Category: English

On my birthday, my brain tumor flared up, and I lost consciousness. As the doctor worked to save me, he picked up the phone to call my family. My wife answered with irritation, “Really? Are you checking up on me at this age? I’m about to go on a trip to Florence with Declan. Don’t call me unless it’s necessary!” My daughter added, “Good riddance if he dies. The insurance payout can be deposited into my account; my boyfriend wants a new motorcycle.” Oddly enough, hearing this, I felt a sense of relief, as if a weight had been lifted. It’s the right time. Time to leave this cursed world behind. When I opened my eyes again, the doctor handed me the phone with a grave expression. “Mr. Jiang, your brain tumor is pressing on your nerves. You need surgery. Discuss this with your family.” Still disoriented, I loosely held the phone in my hand. In the ER, everyone looked at me with pity, and some family members even turned away to wipe their tears. I glanced at my phone, realizing my wife, Fiona, and my daughter, Phoebe, had blocked me. With no other option, I messaged my rival, Fiona’s first love, Declan: “Please let Fiona know she should come back soon.” To avoid any misunderstanding, I added, “I need to discuss a divorce with Fiona. It’s urgent.” After resting at the hospital and taking the prescribed medication, I returned home. When I arrived, Fiona was already seated on the sofa. She wore oversized sunglasses, a large sun hat, and a bohemian floral dress, clearly ready for vacation. Upon seeing me, she snorted, removing her sunglasses and tossing them onto the table. “What do you want now? Declan and I were at the airport when you called us back. You’re such a nuisance, no wonder Phoebe finds you annoying!” At forty-five, Fiona had fine lines around her eyes, but she maintained her skin well. Her wavy hair and red lipstick made her appear youthful. Declan stood behind her, massaging her shoulders and whispering affectionately in her ear, “Don’t be mad, Fiona. Let’s hear what Asher has to say. Maybe it’s really urgent.” Declan had maintained a refined appearance over the years with beauty treatments, although his expression was a bit stiff. I drifted off, remembering my daughter’s third birthday when Fiona first forgot her cake because Declan had returned from abroad. She was distracted. Later, when I picked up a drunken Fiona, I overheard her conversation with a friend, realizing I was just a stand-in. Now, my temples had turned gray, and wrinkles lined my eyes and mouth, making me look nothing like Declan. Snapping back to reality, I pulled out the divorce papers and handed them to Fiona. ” Fiona, let’s divorce.” Fiona, who had been enjoying Declan’s massage, suddenly opened her eyes, startled. Frowning, she snapped, “First, you pretended to be sick at the hospital. Now you’re talking about divorce. Asher, you’re almost fifty! What are you doing?” Her accusations didn’t stir me. Yes, almost fifty. Today is my forty-ninth birthday. If Fiona went into the kitchen, she’d see the half-prepped ingredients of her and our daughter’s favorite dishes. But when I collapsed while washing vegetables, there wasn’t a single family member by my side in our vast home. No need to voice these grievances. Saying them would only make Fiona feel I’m being dramatic. A dying person speaks kindly. I had no intention of arguing; I just smiled, “Nothing much. I just realized it’s best not to delay you and Declan any longer.” “Last month, when you went to the Arctic to see the aurora with Declan, you might not know my mom was buried.” “My dad drowned saving you, and my mom forced you to marry me out of gratitude. I know it was unfair to you, and you’ve always longed for Declan.” “I’ve worked diligently at your company for years, even helping it go public. That should count as some compensation.” “Now that my mom’s gone, you don’t have to worry about her causing any more trouble at the company.” After saying a long piece, I paused and wished, “In the future, I won’t bother you anymore. It’s been over ten years. You and Declan should be together. Give him a title.” Letting out words I’ve held in my heart, I felt relieved. Maybe it was fear of being abandoned by Declan again, or the need to stabilize the company stock. Fiona gave Declan everything but never mentioned marriage. Now, I, an outsider, was willing to complete them. Fiona suddenly crumpled the divorce papers, her voice tight, “I’ve endured you for over twenty years. What about Phoebe?” My daughter’s words, “Good riddance if he dies,” still echoed in my ears. I smiled faintly, nodding at Declan, “It’s fine. She doesn’t like me. She prefers Declan. Let him take care of her.” When our daughter was young, Fiona often had Declan help with her, trying to build a good impression. Now, I was fulfilling her wish. But her face showed displeasure, biting her lip hard. Her chest heaved, eyes glaring at me, trying to find anger or jealousy. But this time, she only saw indifference. She moved her red lips, took a deep breath, and said, “Fine, divorce, but you leave with nothing!” She looked at me confidently, expecting me to back down at the thought of leaving with nothing. After all, she often insulted me, calling me and my mom gold-diggers, only after her money. She despised me for exploiting a life-saving favor. But I just nodded. “No, I don’t want the money, the house, or the daughter.”

Before Fiona could speak, Declan started laughing, agreeing, “Asher, didn’t expect you to be so magnanimous now. Thanks for taking care of Fiona for so long. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Fiona and your daughter!” Fiona seemed not to hear, tightly gripping the pen, suddenly accusing, “After twenty years, why are you doing this? After the divorce, do you think I’ll let you stay at the company? A fifty-year-old man, who would hire you? At least now, as my husband in name, we can provide for you in old age.” Her barrage of questions didn’t ripple my emotions. I just laughed at myself. Yes, our daughter is old enough to marry. Why am I still struggling? I once used all my points to exchange with the system to live in this world for a lifetime. The system warned me it had other hosts to attend to, and I wouldn’t have a place to cry if I regretted it. At the time, holding my beloved wife and newborn daughter, I was filled with happiness, promising that day would never come. But after Declan appeared, my life changed completely. All my happiness was just an illusion. I considered divorcing Fiona, but our daughter clung to my leg, crying not to separate her parents. My mom said I was ungrateful, not realizing my blessings. As long as Fiona and I were on the same household registration, even if Declan turned the world upside down, it wouldn’t affect my inheritance rights. But I still felt oppressed, frustrated. Unhappy. This brain tumor incident made me grateful for their coldness, finally deciding to leave. Returning to the present, I said calmly, ” Fiona, my future has nothing to do with you. Are you concerned now?” I knew Fiona hated my self-pity the most. Sure enough, she looked at me like she’d swallowed a fly, quickly signing, “Asher, you better not regret it. If you make a scene at the company, I won’t let you back!” With that, she left with Declan, her heels clicking on the floor. The room returned to silence. I sat on the sofa, looking at the home I’d lived in for twenty-one years. Every piece of furniture seemed etched in my mind. Yet I felt like an outsider. After a while, hunger brought me back to reality. I went to the kitchen and threw away the beef, lamb, and salmon I had been preparing. Then I cooked myself some plain noodles. The noodles tasted of faint salt and oil. I remembered when I first got together with Fiona. She was a pampered heiress, yet she tried making noodles for me, covered in flour, hands burnt by boiling water. But she didn’t care about her injuries, smiling, urging me to eat longevity noodles for a long and peaceful life. After some time, my stomach’s hunger snapped me back to reality. I headed to the kitchen, where I threw away the half-prepared beef brisket, lamb, and salmon. Then, I made myself some simple noodles. They had just a hint of oil and salt. I remembered when I first started dating Fiona. Despite being an heiress who never touched a stove, she learned to make noodles for me. Her germaphobia didn’t stop her from getting covered in flour, and she even scalded her hand with boiling water. But she wasn’t concerned about her injury. Smiling, she urged me to eat the noodles, wishing me a long and peaceful life. To be honest, those noodles were cut too thick, undercooked, and seasoned so salty it could overwhelm even a salt seller. Yet, I ate every last bite. I once thought Fiona was my everything, someone I’d never forget. But now, her youthful face is becoming a distant memory. A sudden sharp pain shot through my head. Shakily, I took the blood pressure and pain relief pills prescribed by the doctor. Once the pain subsided, I washed the dishes, dried my hands, and started packing my belongings. There wasn’t much to pack; most of the items at home belonged to Fiona and her daughter, so I was done quickly. I stood up, looked around, and found the treasure chest I’d hidden in the closet for years. Inside were things I once cherished: ticket stubs, photos of us, our wedding pictures. Love letters Fiona wrote me, the tie clip she gave me, and other gifts. Photos of our daughter, from childhood to now, her drawings and writings. I had carefully sealed many in plastic. But now, I carried the chest to the backyard, placing it on the firepit where Fiona and Declan hosted their bonfire parties. Without hesitation, I took out a lighter and set the contents of the treasure chest ablaze. The flames reflected on my face, but suddenly, it began to rain, extinguishing the fire instantly. Under the eaves, I glanced at the treasure chest, now blackened with only ashes inside. I didn’t bother checking further. After this, I deleted all my online accounts and contact information. I had always been a drifter without roots, and now, I wanted to disappear entirely from Fiona and her daughter’s world. Since I decided to leave, I wanted to finish everything properly. After packing, I drove to the company, handed over my work to my subordinate, and cleared out my office. There was truly nothing left for me to do. Everyone at the company thought I was retiring, looking at me enviously, saying: “Mr. Asher, you’re the second-in-command of our company and retiring so early. Mrs. Fiona must really care about you. We’re so envious!” “Well, if I had a wife and kids at home, I’d retire early and enjoy life too!” I held the documents from my office and kept silent. Over the years, Fiona was secretly close with Declan, rarely home. But on the surface, to maintain a stable image for the stock market, she portrayed us as a loving couple, often attending auctions, buying luxury cars and houses, claiming to choose gifts for her husband. Everyone envied me, saying I was lucky to marry Fiona. Only I knew all the gifts were invariably sent to Declan. And I had to smile and say I was frugal, not wanting to flaunt wealth. Back to the present, the HR manager saw me moving out of my office without surprise, even immediately bringing in the latest computer to my former office. Everyone was stunned and asked: “Manager, Mr. Asher is retiring, why are you redecorating his office?” The HR manager glanced at me, cleared his throat, and said seriously: “Mrs. Fiona has a new appointee for management. I hope everyone will be cautious and avoid gossip during work hours.” As he spoke, he placed a nameplate on the desk, which read: “Vice President, Declan.” Those present were shocked, but I just smirked at myself. Over the years, I had always used the company’s worst equipment. Despite numerous upgrades, Fiona repeatedly declined my requests for replacements, frowning and calling me vain. But for Declan, she offered everything she could, never settling for less. In the past, I might have been angry or sad at such favoritism. But now, I couldn’t get angry anymore. I just sighed. Fiona was truly eager to elevate Declan; this was true love. Coming back to my senses, I nodded and turned to leave the company where I had worked my whole life. Later, I went to a funeral shop to buy my own burial clothes. Even if I were to die, I wanted to look decent. But I didn’t have much money left. Most of it went to the undertaker to ensure my burial, so I could only afford the cheapest set. Holding the burial clothes, I walked out of the shop when a rebellious youngster on a motorcycle zoomed past me, the exhaust making me cough. A few seconds later, the motorcycle came back. A girl wearing smoky makeup and a tank top jumped off the back, speaking sarcastically: “Oh, aren’t you still alive? Give me $10,000. I need to buy my boyfriend a new motorcycle!” I just frowned and said coldly: “I don’t have money, Phoebe.” “You don’t have money? You’re lying. My mom’s so generous; she’d definitely give you money.” Phoebe didn’t believe it, her face full of disdain. Who would believe a rich heir like me lived so frugally? Fiona claimed I was after her wealth, so my salary went directly to her account. Every expense needed her approval. Even if I wanted to buy a pack of cigarettes, she allowed me only $5 packs. I could only do side jobs to support the household. After being diagnosed with a brain tumor, I asked Fiona for money with the medical report. She frowned, yelled that I was scamming her, wanting $10,000 as if her money grew on trees. She locked me at home to reflect, while she took Declan to the Arctic to see the Northern Lights. Locked at home, I missed seeing my gravely ill mother one last time. Relatives told me my mom died with tears, blaming me for being a selfish son with a selfish wife. I shivered at the thought, coming back to reality. Phoebe smirked, as if she had me cornered, and said: “Fine, if you won’t, I’ll ask Uncle Declan. He’s handsome and rich, a hundred times better than you!” I looked at my eighteen-year-old daughter. How did my once well-behaved child turn into this? Since Declan returned to the country, Fiona rarely came home, leaving me to raise our daughter alone. She was sensible, siding with me, often cold to Fiona and Declan. But at seventeen, Phoebe fell for a delinquent and became rebellious, quitting school and constantly asking me for money, even threatening me with supporting Declan as her stepfather. I was exhausted, trying to persuade her to stay away from that delinquent. But his gang beat me up. I was old, taking punches while my once loving daughter cheered them on, telling the old man to learn a lesson. After that, my heart grew cold, and I stopped caring for her. Later, while recovering for a month, Phoebe apologized, wanting to celebrate my birthday with me all day. I waited all day and only saw Declan’s post on social media. In the video, she smiled sweetly at Declan during a dinner party. “Stepdad, wish you and mom a fun time in Florence.” She then took the big red envelope from Declan with a smile. Seeing this social media post, I was washing vegetables when my mind went blank, and I collapsed. Now, facing the child I raised, I felt no emotional stir. I just said calmly: “Fine, ask him for money.” “By the way, your mom and I divorced. Now you can openly call Declan your dad. ‘Stepdad’ sounds so awkward.” 4 Phoebe looked at me, shocked, fiddling with her clothes, her face flushing: “How do you know? It’s all your fault for being so stingy. I had to go to him for money. He understands love!” She eyed me, mocking: “Divorce my mom? You think I’ll believe that? Stop pretending!” Her gaze fell on the clothes in my hand, puzzled: “What are you holding? It looks ugly, clothes?” Her delinquent boyfriend draped an arm around her shoulder, cigarette in hand, and said through smoke: “Aren’t those burial clothes? Did someone in your family die?” Phoebe stepped forward, trying to grab the package from me to take a closer look. “I want to see what you’re up to!” I frowned, casually pushing her away. Suddenly, she gave me a once-over and scoffed: “Divorce my mom? Do you really think I’d buy that? Stop pretending!” She noticed the clothes in my hand and asked, puzzled: “What are those? They look awful. Are they clothes?” A guy with dyed yellow hair rested a hand on Phoebe’s shoulder, holding a cigarette in the other, a cloud of smoke surrounding him. He sneered: “Aren’t those funeral clothes? Did someone in your family die?” Phoebe immediately stepped forward, trying to grab the bag of clothes from me for a closer look. “I want to see what you’re up to!” I frowned and pushed her away. The next moment, she fell to the ground, unprepared, and a card slipped out of her pocket. I picked it up—it was an ID card. The photo was hers, but the name read “Theo.” Suddenly, a severe headache hit me. When Fiona gave birth to Phoebe, she had a massive hemorrhage, and out of heartbreak, I decided Phoebe should take her mother’s surname. Later, as Fiona and I drifted apart, Phoebe mentioned several times that she wanted to take my surname, Johnson, and cut ties with her troublesome mom. But I never expected she’d start using Theo’s surname without telling me. I held my head as everything went dark, like a light had been switched off. The doctor had warned that in the later stages of a brain tumor, it could invade the nerves, causing blindness, memory loss, and even decreased intelligence. What a mess I am now. I squeezed my eyes shut and when I opened them again, I could faintly make out some details. In front of me, Phoebe hastily snatched the ID card from my hand and stuffed it back into her pocket, babbling: “Don’t be angry. I just felt sorry for Uncle Theo. He’s so old and childless. It’s just a surname change. I’m still your daughter. Isn’t it nice to have two dads who love me?” Seeing my displeased expression, she looked at me suspiciously, wrinkling her nose with a touch of disdain: “What’s wrong with you now? Are you pretending your eyes are bad again? No wonder my mom doesn’t like you—acting like a child to get attention.” I shook my head and pushed her aside. She seemed to have more to say but ultimately didn’t follow. After walking away, my overheated mind finally cleared a bit, and with the bus ticket I had bought, I returned to my old home. It’s not far, just in the suburbs. The house is an old apartment building. Back then, my dad saved Fiona from drowning, and in gratitude, she took our family in. I hadn’t been back in a long time. Now, the house was covered in dust. I cleaned the bed, closed all doors and windows, trapping all the air inside. Then, I turned on the gas tank I had someone bring over earlier. Instantly, the air filled with a strange smell. But I calmly changed into the burial clothes and lay in bed, ensuring the undertaker could find me immediately upon arrival. Just then, my phone rang. It was Fiona. I didn’t want to answer, but I subconsciously picked up. On the other end, her voice was impatient, urging: “Asher, where are you? There’s a dinner tonight you need to attend. Get ready in half an hour.” I replied calmly: “I can’t go. I’m about to die.” There was a loud crash from her end, like something had fallen and shattered. Her voice turned sharp and angry: “Asher, what’s wrong with you, saying such unlucky things!” Before I could speak, Theo’s voice came from her end, adding fuel to the fire: “Asher, are you really so broken by your divorce from Fiona that you can’t go on living? Maybe you two should get back together. I don’t mind; I can always be there for Fiona.” Classic manipulation. Too bad Fiona couldn’t see through it. As expected, Fiona got even angrier: “Asher, don’t act like you’re in charge! If it weren’t for the boss specifically asking for you, do you think I’d bother calling you?” “Fine, come if you want. Don’t come home, and don’t expect to see your daughter again!” As Fiona hung up, my grip loosened from carbon monoxide poisoning, and the phone fell to the ground. I don’t know how long passed, maybe just a few seconds, but it felt like a lifetime. My body, weakened from lack of oxygen, was still conscious enough to feel life slipping away, my face turning purple. Enough, I told myself. Soon my consciousness would retreat into space. Death, in the cool summer night, was exceptionally quiet. I seemed to hear the faint hissing of the gas tank. Thankfully, I arranged for someone to take care of my body. Otherwise, in a place like this, I’d turn to bones without anyone knowing. But then, the door was kicked open, and an uninvited guest barged in.

