Category: English

My brother had been depressed lately because his girlfriend was in debt. I cautiously asked him what was wrong. He sneered, “Like I could explain it to an idiot like you. You wouldn’t get it.” But I wasn’t an idiot. I understood. So, when my biological parents and older brother drove their luxury SUVs into our rundown rural town to pick me up… I took five thousand dollars from them. “Caleb. Here’s the money.” The money you wanted so desperately, I leave it to you. As for the family I always yearned for—they are finally right here beside me. 1 I held the bank card out right in front of Caleb’s face. He was slumped in a beaten-up armchair, his eyes hollow, aggressively running his hands through his hair. Seeing my outstretched hand, he didn’t even look closely at what I was holding. He just slapped it away. My fingers went numb from the strike. The silver card slipped from my grasp, clattering into the corner against the peeling wallpaper. “Hiss—” I drew in a sharp breath. My thumb instinctively rubbed against my other knuckles, which were already swelling red. Hearing my voice, Caleb snapped his head up. Like a man waking from a nightmare, he jolted out of the chair. “Lily…” A flash of panic crossed his eyes, but it was immediately swallowed by that familiar, suffocating irritation. “Didn’t I tell you to stop bothering me?! You’re a stutterer, but are you deaf now, too?” “I… brought you… money!” I pointed at the card in the corner. He still didn’t spare it a single glance. He just kept venting his rage. “Money, money, money! What money could you possibly have? Where did you get it? Are you selling yourself or your organs?” His manic energy flared up again. He grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me hard. “Lily, can you just give me a break? Didn’t I tell you to go stay at someone else’s house for a few days? Mrs. Higgins already said yes! Go stay with her! Don’t come back! Stop bothering me!” My shoulders ached under his grip. I couldn’t help but shove him back hard. He didn’t budge. “I won’t… go to… her house… I won’t!” He gritted his teeth, looking like he was holding back a storm. Only when I winced in pain did he finally let go. “You’re going whether you want to or not. You’re leaving right—” “Caleb! Did you get the money?” Chloe’s voice echoed from the front yard. Caleb froze, instinctively pulling me behind him to hide me. A girl with dyed red hair and distressed denim shorts blew in like a hurricane. The excited gleam in her eyes vanished the second she saw me standing behind him. She rolled her eyes at me. Then, she pushed Caleb away from the doorway and into the bedroom. “Caleb, did you see? There are so many fancy cars out in the town square! Oh my god, I’ve never seen cars that long and shiny!” “Oh… I, uh, I haven’t been outside. Didn’t see them.” Caleb sounded distracted. But Chloe didn’t care. She kept talking. “So, did you scrape together the five grand?” The room went dead silent. I lowered my eyes, walked over to the corner, picked up the card, wiped off the dust, and placed it neatly on the table. “Say something! Caleb!” “I… I don’t have it yet. But I’ll figure it out. I promise!” Chloe’s voice went shrill. “The deadline is tomorrow! And you still don’t have it?! Do you want to watch them drag me away? Caleb, stop being such a useless coward!” “I said I’ll figure it out!” “What is there to figure out?! If you can’t get it… then we go back to my original plan. Let your sister go with them—” “No!” Caleb’s piercing roar tore through the bedroom door. I turned a deaf ear to it all. I picked up the framed photo sitting on the living room mantel, carefully wiping the glass with my sleeve. My voice was barely a whisper. “Mom… Lily is leaving now.” I knelt down and pressed my fingers to my lips, then to her picture, three times. The argument in the bedroom was still raging. I pushed the front door open, taking one last look at the crumbling old house I had lived in for thirteen years. Then, I turned my back and ran toward the edge of town as fast as my legs could carry me. 2 Caleb and I were both orphans taken in by Mom. Specifically, Caleb was brought home after his parents died in a car crash. I was different. She paid three hundred dollars to buy me from a ring of traffickers. I was only four or five at the time. I have no idea what horrors I endured while with them. I had a fever so high I was delirious. I was practically at death’s door. Mom had a heart of gold. She emptied her meager savings to buy my life. Everyone in town gossiped. A little girl, sick to the bone. They said my real parents probably threw me away on purpose. They said Mom was a fool for spending money on a broken girl who couldn’t even carry on a family name. Mom just smiled and said nothing. She took care of me with everything she had. Three days later, my fever broke. But my memories of everything before that were gone. From that day on, a widow, a five-year-old orphaned boy, and a sickly little girl became a family. Caleb… He used to be so good. He always smiled at me. He never raised his voice. He never called me an idiot. He never mocked my stutter. My big brother used to ride his tall bicycle, letting me sit on the back as we coasted through the golden wheat fields to bring Mom her lunch while she worked. Caleb was only a year older than me. His short little legs could barely reach the pedals. He had to stand up, leaning into the wind, pedaling with all his might across the dirt paths. I would hold the lunchbox, plucking two wildflowers along the way. One for me, one for him. From across the vast field, Mom would wave her hand vigorously. “Caleb, Lily! Ride slow! Take it slow!” Take it slow. Yes. We should have taken it slow. We grew up too fast… Later in life, I would return to that sun-drenched, floral-scented afternoon in countless dreams. I would tell Caleb over and over: “Brother, ride slower. Just a little slower.” But how could a little girl ever outrun time? When the dream ended, I was still lying on the cold, hard floor of our living room. I looked up, and there was Mom’s black-and-white portrait. I turned my head, and there was my brother’s tightly locked door. It had been three years since Mom died of illness. With the help of Pastor Thomas, Caleb and I had managed to finish middle school. Caleb said he was going to the city to find work so he could pay for my high school tuition. I begged to go with him, but he sternly refused. “The city is full of dangerous people. I’m not risking our Lily getting taken away again.” He pinched my cheek. “Everyone knows everyone here in town. It’s safe. You stay here and wait for me. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you get to go to school!” The rattling Greyhound bus pulled away. Two months later, he returned. But he wasn’t alone. He brought back a strange girl. She had brightly dyed hair, a nose ring, a lip piercing, and heavy makeup. She was pretty, but she was mean. Caleb looked sheepish and introduced her as his girlfriend, Chloe. Chloe was a city kid whose parents had gone through a messy divorce, leaving her to fend for herself. Nobody even cared that she had followed a boy back to a town in the middle of nowhere. And Caleb was already sixteen. In a forgotten town like ours, some kids were already fathers at that age. After a moment of shock, I politely called her “Chloe.” But for some reason, Chloe despised me from day one. And I was terrified of her. She called me an idiot. She called me a stuttering freak. Caleb got into a huge fight with her over it once. But when she packed her bags and threatened to leave, he broke down crying, hugging her and begging for forgiveness. What was I thinking back then? I forget. I only remember standing in the shadow of the wooden doorframe. Looking at Chloe’s triumphant, mocking eyes. I felt so cold, like I had been plunged into freezing water. I knew then that my life was about to get very, very hard. 3 By the time I realized Caleb was skipping work, I was in my sophomore year. I found him in a smoky, rundown gaming lounge. He looked like someone I didn’t even know. A cigarette hanging from his lips, his arm wrapped around Chloe, his fingers violently smashing a keyboard as a stream of foul curses spilled from his mouth. My hand tightened around the strap of my backpack, trembling slightly. “Caleb.” He had his headset on and didn’t hear me. But Chloe did. She turned around and glared at me with pure annoyance. She leaned closer to Caleb. She put a finger to her lips, motioning for me to shut up. Then, she yanked Caleb’s headset off. “Babe, what do you think your idiot sister is doing right now?” Caleb paused. I stood to the side, watching his profile. For a split second, I thought I saw a flicker of guilt. But it vanished instantly. He clicked his tongue, annoyed, and reached for the headset. “Going to school, I guess. What else would she do?” “Oh~ Right. But look, she’s practically failing anyway. Didn’t you tell me she had a bad fever as a kid? Maybe it fried her brain! Is there really any point in paying for her to keep going?” “She’s gotta go to school. What else is she gonna do? She’s too young to work full-time!” He ran a hand roughly through his hair, clearly hating the conversation, and moved to put the headset back on. Chloe was relentless. She yanked it away again. “I don’t care! The money you give her for lunch every month is enough to buy those boots I wanted. You are not giving her any more money!” “What, you want me to let her starve?” “She’s not even your real sister! Why are you bending over backward for her? People are going to think you’re raising her to be your own little wife!” Chloe laughed, rolling her eyes. Caleb’s frown deepened. He gritted his teeth and turned his head, about to snap back, when he saw me standing there, clutching my backpack, looking lost. In an instant, whatever he was going to say died in his throat. I didn’t know why he was so angry. I only know that without a word, he grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the lounge. “Lily! Are you out of your damn mind?! Who told you to come here? What do you want?!” “I came… to find you. Your boss… said you haven’t been… to work… in days.” “None of your business! I bust my ass to pay for your school! If you don’t want to go, then get out and get a job!” My wrist burned from his grip. I mumbled, terrified, “I don’t… need… your money anymore. I got… a scholarship… and financial aid. And I have… a part-time job… I—” “So what?! You don’t need me anymore! I’m not good enough for you! I don’t deserve to be your brother, is that it?! Then why the hell are you looking for me?!” His grip tightened painfully. He glared at me, his eyes swirling with emotions I couldn’t decipher. We stood there in a tense deadlock for what felt like hours. Then, I heard him say: “Lily, I wish I wasn’t your brother.” … 4 I ran toward the edge of town like my life depended on it. I wanted to leave all those dark, suffocating memories behind. But the tears fell anyway, blurring everything in sight. I was sprinting purely on instinct and memory. Without looking, my foot caught on a jagged rock, and I pitched forward, slamming hard into the dirt. “Ah—!” “Lily!” “Lily!” “Sweetheart!” My scream tangled with several frantic, desperate shouts. But the sharp pain of hitting the ground never came. A young man, who looked startlingly like me, caught me firmly in his arms. “Are you okay?!” He had scraped his own knees bloody sliding to catch me, but his first thought was my safety. “Lily, Arthur, are you two alright?! Get up, get up!” A well-dressed couple rushed over, pulling us up and looking us over with frantic concern. I stood frozen in place, utterly bewildered. My mind was racing: Great. I ruined everything again. I’m causing trouble for strangers… They’re definitely going to hate me now. But the scolding and disgust I expected never came. Seeing that Arthur and I were both physically fine, the woman pulled me into a desperate, crushing hug. “Lily, you scared me half to death. Why are you crying? Are you hurt somewhere? Don’t cry, it’s okay, we’ll go straight to the hospital!” I shook my head wildly. “N-no… I don’t… need… to go… to a h-hospital!” I bit my lip so hard I tasted copper. I was terrified they would hear my stutter. Because of my intense shame, I hadn’t spoken to strangers in a very long time. Every time I tried, even if the other person didn’t react badly, my mind would flash back to Caleb and Chloe’s mocking, disgusted eyes. Over time, I spoke less and less. But silence doesn’t cure a stutter. It only makes the anxiety worse. Now, the mere thought of speaking made my palms sweat and my face burn. I kept my head bowed, praying they wouldn’t notice. Thankfully, the three of them just exchanged a quick glance and seamlessly changed the subject, pretending nothing was wrong. “Lily, come on, get in the car. We’re going home!” Arthur opened the door of the SUV, smiling warmly. But as I looked up, I saw the blood trickling down his knee. Flustered, I unzipped my faded canvas bag, pulled out a band-aid, and held it out to him. He blinked, surprised. Then his smile turned incredibly soft. “My sister is so thoughtful. Carrying band-aids with you everywhere.” My heart gave a violent tremor. I quickly curled my fingers inward. I didn’t want him to see the countless little cuts and callouses on my hands. The three of them had such beautiful, flawless hands. Even the older man—my biological father—had clean, manicured fingers. But I spent my life chopping firewood, scrubbing clothes by hand, and washing dishes at the school cafeteria. Even in the summer, my hands were covered in tiny, stinging cuts that burned whenever I sweated. He noticed. I saw his eyes lock onto my hands. But he didn’t recoil. He just quickly looked away to spare my feelings. As the car started, I caught Arthur’s eyes in the rearview mirror. His gaze had turned sharp, almost predatory, as he stared back at the town. He let out a dark, cynical scoff. He slammed his foot on the gas, kicking up a cloud of dust. Leaving my thirteen years of misery in the rearview mirror. Faintly, over the roar of the engine, I heard someone screaming: “Lily!” 5 I didn’t look back. I let Mrs. Sterling—my mother—cover my ears as I fell asleep against her chest. When I woke up, the car was parked outside a massive, sprawling estate. The first person I saw was a young woman standing on the porch. She wore a tailored dress, her dark hair cascading down her shoulders like silk, making her look incredibly elegant and gentle. I was wondering who she was when Arthur shattered my anxiety with a single sentence. He said, “Lily, this is my fiancée, Sarah. You can call her sister!” You can call her sister… In an instant, I was transported back to the day I met Chloe. A tidal wave of dark memories crashed over me, and my hands began to tremble uncontrollably. My mother, still holding me, instantly felt it. She looked down in panic. “Lily? What’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?” I shook my head rapidly and forced a desperate, pleasing smile at Sarah. “Hi… Sarah.” Unlike my first meeting with Chloe, Sarah’s eyes sparkled as she looked at me. She looked absolutely thrilled. “I’ve been waiting so long for you! This is wonderful! Lily, your family is finally whole again!” She looked up at Arthur, and both of their eyes welled up with tears. Arthur wiped his face. “Alright, alright, let’s not stand on the porch crying. Lily, come inside and see if you like your room!” Before I could process what was happening, the two of them took my hands and led me to a bedroom on the second floor. It was breathtaking. A massive, incredibly soft bed. A beautiful vanity. And—for the first time in my life—my very own closet and a pristine desk. The afternoon sun poured through the massive windows, making the whole room glow. It felt like a dream. “Is… is this… all for me?” Sarah nodded enthusiastically. “Of course! But if there’s anything you don’t like, we can change it right now!” Her face fell slightly, looking guilty. “I’m so sorry, Lily. Your mom and dad and Arthur rushed out to get you, so I was the only one left to set up your room. I didn’t know what you liked, so I just guessed. If you hate any of it, tell me and we’ll throw it out today!” I hurriedly interrupted her. “I… I love it. Thank you… Sarah.” Her cheeks instantly flushed bright red. She suddenly elbowed Arthur hard in the ribs. “This is your fault! Why did you tell her to call me Sarah like we’re formal?” “What else is she supposed to call you?” “We’re not even married yet! Ugh! Ignore him, Lily, just call me Sarah!” The girl, blushing furiously, lightly stepped on Arthur’s foot. Arthur dramatically crouched down. “Lily, save me, my fiancée is trying to assassinate me!” “Stop joking around, you’re going to scare her!” The two of them laughed and bickered playfully. I stood frozen in the doorway. My mind was entirely blank, save for one thought: Human relationships can actually… be this healthy? Noticing I had gone quiet, they immediately stopped messing around and returned to my side. “Lily, rest for a bit. Later, Arthur and I will show you around the house. Think about anything else you might need, and I’ll make your brother go buy it immediately!” Before I could answer, rapid footsteps thundered up the stairs. A bright, energetic male voice rang out: “Mr. and Mrs. Sterling! Arthur! Did you get Lily?!” I froze. I remembered that voice. He was the one who found me. He told me his name was… Mason Caldwell! 6 When Mason Caldwell found me, I was standing at the edge of the river. One foot was already hovering over the rushing water. His raw, throat-tearing scream made me pause. The next second, someone grabbed the back of my faded jacket and violently yanked me backward into the mud. The boy was panting heavily, staring at my face in utter disbelief. His hands were shaking worse than mine. He said: “I finally… found you.” He told me he was representing his family’s corporate foundation, doing charity work in our forgotten little county. They were supposed to sponsor a few high school students. But when he looked at the list of low-income students and saw my photo, he recognized me. He forced his teachers to bring him straight to my village. “Oh my god, Lily, do you know? You are a spitting image of Mrs. Sterling!” “We’ve been—I mean, your real parents and your brother have been looking for you non-stop. We never gave up on you!” “I finally found you! Do you remember me? We played together every single day when we were little! It’s me! Mason! Do you remember?!” The frantic joy and crushing sorrow in his eyes terrified me. Because I really, truly… couldn’t remember a single thing before I was four. He wanted to take me away right then and there. But I was terrified… what if he had the wrong person? I didn’t want to be accused of being a con artist, and I couldn’t survive being abandoned again. So I gave him two strands of my hair and told him to do a DNA test with the Sterling family. Only when the results were absolute did my real family come to get me. Now, Mason sprinted up the stairs like a golden retriever. The moment he saw me, a blindingly bright smile broke across his face. “Lily! Lily! You’re home!” He was so excited, but halfway down the hall, Arthur grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. “Artie? What gives?!” “What gives is that you’re too loud! You’re gonna scare my sister, idiot!” Mason looked indignant. “I found her first, okay?! I brought her back!” He looked at me, his eyes practically sparkling with expectation. My entire body went stiff. Terrified he would bring up the river, I nodded frantically. “Y-yes. It… it was you!” “See?! Don’t be mad at me, Lily! I wanted to go with them to pick you up, but Artie made me stay behind to handle your school transfer paperwork! That’s why I wasn’t there!” He glared at Arthur while he explained. I waved my hands anxiously. “I’m not… mad!” How could I be mad? I was just… in a daze. Everything here was so beautiful it felt completely unreal. Loving parents, a warm and protective brother and sister-in-law, a friend who genuinely cared about me… Did I really get to have this? Was this a dream? A hallucination before I hit the water? The thought was so horrifying that my head began to throb violently. The room started spinning. The last thing I heard was Sarah’s scream: “Lily! What’s wrong?!” 7 She caught me as I collapsed. “She’s burning up! Arthur, call a doctor right now!” “Lily!” “Mom, Dad, don’t panic, I’m calling them!” … “Why is she sweating so much, my poor baby?” “Everyone out, except Sarah!” “Sarah, help me hold her up. I need to wipe her down with alcohol to break the fever.” Through the haze of delirium, I heard my mother and Sarah’s voices. Someone was unbuttoning my shirt. Their movements and voices were incredibly gentle. But my body acted on pure reflex. I swatted her hand away violently. I clutched my collar in a death grip, refusing to let go. “Oh! Mrs. Sterling, what’s wrong with her? She’s turning pale!” “Lily?” The two gentle voices faded into the background. Replacing them in my mind was Chloe’s sickeningly sweet, mocking laughter: “Well, well, I didn’t know the village idiot had such a nice body! No wonder you’re so good at seducing men!” “Hold still! I’m just taking a few pictures. I’ll even give you a cut of the money when I sell them!” “Ouch! You little btch, did you just hit me?! Do you have a death wish?!”* It was the summer before my freshman year. Caleb and Chloe had explicitly said they were leaving town for a few days. But in the dead of night, while I was sleeping, Chloe kicked my bedroom door open. I scrambled to put my clothes on, but she had her phone camera pointed right at me… She didn’t get the pictures. Because for the first time in my life, I fought back. And for the first time in my life, I was beaten until my nose bled for hours. When Caleb came back the next day, Chloe played the victim. She said I tried to smash her phone. Caleb looked at my bruised, swollen face and my blood-stained shirt, and stayed silent for a long time. “Caleb… she… she tried to… take pictures—” “Chloe, I’ll work extra shifts. I’ll buy you a new phone. Just drop it… Lily, can you just stop causing trouble for five minutes?” Every word I wanted to say died in my throat. All that remained was the trauma of that night, festering like an open wound. From that day on, I developed a severe aversion to being touched. I would wake up in cold sweats, paranoid that Chloe was recording me. I had nightmares of her tearing my clothes off. I refused to sleep in the same room as her ever again. There were only two bedrooms in the house. Chloe took one. Caleb took the other. I slept on the hard floor in the living room. No matter how furiously Caleb cursed at me for being “weird” and “stubborn,” I refused to go back into that room. … “Get away! Don’t touch me! Don’t film me! Get away! Don’t… rip my clothes!” I clutched my collar, my entire body violently shivering. The fever made my teeth chatter so loudly it echoed in the room. Someone was crying. Two suppressed sobs floated near my ears. Warm tears splashed onto my neck. “Lily, don’t be scared, it’s okay, it’s okay, we won’t touch your clothes!” “My baby! Lily!” The sobbing grew louder. “My sweet girl, there’s nothing to be afraid of anymore. You’re home. Mommy will protect you…” The gentle woman’s voice gradually cut through the haze, overpowering the ghosts in my memories. A strange, unfamiliar sense of safety washed over me. My head grew impossibly heavy, and I slipped entirely into darkness. When I woke up again, the first thing I saw was an IV bag hanging above my head. My mother and Sarah were both sitting by the bed. Their eyes were swollen and red, like they had been crying for hours. I was just about to speak when Arthur’s furious, low roar bled through the door from the hallway: “He has the nerve to call the police?! What does he mean, ‘his sister’?! Does he even deserve to say that?! I haven’t even had the time to go after him for the background check I pulled today! Fine! If Caleb wants to come here, let him come! I’ll welcome him personally!” The IV stand rattled as I flinched. The two women jolted, looking up to see me shivering, pale as a ghost. Sarah and Mom exchanged a panicked look and bolted for the door. “Arthur, shut up! Lily is awake!” … The shouting outside stopped instantly. After a long, suffocating silence, Arthur pushed the door open. He walked in slowly, hesitantly. The sweat of anxiety on his forehead dripped onto his crisp dress shirt. “Lily.” Arthur crouched slowly by my bed and reached out, gently pressing his palm to my forehead. His voice was soft, but laced with iron: “Don’t be afraid. Your big brother is going to protect you. From now on, you never have to be afraid of anything again.”

