my phone suddenly rang again. It was a friend request from Emma. Mom sent me a message asking us to get to know each other. After accepting the request, I didn’t chat much with her and continued resting. For all these years, I had never revealed my true family background to Olivia. So she always thought I was just an ordinary young man, and everything I did was to win her back. But I’m also incredibly grateful that I didn’t tell her in advance that my family’s company had long been the city’s leading enterprise, with substantial assets and business across multiple sectors.

My injuries were severe, and I had to recuperate in the hospital for a full month. During this month, Olivia never contacted me. Instead, she frequently updated her social media, going on trips with Ethan. I thought my heart had already turned to stone, but seeing those photos still made my chest ache uncontrollably. It felt like a boulder was pressing on my chest, the suffocating feeling making me dizzy. Five whole years of love, yet it was so worthless in her heart. Even though I had given her so much, in the end I was just a prop in her love story with Ethan. I’m being discharged the day after tomorrow. Mom told me Emma will come to pick me up too. We’ve chatted a few times during this period. Her personality is completely different from Olivia’s. When it comes to work, her passion is no less than mine. “Got it Mom, I’ll be ready.” Looking at my scruffy, haggard reflection in the mirror, I seemed to have aged ten years in an instant. Thinking back, Olivia used to nag me about my appearance every time we went out. She bought me vintage glasses and picked out flashy shirts that didn’t suit my style, making me look like a clown. Later I realized it was because Ethan liked that kind of look. She treated me as Ethan’s shadow, while claiming she only loved me. Every year on her birthday, I would meticulously prepare surprises. When it came to my birthday, she always used work at the hospital as an excuse to cancel. The only birthday gift she ever gave me was a freebie that came with something she bought for Ethan. It’s not that I never argued with her, but each time she would threaten to break up. I couldn’t bear to end the relationship, so I kept enduring it. If I hadn’t been injured by Ethan this time, I don’t know how long I would have remained deluded. Tomorrow when I’m discharged, I need to go to our shared apartment to pick up the cat I raised. It was a gift I gave her. Olivia was excited about it at first, but soon lost interest. I had to clean the house and take care of the kitten, exhausted every day. Olivia was nonchalant: “I’m training you. Otherwise how will you take care of me after we’re married?” I haven’t looked after the cat for a month. I don’t know how she and Ethan have been treating it. Thinking of this, I became extremely anxious and quickly called my assistant to check on the cat’s condition. When I heard the cat’s pitiful meowing in the video, my heart clenched. The cat’s name is Coco, a sweet orange tabby. I cared for it deeply and was always afraid of it getting even slightly hurt. But after such a short time in Olivia’s hands, it had been mistreated like this. She was the one who insisted on getting a pet, yet she didn’t cherish it at all. For some reason, a wave of sorrow washed over me. Coco’s fate was so similar to mine. I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. So I asked my assistant to go pick up Coco. Olivia was still traveling, no one was home, And I didn’t want to have any more entanglements with her anyway. “Boss, the password you gave me doesn’t work. I can’t get in.” I hadn’t expected Olivia to change the lock on the apartment. I paused briefly, then gave Ethan’s birthday as the new code. This time the door opened, and my assistant was able to bring Coco out safely. I didn’t expect Olivia to be so heartless. I was the one who rented the apartment. She never paid a cent for utilities. Yet just to spite me, she changed the lock without telling me. Perhaps seeing this through the security camera, Olivia contacted me after a long silence. “Who told you to break into my home and steal the cat? That’s burglary, I’m calling the police!” “I’ll make sure you get a criminal record and ruin your life, unless you keep paying me rent and apologize.” She accused me self-righteously, as if I was truly the one who had done wrong. In the past, I was always the first to apologize after every argument. She never backed down. This first time she actively reached out to me, it was for money. “So you do know I paid the rent? Aren’t you the one illegally occupying someone else’s home? I’m giving you one week to move out. Don’t let me see you again.” I retorted angrily, trying to suppress my rage. Olivia was dismissive, “It’s just rent, right? As an attending physician, I make over $20,000 a month. I don’t need your pocket change.” “Fine, I’ll move. But I’m telling you, don’t come begging me to get back together when you regret it later!” I didn’t respond further, not wanting to waste more words on her. Ethan chimed in at this point: “Come on, don’t make things too tense because of me. Let’s all talk it out calmly.” “Jack, just apologize. Olivia won’t hold it against you.” He came to stay at our rented apartment every week and even had his own room. They both relied on me to live, so naturally they didn’t want to completely cut ties. In the past, for Olivia’s sake, I put up with everything and endured a lot of grief from Ethan. But now I couldn’t take it anymore, “You really think I’m a sucker? I haven’t done anything wrong. The ones who are wrong are people like you with no moral bottom line.”

My assistant just sent me photos of the apartment. Looking closely, I noticed opened boxes of birth control pills scattered on the coffee table. They had clearly been used. Whether Olivia had betrayed me or not, the answer was obvious. I had thought she had only emotionally strayed from our relationship, But now I realized she may have crossed the line with Ethan long ago. Suddenly, a strong wave of nausea hit me. I felt utterly disgusted. After hanging up, Olivia seemed unsatisfied and posted a public update on social media. In the photo, she and Ethan were embracing tightly at his academic lecture. But the research results displayed on the podium were all my hard work. I originally had a background in scientific research and had made a name for myself in the field. Later Olivia complained that burying myself in research was useless, so she forbade me from continuing. But when she found out Ethan was interested in research, she forced me to do research for him, Crediting all the results I had spent countless hours on to Ethan. “Fine, I won’t hold it against you this time. There’s an academic symposium the day after tomorrow. Go in Ethan’s place.” “Talk about your insights on the research. Of course, tell everyone you’re just Ethan’s assistant.” I was deep in thought when Olivia’s message came through. Seeing this content, a wave of mockery welled up inside me. These were clearly my achievements, yet I had to help them deceive everyone. Ethan had even gained quite a bit of praise and prestige because of this. But it should all belong to me. Even if I had to destroy it, I absolutely couldn’t let these despicable thieves benefit! I lowered my head and was silent for a moment, then decisively agreed. Since they were so shameless, they couldn’t blame me for being merciless when I exposed everything! Seeing that I agreed, Olivia sent over the speech. “Just read this when it’s time. Don’t cause any trouble, or we’re breaking up immediately!” I sneered, not bothering to respond.

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My twin sister and I couldn’t be more different—two extremes of morality. She was born with a heart of gold, kind and selfless, but diagnosed with an intellectual disability. I, on the other hand, was born with a violent streak, tested positive for a “warrior gene,” and ended up in prison for assault. It wasn’t until I found out that my sister had been relentlessly bullied by her classmates that my world cracked open. They live-streamed her suffering on the dark web, letting viewers vote on how to torture her next. When the bullies promised that their next “show” would involve forcing her into gender reassignment surgery, I laughed. Live-streamed bullying? They have no idea I’m about to get out. Bullying is what I do best, too. When I walked out of prison, the other inmates breathed a collective sigh of relief. The weather outside was brutal—howling wind, thick snow falling in sheets. Not exactly a welcoming sight. But the person waiting for me wasn’t my sister, as we’d planned. Instead, it was my mother, her hair now completely white. She looked like she’d aged decades overnight. Her once lively, easygoing demeanor was gone, replaced by swollen, bloodshot eyes. She didn’t say a word. She didn’t take me home. Instead, she drove me straight to the hospital. Through the glass window of the ICU, I saw my sister lying on the bed, tubes sticking out of her fragile body. My fist slammed against the glass, my breath fogging up the surface as I tried to steady myself. “What the hell happened?” I growled. My mother’s trembling hands held up her phone. Through the chaotic noise of screams and laughter, I saw a video playing on the screen—a video of my sister. Her face was so swollen it looked like a balloon. That’s when I learned the truth. The sister who had always pretended to be happy and carefree had been tormented by her classmates for months. Not only did they bully her, but they also recorded it and streamed it on a dark web channel called Room 9 to make money off her pain. In the video, a girl with brown hair smirked as she drew a humiliating cartoon turtle on my sister’s face with a marker, complete with exaggerated features and crude anatomy. My sister’s face, once bright and innocent like a deer’s, was now swollen beyond recognition. Her tear-filled eyes were reduced to tiny slits, and wherever the marker dragged across her skin, it left deep, sunken lines on her inflamed face. The camera shook violently, showing my sister kneeling on the floor, stripped of her dignity, a dog leash around her neck. She couldn’t move. The laughter in the background was deafening. Three girls and one guy took turns humiliating her, each one laughing louder than the last. The brown-haired girl yanked my sister’s hair and haphazardly shaved it off. Then, she forced my sister to face the camera. “Say cheese for the big brothers watching!” she taunted. My sister’s weak, hoarse voice trembled as she managed to whisper, “You said there were stray kittens that needed help… You lied to me.” The brown-haired girl burst into laughter, exchanging amused glances with her friends as if to say, Can you believe this idiot? She covered her mouth with fake modesty, giggled, then tilted her head in mock flirtation. “Do I look like a little kitten? Meow~” she cooed, before erupting into more laughter. Behind her, the guy was already impatient. “Quit wasting time,” he snapped. “Let’s get started!” My sister was shoved to the ground, forced into a degrading pose with her legs, making the peace sign with her fingers. The louder the bullies laughed, the more gifts and donations flooded the livestream’s chat. The brown-haired girl, having had her fill of fun, adjusted her hair and leaned close to the camera, licking her lips seductively. “So, big brothers, what do you want to see next? We can do anything.” The chat lit up with suggestions. “Have you guys done the eel trick yet? Let’s relive the classics.” “+10086.” “I’ll send a gift for that. Everyone else, keep it coming.”

The brown-haired girl wore a mock expression of regret. “Too bad we don’t have the ‘props’ for that right now. Guess we’ll save it for the next stream.” The chat lit up with another suggestion: “How about golf balls? Three of them! I can see a golf set in the corner of the room!” The brown-haired girl turned to look, clapping her hands in delight. “Brilliant!” My sister’s hoarse voice cried out, begging for mercy, but her pleas only fueled their excitement. They pinned her down like a fish flopping on a cutting board, completely at their mercy. The anguished screams echoed through the phone’s speaker. My mother couldn’t bear to watch anymore, but I kept my eyes glued to the screen, memorizing every face. One of the bullies, a chubby girl, pulled a frozen popsicle from the fridge, a nasty smirk playing on her lips. “Let me help cool her down,” she sneered. “Maybe it’ll stop her from acting so desperate.” The next second, my sister’s head snapped back, her entire body convulsing in pain. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head before she passed out, leaving the bloody golf ball to roll onto the floor. The brown-haired girl bent down, picked up the bloodstained ball, and grabbed my sister’s swollen face, squeezing it viciously. “Weren’t you supposed to be kind? Weren’t you supposed to be pretty? Even that guy, Sean, liked you.” “Don’t think I don’t see through your act. Look at you—you’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” She tried to shove the bloody ball into my sister’s mouth, but even unconscious, my sister’s jaw stayed clenched tight. The bullies pried her mouth open, pulling at her lips like cracking open an egg, until her teeth shattered. Blood and shards of enamel spilled from her mouth, choking her. The brown-haired girl recoiled in disgust, slapping my sister’s face. “Gross!” she exclaimed. Then they all started laughing again, as if this were the funniest thing they’d ever seen. I clenched my fists so tight my nails dug into my palms. The fury I’d been holding back began to boil over, clouding my vision. “Your sister lost several teeth,” my mother sobbed. “Her lower body was torn apart. They…” Tears spilled from her eyes as she choked on her words. “They stapled her…” Her voice broke. “They stapled her together with a stapler. The doctors said she’d need at least five reconstructive surgeries just to restore basic function.” “And that’s not all. They found thumbtacks in her stomach. And… and pieces of a cat.” “Your sister loved cats more than anything.” My mom collapsed to the floor, burying her face in her hands. “What did I do to deserve this?” she wailed. “Did you report it to the police?” I asked coldly, my voice cutting through the room like a knife. My mother’s sobs only grew louder. “We wanted to,” she cried. “But they threatened us. They said they had worse videos. If we went to the police, they’d make it so your sister could never show her face again.”

