Category: English

The unforgettable “first love” who went to study abroad is finally coming back. Bad news: I came back too late. The elite social circle had already been completely won over by the so-called “Cinderella protagonist.” Everyone was on high alert, preparing to tear me—the impending “first love”—to shreds. Even worse news: rumor had it that I was a beautiful but brainless, self-sacrificing fool who only cared about a man. So, when the “Cinderella” put on her pitiful, teary-eyed act in front of me, I just smiled: “You don’t need to try so hard. I know exactly what you’re doing. I used to be a fake-innocent manipulator, too.” 01 When I paused outside the VIP lounge of the country club, the mocking voices inside drifted clearly into my ears. “Serena Sterling is coming back today. Want to make a bet?” “Let’s bet on when she’ll come crawling back, begging for Carter’s attention.” “Hahaha, I can’t wait. If she finds out Carter is getting engaged to Mia, she’ll probably turn green with envy.” The waiter standing next to me gave me a cautious look. He was about to speak up, but I waved my hand, gesturing for him to stay quiet. The next second, a timid voice came from inside: “Does Serena… still love Carter?” “Mia, don’t worry. Serena is just a brainless Barbie doll with nothing but a pretty face. We will always support you.” “You’re so sweet and kind. She’s not even a tenth of the woman you are.” Listening to this, the smirk on my lips grew wider. “Put everything they ordered in that room on my tab.” The waiter froze. “Miss…” “If they ask, tell them the ‘brainless Barbie doll’ paid for it.” I carelessly brushed my hair over my shoulder. The Sterling family was at the absolute top of the social food chain in Manhattan. The trust-fund kids sitting in that lounge all belonged to families that relied heavily on our business connections. If they found out I caught them talking trash about me red-handed… Let me guess, how stiffly would they bow their heads when they came to apologize? 02 I, Serena Sterling, had left for Paris five years ago. Back then, I was heartbroken and depressed after a massive fight with my ex, Carter Hayes. But on my private jet heading overseas, I had a very long dream. In the dream, I realized I was just a cannon-fodder “first love” in a cliché romance novel. I was nothing but a plot device used to stimulate the relationship between the male lead, Carter, and the female lead, Mia Jenkins. When I woke up and realized this, I finally understood how stupid my desperate clinging to Carter had been over the past few years, all dictated by some invisible plot. What a joke! The Sterling family was a top-tier billionaire dynasty. Carter was just the illegitimate son of a secondary branch in his family. Why would I ever lower myself for him? Not to mention, this so-called “female lead” was simply the daughter of our family’s housekeeper. Thinking about this, I frowned in annoyance. I unlocked my phone, sat back in the driver’s seat of my newly delivered Bugatti, and snapped a selfie. In the photo, my hair fell casually over my shoulders. I stared coldly into the camera, my features striking and flawless. I tapped the screen a few times and posted it to my Instagram story. It was time to let them know. Forget being a tragic “first love”—I was a villainess who was going to tear them all to shreds. 03 When I returned to my familiar Upper East Side penthouse, my parents had already prepared a massive welcome-home feast for me. I greeted them warmly and said I needed to go upstairs to unpack first. I’ve always hated people invading my personal space, and my family knew it. Aside from the professional cleaning staff, no one was allowed in my suite. So, with just a quick glance, I immediately noticed— My jewelry vanity had been touched. I have countless designer bags and jewels filling several walk-in closets. Whoever took it probably thought I wouldn’t remember. But I knew exactly which diamond necklace was missing. I lowered my eyes and let out a cold laugh. My Instagram story already had tons of likes and comments, but the usual loudmouths from the lounge were dead silent. I knew the waiter had successfully delivered my message. As I scrolled casually, my eyes suddenly stopped. They had all posted group photos of Mia and Carter. In the picture, Mia was wearing a pure white dress, smiling sweetly in front of a cake. Carter stood next to her, arms crossed, a faint smile on his lips. At first glance, they really did look like a perfect couple. Their captions were incredibly pointed: [I’ve never met a girl as pure and kind as Mia. She pulled Carter out of a toxic past.] [I used to say a lot of fake things to flatter a certain someone, but now, I truly hope Mia and Carter are happy.] My gaze fell on the necklace resting against the girl’s collarbone in the photo. Did these idiots really think flaunting my ex’s new romance would make me stomp my feet in anger? Or was it because, lacking the looks and family background to challenge me directly, they had to parade a man I discarded around like some kind of grand prize? I locked my phone, slowly walked downstairs, and approached my parents, instantly putting on a teary-eyed, deeply wronged expression. “Daddy… they’re all bullying me…” Like I said, I understand the game perfectly. I used to be the ultimate manipulator. 04 After coming back, it was only natural for me to return to the most elite private university in the city. This university was co-founded by the top families in our circle. Unlike regular colleges, it operated on a fixed-cohort system for the elite. When I got the class roster, I unsurprisingly saw a few familiar names. I pushed my gold-rimmed glasses up the bridge of my nose. I hadn’t seen Mia around for the past few days. I wondered if it was because my father had thrown a massive fit over my “bullying,” making her feel too guilty to show her face. But it didn’t matter. I stared at the bold name Mia Jenkins on the roster. Though I was highly confused as to when our housekeeper’s salary became high enough to afford this tuition, I was still looking forward to campus life. After all… my necklace was still with Miss Jenkins. 05 When I walked into the classroom, no one seemed surprised. It made sense. Their parents had practically tripped over themselves rushing to my house with expensive gifts to apologize. When those kids went home, their parents definitely read them the riot act, warning them to take good care of me at school. During the break, I was lazily leaning back in my chair, spinning a pen and scrolling through my phone. Suddenly, a shadow fell over me. I looked up to see a highly anxious Mia. Mia’s features weren’t breathtaking, but put together, they gave off an aura of innocent vulnerability. She looked soft and obedient. “Hi, Serena…” She bit her lip, looking incredibly conflicted. “About what happened a few days ago, I’m so sorry… Are you still mad at us?” I tilted my head. “Mad? Why would I be mad?” She froze, her eyes instantly turning red. “You don’t have to pretend. I know everything… It’s all my fault. If you’re angry, take it out on me, but please don’t blame Blair and the others…” Blair Kensington. Before I left the country, she used to follow me around everywhere, sweetly calling my name. I lifted my chin slightly. “Oh? What did I do?” “It’s just that you lost control of your emotions when you saw your parents, and it caused a huge misunderstanding…” I blinked, a harmless smile spreading across my lips. Blair couldn’t sit still anymore. “Serena Sterling, stop acting! If it wasn’t because you were jealous of Carter and Mia and went crying to your daddy, why would…” Perhaps realizing that her parents having to apologize was too humiliating, her voice cut off abruptly. My smile widened. “Why would… what?” “Are you talking about your parents coming to my house with gifts to apologize?” I crossed my arms. “And what does that have to do with Mia? It’s just normal networking between high-society families. Have I been out of the country so long that a new ‘Jenkins Dynasty’ suddenly popped up?” Mia was visibly shaken by the malicious humiliation in my words. She instinctively took a step back, tears welling in her eyes. “How could you be so mean?!” “Right.” As if suddenly remembering something, I placed my phone softly on the desk and slowly stood up. “There is one thing… you actually do need to apologize to me for.” 06 The moment I spoke, Blair angrily interjected: “Mia is a wonderful person! It makes perfect sense for Carter to like her. They love each other! Why should she apologize to you?!” “Do you think Carter is obligated to only like you for the rest of his life? When he was with you, it was just a dark mistake in his life!” I didn’t get mad. I just narrowed my eyes and smiled. “Blair, didn’t you use to say that Carter was madly in love with me? That I was beautiful and kind, and we were a match made in heaven?” Seeing her choke on her words, I shifted gears, feigning confusion. “And why do you guys assume Mia owes me an apology because of some romantic drama?” I took a step closer to Mia, my smile never wavering, but my hand shot out and violently grabbed the necklace around her neck. She lost her balance and almost crashed to the floor, her eyes wide with shock. “Miss Jenkins. Why is my necklace around your neck?” Mia’s eyes darted around in a panic, but she kept up the lie. “Don’t falsely accuse me! This is my necklace! My mom gave it to me for my birthday!” At that, my smile finally cooled into something mocking. I didn’t loosen my grip. “My necklace sits in your house for a few days, and suddenly it belongs to you?” I pulled harder, and large teardrops began spilling from her eyes. The entire classroom fell dead silent. After a long moment, someone tried to step forward, but I stopped them dead in their tracks with an icy glare. “My family is cleaning up a thieving servant. Does this involve any of you?” My tone was freezing. I turned my attention back to the sobbing girl in front of me. “Miss Jenkins, are you going to take it off yourself, or do you need my help?” 07 Mia cried until her face was flushed red. I didn’t lessen my grip. My dark eyes stared right through her. “Serena, is this really necessary?! Even if Mia accidentally took it, you have so much jewelry! Do you really care about one necklace?!” Blair didn’t dare step closer, but she couldn’t resist running her mouth. “What a joke. She dirties my belongings, and I’m supposed to be the bigger person? Where is the logic in that?” I scoffed disdainfully, looking lazily at Mia. “Do I need to pull the security footage from my estate?” Looking as if she had suffered the ultimate humiliation, Mia clenched her fists. Her snow-white neck bore a red mark from where I had pulled the chain. “I’ll take it off! But Miss Sterling, humiliating me like this is going too far!” I released my grip. She yanked the necklace off and shoved it toward me. Hiding deep resentment and indignation beneath her teary eyes, she wiped her face and quickly ran back to Blair’s side. Blair patted her back, comforting her in a low voice. “It’s okay, we all believe you. When Carter gets back, he’ll definitely help you.” They thought they were whispering, but they deliberately made sure I heard. I let out a light snort. “Great. I can’t wait to see how he helps.” Did she really think I wouldn’t crush him? With that, I casually tossed the necklace to my quiet deskmate, who was watching me with starry eyes. “It’s yours. It’s a bit dirty, so throw it away if you don’t want it.” Then, under the gaze of the entire class, I turned and walked out of that toxic room. 08 A few days later, I finally realized something. My little deskmate wasn’t a stranger either. Audrey Collins. Carter’s first love. I clicked my tongue. Wow, this class really collected Carter’s first love, his ex, and his current girlfriend. While I was still brainwashed by the plot, I had known Audrey’s name. Combining that with the memories of the novel, I knew a fair bit about her. She used to be Blair’s friend. Coming from an ordinary background, she was only admitted to this elite school because of her top-tier grades. She had secretly harbored a crush on Carter for a long time. When Carter happened to want a distraction, he dated her. But after they got together, Carter acted aloof and emotionally abusive, literally driving an innocent girl to the brink of insanity. When Carter finally dumped her, she begged him for a long time, becoming a laughingstock for Blair and the others. As for her current situation in the class… well, I didn’t even need to guess. When Carter was with me, Blair used to whisper poison in my ear, saying Audrey was just a gold digger who wouldn’t stop harassing Carter. She always made sure to add: Serena, Carter truly loves you so much! When he was with Audrey, he barely even looked at her. Thinking about it now… I laughed out of sheer anger. I slammed my pen onto the desk, startling Audrey, who was quietly doing practice problems. “What a piece of trash.” If you don’t like someone, why date them? And then bite them back at the end. I frowned, deeply questioning the plot. How did a classless man like that end up being the male lead? 09 The class was in chaos, but the source of the drama, Carter Hayes, was conveniently absent, attending a National Rowing Championship out of state. This annoyed me immensely. When he returned, Blair couldn’t wait to run to him and tattle. Hearing this, Carter raised an eyebrow, and the corner of his mouth even twitched upward in a subtle smirk. Knowing the original plot, I knew exactly what he was thinking at a single glance. Carter getting together with Mia was just a ploy to stimulate my return. To him, my hostility toward Mia was just a jealous tactic to win back his affection. It actually inflated his ego. Fine. Let him be arrogant for a minute. I couldn’t wait to show him how I was going to ruin him. Ex. Boyfriend. 10 To encourage well-rounded development, the university regularly held talent showcases. In the original plot, this was a minor turning point. According to the story, I would choose to perform my strongest skill: the piano. Coincidentally, Mia also chose the piano. But since I was trained by world-class maestros from a young age, she naturally couldn’t compare. During rehearsals, Mia would run away crying after hearing me play. After being chased down by Carter and the others, she would tearfully confess her insecurities. At that time, Carter hadn’t realized his feelings for Mia yet, but he felt an uncomfortable pang in his chest. So, he set out to hire my former maestro to teach her. In the end, Mia would stun the audience with her drastically improved skills. She would lose to me by a narrow margin, but win the hearts and support of everyone else. Blair would even throw shade publicly: “A strong, resilient girl like Mia deserves everyone’s love. She is sincere and brave. Some people win the competition but lose their integrity, while Mia did the exact opposite.” Recalling this, I signed my name on the registration form without hesitation. A narrow margin? What a joke. 11 Everything proceeded exactly as the plot predicted. Except when Carter tried to hire my maestro for Mia, he was flat-out rejected. The reason the maestro gave was: “I said it years ago. Serena will be my very last student.” In the original plot, the maestro rejected him the same way, but was somehow moved by Mia’s determination later. But naturally, that wouldn’t happen this time… The reason? Before all of this, I paid a visit to my beloved mentor. During our casual conversation, I intentionally dropped a few facts. Just the detail about Mia stealing my necklace was enough for the maestro to blacklist her completely. But… I didn’t expect this: Carter actually had the audacity to come confront me about it.

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Tristan Reed had just won the championship at the international violin competition, and I rushed over to his celebration party. But outside the private room, I heard someone ask him: “Who is ‘Porsche Doormat 3.23’ in your contacts?” Tristan sounded completely nonchalant: “Exactly what it says.” My hand, reaching for the door handle, froze. I drove a red Porsche. My birthday was March 23rd. 01 Before I even had a chance to flee in humiliation, another voice echoed from the room: “I heard you had a childhood sweetheart. Isn’t her birthday in March?” Tristan was silent for a long moment before letting out a dismissive scoff. “Ugh!” “Her grades are incredibly average.” “She’s completely tone-deaf. She can’t even read sheet music.” “How could I possibly like her?” “It’s entirely one-sided. But she enjoys playing the pathetic groupie, so let her.” I couldn’t help but laugh at myself. Tristan and I had been childhood friends for twenty-four years. And in the end, all I amounted to was a “pathetic groupie.” To be fair, Tristan had always been the golden boy of our school. He never paid attention in class, never studied after school, yet somehow aced every single exam. In his free time, he would lean against the bleacher railings, playing a violin solo from above, drawing the absolute adoration and screams of countless girls. The year of our college admissions, Tristan caused an absolute sensation. He had the grades to get into any Ivy League school he wanted, but he stubbornly chose Juilliard instead. He had smiled so arrogantly: “Wherever a genius stands, that is the stage.” And he truly had the talent and capital to be that arrogant. In just a few short years, he had won the gold medal at the Apollo International Music Competition. The media hailed him as a “High-IQ Violin Virtuoso.” Compared to him, I was incredibly dull. My grades were average, and I had absolutely zero musical talent. The only thing I really had going for me was my looks and my outgoing personality. I was popular on campus and had been voted Student Body President. So, after getting my bachelor’s, I didn’t go to grad school. I dove straight into the corporate world. Tristan, unsurprisingly, was offered a full ride for his Master’s at Juilliard. When he moved into his new dorm, I took time off work and drove him to help carry his luggage. When we arrived outside his building, Tristan stopped me from going up. “I can carry it up myself. You can head back.” I froze. It took me a moment to ask: “Do you feel like having me as your girlfriend is embarrassing in front of your elite circle of musicians?” Tristan scratched the bridge of my nose, feigning helplessness. “What are you talking about? I’m hiding my beautiful girlfriend away so those guys don’t try to steal you from me.” Several times after that, I asked to meet his classmates. Tristan always found an excuse to reject the idea. Until this time. Tristan assumed I was still stuck in a business conference in Manhattan, so he casually posted the location of his celebration party on his Instagram Story. Inside the room, the topic had shifted. They were now discussing Fritz Kreisler and Yehudi Menuhin. It was a world I could never blend into. Just as I prepared to turn and run, the heavy doors to the private room were abruptly pulled open. A girl in a flowing white dress looked me up and down with a hint of haughtiness: “Huh? Who are you?” “Did you walk into the wrong room?” 02 The room fell dead silent for a moment. Tristan’s eyes landed on me. A flicker of panic crossed his face, but he quickly regained his composure. “When did you get here? Weren’t you at your conference in Manhattan?” I hesitated for exactly 0.1 seconds before acting completely nonchalant. “Just got here. I was just looking for the right room.” Even I couldn’t explain why I acted that way. Maybe it was the instinct of a Corporate Business Director—always leave yourself an out, never show your bottom line too easily. Or maybe I just wanted to lie to myself one last time. As long as I didn’t expose the truth, there was still room to salvage this. Tristan smiled and introduced me to the room: “This is Cadence Sterling.” “She’s… my friend.” Friend. I chewed on the word in my mind. A bitter taste spread across the back of my tongue. The atmosphere in the room was incredibly delicate. Everyone’s eyes dropped to the Porsche keys in my hand, their expressions practically screaming, Oh, so that’s her. But the girl in the white dress quickly broke the tension. “Haha, Cadence. That’s kind of ironic, don’t you think?” “What a waste of a musical name on someone who’s completely tone-deaf.” Me: “?” Before I could even react, Tristan had subtly stepped between us. “Chloe, you’re always running that mouth of yours.” “Always yapping away.” “Just go eat your food.” On the surface, it sounded like a reprimand, but his tone was dripping with affection and protectiveness. Chloe Mercer stuck her tongue out at Tristan in an annoyingly cute way and skipped over to the fruit platter. Chloe Mercer. That name wasn’t unfamiliar to me. For the past six months, Tristan had brought her up constantly. He said a “returning piano prodigy” named Chloe had joined his program. Whether it was her musical sense or pure talent, she was entirely his equal. She was the new darling of all the professors. He would complain, half-joking, “I feel like I’m losing my favorite child status.” It was a complaint, but I could always hear a deep sense of appreciation in his voice—the kind you only have for an equal. One of Tristan’s classmates waved for me to sit, casually joking: “Tristan, man, if you have such a gorgeous ‘good friend,’ why haven’t you introduced us?” “If you don’t want her, let her hit the open market.” Tristan’s face instantly went black. He spat out a heavy, furious: “Piss off.” He successfully pushed the room’s awkwardness to its absolute peak. Tristan casually grabbed the scarf I had draped over my chair and tossed it over my legs. “You’re dressed like you’re attending a gala.” “You’re trying way too hard.” “Besides, it’s not safe to wear something like this at night. I’ll drive you home later.” I smiled, just about to explain, when Chloe suddenly let out a sharp gasp! Tristan whipped his head around. Chloe was holding a fruit knife in one hand. Her other hand had a tiny, superficial scratch, barely oozing a drop of blood. Tristan panicked instantly. “I told you your hands are meant for the piano!” “Don’t I always peel the fruit for you?!” 03 Chloe looked incredibly wronged. “Why are you yelling at me?” “I was just worried Cadence would be mad!” As she spoke, Chloe’s eyes rimmed red. She pulled off a perfect soap-opera performance: I want to cry, but I’m bravely holding back my tears. Tristan’s head snapped toward me, his eyes full of unconcealed accusation. But I literally hadn’t done a single thing. Why was it that the second she uttered two sentences, you immediately assumed I was the villain? Favoritism can be blatant, but how could he be so blindly irrational? In that moment, Tristan had already scooped a terrified-looking Chloe into his arms. “I’m taking you to the ER!” As he rushed past me, Chloe’s leg—which had been hanging limply—suddenly swung out, her foot nearly kicking me right in the face. I instinctively dodged backward. What I didn’t realize was that an askew chair was right behind me. Caught completely off guard, I crashed to the floor, letting out a low gasp of pain. Tristan paused. He looked like he was about to check on me. But Chloe softly whimpered: “I’m so sorry, Cadence. I didn’t mean to.” “It’s just that my hand hurts so badly… sob… I’m so scared I won’t be able to play the piano anymore.” Tristan’s brows knitted together tightly. He comforted her gently: “Don’t be scared. I’m taking you to the hospital right now.” “It’s not your fault she fell. It’s her own vanity. She didn’t need to wear those ridiculous heels.” With that, he walked out without looking back. The silence in the private room was so thick you could cut it with a knife. After a long moment, one of Tristan’s classmates said awkwardly: “Ah, well… Tristan isn’t usually…” He trailed off, clearly realizing there was no defending that. He helplessly asked if he could drive me to the hospital. I shook my head and declined, limping my way down to the underground parking garage. Vanity. I couldn’t deny it. I was definitely vain. I worked my fingers to the bone in the corporate world. Within three years, I had clawed my way up to Business Director. I fought to be the best in everything. I wanted to be a cut above the rest. I bought a luxury condo, drove a nice car, wore Chanel suits, and insisted my diamond rings had to be at least three carats. I loved new things and discarded the old. I loved the expensive and despised the cheap. It seemed the only “old” thing I had ever held onto in my entire life was Tristan. When I was little, my parents divorced. They both started new families. Neither of them wanted me. I was kicked back and forth between them like a burden. If I wanted living expenses, I had to endure their cold mockery and eye rolls. My only comfort back then was Tristan. Whenever I hid downstairs to cry, he would gently play his violin for me. He would share his breakfast buns and milk with me. When kids at school called me an unwanted stray, he would stand firmly in front of me and protect me. I grew up starved for affection, and he was my only source of warmth. That was why, for all these years, I couldn’t bear to let him go. A sharp, sleazy whistle snapped me out of my memories. Without realizing it, I had limped my way into a completely deserted section of the parking garage. A group of aggressively dressed, sketchy-looking guys were eyeing me up and down. “Hey beautiful, all alone?” “Ooh, driving a Porsche, too.” “Think she’s some rich guy’s sugar baby?” “If she’s keeping one guy company, why not keep us boys company too?” 04 They started walking toward me. I instinctively took a step back, frantically digging in my purse for my car keys. In my panic, the keys slipped and clattered to the concrete floor. Just as I bent down to grab them, a hand with long, distinct knuckles appeared out of nowhere and snatched the keys first. An arm draped casually over my shoulders. “I told you to wait for me. Why did you come down by yourself again?” I looked up. It was a face I had never seen before. He looked to be in his late twenties, dressed simply in a white T-shirt and jeans. But on his wrist sat a limited-edition Vacheron Constantin watch—the kind of piece you couldn’t buy just by having money. Other than that, he wore no accessories. The thugs beside us muttered a few curses and backed off. The man naturally opened my car door. “Get in. It’s cold out.” He smoothly slid into the driver’s seat, pulled out his phone, and tapped out a quick message before starting the engine. It wasn’t until the car merged onto the brightly lit main avenue that he finally spoke. “Desperate times call for desperate measures. My