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I was dating a guy, but I didn’t know he was actually twins. The two of them took turns going on dates with me, playing me for a fool. Until today, the younger brother ordered a dish as a joke and asked me: “Sister, did you forget that I’m allergic to this?” My expression didn’t change: “Isn’t your brother the one who is allergic to this?” 01 After I said that, there was a long silence across the table. I realized belatedly: “Did you two not agree on who was coming today?” Leo’s smile froze on his face, and his beautiful peach-blossom eyes already carried a hint of displeasure: “Sister, you knew there were two of us?” Although Leo and Lucas looked exactly the same and were good at disguising themselves, it was normal for ordinary people not to be able to tell them apart. But I wasn’t normal. I could see labels. Invisible ones. The one with ‘Leo’ floating above his head was the younger brother. The one with ‘Lucas’ floating above his head was the older brother. Today, it was Leo who showed up. Leo was a bit more clingy. I understood. He was younger, it was perfectly normal. 02 Leo seemed a bit mentally unstable. I considerately cut the date short. Looking at the devastated handsome boy, I affectionately patted his cheek and dropped a kiss on his lips: “Alright, why do you look like the sky is falling? “Go back and have a good talk with your brother about who’s coming tomorrow.” Just two of them… Sister can handle it. 03 What are you thinking? I was talking about hot dogs. 04 The guy selling hot dogs was kind of handsome. Every time I passed by, I’d stare for a bit: “Hey kid, got a girlfriend?” The kid smiled, not knowing what he was thinking of. His eyes curved, his smile bright with pearly white teeth: “Sister, aren’t two boyfriends enough for you?” Oh, he actually knew? I brushed my long hair back, looking at my fingers glowing under the light: “One more wouldn’t hurt.” His response was to place two hot dogs in my hand. I originally thought Lucas and Leo would need a couple of days to figure things out. But when I got back to my apartment building, someone was already waiting downstairs. The fluorescent label glowed in the dark. Lucas. As soon as I walked up to him, he grabbed my hand. Lucas kissed me fiercely. Only when I couldn’t take it anymore and pushed him slightly did he let go. The older brother was a bit more domineering. I licked my lips and smiled: “Have you two figured out how to explain this to me? “Lucas, for so long, did you two think I was an idiot? “If I hadn’t accidentally found out, were you planning to keep playing me?” The wind downstairs wasn’t strong, but the night air was still a bit chilly. I was wearing a black slip mermaid dress, and my exposed shoulders felt the chill. Lucas silently draped his jacket over me: “It’s windy here. Let’s go upstairs to talk, okay?” 05 When I was looking at apartments, Lucas was the one who came with me. He was quite familiar with the layout of the room. As soon as we entered, he turned on the dim lights. Only then did I see clearly what Lucas was wearing. I rarely saw Lucas in formal wear, and Leo had never worn it either. But today, Lucas was wearing a black shirt, and I was wearing his suit jacket. Lucas’s eyes darkened, recalling my question downstairs. He admitted his mistake with a good attitude, saying it was both of their faults. “But Evelyn.” Lucas wrapped his arm around my waist, picked me up, and kissed my ear: “I still love you. “Sister, let’s go buy a house tomorrow. We’ll put it in your name. Don’t be mad, okay?” Playing the obsessive pure-love card. I like it very much, older brother. My newly changed bedsheets smelled of lavender. Lucas stood by the bed, giving me a deep look, then went to the bathroom to take a shower. “Sister, wait for me a moment.” Taking advantage of his shower, I relaxed my whole body on the bed. Being the object of affection for so many younger men at the same time was quite tiring. The hot dog guy I just added on my phone sent a message: [Sister, what are your requirements for a boyfriend?] [Young, and good in bed.] I teased him: [Want to come find me?] I heard noises from Lucas’s side. I put my phone face down and looked up at him. His and Leo’s clothes were over there, but Lucas only had a towel wrapped around him. The undried water droplets slid down his distinct six-pack abs into the depths. I swallowed hard, remembering how Lucas used to be so timid in bed when he didn’t know his place. “Evelyn, when did you realize we weren’t the same person?” The one I was dating was Lucas. I also knew he had a twin brother, Leo. But who would have thought they’d switch places midway through the relationship? It felt great. I didn’t speak, because Lucas didn’t give me a chance to. I felt the bed sink slightly, and Lucas had already pulled me into his arms and kissed me. “No matter when you recognized me, if you only sleep with me, does that mean you like me a little more?” 06 When I learned that I was going to date someone from the Sterling family, the one I initially chose wasn’t Lucas. The older brother was domineering and liked to be forceful. The younger brother was gentle and clingy, loved to act spoiled, and was all about pure love. The brother I originally preferred should have been Leo, that kid. At a banquet, the first one I interacted with was also the younger brother. It was a wealthy socialite’s birthday party. I wasn’t on good terms with her, so I sat on the second-floor observation deck. The deck was entwined with rose vines. When I went up, there should have been only me. But I saw someone wearing a silver silk pajama shirt, revealing exquisite and beautiful collarbones. A glass of red wine was on the tray, and he was looking down, tinkering with an old, battered radio. At a formal banquet, dressing so casually, as if he had just walked out of his bedroom and would go to sleep the next second. I suddenly remembered my cousin mentioning that her brother had been staying at this villa recently. A brother this good-looking, why didn’t she ever mention him? I absentmindedly complained about my cousin and sat down next to him. Leo looked up at me, then lowered his head to continue fumbling with his radio. After a long while, not knowing whether he succeeded or failed, he set the radio aside and took a sip of red wine. The sound from the radio faltered for a moment, then began playing a smooth melody. Leo proactively leaned closer to me. As he bent over, his loose neckline slipped down, revealing a generous amount of skin. “Sister, you look familiar. Want a kiss?” 07 Up close, Leo’s face was completely exposed to my sight. No matter how similar twins are, there will always be differences. With identical faces, Leo’s face was just a bit more obedient. He had cool, pale skin, and his beautiful peach-blossom eyes held no lust, yet he clearly said such a seductive thing. I leaned back slightly, my gaze deliberately falling on his exposed chest, and smiled shyly: “Where should I kiss?” The young man suddenly fell silent. I saw his ears turn red under the light. Leo unconsciously touched his nose and mumbled. “Anywhere is fine.” When Leo said his first sentence, I suddenly realized that I hadn’t met him for the first time today. When Leo was at State University, I ran into him when I accompanied my cousin there to familiarize herself with the campus beforehand. In a philosophy class, in a large lecture hall, after my cousin and I sat in the very back row, I kept my head down replying to messages. When I looked up again, there was suddenly an extra person in the empty seat in front of me. Just from his back, I could tell he was very handsome from the front. My heart fluttered for a moment, thinking about the good things netizens said about men. After class, my cousin yelled and ran out. I didn’t have anything to pack up, but I still lagged half a beat behind this classmate. After getting a clear look at his face in the corridor, I followed him in my high heels. Cornering him, I looked at his fluttering eyelashes and spoke in a breathy, sweet voice: “Classmate, is it convenient to add you on WeChat?” “It’s not convenient.” Leo rejected me, blushing. “I don’t have WeChat.” “Then let’s kiss, I see you have a mouth.” “…” Long after Leo added me on WeChat, I accidentally saw the nickname this kid gave me. “Kissing Sister.” 08 Lucas seemed to notice my mind wandering, and he bit my collarbone in dissatisfaction. “Evelyn, focus.” The young man’s back was broad and powerful. I ran my long fingers over it, only feeling a thin layer of sweat. Probably knowing that I was easiest to talk to in bed, Lucas rambled on and on in my ear. I spaced out, only catching intermittent declarations of love. And: “A thousand mistakes, ten thousand mistakes, it’s all my and Leo’s fault, mostly Leo’s fault. Sister, please don’t be mad at me.” After you’re done being mad at him, you can’t be mad at me either. I eventually lost consciousness and didn’t wake up until the next morning. Lucas probably had class. He left me a message on my phone: [There’s soup you like in the kitchen. Remember to heat it up before you drink it when you wake up.] Not bad, making time to sleep with me even with classes. I rubbed my aching waist and collapsed back onto the bed. Besides Lucas’s message, there were others. Leo sent the most. He started by apologizing on WeChat, saying he shouldn’t have done that, he just liked me too much. Later, realizing he couldn’t reach Lucas either, he guessed Lucas’s whereabouts almost without thinking. After cursing Lucas thirteen times, he pitifully asked me: [Sister, even so, can you really not date two people? [Sister… I really like you. [Everything Lucas can do, I can do too. Sister, just look at me, okay…] … Amidst Leo’s message bombardment, there was another message. It was still from the kid selling hot dogs. He replied to my joking message: [That won’t work, I’m not good at anything else, only roasting hot dogs.] I could almost imagine, in the night, under the streetlights. That kid wearing a mask standing by the machine, eyes half-closed, casually replying to my message. He might even be calling me frivolous and loose. 09 My cousin asked me out for drinks. She probably heard that I caught her two brothers taking turns dating me. Excitedly ordering a strong drink for me, she comforted me: “A man’s mistake, we shouldn’t blame ourselves oh~” I danced even harder than her, laughing flamboyantly. A long time ago, when I first returned to the city, no one had heard that the Vance family had such a glamorous and cold eldest daughter. Later, after getting familiar with the wealthy circles, almost everyone knew I wasn’t easy to date. It was only my cousin and her dad, arrogant and thinking that Lucas and Leo could tame me, who willingly let the Vance family and the Sterling Group reach a long-term partnership. But they didn’t expect that both sons would fall for me. After just one drink, I went to the restroom. Although I look like I can drink, I’m actually a lightweight. Going to the restroom to clear the smell of alcohol, I was preparing to go back. The hallway leading outside from the restroom had all its lights on. The person coming towards me looked very familiar. I collected my thoughts and met those half-smiling eyes: “Roasted hot dogs?” The other person: “…” Caleb looked down at his clothes: “I’m supposed to be an escort today, miss.” He was wearing a standard suit uniform that outlined a drool-worthy physique. I grabbed his tie, only then realizing that the person in front of me seemed terrifyingly tall. “Aren’t you saying you only know how to roast hot dogs?” Caleb: “No choice, don’t want to get slept with, can only sell my labor.” I heard what he was getting at, let go with a laugh, and without a second glance, walked away in my high heels. I told my cousin someone was coming to pick me up. She was in the middle of having fun and asked: “The older one or the younger one?” After getting my answer, she waved me off relievedly. Is Leo really more trustworthy than Lucas? I walked out and saw Leo’s car parked there. He stood in front of the car, holding a large bouquet of roses. Cappuccino roses, Lucas had also given them to me not long ago. This kid, really, copies his brother in everything. Seeing me come out, Leo walked over quickly. “Sister, you look beautiful today too.” He no longer had to disguise himself with Lucas’s personality, so he openly turned into a sunny golden retriever in front of me. I couldn’t help but smile too, and got into the passenger seat: “Leo, where are you taking me today?” After the sports car sped away, Caleb, who chased after me, looked self-deprecatingly at the lemon juice for hangovers in his hand. His eyes darkened instantly, and he tilted his head back, drinking it all in one gulp. No change in expression. “Evelyn, I shouldn’t have been soft on you.” 10 Leo took me to the East Mountain in the suburbs, an area that had been developing very well recently, with hot spring hotels and outdoor picnics. He considerately only booked one room. Halfway there, the alcohol from the one drink I had hit me, and I suddenly felt lazy. Leo carried me back on his back. I lay on his back, smelling the perfume he specifically sprayed for meeting me, my favorite one. In a flash, I remembered the moon from a night many years ago. “Leo.” I mumbled: “I actually like you quite a bit.” But who says a sister can only have one? Leo mumbled an acknowledgment: “Yeah, I know.” The room he booked had a starry sky ceiling. Lying on the bed, I buried myself entirely in Leo’s arms. Actually, I had been quite tired these past few days. If it were Lucas holding me, he probably would have gotten aroused in no time. But Leo just let out a muffled groan, hugged me tighter, and didn’t make any further moves. I had a rare, good night’s sleep. I dreamed of the time before I returned to the city. 11 I didn’t grow up in the city, but in a smaller town. And when I was in that smaller town, I was far from what I look like now. Caleb was someone I met in that smaller town. When I saw him, he was in the pool hall downstairs, wearing a black hoodie, holding a cue stick, biting a cigarette, and looking at me with his head tilted. His messy hair slightly covered his eyes. Caleb grabbed his hair with one hand, his starry eyes holding a smile: “Sis, wanna play a game?” I said no, and Caleb grabbed my hand. His hands were cold, but also hot. When he held my hand, the joints were distinct, and even the surrounding skin felt burning hot. “Sister, lift your waist.” . When I woke up in Leo’s arms, it was almost noon. He ordered breakfast over the phone, then buried his whole body in my arms. “Sister, why didn’t you choose me from the beginning? “Am I really that much worse than Lucas?” Obviously born on the same day, basically exactly the same, even identical looks. When standing together, everyone would choose Lucas. Leo was truly a bit depressed, resting near my neck, the heat surging up bit by bit. I closed my eyes comfortably. Only kids make choices. I said: “I still like you better, Leo.” I want both. 12 The private hot spring Leo booked. He excitedly wanted to take me in. I couldn’t find the words: “Say it a bit more elegantly.” Leo: “Then I want to share a private bath with sister.” Lucas appeared more often in the company, developing a decisive CEO persona. Even in bed, Lucas’s movements were fast and hard. Leo was different. He was very gentle, usually clingy and sweet. Now in the spring, he still rubbed gently and slowly, bit by bit. I gasped, glaring at him: “Hurry up.” The only response was a soft chuckle. Leo was clingy and sweet: “Does sister not like it this way?” I like it. I lowered my eyes and kissed Leo’s face: “I knew you guys only liked this.” “Leo, do you really like me?” The movements finally sped up, and Leo kissed me fiercely. “Evelyn. “Evelyn. “Sister, I like you so much.”

