Category: English

Sean Quinn was signing organ donation papers when Lucy Lawson’s call came in. “Chad’s flight is at 5 PM. Make sure you’ve cleared out your stuff by 3 PM. I don’t want him to be upset.” As soon as she hung up, Lucy sent her usual money transfer notification. Sean smiled wryly. After five years, he still hadn’t managed to warm her heart. But none of that mattered now. He was dying anyway. At the hospital, the doctor explained, “Mr. Quinn, we need a direct family member to sign off on organ donation. Do you have anyone who can…?” Sean looked at where the doctor was pointing on the form, feeling a pang of bitterness. He thought back to five years ago. His parents had died in a car accident, leaving him alone in the world. Besides Lucy, he had no close family left. But he didn’t want Lucy to know about his condition. So he forced himself to ask, “If I consent myself, is that not enough?” The doctor considered for a moment before replying, “It’s hospital policy. Given your current condition, you likely only have about a month left. You really should inform your family. Especially since your records show you’re married – we can’t proceed with donation without your wife’s consent.” Although Sean didn’t want to accept that he had terminal leukemia at only 30 years old, it was his reality now. He had no choice. He thanked the doctor and left with the organ donation forms. In truth, he had decided to donate any usable parts of his body as soon as he was diagnosed. Even if there wasn’t much they could use, at least his corneas could help someone. Sean checked the time. He had two hours before Lucy’s deadline. Enough time to visit Mrs. Lee, the housekeeper who had worked for Lucy’s family for 20 years. Mrs. Lee had gone blind from corneal disease three years ago. For the past three years, the Lawson family had sent Sean as their representative to visit her. Over time, Mrs. Lee had grown very fond of Sean. She saw him as her own child and always thought of him first whenever she had anything nice to share. Sean walked in to find Mrs. Lee sitting on the couch drinking tea. Hearing his footsteps, she immediately called out, “Sean, is that you?” Sean smiled. “Your hearing is so sharp, you knew it was me right away!” Mrs. Lee laughed. “I may not recognize everyone, but I’d know your footsteps anywhere.” She handed him a small cake from beside her. “Lucy brought these earlier.” Then she asked curiously, “Why didn’t you two come together?” Sean hesitated. “When was she here?” Mrs. Lee sounded surprised. “Not long ago at all.” She took Sean’s hand. “Are you two having problems?” She didn’t voice her other thought – why had Lucy been with a strange man? Sean and Lucy’s marriage had been one of convenience, arranged when Lucy’s family was pressuring her to settle down. Although Lucy had a boyfriend at the time, he was from a poor background. Under relentless pressure from the Lawsons, he had eventually been forced to move abroad. Lucy had spiraled into depression afterwards, losing herself in partying and drinking. Worried, her family had hired a therapist for her – Sean. Sean had fallen for Lucy the moment he saw her. But Lucy despised Sean, saying he reeked of bookishness and wasn’t manly at all. Sean didn’t let it bother him. He patiently tried to counsel Lucy each day, telling her stories to cheer her up. Even when she covered her ears and turned her back, Sean never got angry. He understood that people who’d been hurt were often emotionally volatile – especially someone like Lucy. Over time, Lucy seemed to dislike Sean less. She started to accept his guidance. Later, when the Lawsons again pressured Lucy to go on arranged dates, she had suddenly grabbed Sean’s hand and declared, “Fine, I’ll get married – but I choose him!” Sean had been stunned. He thought Lucy had genuinely changed her mind about him and developed feelings. But then Lucy presented him with a marriage contract, and he realized she was just using him to avoid the arranged dates. Thinking of all this, Sean took a deep breath and reassured Mrs. Lee with a smile. “No, everything’s fine. She’s just busy with work and our schedules don’t line up, so we couldn’t come together.” Sean then slipped a bank card into Mrs. Lee’s hand. “My job situation is changing, so I may not be able to visit for a long time. Please keep this card and use it for anything you need. Don’t deprive yourself.” Sean glanced at the time. Before Mrs. Lee could respond, he was already heading out. He needed to get back to the mansion before Lucy’s deadline. After five years, he knew Lucy’s temper all too well – if he didn’t do as she said today, she’d surely throw a fit and trash the place again. More importantly, he still hoped to get Lucy to sign the forms. With her signature, he could go through with the donation process and help restore Mrs. Lee’s sight. So he had to hurry back. Sean arrived at the mansion at 2:30 PM. The yard was as quiet as ever. He took out his key, but before he could open the door, Lucy yanked it open from inside.

