Category: English

It was the third year of my marriage to Lucas. He was 35. I was barely 21, just starting my senior year in college. I hadn’t decided yet whether I wanted to be a full-time housewife. Then I overheard him chatting casually with a group of big shots in his circle: “Sophia has nothing going for her except her youth.” “Compared to her, Bella is much more sophisticated.” “I’m starting to regret getting married. It would have cost so much less to just keep a young mistress. Now if I divorce, I’ll lose too much.” Without hesitation, I handed him divorce papers. Seeing the black and white text stating that I would leave the marriage empty-handed, he let out a long sigh of relief. He then feigned generosity and said, “I’ll give you $2 million as compensation.” I smiled and refused, “I’m still young. I can afford to play around.” What he didn’t know was that my brother was the prince of the city’s elite circle. All these years, Lucas had only managed to squeeze into the big shots’ circle thanks to my brother’s support. Divorcing me? His losses were just beginning.

For my senior year internship, I decided to work at Lucas’s company. All so I could catch a glimpse of my handsome husband every day. As a lowly intern, I kept such a low profile that even Lucas didn’t know I was there. I didn’t want to bother him or distract him from work. Occasionally, I’d overhear other interns discussing Lucas. I’d listen carefully but never chimed in. “Mr. Evans is so handsome. 35 is really the golden age for a man.” “Too bad he’s married. I heard his wife is some unknown young girl.” “Ugh, why can’t I be that lucky…” When I was 18, Lucas pursued me with the intention of marriage from day one. He gave me the engagement ring right away to express his sincerity. I responded with equal enthusiasm. We got married after dating for a year. It was impulsive and exhilarating. Sweet and blissful. He gave me a fairytale romance beyond my wildest dreams. The love of a domineering CEO was straightforward and overwhelming, leaving me dizzy and disoriented. If I hadn’t come to intern at his company this time, I might never have discovered his secrets. Bella. Lucas’s secretary. Sexy and beautiful, the typical mature woman. She often accompanied Lucas on business trips and social engagements. She handled all company affairs, big and small, and even knew more about the company than Lucas did. So, before everyone learned about Lucas’s marriage, they all thought Bella was the real boss’s wife. While getting lunch in the cafeteria, I’d overhear old employees who had worked with Bella complain: “Mr. Evans really has poor taste. He doesn’t know how to cherish a beauty like Bella right by his side.” “Bella even gave up her high-ranking position at a listed company to be Mr. Evans’ secretary.” “Mark my words, once the passion fades, Mr. Evans will definitely divorce and end up with Bella.” There were many rumors, but I didn’t take them to heart. After all, the passion between Lucas and me was still burning hot every night. Until one night at a social event, a drunk Bella confessed her love to Lucas in front of everyone. It wasn’t so much a confession as it was forcing Lucas to make a choice. Bella asked Lucas if he had feelings for her. Lucas remained silent for a long time. Bella pressed on: “If you don’t have feelings for me, why won’t you approve my resignation letter?” Lucas’s face was grave as he replied with one word: “I do.” Then he gazed at Bella intently and said, “I do have feelings for you. I can’t be without you. That’s why I can’t approve your resignation. Is that okay?” Bella smiled, downed a glass of white wine, grabbed her purse, and walked out. The air froze for two seconds. Then Lucas chased after her. Everyone at that gathering had worked alongside Lucas and Bella for years. I wasn’t there. But Emma, a chubby girl I was friendly with who loved gossip, had recorded the scene and sent it to me privately. Emma asked me: [Do you think something will happen between Mr. Evans and Secretary White tonight?] I replied: [Probably not… right?] [They’re both adults who’ve known each other for years and have such deep feelings. They’ve had drinks, confessed their love… how could nothing happen?] I firmly typed back: [Mr. Evans is married. He should know better. Besides, Secretary White has no reason to be the other woman!] [You’re right. But whether something happened or not, we’ll know tomorrow.] I didn’t understand what Emma meant by “we’ll know tomorrow.” But the moment I exited our chat, I got my answer. Lucas messaged me saying he wouldn’t be coming home tonight due to a last-minute social engagement. My heart sank. I immediately called him. At first, no one answered. I called several times in a row. Finally, Lucas picked up. “Baby, my phone was on silent. I didn’t hear it. What’s wrong?” I held back my emotions, my fingernails digging into my palms. “Honey, are you really not coming home tonight?” “Yeah, we’re all still here at the gathering. I can’t get away. Try to understand, baby.” I gritted my teeth and continued, “Are there any women at your gathering?” He paused, then chuckled, “No. Since when did you start checking up on me? Do you want to video call so I can prove my innocence?” As he spoke, I heard a rustling sound – the kind made when expensive shirts rub against hotel sheets. In the past, when our love was wild and passionate, I often heard that sound too. “Mmm…” A muffled groan escaped Lucas’s lips. In that instant, all the knots in my heart unraveled. After three years with Lucas, we’d done plenty of intimate things. I knew exactly what that “mmm” meant. It was the sound he made when he was trying to stifle his pleasure. This detail – he probably didn’t even realize it himself. Well, well. I didn’t even need to stop him from cheating. He’d already crossed that line. I laughed bitterly, “No need for a video call…” I was afraid I’d go blind. “Enjoy yourself. I’m going to bed.” My heart felt dead as I prepared to hang up. But Lucas spoke again, his voice low and husky. “Baby, we just closed a big deal tonight. Starting tomorrow, everyone will be working overtime. I might be working late for a while, so don’t wait up for dinner.” Working overtime. Or spending overtime with Bella. It didn’t matter to me anymore.

After hanging up, I couldn’t sleep all night. With dark circles under my eyes, I arrived at the office the next morning. My mind was still blank when Emma sidled up to me to continue gossiping about last night. “Something definitely happened between Mr. Evans and Secretary White last night.” I frowned slightly. She went on, “This morning, Mr. Evans’s clothes were all wrinkled, and… he was wearing the same outfit as yesterday. Doesn’t that mean he never went home last night?” I nodded, too drained to compliment her observational skills. She continued, “Secretary White was late this morning too. When she came in, she looked radiant. Usually, she’s all business, but today she seemed like a whole new person.” I asked her, “How so?” She chose her words carefully: “More cheerful, more sexy, more coy… you’ll see for yourself.” I looked up and saw Bella walk in wearing a tight-fitting dress. I’d seen that dress before. When Lucas and I were shopping together, I had my eye on it. But they didn’t have my size, so I just paid and asked them to send it to Lucas when it came in stock. Now I see. The dress arrived alright. But the recipient had changed. Bella was in a great mood. As soon as she came in, she asked everyone what they wanted to drink, her treat. Everyone cheered excitedly. I sat in the corner, my emotions a jumbled mess. I tried to numb myself with work. But it didn’t help much. In a daze, lunchtime arrived. I sat at my desk eating takeout. Bella, carrying bags of gourmet food, headed to Lucas’s office. She went in. And didn’t come out all afternoon. When she finally emerged, it was almost time to leave work. Emma next to me clicked her tongue twice and sighed, “The world really is going downhill. Of all people, why did Secretary White have to fall for a married man? Jack, who sits close to the CEO’s office, said that as soon as Secretary White went in, she threw herself into Mr. Evans’s arms. They almost turned the office into a hotel room!” With that, Emma sent me the photo Jack had secretly taken. Bella was sitting on Lucas’s lap, feeding him lunch. Their intimate posture and expressions were unmistakable. “I wonder how Mr. Evans’s wife would feel if she saw this scene,” Emma sighed softly. Mr. Wilson, sitting across from us, frowned. “They’re in love. Why are you two meddling?” Emma didn’t catch Mr. Wilson’s tone and joked, “That’s right, she is the mistress after all!” Mr. Wilson was not pleased. He tossed a ledger at Emma, “Since you’re so free, finish this. You’re not leaving until it’s done.” Emma pouted. I quietly sent her a message: [Mr. Wilson and Secretary White go way back. He’s definitely on her side, so don’t say stuff like that anymore.] Emma sent back a crying emoji. I comforted her: [I’ll help you with that ledger. Let’s finish it quickly and get off work. I’ll treat you to crayfish.] She perked up again. That evening, we finally finished our overtime work and were ready to go for crayfish when Mr. Wilson stopped us. “Thanks for working late. Let’s all go grab a late-night snack.” Mr. Wilson didn’t give us a chance to refuse. He took us straight to a restaurant near the office. After eating, he dragged us to a karaoke bar. We didn’t want to go, but we had no choice. As lowly interns, we had no say. Sitting in a dark corner, Emma and I decided to play mobile games instead. We got so into it that we didn’t notice more people entering the private room. Until I heard a familiar voice. That’s when I saw Lucas, surrounded by a group of big shots, sitting in the main seat. At first, they were discussing business. Then, they started talking about their personal lives. Kids, wives, in-laws… and of course, mistresses. “I saw Bella’s social media post. Something about true love prevailing. What’s up? Did you finally come to your senses and take Bella to bed?” Someone asked. I couldn’t help but prick up my ears. Lucas replied calmly, “You guys don’t understand the situation that day. I had no choice. Bella was forcing my hand. If I didn’t accept her, she was going to quit. You know Bella’s been with the company for so many years. The company can’t function without her. And… I guess you could say I can’t function without her either.” “So Bella’s okay with being the mistress? Lucas, don’t let this backfire on you later.” “Yeah, we all saw how much effort you put into marrying that young girl back then. Forget about keeping your mistress stable, what if your wife finds out? Won’t that cause a huge scene?” “It’s not like that. If Bella doesn’t mind, why should that young girl care?” “After being spoiled by Lucas all these years, how could that girl go back to an ordinary life? Even if she finds out about the affair, she definitely won’t do anything rash. At least with the title of Mrs. Evans, she’s set for life and can be someone important.” Everyone chimed in with their opinions. In the end, they concluded that as long as Lucas kept Bella happy and quiet, his wife at home wouldn’t cause any trouble. They even congratulated Lucas on having the best of both worlds. Emma listened, her face scrunching up in disgust. She couldn’t help but whisper in my ear, “Disgusting.” Then she added, “Even though Mr. Evans is being a jerk, what they’re saying isn’t entirely wrong. That young girl hasn’t even graduated yet, right? With no family background or skills, making a fuss really wouldn’t do her any good. What do you think?” I nodded, “She won’t make a scene. In today’s society, everyone wants to keep up appearances.” Anything can be discussed calmly and rationally. Even divorce. At this point, Lucas put down his glass and spoke: “It’s true, Sophia has nothing going for her except her youth. Compared to her, Bella is much more sophisticated.” “But Bella’s proud personality, who knows how long she can tolerate being the other woman.” “I’m starting to regret getting married. It would have cost so much less to just keep a young mistress. Now if I divorce, I’ll lose too much.” So, he was calculating his losses. Of course, Lucas and I were legally married. A divorce would mean splitting his assets acquired during our marriage. Well, I’ll grant Lucas his wish. I can leave the marriage empty-handed. But the price he’ll pay after I walk away with nothing – that’s something he’ll have to bear.

When everyone finally dispersed, Bella left with a drunk Lucas. From a distance, I watched them embrace, their lips pressed together. Perhaps they had been holding back for too long. As soon as they got in the car, it started rocking up and down. Silently, I recorded everything that had just happened. Then, I called my brother. “What’s up, little sis? Why are you calling so late?” My brother’s voice instantly touched the softest part of my heart. With a “plop,” I couldn’t hold back anymore. Tears started streaming down my face. “Sweetie, what’s wrong? Are you crying?” I was choking on my sobs, unable to speak. My brother immediately asked where I was. I mumbled an address through my tears. Half an hour later, he appeared in front of me. I was huddled on some steps by the street, my body shaking. My brother took off his coat and draped it over me, sitting down beside me. “Where’s Lucas?” “He cheated.” My brother froze, his jaw clenching tight. “Where is he? I’ll kill him.” I grabbed my brother’s hand, shaking my head, “There’s no need. It would only dirty your hands.” My brother angrily stomped on the ground! But he wasn’t satisfied with just that. He asked me, “Do you want a divorce?” I nodded without hesitation. “Could it be a misunderstanding?” I showed my brother all the videos and photos stored on my phone. Although I didn’t say anything, my brother had already made his decision. He immediately took out his phone and made several calls. First, he contacted his lawyer friend to draft a divorce agreement for me. Second, he contacted Lucas’s suppliers, telling those who had just negotiated contracts but hadn’t signed yet to not sign, those whose contracts were expiring to not renew, and those whose contracts weren’t up yet to withdraw all discounts and charge market prices. After making those calls, my brother took my hand, “Come on, let’s go home.” I shook my head, tears still hanging in the corners of my eyes, “Before we go home, I want to move out first.” My brother didn’t hesitate. He drove me to the marital home Lucas and I shared. The house was bought by Lucas. I had nothing to be nostalgic about. It’s just that after living here for three years, I never thought I’d leave like this. “If you want this house, I’ll get you the best lawyer to help you keep it.” “No need, bro. Anything that’s touched by Lucas, I find it all quite dirty now.”