apologies for overstepping.” “Don’t worry, I’m not a creep.” “Shall I drive you home?” I forced a weak smile. “I know. The watch on your wrist is worth more than my entire car.” “Thank you for back there.” Following my directions, the man merged onto the highway. He thoughtfully stayed quiet, letting me close my eyes and rest. We arrived at my condo building quickly. I felt a bit awkward. “How are you getting home? Should I call you an Uber?” The man chuckled. “No need. My assistant came to pick me up.” “His car has been following us the whole time.” I looked up. A sleek black Bentley was parked right next to us. A man who looked like an executive assistant handed him a pharmacy bag. “Mr. Cole, the items you requested.” The man took it and handed it to me. “Your knee was bleeding. I had him buy some antiseptic and bandages.” “But if it’s serious, you should really go to a doctor.” It was only then that I realized the delayed, throbbing pain. I had scraped my knee badly when I fell in the restaurant. The man turned and opened his door. “Go inside. Girls should be careful at night.” “Or better yet, have your boyfriend pick you up.” I couldn’t help but let out an incredibly ugly, bitter smile. “My boyfriend is… very busy.” Watching the man get into the Bentley, I hurriedly thanked him again. “Thank you again for tonight.” The man looked up at me, a sly smile playing on his lips. “You’re very welcome, Director Sterling.” With that, the Bentley sped off into the night. Leaving me standing there, stunned: How did he know my last name? 05 Based on my extensive experience, whenever Tristan and I fought, we usually had a cold war for a few days. When I finally couldn’t take it anymore and crawled back to apologize, he would hit me with his three trademark, arrogant questions: “Do you know what you did wrong?” “Where exactly did you mess up?” “Will you do it again?” But for some reason, this argument felt different. I wasn’t scratching at the walls, checking my phone every five minutes like I usually did. I had zero desire to reach out to him. What I didn’t expect was that this time, Tristan would be the one to break first. It all started because a video went viral. During a break at my Manhattan conference, I had specifically visited the famous Kolstein’s string shop. I wanted to pick out a high-end violin to give to Tristan as a gift. As luck would have it, while I was browsing, a popular music influencer was live-streaming a tour of the shop. She enthusiastically interviewed me: “Miss, you’re buying such an expensive violin! You must be an incredible player!” “Could you play a piece for us?” I had smiled honestly. “I’m completely tone-deaf.” “This violin is a gift for my boyfriend.” “He’s incredibly talented.” After the video blew up, netizens flooded the comments: [I’m so jealous of her boyfriend! A $340,000 violin, and she bought it without blinking!] [She’s so gorgeous! Did you see how her eyes literally sparkled when she talked about her boyfriend?!] [Hey, when you’re ready for a new boyfriend, hit me up! I’m first in line!] Putting the pieces together, Tristan finally realized the truth. I had finished my conference in Manhattan and raced against the clock to buy him a violin. Then I flew back without stopping to rest, didn’t even adjust to the jet lag, and didn’t even have time to change my clothes. I had rushed to see him, only to be turned into a total laughingstock. Tristan finally couldn’t take the silence. He texted me: [You around? Let’s grab dinner tonight.] Even when bowing his head, the aloof god of music still made it sound like an arrogant act of charity. But my pathetic, hopelessly attached self replied: [Okay.] 06 I thought it was going to be a romantic, candlelit dinner for two. Instead, it was a massive group party. Tristan brought me to a loud, upscale bar. Chloe spotted us immediately and waved wildly at Tristan. “Over here!” Tristan grabbed my hand and pulled me over, smiling, completely ignoring the fact that my expression had already turned thunderous. A few drinks in, Tristan got up to use the restroom. Right on cue, someone brought up the viral video, giving me a thumbs-up. “Badass! $340,000! That’s the most expensive violin on campus right now!” Before I could even say a word, Chloe let out a loud scoff. “What’s so great about being willing to spend money on a man?” “A man being willing to spend money on you—that’s true love.” As she spoke, she casually, oh-so-deliberately, brushed her hand against her collarbone. A diamond necklace was resting there, showing off. Chloe lowered her voice, dripping with provocation: “Tristan gave it to me.” “What has he ever given you? Tsk tsk, he can’t even remember your birthday unless he puts it in your contact name. I doubt he’s ever bought you a gift, right?” “In a relationship of three, the one who isn’t loved is the real third wheel.” I smiled, casually running my finger around the rim of my glass. “H-color. One carat.” “Barely acceptable. Must have been on clearance, right?” Knowing Tristan’s financial situation, I knew he didn’t have much disposable income. Where did he get the money to buy Chloe diamonds? Chloe looked visibly enraged. “Tristan and I are a perfect match! We’re meant to be!” “The first time I saw him, I knew he was mine.” I saw Tristan walking back from the restroom in the distance. An expensive tailored suit, a high-end dress shirt, and meticulously manicured skin and hands. He looked as elegant as a prince. A prince that this “idiot Cinderella” had worked herself to the bone to package and fund. It definitely gave him a massive, magnetic appeal on a college campus. I swirled my drink. “Little girl, you don’t like Tristan.” “You like the flawless persona I bought and paid for.” Unfortunately, she didn’t grasp my genuine advice. Instead, a flash of pure malice crossed her eyes. She violently grabbed my hand—the one holding my glass—and shoved the liquor down her own throat. She immediately started choking and coughing violently. With tears streaming down her face, she cried to Tristan, who was rushing over: “I told her I didn’t know how to drink, but Cadence forced me!” “When I refused, she practically poured it down my throat!” Her acting was unbelievably clumsy. It was like watching a cheap circus act. But some people were more than willing to be the audience. Without a second thought, Tristan reached out and shoved me hard. “Are you insane, Cadence?!” “Chloe actually suggested I bring you here to relax tonight!” “Are you comparing yourself to her? She’s just a young girl, how could you force her to drink Bourbon?!” I violently grabbed the hand he used to push me. Staring at his suddenly bare wrist, I asked him, word by word: “Where is the couple’s watch I gave you?” 07 Tristan instantly froze. He pulled his hand back with an expression of deep displeasure, clearly trying to mask his guilt with anger. “You gave it to me, so it’s mine to do what I want with.” “Why do you care so much?” As he spoke, his eyes involuntarily darted toward the diamond necklace resting on Chloe’s chest. I almost laughed out loud. “You sold the watch I gave you so you could buy diamonds to coax this little pick-me girl?” “It’s a waste that you use those hands to play the violin. You should be an accountant with how well you calculate!” I didn’t keep my voice down. Everyone nearby turned to look. A few of Tristan’s classmates let their jaws drop, staring at him in shock. They seemed unable to believe that their elegant, aloof “Prince” was actually a calculating opportunist. Honestly, I didn’t care about the money. But that watch meant everything to me. When Tristan and I got together, I was the one who confessed first. From start to finish, he always maintained an attitude of “whatever.” He was fine being together. He’d be fine breaking up. He’d be fine if I was replaced by someone else. Until one year on my birthday. It coincided with Tristan being out of town for a performance. I was sulking, buying my own cake, blowing out my own candles. Just as the clock struck midnight, the melodious sound of a violin drifted through my window. I leaned out, unable to believe my eyes. Tristan was standing downstairs, still wearing his slightly wrinkled performance tuxedo. He looked up at me, his eyes shining with a boyish, ‘Bet I surprised you, didn’t I?’ pride. Tristan was always so cold and aloof. That was one of the few times he ever showed such youthful, genuine emotion. It struck me right in the heart. Later, we split the entire cake between us. He nuzzled into my neck, sounding a bit aggrieved. “The second my performance ended, I rushed back.” “I even had to hitchhike in the back of a farmer’s truck for a few miles! Just so I could make it back for your birthday.” Tristan told me that the piece he played that night was an original composition. He titled it “Splendor.” After Tristan left, I twirled around my room in pure joy. I thought, maybe, just maybe, Tristan actually did love me. The next day, I took my entire project bonus and bought us a set of luxury couple’s watches. When Tristan took his, he looked surprised. “It’s not a holiday. Why the sudden expensive gift?” I happily grabbed his hand. The two watches sparkled on our wrists, perfectly complimenting each other. “You wouldn’t understand.” The memories from that time were crystal clear, but we could never go back. Seeing the increasingly weird, borderline disdainful looks his classmates were giving him, Tristan finally snapped. “Enough! I’ll pay you back in cash!” “We’re breaking up!”

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During finals week, the campus queen bee was caught cheating. Crying, she claimed I forced her to do it. She even pulled out medical records, falsely accusing me of driving her to depression. “Why won’t you just admit it? Are you trying to force me to die?” With those words, she took another step toward the edge of the roof. My boyfriend didn’t even ask for my side of the story before demanding I take the blame: “Riley, that’s a human life! How can you be so cold-blooded?” Everyone around me urged me to remember that a life was more important than anything else. I gave a sinister smile. “Isn’t it just dying? Come on, let’s die together.” I lunged forward, grabbing the terrified queen bee, and we tumbled off the roof together. Of course, I wouldn’t die. Because down below, I had already prepared an inflatable rescue cushion. Sorry, but I’ve been reborn. 1 I was shaken awake by the proctor. Staring at the unfamiliar yet familiar exam hall, I was dazed for a moment. Wasn’t I dead? Mia’s carefully orchestrated cyberbullying campaign not only stole my guaranteed grad school admission but also doxxed all my personal information online. In an instant, I went from a straight-A student favored by professors to public enemy number one. I was pushed to the center of the storm by self-righteous internet vigilantes. I lost my education, couldn’t find a job, and eventually died under the wheels of a car driven by one of Mia’s extreme admirers. How could I be sitting in an exam room for finals? Before I could figure it out, I saw a small piece of paper drop to the floor diagonally in front of me. That was Mia’s seat. Looking closely, Mia seemed a bit younger than I remembered. She didn’t have the heavy makeup or the head-to-toe designer brands from my past life. Looking at the scene before me, I felt a sense of unreality. I never thought I’d actually experience the reincarnation trope you only see in novels. I was reborn. Back to my college days, on the day of finals. The very day that marked the turning point of my destiny. In my past life, in this exact same scenario. I discovered Mia cheating. When she bent down to pick up her cheat sheet, she met my gaze. She turned pale with fright. In a panic, she put her hands together in a pleading gesture, begging me to stay quiet. Living by the principle of minding my own business, I didn’t do anything. I just lowered my head and continued my exam. It was just a regular final exam; passing was enough. It wasn’t some life-altering test. College exams… they were what they were. But to my surprise, she was so focused on copying that she was caught red-handed by the proctor. This particular professor was notoriously strict in our department. He exposed her right there in the dead-silent exam hall. Mia had always maintained the persona of a beautiful, brilliant scholar. Being caught cheating on the spot—if it were any other student, they might have just laughed it off and taken the makeup exam. But to her, it was a matter of life and death. Her persona collapsed instantly. “I can’t believe the campus queen’s ‘genius’ persona is fake!” “Who knows if she cheated on all her previous exams too. No wonder she didn’t get the grad school recommendation this time.” “So fake. She doesn’t look like that kind of person. She looks so innocent… do you think she smokes and drinks in private too?” In my past life, on the day the university issued the disciplinary notice, I had just received my offer for a master’s program at an Ivy League university. I was immersed in the joy of my admission, completely missing the venom in her eyes. I never expected she would go to such lengths just to destroy me. In my past life, I couldn’t figure it out. Just because I saw her cheating, she had to ruin me? Was it just because I was an orphan with no backing? Only after I died, when I hovered around her as a ghost, did I find out. She did it because I had discovered her secret. —I had once seen her getting into a black Mercedes that had a bottle of water placed on the roof. At the time, I hadn’t realized what she was doing. “You can’t blame me, you can only blame yourself. Who told you to see something you shouldn’t have seen?” She had muttered to herself, her face showing not a shred of guilt. A person with a dark heart sees darkness in everything. The memory of being crushed under those wheels, the agonizing pain of my body shattering, was still fresh in my mind. Right now, the campus queen was playing the victim, hands clasped together, begging me not to report her. I smiled at her. What are you thinking? If I lived this second life like a coward again, I’d want to slap myself. I glanced over and saw the proctor walking toward us. Under her terrified gaze, I raised my hand, feigning confusion. “Professor, there seems to be something on the floor.” “It looks like it belongs to Mia… but maybe I’m mistaken.” I pretended to be unsure, my tone hesitant, but I practically threw the culprit right under the bus. And I added a layer of uncertainty to the situation. In my past life, this was exactly how the campus queen had cleared her own name. I was just a fast learner. The proctor also happened to be our major’s professor. She picked up the paper from the floor, opened it, and then her gaze shifted to Mia. She escorted her out of the classroom. This time, the disciplinary notice came much faster than in my past life. When I returned to the dorm, Mia was lying on her bed sobbing, while our roommate Chloe was comforting her. Seeing me, Chloe immediately started pointing fingers: “Riley, what is wrong with you? So many people cheat, why did you have to target Mia?” Chloe came from a wealthy family, but despite her princess temper, she was easily manipulated by Mia. She was her loyal pawn. In the same scenario in my past life, because I didn’t expose Mia, Chloe still blamed me: “Riley, your grades are so good, why didn’t you clear Mia’s name?” Back then, I actually internalized it, doubting if I had truly done something wrong. Now I understood that no matter what I did, it would always be “my fault” in their eyes. They didn’t care about my perspective. So, instead of reflecting on myself, it was better to blame others. If they wanted to drive me crazy, then no one was going to have a good time. I put down my textbook, pointed to the recording app on my phone, and opened the university’s online forum. I sneered darkly: “So you mean to say she cheated, and I should take the blame? Am I her mother or her father that I have to be so considerate of her?” “I’ve posted what you just said on the forum. Let’s see what everyone else thinks.” Probably not expecting me to be this unhinged, both Chloe and Mia looked up at me simultaneously. Mia panicked and lunged to grab my phone. I shoved her away, looking down at her from above. “If you want to act like a spoiled princess, go work at a hostess bar. Don’t mess with me.” After speaking, I looked at the two girls who were too scared to respond. I smiled slightly and added, “By the way, I do have a mental illness, so stay out of my way. You wouldn’t want my condition to worsen and make me start talking nonsense, would you? Like that day I saw…” I trailed off, but I knew Mia had a guilty conscience and would definitely overthink it. That was enough for now. In my past life, I suffered so much. I was going to pay it all back, item by item. I wouldn’t expose everything right away. A game of cat and mouse. It’s only fun if you play it slowly. 2 While I was sitting in the library recalling key events from my past life, Liam suddenly appeared in front of me. I almost forgot—at this point in time, he hadn’t hooked up with Mia yet. The library’s heating was cranked up, so I was only wearing a thin sweater. Without a word, he grabbed my hand and dragged me outside. It wasn’t until he pulled me onto the roof that I truly felt the reality of my rebirth. It was still winter. The wind on the roof bit into my face, sharp and painful. Mia stood at the edge of the roof, screaming hysterically. At the entrance of the roof stood our academic advisor and the dean, acting as mediators. “Why won’t anyone believe me?!” “I didn’t cheat! She framed me! She threw her cheat sheet onto my desk, and I just opened it out of curiosity! I really didn’t copy!” She looked like a fragile, broken doll. Her hair blew in the wind, giving her an aura of tragic beauty. Every man present wore an identical look of pity on their faces. She seemed acutely aware of her own beauty. She took a step back, her hands gripping the railing tightly. When she looked at me, the despair in her eyes deepened. Her lips trembled, and tears fell like broken pearls. “You already got the grad school recommendation, why won’t you let me go?!” “What did I do wrong?!” “Will you only be satisfied if I die?” I noticed the probing gazes of the people around me, just like in my past life. My boyfriend, Liam, pushed me forward, shoving me into the spotlight. His tone was frantic. If I didn’t know about his dirty little secrets, it would be hard to tell that his anxiety was directed at her. “Riley, say something!” I looked at him coldly. “I didn’t do anything. What am I supposed to admit?” Liam looked at me with deep disappointment, as if condemning me. In my past life, I never understood why my boyfriend sided with Mia. I only found out later that the person he initially confessed to was Mia. After being rejected, he settled for me. He thought being close to me would give him a better chance with her. His heart and eyes were completely occupied by his unattainable campus queen. Hearing my words, Mia acted as if she had suffered a massive blow, shaking her head and frantically repeating that it wasn’t her. The dean, hearing my response, grew anxious: “Riley! A human life is at stake here!!” Then, the dean turned and looked at Mia gently. “Mia, don’t worry. I promise I will give you a proper explanation and clear your name. Don’t do anything impulsive.” Even the students watching started whispering, accusing me of being cold-blooded and heartless. “I knew Mia wouldn’t cheat. Someone definitely framed her.” “Yeah, she wouldn’t joke around with her life over one final exam.” In my past life, I was morally kidnapped by these people, roasted over an open fire. I was forced to confess to a crime I didn’t commit. Later, the university actually turned the fake confession into reality, pinning the cheating scandal entirely on me. The incident blew up online. I was cyberbullied. The entire internet claimed I was a bully who drove my roommate to jump off a building. I lost my grad school offer. I lost my boyfriend. I lost everything. As for Mia? By using the threat of death to prove her innocence, she was praised by netizens as a principled, brilliant student. She started livestreaming and gained massive traffic. She harvested a huge fanbase and made a fortune. I was cyberbullied, spat on, couldn’t find a job, and died tragically under the wheels of a car. Even after my death, she capitalized on my tragedy. She pinned the label of “suicide out of guilt” on me. She turned it around, saying I was mentally fragile, and questioned why I framed her in the first place if I couldn’t handle the consequences. Why would someone who genuinely wants to die give others the chance to save them? She never intended to die. She just wanted to blow things out of proportion, pretend to risk her life to prove her innocence, and win sympathy. In reality, a rescue cushion had already been set up downstairs. Even if she really jumped, she wouldn’t have been hurt. Mia’s theatrical, hysterical screaming continued. It was a shame she wasn’t an acting major. The accusations and noise around me intertwined with the phantom pain of my body being crushed by tires in my past life. The blood vessels in my temples throbbed erratically, a roaring sound filling my ears. I rubbed my temples and let out a low, sinister laugh. I snapped. I didn’t care if she was faking it or not; new hatred and old grudges surged into my mind. The string of my sanity broke. Ignoring everyone, I sprinted toward Mia. Amidst her struggles and screams, I grabbed her tightly and dragged her off the roof. “You cheated, you got caught, so why pretend?! I already got my offer, why would I bother framing you? Who the hell do you think you are? Are your brains bound up like old foot bindings? “You want to die? Come on, let’s die together! You want to jump? Don’t know how? Come on, I’ll teach you!!” 3 The feeling of weightlessness lasted for a few seconds before our bodies landed on the pre-prepared rescue cushion. Under the massive momentum, our bodies bounced a few times before coming to a stop. Mia sat dazed on the cushion, her lips pale. “You… you lunatic.” Everyone from the roof rushed downstairs. Liam was the first to arrive, pulling Mia off the cushion. She looked so pitiful and helpless. He was thoroughly enchanted by her fragile facade. “Riley, are you crazy?! That was the 4th floor! “Apologize to Mia right now!” I looked at this man, who even needed my connections in the department to find an advisor for his senior thesis. A wave of disgust hit me. I dry-heaved, successfully making the faces of the people in front of me turn even uglier. “First of all, you’re not my boyfriend. “Secondly, how does someone who cheated have the audacity to ask for an apology? I’m not the one who got caught cheating.” Hearing my words, Mia’s face grew even paler. Ah, youth is great. You don’t even need foundation. Liam’s neck stiffened, his face flushed with anger. “Apologize to Mia, and I’ll take you off my block list.” I just remembered—before the cheating incident, Liam and I had been fighting. The reason was that during our relationship, he constantly tried to fish for information about the campus queen. I couldn’t tolerate it anymore and started an argument with him. Two things stacked together, my disgust meter was maxed out. I raised my hand and slapped Liam across the face: “What are you barking about? Are you that excited to see this piece of trash you call a queen?” He didn’t anticipate my action and was completely stunned. Supported by a classmate, I stood steady, glaring at the scumbag and the bitch in front of me, letting out a cold snort. “You’re a piece of trash, and you belong perfectly in the dumpster. “We’re breaking up! Who do you think you are, trying to cheat on me?!” The jumping incident caused a massive uproar at the university. Because I didn’t take the fall, Mia was pointed at and gossiped about wherever she went. Before this, she always had a horde of simps following her around. She was idolized everywhere she went. She reaped all the benefits of her pretty privilege. People naturally gravitate toward beautiful things, but they also subconsciously distance themselves from them—it’s a psychological manifestation of underlying insecurity. Previously, the persona Mia established at the university, besides being beautiful, was being intellectual, generous, and having great grades. Professors naturally favored her. I heard Mia also applied for the grad school recommendation this time. If my daily GPA hadn’t been so high, it really would have been a toss-up as to who got the offer. Mia’s previous goddess image was deeply rooted, raising people’s expectations of her accordingly. The slightest mistake would cause her image to collapse. But this was only the first step of the plan. I was going to systematically destroy the things Mia cared about most. Whether in the present or the future. 