What the school and the bullies’ parents did next completely destroyed the last shred of my self-control. My parents, desperate for justice, went to the school first. The school, however, pretended like nothing had happened. The principal claimed, “Unless I see it with my own eyes, videos can be faked. For all we know, someone could’ve Photoshopped this. I could whip up ten more just like it.” It was all because the brown-haired girl’s father was one of the school’s major donors. That scumbag didn’t just refuse to hold his daughter accountable—he had the audacity to insult my parents. “Maybe you should get your daughter checked out,” he sneered. “Is her condition getting worse? Or maybe you two need to get checked—you’re dumb enough to believe everything a slow kid says. Unlike you, I’m busy and don’t have time for this nonsense.” Before my parents left, he couldn’t resist one more jab. “Don’t forget, we only admitted your daughter because we wanted to support people with disabilities. Maybe you should show a little gratitude instead of complaining.” Even my sister’s homeroom teacher defended the bullies, claiming that my sister had a “two-faced personality,” pretending to be sweet while secretly bullying others. The victim was painted as a villain, spat on and slandered. My dad couldn’t take it anymore. He went to the company owned by one of the bullies’ parents to demand justice. The result? The security guards dragged him to a spot with no cameras and beat him so badly he broke his leg. He’s still recovering at home. The bullies? Untouched. Unbothered. My family? Completely torn apart. I’d never heard of justice working like this. After much hesitation, my mother played me an audio recording. It was from the day my dad confronted the bullies. Their voices were filled with arrogance, dripping with mockery. “Oh, so you’re saying we bullied her? Fine. Then yeah, we did. We bullied her. What are you gonna do about it?” “When’s she getting out of the hospital? Next time, we’ll do the gender reassignment surgery for free. Hahaha!” The laughter was like knives stabbing into my mother’s chest. When she looked at me, her eyes were filled with despair. But I just smiled. “Bullying?” I said, my voice steady, calm. “In prison, bullying is what I do best.”

My name is Tiana Blake. My twin sister, Tara, and I may share the same face, but we’re polar opposites when it comes to morality. When we were kids, Tara and I once came across a sick puppy on the street. Tara cried, heartbroken over the poor thing’s suffering. I thought about it for a moment, then grabbed the puppy by the neck and snapped it. In my mind, the fastest way to end suffering is death. Tara, however, screamed and cried uncontrollably. Every holiday, when we visited relatives and the family butchered pigs, Tara would cry so hard she’d pass out. Meanwhile, I was the one pinning the pigs down, my strength unmatched by anyone else. Watching the blade sink in, white turning red as steaming blood sprayed across my face, brought me an addictive sense of satisfaction. As we got older, my parents eventually realized something was off with Tara. She was slow to react to things, so they took her for an evaluation. The doctors diagnosed her with a mild intellectual disability. Devastated, my parents told me it was my responsibility to look out for her. I took that mission to heart. But life has a way of piling on. One New Year’s, some bratty kid called Tara a “retard” and threw firecrackers at us. I pinned the kid down, lit an entire handful of firecrackers, and shoved them into his mouth. By the time the firecrackers went off, the kid’s baby teeth were blown to bits. His parents wailed and demanded $100,000 in compensation. My dad made me kneel in front of a statue of the Virgin Mary and pray for forgiveness. “Tiana,” he said, his face full of worry. “Do you understand how much pain you caused his parents? Don’t you care about their feelings?” I thought about it carefully, wondering how to stop them from feeling pain. Finally, I came to a conclusion. “Then we should just kill his parents too. That way, they won’t feel anything anymore.” The look on my parents’ faces shifted to pure horror. They took me to get evaluated as well. The results? They found the so-called “warrior gene” in my DNA. In short, I was born to be a criminal. A high IQ combined with a tendency toward extreme violence. Born with freakish strength and a knack for manipulation, my mind naturally gravitated toward solving problems in the most ruthless ways possible. The doctors were right. Trouble followed me wherever I went. When I was nine, my classmates made fun of me, saying I looked like the villain from a cartoon. I lured one of them outside, smashed his mouth with a brick until it was a bloody mess, then ran to the police station crying, claiming he’d attacked me and tripped while chasing me. At eleven, my uncle owed my dad money and hadn’t repaid it for years. At a family dinner, he mocked my dad, calling him money-hungry. I waited until he got drunk and went outside to pee, then cut his hand so badly it was barely hanging on by a strip of skin. I ran back to the table, crying to my relatives, claiming he’d tried to touch me inappropriately. I became a regular at juvenile detention, but I never stayed long. Each time I went, I’d learn a few new tricks before coming back out. By sixteen, I finally slipped up.

Tara saw an elderly woman fall on the sidewalk and, being the kind-hearted person she was, helped her up. The woman turned around and accused Tara of pushing her down. She checked herself into the hospital and refused to leave, claiming Tara had paralyzed her. In front of the media, the woman twisted her wrinkled face into a mask of self-righteousness. “I’m just an old woman,” she said. “I never lie.” Her family jumped in, shouting, “If she didn’t push you, why did she help you? Guilty conscience, huh?” So, I waited for my chance. I kidnapped that old hag, strapped her to the back of an electric scooter, and ran her over again and again. By the time I was done, she got her wish. She was permanently paralyzed. This time, I couldn’t get away with it. Security cameras caught everything. I’ve hated cameras ever since. Since I’d hit the legal age for criminal responsibility, I was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison. With good behavior, I only served a year. Good behavior was easy—I ruled the place. No one dared cross me, and I lived like a queen inside those walls. The vibration of Tara’s phone pulled me out of my thoughts. It was a message from those bullies. “Make sure you come back next semester. We’re not done playing with you.” Playing? I thought, a cold smile spreading across my face. They have no idea who’s about to start playing with them. I turned to my mom, forcing a sweet, innocent smile. “Do I look like Tara?” I asked. She flinched, her voice trembling as she answered, “Y-yes…” That winter break, I did only one thing: I collected every piece of information I could about those bullies. I found a class video someone had posted on social media—one of those cheesy school projects where everyone talks about their dreams. Watching it now was almost laughable. The brown-haired girl stood confidently in front of the camera, speaking with conviction. “My name is Wendy Young. My dream is to become a philanthropist, to help those in need, to make sure no one goes hungry or cold ever again.” Wendy lived in the upscale neighborhood of Riverwood Estates. I took a temp job as a delivery driver in the area, keeping a close eye on her house. Her dad, one of the school’s board members, owned a successful company. Her mom was a high-profile attorney. With parents who were always busy, Wendy was spoiled rotten and given free rein to do whatever she wanted. She’d become the queen bee of not just our school, but several others nearby. Rumor had it that Wendy once beat up a girl at a karaoke bar just because they were wearing the same outfit. The girl eventually jumped off a building, unable to cope, but the story mysteriously disappeared from the internet. Her two sidekicks were no better. One wanted to be a doctor, to “heal the sick and save lives.” The other dreamed of becoming a teacher, to “educate and inspire the next generation.” In reality, they were Wendy’s lackeys, doing her dirty work in exchange for favors and protection. Then there was the guy, Carl Stone. In the video, he flexed his muscles and bragged, “My dream is to become a cop, to take down criminals and serve justice.” Carl was nothing more than a spoiled rich kid, hopelessly infatuated with Wendy. She strung him along, and he followed her like a lovesick puppy. For fun, he spread disgusting rumors about Tara, Photoshopped obscene images of her, and even edited fake obituaries. Does karma exist in the world of school bullying? If it doesn’t, I’ll make sure it does.

It’s obvious—justice doesn’t always prevail. These bullies were born with privilege, backed by wealth and power, untouchable in a world where karma is just a fantasy that keeps victims clinging to hope. Without someone like me, they might have coasted through life, effortlessly reaching heights others could only dream of. But unfortunately for them, their only dream now will be escaping my grip. As I slung my backpack over my shoulder, I couldn’t help but smile—a deceptively sweet, almost goofy smile. Like a predator entering a city, I had no intention of obeying its rules. Social norms? Red lights? None of that mattered to me. The first day of school, the classroom buzzed with good spirits. The teacher stood at the front, directing students to clean the room. Meanwhile, Wendy Young and her gang of four lounged by the back door, eating sunflower seeds and laughing obnoxiously, their carefree vibe clashing with everyone else’s busyness. Wendy, chewing gum, pulled a perfume bottle from her bag and sprayed her hair liberally. Carl Stone leaned back in his chair, a cigarette between his fingers, blowing smoke in the teacher’s face without a care in the world. Lily, the chubby girl, cracked seeds between her teeth, smirking. “Do you think that idiot Tara will show up?” Lily sneered. “If she doesn’t, we’re gonna lose out on so much fun.” Wendy rolled her eyes, setting down her perfume. “Doesn’t matter where she transfers to,” she said lazily. “We’ll just find her and corner her at her new school.” Carl flicked his cigarette to the ground, sending sparks flying. “Damn,” he muttered. “Last time wasn’t enough. Next time, I’m bringing an eel—longer and thicker than ever.” At that moment, I pushed the door open and walked in. The teacher spun around, her hands on her hips. The moment she saw me, her face twisted into a scowl. “Your parents caused such a scene last year that I lost my bonus!” she snapped. “You’ve got some nerve showing your face here!” I didn’t respond. She wasn’t done. “If you’ve got a screw loose, you shouldn’t even be in school. Trash like you will never amount to anything.” “You’re the rotten apple ruining the whole barrel,” she spat. “Students like you are better off dead.” Wendy smirked, dragging out her words mockingly. “Don’t worry, Ms. Lee. My dad can fix your bonus—maybe even get you a promotion.” The teacher’s tone instantly changed. “Oh, of course. Thank you, Wendy. That would be such a big help.” I chuckled coldly. “So, you’re just a lapdog,” I said. The teacher’s face turned bright red, her dignity shattered in front of the class. “What did you just say?” she barked, storming toward me. But I didn’t flinch, which made her hesitate. She sneered, trying a new tactic. “Oh, I remember now. Your broke-ass dad was the one who kneeled at the school gates, begging for money. He looked just like a stray dog.” I cupped my hand around my ear, pretending to listen. “Do you hear that?” I said lightly. “Sounds like barking.” Her face contorted with rage. “I’ll rip that filthy mouth of yours to shreds!” She lunged at me, her hand reaching out, but I caught her wrist mid-air. With one quick twist, there was a loud pop as her shoulder dislocated.

I cleared my throat and yelled dramatically. “Ms. Lee, don’t pull my ear like that! It hurts!” My exaggerated cries drew a crowd of curious onlookers. The teacher, clutching her limp arm in agony, couldn’t free herself from my grip. I added a flourish, twisting her fingers with a loud, satisfying crack. “Ah! My fingers!” she screamed. “And my ear!” I shouted back. A teacher from the next room rushed in, his face pale. “Ms. Lee, you can’t just pull a student’s ear like that!” Sweat poured down Ms. Lee’s face as she struggled to speak, too overwhelmed by the pain. I leaned in close, whispering in her ear with a chuckle. “You’d better get that looked at. What if they can’t fix it?” Then I let go. She stumbled back, cradling her hand, the dislocated fingers trembling as she turned and fled with the other teacher’s help. Wendy, watching the scene unfold, didn’t seem to notice anything out of the ordinary. To her, it was just the return of some entertainment. She pulled a utility knife from her desk drawer, flicked the blade out, and pointed it at me. “Get over here,” she said. I took a slow step forward, my heartbeat quickening—not with fear, but with excitement. To everyone else, though, I must have looked terrified. Wendy grabbed a bucket of dirty water, spat into it, and kicked it toward her friends. The others followed her lead, spitting into the bucket until the surface was coated with thick, yellowish foam. Wendy leaned back, arms crossed, nudging the bucket with her foot. “Here’s your welcome gift,” she said smugly. “Drink it.” I glanced around. The other students were just spectators, watching with amused indifference. None of them planned to intervene. Behind Wendy, I saw him: Sean. The guy who’d caused my sister so much pain. He was sitting with his head lowered, pretending not to see me. Carl lit another cigarette, smirking. “Don’t rush,” he said. “Light my cigarette first.” I took the lighter he handed me, my face blank as they burst into laughter. “Look at her! What a dumbass!” someone yelled. “She’s so slow, it’s hilarious!” If it were my sister standing in this room, she’d be drowning in humiliation. But I’m not my sister. I grabbed the bottle of perfume from Wendy’s desk, twisted the cap off, and poured the entire thing into my mouth. The room fell silent, the laughter dying as they stared at me in shock. Smiling, I pulled out Carl’s lighter and flicked it on. Before anyone could react, I sprayed the perfume from my mouth, directing the fiery stream straight at Wendy’s face. The fire roared to life instantly, engulfing her smug expression and that perfectly styled brown hair. The stench of burning protein filled the air as Wendy screamed, flailing wildly, her hair a blazing inferno. She jumped up and down, shouting for someone to put it out. “Need help?” I said sweetly. I grabbed her by the hair and slammed her head into the desk. Bang! Bang! Bang! Each impact was sharper than the last. The flames finally went out, leaving Wendy dazed, her head spinning. She clung to the desk for support, struggling to stay upright. I smiled, grabbing her arm. “Let me help you with that.”