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My wife was a fool. For three years, I took complete care of her and gave her everything. Then one day, she regained her sanity and became the CEO of a listed company. She spent tens of millions of dollars holding a grand proposal for me. After getting married, I became the envy of everyone. Whenever she could, she expressed her love for me. Her true love’s return caused a change in everything. She kicked me out to make room for him. With nowhere to go, I took a bottle of sleeping pills. I had spent 25 years trying to win over four heroines, only to lose everything in the end. The system said that if I died in this world, I could return to my original world. While my life was passing by, I heard someone begging me to live. “Ryan Scott, I know you’re awake. Why did you choose to commit suicide on such a joyous day when Dylan is returning? Are you trying to frame him by your death?” Hearing the cold voice, I opened my eyes to see my wife, Luna Wright. Her icy glare was full of hatred. Luna, one of my targets, was my wife who had loved me. When we met at the very beginning, she pretended to be mentally disabled to avoid being involved in a family feud and insisted on marrying me. For three years, I took complete care of her and gave her everything. Upon the death of all the family heirs, she regained her sanity and became the sole beneficiary. Only then did I know that she had been pretending all along and that I was the real fool. I tried to leave, but Luna knelt and begged me, spending millions to propose to me in a high-profile way. “Ryan, don’t leave me, please. I can’t live without you. I deceived you, but I truly love you.” In the midst of swirling flower petals, I looked at the girl I had seen every day and accepted her proposal. However, when her true love, Dylan Hughes, returned, Luna fell out of love. She used work as an excuse to stay away from home for long periods. She even questioned me, “Ryan, why can’t you understand me? Without my hard work, we won’t have a good life.” I believed in Luna. But not long after, I discovered her intimate moments with Dylan in her office, along with used condoms on the floor. I confronted her, but she kicked me out without a penny. Dylan even staged a false suicide by jumping into the sea and posted a lengthy accusation on Twitter, claiming I had abused him and driven him to death. I faced a torrent of online abuse. Luna then kicked me out of our home. Even my sister, Bella Scott, cut ties with me, calling me a vile person. No matter how much I tried to explain, no one believed me. I didn’t know why Luna saved me, but seeing the intense hatred in her eyes, I struggled to speak, “Kill…me.” The next moment, Luna let go, slapped me hard, and shouted, “If you want to die, do it somewhere else. You’re so disgusting!” Her slap left me dazed. When I came to my senses, her bodyguards had already thrown me onto the road outside the villa. Luna crossed her arms, looking at me with contempt as if I were a pitiful creature. “If it weren’t for you bullying and tormenting Dylan, he wouldn’t have been driven to jump into the sea. Go away if you want to die. You really make me sick.” I forced a bitter smile. They slandered me, yet somehow I was the one at fault. With power and influence, they could smear me at will. Luna probably forgot that without me, she would never have achieved what she had today. Since that was the case, I wouldn’t bother her anymore. Stumbling away, I reached a bustling street. Watching the flow of cars, I jumped. I thought, “As long as this body dies, I can go back to my original world.” Suddenly, the screeching sound of tires and honking horns filled the air. Someone grabbed my hair and dragged me to the roadside. “Ryan, what are you doing?” I looked at the furious Luna and asked calmly, “I’m already leaving you alone.” Though her words were harsh, I saw her trembling all over. When she was pretending to be a fool, she would tremble with fear and hide behind me. Looking at Luna, I thought, “What is she afraid of? Afraid I would die? But I’m making things easier for her and Dylan.” Luna slapped me. “This is the road Dylan takes to come home. How can I let him see such a bloody scene?” I lowered my gaze, laughing bitterly. I went to the riverside. Here, I wouldn’t disgust her beloved man.

I was walking towards the river when someone suddenly grabbed my hand. Confused, I turned around and saw it was my sister, Bella. She was holding a cake with “DH” written on it. This cake was probably prepared to celebrate Dylan’s return after his fake death. Bella’s eyes blazed with anger and hatred. “What are you doing here, Ryan? Are you trying to stop me from giving this cake to Dylan? We’ve cut ties!” In this world, if anyone hated me more than Luna, it was Bella. Bella wasn’t like this before. We were orphaned at a young age, and I raised her alone, naming her Bella, hoping she would be beautiful and free. She dreamed of learning music, and I dropped out of school to work three jobs so she could attend the best training programs. When there was a fire at home, she ran barefoot into the burning house, crying that she couldn’t live without me. We used to be each other’s support, the closest family we had. But everything changed after she met Dylan. Dylan said he wanted to eat something tasty, so Bella forced me, despite my illness, to cook an elaborate meal for him. Dylan didn’t even take a bite, and when I asked why, Bella lashed out, saying my cooking was terrible and accused me of being mean to him. Then, she threw away the food I had painstakingly prepared. Later, Dylan and Luna conspired against me, faking his death by jumping into the sea. Bella hated me and cut ties with me. She watched coldly as I suffered and even pushed me further into despair. Thinking about this, I didn’t respond but pulled my wrist out of her grasp. Luna sneered. “Dylan is back. I left your brother penniless. He can’t accept it, so he must be thinking of committing suicide.” Bella frowned, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she said, “Ryan is such a coward. He wouldn’t do it. This is just for show.” “Exactly,” Luna nodded, laughing. “He tried this twice.” Bella looked at me with hatred. “Ryan, someone as vile as you won’t be missed even if you die. Get out of my way. I’m going to see Dylan.” I lowered my gaze. “Fine, I’ll go.” The next second, I fell into the turbulent river. Bella’s face turned pale. The current was swift, and within seconds, I was carried several feet downstream. I wasn’t afraid of death. Instead, a sense of relief washed over me. This time, maybe I could really die. But then, with a splash, Bella saved me, throwing me onto the shore. I was covered in mud, looking pathetic. She was soaking wet, kicking me furiously. “Ryan, are you trying to make everyone think I drove you to suicide and ruin me? Bastard!” “When did you learn to swim?” I coughed violently, cold water spilling from my mouth. Bella kicked me hard and sneered. “After Dylan jumped into the sea. Huh, your trick didn’t work. Are you upset now?” I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. Love was truly powerful. I had tried many times to teach Bella how to swim, but Dylan had always stopped me, saying, “With me around, Bella doesn’t need to learn to swim. I’ll always be there to save her.” Bella belittled me by saying, “This is where you and Dylan differ. You only force me to do things I don’t want to do. Ryan, you’re not fit to be my brother!” Later, when Bella accidentally drowned, Dylan looked on indifferently, while I dived in to save her. But she thought it was Dylan who had saved her and gave him all the credit, calling me heartless for standing by. Unexpectedly, Bella, who used to be afraid of water, had learned to swim for Dylan. I snorted. “It has nothing to do with you if I live or die. To me, you’re just a stranger now.” Hearing this, Bella turned livid with anger and slapped me. “If it weren’t for my vow to pray for Dylan’s soul, do you think I’d save someone I’ve cut ties with? I’d even save a dog that fell into the water!” I laughed bitterly. “Huh, what a moving story. Do you know? Dylan is going to marry Luna.” At this, the cake in Bella’s hand fell to the ground as she stared at Luna. “What? Marry her?” Before I could speak, another target, Violet Wood, rushed up in a panic, blurting out, “Dylan is missing!” “Ryan, did you hide Dylan? Bring him out right now!” Luna glared at me.

Luna, who had always been composed, panicked for the first time. “What? Dylan is missing? Ryan, no wonder you’ve been so strange today. You must have done something and are trying to clear your name. Tell me, where is Dylan?” Bella’s eyes turned bloodshot as she slapped me hard. “Dylan went through so much to come back, and you dare to harm him. Ryan, I shouldn’t have saved you just now. Where is he now? If he dies, I won’t live either!” The taste of blood filled my mouth. I parted my lips slightly, and a few drops of blood fell. I thought, “Dylan disappeared again. Huh, he really couldn’t stand me. Then I might as well fulfill his wish.” Just as I was about to speak, Violet, who had said I was her only salvation, pressed a dagger against my neck. “Where have you hidden Dylan?” Violet, one of my four targets, was a renowned expert in the field of traditional medicine. At that time, her family was murdered because someone tried to steal her family’s secret traditional medicine manual. I risked my life to save her. Perhaps witnessing her family’s murder made Violet extremely wary of anyone getting close. There was a scar on my left hand, which was left when she bit me in a moment of distress. Despite this, I accompanied her through that traumatic period. Eventually, Violet regained her composure and resolved to master her family’s medical techniques and seek justice for her family. Through countless life-and-death struggles, I helped her rise to prominence and exact revenge on all her enemies. That day, Violet cried, saying I was her brother from then on. I also cried because she reminded me so much of my sister from my original world. I missed her so much. However, after Dylan appeared, Violet gradually distanced herself from me just because he didn’t like me. She warned that if I came within ten feet of her, she would mute me with needles. When Violet learned Dylan had jumped into the sea, she went mad. She stabbed thousands of needles into my body, torturing me relentlessly to avenge Dylan. “Ryan, he must have suffered a lot because of you. You drove him to suicide. Every day from now on, you’ll endure torture a hundred times worse than what he experienced!” My silence further infuriated Violet. The sharp dagger pressed against my throat, leaving a thin line of blood. “You won’t say it? Well, it seems you’ve forgotten my means because I haven’t tortured you in a while.” With a cold expression, Violet knocked me out and dragged me into a small dark room in Luna’s villa. She inserted countless needles into my acupuncture points, amplifying my pain before torturing me with various tools. Luna and Bella didn’t stop Violet. Instead, they glared at me with intense hatred. I writhed in agony, the piercing pain spreading throughout my body, making me scream in torment. Violet slapped me hard and sneered. “Can’t you endure this bit of pain? Don’t forget how you tormented Dylan. If you don’t tell us where he is, I’ll make you suffer everything you did to him!” Hearing this, I opened my eyes. I didn’t want to be tortured anymore. Now, I just wanted to die quickly. Then, I could come back to my world and rest. I cried wildly at them and said, “Dylan is dead! I chopped him up into pieces. Kill me. Then you can avenge him. Just do it!” Violet, in a rage, couldn’t believe my audacity. “You think I wouldn’t dare kill you? Now that Dylan is dead, you must die with him!” She suddenly grabbed a dagger and thrust towards me with all her strength. She thought I would resist, but I just stood there, letting the blade stab into my chest. Violet froze, staring at the blood gushing from my chest, seemingly unable to believe it. I smiled. Finally, it happened. As my consciousness faded, Dylan’s voice suddenly came from the doorway. “Hey, you are all here. I’ve been looking for you all.”

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After I was raped and murdered, my mom started selling meat buns. The buns she made were incredible—thin dough, packed with juicy, flavorful fillings. Rumors began to spread that the thugs who’d gone missing in our town might’ve somehow ended up inside the buns. My mom just laughed when she heard. “How could that be? I’d never use old meat in my buns,” she said with a smirk. One day, someone found a severed finger in one of her buns. The shop erupted in chaos. Customers screamed, some ran out, others vomited. The police arrived quickly, sealing off the scene. On her cutting board, they found part of a human thigh that hadn’t been chopped up yet. And from the pot of rich, fragrant broth simmering on the stove, they pulled out a row of bones, still covered in tender meat. But my mom didn’t flinch. She stayed calm, almost proud. “The meat is fresh,” she said. “Test it if you want. I never use old meat, and I refuse to grind it in a machine. It ruins the texture—makes it too soft, no bite.” She even started explaining her “secret recipe” in a slow, deliberate tone: “You see, the meat needs to be braised first—so it’s tender and juicy when you bite into it. My braising sauce has—” “Enough!” one officer snapped, cutting her off. “Laura Sullivan, why did you kill them? And where’s your daughter, Jane? She hasn’t shown up to school in weeks. What did you do to her?” “School? What’s the point of school for a girl?” my mom sneered. “She doesn’t need it anymore.” I’d heard those words so many times in life, but even now, they hit me like a punch to the gut. Because I was a girl, my mom always looked down on me. No matter how hard I worked, I could never win her approval. It’s strange. I’m dead, but the pain still lingers. The police, confused, followed my mom’s gaze to the refrigerator. When they opened it, everyone recoiled, covering their noses in horror. Inside, they found me. What was left of me.

I was killed on my way home from school. A group of men grabbed me, covering my mouth and nose with a cloth soaked in chloroform, and dragged me into an abandoned factory. I woke up in agony. I screamed, I fought back, but they only became more violent, more vicious. They didn’t stop until I blacked out. When I came to, I heard one of them swear under his breath. “Shit, I think she’s dead.” “No way. Must be faking it. She was screaming her head off just now,” another one muttered. One of them checked my breathing. “She’s not faking. She’s gone.” Panic set in. “Dammit, we’re not supposed to kill anyone! We just got out of prison—none of us are going back!” The leader grabbed me by the neck, shaking me violently. My head lolled to the side, and with a sickening crack, my neck snapped. I was gone. My soul curled up in the corner, trembling. For a moment, I felt relieved. At least I wouldn’t have to endure any more pain. The leader cursed again, lit a cigarette, and muttered, “You know what? Maybe it’s for the best. Dead means we charge more. That little rich kid’s family can pay up.” When I floated back to our house, my mom was playing poker with the neighbors. “Gu, your Jane’s got such good grades. Bet she’s heading to one of those big universities in the capital, huh?” My mom scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous. You think I’m stupid enough to let her leave town? I’ve raised her all these years—she’s not going anywhere.” “Still, wouldn’t a top school give her a brighter future?” “What future? She’d just end up in some dead-end office job making peanuts. Girls are only good at burying themselves in books. If my son were still alive, he’d be a hundred, no, a thousand times better than her.” She had once been pregnant with a baby boy. But at five months, she caught pneumonia from me and lost the baby. Not long after, my dad’s mistress gave birth to a son. He divorced my mom and left our family for good. My mom never forgave me. “If it weren’t for you, this family wouldn’t have fallen apart!” “You didn’t want a brother, did you? You got sick on purpose, didn’t you?” Late that night, she put away her poker winnings, muttering angrily to herself. “Where the hell is she? Evening classes ended hours ago. What’s she up to now?” She had no idea her daughter was being dismembered. I watched as she paced the house, growing more and more anxious. She called my phone over and over again. “Sorry, the number you’ve dialed is unavailable. Please try again later.” Every time she heard the automated message, she got more frustrated, more frantic. She called my teacher. My classmates. She even started shouting at the walls. “If that brat’s out messing around, I swear I’ll break her damn legs!”

My mom confessed to the murders without hesitation: “As for how many? I’ve lost count. You’ll have to figure that out yourselves. Don’t you guys have DNA testing for that?” Of course they did, but the sheer complexity of the evidence was a nightmare for the forensic team. That pot of her famous braising sauce? It was a stew of chaos—filled with an endless list of ingredients: star anise, dried orange peel, rock sugar, fennel, cardamom… even the cuts of meat were carefully chosen—lean meat here, belly fat there. I watched as my mom, her hands cuffed, was pushed into the back of a police car. Before the door could close, a woman burst through the crowd and started clawing and kicking at her, screaming hysterically, “Where’s my son, Laura Sullivan?! Give me back my son!” It was my dad’s second wife, Ava. The onlookers started murmuring: “Didn’t her stepson go missing recently too? Could it be her doing? God, this woman’s a monster. No wonder her husband ditched her!” “Laura Sullivan, if you so much as touched a hair on my son’s head, I’ll kill you!” my dad yelled, red-faced and trembling with rage. Bruised and bloodied from the scuffle, my mom simply smiled coldly. “Look at you two. Looks like karma finally came knocking.” After I disappeared, my mom had been forced to call my dad to ask for help. His response? “Your daughter’s missing? Isn’t that your responsibility? Don’t bother me with this nonsense.” Now, as both my dad and Ava stood there, desperate and panicked, my mom blinked innocently and said, “I really don’t know where Shane is. I sell so many buns every day, you know?” Her business was booming. Customers lined up outside her small shop from morning till night, the tables always full, the steamers constantly empty. She tilted her head, her lips curling into a smirk. “If you’re gonna ask, maybe you should be asking the people who eat here.” The room fell silent. Even the officers, who had been holding Ava back, froze mid-action. My dad and Ava stared at her, their faces pale, before collapsing helplessly to the floor. I couldn’t help but enjoy the way they looked—completely shattered. Ava begged my mom like a dog. It reminded me of the time I begged her not to destroy my family. Back then, she’d kicked me to the ground and sneered, “Stupid brat. Get lost with your mom!”