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On our wedding anniversary, my husband invited Cora to our home for a rendezvous. They stayed together until late into the night. Cora caught a cold, but my husband redirected his frustration at me. He locked me out on the balcony all night and then shoved me into the freezer as if to punish me. I was trapped for three full days. After I died, my soul drifted away from my body. I watched Cora place my corpse into boiling water until it was beyond recognition. Then, she had the crematorium staff take me away to an abandoned factory. When my husband saw my pitiful state, he called Cora to remind her to stay safe. A colleague reminded him not to forget about me. He sneered, “Cora is delicate, so of course I should care for her. As for Adeline, she’s too tough to die so easily.” But he had no idea that the decayed body in front of him was mine. As a top mortician, he couldn’t even recognize my face. 0 Cora was the one who sent me to the crematorium. Before they took me in, she looked at my disfigured body and sneered, “Adeline, since you love Asher so much, I’ll let him send you off.” So, after my death, I saw Asher for the first time. He frowned at my body and then took out his phone to call Cora. “Cora, I’ve received a highly decomposed body here, so I’ll be home late. Also, with all these homicide cases lately, make sure to lock the doors and windows. Don’t go out at night.” His tone was tender and affectionate. Sadly, in five years of marriage, I never experienced that. On the other end, Cora responded coyly. “Come back soon, I’ll be worried about you.” They exchanged a few more words, and before hanging up, Cora hinted, “Asher, you’ll make sure today’s client looks beautiful, won’t you?” She meant something deeper, but unfortunately, Asher didn’t catch on. After all, in his heart, Cora was the delicate flower needing protection. But it was this delicate flower who, after my death, placed my body into boiling water until I was unrecognizable before bringing me here. Seven days ago was my fifth wedding anniversary with Asher. I prepared a candlelight dinner at home, waiting for Asher to return. Instead, he came back with Cora. Seeing my mood drop, he impatiently scolded, “Cora just came back from abroad all alone. Can’t you be a bit more understanding?” But wasn’t she alone abroad too? Before I could say anything, Asher pushed me onto the balcony. Maybe he was afraid I’d interrupt them, so he locked the door from the inside. The candlelight dinner I prepared became their feast. I froze on the balcony all night. The next day, Cora claimed she caught a cold. Unusually, Asher got angry at me, which ultimately led to my demise. While Asher and I argued, Cora pressed against his arm, trying to mediate, “Asher, Adeline surely didn’t mean it. It’s all my fault for being so delicate.” I was furious at Cora’s behavior and pointed to the door, telling her to leave. Asher, however, was enraged. He dragged me by the hair to the freezer and shoved me in. Before the light faded, the last thing I heard him say was, “Adeline, you’re worthless. Just cool off in there.” I struggled inside, banging and shouting. But the freezer door wouldn’t open from the inside. I begged until my fingers bled, but Asher never let me out. I died from suffocation and cold. Afterward, Cora soaked me in boiling water, leaving me unrecognizable. It wasn’t until today that she sent me to the crematorium. 0

After calling Cora, Asher’s colleague Gideon teased, “Asher, you’re so concerned about your first love. Doesn’t your wife mind?” Asher walked over to my body and replied, “Cora is delicate. Of course, I care about her. As for Adeline, she’s too tough to die easily.” Hearing that, my heart ached. I wondered how Asher would feel once he realized the decayed body lying before him was the same Adeline he thought was too tough to die. All I knew was that I felt deeply hurt. I had loved Asher for so many years, yet in his heart, I couldn’t even compare to a single word from Cora. After the preparations were done, Asher and Gideon stood solemnly by my body and bowed deeply. It was the first time I saw Asher at work, and the first time I realized he was gentler with corpses than he ever was with me. I had deceived myself into thinking he was just naturally cold. Turns out it was just because he didn’t love me. I felt so unwilling! But Asher was already absorbed in his work. Even when Gideon couldn’t stand the smell and stepped out for air, Asher didn’t stop. Soon, he restored my legs, body, and arms. When only my head was left, Asher took a deep breath and stood up to stretch his stiff muscles. He leaned against the hallway wall, lost in thought. Gideon asked, “Got to you?” Asher didn’t answer. As he put on his mask to return to work, he said, “Just seems a little tragic.” For someone who sees corpses daily to find my situation tragic, I chuckled, anticipating his next reaction. Asher meticulously filled, pressed, and reshaped. My face slowly took form. His skills were truly impressive. My face, once unrecognizable, began to resemble its former self. When he finished, Asher examined my face closely. After a moment, he turned to Gideon, “Doesn’t this face look familiar to you?” Gideon glanced over and exclaimed, “You know, it does look a bit like…” He stopped mid-sentence, staring at Asher, “Don’t get mad, but it looks a bit like… like your wife.” 0

After he spoke, he watched Asher intently, but Asher just frowned and stood up. “Must be a coincidence. Adeline’s worthless. Who would go to such lengths to kill her?” Gideon couldn’t respond, so he agreed, “It must be a coincidence. Your wife hardly ever leaves the house. How could anything happen to her?” They covered my body with a white cloth and called for it to be taken for cremation. Perhaps the resemblance disturbed Asher. After my body left, he followed shortly after. Several times, his car almost hit the guardrail. Eventually, he pulled over and called Cora. “Cora, Adeline… she’s at home, right?” Cora pretended to be jealous, huffing, “Why do you always ask about Adeline? You afraid I’ll eat her or something?” As Asher anxiously explained, she laughed, “I’m just teasing. Adeline’s your wife. You’re supposed to care about her. Why would I be jealous?” “Don’t worry, she was with me just now. She’s probably out shopping.” Cora lied effortlessly. Trusting her completely, Asher was reassured. After a few sweet words, he hung up and headed to the mall. Watching him walk, I recalled wanting that unique ring before our wedding. Asher berated me in public. “It’s just a gimmick meant to fool idiots like you.” The salesperson’s expression was unpleasant, and I felt humiliated under their gazes, like a cold splash of water on a chilly spring day. That was my first hint that I might just be a substitute for Cora. Asher didn’t love me. But I loved him from the moment he stood in front of me. So I swallowed my pride, smoothed things over, and bought a simple wedding band. Why was he here now? Was he finally feeling guilty after my death? Trying to make amends this way? I followed Asher to the store. Maybe it left a strong impression, because the clerk remembered him. “Mr. Asher, are you picking a gift for your wife?” 0

Asher didn’t deny it. But when the clerk showed him the latest styles, he suddenly said, “I want that ring you can only buy once.” The clerk seemed genuinely happy for me. She handed Asher that ring and said, “Your wife wanted this last time. She’ll be thrilled to receive it.” “By the way, Mr. Asher, we can engrave the ring. Would you like that?” My heart pounded. Though Asher caused my death, I had loved him for so long. I needed to know if he had even the slightest affection for me, just a tiny bit. “Engrave Cola.” When Asher’s words came, my heart shattered completely. The clerk thought it was my initials and cheerfully went to engrave it. Asher waited with an indifferent expression. But I was truly dead. My body and heart were gone. Yet for some reason, I was still bound to Asher, unable to leave. How cruel of fate, to have me killed by them, then watch their love unfold even in death. Is this my punishment for being blind and giving my heart to the wrong person? As soon as Asher spoke, my heart, which had been anxiously suspended, shattered into pieces. The shop assistant mistakenly thought it was my name and eagerly went to have it engraved. Meanwhile, Asher waited with a detached demeanor. I was the only one truly gone—my life ended, and my spirit crushed. Yet, inexplicably, I remained bound to Asher, unable to leave. How cruel the universe is, to let me be harmed by them, and even in death, force me to witness their affection. Is this my punishment for misplacing my trust and heart in the wrong person? After the engraving was done, Asher casually picked up a necklace, paid, and left. When we returned home, Cora feigned worry, “Asher, Adeline still hasn’t come back. Do you think something might have happened?” Perhaps surprised I wasn’t home, Asher paused momentarily before relaxing. “She’s probably just being stubborn. Don’t worry about her. She has no family here; she’ll come back eventually.” I was shocked by Asher’s words. Only now did I realize my journey for love, crossing mountains and seas, was just a gamble to him, certain I wouldn’t leave. No wonder! No wonder he dared to openly bring Cora home, convinced that I couldn’t survive without him. Cora blamed herself, “I shouldn’t have come here. Otherwise, Adeline wouldn’t be upset, affecting your relationship.” Her self-reproachful expression made Asher feel incredibly tender towards her, comforting her with an arm around her shoulders, “It’s not your fault. I never had feelings for her. I only married her because she seemed suitable for daily life.” Cora wanted to continue, but Asher cut her off. “Let’s not talk about these unlucky things. I got you a birthday gift. Come see if you like it?” Asher spoke as if I were the misfortune, completely forgetting that Cora had broken up with him initially because she despised his job. I couldn’t help but laugh at myself, watching as Cora easily got the ring I had desperately desired. When she put it on, it was a bit tight, and her touched expression froze. “Asher, did you get the wrong size? This isn’t my size?” Asher felt a bit frustrated. The shop assistant assumed the ring was for me and used my size. Asher, concerned about his pride, couldn’t admit it was for someone else. He had to swallow this bitter pill. Their unhappiness lightened the weight in my chest. Even in death, Asher was my unresolved issue. In the end, to maintain appearances, Cora placed the ring, meant for her ring finger, on her pinky and forced a smile, “Maybe I’ve gained weight recently. A different finger works.” Their awkwardness dissipated. To make it up to her, Asher went to the kitchen to cook, while Cora stormed into the room and stomped on the newly bought ring, her face dark. “Adeline, you bothered me alive, and now in death, you won’t let me be. Didn’t you care most about Asher? I’ll show you how he becomes mine.” I saw her take out a small bottle from a locked drawer, piecing together her words… A sense of foreboding arose. “Cora, dinner’s ready!” Asher’s voice called out, and Cora, clutching the bottle, went to the living room. “Asher, I have some fine wine. Let’s have a drink.” She suggested gently, and Asher suspected nothing, continuing to bring dishes to the table. I saw Cora pour the contents of the bottle into the wine behind his back. As they drank, their figures became suggestive. After a few sips, Asher’s eyes turned hazy, and he kept murmuring, “Cora… Cora…” They say you speak the truth when drunk. Asher really never had me in his heart. The next moment, Cora coaxed him into our room, half-undressed on the wedding bed I had chosen. I closed my eyes, not wanting to see, but the sounds still reached my ears. My hatred reached its peak. I hated the injustice of fate, hated Asher’s heartlessness, hated Cora’s malice, and hated myself more for being unable to avenge myself. I curled up in the living room, head buried, when suddenly there was a knock at the door late at night. Asher opened the door, and the person outside said with a sorrowful expression, “Professor Asher, my condolences.” Before he could speak, they handed him an urn and a peace amulet necklace. It was the one I had spent a month’s salary on to get for Asher when he first started his job. Because of Cora’s one remark about it being ugly, he had thrown it away, and I had later picked it up again. “We found this among the deceased’s belongings yesterday. I remember Adeline treasured it. Professor Asher, is this right?”

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Upon hearing the news that his beloved Fiona had passed away, my husband, who was on a honeymoon with me, dramatically leapt off the cruise ship, ending his life. It was only then I realized he had never truly moved on from Fiona. Transported back to my teenage years, he decisively let go of my hand and walked towards his cherished Fiona. I watched them leave and turned away. From that moment on, our lives became parallel lines destined never to meet. A decade later, we crossed paths again at a high-profile event in Ocean City. He had become a rising star among the elite, with Fiona affectionately on his arm. When he saw me mistakenly enter the event, he couldn’t help but advise me. “Stop holding onto the past. Even if you wait for me for another ten years, I still won’t love you.” I ignored him and retrieved my cake-eating son from the corner. His eyes suddenly reddened, and he grabbed my hand tightly. “Are you trying to provoke me on purpose? Didn’t you once say you’d love me for a lifetime?”

I never imagined I would encounter Gideon again in this lifetime. At the elite gathering in Ocean City, he stood among the crowd with Fiona, exuding charm and sophistication, showing no trace of his former youthful awkwardness. People around him were all smiles, speaking in flattering tones. “Young Master Gideon is truly promising, securing a major project at such a young age!” “Is this your beloved? You both make such a striking couple.” Fiona gazed at Gideon with deep affection and said softly. “We’re planning to get married by the end of the year. If you have the time, we’d love for you to join us.” There was another round of congratulations, and someone asked. “I heard you’ve been together for ten years. Why wait until now to get married?” This was something I was curious about too. In the previous life, Gideon loved Fiona so much he was willing to die for her. After being given a second chance, he immediately broke up with me. I assumed they would marry right after graduation, but they haven’t even registered yet. Upon hearing this, Gideon’s face momentarily stiffened, but he quickly masked it with a smile. “You need a career before family. I want to give Fiona the best life possible.” He looked at Fiona, his eyes filled with tenderness nearly overflowing. In the past, when we were together, I asked him many times when we could get married. It wasn’t until his family pressured him that Gideon reluctantly agreed to be with me. It turns out, the difference between love and lack of it can be so obvious. I was about to turn and leave when I noticed a small figure and instinctively followed. “Oops!” Champagne spilled everywhere, and the waiter holding a tray looked at me with discontent. “Where did you come from? Are you blind?” His voice was loud, drawing attention from those around us. Seeing my face, Gideon was stunned. “Adeline, why are you here?” I lowered my head to apologize to the waiter and explained. “I’m here looking for someone.” Someone curiously asked Gideon. “Do you know her, Young Master Gideon?” Gideon tightened his grip on his wine glass, his gaze darkening. “Yeah, just an ex-girlfriend.” Someone nearby blurted out, “You’ve been together for ten years; I thought you were each other’s first love.” The smile on Fiona’s face faded slightly as she held Gideon’s hand and said nonchalantly. “We were young back then, separated for a bit during a fight. Who hasn’t taken a wrong turn in their youth?” Gideon said nothing, his gaze brushing past me to the waiter. “Charge the damage to my account and let her go.” He stood there, expression calm, not sparing me an extra glance aside from the initial encounter. It seemed he was eager to draw a clear line between us in front of Fiona. The waiter quickly ushered me out. “Young Master Gideon is being kind, cleaning up your mess, but there won’t be a next time.” He glanced disdainfully at my wrinkled pajamas. “This isn’t a place for you. Hurry up and leave.” I broke free from his grip and explained politely. “I’m here to find someone. Once I do, I’ll leave on my own.” The waiter sneered, rolling his eyes. “I’ve seen plenty like you trying to climb up. Do you even have the qualifications to be here? If you keep lingering, I’ll call security!” “Wait.” Gideon’s voice came from behind him. He sighed as he looked at me, helplessly. “She’s here to find me. Let me talk to her.” Fiona, standing beside him, asserted her dominance by wrapping her arms around his shoulder. “Adeline, Gideon and I are about to get married. Anyone with a bit of self-respect wouldn’t come looking for an ex at this point.” Gideon’s face darkened slightly, and he couldn’t help but advise me. “Stop holding onto the past. Even if you wait for me for another ten years, I won’t love you.” “When I was with you, it was a mistake. Now that I have the chance to correct it, I hope you can let go of the past soon.” Fiona looked me up and down, a mocking glint in her eyes. “I understand why you would seek out Gideon. After all, he’s a renowned entrepreneur now, and there’s no shortage of people trying to cozy up to him.” Perhaps my wrinkled pajamas gave her confidence, Fiona added arrogantly. “You’re a prestigious university graduate, yet you’ve ended up like this? If I were you, I wouldn’t even show my face!” Gideon frowned, pulling out his phone, his tone growing impatient. “If you feel like you were wronged by our breakup, I can compensate you now.” “Is five hundred thousand enough?” His fingers moved over the screen, then suddenly froze. “You deleted me from your contacts?”