I hooked the handle of the bucket with my foot, grabbed it swiftly with my right hand, and flipped it upside down, slamming it over Wendy’s head. It was quick. Brutal. Neither Wendy nor her lackeys saw it coming. Wendy gasped, choking on the filthy water, gagging as she tried to breathe. Her once-pristine face was already blistering from the burn. She screamed in rage and panic. “What are you idiots waiting for? Kill this b****!” That snapped her crew into action. They all pulled out box cutters from their pockets, ready to charge. Carl was the first to lunge at me, but I sidestepped him with ease. The next second, I was behind him, grinning. “Too slow. Let me show you what speed really looks like.” Grabbing his wrist, I slammed his hand onto the table, pinning it under the stapler. I pounded down on the stapler repeatedly. Click. Click. Click. “AHHH! My hand!” The staples embedded themselves deep into his flesh until the stapler jammed against his bones. Blood oozed out, pooling on the desk. Feigning terror, I threw my hands in the air, shouting, “Please don’t hurt me!” Then I bolted for the door, pretending to run away. The morons thought I was scared and gave chase. I waited behind the door. The moment one of them, the girl with the pockmarked face, poked her head through, I slammed the door shut as hard as I could. BANG! The door smashed into her face, twisting it into a grotesque shape. She staggered, clutching her head, and I kicked her square in the chest, sending her sprawling on the ground like a flipped-over turtle. Carl burst through next, but I darted into the bathroom. “She’s cornered in the girls’ bathroom!” Wendy shrieked. “Block the door! She’s dead meat!” I laughed quietly to myself. They thought they had me trapped. But I wasn’t the one who was cornered. The bathroom door locked behind them. Wendy, still fuming from the burns, inspected her face in a broken mirror. “My face! You’re going to pay for this, you little freak!” She advanced toward me, her fury blinding her to the fact that I was backing away on purpose, luring her closer. She thought I was my sister—weak, helpless. She reached out to grab my shirt, but she didn’t realize that her attack range was also my attack range. I swung my fist like a hammer, smashing it into her face. The blistered skin on her cheek burst open, yellow fluid spilling out. The raw, red flesh underneath glistened in the dim light, and a layer of translucent skin hung loosely from her face. I smiled. Back when we slaughtered pigs for New Year’s, three punches were all I’d need to knock one out cold. But I wasn’t done playing with her yet. Wendy screamed, clutching her face, too scared to touch her wound. I grabbed my phone, threw an arm around her shoulder, and turned the camera on her mangled face. “Say cheese,” I said. “Go to hell!” she spat. “Not happy?” I tilted my head. “That’s disappointing.”

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The man I’ve been in love with for ten years saw my roommate during a video call and fell for her instantly. Then he asked me to help him win her over. On the phone, his voice was as deep and captivating as ever. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone before, Lila. Please, help me.” But there wasn’t a trace of pleading in his tone. It was as if he already knew I wouldn’t say no. That’s how it’s always been between us—he’s always been so sure of me. Logan and my roommate were kissing. Their lips locked, their bodies close, completely lost in each other. I stood frozen, watching the scene unfold, feeling like someone had reached into my chest and torn my heart in half. I should’ve known this would happen the moment I agreed to help him pursue her. I should’ve prepared myself for it. But seeing it with my own eyes? It broke me. They were so absorbed in each other that they didn’t even notice me standing there. “Come over to my place tonight?” Logan’s low, husky voice pierced the quiet night. His words hit me like a punch to the gut, and my heart sank into an icy abyss. So, they were already at that stage? My roommate playfully smacked his arm, laughing softly. “What are you talking about? I promised Lila I’d help her with her thesis tonight!” They leaned in closer, their foreheads touching as they exchanged words I couldn’t quite hear, their intimacy painfully obvious even from a distance. When she finally went upstairs, Logan turned around—and saw me. “Lila?” His smile vanished instantly. I stiffened, avoiding his gaze as I fought to keep my emotions in check. Without a word, I turned and headed back to my dorm. The scene I’d just witnessed was too much. The bitterness, the jealousy, and the helplessness wrapped around my chest, suffocating me. I’d been by Logan’s side as his friend for ten years. In all that time, I’d never seen him show even the slightest interest in any woman. To me, he was always distant, rational—so much so that I sometimes wondered if he even saw me as a girl, or just a genderless companion. But tonight… Tonight was the first time I’d ever seen him like this. So full of emotion. And for who? For someone he’d only known for ten days. Ten days. Meanwhile, I’ve loved him for ten years—my entire youth consumed by this silent, unrequited love. When we were in high school, I failed my college entrance exam and couldn’t get into the same university as him. I spent an extra year retaking the test, only to mess up my application and end up in a different city. Throughout college, we barely kept in touch. Now, Logan was just starting to settle into his career, and I was drowning in my final-year thesis. We spoke even less. Every time I tried to visit him, he’d shut me down without hesitation. “Lila, I’m busy,” he’d say. Sometimes, I’d call him on video, desperate for some kind of connection. But no matter how much I wanted to talk, he always had something else to do. I knew I had no right to complain. To him, I was just a friend he’d known for a long time. Ten days ago, my roommate borrowed my phone to take a picture and accidentally stumbled upon a photo of Logan in my gallery. Her finger paused for a moment. Then she smiled. “Who’s this? He’s good-looking. Do you know him, Lila?” I saw the spark of interest in her eyes. I didn’t answer, mumbling some excuse before leaving the room. Even though I knew the chances of them meeting were slim, I couldn’t sleep that night. The fear of losing him—of losing even the fantasy of him—was overwhelming. My roommate was the kind of girl everyone noticed. She was the “it” girl of our department, with a face that was both strikingly beautiful and effortlessly alluring. Her presence alone was enough to draw attention, and her aloof, hard-to-get attitude only made her more desirable. In all four years of college, no one had managed to capture her interest. Until now. All it took was one picture of Logan. The next day, I finally worked up the courage to confess my feelings to Logan. But before I could, he called me. And during that video call, he saw my roommate in the background. I’ll never forget the way his eyes lit up. The way his sharp features softened, his usual guarded expression melting into something I’d never seen before. It was obvious. He’d fallen for her at first sight. The day after the call, Logan called me again. “Lila,” he said, his voice as calm and steady as ever. “I need your help. I really like her.” It was the first time he’d ever asked me for anything. But there was no vulnerability in his voice. No hesitation. He already knew I wouldn’t refuse him. That realization hit me like a wave, the bitterness spreading through every corner of my body. But what could I do? I couldn’t stop him from liking someone else, just like I couldn’t stop myself from loving him. So I said yes. I agreed to help him win over my roommate. What followed was inevitable. I introduced them. They exchanged numbers. And despite always being “too busy” for me, Logan suddenly had all the time in the world for her. He even took three days off work just to visit her. Today was their first official date. And judging by what I just saw, things had clearly progressed faster than I’d expected. When I stepped back into the dorm, my roommate’s voice greeted me. “Lila,” she said, her tone light and cheerful, “Logan and I are officially together.”

“Oh, that’s great,” I replied softly, forcing my voice to stay steady. I returned to my desk, sat down, and opened my laptop to work on my thesis. It took me several tries to type out a single word—”I.” Behind me, my roommate’s voice carried a hint of a smile. “It’s all thanks to you, our favorite matchmaker.” My fingers froze on the keyboard, tightening involuntarily. My chest ached, and my heart clenched so hard it felt like it might shatter. Yes, I had brought them together. It was me who told Logan every little thing my roommate liked—her favorite topics, the kind of humor she enjoyed. It was me who assured my roommate that Logan had never been interested in anyone else, that his feelings for her were rare and genuine. For the past ten days, I watched Logan go out of his way to care for her while she smiled every time she talked about him. I witnessed them fall for each other, piece by painful piece. Late at night, I’d bury my face in my pillow, trying to block out the sound of Logan’s voice messages from her phone: “Be good. Don’t stay up too late. Sweet dreams.” His tone was warm, teasing, with a hint of husky affection—a kind of tenderness I’d never experienced from him. And in that moment, I realized something devastating: I regretted everything. I even thought about lying to him. If I’d told Logan that my roommate already liked someone else, his pride would’ve made him give up immediately. Maybe then I’d still have a chance. “Speaking of which—” My roommate’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. She had walked up behind me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders in a playful hug. “Logan and I decided to treat you to dinner tomorrow as a thank-you. You’ll come, right?” My breath caught in my throat, and instinctively, I wanted to refuse. But she didn’t give me the chance. “Logan’s heading back to work the day after tomorrow, and after we graduate next month, I’ll be moving in with him. This might be one of the last times we all get to hang out together.” Her head rested lightly against my neck, her breath warm against my skin. Her voice was soft, almost coaxing. “It was his idea, too.” … If I still had even the faintest sliver of hope left last night, it was gone now. The next evening, we went to a hotpot restaurant near campus. The broth bubbled and steamed, filling the room with warmth, but I felt none of it. Logan sat across from me, peeling shrimp for my roommate. His head was slightly lowered, his long fingers deftly removing the shells with ease. Every movement was precise, practiced, and deliberate. Suddenly, I remembered something. Logan hated peeling shrimp. He couldn’t stand the slimy, sticky texture—it always disgusted him. Last year, I’d traveled four hours by bus to visit him on his birthday. I brought a cake and clumsily cooked a full dinner for him, even burning my hand in the process. When he saw the red, swollen burn on my hand, his expression grew complicated. “Lila,” he said, his tone flat, “if you don’t know how to cook, then don’t.” Before I could respond, he grabbed my hand and started applying ointment to the burn, his touch careful and gentle. It was one of the only times he’d ever been so kind to me. I remember looking at the plate of boiled shrimp on the table and impulsively asking, “My hand hurts. Will you peel some shrimp for me?” He frowned immediately, his tone sharp. “You know I have a thing about that.” That single sentence shifted the mood entirely. Normally, I wouldn’t have cared, but that day… for some reason, tears welled up in my eyes. The frustration, the disappointment—it all spilled over. In the end, I forced myself to peel the shrimp, ignoring the pain in my blistered hand. Logan sat silently the entire time, watching me. He opened his mouth a few times to say something, but nothing ever came out. Pulled back to the present, I watched as he placed the peeled shrimp onto my roommate’s plate. Then he neatly wiped his hands with a wet napkin and glanced at me. Our eyes met. And in that moment, I understood. He was doing this on purpose. He was showing me, in the most deliberate way possible, that I didn’t matter to him. The scar on my hand from that burn had long since faded, but it felt like he’d reopened the wound tonight, pouring salt into it for good measure. Logan had always known how I felt about him. He knew I didn’t see him as just a friend. This dinner, this entire display—it was his way of making it clear. Stop hoping. Stop dreaming. Don’t interfere with his life anymore. A sharp pain stabbed at my chest, and I lowered my head, avoiding his gaze. My hands trembled as I gripped my chopsticks. The dinner dragged on forever. No matter how much they flirted, I kept my head down, barely saying a word. But then, a sudden commotion broke out nearby. I looked up to see a flustered guy apologizing to Logan. Apparently, he’d lost a dare and had to ask the most beautiful girl in the room for her number—unaware that my roommate already had a boyfriend. Logan’s expression darkened, but he kept his composure in the crowded restaurant. The guy stammered out a few more apologies before retreating, clearly embarrassed. I turned to glance at my roommate. She was as stunning as ever, her flushed cheeks and glistening forehead only adding to her charm. Her lips, slightly swollen from the spice, looked impossibly soft. People around us kept sneaking glances at her, their admiration barely concealed. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a tall figure making his way toward us. A small smile tugged at my lips. For some reason, the knot in my chest loosened slightly. Maybe youth is about taking risks, even when you know better. I glanced at Logan. Sure enough, his expression had grown even darker. Curious now, I put down my chopsticks and sat back, ready to watch the scene unfold. But to my surprise, the guy didn’t stop in front of my roommate. Instead, he walked right past her and came to a halt in front of me. I blinked, startled. He looked directly at me, his eyes bright and sincere. “Excuse me,” he said, his voice a little nervous but steady. “Can I ask you out?” I froze, not sure how to react. Instinctively, I turned to look at Logan. For a split second, I thought I saw something flicker in his eyes. And for the first time all night, his expression grew even colder.