“Do you have no sense of time? Or are you doing this on purpose?” Lucy snapped. Sean replied calmly, “Of course not. Didn’t we agree on 3 PM? I didn’t expect you back so soon.” Lucy retorted, “The flight was moved up. Is that not allowed?!” Sean said nothing. Lucy had always treated him this way, with her naturally volatile temper. So for the five years of their marriage, Sean had gone along with her wishes in everything, afraid of upsetting her. Because he loved her. But Lucy was different. Whenever something made her happy, she would transfer money to Sean, wanting to make it clear that he only got paid if he kept her happy. Sean went to the bedroom to pack his things. Lucy had told him yesterday that once her ex-boyfriend Chad returned, their marriage of convenience would be over. So he was being considerate by packing up now. As he reached the stairs, Chad emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a towel. Their eyes met, and Sean felt a stab of pain in his heart. “What are you staring at? Do you want Chad to keep looking at you?” Lucy’s harsh words came from behind. Sean’s hands instinctively clenched. Of course he wanted to leave quickly, but Chad was blocking his path with his arm, clearly not intending to let Sean pass. Sean started up the stairs, but Chad still didn’t move. “Mr. Quinn, you haven’t changed your shoes. Aren’t you worried about tracking germs into the room?” Chad’s provocation was blatant, but Lucy saw nothing wrong with it. She grabbed Sean’s shirt and ordered in an icy tone, “Didn’t you hear what Chad said? What are you waiting for?” Sean changed into disposable slippers. Lucy had said before that Chad was a germaphobe who didn’t like others using his things. Before coming back, Sean had slipped the organ donation form into the divorce papers. Lucy had never paid much attention to Sean, so when he handed her the documents, she barely glanced at them. Seeing “Divorce Agreement” at the top, she immediately signed. Sean flipped to the next page – the organ donation form. He only exposed the signature line. Lucy signed without looking, just as carelessly. With everything settled, Sean let out a small sigh. He finished packing and was about to leave when Chad suddenly stepped in front of him. “This mansion is so big, and Lucy’s family has so many valuables. You’re not…” Chad was clearly accusing Sean of theft. Sean ignored him, but Chad continued questioning and wouldn’t let him pass. By chance, Chad bumped into the door frame. When Lucy entered, Chad was crouched on the ground holding his forehead. Sean stood nearby, his face expressionless. Lucy rushed over and shoved Sean aside. “Are you insane?! Why would you do that to Chad?!” Lucy pushed Sean hard. He lost his balance and hit his head on the bookshelf. Blood immediately began seeping from the wound. Sean quickly pressed a tissue to the injury. With leukemia, any bleeding was dangerous. Even a small cut could lead to uncontrolled bleeding or infection.

But Lucy didn’t know and didn’t care. She threw Sean’s suitcase out the door and warned him, “Get out of my sight. Now.” Sean hadn’t eaten all day due to his medical tests that morning. Weakness from hunger left him barely able to stand. Seeing this, Chad grabbed Lucy’s hand. “Baby, it hurts so much. Can you take me to see a doctor? It really hurts…” Lucy glared at Sean one last time. “You’d better be gone before I get back. Otherwise, don’t blame me for what happens.” With that, she left supporting Chad, completely ignoring Sean who was still bleeding. Sean slumped in the corner, gasping for breath. He had still held out hope for Lucy before, but now he was utterly disappointed. He thought of how busy and tiring his days had been, always running around for Lucy. But he had been happy then, because he loved her. Now, he didn’t want that anymore. His life was counting down, but he still wanted to cherish the time he had left. Sean forced himself up and stumbled outside to hail a taxi. He leaned his whole body against the seat, trying to keep his forehead flat to slow the bleeding. By the time he reached the hospital, Sean was deathly pale. His weakness caused him to stumble and fall several times. Finally, a kind stranger helped him into the emergency room. Sean lay on the bed, his consciousness fading. But he could still feel the doctors and nurses working frantically to stop the bleeding. The pain made him forget that Lucy and Chad were there too. As Lucy passed by the ER, a nurse called out Sean’s name. Lucy paused and asked, “Which Sean Quinn?” Chad pulled her arm. “It’s a common name. Isn’t your Sean Quinn at home?” Lucy instinctively looked back, but seeing Chad’s jealous expression, she quickly let go of the nurse. The couple disappeared down the hallway. Meanwhile, Sean had been moved to intensive care due to excessive blood loss. Fortunately, the hospital had Sean’s emergency contact information. Otherwise, he might have died there without any family present. Mrs. Lee rushed to the hospital. After hearing the doctor’s explanation and plea, she collapsed to the ground. She couldn’t believe that Sean, who had seemed perfectly healthy, now had terminal leukemia. And he only had about a month left. It was even more painful than when she had learned she was going blind. Mrs. Lee stood in front of the ICU with tears streaming down her face. The beeping of the machines made her heart clench with worry. As time ticked by, nurses began filing out of the room. Mrs. Lee hurried to ask about Sean’s condition, only to be sternly reprimanded: “What kind of family are you? You knew the patient couldn’t be injured at this stage. How could you be so careless? It’s lucky we were able to stop the bleeding in time. If we couldn’t control it, it could have been life-threatening!” Mrs. Lee stood there in shock, not knowing how to respond to the nurse’s accusations. But she knew Sean’s injury must have something to do with Lucy. Before Mrs. Lee could say anything, the doctor announced: “The patient is awake. You can go in now!”