Ava used to be my mom’s best friend. It’s a story as old as time. My mom spent the best years of her life building a future with my dad, only to be betrayed by him and her closest friend once he became successful. My mom always believed the only reason Ava “won” was because she had a son. And so, she blamed me for the divorce. I don’t know how my mom eventually found the warehouse. When she saw what was left of me, she froze. Everything about her—her breathing, her expression, even her heartbeat—seemed to stop. She gathered my broken body in her arms. I don’t know how long she sat there before she finally reached out to gently close my lifeless, unblinking eyes. Her face was emotionless the entire time. No tears, no sobbing. Just a hollow, empty stare. I laughed bitterly to myself. Whenever she talked about the son she lost, her face was never this cold. Maybe now that I was gone, her life would be easier. She could start over, build a new family, have the children she had always wanted. It had to be easier, right? But my mom didn’t call the police. Instead, she carefully wrapped my remains and took me back to her shop. At dawn, she called my teacher to report my absence. “Hi, this is Jane’s mom. She’s sick and will need a few days off. Don’t worry, it won’t affect her studies.” I wasn’t sick. My mom was. She went about her day as usual, preparing breakfast and lunch. She banged on my bedroom door, shouting, “Food’s in the fridge, make sure you heat it up before you eat! And there’s money on the table if you need it. You’re so skinny—eat more!” She left for six days. On the night of my seventh day—the night when spirits are said to return one last time—she stood before my shrine. And my mom, with her own hands, offered up the life of one of the men who had destroyed me as a sacrifice.

Before my mom made her move, she bought a used food delivery uniform. Having run her shop for so many years, she knew all kinds of people, and it didn’t take long for her to get the information she needed from the local gangsters. She rode her electric scooter around the apartment complex, her hunched figure blending in easily. Years of hard work had made her back slightly curved, a detail that only helped her avoid suspicion. It didn’t take long for her to identify his address. She knocked on the door, holding a takeout bag. The door opened, and there he was—the punk. He grabbed the bag, glaring at her suspiciously. “What are you staring at? Get lost!” My soul froze. It was him. The one who had jumped me in the bushes. My mom, staring at his hostile expression and rough demeanor, smiled meekly. “Hey, young man, if it’s not too much trouble, could you leave me a five-star review?” “Get out of here before I beat you!” he barked, slamming the door in her face. The moment the door shut, my mom’s expression changed. The timid smile vanished, replaced by an icy, burning hatred. She didn’t leave. Instead, she waited in the shadows on the rooftop, biding her time until nightfall. When she finally broke into the apartment, the punk was already lying on the floor, unconscious, foaming at the mouth. The takeout she had delivered was laced with enough sedatives to knock him out cold. I watched, holding my breath, as she dragged his limp body into a suitcase she had brought. There was a security camera near the building’s entrance, but my mom didn’t panic. She calmly pulled out a length of steel wire, hooked it around the camera, and yanked hard, twisting it to face the wall. Then, lowering her head to hide her face beneath the helmet, she disappeared into the night.

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My best friend called me drunk, asking me to pick him up. But when I arrived at the private room, I saw him getting intimate with my girlfriend. My friend looked up and asked her, “Do you really like him?” She shook her head with a smile, “Of course not. You’re the one I’ve always had feelings for.” I turned away silently and sent my girlfriend a breakup text. Afterwards, I actively distanced myself from them. But they kept coming to beg for my forgiveness one after another. Hearing the chaotic music through the phone, I worried about my friend’s safety. I quickly got dressed and took a cab to the bar he was at. When I reached the private room, the door was slightly ajar. I was about to walk in when I suddenly saw a woman sitting on the couch whose side profile looked just like my girlfriend. Next to her was a man who looked exactly like Jack. The lighting was dim so I couldn’t see clearly. I quickly moved to the side and peeked through the crack to observe the situation inside. The scene made my blood boil. The woman was all over the man, kissing him passionately. It was an incredibly intense scene. At that moment, I could see clearly that the two people inside were indeed my girlfriend Celine and my supposed best friend Jack. My heart skipped a beat as I stared in disbelief. I remembered how they always seemed to dislike each other, but now they were secretly hooking up behind my back. And Jack had deliberately called me – did he want me to see this? I instinctively took half a step back, then called Celine’s phone. Hearing the ringtone, Celine quickly took out her phone but frowned. Jack took the opportunity to pull Celine closer, leaning into her as he asked with a smile, “Are you going to answer his call?” Celine stopped Jack and answered the phone casually, “Hello?” I suppressed my turbulent emotions, trying to stay calm as I asked, “Where are you, Celine?” Celine leaned against Jack and said in a serious tone, “I’m at a work dinner. I’ll probably be home late.” Watching this scene unfold, my heart ached and I felt a lump in my throat. After composing myself, I said, “Alright, be careful and don’t drink too much.” Celine nodded and quickly hung up, then eagerly went back to being intimate with Jack. The pain in my heart felt like being stabbed by a knife. I clenched my fists unconsciously as anger built up in my mind. Just as I was debating whether to burst in and confront the cheating couple, Jack’s voice rang out, “Do you really like that Alex guy?” Hearing this, I suddenly became curious to see how Celine would respond. But her answer was like a bucket of cold water poured over me. She looked away, her tone full of disdain: “Of course not. I only got close to him to get to you.” So that was it. Celine had only gotten close to me because of my best friend Jack. Suddenly, my heart shattered and my mind went blank. Tears started streaming down my face involuntarily. I opened my phone to Celine’s chat, where I could still see the loving message she had sent. “I love you so much…Alex.” Looking back now, it was all just a big joke.

Jack and I go way back. We’ve known each other since we were little kids. With his sunny image and witty personality, he was always very popular. Lots of girls pursued him. I benefited from this too. Many girls would try to get close to Jack through me, buying me snacks and treating me to meals. But Jack had always been picky, so no girl ever succeeded with him. Later we got into the same university, where we met Celine, a popular student leader. She was a big deal on campus – rich, pretty, and nice. Lots of guys liked her, including me. But I could only admire her from afar. Until one New Year’s Eve party, when the male host had an emergency. Celine found out I had relevant experience and invited me to co-host. Afterwards, we got to know each other and became friends. Jack felt left out and complained to me a few times. He started to dislike Celine and would try to trip her up in various ways. Although Celine was usually easygoing, she was quite unfriendly with Jack. They would argue heatedly in front of me multiple times. Time flew by and in our junior year, I finally worked up the courage to confess to Celine. I thought I’d be rejected, but to my surprise, Celine agreed. So we started dating. But Jack wasn’t happy about it. After all, he and Celine were like bickering enemies, so he really didn’t want to see this outcome. I had to convince him for a long time before he reluctantly accepted it. But afterwards they still disliked each other as always. Celine even advised me several times to distance myself from Jack, saying I should cut ties with him if necessary. This awkward situation continued until now. I never imagined they would end up hooking up together. So everything before had just been an act. If the Oscars gave out awards, they would both deserve one for Best Actor.

My heart turned cold. In the end, I chose to go home. Celine didn’t reply to my message. My nose stung as I cried again. I cried until midnight before falling into a restless sleep. I was woken up by the faint sound of keys in the door. Suddenly someone turned on the lights, which were a bit blinding. It was Celine. She had come home, looking tired. Seeing me lying on the couch with sleepy eyes, she frowned, “Why are you sleeping here?” Looking at this woman in front of me, I suddenly felt like she was a stranger. Because in our relationship, Celine had always been passive. She never actively hugged or kissed me. It was always me initiating, and she would comply. All along, I thought it was just her personality. But now I realized, she simply didn’t love me. Under my direct gaze, Celine looked uncomfortable. “I saw the text you sent. What are you making a fuss about now? I told you I was just busy with work, can’t you be more understanding?” Seeing her fake act, I found it laughable. She had always been fake, I had just been deliberately deceiving myself, subconsciously believing she loved me. I sat up straight and looked Celine in the eye, “Alright then, let’s get married.” Hearing my words, Celine was stunned for a moment before quickly saying, “Didn’t we agree long ago to focus on our careers first? Can we talk about marriage later?” Actually, the reason Celine had stayed with me was simple – her family business was facing bankruptcy and needed my family’s investment to save it. Including Celine’s own startup afterwards, she relied on my family’s resources to become successful. Under these circumstances, she wouldn’t dare break up with me no matter what. But I wasn’t going to give her the chance anymore. I coldly said, “In that case, let’s break up.” Celine hadn’t reacted yet, thinking I was joking with her. “Alex, we’re adults now. Can we talk seriously?” She quickly came over to hold my arm, but remembering how intimate she had been with Jack, I felt disgusted and nauseous. I didn’t hold back, decisively shaking off her hand and walking into the bedroom.

When I woke up the next morning, Celine was gone. She had left for work. I got up, washed up, and went to Celine’s company. The receptionist greeted me right away: “Are you here to see Ms. Liu? She’s in a meeting now, I need to check with her assistant first.” Hearing “assistant”, I paused, suddenly realizing something. “What did you say? Which assistant?” Seeing my sudden seriousness, the receptionist was startled. “J-Jack.” So it was him. I guess I hadn’t paid attention to company matters for too long and didn’t know when he had joined as Celine’s assistant. Seeing me lost in thought, the receptionist tentatively asked, “Mr. Lin, should I let Jack know you’re here?” I shook my head, “No need, I’ll go up myself.” After I left, some new receptionists gossiped. “Is that really Mr. Lin? He doesn’t seem that well-matched with Ms. Liu. I wonder how she ended up with him.” “Shh! Watch what you say! Mr. Lin owns company shares!” “But Ms. Liu and Jack seem unusually close!” “Keep it down, he hasn’t gone far yet. It’d be bad if he heard!” I narrowed my eyes, ignoring the chatter as I took the elevator to Celine’s office. I sat on the couch, waiting for their meeting to end. About half an hour later, I heard footsteps and a man and woman talking outside. It was Celine and Jack’s voices. Celine said softly, “Jack, Alex has been acting strange lately. Why don’t you check on him after work?” Jack scoffed, “Didn’t you say you were going to break up with him? Why do you still care?” Celine was silent for a moment before saying, “Let’s wait a bit. The company can’t do without the Lin family right now. You have to believe me, I like you. Alex isn’t even my type.” Then I heard the sound of kissing. My whole body was shaking. Tears welled up in my eyes again, falling onto my phone. This feeling of being betrayed by two people at once was awful. After a while, I heard Jack’s voice: “Celine, will you marry me?” Unfortunately, Celine opened the door just as she was about to answer Jack, and her words got stuck in her throat when she saw me. I didn’t get to hear Celine’s answer. “Celine, why aren’t you saying anything?” Jack walked in like he owned the place, but stopped abruptly when he saw me. Celine’s brows furrowed as she stared at me intently, pretending to be calm as she asked, “Alex, why are you here?” I leaned back in the chair, saying nonchalantly, “I heard we’re looking for a spokesperson for the new product. I came to take a look.” Jack put both hands behind his back, lowering his head to avoid looking at me. I knew this was Jack’s habit when he was nervous. I held back my tears, trying to keep my tone normal as I looked at Jack and asked, “Jack, when did you start working at the company?” By now Jack had come up with a response. He walked over to me with a grin. “Didn’t I tell you I quit my job? I saw Celine’s company was hiring so I came to work here temporarily. I’ve been busy moving recently so I didn’t mention it to you.” I looked at Jack and Celine. They were still trying to fool me. I asked, “Is that so?” Celine quickly answered, “Yes, that’s right.” I nodded and said “Oh.” Looks like they still planned to keep me in the dark, playing me for a fool.