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Seven years ago, when I was nothing but a street punk, I forcibly kissed the youngest son of the wealthy Sterling family—the one confined to a wheelchair. After the kiss, I ran. I stood at the top of a long flight of stairs, jutting my chin out provocatively. “Come find me when you can stand up and handle me yourself!” Seven years later, the new head of the Sterling Group—the man known as the “Cold-Blooded King,” Tyron Sterling—used his silk tie to bind my hands together and tossed me onto the bed. “I’m a man who holds a grudge, Dustin. Tell me, did you finally get the ‘handling’ you were asking for?” 01 Slap! A crisp sound echoed through the room. “You absolute moron! Who did I tell you to grab?” “The… the Sterling kid… he’s a Sterling…” “He’s the useless one! The cripple! He doesn’t count! I told you to kidnap Tyler Sterling—the old man’s golden boy! And you bring me this piece of trash? You idiot… you worthless dog…” As the Boss continued his tirade, the sound of Blondie’s muffled screams followed each blow. A moment later, the door creaked open. Blondie walked out, his face smeared with blood and his gait uneven. He shot me a venomous look. “You! Throw the cripple in the warehouse!” I was nineteen. I’d grown up on the streets, but since I was new to the crew, I had to play the “yes-man” to every senior member. Hearing the order, I pulled on my mask and went inside. I hoisted the unconscious teenager off the floor and carried him toward the abandoned storage unit next door. The boy was light. Surprisingly thin. As I carried him, I scoffed inwardly. Rich kids. Thin arms, thin legs. Fragile as a doll. He must have regained consciousness because he struggled against my shoulder. I expected a scream. I reached into my pocket to grab the gag I had ready, but there was no sound from him. Not even a whimper. Did he pass out again? I didn’t care. I opened the warehouse door and dumped him onto the concrete floor. When I looked down, I found myself staring into a pair of beautiful, yet hauntingly dark eyes. The boy was awake. He looked at me for a split second, then simply closed his eyes. I watched his Adam’s apple move slightly. I caught a glimpse of his pale, cracked lips. He was parched. He’d probably been out for hours. But he wouldn’t say a word. Suddenly, I felt a flicker of curiosity. “Hey.” I nudged his leg with my boot. “You want water?” No response. One second. Two. Ten. “Forget it!” I lost my patience. I figured he was just too high-and-mighty to talk to a street rat like me. Die of thirst for all I care, I thought. I turned on my heel, walked out, and locked the door. For the rest of the day, the gang seemed to forget the hostage existed. The Boss and Blondie didn’t ask about him once. No lunch. No dinner. I sat there slurping on a bowl of instant ramen. I’d put too much seasoning in; it was salty and spicy. As I reached for my water, those pale, cracked lips flashed through my mind. If he dies of dehydration, they’re going to blame it on me. Cursing under my breath, I grabbed a bottle of water and headed to the warehouse. “Hey. Still kicking?” I frowned, looking at the figure on the floor. He was exactly where I’d left him. Motionless. For a heartbeat, I felt a surge of genuine fear. I thought he was dead. If he died… he would be my first kill. Thankfully, his eyes fluttered open. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. Ignoring his lack of cooperation, I propped him up against my shoulder. I unscrewed the cap and poured water into his mouth. I was a bit too aggressive; he choked. He started coughing violently, the water soaking into his white dress shirt. That’s when I noticed the crest on his pocket. It was the insignia of St. Jude’s Academy—the kind of elite international school I could only dream of seeing from the outside. I stared at it, dazed. “What are you looking at?” he asked. It was the first time he’d spoken. His eyes were still hollow. Deadly calm. An inexplicable surge of irritation rose in my chest. I let go of him abruptly and walked out. 02 The next day, when I went to give him water, he refused to open his mouth. “Hey! Sit up! Drink!” I pulled him up, but he turned his head away, his jaw clamped shut. “It’s not poison!” I snapped, letting out a frustrated laugh as I patted his cheek. That seemed to snap something in him. He’d been submissive the day before, but now he was fighting back. His hands and feet were bound, so he used his head, lunging forward to headbutt me. I was crouching, caught off guard. He sent me sprawling backward onto the floor. The water bottle rolled away, spilling half its contents. The bag of bread I’d brought fell out of my pocket, tumbling onto the dirt. “You little—!” I cursed. I was actually trying to be nice, and this was the thanks I got? He gave me a cold, dismissive glance and turned back to lie on the floor. But looking at the way he was curled up, my eyes drifted down toward his lower abdomen. I smirked. “You’ve got a strong bladder. Twenty-four hours and you haven’t ruined your pants yet.” He didn’t speak, but he curled tighter, clearly embarrassed. I stood up, dusting off my jeans, feeling a sudden urge to mess with him. “Call me ‘Sir,’ and I’ll help you take care of business in the corner.” “Go to hell.” His voice was a low growl. My temper flared again. I didn’t play nice. I hauled him up from the ground and carried him to the corner of the room. His legs weren’t completely useless; one of them seemed to have some function. As I carried him, he used that leg to kick me as hard as he could. Once I set him down, I didn’t waste time. I reached for his belt and undid his trousers. His whole body started shaking. I couldn’t tell if it was fear or pure rage. “Get away! Don’t touch me!” I gripped his waist to keep him steady, standing behind him. I said one word: “Pee.” “You… you have to let go…” He held out as long as he could before finally surrendering to biology. “Hurry up.” I figured he could hold himself up against the wall for a second, so I let go and turned my back to him. When the sound stopped, I turned around. He was leaning against the wall, looking like he was about to collapse. Under the dim light of the warehouse, his pale skin was almost blinding. I pretended not to notice. I leaned down to help him back into his clothes. “Can you untie the ropes? I can… I can do it myself…” His eyes were closed, his head tilted back. His voice was hoarse, and he was still trembling. I don’t know what came over me. I felt a pang of pity. I untied the ropes around his wrists. Over the next two days, we fell into a rhythm. When I visited, I’d untie him. He’d use the wall to hobble over to the corner and take care of himself. Before I left, I’d tie him back up. 03 He barely ate. He barely drank. Most of the time, I had to force the food into his mouth. I noticed the scars on his wrists—old and new. He’d tried to end it before. Many times. But I’ve always been stubborn. I can’t stand it when people try to throw their lives away. “Why don’t you want to live?” “…” “Is it because of the legs?” “…” “Silence means I’m right.” “…It’s not.” I tried to keep him talking. Usually, it took three or four questions for him to give me a single sentence. “Then what is it?” “…” “Heartbreak? Girlfriend ran off with someone else?” “…No.” “Got it,” I sighed. “My boyfriend ran off too.” “…” I kept teasing him. He was tied up and couldn’t move, so he just glared at me with “eye-daggers.” But at least there was a spark of life in his face when he was angry. 04 I wanted him to live, but someone else wanted him dead. The Boss took a call that evening. When he hung up, he was grinning. He beckoned Blondie inside. I was just the errand boy, so I stood by the door. Through the thin wood, I heard laughter and snippets of the conversation. “You’re in luck. This deal isn’t a bust after all… we’re making a profit…” “Tonight, bring the body…” My heart skipped a beat. Bring the body? Were they talking about the kid? It didn’t sound like a ransom exchange. It sounded like a hit. The Boss was in a great mood. He took the crew out for drinks and food until late. I didn’t dare drink. I leaned over the table, pretending to be asleep. After midnight, Blondie woke me up. He called two other guys, but they were too drunk to walk, so he left them behind. It was just the three of us heading to the warehouse. Blondie didn’t wear his mask this time. He didn’t tell me to wear mine, either. That’s when I knew for sure. Blondie checked the ropes on the “cripple.” He told me to tape the kid’s mouth shut and shove him into a burlap sack. As I did it, my heart was hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird. My fingers were shaking. The boy didn’t struggle. His eyes were pitch black, staring at me without blinking. Blondie stood by the door smoking, telling me to move faster. “Don’t be afraid,” I mouthed to the boy, my back turned to Blondie. 05 Blondie drove us to a deserted stretch of the coastline. “Get him out.” Blondie tossed his cigarette and pulled a handgun from his waistband. I pulled the boy out of the sack. His face was deathly pale in the moonlight. “Sorry, Mr. Sterling,” Blondie said, his voice casual. “Business is business. Someone paid a high price for your life.” Blondie knelt down and pressed the barrel of the gun to the boy’s forehead. He looked for fear. He looked for panic. He found nothing but silence. “You’re about to die. Don’t you want to know who paid for it?” Blondie asked. The boy just closed his eyes. “Fine. You’ve got guts.” Blondie stood up and cocked the hammer. In that split second, I slammed a brick into the back of Blondie’s head. I was gasping for air. I dropped the brick and scrambled to untie the boy. “Why?” I heard him whisper. “Why what?” “Letting me go does nothing for you.” I was panicking. I didn’t have time for a philosophical debate. I had one thought: Run. If we didn’t get out now, we were both dead. “I don’t give a damn about a reward!” I hissed. “But I’m not going to watch you die!” I’d heard his parents were gone and that he wasn’t exactly loved by the rest of the Sterling clan. I knew I wouldn’t get a cent for returning him, and I knew there was a price on his head. But I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t let him be murdered. The boy looked at me, stunned by my outburst. He leaned on my shoulder, struggling to stand. He leaned in close to my ear and whispered, “I won’t die today.” I followed his gaze toward the highway. At the end of the road, the rhythmic flash of blue and red lights appeared, accompanied by the distant wail of sirens… 06 The whole gang was taken down that night, including the Boss. Even though we were a mid-sized crew with connections, being wiped out in a single night was unheard of. It was a surgical strike. Later, while I was sitting in a holding cell, I heard the Boss had offended someone he shouldn’t have. The image of the boy’s calm, dark eyes flashed in my mind. I shook my head. No way. It couldn’t be him. It had to be a lucky coincidence. The boy was returned to the Sterling family that night. I expected to be sent to prison along with the others, but I was bailed out almost immediately. The man who came for me was a middle-aged professional in a suit. He introduced himself as Mr. Henderson. And he introduced the name of the boy: Tyron Sterling. When I walked out of the precinct, a black Maybach was waiting. “From today on, you will stay by the young master’s side,” Mr. Henderson said in a monotone voice. “You will be responsible for his care. That includes attending classes with him.” I gritted my teeth. “And if I don’t want to?” I’d saved his life. He’d bailed me out. We should be even. Why was I being forced to be his man-servant? Tyron, who had been staring out the window, spoke up coldly: “Suit yourself. You can go back to your cell. You were part of the kidnapping, after all.” Damn it… I caught his eye in the rearview mirror and gave him the middle finger. “Mr. Miller,” Mr. Henderson coughed. “Your monthly salary will be ten thousand dollars.” “How much?” I snapped my head around. “Ten thousand,” the lawyer repeated. “Room and board included?” I couldn’t believe my ears. Henderson nodded. “You will live and eat with the young master.” “Fine… deal!” I leaned back into the leather seat, trying to look dignified. I’d been a low-level thug for a year and hadn’t made even a fraction of that. Money is money. I closed my eyes to stop myself from grinning like an idiot. I didn’t see the tiny, subtle curve of Tyron’s lips. 07 A few days later, the paperwork for my “transfer” was complete. I pushed Tyron’s wheelchair through the gates of the university. In the massive lecture hall, we were the targets of every gaze. Curiosity. Contempt. Avoidance. Not a single look of kindness. A basketball suddenly flew toward Tyron’s head. I caught it mid-air. A guy sauntered over, looking like he owned the place. “I heard Henderson was called back to the main estate by Grandpa?” Henderson. The lawyer. He’d bailed me out, given me a list of rules for taking care of Tyron, and then vanished. Grandpa called him back? I felt like there was more to the story. “Tsk, tsk. Poor Tyron. You’re lower than a dog now, aren’t you?” “Watch your mouth,” I said. I threw the basketball back. I didn’t hold back on the force. The guy barely caught it, his head snapping back from the impact. “You little—who do you think you are?!” The bell rang. The guy pointed a finger at me. “Wait until after class.” “Who’s that?” I asked Tyron. “Tyler Sterling,” he said expressionlessly. So that was the “golden boy” my old boss had intended to kidnap. “Your grandfather has terrible taste,” I noted. “What?” Tyron looked at me, confused by the non-sequitur. “I mean, that guy is a total tool. Why would anyone prize him?” Tyron let out a short laugh. It was the first time I’d seen him smile since we met. He actually looked pretty good when he smiled. If only he were normal… The professor was lecturing in rapid-fire English. I couldn’t understand a single word. Bored, I started studying Tyron. He wasn’t listening either. He was just propping his head up, looking out the window. Suddenly, he turned his head. “Why are you staring?” He frowned, looking annoyed. “Because you’re good-looking.” I grinned. I wasn’t about to admit I was staring because I was lost in class. “Psychopath,” Tyron muttered. He turned away again. But I saw his ears turning red. 08 Tyler Sterling found us again that evening. I’d been called to the registrar’s office to pick up some textbooks. When I got back, Tyler and a group of guys were surrounding Tyron. Tyler had his arm around a girl. “Hey, Tyron. This is Sarah. She’s my girlfriend now. You don’t mind calling her ‘Sister-in-law,’ do you?” “Do it! Say it!” the other guys jeered. Tyron didn’t say a word. He tried to move his wheelchair, but Tyler grabbed the handles. The girl leaned down with a mocking smile. “Tyron, our engagement is over. I only have eyes for Tyler now. You’re a cripple. Did you really think you had a chance?” “Wake up, loser!” Tyler sneered, unscrewed a bottle of water, and poured it over Tyron’s head. The guys laughed. Tyron sat there, motionless. “Hey, Tyler, can we hit him?” “He’s like a mute statue. This is boring!” One guy raised his fist. Before it could land, I grabbed his wrist. I twisted it and sent him crashing to the floor. The group froze. Tyler’s face turned the color of a bruised plum. “You again!” I shoved Tyler aside and grabbed the wheelchair handles. “Get lost,” I said lazily. “When I fight, I play for keeps.” I wasn’t lying. I grew up an orphan. I’d been in hundreds of street fights. Every time, I fought like it was my last day on earth. It wasn’t that I didn’t value my life. It was because fighting was the only way I could keep it. 09 Tyler signaled two of his friends. They grabbed chairs and swung them at me. I kicked one guy in the chest, sending him flying. I dropped the other with a flurry of punches. No one else stepped forward. “Nice moves!” Tyler started clapping. He pulled a gold card from his pocket and waved it. “How much is the cripple paying you? I’ll double it. Leave him. Come work for me.” I narrowed my eyes and took two steps forward, smiling. Tyler thought I was reaching for the card. He smirked. The next second, I buried my fist in his gut. The gold card hit the floor. I ground it into the dirt with my heel. “I told you. Watch your mouth.” As the girl screamed, Tyler doubled over, gasping for air. I grabbed him by the collar. “If you ever call him that again, I’ll break both your legs.” I called Tyron “Little Cripple” in my head all the time, but I couldn’t stand hearing anyone else say it.

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I specialized in selling photos online to help people catfish. For extra cash, I’d even do voice messages and video calls. Until one day, a regular client messaged me: [Will you do an in-person meet-up for $100,000? You can keep whatever he buys for you, too.] Just as I was about to decline, my sworn enemy’s photo popped up on my screen. I stared blankly: [Are you telling me you’ve been using my photos and videos to date him?] 01 [Then you’ve been scammed, sister,] I replied earnestly. [Impossible,] she insisted. [He transferred a lot of money to me. Isn’t he the heir to the Sterling family?] Me: “…” I took the photo of Oliver Sterling she sent and ran it through a Google image search. It had been used to death by gossip blogs. I sent her a screenshot of the results. She remained utterly convinced, [We’ve been working together for so long, would I lie to you? The guy I’m dating online is definitely the Sterling heir.] I let out a helpless sigh. From what I knew of Oliver, the wealthy young master, his real-life romantic entanglements were already enough of a headache for him. Why would he bother with online dating? Especially using my photos and videos… if he saw them, he wouldn’t fall in love; he’d probably throw up. I replied to the client, [He looks at my photos and doesn’t say anything?] [He says they’re pretty, because you are pretty.] She paused, then added, [I even used your voice packs! Every time I use one, he sends me $5,200!] Mother of God. If Oliver actually heard my pinched, overly sweet voice, he’d probably lose his appetite for three days. It was absolutely confirmed: that guy was definitely not Oliver Sterling! Thinking about it, I went through all the photos and videos I’d sold to this client again. The photos were mostly normal selfies. But the videos… Various tight mini-skirts paired with cat ear filters. …It’s fine, as long as the guy isn’t Oliver. The client kept begging: [Babe, please help me out. Absolutely strictly platonic! I told him I’m not ready for physical contact yet. The meeting place is a busy mall downtown, lots of foot traffic.] Seeing I hadn’t replied, she anxiously added: [If you really can’t handle it, just see him for a minute and leave? Otherwise, he’ll think I’m a catfish, and how will I keep getting money out of him?] A few seconds after she sent that, my bank account received a $300,000 transfer from her. My fingers, poised to type a refusal, paused. Let’s rethink this. If that guy dared to use Oliver’s photo for online dating, how brave must he be to agree to meet in person? Wasn’t he afraid of looking nothing like the picture? This client wanted me to go in her place, but no one could possibly order Oliver Sterling around. Perfect timing. I’ll go see what kind of weirdo this guy is! I deleted my refusal. [Alright.] Looking at it this way, this client was a very big spender. Tsk, I felt like even Oliver himself wasn’t as generous as this impersonator. Afraid I’d change my mind, she quickly sent me several screenshots of her chat history with the fake Oliver. Left and right, it was “hubby,” “kisses,” and “I only love hubby.” The emojis were all cats spinning in circles, happy cats, and cats acting spoiled. Me: “…” The fake Oliver’s replies were consistently: [Baby looks so pretty.] Transfer. [Baby is so cute.] Transfer. … Transfer. Transfer. Transfer. God bless the God of Wealth. The client quickly sent me the location, [It’s this mall.] I took a look. Well, well. The Sterling heir really did like shopping at this mall; it was very close to one of his villas. Maybe I should… I dialed Oliver’s number. Would I get a chance to have the fake impersonator see the real Oliver appear right in front of him and scare him to death?! Uh. I forgot, I was blocked. I silently put my phone away. 02 Under the client’s countless reminders and instructions. I dressed up carefully as promised, arriving at the mall half an hour early to familiarize myself with the layout. I didn’t expect to bump into Oliver right here in the mall. He looked relaxed, one hand stuffed in his pocket. Beside him was a girl, chattering away continuously. Oliver wasn’t really listening, a careless smile hanging on his face. But he hadn’t shown any signs of impatience from start to finish, which was basically a miracle. I was stunned. Until Oliver noticed me, and his smile vanished. He muttered a low curse: “What rotten luck.” I heard him clearly, but kept my face blank. The girl instinctively grabbed Oliver’s arm and shot me an unfriendly look: “Who are you?” When I didn’t answer, she looked up at Oliver piteously. Oliver scoffed: “A broke loser.” Well, wasn’t that the truth? If I wasn’t broke, why would I be here meeting a fake Oliver? I let out a dry laugh, my tone lifting slightly, “To be hated by the great Young Master Sterling, I guess it’s an honor.” Hearing this, Oliver’s face instantly darkened. He crossed his arms, speaking without an ounce of mercy: “Evelyn, which item in here can you afford?” “As long as you can afford it, that’s all that matters.” I smiled and pointed to a nearby store, “Didn’t you buy me a bag from there before?” The girl’s eyes widened, “What is your relationship?” What relationship? First love. But dating this young master was the biggest mistake I’d ever made in my life. Oliver didn’t speak, and I couldn’t be bothered to make a fool of myself. I adjusted my bag on my shoulder and prepared to leave. “Evelyn.” His tone was light, but carried the same condescension and arrogance as before. “Which guy did you trick into paying for you this time?” I turned back, “Don’t worry, Young Master Sterling, I haven’t managed to trick anyone more generous than you yet.” Of course, not counting the guy the client scammed. Oliver had been pampered by countless people since