Mrs. Lee hurried inside. Sean lay weakly on the bed. Seeing Mrs. Lee, his heart ached. When the hospital had insisted on an emergency contact, he hadn’t thought much of it. He assumed that by being careful, he wouldn’t have any emergencies. Under pressure from the hospital, he had reluctantly given Mrs. Lee’s number. He hadn’t wanted Mrs. Lee to know, worried it would be too much for her health. But now, there was no way to hide it. “Sean…” Mrs. Lee choked out. Sean raised his arm with effort and softly called, “Mrs. Lee…” Their hands clasped tightly. Mrs. Lee fought back tears as she held Sean’s hand to her cheek. “How could you be so foolish? Getting sick without anyone by your side – how can I not worry about you?” Sean’s throat tightened, but he still forced a smile to reassure her. “It’s okay, I’m much better now!” Though Mrs. Lee couldn’t see, her heart wasn’t blind. She guessed that Sean hadn’t told Lucy about his illness. She also guessed that Lucy and Sean’s problems must be because of that man. But she couldn’t ask or say anything. With Lucy’s temper, confronting her now would only result in her blaming everything on Sean. Besides, Mrs. Lee wanted to respect Sean’s decision. If he chose not to tell Lucy, he must have his reasons. Mrs. Lee wiped away her tears and turned to instruct Fiona to prepare some light food for Sean. Though she couldn’t see, she could sense how weak Sean was right now. Fiona was the caretaker Sean had found for Mrs. Lee. She quickly ran out of the hospital. When Fiona first came to work for Mrs. Lee, it was Sean who taught her about the local foods and Mrs. Lee’s preferences. Whenever Fiona accidentally broke something, Sean never scolded her. Instead, he would reassure her, “Don’t be afraid. Mrs. Lee won’t be angry. I’ll get her new ones.” He treated Fiona like his own little sister. When Fiona was upset about something, she would always go to Sean to talk. They could discuss anything. But now Sean was sick, and Fiona felt like her world was crumbling. She was terrified of losing Sean – of losing the person who had protected her, taught her, and guided her for the past three years. She walked along crying, too caught up in her sad thoughts to notice Lucy approaching. The two collided and fell to the ground. Lucy immediately lashed out, “Are you blind?! Can’t you watch where you’re going?!” It took Fiona a moment to come to her senses. When she saw Lucy in Chad’s arms, her expression changed. “What are you doing here?” she asked in surprise. Lucy’s eyes widened. “Is Mrs. Lee not feeling well?!” Fiona was about to answer when Chad let out a pained cry, clutching his forehead. Lucy forgot everything else and rushed to support Chad. By the time she looked back, Fiona had vanished into the crowd. In the hospital room, Sean seemed to sense something was wrong. He gritted his teeth and reached for his phone. Before he could touch it, Lucy’s call came through. Sean glanced at Mrs. Lee, then turned the volume down low before answering. “Sean Quinn, what the hell are you doing? Do you know I just saw Mrs. Lee’s caretaker at the hospital? If anything’s happened to Mrs. Lee, you’re in big trouble!” Lucy’s angry words exploded in Sean’s ear. He swallowed painfully before replying, “I understand. She’s fine, just picking up some medication.” Sean felt awful and had no energy to argue with Lucy. He also didn’t want her to know he was sick. He didn’t want her pitiful sympathy, and he knew that even if she found out, she wouldn’t feel sorry for him. She would just blame him for being careless. So this time, he chose to stay silent. Lucy paused, sensing something odd about Sean today. Usually when she lost her temper, Sean would immediately apologize. But this time, he didn’t say anything to placate her. He was clearly brushing her off. Before she could say more, Sean hung up. This was the final straw for Lucy. She quickly started the car, ignoring Chad’s reaction beside her, and floored the gas pedal. Throwing open the mansion doors, she screamed Sean’s name in a shrill voice. But the house was eerily quiet. Even the magpies that usually chattered in the trees were silent. Lucy grew angrier. She stormed upstairs and kicked open the study door. But the room was empty except for a pool of blood on the floor. There was no sign of Sean. Lucy’s brow furrowed as she approached the blood. After confirming it was human blood, Lucy’s heart began to race. She took out her phone and called Sean. The call rang for a few seconds before being rejected. A text message quickly followed: “Emergency at work. Will get my luggage soon.” Lucy’s heart sank like a stone. She felt oppressed and irritated. Sean had never refused her calls before. No matter how busy he was, he would always answer just before the last ring. But this time… She glanced at the suitcase by the door, suddenly feeling dissatisfied. What work emergency? And that pool of blood – this was clearly intentional, an excuse to avoid moving out. With that thought, she headed for the door. She wanted to confront Sean face-to-face about this childish trick. Did he have no shame? But she had only taken a few steps when Chad stopped her. “Lucy, my injury really hurts. Can you help me treat it again? You know how much I hate pain…” Lucy’s outstretched foot retracted. She looked at the suitcase outside, then back at the weak Chad. That’s right, he had always hated pain. Even for small bumps and scrapes, he would dramatically grab her arm and beg her to kiss it better. Let alone now. Lucy helped Chad up and got some cotton swabs to gently dab at his forehead. At that moment, everything else was forgotten, replaced by Chad’s cries of pain.