I was puzzled, not understanding why he reacted so strongly. Isn’t it normal to delete an ex’s contact after a breakup? Besides, I have someone at home who’s particularly jealous. If he knew I still had my ex’s contact, he’d probably make a fuss. “Didn’t you say you hoped I wouldn’t come looking for you after our breakup?” Gideon’s face turned cold, as if he wanted to say something but held back. I spoke calmly, adding. “I don’t need the breakup compensation.” After facing setback after setback, Gideon’s face darkened further, and he spoke coldly. “What are you pretending for? If it weren’t for your current misfortune, I wouldn’t even bother talking to you.” Fiona quickly soothed him with a gentle voice. “Well, she is a prestigious university graduate. Given her current miserable state, let’s just consider helping her.” “Oh Fiona, you’re still so kind. Why bother with a woman like her? Look at her pathetic state, just get lost.” His tone was disdainful, as if forgetting that ten years ago, he was in a worse state than I was. In the previous life, Gideon’s family didn’t agree with their son being with Fiona because she was a dubious woman who liked shortcuts. The first time I saw Gideon in college, he had just picked Fiona up from a club, forced by his family to break up. During Gideon’s most depressed times, I stayed by his side, helping him through. He loved photography, so I used the money I planned to start a business to buy him expensive equipment. Through freezing winters and scorching summers, I, with my frail frame, carried dozens of pounds of gear following him, just hoping to see him smile sincerely. Who would’ve thought it was Gideon who confessed to me first? I knew about his past with Fiona and had seen him occasionally stare at their photos in a daze. So when Gideon confessed, I seriously asked him. Have you truly moved on from Fiona? At that time, he held me tightly, his tone firm. “Actually, I never loved her. I just saw her as a good friend. It’s you I love, Adeline; let’s be together.” We dated for seven years, even his friends were surprised. “He liked Fiona so much, I thought you two wouldn’t last.” But no one knew, Gideon repeatedly refused to answer my prompts about marriage. “Adeline, I’m against marriage. Can’t we just be like this forever?” Until later, when Gideon’s parents pressured him about marriage, he agreed to marry. During our honeymoon, after hearing about Fiona’s car accident, he jumped off the cruise ship, leaving only a note. The note was filled with love for Fiona, not a single word for me. At the end, he wrote in blood. “Fiona, you’re the only one I want to love in this life. Now, I’m coming for you.” My love for him turned to ashes at that moment. So, after being given a second chance, when Gideon wanted to break up, I didn’t stop him. Because I knew, I couldn’t stop it. Watching them get back together, I deleted all of Gideon’s contact information, thinking there’d be no chance to meet again in this life. But I didn’t expect to encounter them here. I wanted to leave, but Fiona wouldn’t let it go, insisting on humiliating me in front of everyone. “Do you even deserve to speak to me? Look at how you’re dressed, it’s embarrassing!” “Here’s the deal, I’ll introduce you to work as a waiter here. If you learn to serve people, you can earn a five-figure salary a month.” Someone trying to curry favor with her added with a grin. “This is a hotel in the prime location of Ocean City. Working here is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you. You should thank Miss Fiona.” Surrounded by people, I couldn’t leave, so I replied helplessly. “Thank you, but I already have a job.” “As a photographer.” I wanted to leave, but Fiona was relentless, determined to humiliate me in front of everyone. “Do you think you’re even worthy of talking to me? Look at what you’re wearing—it’s such an embarrassment!” “Here’s an idea: I can get you a job here as a waiter. If you learn to serve people, you could earn a five-figure salary.” Someone nearby, eager to curry favor with her, chimed in with a smile. “This hotel is in a prime Ocean City location. Working here is a rare opportunity for you. You should thank Miss Fiona.” Surrounded and unable to move, I reluctantly replied, “Thank you, but I already have a job.” “Photography.” As soon as I mentioned photography, Gideon glanced at me with a complex expression, his lips twitching slightly. He averted his gaze, his tone indifferent. “How much can you really earn from photography? Hobbies don’t pay the bills. Since we’re all acquaintances, I can set you up with a job.” I was taken aback, then realized he misunderstood me. My love for photography wasn’t because I still harbored feelings for Gideon. In fact, when I saw that suicide note in my previous life, I had already given up completely. When I returned to life, I found all my money had been spent on photography equipment. I couldn’t sell it second-hand, so I had no choice but to use it myself. Eventually, I genuinely fell in love with photography. This time around, it’s not about pleasing others; it’s for myself. I politely declined Gideon again, my tone courteous yet distant. “My hobby is enough to cover my expenses, but thanks for your concern.” Seeing my ingratitude, a flash of anger crossed Gideon’s face. “If you don’t seize the opportunity I’m offering, don’t come crying to me later!” I stayed silent, not telling him that now, my photography work is featured in several national publications and top international magazines. The various licensing fees add up to no less than Gideon’s income. But even if I said it, he’d probably dismiss it as boasting. After all, in my crumpled pajamas, I did look quite shabby. It’s my son’s fault; he insisted I play with him in the sandbox. When I turned around, he had slipped downstairs again. I hadn’t had time to change clothes before chasing after him. Just as I was thinking of an excuse to leave, the waiter seemed to have noticed something. He pointed at my clothes and said, “Balenciaga? Where did you find that outfit? Are you a cleaner here, stealing from guests’ rooms?” I couldn’t help but frown. “Why can’t these clothes be mine?” Fiona sneered, mocking, “Yours? Can you afford them? What wealthy person would run around dressed so casually like you?” She pretended to cover her nose. “So dirty, you probably wore it without washing.” Gideon looked at me, his eyebrows furrowed tightly. “Adeline, have you really fallen to this state and still refuse to admit it?” I didn’t want to engage with them, so I directly addressed the waiter. “If you really think I stole something, feel free to call the police now.” I knew he was trying to please Fiona by stepping on me. Sure enough, his bravado dwindled immediately as he mumbled, “If it weren’t for the big shots at the hotel today, I’d have called the police on you already.” Fiona’s eyes lit up, quickly picking up on it. “Is it Mr. Lowe? I heard he’s here in Ocean City with his family, staying at this hotel.” Gideon nodded, a look of anticipation in his eyes. “The project our company is working on would benefit greatly from the Lowe family’s support.” The mention of Mr. Lowe sparked a flurry of discussion, as if a match had been struck in dry tinder. “We’re at this banquet today hoping to meet Mr. Lowe, aren’t we? This entire building is owned by his family.” “I heard he got married and had a child in his early twenties, but who did he marry?” As the crowd was discussing, the lobby manager rushed in, sweating profusely, followed by a group of people. “Everyone, has anyone seen a seven-year-old boy around here, about this tall?” The manager, wiping his sweat, searched the hall anxiously. Someone quick on the uptake guessed immediately, seeing the big commotion. “Is it the Lowe family’s young master? I heard he’s seven this year.” The banquet guests got enthusiastic, searching everywhere. After all, finding him could be a chance to connect with the Lowe family. Gideon and Fiona joined the search, leaving me alone. I watched the chaotic hall and headed straight to the dessert area. Sure enough, I found my son there, his face covered in cream. With a stern face, I extended my hand. “Come here.” Startled, my son clung to the table leg. “No.” Just as I was about to pull him over, Fiona appeared out of nowhere, self-righteously blocking me. “Adeline, what are you doing!” “Even if you want to connect with the Lowe family, you shouldn’t lay hands on a child!” Gideon arrived upon hearing the commotion, his eyes full of disappointment as he looked at me. “Adeline, I can’t believe you’d do something like this for fame and fortune.” The waiter grabbed the manager to complain. “This woman barged into the banquet and stole another customer’s clothes!” The manager’s face turned cold immediately, calling for the security guard. “Arrest this thief and send her to the police! If she scares the young master, none of you will keep your jobs!” A satisfied gleam flashed in Fiona’s eyes as she bent down, putting on a kind face toward the Lowe family’s young master. “Come here, auntie will protect you.” My son ignored her, and to everyone’s shock, carefully reached out to hold my hand. “Mom, I know I was wrong.”

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The poor girl I spent a million dollars sponsoring turned out to be a master manipulator. She chased after my son while sleeping with my husband. When I was on my deathbed in the ICU, desperately waiting for money to save my life, she took all our assets and went on a world tour with my husband. She even had the gall to mock me: “Mrs. Lewis, didn’t you always tell me to pursue my dreams and be brave in love? My dream was to inherit your money, sleep with your man, and take over your life.” In the end, I died full of hatred, powerless to fight back. But when I opened my eyes again, I had been reborn—back to the day she first stepped into my house. “Hello, Mrs. Lewis. Thank you for taking me in.” Standing at the door with her oversized bags, Wendy smiled shyly. She looked so timid, glancing nervously around my house as if overwhelmed by her new surroundings. In my previous life, I thought her reaction was because she felt uneasy about entering an unfamiliar environment. Now I knew better. She wasn’t nervous—she was coveting my wealth. Wendy was an orphan, her parents having died when she was still a child. She had grown up in the remote mountains, barely surviving on scraps. The story of her eating a single piece of stale bread over three days had made national headlines. I felt sorry for her back then. Her tragic situation moved me so much that I decided to sponsor her escape from poverty. For 15 years, from grade school to college, I spent over a million dollars on her education and living expenses. But Wendy was nothing more than an ungrateful snake—a manipulative, scheming woman. She started by pursuing my son, Ryan, relentlessly. When Ryan had finally had enough and confessed to me that Wendy had been harassing him at school, I thought I’d finally see her true colors. But Wendy, ever the actress, immediately burst into tears, her voice trembling as she pleaded: “That’s not true, Mrs. Lewis… I only treated Ryan kindly because I’m so grateful to your family.” “I don’t have any friends at school, and Ryan feels like family to me. I envy my classmates because they have loving parents and siblings… but I’m always alone.” Her tearful confession left Ryan speechless. In the end, he apologized to her. Even my husband, who was never particularly kind, comforted her gently: “Who said you’re alone? Aren’t we your family too?” Wendy looked up at him with watery eyes, whispering: “Thank you… Mr. Lewis.” Her tears made her seem pitiful. Yet when she smiled, she looked so pure and resilient, like someone who had endured great hardships but remained innocent. It was the kind of act that made people instinctively want to protect her. That one word, “Mr. Lewis,” was spoken so sweetly and softly—it was enough to make anyone’s heart melt. Even then, I felt something was off about her. But Wendy was too clever. She turned to me, her expression full of sincerity, as she said: “And Mrs. Lewis, I promise I won’t disappoint you. I’ll work hard to repay your kindness.” Her acting was flawless. Her eyes sparkled with such genuine gratitude that I dismissed the unease in my heart. I continued to help her, supporting her all the way through college. But as soon as she graduated, she seduced my husband. I caught them in my bedroom—her clothes a mess, her body covered in the marks he’d left behind. When I confronted her, shaking with rage, she smirked and replied: “What’s the rush, Mrs. Lewis?” “It’s not my fault you’re getting old. Mr. Lewis just prefers someone younger.” “I’m just… repaying your kindness.” As she spoke, she deliberately adjusted her clothes to reveal more of the evidence, as if she was proud of her conquest. And my husband? He had the audacity to shield her behind him, saying: “Rebecca, don’t blame Wendy. This is all my fault. I was the one who insisted on being with her.” Years of overwork had taken a toll on my health. My heart was already weak, and this betrayal pushed me over the edge. I collapsed, clutching my chest as pain ripped through me. While I lay dying in the ICU, Wendy used my money to fund a luxurious trip around the world with my husband. In the end, I died alone, consumed by anger and despair. Before I passed, Wendy finally came to see me. Smiling triumphantly, she said: “Mrs. Lewis, didn’t you always encourage me to chase my dreams?” “Well, my dream was to inherit your money, sleep with your husband, and live your life.” Her shamelessness was so astonishing that it left me speechless, even in my final moments. As my consciousness faded, I made one last desperate wish: if I could have another chance, I would never let them get away with this! The next moment, I opened my eyes— And found myself back on the day Wendy first arrived at my house. The day I had let the wolf into my home.

“Mrs. Lewis, I’ll be starting high school when the semester begins.” Wendy’s voice broke the silence, as if testing the waters when she noticed I hadn’t spoken for a while. Her words pulled me back from the memories of my previous life, and I refocused my gaze on her. I studied her carefully, forcing down a wave of disgust as I gave her a faint smile. —She’d been living quite comfortably off my money these past few years. When I first saw her in the mountains, she was dark-skinned, malnourished, and scrawny. Now? Her skin was fair and smooth, her figure well-fed, and even her voice carried a soft, sweet tone. “Come in,” I said, gesturing toward the door. “The guest room is ready. Make sure to focus on your studies.” As I spoke, I glanced at the man standing beside me—George Lewis. I had no intention of sending Wendy back to where she came from. Trash should be thrown into the trash can, after all. I had even gone out of my way to “dress up” George for the occasion. He wore a crisp white shirt paired with tailored slacks, and on his wrist was the six-figure Cartier watch I had gifted him for our wedding anniversary. From the outside, he looked flawless—a charming, successful man. But in reality, I was the one with the money. George held a useless position at my company, a job I gave him just so he’d have something to do. He had no real power. But girls like Wendy—greedy and shallow—were easily fooled by appearances. Hah. If she was so desperate to play the part of a manipulative gold-digger, I’d hand her over to the dog myself. This time, I’d push George straight into her arms so she wouldn’t have time to go after my son. Sure enough, from the moment George appeared, Wendy’s demeanor changed. She pretended to be shy and obedient, but her gaze kept drifting toward him. I nudged George deliberately and said, “Honey, don’t just stand there. Help Wendy with her luggage.” George, snapping out of his daze, finally reached out his well-manicured hands to pick up Wendy’s suitcase. He led her into the living room. When their hands accidentally brushed during the handoff, Wendy’s cheeks turned pink. She lowered her head bashfully and murmured, “Thank you… Mr. Lewis.” I watched the scene unfold, a cold smile forming in my mind. Perfect. The fish was starting to nibble at the bait.