childhood; he never hid his emotions. For instance, right now, I knew he was in a very bad mood. Afraid he would delay my upcoming meet-and-greet, I paused and then tried to placate him: “You were right before, people like me won’t find happiness. But as long as you’re happy, that’s what matters.” Actually, regarding this whole “sworn enemy” thing, I felt it was entirely Oliver unilaterally hating me. I had never liked making enemies, especially not with a first love who had been so generous. The young master, who had always been hard to please, was even less receptive to this now. He sneered, incredibly harsh, “Don’t leave. I want to see what kind of trash you’ve hooked this time.” I froze. I didn’t even know what kind of persona the client had established with this fake Oliver. If it was some pure, innocent “white lotus” type, wouldn’t this whole thing blow up in my face? With Oliver’s personality, a few words would likely expose me. I swallowed my pride: “He’s not as good-looking as you, and he doesn’t have as much money as you. Young Master Sterling, why are you trying to embarrass me?” The girl nodded along, “Yeah, Ollie, let’s just go.” Oliver didn’t even spare the girl a glance. His long fingers pulled a card from his pocket. The girl took it, her demeanor instantly changing, and she left efficiently, “Then I’ll go shopping. Ollie, just text me if you need anything.” I smiled, “She’s quite cute.” Oliver didn’t take the bait, but he also showed no intention of leaving, just glaring at me. But he was always like this, willful and unrestrained. Once, when he had a high fever, I was pacing around with worry. He just lazily held my hand, “Do you want to try 104 degrees?” My eyes widened, and my face instantly turned bright red. Not from shyness, but from anger. “Are you sick in the head?” His lips curved, trying to suppress a muffled laugh. We ended up trying it, and he ended up in the ER. … They were all childish memories. I lowered my eyes. Oliver quickly grew impatient. He lifted his eyelids, “You didn’t just make someone up, did you?” I stayed silent. His patience exhausted, he answered a call from a friend, “Fine, I’ll be right there.” Then he glanced at me, mockery floating in the depths of his eyes, “Instead of carrying that cheap canvas bag, you shouldn’t have been so stubborn about your pride back then.” With that, he took long strides outward, getting further and further away from me. I watched his tall silhouette. Even the way he walked had a careless swagger to it. Back when I broke up with Oliver, I packed up all the luxury goods he had given me and shipped them back to him. He only sent me a few words: [I don’t accept trash here.] And then he blocked me. As for those luxury goods, a friend told me he threw them all in the trash can outside his villa. My phone notification chimed non-stop. Ning: [Babe, are you there yet? [How about we meet at the cafe? I just told him I’d wait for him at the cafe? [Babe, text me back quickly!] I composed my emotions and replied: [Okay, I’m heading to the cafe now.] When I got to the cafe, I looked around. I texted the client: [Babe, bad news, Oliver isn’t here. Even worse news, there’s only one handsome guy here.] [Impossible! He said he’s already arrived!] she replied anxiously. I let out a sigh. Until I saw the only handsome guy walking towards me. The corners of his eyes tilted up slightly, a small red mole under his eye, smiling warmly. But he inexplicably had a kind of cunning, fox-like aura. I warily took a step back. He spoke, his voice magnetic: “Evelyn.” Me: “…” I looked down and texted the client: [Is your name Ning? Did you use my name?] She replied instantly: [Uh… yes. I didn’t dare use my real name, and since we were negotiating the price for the photos and videos, I just gave him your name.] Me: [Wow.] I put my phone away, took a deep breath, looked up, and greeted the man: “Hello there.” Up close, the man was even more handsome. He had delicate features, but didn’t look effeminate. A high nose bridge, thin lips curving slightly, a shiny stud in his left ear. He was much better looking than I had imagined, even somewhat breathtaking. Wait, he had absolutely no need to use Oliver’s photo! I offered an awkward smile, “You and the photo you sent me… look quite different.” He raised an eyebrow, “I don’t recall ever sending you a photo of myself.” Me: ? My expression lost control for a moment. This guy hadn’t even sent a photo, so how was the client so certain he was Oliver?! “Then I remembered wrong.” I fought the urge to grind my teeth, forcing a difficult smile, “Do you mind if I go to the restroom first?” “Sure.” He smiled brightly. Once in the restroom, I immediately called “Ning”. As soon as it connected, I unleashed a torrent of words: “I fucking told you, your online date is not Oliver, it’s not Oliver! Fine if you didn’t listen, I figured it was just a catfish. Turns out the guy never even sent you a photo, why did you think he was Oliver!” A long silence from the other end. After a while, a “Holy shit” popped out. It was actually a male voice! I was stunned. “He’s not Oliver? How is that possible? Then who is he?” he asked in a rapid-fire sequence. I was also losing my mind: “You’re asking me? Where did you fish this guy out from? This is so sketchy!” I thought she was just a sister scamming money online, who knew it was a guy? No wonder he had to buy voice packs from me. “What does he look like? Describe him quickly!” I didn’t expect this guy to be more anxious than me. Me: “He’s actually quite handsome, don’t worry about that.” Silence again from the other end. Long after, his voice sounded as if he had lost the will to live: “Does he have a red mole near his eye?” Me: “Yes.” “Ahhhhhhhhh! I’m doomed!” …Now you know you’re doomed, why weren’t you afraid of being doomed when you were scamming people for money. If he had actually scammed Oliver, he really would be doomed. With Young Master Sterling’s temper, he’d absolutely skin him alive; it’d be a miracle if he didn’t kill him. After a while, he asked painfully: “…Then what do I do?” I was curious, “I think this guy is way better than Oliver, what makes you think Oliver is such a prize?” “No, you don’t understand, this guy is way scarier than Oliver. If Oliver wants to teach me a lesson, my grandma can at least step in and stop him. If my brother wants to teach me a lesson, no one will dare say a word!” Saying that, he started crying bitterly again. My eyes widened: “…What did you say?” He was clearly desperate: “No wonder Oliver said I was stupid, am I really that stupid?” Me: “…What do we do now, do I make a run for it?” “Don’t!” He gritted his teeth, “If you run, he’ll definitely investigate. He’ll 100% trace it back to me!” I was speechless. He simply said: “Why don’t you just take over my WeChat account, let’s just pretend it was you talking to him the whole time. Anyway, my brother is not bad-looking, and he transfers a lot of money…” My pupils experienced an earthquake. Before I could answer, he mumbled to himself again: “I didn’t expect him to be so generous when dating. Fuck, why isn’t he like this when he gives me my allowance?” “Forget it.” I refused. Ever since I broke up with Oliver, I saw things clearly. What doesn’t belong to you, will never belong to you, no matter what you do. Especially with these wealthy young masters. Don’t harbor too many delusions about them. Not to mention, if I really got involved with this man and Oliver found out, who knows how the young master would freak out. Right, he might just mock the man: “You have terrible taste, getting involved with a woman like Evelyn.” I thought silently in my heart, and sighed again. The other end of the line was unhappy, “Aren’t you offering after-sales service?” Truly a family! This thought process is as sick as Oliver’s. I said flatly: “Hanging up.” “Fifty thousand! I’ll add another fifty thousand!” He panicked, “I’ll even take out my New Year’s red envelope money! You absolutely cannot let my brother find out.” Me: “…One million.” Him: “…Lion opening its mouth, you must be trying to drain me dry after milking my brother?” “Then forget it,” I said. “Deal!” He broke down. “What’s your brother’s name?” I asked. “Liam Sterling.” I jerked my eyes up, “Is that Oliver’s older cousin who’s always abroad?” “Yes.” 03 I adjusted my dress in the restroom, touched up my makeup, took a deep breath, and walked out. Liam was standing outside waiting for me. To be honest, Liam didn’t look as refined and orderly as his name suggested; he gave off a sense of ease that seemed detached from the rules. With a smiling face, he looked like a fox. A man with this much money and power, engaging in online dating? I proactively took Liam’s arm; he paused imperceptibly, his smile growing wider. “Want to buy anything? Or eat first?” he asked. “Anything’s fine,” I said. Then he took me shopping from store to store. Unlike Oliver, he would patiently comment on how every bag and piece of clothing felt on me, and then pay for everything. Oliver couldn’t be bothered to look; he’d just sit in the store, play on his phone, and wait for me to pick things out before paying and leaving. It was strange, feeling like a boyfriend had dropped from the sky. But Liam was definitely not as casual as he appeared on the surface. The more a person is like this, the more dangerous they are. But for now… He even called two bodyguards to follow behind carrying the shopping bags. “Evelyn, I’ve made a reservation at that restaurant you said you wanted to try before.” Liam curved his lips slightly. “Let’s go!” I responded briskly. “Do you still remember which one it was?” He lowered his eyes smoothly, his expression lazy. Just like looking at prey in the palm of his hand. …Which one. I don’t know! At a time like this, I couldn’t exactly pull out my phone and ask the “client.” The atmosphere fell silent. My heart trembled, and I pursed my lips. I also felt a chill. I finally understood what the guy meant when he said Liam was scarier than Oliver. Oliver’s emotions were written all over his face. If you provoked him, you’d know immediately. But Liam was different. I couldn’t read him. For example, right now, I didn’t know what he meant by suddenly asking this question. I moved my lips, but before I could speak, he gave a half-smile, his voice warm and deep: “It’s fine. Evelyn is busy, it’s normal to be forgetful. I’ll take you there, you’ll see.” I nodded hastily. Liam was still a good guy! If it were Oliver who found out I forgot something about him, he would have coldly mocked me for five hours straight without repeating a word. 04 After arriving at the restaurant, the waiter saw Liam and greeted him respectfully: “Mr. Sterling.” Then they led us to the innermost private room. The room had a great ambiance, even a pond with koi fish. I sat face-to-face with Liam. His cuffs were loosely rolled up, revealing hands with distinct knuckles. The pale skin made the slightly raised blue veins even more obvious. I didn’t pick up the menu. “You can just order; I’m not a picky eater.” Liam chuckled lightly, “Alright.” Taking this opportunity, I messaged the “client”: [Did you tell Liam you wanted western food? I almost got exposed. Are there any other details? Confess quickly.] Suddenly, the door to the private room was pushed open. A familiar voice rang out: “…Liam? You’re back?” I froze instantly. Oliver clicked his tongue, saying listlessly: “I thought this room was empty, so I didn’t make a reservation. The other rooms are full; let’s share a table.” I shrank like a quail, keeping my head down as low as possible. But I forgot that Oliver once told me that even if I turned to ash, he would recognize me and scatter me himself. … “Evelyn?” The voice that had just been casual instantly turned ice-cold. I didn’t dare to look up even more. But unexpectedly, my phone received a message right then, and the screen lit up: [Huh? How is that possible? I didn’t tell my brother where I wanted to eat. I don’t like western food; I like iron pot stewed goose.] My pupils dilated. “Raise your head, Evelyn,” Oliver gritted his teeth. Liam tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, “Is that how you talk to your sister-in-law?” “What did you say?” Oliver’s volume rose. At this point, I slowly lifted my head and offered a sheepish smile, “What a coincidence.” Then, following Liam’s cue, I added, “Little brother.” “Who the fuck is your little brother!” Oliver bristled immediately, pointing at me and questioning Liam, “She dated me, didn’t you know?” “Not anymore, not anymore. We broke up a long time ago,” I quickly interjected. “You shut up,” Oliver’s voice carried suppressed anger, every word seemingly squeezed from between his teeth. He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force. “Liam, didn’t you check when I was dating? And now you’re talking bullshit saying you don’t know Evelyn?” Liam sat with his legs crossed, his posture relaxed. Even in this suffocating situation, he could still chuckle leisurely, “Yeah. So what?” The corners of Oliver’s eyes turned red with anger. I sighed inwardly and spoke up: “Don’t be mad. Maybe we just weren’t meant to be. How about you drink some water and calm down?” Saying that, I prepared to stand up and pour water. “Evelyn,” Liam shot me a light glance. My heart tightened, and I immediately sat back down securely. Oliver couldn’t believe it: “You used to argue with me every day, and now you listen to him like this? Have you been bewitched?” Me: “…” It’s mainly because Liam has a more intimidating presence. After a long while. Oliver’s tone was slightly hoarse, “When did you two get together?” I couldn’t answer that. Liam spoke calmly: “At the end of last year.” “Specifically?” Oliver seemed determined not to stop until he got a specific time. “The day after Christmas.” My expression stiffened. Oliver’s mouth carried a mocking chill, “Evelyn, you’re really something.” I and Oliver had broken up on Christmas Day. But the person chatting with Liam the day after Christmas wasn’t me! I stayed silent, bitterly swallowing the truth and wearing the hat of a seamless transition. Oliver, seeing I didn’t dare to speak, directly slammed the door and left. 05 Liam didn’t seem to mind; he thoughtfully said, “If the food doesn’t suit your taste, remember to let me know.” I nodded trembling. He looked at me unexpectedly, “Are you afraid of me?” As he smiled, the red mole at the corner of his eye was captivatingly bright. I moved my lips: “…Did you investigate me before?” He nodded, taking his time to say, “Previously, the family was curious about Oliver’s girlfriend, so they had me look into it.” “Then you…” I was shocked, “Still got involved with me…” Liam’s smile deepened, “I’ve thought my future sister-in-law was quite cute for a long time.” I awkwardly touched my nose. But I still felt something was wrong? A long time ago? Before investigating me? Right, and Liam’s probing just now! Didn’t he know that the person he was online dating with was someone else? I was just a stand-in for the meet-up. I trembled, not daring to speak rashly. “Evelyn,” Liam said, “Come back to the Sterling family with me next week.” I was shocked, “What?!” He smiled helplessly, “You said before that you wanted to meet my family, and mentioned it several times. Don’t you remember, Evelyn?” My heart was full of apprehension. With my previous experience, I didn’t dare answer casually: “…I see.” “But I’m not ready yet.” I unconsciously clutched the corner of my clothes. “You said before that your family wanted a thirty million dollar bride price. Evelyn, I can transfer it to your card anytime,” Liam looked at me seriously. I was terrified. What astronomical bride price?! Was that what Liam’s brother said? My voice shook: “No rush, no rush. Let’s let things develop a bit more…” By the end, my voice was trailing off. This family is too terrifying. The atmosphere was silent for a moment. Liam lowered his eyes, his smile fading. He said softly, “Sorry, I was too eager.” I froze for a moment. Has he really fallen so deeply in love? If he finds out that the person whispering sweet nothings to him the whole time… is a guy… And I can be considered an accomplice with his brother, deceiving people together… I held my forehead. Things seem to be developing out of control. Looking at Liam’s expression, he seems genuinely sad. Sigh, that makes sense. If it weren’t true love, who would spend so much money on an online date? I silently stood up, “I need to go to the restroom again.” 06 [Your brother wants to take me back to the Sterling family.] I messaged “Ning”. Him: [Uh… just go.] Me: [? Is this right.] I thought he would definitely be jumping up and down, but who knew he would seem quite calm? [What’s done is done. Just name a price, help me cover up the lie.] I looked at the message weirdly. I replied: [This isn’t a question of whether to cover it up or not. Have you ever thought about having to use countless lies to cover one lie? What if I can’t get out of it safely?] He sent me a voice message: “Sigh, who knew it would develop like this? But honestly, being with my brother isn’t a loss for you. He’s handsome and rich, and has never been in a relationship. Although he’s not experienced, his assets are impressive! As long as you guide him a little, he’ll definitely become a perfect boyfriend.” The corner of my mouth twitched violently, losing the will to live: “…Your family really doesn’t have a single normal person.” “I just have one request. When you become my sister-in-law in the future, can you suggest to my brother to increase my allowance?” Me: “…I don’t think I’ve agreed yet.” If I ran into Oliver at the Sterling family, I’d be dead meat. I didn’t dare take the risk. Ten seconds later, five million was deposited into my bank account. The other side said with a hint of a spoiled tone, “Sis, just help a brother out. Let’s just get through this period first. When you get bored, you can break up whenever! Just consider it as a brother using your photos to scam people, and to atone for his sins, he helped you find a boyfriend, okay?” I stared at my bank account balance. …Well, to bring it back to the point. Even if I did get together with Liam, so what? Could Oliver kill me? ? Thinking this, I returned to the private room. Meeting Liam’s eyes, I blinked: “Which day are we going to the Sterling family?” 07 I held Liam’s arm and stepped through the grand doors of the Sterling estate. The sprawling manor was complex and opulent. Taking step after step, there were more and more people. Truly a massive family. I followed Liam’s lead in greeting everyone. The people of the Sterling family were very nice; there wasn’t the oppressive atmosphere I had imagined from a wealthy family. No one gave me dirty looks, and no one put on airs. They all smiled and greeted me: “Liam’s girlfriend, oh my, so pretty and fresh! The old lady will be so happy.” I smiled shyly. Until a teenager appeared, he chuckled, “Brother, sister-in-law.” Liam laughed coldly twice. The teenager immediately hid behind my other arm. “Corey Sterling.” With a faint utterance, the teenager stiffened instantly, turning his head mechanically. I followed the teenager’s gaze to find the source of the voice. Oliver had one hand in his pocket. But I didn’t make eye contact with Oliver. He glared at the teenager, “Why are you running around? Do you think you’re the only one with legs?” Corey pouted, feeling wronged, “Oliver, I just came over to say hi to my brother and sister-in-law. If I didn’t, you’d say I was impolite.” Oliver sneered, “Heh, sister-in-law?” My blood seemed to freeze in my veins. But Oliver didn’t say anything in the end. He didn’t look at me or Liam the entire time, just dragged Corey away, “Go do your homework. You failed your math test, and you still have the nerve to wander around?” Corey was dragged away looking miserable. I withdrew my gaze thoughtfully. Corey’s voice and “Ning’s” voice were almost exactly the same; it must be him. I asked Liam, “Is that your biological brother? Why is his last name Han?” Liam smiled faintly, “He took our mother’s maiden name.” I nodded. Before long, Liam was called up to the study. I went to keep the old Mrs. Sterling company. She stroked my hand, sighing: “You and our Liam are a perfect match.” As she spoke, she wiped away a tear. I quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe it for her. “Liam, this child, matured early. His parents… sigh, it’s rare for him to find a girl he likes. You two must be happy!” The old lady looked dazed for a moment, then a wave of relief washed over her, and she gripped my hand tightly. I stayed with the old lady for a while, and she offered: “Liam said you don’t like it when it’s too stuffy. Our garden here is quite beautiful; you can go for a stroll.” “Okay,” I agreed. I walked into the garden feeling relaxed, enveloped in a faint floral scent. Liam saw that I wasn’t good at socializing, so he instructed the others to let me get some fresh air in the garden if I felt bored, and not to bother me. But some people clearly didn’t listen. I heard footsteps and wasn’t surprised, nor did I turn around. “Evelyn, what are you really thinking? Do you want to enter the Sterling family’s door that badly?” Oliver’s voice was freezing cold. My fingertips brushed past the rose petals, and I said indifferently: “You can expose my true colors in front of everyone in your Sterling family.” After a long while, Oliver’s voice sounded muffled: “…What true colors do you have?” I answered casually: “Your ex-girlfriend, spent your money. After breaking up with you, seamlessly transitioned to Liam.” Oliver was silent for a very long time. His thin lips moved slightly, “I didn’t want to leave a bad impression of you in their eyes.” I didn’t understand, “You still care about that?” His voice was hoarse and dry, “What if, one day in the future, you still have the identity of Oliver’s wife…” He realized what he was saying, and his voice stopped abruptly. My eyes widened slightly in astonishment. After a long pause, I shook my head, “That won’t happen.” The wine glass in Oliver’s hand dropped to the ground. It made a sharp sound of breaking glass. “Why did you get together with Liam the day after breaking up with me? How did you get together?” Oliver grabbed my wrist, his grip strong. I didn’t want to get into a tug-of-war with him here, “It’s none of your business.” “Evelyn!” My struggling stopped. I looked up in surprise. That cry from Oliver just now clearly carried a tearful tone.