Three days later, Sean was discharged from the hospital. His first priority was to go to the mansion to retrieve his luggage. However, the door code had been changed. Lucy and Chad weren’t home, so Sean couldn’t get in. He checked the time. Waiting indefinitely wasn’t an option. Reluctantly, he called Lucy. When the call connected, Chad’s cold, mocking voice came through: “Lucy and I are on vacation in the Gold Mountain district. If Mr. Quinn isn’t in a hurry, perhaps he could wait for us outside the door for a while?” Sean paused. There was an important patient list in his suitcase. Plus, his body was growing weaker by the day. If he couldn’t get it today, who knew when the next chance would come. So he asked meekly, “About how long will it be?” Chad sneered, “That depends on my mood.” Sean glanced at the time. “I’m afraid I can’t wait that long. Could you send me the door code? I’ll just grab my luggage and go.” Chad suddenly laughed loudly. “How can I do that? With no one home, if you leave with your suitcase and something goes missing, how would we know?” Sean’s throat tightened, but before he could say anything, Chad hung up. Sean huddled by the mansion door, silently waiting for Lucy’s return. Time ticked by slowly. The cold seeped into his bones, but there was still no sign of Lucy. Just as the sun was setting, a black Rolls-Royce slowly pulled into the driveway. Seeing Sean curled up by the door, Lucy’s eyes instantly darkened. She quickly opened the car door and walked over to Sean. “What are you doing here? It’s freezing – couldn’t you find somewhere to take shelter?” Sean opened his eyes. Seeing Lucy’s angry expression, he swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue and simply said, “I came to get my suitcase.” Lucy’s face immediately darkened. “You’re that eager to leave? In such a rush to move out?” Sean said nothing, just stood silently by the door waiting for Lucy to open it. “The old lock broke. I wasn’t home during the day, so I changed it for safety,” Lucy explained. Sean was momentarily surprised. Was she actually explaining herself to him? The door opened. Sean didn’t go in, since only Lucy and Chad’s slippers were by the entrance. “Could you bring it out for me please?” Lucy glanced inside reflexively. “Chad doesn’t like disposable slippers, so we threw them out.” Her eyes flickered slightly as she spoke. “Why don’t you come in? After waiting so long, you could at least have some hot water.” Sean gave a small smile. “I have other things to do. I won’t intrude.” As he spoke, Chad brought the suitcase out. Lucy seemed to want to say something more, but Sean took the suitcase and left. Snow was falling heavily. Sean’s figure looked lonely and desolate as he walked away. For some reason, in that moment, Lucy felt Sean had changed. He seemed thinner, more silent. In any case, he was completely different from before. Sean rushed to his workplace with the suitcase. He handed over the patient list and his resignation letter to the director, Dr. Li Changshan. In his five years as a psychotherapist, Sean had cured numerous patients with mental illnesses. But when it came to himself, he was helpless. Dr. Li’s face was filled with worry and regret. “Actually, with current medical technology, there have been cases of leukemia being cured. Your father-in-law…” “That won’t be necessary,” Sean said with a smile. “I’ve already been examined. The time I have left is limited. I don’t want to waste it on treatment, especially for an incurable disease.” Dr. Li sighed. “If you need anything in the future, just let me know. I’ll do whatever I can to help.” Hearing this, Sean said: “Nothing else, just one thing – please don’t tell the Lawson family about my illness and resignation.” “I’m afraid they couldn’t handle it.” His confident tone and serious expression didn’t arouse any suspicion from Dr. Li. On the contrary, the director reluctantly agreed. Sean left the hospital with his suitcase. He had promised Mrs. Lee he would stay with her for his remaining time, so he headed straight for her house. Halfway there, Sean suddenly stopped. Whether from the day’s exhaustion or the cold weather, his nose had started bleeding again. He tilted his head back, using his hand to wipe away the blood while trying to let it flow back down his nose. The strong iron taste spread through his throat, making him cough violently. Just then, his phone rang. Sean kept his head tilted back, not looking at the caller ID. When he answered, Lucy’s voice came through: “Do you cook white fungus soup with cold water or hot water? Chad is sick and I’m not sure how to make it. Could you…” “Cold water,” Sean interrupted before she could finish. “Add the ingredients once the water boils. Cook it as long as you think is needed.” Sean’s voice was hoarse with exhaustion, sounding somewhat detached. But to Lucy, it seemed deliberately cold. “You don’t have to be like this. I only asked you to move out temporarily. I didn’t say you could never come back. Why are you making such a big deal of it and giving me the cold shoulder?” Sean suddenly laughed. Him giving her the cold shoulder? She only asked him to “move out temporarily”? Their contract had expired. They