For a moment, my mind raced with memories and thoughts. Over the past ten years of silently loving Logan, there were times when I wavered. I had watched him reject confessions from other girls with such cold precision, leaving no room for misunderstanding or hope. So I buried my feelings deep, choosing to stay by his side as a kind, considerate friend. But no matter how much I gave, he never responded. His indifference and restraint were unwavering. The pain of wanting something I could never have, the exhaustion of loving someone who didn’t love me back—it all weighed on me, crushing me bit by bit. When I failed to get into the same university as Logan, everything I’d been holding in finally reached its breaking point. For the first time, I thought about giving up. On the day of our farewell dinner, he didn’t show up. After it ended, one of my classmates confessed to me. I turned him down, but he still insisted on walking me home. I hesitated for a moment. Walking home meant passing by Logan’s house. For some reason, I agreed. The moonlight that night was beautiful. The classmate walked beside me, trying his best to hold a conversation. I answered him politely, but as soon as Logan’s house came into view, I stopped in my tracks. Looking up, I saw him standing on the balcony, watching us with a cold, unreadable expression. Later that night, after I got home and showered, I lay in bed scrolling through my phone. That’s when I saw it: someone had filmed the classmate’s confession and posted it in our group chat. The video was too noisy to make out the words, but the final shot showed me leaving with him. The chat erupted with teasing comments from people who hadn’t been there. And then, Logan messaged me: “Do you want to retake the year?” I instantly understood the implication behind his words. He wanted me to attend the same university as him. He didn’t spell it out, but to me, it felt like a signal—a glimmer of hope. My heart soared, even as it ached. He always seemed to do this: letting me build up disappointment, only to pull me back with a single moment of hope. Now, sitting across from him at dinner, watching him with his new girlfriend, I couldn’t help but wonder: What signal was he sending me now? Before I could figure it out, my roommate shifted in her seat, breaking my line of sight. She reached for Logan’s hand, intertwining her fingers with his. For a brief second, Logan seemed startled. Then he looked down at her, his expression softening, his sharp edges melting away. In that moment, I felt it—the last tiny flicker of hope inside me extinguished completely. But instead of despair, I felt an unfamiliar calm settle over me. I lowered my gaze, pulling my focus away from him, and looked at the boy sitting across from me instead. He wasn’t expecting me to look at him, and when our eyes met, he tensed, clearly nervous. Then, as if on instinct, he repeated the same clumsy question from earlier: “C-Can I… can I ask you out?” The group of onlookers burst into laughter. Someone who knew him teased, “Hey, Noah, aren’t you the one confessing? Why are you asking her to chase you instead?” His face turned bright red, all the way to the tips of his ears. “I-I… I didn’t mean it like that…” he stammered. “Sure,” I interrupted him. The room quieted. This time, I didn’t even glance at Logan to see his reaction. Instead, I kept my eyes on Noah. He froze for a moment, staring at me in disbelief. His throat bobbed as he swallowed nervously, and I could see the flush spreading from his ears to his neck. Unable to stop myself, I smiled. “Sure,” I repeated. I quickly discovered that Noah was the kind of person who blushed easily. After I said yes, he turned so red I thought he might pass out. Without giving me a chance to protest, he grabbed my hand and led me out of the restaurant. We ended up at a nearby dessert shop, where he ordered way too many sweets and placed them in front of me. I stared at him, bewildered, as he fidgeted with his spoon, unable to meet my eyes. After a moment, he finally looked up and gave me a shy smile. “I noticed you didn’t eat much at dinner,” he said. “And… you know, people say dessert makes you feel better.” I looked at him, startled. That dinner—every second of it had been suffocating for me, but somehow, Noah had noticed. He’d seen how uncomfortable I was, how hard I was trying to hide my sadness, and he’d stepped in to pull me away from it all. Something in my chest shifted. It was small, but it was there. And as I took a bite of the dessert, I realized something else: He was right. Sweet things do make you feel better. Later, we walked around the track field, the sunset painting the sky in fiery shades of red and orange. Noah hesitated for a moment before nervously taking my hand. I glanced at him, catching a glimpse of his side profile—his pale skin, the sharp line of his jaw, and his ears still tinged pink from embarrassment. For the first time in a long while, my heart felt light. That feeling lasted until Logan texted me later that night. “Where are you?” I didn’t reply. And he didn’t follow up. I exhaled deeply, as if I were releasing years of pent-up frustration. Noah and I stayed out late. When I finally returned to my dorm, I threw myself into my thesis, editing and formatting until it was ready to send to my professor. Only after hitting “send” did I check my phone again. At 11 p.m., Noah had texted me: “Do you have time tomorrow?” I hesitated for a moment before responding: “I do.” His reply came almost instantly: “Great! Goodnight!” I glanced at the clock. It was already 3 a.m. I stared at his message for a while, a small smile tugging at my lips. As I got ready for bed, I noticed my roommate’s bed was still empty. Her blanket was neatly folded. She hadn’t come back tonight.

The next morning, I slept in until ten. After getting up and washing my face, I stood in front of the mirror to do my makeup. As I applied my lipstick, I heard the sound of a key turning in the lock. My roommate was back. I stared at myself in the mirror, my expression calm, my eyes steady. The last time I caught her and Logan kissing, it felt like my heart had been ripped apart, like my body had been broken into pieces, crushed, and painstakingly put back together again. But last night, when I realized they were together—probably doing something far more intimate than kissing—I didn’t feel that same earth-shattering pain. There was a dull ache, yes, but nothing unbearable. In fact, I’d fallen asleep quickly and slept through the night without dreaming. I wasn’t sure if this meant I was finally letting Logan go, finally letting myself go. But I knew it was a step in the right direction. I pressed my lips together to even out the lipstick just as my roommate’s tired voice broke the silence: “He’s gone back to the office.” I turned toward her and noticed how pale she looked—exhausted, completely drained. I stared at her in surprise, reaching out to feel her forehead, but she turned her face away, avoiding my touch. “I’m fine,” she said quickly. I frowned. She looked straight at me, her voice strained. “I slept with him.”

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During my internship as a forensic pathologist, I accidentally opened a video file of a 20-year-old murder case in the database. I watched in horror as a young girl was brutally killed. Devastated, I frantically dragged the progress bar back to the beginning. Like a madman, I started sending message after message. [Please, I beg you, don’t open the door! There’s a serial killer outside!] [You’re so young. Seeing you like this hurts me more than if I were killed myself.] [Don’t open the door! You’ll die, you’ll really die!!] At that moment, the little girl who was about to open the door suddenly stopped. She turned around and looked up, her shocked gaze meeting mine. “Who… who are you?” She could see me?! The moment our eyes met, I almost dropped my phone in shock. The girl’s sweet childish voice continued to come from my phone. “What’s this? Why did these words suddenly appear?” “Is someone projecting them?” I looked back at my phone. In the video, the girl reached out into the air, as if trying to grab something. Although it seemed unbelievable, I was now certain that the little girl couldn’t see me. But she could see the messages I was sending! Just then, the aggressive knocking on the door resumed. “Knock knock knock,” each sound more urgent than the last. The girl turned back, her hand reaching for the doorknob again. The TV in the living room was on, broadcasting the 2005 New Year’s Eve TV gala. A group of beautiful deaf-mute dancers were performing “Thousand-Hand Guanyin,” a dance that would later become world-renowned. (Note: The New Year’s Eve TV gala is a major annual event in China, featuring various performances and celebrations.) Without time to think, I quickly sent another message. [Lily, I know what I’m about to say sounds strange, but please believe me. I’m from 20 years in the future.] [I’m a forensic pathology intern named James.] [I’m watching a real video of you being murdered. There’s a serial killer outside the door. No one knows what he looks like, and he hasn’t been caught even now.] [You’re currently the last known victim on record.] [According to the police’s current deduction, he kills randomly. As long as you don’t open the door, he’ll leave, and you’ll be safe!] The girl had beautiful natural curls and big, blinking eyes. Her expression was surprised: “You know my name?” I noticed that at this moment, the girl had clearly lowered her voice. I knew she was starting to believe what I was saying. Thinking back to the scene of her being brutally murdered that I had just witnessed, I still felt a lump in my throat. [Yes, I know your name is Lily. Because three hours from now, close to midnight, your mom will come home and cry while holding you, calling your nickname.] [The video ends completely at midnight.] The girl fell silent. She quietly brought over a stool and stood on it to look through the peephole. I don’t know what she saw, but her expression clearly became somewhat fearful. “What should I do now?” [Lily, no matter what he does, don’t open the door. Try to call the police! Do you have a phone at home?] The girl nodded. “Yes, under my mom’s pillow.” Out of professional instinct, I thought for a moment and then sent another message. [Lily, when it’s safe, can you describe what the killer looks like to me? Maybe you can help us catch the criminal in the future.] The girl quietly brought over a stool and stood on it to look through the peephole. Then she turned back, about to say something to me when suddenly my head started to ache violently, as if it was about to split open. My ears were also filled with a piercing roar. “Ah!” I clutched my head and fell to my knees in pain. The next second, my consciousness was instantly pulled into a thick darkness.

When I regained consciousness, I smelled the pungent odor of disinfectant. I opened my eyes and found myself in a hospital. My hands and feet were sore and numb from maintaining a rigid posture, slumped over the bedside table for a long time. I looked at myself, somewhat confused. How did I end up here? The TV hanging in the hallway was playing the New Year’s Eve gala. Three male celebrities in mismatched outfits were singing on stage. “I invite you to meet me on the spring mountain; I’ve saved up a year’s worth of countless thoughts; Today is just an ordinary day; But it becomes extraordinary because I met you…” This… seems to be from the 2014 New Year’s Eve gala… Just then, a nurse on duty walked in. The nurse saw me and seemed unsurprised. “After the New Year, you should really hire a caregiver to help you. You young couple, working during the day and staying up like this at night, even the strongest body can’t take it.” I felt like I had grabbed onto a lifeline. “Nurse, is this a rerun on TV?” The nurse looked at me with sympathy: “Did you wake up confused? It’s not a rerun, this is this year’s live New Year’s Eve gala.” With that, the nurse skillfully pulled open the curtain of the bed in front of me. But when I saw who was lying on the bed, I felt all the blood drain from my body.