4 Chloe came to find me a few times, constantly questioning why I was harming Mia. I looked at this naive rich girl who saw the world in strictly black and white. I remembered how in my past life, Mia climbed the social ladder using my tragedy. She didn’t even spare her best friend. I don’t know how she hooked up with Chloe’s childhood sweetheart and fiancé, giving Chloe a green hat right under her nose. The funny thing was, Chloe had absolutely no idea her best friend had already hooked up with her fiancé. When Mia chose to enter the entertainment industry, Chloe even went out of her way to protect and support her career. In the end, she not only lost her fiancé but also dragged down her entire family’s business. Her pitiful state was no less than mine. Me harming Mia? Looking at the naive rich girl in front of me, I smiled faintly and said nothing. Chloe, with her princess temper, blocked my way and demanded, “What are you laughing at? How can you laugh when you’ve made someone so miserable?” I raised an eyebrow: “I’m laughing at someone who is so blind they can’t even tell if the person next to them is a wolf or a tiger, and in the end, they’ll lose everything.” Seeing Chloe still looked confused, I sighed. “If I were you, I wouldn’t let Mia get close to anyone around me.” Chloe was about to ask something else, but I turned and walked away. Sometimes, what I said wasn’t important; what was important was planting the seed of doubt. Let it take root and sprout. From what I knew, on the current timeline, Mia had already hooked up with Chloe’s fiancé, Julian. The car she got into last time was the one Julian often used to pick up Chloe from campus. And Chloe… She wasn’t very smart, and she was hopelessly in love. If I told her the truth directly, she would just think I was lying to sow discord. It was better to let her discover it herself. She would become my sword, thrust right at Mia. But just as I finished laying out this plan. I realized I was being cyberbullied. First, I mysteriously received a lot of extra packages at the mailroom. Opening them revealed the corpses of small animals. Then, strangers started calling me and sending abusive messages. A sudden realization hit me. I opened the short video app I rarely used, and countless direct messages flooded in. Following the netizens’ directions, I landed on a specific video. The person leading the cyberbullying against me was none other than Mia. 5 A series of “clarification” videos were posted on her account’s homepage. In the videos, she looked incredibly wronged. Dressed in a long white dress with delicate, light makeup, the room’s decor suggested she was in a high-end hotel. “I really didn’t cheat. Here are my college grades; everyone can see I’ve always scored very well. Why would I cheat? My family sent me to college so I could study hard and find a good job. “Riley forced me to do this. She was jealous of my grades and afraid I would steal her grad school recommendation. “What do I have to do for you all to believe me?” At the end, her tears fell like broken pearls. Her pitiful appearance was enough to move even me. Let alone the netizens watching the video. The comments under the video were mostly abusing me and comforting her. Soon, I was completely cyberbullied, and even my university was dragged into the trending searches and cursed at. The netizens believed Mia’s one-sided story. They left comments and DMs on my long-abandoned accounts. She took the opportunity to play the victim and win fans’ sympathy. Plus, she was already pretty, and with beauty filters, she quickly amassed 100,000 followers. I saw that she had already opened an e-commerce showcase on her homepage, linking to products. She also opened a secondary account. I tuned into her livestream and saw people constantly sending virtual gifts. The corners of her mouth curled up, a smile she couldn’t hide. “I’ve received everyone’s kindness! Thank you so much for your support! “I will donate all my livestream earnings to schools in remote areas, so more children can receive a fair education.” Her facade of kindness successfully harvested another wave of goodwill, and the gifts in the chat never stopped. In contrast. My situation was quite miserable. Under the pressure of the cyberbullying, the university had the academic advisor talk to me several times. The underlying message was that they hoped I would take all the blame. The advisor tried to persuade me gently: “If you take the blame, the university will protect your grad school recommendation. Otherwise, with your current reputation, the Ivy League school will rescind your offer anyway.” I looked at the advisor’s hypocritical face, my expression blank: “So even though I didn’t do it, I still have to take the fall? If I also jumped off a building and cried on the internet, would the university take my side?” I had always been humble and polite, never this aggressive. The advisor’s face instantly displayed a spectrum of colors. The university just wanted me to take the fall and then burn the bridge. Leave me to be cyberbullied. Help Mia push me to a dead end. I sneered. First, I went to the hospital’s psychiatric department and got a diagnosis for depression. In my past life, my mental state had completely collapsed, so the doctor easily confirmed the diagnosis. Then, I downloaded all of Mia’s “clarification” videos from her homepage and saved them on my phone. The view counts were already well over ten thousand. Mia clearly had no legal knowledge. —Using the internet to defame someone. If the defamatory information is clicked or viewed more than 5,000 times, or forwarded more than 500 times, and the victim—me—suffers a mental breakdown. I wanted to see how she would explain her way out of this. Stupid people need to taste the bitterness of their own stupidity. Those who try to manipulate public opinion will eventually be devoured by it. 6 I took the evidence and reported it to the police. The reason I gave was that Mia had a crush on my boyfriend, used underhanded methods to steal him, and now wanted to destroy me. At the police station, I [cried and sobbed], explaining the whole situation in absolute agony. The jumping incident had already caused a massive uproar online, so the police had heard about it too. After seeing my evidence and hearing my story, the female police officer comforted me with a look of deep sympathy. Mia was brought into the police station looking completely bewildered. The moment she saw me, she adjusted her facial expression. A single tear rolled down her cheek. “Riley, what exactly do you want? Will you only be happy if I die? “If this is about Liam, I can just give him to you.” But before she could finish her sentence, the police had already collected evidence from the university. They pulled up the surveillance footage from the exam. And, of course, they saw the entire process of Mia cheating during the exam. Watching the video, the color drained from Mia’s face. Playing the victim, right? Playing the weak one? I could do that too. With a pale face, I looked up at Mia: “What did I do wrong? Why are you treating me like this? Not only did you threaten to kill yourself on the roof, but you’re also cyberbullying me online. “Will you only be happy if I die?” Then my body swayed, and I “collapsed” into the arms of the female police officer beside me. She took me to the resting room. Mia was left on the side to be interrogated. Not long after, while resting, I suddenly heard a commotion. A familiar voice reached my ears, and I slowly curled my lips into a smile. Before coming to the police station, I had sent anonymous texts to Liam and Chloe, urging them to come to the police station immediately to rescue their girlfriend (or best friend). If my guess was right. Mia would definitely call her rich lover to resolve this matter. When these three clashed. I couldn’t wait to see what a beautiful scene it would be. In her past life, she got away with everything. In this life, it was time she was trampled into the dirt. 7 When I walked into the mediation room, the slap mark on Mia’s face was clearly visible. She stood pitifully with her head bowed behind a strange man. Chloe’s face was livid, her shoulders held down by the strange man. As for Liam, he stood next to Mia, his face looking equally terrible. Of course it looked terrible. The goddess he obsessed over had played him for a fool. His masculine pride was trampled on the ground; how could he feel good? “I treated you like my best friend, and you hook up with my fiancé?! How can you be such a slut? Was Liam not enough to satisfy you?” Mia trembled and shrank further behind the man. Chloe charged forward like an angry little beast, only to be firmly held back by the man in front of her. This man must be her legendary childhood sweetheart fiancé. The man frowned, looking displeased: “Speaking so vulgarly, you have no manners. Is this how Uncle Miller raised you?” At that sentence, I almost burst out laughing. Chloe’s fiancé was also quite the blind fool. Chloe’s expression froze, staring at the man in disbelief. “I’m sorry, Chloe, but I just couldn’t control myself. I truly love him. I’d die if I had to leave him.” Her words successfully made Liam’s face turn another shade uglier. In a corner where no one was paying attention, my heart bloomed with joy. What a glorious disaster. What a dramatic “I’ll die without him.” What a classic soap opera of stealing your best friend’s boyfriend. The female police officer cast a look of utter disgust at Mia and sternly maintained order. Even though the others were dissatisfied, they had no choice but to sit down obediently. I sat to the side, and an unfriendly gaze landed on me. I looked up and realized it was Chloe’s fiancé looking at me. Having navigated the business world for a long time, he could surely see through the underlying schemes. He definitely knew I was the instigator. So what? If you’ve done something wrong, you shouldn’t be afraid of ghosts knocking on your door. Reborn into this life, I never planned to suffer in silence. With Mia, it was a fight to the death. I looked at Mia with a half-smile: “Threatening to die over cheating on an exam, threatening to die over stealing my boyfriend, and now threatening to die over stealing your best friend’s fiancé. “Your life really isn’t worth much, threatening to end it so casually.” Mia’s face stiffened. Karma isn’t absent; it’s just waiting for the right time.

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Before Mom remarried, she gave my sister and me a house each. My sister chose the sprawling estate in the Hollywood Hills. I was forced to accept the rundown, cramped apartment in Downtown LA. Later, my sister set her sights on the ascetic, untouchable old-money heir living next door to the estate. After failing to seduce him multiple times, she lost her mind and tried to steal his company’s highly classified trade secrets to sell them. She was caught by the feds and spent the rest of her life in federal prison. Meanwhile, I hit the jackpot. The downtown apartment was bought out by a mega-developer. I used the buyout money to invest, multiplied my assets dozens of times over, and caught the eye of the ruthless Crown Prince of Wall Street. He proposed to me in a highly publicized event, and our lavish wedding was dubbed the “Romance of the Century” by the media. When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the exact moment we were choosing the houses. My sister lunged for the deed to the rundown downtown apartment, her face twisted with malice: “This lifetime, it’s your turn to rot in prison! The Romance of the Century is mine!” I almost laughed out loud. Compared to being the disposable fall guy for a billionaire’s true love, doesn’t lying in a massive mansion counting cash sound infinitely better? 1 Mom leaned against the chest of a man ten years her junior, holding two property deeds. “One is an estate in the Hollywood Hills, the other is a tiny walk-up in Downtown LA. You two choose. “Consider this my final compensation to you sisters. Your dad died young, and I’ve raised you both to adulthood. I’ve done my duty as a mother, right?” Looking at this incredibly familiar scene, my mind went blank. Wait. Wasn’t I just locked in a penthouse by Tristan Astor, being forced to sign my life away to take the fall for his true love’s massive financial fraud? Before I could speak, my sister, Sienna, snatched the deed to the downtown apartment right out of Mom’s hands, her eyes gleaming with greed. “I want the small one! You can leave the big mansion for my sister.” That was what she said, but the sheer avarice leaking from her eyes betrayed her true thoughts. Seeing this, I finally understood. I had been reborn, and so had Sienna. In our past life, she had eagerly snatched the three-story Hollywood Hills estate, leaving me alone in that cramped, 600-square-foot walk-up. After Mom left with her new boyfriend, Sienna had smugly flaunted her choice in my face. “Ugh, so what if you’re downtown? Look at this place, it’s a complete dump. “My new neighborhood is strictly for the ultra-elite! Sister, the gap between us is officially permanently wide. Enjoy rotting in your little shack!” She moved into her mansion, and whenever we rarely met, it was just to listen to her brag about her wealth. Later, she set her sights on Silas Montgomery, the old-money heir next door who lived like an ascetic monk. She desperately wanted to marry into his billionaire dynasty. But after he rejected her advances time and time again, she grew furious and vindictive. She tried to infiltrate his home to steal his family’s corporate secrets. The FBI caught her red-handed, and she spent the rest of her life behind bars. I, on the other hand, received a massive eminent domain buyout two months later. Using that money, I invested heavily, caught the attention of Tristan Astor, and had my “Romance of the Century.” Since we were reborn, Sienna was obviously trying to steal the downtown apartment to steal my timeline. I smiled without a word and obediently took the deed to the Hollywood Hills estate. “Be good, you two. From now on, you’re entirely on your own. Don’t come bothering me,” Mom said, walking away with her boy-toy without looking back. With no one else around, Sienna dropped her act. She looked at everything in the rundown apartment, her face twisting with spite. “This lifetime, you’re the one going to prison! The Romance of the Century is mine!” I almost died laughing. She really thought catching Tristan’s eye was a blessing? 2 After packing a few of my clothes, I called an Uber and headed straight to my new mansion. Thankfully, even though Mom had abandoned us to chase her own happiness with a younger man, she hadn’t exactly mistreated us growing up. She came from old real estate money. She was loaded. I had saved up all my allowance since I was a kid, which amounted to around thirty thousand dollars. That was more than enough to support me lying flat in a mansion for a good while. But as far as I knew, Sienna had zero saving habits. In our past life, she survived purely by pawning off the antique vases and art pieces left in the mansion. The downtown apartment might be in a prime location, but the developer buyout was still two months away. Penniless and unable to cook, she was going to have a very hard time surviving. Sure enough, less than three days later, I got a desperate call from Sienna. “Lend me some money.” I was currently lounging on an enormous, plush sofa, wearing a sheet mask and watching TV. “Lend me some money, did you hear me?!” I casually blew on my freshly manicured nails. “No.” The person on the other end was going crazy, but likely due to severe hunger, even her yelling sounded weak. “Then what am I supposed to do?! Are you just going to watch me starve to death?” What else was I supposed to do? She was reborn and deliberately stole my path, fully intending for me to go to prison. Did she expect me to make things easy for her? “If you have a problem, call Mom.” With that, I hung up. Our dad died when we were ten. Mom was heartbroken for a few years, but when we turned fifteen, she suddenly became a different person. She started traveling constantly, only leaving behind stacks of cash for us. It was as if she was just waiting for the day we became legal adults so she could wash her hands of us entirely. In my past life, I once fell deliriously ill with a high fever in that rundown apartment and called Mom for help. She was vacationing in the Maldives with her boyfriend. She told me that if I harassed her one more time, she would take the apartment back and leave me homeless. So… How on earth would she ever help Sienna? 3 I lived in the mansion for a week. But the more I looked around, the colder, bigger, and emptier it felt. So, I bought some flower seedlings to plant in the yard. The next day, as I was digging in the soil and fertilizing it, a tall shadow suddenly blocked the sunlight. I looked up. Silas Montgomery—the man Sienna had obsessed over for two years in our past life—was standing in front of me, his brows knitted together. My heart skipped a beat. Even though I lived here now, I had zero intention of bothering him. After a moment of awkward silence, I broke the ice. “Hi, I’m Blair, your new neighbor.” I extended a friendly hand, but Silas slightly leaned back, keeping his distance. “What are you doing?” I glanced down at my masterpiece. Wasn’t it obvious? “Planting flowers. Fertilizing.” Under the blazing California sun, I swore I saw Silas’s eyelid twitch. “I mean, what kind of fertilizer!” Uh… I embarrassingly kicked at the dirt near the flowers. “Organic fertilizer…” Silas’s frown deepened. Realizing he was misunderstanding, I quickly explained: “It’s my dog’s poop! I read online that it makes great fertilizer!” Afraid he thought I was a menace, I added, “I didn’t let him do it near your gates! I strictly made him go in my own yard.” Two days ago, out of boredom, I bought a Labrador. I just didn’t expect him to produce quite so much material. Silas’s expression softened slightly, but he still kept a wide distance from me. Before leaving, he pointed at the flowers I had just planted. “Those plants hate direct sunlight. They’ll die if you leave them there.” With that, Silas turned and walked back to his own sprawling estate without looking back. I stared blankly after him, noticing that the second he stepped inside, he firmly shut all his windows. So… He just thought it smelled terrible? 4 I listened to Silas and moved the flowers to the shade. Half a month later, they were thriving. But having been cooped up in the Hollywood Hills for two weeks, I was bored out of my mind. I decided to head downtown. I wanted to see how Sienna—who stole my timeline and was determined to strike it rich—was doing. But I didn’t have a car, so I had to walk down the winding hill roads first. Three miles in, after thirty minutes of walking, I still couldn’t see the bottom. Just as I was nearing despair, a sleek white Bentley pulled over beside me. The window rolled down, revealing Silas’s flawless profile. “Where to? I can give you a ride.” I was thrilled. After thanking him profusely, I reached for the rear door handle. But his car was too high-end. I had never been in one, and I couldn’t figure out how to open the door… Amidst the awkwardness, Silas popped open the passenger door from the inside. He lowered his sunglasses and looked at me. “Sit in the front.” I sheepishly slid in, said thank you, and obediently closed my eyes to rest. A few minutes later, the man beside me let out a soft chuckle. “Blair, do you really think I’m your chauffeur?” “No!” I immediately opened my eyes and waved my hands in defense. “I know you live an ascetic lifestyle and keep your distance from women. You’re just helping me out of the goodness of your heart. I just didn’t want to disturb your peace!” I had heard all about Sienna’s aggressive pursuit of him in the past life. He was practically a modern-day monk. I knew my place. I wasn’t going to repeat Sienna’s disastrous mistakes. Silas glanced at me, his long fingers lightly tapping the steering wheel. When the light turned green, the car accelerated smoothly. Silas spoke again: “I practice mindfulness and keep to myself. I haven’t taken a vow of celibacy.” Not a monk? So in the past life, he kept rejecting Sienna simply because he couldn’t stand her? Once we got out of the hills, I planned to call an Uber, but Silas insisted on taking me all the way. He dropped me right outside the downtown apartment. I had intended to secretly spy on Sienna. Afraid of being too flashy, I got out at the corner of the block. But to my surprise, Sienna stormed out of a greasy burger joint right across the street. “Blair?! “Silas Montgomery?! “Why are you two together??” 5 Riiip. Sienna tore the greasy rag in her hands completely in half. She stared at Silas and me, her face contorted with rage. “You’ve only been living there for a few days and you’re already seducing men! Mom gave you a mansion, you’re an adult, why don’t you figure out how to make your own money instead of relying on a man?!” She was yelling so loudly that all the neighbors and pedestrians turned to look. Sienna and I grew up here. Most of the people around us were familiar faces. Hearing her scream that, everyone looked at me with deep frowns. “Blair, I know you girls had it rough, but you can’t live like that.” “Exactly. Why don’t you get an honest job like your sister? At least you’d be feeding yourself with dignity.” I let out a scoff. Was Sienna insulting herself? Looking at the unbridled jealousy radiating from her face, I just shook my head with a smile. Makes sense. After all, Silas was the high branch she spent her entire past life trying—and failing—to climb. Silas remained silent, but his gaze was fixed steadily on me. He looked like he was waiting to see how I would handle this. “Sister, why are you smiling? Do you look down on this little diner? “I may just be a waitress here, but at least I earn my living with my own two hands! Not like you! Leeching off men!” I raised an eyebrow and walked straight up to Silas. In those few steps, a hundred different solutions flashed through my mind. Should I pretend to be his girlfriend to slap Sienna’s face? But if Silas refused to play along, I’d be the one humiliated. Silas looked down at me. The next second, I pulled out my phone for everyone to see and looked up at him. “I’m so sorry, my sister misunderstood. How much was the ride? I’ll Venmo you.” As soon as those words left my mouth, not just Sienna, but even Silas raised a surprised eyebrow. He stared at me for a moment, then, looking like he found the absurdity of it all highly amusing, he pulled up his Venmo QR code. “It’s fine. A dirty mind sees dirt everywhere. “$100.” Damn, what a ripoff… After I paid him, Silas drove off. The neighbors who had just been lecturing me awkwardly turned to Sienna. “Sienna, really… why do you always spout such nonsense? We almost misunderstood Blair.” Sienna stood frozen in place. I walked up to her with a smile and loudly read the four big words printed on her greasy apron: “Big Mike’s Burgers.” “Good job, sister. Come help me put in an order.” Sienna gritted her teeth so hard her jaw trembled, her eyes wide with fury. “Blair, don’t push it!” I gave her a look of pure innocence. “I just came to see how your ‘Romance of the Century’ is going. How is that pushing it?” With that, I happily took a seat inside. Because Sienna stood there fuming instead of working, she got chewed out by the manager. Watching her hustle back and forth, occasionally getting harassed by drunk customers, I sipped my soda and clicked my tongue. She was probably still fantasizing about her sweet billionaire romance. Little did she know, this was going to be the easiest part of her life. At least right now, her life was still in her own hands. 6 After returning home, I found Silas’s contact info in the neighborhood HOA group chat and added him. [I’m really sorry about today, and thank you.] [I only said that because I had no choice. I sincerely apologize again.] I stared at my phone for a long time, but there was no reply. Was he actually mad? He was the untouchable elite of the old-money circle. Countless socialites and heiresses had been rejected by him. This was probably the first time he’d ever been treated like an Uber driver. Since we were neighbors, we were bound to run into each other. I bit the bullet and typed: [How about I cook some of my signature dishes and bring them over as an apology?] An hour later, my phone finally pinged. Silas: [Okay.] I picked some fresh, organic vegetables I had grown in my yard to show off my culinary skills. When I brought the food over, I had a standard, polite smile plastered on my face. But I didn’t expect Silas to invite me to stay and eat with him. I smiled and tried to decline, because looking at a table full of nothing but leafy greens, I really had no appetite. But before I could come up with an excuse, several high-end takeout bags arrived at his door. Truffle shrimp, Wagyu beef, and a massive glazed sea bass. Silas gave me a cool glance. “If you’re not going to eat, take your vegetables and go home.” “I’m eating!” How could I reject such generous hospitality? We ate the meal in total silence, but I was incredibly satisfied. After interacting with him a few times, I realized Silas wasn’t the cold, unfeeling robot the rumors made him out to be. Makes sense. How bad could a guy who practices mindfulness and eats organic greens really be? 7 Another month passed, and the news of the downtown eminent domain buyout finally hit. That very day, I received a call from Sienna. “Hahahahaha! Bet you didn’t see this coming, did you?! The tables have turned! “Let me tell you, my apartment is getting bought out! I’m getting ten million in cash and two new luxury condos! “Blair, let’s see how you compete with me now!” A cold smirk played on my lips as I looked in the mirror, faking an exaggerated, hysterical tone: “What?! “No! Sienna, a piece of that buyout money belongs to me!! You have to give me my share! If I hadn’t let you have the apartment, that money would be mine right now!” There was dead silence on the other end of the line. I held back my laughter. Sienna was probably stunned by my sheer audacity. Two minutes later, Sienna roared into the phone: “You shameless bitch, in your dreams!” “You just sit in that empty mansion and watch me become the ultimate elite!!” With that, she violently hung up. I chuckled and tossed my phone aside. Did she really think getting a buyout made her untouchable? To a Wall Street Crown Prince who grew up with unimaginable wealth, ten million was just pocket change for a weekend in Vegas. In my past life, the moment I got the money, I immediately threw it into high-yield investments. It took six months of multiplying my assets before Tristan Astor finally noticed and aggressively pursued me. With Sienna’s absolute lack of business sense, that path was a dead end. I stared thoughtfully into the mirror, sinking into deep thought. In the past life, Tristan appeared to love me to death. But in reality, he just needed my pristine financial record and assets. His true love, Daphne, was caught in a massive corporate embezzlement scandal. After Tristan met me, he took me to his corporate lawyers, and shortly after, launched his aggressive romantic pursuit. The second week after I agreed to date him, I was forced into a sham marriage. When the feds came knocking, I was the one legally bound as the CEO of the shell companies, taking the absolute fall for Daphne’s crimes. In other words, Tristan just wanted a clean, naive scapegoat to legally bleed dry to protect his true love. As long as the person had clean assets and no powerful backing, he would pursue them. The problem now was that I was still a perfect target. For my own safety, I needed to build my wealth and power fast, so Tristan wouldn’t dare mess with me. 8 Using my memories from my past life, I began investing again. But my current capital was way too small. Even if I pawned all the antique vases in the mansion, it wouldn’t be nearly enough. After some agonizing thought, I called a luxury real estate agent the next day. I was selling the mansion. This lifetime, if I was going to play, I was going to play big. As I was walking the agent out, I bumped into Silas returning home. He parked his car in front of my gates and looked over. “You’re moving?” I smiled and nodded. “I need cash urgently. I’m selling the house and downsizing.” Silas didn’t say a word, but his eyes darkened. “Where’s the new house?” I threw my hands up. I hadn’t even sold this one yet, how could I buy a new one?! “Haven’t found one yet. Maybe we’ll be neighbors again someday.” With that, I went back inside to pack my things. I planned to pack slowly, but that very night, the agent called to say there was a buyer. They didn’t even negotiate the price! “Did we find a sucker?” The agent chuckled awkwardly. “Rich people don’t care about a few million here or there…” “So when do they want to view the house?” The agent paused for a second. “The buyer doesn’t plan on viewing it. We can just sign the contract.” Was this a scam? I verified everything three times before finally signing my name. That night, my account balance skyrocketed by thirty million dollars. I kept a million to buy a luxury condo, and immediately sank a large chunk of the rest into a tech startup I knew was about to go public. The rest went into producing a few streaming shows that I knew were going to be massive hits. Six months later, my liquid capital had fully recovered and multiplied, making me even richer than I was in my past life. As for Sienna… I heard she was spending her days desperately trying to sneak into the exclusive VIP clubs that Tristan Astor frequented. Her fantasy “Romance of the Century” had made zero progress, and she was burning through her buyout money fast. Seeing her struggle so much, I decided to give her a helping hand. 9 Just like in my past life, my rapid rise in the business world quickly caught Tristan’s attention. When I received the exact same gala invitation as I did in my past life, my breathing hitched. It was at this very gala that Tristan pretended to fall in love with me at first sight. In my past life, I was forced to sign piles of fraudulent documents, watched my assets get seized, and was locked in a penthouse while the legal noose tightened. Tristan had imprisoned me, cutting off all my contact with the outside world. Even though I had some money, my foundation was weak. I had no family to back me up and no loyal allies. The one assistant who tried to look for me eventually gave up. I was bled dry financially, left completely defenseless against Tristan’s cruelty. Remembering all of that, my heart raced, and my blood boiled. After calming myself down, I took a picture of the gala invitation and texted it to Sienna. Her reaction was explosive: [Where the hell did you steal that ticket?!] [Someone like you doesn’t belong at an event like that!!] [Tell me! Tell me right now!!] [Blair, why don’t you just die?! You already seduced Tristan in the past life! Can’t you just let me have him this time?! You’re so toxic, you should just die!!] Reading her increasingly venomous messages, whatever shred of pity I had left evaporated. I replied: [What if I said I wanted to bring you along as my plus-one so you could experience it?] There was a long silence. Two minutes later, Sienna replied: [Hmph, getting cold feet? Even you know you can’t hold your own in a room full of real elites, right?] I scoffed and tossed my phone onto the bed. We had the same mother, but I truly had no idea how Sienna’s brain was wired. 