For the first few days after Wendy moved in, she behaved herself. Well, mostly. There was just one incident: she wandered into the living room in her pajamas, pretending it was an accident, and deliberately lingered in front of George. It was subtle, more like a test than anything outright inappropriate. But I could tell—she was itching to make her move. Every day, I watched her play the role of the innocent, sweet girl, flitting around George Lewiske a little butterfly. I pretended not to notice. The more she thought she was getting away with it, the bolder she became. Then, the fall break arrived. My son, Ryan, was coming home from boarding school. In my previous life, this was when Wendy and Ryan first met. I was curious to see if she’d try to pull the same tricks on him this time. And, predictably— It seemed Wendy had decided George would take too long to seduce. She’d set her sights on Ryan instead. That day, as soon as I walked into the house, I heard her sugary voice: “Ryan, have some water.” Ryan, bless him, had a good eye for trouble. From the moment he saw Wendy, he clearly didn’t like her. He glared at her attempt to fawn over him and snapped, “Get lost. I’m not your brother, and I don’t have a sister. Stay away from me.” Wendy’s face froze, but she quickly recovered. Her eyes turned red, and tears started streaming down her cheeks. “Ryan, do you… not like me?” she whimpered. She then turned her tearful gaze toward George, sniffling pitifully. “Mr. Lewis, I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I must’ve done something wrong to make Ryan hate me…” George, predictably, softened at her display. He immediately tried to smooth things over. “Don’t worry about Ryan, Wendy. He’s always been spoiled by us—don’t take his words to heart.” I decided it was time to step in. Wendy’s lingering gaze on George hadn’t even faded yet when I walked into the room, catching her off guard. The moment she saw me, her expression stiffened. She quickly masked it with a look of vulnerability and said, “Mrs. Lewis, it’s all my fault. I upset Ryan earlier. You can blame me, but please don’t be mad at him.” Ryan’s face darkened as he glanced at me, clearly wanting to explain himself but unsure how to start. And honestly, I didn’t blame him. In my previous life, even I had fallen for Wendy’s act. How could my son stand a chance? Back then, I had scolded Ryan harshly for being rude to Wendy. He’d always been an obedient child, taking my words to heart. Because I constantly praised Wendy in front of him—telling him to treat her like a little sister and protect her—Ryan reluctantly put up with her. When Wendy got into trouble at school, he even defended her, getting into fights on her behalf. That led to a disciplinary record right before his college entrance exams. Looking back, I must’ve been out of my mind to favor an ungrateful snake over my own son. But this time, I wouldn’t make the same mistake. Meeting Wendy’s gaze, I smiled faintly. “Why would I blame Ryan?” I said coolly. “Wendy, Ryan works very hard at school, and this is his chance to rest. Don’t bother him unless it’s important.” Then I added pointedly, “I only have one son, after all.” Wendy’s eyes widened in disbelief, and for a split second, I caught a flash of hatred in her gaze. But she quickly suppressed it, replacing it with a pitiful expression as she whispered, “Of course, Mrs. Lewis. I’m sorry. I’ll make sure not to disturb Ryan again.” Ryan let out a sigh of relief and walked over to me. “Mom, I’ve missed your cooking. The food at school is terrible.” George patted Ryan’s shoulder, saying, “You’ve been working hard, son. I’ll take you shopping for new shoes tomorrow.” Wendy watched our warm family interaction, biting her lip so hard it turned white. I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. Maybe the problem wasn’t that no one had taught her properly. Maybe she’d been rotten to the core all along.

When I started sponsoring Wendy, she was just in the third grade. She lived in the remote mountains where the roads were nearly impassable. To get to school, she had to climb over hills and leave the house before the sun even rose. Her parents had passed away, and she lived with her grandmother, barely scraping by. They were so poor that they couldn’t afford proper meals or clothing. Feeling sorry for her, I decided to sponsor her education all the way through college, giving her a monthly stipend of $500 for living expenses. Over the years, she would write me letters from time to time, bragging about her excellent grades. Out of kindness and goodwill, I believed every word she said. I never once questioned whether she was lying. But when she took her high school entrance exams, she only managed to get into the worst-performing school. Based on the grades she had claimed to have, she should have easily gotten into one of the best schools in the district. As her sponsor, I felt it was only natural to ask why she had “underperformed.” Her explanation? “Mrs. Lewis, I’m so sorry for disappointing you. “My grandma got sick, and I was so worried about her that I couldn’t focus on studying.” She used her grandmother’s health as an excuse, leaving me with no room to argue. Not long after, her grandmother passed away. At the funeral, Wendy clung to my hand tightly, tears streaming down her face as she pleaded: “Mrs. Lewis, I have no family left. “Can I live with you? “Please, let me call you Mom. I’ll take care of you when you’re old. I’ll repay you no matter what.” Looking at her tear-streaked face, I sighed and agreed. In public, she always played the role of the pitiful, apologetic girl, making herself seem so small and humble. In my previous life, I was touched by her act and tried to be as kind to her as possible. It wasn’t until my death that I realized it had all been an act. She did it to make me let my guard down.

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Karen, the daughter of my neighbor, is three months pregnant. She sent a message in our building’s SnapChat group, tagging every resident. “My daughter is pregnant, and all expenses for the child will be shared among all residents of Building 3.” “For those who can’t afford to pay, we’ll reluctantly accept valuable items as collateral, like designer bags or jewelry.” “Each household needs to contribute $1,000 upfront. Monthly payments are allowed, but with a $10 interest charge per month.” “Reply to this message to confirm you’ve seen it. Otherwise, I’ll come knocking on your door, and you’ll have to pay an additional $50 inconvenience fee.” Karen swears that her daughter’s baby daddy is one of the residents in our building. The first-floor resident protests, claiming his 90-year-old bedridden father couldn’t possibly have impregnated Karen’s daughter. The seventh-floor resident pleads innocence, stating their apartment has been empty for two years, so it couldn’t have been a ghost from their place. As a single woman living alone on the same floor as Karen, I’m under the most suspicion and am being asked to pay double the “nutrition fee.” I love money too. Is it too much to try and get a few hundred dollars out of Karen’s pocket first?

Last weekend afternoon, all residents of Building 3 were shocked by a message. Karen (402): “My daughter is pregnant. I hereby declare that the child will be raised collectively by all residents in this building.” The sender was my next-door neighbor who had moved into 402 six months ago. Her profile picture was heavily filtered, making her look like she was in her thirties. This was the first time she had spoken in the residents’ group since moving in. Messages flooded in rapidly, with people sending question marks and confused emoji faces. The resident from 501 was the first to mock her: “Did your sense of shame go on vacation with the Great Wall? What does your daughter’s pregnancy have to do with us? If you’re that desperate for money, I can charitably donate some for you to burn at a temple.” Others chimed in with agreement. “You want us all to help raise your grandchild? Will the baby call all of us mom, dad, grandma, and grandpa when it’s born?” “Your daughter didn’t sleep with all of us. Go find whoever got her pregnant.” Karen sent another message, this time a voice note. “How is this not related to you? My daughter was impregnated by someone in this building! You bastards, think you can get away with it after having your fun? Let me tell you, no way!” After hearing Karen’s voice message, everyone’s emotions calmed down a bit. Karen’s implication was clear – her daughter’s baby daddy was someone in this building, and the scumbag had taken advantage of her and was now refusing to take responsibility.

Jenny from 501 quickly apologized: “I’m sorry about earlier, sis. I didn’t know the situation. But you should go after the person responsible, why ask all of us to pay?” Seeing several residents turn sympathetic, Karen became even more aggressive, her tone increasingly disrespectful. “My daughter was knocked unconscious and assaulted just as she got off the elevator one night three months ago. Now she’s pregnant, and I don’t have money to take care of a pregnant woman.” “The son of a bitch who did this is definitely from our building. Since we can’t find out who it is, each household will have to share the cost.” “For now, I’m only collecting for prenatal nutrition and check-ups. Other child-rearing costs will be discussed after the baby is born.” I was speechless. She was clearly trying to swindle the entire building. The resident from 1201 interrupted Karen’s long speech: “We sympathize with what happened to your daughter. However, what you should do now is report it to the police immediately, not cause trouble in the residents’ group.” I had met the resident from 1201 in the elevator before. She’s a teacher at a nearby high school and often helps mediate neighborhood disputes. When she spoke up, others were willing to give her face and stopped saying harsh things about Karen’s messages. But Karen clearly didn’t appreciate it. She tagged 1201 and started cursing. “Report to the police? Report what? You’re supposed to be a teacher, don’t you know not to air your dirty laundry in public? Are you deliberately trying to let everyone know about my daughter’s situation?” “You’re just a slut who’s always flirting with male students at school, trying to drag my daughter down with you? Pah! You shameless bitch, if you dare not pay, I’ll go to your school and let everyone know what kind of filthy trash you are!” “I’ll only say this once in the group: whoever dares to spread the news about my daughter’s pregnancy, be careful I don’t tear your mouth apart.” Amidst Karen’s cursing, the resident from 102 managed to squeeze in a message. “My family only consists of my bedridden elderly father and his female caretaker. Even if your daughter was impregnated by someone, it couldn’t possibly be related to my household, right?” Karen’s fighting spirit was impressive. Her mouth spewed profanities, with many words being censored. After 102 started it, several other households began trying to distance themselves from this troublesome affair and this difficult family. “My apartment has been empty for two years, it couldn’t have been a ghost from my place, right?” “I’ve been on a business trip for six months and haven’t been home.” “Only my mother and daughter live in my place.” …… Karen relentlessly battled with her words against the group, only stopping when no one was willing to engage with her anymore. Interestingly, her daughter, the “protagonist” of this drama, hadn’t said a single word in the group chat throughout the entire ordeal.

The building I live in has two apartments per floor. Next door at 402 lives a mother and daughter pair, and I’ve never seen any man in their family. We occasionally bump into each other in the hallway. Karen dresses fashionably, with tattooed eyebrows and permed hair. Her daughter Lily, despite being only twenty, dresses like she’s in her seventies or eighties. From the few encounters we’ve had, it’s clear that the mother has a bad temper and often scolds her daughter. Lily, on the other hand, is quite polite and always greets me with a smile when we meet. The first time I met them was on the day they moved in. As I came out of the elevator, I saw Karen sitting in her living room, yelling at her daughter. Just because the moving guy had chatted with Lily for a bit, Karen was calling her daughter a “vixen” and a “slut”. Lily seemed meek, keeping her head down as she moved things into the apartment, not responding to her mother’s insults. Karen noticed me passing by and gave me a look that could cut like a knife. At that moment, I had a pretty good idea of what kind of person Karen was. A low-quality, irresponsible, difficult, and aggressively competitive middle-aged woman. It’s a shame that Lily, at such a young age, isn’t immediately reporting this incident to the police. Instead, they’re trying to cover it up and extort money. It’s a disservice to her daughter as well.

Just as the residents’ group chat had quieted down, my doorbell suddenly rang. I peeked through the peephole and saw Karen standing at my door with her hands on her hips, looking displeased. Before I could think much, she started banging on the door aggressively. Lily was behind her mother, tugging at her clothes, trying to persuade her to go home. Karen spat out a curse, calling her daughter “useless girl,” and pushed her away. She then crossed her arms and looked me up and down as if appraising merchandise. “You weren’t sleeping just now, so why didn’t you say anything in the group chat? Are you mute or did your hands fall off?” “Given that you live on the same floor as us, your household is the most suspicious. While others only need to pay one share, you must pay two. And you’ll be responsible for all the fruit. Pregnant women need the most expensive fruits for nutrition and health. You’d better not try to fool us with cheap, pesticide-laden stuff.” I’m the only woman living in my apartment, and there’s no medical miracle that could have made her daughter pregnant. Having witnessed the whole thing, I was fully aware of Karen’s shamelessness and was about to close the door. There’s no point in saying another word to someone like her. Karen was surprisingly strong, forcefully holding the almost-closed door with one hand. But her hand got caught, and a few spots of blood appeared where the skin broke. “You black-hearted little whore, are you blind? If you don’t pay a thousand dollars in compensation today, see if I’ll let you off easy.” She then sat down on my doorstep, hugging my leg and wailing dramatically. No matter how much I tried to shake her off or how red-faced her daughter was trying to pull her away, it was all useless. I glanced at my phone, which had vibrated a few times. It was a private message from Jenny in 501. Jenny (501): “Hang in there, sister. I’ve called the police for you.” Jenny (501): “Let the police deal with this lunatic, otherwise you might not be able to get rid of her today.” Jenny (501): “Let the police lock her up for a few days, see if she dares to make trouble again.” Attached at the end was a gleeful emoji. Unfortunately, Jenny’s hopes were dashed. The police just wanted to smooth things over, suggesting I pay Karen $50 for medical expenses to resolve the matter. Karen was like a victorious rooster. Seeing the police leave, she kicked my door hard and gloated. “You little bitch, you think I can’t deal with you? Pay up obediently, or else… Hmph!” I was so angered by this shameless person that my heart ached. I took a pill of the heart medication my dad had left at my place, and only then did I manage to calm down.

Karen started pestering everyone in the residents’ group daily to pay the “nutrition fee,” but no one responded to her. Jenny vented to me: “It’s unbelievable that they’re not getting rid of this bastard child. Expecting us to help raise the kid, what are this mother and daughter thinking? Have they no shame?” “If we can’t fight her, we can at least avoid her, right? Talk about bad luck. If I hadn’t spent all my savings on this apartment, I’d have moved out already.” Only a few households in this building were renters, including 402. For the past month, Karen had been waiting downstairs early every morning, trying to mooch groceries off people coming back from shopping. She’d take fruits, vegetables, and meat. If anyone refused to give her anything, she’d sit on the ground, grab their legs, and wail, calling passersby to watch the “heartless man” or his family members. The older residents would argue with her until it came to blows. The young girls, being more timid, couldn’t bear the embarrassment of quarreling with her in the busy hallway with onlookers, so they were the ones she swindled the most. At first, she got whatever she asked for. Later, people wisened up and created a group to help each other, timing their returns to her lunch hour. Several renting households were forced to move out overnight. I rarely cook at home, so I secretly rejoiced that she couldn’t bother me. The food delivery app showed that the delivery guy had already taken a photo of my lunch at the building’s designated delivery spot. After searching carefully several times, I couldn’t find it. Before I could call the delivery driver to ask, Karen posted several photos in the residents’ group, tagging me. The sushi I had splurged on to reward myself after finally satisfying a client’s demands after several sleepless nights appeared in the photos. The luxurious sushi was already half-eaten, with the remains mixed with fruit peels and other scraps in the delivery box. “You have money to order such expensive food, but you don’t know to pay the nutrition fee voluntarily?” “Don’t think I don’t know what you do for a living. I hardly ever see you leave your apartment, you don’t go to work, yet you spend money so lavishly. You must be kept by some man, probably that old guy who visited your place last time.” “Since you earn money just by lying down, you should pay three shares of the nutrition fee, and you’ll also be responsible for my daughter’s lunch from now on.” Karen continued to condescendingly “instruct” me in the group chat, warning me to be careful not to let the original wife find out and scratch my face. I responded with a string of angry poop emojis. I was about to continue, but Jenny from 501 sent me a message: “I advise you not to confront her head-on. Just endure it, at most be more careful when ordering takeout in the future. Don’t tell me you don’t know about what happened to Mrs. Thompson on the twelfth floor?”

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There was still half an hour until the New Year’s countdown when I received a message from the pet-sitting family. I opened the chat and saw a cozy photo. The dining table was filled with various dishes, with a steaming hot pot in the center, surrounded by bones of different sizes. I was about to wish them a Happy New Year when they sent another ten-second voice message. The moment I heard its content, I felt as if I’d been plunged into an icy abyss, my whole body trembling. “Your dog is in the pot. Do you want the bones back?” Fluffy was a stray puppy I rescued from near a dumpster during my first year of work. He was less than a month old. I couldn’t bear to leave him, as he was the only Corgi in the litter without a docked tail. For three years, I never left him alone at home for more than a day. This year, my brother was bringing his fiancée home for the first time. The young woman was severely allergic to dog hair, so I had no choice but to entrust Fluffy to someone else. Worried that Fluffy wouldn’t adapt to a strange environment, I carefully selected my downstairs neighbor as the pet-sitting family. Little did I know that my poor judgment would make me an accomplice in Fluffy’s death. To seek justice for Fluffy, I gave up my family reunion and drove nine hours back to my apartment complex. “Mom, don’t worry. I just want to retrieve Fluffy’s remains. I’ll be careful,” I said while going up the stairs, updating my family. “I’m at the building now. I’ll talk to you later.” Fluffy was as important to me as my family. I couldn’t let this go. I had no reason to make them pay with their lives, but I would at least make them face consequences. Planning silently in my mind, I stood in front of my neighbor’s door. “Is anyone home?” I knocked on the door, and soon there was movement inside. “Who is it? It’s New Year’s Eve, for crying out loud!” The door opened, revealing the man’s impatient face. I took a deep breath and managed a smile. “You ate my dog. Don’t you think you should return his remains and compensate me?” The man was surprised to see me back so soon. He paused, then started laughing. While laughing, he turned to speak to someone inside. “She actually came back for a stupid animal on New Year’s Eve, leaving her parents behind?” Shrill laughter from a woman and a child echoed from inside. Soon, the wife and their daughter appeared before me. The girl clapped her hands and sang a song she had made up: “Little fat dog, chopped in pieces, cooked in hot pot for New Year’s feast!” “Give me back my dog,” I frowned, repeating my request. The woman covered her mouth, looking at me with contempt. “You want your dog back?” She kicked a black garbage bag by the entrance, which hit my feet. “Here, take it if you want!” The garbage bag opened, spilling oily hot pot broth and revealing dog bones wrapped in leftover food. I tried hard to control my emotions, but when I touched the furry skull, I couldn’t help but sob. This was my little dog. When he first came home, he wasn’t even as big as my palm. I raised him from scratch, putting in as much love and money as I would for a child. Now, he was in pieces, stuffed into a garbage bag, spending the night with filthy trash. My Fluffy must have been so scared. I wondered if this silly dog was still wagging his tail, trying to please people, even as these monsters were sharpening their knives. “It’s New Year’s Eve. Don’t cry at my doorstep. Get lost!” A foot reeking of sour odor kicked towards my shoulder. I fell on my bottom and finally burst into tears. “Are you even human? If you hated him so much, why did you bring him home?” The woman snickered and kicked the garbage bag. “It’s just a smelly dog. We felt like eating it, so we did. It’s so cold in winter, dog meat warms you up!” I stared intently at the woman’s hands and legs, seeing no red marks, let alone bite wounds! “You all conspired to deceive me. Fluffy never bit anyone!” The little girl said with a grin, “The fat dog was punished by my dad every day. He didn’t even dare to leave the bathroom, let alone bite my mom!” “Lily!” The woman frowned and pulled the girl back inside. “How dare you beat my dog? This is animal abuse!” I scrambled to my feet, my hand shaking as I took out my phone. “I won’t let you get away with this. I’m calling the police!” The call connected quickly. Seeing that I was serious, the man immediately tried to close the door. I was quick to grab the door panel and forced my way in. “Are you crazy?” The man couldn’t act rashly with the door blocked and the police on their way. “Go ahead and call the police. It’s just a dog. I dare you to have them shoot me!”