had both signed the papers. She had been so quick to sign. Now everything was settled. Sean said nothing and hung up. He was in pain and had no energy to argue with her. But Lucy reacted as if severely provoked. She began calling Sean’s number over and over. Sean carried his suitcase with one hand while covering his bleeding nose with the other. By the time his phone died and he stepped into Mrs. Lee’s house, the ringing in his pocket had finally stopped. Fiona quickly brought a basin of hot water and carefully helped Sean clean up. Blood trickled down from his nose, staining the front of his shirt red. Fiona immediately burst into tears. Her voice shook as she choked out, “Does it hurt…?” Sean smiled and shook his head. “It’s just a nosebleed. Even healthy people get them sometimes. It doesn’t hurt.” But Fiona knew Sean was just trying to reassure her. How could bleeding from leukemia be the same as a normal nosebleed? Sean was propped up on pillows. He had just closed his eyes when urgent knocking came from the door. Fiona hurried to answer. As soon as she opened it, her throat tightened instinctively. “Is Sean Quinn here?” Lucy demanded aggressively. Fiona was momentarily stunned by Lucy’s forceful tone. Lucy pushed past her and strode inside. Seeing Sean lying on the couch covered in blood, her eyes instantly darkened. “What happened to you?” Sean was taken aback. This was the first time in five years she had asked about his wellbeing. It almost gave him the illusion that she cared. But illusions are just illusions. Just as Sean was about to speak, Lucy’s phone rang. He didn’t need to guess to know who was on the other end. “Lucy, where are you? I feel so awful. Please don’t leave me, okay?” Chad’s voice came through. Hearing Chad, Lucy seemed to snap out of a trance. She stared directly at Sean. “Chad is sick. He wants the white fungus soup you make. Come back with me. I’ll pay you for your work.” Hearing this, Sean’s chest began to heave violently. So this was how little she thought of him. Before Sean could respond, Fiona angrily cut in: “Your boyfriend is feeling unwell, so why do you need Sean to serve him? Sean is unwell too! If you want to take care of someone, do it yourself!” She planted herself firmly in front of Sean. This scene instantly ignited Lucy’s already foul mood. She roughly shoved Fiona aside, then grabbed Sean’s arm to pull him out. Sean’s nosebleed had just stopped, but the weakness in his body lingered. He pulled his arm free and told Lucy in an extremely faint voice, “I can’t go. I’m not feeling well.” But Lucy acted as if she hadn’t heard. “You just have a nosebleed. Chad has a fever. It’s just one bowl of soup. I’ll pay you, isn’t that enough?” She kept trying to drag Sean out as she spoke. In their struggle, Sean accidentally tripped on a stone by the doorway. Fresh blood immediately covered his face. Lucy flailed her hands helplessly. “Why is there so much blood?” Fiona ran over screaming, “Lucy Lawson, haven’t you hurt Sean enough?!” “He’s dying!”

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On Valentine’s Day, I set up a candlelit dinner, eagerly waiting for my wife to return from work. At 9 PM, she texted me: “Something came up at work. Don’t wait for me.” Moments later, I stumbled upon a tweet from her secretary, Asher. “On a business trip with the boss lady on Valentine’s Day, and all the hotels are fully booked… How awkward…” The photo accompanying his tweet showed a woman in a bathrobe in front of a large window. The comments praised his luck, admiring the boss lady’s elegant figure and femininity. Asher only responded with a smirking emoji. So, the “something” that came up was her taking her male secretary out for a good time. I took a screenshot of his tweet and shared it on Instagram with a smiling emoji. In the blink of an eye, Adeline called, reprimanding me: “Asher was just joking. Why do you care so much? Why are you so petty?” I hung up and texted her back: “Let’s get a divorce.” At 2 AM, Adeline finally came home. As soon as she opened the door, we stared at each other, neither saying a word. Her eyes drifted to the candlelit dinner, yet she showed no guilt. Ins d, she snapped: “Just because I came home a bit late? What’s with that Instagram post? You’re always so passive-aggressive, it’s infuriating!” Seeing my silence, she tossed a tie at me. “Asher bought this for you. See how thoughtful he is? He said if you don’t accept his apology, he’ll delete his Twitter.” I looked at the old stains on the tie and chuckled. An old tie, probably one he wore himself. Asher surely knows how to push my buttons. Thinking I had calmed down, Adeline handed me the phone. “Asher is so considerate; aren’t you going to thank him?” I ignored her and continued watching TV. “Declan, are you deaf?” She pulled me up violently, throwing me off balance, and I fell to the floor. Unluckily, my waist hit the corner of the table. It hurt! The injury was from a fire seven years ago when I saved Adeline and was hit by a falling beam. I clutched my waist, trembling in pain. Adeline looked at me with a hint of guilt. “I’ll get the ointment.” I glanced at her retreating figure, wanting to stop her but held back. The