10 The next day, I brought Sienna into the gala. Compared to my elegant, understated gown, she had clearly blown a massive amount of cash on an extravagant styling team. The moment we walked in, I spotted Tristan surrounded by a crowd of sycophants. My gaze lingered on him for barely a second, but Sienna violently yanked the fabric of my strapless gown. She glared at me, hissing a threat: “Blair, I’m warning you. Tristan is MINE!” “If you dare try to seduce him, I will strip you naked right here and make you the laughingstock of New York high society. Try me!” Honestly, I was tense. Ripping my dress to expose me in public was absolutely something she was crazy enough to do. The second her grip tightened, I grabbed her hand to stop her. “Don’t move! “Fine, fine, I promise!” Sienna let out a cold snort, released my dress, picked up her heavy skirts, and began marching toward Tristan. But while I promised I wouldn’t seek Tristan out, I never promised he wouldn’t come looking for me. Sienna had barely taken a step when Tristan broke away from the crowd and started walking in our direction. Sienna paused, looking back at me with a smug, provocative smile. I raised an eyebrow, watching calmly as her dream man walked right past her, brushing her shoulder, and stopped directly in front of me. “Miss Blair.” I swallowed my burning hatred and offered a polite smile. Sienna ground her teeth, glaring daggers at me. Then, she quickly hitched up her dress and scurried back to my side. These two were birds of a feather. I was more than happy to play matchmaker. I exchanged a few brief pleasantries with Tristan, then smoothly introduced Sienna to him. “This is…” Feeling Sienna’s hostile glare burning into the side of my head, I said, “This is my relative, Sienna.” With how aggressive and proactive Sienna was, Tristan didn’t even have a chance to decline. I successfully extracted myself from the situation. I stood by the sidelines, sipping champagne, watching the two of them draw closer and closer. Just as I was about to take another sip, a large, elegant hand smoothly plucked the champagne flute from my fingers. I turned my slightly dizzy head. It was Silas. He was in a sharp tuxedo, and he clicked his tongue in disapproval. “You’re drunk.”

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Her prophecies brought endless wealth to our family. The moment she opened her mouth, the Powerball ticket my uncle casually bought would win thirty million dollars, and his real estate properties would double in value. My cousin, who usually had rock-bottom grades, suddenly received an acceptance letter from an Ivy League university, making my aunt brag everywhere. Our family’s fast-food chain expanded to hundreds of locations within two years, and we all moved into the most luxurious estate in Seattle. During our Thanksgiving family dinner, everyone gathered together. Grandma sat at the head of the table, smiling as she asked us what we wanted for our New Year’s gifts. My uncle wanted more overseas investments; my aunt and my parents desired fame and fortune. I was the only one who pointed to a dusty, ignored old greeting card on the corner of the table and said, “Grandma, I just want this.” My relatives laughed at me, calling me an idiot, but I didn’t care at all. Because I knew that for Grandma’s prophecies to come true, there was a price—one paid with the lifespans of others. And all of this was Grandma’s long-planned revenge. 01 “An elder in the house is like a treasure in the house.” In our family, this wasn’t just a proverb; it was an ironclad rule. “Mom, move into my place in a few days! I specifically custom-ordered a top-tier therapeutic mattress from Germany for you. I guarantee it’ll be great for your spine!” my uncle Bruce said, his face covered in a wide smile. “Give it a rest. Mom just stayed at your place last month. It’s my turn this month. What’s a therapeutic mattress? I installed a whole-house climate control system for Mom!” my aunt Sarah retorted, not wanting to be outdone. “Oh, you two just want to show off your filial piety, right? Give me a chance as the son too! Mom, you have to dote on your youngest son!” my dad, Albert, joined the battle. Today was our bi-weekly family gathering. As usual, Uncle Bruce, Aunt Sarah, and my parents were arguing intensely over who got to host Grandma. Grandpa passed away early. Grandma raised her three kids all by herself on this land by sewing clothes for factories. Back then, the family was so poor they could barely afford food, and the three kids were crying to be fed. Grandma worked day and night, ruining her eyes in the process. Now, she was nearly completely blind. Even though she couldn’t see, her authority as the matriarch remained. Grandma sat at the head of the table, leaning on a black ebony cane carved with runes. She tapped it lightly against the floor, and everyone instantly fell silent. “I have my own plans about whose house I’m going to this month.” Her tone was flat, but no one dared to talk back. In American families, disobeying elders might be common, but in our family—which made its fortune relying on Grandma’s “guidance”—she was an absolute god. At the dining table, everyone scrambled to suck up to her. My cousin Silas and my other cousin Clara kept calling out “Dearest Grandma” in sickeningly sweet voices. Grandma curled her lips, seemingly enjoying this family bliss. I was the only one who kept my head down, silently eating the mashed potatoes on my plate, refusing to join the commotion. My mom, Mary, secretly pinched my arm, signaling with her eyes for me to hand Grandma a napkin. “Oh, Albert, look at your Evelyn, always acting so heartless. Is your filial piety just an act?” My aunt Brenda was sharp-eyed and sneered at the top of her lungs. The eyes of the entire room converged on me, including the vicious glare from my dad. I was the outcast of the family. I always maintained a polite but distant courtesy toward Grandma. In the eyes of the elders, this was absolute “unfilial” behavior. Because of this, my parents took a lot of heat. Grandma rarely stayed at our house for more than a few days a year. My dad often cursed me as a “jinx” who blocked his path to wealth. “Evelyn, get your ass over here and apologize to Grandma!” My dad’s face was grim, his voice echoing in the dining room. According to family rules, making Grandma unhappy meant you had to kneel and apologize. This time, my dad pressed down on my shoulders, and my knees slammed heavily against the hardwood floor, leaving a massive bruise. “Oh my, she’s still a child. Albert, you’re going too far.” Grandma benevolently reached out and patted my head. Strangely enough, her fingertips were ice-cold, and the moment she touched me, my head and knees stopped hurting entirely. My parents hastily apologized profusely. “I heard Albert moved into a new house. I’ll go stay there for a while and try out that therapeutic mattress,” Grandma said softly. My parents were instantly ecstatic. Uncle Bruce and Aunt Sarah’s families looked at each other, extremely bitter. Especially Aunt Brenda—she hadn’t expected her attempt to sow discord would actually play right into our hands. 02 As soon as we got home, my mom hired a housekeeping company to completely renovate the master bedroom. It was the room with the best view in the estate. Facing south, with excellent natural light. The carpet alone cost three times as much as the ones in the other bedrooms. Even though Grandma rarely visited, my dad insisted on using the best eco-friendly materials. “Order a few more boxes of premium caviar and supplements!” My dad kept making phone calls. In no time, the living room was piled high with expensive ingredients. Everything was ready, just waiting for the old lady to arrive. To prevent her from being intercepted by Uncle Bruce halfway, my parents split up. My mom stayed to decorate, and my dad drove personally to pick her up. “Evelyn, put a smile on your face! Sweeten up your words!” “Look at Silas. He succeeded in his startup this year and became a young prominent talent in the city. Look at Clara, she got an early admission to Stanford.” “Those are all gifts from your Grandma! Returns for their sweet talk!” In contrast, from childhood to adulthood, I only ever asked Grandma for ordinary, small envelopes of cash. I asked for nothing regarding grades, future prospects, or wealth. “You blockhead, you can’t hold onto your fortune!” my dad scoffed at me. I was the fool of the family, Grandma’s least favored granddaughter. But I still remembered. When I was little, Grandma secretly slipped me a lollipop behind everyone’s back, giving me a loving smile. She said, “Evelyn, Grandma will give you the best of everything.” Later on, Grandma was no longer willing to smile much. There were too many children and grandchildren demanding her affection; she wasn’t missing mine. I also actively distanced myself from her. Because I discovered her secret. 03 Five years ago, Grandma wasn’t the family’s treasure. She was a burden that the three households avoided like the plague. Back then, my parents ran a struggling small diner, working until midnight every day. Uncle Bruce was just an ordinary blue-collar worker. Aunt Sarah had just squeezed every last penny of Grandma’s retirement fund to buy a house. No one was financially comfortable, and no one wanted to care for a blind, elderly mother. Even though this mother had once given everything she had to put them through school. The three families frequently got into physical fights in the old apartment over alimony. “I have a ton of things going on at home, who has the energy to take care of a blind woman? You scammed Mom’s money to buy a house, why don’t you take her?” “I’m the daughter, you guys are the sons! Bruce, you serve your mother-in-law so well, isn’t it just for her inheritance after she dies? Now that Mom has nothing, you change your tune?” “We’re starving ourselves, there’s no share for her!” “Spit, why won’t this old hag just die already!” Grandma’s eyes were bad, but her ears were incredibly sharp. She heard every curse her children threw at her loud and clear. She often hid alone in the dim kitchen, wiping away tears, but she would still pull a crumpled piece of candy from her pocket for me. Among the grandchildren, I was the only one close to her. Silas and Clara complained that she smelled weird, covering their noses whenever they walked by. Grandma was like a stray dog, taking turns boarding at the different houses, and getting kicked out like a ball the moment her time was up. It was a blessing she couldn’t see—she couldn’t see the expressions on her children’s faces, wishing she would just disappear. Later, they conspired and came up with a plan. They deliberately starved her, giving her one meal a day, sometimes none at all. Aunt Brenda and my mom verbally abused her even worse, while my dad and Uncle Bruce pretended to be deaf. I was often beaten by my mom with a coat hanger until I was bruised all over, just for sneaking sandwiches to Grandma. A year later, their plan succeeded. Grandma volunteered to move back to an old abandoned cabin in the remote mountains of Kentucky. A frail, nearly blind old woman returning to an abandoned cabin was essentially a death sentence. They parked the car at the foot of the mountain. They didn’t even prepare a clean blanket for her, just dumped her there and ran. Uncle Bruce said, “Within three months, we’ll be able to come back and collect her corpse. Then we’ll finally be free.” Three months later, Uncle Bruce received a phone call from the old hometown. It was Grandma. She was still alive. “Bruce, go buy a lottery ticket with these numbers.” Her voice was loud and powerful, sounding even healthier than before. Uncle Bruce bought it, as if possessed by a ghost. As a result, he won thirty million dollars. Over the next few months, my dad and Aunt Sarah also received phone calls. All the investment advice came true perfectly. Promotions, sudden wealth, overnight success—all dependent on a single sentence from Grandma. That day, the driveway of the long-silent mountain cabin was packed with luxury cars. Those “filial” children knelt on the ground, crying and wailing, begging Grandma to come to the city to enjoy a good life. It caused quite a stir locally, with everyone praising Bruce’s family for producing three incredibly filial children. Looking at Grandma, whose face was flushed and covered in smiles, I only felt she was a stranger. Right then, a voice seemed to echo in my ear: “Do not ask Grandma for anything, otherwise, it will cost you your life.” “There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Every wish they ask for will be deducted from their lifespans.” Right in front of me, Uncle Bruce was still greedily asking for the next wave of stock market trends. Clara threw herself into Grandma’s arms, acting cute and asking for a full-ride scholarship. 04 Grandma was settled into our house. Before leaving, Uncle Bruce quietly reminded Grandma not to forget Silas’s “marriage prospects.” Silas was currently pursuing the only daughter of a real estate tycoon, Isabella. If they could secure this marriage, Uncle Bruce’s business would truly take off. However, Isabella had always ignored Silas. “Mom, you’re his biological grandmother, you have to help him.” Ever since the whole family achieved financial freedom, Grandma’s “golden words” were hard to come by. Sometimes my dad and the others tried everything but couldn’t even get a single prophecy. They asked for too much, and Grandma seemed overwhelmed. “I’ll think about it…” Seeing Grandma wouldn’t relent, Uncle Bruce gave a signal, and Silas immediately fell to his knees in front of her with a thud. “Grandma! I’ll die without her!” “Bruce’s family sure has a lot of tricks up their sleeves, no wonder they’re the richest,” my mom muttered disdainfully from the side. Over the past few years, as long as Uncle Bruce’s family asked, Grandma would eventually agree. This caused dissatisfaction from my mom and Aunt Sarah. Because they remembered very clearly that five years ago, Uncle Bruce was the cruelest one to Grandma. He had even suggested locking Grandma outside during a blizzard. “Are you sure?” Faced with her grandson’s pleas, Grandma finally relented. Silas nodded firmly. “Three days from now, that girl will get lost hiking in the North Mountain forest. You go and be the one to save her.” Silas pulled out his phone, and sure enough, Isabella had just posted an update three hours ago about going on a hike. “Grandma, you really are my guardian angel!” The family immediately returned to a harmonious, joyful scene. I was the only one who saw it. The illusionary number floating above Silas’s head decreased by another 10. Remaining: 40. He was 28 years old this year. And the balances of the other family members: Uncle Bruce: 55 (he is 53 this year). My dad, Albert: 65 (he is 48 this year). Aunt Sarah: 70 (she is 45 this year). Cousin Clara: 65 (she is 22 this year). Only blood relatives sharing Grandma’s bloodline could make wishes and exchange their lifespans. “You’re graduating soon, hurry up and beg your Grandma to find you a high-paying job!” my mom reminded me once again. I looked at Grandma, surrounded by smiling faces. Her lips carried a bizarre curve, her cloudy eyes narrowed into slits. Intimate, yet it sent shivers down my spine. 05 In the blink of an eye, it was Grandma’s 75th birthday. Previous years had been family dinners, but this year the scale was massive. Uncle Bruce, flaunting his wealth, booked the ballroom at the most luxurious Hilton hotel in the city. He invited all the business elites, claiming it was to pray for the birthday girl. Inside the hotel, Aunt Sarah pulled my dad into a corner to whisper. “It’s Bruce stealing the spotlight again. Why does he always get to be the boss? Back when Mom was useless, he was the first one to say he wouldn’t take care of her!” “Hmph, Mom’s old shirt had a dozen holes patched up. I was the one who spent fifty bucks to buy her a cheap shirt from a street stall!” That shirt was the only thing Aunt Sarah had ever bought for Grandma in her entire life. Yet it became the “evidence” she frequently used to claim credit over the past few years. “As long as the old lady is happy, everything is fine. Make sure to toast her a few more times later, maybe if Mom’s happy today, she’ll give us another sweet deal!” my dad advised Aunt Sarah, and the two quickly put on smiling faces and surrounded Grandma. The number above Aunt Sarah’s head flickered. I knew she was going to get what she wanted today. Over the years, relying on the “filial piety of one shirt,” she went from a regular clerk to a branch executive. Right now, Silas was pulling Isabella over to introduce her to Grandma. “Grandma, look how beautiful your granddaughter-in-law is.” That day, Isabella did indeed get lost. Silas descended from the heavens, carried her on his back for a three-hour hike out of the mountains, and finally won her heart. Today’s birthday banquet was actually hosted by Uncle Bruce to entertain his future in-law, the real estate tycoon. Grandma was just an excuse. 06 To “accumulate good karma” for Grandma, Uncle Bruce prepared a massive amount of free food to distribute to the homeless on the streets. Distributing the food had to be done by Grandma’s direct descendants. And this terrible chore naturally fell on me. “Evelyn is the dumbest, and Grandma doesn’t like you either. You’re the most suitable to go show your filial piety to Grandma,” “Idiots should do more work. Your sister can only help you this much,” Silas and Clara sneered at me from the door. I didn’t care. I didn’t want to watch their hypocritical acting anyway. The distribution boxes contained expensive organic pastries. The packaging had Grandma’s birthdate printed on it, with “Longevity and Centenarian” written on top. How ironic. They used to wish she would die early, and now they were praying to the heavens for her immortality. In this neighborhood where the homeless gathered, I handed them out one by one with a bodyguard. Handing out the last box, I met a strange old man. He wore tattered monk robes, a sandalwood rosary around his neck, and emitted a faint, cold incense scent. “Child, who is the person on this box?” He suddenly opened his tightly closed eyes, startling me. “My grandmother. Today is her 75th birthday, and our family is accumulating good karma for her.” The old man took the box, sniffed it hard, and furrowed his brows. He looked at me, his eyes full of confusion: “No, no. A person with this fate is destined for a life full of disasters and extreme misfortune from their children. Where would this kind of blessing come from?” “Hey! Old man, what nonsense are you spouting!” The bodyguard grew furious and tried to snatch the box back. I stopped him. “Old sir, what else did you see?” I asked in a low voice. “You said she’s 75 this year? Judging from her birthdate, she only lived to be 70. Five years ago, she should have been in the ground.” The old man’s words made me feel like I was plunging into an ice cave under the spring sun. Five years ago. That was the day Grandma was dumped back in the hometown to fend for herself. According to the old man, she had already died back then. Thinking back, after Grandma returned from the hometown, not only had her personality changed, but her body was overly healthy. Even my mom said the hometown’s environment was nourishing; after Grandma stayed in the cabin for three months, her complexion had improved a lot. 07 Returning to the hotel, the banquet had just begun. Under the massive crystal chandelier was an 18-tier cake. Grandma, her face glowing, was helped by the MC to distribute the cake to her descendants. “Cake and blessings! Thank you, Birthday Girl, for loving the younger generation!” The MC was arranged by Uncle Bruce; every word was meant to induce Grandma to speak. The descendants knelt on the floor, their eyes shining, anticipating the prophecies that could change their destinies. This time, Grandma was very generous. She wished Uncle Bruce immense wealth, Aunt Sarah steady promotions, and our family booming business. She wished Silas a century of happy marriage, and Clara a boundless future. Until it came to me. Grandma’s smile vanished. She slowly placed the piece of cake in her hand into mine, narrowed her eyes, and smiled at me lovingly. In that moment, I saw a sliver of clarity in her eyes. “This piece of cake is the best. “Grandma wishes Evelyn… a long, long life.” The guests whispered among themselves. “Looks like the old lady really dislikes this youngest granddaughter.” “Everyone else gets fame and fortune, and she just gets an empty wish for a long life.” Uncle Bruce and Aunt Sarah looked on with schadenfreude, my parents felt utterly humiliated. I looked at the smile in Grandma’s eyes, and that familiar feeling surged in my heart. The candy she gave me when I was little tasted exactly like this. Watching the numbers above my family members’ heads plummet like broken timers. I suddenly understood. The old man said those pastries were cursed with resentment, and anyone who demanded things from her would be cursed. But I was clean, completely untainted. Grandma hadn’t changed; she was still the elder who treated me best. She distanced herself from me, giving me no wealth or prophecies, in order to… protect me. Tears welling in my eyes, I bowed deeply to her. “Thank you, Grandma.” A long life was your deepest, most profound love for me. 08 After staying at the estate for half a month, Grandma suddenly mentioned wanting to go back to the old cabin in Kentucky. My parents and Uncle Bruce had just made another windfall after the birthday banquet, so how could they dare disobey? They agreed immediately. They even hired a professional engineering team to go up the mountain overnight to renovate the cabin, lay down carpets, and install heating. The house was fixed, but a problem arose. Who would accompany Grandma back? “The bidding for those plots of land is happening soon, I can’t get away,” Uncle Bruce was the first to refuse. “You can’t get away? You’re just afraid you can’t get away from your mistress outside!” Aunt Brenda pointed at his nose and cursed. Aunt Sarah also made excuses: “I just got promoted, I have a ton of work. Sigh, I’ll let you guys take this chance to show your filial piety, don’t fight me for it next time!” Everyone knew she had actually rewarded herself with a trip to Europe. My mom heard the underlying meaning and sneered, “You all talk a big game normally, but when it’s time to actually put in the effort, you run faster than anyone. Are we supposed to just be the suckers?” Approaching the holidays, our chain restaurants were booming. My parents were counting money until their hands went numb every day; they didn’t want to go either. “I’ll go.” I stood up. Three words ended this ugly argument. 09 On the way back to the hometown, several trucks were fully loaded with gifts Uncle Bruce was sending to the entire village. The mountain roads were rugged. Suddenly, a maid in the van covered her nose and mouth. “Oh my god, what is that smell? It stinks!” Everyone hurriedly put on masks. Grandma rested with her eyes closed, paying no mind. I sat next to her, and I smelled it clearly. That rotting, putrid stench was radiating from Grandma. With every cough, the smell grew stronger. It was like the smell of rotting meat pouring endlessly from her lungs. In a daze, the old man’s words popped into my mind. “A walking corpse for five years, the internal organs have long rotted away, reeking of decay. “It must rely on evil spirits to sustain its life.” Looking at the calm Grandma and the people gagging non-stop. I seemed to have guessed the true purpose of this return trip to the hometown.