When I left the company, it had started raining outside. I went to the front desk to borrow an umbrella from Lily, but she mysteriously pulled me aside. Lily gripped her phone tightly, looking a bit nervous as she glanced around to make sure no one was nearby before asking, “Mr. Lin, do you know Jack’s Instagram account?” I should know Jack’s Instagram. But as far as I knew, he hadn’t updated it in a long time. Lily handed me her phone. I looked at the Instagram profile on the screen for an account called “JackKnows” with over 1 million followers, labeled as a couple’s account. I glanced at the most recent post from yesterday. [M is taking me to see the Northern Lights in Iceland!] There was also a 9-photo collage of pictures he took in Iceland. Looking at the date, I suddenly remembered that just a week ago, I had wanted to go on a trip with Celine but she said she had a business trip. Then when I went to find Jack, he said he had to go back home for something. Could it be that they had both lied to me and actually gone to Iceland together? I thanked Lily and told her not to spread this around. Back in my car, I searched for this account on my phone. Scrolling to the bottom, I saw posts from two years ago when we had just graduated college. [Graduation trip with M! I said I like the ocean so she brought me here.] The photos were of Jack’s travels, including many that I had taken for him. Graduation trips were popular when we finished college. At the time, both Celine and Jack had asked me to go on a trip with them separately. I had to convince them for a long time before they finally agreed for the three of us to travel together. To help them get along, I put in a lot of effort and carefully planned out an itinerary, looking forward to traveling with my girlfriend and best friend. But I never imagined that they had hooked up that day, keeping it from me for two whole years. [M rushed back from out of town in the middle of the night when she heard I was sick.] I looked at the date – it was around the time my mom passed away. The company was just starting up then, and Celine was traveling everywhere trying to secure project partnerships. When my mom died of cancer, Celine was on a business trip in Shanghai. I called her in despair, wanting her to come back and be with me. But she said she really couldn’t get away, and would fly back as soon as the deal was done to be with me. But even after the seventh day memorial service for my mom, I still hadn’t seen her return. Yet the day after my mom died, when Jack had appendicitis and was hospitalized, she couldn’t even wait for the next day’s flight and had her driver bring her back that same night. So it wasn’t that she couldn’t come back. I just wasn’t worth coming back for. Tears blurred my vision, making it hard to see the screen clearly. I closed my eyes and tears rolled down my cheeks onto my phone. My heart was in so much pain. It felt like countless ants were biting my heart. I wiped away my tears and continued scrolling through Jack’s Instagram. [One year anniversary! M took me to Disneyland, she’s my princess forever.] This date was last June 1st, when I had planned for a long time to go on a trip with Celine. But the day before we were supposed to leave, she told me she had to meet an important client and might have to delay our trip by a few days. So the important client she mentioned was Jack. She didn’t go on a trip with me, but went to accompany Jack instead. [M and I had a fight today. I was in a bad mood, but then she bought me 999 roses and a diamond ring. I guess I’ll forgive her.] The photo showed their intertwined hands, with shiny diamond rings clearly visible. I noticed a mole on the woman’s index finger. Celine has a mole just like that on her hand. I didn’t want to look anymore. I quickly closed my phone and leaned my head on the steering wheel, accidentally hitting the horn which blared loudly in the empty underground parking lot. The sound briefly snapped me out of my daze. But as soon as I thought about how Celine and Jack had betrayed me for two whole years, my heart ached unbearably again. I took a deep breath, started the car and drove out of the parking garage towards home. But just as I was getting close to home, a car suddenly swerved out of nowhere. I quickly turned the wheel to avoid it, but ended up crashing into a tree. 5 When I woke up, the hospital room was empty. My throat felt dry and uncomfortable. I instinctively reached out, trying to get some water. But my hand had no strength and I couldn’t grip the cup I had just grabbed. The cup fell to the floor, shattering into pieces. The door opened and a woman wearing a hat and mask walked in. Seeing I was awake, she came to my bedside and poured me a new glass of water. Before I could ask, she explained, “Sir, you were in a car accident and hit a tree. I brought you to the hospital.” I looked at her and asked, “Were you the car that suddenly swerved out?” She quickly waved her hands to deny it: “No, no. I’m just a good Samaritan. Your injuries aren’t serious. I’ll call the police now and you can sort out the rest yourselves.” Looks like I got lucky. At least nothing major happened. The woman saw I was okay and asked, “My name is Emma. Do you want to call your family?” Who could I call? I didn’t want to worry my dad, so I definitely couldn’t call him. Celine? Jack? They were the last people I wanted to see right now. I shook my head. Emma seemed like she wanted to say something but held back. She didn’t say anything else and left after the police arrived. The police said the driver who swerved out was drunk driving. Luckily I had avoided them in time. Although I hit a tree, my head was protected by the airbag so there were no major injuries. After taking my statement, the police left. My head felt groggy and I fell asleep soon after lying on the hospital bed. When I woke up again, it was already dark outside. I picked up my phone and saw that besides missed calls from my dad, no one else had contacted me. I called my dad back but didn’t tell him about the accident. I just said I was out with Celine and wouldn’t be visiting him for a few days. After hanging up, I stared at Celine’s chat window and impulsively decided to call her. The phone rang several times before she picked up, sounding impatient: “Hello.” I lay in bed staring blankly at the ceiling as I asked, “I got in a car accident. Can you come to the hospital to see me? I want to eat the porridge you make.” There was silence on the other end for a while, like she was doing something. Then she said, “Okay, I’ll be there soon.” Hearing Celine agree, I felt nothing and just hung up expressionlessly. About 15 minutes later, Celine called back. I answered and heard her slightly guilty voice: “Alex, I’m so sorry. I have some urgent work to deal with right now. I’ll have my assistant bring you some porridge. I’ll come see you first thing tomorrow morning with more porridge, okay?” I didn’t argue or get upset. I just said “Okay” and hung up. Not surprising. Thinking back on our years together, she had never really cared about me. But I was still so passionate, believing I could be her exception. What a fool I was, dreaming the impossible dream. I covered my eyes as tears spilled out, soaking the pillow. At first I cried silently, but gradually I felt more and more wronged. I started sobbing out loud until I cried myself to exhaustion. Then I moved my hand and lay on my side, staring wordlessly out the window at the sky. My phone suddenly lit up. It was a notification from Instagram. I tapped on it and saw that Jack had posted an update. [Just now! M lost to me in a game, she said she’ll buy me a new skin every week for a month. Everyone witness this!] The photo showed them in Jack’s home, both wearing pajamas and curled up on the couch playing games, just like a normal couple. I stared at the photo, my whole body trembling uncontrollably. Celine couldn’t be bothered to care that I was in a car accident, but was happily playing games with Jack. Can a person really be so heartless? I lifted my hand and found Celine’s chat window. My hands were shaking too much to type properly, and my eyes were too blurry with tears to see the keyboard clearly. I wiped away my tears and steadied my hand, typing five words into the chat box. “Let’s break up.”

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My husband, Ethan, died in the sea while trying to save his first love, Isabella. When they informed me, his body was almost completely eaten by fish. The staff asked me if I still wanted to salvage it. I waved my hand and firmly said I wouldn’t waste public resources. With the certificate issued by the police, I directly cancelled Ethan’s household registration. After contacting Ethan’s lawyer, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. I opened a bottle of champagne late at night. I could originally only get half of the property, but now I can get two-thirds of it. I definitely have to celebrate. …… My husband, Ethan, is dead. He took his first love, Isabella, on a ferry cruise. They encountered a huge wave, and the boat hit a reef. He gave the chance of survival to Isabella, but he himself died in the sea. When the police informed me, his head had been eaten by a shark. The headless body floated on the water. At first, several fishermen wanted to fish him out, but then another shark came and carried him away in its mouth. So they only salvaged Ethan’s wallet and mobile phone. As a much-watched entrepreneur in this city, everyone wanted to find Ethan’s body. The police asked me if I needed to hire a rescue team to search for it. I waved my hand and said, “No, I will never waste public resources.” An hour later, I went to cancel his household registration with the certificate given by the police. The staff shed two tears when seeing his ID card. “Mr. Ethan was a very kind person. Mrs. Ethan, please accept my condolences.” I laughed out loud. She was right. Ethan was a very kind person. He was supposed to go with me to get a divorce certificate in a couple of days and then get a marriage certificate with Isabella. But he died, leaving me a large sum of inheritance. Without a body, I could only burn some of Ethan’s things as an alternative to his ashes. So I burned the useless waste paper in his company office and his daily necessities. After burning them, I put the ashes in a plastic bag, thinking of buying an urn the next day. I contacted the lawyer and started to liquidate Ethan’s property. There were six companies, eight cars, sixty-six storefronts, eighty-eight houses, gold bars in the bank, and the funds and stocks in his hands. While I was counting how many zeros there were in total, the lawyer told me, “Mr. Ethan had already transferred the ownership of two properties to Ms. Isabella during his lifetime.” What! I won’t allow anyone to ruin my lucky numbers. I turned to the lawyer and asked, “I should be able to recover the things Ethan gave her, right?” As expected of a lawyer with an annual income of millions, he understood immediately. That day, Ethan’s waterlogged mobile phone had its data restored, and in the afternoon, my lawyer’s letter was delivered to Isabella’s home. When Isabella came, I had just opened a bottle of champagne. She directly picked up the glass and splashed it on my face, shouting, “Gina, what does this lawyer’s letter you sent mean?” I dodged to the side, and the liquid in the glass all fell on the carpet. “My Italian handmade carpet,” I said with a pained expression as I looked at Isabella, “This is also included in that. You have to compensate me for it later.” “Who gave you the courage to ask me for these things? These were all given to me by Ethan. We were about to get married, and these are all mine.” “Ms. Isabella, do you understand the law?” I sneered, “The things Ethan gave you belong to the joint property of the husband and wife, and I have the right to ask you to return them.” Isabella’s face turned pale, and she took out her mobile phone, saying, “You must not have discussed these things with Ethan. I’m going to call him right now. Just wait, he won’t let you off.” Seeing this, I laughed out loud and said, “Stop calling. You can’t get through. Ethan is in the belly of a shark now.”

Isabella’s eyebrows and eyes were almost twisted together. “Gina, you are so vicious. After all, you two were husband and wife. Do you really have to curse him like this?” After she finished shouting, I took out Ethan’s ID card that had been cut into two pieces from my bag and said, “What? Don’t you believe it? This is his ID card. I just cut it this morning.” Isabella looked at the two halves of the ID card and was stunned for a moment, still not believing it. “You must be playing some trick. I’m going to call him right now. You won’t get a single penny.” She dialed a few numbers on her mobile phone, and soon the mobile phone in my bag rang. I took out Ethan’s mobile phone from my bag, and the word “Wife” was flashing on the screen. Isabella’s face turned pale instantly. “Why is his mobile phone with you?” “I’ve already told you that he’s dead.” “Then where’s his body?” “It was eaten by a shark.” I spread my hands, “Ms. Isabella, have you forgotten that you two went on the cruise together? Why did you come back alone?” “I thought, I thought…” Isabella squatted down directly, her whole body started shaking, her eyes turned red instantly, and tears fell like pearls. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. My Italian handmade carpet! Tears are dirty too, okay? Isabella cried for a while, and suddenly stood up and ran towards the pillar in the living room. “Ethan, I’ll die with you!” I was so scared that I quickly took a few steps back and picked up my mobile phone to make a call. “Comrade police, come quickly. Someone is trying to commit suicide in my house.” The police came quickly. After understanding the situation, they took Isabella away. Before going out, I didn’t forget to remind her. “Remember to return my things. Otherwise, I’ll sue you.” One of the police officers glanced at me, and his eyes seemed to be saying, “She’s in such a state, and you’re still provoking her.” I shrugged. That was several million yuan. Who wouldn’t be in a hurry? The next day, I started thinking about arranging a funeral for Ethan. After all, he had so many wealthy relatives, and I had given them money for weddings and funerals in the past two years. Now it was time to get something back. I informed a bunch of Ethan’s relatives and found a master to go with me to choose a cemetery for him. But I didn’t like any of the geomantically good places the master chose. I liked the one on the far side. It was bare, with nothing growing on it. The master said, “No. If he’s buried there, your husband’s descendants will have a very hard life.” I clapped my hands and said, “That’s great. Let’s choose this one. The geomancy is so good, and it’s also cheap.” Anyway, I didn’t have a child with Ethan, and there wouldn’t be any descendants. After buying the cemetery and the urn, I found a funeral company and held a rather grand funeral for Ethan. At the funeral, I pretended to cry while glancing at the money given as gifts. Sure enough, they were all wealthy people. The money they gave was getting thicker and thicker, and I almost laughed out loud. When the funeral was about to end, Isabella came. She was dressed in black and was holding the hand of a seven or eight-year-old boy. She directly walked towards Ethan’s photo. The already quiet funeral scene became even quieter. Everyone’s eyes and ears were wide open. “Zach.” Isabella’s voice sounded very weak, “Kneel down! This is your father.” When the little boy was about to kneel, I directly ran over and helped him up. “Little boy, you can’t just call someone your father randomly.” Isabella was anxious. “He is my son with Ethan!” “Oh.” I lowered my eyes, “You say so, but I don’t believe it. Who can prove it?” “We can prove it.” Two more people appeared at the door. They were my long-lost mother-in-law, Victoria, and father-in-law, Henry.

“You bitch, Gina!” As soon as Victoria saw me, she rushed towards me directly, “My son is dead, and you informed everyone but us. What’s your intention?” How could I let her hit me? I stepped back and waved my hand, and immediately someone came up to stop her. I said, “Mom, didn’t you tell me not to contact you unless I was dead?” It seemed that Victoria had forgotten about it. That year, she drove me out of the house and said this to me. “You poisonous woman. My son must have been killed by you! You did such despicable things for money. You won’t end well!” Victoria kept rushing towards me. She probably wanted to scratch my face. Fortunately, the bodyguards I hired were very capable. They held her tightly and didn’t give her any chance. “Mom, don’t you know how Ethan died? He was with Ms. Isabella…” “Zach, come and call your grandparents!” Isabella directly interrupted my words and pulled the child over. Victoria immediately bent down and touched the child’s face. “This is our grandson of the Henry family. He looks exactly like Ethan when he was a child.” Then she looked at Isabella and said, “You’ve been through so much these years, Isabella. You raised the child all by yourself.” Looking at this scene of recognizing relatives, I felt a little disgusted. I kindly reminded her, “Mom, you believe everything she says? We still don’t know whose child this is.” Hearing this, Isabella got angry. “Gina, are you saying that this child is not Ethan’s? I’m telling you, this child was born to me and Ethan. When we broke up, I was already pregnant. I’ve been living with the child all these years.” Victoria also chimed in, “This child is clearly from our Henry family. You bad woman. You can’t have a child yourself, and you’re jealous of others having a child.” Seeing that Victoria was on her side, Isabella became more confident. She began to cry about how hard it was for her to raise the child these years and how much discrimination a single mother had suffered. “Oh, really?” I mercilessly exposed her, “I heard that you got married to someone else abroad and were dumped because of an affair.” “You’re talking nonsense!” Isabella had tears in her eyes and turned to Victoria, “I can endure it myself, but it’s really pitiful for the child not to have a father.” Victoria was also affected and started scolding me, “Gina, you’re a woman who can’t have children. You haven’t been a mother, so you don’t understand. I understand Isabella.” I said softly, “Mom, even if this child is really Ethan’s, there should be evidence, right? Otherwise, if anyone brings a child and says it’s your grandson, will you just recognize it?” “I have evidence.” Isabella straightened her back, “At first, Ethan didn’t believe that Zach was his child either, so we did a paternity test. That paternity test is still in the drawer of his office. Mom, if you go and have a look, you’ll know.” Oh. It hasn’t even been confirmed yet. Not only me, but everyone present had a very interesting expression on their faces. This funeral was really lively. Everyone was here. As soon as Victoria heard this, she quickly asked someone to go to Ethan’s office to get that paternity test. I tried to stop her again, “Mom, let’s talk about this after the funeral. It won’t look good if it makes a big scene with so many people here.” Victoria snorted coldly, “What’s wrong, Gina? Are you afraid that after the paternity test comes out, this child will be able to compete with you for the inheritance? I’m telling you, you should be more generous. If I were in your position, I would definitely recognize Zach.” I couldn’t persuade her at all. After Isabella told the specific location of the paternity test, someone quickly went to Ethan’s company. I also took the opportunity to make a phone call. Less than half an hour later, that person came back.