medical report in the drawer had been there for three days. When the results came out, the doctor specifically advised me that it’s early-stage stomach cancer. The cure rate is still high if I stay positive, watch my diet, and take my medication. Next to the report were two tickets for a seven-day trip to Iceland. I planned to tell her on Valentine’s Day, hoping to relax before the surgery. Now, there’s no need. Adeline hurried back with the medical kit, searching quickly but then paused. “The ointment is gone, could it be…” She didn’t finish her sentence. I saw a flicker of guilt cross her face. I suddenly remembered Asher’s reply on Twitter to someone: “She’s so gentle. When I accidentally burned myself cooking, she immediately applied ointment for me.” If it weren’t for the recent events, I would’ve confronted Adeline about the imported ointment. Did she use it on Asher? But this time, I didn’t expose her. I smiled wryly. “Adeline, stop searching. I’ll go out and buy some.” She looked at me seriously. “How can you go out like this? Stay home. I’ll go…” Before she could finish, her phone rang. She glanced down and immediately answered it. “Asher, what’s up?” Asher’s voice came through, sounding aggrieved. “Ms. Chen, I’m feeling down and drinking at the bar. Some people caused trouble and hurt me. Can you take me to the hospital…” Adeline threw the medical kit on the sofa and stood up abruptly. “Asher, wait, I’m coming right away.” “Ms. Chen, thank you, but it’s best you don’t come. Declan would be upset. I’ll find a way myself!” “What right does he have to be upset!” After hanging up, she glanced at me curled up on the floor with disdain. She was about to rush out. “Adeline, wait!” I quickly called out to her. “Declan, can you stop making a fuss?” “How are you going to save someone without your phone and wallet?” I pointed to the sofa. Her phone and wallet lay quietly beside the medical kit. Adeline looked at the kit for a moment. “I’ll save Asher first and take you to the hospital when I get back.” With that, she rushed out.

Dawn arrived, but Adeline hadn’t returned. The pain intensified, and I couldn’t stand it anymore, so I called an ambulance. While waiting, I scrolled through Twitter and saw Asher’s new post. He talked about being a hero at the bar, getting injured protecting a girl from troublemakers. Adeline showed up, moved by him even so late at night. He included a photo of Adeline rfully tending to his wounds, with the caption “Love can conquer all.” One comment read: “With such a beautiful woman with you, how can you resist? Dude, is your orientation off?” Another echoed: “Yeah, if she came to me so late, it wouldn’t just be about tending wounds…” Asher posted a smug emoji, replying: “What’s the rush? She’ll be mine sooner or later!” … The ambulance arrived, and the medics lifted me onto a stretcher. While receiving an IV in the emergency room, I texted my friend, Nolan. “Nolan, I want a divorce.” After getting discharged, I rested at home for a few days. I thought things would quiet down until the phone kept ringing, waking me up. Exhausted, I answered the call, hearing Adeline’s cold voice. “I’m here to pick you up for dinner.” Before I could respond, she hung up. Wanting to keep things peaceful before the divorce, I got dressed and headed out. Seeing my weary face, Adeline suddenly remembered she forgot to buy me ointment. “The restaurant is near the hospital; I’ll take you there first.” “No need, it’s been days. It’s fine now.” She sighed in relief. “I thought so. It’s been seven years. If it hurts, it’s just in your head.” I laughed at myself: “Yeah, seven years.” Back then, I pushed Adeline out with all my strength, only to get pinned by a burning beam. Three ribs were broken, and my coccyx was cracked. Even now, a slight bump is unbearable. I never told her about the lingering pain, not wanting her to feel guilty. But after seven years together, if she loved me, wouldn’t she know if I was in pain? Adeline talked about that night as she drove. “I took Asher to the hospital. His injuries were pretty bad. I stayed with him, worried he’d feel bad at night. Don’t overthink it.” I stared coldly out the window. “I’m not overthinking. He’s your secretary. It’s right to stay with him.” Adeline seemed unsatisfied with my answer and slammed the brakes. My earphone fell under the seat. As I bent down to pick it up, I found men’s swim trunks hidden under the seat. A month ago, I would’ve gone crazy, waving them at her in fury. Now, I just smiled, picking them up and placing them on the back seat. Adeline looked uncomfortable. “Oh, those must be Asher’s. He must’ve accidentally left them after swimming.” I nodded, continuing to look out the window. During dinner, a couple at the next table kept staring. When I noticed, the girl came over. “Are you the female CEO from Asher’s Twitter? You’re so pretty in person!” Adeline glanced at her. “Do you need something?” The girl asked curiously, “Are you dating Asher?” Adeline looked at me, buried in my meal, and smiled at the girl: “Yes, I’m dating Asher.” I smiled at the girl, feeling a sharp pain in my stomach. The girl, puzzled, asked, “Then who is he?” Adeline blurted out, “Security.”