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My husband was the most saintly doctor in the hospital—valued by his superiors, beloved by his subordinates, and deeply respected by his patients. In everyone’s eyes, his only flaw was me: his unreasonable, unaccommodating wife. So, when the eight-year-old girl clutched her heart again and demanded that my husband marry her mother before she would agree to surgery, I smiled. I gladly agreed. 1 “I want Uncle Liam to be my daddy!” The little girl’s subtle crying echoed faintly in my ears. My vision was still blurry, and the sharp pain in my back from crashing against the wall was so clear that I instinctively grabbed the wall for support. Until another sorrowful woman’s voice rang out: “Chloe, be a good girl. Don’t cry.” “No, Mommy! Chloe is scared.” The little girl held her chest with one hand and tightly grabbed the doctor beside her with the other. She was very pretty, her eyes brimming with tears. “Uncle Liam, if I die, Mommy will be all alone. Will you marry Mommy? Help Chloe take care of Mommy.” My husband, Liam Carter, gently stroked the little girl’s hair. “Uncle Liam will be with you throughout the whole surgery. You’ll be fine, Chloe.” “Why did you come out here?” He looked at me with exasperation, then turned to the people around us to explain. “My wife didn’t mean it. She just overthinks things. I’ll talk to her and explain everything later.” Hearing this, Chloe broke free from her mother’s embrace and threw herself into Liam’s arms. “I don’t want to! If Uncle Liam won’t be my daddy, I won’t do the surgery!” She screamed at the top of her lungs, her shrill, childish voice practically piercing through the entire hospital floor. Her face instantly turned beet red. Liam quickly tried to soothe her. “Okay, okay, Uncle Liam promises. Don’t panic, Chloe, it’s bad for your health.” Mia, Chloe’s mother, seemed to finally notice me. With tears falling down her face, she went to pull Chloe back. “I am so sorry, Mrs. Carter. It’s just that Dr. Carter has been too good to Chloe. She grew up without a father and is too attached to him. I’ve always heard how wonderful you are. Just let her get through this surgery…” I looked at the familiar scene unfolding in front of me with absolute disbelief. I had actually been reborn. In my past life, when Chloe said those exact words, I had harshly scolded her. The little girl fainted from fright, and my husband immediately scooped her up and rushed to the emergency room. A crowd of people followed them, leaving me alone to be pointed at and whispered about, called petty and narrow-minded for arguing with a sick child. It was the same right now. The commotion caused by the three of them had blocked the hospital hallway. Several people were already moved to tears by Chloe’s desperate plea for her mother. They whispered among themselves. “That little girl is so sweet. She’s so sick, yet she’s still worrying about her mom.” “What kind of person is she? The kid is just terrified. Would it kill her to just play along to build some good karma?” “Dr. Carter is still as kind as ever.” Amidst the chorus of accusations, I snapped back to reality. Supporting myself against the wall, I slowly stood up straight, enunciating every word: “Okay.” The surrounding area instantly fell dead silent. “Liam, I agree too.” “Let’s get a divorce.” 2 Naturally, Liam took my words as an angry bluff. But I continued, “If you don’t divorce me, how are you going to be this child’s father?” “Or are you just lying to a sick kid?” Liam instinctively looked at Chloe, then looked up at me, a flash of surprise in his eyes. “What are you talking about?” Chloe, however, was thrilled. “Auntie, did you agree?!” The hatred burning in my chest hadn’t fully dissipated. I looked straight at Liam. “Of course. As long as your Uncle Liam agrees.” Liam rubbed Chloe’s head, looking exactly like a good doctor who had collapsed from exhaustion while running around for a critically ill patient. His voice was full of fatigue. “Honey, please don’t add fuel to the fire.” The woman also looked at me warily. She even stood protectively in front of the two of them, as if I were some kind of monster and she was the brave hero protecting them. I didn’t want to waste any more breath on these people. “Little girl, look at your Uncle Liam. He doesn’t look very willing. You’ll have to try harder.” I don’t know if Chloe was just overly excited, but she actually fainted again, just like in my previous life. Liam quickly picked her up and looked at me with deep disappointment. “Why are you holding a grudge against a child?!” In my past life, I disagreed, and they said I was petty. In this life, I agreed, and they still said I was petty. Whatever happened, in their mouths, it always became my fault. True, my reputation in this hospital was bad enough already. Why waste my breath on them? I pushed past the crowd still watching the spectacle and, sure enough, saw my thin, small daughter in the corner. Overwhelmed with emotion, I rushed over and hugged her tight. “Baby, how long have you been here?” Lily whispered, “…Mommy, I just got here.” But the wrinkles on the hem of her shirt, clenched tightly in her fists, gave away her lie. 3 In my previous life, at this exact moment, I still naively believed that Liam was just an overly compassionate doctor. I hadn’t wanted to say anything harsh to a sick child, which was why I was so quick to argue back. It was exactly because I saw my daughter in the corner. I was terrified that Lily would believe Liam was going to be someone else’s dad. That’s why I rushed to shut Chloe down, terrified that Lily would be heartbroken if she heard. In this life, during the time I spent arguing with them, Lily must have heard everything. It’s good that she heard, I thought, stroking my daughter’s soft, yellowish hair, my eyes full of sorrow. Lily was the child Liam and I had two years into our marriage. She had been sickly since she was a baby, ending up in the hospital every few days. Her father was a doctor at the hospital, often so busy he couldn’t come home. His daughter couldn’t see him at home, and when she ended up in the hospital, Liam was always the most righteous and outstanding doctor—his time had to be spent helping other patients. He didn’t even have time to look after his own daughter. But aren’t all doctors like that? At most, Liam was just exceptionally negligent of his family. Because of this, even though I often fought with Liam about it in my past life, I suppressed the thought of divorce. No matter how negligent he was of our family, he was a beloved doctor at the hospital. Even if our daughter was hospitalized, she was surrounded by “aunts” and “uncles” who knew her, so she would get better care. Holding onto that thought, I accepted a dispatch from my boss to work out of state. My daughter’s medical bills required a lot of money, so I couldn’t relax. I worked crazy overtime, and my daughter’s health gradually improved. Every time I came home for the holidays, she was a little healthier. My sweet daughter timidly asked me if I could stay with her. I made a promise to her: Next February, Mommy will come back to work near Lily. I still remembered Lily’s excited little face, hugging me and refusing to let go. Yet, three months before that promise, I received the phone call notifying me of my daughter’s death. Outside the operating room, Liam was still in disbelief, muttering, “How could this happen… it was just a bone marrow donation… it’s a minor procedure… how did she just…” I sprinted back to the hospital. My daughter’s body hadn’t even been sent to the morgue yet. I numbly listened to the nurse. She said Lily was unlucky; the bone marrow donation triggered complications, and she died right there on the operating table. “Unlucky?” “Bone marrow donation?” I actually laughed. How could these words be attached to Lily? She was already so fragile. I asked numbly, “Who told Lily to donate bone marrow?” The nurse’s eyes darted to Liam. The family receiving the bone marrow donation held their child lovingly, but looked at me with extreme defensiveness. Even they knew that donating bone marrow was harmful to my daughter. They were afraid that I, as a mother, would go crazy. Liam was still mumbling, “How could this happen? Lily looked so healthy.” “Theoretically, nothing should have gone wrong.” I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I lunged at him and slapped Liam hard across the face multiple times. “Lily was only fourteen!” A group of people rushed to hold me back. I couldn’t get close to Liam again. Under the force of those slaps, Liam slowly snapped back to reality. He looked at me with resentment. “All you care about is making money! Didn’t you know a daughter needs her mother’s care?” “If you had been by her side, her health wouldn’t have been so poor! No one else gets these complications!” The more he spoke, the more he felt he was in the right. His voice grew louder, ignoring the shocked stares of his colleagues around him, loudly passing judgment on me. “Love is the most important thing!” “Fuck your love!” I practically flipped over the people holding me back. They stumbled and yelled for Liam to leave first. I watched helplessly as Liam walked away, pretending to be utterly devastated. A large crowd surrounded me, trying to calm me down. My fists were clenched tight. After the crowd dispersed, the head nurse came over. She pulled out a bank card and couldn’t help but tell me that 80% of the money I had transferred into my daughter’s account over the years had been transferred out by Liam to help other patients. The remaining money was forcibly withheld by the head nurse, who took pity on my daughter. I could barely process her words before the head nurse continued. “Dr. Carter is kind-hearted. Those patients were in critical condition, and Lily could still hold on. It’s just that these illnesses are easier to treat when they’re young. Trying to make up for it later… the results aren’t as good. But Lily was obedient, took her medicine, and exercised, so she still looked quite healthy…” I remembered when my daughter suddenly fell critically ill at nine years old. It was an unprecedented emergency. Under wave after wave of eye-rolls and cold shoulders from Liam, I borrowed tens of thousands from relatives, only for Liam to forcefully make me return it. I asked him numbly back then, “What about our daughter?” Liam’s attitude was gentle, but the words he spat out were ice-cold. “Think of another way.” “Taking alternative medications will also work.” “Those medications have side effects!” “The side effects are just written there to scare people. The actual probability of them happening is less than ten percent.” I couldn’t believe those words came out of a father’s mouth. “If that ten percent falls on a person, it’s one hundred percent for them!” He said impatiently, “Then what do you want me to do!” “Liam, Lily is your biological daughter!” “Precisely because she is my daughter, she will definitely be as kind-hearted as I am and be willing to give up this chance.” He accepted the silk banners of gratitude from bystanders, saying carelessly, “I’ve seen Lily’s chart. Taking those meds is fine. You’re a doctor’s family member too, don’t be so unreasonable.” That time, Lily slowly recovered on her own, but her constitution became even weaker than before. To others, Liam said, “I’m her father. I can take care of her no matter what. Do those other patients have these conditions? I honestly couldn’t bear to watch them suffer.” Was this the care he promised? The head nurse genuinely liked Lily. She kept rambling about how sensible Lily was. The implication was that Lily secretly agreed to this bone marrow donation behind my back because she was considerate of her father and afraid I would worry. My throat tasted of thick, metallic blood. Liam always said he knew his limits. Whenever I asked more, he would say that professionals do professional work and tell me not to delay him from saving lives. I didn’t understand. I just got married, but it ended up costing my daughter’s life, dragged to death by his ‘kindness’. When the head nurse saw me calm down, she turned and brought Liam over, trying to mediate between us. I watched Liam look at the head nurse with profound sadness. He slowly approached me and the first thing he said was, “Do you know what you did wrong?” “Reflect on yourself carefully. Is accompanying your daughter more important, or is your filthy money more important?” I said in a low voice, “…Now, you’re still saying this…” Liam coughed and bent down to help me up, as if he suddenly felt bad for me. “Lily’s death isn’t entirely your fault. Maybe it was just her bad luck. She was born sickly. Getting her to fourteen means we’ve done our absolute best as parents.” His familiar rhetoric sent a sharp, agonizing pain through my heart. In the past, he would always say these “nice” things, and then turn around and ask me to give up everything I had. Liam tilted his head to look at the head nurse. His face was covered in tears. “There are always patients in the hospital waiting for transplant matches. Since Lily has already passed away, we might as well donate all her organs. It’ll build good karma for her next life, and her organs can continue to shine and generate heat in other people’s bodies.” “Organ donation requires both parents to sign the consent form. Come with me.” I slowly raised my head. Liam’s face, backlit by the light, began to look twisted. “…Donate organs?” I stood up and plunged a knife straight into Liam’s chest. Seeing his look of absolute disbelief, I felt an intense thrill of satisfaction. “Why did you trick Lily into donating bone marrow?!” Lily didn’t understand the dangers of donating bone marrow at all. She was just a simple child who wanted her father to be happy. She was waiting for me to come home! I screamed, “Go to hell and atone for our daughter!” The head nurse’s panicked screams rang out. I pulled the knife out and quickly stabbed him again. More than a dozen continuous stabs, each one sinking deep. Every stab left Liam dripping with blood. Blood poured relentlessly from his mouth, his body convulsing. When I opened my eyes again, I had been reborn back in the hospital. 4 “Mommy… are you going to divorce Daddy?” Before I could answer, Lily squeezed my hand and said firmly, “Mommy, I support you.” My daughter was only eight, the same age as Chloe, but she looked a whole size smaller. My tears fell instantly. Lily frantically wiped my face. “Daddy is bad to Mommy. I saw everything.” “I’ll be a good daughter to Daddy from now on.” She bit her lip. “I won’t let the aunts and uncles in the hospital say bad things about Mommy anymore.” I wiped my tears and kissed her little cheek. “Let them say what they want, Lily. Mommy is teaching you today: other people’s opinions are complete bullshit.” To outsiders, Liam was definitely a top-tier husband. He was tall, clean-cut, his parents both had pensions, and he was the youngest attending physician in the hospital with a limitless future. He was kind to others, always ready to help, and possessed noble moral character. What a glowing review. I met him on a blind date. He didn’t smoke or drink. His superiors valued him, and he was wholly dedicated to his patients, practically living in the hospital all year round without a day off, dedicating his life to his work. Except I didn’t know back then that this selfless dedication required draining his entire family’s blood and flesh, using his daughter’s life as stepping stones to build Liam’s legacy. 5 After returning home, I quickly found a divorce lawyer to draft an agreement. The house we currently lived in had surged in value over the years, but it was in Liam’s name. The monthly mortgage could be half-covered by his housing fund. To divorce Liam as quickly as possible, I didn’t plan on fighting for it. With that settled, the remaining assets could be written out in a few words. Even I found it ridiculous. A marriage of over ten years had long become a pile of rubble, yet I had been blind to it, desperately trying to maintain it, ultimately costing Lily her life. When Liam came home that night, I was sitting on the sofa. He looked at the empty dining table, no longer maintaining the righteous facade he wore at the hospital, looking very dissatisfied. “Did you not make dinner?” I sneered. “I’m about to divorce you. Are you still expecting me to cook for you?” Liam frowned. “Are you still hung up on that? Chloe is just a child. She was joking.” He looked at me with the scrutinizing gaze of someone examining a criminal. “Chloe had to be resuscitated several times today because you provoked her. Her surgery, which was scheduled for the day after tomorrow, now has to be postponed.” “You should be glad Mia is kind and isn’t holding you accountable.” He instructed, “Do this: go apologize to Mia tomorrow. It’ll help smooth things over.” I actually laughed out of anger. “Apologize to her? Does she think she’s the Queen of England? Do you think you’re the King?” “The divorce papers are right here. Sign them, and you can focus on taking care of your precious Chloe in peace.” Liam didn’t even look at them, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I have surgery tomorrow. I don’t want to fight with you.” “My emotional state will affect my performance in tomorrow’s surgery. You should know that.” I stood up, looking at him acting like the most important person in the world. The shadow of Lily’s death in my past life seemed to wash over me again. I picked up the agreement and threw it in his face. “Liam, believe me, an uncontested divorce is the last shred of dignity I’m giving you.” Those few thin sheets of paper carried no weight, but they made Liam unable to contain his anger any longer. “Chloe, marriage is not a game! You bring up divorce so casually. Do you have any sense of responsibility as a mother? Have you ever thought about our child?!” I sneered. “Child? Sorry, the way you were holding Chloe today was seen perfectly clearly by Lily.” “Does holding someone else’s child give you a great sense of accomplishment? May I ask, you highly responsible father, how many times have you held Lily?” Liam froze, looking toward Lily’s bedroom. The child stood there, motionless. He instantly switched back to his gentle expression. “Lily, come here.” He gently pulled Lily into a half-embrace. “Lily, you’re the most sensible one. Chloe has a bad heart. If she gets too agitated, she could be in life-threatening danger at any moment.” “But Daddy, my health is bad too. Mommy cries secretly all the time.” Lily held Liam’s hand. “Daddy, I’ll be strong. So can you love Mommy too, please?” Liam smiled. “Of course Daddy loves Mommy. But Mommy isn’t as sensible as you. She doesn’t understand Daddy’s position at all. Today, she even caused a little friend to faint. Tomorrow, let’s go with Mommy to apologize, okay?” He expected Lily to echo his logic. Instead, Lily pulled her hand back, slowly retreating to lean against my leg. “Mommy is the best! She’s not being insensible!” Lily looked at me, her voice trembling with tears. “Mommy shouldn’t go apologize. Mommy didn’t do anything wrong!” I pulled Lily into my arms, taking advantage of Liam being off guard to kick him over. Son of a bitch, trying to emotionally blackmail our daughter already. Liam fell hard on his ass, taking a long time to react. After a while, he cursed, “Look at how you’ve raised Lily!” 6 Speaking of which, Lily’s illness mainly required careful management, and her mood was the absolute priority. After yelling a few times in the living room last night, Liam went to sleep as if nothing had happened. That made sense. To him, anything I said was always the least important thing. At home, Lily clearly relaxed a lot. She woke up after a good sleep. “Lily, are you hungry? What do you want to eat? Tell Mommy.” Lily clearly hesitated for a moment, but still looked hopeful. “I want KFC.” I felt happy. At this time, my daughter hadn’t completely closed herself off like in my past life, walking on eggshells even to make a simple request. I readily agreed. While waiting for the delivery, I gave my daughter a good bath. Touching her frail, bony body, my heart ached. “Mommy promises, I will always protect Lily from now on.” My daughter nodded happily. While we were eating our takeout, the electronic lock on the front door beeped. My daughter’s back stiffened. I looked over. It was Liam’s mother, my mother-in-law, Martha. She was a retired elementary school teacher. She didn’t live with us, and in the past, she treated me decently. However, after I had Lily and didn’t plan on having any more children, her attitude turned cold after several unsuccessful attempts to change my mind. Seeing the fried chicken on the table, she immediately used that annoying, high-pitched voice. “Didn’t they say this is all junk food? Why are you letting Lily eat this?” She walked over and picked up a chicken wing, starting to gnaw on it. Lily obediently called out, “Grandma. Mommy says you have to wash your hands before eating.” Martha rolled her eyes at me. “You just spoil her.” “A little dirt never hurt anyone!” Saying that, Martha used her greasy hand to pick up a chicken wing to feed Lily. I picked my daughter up and moved her aside. “She’s had enough for today.” Martha wasn’t stupid. She knew what I meant. She immediately stood up and scolded me. “What do you mean by that? Do you think my hands are dirty, or do you think I have a disease?” My daughter nervously grabbed the hem of my shirt. I stroked her little head and looked calmly at Martha. “Both.” Martha pointed at me in shock. “You, you, you…” She stuttered for a long time, unable to form a single word. I finished her thought: “—You should probably go to the hospital for a check-up if you have nothing better to do!” Since I had already decided to divorce Liam, why should I keep tolerating his horrible mother? 7 Martha was a firm believer in the parenting methods of decades past. Lily was prone to allergies, especially to mangoes. Yet, she repeatedly tried to feed them to my daughter, arguing self-righteously that once her body got used to mangoes, her constitution would be ‘fixed.’ She would gloat, “Liam used to refuse to eat cucumbers too, but I corrected that.” Later, I couldn’t take it anymore. After she secretly fed my daughter mangoes again, I held Lily, who was covered in itchy hives, and laid down the law: “How you raised your son is your business! But my daughter will be spoiled! If she’s allergic to something, she won’t eat it!” My daughter’s high fever had scared her. At the time, she stayed silent. But in front of Liam, she continued to complain: “Chloe is just looking down on me. She thinks I can’t teach her right. Does she think I’d actually harm the child? Feed her a few more times, and her constitution will change.” “Now look, all that effort wasted.” I asked Liam. He was a doctor; it was impossible for him not to know how ignorant those old beliefs were. I thought I couldn’t persuade his mother, so I asked him to step in. I never expected Liam to actually say: “That actually makes some sense. It can boost her immune system.” He pointed to himself. “I’m a living example.” I cursed him out right then and there. “Are you blind? Did you not see our daughter get a high fever several times because of this?!” Every time, Martha would feed her random food and then slip away. I was the only one left to deal with the subsequent allergic reactions Lily suffered. Martha had her own pension. After that ugly argument, she rarely came looking for me. We didn’t live together. Her coming over now… I knew exactly what she was here for. With a monthly pension of $2,000, she was addicted to playing mahjong. She was definitely short on cash. In the past, whenever she needed money, she would come to me. This time, I pissed her off in just a few sentences, and she even forgot to ask for money. Perfect. I wasn’t going to spend another dime on Liam’s family. But thinking of her reminded me of my nanny.