“Dad!” Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. “How did you end up like this?!” The man on the bed had his eyes tightly shut, emaciated to just skin and bones, with sunken cheeks and a sallow complexion. His throat had been cut open. His body was full of tubes. The nurse took out a device and skillfully lifted a section of the tube in my father’s throat, inserting a thin tube to suction out the congested phlegm with a scratching sound. After finishing the procedure, the nurse looked at me sympathetically, seeing my panicked face. “If you need anything, press the call button.” Then she left. All the muscles in my body felt frozen, numb and cold, as if I had lost all sensation. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. How could this be possible? This year was supposed to be 2025. I was doing an internship, about to become a full-time employee, realizing my long-held dream of becoming a forensic pathologist! The office was on holiday, and I was busy sorting through files on my phone. My dad and mom were in the living room, laughing and making dumplings. Fireworks were going off outside, and the TV in the living room was blasting music. A robot was doing a traditional dance, tossing a handkerchief. My parents laughed, joking that instead of having the robot toss a handkerchief, they might as well have it throw grenades. How did it suddenly… Is this really not just a nightmare? I reached out my hand, and the moment I touched my father’s withered, cold body, Countless memories forcefully flooded into my brain. On New Year’s Eve in 2005, my mom, returning home from her night shift, encountered the infamous serial killer. He brutally murdered her and dumped her body in the neighborhood garbage bin. After that, the killer went dormant and never struck again. My mom became his last victim. My warm and loving home collapsed completely that night. The killer not only took my mom’s life but also took away my dad and ruined my life. My dad, holding my mom’s corpse, suffered a severe mental breakdown. From then on, he fell into depression, smoking and drinking heavily. He couldn’t get over the pain of losing my mom. He started to neglect me. As a result, I had to start working right after finishing middle school to support myself and my dad. To survive, I did all kinds of hard and menial jobs. I’ve broken dishes, assembled screws, carried cement. I watched as my once close classmates drifted away, no longer able to relate to each other. One by one, they entered university, striving for their life’s ideals. Some even went abroad. While I could only hide in the distance. Enviously watching their backs. I thought my life would forever be under a dark cloud. Until I met my wife, the love of my life. I had my own little family, and I thought the hard days were finally over. But then we found out my dad had late-stage lung cancer. What followed was a long and grueling process of chemotherapy and surgery, draining our savings and leaving us in debt. Yet his life was still coming to an end. I took out my phone, and the date really was January 30, 2014. With trembling hands, I searched for information about that serial killing case. The murderer was still at large. Online, you could see some photos of the victims taken after they were killed. Even though they were blurred, they were still unbearable to look at. The name and picture of the last victim. Instead of Lily Thompson, it was now my mom. Sarah Johnson…

I collapsed, sinking to the ground. How could this happen? How could this happen… Just then, the door opened again. A beautiful young woman with long hair draped over her shoulders, wearing a red scarf and a down jacket, walked in. Looking at me, she waved the lunchbox in her hand and smiled. “Honey, I made chive and egg dumplings, all by myself!” “Eat them while they’re hot!” She walked in hurriedly, almost tripping. My body reacted before my mind could process, standing up to steady her. Memories of her flooded back like a tidal wave, instantly covering the “dream” I couldn’t distinguish as real or false. Meeting my wife, falling in love, supporting each other. Every little detail, every frame, felt so real and vivid. Love for her immediately spread through my heart. She was my wife, Emma. She was beautiful, a graduate from a prestigious university, working at a bank. Yet she fell for me, a poor guy with only a middle school education, making a living by hauling goods for supermarkets. I awkwardly took the lunchbox. My wife must have sensed something was off. Her warm fingers touched my forehead with concern: “Honey, what’s wrong? Are you too tired?” I smiled bitterly. “I had a dream, I dreamed…” I paused: “I dreamed of a group of robots doing a traditional dance, tossing handkerchiefs.” My wife handed me a bowl of dumplings and couldn’t help saying, “I think it would be more believable if you dreamed of them carrying machine guns and throwing grenades.” “You must be too tired from taking care of dad lately. After the New Year, I’ll switch to a less busy position so I can help you more.” Grenades… My wife’s words made me feel disoriented. The smiling face of my mom flashed before my eyes again. My wife looked worried and pulled my head to rest on her soft chest. I could hear her clear heartbeat. “Thump thump.” The fear, unease, and doubts in my heart were all pressed down beneath the iceberg by this sound. “Honey, you’ve really been through a lot.” My wife couldn’t help but try to cheer me up. “You’re so tired you’re dreaming about beautiful female robots…” I couldn’t help it either, the tense muscles in my face relaxed, and I squeezed out a smile. But when I looked up at the TV, the New Year’s Eve gala host was interviewing the three male celebrities. The tone was teasing. This scene was so familiar. Was it really all just a dream?

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I had been secretly married to my first love, Evelyn Miller, for five years. She said that she would announce our marriage at a party for our son. I was so excited that I told Henry Cole, my only family, about this matter. To show his respect for Evelyn, my younger brother, Henry, lived frugally and used the money he saved to buy a pair of diamond earrings for Evelyn. Just before I was about to go on stage with my baby in my arms, a strange man suddenly snatched the baby out of my arms. Then he held Evelyn’s hand intimately and went on stage. Evelyn said to everyone, “Today, I want to announce a big event at my baby’s party. Matthew and I grew up together since we were kids, and today, we’ve finally decided to hold a wedding!” As soon as these words were spoken, countless complicated looks instantly fell on me. Henry, who was completely confused, asked in puzzlement, “Seb, isn’t that Evelyn?” I stared coldly at Evelyn on the stage, who was showing a coy smile, and said, “Give my son back to me.” Unexpectedly, when she heard this, she sneered, “Sebastian Cole, a nobody like you actually still has the audacity to think that I would give birth to a child for you. You’re extremely stupid!”

Evelyn, who was standing on the stage, had a cold look in her eyes, and there was no trace of the affection she used to have for me. She completely ignored me but embraced and kissed Matthew, who was holding the baby, as if they were a family who had been living together for five years. I froze in place, standing there below the stage. When I saw this scene, I suddenly began to wonder if those five years of living together had just been an illusion. My hands, hanging by my sides, clenched into tight fists, and I silently endured the various mocking looks cast upon me. Henry pulled at my sleeve guiltily and said with remorse, “Seb, did Evelyn get angry because of my appearance?” I forced a smile on my face. Before I could say anything to comfort Henry, a sudden force pushed Henry down violently. Then a shrill and ear-piercing voice shouted angrily, “You’re really clueless! You’re blocking my way to breathe in fresh air. Move aside!” I shielded Henry behind me and stared at the strange woman in front of me with a dark expression. After thinking for a long time, I recognized that this woman was Matthew’s younger sister, Tina Dawson. She was enraged by the look on my face, and the words she said became even more offensive. “You’re truly a low-class idiot! Just looking at you two makes me feel sick! Get out of my sight right now. If you damage my newly done nose, I won’t let you off easily!” Tina picked up a bowl of thick soup from the dining table and poured it all over me. My exposed skin ached faintly from the scald of the soup, and the anger in my heart could no longer be suppressed. I grabbed Tina’s arm as she was about to leave and gritted my teeth, saying, “Apologize to me right now!” Tina tried to pull her arm away. After finding that she couldn’t break free, she shouted at the top of her lungs, “Somebody help! These two bumpkins are hitting me!” Hearing this shout, the Dawsons surrounded Henry and me. Tina pointed at Henry and said with a sense of righteousness, “That little brat made it impossible for me to breathe just now and almost ruined my newly done nose!” Upon hearing this, the Dawsons immediately pulled Henry out from behind me without saying a word. They surrounded Henry and kept beating him. Someone even raised a wine bottle and smashed it hard on the back of Henry’s head. Henry let out a faint cry for help in pain. “Seb, save me! Seb, help!” I urgently picked up a chair and swung it hard at the people who were beating Henry. Only when these people felt the pain did they reluctantly stop. I quickly held Henry, whose face was covered in blood, in my arms. “Henry, don’t be afraid. I’ll take you to the hospital right away!” Just as I helped Henry up, Tina blocked my way again and sneered, “Why are you in such a hurry to leave? You haven’t apologized to me yet.” I roared, “You’d better get out of my way right now. If anything happens to my brother, I will never let you off!” As soon as I finished speaking, the commotion we caused here finally attracted Evelyn, who was toasting the honored guests on the second floor. She frowned in dissatisfaction and walked quickly towards me. Without any regard for my dignity, she shouted angrily, “Sebastian, there are many big shots here today. Do you really have to embarrass me today? “The contract that was about to be finalized is going to be ruined because of you!” She slapped me hard in the face in public. When Henry, whom I was supporting in my arms, wanted to explain to her that it wasn’t my fault, Tina spoke up first, “Evelyn, his brother deliberately tried to ruin my newly done nose. You have to stand up for me!” Looking at Tina, who was accusing the innocent while being the guilty one, I felt my anger flare up even more. “Tina, don’t spout lies! We didn’t touch you at all. It was you who beat my brother like this!” Evelyn glanced at Henry, whose consciousness was already fading, but she still didn’t believe what I said. She forced me harshly. “Apologize to Tina right now!” I refused sharply. “It’s not my fault. Why should I apologize to her? The one who really should apologize is her!” Seeing that I refused to yield at all, Evelyn became less patient. She shouted at me, “Sebastian, you gotta know your place! If you don’t apologize, I’ll call someone to throw you out of here!” Noticing that Evelyn was really angry, Matthew, who was standing aside, pretended to be kind and persuaded Evelyn, “Evie, calm down. I think there must be some misunderstanding here.” He motioned to Tina with his eyes and said, “Apologize to Sebastian and Henry now.” Tina said reluctantly, “I won’t apologize to them. Evelyn also agrees that I didn’t do anything wrong.” After saying that, Matthew put on an expression of helplessness. This look of his made Evelyn feel pity for him. She took Matthew’s hand on her own initiative and shouted at me angrily, “Sebastian, you’ve really embarrassed me today. Leave here right now!” Seeing that I was looking at our one-month-old baby, she continued, “You don’t deserve to be around the baby. From now on, Matthew will raise him.” Looking at the cold and heartless expression on Evelyn’s face, I felt my heart completely broke. I stared at Henry, who was implicated because of me in my arms, and a feeling of guilt welled up all over my body. I looked coldly at Evelyn, who was acting coquettishly in another man’s arms, and all the love I once had for her vanished completely. I swore in my mind, “Evelyn, from now on, there will be no more relationship between you and me.”