After understanding the situation, the two responding officers took us to the station for mediation. The female officer, seeing the gruesome contents of the garbage bag, gently patted my back and comforted me, “I have a little dog too. I understand how you feel.” Because we had to sort out Fluffy’s remains, the female officer and I arrived at the station a bit later. As soon as we entered, we heard the man shouting loudly. “It’s all her fault for not being a responsible dog owner! If her dog hadn’t been bothering us every day, I wouldn’t have done this!” His wife chimed in. “These days, who really needs to eat dog meat? Don’t you agree, officer?” The sound of the couple defending themselves in the mediation room was like oil poured on my anger. I rushed into the room, “You’re lying through your teeth!” “What lies? If you keep making a fuss…” The woman stood up abruptly. The female officer quickly stepped between us. “Alright, this is a police station, not a grocery store. Shouting doesn’t make you right!” I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and turned away from them, finding a chair to sit down. “Fine, you say I’m not a responsible dog owner. Where’s your evidence?” I rummaged through my bag and tossed out a pet hospital vaccination booklet. “This contains all the payment receipts and consent forms for Fluffy’s care, from microchipping to his first vaccine, rabies shots, and even neutering.” Next came a small booklet. “Dog license and vaccination records.” I gripped my bag tightly, hiding my trembling, pale fingertips, maintaining a calm appearance. “Or do you want to say I don’t clean up after him on walks? You can check the neighborhood security cameras. If there’s even one instance where I didn’t pick up his poop or clean his pee, arrest me right away.” The woman was about to speak but sat down instead. The man, however, took out his phone and played a video pointing at the ceiling. The video occasionally captured the “thud” of a ball hitting the ground and the “slap” of slippers as someone walked. These were ordinary sounds, but quite disturbing in the dead of night. “Officer, her dog always plays with a ball at midnight, for hours on end. You can also hear the dog’s claws scratching the floor and her footsteps.” “She and her dog make noise every day. Adults can tolerate it, but my daughter’s grades have dropped because of this.” “My job is stressful enough, and now I have to worry about my daughter’s grades. I can’t even sleep well at night.” “If I have some mental issues and killed a dog, isn’t that understandable?”

“Killing a dog is understandable? Now that the dog is gone, I still live above you. If I accidentally make some noise next time, are you going to say killing a person is understandable too?” I looked helplessly at the two officers and took out my phone. “Officers, this video is from last September. It might have indeed caused them some disturbance.” “They came up to talk to me about it then. I apologized and even bought silent slippers. I carpeted almost the entire apartment and put away all of the dog’s toys.” I showed the officers photos of the carpeted apartment and the purchase record of the new slippers. “At that time, they seemed fine with it. They even accepted my gifts. I thought the matter was resolved.” “I never imagined they were harboring such resentment and plotting to kill my dog.” I deliberately emphasized the word “plotting.” As expected, under the officers’ sharp gaze, the family’s confidence visibly deflated. The woman quickly defended herself, “We never said we forgave you!” The male officer sternly rebuked, “If you didn’t forgive her, why did you accept her gifts?!” The woman flinched, shrinking her neck, and stammered, “Why refuse something offered for free?” The female officer looked exasperated. She turned to me and said gently, “We deeply sympathize with your situation. Please tell us what you want for a settlement.” I knew that no matter how important Fluffy was to me, he was still just a dog in the eyes of the law. I could only treat him as cold property. “Fluffy was my personal property. I spent $1,500 to buy him initially, and I’ve invested no less than $5,000 in his care.” The couple’s faces immediately turned sour. “Considering we’re neighbors, if you compensate me for the initial purchase price of $1,000 and cover all the costs for Fluffy’s cremation, that would be acceptable.” The man quickly looked up pet funeral costs on his phone and jumped up. “Cremation for a dog? Can’t you just throw it in the trash? Are you trying to scam us?” I slammed the table and stood up to confront him. “I’m scamming you? What about the $500 you swindled from me last night?” The two officers were stunned, not expecting there to be fraud involved. “You dare to commit fraud?” the male officer spoke first. “Yes, officer. He messaged me last night saying my dog bit someone. I paid $500 in compensation, but today his daughter said my dog was beaten daily and couldn’t possibly have bitten anyone!” The man glared at me, his eyes wide with anger, pointing at me, “What dog doesn’t bite?” I sat back down in my chair, “Fine, then let’s check your home security footage.” The man shot a fierce glare at his daughter in the corner before sitting down again. “I can compensate you. $1,000, plus the $500 you gave last night.” “$1,500, take it or leave it!” I looked at the three smug faces across from me, seemingly unfazed by the situation, and nodded. “I refuse to settle, and I won’t let you off the hook!”

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After helping my struggling CEO girlfriend make a comeback, the first thing she did was force me to transfer my shares to her old flame and change the name on my core patent. Everyone thought she had lost her mind for making such an outrageous demand. Shaking with disbelief, I said nothing, simply handing over the stock certificate and transferring all the patents to her. Seeing this, even her old flame mocked me, calling me a lovesick fool, the biggest idiot in the world. But I calmly asked my system: “System, you said that if I sincerely treated Megan well and she betrayed me, everything she gained during our relationship would be returned to me as compensation. Does that still apply?” Time seemed to stop, and I heard the faint hum of the system responding: “Strategy failure detected. In 24 hours, Megan will be saddled with eight million in debt and will have nothing, just like seven years ago. Meanwhile, you, the host, will own the entire company and all assets under Megan’s name.” “As for the shares you just gave away, since they were transferred under Megan’s coercion, they will also be returned to you in 24 hours.” And with that, the system vanished. Suddenly, taunts filled with malice echoed in my ears. “Declan, why aren’t you saying anything? Are you admitting you’re a complete LOSER?” “Weren’t you the one who kept Megan from letting me into the company? Now, who’s the one left out in the cold?” Before me stood a smug-looking man holding the stock transfer document. Rowan. Megan’s old flame, who had abandoned her when she was at her lowest. Six months ago, Megan and I had constant arguments over her insistence on bringing him into the company. In the end, I lost. In the meeting room, everyone looked at me with a mix of pity and ridicule. They all thought I had brought this upon myself. Megan’s gaze slowly moved from the patent transfer document, a smile forming on her crimson lips: “Declan, I thought you’d hold on, but I didn’t expect you to be so reasonable today. Don’t worry, you’ve been a hero following me for seven years, I won’t treat you poorly…” Rowan huffed, deliberately smearing my reputation: “Megan, look at Declan’s cold face. He’s clearly out for revenge. How can you trust someone like him to stay in the company?” He tugged at Megan’s sleeve, acting all affectionate: “Megan, I don’t want anyone else beside you. I just want to stand by your side, okay?” I knew he wanted to completely push me out of the company and take my position as vice president. Megan, who once promised to love me forever, now looked at Rowan with doting eyes, as if burdened by a sweet responsibility: “Alright, don’t go too far.” Turning to me, she said seriously: “Declan, you’ve worked hard these years. How about you take a break? Let Rowan handle the company affairs. He’s more talented and suitable for this job than you.” The room was filled with shock. No one expected the aloof Megan to be so biased, ousting a key figure like me just because of Rowan’s words. Even the most patient person would be angered by such humiliation. They were all waiting for me to flip the table. If it were the old me, perhaps I would have fought Rowan for Megan’s affection. But now, the idea of a grown man fighting over a woman seemed childish to me. In everyone’s eyes, I said nothing and walked towards Rowan. Feeling guilty, Rowan stepped back, swallowing nervously: “What, you disagree? Why are you staring at me like that without saying anything?” Megan frowned, about to chide him. But I removed my name badge, shoved it into Rowan’s hand, and smiled: “Miss Megan is right. It’s time for me to step down. From now on, the company depends on you, Mr. Rowan.” I smirked internally. All I wanted was to see them fall from their peak arrogance into the dust. Everyone there, veterans of the office, knew how to assess the situation. After the initial shock, they all congratulated Rowan: “Mr. Rowan, I’ve always known you were extraordinary, destined for greatness! We’re counting on you and Miss Megan to lead us!” “Indeed, Mr. Rowan, you’re impressive, way beyond Declan. This vice-president position is yours.” For a moment, the meeting room was filled with laughter and cheers. And I was just something to be stepped on and used for their praise. Megan was full of tenderness, her lips curled up, happier than if she herself had been praised. Just as I was about to leave, Megan stopped me. I instinctively wanted to avoid her touch. The next second, she pinned Rowan’s supervisor badge on my chest and patted my shoulder with a light laugh. “Declan, although you’re not the vice president anymore, I can still promise you a supervisor position. Work hard, okay?” Her tone was so formal, like a casual boss. No one would think we were lovers sharing a bed for seven years. When Megan’s hand came down, she discreetly squeezed my cold fingertips and then quickly let go. I shivered. I knew her fleeting gentleness was just a trainer’s reward for a well-behaved dog. It was like before; whenever she called me into her office, saying a few insincere words and offering coffee, I’d be full of energy, working until morning. Now, I wouldn’t be mentally manipulated, swayed by the little sweetness she gave. I shook my head, took off the supervisor badge, placed it on the meeting table, and turned to leave. Behind me, Megan was a bit stunned, instinctively rubbing her fingers. Her once foolproof tactics suddenly failed. Rowan, seeing me leave, suddenly acted out, shouting: “Declan, it’s work hours, are you planning to skip work?” He deliberately stuck out his leg to trip me. I stumbled, falling to the floor with no dignity. Pain radiated through my limbs, especially my chest, as my throat continuously choked up a metallic taste. At the same time, a royal blue ring box rolled out of my pocket. I instinctively reached out to put the ring back in, but a leather shoe stomped on my hand. The hard sole ground into my hand, drawing blood. The intense pain forced me to let go. Rowan picked up the ring box, sneering: “ZC and MX. Declan, this looks like your and Megan’s initials.” “Is it true you secretly love Megan, even preparing an engagement ring? Were you planning to propose?”

His tone was full of ridicule, as if he had seen the most ludicrous joke in the world. The meeting room erupted into laughter, all mocking my foolish delusion. “Just him? He only got the VP position due to seniority. Our Miss Megan was a rich heiress, a perfect match with Mr. Rowan!” “Some people dream of what they can’t have. He peeks at Megan’s office all the time. I kept quiet out of respect, but now, a proposal? Does he think he’s worthy?” Amidst the jeers, Megan’s long lashes trembled, covering her eyes, making it hard for me to read her expression. But she remained silent. I chuckled bitterly. In seven years with Megan, I proposed countless times. She always hesitated, declined, telling me to wait until the company went public. To achieve that, I worked tirelessly, paying off her debts and helping her rise again. But now the company was public, and I happily brought the ring to work, only to be dragged into the meeting room and presented with two contracts to sign. One for stock transfer, the other for patent transfer, squeezing me dry. Coming back to reality, Rowan still mocked me, playing with the ring I spent seven years designing: “Megan! Look at this ring with your favorite wave design. This idiot probably doesn’t know we got our marriage certificate yesterday!” Marriage certificate, wedding. Those words left me stunned. Suddenly, Megan’s always-cool face turned red, her delicate features shy. Her reaction fueled the gossip of those present, all congratulating Rowan and Megan on starting a family soon. The atmosphere was even more lively. It felt more like a wedding than a company. I was the complete fool. While I dreamed of marrying Megan and working for the company, she had already married someone else. I quietly got up, cradling my injured hand, ready to leave. But Megan grabbed my arm, returning the ring to my palm, gently: “Declan, this is valuable. Take it back. Rowan went too far today. I’ll give you half a day off. Go bandage your hand at the hospital.” A slap, and then a sweet treat. I’d had enough. I tossed the ring into a nearby trash can, saying flatly: It felt more like a wedding venue than a company. I felt like a complete fool. While I was daydreaming about marrying Lydia and working hard for the company, she had already tied the knot with someone else. I quietly got up, clutching my injured hand, and turned to leave. Lydia stopped me, placed the ring back in my hand, and gently said, “Declan, this is quite valuable. You should keep it. Rowan was out of line today, so I’m giving you half a day off. Go get your hand bandaged at the hospital.” A slap in the face, followed by a consolation prize. I’d had enough. I threw the ring into the nearby trash can and said calmly, “Just some trash I forgot to throw away.” Then, I turned and walked away. The ring made a clear clinking sound as it hit the trash can. That sound also marked the end of my love for Lydia. As I walked out of the company, I realized that it had started sleeting at some point. The cold wind was biting, chilling me to the bone. On a bench by the roadside, a couple huddled together for warmth, sharing a scarf. Feeling a bit lost, I slowly walked to another bench and sat down. Seven years ago, in similar weather, I found Lydia huddled on a roadside bench, wearing thin clothes. She was once the golden girl, and I was just a poor student who silently admired her. Later, when we graduated, her family was betrayed by the Rowan family, went bankrupt, and her father jumped from a building. Her mother followed suit. When I took her in, she was burdened with an eight million debt and had no relatives to turn to. Back then, I vowed to help her, and unexpectedly triggered a companion system. The system promised that if I helped Lydia to rise again and walk down the aisle, I would receive a reward worth billions upon completing the mission. The system assured me, “Lydia’s character is deeply devoted and loyal; she would never betray your efforts. If she ever wrongs you, everything you helped her gain will be returned to you as compensation!” I never put much stock in its promises; I believed in sincerity for sincerity. I turned down offers from international firms, started from scratch to help Lydia pay off her debts, and helped her rebuild her life, simply because I wanted her to be happy. Lydia did grow closer to me, even confessed her love. But sweetness was ultimately just an illusion. Six months ago, Rowan, who had squandered his family’s wealth, shamelessly sought Lydia’s forgiveness. Lydia, who claimed to take Rowan in for revenge, panicked and rushed him to the hospital for tests just because he complained of a stomachache after skipping breakfast. Since then, she’s been taking care of him, sharing meals together. Yet when I was sick and hospitalized, she no longer cared, dismissing it with, “Adults don’t have it easy. Just endure it.” When I argued with her, she claimed she had a clear conscience, blaming me for being jealous and reckless. At that time, I thought Lydia just couldn’t let go. Now I understand, she never intended to let go. Some hearts are as cold as stone, impervious to warmth. The system was right, Lydia was indeed deeply devoted and loyal. But her devotion and loyalty were always to her childhood friend who once abandoned her. The slanting rain struck my face, cold and biting. In my mind, I couldn’t shake the image of Lydia blushing as she admitted her engagement to Rowan. But Lydia doesn’t know that everything she now possesses will vanish tomorrow. And Rowan is nothing but a greedy man. Back then, he broke off the engagement with her for the sake of family interests, even kicking her when she was down by demanding the return of gifts he had given her over the years. By then, I’ll see if the Rowan she pines for will still want her when he finds out she has nothing.