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My girlfriend’s first love once saved her life, and in return, she promised to do three things for him. The first was when I proposed to her. He called her away and took her on the Ferris wheel, leaving me waiting. The second time was when I was in the hospital, sick and alone. He convinced her to go with him to see the northern lights. For eight long years, I silently watched, bearing it all. Then, at our wedding, she made a shocking confession that she hadn’t married the man she loved the most. With a gentle tone, she tried to soothe me, “Zack, after this, I’ll have nothing to do with Julian anymore. Can you forgive me just one last time?” But this time, I couldn’t take it anymore. If she hadn’t married the right person, then I wouldn’t force myself to be that person. As the priest stood at the altar, asking if I would take her as my wife, a knot tightened in my chest. My gaze instinctively moved to Victoria Hale’s first love, sitting quietly in the audience. Julian Pierce’s confident smile was like a weight on my heart, and it made everything feel colder. When Victoria finally said “I do,” I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. But just as I thought it was over, she spoke again, her voice cutting through the tension, “I have a song I’d like to sing for my groom.” The song was for me, but her eyes never left Julian’s in the crowd, and I could feel the bitterness rising in my throat. The priest handed over the stage, and Victoria began to sing. But as the music filled the air, I felt the room grow colder, like I was drowning in ice. I recognized the song right away. It was one Julian had written himself and it was called “Not Marrying the One I Love.” For eight long minutes, Victoria sang. Eight minutes that felt like an eternity, as I thought back on the eight years I’d spent loving her. From the moment I’d first fallen for her in college, to the years that followed, through graduation, my career, and everything in between. She’d always been tangled up with Julian, and I had quietly accepted it. Even when she married me for the sake of her family’s business, I endured it all. But now, as I watched my parents, their faces twisted with anger, and saw the way Victoria and Julian looked at each other, something inside me snapped. I couldn’t keep pretending it didn’t hurt. Victoria must’ve noticed the change in me, because she put the microphone down and slowly walked toward me. “Zack, I’m sorry. Julian said this is the last time. After today, I won’t have anything to do with him anymore.” Her words were like empty promises. As if I should believe that everything would magically be fine between them just because she said so. I knew what was really going on. Julian knew he could never marry Victoria, so this was his way of humiliating me. At least this wedding would be the nightmare I’d carry with me for years. Looking at the woman in front of me, pretending to be so sincere, I suddenly felt sick to my stomach. I took a step back, distancing myself from her, and tossed my wedding ring onto the floor. “If you didn’t marry the one you love, then go marry him. He’s right there.” My voice rang out, cutting through the room. The murmurs of the crowd swirled around us, and for a moment, Victoria’s face flickered with embarrassment. “Zack, stop this. Today’s supposed to be our wedding.” “Yeah? Well, it’s not happening. You’re free now. Go be with the person you really want,” I shot back. Then, I turned to face Julian, who was watching from the crowd. “Julian, congratulations. You won. I don’t want her anymore. I hope you two have a lifetime of happiness.” I wasn’t holding back anymore. Julian was a well-known music producer in our circle, someone who had used his connections to force his way into our lives. Now, I was going to make sure they both felt the consequences of their actions. I dropped the microphone to the floor, shrugged off my suit jacket, and walked away, pulling my parents along with me. On the drive home, my parents didn’t say a word. They didn’t scold me, not even once. My mom just pulled me close, holding me in silence, offering what little comfort she could. Loving Victoria in silence for eight years had been a pain I could never fully explain. We were from the same world, same university, same circle. If it weren’t for her family’s business crisis, Victoria would never have agreed to this marriage. I knew that. I’ll admit, I was desperate. But after two years of being with her, I honestly thought I’d won her over. Even though she’d always put Julian first, I stood by, hoping she would one day choose me. My family had never wanted to get involved with the Hale family. After all, they were the ones trying to climb the social ladder by marrying into ours. But because I insisted, my parents had reluctantly gone along with it. If I had forgiven her today, it wouldn’t just be my pride that would be shattered. It would be my family’s as well.

When my mom saw how much I was hurting, she couldn’t keep quiet any longer. “Zack, if you still want to marry her, we can put pressure on the Hale family. Victoria will definitely come and apologize.” But I knew that even without my parents intervening, Victoria would still come to apologize. She would do it because she had no choice. I shook my head slowly. “Mom, I’m sorry I’ve embarrassed you. I’m done with Victoria. It’s over. I’m the one letting her go.” Mom didn’t argue. “It’s probably for the best. A woman like that… you’re better off without her.” She didn’t say anything else. Instead, she simply ruffled my hair, offering comfort in silence. Knowing I was still struggling, my parents planned a family trip to try and take my mind off things. I selfishly picked Kanvas, where Victoria and I had once gone to see the Northern Lights. It had been one of the most beautiful moments of my life, and now, I needed that place to help me let go of everything. For a whole week, I tried to put the past eight years behind me. But when I got back home, the media storm had already started. The internet was ablaze, and it was all aimed at me. Julian’s fans had twisted my words from the wedding and spread them online, editing my statements to make them look like I had said, “If you love Julian so much, then go marry him. I’m done with you.” They didn’t know the full story or understand the scene at the wedding. But they made it sound like I was the one who had dragged Julian into the mess. What hurt more was that Victoria and her family had said nothing. They let the storm brew and only allowed the fans to continue their attack on me, without a word of defense. In just a week, rumors were so widespread that my death photo was circulating online. But I knew deep down that this kind of media frenzy didn’t just happen on its own. Someone had to be behind it, stoking the fire. Even my family’s PR team couldn’t put out the flames. And I immediately thought of Victoria. When I called her, I could hear Julian’s voice in the background. “Victoria, are you going to address all this drama online?” Her voice was as cold as ice, unaffected, like none of this had even fazed her. “Zack, if you apologize to Julian, we could still have a wedding. I’d still marry you,” she said, as if nothing had changed. The self-loathing hit me hard. Why had I even hoped she’d be different? I couldn’t help but let out a bitter, empty laugh. “Victoria, how much lower can you both go? You let this mess spin out of control online, and instead of explaining yourself, you want me to apologize?” “If it weren’t for you, Julian wouldn’t have almost lost his job. You’re the one who deserves all that hate,” she replied, still sounding so high and mighty. I didn’t waste another second and hung up the phone. Turning to my parents, I managed a dry smile. “Dad, it’s time to pull all funding from the Hale family. A woman like that doesn’t deserve any more of our energy.”

There was no deeper reason behind my words. I just wanted to see if Victoria could still demand an apology from me without my family’s financial support. As for the online rumors, I didn’t bother directly addressing them. Instead, I simply paid to have the trending topic removed. The reason behind this was simple. I wanted to see if there was someone pulling the strings behind these rumors. By the time morning came, that trending topic was back at the top of the headlines. That was when I knew. Someone was deliberately trying to bring me down. Once I had my target, everything else fell into place. It was right then that my phone began buzzing non-stop with messages from Julian. During the seven days I’d been away, he’d sent me countless photos of himself with Victoria, along with his messages. [Zachary, do you really think Vicky loves you? The only person she cares about is me.] Among the dozens of photos, one stood out, sharp and painful. It was of Victoria and Julian embracing on a mountaintop, the sunset casting a golden glow over them. My heart clenched. Victoria had once told me she didn’t like outdoor activities, but here she was, climbing the city’s tallest mountain with Julian. For a brief moment, I felt a sting. But more than that, I just thought how foolish Julian was. All the public opinion that had been focused on me was now turning in another direction. I wasn’t bothered by using Julian as a shield, whether or not he was the one behind all of this. I took those photos, along with the screenshots he’d sent, and sent them to a few marketing accounts I’d bribed. In just two hours, the narrative completely flipped. Even though Julian had spent a fortune to push his own trending topic, he couldn’t compete with the proof I held in my hands. Once that was done, my phone exploded with his messages, crude and filthy insults flooding my screen. Victoria also called me more times than I could count. It was probably more than we’d spoken in the entire three years we were together. The irony wasn’t lost on me. I pretended I didn’t see any of it. After a few days at home to clear my head, I got back in the car and headed to the office. Just as I parked, someone suddenly rushed toward me from a distance. My instincts kicked in, and I tried to retreat back into the car. But it was too late, and she was too fast. The woman came straight at me, a knife gleaming coldly in her hand. Pain exploded in my abdomen as the blade pierced deep. For a moment, everything went blurry, and I could barely stay conscious. With what little strength I had left, I grabbed her, refusing to let go. Even if I died, I wasn’t going to let her escape. In the haze of my vision, I could hear her speaking into the phone. “Julian, don’t worry. I’ve taken care of this bastard. No one will ever hurt you again.”

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CHAPTER Five years ago, my husband, Alpha Brooks, vanished without a trace in the Boundless Forest. They never found his body. Now, on the night of the full moon, the Pack doctor called me personally. His voice was urgent, shaking. Alpha Brooks has been found. The good news? He’s alive. Healthy. Breathing. The bad news? He’s getting married. Beta Julian had spent the entire ride trying to talk sense into me. I refused to listen. I won’t give up. I was the one chosen by the Moon Goddess. The one Brooks spent two years chasing, five years cherishing, and proposed to twice. How could he forget me so easily? My fingers brushed the ring still sitting on my hand—a cold, bitter reminder that once upon a time, he was mine. The journey was grueling, the roads uneven. My stomach churned with nausea, my body aching after hours of travel. It took ten long hours before we finally arrived in the small town near the Pack. “We’re here,” Beta Julian murmured. His tone was cautious, hesitant. “He doesn’t remember anything, so you have to—” I barely heard him. My entire body tensed as I stared at the wooden door in front of me. My breath hitched. He’s behind that door. When Beta Julian pushed it open, the sound of seashell wind chimes filled the air, ringing out in soft, melodic tones. The courtyard before me was nothing like the world Brooks and I once shared. A pebble-lined path led to a cozy-looking house. A massive wooden swing sat in one corner. A golden retriever lazily stretched under a tree, surrounded by cats. So many cats. My breath caught in my throat. Brooks hated cats. The beaded curtain at the entrance shifted, seashells clicking together as someone stepped outside. A man. Tall. Lean. Familiar. I went still, my pulse hammering as my gaze locked onto him. Brooks. I had seen men who looked like him before—men with golden hair and fair skin. But this man was sharper. Colder. His features were more defined, his jaw stronger, his entire presence commanding. A red string hung around his neck, and just beneath his left eye was a tear-shaped mole. My heart stopped. “Alpha… Brooks,” I whispered, my voice trembling, thick with unshed tears. His piercing gaze met mine. And there was nothing. No recognition. No flicker of familiarity. Nothing. “Who are you?” His tone was flat. Distant. I sucked in a sharp breath. “Brooks, it’s me…” His expression darkened. His voice grew colder. “Sorry, ma’am. You’ve got the wrong person.” No. I knew it was him. I could feel it in my bones, in my soul. He was mine. Beta Julian quickly stepped in, his voice steady. “Apologies for disturbing you. We’re travelers looking for a place to stay. Do you have any rooms available?” Brooks—or whoever he thought he was—studied us for a moment before lifting a brow. “How many rooms?” “Two.” Without another word, he turned and disappeared into the house, not sparing me a second glance. A sharp pain stabbed through my chest. I wanted him to look back. To recognize me. But his gaze had passed right through me, as if I were a stranger. The man I loved—the one who once swore to protect me, cherish me—was standing right in front of me. And yet… He didn’t even know my name. Tears blurred my vision as the truth crashed down on me. Alpha Brooks didn’t remember me. CHAPTER

“ID. Are you from the Pack?” Alpha Brooks’s voice was calm, unreadable, as he took our identification cards. Beta Julian handed them over, offering a stiff greeting. I barely heard him. My gaze was locked on Brooks—Liam, as they called him now. He moved toward the cabinet, and that’s when I saw it. His left pinky finger. A piece of it was missing. And his right leg… he walked with a slight limp. A sharp gasp escaped me before I could stop it. I lifted a hand to my mouth, my heart hammering. What happened to him? Beta Julian must have noticed too. He grabbed the room keys quickly, his grip firm as he ushered me away. I sat in my room for a long time, my mind spinning. Five years. Five years, I had imagined seeing him again. Five years ago, I had dreamed of slapping him for forgetting me—for choosing another woman. But now? Now, all I wanted to do was hold him. Beta Julian’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Ava, get some rest.” His brows were furrowed, his concern evident. I nodded numbly. He lingered for a second before leaving, and I knew—he had seen it too. Brooks… Liam… whoever he was now… he wasn’t the same. Doctor Reynolds came to check on me later, but my mind was elsewhere. Laughter drifted from the backyard, the warm sounds of conversation mixing with the clinking of wine glasses. Carefree. Happy. I stepped outside, my gaze immediately finding him. Liam. He stood at the grill, flipping skewers with practiced ease, laughing with Beta Julian like they were old friends. The sight of them together unsettled me. Before I could look away, a plate appeared in front of me. “You okay?” Beta Julian. I nodded stiffly. He turned toward Liam. “Liam, let me introduce you to Ava.” I forced a smile, extending my hand. I could feel my fingers trembling. I shouldn’t be trembling. “Nice to meet you,” I said. Liam’s warm hand briefly grasped mine. “Nice to meet you too.” Too formal. Too distant. It felt like a punch to the gut. My mind flashed back to the day he first proposed to me. He held me so tightly, whispering, “Luna, nice to meet you.” Now? Now, I was just some woman at his table. Swallowing the knot in my throat, I forced casual conversation. “This place is beautiful. Are you living well here?” Liam expertly flipped a skewer. “Yeah, it’s okay.” I studied him as he moved—his familiar gestures, his calm demeanor. How could he forget everything? A piece of grilled chicken slipped off the grill, and Liam called out, “Tudou, come here!” My breath caught. Tudou? I turned sharply as the golden retriever wagged its tail and trotted toward him. My hands clenched at my sides. “You named him Tudou?” Liam raised an eyebrow, his lips curving slightly. “Yeah. It’s fat and round. What else would I call it?” I turned away, blinking back tears. Only he would come up with such a ridiculous name. I sat down, grabbing a glass of wine and downing it in one gulp. The bitterness coated my tongue, but it wasn’t enough to dull the ache in my chest. My gaze drifted back to Liam. The tear mole beneath his eye. The red string around his neck. It’s him. It has to be him. Just then, someone handed Liam a plate of food. I glanced at it absently—then froze. Mushrooms. No. “He can’t eat that!” I blurted out before I could stop myself. The table fell silent. Eyes turned to me, some confused, some curious. My stomach twisted. But before I could explain, a figure leapt onto Liam’s back, arms wrapping around his shoulders, face nuzzling against his neck. “Liam! I missed you so much!” Liam bent slightly, adjusting the person’s grip. “Get down,” he muttered, his tone firm—but there was something else in his voice. Affection. The woman giggled, holding on tighter. Beta Julian cleared his throat, “Ava, this is Lily.” I stared at her—his wife. The world tilted. And for the second time that day, I felt like the ground had disappeared beneath my feet. CHAPTER