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By the fifth year of our sugar daddy/sugar baby arrangement, he had become a household name, a superstar who no longer needed me. He started staying out all night and stopped clinging to me, whispering sweet nothings. The torment of his hot-and-cold attitude was excruciating. On my fifty-third sleepless night, I finally couldn’t take it anymore. I grabbed my phone, ready to call him and have a massive blowout fight. Suddenly, rows of bullet comments flashed before my eyes: [LOL, why is this cannon fodder male side character pushing his luck? A mere Beta actually thinks he can keep the protagonist top, an S-rank Alpha?] [Let him call and throw a tantrum. Once he does, Best Actor Song will realize how wonderful his gentle, lovable Omega little assistant is, and kick him to the curb!] [The Best Actor is going to dump him sooner or later anyway. After all, who would love an aging, broken Beta? Our precious bottom, who has a 98% compatibility rate and can release soothing pheromones, is so much better…] 1 The transatlantic call had barely begun to ring. Song Qingyu answered almost instantly. “Is it time for your check-in again, brother?” His deep, magnetic voice carried a hint of exhaustion and resignation. It was so obvious. Why hadn’t I noticed it before? The hysterical questions I had prepared choked in my throat, leaving me momentarily stunned. Song Qingyu quickly continued his report: “I just finished hair and makeup, we’re shooting on location soon… Brother, look at this, it’s from that place we ate at three years ago. Zhou Zhou specifically woke up early and waited in line for two hours to buy it for me…” Zhou Zhou. The protagonist bottom mentioned in the bullet comments, the little assistant who had been with Song Qingyu for less than a year. I don’t know when it started, but it felt like he couldn’t go three sentences without mentioning Zhou Zhou. The signs had been there all along. I had just been too careless, too blind. A suffocating, surging pain gripped my heart. I suddenly felt incredibly tired. I interrupted Song Qingyu’s endless chatter: “Let’s just end it here. I’m going to sleep.” Dead silence fell over the line. “That’s all you have to say?” “Yeah.” Usually, my check-in calls lasted twenty minutes at a minimum. Today, it was under five. Song Qingyu must be breathing a sigh of relief. Sure enough, he lowered his overly excited voice, a barely detectable tremor leaking through: “Brother, th-then wait for me to go to the bathroom…” “There’s no need.” Being forced to say cheesy things like “I love you forever” and “I miss you so much” won’t be necessary from now on. I forced myself to speak: “Goodnight.” Then, I swiftly hung up the phone. And casually turned it off. 2 I didn’t sleep a wink that night. The bullet comments kept mocking me in front of my eyes: [Has this cannon fodder realized his place yet? The two protagonists have high morals and won’t cheat. Can he just voluntarily step aside for our precious bottom?] [A capitalist hypocrite who uses the Best Actor to make money and sleeps with him too. It’s been five years and he still won’t let him go…] [Taking advantage of someone’s misfortune and then demanding gratitude for saving them… he’s the worst…] I stared at the dizzyingly reflective ceiling, memories flashing through my mind like a zoetrope. They were right. Five years ago, Song Qingyu agreeing to be with me was indeed the result of me taking advantage of his misfortune and demanding payback. Back then, he had offended a powerful foreign mob boss. Despite having a face destined for stardom, no company or production crew in the industry dared to hire him. I was young and reckless. Risking the complete destruction of my career, I took him in. I threw resources at him, orchestrated his debut, assigned him a top-tier manager, and promoted him with a massive, unsparing campaign. Even someone as proud and aloof as him was genuinely grateful to me back then. He hugged me, tears shining in his eyes, and promised: “Brother, I will definitely make a lot of money to repay you in the future. I won’t let you down…” He didn’t know I had selfish motives. I had long anticipated the immense profits he could bring the company, but I wanted more. The physique and looks of an S-rank Alpha are top-tier. As a perfectly ordinary Beta, it was hard not to be attracted. So, after helping him deal with a malicious director for the third time… I crushed out my cigarette, dropping my bluff, and said bluntly: “Qingyu, be with me.” 3 It’s been so long, I can’t clearly remember Song Qingyu’s expression at that moment. Maybe it was shock, astonishment, or perhaps anger and disdain. There was only a long silence as he weighed the pros and cons. Finally, he took the sugar baby contract, nodded expressionlessly: “Sure. “Jiang Yu, you can’t regret this.” … That very night, I regretted it a bit. What bullshit rumors about S-rank Alphas being gentle as water? Liars. An Alpha in his susceptible period was such a beast in bed that I wanted to tear up the contract, preferring to pay the astronomical breach of contract fee. That entire night, staring at the blurred, swaying chandelier, I cursed myself internally for digging my own grave. But the next day, after passing out from a mix of exhaustion and profound regret… I opened my eyes to see Song Qingyu leaning in close with his outrageously handsome face, lowering his eyes submissively, calling me “brother” and apologizing. All the anger in my heart vanished without a trace instantly. I tried to accept him, spoiling him without a bottom line. He also strictly adhered to his professional ethics, caring for me meticulously. Later, I clearly realized I had fallen for him. Reason told me I shouldn’t catch feelings, but instinct overpowered reason. I was a willing victim. This sugar daddy arrangement felt like a clingy four-year relationship. Until Song Qingyu became a megastar. He started getting so busy he was rarely seen, no longer sticking to me. He established his own studio, replaced the assistant I had assigned him, and started staying out all night regularly. This is how he mentioned me to others: “Gratitude for discovering me? I paid that back a long time ago. “I don’t owe Jiang Yu anything. He’s not my benefactor.” … I once thought that over a long period of time, I could make him love me too, keeping him by my side forever. I was wrong. 4 An S-rank Alpha looks down on an ordinary Beta. That was the conclusion I reached after a sleepless night. I took an ice pack from the fridge to apply to my eyes, quickly adjusted my emotions, and got ready for work. But just as I put on my shoes… The front door was suddenly kicked open. I looked up sluggishly, meeting the travel-worn, deeply hostile eyes of Song Qingyu, and my whole body trembled. “Why are you…” “Brother, why was your phone turned off last night?” Seeing I couldn’t answer, Song Qingyu kissed me without allowing any explanation. The force was so strong, it felt like he wanted to devour me whole. Fortunately, I’m not affected by pheromones. I gripped his jaw, pulled back to catch my breath, and asked: “Are you in your susceptible period?” Song Qingyu shook his head, then nodded. “You can’t go to the company today, brother.” He dragged me to the second-floor bedroom. After scanning the room, his movements became much gentler. After all, we’ve shared a bed for five years. He knows exactly how to serve me to give me pleasure. In a moment of hazy consciousness, I softened my tone and asked: “Didn’t you say you were shooting on location today? Why did you suddenly come back?” Song Qingyu’s movements didn’t pause. He blurted out: “Because I missed you, brother.” He tilted my face, forcing me to look at him: “We haven’t seen each other in so long, didn’t you miss me?” “…” For a moment, I almost forgot the bullet comments’ warning. But they quickly popped up again, haunting me: [LOL, is the cannon fodder male side character touching himself again?] [Why don’t you ask what our Best Actor Song really wants?] [Karma is a bitch. You used him before, now he’s just using you. There’s not a shred of genuine feeling…] My throat tightened. Feigning nonchalance, I turned my face away and awkwardly probed: “Tell me, what do you want?” Song Qingyu froze at that. And my breathing was caught with him. After a long pause, he forced a stiff smile and said he wanted the second male lead role in a major director’s upcoming finale film. “Director Zhao has a weird temper. Most people can’t hire him. I heard you have a history with him, brother…” I couldn’t hear the rest of his words clearly, and I forgot to wonder why he didn’t ask for the lead role. My mind was filled with one thought—the bullet comments were all true. But I just couldn’t bring myself to sever all ties immediately. I can only slowly withdraw, detach. 5 Zhou Zhou quickly showed up at the villa. He wasn’t an employee of my company. He shot me a somewhat reproachful glare before turning to advise Song Qingyu. “Qingyu, Cameron is already getting angry on set. You should head back…” He tried to reach past the front door to grab Song Qingyu, but I frowned and blocked him. “Did I invite you in?” This villa is my house. Zhou Zhou’s face turned ugly for a moment as he looked at Song Qingyu. “Why are you looking at me? Apologize.” Song Qingyu wrapped his arm around my waist, his expression equally displeased: “Who taught you to speak to your boss’s boss like that?” I was stunned. The bullet comments quickly filled the screen with curses. [It’s totally normal for the young couple to have separation anxiety. Can the male side character stop trying so hard to make his presence known?] [Actually, our precious bottom could also help the top get that role, but the top can’t bear to let money taint this relationship. He’d rather run back and act with the male side character than let our precious bottom intervene…] [Yeah, let the top keep pretending to be mean to our precious bottom. It definitely won’t be hard or tiring when he has to grovel to win him back later…] “No need to apologize. You go with him.” I pried Song Qingyu’s hand off. Uncharacteristically, I wasn’t aggressive, stepping back: “I’ll get you the second male lead role in that movie. You can go.” 6 After seeing Song Qingyu off, I still went to work. My secretary quickly dug up Zhou Zhou’s background. He was the only son of the Zhou family, the leading construction enterprise in the country. To pursue love, he condescended to enter the entertainment industry as a manager. I closed the file. It said he had been openly in love with Song Qingyu for four years. Before, so many wealthy Omegas had flocked to Song Qingyu, and he had completely ignored them all. Except for Zhou Zhou. He allowed an Omega with a 98% compatibility rate to stay by his side. Allowed someone with such obvious intentions to orbit around him all day… “Mr. Jiang, should we keep this newcomer?” Seeing me spaced out, Secretary Wu pushed another file in front of me, mechanically repeating the situation. I was annoyed and wanted to push it away, but when I saw the photo clearly, I froze. “Did you find him on purpose?” “He came to us on his own.” The boy in the photo looked 70% like Song Qingyu when he first debuted. Raw and green, but undeniable charismatic. But offering himself up at this specific time… Does he really think I’m just a lovestruck fool? I suddenly found it quite amusing and told Secretary Wu to keep him. Working late into the night, the bullet comments were still floating before my eyes. They talked about Song Qingyu and his little assistant acting ambiguously on set, then said he felt disgusted by last night and took several showers after returning to the crew… I tried desperately to ignore them. But every word stung my eyes. Disgusting enough to make me nauseous. After throwing up in the bathroom for a while, I forced myself to open my laptop at home to handle some business. Unexpectedly, a piece of paper fluttered out. Written in crooked handwriting: [Don’t turn off your phone, I need to check in, I’m begging you, brother QAQ] How funny. Who said Song Qingyu had bad acting skills because he was a nepotism hire? He’s acting pretty well right now. 7 I hadn’t made up my mind to let Song Qingyu go yet, so naturally, I didn’t plan on exposing him. While he was abroad shooting the movie, I didn’t show a hint of displeasure. I took his check-in calls on time and listened to his reports. Except, I wouldn’t ask a single extra question. Whether it was gossip about a certain actor on the trending list, or rumors of a showmance on set. Even when a foreign beauty suddenly crashed the video call, jokingly kissing him on the cheek. I remained unfazed. “Brother, don’t misunderstand, she’s my…” Song Qingyu frantically shooed the person out of the room, turned back to my completely impassive face, and instantly choked on his words. Even separated by thousands of miles. The air seemed to share the same dead silence. Seeing he had no desire to continue explaining, I yawned and casually ended the conversation: “Let’s stop here for today. You get back to work, I should sleep too.” For the next few days, Song Qingyu didn’t initiate contact. He was very busy. So I also worked my ass off to find things to do. I finished a month’s worth of work in one week, and used business dinners as an excuse to drink heavily. Secretary Wu couldn’t stop me. Halfway through getting drunk, while taking a break to vomit in the restroom, someone suddenly grabbed my arm. “Mr. Jiang, if your stomach is bad, stop drinking. I’ll drink for you.” I struggled to lift my eyes. It was the boy who looked 70% like Song Qingyu in the photo, Xu Heyin. 8 Xu Heyin finished the second half of the business dinner for me. I was indeed feeling too sick to touch another drop of alcohol, and I also wanted to see what kind of stand-in they had sent to mess with my head. “Mr. Jiang, am I good-looking?” On the way home, Xu Heyin, who had volunteered to be my “bodyguard,” turned his head and blinked at me mischievously. As an Alpha, he lacked Song Qingyu’s sharp, brooding edge, possessing more of a bright, sunny disposition. “Very good-looking.” I shifted my blatant gaze, looking out the window at the passing traffic. “Then do you think I can be famous?” he pressed. I nodded again. “Yes.” The industry had always lacked a beautiful, strikingly handsome male actor with a mixed-race vibe who still retained a masculine edge, like Song Qingyu. In all the years since his debut, there still hadn’t been a substitute for him. It must have been hard for them to find someone so similar for me. Hearing the satisfactory answer, Xu Heyin, like a child who just got candy, was in a great mood, humming a little tune all the way. The driver parked the car steadily in the courtyard, and he sensibly unbuckled my seatbelt and helped me out of the car. Despite drinking so much, it was as if he hadn’t drunk at all, tightly supporting my unsteady steps. He was attentive and polite throughout. Only when we reached the front door did he suddenly stop and turn his head. He leaned in slightly, whispering in my ear, his voice as quiet as a mosquito: “So, compared to Senior Song?” I was feeling a bit dizzy and nauseous, and his provocation made me shudder. It took me a moment to react: “What?” Xu Heyin smiled, straightened up, and raised his voice to repeat: “I said, compared to Senior Song Qingyu, who do you like more?” …What a boring question. Tired of dealing with him, I pushed him away, turned around, and started walking back. But before I could even raise my hand to scan my fingerprint… The front door suddenly opened from the inside. An Alpha radiating bone-chilling coldness gritted his teeth, pointed behind me, and demanded sinisterly: “Brother, who is he?” 9 I never expected Song Qingyu to return a month early. Even less did I expect him to coincidentally witness this scene. My stomach suddenly cramped. Too late to explain, I ran to the bathroom and dry heaved. But I couldn’t throw anything up. “Brother, take some medicine.” Song Qingyu handed me a glass of warm water, along with the stomach medicine we always kept at home. For some reason, my intuition told me it wasn’t a stomach issue. I just took the water to rinse my mouth. In an instant, the back of my neck was pinched and lifted, meeting the gloomy, terrifying gaze in the mirror: “You are covered in his scent.” Alpha pheromones—naturally, I couldn’t smell them. If I could, I’d probably be choking right now. Because according to the bullet comments, an Alpha of Song Qingyu’s caliber absolutely despises anyone else touching what belongs to him. This isn’t about love or affection; it’s purely an instinctive possessiveness. “Did brother not come visit me on set abroad because of him?” “Is he brother’s new favorite?” “I’m so sorry. I worked myself to death to finish filming a month early and rushed back, only to interrupt your date…” Song Qingyu casually glanced at the dining table downstairs, covered in dishes, as if watching a joke, his tone suddenly dropping: “Jiang Yu, is my timing really that bad? Did I interrupt your next step?!” “What right do you have to question me?” A flash of pain crossed Song Qingyu’s eyes, yet it pierced my heart precisely like a poisoned needle. I looked at the bullet comments detailing how much he loved Zhou Zhou. For a moment, emotions surged, and I exploded, almost hysterically: “Song Qingyu, we only have a sugar daddy arrangement. What right do you have to question me, to restrict my freedom, huh?!” 10 Everything was a complete mess. I never thought I’d say such sarcastic, hypocritical words to Song Qingyu, like a dancing clown. But words once spoken cannot be taken back. He was stunned for a long time before he recovered, his eyes red, panting heavily. The bullet comments, however, found it hilarious: [LOL, is the protagonist top’s acting too good? I almost thought he really loved this cannon fodder.] [It could also be because this cannon fodder deliberately said the opposite. The protagonist top always thought he liked him, but it turns out he doesn’t… basically, his unrequited feelings are a bit embarrassing hahaha.] [Stop talking. After the top finishes this scene, he’ll quickly go find our precious bottom to compensate for his mental distress…] Song Qingyu snapped back to reality, released my neck, and stormed out the door. I didn’t stop him. A bird forcibly kept in a cage will never truly belong to you. I went downstairs and sat at the dining table. The table full of delicacies was still steaming slightly. They were all my favorites. I buried my head and took a few bites, mixing my tears with the rice. It tasted awful. 11 Song Qingyu didn’t come back that night. Instead, it was Xu Heyin who, the next day, covered in bruises and with a slight bruise on his right cheek, cried uncontrollably in my office. [Gotta play the part. The top even pretended to be jealous and beat up his rival. What a brilliant move!] [As expected of a Grand Slam Best Actor…] So it’s acting again. Is it really all just acting?! Xu Heyin was giving me a headache. I just threw a big-budget movie his way to shut him up. At night, I wrote, deleted, and rewrote a text message on my phone, ultimately pressing delete. As for news about Best Actor Song, it gets pushed to me even without deliberately searching for it. He was shooting a commercial in the neighboring city today. In the video, Song Qingyu didn’t look well, so his manager Xiao Zhou was constantly fussing over him, fanning him, handing him water, and massaging him intimately… sparking suspicions among the melon-eating masses about their relationship. I didn’t make a furious phone call to question him like I used to. I just looked at it for a few extra seconds. Then, I deleted all draft messages and locked the screen. The next day, I traveled to various places for business trips. In foreign lands, I worked non-stop for three weeks. I successfully landed myself in the hospital. … When I opened my eyes again, the pungent smell of disinfectant flooded my lungs, making me nauseous. “Mr. Jiang. Mr. Jiang Yu.” My doctor friend pushed up his glasses, smiling at me, gritting his teeth as he asked: “Did you know that your ‘good’ male pet managed to get you, an infertile Beta, PREGNANT?” 12 How the f*ck was I supposed to know? A Beta, built like a robot, can actually get pregnant? If I had known, I wouldn’t have gone bareback just for the thrill… “Jiang Yu, are you listening to me?” Gu Chen flipped through the test results, snapping me back to reality: “This baby is only a month old, you should get rid of it. There are barely any cases of Betas giving birth domestically…” “What about abroad?” I actually kind of wanted a child. Or rather, as an orphan abandoned at the orphanage door right after birth, I wanted family, someone tied to me by blood, someone who wouldn’t easily leave me. “I have money, I can minimize the risks.” Gu Chen was momentarily speechless, frowning in silence. He knew I’ve always been stubborn. So he stopped trying to persuade me. “Do you really like him that much?” he just asked. I couldn’t be bothered to explain the real reason, so I just replied: “Help me keep this a secret, especially from him.”