After leaving the party, I immediately drove Henry to the hospital. After a long period of emergency treatment, the doctor finally walked out of the emergency room with a tired look on his face. The doctor looked at me solemnly and said, “I’m sorry, Mr. Cole. We’ve done our best. The fragments of the wine bottle have deeply embedded in your brother’s cranial nerves, causing irreversible damage. I’m afraid your brother will remain in a vegetative state and lie in bed for the rest of his life.” The doctor’s words seemed to have an invisible magic power, instantly draining all the strength from my body. I collapsed helplessly at the door of the ward and looked at Henry, who was lying on the bed with tubes all over his body. I thought, “He’s only eighteen years old this year! He has just been admitted to his dream university! His life dreams haven’t been realized yet. And now, because of me, such a sensible man will have to lie in bed for the rest of his life!” At that moment, boundless guilt and self-blame overwhelmed me, and tears of remorse welled up in my eyes and flowed down my face. At that moment, I wished that the person lying in bed was me! I didn’t fall asleep that night. I stayed by Henry’s bedside in the ward until dawn. When the first ray of sunlight shone into the ward the next morning, the phone in my pocket suddenly rang. As soon as I answered the call, Evelyn’s anxious voice came through. “Sebastian, where the hell have you gone? Why aren’t you staying by the baby’s side to feed him and change his diapers? Do you know we didn’t get a good night’s sleep all night just because you weren’t with him?” Just as she finished speaking, Matthew’s complaining voice suddenly came from the other end of the phone. “Evie, hurry up and find Sebastian. I’m exhausted after this night.” There was an obvious hint of flirtation in his words. “Evie, if I keep working this hard at night, I’m afraid I’ll be too tired to do certain things…” Evelyn replied in a sweet tone, “Oh, you’re so annoying…” Hearing the flirting between Evelyn and Matthew, I tightened my grip on the phone, and my hand trembled uncontrollably with anger. But then she spoke again and criticized me forcefully, “Sebastian, you’re really an irresponsible father! If you don’t take care of the baby anymore, I won’t let you see him ever again.” After what happened at the party, such threats no longer had any effect on me. I said indifferently, “Have you forgotten what you said? Why should I take care of a child who isn’t my own?” Evelyn said angrily, “Sebastian, you’re really being petty! The words I said at the party were just because I lost a game to Matthew. I had to accept the punishment of the game as I had agreed. It was just a joke. How could you actually take it seriously? In your eyes, am I really that bad? If you keep being jealous like this, I’ll really find a new father for him!” After saying that, Evelyn angrily hung up the phone. I tightly held the phone, and my heart was filled with unbearable pain and suffering. I looked at Henry, who was now lying in bed and relying on glucose to survive, and a bitter smile appeared on my face. In an instant, I deeply regretted ever meeting Evelyn. If I hadn’t been determined to be with her at that time, Henry wouldn’t be in this state now. I met Evelyn in college. Unlike me, an outsider on the fringes, she became a prominent figure in the college as soon as she enrolled. Evelyn, who was beautiful, had excellent grades, and came from a wealthy family, quickly became the target of pursuit for many outstanding men in the college. But at the same time, she was also targeted by many girls. They even deliberately locked her in a warehouse filled with sundries. When I found her, she was crying almost to the point of fainting. She threw herself into my arms helplessly and begged me in a panic, “Sebastian, please, don’t leave me!” Looking at the beautiful woman crying in my arms, I was instantly smitten and uncontrollably fell in love with Evelyn. Even though among Evelyn’s many suitors, I, who came from a poor family, had no advantage at all, I still took the initiative to pursue her. Finally, in the year we graduated, I defeated all the other suitors and officially got together with Evelyn. At the same time, I respected Evelyn’s wish and decided to help her start a business. In the early days of starting the business, she was worried that our marriage would affect the development of the company, so she decided to hide the fact of our marriage and let me enter the company as a department director to assist her. Although I wasn’t happy about it in my heart, I still agreed to her proposal. But five years had passed, and the marriage that I cherished the most had fallen apart. My beloved wife joined forces with an outsider to hurt my only younger brother. She even threatened me with our son. I didn’t want such a marriage anymore. After the idea of getting a divorce came to my mind, I immediately contacted a lawyer and prepared the divorce agreement. I entrusted Henry to the hospital nurse and then immediately went to the company with the divorce agreement in hand. However, as soon as I entered the company, I noticed that all the employees were looking at me with strange glances.

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My husband, a hotel reviewer, sent intimate videos to female clients during work. “Babe, which hotel tonight?” “Your place, handsome~” Staring at their chat history, I picked up the lace lingerie that didn’t belong to me and confronted him. With his neck covered in hickeys, he scoffed, “After ten years of marriage, you suspect me of cheating?” “It’s just a tactic to entertain clients,” he said dismissively. I listened to his explanation quietly, without comment. Later, I ran into him at a hotel, my belly swollen with pregnancy. This time, he froze for a moment, his eyes bloodshot as he gripped my chin, “Tell me! Whose child is it?” I smiled, removing his hand, and pretended to be a stranger, “It’s none of this gentleman’s business, is it?” (1) This was the 99th time Jack Gordon failed to report his schedule to me. I had been staking out the airport for a month. At 3:30 AM, he finally got off the plane but headed straight for the Rose Hotel across from the airport. I followed him to the hotel entrance. Emma Rose, his female client, was waiting for him. As soon as they met, they started kissing passionately. Emma clung to his waist, her black lace strap slipping off to reveal her pale skin. She wrapped her arms around Jack’s neck and purred, “Honey, do I taste better than that old hag of yours?” “She’s dry as a bone. You’re much more delicious,” Jack teased, squeezing her waist, completely oblivious to my presence behind them. “Ten years of marriage and not even a hint of pregnancy. She’s just getting older and uglier.” I clenched my fists, the hot water bottle I’d prepared for him in my coat now half cold. Jack let go of Emma and unwrapped the scarf from his neck, putting it around her instead. “This scarf? That old hag gathered wool from the prairie herself to make it. Spent countless nights on it. I couldn’t bear to use it, so I’m giving it to you.” Emma pouted, “I don’t want it. Just thinking about her making it makes me feel dirty.” The scarf was carelessly tossed near the trash can, mixing with food scraps. Jack’s eyes swept over the scarf, a hint of disgust in his gaze. “Fine, I’ll buy you a new one next time, much prettier than what she made. Looking at this scarf now makes me sick!” The stench of rotting food wafted over, and he covered his nose in disgust, keeping his distance. Emma clung to his arm as they entered the hotel. “Well, you can warm me up in bed later. I heard this Rose Hotel symbolizes staying with your soulmate forever.” Jack held her hand tightly. “I want to be with you forever and always.” His words floated into my ears, leaving a hollow in my heart. They went into the hotel and got a room. In the middle of the night, I dragged my exhausted body home. Jack had posted on social media: “Checking in on the wife.” The post included a review of the Rose Hotel. But reflected in the computer screen was a woman covered in hickeys. (2) My fingertips instantly went numb as I realized what a hypocrite Jack truly was. Jack came home the next day, carrying a box with an expensive lipstick. “Honey, I’m back. I brought you a gift,” he said cheerfully, pushing the box into my hands. “Open it and see if it’s the shade you like.” I opened the lipstick. The bright red color didn’t suit me at all. I had told him countless times that I hated this shade. “Do you like it, honey?” Jack leaned in with a smile, the bright red lipstick marks on his neck stinging my eyes. Seems like someone else’s trash. My lips stiffened as I put the lipstick away and pointed at his neck. “Where’s the scarf I made you?” “Ah…” Jack stumbled over his words for a moment. “Since you made it yourself, I couldn’t bear to use it. I put it in my suitcase, but it got lost during the flight.” Liar! I dug my nails into my palms. That scarf had probably ended up in a landfill by now! “Honey, I really didn’t mean to lose it,” Jack nuzzled my shoulder like a puppy. “Please forgive me.” “Okay.” I agreed. After all, when you’ve been disappointed enough times, you stop caring. “Thank you, honey!” He kissed me happily, then wagged his tail as he went into the kitchen. “To make it up to you, I’ll make you breakfast!” This was the first breakfast Jack had made in our ten years of marriage. (3) At the dining table. Jack enthusiastically put cilantro in my bowl. “I remember, sweetie. You love cilantro and hate celery, so I made a big plate of cilantro. Eat up!” He got it wrong. Jack had mixed it up. The cilantro in my bowl made me want to throw up. I put down my chopsticks and looked him straight in the eye. “Jack, you got it wrong. I hate cilantro and love celery.” Jack’s smile froze. He peeled some shrimp and put it in my bowl. “I read online that shrimp peeled by your lover is a unique sign of love. Come on, don’t be mad.” “Jack, I’m allergic to seafood.” The air stood still for two seconds. Jack’s eyes flickered with emotion. “Lily, there’s a limit to how much you can sulk, you know?” “It’s just a stupid scarf. It’s not worth much anyway.” It wasn’t just a stupid scarf. It was wool I had gathered from a 1,200-mile journey to the prairie, processed and knitted over an entire year. “Jack, you know the story behind that scarf,” I said, holding back the pain. He had seen everything I did. When he first got the scarf, he almost kissed it: “Honey, I’ll cherish this gift from you forever. I’ll never throw it away!” But he was the first to discard it. “So what?” Jack said disdainfully. He put on his coat and walked to the door. “In a few years, it would’ve just been an old rag anyway.” He left without a second thought. I opened our couple’s location-sharing app. He was driving towards the Rose Hotel from last night. So that’s why he left in such a hurry. His little mistress was waiting for him. I laughed bitterly, my heart growing cold. Then, Jack sent another message. In the video, Jack was passionately kissing Emma’s neck, carrying her to the bed. He quickly deleted the video and sent a picture instead: [I remember you studied art. Can you draw a portrait using “Emma Rose” as the name?] The woman in the picture was young and pretty, with round cheeks that exuded innocence and childlike charm. I remembered Jack saying he liked this type of woman, and that I wasn’t his type. [If I see the finished product before I get off work, I might consider making dinner tonight.] In ten years of marriage, I always cooked. Now, making one meal became a condition for drawing a portrait of his mistress. I found it laughable. A moment later, Jack sent another message: [Did you see the video I accidentally sent earlier?] Yes, I saw it clear as day! I opened my local storage and, like a masochist, watched the entire three-hour video. In the end, I couldn’t help but rush to the bathroom to throw up the bitter water in my stomach. It was disgusting! My tears fell one by one. Jack’s voice from the video kept echoing in my ears: “I’ve been disgusted by that old hag for ages! Having to pretend I like her, I feel like puking every time I see her!” “Making her cook every day, she doesn’t even know how to take care of herself. Now she doesn’t have half your beauty!” “And she’s all dried up now, bone-dry every day. How can that compare to how wet and juicy you are, always keeping me satisfied?” After throwing up, I wiped away my tears. I went to the studio. Every painting there was of him; I rarely painted subjects I liked anymore. I’ll pick up the brush for him one last time, then leave him. (4) I’m good at oil painting, but not very skilled at name sketches. After drawing for half a day, I finally finished the draft. Jack came home from work. “Does this look like her?” Jack seemed unsatisfied with my drawing and casually tore it from the easel. It was the one I was most satisfied with, among the pile of discarded drafts on the floor. “Lily, you can draw me so well. Why can’t you do the same for Emma?” Jack frowned. “No dinner until you draw it properly.” I gripped the pencil tightly, tears welling up in my eyes. “Is she that important to you?” Jack sighed and came to my side, squeezing my shoulders. “Honey, what are you thinking? She’s my client, of course I have to treat her well.” “Honey, I know you’ve been upset lately. Didn’t I promise you could taste my cooking once you finished the drawing?” “I’m sorry I mixed up your tastes this morning. Look, I bought a bunch of celery on my way home, just to cook for you.” “Is that so…” I mumbled, my eyes dimming. “Jack, do you know I’m good at oil painting, not name sketches?” “Isn’t it all the same? You have an art background, you can draw anything,” Jack gripped my hands tightly, asking with expectation, “Honey, I know you can do it, right?” I pulled my hands away without answering. He whispered a warning in my ear: “Lily, I’ve been patient with you for a long time. Why do you always make me angry?” I stayed up for three nights, revising and redrawing until Jack was finally satisfied. That night, Jack made a table full of dishes, filling my bowl with celery. “Honey, you’ve finally become the obedient Lily again. I don’t know what was wrong with you these past few days, always disobeying. Now that I’ve starved you for three days, you’re back to your old self.” Recently, Jack had been coming home late with a neck full of hickeys, rejecting one drawing after another. He hadn’t given me a single bite to eat, locking me in the studio. I survived only by drinking tap water from the studio sink. I ate without tasting anything and silently returned to my room, opening my phone. A message from Charlie popped up. He was the assistant to the investor of the largest exhibition hall in South City. [Ms. Summer, our investor really admires your work and hopes you can bring your paintings to the exhibition.] The message was from three days ago. South City was my hometown, over a thousand kilometers away. My heart stirred, and I replied with a simple “okay.” As I put down my phone, Jack hugged me from behind. “Honey, why are you ignoring me? I’ve been begging you so humbly, even setting aside my male pride.” The only time Jack had ever begged me was with threatening words. I don’t know how many fights we’ve had. Every time, he dealt with it by giving me the silent treatment. I had begged him countless times. The worst time, he made me kneel. I knelt for a day, my kneecaps swollen, before he finally opened the door, acting like a different person as he helped me up. I pried Jack’s fingers off me one by one and turned my back to him to sleep. “Lily, you’re going too far,” Jack said, his face dark. “Anyone can play the silent treatment game. You’ll end up kneeling and begging me again.” He took the blanket and went to sleep in the study. His bag was left on the bedside table. I rummaged through it and found a lace lingerie that wasn’t mine and a phone. I tried to enter the password. It opened; Jack hadn’t changed it. The phone’s wallpaper had long been changed to a photo of him and Emma. He was so sure I wouldn’t check his phone. Unfortunately, he had betrayed my trust. I opened WeChat and scrolled through the chat history. [Babe, which hotel tonight?] [Your place, handsome~] [No way, that old hag is still at home. I’m sick of her. The bed she sleeps in is disgusting.] [Then I’ll punish you to do the positions from the video.] One intimate chat after another, one suggestive video after another. I couldn’t even imagine how many positions they had tried in bed. I opened the notes app, where Jack had written his diary: [The old hag isn’t behaving at all. Making such a fuss about drawing a portrait for my baby. I’ll show her by starving her for three days!] [I think making her kneel was too light a punishment. She needs something harsher!] [She’s learned to give me the silent treatment, huh? She can’t live without me anyway. I’ll make her crawl back and apologize!] I clenched my fists, picked up the lace lingerie, went to the study, and knocked on the door. “Let’s get a divorce, Jack.” Instantly, the door swung open. (5) In the living room. I placed the phone and lace lingerie on the coffee table. “After ten years of marriage, you suspect me of cheating?” “It’s just a tactic to entertain clients.” Jack scoffed, his neck covered in hickeys, as he picked up the lace lingerie and rubbed it between his fingers. “It’s just some women’s clothing and some chat messages. Don’t you trust me at all?” “Honey, I’m just trying to earn some extra money for our family. Can’t you be more understanding?” Understanding? The dirty tactics listed in his notes stabbed deep into my heart. The endless stream of chat messages made me sick to my stomach! “Jack, I can’t be understanding. I can’t accept seeing my beloved sending one suggestive video after another to his female clients. I can’t bear to see my beloved trying positions with his female client that I’ve never even seen. Most of all, I can’t accept that my sincere love isn’t reciprocated!” I stared into his eyes and said, word by word: “Jack, you starved me for three days, made me kneel, then acted nice to me again. I’ve had enough of this life. Let’s end it!”