Before leaving, the girl told Adeline with some reluctance, “I’ll always support you two. You must get married!” After she saw them off, Adeline turned and offered me a spoonful of ice cream. “Honey, don’t worry about it. The video series ‘The Bossy Female CEO Falls for Me’ on Liam’s Twitter is really popular right now. It’s good for the company. You have no idea how happy Liam is. If I interfere, he’ll be upset.” I wasn’t interested in her explanation. “I don’t care. You don’t need to explain.” At that moment, the stabbing pain in my stomach grew worse. I clutched my stomach in agony, my face turning pale. On the way home, Adeline received a call from Liam. “Adeline, can you pick me up from the pool? I forgot to bring a change of clothes, and it’s awkward to get a ride. Please, please…” Unable to resist Liam’s request, Adeline smiled indulgently. “Okay, okay, I’m on my way.” After hanging up, she held my hand and kissed it. “Honey, let’s go pick up Liam together. That way, you won’t overthink things.” “Adeline, you can’t go; my stomach hurts a lot. You need to take me to the hospital! Hurry!” Her expression darkened upon hearing my words. “Declan, can you stop being so dramatic? I wanted to bring you along so you wouldn’t overthink, but I didn’t expect you to play the sympathy card.” “I’m not playing games. Take me to the hospital. I’m not joking; it really hurts!” “Stop pretending. It’s not convincing at all.” I was on the verge of fainting. “I have stomach cancer. It hurts so much now, so we have to go to the hospital!” Adeline didn’t believe me and glared at me in anger. “You usually act with me, but now you’re even using stomach cancer to deceive me?” “We’ve been married for four years. You’ve been fine. How could you suddenly have stomach cancer?” “Now that I have to pick up Liam, you’re suddenly in pain?” She grew more furious and slammed on the brakes. “Get out. Get out!” “Aren’t you in a hurry to the hospital? Hurry up and get out! Don’t waste my time picking up Liam!” “Fine, I’ll get out.” I was about to get out of the car when she grabbed me. “I really can’t be too nice to you, making you disobedient!” “Let’s divorce, Adeline.” She seemed shocked by my words. “Divorce?” I nodded. “Nolan has already prepared the divorce agreement for me.” She released me, staring in shock. “Declan, do you really want a divorce? You better think it over. No one would want a petty man like you except for me!” “I’ve thought it over. Goodbye.” As I was about to get out, she slammed the gas pedal. The sudden acceleration threw me out. Amid the screams of passersby, I lay in a pool of blood, and Adeline walked away without looking back. Blood spread beneath me, blooming like vibrant flowers of the afterlife, encircling me one after another.

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My wife, Evelyn, is a ballet dancer. To maintain her figure, she never wanted to have children. But suddenly, she told me she was pregnant with boy and girl twins. I was overjoyed and moved to tears. Unexpectedly, her brother was diagnosed with uremia. Following her mother’s advice, Evelyn insisted on having an abortion to donate a kidney to save her brother. To keep the babies, I volunteered to donate my kidney to my brother-in-law. However, she turned around and sold our house to compensate her brother: “Honey, my brother is the only son in our family. He just had surgery and needs more money. Please understand.” Meanwhile, I was suffering from unbearable pain due to a post-surgery infection, with no money to buy medication. On my deathbed, I discovered my wife cheating with the attending physician: “Baby, he’s finally dead. Everything we planned was worth it.” “Honey, I have great news for you today. Do you want to hear it?” Evelyn, my wife, held a report in her hand, smiling at me. “I’m pregnant! Three months along, and it’s boy and girl twins!” Before me stood my wife’s graceful figure, smiling as she covered her belly, inviting me to feel the babies inside. But I was stunned. How could this be our old home? In my previous life, I had donated a kidney to my brother-in-law and contracted a serious infection. Fearing I would burden Evelyn and our twins, I gave her all our assets and rented a small apartment, planning to die alone. When I ran out of money for anti-rejection drugs and went to the hospital for cheap painkillers, I discovered my pregnant wife cheating with my attending physician. As I stood there shocked, I overheard them plotting my death. Just as I was about to confront the adulterous couple, I was hit by a car and died instantly. Remembering all this, I snapped back to reality. Evelyn looked at me puzzled and hugged my arm, saying, “What’s wrong, honey? Are you shocked by my surprise? I know you’re overjoyed. I can finally give you children!” In my previous life, I was indeed overjoyed, even moved to tears. I took meticulous care of my wife every day, fearing the slightest mishap. I took her to the best hospitals for check-ups, hired the most expensive nanny to care for her, and took her wherever she wanted to go, afraid she might be unhappy. But in this life, hearing this news, I couldn’t help but sneer. I looked at my wife’s slightly swollen belly indifferently and said coldly, “Is that so? Honey, three months along, boy and girl twins? But I remember neither of our families has a history of twins.” Her expression changed slightly, but she quickly smiled and said coyly, “It’s all because you’re so healthy that we’re having twins.” Hearing her words, I sensed something was off. Could the children be her ex-boyfriend’s? In my previous life, I believed until my death that the children were mine. But now, her expression made me doubt. Seeing my suspicious look, she immediately became upset and started throwing a tantrum: “What’s wrong, James? I gave up the chance to study abroad to marry you, and now you doubt me like this?” I smiled and comforted her as I used to, but in my heart, I already had my answer. The next day, I took the medical report I had found in my wife’s bag the night before to a doctor friend. He looked at it, puzzled: “Brother, this clearly shows just one baby, almost four months along. Where did you get twins from?” Hearing this, I couldn’t help but laugh coldly. I was out of town on a business trip three months ago, so how could this be possible? Indeed, Evelyn, even the children were a lie. This time, I want to see what game you’re playing, Evelyn Song.