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When Elias Sterling, the untouchable scion, hit rock bottom, I used a hearing aid to lure him into my bed. He always despised flashy, ostentatious women like me. But I loved taking off his hearing aid in bed, whispering the things he hated most, and forcing him into the most compromising positions. Later, when he made his comeback, the childhood sweetheart he had been engaged to regretted leaving and came crawling back. They announced their engagement. Afraid Elias would finally retaliate once he realized what I’d done, I made a swift decision and flew across the ocean. It was only when I heard he was happily married with a daughter that I finally felt safe enough to return home. But who could have guessed? The moment I stepped out of the airport, a hand clamped over my mouth, and I was dragged into a waiting car. That day, I begged for mercy until my voice went hoarse. But Elias just took off his hearing aid, casually tossed it out the window, gripped my waist, and chuckled hoarsely. “It’s no use, Princess. I can’t hear you.” 01 The room was lit only by a dim, amber nightlight. Under its glow, Elias’s sharp, refined features held an extra hint of allure. I hooked my arms around his neck and lazily commanded, “Kiss me.” Elias’s eyes darkened, and he lowered his head without a second thought. As our lips met, the intimate sound of our kiss seemed magnified in the quiet room. I don’t know how much time passed, but it was only when I couldn’t catch my breath and kicked his leg that Elias reluctantly let me go. Our eyes met, our breathing suddenly scorching. His gaze was deep, and he leaned in to kiss me again. I dodged him. “Coming home this late? Which little girl was keeping you busy?” I put on a demanding facade. Elias’s cool fingers pinched the back of my neck. His voice was still raspy. “There’s no little girl. I was negotiating with a partner the whole time.” “That’s more like it.” I kissed the corner of his mouth as a reward. Elias turned his head, capturing my lips in a desperate kiss. His other hand was already reaching for my shoulder strap. I stopped his hand. “You’re late. No exceptions.” I turned and sat on the sofa, gently kneading his earlobe, whispering softly, “Your punishment is to kneel and serve me tonight.” As the last word fell, I took off his hearing aid and tossed it onto the nearby table. Elias didn’t like girls who were too bold, and he absolutely hated girls who were too open. Coincidentally, I was both bold and open. So, I really enjoyed taking off his hearing aid in bed and leaning close to his ear to say whatever shameless things came to mind. After all, once the hearing aid was off, he couldn’t hear a thing. 02 I had coveted Elias Sterling for years. In college, he was the untouchable golden boy, always inseparable from his childhood sweetheart and fiancée. During the day, I watched them go to class together, and at night, I practically consulted tarot cards and horoscopes, praying for them to argue and break up. When they were still going strong in grad school, I had to settle for a boyfriend who looked a bit like him just to satisfy the craving. I thought I’d never get a chance in this lifetime, but then the Sterling family suddenly faced a crisis. His father’s business failed, and under immense pressure, he committed suicide. His mother witnessed the jump and suffered a sudden heart attack, ending up in the ICU. Elias, who was out of state, rushed back upon hearing the news, only to get into a car accident that left him deaf. His childhood sweetheart chose to move abroad with her parents at that time, not leaving a single word behind. The former golden boy fell from grace, so destitute he couldn’t even afford a hearing aid. When I heard the news, I immediately dumped my boyfriend, ended my vacation, and flew back. Everyone thought I was going to be Elias’s savior. But I wasn’t. I was there to take advantage of his misfortune. 03 When I found Elias, he was in a cramped, rundown apartment. I tossed a hearing aid and a few bank cards in front of him, then typed a sentence on my phone for him to read. “Sleep with me, and all this is yours.” Elias glanced at me, his eyes dead and devoid of any emotion, like someone who had given up fighting against a miserable life. It wasn’t until we rolled into bed that my head was still spinning. The man I had dreamed about for years was now naked, holding me, and kissing me. Who wouldn’t be dizzy? Especially since… I bit my lower lip, sneaking a glance, and sighed inwardly. Having settled for that knockoff for so many years, I really was starved. “Is it uncomfortable?” Seeing me distracted, Elias thought his technique was lacking. “No.” I smiled, leaned close to his ear, and whispered something so explicit it would make any decent person blush. He frowned deeply and suddenly pulled his head back, distancing himself a bit. Only then did I remember: Elias had always deeply despised girls who were overly forward with their affection, to the point where he couldn’t even muster a polite rejection. He probably preferred gentle, dignified girls. I wasn’t that, but his childhood sweetheart was. Since he didn’t like hearing me talk, then I wouldn’t let him hear. I reached up, took off the hearing aid that was already slick with sweat from his ear, and threw it on the floor. I’m not going to suffer for anyone. Running my hands over Elias’s abs, I spouted whatever nonsense I wanted without restraint. 04 It had been four years, and Elias had been trained by me to be very well-behaved. If I made a sound, he knew whether to go lighter or heavier. Even if he occasionally got carried away and lost control, he never crossed my bottom line. The downside of having a perfect bed partner was that I woke up late and didn’t get to see Elias deliver my birthday surprise in person. I picked up the small box on the nightstand and opened it gently. Inside was a simple silver ring, plain and unadorned. I carefully slipped the silver ring onto my ring finger. Not too big, not too small. It fit perfectly, like it was custom-made. I held up my hand, admiring it happily in the sunlight. It wasn’t until the housekeeper, Maria, called from downstairs that breakfast was getting cold that I reluctantly put my hand down. “Maria, does it look good?” Once downstairs, I happily spun around, holding out my right hand to show off to Maria. “Elias gave it to me.” “It’s beautiful, very beautiful.” Maria knew how much I liked Elias. She teased, “I didn’t see you this happy when Mr. Sterling sent over bags, clothes, and sports cars. But this little silver band, you treat it like a treasure.” “It’s different!” I sat on the sofa, opening my phone while retorting to Maria, “Because it’s from Elias…” A photo popping up on my Instagram feed made me go silent. It was Chloe, the childhood sweetheart who had been engaged to Elias, whom I hadn’t heard from in years. In the photo, Chloe wore a long dress, her finger adorned with a massive diamond ring, holding a thin card. Written on the card was a touching romantic phrase: “Thinking of you in the quiet moments, everything feels incredible.” And behind her, Elias—who had left early saying he had an emergency—was turned away from the camera, looking down to adjust his cufflinks, his profile gentle. The caption read: “Turns out, even icebergs can say sweet nothings.” Elias’s friends, who usually ignored me, left comments. “No wonder he wouldn’t let us pick her up. His heart was already there.” “The golden boy bending the knee for you. Chloe, you’re the best.” “I’ve been waiting for your wedding invitations forever. Give us a date already.” Chloe replied to the last comment: “Soon. When the time comes, I’ll have Elias ask you to be a groomsman.” I stared at Chloe’s pigeon-egg diamond ring for a long time. Then, I looked down at the plain silver band on my own hand. I don’t know how much time passed before a loud crash of thunder startled me. I turned to look out the window. The sky had turned dark, and a torrential downpour had begun outside. 05 When Elias returned, I was still in bed. The mattress dipped beside me. He pinched my ring finger and gently shook it. “Maria said you’ve been sleeping all day. Do you want to eat the pasta I made?” I didn’t look at him, just gave a slight nod. “Mia.” I was eating with my head down when Elias suddenly spoke up. “Why aren’t you wearing the ring I gave you? Do you not like it?” I paused, then replied evenly, “It’s fine. It’s just a bit too plain.” Actually, it was quite nice, but compared to Chloe’s, it was embarrassing to wear. The room fell silent, save for the ticking of the clock. After a long while, he finally said softly, “My new company is slowly getting off the ground. I’m negotiating a big deal recently. Once it’s successful, I can secure even more investment. “When the time comes, I’ll give you a better one, and buy that beachfront villa you like.” What did that mean? Chloe lives in the Sterling house, and I live by the beach? He wants to keep me as a mistress on the outside? I closed my eyes. Is this Elias’s revenge after his comeback? I treated him like a gigolo, so he gets married and treats me like a mistress, never letting me through the Sterling family’s door. If he actually succeeds, who knows what else he has waiting for me. Thinking about the things I had done and said to him in bed, I shivered violently. 06 Early the next morning, as soon as Elias left, I scrambled out of bed, ready to run. But the moment my feet hit the rug, my legs gave out, and I almost did a full bow. Cursing Elias in my head, I threw open the closet and frantically stuffed clothes into my suitcase. “Miss, where are you going so suddenly?” Maria asked, coming upstairs to clean. I didn’t even look up. “Running away… I mean, going on vacation. Return date TBD.” Before I left, I grabbed Maria and repeatedly warned her never to tell Elias where I went. If he asked, she was to tell him I went abroad to get married and tell him not to harass a married couple. After giving my instructions, I tossed my SIM card, deleted all my social media accounts, and hurried onto a flight across the ocean. … Five years passed in a flash. Maria told me Elias never got married, but he did have a daughter. I couldn’t believe he was so traditional deep down! I almost felt sorry for Chloe. It’s the 21st century, and they’re still playing the “have a son before you get the title” game. Who knows how much she has to suffer marrying him. It had been so long. Elias was now a new business tycoon in the country, with a wife and daughter. He had probably long forgotten me. So, I didn’t tell anyone and quietly slipped back into the country. But who could have guessed? The moment I stepped out of the airport, a hand clamped over my mouth, and I was dragged into a car. The man’s embrace was hard and burning hot. His rough fingers traced the silver ring I was wearing, and a low, ambiguous chuckle vibrated in his throat. “Princess, didn’t you go abroad to get married? Why are you still wearing the ring I gave you on your ring finger?” 07 It had been five years, and Elias had changed so much I barely recognized him. He used to love white dress shirts, looking clean and crisp. When his eyelashes drooped, he looked so innocent and pure, it drove me crazy. Now, there was no stray hair on his forehead. Dressed in a dark, impeccably tailored suit, his brow was sharp and cold, making people weak in the knees with just a glance. He kept tracing my ring finger. It felt like a fire starting from my knuckle, gradually spreading. The temperature in the car kept rising. I shrank into the corner, too afraid to even breathe loudly. Elias chuckled, loosened his tie with one hand, and looked at me with an air of absolute control. “Mia Sterling, is your husband so poor he can’t even afford a decent ring?” I couldn’t stand his arrogant, victorious look. I shot back: “I am the only daughter of the Sterling family. Even if my husband were a pile of mud, I could prop him up. No need for Mr. Sterling to worry. As for the ring, I was in a rush today and just grabbed the wrong one by accident.” Watching Elias’s face grow darker, I laughed lightly: “Mr. Sterling, you don’t think I still have feelings for you, do you?” The grip on my wrist suddenly loosened. I seized the opportunity to open the car door and make a run for it, but I was yanked back again. “The ring. Give it back.” Elias’s voice was a bit hoarse, his dark eyes like a deep pool, suppressing a surging storm. “This is mine!” I instinctively protected the ring. He still wouldn’t let me go, saying flatly, “What kind of ring does the Sterling heiress not have? This silver ring is too plain, it doesn’t suit you. It’s better if you give it back to me, lest you grab the wrong one again.” Even at his lowest, he wanted to buy the best ring for Chloe. Now that he had won back the one he loved, he wouldn’t even let me keep this simple silver band. Looking at Elias’s cold, heavy expression, my eyes stung. I gritted my teeth, pulled off the ring, and threw it at his chest. “Take it back! Go find someone who matches it! I, Mia Sterling, don’t care!” Without looking at him again, I fiercely shook off his hand and got out of the car without looking back. 08 When I got home, a friend from our circle called, saying they had organized a welcome-back dinner for me at a hotel and asking when I’d arrive. I looked at my still-red eyes in the mirror, ground my teeth, and said: “I don’t want to eat at a hotel. I’m going to a bar to find someone to cook for me.” Flynn took me to his own bar. The lights in the bar were chaotic. He casually pulled a hot girl from the dance floor into his arms and called out to me: “Tell me if you see anyone you like. It’s my place, don’t be shy.” I swirled my drink, walked a lap, and returned to the booth, uninterested. “No one caught your eye?” Flynn, looking satisfied after a kiss, rubbed the waist of the woman in his arms and joked with me: “Princess, how about you consider me? I have money, plenty of dating experience, and I’ll never let you feel wronged.” I couldn’t be bothered to reply, but the woman in his arms took it seriously. “Flynn, your wedding ring is so hard, it’s hurting me.” “Spoiled brat.” Flynn casually tossed the wedding ring onto the coffee table, gave the woman a firm pat on the lower back, and spoke suggestively, “Is it still hard now? Hmm?” I couldn’t listen anymore. I stood up, ready to find another spot. Before I left, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Flynn’s wedding ring lying abandoned among fruit peels and trash. I paused and added one more thing: “Put the ring away. Sarah will be angry if she finds out.” Flynn lifted his head from the woman’s embrace and scoffed. “If she’s angry, she can leave. Do I look like I’m afraid of her?” Being in the same circle, it wasn’t good to be too explicit. Having said my piece, I didn’t offer any more advice. I turned and walked out of the private room, which was already filled with suggestive sighs. 09 I found a slightly quieter spot and sat drinking alone. Guys kept coming up to hit on me, one after another, but every single one of them looked like a train wreck to me. I couldn’t even bear to look. “Mia.” I don’t know how long I had been drinking, but an angry voice suddenly rang out. I groggily raised my head, squinted for a long time, and suddenly frowned: “You look really familiar.” “Heh.” The man sneered and pulled me into his arms: “Look closer. Even more familiar now?” I blinked my eyes, everything a distorted blur, and blurted out: “It’s true! Handsome, you look just like my husband.” “Mia, just how many husbands do you have?” he asked, grinding his teeth. I rubbed my burning face against his cool chest, sweet nothings tumbling out effortlessly: “Only one husband. I don’t want anyone else, just you.” He seemed too lazy to argue with a drunk. He picked me up and walked out. But I wasn’t behaving. My hands kept sneaking under his clothes. Squeezing here, touching there. In that short walk, Elias broke out in a sweat. “Mia, if you keep touching me, I can’t guarantee there won’t be an accident.” He threw his jacket over my head and pressed me tightly against his chest, stopping me from moving. With my arms pinned, I looked at his bobbing Adam’s apple, blinked, and took a bite.