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On my wedding day with Alexander Hawthorne, his step-sister Isabelle threatened to jump off a building. Alexander abandoned me at the altar, still in my wedding dress, to save her. Facing the mocking eyes of the guests, I publicly announced, “Whoever comes up here to marry me today, I’ll be their bride!” Three years later, Alexander returned to the Hawthorne mansion with Isabelle. I was sitting on a leather couch, sipping gourmet soup and binge-watching TV shows. Alexander glared at my swollen belly, gritting his teeth, “Whose bastard are you carrying?” I took another sip of my soup and smiled lightly, “Of course, it’s a Hawthorne child.” Alexander approached me furiously, yanking me off the couch. “You slut! I left with Isabelle on our wedding day and haven’t been back for three years. How could that child possibly be mine?” I found it amusing. I never said it was his, and he wasn’t the only Hawthorne man. “Of course, this child isn’t yours. You’re not worthy of being its father!” Isabelle, shocked, spoke up, “Sophia, even though Alexander left you at the altar, he still let you keep the Hawthorne name and enjoy the family’s wealth. How could you be so shameless as to get pregnant with someone else’s child?” I glanced at her, “Isabelle, you’re the Hawthorne’s step-sister, yet you openly seduced your own brother. When it comes to shamelessness, who could compare to you two?” Isabelle immediately turned to Alexander with a pitiful voice, “Alex, for the past three years, we’ve kept our relationship purely platonic. But she’s pregnant with another man’s child, making you a cuckold.” Hearing the word “cuckold,” Alexander raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face. “You whore! You get knocked up by someone else and dare to slander me and Isabelle? Get out of the Hawthorne house!” The pain on my cheek left me dazed for a few seconds. Three years ago, when Alexander ran off with Isabelle, leaving me alone at the altar to face everyone’s mockery, I publicly asked for a husband. It was Alexander’s uncle, William Hawthorne, who stepped up and married me. William was known as the “Ice King” in the city. Since I married him, everyone treated me with utmost respect and courtesy. Since my pregnancy, William had been pampering me, not letting even a hair on my head be harmed. If William found out Alexander had hit me today, there would definitely be bloodshed. To avoid a family tragedy and for the sake of my unborn child, I said coldly, “If you leave now, I’ll pretend none of this ever happened.” But they didn’t appreciate my offer. Isabelle grabbed my hair. “Alex, this bitch is just guilty. She wants to drive us out so she can use that bastard child to take over the Hawthorne fortune.” Alexander cursed, “You scheming witch, so that’s your plan. I won’t let you get away with it.” I twisted away from Isabelle’s grip and said coldly, “From the day you ran away, Grandfather Hawthorne removed you from the family. Everything in this house has nothing to do with you anymore.” Isabelle laughed lightly, “That was just Grandfather’s angry words. Alex is the only Hawthorne grandson, how could he really be removed from the family?” Alexander looked smug, “Grandfather always said everything in the Hawthorne family belongs to me.” I placed a hand on my belly and said coldly, “Not anymore. The child I’m carrying is also a Hawthorne descendant.” I thought I had made myself clear enough. But Alexander glared at me angrily, “You bitch, you really are trying to pass off this bastard as a Hawthorne heir. I’ll teach you a lesson today!” He slapped me even harder, causing me to fall to the ground, clutching my stomach. Seeing their menacing expressions, fear rose in my heart. Worried they might harm the baby, I quickly said, “The child I’m carrying isn’t a bastard, it’s…”

Before I could finish, Alexander shoved the bowl of gourmet soup, along with its broken pieces, into my mouth. “Isabelle and I have been struggling for the past three years, while you’ve been living the high life here, all because of that bastard in your belly!” “I’ll make you eat your fill today!” I choked immediately, unable to speak as the sharp ceramic pieces cut into my mouth, drawing blood. As I tried to resist, Isabelle dug her sharp heel into the back of my hand. My entire hand throbbed with pain, but I couldn’t even cry out. After force-feeding me the entire bowl of soup, Alexander spat on me before standing up. Isabelle moved her stiletto-clad foot to my protruding belly. Terrified, I desperately grabbed her ankle, preventing her from stepping down. William was infertile, and this child was the result of three years of visiting specialists both domestically and abroad. Isabelle’s face wore a mocking smile, “Sophia, you look just like a mother dog protecting her pups. How ugly.” Alexander frowned at my belly, “If word gets out that I’ve been cuckolded, how can I show my face in the city again? Isabelle, crush that bastard in her belly!” I shook my head frantically, spitting out the contents of my mouth along with blood, struggling to say, “The child… in my belly… is William’s…” Alexander paused, then burst into laughter. “Sophia, you’re really terrible at lying! Everyone in the city knows my uncle avoids women and is sterile.” “Right now, I’m the only one who can continue the Hawthorne line. Why else do you think Grandfather was so eager for me to marry you and produce an heir?” Isabelle chimed in, “Alex is the only Hawthorne heir. Grandfather stopped his cards to force him to come back and inherit the family business.” “You’re ridiculous, trying to pin this on Uncle William after we exposed your lies.” Alexander and Isabelle had eloped for three years without even a phone call home. Grandfather Hawthorne was truly disappointed in him, which was why he cut off Alexander’s funds and wanted to sever ties with him. But seeing them both in such an irrational state, I didn’t argue to avoid provoking them further. I repeated, “I’m not lying. The child really is William’s.” “If you don’t believe me, I can call William to confirm.” With one hand protecting my belly, I reached for my phone on the table. If I could just contact William, he would rush over to save me and the baby. But just as I grabbed the phone, Alexander snatched it away and smashed it on the ground. Seeing the screen shatter into pieces, my heart sank. Alexander grabbed my chin and said, “My uncle is unpredictable and feared by everyone in the city as the Ice King.” “If he finds out I can’t even handle being cuckolded, he’ll think I’m useless and won’t pass the company to me.” “Sophia, isn’t that why you wanted to call my uncle?” I shook my head quickly, “No, the baby I’m carrying is…” Before I could finish, Isabelle pressed her heel into my stomach, “Alex, why waste words on this slut? Let’s quickly get rid of the bastard in her belly and go report to Grandfather.” A sharp pain shot through my abdomen, and I could feel the baby moving frantically inside. I was filled with unprecedented panic. I looked at them pleadingly, “Please, spare my child…” Isabelle took out her phone and pointed it at me, “If you kneel down and bark like a dog twice, then say you’re a promiscuous bitch, I’ll spare the child in your belly.”

At this moment, for the sake of my unborn child, I could no longer care about anything else. I turned and knelt on the ground, barked “Woof, woof” twice, and said with a trembling voice, “I’m a promiscuous bitch.” Isabelle bent down to look at me, a smug smile on her lips. “Sophia, when I knelt before you begging you not to marry Alex, did you ever imagine this day would come?” Back then, Isabelle had come to me, saying she and her step-brother were in love, asking me to break off the engagement. The marriage between the Hawthorne and Winters families was arranged by our parents, with countless business interests behind it. If I had proposed to break it off, the responsibility would have fallen on me, and the Winters family would have suffered. So I refused her request. I never expected her to hold such a grudge until today. Now, I had no energy to argue about past events. I looked at them pleadingly, “Please, call an ambulance quickly.” Alexander stomped on my back, “Sophia, you really are a slut! You’d do anything for this bastard!” I was pinned to the ground, my belly hitting the hard floor. A burning pain spread across my abdomen. “You said you’d spare my child…” Isabelle spoke casually, “I said I’d spare your child, but Alex didn’t say anything!” “You bitch, using that bastard in your belly to scam the Hawthorne family under my name. If you think I’ll let you off, dream on!” Alexander kicked me hard in the abdomen. An intense pain ripped through my lower belly, and bright red blood began to flow down my legs. Feeling the baby’s movements gradually cease, I was filled with despair. My eyes burned with hatred as I looked at them. “Alexander, Isabelle, you’ll regret this!” Isabelle stood beside Alexander, her eyes filled with malice, “Alex, this bitch still hasn’t learned her lesson. Looks like she needs more punishment!” Hearing this, Alexander’s lips curled into a cold smile, “Let’s see who makes who regret!” “Isabelle, go find a rope.” Isabelle immediately understood and found a rope from the living room, walking towards me. I dragged my bleeding lower body backward, my eyes full of terror, “What are you going to do?” But their only response was excitement on their faces. They tied my hands and feet together with the rope, then dragged me from inside the house to the outside, leaving a long trail of blood on the floor. They dragged me to the edge of the swimming pool. Alexander kicked me into the pool. With my limbs bound, I could only sink helplessly to the bottom. The pool water sealed my mouth and nose, and the agony of suffocation overwhelmed me. Just when I thought I was about to die, Alexander pulled me up by the rope. “Sophia, have you learned your lesson? Will you ever dare to cuckold me again?” I gasped for air, but I could feel the pain in my abdomen sinking lower and lower. I had attended prenatal classes with William before, and I knew this meant I was going into premature labor due to the trauma. Although I knew the chances of the baby surviving were slim, I didn’t want to give up this last hope. I pleaded with Alexander again, “I’ve learned my lesson. I’ll never do it again. Please spare me and the baby.” “I’m going into labor. Please call an ambulance, I beg you…” Alexander spat at me, “Bitch, you’re still thinking about that bastard. I see you have no remorse at all!” “There’s no way I’m letting that bastard leave the Hawthorne house alive today!” He raised his foot to kick me back into the pool. I closed my eyes in despair, my heart filled with fear of drowning. Just then, the gates of the Hawthorne mansion burst open. William rushed in, his eyes filled with urgency, and shouted, “Stop!”