Having come to terms with everything, I found myself soaked by the rain and snow. I hailed a cab and went home. Once home, I began packing things. But I wasn’t packing my own belongings; I was packing Lydia’s things instead. Although the property deed currently bears Lydia’s name, tomorrow, this house will be mine. I was halfway through when Lydia came back. “Spring cleaning?” She threw her wool coat at me, saying, “While you’re at it, hand wash this coat for me. It got splashed with snow water when I got out of the car.” I casually tossed her coat onto the sofa and coldly asked, “Why are you back now?” Usually, at this time, she’s always out having dinner with Rowan. She kicked off her high heels, changed into slippers, and casually explained, “Oh, it’s cold outside today, I brought Rowan a coat so he won’t get sick… wouldn’t want people saying our company mistreats employees.” Her excuses flowed easily, and I used to think I was being petty. Seeing no reaction from me, she pinched my cheek, laughing, “What’s with the sour face, handsome Declan? You didn’t really think Rowan and I are getting married, did you? He was just joking. But since he’s the vice president now, for the company’s image, I couldn’t say no, right?” “As for our marriage, don’t rush. The company just went public, I’ll agree once it stabilizes, alright?” I felt nothing for her attempts to please me. I didn’t even bother arguing why she once said workplace relationships were bad, avoiding me at all costs, but now allowed rumors of her and Rowan’s marriage to spread throughout the company. Seeing I still didn’t respond, Lydia got serious. She was in a good mood today, taking my still swollen and raw hand and gently blowing on it, coaxing, “Still hurt? I scolded him well today. He accidentally stepped on you, you know? You’re a man, don’t mind it.” I remained silent. Her patience wore thin, she turned and went into the room, rummaging through the wardrobe, issuing orders without looking up. “By the way, tomorrow is Rowan’s first day in office. Write him a plan to quickly adapt to the VP position, and draft a speech for him. He’s not good at these formalities, and you’re good at it.” I forced a sarcastic smile. Every time Lydia gave me a little sweetness, she had to make me pay something in return. She’s so stingy. I used to think Lydia appreciated my performance. Now I realize she just saw me as a useful tool. She found a black down jacket in my wardrobe. After finding the clothes, she didn’t leave. She took out a backless red gown from her wardrobe. Then slammed the door shut. Five minutes later, she opened the door, ordering me, “Declan, bring me my curling iron from the bathroom!” She was talking while applying lipstick in front of the mirror, blending it with her finger. Wearing a backless dress and heavy makeup in the dead of winter, it’s clear she’s not just going out for a meal. A woman dresses up for someone she loves. Lydia was always so plain in front of me. Now I see, she just doesn’t love me. I obediently brought Lydia the curling iron. Since she chose to be with that hypocritical Rowan, I choose to respect and bless her. Lydia smiled sweetly, curling her hair while continuing to paint a picture, “Declan, don’t worry. Although the shares are gone, you won’t miss out on the year-end bonus.” As she spoke, her phone screen suddenly lit up, a message from someone nicknamed “Star” appeared: “Why aren’t you here yet? I’ve been waiting for you for a long time, how about we try a waterbed this time?” I suddenly remembered Lydia recently changed her nickname to “Star is Mine.” She said the star represents her dream, and now the company’s public dream is about to come true, so she changed the name. Turns out, that was a lie too. Lydia instantly locked her phone and hurriedly said to me, “Declan, something came up at the company, I might have to work overnight tonight, don’t wait up for me.” I felt my stomach churn, truly disgusting. She now thinks she has me completely under control, not even pretending anymore. After Lydia left, I threw all her things out the door. No more thoughts, I had a good night’s sleep. The next day, I felt refreshed, waking up to the system saying: “Lydia’s company and all assets have been transferred to the host, with a total value of 1.5 billion in compensation. Please check your account.” I stretched, put on clothes, and prepared to take over the newly acquired company. The moment I stepped into the company, I was greeted by a bunch of ribbon decorations and balloons. A banner directly in front of me read seven big words: “Welcome Vice President Rowan!” The office furniture was pushed aside, the center turned into a table for drinks and desserts. Lydia once said the company is a place for work, it must be serious, never allowing such celebrations, yet she made an exception for Rowan. Wearing a tailored suit, Rowan saw me and deliberately made things difficult: “Declan, you’ve gone too far. You knew today is my first day as VP and you showed up late on purpose?”

He’s not wrong. I was late on purpose. Rowan spoke, and everyone who was previously fawning over him with clinking glasses turned to watch me, waiting to see me make a fool of myself. Lydia’s hand was still on Rowan’s shoulder, adjusting his tie. Seeing me, she lowered her hand and joined Rowan, saying, “Declan, why are you so late? You didn’t complete what I arranged yesterday, and today you confront your superior. Shouldn’t you bow to Rowan and apologize?” I stood still. Rowan put on an act: Actually, he was right—I was late on purpose. When Rowan spoke, the crowd that had been praising him turned to me, eager to see me embarrass myself. Megan, who was adjusting Rowan’s tie, saw me and lowered her hand. She and Rowan said in unison: “Declan, why are you so late? I gave you tasks yesterday that you didn’t complete, and now you’re talking back to your superior. Shouldn’t you apologize to Rowan?” I stood still, unfazed. Rowan put on a show of concern: “Megan, Declan used to be the Vice President, so he might have a bit of pride.” He looked at me with a spiteful grin. “Declan, as the Vice President, I have to enforce discipline. If everyone starts at 9 AM, you must be here by 7 AM. Miss it once, and I’ll cut your attendance bonus. How does that sound?” I scoffed: “You think you have the authority to cut my attendance bonus?” Seeing I was not giving Rowan any respect, Megan slammed the table and threatened: “Declan, watch your tone! Do you think just because the company went public, I can’t fire you?” The crowd, seeing the CEO’s anger, joined in: “Declan, have you lost your mind? Anger our Megan, and you’ll suffer!” “Exactly, you’re just a small-time supervisor now, and you dare speak like this? Do you want to quit?” Their smug expressions were a stark contrast to when they used to flatter me, calling me ‘Brother Declan.’ I met Megan’s glare and calmly said: “Then go ahead and fire me if you can.” Rowan looked at me incredulously, sizing me up with a cold smile: “Declan, are you insane from the shock? Once you’re fired, which company would want you? You want to resign? I’ll help you—” Before he could finish, Megan interrupted with a sharp command: “Enough arguing!” She looked at me arrogantly: “Declan, stop making a scene. There’s a pile of work waiting for you. I’ll give you one more chance to make up for it.” After she spoke, everyone in the room exchanged glances and, in a coordinated move, piled their files into my arms. Before I could react, my arms were buried under a mountain of files, almost breaking them. Rowan, full of mockery, jeered: “Megan’s right. Declan, go to the lab, complete 18 sets of data, and submit five reports by the end of the day, or I’ll dock your salary!” Even if I worked non-stop for a month, I couldn’t finish it all. It was obviously a setup. They thought I had no other option, that I had to beg them? I laughed bitterly and let go. Files scattered to the floor. Everyone looked stunned. I asked coldly: “Have you ever seen a company’s owner do this much work?” Rowan seemed to think of something and sneered: “Owner? Declan, are you still dreaming you hold that ten percent stake? Megan and I are the real owners of the company!” Megan, impatient, snapped: “Declan, don’t get arrogant just because you have a bit of authority. Our publicly traded company has plenty of talent eager to join. Giving you a supervisor position is already generous.” “If you keep this up, you’ll start from an intern! Better review the company’s bylaws!” The crowd, even more indignant, chimed in: “Declan, don’t refuse a good offer only to suffer the consequences. If you don’t want to work, then leave. Anger Megan, and you’ll regret it!” I smirked, pushed through the crowd, pulled out a boss’s chair, and sat down. Crossing my arms, I looked around at their shocked faces and said seriously: “I’m giving you all one last chance to apologize. Otherwise, don’t blame me for firing all of you.” Seeing me so calm, everyone started to panic and instinctively looked at Megan. Megan, eyes wide with embarrassment, said: “Do you really doubt me? Can’t you tell who your boss is?” She shouted for the head of the legal department: “Bring out the ownership certificate for the company!” Rowan, regaining his composure, looked smug: “Declan, you’ve really blown it this time, angering Megan. Do you know what you’re doing? Fraud. Our legal department isn’t to be underestimated.” “If you don’t want to end up in jail, kneel and beg us. Maybe if you please us, we’ll let you off.” Someone even tried to pull me out of the chair. Just then, the head of the legal department found the certificate. Megan, without even looking, coldly said: “Tell them who the real owner of the company is!” The legal head looked at Megan with a complex expression before respectfully handing the certificate to me, asking: “Chairman, Megan and Rowan have been using your name for fraud. Do you want me to draft a lawsuit for fraud charges?”

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After being pushed off the roof by my husband’s first love, I was reborn as the cat I had raised. I watched them get married at my funeral. Rose brought all my belongings and burned them along with my body. Adrian didn’t stop her; he even helped scatter my ashes. Seeing my childhood friend faint from shock, I anxiously bit Rose. The man kicked me away and took her to the hospital, leaving me curled up in a corner, barely alive. Later, the usually calm and collected Adrian lost his temper at the vet clinic, “Don’t you know how to save a life? This isn’t a cat, it’s my wife!” At my funeral, Rose wore a wedding dress and burst into the ceremony with her bridesmaids, carrying all my belongings. She declared loudly: “Rachel, thank you for letting Adrian and me be together. I’m burning all your things for you today!” To everyone’s shock, she threw me, now a cat, onto the body and took out a lighter, looking shyly at Adrian. “Adrian, from now on, I’ll be your only woman. Let everything of Rachel’s scatter with the wind!” A flash of surprise and anger crossed Adrian’s eyes. I had married into Adrian’s family from another city, so most of the funeral guests were his friends. Everyone was lamenting the loss of Adrian’s beloved wife, as he was known for doting on her, but they didn’t expect this sudden turn of events. Before he could react, Rose’s bridesmaids surrounded him, crying: “Mr. Evans, Rachel always targeted Rose just because you and Rose were childhood sweethearts. Now that Rachel is finally gone, you can’t let her come between you and Rose anymore!” “Yes, when Rose heard Rachel was gone, she immediately got a wedding dress to marry you. She even got scratched by Rachel’s cat on the way here…” The wedding dress Rose wore looked familiar; it was the same high-end design I wore when I married Adrian seven years ago. Back then, he bought the only two pieces, saying he wanted me to wear something unique. Her fingers were unharmed, but wrapped in bandages, actually stained with my cat’s blood. I curled up with my injured paw and meowed weakly. Adrian glanced at me, then stepped forward to hold Rose’s hand: “Rose, let me take you to the hospital first. We’ll talk about the wedding later.” But Rose wouldn’t have it. “Adrian, did you really fall in love with Rachel? You said you’d only love me in this lifetime.” I knew about Adrian’s unrequited love when I first met him. At that time, he was drinking heavily every day after Rose rejected him again and went abroad to study. I fell in love with him at first sight. After a one-night stand, I ignored my childhood friend’s advice and married him, moving to A City. I always thought Adrian would fall in love with me, but I faced reality every time he flew abroad to take care of Rose. “Rachel, she’s a woman alone in a foreign country. I’m worried about her.” I knew this was just an excuse for him to see Rose, but when it happened repeatedly, I couldn’t help but argue with him, tears in my eyes: “Am I not a woman too? I’m your wife, and I don’t cling to you. Why can’t she manage without you?” At first, Adrian would guiltily comfort me, but later he just left with a cold face, impatient: “Rose isn’t just anyone. Besides, you’re already my wife. I’ll always be yours, what are you angry about?” It was as if I were the villain, breaking them up and forcing Adrian to marry me. Gradually, people outside started saying Adrian was a good man, able to tolerate such an unreasonable wife. I didn’t know many people in A City to begin with, and after my reputation was ruined, even fewer people would talk to me. Even the servants gossiped about me behind my back. “Mr. Evans must still like Miss Carter, right?” “Of course. Mr. Evans and Miss Carter are childhood sweethearts. He’s always been chasing after her, doing everything for her. Besides, the Carter and Evans families have been friends for generations. Who would choose a gold-digger orphan over a rich heiress?” “That’s right. Mr. Evans and Miss Carter are a perfect match – he’s rich and handsome, she’s rich and beautiful. I think they look good together. And old Mr. Evans used to dote on Rose so much. If he were still alive, he definitely wouldn’t have let the current Mrs. Evans into the family!”

Before I married Adrian, I had the fortune of meeting old Mr. Evans once. Though frail with age, his eyes were still sharp: “Do you really love Adrian?” I nodded firmly, “I love him more than my own life.” The old man sighed, “Very well. You’re a sincere, good child. I can see that Adrian likes you too. It’s just that he probably hasn’t realized his own feelings yet…” It was this conversation that gave me the courage to marry Adrian, even knowing about Rose’s existence. However, Rose made a phone call to the old man, yelling, “Your son likes that vixen Rachel, and you old fool like her too!” Mr. Evans collapsed on the spot and never woke up. Rose pushed all the blame onto me. I couldn’t defend myself and could only kneel and kowtow from the front gate all the way to Mr. Evans’ memorial, a hundred times in total, until my head was bloody. Only then did Adrian reluctantly forgive me. I watched the water droplets fall onto the corpse’s chest. Can cats cry? Adrian finally gave in: “Rose, whatever you want to do, I’ll go along with it.” Rose was somewhat satisfied with this. “Then let’s get married now.” “I want to cremate Rachel myself.” She glared at me. “Along with her cat. Burn everything to ashes.” The crowd was stunned. But no one dared to step forward to stop her. Just as Rose was about to light me on fire with her lighter, an elderly guest with graying hair finally couldn’t stand by any longer: “This is too much! We should respect the dead. And the cat is innocent in all this!” Others chimed in: “That’s right, Mr. Evans. At least let the cat go!” Rose wanted to argue, but Adrian had already frowned and picked me up. I curled up weakly against his chest. Fluffy was a stray cat I had picked up on the street. Because Adrian disliked cats, I always kept it in my bedroom. Not that it mattered, since Adrian slept in the study when he came home anyway. We hadn’t spoken to each other for four years, ever since we had a big fight about Rose returning to the country. From age twenty-three to twenty-seven, for four whole years, I watched my husband busy himself for another woman every day, trying to please her while ignoring me. I thought about reconciling. The old housekeeper, who was the only one who cared about me, suggested I have a child to win Adrian back. “Once there’s a child, Mr. Evans will settle down.” I dressed up carefully and waited for Adrian in the car, but he came with Rose in his arms: “Playing ‘one-night stand’ again with your wife? Rose got drunk after a breakup. I need to take her home first. You go back by yourself.” I stood awkwardly in the snow, pointed at by passersby: “Isn’t that Mrs. Evans? How shameless, still not willing to divorce…” Meanwhile, the “drunk” Rose smirked at me from the car window. There wasn’t a single car on the road on New Year’s Eve. I walked for three hours in the snow wearing just a dress and caught a high fever that night. The old housekeeper called Adrian, but he impatiently hung up: “Throwing a tantrum and pretending to be sick again? Even if she’s really unwell, can’t she see a doctor herself? What use is there in calling me?” For a whole month, Adrian never came back to see me once. But I found out I was pregnant. It was from three months ago when Adrian, upon hearing Rose had a new boyfriend, had taken me in a fit of frustration. Usually, he wouldn’t touch me. All because Rose had said: “Adrian, if you love someone, you should be able to endure hardship. Since you love me, no matter who I’m with, you can only love me. But now you’re married to Rachel.” “I want you to prove to me that you only love me.”