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1 That night, at a friend’s gathering, I sat quietly on the sofa. Suddenly, my husband, Professor Alistair Berini, dropped to his knees before me with a thud. His face was contorted in a pained expression as he spoke. He said Celeste and I were a match for a heart transplant, and the surgery had to happen immediately. I froze, though deep down, I felt no surprise. I softly reminded him that everyone only has one heart. He instantly promised he’d arrange for the best surgeons in New York to install an artificial heart for me. I touched my belly, telling him I was three months away from giving birth. But he told me to give up this child first, saying there would be others later. As I sat there in a daze, Celeste’s clear, bright laughter reached my ears. She told my husband, “Happy April Fool’s Day!” and that the successful match was just a prank, never expecting he’d actually come to beg me. The friends around us erupted in cheerful chatter, teasing her about how awkward her joke was. Someone even quipped that if Celeste had claimed to be a match for them, Asher would have probably already dragged them to the operating table. Everyone was laughing. I alone sat in silence. After the party ended, I quietly took out my phone and booked an abortion for the next day. … Alistair had never truly been angry with Celeste. For his delicate, sickly student, he had always treated her with kid gloves, afraid to even raise his voice. But this time, after he rose from his knees, his face was uncharacteristically grim. The boisterous crowd grew quiet, sensing the shift. The air thickened. Someone quietly nudged Celeste. “You crossed a line with this prank, hitting a nerve with Professor Berini.” “He’s infamous for being devoted to his wife. The year he started teaching, a colleague made an offhand joke about Aurora, and Alistair beat him so badly he ended up in the hospital.” Celeste froze, then tears welled in her eyes. She carefully tugged at Alistair’s sleeve. “I’m so sorry, Professor Berini, it’s April Fool’s, I was just trying to play a joke.” When he didn’t speak, she turned to me, sniffling. “Mrs. Berini, I didn’t mean it. If you’re angry, scold me, I deserve it.” Friends quickly intervened, trying to smooth things over. “This girl is just a bit thoughtless, didn’t think before she joked. You two shouldn’t take it to heart.” “Exactly, Alistair. She’s been your star student for three years, even got a mention in your thesis acknowledgements recently. You can’t let an April Fool’s joke ruin everything.” Alistair’s expression finally softened a little. He reached up, gently wiping away the tears at the corner of her eye. “Don’t make jokes like that again.” Celeste nodded profusely. He then looked at me, a hint of apology in his voice. “I’m sorry, Aurora, I came to you for help before I even verified the information.” Such a massive thing as a heart transplant, casually wrapped up in “a little help.” It wasn’t the first time. Whenever something involved Celeste, Professor Berini, usually so clear-headed and rational, became remarkably emotional and vague. He would, in the dead of winter night, drive eight hundred miles to coastal cities because she mentioned menstrual cramps. When asked about it, he’d offer a helpless shrug: “The girl isn’t well, I worry about her.” But I was at home, five months pregnant, waiting through a cold, lonely night. He didn’t worry about me. I was in agony, speechless from constant fetal movements. He didn’t worry about me. My morning sickness, contractions, swelling, hair loss – none of it seemed to concern him. Facing me, he was always as rational as a machine: “Aurora, carrying a life is naturally difficult. It’ll be better once the baby’s born.” I became irritable, prone to outbursts, but he dismissed it as pregnancy hormones, offering a few casual words of comfort before retreating to his study. Each time, I’d force myself to suppress the urge to disturb his work. But that research paper, the one he’d poured five years of his life into, actually mentioned Celeste in the first line of the acknowledgements. A mere undergraduate student with, arguably, no professional competence. I only found out when the news broke. In the interview video, Alistair spoke with casual indifference. “In my five years of teaching, Celeste isn’t the most talented student I’ve seen. But she is certainly the most resilient.” “I’m grateful she appeared in my life. She gave me the courage to continue my research.” 2 That day, I accidentally shattered my favorite vase. When Alistair saw it, he simply calmly instructed the housekeeper to clean up the mess. But that vase, he and I had crafted it together in a small ceramics studio during the year we were most deeply in love. He’d even earnestly declared it would be a family heirloom. “Maybe… maybe I can put it back together.” I knelt on the floor, trembling, trying to piece together the tiny fragments. He frowned, pulling me up. “It’s just a cheap vase, Aurora, it’s nothing.” My eyes welled up, but his gaze fell to my belly. “Is the baby bothering you again?” I tried to reassure myself, telling myself he was a logical man, and it was perfectly normal for him not to care about such sentimental keepsakes. But that evening, when I went to his study to bring him fruit, I saw a locked, transparent display case. Inside, carefully preserved, was a twenty-dollar fountain pen Celeste had given him, the kind you buy at a stationery store. It was as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over my head. I yelled at him, and even smashed open the cabinet, throwing the pen fiercely into the trash. But in the next second, he retrieved it as if it were a precious treasure. When he looked back at me, Alistair’s eyes were full of impatience. “Aurora, look in the mirror. See how much you resemble a shrew right now!” “You broke the vase yourself today. What exactly are you blaming me for?” I made him swear to God that he hadn’t fallen for Celeste. If he had, then neither of us would find peace. Alistair, the staunch materialist, hesitated. After a long moment, he finally spoke. “Yes, I have fallen for her.” “But we haven’t crossed a line, and we won’t. You don’t need to act like you’ve suffered some terrible injustice.” Tears streamed down my face. He sighed, reaching up to smooth my disheveled hair. “Aurora, we’ve been together for eleven years. There’s no novelty left.” “To be frank, when I kiss you, it feels like I’m just pressing my own lips together.” “Sometimes I even regret marrying you abroad right after college, but back then, I never imagined I’d fall for someone else a decade later.” He was the one who once lit up the entire city with fireworks to woo me. Now, he was the one looking down, coldly discussing his change of heart. “Celeste has a vibrant, lively personality, unlike your subdued nature.” “She loves to play pranks, she loves watching silly romance movies, she loves feeding stray kittens by the roadside.” “Even though these are all boring things you used to enjoy, when she does them, I find them incredibly endearing. I can’t help but be drawn to her.” Finally, he lit a cigarette, his voice gentle yet cruel. “As long as you’re willing, the position of Mrs. Berini will always be yours. But you must accept that my heart belongs only to her.” After that night, I plunged into a continuous spiral of breakdown and emotional turmoil, crying every day until my eyes were swollen and red. I tried to detach myself, deliberately ignoring his late nights, his repeated absences from my prenatal appointments, his taking Celeste on vacation to Hawaii. But it was always just me lying to myself. Until today, when he knelt before me in front of everyone, begging me to give my heart to Celeste, even willing to sacrifice our six-month-old child. I suddenly felt this marriage was utterly pointless. 3 “Mrs. Berini, I know I was wrong, please forgive me.” Celeste’s voice was much more confident now than before, a subtle, hard-to-miss smirk hidden in her eyes. Someone chimed in, “Aurora, Celeste didn’t mean any harm. She’s always been a bit wild with her jokes. She even said something about wanting to marry Professor Berini when she was drunk once.” At that remark, the atmosphere instantly went silent. The person slapped a hand over their mouth in chagrin. “I didn’t mean it like that! I meant she just doesn’t think before she speaks. Who doesn’t know you and Asher have been together for years, solid as a rock? There’s no room for anyone else!” I gave a silent, wry smile, then looked at Celeste. “It’s fine. I don’t blame you.” Everyone visibly relaxed. The next second, I continued. “Alistair and I are getting divorced soon. Consider this an early congratulations on getting what you wanted.” “Aurora!” Alistair’s face darkened. “Don’t talk nonsense in front of all these people.” I found it ironic. “You can beg me in front of all these people to give my heart to Celeste, but I can’t even mention divorce?” He frowned. “It was just an April Fool’s joke. What’s the big deal?” “Celeste has already apologized, and I’ve spoken to her. If you keep making a scene, it’s just going to make things awkward for everyone!” Our friends also started to advise me. “Calm down, Aurora. You’re pregnant, don’t let this trivial matter hurt your marriage.” “Exactly. We all saw how much Asher cared about you earlier. He never speaks to Celeste that harshly.” At their words, I slowly looked at Alistair, my voice surprisingly calm. “You weren’t angry because of me just now. You were angry because Celeste joked about her match, and you were disappointed when you heard the truth.” He faltered slightly. A moment later, a flicker of irritation crossed his brow. “Please, I’m begging you, can we not talk about this here?” “You might be shameless, but Celeste isn’t.” A wave of exhaustion washed over me. I closed my eyes briefly, then whispered, “Fine. See you at the courthouse next Monday.” As I stood to leave, Celeste suddenly knelt before me. “Mrs. Berini, please don’t be angry with Professor Berini, okay? He just wants me to have a healthy body.” I stared coldly at the girl, whose face was streaked with tears, and scoffed. “You went to all this trouble to make that joke, proving your place in Alistair’s heart. You must be quite pleased now.” She suddenly looked deeply humiliated, her face turning ashen. I averted my gaze, walking around her to leave. The next second, I heard a cold, biting voice. “Aurora, don’t forget that Mom is still at Berini Memorial Hospital.” My steps halted abruptly. Never in my life did I imagine Alistair would use my mother to threaten me. After a long silence, I forced a smile, helping Celeste to her feet. “Everything I said just now was a joke. I don’t blame you.” Her voice was choked. “That’s good. I was so scared I’d cause trouble for Professor Berini.” The charade ended there. Alistair drove me home. On the way, he uncharacteristically offered an explanation. “I was just forced to scare you back there; I wouldn’t actually do anything to Mom.” “I really put you through a lot today. As compensation, I’ll accompany you to your prenatal checkup tomorrow.” “Aurora, we’ve been together for over a decade. I’m not completely devoid of feelings for you. If possible, I hope you and Celeste can get along.” I leaned against the car window, perfectly calm. “What I said today was serious.” “Alistair, let’s get a divorce. From now on, your business with her has nothing to do with me.” 4 The air hung silent for two seconds. He suddenly let out a low chuckle. “This is the seventh time you’ve brought up divorce since you got pregnant. Next time you throw a tantrum, try some new tactics.” As he finished speaking, his phone rang sharply in the car. He answered the call, then slammed on the brakes. “You get out here. Celeste is having an episode; I need to get back to her.” I looked at the pouring rain outside the window, paused, and opened the car door. His urgent voice came from behind me. “Find somewhere to shelter from the rain and wait. I’ll take her to the hospital and come back for you!” Late at night, in a downpour, finding a taxi was impossible. I waited in a convenience store until three in the morning before finally getting a ride home. Three hours of waiting – enough time for Alistair to take Celeste to the hospital and back ten times over. Not enough time for him to take his six-month pregnant wife home. … In the morning, I went to the hospital. The doctor looked gravely at the test results in her hand. “Miss Berini, given your current physical condition, undergoing an induced abortion would likely mean you won’t be able to conceive again in the future.” “If you confirm, please sign here.” I was naturally prone to difficulty conceiving. At twenty-three, I’d had a child once before. Alistair was just starting to make a name for himself in the research world back then. During his busiest period, I traveled with him through three different countries in a single week, eventually collapsing from exhaustion. I woke up in the hospital to learn I was a month pregnant, but the prolonged travel had caused a miscarriage. That was the first time I saw Alistair cry. He held me, heartbroken, apologizing profusely. “I’m so sorry, Aurora, it’s all my fault for not taking care of you, I’m so sorry…” “We’ll have another one someday, we will.” Six years. Six years of praying at temples, monthly hospital check-ups, all to finally welcome this child. But everything had changed. I signed the papers in silence, following the nurse to the ward, only to unexpectedly run into Celeste. Her face was flushed with health, showing no signs of the “episode” Alistair had mentioned. “Mrs. Berini, are you here for a prenatal checkup alone? Why isn’t Professor Berini with you?” The next second, her lips curved into a smile. “Oh, I almost forgot. He’s helping me get my period pain medication.” “He’s really making too much of a fuss. It’s just normal menstrual cramps, but he insists on bringing me to the hospital for a check-up.” “Last night, too, I just casually mentioned we were a match, and I never expected he’d actually want you to give me your heart.” Seeing no reaction from me, she looked a little annoyed. “I’m sorry, I seem to have upset you again.” Alistair, who had just arrived, overheard her. He frowned, stepping in front of her protectively. “Aurora, can’t you just leave Celeste alone? She’s very weak right now!” I didn’t speak, simply walked around them. Alistair watched my retreating back, and his heart inexplicably skipped a beat. He stopped the nurse. “Where are you going?” The nurse politely replied, “Sir, we cannot disclose patient privacy.” He wanted to press further, but Celeste stopped him. “Where else would she go? For a prenatal checkup, obviously.” “Professor Berini, you promised to go see a movie with me today. Let’s go.” … During the two days I was hospitalized, I received eighteen missed calls from Alistair. In his texts, he sounded frustrated and angry. “Why aren’t you home and why aren’t you answering your phone? There’s a limit to throwing tantrums; this just makes me more annoyed.” “I’m going on a business trip to Europe soon. Let me know if there’s anything you want.” “How were your prenatal checkup results? Everything alright?” I texted back. “Don’t forget, courthouse tomorrow.” His reply was instant. “Are you serious?” “Fine. Just don’t regret it later and come up with some excuse about not feeling well.” The next day at nine, I waited outside the courthouse. Half an hour later, Alistair finally arrived. He slowly got out of his car, but the moment his eyes landed on me, he froze, staring blankly at my flat stomach. “…Aurora, where’s the baby?”

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That day, I decided to sleep apart from my wife after confirming her betrayal. For three months, I quietly gathered evidence. When I entered her room again, she hid her phone and pretended to sleep, her voice nervous: “I’m tired, I want to sleep.” I sat calmly on the bed. “We need to talk.” She replied impatiently: “What’s there to talk about? Go find someone else if you want. I’m just not in the mood.” I stayed calm: “If I did, what would you be here for? Have you ever shared the household expenses? Have you ever given me emotional support? I handle everything here. What do I need you for if I found someone else?” Victoria turned sharply: “What do you want?” “A divorce,” I answered directly. She sat up, stunned. “Daniel Huie, you’d divorce me just because I won’t let you touch me?” She grew louder: “You say I don’t contribute financially or emotionally—but whose child is this? Did he just appear out of thin air?” I looked straight at her and said clearly: “Save that ‘child’ excuse for the real father. “Do you think I am?” … “Daniel Huie, you bastard!” Victoria threw a pillow at me. “You’re insulting my character.” “Victoria, we’re both adults. We have to take responsibility for our actions.” “Do you think I’d spread rumors and shame myself without any proof?” “Fine, then show me the proof. If you can, I’ll agree to a divorce.” I slapped the paternity test report onto her face, “Open your damn eyes and see for yourself.” Victoria turned on the light, looking at the paternity test report. “Daniel, you actually did a paternity test on the child behind my back. You don’t trust me that much?” I glanced at her, “Go wash your face, calm down and rephrase your words. I don’t think what you’re saying right now makes any sense.” “You have absolutely no trust in me, so there’s really no point in continuing this marriage.” Victoria angrily began packing her things. About fifteen minutes later, she slammed the door shut and left. This wasn’t uncommon; in the past, no matter what the argument was about, she would leave home. She might be gone for a day, or two or three days. Blocking all contact, her emotional outbursts were maddening. To maintain this family, I was always careful, afraid of doing anything that might displease her. Even intimate matters between us, I endured again and again. But today, the moment she walked out, I immediately blocked and deleted all her contact information. Go look for her? No way. We’ll see if she comes back first to agree to a divorce, or if my court summons for divorce reaches her first. Not long after she left, I woke the child. I knew the child was innocent, but the moment I learned the truth, I couldn’t help but see him differently. There was no way I could continue pretending nothing happened and raise someone else’s child. I tried my best to control my emotions, made up an excuse for the child, and sent him to his grandma’s house that very night. My mother-in-law asked, “Daniel, the child has school tomorrow, why are you sending him over in the middle of the night?” I said nothing, merely dropping a paternity test report. Tonight, Victoria’s family home would likely not be peaceful. 2. The next morning, as soon as I got up, Victoria was already busy in the kitchen. Seven years of marriage, and it was the first time I’d seen her cook. When she brought breakfast to the table, it was clear this was far from her first time cooking. It looked and smelled delicious, I just wondered for whom she’d displayed her culinary skills before. She wore a chef’s apron and sat by the table, waiting, but I didn’t take my seat. After washing up, I placed the divorce agreement on the dining table. She grabbed my hand, “Honey, aren’t you going to ask me where I was last night?” “I only care about the whereabouts of the person I love. You’re not that person.” She started to cry, silently weeping, looking genuinely pitiful. I used to fall for this, but now my heart was completely unmoved. “Must it be a divorce?” “Yes.” “Honey, yesterday I went to my mom’s. When I got back in the middle of the night, my dad almost had an attack just suspecting we had an argument.” “If he knew I was divorcing, his health couldn’t take it.” “What does that have to do with me?” “How can you be so heartless?” Seeing Victoria still putting on an act in front of me, I directly exposed her lie. “Haven’t you noticed the child isn’t home? Yesterday I sent him to your mom’s, didn’t you see him?” Victoria’s expression froze, “I didn’t know how to tell my family, but my dad’s health is a fact, he can’t handle stress, that’s why I didn’t dare go home in the middle of the night.” She complained a bit, “You know he’s not well, how could you send the child over in the middle of the night?” I looked at her, “Think before you speak. You’re the one who cheated. Your cheating led to me sending the child over. You’re the real culprit causing your dad’s distress.” “What? Did you think your dad would be okay with it when you were cheating?” “I didn’t cheat.” Victoria cried even harder, “You can’t accuse me falsely.” “You know whether you’re falsely accused or not. I’ll give you three days to think. If you don’t agree to a consensual divorce, I’ll file a lawsuit.” “Also, pack your things and move out today. I find you disgusting.” Ignoring Victoria’s weeping, I got up and left. I had more important things to do today. Christopher Vance, an overseas master’s graduate, Director of Planning at Starstream Media Group. The man who put horns on my head. Today, I was going to confront him. Neither the adulterous dog nor the unfaithful bitch should be spared in this battle. To see this busy man required an appointment. I had the front desk contact Christopher, only mentioning my name, and he agreed to meet. In Christopher’s office, I looked at him, “Do I need to introduce myself?” “Anyone who doesn’t know Daniel Huie, the legendary Operations Director of Lux Media Group, doesn’t belong in this industry.” Christopher extended his hand, “Mr. Huie, I hope you’re here to discuss a partnership this time.” I didn’t shake his hand, “Have you sensed my intention?” Christopher gave an awkward laugh, “With your status, Mr. Huie, you certainly aren’t short of women. Is this really necessary?” “Then let me have some fun with your wife.” Christopher’s face darkened. He leaned back in his chair, “I admit it’s immoral to mess with a married woman.” He narrowed his eyes at me, “But… is it against the law?” “Mr. Huie, your business acumen in the industry is well-known. You’re this good?” He gave me a thumbs up. “However, when it comes to marriage, you’re this.” He pointed his pinky finger downwards, “Victoria learned a lot of tricks from me. Has she tried any on you?” 3. “Do you really want to hit me?” “Too bad for you, being with your wife isn’t against the law, but hitting someone is.” Christopher smirked, but didn’t actually laugh. Yet this silent provocation and mockery was clearly more infuriating. Unfortunately, he didn’t detect any anger on my face. I calmly took out a USB drive and pushed it towards him, “Take a look first. I believe you’ll change your tone when you talk to me.” I don’t fight battles I’m not sure of. I came here not to humiliate myself. I first saw Christopher three months ago at a business summit. At the time, I felt he looked very much like my son, more and more so the longer I looked. Afterward, I did a paternity test, confirming the child wasn’t mine. I used these three months to conduct extensive investigations. I had thoroughly gathered Christopher’s information. He and Victoria were high school classmates; he later studied overseas. After returning to the country, he married into the Hayes family, becoming a live-in son-in-law to a wealthy family. Ava Hayes, the heiress of Starstream Media Group, was Christopher’s wife. And he wasn’t just having an inappropriate relationship with Victoria; the USB drive held the evidence. Some of the videos were perfectly filmed, clearly documenting Christopher’s entire affair. Christopher’s face grew paler and paler. “If Ms. Hayes sees these videos, what do you think her reaction will be?” Christopher wiped the sweat from his forehead, “Daniel, it takes two to tango. I admit I’m a scumbag, but Victoria is no angel either.” “She was the one who contacted me first.” “We’re both men, you should understand it’s hard to refuse a woman throwing herself at you.” I asked, “Since we’re both men, don’t you understand what it feels like to be cheated on?” Christopher’s face grew even darker; he understood. Because he was a live-in son-in-law, he couldn’t control Ava Hayes. Ava had many lovers, but reality was cruel, their status and position were unequal. Ava could play around outside, but he couldn’t. Perhaps they had an agreement to live separate lives, but with the videos in my hands, things were different. If I exposed these videos, it would be a slap in Ava’s face, and she would have to react. Christopher clearly understood this. “Daniel, name your price, anything within my capabilities, I’ll definitely compensate.” I glanced at the teacup; he hastily poured water. “I’ve been reading a lot of CEO romance novels lately, and though I’m not a CEO, I want to experience what it’s like to have someone kneel at my feet.” Christopher’s face was grim, but he still knelt. Slap, slap, slap… I hit Christopher several times with both hands, “Mr. Vance, is it against the law for me to hit someone?” 4. Christopher forced a smile, “It’s illegal for others to hit me, but for you, Daniel, to hit me, that means you respect me.” “Well said, here are a few more for you.” Slap, slap, slap… Christopher dared not dodge, enduring several slaps. I looked down at him, “Now let’s talk business. I checked Victoria’s bank statements. Over the years, she’s transferred a total of one million and six thousand to you. Does that sound right?” Christopher’s face was grim, “That’s right.” “I won’t ask for much interest, just round it up to one point two million. Any problem?” “No problem, absolutely no problem.” Christopher answered quickly. “How long will it take to transfer?” “Three days, three days at most.” “Such a good boy, I almost can’t bear to hit you.” I said, giving him a few more slaps before getting up and walking out. “Daniel, the videos…” I turned back, “Depends on your performance.” Christopher’s face was grim, but he could only watch me leave. Leaving Christopher’s office, I rushed to work. Any anger I had was spent the day I discovered my son wasn’t mine. Now it was about recovering my financial losses and getting my life back on track. Victoria was destined to be a thing of the past. But I didn’t expect Victoria to still be at home after work that day. Not only her, but my parents and her parents were all there. Both sets of parents had prepared a lavish meal, with two good bottles of wine on the table. Victoria’s eyes were red, indicating she had cried for a long time. “Daniel, we’ve just been waiting for you.” Victoria hurried towards me, wanting to help me take off my coat. I disdainfully avoided her. It seemed she had called both sets of parents together. I was curious about what was to come; I wanted to see what she intended to do by bringing everyone together. I went over, greeted both sets of parents, and took my seat. Victoria quickly came and sat beside me. She picked up a piece of braised pork intestine and put it in my bowl, “This is your favorite, try it.” I directly threw the bowl, along with its contents, onto the floor. The atmosphere instantly became tense. My dad glared at me, “Is this never going to end?” Victoria quickly interjected, “Dad, it’s my fault, don’t blame Daniel, it’s all my fault.” She said this while wiping away tears, as if she had suffered a great injustice. “Daniel, Victoria told us everything.” My mom looked at me and continued, “This isn’t Victoria’s fault.” “Your parents understand you’re upset, but Victoria is the victim. You’re her husband, you should be more understanding.” “Victim?” I looked at Victoria in surprise, “I’m a bit confused, can you tell me what she said?” My mom looked at Victoria, “Victoria, haven’t you told Daniel yet?” “I… I…” Victoria looked at me then lowered her head, “I don’t know how to tell him, and I’m afraid he won’t believe me if I do.” “Don’t worry, your dad and I know you’re a good child.” My mom comforted her, “Since you’re uncomfortable saying it, I’ll tell him.” “Daniel, the child is indeed not yours, but it wasn’t Victoria’s intention.” “The year you got married, her classmates all attended the wedding, and afterward she gathered with her classmates again.” “As a result, some beast took the opportunity to get her drunk. Victoria was violated after drinking.” “Victoria had just married you; she was afraid to face this, and even more afraid to tell you. No one expected her to get pregnant with the other man’s child.” My mother’s expression was not good when she spoke, clearly she also found it hard to accept. She continued, “No one wants something like this to happen, and it’s understandable that Victoria was afraid to tell you then.” I stared at Victoria with a grim face. Victoria’s tears flowed even harder, “Daniel, I’m truly sorry, but I was really too scared at the time, afraid that if I told you, you’d divorce me.” I asked coldly, “Who was that beast?” Both sets of parents also looked at Victoria. I spoke again, “I have the right to know who that beast who hurt you was. If possible, I’d like to use my current connections to make him pay.” My mother-in-law quickly said, “Victoria, Daniel has a lot of connections now. Tell Daniel, maybe he can really help you get revenge.” “I… I…” Victoria stammered, her crying growing louder. “You won’t say, are you trying to protect him?” “Daniel, how can you say that?” My dad slammed the table. “Victoria doesn’t want to recall that past, it’s understandable.” My mom quickly intervened, “Let’s eat first, we can talk when Victoria is ready.” I said nothing, quietly took out my phone and called Christopher Vance. “Come to my place. I don’t need to tell you the address, do I?”