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Everyone knew I had loved the Chen family’s young master for ten years, but my love was unrequited. Meanwhile, the notoriously playboy prince had a change of heart and pursued me relentlessly for three years, causing quite a stir in the city. Finally, I let go of my obsession with Ryan Chen and took the prince’s hand. He was so overjoyed that he immediately bought a building as a gift for me. After we got together, he granted my every wish. Even the way he looked at me was always full of deep affection. People said the prince was madly in love with me. But on our engagement day, I overheard him secretly calling his friend: “Damn, I went too far. She seems to have latched onto me now. I shouldn’t have pretended so convincingly back then.” I let out a bitter laugh and disappeared from the engagement party. Later, I heard that the usually arrogant prince cried his heart out at the engagement party, staring at the diamond ring I had left behind. The engagement party was about to begin, but Ethan still hadn’t shown up to greet the guests. Ryan, who had been waiting in the corner, found me with a glass of champagne. “Where’s Ethan? How can he be missing on such an important day? Or is he planning to run away? If so, I’d be happy to take his place as today’s groom.” “You’re so annoying. He’s probably in the dressing room. I’ll go find him.” Seeing that Ryan wanted to follow, I stopped him: “It’s my engagement party today. Are you really going to ruin the happiness I’ve worked so hard for? Ryan, don’t be so selfish.” With that, I turned and headed towards the dressing rooms without looking back. I went to Ethan’s private dressing room and sure enough, heard his voice inside. Before I could knock and enter, I heard Ethan’s scornful laugh: “Damn, I went too far. She seems to have latched onto me now. I shouldn’t have pretended so convincingly back then.” “I only did it to piss off Ryan. Who knew she’d take it seriously?” “Now that I’ve caught her, I’m finding it boring.” My hand froze as I was about to knock. Ethan didn’t sound drunk, and he hadn’t even had time to drink today. More offensive words came from inside: “And after tasting her, I just find it pretty uninteresting.” I don’t know what the person on the other end of the phone said, but satisfaction dripped from Ethan’s voice. “She may have chased after Ryan for ten years and seemed so pure, but too bad…” I took a deep breath and pressed my ear closer to the door, wanting to hear what else Ethan had to say. Ethan sighed: “Too bad, even though I was her first man, I wasn’t her first love.” “She loved Ryan for ten years. Who knows if her heart is truly clear of him.” “If it wasn’t to irritate Ryan, thinking I could catch Ava to annoy him, I wouldn’t have put on this act of quietly guarding her with deep love.” “I’ve chased her for so long, wouldn’t it be more interesting to run away now?” I couldn’t hear a trace of guilt, pity or love in his voice. Only eager excitement. My fingernails dug into my palms as my heart felt like it was being stabbed with needles, the pain suffocating. I had always thought Ryan would be my salvation and endpoint. I had made sure my feelings for him weren’t just gratitude, but genuine love, before accepting his proposal. That day, he was so happy he set off fireworks all night. He was so overjoyed he bought an island to propose to me, releasing fireworks on the rooftop all night. I thought this was love, was romance. I never imagined it was all an act to get revenge on Ryan. So all the past displays of deep affection and help were just performances? Standing at the door, I felt dazed as memories came flooding back. At twelve years old, I was brought back to the Chens from the countryside. Back then I was shy and insecure, ill at ease. That year, Ryan simply shielded me from some bullies, and I fell hopelessly in love with him. I chased after him so obviously that everyone knew. But he was extremely disgusted by me. Later I finally felt it was pointless and gave up on Ryan. That’s when I noticed Ethan, who had been quietly guarding me all along. It was pouring rain that night, and he held an umbrella over me the whole time. He looked at me and said: “Ava, I don’t ask that you see me. I only hope that from now on you can be free to follow your heart.” How laughable it all seems now. I had cleared my heart to welcome Ethan’s arrival. I allowed myself to fall step by step into his gentleness. Just as I started dreaming of a sweet future with him… I never imagined Ethan would deliver such a painful blow. My nose stung as tears welled up uncontrollably in my eyes. A tear fell, quickly wiped away. Ethan’s voice hadn’t stopped. “To get revenge on a woman, of course it’s most interesting to let her fall hard from the height of happiness.” Boundless anger pressed down on me, nearly suffocating me. I forced out a bitter smile, but tears still fell uncontrollably. After that pained laugh, I turned and left the engagement party. There were still two hours until the party was set to begin. I returned to the home we had shared for three years. I took out all the gifts he had given me over the years and cut them to pieces one by one. How strange. I wasn’t thinking of anything in particular, so why were there still so many tears falling? I once heard a saying. Heartbreak is like catching rheumatism – during the day when it’s sunny, you feel fine. But at night the damp seeps into your bones, causing piercing pain. Perhaps this was just my withdrawal symptoms. I changed out of my engagement gown and laid it flat on the ground. Expressionless, I used scissors to slash a tear down the middle. I wanted to destroy all of this with my own hands. After venting my emotions, I packed my bags and left everything else behind. I went to the high-speed rail station. I needed to get far away from this place that had hurt me so much. While waiting for my train, I opened a social media app and started scrolling through short videos. I came across a suggested account that seemed familiar. The username was “I love my Ethan”. For some reason, I clicked into her profile. It was a record of a girl’s secret crush on a guy. The most recent video was posted half an hour ago, location tagged in the city. The caption read: “The man I’ve loved for ten years is about to get engaged. I want to gather my courage and confess. Everyone please cheer me on!” In her photo, I saw a familiar hand. It was Ethan’s. The comments section was full of criticism. “Wow, you have such great taste! Playing out such a basic plot, I’m truly in awe! I can never match your level of intelligence!” “Wow, I admire your courage and confidence! Let me guess, you probably think you’re super charming? Getting engaged is only natural, you must be a match made in heaven! Otherwise you wouldn’t have the thick skin to interfere in other people’s lives. It’s not the thief we fear, but the one who covets what’s not theirs!” The girl called “I love my Ethan” wasn’t angry at all. She wrote long responses in the comments, posting about her and Ethan’s love story. Looking at the young girl’s flowing words on the screen, every line filled with deep adoration for Ethan and their supposed “love story”, a mocking smile tugged at my lips. So it turns out I was never the only victim, nor the only fool. As the high-speed train started moving, it was exactly the time our engagement party was supposed to begin. My social media was flooded with messages from mutual friends. I saw that girl post a selfie with the caption: “How is this not a kind of success?” Commenters rushed in. “What happened? What happened? How did it go, did he agree?” “I hope people like this blogger go extinct soon and stop harming others.” “Agreed with the comment above.” … Ethan waited in place at first. After a long time without seeing me appear, the guests started whispering amongst themselves. Ethan’s expression also darkened. The doors to the banquet hall were pushed open. All eyes turned to look. To Ethan’s disappointment, the newcomer wasn’t his fiancée, but Lily. His mistress. As soon as she entered, Lily grabbed Ethan’s arm. “Ethan, let’s leave together.” “This is my engagement party. I didn’t invite you. Since you’re here, go sit with the other guests.” “No, I won’t!” … Ryan, watching from the side, took out his phone to record everything happening. “Ava is missing!” Only then did Ethan realize I had run away from the wedding. The usually arrogant prince cried his heart out at the engagement party, staring at the diamond ring I had left behind. Ryan stood in front of Ethan and said: “Ethan, you can’t give her a future, but I can.” “She’s made the right decision to fight for herself.” Ethan glared at the man before him with bloodshot eyes. “Like you’re any better? Stop pretending. She’s just angry. I’ll make up with her.” Lily had started a livestream while trying to steal the groom. Netizens watching through their screens witnessed everything. Commenters cheered that justice had been served. “This is like the ultimate satisfying novel!” “I thought we were about to see another brainless romantic emerge!” “I hope that girl doesn’t look back!” … Watching the trees fly by outside the window, I finally felt the lightness of escape. I looked at the messages from both Ryan and Ethan. “Ava, that bastard Ethan isn’t right for you. Wait for me.” “Ava, let me explain!” … Out of sight, out of mind. I simply blocked them all. After arriving in M City, I quickly settled in. I rented a storefront and opened my own coffee shop. During this time, I received countless calls from Ethan. Not just from him, but from Ryan too. I blocked them all. Ryan used a mutual friend’s account to find me. “Guess what show you missed that day?” “Ryan, I don’t care. Please stop trying to contact me.” I received a video from “Ryan”. The video was from our engagement day. Ethan was being held by a girl. “Ethan, don’t be sad. You still have me by your side. Just let that woman run away.” “Didn’t you say you were going to use this engagement party to dump her? This is a good thing! Now we can finally be together openly.” Another video, still starring Ethan and that girl. In the dim light, they stood face to face. Amid cheers, the girl stood on tiptoe to kiss his lips. And Ethan didn’t dodge. The video ended abruptly there. “Ava, Ethan has wanted to dump you for a long time. Don’t you understand? He doesn’t want to be with you. He minds your past, he minds that you chased after me.” “He only approached you to get revenge on me. You did exactly the right thing. He’s not someone worth entrusting yourself to.” “What are you trying to say?” I replied impatiently. “Ava, at least for these past ten years, no other woman has appeared by my side, right?” “Whether I liked you or liked Ethan, those were my own choices. I accept the consequences and have no regrets.” “Stop trying to guilt me.” I thought that would be my last interaction with Ryan. Until I ran into him again two weeks later. Ryan walked into the shop with an ambiguous smile, saying “Long time no see.” I looked at him calmly and said, “What can I get for you?” “Ava, why did you stop chasing after me back then?” I found it bizarre. I had chased him for ten years – wasn’t that enough? Ever since I gave up pursuing him three years ago, he started frequently seeking me out to make his presence known. This time he appeared before me so inexplicably, saying such strange things. Perhaps Ryan never truly liked me either. Like Ethan, it was just his ego at work. But Ryan carefully began, “Now that you and him have no chance, why don’t you… consider me?” I almost laughed from anger. Are all men like this? When you’re earnestly offering them your heart, they disdain it. But once you withdraw that blatant affection, they all rush to tell you they love you. “Ryan, I thought I made myself clear last time. I don’t like you anymore. I have no feelings for you. Even though Ethan and I have split up, I still wouldn’t choose you.” “Why not? Our backgrounds and looks are well-matched. We grew up together – aren’t we the most suitable match?” I snorted coldly: “So I have to choose between you and Ethan? Can I not survive without either of you?” “That’s not what I meant, Ava, I…” Ryan tried to grab my hand but I dodged. From behind, Ethan’s familiar voice rang out: “What are you two doing?” I looked past Ryan to see Ethan, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time. His eyes were bloodshot with dark circles underneath. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days. Ethan’s face was grim as he walked up to Ryan, barely containing his anger. Facing the oppressive yet domineering aura, he punched Ryan in the face. Ryan only reacted for a moment before the two started brawling in my shop. Fortunately, there were no other customers at the time. “Ryan, if you dare go after Ava again, I swear I’ll kill you,” Ethan raged. “I’m her fiancé! Don’t even think about stealing from me.” Ryan retorted angrily: “Ethan, like you’re any better? Can you honestly say you didn’t pursue Ava just to piss me off?” “Can you say your feelings for her were pure from start to finish?” “Why aren’t you happily together with your Lily? What are you doing here?” Ethan froze, looking at me helplessly. “I know everything.” But Ethan still tried desperately to explain: “Ava, Lily and I are just friends. I only felt she was similar to a younger you.” “It’s not what you think between us.” Hearing Ethan’s flimsy excuses, a wave of exhaustion washed over me. “Ethan, I’m not an idiot. I can see for myself.” With that, I opened that young girl’s profile and played the video of them kissing. “Ava, we were just playing a game then. It wasn’t real. And… and we were about to get engaged, weren’t we?” I smiled through my tears: “Ethan, I admit I really liked you. But that doesn’t mean I can tolerate being deceived.” Ryan finally couldn’t stand it anymore. “Ethan, you’re such a bastard!” The two quickly started fighting again, even taking it outside. Taking advantage of the opportunity, I simply locked the door. “You two can keep fighting. I’m closing up.” With that, I turned and went upstairs. “This is all your fault. If you hadn’t suddenly gotten sick, Ava wouldn’t have locked us out.” “You have some nerve to talk. You did such shameless things and still want to come beg for forgiveness. Do you think that’s possible?” “I think Ava is just sick of you.” The two argued back and forth endlessly. In the end, they could only leave separately. When my best friend learned I was planning to settle here permanently, she was so excited she slapped her thigh. To help me take my mind off things, she took me to a friend’s gathering. It was a group of acquaintances, so we had plenty to talk about. After a few drinks, someone pushed open the door. Seeing who it was, several people stood up to welcome him.

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