My relationship with Adrian got even worse. But he still never mentioned divorce, and I continued to act as his wife on the surface as if nothing had happened. However, a boastful post on social media soon slapped me hard in the face. Rose and I were mutual friends, and she posted a series of photos with the caption: After all the twists and turns, it’s still you and me. She even tagged me specifically. The meaning couldn’t be more clear. I covered my belly; the baby had already started kicking. Holding back my heartache and reluctance, I liked the post and congratulated them on getting back together, wishing them never to part again. Then I sent Adrian the divorce papers. He had finally won his beloved; although I wasn’t a gentleman, but a scoundrel who had stolen love, I understood the principle of helping others achieve happiness. After packing my bags, I called my childhood friend. “Emma, it’s me.” “…Rachel?” After many years apart, I choked up the moment I heard Emma’s voice. “Can you come pick me up and take me home?” Emma immediately replied, “I’m booking a flight right now!” Unfortunately, I didn’t get to wait for her to come pick me up. I died alone in a dirty alley. From a height of over ten meters, I fell and shattered, my flesh and blood spilling all over the ground. Even if Emma had arrived in time, she probably wouldn’t have recognized that pile of mush on the ground as the beauty-loving Rachel. As my consciousness faded, I could only apologize painfully. I’m sorry, my unborn baby. If I hadn’t wanted to see Adrian one last time, I wouldn’t have fallen for Rose’s trap and been lured to the rooftop to be pushed off. Rose didn’t break her promise. She dialed Adrian’s number, a new one I didn’t know about. No wonder I could never reach him. I fell clutching that phone that was still connected. Adrian’s voice hadn’t been so gentle in a long time. “Is that you, Rose? Where do you want to go play later? I’ll pick you up.” “Why aren’t you saying anything? What’s going on over there?” I gripped the phone tightly, not daring to make any sound, afraid of startling him, even though my bones were already broken and blood was trickling from the corner of my mouth. In the end, even when I wanted to speak, I could only let out meaningless groans. It was just too painful. Until the moment I died, Adrian thought I was still throwing a tantrum. “Is the signal bad over there, Rose?” He sighed softly, suddenly mentioning my name, “Rachel is just too stubborn. Rose, she could never compare to you…” As my only living legal relative, Adrian soon received my death notice. His first reaction was outrage. “What kind of joke is this? Rachel might be unreasonable, but you hospital staff shouldn’t go along with her pranks. She is Mrs. Evans, that’s correct, but you shouldn’t help her deceive me. Bring her to see me, or I’ll have you all fired!” Even when my reassembled corpse was brought before him, he still refused to believe it. “Rachel, if you want to act, I’ll play along. Announce that I’m holding a funeral for Rachel. Let’s see if she keeps acting then!”

But I was really dead. I curled up in his arms as a cat, watching him search the crowd with a heavy gaze. Rose had already pressed down on the lighter. Adrian’s face remained impassive, but the hand holding me unconsciously tightened. “Rachel, if you don’t come out now, I’ll burn all your things and this imposter!” The people around had various expressions on their faces, whispering among themselves. “What is Mr. Evans doing? Isn’t Rachel already dead?” “Yeah, her body is laid out up there. I heard she committed suicide by jumping off a building. Her brains were splattered all over the ground.” “Wasn’t Mr. Evans supposed to love his wife very much? Maybe he’s gone mad from the shock?” “I’m not so sure about that. Mr. Evans just called that woman ‘Rose’ so tenderly. She must be his true love. Poor Mrs. Evans, suffering like this even after death…” Rose stared at my corpse, secretly curling her lips, and threw the lit lighter onto it. The flames roared, quickly engulfing me. I watched as my already unrecognizable self was charred, instinctively shuddering as if feeling that bone-deep pain. Being burned or being shattered, which hurts more? Rose’s bridesmaids started to cheer. “Miss Carter, do you take Mr. Evans as your lawfully wedded husband?” Rose nodded gracefully, “I do.” “Then, Mr. Evans, do you take Miss Carter as your wife, and promise to cherish, care for, and tolerate her for the rest of your life?” In the fire, only my and Adrian’s wedding rings were glittering. Those were the rings I had spent countless days and nights personally helping to design. When Adrian received them, he hugged me and said, “Rachel, you’re the most sincere and beautiful girl I’ve ever met. I promise I’ll always protect you.” But now, they, along with Adrian’s vows, existed in name only. “Adrian! What are you thinking about?” Rose looked dissatisfied at Adrian, who was slow to answer. Adrian’s face had turned extremely ugly. He was staring at the rings in the fire, trembling all over, gritting his teeth as he said: “Fine, Rachel… you even threw away the rings.” He violently took off the other matching ring from his hand and threw it onto my remains. Then he kicked the part that had already been burned to ashes, scattering them instantly. Rose and her bridesmaids also came forward, spreading my ashes completely. “Stop!” Emma had finally arrived. She rushed into the funeral scene, bursting into tears the moment she saw me in the fire. “Adrian, Rachel is already dead. Why won’t you leave even her remains alone!” “And you, Rose, you murderer! Rachel would never commit suicide!” The scene erupted in chaos. Rose and Emma started fighting, with Emma being pushed to the ground, weakened by her overwhelming grief. I watched Emma faint and struggled out of Adrian’s arms, anxiously circling around her. I’m sorry, Emma. I didn’t want to die either. The moment Rose pushed me off the roof, I suddenly regretted asking Emma to come pick me up, regretted telling her I was going to meet Rose first. Emma, how could I bear to let you see me like this? Rose lunged forward to hit her again, and I bit her hard, drawing blood. The world spun as someone kicked me away violently. Adrian covered Rose’s wound, looking at me angrily: “You really are Rachel’s cat, impossible to tame…”

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Ryan and I had been together for seven years. When I went to deliver some documents to him, I saw him holding his young sweetheart close, proudly saying: “The one you’ve nurtured yourself is always the sweetest.” He was drinking the ginseng chicken soup I had prepared for him this morning. Amidst the envious voices of others, he said: “Zoe is suitable as a wife, but she’s terribly boring.” This man, who had proposed to me and promised a lifetime together just three days ago, was now kissing another woman amid cheers and whistles. I’m a person who loves cleanliness. A man who’s been dirtied? I don’t want him anymore. 0 Half an hour ago, I received a message from Ryan. He said he was entertaining clients at a club and needed me to urgently bring him an important document he was missing. But when I arrived, barefaced and sweating, I saw Ryan embracing the delicate Holly in his arms. I understood immediately. This must have been orchestrated by Holly, the young sweetheart in Ryan’s arms. There were no clients. It was just a gathering of Ryan and his friends. Holly had been pursuing Ryan for nearly half a year. Impatient to become Mrs. Yates, she had secretly used Ryan’s phone to message me. She tricked me into coming here, wanting me to see how cherished she was. I don’t know how much effort she put into this plan. When I arrived at the club, surprisingly, no one stopped me. Actually, I should thank her. I’m a person who loves cleanliness. A man who’s been dirtied? I don’t want him. Inside, Holly seemed to be acting coy, demanding to eat the ginseng from his bowl. Ryan’s voice carried a hint of contempt: “What are you thinking? Zoe woke up two hours early to make this. How could I give it to you?” “I’m a man of principle. You need to know your place.” Initially, I only felt a dull ache in my heart. But hearing this, I almost laughed out loud. Such absurd words, yet he seemed quite proud of them. “Ryan, you said you’d be good to me!” Holly’s voice grew louder, filled with a tearful grievance. “Now you won’t even let me have a bite of ginseng. How am I supposed to trust you in the future?” “Do you really love me or not?” Frank, Ryan’s subordinate, laughed and tried to smooth things over: “Sis, you don’t understand. Of course he loves you.” “But a wife is someone you both respect and love.” “Don’t you girls love watching those royal drama series? Zoe is like the queen, and you’re naturally the favored concubine.” “A wise king never neglects his queen for a concubine.” Ryan laughed loudly, slapping the table as he shouted, “Exactly!” “A virtuous wife and a beautiful mistress – that’s the perfect recipe for a good life!” Holly continued to protest, but her words were drowned out by the knowing laughter of the men. 0

Holly seemed to be pouting and throwing a tantrum. “Alright, alright. She’s just young and likes to be pampered,” Ryan said. “If you want to eat, I’ll have Frank go out and buy some later, okay? Anyone else want anything? We can get it all together.” Ryan stroked Holly’s head affectionately and kissed her forehead. “Holly’s only 19. Don’t tease her too much, guys.” “If she gets upset, I’ll be the one who has to comfort her tonight.” He seemed quite proud of his innuendo. Using borderline jokes to liven up the atmosphere in the private room. Ryan’s lips were close to Holly’s ear, whispering something. Holly blushed and pretended to push him away. Frank chimed in: “Ryan, Zoe’s pretty smart. Aren’t you afraid she’ll find out?” Ryan replied casually: “That woman is so dull.” “She’s either buried in her lab or at home cooking for me.” “As long as you all keep your mouths shut, she’ll never find out.” Frank asked with a smile: “I heard Zoe’s planning to switch to a teaching position for you?” Ryan grunted in agreement: “It’s not much money. She might as well stay at home to cook and take care of the kids.” “But being a university professor sounds prestigious, so I’ll let her play around for a couple of years.” “She’s so boring, yet you still want to marry her,” Holly pouted, watching Ryan’s expression. “Don’t be silly,” Ryan patted her back. Holly twisted her body slightly and pleaded: “Then say you love me the most. Just say it, and I’ll believe you, okay?” Ryan chuckled: “Alright, of course I love my little Holly the most.” He hugged the girl like a child and sighed: “The one you’ve nurtured yourself is always the sweetest.” Outside the door, I could barely stand. My body was shaking violently. My heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly, making it difficult to breathe. Three days ago, Ryan had proposed to me. The moment I nodded, he hugged me tightly, choking with emotion: “Zoe, I’ll be good to you for the rest of my life.” “You don’t know how happy I am to be able to marry you.” Promises made so earnestly, without a thought for the consequences. Seven years together, and in his mouth, I was just a “good wife” and “boring”. Like a handy tool in his laboratory. The confession under the moonlight, the boy’s sincere and dazzling eyes. The dreams we fought for together, the tears after lifting the trophy. I never doubted the sincerity of our past. But the human heart can’t withstand the test of time. How could I have been so blind! Ryan. It was you who betrayed our love. 0

The next morning when I woke up, Mrs. Ross, our housekeeper, told me Ryan had slept in the study. I’m a light sleeper; even the slightest noise wakes me up and makes it hard for me to fall back asleep. So when Ryan comes home late from work, he usually sleeps in the study. But what used to happen only once or twice a month has become a frequent occurrence over the past six months. The signs had been there for a while. Three years ago, I first met Holly at the Yates family’s old house. At that time, Ryan held my hand and casually patted her head: “Holly? You’ve grown quite a bit.” He turned to me with a smile and introduced her: “She’s the daughter of our housekeeper, Mr. Lambert. She comes to play at our house occasionally.” “The little girl is well-behaved and sweet-talking, my mom really likes her.” I smiled and greeted Holly, but I noticed a hint of hostility in her eyes. I encountered her once or twice after that. One time when I had a migraine, Mr. Lambert asked Holly to bring me some painkillers. Thinking I was asleep, she threw the medicine on the table. She spat in my water glass and said viciously: “Old hag, one day, I’ll drive you away from my brother’s side.” Such blatant malice, spewing from her flower-petal-like mouth without any restraint. I knew teenage girls could easily go astray. I gently suggested to Ryan that he should be careful to maintain distance from the young girl. But he was completely unconcerned, “Holly’s just a kid. Are you really jealous of her?” Ryan leaned in to kiss me: “Honey, I’m just happy to know you love me so much.” I knew that a young girl’s crush was often confused with admiration. But an adult’s indulgence had led this relationship down the wrong path. But this was their fate, and I had no power to interfere. … As I was about to leave after breakfast, Ryan woke up. His hair was a mess, and with sleepy eyes, he reached out to hug me. I discreetly stepped back two paces: “I have an important meeting today. Don’t wrinkle my clothes.” Ryan’s face was full of guilt: “I’m sorry, honey. I’ve been really busy lately.” “I haven’t been able to spend much time with you. I’ll pick you up after work today and take you out for a nice meal.” I looked at his slightly dark chin, already showing some stubble. “Did you go out drinking with clients again last night?” I asked. Ryan nodded with a wry smile, saying without a hint of guilt: “You have no idea how clingy Mr. Lucas can be.” I withdrew my gaze and asked flatly: “So, you smoked too?” I hate the smell of smoke. When Ryan occasionally smoked due to social obligations, he would shower and clean up as soon as he got home. Moreover, we had agreed to start trying for a baby, and he had promised to quit smoking. But now, his breath reeked of tobacco. Knowing he couldn’t deny it, Ryan’s face fell. With a hint of pleading, he asked: “Honey, are you angry?” “I really couldn’t refuse. I just took a couple of puffs, honestly.” “In the future, I’ll…” I shook my head, interrupting his words: “It’s fine. I understand it’s not easy for you.” “I’m running late. I need to go.” “Oh, and don’t pick me up tonight. I need to prepare for my classes, so if it gets too late, I won’t come home.” As I turned to leave, Ryan seemed to think he was off the hook and let out a sigh of relief. He laughed heartily, telling me to drive carefully and remember to eat well. We both played our parts well. He hid all his false pretenses. I hid all my sadness and disappointment. Our paths had converged for seven years. But now we were heading in different directions. 0

When I arrived at the lab, my junior colleague Liam was distributing souvenirs he had brought back from his business trip. Seeing me arrive, he quickly brought over a few bags of seafood. “Zoe, try this dried squid. It tastes amazing.” I usually love seafood. But today, as soon as Liam approached, I felt my stomach suddenly churn. Without time to say much, I rushed to the restroom at the end of the hallway. The cool water splashing on my face gradually eased the discomfort in my stomach. When I raised my head, the mirror reflected a tired face. I stared blankly. Suddenly, sadness and grief overwhelmed me like a tidal wave. All my strength crumbled at this moment. Tears fell in large drops. Seven years. Seven years in which I had given my whole heart. Only to be repaid with utter betrayal. “Zoe, are you okay?” Liam called from outside, his voice not loud but very anxious. “I’m fine,” I said. I took a deep breath, composed myself, and walked out. Liam sighed with relief when he saw me come out, but his brow remained furrowed. He wanted to take me to the hospital. I refused and called my best friend, Mia. Mia works at a private hospital, and I arranged to meet her an hour later. Liam wanted to drive me there, but I didn’t agree. Ever since I got together with Ryan, I had deliberately maintained distance from all other men. It wasn’t that I couldn’t see Liam’s fondness for me. But I had constrained my behavior with moral principles, never giving any other man room for imagination. Ryan often hugged me and marveled at how lucky he was to have found such a good wife. Back then, I would pinch his face and say: “Honey, I won’t check up on you or constantly ask about your whereabouts, but trust and respect are mutual.” “What I do, you must do too. Otherwise, if I ever decide to leave, I will never look back.” Ryan laughed and pleaded: “Okay, okay, I’ll do whatever you say, my dear wife. I wouldn’t dare to have a wandering eye.” Thinking back now, the rift had started long ago. When I needed a commitment, he was brushing me off with jokes. At the hospital, Mia accompanied me through the examination. As expected, I was pregnant. My period had been delayed by almost a week this month. So when I first felt unwell, I suspected I might be pregnant. But this child came at the worst possible time. When Mia heard I was pregnant, she was initially overjoyed. But seeing my hesitant expression as I touched my belly, the smile on her face gradually disappeared. “Mia,” I looked up, forcing an ugly smile. “I’m not keeping this baby.” “Can you keep this a secret for me?” After hearing my story, Mia was furious. She cursed Ryan vehemently, then looked troubled. She held my hand and said: “Zoe, the doctor just said you have a condition that makes it difficult to conceive. If you terminate this pregnancy…” I lowered my eyes: “But I don’t intend to endure Ryan’s betrayal for the sake of this child.” “Nor do I plan to give birth to this child alone, sacrificing my future for it.” “If I’m not ready, then I won’t have it.” “I don’t want to be an irresponsible mother.” Mia sighed and said: “You… you always seem so gentle, but once you’ve made a decision, nothing can change your mind.” She stroked my face with a pained expression: “That ungrateful Ryan, he’ll regret this one day!” Mia quickly helped me schedule the procedure for the next day. That evening, after packing my clothes, I saw Holly had posted on social media. It was a selfie, with a blurred male figure in the background. But I easily recognized the man as Ryan. It looked like they were in a hotel. Holly’s caption read: “Tonight, you belong to me.” My phone dinged with a new message from Ryan at the top of the screen. It said: “Honey, I’m too busy to come home tonight. Remember to eat well at work.” When I came to my senses, my face was ice-cold with tears. I simply replied “Okay,” then buried myself in the blankets and cried silently. This is the last time, I told myself. Ryan, after tonight, I will never cry because of you again. 0