I still held the mushrooms, my fingers tightening around them as my mind reeled. Lily’s bright smile felt like a blade to my chest. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. “His wife.” She turned to me, beaming. “Hello! I’m Lily, Liam’s wife. Welcome to our home.” Her words rang in my ears like a cruel joke. The others greeted her one by one, their casual conversation grating against my raw emotions. Lily was warm, talkative—too talkative. She complimented nearly everyone, her energy infectious. When it was my turn, she gasped. “Ava, you’re so beautiful! Your figure is amazing—I’m so jealous! And your hair, oh my God, it’s gorgeous! Unlike mine, which is thinning from stress.” I managed a stiff smile, swallowing the lump in my throat. Lily suddenly turned to Liam, pouting. “It’s definitely because of you always blowing on my hair! Be careful, or I’ll be a bald bride at our wedding next week!” Liam chuckled, ruffling her hair. “Okay.” I froze. “Wedding.” The word felt like a slap. One of the pack members—pretending to be a traveler—feigned surprise. “You’re getting married?” “Yes!” Lily clasped her hands together, eyes sparkling with excitement. “Next Wednesday. We hope you can all come!” I grabbed another beer, downing it in one long gulp. Lily reached for one too, but before she could take a sip, Liam snatched it away. His voice was quiet but firm. “You can’t drink.” Lily pouted. “Just one sip.” Then, without hesitation, she leaned up and kissed him—right in front of me. My fingers clenched around the cold can. “Liam, just one sip, please!” she coaxed, her voice playful. Liam exhaled, handing her a cup with rose petals floating inside. “Drink this instead.” Lily wrinkled her nose. “Rose tea? Liam, I’ve told you a hundred times I don’t like flower tea. Why do you always forget?” Liam hesitated. “I… I just do.” My breath hitched. I turned away, my chest tightening. Brooks used to brew me tea. He always worried that I didn’t drink enough water. In the winter, he’d make apple water and snow pear soup. Every time I drank more, he’d reward me with a pink thermos. I swallowed hard, shoving the memory away. Lily’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Look, Ava finished a whole can of beer! Maybe that’s the secret to her gorgeous hair!” I forced a small smile. “My mate never let me drink. He said I’d down the whole bottle if I started. He was strict about it.” Lily giggled. “That’s so strict! Doesn’t he get mad when you drink now?” I glanced at Liam, my heart hammering against my ribs. I shook my head. “He doesn’t care anymore.” Silence. For a moment, Lily looked like she wanted to say something, but she hesitated. Instead, she obediently sipped her rose tea, finishing the entire cup. I, on the other hand, had barely eaten. Between the alcohol and the suffocating tension, my head was starting to spin. Excusing myself, I pushed away from the table. As I turned to leave, Lily’s laughter trailed after me. I looked back just in time to see her climb onto Liam’s back, giggling, clinging to him like she belonged there. Liam sighed but didn’t push her away. Instead, he continued cleaning the table, as if her affection was something he had grown used to. Something he accepted. That should be me. I turned away, my stomach twisting. Biting the inside of my cheek, I forced myself back to my room. The moment the door closed behind me, I ripped open my bag, fumbling for my medication. The pills rattled in my hand as I swallowed them dry. Slowly, my pulse steadied. By the time Doctor Reynolds entered, I had forced myself into calmness. “I thought you’d make a scene,” he said, his voice measured. I gazed out the window. The moon was high, bathing the courtyard in silver light. “I considered it,” I admitted quietly. “But then… I felt sorry for him.” Doctor Reynolds’s gaze sharpened. “You brought a lot of things with you. Are you planning to help Alpha regain his memories?” I glanced at the open box beside my bed. Inside were ten years’ worth of memories. His first love letter. Our first photo together. Our wedding pictures. I reached out, brushing my fingers over the faded edges. Then, I closed the box. “No,” I said. Doctor Reynolds frowned. “Why not?” I exhaled slowly, my grip tightening. “I don’t want him to experience the pain of losing loved ones twice.” And if forgetting me meant he would never have to relieve that pain… Then maybe it was better this way. CHAPTER

The next morning, I slept in late. By the time I packed my painting supplies and stepped out of my room, the afternoon sun was already high in the sky. Laughter echoed through the courtyard. “Ava! We saved you some food!” I looked up to see Lily waving at me from the wooden table where everyone was gathered. Reluctantly, I approached. She handed me a container, her smile warm. “We don’t have many relatives, so we’d love for you to come to our wedding.” My fingers tightened around the envelope she offered me. A wedding invitation. I didn’t dare open it. It felt too heavy, as if the weight of my past and my shattered heart were pressed between its pages. Lily didn’t seem to notice my hesitation. “I’ve heard you’re really talented! Can you take a look at our wedding invitation design?” She practically beamed as she spoke. The thin paper in my hands might as well have been stone. Before I could respond, Doctor Reynolds reached over, smoothly intercepting the conversation. “Let me see. The color is lovely.” Lily nodded eagerly. “Liam picked the orange. I wanted purple, but now I think the orange looks better. Ava, what’s your favorite color?” My throat tightened. I set my painting supplies down and gestured to my orange dress. “This.” I hadn’t had a favorite color before. But one day, Brooks had complimented me on an orange jacket I wore. I remembered how his eyes had softened, the way he ran his fingers over the fabric before whispering, “You look beautiful in this color.” From that moment on, orange became my favorite. Lily clapped her hands. “Wow, you and Liam have the same taste!” I forced a smile, but her words twisted inside me. My family. That’s what Brooks used to call me. “My Luna. My family.” His voice had always been full of warmth when he said it. Doctor Reynolds, sensing the tension, took the invitation from me. “The cartoon design is adorable. Is the wedding at dusk?” Lily rubbed her face. “Yup! That’s what Liam wanted.” She turned to me, eyes bright with curiosity. “But how did you know?” The words left my mouth before I could stop them. “Because someone can’t wake up early.” Lily’s eyes went wide. “Oh my God! That’s exactly what Liam said!” She let out a laugh, nudging Liam playfully as he walked past. “But mostly, he loves dusk.” I swallowed hard. Brooks loved dusk too. He once told me that the Moon Goddess blessed couples who married at dusk—that it was a sign their love would last forever. A memory surfaced. I had been half-asleep when he whispered in my ear, “You sleep too much. What am I going to do with you on our wedding day?” Later, as our wedding approached, I’d wake up to the feel of his stubble against my skin, his arms pulling me close. “Ava, let’s get married at dusk, okay?” I’d hummed my agreement, and he had kissed my forehead, his voice full of quiet satisfaction. The past clawed at me, dragging me under. I stood abruptly, needing air. As I turned to leave, Lily caught my wrist. Her gaze dropped to my hand. She gasped. “Your ring! That’s beautiful!” I twisted the band around my finger. “He said the same thing.” Lily tilted her head. “Wait… are you married?” “Yes.” Her surprise was evident. “For how long?” “Five years.” Her brows furrowed. “Where’s your mate? Why didn’t he come with you?” I didn’t answer. Instead, I looked up—right into the eyes of the man walking toward us. Alpha Brooks. Or rather, the man who used to be him. The man who no longer remembered me.

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I had endured it for five years, from dating to marriage and having a daughter. My wife, Olivia, always said she had an avoidant personality and tended to run away from intimate relationships. But I couldn’t take it anymore when our daughter, Lily, came home drenched in rain, tearfully saying, “Mom said she had to drop off Uncle Ryan and his daughter Emma, so I had to come home by myself.” When Olivia returned, I confronted her about her actions. She simply replied, “I don’t know how to explain it to you. Think whatever you want.” This time, I couldn’t hold back anymore. Today, I was working overtime at the company. I quickly sent a message to my wife, who was flying back from a trip: “Honey, I’m working late today. Could you pick up Lily from school?” As usual, there was no response to my message. The chat history showed only my messages. I had grown accustomed to her lack of replies, assuming she had seen the message and would pick up our daughter. At 8 PM, I finished work and returned home to find Lily sitting at the doorstep, crying softly, soaked to the bone. “Lily, why are you sitting outside? Hasn’t Mom come home?” I pulled her up, feeling her ice-cold hands. She must have been sitting there for a long time. As soon as she saw me, Lily burst into tears and threw herself into my arms. I quickly carried her inside, grabbing a towel to dry her hair while gently coaxing her to tell me what had happened. Sobbing, Lily said, “I saw Mom’s car at the school gate. I thought she was there to pick me up, but she said she had to drop off Uncle Ryan and his daughter Emma. She said it wasn’t on her way and told me to go home by myself.” My heart sank. Ryan was Olivia’s ex-boyfriend. How were they in contact again? At the same time, I felt a chill run through me. Lily was only in first grade. The way home wasn’t exactly close. What if something had happened to her? I remembered when we were dating. Olivia was known for her beauty and was a future pilot. Strangely, she had always been single. Out of curiosity, I pursued her for several months, constantly showing my affection until she finally agreed to be with me. Later, I learned that her parents had divorced and remarried when she was young, leaving her to grow up alone. She told me, “I have an avoidant personality. I’m not good at maintaining intimate relationships. If you can accept that, we can be together.” She rarely replied to my messages and was indifferent to my care. When faced with relationship issues, she would either say “Think whatever you want” or avoid the problem with silence. Because I loved her so much, I still married her. After marriage, we had Lily, and I thought she would be different with our daughter. I never expected her to do something like this today. She said she had an avoidant personality, so why was she willing to drive Ryan and his daughter? Stopping my racing thoughts, I quickly got Lily to take a bath, fearing she might catch a cold. I comforted her, saying that Uncle Ryan might have had an emergency, which was why Mom couldn’t bring her home, and that Mom would apologize when she returned. Lily blinked, clearly not believing me, but she was mature enough not to press further and obediently went to the bathroom. Late at night, Lily developed a fever from getting caught in the rain, mumbling “Mom” in her delirium. I gave her some fever medication and put her to bed. Thankfully, she was okay. But Olivia still hadn’t come home. I sat in the living room, my mind in chaos. When the clock struck one, Olivia finally returned, reeking of alcohol but with clear eyes. She walked straight to the living room to pour herself some water, showing no intention of explaining herself. I asked, “Olivia, why are you back so late? Did you go drinking?” She casually replied, “Yeah, had a few drinks with friends.” I pressed on, “With Ryan, right?” She turned around, irritated, and said, “Yes, with him. He’s my colleague now. Jack, your distrust is putting pressure on me.” It was the same old response. Undeterred, I questioned her about refusing to bring Lily home in the afternoon. After a long pause, her only response was a silent, expressionless stare. Feeling heartbroken for our daughter, I demanded, “Lily is so young. What if something had happened to her on her way home? Is this how you be a mother?” She finally snapped, throwing out, “I don’t know what to say anymore. Think whatever you want.” Then she shut herself in the study and didn’t come out again. I lay sleepless on the couch until the early hours of the morning, finally drifting off as dawn broke. The next morning, Olivia was nowhere to be seen. On the way to drop Lily off at school, she anxiously asked, “Dad, did Mom apologize to me last night?” Forcing a smile, I lied, “Yes, she did. Mom said she’ll buy you your favorite doll when she flies back next time to make it up to you.” Lily immediately brightened up, entering the school with an excited smile. Watching my daughter’s retreating figure, I thought sadly, how long would I have to keep lying to her?

I found myself constantly checking my phone for messages, but Olivia hadn’t sent anything since that day. When we were dating, other guys’ girlfriends would always be texting them about the little things in their lives. I gently suggested that Olivia try sharing what she was doing with me too. She looked at me incredulously, saying she really didn’t see the point in talking about eating, waking up, or going to sleep. So I never knew what Olivia was doing or where she was. It was only my trust in her that kept our relationship going until now. Yesterday, Lily came home excited, saying there was a parent-child sports day at school. She asked if Mom would have time to participate. She added thoughtfully, “I know Mom is busy. It’s okay if she can’t make it.” It was clear she really wanted to participate. Although Olivia’s monthly salary was pooled with mine for our family expenses, her schedule was always packed, leaving little time to spend with our daughter. I had always explained to Lily that Mom worked hard to give us a better life in the future. Seeing Lily’s hopeful face, I mustered up the courage to call Olivia. The call was immediately disconnected, but I received a message from her. “What is it?” I replied, “There’s a parent-child sports day at school soon. Our daughter wants you to go with her. Can you take a day off?” She responded, “When is it? I’ll see if I can make it.” I sent her the details and reminded her of a few things. Then I asked which route she was flying today. To my surprise, she gave me a detailed answer about her flight. I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe she had realized her mistake from last time and was trying to improve her attitude. On the day of the sports event, I was warming up with Lily in the waiting area. She kept glancing towards the entrance, clearly distracted. As other children and parents started to enter, I crouched down and hugged Lily, asking, “Mom might be held up. How about Dad participates with you first?” Lily stubbornly shook her head and ran to the entrance. “Mom promised me. I believe in her.” Time ticked by, but there was still no sign of Olivia. I quickly messaged her, asking where she was, but got no response. My daughter’s small figure stood firmly waiting. Finally, as the event ended and other students left with their parents, Olivia still hadn’t shown up. Lily’s eyes filled with tears, but she bravely told me it was time to go home, remaining silent on the way back. When we opened the door, we found Olivia sitting on the couch, reading a book. She didn’t react to our arrival. Lily ran up to her, her little face red with anger, and demanded, “Mom, you promised me. Why didn’t you come?” Ignoring Lily’s words, Olivia frowned at me and said, “I told you I’d see how things went. I had important business come up today. Couldn’t you, as her father, just accompany her?” Olivia was always like this, rarely participating in Lily’s activities. This time, she had promised and then broken that promise. I even suspected she was using work to avoid Lily and me. Lily was about to say something else when she noticed a beautifully wrapped doll on the couch – her favorite cartoon character. Just as she picked it up to take a closer look, Olivia suddenly stopped her. “That’s not for you. I bought it for Uncle Ryan’s daughter. Don’t open the packaging.” Lily couldn’t hold back anymore and burst into tears, sobbing that she hated her mom before running to her room and locking the door. Only Olivia and I were left in the living room. She glanced at Lily’s room, seeming to want to say something, but then just sat on the couch as if nothing had happened. I couldn’t contain myself anymore. I confronted her, “Why are you doing this? You promised to come and then broke that promise. Do you know how long Lily waited for you? And that doll – why did you only buy one for Ryan’s daughter? You know Lily loves that doll. Was it so hard to buy one more?” After my barrage of questions, Olivia stood up impatiently and said defiantly, “Enough! I just want my own space. You’re all putting too much pressure on me. I’ve always been like this, with everyone.” I closed my eyes, feeling overwhelmed, and said, “If you keep this up, I don’t think I can go on!” She reverted to her expressionless, indifferent state and said, “I can’t change. If you can’t handle it anymore, let’s get divorced. We’re not compatible, and you don’t need to waste any more time on me.” Olivia had just suggested we get divorced. At that moment, I felt like all my perseverance in loving her had become a joke. She was truly a block of ice that couldn’t be warmed. But for Lily’s sake, should I really get divorced? Suddenly, Olivia’s phone rang. Right in front of me, she opened SnapChat to find a message from Ryan, thanking her for helping out on short notice. She immediately replied, saying it was no problem. So that’s why she didn’t come today. She was helping him out. My SnapChat was pinned at the top of her chat list, with a “Do Not Disturb” icon next to it. She had long since found me annoying.