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Our seventh wedding anniversary. The hospital called, pulling me in for an emergency C-section. The Chief of Staff, Mr. Hill, his face grim, personally warned me: The patient was someone very important’s beloved. The surgery had to be flawless, or the entire hospital would face the consequences. I frowned, reviewing her chart. I’d always thought power players in this town, like my husband Asher, were devoted to their wives. A “beloved” who wasn’t his wife? That stung. The surgery was a success. The incision, neat and clean, was a testament to my skill. Just as I was letting out a relieved breath, a swarm of men in dark suits burst in. They shoved me roughly to my knees, right outside the patient’s room. Then, a voice, hauntingly familiar, pierced the air, sending a chill straight to my bones. “My wife says you hurt her during surgery. You’ll stay on your knees all night to atone.” Through the window, I saw him. My husband, Asher Hill, cradling a newborn, his eyes red-rimmed with tender concern. He was my husband, Asher Hill. And the woman in the hospital bed? The one he claimed he’d cut ties with three years ago. … 1 Six hours of surgery had already drained every ounce of my energy. The cold seeping into my knees was nothing compared to the icy stab in my heart. My lips parted, but no words came out. All I could do was stare blankly into the room. Asher’s eyes were bloodshot as he leaned over, pressing a kiss to the girl’s forehead. “Sweetheart, our daughter is beautiful.” “Thank you for this precious gift on our three-year anniversary.” Tears splattered onto the pristine hospital floor. So, Asher had never truly ended things with her. All those late nights he supposedly spent “at the office,” were they spent with her instead? The girl on the bed, her voice sickly sweet, grated on my nerves. It was just like Asher’s birthday, years ago. I’d swapped shifts with a colleague, rushing home early to surprise him. But when I pushed open our door, Asher was tangled naked with a stranger. I’d gone wild, flinging the birthday cake at them. Asher had dragged the girl to her knees, his eyes wild with a desperate, bloodshot plea. “Aurora, I’m so sorry. My friends got me wasted and brought her to my bed.” “I was drunk, I didn’t know who she was…” The girl, trembling, reached for my hand, trying to excuse Asher. “Mrs. Hill, it was my fault. I needed money, I seduced him, I even drugged his drink.” That night, Asher whisked the girl away at lightning speed, then tore into his buddies who’d allegedly set him up. He wrote a ten-page apology by hand, then knelt outside my bedroom door for an entire month. It even reached Asher’s mother. With tears in her eyes, she begged me to give him another chance. “Aurora, he can’t live without you. He’ll fall apart.” I locked myself in our room for three days and three nights, convinced I couldn’t sever the deep, searing love I felt for him. I forgave Asher. But I also warned him: if there was ever a next time, I would vanish from his life forever. Daylight broke, and the bodyguards finally let me go. Chief Hill, shaking his head, told me to pack my things and leave the hospital. I drifted home like a ghost, every muscle aching, my spirit a fragile thread. The candles on the dining table had burned down, the steak was cold. A tight, sickening ache filled my chest. I collapsed onto the floor, my eyes drawn to the enormous wedding photo on the wall. Asher in that picture, his gaze brimming with devotion, was the exact same man I’d seen doting on Felicity in the hospital room last night. Felicity pouted, asking for water. He carefully checked the temperature, then brought the glass to her lips. Felicity murmured her legs ached. He immediately searched online for how to massage a new mother. My eyes were vacant, tears streaming down my face, my heart spasming uncontrollably. Seven years of shared love, now reduced to ashes. Asher, I don’t want you anymore. 2 I packed a small bag, then sat alone until darkness fell. During that time, I called Asher over a dozen times. A part of me still couldn’t let it go. I wanted to ask him, face-to-face, how he could love two people at once. How could he lull me to sleep, then still have the energy to sneak off to Felicity? But the only response was a cold, dismissive text: “Don’t be silly. I’ll be home tonight to be with you.” Close to midnight, the lock clicked. Asher, seeing my red eyes, stiffened. He rushed to me, pulling me into his arms, feeling my ice-cold hands and feet. “Didn’t I tell you not to wait up for me anymore?” “You always make me worry, sweetheart.” Asher tucked me into bed, holding me tight, trying to warm me with his body heat. Years ago, before he made it big, we lived in a drafty, leaky apartment. Nights were brutally cold. Asher would hold me just like this, piling every warm piece of clothing onto me, his voice choked with promises. “Aurora, I’ll never let you suffer like this again.” Now, we had more money than we knew what to do with, our house warm year-round. But why was my heart growing colder by the day? My throat was raw and dry, and I couldn’t stop the tears. I was about to demand when he’d changed, when the strong scent of baby formula on him hit me. My stomach churned, and I pushed Asher away, rushing to the bathroom. In the mirror, my face was ghostly pale, a strange unease settling in my gut. Asher followed, gently patting my back, pulling out his phone to call our family doctor. “My wife isn’t feeling well. Be here in five minutes.” My hand instinctively went to my slightly swollen belly. I prayed there wasn’t a baby to complicate my plans. The doctor arrived quickly. After a brief check-up, he handed me a pregnancy test. “Mrs. Hill, have you been losing your appetite, feeling nauseous lately?” “It might be early pregnancy…” Asher’s eyes lit up, shining with a sudden, fierce hope. He practically dragged me into the bathroom. “Aurora, are we going to have a baby?” My fingers trembled, my heart threatening to burst from my chest. About three minutes later, two distinct lines appeared on the pregnancy test. Asher’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, his lips quivering uncontrollably. “Aurora, we’re having a baby.” He immediately instructed the family doctor to fill our house with supplements and delved into thick stacks of pregnancy guides. I gave a bitter smile, unable to grasp why this child had arrived at such an utterly wrong time. Years ago, while helping Asher with deliveries, we’d been in a terrible car accident. I’d instinctively shielded him with my body, suffering severe injuries that landed me in the ER. That’s when we lost our first child. The doctors said my uterine lining was thin, and it would be very difficult to conceive again after the miscarriage. Later, as Asher’s career took off, I started regulating my body, trying to get pregnant. Five years passed with no luck. And now, just when I’d caught him cheating, just when I was planning to leave, a tiny life was growing inside me. But what could I do? Let this child grow up without a father? Be ostracized in a single-parent family? I looked at Asher, a last sliver of hope in my voice. If he just confessed, I could convince myself to forgive him one more time. “Asher, is there anything you want to…” The insistent ringing of his phone cut me off. Asher glanced at me guiltily, his fingers flying across the screen. He came over, hugged me, his voice muffled. “Something urgent came up at the office. I need to go make money to support you and the baby.” I grabbed Asher’s hand, my throat tight. “Can you give me three minutes?” His phone continued to ring. He gave a helpless smile. “We can talk about it when I get back. Tomorrow, I’ll spend the whole day with you.” Half an hour after I watched Asher leave, a text message from an unknown number arrived. The photo showed the man who supposedly went to the office, kissing the girl’s lips, while the baby in their arms smiled at the camera. 3 Some questions, I realized, didn’t need answers. Thankfully, Asher had been good to me over the years. The zeros in my bank account were almost uncountable – enough for me to raise a child alone, comfortably. I stroked my belly, tears splashing onto my hand. “Baby, from now on, it’s just you and me.” Tonight’s flights were sold out. I only managed to book one for tomorrow night to Los Angeles. All night, my phone pinged with a new photo every ten minutes. Asher had bought the girl a villa, right in our own neighborhood. The photos showed Asher holding the girl’s hand, helping her write calligraphy. Amidst the blurred ink, I zoomed in, making out the words on the red banner: “A Happy Family of Three.” A dull ache started in my lower abdomen, and my hand slipped, losing its grip. The phone crashed to the floor, its screen fracturing into a spiderweb of cracks. It lit up, displaying a picture of Asher and me, our first kiss, the moment we fell in love. I went insane, smashing the phone to bits, then tearing down the photo wall opposite our bed. Over a thousand pictures, Asher always saying “I love you” each time the camera clicked. But he lied to me… how can you love someone and still seek out another? How could he bear to break my heart? I shredded every photo of us, tossed out the ceramic mugs we’d made together. As the sun rose, I slipped off my wedding ring, selling every piece of jewelry Asher had ever given me. Our once warm room became hollow. Just as I finished tidying the last remnants, Asher finally came home. He carried countless elegant gift bags, then noticed the empty space on the wall. “Aurora, where’s our wedding photo?” I looked at him with cold eyes, my voice soft. “The frame broke. I sent it to be repaired.” Asher’s tensed shoulders relaxed. He came to my side, tentatively speaking. “Have you been short on cash lately? A friend said they received some jewelry engraved with our names.” He opened a box, revealing everything I’d just sold. The pink diamond earrings, the first luxury item he’d bought me with his first big paycheck. To commemorate it, Asher had even hired a professional engraver to carve our names into them. I glanced at them indifferently, my voice flat. “Must have accidentally packed them with some other things I was getting rid of.” Asher rummaged through the glittering array of jewelry and pulled out a simple diamond ring. The diamond was tiny, almost unnoticeable. But it was the best Asher could afford back then, a symbol of his deepest love for me. Asher gently stroked my head, his tone indulgent. “My little scatterbrain, how could you lose your wedding ring?” He leaned down, kissing my ring finger, then slipped the ring back on. Afterwards, he transferred fifty million into my bank account. “If you need money, just tell your husband. Don’t try to handle everything alone.” “Aurora, try to rely on me more.” I didn’t say a word, feeling like a hollow shell from which the soul had been sucked out. These gifts were things he’d bought while out with Felicity. Not because he genuinely wanted to give them to me, but because someone had reminded him. Asher, how much genuine affection do you still hold for me? The entire day, Asher turned off his phone and stayed with me, almost like we were back in our dating days. He cooked my favorite century egg and lean pork congee, and meticulously followed a blogger’s recipes for my pregnancy meals. Time ticked by, and my app reminded me it was time to leave. I watched the busy Asher, unable to find an excuse to get rid of him. Just then, the doorbell rang.