The procedure went smoothly. I stayed in the hospital for three days. Although Ryan’s messages never stopped, I used the excuse of being busy with work, and he didn’t suspect a thing. During these three days, Mia helped me rent a new apartment. I still had quite a few things at Ryan’s place that I needed to pack up. The building had an elevator that required a key card to access. As the elevator doors opened, I saw a magenta high heel at the doorway. Not far away, the other shoe had been kicked into a corner. The front door wasn’t locked properly, slightly ajar. A pair of black stockings hanging on the doorknob made me feel like an intruder. I took out my phone and discreetly started recording. From inside the room, amid the blaring music, came the intimate sounds of a man and woman. Soon, the music volume decreased. I could hear their conversation in the living room. Holly whined: “The floor is so hard. Ryan, can’t we go to the bedroom?” Then came the sound of a lighter. Ryan exhaled and said with a hint of impatience: “Zoe is a clean freak. It’s good enough that I let you into the house. Don’t ask for too much.” “But Ryan, don’t you always say Zoe is boring? If I could always be by your side, you definitely wouldn’t…” Ryan snickered: “Holly, don’t misunderstand your position.” “You’re just a plaything to relieve my boredom occasionally. If you behave, I’ll treat you well.” “But if you dare breathe a word to Zoe, I won’t hesitate to find someone more obedient.” Holly was silent for a moment, then pleaded: “Ryan, please don’t abandon me.” “I’ll never let Zoe find out. I don’t expect to become your wife.” “As long as… as long as you let me stay by your side, that’s enough. I’ll be good.” I blinked my dry eyes. It felt like watching a play that had nothing to do with me. Behind me, the elevator made a sound. I instinctively hid to the side. It was Mrs. Ross coming for her routine cleaning. A few seconds later, there were several exclamations from inside. As I left, I had only one thought. How could such a disgusting person dare to imagine spending a lifetime with me? … On my way back to the lab, I happened to pass by a cake shop we used to frequent. Back then, we had just graduated. I was still on probation, earning only $1,500 a month. Ryan wanted to start his own business and refused to join his family’s company, so his father cut off all his cards, hoping he would give up. Those times were really tough. But every time I got my paycheck, when Ryan came to pick me up from the lab, we would come here to choose a small cake. A $10 sweetness could ease a month of bitterness. Back then, we would huddle at the small table, our bodies and hearts so close. I would always complain about the cake being too sweet after just two bites, and Ryan would pick out all the fruit from the cake base to coax me into eating. At that time, there was light in his eyes and dreams in his heart. He held my hand tightly then. “Zoe, when we have money in the future, I’ll buy you the biggest, most expensive cake.” “Trust me, I’ll never let you suffer with me.” Later, Ryan’s company still went bankrupt. He returned to his family’s business and was promoted to general manager in less than a year. As money increased, he began to scorn his dreams. The cakes became more and more luxurious. But they became increasingly tasteless. I didn’t linger at the cake shop. Even remembering the past didn’t stir much emotion in my heart now. Memories belong to the past, and I’m walking towards the future. 0

Back at the lab, I first went to see Professor Wilson. I asked her if I still had a chance to join her research group. Professor Wilson was surprised at first, then asked: “Didn’t you say you were getting married and considering having children, so you were planning to switch to a teaching position?” I lowered my gaze and shook my head. “Zoe, did something happen between you and Ryan?” I smiled bitterly and nodded: “Professor, he cheated on me.” Professor Wilson looked regretful: “I thought Ryan was quite a smart boy. How could he be so foolish?” “But this research group is part of a national project. The participants will need to conduct closed research at a base for at least three years without returning home.” “You need to think it through. Once you go, there might be no chance for reconciliation between you and Ryan.” I fought back the surge of bitterness in my heart and nodded firmly: “Professor, didn’t you always say I was stubborn when I was a student?” “I’m still the same now.” “Once I’ve made a decision, I’ll never look back.”

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The advertising executive suggested shooting at the snowy mountain peak in Alaska. I followed along, only to encounter an avalanche that cost me both my legs. My fiancée rushed to the hospital, but when I was asleep, she kissed another man’s lips by my bedside. “Adam, you scared me to death. Thank God it was Noah who lost his legs.” “Now that he’s lost his legs, how can he dance and flirt with others anymore!” The man was none other than Adam, the advertising executive who had proposed the mountain shoot. He held Sophia tightly, indulging in passionate embraces. “Silly, how could I bear to leave you? If anyone should go, it should be Noah… Why didn’t that avalanche take his life?” I lay in bed, silently shedding tears. Once upon a time, Sophia had pulled me out of the darkness, a beacon of hope in my bleak world. Yet this decade-long bond crumbled like a roadblock in the face of “true love.” If that’s how it is, why should I cling to her? But when it came time to part ways, Sophia’s eyes welled up with tears, begging me to return to her side. #

Sophia burst through the door just as the nurse was cleaning my wound. Seeing my empty pant legs, she froze, tears streaming down her face. Still unable to accept the loss of my legs, I worried about her distress and forced a smile, saying, “Sophia, I’m fine. Don’t cry.” How could I be fine? A dancer can lose anything but a pair of healthy legs. Sophia rushed over and hugged my waist tightly, her voice trembling as she comforted me. “Noah, from now on, I’ll take care of you. It doesn’t matter if you can’t dance anymore.” Her words brought tears to my eyes as I slowly realized the chain reaction of losing my legs. Unable to perform on stage, losing my source of income and skills to maintain a living, gradually becoming marginalized in society… My eyes stung with tears, “I’m sorry I can’t give you a perfect wedding now.” Sophia gently kissed away my tears, “As long as we love each other, what does a wedding matter?” Her loving gaze was like a healing medicine, allowing me to see a glimmer of hope in my desperate situation. “Noah, your fiancée is so good to you,” the man in the other hospital bed praised enviously. Before I could respond, his words suddenly turned sharp, “It’s just a pity that she’ll have to spend the rest of her life with a cripple.” I clenched my fists tightly, my heart feeling as if it had been stabbed by a thousand needles. The usually gentle Sophia’s face darkened as she scolded, “Enough! I don’t find it difficult, why are you worrying for me? Who are you to meddle in our affairs!” Other members of the production team couldn’t stand by silently either, criticizing him, “Yeah, if it weren’t for you insisting on shooting in a dangerous area and making so much noise, would there have been an avalanche?!” Adam lowered his head guiltily, his tall frame curling up in pain. “I’m sorry, I was too obsessed with perfection, which led to Mr. Lin getting hurt…” “If I could, I’d give him my legs!” Sophia sneered, “It’s too late for that now. Noah’s legs are ruined! He can never dance again!” Although I knew Sophia was standing up for me, their dialogue felt like a sharp blade, cutting deep into my heart. Suppressing the bitterness rising in my throat, I held Sophia’s trembling hand and said, “That’s enough, Sophia. I want to rest now.” Sophia always wore a gentle smile when facing me. She tucked me in, and the world finally fell silent. After receiving painkillers, my thoughts remained hazy and confused. I couldn’t sleep, but at least Sophia was by my side. Thankfully, she would stay with me. With her companionship, the rest of my life wouldn’t be too bitter. I closed my eyes heavily, and soon after, the warmth beside me gradually dissipated. I suddenly woke up, about to call out, when Sophia’s voice broke the silence of the hospital room. “Hey, are you really angry?” The next second, Adam’s voice hit my eardrums: “Who am I? You know very well, baby.” In the reflection of the window, I witnessed a shocking and heartbreaking scene. In the dim light of the bedside lamp, Sophia clung to the man’s neck and kissed him forcefully. Their lips and teeth intertwined, making intimate sounds as she gasped for air and begged. “I’m sorry, I spoke too harshly.” “But if I didn’t say that, Noah would’ve become suspicious. He’s a cripple now without his legs. What if he does something bad to you? I’d be worried sick.” Adam bit Sophia’s lips hard and sneered, “He’s lucky the avalanche didn’t kill him.” I gripped the bedsheet tightly. In that second, the pain of being buried by ice and snow magnified a thousandfold and washed over me. Was I really not dreaming? This was all… too unreal. #

Sophia gazed at Adam with deep affection and tenderness. Once upon a time, she had looked at me the same way and said, “Noah, I want to marry you.” At seventeen, I was always cooped up in the dance studio, training. Winning awards time after time, I was the envy of many, but it also brought a lot of criticism. Rumors spread around school that I liked men. The school bullies cornered me in an alley, beating me up and taking compromising photos to post on the school forum. No one dared to approach me, except for Sophia. She had grown up an orphan, fortunately raised by my mother. Facing the bullies’ abuse, she shielded me behind her back, “I’ve already told the teacher. You’d better run away quickly!” The street corner was dark, but I could clearly see her bright eyes. “Noah, don’t be afraid. I’ll always be by your side.” At seventeen, Sophia confessed her love to me. Eight years later, she was straddling another man, begging for his affection, wishing I were dead. The pain seeped into my bones, and I couldn’t help but curl up. Adam suddenly glanced at me, “Is Noah awake?” Sophia, dissatisfied with his sudden stop, coquettishly initiated another kiss, “So what if he’s awake? He’s lost his legs. It’s not like he can jump up and kick your knees.” Sharp sarcasm, passionate gasps. Every word and sound hammered into my heart. I had lost my legs, unable to escape, forced to watch them indulge in their affair, powerless. I closed my eyes in anguish, tears silently flowing all night. The procedures for returning home were quickly arranged, and Sophia supported me as we boarded the plane. She struggled to hold my arm, and passersby looked on with pity. Those glances were sympathetic when they fell on her, but mocking when they landed on me. How could such a cripple deserve Sophia’s devotion? Adam stepped forward, “Let me carry him. Consider it my atonement.” Sophia gave him a grateful smile, and I was forced to climb onto Adam’s shoulders. The familiar floral scent lingered on his white shirt – it was Sophia’s favorite perfume. The last shred of love dissipated in this foreign land. After boarding, Sophia covered me with a blanket. I turned to look at her, expressionless. I gazed at the face that had once fiercely protected me, the face I had embraced countless nights. But when I closed my eyes, all I could see were images of her passionately kissing Adam. It made me incredibly sick. “Sophia, why don’t we separate? I’ll only hold you back like this.” Sophia froze, tears suddenly flooding her eyes, “Noah, I’d rather die than hear you say such things!” I had given her a chance for a dignified separation, but she still chose to deceive me. I smiled and slowly shook my head, “Forget it. I was just joking.” During the eighteen-hour long-haul flight, everyone in the team fell asleep. I looked at Sophia’s peaceful sleeping face and, on a whim, took her phone. The password was still our anniversary date, but her phone had a dual system installed. I had known about this for a long time; Sophia had told me it was for work convenience, and I hadn’t thought much of it. Until now, when I opened the other desktop, I saw intimate selfies of her and Adam. Their dating records occupied the photo album. When I was performing on stage, they were having candlelit dinners; When I was giving an award acceptance speech thanking her for her support, she and Adam had flown to Sanya for a vacation… Even on the day I fell from the rising platform, she was by Adam’s side as he battled a fever. Only I, foolishly, was trapped in this love snare. It was truly laughable. #

In just half a month, everything had changed. Returning to the marital home Sophia and I shared, I was surrounded by memories of past happiness and sweetness, now all tinged with mockery. Two years ago, I had gained internet fame through a dance competition show, but with my ordinary looks, I hadn’t attracted much attention. Every day, apart from dancing in competitions, I would guest star in various productions. News of my amputation was leaked online by someone, immediately drawing a wave of sympathy. [So tragic, I still remember his performance of “Endless Longing” – it was otherworldly!] [Don’t be too sad, little brother… We’ll continue to support you.] The trending topic, which should have been quickly forgotten, was pushed further by someone behind the scenes. Using the hook of a talented dancer’s fall from grace, they directed traffic towards the recently shot commercial. With trembling fingers, I clicked on the video. The raging ice and snow engulfed me like a ravenous beast. The pain of that moment made my whole body shake. Sophia snatched my phone away, “This is too much! I’m going to confront him about this!” She stormed into the bedroom with an indignant face, “What Adam’s doing is nothing but profiting from someone else’s misfortune!” I desperately held back the nausea rising inside me and quietly maneuvered my wheelchair to the doorway. Sophia was coyly chatting with Adam, “Are you home yet? Ugh, that cripple can’t leave my side. I finally found a chance to call you.” Adam laughed and asked, “Does that cripple have any more misfortunes? Tell me quickly so I can post it online for more attention.” Sophia gleefully shared the darkest moments of my past suffering. “He was apparently assaulted by school bullies before. I saw his pants being pulled down outside, and they took so many private photos. The picture of him tied up with ribbons went viral on our school forum. It was hilarious.” “If it weren’t for his mom leaving all her inheritance to him, would I need to stick by his side?” I forced myself to stay calm, but my fingertips gripping the wheelchair had turned white. They talked on the phone for half an hour. I waited silently by the window. Sophia put on her fake expression again and came over to hold my hand, “That Adam is too much. I told him to take down the trending topic, but he refused.” I looked into her eyes and smiled bitterly, “But you two seemed to be having a good time chatting.” Sophia’s face instantly turned wooden, “You eavesdropped on our conversation?!” In the ten years we’d been together, I had never lied to her, and this time was no exception. Sophia, however, showed no nervousness. Instead, she laughed lightly. “This is good too. You would have found out sooner or later.” She gently caressed my cheek, her eyes filled with both love and hatred, “But Noah, you can only stay by my side for the rest of your life.” She lifted the blanket covering my body, looking scornfully at my disability. “Besides me, who else would be willing to waste their time on a cripple like you!” The woman before me seemed to have split into two faces. Each face was a stranger to me. #

Adam collected the tragic stories about me from high school and posted them online under the guise of a “high school classmate.” The hashtag #TalentedDancerBulliedInHighSchool stayed on the trending list for two whole days, and meanwhile, my Weibo followers increased by a million. Do people only get attention when they’re pitiful enough? These days, Sophia received many invitations from brands. She eagerly accepted them all, taking me to countless company meetings. “Can you show the injury? It would be more eye-catching that way.” “Mr. Lin, please try to look more in pain.” After experiencing the amputation of both legs and the betrayal of my love, my emotions had already become numb. After finishing a commercial shoot, Sophia went to collect the payment, excited. The photographer from earlier came over and asked me, “Were you really assaulted by a man?” He stared at my lower body with a lecherous gaze. I quickly moved my wheelchair away, but he reached out and followed closely, “Why are you running? Now, with just one word from me, your wife would be more than happy to send you to my bed!” I knew artists could be eccentric, but I didn’t expect him to be so blatant. “Don’t touch me, get away!” The photographer’s expression turned vicious as he grabbed my collar and threw me to the ground, “You crippled freak, I’m doing you a favor by taking an interest in you!” I crawled on the ground like an insect at his feet. Without my legs, I had no right to stand up. He left, cursing. I struggled to support myself on the floor, trying to get up. At that moment, a pair of long legs came into view. Adam looked down at me from above, “If I were you, I would have jumped off a building long ago.” I ignored him, finally managing to reach for my wheelchair to stand up. Adam suddenly kicked the wheelchair hard. “Sorry, my foot slipped.” Without support, I fell heavily to the ground again. I had no strength left and could only lie there. At that moment, I wished I had died in that avalanche. Sophia returned happily with the payment, and seeing my pitiful state, she gently helped me back into the wheelchair. She carefully adjusted my collar, “Oh my, I was only gone for a few minutes!” Passersby praised her for her attentiveness. But when no one was around, Sophia’s smile turned vicious and poisonous. “Adam, if you hurt him, what are we going to use to make money?” A wave of nausea rose in my throat, and I couldn’t help but retch. Sophia put me in the car and then wrapped her arms around Adam’s, ready for their date. Watching their retreating figures, my desire for death suddenly vanished. Enjoying yourselves with the money I earned? If I were gone, what would you do? I calmly took out my phone and called my lawyer friend, “Mr. Johnson, I need a certificate for the assets of the studio, and a notarization of my mother’s inheritance. Please help me handle this.” As my fame grew, I didn’t sign with a management company but hired a few people to run a small studio. Sophia was a nominal employee. Once the assets were certified, she wouldn’t get a penny. I took the opportunity to overhaul the studio staff, firing Sophia’s confidants. She hadn’t heard the news yet, probably busy enjoying herself with Adam. Soon, Mr. Johnson had the paperwork ready. When I maneuvered my wheelchair into the office, Sophia was sitting disheveled on the desk. Adam lifted his face from her chest and gave me a challenging smile, “Oh, here comes our cash cow.” Sophia asked what I was doing here. I silently took out the agreement, “Sign it.” She hooked her arms around Adam’s neck and planted a kiss, “Look how eager he is, can’t wait to marry me.” Indeed, six months ago, Noah couldn’t wait to marry her and bring her home. But now, things had come to this point. The deep love was a lie. Better to make a clean break and part ways amicably. Sophia picked up the agreement and flipped it open to read. Then she looked up in disbelief, “What do you mean by this?!” “Let’s separate, Sophia.” “I’ll give you a portion of the assets from these years. Let’s not see each other again in the future.”

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