For the past few days, I hadn’t messaged Olivia, who had left home. Her suggestion of divorce had extinguished any lingering hope I had. I suddenly didn’t know why I had persisted in loving her. Perhaps she never needed it. When we were dating, my friends gently warned me that if a man is too devoted, a woman might not appreciate him. I didn’t believe it then, thinking it was just because of her family background and that Olivia wasn’t inherently cold. I made sure she received all the usual gifts and companionship, no less than anyone else would. She was just too avoidant when it came to emotions. Ryan was her first love. She had actively pursued him, but in the end, Ryan said they weren’t compatible and broke up. After graduation, he married and had a daughter. Now, it seemed he was divorced. Maybe with Ryan, the unattainable was appealing to her. Watching from afar made it seem better. But I couldn’t tolerate any doubt in our relationship. If she was truly wavering, there was no point in forcing her to stay. But what about Lily? Would divorce harm her? Olivia didn’t truly not love Lily. When Lily was younger, the gentle look in Olivia’s eyes as she held and fed her couldn’t be faked. Materially, Olivia always did her best to give Lily the best of everything. But the way she treated Lily now had hurt our daughter deeply. That night, Lily asked me if I had lied to her, saying that Mom hadn’t apologized or promised to buy her a gift. I apologized to her, and she hugged me, saying it was okay. She just wanted Mom to be with her. She loved her mom very much but had to be understanding because Mom was so busy. If we really left Olivia, Lily might be very upset. That afternoon after work, I bought Lily’s favorite doll and went to pick her up. After waiting for a while without seeing her come out, I called her teacher. The teacher was surprised, saying, “Lily didn’t come to school today. Her mother called in sick for her, saying she was taking her out.” Olivia had taken her out to play? Why didn’t she tell me? Was she trying to make it up to Lily by taking her out? Although I felt uneasy, she was still the child’s mother. It might be good for them to spend some time together. Late that night, mother and daughter still hadn’t returned home. Getting anxious, I called Olivia directly. She answered, sounding out of breath as if she was running. “What’s wrong? Where’s Lily? Let me talk to her,” I asked. She paused, then said in a low voice, “Something happened. I’ll have her call you later.” I pressed her to tell me what had happened. After a long silence, she finally replied, “Lily is missing. We’re looking for her now.” It felt like a bolt of lightning had struck me. I nearly collapsed, barely managing to ask for their location before rushing over. They were in the neighboring city. I took the fastest high-speed train and went straight to the police station. To my surprise, Ryan and his daughter were there too. Seeing my pale face, Olivia grabbed me and said, “Jack, calm down. Lily will be fine. The police have checked the surveillance cameras and are searching for her.” I couldn’t calm down at all. Ryan approached, looking guilty: “It’s all my fault. I mentioned that Emma was lonely and thought it would be nice if Lily could play with her. That’s why Olivia brought her along. We never expected Lily to disappear while we were shopping in the mall.” Olivia couldn’t meet my eyes, burying her head in my chest, trying to comfort me. I pushed her away forcefully, glaring at her with fury. For the sake of Ryan’s child, she had secretly taken Lily out and lost her. What kind of mother was she? “If anything happens to Lily, none of you will get away with this. Once we find Lily, let’s get divorced, Olivia.” “As you wish. We’ll set you free.”

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Just because I, Camille Miller, lost my engagement ring, my CEO fiancé, Xavier Thornton, decided to cancel our wedding to teach me a lesson. As if that wasn’t enough, he publicly announced that he would marry his assistant, Kimberly Scott, instead. But on their wedding day, I saw my lost ring on Kimberly’s finger. Before I could even question her, she burst into tears, claiming I had it out for her and was framing her on purpose. To prove her innocence, she tearfully submitted her resignation. Xavier, desperate to console her, did something even more outrageous. He called for a company-wide meeting, live-streamed it, and publicly criticized me. He called me jealous and unworthy and announced that he would strip me of all my shares to compensate Kimberly for her emotional distress. Otherwise, he’d really marry her and leave me with nothing. The entire office was in shock. The way they looked at me was full of pity. They all thought I would obediently give in to him again. But this time, I simply clasped my hands together and said, “Well then, I wish the two of you a lifetime of happiness.”

The moment the words left my lips, Xavier froze. Then, his expression darkened, and he slammed his hand on the table. He grabbed a stack of papers and threw them in my face. “Camille, stop with the sarcasm! “You did the wrong thing, yet you show no remorse. Do you believe I won’t fire you and kick you out of the company right now?!” Whispers filled the room. People pointed at me, murmuring among themselves. Everyone has already become accustomed to this kind of scene. This had happened so many times before. Even though I was Xavier’s fiancée, he never hesitated to humiliate me in front of others whenever he was upset. Over time, people stopped respecting me. But he still wasn’t satisfied. Later, he even deliberately posted edited clips online to make me look bad. I had swallowed my pride and helped him build his company from the ground up, yet because of his video. People were calling me an arrogant, incompetent trophy wife. The live chat was flooded with hateful comments from every direction, all aimed at me. Kimberly, his assistant, couldn’t hide her smile. It took her a moment to suppress her amusement before she strolled forward, casually shutting off the livestream. Then, she turned to Xavier, feigning concern. “Xavier, don’t be so rash. I’ve already forgiven Camille. “Besides, no matter what Camille did, she’s still your girlfriend. I don’t want to be the reason you two fight.” Xavier’s expression had been somewhat conflicted a moment ago. Perhaps he regretted speaking too harshly to me in front of everyone. But after hearing Kimberly’s words, he let out a cold laugh and shot me a look full of disdain. “She takes advantage of the fact that she’s my girlfriend. She thinks she can do whatever she wants just because I spoil her. “Camille, tell me, am I wrong?” I scoffed inwardly, too tired to argue. It didn’t matter what I said. He would only stick to his version of the story, convinced that I was being unreasonable. Seeing that I stayed silent, Xavier took it as an admission of guilt and dismissed the meeting. Once everyone had left, he sighed and looked at me as if he were genuinely disappointed. “Camille, I really didn’t expect this from you. Not only did you refuse to admit your mistake, but you also embarrassed me in front of everyone. I’m really disappointed in you.” This was what he always said after scolding me, like a script he had memorized. At first, I believed him. Every time, I would reflect on my actions, wondering if I had truly done something wrong. Until I realized that my self-reflection was just a trap, a way for him to test my limits, each time, his punishments only grew harsher. “What exactly did I do wrong?” I asked, my voice calm. “You and Kimberly already had your wedding. What’s so wrong about what I said?” Xavier’s expression froze for a split second as if he hadn’t expected me to respond this way. But then, he sneered. “People weren’t wrong when they called you petty. “That wedding was just for publicity. It wasn’t real. “After promoting it for an entire year, we couldn’t just cancel it at the last minute. What would people think? “Honestly, you should be thanking Kimberly. She went out of her way to find the wedding ring. Since you were out of town, she stepped up and played the role of the bride to keep the public from asking questions. “You weren’t even half as invested as she was. So tell me, where do you get the nerve to throw a tantrum?” His tone was righteous as if he truly believed he was making perfect sense. I couldn’t help but laugh. That wedding, the one I had spent three whole months planning, was something I had poured my heart into. I handled everything from the grand decorations of the venue down to the tiniest details, like picking out the candy for the guests. Back then, he had insisted I had too much on my plate and might mess things up, so he forcibly handed the wedding ring to Kimberly for safekeeping. I protested, but he turned it into a big argument about how I didn’t trust him. Later, the ring mysteriously went missing. The guests had already arrived, so I rushed to get a replacement. But instead of thanking me for saving the situation, he accused me of being careless about the wedding and started a huge fight. Then, without another word, he stormed out. I had no time to dwell on my emotions. I had to stay behind, keep the guests entertained, and make sure everything went smoothly. I didn’t even get a chance to breathe before he sent me off on a business trip out of town. And now? As always, he was pushing all the blame onto me. Putting aside the fact that Kimberly clearly wanted to marry him, something everyone could see except him, the ring had been in her hands. If she wanted to hide it, I could have turned the entire city upside down and still never found it. Before, I would have argued my case. I would have stood my ground and tried to make him see reason. But this time, I was exhausted. I didn’t want to waste my breath fighting over something he already knew deep down but refused to admit. “Xavier, don’t blame Camille. I did all of this willingly.” Back in the conference room, she naturally walked over to Xavier’s side. “I’ve been with the company for so long that I already see it as my home. The company’s business is my business, and of course, that includes whatever happens between you and Camille.” She smiled as she spoke to Xavier, then sighed with a hint of grievance. “But I really didn’t expect Camille to be this upset this time. I guess this is my fault.” As soon as she said that, Xavier’s gaze softened. “Kimberly, you’re just too considerate.” He let out a sigh, then turned around and shot me a sharp glare. “Camille, do you see that? Look at Kimberly’s attitude and then look at yours. Why can’t you learn from her?” I said nothing. Xavier had always defended Kimberly. She didn’t even have the qualifications to apply for the job, but Xavier went against all opposition and brought her into the company. Everyone had to call him Mr. Thornton, even me. Only Kimberly was allowed to call him Xavier. She made countless mistakes, yet he always shielded her. He even pinned the blame on me just to keep her in the company. Everyone saw how much he protected her, so they followed suit, making me her scapegoat time and time again. I had no idea what I was supposed to learn from Kimberly, just as I had no idea what to say right now. Xavier sighed. “Enough. I don’t want to argue with you. You falsely accused Kimberly, and now rumors are spreading all over the company. She’s a woman. If she weren’t strong-willed, this could’ve ended badly for her. “Our company has never wronged an employee. As compensation, sign this contract.” He slammed a share transfer contract in front of me. “You don’t deserve these shares anymore. They should go to someone more capable.” Kimberly’s eyes lit up, though she still pretended to hesitate. “Oh, but how could I accept this?” “Why not? This is what you deserve,” Xavier said righteously. I almost laughed out loud. This company was built with my initial investment. I was the one who worked around the clock, securing funding and developing projects. And now, with just a few words, he wanted to hand everything I worked for to someone else. I let out a cold chuckle as I picked up the contract. He thought I had given in. I saw the flash of satisfaction in Xavier’s eyes, and Kimberly’s gaze stayed locked on my hand, anticipation flickering in her expression. Under their watchful eyes, I raised my hand and tore the contract in half. Then, I took out my phone and dialed the police.