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In the fifth year of my engagement to Carter Harrison, he secretly threw an extravagant wedding for his mistress. When I arrived at the venue, they were passionately kissing amid the cheers of the crowd. Seeing me, Carter raised an eyebrow and smiled lazily. “The girl just wanted to experience a wedding. Don’t worry, we didn’t get the license.” I didn’t cry. I didn’t scream. I simply turned and walked away. He thought I was just throwing a tantrum—until the heir to the most powerful family in New York posted a picture of our marriage certificate on Instagram. Carter abandoned his mistress and banged furiously on my door. When I opened it, my face was still flushed, the remnants of passion lingering on my skin. “Don’t worry,” I said, echoing his words. “We just got the license. We haven’t had the wedding yet.” Liam Sterling, wearing nothing but a towel around his waist, strolled down the stairs and wrapped an arm around my waist. “Oh? Does that mean I’m just your secret lover?” 01 The wedding reception was loud and chaotic. The guests below the stage cheered, urging the newlyweds to kiss. The girl in the wedding dress looked up shyly. Carter wrapped a hand around the back of her head and pulled her in, deepening the kiss. I stared blankly at the two people passionately making out on stage. One of Carter’s groomsmen turned, saw me, and panicked. “Chloe.” In an instant, the rowdy atmosphere dropped into a dead, suffocating silence. I walked toward Carter. The young girl awkwardly tried to hide behind him. Carter didn’t look the least bit embarrassed about being caught by his fiancée. He wrapped an arm around the girl’s waist playfully, raising an eyebrow. “Mia was throwing a fit about wanting to marry me. Relax, we didn’t sign any papers. You’re the only one who will ever officially be Mrs. Harrison.” Carter and I were childhood sweethearts. We grew up together. Right after college, our families arranged our engagement. He was famously a playboy in our social circle. He changed girlfriends like he changed clothes, completely humiliating me time and time again. I gave a faint smile. I pulled a small, square velvet box out of my purse. “This is the heirloom bracelet your family gives to their daughters-in-law. I’m returning it.” Carter took it, tossing it lightly in his hand. He laughed, a mocking sound. “You’re pulling out the heirloom bracelet just to break up with me this time?” I didn’t miss the absolute disbelief in his eyes. “Carter Harrison, as of today, our engagement is void. We are free to marry whoever we want. We have nothing to do with each other anymore.” Carter’s face instantly darkened. “Chloe, say that again!” Seeing things escalate, his groomsman quickly stepped in. “Chloe, calm down. This wedding doesn’t count. Carter is just playing around. You’re the one he’s actually going to marry.” I had just watched my fiancé marry another woman in a massive, theatrical display. I didn’t cry. I didn’t make a scene. I calmly turned and walked away. “Carter, you better go after her.” Carter spoke with absolute certainty. “What is there to go after? It’s not like this hasn’t happened before. Give her a few days, and she’ll come back behaving.” “You’ve never taken it this far before! No woman can handle seeing the man she loves marry someone else. I’m telling you, you should go check on her.” Carter glanced at the door, his dark eyes narrowing slightly. Mia suddenly tugged at his sleeve. “Can I see that bracelet?” 02 After leaving the venue, I called my best friend, Ava, and asked her to meet me at a bar for a few drinks. By the time she arrived, she looked at the two empty bottles of wine and immediately understood. “What’s going on? You fought with Carter again? Is it another celebrity this time, or a college student?” Hearing his name felt like needles piercing my heart. “He got married today.” After hearing the whole story, Ava grabbed an empty wine bottle, ready to go smash it over that scumbag’s head. “You should have dumped him years ago! I’ll add you to a group chat right now. It’s full of the most eligible, high-quality bachelors in our circle. Take your pick.” My phone suddenly started buzzing non-stop. I glanced at it. In less than a minute, over thirty guys had sent me friend requests. “I’m going to the restroom.” In the hallway, a man was leaning against the wall, smoking. He wore a suit that looked out of place in a club, the top few buttons of his shirt casually undone. He looked incredibly dangerous. Perhaps noticing my gaze, he frowned and looked over. Liam Sterling? What was he doing here? I walked over, offering a slight smile. “Mr. Sterling, got a spare cigarette?” He raised an eyebrow. “I thought you turned into the perfect, obedient good girl after getting together with Carter. Aren’t you afraid he’ll find out you smoke?” I didn’t say anything. He leaned in, his tone infuriatingly mocking. “I heard he threw a massive wedding for another woman today. Did you finally break up with him?” I reached out, taking the cigarette and lighter straight from his hand. I lit it expertly, blew out a soft cloud of smoke, and gave him a half-smile. “Liam, want to come to my place tonight?” Our eyes met. Between adults, the implication was crystal clear. Liam extinguished his cigarette and chuckled. I suddenly remembered he was famous in our circle for being completely uninterested in women. I was just about to say I was joking. I didn’t expect him to actually say yes. 03 Liam used my fingerprint to unlock the door, and the next second, he pinned me against it. His large hand cupped the back of my head, and he kissed me hard. “Chloe, are you part dog? Bite a little softer.” I frowned slightly. “Can you stop talking? At a time like this, your job is to make me unable to speak.” … For the entire night. Liam physically demonstrated the meaning of “careful what you wish for.” I finally fell asleep around dawn, only for my phone to start ringing. I couldn’t open my eyes, so I just blindly patted the bed, searching for it. A soft chuckle came from beside me. Liam found the phone. Seeing it was a FaceTime call from Carter, his expression instantly darkened. He handed me the phone and pulled the blanket up to cover my collarbone. I answered, forcing my sleep-heavy eyes half open. Carter smiled coldly. “Didn’t you say yesterday we had nothing to do with each other? How did it only take you one day to go crying to my mom about Mia?” “Who went to your mom? Are you psychotic?! Calling me at the crack of dawn to throw a tantrum!” As soon as I spoke, I froze. My voice was completely hoarse. Completely wrecked. Carter frowned in confusion. “Do you have a cold?” I smiled. “Why pretend you don’t know what this is?” He realized what I meant. His voice suddenly spiked, and he leaned close to his camera. “Where are you?! Who are you with?!” “Mr. Harrison, we have no relationship anymore. Where I am and who I’m with is none of your business.” I was too exhausted to keep talking, so I just hung up. At the bar, Carter’s face was livid. “Carter, did Chloe just hang up on you? Is she actually serious about breaking the engagement this time?” “No way! This is just her old trick to threaten him. If she really wanted to break it off, you think she could bear to actually do it?” “It’s obviously an act. She’s pretending to be with another guy to make you jealous, waiting for you to cave and go find her. It’s the oldest trick in the book.” The crowd laughed in agreement. Only then did Carter’s expression relax a little. 04 The phone call had ruined my sleep, waking me up just enough to be annoyed. I frowned in irritation. Liam watched me. “What is so great about Carter Harrison? He slept around before you were married, and he’s not going to be loyal after. He doesn’t deserve you.” I looked up, confused. ? Liam grabbed his cigarette box from the nightstand, tapped one out, lit it, and suddenly looked very serious. “If we’re talking about corporate alliances, the Sterling family is not inferior to the Harrison family.” “What are you trying to say, Mr. Sterling?” Liam glanced at me. “I know you’ve been trying to win the East District development project. But with your current resources alone, it’s going to be extremely difficult. If we get married and combine our power, it’ll be a walk in the park.” I was completely awake now. “With the Sterling Group’s capital, you could easily take the project for yourself. Why share a piece of the pie with me?” “Maybe I don’t want to sleep with you for free?” My mouth twitched. I thought for a few seconds, then extended my right hand. “Happy to be doing business with you.” Forty minutes later, Liam and I walked out of City Hall. Looking at the marriage certificate in my hand, I still felt like I was floating in a dream. “Let’s go.” “Huh? We’re going to see a client right now?” Liam reached out, patted my head, and laughed. “Honeymoon.” 05 We put on scuba gear and submerged into the deep blue ocean, surrounded by the mysterious beauty of the sea. Gorgeous coral reefs and schools of fish swam right past my hands. Liam made a hand signal, gesturing for me to look up. When I tilted my head back, I saw an ocean of stars filtering through the water. When we got back to the shore, the staff told me my phone had been ringing non-stop. I unlocked it, and dozens of messages flooded the screen. [Hello Miss Chloe, I am the manager of Vera Wang. When will you be available to come in for a dress fitting?] [Hello Miss Chloe, I am the lead wedding planner. What kind of flowers do you prefer? We need to arrange the air freight in advance.] [Hello Miss Chloe, Mr. Harrison ordered a custom diamond ring for you at our boutique. When can you come in to try it on? If the sizing isn’t right, we can adjust it.] Wedding dress? Flowers? Ring? The more I read, the tighter my brow furrowed. Was my phone number leaked? Just then, the phone rang again. I looked at the screen. It was Carter. “Hello!” He immediately started demanding answers. “Where are you? I’ve called you a million times and you didn’t pick up. Your company said you took a month off.” “Where I am is none of your business. Don’t forget we broke up.” Carter didn’t care. He actually laughed. “Are you just throwing a tantrum because I gave Mia a wedding? Fine, I’ll give you one too. You should have gotten the texts and calls from the planners. Just tell them what kind of dress and venue you want, and they’ll handle it.” I was speechless. “Are you insane?!” Even though I couldn’t see him, I could easily imagine the look on Carter’s face hearing that. “Chloe! You threw a fit about the wedding, so I agreed to throw you one too! What more do you want?! Enough is enough! Let me tell you, you only get this one chance. If you don’t want to marry me now, you can stay single for the rest of your life!” Carter was always like this. As long as he offered you a step down, if you didn’t take it immediately, it was entirely your fault. “You’re a psychopath. We broke up. Stop calling me. You can marry whoever the hell you want.” Carter said “Fine!” three times into the phone. “Chloe, I gave you a chance. You rejected it yourself. Don’t come crawling back.” Psycho! Liam finished changing his clothes. “Carter’s call?” I took a deep breath. “Yeah. He thinks I’m mad because of the wedding, so he thought throwing me one would fix it. I don’t know how I was blind enough to date him.” Liam smiled but didn’t say anything. For the next month. We went to Iceland to see the blue ice caves. We rode hot air balloons in Turkey. 06 The day I got back, Ava asked me out. I used several layers of concealer, but I still couldn’t cover the marks on my collarbone. I had to dig a silk scarf out of my closet and tie it around my neck. As soon as she sat down, she downed two glasses of wine. “I am so mad! Carter Harrison has officially lost his mind. He bought out every billboard in Times Square just to play a birthday video from A-list celebrities for that girl… Mia whatever-her-name-is. And he’s playing it on loop for a month! Does he even care about how you feel?!” I held my glass, my tone calm. “I got married.” Ava didn’t believe me at first, until she saw the picture of the marriage certificate. “Liam Sterling! “Isn’t he famous for hating women?! How did you bag him?!” “Never mind that, the point is Carter doesn’t even compare to him. I really want to see the look on Carter’s face when he finds out you married Liam.” Her anger vanished instantly. “We need to celebrate. Drinks are on me tonight.” Ava was a lightweight. After a few bottles, she was completely dizzy. I put my glass down. “Stay here. I’m going to go order you some hangover tea.” In the hallway, I bumped into Liam’s friend, Noah. He hurried over, acting overly friendly. “Chloe, you’re here! Carter and the guys are in VIP Room 6.” “Carter and I have nothing to do with each other anymore. Just call me by my name. Have fun, guys.” Noah just assumed I was still mad. “What Carter did was out of line, I know. But just give him a chance to apologize to your face! We’re in Room 6, I’ll head back first. Come over whenever you’re ready!” To get back to Room 3, I had to walk past Room 6. I heard a familiar voice. I stopped at the door and looked through the crack. Carter was leaning lazily against the sofa, his shirt unbuttoned halfway. Mia’s lips were swollen red. Anyone with eyes could tell what had just happened. “Carter, I just ran into Chloe outside. See? I told you she couldn’t let you go.” “I didn’t expect her to hold out this long without contacting you.” “It’s only been a month. She probably heard you were throwing a birthday party for another girl and couldn’t take it anymore. So she came running.” Carter looked indifferent. “Who told her to come? We already broke up.” “Alright, enough. This is the first time she’s gone this long without calling you. Don’t push it until you can’t fix it.” “Yeah! Carter, you should probably tell this girl to leave. You don’t want Chloe getting mad again when she walks in.” Carter looked sideways at the obedient Mia next to him. She kept her head down, her voice weak. “Carter, today is my birthday…” I touched the silk scarf tied around my neck, took it off, and pushed the door open. Every single pair of eyes in the room snapped to me. The marks on my neck were far too obvious. Even in the dim club lighting, Carter saw them immediately. He shot up from the couch, his eyes narrowing. “What is on your neck?” Thinking of Liam acting like a rabid dog last night, leaving marks all over me. I smiled and said, “Hickies.” Carter kicked the table next to him, the dark fury in his eyes impossible to miss. “Who did it?! Chloe, are you seriously going behind my back to find other men?!” “Who did it is none of your business. Carter, a good ex should act like he’s dead.” He sneered. “Chloe, if I ever contact you again, I’m a fucking dog!” Ava drank her hangover tea and asked, “What took you so long? I was about to come looking for you.” Hearing the sound of things smashing in the room next door, I said, “Just tying up a loose end. I don’t want flies buzzing around me anymore. It’s annoying! Let’s go!” Since we both drank, we called an Uber. 07 Not long after. The girl Carter had thrown the wedding for graduated and officially entered the entertainment industry. Once she gained a little traction, she actually hired a bot army to flood my company’s official social media accounts. [Mr. Harrison treats Mia so differently. He was willing to throw her the wedding of the century.] [Forget the wedding, he bought her a pink diamond without even blinking.] [I advise someone to just let it go peacefully. Stop shamelessly holding onto the title of fiancée.] [In a relationship, the unloved one is the real homewrecker. Would it kill you to just step aside and let Mr. Harrison be with Mia?] My assistant handed me the tablet. “Miss Chloe, should we delete the comments guiding the narrative?” “Find all of Mia’s dirty laundry and leak it to the paparazzi. Then notify every media company we partner with: they are strictly forbidden from giving her any resources.” “Understood. I’ll get on it right away. But what if Mr. Harrison tries to interfere?” “Ignore him. Just do what I told you.” An hour later, Mia’s comment section was a warzone: [You homewrecker! It’s one thing to sneak around in the dark, but how dare you openly provoke the actual fiancée!] [I went to college with Mia. She acts all sweet and innocent, but she used her family’s money to lead the bullying against me. I have burn scars all over my arms from her. And she stole an award that was supposed to go to my team.] [So she was always like this in school too? I was her stand-in on set. Unless it was a shot that explicitly needed her face, she made me do everything else. She didn’t even shoot a third of her own scenes. She relied entirely on stand-ins and post-production editing.] [I was her assistant. We had a scene where she had to go into the water to retrieve an item. She complained the water was too dirty and forced the crew to buy bottled mineral water to fill a pool before she would get in. I’ve been an assistant for A-listers, and I’ve never been this exhausted.] [I think the worst one is Carter Harrison! Changing girlfriends every few days. Men like him belong in the trash.]

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Jude Sterling and I were both heralded as genius painters. From the time we were toddlers, we were rivals, constantly fighting for the top spot in every gallery and competition. That was until I walked in on a girl defacing his submission for a prestigious national contest. Instead of being angry, he laughed, kissed her, and called it a “naughty little penalty.” He had fallen for a “broken” girl from the wrong side of the tracks—Chloe Miller. For her, he skipped classes, dropped out, ran away from home, and eventually prepared to give up painting altogether. Behind his back, that girl blackmailed me. She told me she’d dump him if I paid her off. I didn’t want to see him rot. I paid. But Jude spent the rest of his life hating me for it. He crushed my hands—the hands that held my future—ensuring I could never paint again. He drove my parents to their graves and left me in the gutters while he climbed to the top of the art world on the back of my silence. I opened my eyes and found myself back at the peak of their toxic, whirlwind romance. This time, I won’t stop him. This time, he can have his “true love” and his ruin. I’m picking up my brush to take back my throne. 01 Two people. One studio. I stopped just outside the door. I knew exactly who was in there: Jude Sterling and Chloe Miller. In my past life, this was the day I accidentally stumbled upon their secret. Jude and I were childhood friends. We lived next door to each other, both cursed—or blessed—with extreme talent. We grew up in the same studios, went to the same exhibits, and eventually got into the same elite Art Institute on full-ride scholarships. But we were also enemies. We never conceded to one another. We fought for every blue ribbon, every “Best in Show.” We were the rivals that defined each other. Everyone assumed we’d end up together. Our parents joked about a wedding being a “merger of empires.” Jude never denied it; he even told his friends he was going to ask me out formally after graduation. But he broke that promise. I walked in to find him pinned against a drafting table, kissing a complete stranger. This was our private studio. Jude’s mother had built it specifically for the two of us. No one else was allowed inside. Yet there she was, Chloe, laughing as she knocked over jars of expensive pigment, turning the pristine space into a chaotic mess. Jude, usually a clinical perfectionist, didn’t care. If I so much as moved a charcoal sketch an inch out of place, Jude would fly into a rage. He didn’t let anyone touch his drafts. He didn’t allow food in the studio. He was a man of a thousand rules and “don’ts.” I used to think that was just his temperament. Now I realized he only enforced those rules on me. Even as Chloe took a brush and started doodling graffiti over his canvas—a piece he had spent months preparing for the National Youth Exhibit—Jude only feigned annoyance. He gripped her waist, kissed her hard, and whispered that it was a “penalty.” That was his masterpiece. The one he’d labored over through dozens of drafts. The deadline was the next day. He had no time to start over. This was the competition of a decade. Missing it was professional suicide. We had both been so confident. We had even made plans to use the prize money to travel to Maine and paint the autumn leaves together. In my past life, I was furious. I stormed in, snatched the draft from Chloe’s hands, and screamed at her for being reckless. And Jude? His face went cold. He shoved me back and shielded her. “What’s it to you, Phoebe?” he spat. “Mind your own business.” 02 That was the first time in twenty years Jude had ever used that tone with me. We ended in a bitter standoff. That day, Chloe didn’t just ruin his canvas. She took my finished painting, folded it into a paper airplane, and tossed it into the industrial sink, letting the water wash the oils away. Their “paper airplane” was a romantic gesture of rebellion. My life’s work was a soggy mess. I stayed up all night trying to salvage it, but the version I submitted was rushed and amateur. I was rejected. The competition I had prepared for my entire life ended in a pathetic whimper. Both Jude and I were cut in the first round. My work was sloppy; his was covered in Chloe’s doodles. Our professors and peers were in shock. They couldn’t believe the two “prodigies” had failed so spectacularly. They demanded answers. I said I just had a bad day. Jude told them I had ruined his painting. He didn’t want Chloe to face the faculty’s wrath, so he made me the scapegoat. The rumor mill at the Institute went wild. They said I was jealous because Jude was the favorite to win, so I sabotaged him. No matter how much I explained, no one believed me. Jude’s word was law. While I was drowning in rumors and the shame of “letting down the school,” Jude took Chloe on a road trip to see the maples in the North. He posted a photo of their hands intertwined against a backdrop of red leaves with the caption: Youth is meant for romance, not just rules. 03 The biggest mistake I made in my last life was trying to pull Jude out of the mud as he slowly sank. So, standing before the studio door again, I didn’t hesitate. I pushed it open, walked straight to my corner, and began packing my supplies. I ignored them completely, treating them like shadows. I am not saving him this time. Jude saw me and instinctively tried to hide Chloe behind him. When he realized I wasn’t even looking at them, a flash of confusion crossed his eyes. Chloe peeked from behind him, tugging at his shirt. “Jude? Is that your childhood friend?” She lowered her head, acting small and intimidated. “She’s so pretty. Why… why are you with me instead of her?” Jude snapped out of his daze, squeezed her hand, and glared at me. “Babe, don’t say that. You’re ruining the mood.” Looking at them—one a liar who broke a twenty-year promise, the other a girl who knew exactly what she was doing—made me want to gag. I walked toward them. Jude braced himself. “Phoebe, what are you doing?” He expected me to be jealous. He expected a scene. He expected me to try and tear them apart. I pulled the spare key to the Sterling estate out of my pocket and slammed it onto his table. “Here’s your key. I won’t be coming here to practice with you anymore. Also, I hope you two are very happy together.” I turned and walked out. Jude stood there, stunned by my indifference. This time, I sent my carefully prepared draft to the exhibit early. It was a masterpiece. It won the Grand Prize. With the grant money in my pocket, I invited my real friends to go see the autumn foliage. The mountains were a sea of fire under the sunset. Meanwhile, Jude was cut in the first round. It was the scandal of the year. People noticed the graffiti on his canvas and suspected foul play. Just like before, Jude tried to pin it on me to protect Chloe. But this time, I waited until the accusations were at their peak. I returned to the Institute and played a recording on the big screen in the lounge. It showed Chloe playfully stamping paint-covered handprints on Jude’s easel while Jude laughed and called her “cute,” letting her smear his work into oblivion. Silence followed the video. Then, the uproar began. 04 Jude was exposed as a liar. The faculty was livid. The master painter the Sterling family had hired to mentor him resigned on the spot. Jude’s parents were furious. They found out about his secret relationship and looked into Chloe’s background—a dropout from a community college with a reputation for being a “black widow” who used guys for their money. They demanded he break up with her. But now that the secret was out, Jude leaned into the drama. He became the “tortured artist” fighting for love. The more his parents pushed, the more he rebelled. He started skipping classes to be with her. In my past life, I did his homework. I took notes for him. I recorded lectures. I did his group projects just so he wouldn’t fail out. He never thanked me. I once saw him throw my painstakingly written notes into a trash can without reading a single page. He used to drag me along on his dates with Chloe just to use me as a cover for his parents. I was the one who got yelled at by our families and teachers for “distracting” him. There was a massive apprenticeship exam coming up. The winner would become the personal protégé of a world-renowned master—an opportunity that could define a career. Everyone was grinding. Every second was worth gold. I stopped caring about his whereabouts. I kept to my schedule: studio, library, cafeteria, bed. I lived a “boring” life while they lived their “romance.” Jude, meanwhile, spent his parents’ money taking Chloe on cruises and buying her designer bags and watches. Without me to fix his messes, his grades tanked. He was put on academic probation. Everyone who once admired him was now disappointed. But Jude didn’t care. He had his “precious love.” Chloe eventually cried to him: “Your parents think I’m not good enough for you.” Jude went home, had a screaming match with his father, and threatened to run away and give up painting if they didn’t accept her. The exam was days away. Jude announced he was quitting art to “live for love.” 05 Jude’s parents were at their wit’s end. They came to me, begging me to talk sense into him. “Phoebe, you grew up with him. You have a bond. He won’t listen to us, but maybe he’ll listen to you.” Mrs. Sterling, once the picture of elegance, now had grey hairs peeking through. Her makeup couldn’t hide her exhaustion. She looked exactly like my mother did in my past life—aged twenty years in a few months. In the previous timeline, I had gone to Jude. I had begged him to be rational. He had pulled Chloe close, kissed her in front of me, and looked at me with disgust. “Phoebe, you’re pathetic,” he had said. He didn’t know that Chloe had already come to me. She had demanded a “settlement” of fifty thousand dollars to leave him. And I, desperate to save Jude’s career, had paid it. I did it because I respected him as a rival. I didn’t want to see a genius rot. I wanted to beat him fairly on the canvas. Chloe took the money and dumped him that very night. Jude, who had never touched a drop of alcohol, got blackout drunk and trashed his apartment. We all thought the nightmare was over. But right before Chloe boarded her flight, she called Jude. She sobbed into the phone: “Phoebe gave me money to leave you. She forced me out.” She didn’t mention the money his parents gave her. She didn’t mention it was a shakedown. She told a half-truth that made me the villain. Jude chose to believe her sob story over the recording I tried to show him. Then, her plane crashed. She died at the height of their “tragic romance.” Jude spent the rest of his life mourning her and hating me. 06 The day the news of the crash hit, Jude broke into my house. His eyes were venomous. “Are you happy now, Phoebe? Is this what you wanted?” I tried to calm him down, but he shoved me. Our house had a beautiful, decorative spiral staircase. The railing was low. I went over the side. I broke an arm and both legs. Jude’s parents apologized. They paid for my bills. They visited every day. But Jude never showed up once. The apprenticeship exam came. I wasn’t healed. My mother begged me to let it go. “Your arm hasn’t set yet, Phoebe.” But I couldn’t. I had worked so hard. I ripped out my IV, put on a coat, and snuck out of the hospital. I made it to the exam hall late, disheveled and pale. The Master was watching. He looked at my messy hair and my lateness with a frown. In his world, discipline was respect. I had already failed the first impression. I sat down, picked up the brush, and realized my right hand was shaking uncontrollably. I painted through the blinding pain. There was no miracle. My work was a mess. The Master’s critique was brutal: “Shaky technique. No foundation.” I tried to explain my injury, and the Master almost relented, seeing my passion. But then, a voice from the corner of the room sneered: “How can we trust her? She’s the one who defaced her rival’s work to win the last contest.” My reputation was already ruined. The crowd agreed. I was kicked out. Jude won the top spot. He became the Master’s protégé. The Sterling family threw a gala that was the talk of the town. When I was discharged from the hospital, no one was there. My parents were away on business; my “friends” were all at Jude’s party. I walked home alone in the winter cold, looking at the white lines on the road. Our lives had been parallel for twenty years. Now, they were diverging. He was going up; I was going down. He was the sun; I was the abyss. 07 Jude became a global star. He studied in Paris and Florence. His solo shows sold out in minutes. He was the golden boy of the new generation. I didn’t even graduate. I was framed for a series of plagiarism scandals. The evidence was “ironclad.” I was expelled. It was Jude. He used his new influence to bury me, a slow-burn revenge for Chloe. His parents moved to Europe, leaving Jude in control of the family’s domestic business. He used that power to crush my parents’ startup. We weren’t old money. My parents were self-made. They couldn’t survive a targeted attack by a conglomerate. The company went under. My father was left with millions in debt. We sold the house. We moved into a cramped apartment in the outskirts of the city. I had to give up painting to work three jobs just to keep us fed. In the dead of night, I would sneak into the kitchen to look at my old drafts. Sometimes, I would hide in the bathroom and sketch with a cheap pencil on napkins. It was my only solace in a life of misery. 08 Then, my father died. He had been hiding a heart condition to save money on meds. One day, he just didn’t wake up. My mother fell into a deep depression, which triggered a latent cancer. As I was struggling to pay for her chemo, Jude appeared. I hadn’t seen him in years. He was wearing a Patek Philippe watch and a bespoke suit. He looked like a king from another world. I was holding a bag of discounted frozen bread. I had never felt more humiliated. He was wearing an old, frayed hair tie on his wrist—Chloe’s. Even amidst all his luxury, he kept that piece of trash as a memorial. He mocked my “decrepit” furniture. Then he made an offer. “I’ll give you a million dollars. On one condition.” A million. It was enough to save my mother. I agreed. 09 His condition was demonic. He wanted me to personally, by my own hand, destroy my right hand. He wanted to ensure the “genius” could never paint again. He wanted to kill my soul. I stared at him. He was more vicious than I ever imagined. “Well?” he asked coldly. “Do you want the money or not?” I thought of my mother’s hospital bills. I nodded. But as I hesitated to pick up the hammer, Jude lost his patience. He smashed a glass jar and drove the jagged edge deep into the back of my hand. He looked at me with pure hatred. “If it weren’t for you, Chloe would be alive. “We would have been happy. “You say she only wanted money. Look at you now. Selling your soul for a check. “You were always jealous of her. You’re a monster, Phoebe.” My hand was a bloody mess. I didn’t make a sound. “Remember,” Jude said, “you earned this.” He walked out. He never sent the money. My mother tried to go to his office to demand it, but the security guards threw her out. The stress killed her within a week. 10 My hand never recovered. It remained weak, scarred, and useless. I sold my childhood trophies to pay for my mother’s funeral. She died on a day she had spent her last strength buying groceries to make me a “celebratory” dinner. I came home to find her cold, with a table full of food she’d never eat. I eventually died in a fire on the anniversary of Chloe’s death. I suspect Jude had something to do with it. In my final moments, I regretted everything. I regretted saving him from himself. I regretted letting him steal my glory.