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I’m a voice-over enthusiast, and I recently started an online relationship. The day we were finally supposed to meet in person was fast approaching when my roommate suddenly approached me. With a serious expression, she tried to talk me out of it, saying men with good voices usually weren’t much to look at. She even worried about me going alone and offered to go meet him in my place. Just then, some strange text appeared before my eyes, like comments on a movie scene. The text said things like, “The female lead is so smart, she just snatched the perfect male lead,” and scoffed, “The supporting female character was too scared to go herself, so the female lead got her chance.” It even mentioned later how “the clownish supporting character regretted it when she saw the handsome guy, but the male lead completely ignored her.” Seeing my roommate’s determined look, an idea sparked in my mind. I quietly messaged my online boyfriend: “Change of plans, could you come tomorrow instead?” 1. “Sweetheart, I’ve already booked my ticket.” My online boyfriend suddenly sent me a message, along with a picture of his flight arriving near A University this afternoon. “Sweetheart, remember to pick me up.” I tapped the voice message, and the man’s deep, captivating voice instantly flowed into my left ear, a tingling sensation that shot straight to my brain. So good to hear. Lisa’s voice was just too perfect. My face involuntarily flushed. I hurried to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face. As I looked up, I saw my plain face in the mirror. Not ugly, exactly. Just not pretty, very ordinary-looking. A knot of anxiety tightened in my chest. Would Lisa… look down on me? Find me unattractive? My gut told me he wasn’t that kind of person. But thinking of his incredible voice, I felt a pang of inadequacy. For a moment, I wavered. I didn’t reply to Lisa’s message immediately. Normally, we’d reply to each other in an instant. Nothing was ever left for later. So, Lisa quickly sensed something was off. He tentatively asked, “Sweetheart, are you not ready yet?” “It’s okay.” “Just being yourself is perfect, don’t be scared.” Afraid I’d feel guilty, Lisa quickly added that last bit. Just then, my roommate, Ashley Hayes, walked into the dorm, laden with gifts. Our eyes met, and sparks flew. I knew she’d heard. “Summer Brooks, have I ever told you that online relationships are unreliable and you should break up with him already?” Ashley frowned, her beautiful brows furrowed, staring at me with displeasure. She really lived up to her reputation as the campus queen. Even when she was angry, she looked stunning. But I wasn’t like her; I didn’t have a string of admirers. My social anxiety was severe, making me afraid to even step outside. Remembering how good Lisa was, I instinctively tried to defend him, “Lisa, he…” “Don’t you know how many female students get kidnapped because of online dating? Besides, a guy with a nice voice doesn’t necessarily mean he’s handsome, why are you so obsessed?” She impatiently cut me off, then, as if an idea struck her, she blinked her pretty eyes, “How about this, I’ll go meet him in your place today and see if he’s a demon or an angel!” In truth, no matter what Lisa looked like, I wouldn’t break up with him. But I wasn’t sure if he’d accept me. After all, not everyone was a voice-over enthusiast. As I was pondering the credibility of her words, text suddenly flashed before my eyes: “Tsk, this supporting character is so dramatic, online dating but too scared to meet up, isn’t she just messing with him?” “Hehehe, no worries, no worries, our female lead is super smart, after she goes to meet him, she’ll fall in love at first sight with the male lead and easily reel him in~” “Well, our female lead is a magnet for men~ Even the school’s top jock fell for her, let alone some small-time streamer.” “LOL, the supporting character will regret it once she knows how handsome the male lead is, she’ll beg the female lead to give her boyfriend back, but the male lead won’t even bat an eye at her, what a clown!” Seeing those negative comments pop up, I couldn’t help but freeze. My mind was a jumble. 2. Six months ago. I met Lisa in a game. That day, I had a seven-game losing streak and my lane was even stolen. I was simultaneously crying hysterically and cursing up a storm. I hadn’t noticed, though, that my voice chat was open to the entire team. Everyone listened to me rage for a whole game. “Waaah, waaaah, can’t you see I pre-picked? What are you stealing for, you jerk?” “So eager to die, do you want me to help you?” There were many more unpleasant things I said. But when the mid-lane fell into danger, my hands moved faster than my brain. Even as teammates spammed the ‘retreat’ signal, I instinctively rushed to save him. The mid-laner immediately got a penta-kill against the enemy. I suddenly fell silent, no longer cursing. But he opened his mic and chuckled softly, “Support, your voice is quite nice.” “Can I add you as a friend?” At that moment, all I wanted to do was post on Reddit asking, “What do you do when you fall in love with your arch-nemesis?” Lisa’s voice was inexplicably captivating. I, as if possessed, accepted his friend request and added him on Messenger. From then on, he would flirt with me constantly. “Can I invite you to a game?” “I just sang a song, want to hear it?” “Don’t misunderstand, it’s just a song exclusively for you.” “The weather’s great today. I mean, how are you? Or rather, can I be your boyfriend?” Later, I learned he was a faceless voice-over streamer on TikTok. He had tens of thousands of followers. Many people adored him. I was practically invisible at school, with only Ashley as a close friend. How could I resist such blatant pursuit? I instantly fell in love. I had thought about meeting him in person, but in Lisa’s social media, his university was a top-tier institution. He participated in academic competitions every month. He was too exceptional. It always made him feel unreal to me. Until today, I finally understood everything. This was a cheesy romance novel with a ‘magnet for men’ as the protagonist. The female lead was my roommate, Ashley Hayes, who could captivate hearts with every move. My existence was merely a bridge for her to meet Lisa. Because of my insecurity and timidity, Ashley would go meet him in my place this afternoon, then fall in love at first sight with the pure-hearted male lead, Lisa, and use all her charm to win the handsome man over. And I, out of jealousy, would cyberbully the female lead, demanding she give Lisa back to me. Constantly making a fool of myself and digging my own grave. Ultimately, I would meet a tragic end, despised by all. “Why is this supporting character still pretending to be noble? Didn’t the female lead say she’d go first to scout out the male lead for her?” “Relax~ Our female lead is so beautiful, she’s naturally afraid her boyfriend will be charmed away~” “Serves her right, not going to the meetup herself and letting someone else snag a great catch.” “The moment the supporting character gave up on meeting, the male lead was already in our female lead’s pocket~” I lowered my gaze, staring at the text. My hands clenched into tight fists. The next second, I forced a smile, my voice natural, “Okay, then you can go in my place!” “Have fun~” 3. I hadn’t given up on Lisa. I was the one who had spent hundreds of days and nights with him. I was still the one who had helped him win thousands of game matches. Such a long-standing relationship, it couldn’t just crumble overnight. Similarly, I wouldn’t abandon my love because of a few baseless comments. Watching Lisa send me the rescheduled flight ticket, a warmth slowly spread through my body. No matter how unreasonable or irritable I was, he always managed to calm me down immediately. Patiently waiting for my explanation. He was so good, I really shouldn’t have hesitated. After some thought, I turned to look at Ashley, who was changing dresses in front of the mirror. She hummed softly, trying on one dress after another. Finally, she settled on a pure white gown that perfectly matched her makeup. No embellishments. Making Ashley appear even more elegant and pristine. A silver necklace just barely concealed a faint red mark on her collarbone. The comments were all praising her: “Our female lead is so beautiful~ drool.jpg, no wonder she can even win over the aloof male lead!” “This magnet-for-men female lead is awesome! All the excellent men should be hers!” “Handsome guys should be with beautiful girls, right? How dare the supporting character, looking like that, even dream of our male lead?” “LOL, the supporting character was scared the male lead would be ugly and didn’t dare go, but turns out she’s the ugliest one.” Hearing these familiar comments, my heart no longer stirred. Normally, I had no friends. Only Ashley was willing to approach me, exuding kindness. But I knew she was merely trying to highlight her own goodness and beauty. Walking with her, everyone would instinctively look at the more beautiful Ashley. My secret crush would also be drawn to her, becoming one of her many admirers. I could let her have anything. Except Lisa. Before leaving, Ashley’s gaze lingered on me, subtly mixed with a hint of disdain. Yet her voice was soft and gentle, “Summer, don’t say I didn’t give you a chance. I’ll ask you one last time, do you want me to go in your place?” I sat up, pressing my glowing phone screen, “Of course not, you’re so pretty, Lisa will be amazed when he sees you!” “Oh, I forgot to tell you, I never told Lisa my real name. When you pick him up, you need to shout out my online alias, okay?” “Tsk.” A flicker of annoyance crossed Ashley’s beautiful eyes, and she rolled them, “You online daters are such a pain, not even daring to say your real name, afraid he’ll secretly look up your photos?” “I hate you online dating types the most. You wave the banner of pure love and say you’re looking for a soulmate, but as soon as you send a photo, you’re nowhere to be found.” I was about to open my mouth to explain something when she abruptly cut me off, “Alright, alright, I’m leaving. Don’t waste my time.” 4. Only after watching Ashley leave did I continue to open Messenger. On the white chat background, the man’s skin was pale, his features delicate, and his attractive almond-shaped eyes had a faint redness at the corners. This was the only photo Lisa had ever actively sent me. This picture was also my phone’s wallpaper. So, I was very sure, that the ‘love at first sight’ the comments spoke of between Ashley and Lisa was a lie. Because she had already seen Lisa. Today’s charade was merely a performance for me. To shift all the blame onto me, and then brazenly start a new relationship with my online boyfriend. But I didn’t want to let her have her way. “Sweetheart, remember to pick me up tomorrow.” Lisa sent another voice message, making my heart flutter. My face turned red involuntarily, and I stammered, “I… I know.” Afterward, we both opened the game. About five matches later, the sunset outside the window disappeared, giving way to hints of black. My roommate, Ashley, finally pushed open the door with an explosive temper, her exquisite hairstyle disheveled and quite a mess. She was like a madwoman, “Summer Brooks! How dare you trick me?!” “I waited all afternoon, there was no online boyfriend of yours!” Saying this, she extended her newly manicured hand, poised to grab me. I retreated in fear, quickly squeezing out a few tears from my eyes, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know it would be like this.” “Lisa’s flight was delayed, I just found out too. See, I called you.” I forcefully placed my phone in front of her. It accidentally brushed against Ashley’s expensive earring, and she irritably pushed it away, “Alright, alright, so when is he actually arriving?!” I thought for a moment and replied, “Tomorrow.” “Lisa said tomorrow noon.” “Fine.” Ashley went back to her bed, about to rest for a bit, when something suddenly occurred to her, and she stared at me with a dark expression. “This time, you won’t stand me up again, will you?” “No, no, never.” The comments reappeared: “Is the supporting character an idiot? She said she’d let the female lead go for her, but didn’t tell her the flight was cancelled? Is she doing this on purpose to mess with the female lead?” “How could she? The supporting character is so dumb, only our female lead can play her, she’ll get her prize tomorrow, just be patient~” “The supporting character is truly speechless, making the female lead wait all afternoon for nothing, and delaying the male and female leads’ meeting again. She can’t sacrifice our female lead’s happiness for her own love, can she?” “Seriously biased, when will this annoying supporting character log off?!” Ignoring these sour comments, I lay down listening to the love song Lisa had specially recorded for me. And drifted off to sleep beautifully. 5. The next day. Ashley woke up early to do her makeup, and unlike yesterday, she wore a captivating smoky eye, a black fitted top, and a mini skirt. As she was about to leave, I slowly got out of bed and called out to her, my voice laced with hesitation, “Ashley, I think, I think you’re right. Meeting someone from online dating, of course, I should go myself. It’s the least respect I can show them.” “It was really out of line for me to ask you to go in my place!” After saying that, I quickly washed up and changed into clothes suitable for moving around. “You?” Ashley’s face turned green. Her fists clenched, knuckles cracking. To meet the legendary male lead, she gritted her teeth and started to manipulate me again, “Well then, why don’t I go with you? That way, we’ll have each other’s backs.” After a moment of hesitation, I accepted her suggestion. Lisa was punctual. He got off the plane at 11:45 AM. At 11:47 AM, I saw him walking towards me, pulling a suitcase, with his long, straight legs. Judging by his height, he must have been around six feet one. Suddenly seeing him in person, I felt shy and resisted the urge to rush forward. But Ashley, standing beside me, smiled brightly at Lisa and said in a natural tone, “You must be Lisa, right? I’m ‘Little Pig Who Eats Thirty Pounds of Feed and Never Gets Fat’~ your online girlfriend!” “Little Pig Who Eats Thirty Pounds of Feed and Never Gets Fat” was my alternate account’s online name. It seemed she remembered what I said yesterday very clearly. Lisa, having never seen her before, instinctively glanced in my direction. His eyes showed confusion. He seemed unable to recognize either of us. The comments quickly chimed in: “Tsk tsk tsk, the male lead is stunned, isn’t he! The elegant and alluring beauty is right in front of you, his eyes are glued~” “The male lead must be thinking, why is one so beautiful, and the other looks like an elementary schooler, flat-chested.” “Even a blind person would know which one to choose, right?” “Hehehe, soon we’ll get to see the juicy bits~” “Countdown to the clownish supporting character logging off!” But the next second, Lisa merely gave her a distant nod and continued walking towards me. “Summer, have you been waiting long?” His voice was just as pleasant as it was over the phone. He casually took my cheap handbag and slung it over his shoulder. The corners of his mouth curved into a slight smile. He was about to lead me away. Ashley’s outstretched hand and her smile froze on her face. Perhaps she didn’t understand why. So, I kindly reminded her, my tone sincere. “Ashley, thank you. You’re right, I should not only come to pick up Lisa myself, but also tell him what I look like earlier. I thought about it a lot last night and finally decided to send him my selfie.” “Thank you, really.” Instantly, countless “Btch, you f*ing btch!” comments flashed before my eyes. Unfortunately, they were blocked by something. She turned around, a fake smile on her face, “It’s nothing, lovers always find a way~ I guess I did a good deed~ But you, next time, don’t play around like this, okay? Lisa came all this way, and you made me pick him up, how rude of you~” As she spoke, she kept glancing at Lisa opposite her. I nodded seriously, “Ashley, you’re absolutely right.” “If you hadn’t suggested going in my place, I wouldn’t have realized how much I truly like Lisa.” This time, the comments were fuming again, spewing profanity.

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It was May 20th. My roommate, Kelly, announced her new relationship that day. In the photo, a diamond ring sparkled brightly on their tightly clasped hands. Her caption read: “This is the best thing he’s ever given me.” I zoomed in on the photo and suddenly saw a scar on the man’s index finger that was all too familiar. I turned my head and yelled to my dad, who was busy in the kitchen, “Dad, I feel sick, I want to throw up.” … 1 In the living room, Mom and Dad hovered over me, their faces etched with worry. I clutched the trash can, my stomach churning violently. Ever since I saw that social media post, my mind had been uncontrollably conjuring images of my dad and Kelly together. Each one made me physically ill. Mom gently rubbed my back, offering a perfectly tempered honey water, her eyes full of concern for me alone. Suddenly, I couldn’t meet her gaze, as if I was the one who had done something wrong. Perhaps I truly was to blame. If I hadn’t felt sorry for Kelly, working hard during summer and winter breaks, and hadn’t brought her home so often for meals to cheer her up… If I hadn’t constantly bragged that my dad was the best man in the world… Would none of this have happened? Self-inflicted blame and internal turmoil surged, and I almost blurted out: “Mom, I’m so sorry. It’s my fault Dad had the chance to betray you.” But before the words reached my lips, I regained my composure and rationality. I couldn’t just rip open this wound. Dad held all the financial power in the family. Why should Mom’s years of hard work and everything she built just be handed over to someone else? She can dream! I took a deep breath, and when I looked up again, my eyes were brimming with tears, my expression utterly distraught. “Dad, can you skip your company meeting tonight? I feel really unwell.” Dad didn’t hesitate for a second, nodding repeatedly. I was his little princess, cherished above all else. That evening, I still shared my daily life in the dorm group chat. [Anyone else feel me, fam? I’m getting force-fed puppy chow again.] In the video I posted, my dad, with a look of pure adoration, fed peeled shrimp to my mom. Aside from Kelly, the other two roommates responded with emojis like [eating puppy chow] and [can’t even look]. I tagged Kelly, asking with feigned innocence and curiosity: [Kelly, I saw your relationship announcement on social media. Congrats! You’re the first one in our dorm to get snatched up. I bet your boyfriend’s peeling shrimp for you on this romantic day too, right?] I wasn’t sure if Kelly’s post was public, so I used this method to gauge her reaction and that of the other two roommates. The other two roommates were surprised, asking in a flurry what social media post I was talking about. They screenshotted Kelly’s feed. The 5/20 announcement wasn’t there. I, in turn, screenshotted Kelly’s post from my own phone. The other two roommates, clearly annoyed, tagged Kelly. [Kelly, what’s the deal? We’re all roommates, and you’re blocking some of us from your posts? What’s up with that?] [Falling in love isn’t something shameful. Why hide it and not even show his face? Is your boyfriend some top idol or something?] I smirked behind my phone screen. Huh. Looks like that post was specifically set to ‘visible only to me,’ with a lot of thought. What was she trying to do? Covertly brag? Test if I could recognize the owner of that hand? Undermine my perfect family, which I always prided myself on? Whatever her reason, I would never tolerate or forgive it. I treated her as my best friend, always thinking of her when I had something good. Yet she maliciously wanted to destroy my family. The other two roommates’ barrage of questions quickly filled the screen. Kelly clearly hadn’t expected things to spiral in an unanticipated direction. She couldn’t play dead any longer, stammering explanations in the group chat, claiming she’d accidentally tapped the wrong setting when posting. The excuse was weak and transparent. No one was stupid; the other two roommates naturally didn’t believe her. The once lively group chat suddenly grew awkward. Since my family was local, I usually didn’t stay in the dorms. Kelly and the other two roommates lived there. Thinking about how Kelly would face them tonight, the pent-up frustration​ in my heart finally eased with a satisfying breath. Kelly wanted to snag a rich guy, that was her business. But when she tried to snag my rich guy, she shouldn’t expect me to be polite. … 2 To my parents’ astonishment, I drove my dad’s Porsche, which he’d given me for my eighteenth birthday. With a trunk full of belongings, I moved into my school dorm room with great fanfare. My excuse: independence and self-reliance. In the dorm, Kelly sat disconsolately, clutching her phone. Seeing it was me, she yanked her bed curtain shut. I happily and loudly announced to my other two roommates that I’d be living in the dorms and started bustlingly unpacking my things. I was in the thick of it when my phone rang with a video call. I pulled out my hand to answer. A rich, deep voice came through. “Cora, Dad just got home and saw your room half-empty. My heart sank. You’ve never been away from home your whole life. If you need anything at school, anything at all, you have to tell Dad. I’ll bring it to you.” From behind Kelly’s curtain, there was the sound of a dropped phone. I glanced over, playfully adding: “Dad, do you remember my roommate, Kelly? Her boyfriend gave her a huge diamond ring, it’s so beautiful, I’m so jealous! But I don’t have a boyfriend, sigh… Dad, maybe I should find a rich boyfriend, then I can have a big diamond ring too.” Kelly’s bed curtain remained motionless, but I could feel it. She was undoubtedly staring at me with cold fury from behind that curtain. On the other end of the video, a flicker of discomfort crossed my dad’s face, immediately replaced by anger. His tone was anxious, clearly afraid I’d actually start a relationship just for a diamond ring. “Cora! Don’t you dare! My daughter, Cora Tang, would never date for money like some gold digger. If you like diamond rings, Dad can buy you enough to fill ten fingers. Don’t ever say anything that demeans yourself like that again.” My dad angrily hung up the video call. Five seconds later, the dorm room echoed with the sound of [Alipay: 500,000 yuan received]. My roommate, Sarah, rushed over, exclaiming, “Oh my god, what kind of fairy tale dad is this? Cora, are you really going to buy ten diamond rings with 500,000 and wear them all?” I pulled back Kelly’s bed curtain, feigning innocence and a carefree smile. “If you wear one and I wear ten, would you be mad, Kelly?” Kelly seemed to be suppressing something, gritting her teeth as she squeezed out, “Does my being mad matter? You, Miss Tang, always do whatever you want, never caring about anyone else’s feelings.” I beamed at her words and happily walked out. I really did buy ten diamond rings. When curious people asked, I’d tell them my dad was so afraid I’d become a gold digger for a single ring that he filled my fingers with them first. Everyone then looked at the diamond ring that had suddenly appeared on Kelly’s finger with complicated expressions. In just a few days, Kelly couldn’t bear it anymore and voluntarily took off her ring. Yet every time she saw me, her eyes were filled with resentment and unwillingness. Is that all it takes to make her feel wronged? To feel humiliated? This was just the beginning. I wasn’t exposing her yet. Not because I was afraid of her, but because I wanted to slowly torture her to death. After a few quiet days, Kelly started returning to the dorm later and later, almost always just as the doors were closing. Each night, she came back beaming. But on her, I smelled a familiar, high-end cologne. Kelly, giddy with delight, admired her new designer bag in the dorm mirror, her eyes twinkling with a smile as she asked me: “Cora, this is the bag my boyfriend gave me tonight. It’s a new style. Do you like it?” I surveyed her, my words sharp. “The bag’s alright. It just looks a bit… suburban on you. Don’t you think, everyone? Kelly looks neither rural nor sophisticated.” 3 The other two roommates took a careful look, nodding in agreement. Kelly stood in front of the mirror like a clown, her face alternating between green and white. Then, as if remembering something joyful, she said with a suggestive tone, “But my boyfriend says he loves my natural, country girl charm. Cora, don’t you think my boyfriend is great?” This time, I didn’t even bother to look up, my fingers flying across the screen. After a lot of effort, I had finally calculated our family’s approximate assets. I pinched the bridge of my nose, then slowly said, “That’s hard to say. Who knows if your boyfriend just got tired of all the fine dining and suddenly craved a bit of dandelion greens?” Kelly glared at me, her eyes red with fury. I hummed a tune, my heart filled with frost. Hating Kelly was true. But I hated my dad more. He knew Kelly was my roommate, knew how much Mom and I trusted him. Yet he entangled himself with Kelly, again and again. Perhaps, that perfect dad had always been just my own fantasy. Only because it was Kelly this time did I finally notice the cracks. I should be grateful, grateful for Kelly’s thoughtlessness and subtle bragging. It allowed me to see my dad clearly, and gave me time to make arrangements beforehand. I wouldn’t let either of them off the hook. That weekend, I drove to my grandparents’ house. The moment I walked in, I knelt before them and burst into tears. My grandparents cherished me like the apple of their eye, calling me their precious darling, frantic with worry. Between sobs, I told my grandparents, “I don’t want to live, Grandma, Grandpa. You’re the ones who love me most. I wanted to see you again before I die.” At my words, Grandma’s tears flowed freely, and Grandpa, a strong man his whole life, teared up, his voice trembling. The two of them held me, comforting and reassuring me, promising that no matter what injustice I suffered, they would stand up for me. I pulled out my phone, found the picture of Kelly and my dad with their fingers entwined, and then found the video I secretly recorded of Kelly showing off her new bag and asking me if her boyfriend was great. My grandparents, guided by my hints, recognized the scar on my dad’s finger. Grandpa’s eyes widened in fury, his face turning ashen. He stood up, ready to go beat my dad to death. Grandma grabbed me, insisting we go to the school to expose Kelly for breaking up a family. I cried, stopping them, my voice choked with grievance. “It’s no use, Grandma, Grandpa. A scar alone can’t prove this. And besides, if family secrets get out, where will Mom and I put our faces? I really don’t want to live, but I don’t want Mom to know any of this. I’m afraid she’ll do something rash, boohoohoo…” My grandparents were heartbroken, crying that if anything happened to me, it would be the end of them. When the moment was right, I spoke with a bitter tone. “Grandma, Grandpa, my roommate is clearly after Dad’s money. Every time she gets something, she subtly flaunts it in front of me. I’m so sad. Is there… is there any way to make sure Dad has no money for her? I’m afraid today she wants a diamond ring, tomorrow a bag, the day after a car, an apartment, and then Dad’s company. What will Mom and I do then, boohoohoo…” Grandpa and Grandma exchanged glances, lost in thought. A moment later, Grandpa put his arm around my shoulder, promising: “Don’t cry, sweetie. Grandpa has a plan. Grandpa will find a way to reclaim your dad’s assets and transfer them to your name. If that day comes, the only one left with nothing will be him, the one who made the mistake. You and your mother have Grandpa to protect you.” My objective achieved, I lowered my head to conceal the curve of my lips, my eyes clear and sharp. …

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