Xavier’s eyes were fixed on my fingers. The moment he realized I was calling the police, he reacted quickly, snatching my phone and ending the call. “Camille, why are you calling the cops?” He looked at me, frustrated. His nervousness was almost funny. Clearly, he knew he was in the wrong. I scoffed. “Didn’t you say I falsely accused Kimberly? Then let’s have the police come and find out who’s really at fault. “While we’re at it, they can investigate the missing diamond ring. With all the security cameras in the office, it won’t be hard to get to the truth.” A flicker of panic flashed in Kimberly’s eyes. Xavier opened his mouth to argue, but Kimberly grabbed his arm and whispered, “Forget it, Xavier. We’re all colleagues. There’s no need to escalate this to the police. We don’t want to make a scene and embarrass the company.” Xavier’s gaze softened as he looked at her pitifully. Then he turned back to me, his face darkening with anger. He jabbed a finger at my forehead and snapped, “Camille, you’re getting worse and worse. “Consider yourself lucky that Kimberly is mature enough not to stoop to your level.” The ever-mature Kimberly took the opportunity to shoot me a glare when Xavier wasn’t looking. Then she smiled sweetly and said, “I’ll get back to work now. Xavier, you and Camille should talk.” She finished speaking and turned to leave. Watching her back, I could already imagine the smug smile on her face. She knew that Xavier wasn’t just talking to me. He was also standing up for her. As soon as Kimberly walked out, Xavier started scolding me, saying I was no match for her. He accused me of growing pettier with age, unlike a young girl who knew better. After venting his frustration, Xavier finally pulled out the diamond ring from our wedding. His voice was heavy with meaning. “Do you really think I favor her over you? Everything I do is for your own good. I just want you to rest and make sure we keep the best talent for the company.” Saying this, he reached out, trying to slip the ring back onto my finger. Looking at him now, so gentle and sincere, I knew that the old me would have believed him in a heartbeat, but not anymore. I could see what it was for. It was just another sweet gesture after a hard blow. I let out a soft scoff and dodged him without hesitation. “Kimberly lost over eight million for the company, and you call that talent? “Xavier, tell me, is it me who needs to rest, or is it you?” “You…” His face turned red. He wanted to explode but managed to hold himself back. “If that’s how you see it, then there’s nothing left for us to talk about.” With that, he threw the ring at my face and stormed out. I knew what he was doing; he was giving me the silent treatment. This was his go-to tactic whenever he was in the wrong. He used it to force me into apologizing, into giving in. But this time, I wasn’t anxious or afraid. I didn’t scramble to fix things. I simply glanced at the ring on the floor, now crushed under his heel, then turned and walked out. That night, Xavier still hadn’t come home by the time it was past midnight. Meanwhile, Kimberly sent a message in the company’s group chat. [The new luxury car Xavier gave me is just stunning! Hard work always pays off. Keep going, everyone, you’ll get there too!] Attached was a picture of her beaming in front of a limited-edition car, with Xavier beside her, his arm wrapped around her shoulders. His eyes were full of admiration, his smile sweet. Colleagues flooded the comments, liking and congratulating her. At the very end, Xavier himself left a cute emoji, along with a message. [This is a reward for your outstanding performance. You earned it. I just wish some people would learn from you.] There was no need to guess who some people referred to. I knew exactly what he was doing. He was deliberately trying to make me jealous and force me into submission. A female colleague couldn’t help but message me privately. “Camille, what’s going on? I thought you and Mr. Thornton used to be madly in love?” I recognized her. She was one of the earliest employees who had fought alongside Xavier and me. She left years ago to focus on her family but had recently returned when I rehired her. Her message stirred up old memories. Back then, Xavier and I were in love. When I was sick, he stayed up for three days straight, watching over me. When I craved green mangoes, he worked nonstop for a whole week, then drove across state lines just to buy them for me. On my birthday, he went all out, surprising me with a luxury car in the middle of a busy street… That car was over a decade old now. Worn out, just like our love. I didn’t reply to her message. Instead, I quietly packed my things. Since I had already decided to leave, there was no reason to hold on to anything. I sold what I could and threw out the rest. In the end, all that remained were our photos. After a moment of thought, I took out a fire pit. One by one, I tossed the pictures into the flames, watching them curl and burn. Just then, the door swung open. Xavier walked in, his eyes fixed on his phone, a small smile on his lips as he typed. When he saw me, the smile on his face disappeared on purpose. He glanced at me and spoke with clear disdain. “Why are you here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping? Got nothing better to do?” I knew he was frustrated because his attempt to provoke me had failed. But back when we were still in love, he would sometimes go out late at night to meet friends. I couldn’t go with him, but I knew he was afraid of the dark. So, I would leave the lights on and fight off my sleepiness, waiting for him in the living room. Back then, he would always hold me in his arms when he got home and tell me how thoughtful I was. Love and indifference were obvious at a glance. I didn’t explain myself. I simply continued burning the photos in my hands. Xavier never liked taking pictures. Most of them were taken because I had begged him to. I thought he wouldn’t care. But to my surprise, he suddenly showed interest, leaning down to take the photos from my hands, flipping through them one by one. “When were these taken? I don’t remember any of them.” He looked surprised, and for some reason, his tone softened. “This one… My side profile looks pretty good. Who was the photographer? “Why does this one look so funny? You look like a little fox. “Camille, look at you back then. You were so cute, all chubby and adorable.” He reminisced to himself, his smile unconsciously growing. I didn’t respond. Three seconds of silence passed. Then, as if suddenly realizing we were still in a cold war, he cleared his throat and frowned slightly. “Why are you burning these photos?” “I don’t need them anymore,” I said calmly. “Come on. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing.” Xavier smirked confidently, stood up, and shoved the photos back into my hands. “You did this on purpose, so I’d see it, didn’t you? Stop being stubborn. Bring your ID tomorrow afternoon. We’re going to City Hall.” His tone was arrogant as if marrying me was some kind of generous favor. I let out a cold laugh and tossed the rest of the photos into the fire. The last remnants of our past were completely consumed. Xavier’s brows furrowed instantly. “What are you doing?” “Xavier, we…” Before I could finish, his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, and his eyes lit up. Without hesitation, he walked into the bedroom to answer. Laughter drifted through the closed door. I stood outside, staring at the pile of ashes left from the burned photos, just like our relationship, nothing but dust. Nearly half an hour passed before he finally came out, still smiling. “There’s something at work. I need to head out. I’ll probably be back late.” He tried to keep his tone casual to avoid giving anything away. But I knew exactly who had called Kimberly. Over the years, he had used work as an excuse to meet with her countless times. I didn’t expose him. I just nodded. He went back to the bedroom to change, even spraying on cologne. One phone call and he had completely forgotten about me. Forgotten about the photos I burned. “Oh, right. What were you about to say earlier?” He finally remembered when he was about to leave, pausing by the door to ask.

“I can sell my shares to Kimberly at market price. Ask her if she wants them,” I thought for a moment and spoke. Xavier’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Are you serious?” I nodded. He quickly stepped toward me, cupping my face and kissing me hard. “You’re being so good today. I knew it. Deep down, you still care about me. “I’ll tell her later tonight.” The moment the words left his mouth, he realized how inappropriate they sounded. He quickly corrected himself. “I mean, I’ll call her and let her know.” I pretended not to notice the slip and wiped my face with disgust. “Do it soon before I change my mind.” Xavier agreed, grabbed his car keys, and left. He was in such a good mood that he even started humming. Less than half an hour later, I got a text. Kimberly had agreed to buy the shares. I wasn’t surprised that she agreed. The company was doing better and better, and the stock value kept rising. Even if she didn’t have that much cash on hand, Xavier would help her get it. Free shares were something she couldn’t bear to give up. That night, Xavier didn’t come home. I wasn’t sure if they were celebrating, but in the middle of the night, while I was sound asleep, my phone rang. Half-asleep, I answered. On the other end, I heard Xavier’s heavy breathing. Nearly ten seconds passed before Kimberly’s playful laughter came through. “Xavier, you don’t even like Camille anymore. So why are you still getting a marriage certificate with her?” There was silence for two seconds before Xavier responded in a low voice. “We’ve been together for ten years. And she did as I asked. She handed over all her shares. Breaking up now wouldn’t be right. “Ugh, don’t bring her up. It kills the mood.” The call ended. I stared at the disconnected screen, knowing full well that Xavier had no idea about this call. It was Kimberly’s doing, a deliberate move to provoke me. This wasn’t the first time. Telling Xavier wouldn’t change anything. He trusted Kimberly more than he trusted me. I could even predict that he’d change his mind about the marriage certificate by morning. I set my phone aside and went back to sleep. The next day, I continued packing my things. It was nearly evening when Xavier finally came home, looking tired from the day. “Camille, something urgent came up today, so I couldn’t make it to City Hall. It wasn’t on purpose. “You’re not mad, right?” There was a faint scratch on his neck. The urgent matter was obvious. I shook my head. “No, I’m not mad.” I had already prepared myself for this. I didn’t go either, after all. “That’s good.” He smiled and handed me a document. “I’ve finalized the stock transfer contract. Let’s get this done first.” Maybe he was worried I’d change my mind out of anger. He seemed a little anxious, but I pretended not to notice. After checking that the terms were correct, I signed. As I finished signing the last page, he let out a relieved sigh. The same man who always delayed things immediately called a lawyer to finalize the paperwork. It had taken nearly a week to transfer the shares to me. This time, it was done in less than half an hour. The shares were now under Kimberly’s name. The money was in my account. It was over. Xavier was in a great mood, even looking at me with a softer gaze. “You look exhausted. “I was thinking we could wait until tomorrow for the marriage certificate. But since you’ve been so good today, I’ll take you now.” Smiling, he reached out and pinched my cheek. “Happy?” I slapped his hand away without answering. Instead, I turned and walked to the bedroom, pulling out the suitcase I had packed long ago. Xavier frowned. “What are you doing? Don’t tell me you’ve already planned our honeymoon. “Camille, I agreed to marry you, but a honeymoon is out of the question. I’m too busy right now…” “It’s not a honeymoon,” I said calmly. “I’m moving out. “Xavier, we’re done.”

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I was killed by online harassment. My best friend’s parents accused me online of being the reason for her death. Soon after, I was stabbed multiple times by a radical stranger. It was only after becoming a wandering soul that I discovered she wasn’t dead at all. When she heard about my death, her response was a casual, “What does that have to do with me?” Fueled by hatred, I’ve been reborn. This time, it’s their turn to experience what it’s like to be harassed to death by the internet. “Amanda! If my parents come looking for you, make sure to tell them you don’t know anything, okay? Otherwise, they won’t let me go to Eldoria!” My best friend, Grace, clung to my arm, shaking it back and forth. Her wide, innocent eyes blinked up at me, but I no longer felt any softness toward her. I rejected her coldly. “Don’t tell me about it. Your business isn’t mine to handle.” Zoe, however, mistook my silence for agreement. “MUA! I knew you were the best, Amanda! I’ll bring you gifts when I get back from Eldoria!” With that, she ran off, leaving me standing there. I calmly took out my phone and saved the recording. Luckily, because of my job, my phone’s shortcut key was always set to record conversations. The moment I realized I’d been reborn, I had pressed the record button. Now, I opened the chat with Zoe’s mom and sent her the audio file directly. Let’s see if you’ll keep blaming me for encouraging your daughter to go to Eldoria now!

But I underestimated just how shameless the Moore family could be. Not long after sending the recording, I received a message from Mrs. Moore herself. “Amanda, you’re Zoe’s best friend. How could you not try to stop her? Saying it’s none of your business—do you even consider her your friend?” Reading that message made my blood boil. I wanted to lash out, but I bit my tongue. Because I knew that anything I said now could and would be used against me later. This time, I wouldn’t let them twist my words. “Mrs. Moore,” I replied sweetly, “Zoe is an adult now. She’s always said that you’re too controlling and doesn’t want to tell you too much about her plans. But because I’m her friend, I recorded this for you. After all, you’re her mother. As an outsider, there’s only so much I can do.” I smiled as I hit send, waiting for her response. In Mrs. Moore’s eyes, Zoe was the perfect, obedient daughter. I wondered how she’d react to hearing her “perfect child” complain about her being controlling. Sure enough, Mrs. Moore sent back a long voice message almost immediately. When I played it, all I heard was her furious ranting: “Amanda Walker, what are you trying to say? My Zoe would never talk behind my back! I bet you’re the one leading her astray!” Feigning innocence, I replied: “Mrs. Moore, I don’t know why you’re upset with me, but shouldn’t your priority be stopping Zoe from going to Eldoria? You care about her safety more than I do, don’t you?” That shut her up. She didn’t reply again. But soon after, I got a message from Zoe herself.

“Amanda Walker! Did I tell you to cover for me or not?! What the hell is wrong with you, running to snitch?! I’m warning you—stay out of my business!” “God, you’re so annoying. You little snitch! Don’t ever contact me again!” Grace—the girl who played the perfect angel in front of her mom—was nothing more than a foul-mouthed brat in reality. Of course, she never showed me this side of her before. To her, I was just the perfect scapegoat to shield her from her mom’s wrath. Smiling, I typed out a fake apology: “I was just worried about you…” As expected, her response was instant—a red exclamation mark. Zoe had blocked me. That was another one of her signature moves—blocking people at the slightest inconvenience. I took a screenshot of the conversation and sent it to Mrs. Moore. “Mrs. Moore,” I wrote, “I tried my best. I’ve done everything I could, but Zoe cursed me out and blocked me. I guess our friendship ends here. From now on, I won’t interfere in her life anymore…” And just like that, I painted myself as the innocent victim. A good friend who tried to help, only to be met with insults and rejection. Who wouldn’t feel sorry for me after seeing this? But I wasn’t done yet. I posted the screenshots of our conversation on a short video platform, along with the caption: “My best friend is planning to meet up with a stranger she barely knows in Eldoria. I tried to warn her, but she called me a snitch and cursed me out. Was I really in the wrong?” After posting, I turned off my phone and went outside. If Zoe and her family loved using public opinion as a weapon, then let’s see who the internet sides with this time. 4. I don’t know how Grace managed it, but she still ended up going to Eldoria. And I only found out because news of her “death” quickly made its way back home. Just like in my previous life, her parents wasted no time stirring up chaos. Within three days, my phone was flooded with threatening messages and constant harassing calls. Boxes began appearing at my front door—each filled with gruesome and horrifying items meant to scare me. And the walls of my house? Covered in red spray paint. “Best friend killer!” “Rot in hell, homewrecker!” “Blood for blood!” “Justice for Grace!” I stared coldly at the graffiti on my walls, a faint smile tugging at my lips. The methods they used to intimidate me were exactly the same as last time. Shortly after news of Zoe’s death broke, Mrs. Moore launched a livestream, tearfully airing her grievances to the public. Conveniently, she also “accidentally” revealed my contact information. In my first life, I’d been foolish enough to believe it was my fault for not stopping Zoe from going to Eldoria. Overwhelmed by guilt and crushed by the mounting online harassment, I gave in and agreed to pay a massive settlement when everyone started blaming me for her death. The relentless cyberbullying even scared my parents into a hospital stay. They didn’t make it much longer after that. But this time… The first thing I did after being reborn was send my parents abroad. I entrusted them to my cousin, who would take care of them. With them out of harm’s way, I had no more weaknesses. If the Moore family wanted to play games, I’d gladly oblige. 5. Grace’s story spread like wildfire online. It didn’t take me long to find Mrs. Moore’s livestream. I clicked in and was immediately met with her tear-filled voice: “My Zoe was such a sweet, obedient girl. She was so naive because we protected her too well, and that’s why she couldn’t see through bad influences…” “She had this friend who was always dragging her out to party. Once, she even tried to take her to a bar in the middle of the night!” Oh, I remember that night clearly. Zoe had gotten drunk and called me to pick her up. Somehow, Mrs. Moore had found out where she was, and when I arrived to get her, she caught me red-handed. The next day, Zoe acted like nothing had happened. I asked her why her mom wasn’t mad, but she just giggled and said it was a secret. I didn’t think much of it at the time. Turns out, she’d pinned the blame on me. I hit the screen recording button and kept listening to Mrs. Moore’s livestream. The more I heard, the more I realized how blind I’d been in my last life. Why did I ever think Grace was some innocent, naive girl? As it turned out, the reason her parents had targeted me so viciously in my previous life was because Zoe had spent years using me as her shield, spinning lie after lie. For example, Mrs. Moore claimed I often got scared and made Zoe stay over at my place. Now I understood—those nights were when Zoe was sneaking off to hotels with her boyfriend. I remembered being surprised before when Zoe told me her mom had allowed her to stay out all night. Turns out, she was lying the whole time. Then there was the claim that I frequently dragged her off on vacations. What utter nonsense! I was swamped with work and never had time for a vacation. I’d even seen her post photos from those trips on her social media. She was with her boyfriend in every single one. And how did she get away with it? By lying to her parents, saying she was with me. “And now… maybe it was that same friend who convinced her to go. But in the end, all we got back was Zoe’s body,” Mrs. Moore wept during her stream. The moment those words left her mouth, the livestream chat exploded.

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