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I was bored out of my mind, so I started dating a guy. Turns out, he was an obsessively possessive psycho. He locked me up in his sprawling mansion, personally washing my face and spoon-feeding me every day. His only demand was that I could never, ever leave him. My eyes practically lit up. Are you telling me this kind of jackpot actually exists? He was a possessive psycho, and I was a lazy, affection-starved girl. It was a match made in heaven. 01 Today marked the fifth day of my imprisonment in Caleb Sterling’s mega-mansion. I was lounging lazily in a hanging egg chair, soaking up the sun, sipping a glass of ’82 Château Lafite, and feeling delightfully drowsy. So comfortable. God, this is the life. I genuinely couldn’t understand why the female leads in those romance novels always tried so hard to run away. Suddenly, I caught a glimpse of the main gates swinging open. A sleek black Porsche slowly pulled into the courtyard. Caleb was back. I immediately vaulted out of the hanging chair, sprinted back to the master bedroom, and threw myself onto the massive California King bed. I curled my body into a tight ball, squeezed my eyes shut, and forced out two pitiful tears. Slowing my breathing, I waited quietly for Caleb to come in. The doorknob turned without a sound, and Caleb silently padded over to the edge of the bed. I cursed him in my head. This guy literally makes zero noise when he walks. If his tall frame hadn’t blocked the sunlight and cast a shadow over me, I wouldn’t have even known he was there. Despite my internal grumbling, I kept my eyes gently shut, my brows furrowed in distress, leaving tear streaks on my pale cheeks. It was a picture of pure, tragic melancholy. Anyone who saw it would feel their heart break. Aside from my breathing, the room was dead silent. If I couldn’t feel the burning intensity of his gaze on me, I would’ve thought Caleb dropped dead. Just as I was about to lose my patience and curse him out, Caleb finally moved. He let out a soft, ragged sigh. His warm palm gently cupped my cheek as he muttered in a low voice, “Do you really want to leave me that badly?” I made my eyelashes flutter right on cue, then slowly opened my eyes, staring directly into Caleb’s gaze. He didn’t have time to hide the deep loneliness in his eyes. He looked so fragile, like he might shatter at a single touch. Acting perfectly, I jolted backward in “fear,” my eyes rimmed red. I put up my guard while secretly observing him. Caleb stared at his empty hand lingering in the air. He froze for a second before slowly pulling it back. He forced a bitter smile. “You don’t want to see me? Did I disappoint you by coming back so early?” I bit my lip hard and glared at him coldly. My face showed nothing but silent disgust, while my inner voice was screaming: Why the hell did you come back so late?! What took you so long? I missed you to death! Caleb seemed used to my coldness. He frowned, looking at my almost-bleeding lower lip, and ordered coldly, “Let go of your lip.” I didn’t move. Suddenly, he leaned down and captured my lips with his. Fireworks practically exploded in my brain. My entire being was enveloped by his scent. But, of course, I didn’t forget my “character setting”—I struggled fiercely. The more I struggled, well… the harder he kissed me. It wasn’t until I tasted a hint of copper in my mouth that Caleb finally pulled away. He brushed a thumb over my swollen lips, his expression melting into pure tenderness. “What do you want to eat? I’ll go cook.” I gave a cold huff. “I’m not eating.” He just smiled, scooping me up into his arms like a child. He carried me steadily down the grand staircase, rattling off a menu of dishes entirely unbothered by my lack of response. I rested my head on his broad shoulder. Where he couldn’t see, I licked my lips, absolutely hooked. Good lord, Caleb was so freaking hot just now. God knows how much I love this kind of overbearing, forceful romance. Caleb set me down on the plush living room sofa, arranged a spread of fresh fruits and snacks in front of me, and turned on the massive TV. He kissed my forehead, his tone incredibly gentle. “Don’t eat too many snacks, okay? Dinner will be ready soon.” How is this man so perfect and domesticated? Whoever marries him is going to be the luckiest girl alive. Oh wait, that’s me. I frowned, keeping my mouth shut. The kitchen had an open layout, meaning Caleb could see me the second he looked up. It had been like this for all five days. Aside from today, when he absolutely had to leave for work, I had to be within his line of sight at all times for him to feel at ease. Otherwise, he would lose his mind—smashing things, hitting his head against the wall, self-harming. 02 Caleb and I met online. We chatted for a while, and once we got familiar, he asked to meet up. I rejected him without a second thought. I was too lazy to exist, let alone put on makeup and leave my apartment. Unless I was starving and needed groceries, I didn’t go outside. But Caleb was relentless. During a video call, he “accidentally” showed off his perfectly sculpted abs to tempt me. I suddenly decided that going outside wasn’t such a bad idea after all. But I regretted it right after we met. When I tried to break up with him, Caleb’s eyes went completely red. He gripped my hands tight and begged me to grant him one last request: to go somewhere with him. I figured it was the last time anyway, so I humored him. And that’s how I ended up locked in here. Caleb hugged me tightly from behind, his expression dark and sickly obsessive. “Harper, now you can never leave me.” I looked around the ridiculously luxurious mega-mansion. An entire accent wall was encrusted with rare blue and pink diamonds. The 5,000-square-foot walk-in closet was stuffed with designer jewelry, bags, and haute couture. The bathtub alone was bigger than my entire old apartment. My heart was beating so fast it practically leapt out of my chest with joy. Caleb showed me around room by room. “I prepared all of this for you. Do you like it? As long as you don’t leave me, you can have anything you want.” Like it? I freaking love it! Why would I ever leave? This is literal paradise! I forced down the corners of my mouth that were desperately trying to curve upward and asked coldly, “What is the meaning of this? Are you imprisoning me?” Imprison me, please! You’re a psycho captor, and I’m a girl with severe social anxiety. It’s perfect! Caleb seemed unable to handle that word. He panicked, explaining desperately, “No, I just want to be with you forever, Harper.” He confiscated my phone and gave me a modified new one, cutting off all my contact with the outside world. Caleb stayed by my side 24/7. I could do whatever I wanted, but there was one ironclad rule: I could never leave his sight. The second he couldn’t find me—even for just a few seconds—he would go completely feral. I had “attempted” to escape a few times, getting caught by Caleb every single time. I did it on purpose. I was intentionally triggering his paranoid, possessive streak. I figured it out early on: Caleb had a deeply obsessive personality. If he were in a novel, he’d be the textbook yandere male lead. And I loved his toxic, do-or-die level of obsession. I just didn’t know how long this extreme devotion would last. So, I couldn’t let my true feelings show. If I acted too happy, he might lose interest. After all, the things you can’t quite grasp are always the most tantalizing. From then on, I lived a life where I didn’t even have to lift a finger. My only job was lying in bed playing video games. When I got hungry, someone fed me. When I needed to use the bathroom, someone carried me there. Thank god for Caleb. Otherwise, I would’ve never experienced such luxury in my life. I was born deep in the backwoods of the Ozarks. My parents pumped out seven daughters before finally getting their precious golden boy, “Junior.” I was the fourth daughter, the most ignored, the most invisible. Freezing, starving, doing grueling farm chores, and acting as a punching bag for Junior—that was my daily routine. So, I ran away. I ran to a city where no one knew me to start a new life. I worked odd jobs to put myself through school, constantly terrified that my family from the backwoods would come drag me back. Because of that, I was deeply insecure and affection-starved. I wanted a lot of love, and a lot of money. Caleb gave me a mansion to live in, endless cash to spend, he was incredibly hot, and he loved me to a terrifying degree. I couldn’t escape this maze-like mansion even if I tried—and trust me, I didn’t want to. And those leeches from my hometown could never find me here. What the hell did I have to complain about? “Baby, dinner’s ready.” Caleb walked over, but when he saw me staring blankly out the window, his face darkened. “Thinking about running away again?” 03 I acted like he “startled” me, shrinking back against the glass. Tears welled up in my eyes. “Yes. I just don’t want to be trapped with a monster like you.” Even though I was “terrified,” I bit my lip to hold back my tears, pretending to be brave. I looked exactly like a tragic, unyielding heroine who refused to bow to wealth—a fragile white flower caught in a storm. Brilliant, Harper. You are a generational acting talent. The pacing was absolutely flawless. I mentally patted myself on the back. Caleb recoiled as if he’d been struck, muttering, “Monster? “Harper… you think I’m a monster? But before, you clearly said you liked me the most…” His eyes grew bloodshot. He took a massive stride forward, cupping my face with both hands, desperate for validation. “You said you liked me!” I turned my face away, my 98-degree lips spitting out absolute ice. “Who could ever like a monster? I hate you. I—” Before I could finish, my lips were ruthlessly crushed. He kissed me with the ferocity of a tiger tearing into its prey. Beautiful! Caleb, you really are a well-trained guard dog. I absolutely loved this suffocating feeling, like I was being kissed to death. Whenever I was craving a heavy make-out session with Caleb but couldn’t just ask for one, I would intentionally provoke him like this. It made him lose control, go feral, and kiss me senseless. After about ten minutes of aggressive kissing, Caleb’s emotions finally leveled out. I was left gasping for air. He licked the tears off my cheeks, his voice dangerously low. “Harper, please don’t hate me.” My tears weren’t fake acting this time—they were squeezed out from the sheer intensity of it. God damn, that was a brutal kiss. Hurt like hell, but felt so good. Caleb’s lips were already swollen and red, with a few fresh scabs. I didn’t even need a mirror to know what my own mouth looked like. As if the intense interlude hadn’t just happened, Caleb smiled brightly, scooped me up, and sat me at the dining table. I stared “coldly” at the spread of gourmet dishes, secretly swallowing my saliva. Caleb really knew how to cook. After being “forced” to eat a massive meal “against my will,” Caleb smirked in satisfaction. He carried me upstairs, in a fantastic mood. “Our Harper is such a good girl when it comes to eating. You never mistreat your own stomach.” Me: “…” Was I that obvious? I thought I was showing great restraint. 04 Aside from that one day when an emergency forced him into the office, Caleb never left the house again. He stayed locked inside this castle with me, terrified I would escape. I cried, I screamed, I begged him to let me go. None of it worked. I could do whatever I wanted, as long as I stayed directly beneath his eyelids. I can’t even describe how amazing these past few days were. I threw tantrums whenever I wanted. If I felt like smashing priceless vases or designer jewelry, I did it. Caleb’s only concern was whether I might accidentally cut myself on the shards. If I was in a bad mood because I lost a ranked match in my video game, I’d slap Caleb across the face. I’d glare at him and say, “It’s your unlucky breathing that made me lose! This is all your fault!” Caleb would lower his head and whisper, “I’m sorry.” I’d snap, “I need to use the bathroom. Carry me.” Caleb would put down whatever fruit he was peeling for me and steadily carry me to the en-suite. Sometimes, the “Defeat” screen would pop up, and before I could even react, Caleb was already leaning his face in close, offering his cheek for me to slap. Truly a perfectly trained good boy. He would only ever ask if my hand hurt from hitting him. When I got tired of acting or bored with video games, I would go to the kitchen and cook aggressively. From dusk till dawn, and dawn till dusk, nonstop. No matter how crazy I acted, Caleb accepted it all with a loving smile. It was as if anything I gave him, even abuse, was a blessing. But I didn’t like how peaceful and complacent things were getting. There was zero challenge, no waves to ride. Plus, with me being so quiet lately, Caleb seemed to be dropping his guard and getting too comfortable. That wouldn’t do. Life was getting a bit too cozy. I needed to periodically stimulate him, keep him anxious and terrified of losing me. Otherwise, a comfortable wolf turns into a docile dog. So, I decided to play with fire again. I was going to escape. I meticulously engineered the perfect plan. It had to show my absolute, unwavering determination to run away, which would trigger Caleb’s paranoia. But it also had to result in me “accidentally” getting caught by Caleb, so I could return and continue enjoying my billionaire lifestyle. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. Just thinking about it made me rub my hands together in excitement. Caleb, sitting nearby, asked cautiously, “Harper, what are you thinking about? You look so happy.” I instantly suppressed my rising smirk. “Nothing. This web novel I’m reading is just really good. I’m going to leave a like for the author.” As soon as I said that, Caleb suddenly leaned his head over, staring at my phone screen. “What are you doing?” Caleb said with dead seriousness, “I’m memorizing the author’s pen name. I’m going to find her and pay her ten million dollars to write stories exclusively for you every day.” Me: “…” My mouth twitched. I let him read a few lines of the book. Watching him study the screen like he was taking the SATs, I couldn’t resist teasing him. “Don’t you think the male lead in this story is exactly like you? Extremely controlling, possessive, and constantly going crazy.” Caleb nodded. “Does the male lead eventually live happily ever after with the female lead? Does that mean I get to be with you forever too?” Me: “…” Is that really the takeaway here?! 05 I put my plan into motion. I stopped crying and throwing tantrums. I ate, drank, gamed, and cooked normally, acting like a completely ordinary couple with Caleb. Because of this, Caleb relaxed his iron grip slightly. I was finally allowed to disappear from his line of sight for a few minutes at a time. When he wasn’t paying attention, I snuck into the closet and found the purse I had on me the day he locked me up. Inside were the anti-anxiety meds I used to carry everywhere. I raised an eyebrow. After I escaped the backwoods, I had terrible insomnia, constantly terrified I’d be dragged back. A doctor had prescribed me these heavy sedatives. I never thought they’d come in handy like this. That night, I handed Caleb a mug of warm milk. “Drink?” Seeing that I had made it myself, Caleb didn’t hesitate for a second and chugged the whole thing. Clatter. The mug hit the floor, and he collapsed instantly. “Caleb. Wake up.” I slapped his cheek twice, joking, “If you don’t wake up, I’m leaving.” The man on the floor didn’t twitch. I clicked my tongue. Wow, these meds really don’t mess around. The keys to the front gate were in his safe. I tried my birthday as the passcode, and it popped right open. Seriously, it was exactly like the cliché psycho CEOs in novels. I was going to just bolt, but looking at Caleb lying on the hardwood floor like a dead pig, I sighed. Considering how well he had treated me, I used every ounce of my strength to drag his heavy body onto the bed and tuck him in. Then, I walked out like a boss. The moment I stepped out the front gates, I let out a string of curses. This damn mansion is literally built halfway up a mountain! It was the dead of night, in the middle of nowhere. I added a huge tip on the Uber app, but no one was taking the ride. How long was it going to take me to walk down these winding mountain roads? My legs were going to snap. By the time I reached the bottom, Caleb would probably wake up and catch me. What was the point of this? Was I trying to experience the Little Mermaid’s pain of walking on land? Just as I was debating whether I should turn back, go to sleep, and pretend none of this ever happened, high beams flashed in the distance. I waved my arms frantically and hitched a ride, spinning a random sob story. The driver introduced himself: “I’m Ethan. What’s your name?” I discreetly sized him up. He looked like a fresh college grad—clean-cut, casual clothes, driving an average sedan. “I’m Harper Smith. I got into a fight with my boyfriend, and he kicked me out.” I lowered my head and let out a few soft sobs. Ethan instantly went into panic mode, handing me tissues and aggressively cursing out Caleb. “What kind of guy does that?! Kicking his girlfriend out in the middle of the night on a mountain? That’s so dangerous! He’s absolute trash.” Ethan righteously comforted me the whole drive down, but I just asked him to drop me at the nearest bus stop. After waving Ethan off, I took a cab straight to the night market. After being force-fed wagyu beef and lobster by Caleb for days, I was desperately craving some good old-fashioned greasy street food. Fully stuffed, I made my way back to my old, crappy rental apartment. It was exactly how I left it, just covered in a thick layer of dust. I didn’t have any friends or family who cared about me, so my disappearance hadn’t been noticed by a single soul. After getting used to a 5,000-square-foot custom mattress, this rock-hard rental bed was sheer torture. By now, the sun was starting to peek through the blinds. Damn it, what is wrong with Caleb?! Why hasn’t he come to catch me yet? I was dying of anxiety. Yes, I wanted to escape, but I didn’t want the escape to be successful! I did not want to leave my billionaire mansion to become a street rat again! Why wasn’t Caleb waking up? Did I put too many pills in his milk? Or was I truly just too much of a mastermind, and Caleb couldn’t outsmart me? Right when I was on the verge of stressed tears, the door to the rental apartment was violently kicked open. Caleb stood in the doorway, radiating a terrifying aura. Seeing Caleb, I let out a massive sigh of relief, then happily “fainted” right into his arms. 06 When I woke up, I was back in the familiar, luxurious surroundings. Caleb had finally caught me. I breathed a sigh of relief. I had almost accidentally said goodbye to my life of endless wealth. He was standing right beside the bed, his face terrifyingly dark. That was when I noticed a nasty gash on his temple. It was covered in dried blood. “What happened to your head?” Caleb closed his eyes, saying dismissively, “I rolled down the stairs and hit it.” I stayed silent. Looks like I really went overboard with those meds. Overdosing on that stuff causes sudden blackouts and severe dizziness. He must have stumbled trying to come after me. I tried to sit up, only to hear the clinking of metal. I looked down and realized my wrist was bound by a pair of cold handcuffs. I licked my lips. A surge of excitement vibrated through my bones. What is this? Forced confinement play? Oh, I love this. I instantly put on my “cold” face. “What is the meaning of this? Let me go.” Caleb stroked the metal chain, his voice deathly low. “This is the punishment for Harper being a bad girl. Now, you can never leave me.” Punishment? Oh, I consider this a reward. I hadn’t expected this fake escape to yield such fantastic bonus content. The handcuffs were lined with soft velvet so they wouldn’t chafe my wrists. That night, Caleb held me in a suffocatingly tight embrace. The metal chains clinked softly every time I moved, until I eventually fell into a deep sleep. From initial crying and struggling, to eventual cold indifference—I cycled through all my acting phases, but Caleb absolutely refused to unlock the cuffs. After satisfying my craving for drama, I started getting bored. Lying in bed all day was making my back ache. So, I started begging him, pretending to submit, and whispering every sweet nothing I could think of. “Caleb, please unlock it. I promise I won’t run away again.” “Caleb, I’ve really thought it through. Take it off, and let’s just live a good life together.” Caleb ignored my pleas entirely and instead asked abruptly, “Who was the guy who drove you down the mountain?” I paused for a second before realizing who he meant. “I don’t even know him! I just begged a random passing car for a ride. Don’t go hurting innocent people.” After I explained, Caleb’s dark expression finally lifted a little. And after a lot of relentless coaxing, he finally took the handcuffs off. However, his surveillance over me became suffocatingly strict. He practically glued himself to my side, acting completely paranoid 24/7. I had trained him exceptionally well. But it wasn’t enough. I wasn’t fully satisfied. If you want a relationship to stay spicy, a good game of cat-and-mouse is mandatory.

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