When I returned home, my wife was wearing a tight short skirt and high heels, with exquisite makeup, about to go out. “Honey, aren’t you pregnant? Why are you going out so late? Did something happen?” I asked, looking at her glamorous appearance. She looked at me impatiently and said, “So what if I’m pregnant? Can’t I go out drinking and dancing? Besides, someone invited me, and I couldn’t refuse.” In my previous life, she loved drinking and dancing. Before her pregnancy, I didn’t stop her and even thoughtfully followed her, always ready to pick her up no matter how late it was. After she became pregnant, I didn’t let her go drinking and dancing, watching over her constantly, afraid something might happen to her. This time, I just smiled faintly and said, “Well, honey, be safe and have fun.” This time, I turned off my phone and didn’t prepare her usual hangover soup that she liked to drink after a night out. When I woke up, I was greeted by a slap from my mother-in-law. Evelyn looked at me angrily: “James Wilson, why didn’t you come to pick me up last night? Do you know how long I waited for you?” She threw her purse at my face in anger. My mother-in-law also looked at me fiercely: “James, my daughter is pregnant, and you still take her to bars? You scumbag.” Apparently, at three in the morning, Evelyn got tired of partying at the bar and called me to pick her up. In the past, I would have been waiting outside the bar with soup, ready to embrace her and take her home as soon as she came out, giving her the hangover soup. After waiting for a long time and unable to reach me, she had to call her ex-boyfriend, but he hung up after one ring. She had no choice but to call her mother to pick her up. Feeling the stinging pain on my cheek, I looked at my wife on the couch and couldn’t help but laugh coldly: “Mom, Evelyn loves partying and drinking. I’ve tried to persuade her, but she doesn’t listen. She says she has friends outside and can’t refuse. Besides, didn’t you say I should listen to Evelyn in everything?” “Honey, I was too tired recently. There’s a good project worth $3 million, so I didn’t hear the phone.” As soon as I said this, Evelyn, who had been throwing a tantrum, immediately stopped.

My mother-in-law’s eyes lit up when she heard this: “Three million dollars? That’s perfect. Your brother is about to get married and wants to buy a house. Since you’re his sister and brother-in-law and have money, your father and I plan to pay a down payment of $100,000. The rest of the loan, $1.4 million, you two can pay. It’s a way to help your brother.” My wife nodded in agreement: “Mom’s right. James earns a lot anyway, so we can take on the loan. My brother is the only son in our family, the one to carry on the family name. Mom, just call us when it’s time to buy the house.” Watching the two of them playing off each other, ready to saddle me with over a million dollars in debt, I smiled faintly: “I’m afraid not, Mom. The company’s project needs investment, so I’ve put our money into it. I don’t think we have enough to help with my brother-in-law’s loan.” Hearing this, my wife’s expression changed slightly. She looked at me and said: “What? You invested the money without telling me? That’s all my money!” “Well, James Wilson, you’ve grown quite bold. Now you’re making such big decisions without telling me? I’m the head of this family.” I laughed coldly. All her money? She does work, dancing for a living, but all that money goes to buying luxury goods. I pay for all the household expenses. She said she didn’t want to do housework, so I hired a housekeeper. When she wanted to travel abroad, I immediately arranged all-inclusive services for her. She even required me to pay for her mother’s entire family, including her brother’s tuition and living expenses, as well as the daily expenses of the whole family. I used to think it was fine, as long as my wife was happy. After all, a happy wife means a happy life, right? But in my previous life, just before I died, I accidentally discovered that my wife had been sending the money I worked so hard for to support her ex-boyfriend’s graduate studies abroad. Meanwhile, I was drinking and socializing every day, just to provide her with a better living environment, even developing a gastric ulcer that put me in the hospital. At that time, she only sent a caregiver to check on me once and then left, saying: “It’s just a gastric ulcer. Besides, making money and supporting the family is what you’re supposed to do. It’s just a minor illness, you won’t die.” Yet she turned around and used the money I earned to buy her ex-boyfriend a watch worth tens of thousands of dollars. How ridiculous. I never thought I’d have to support her ex-boyfriend too. Did she really think of me as nothing but a cash cow to milk dry? She even flew abroad to celebrate her birthday with her ex-boyfriend while I was on a business trip, posting on social media: “You are the love of my life.” She confronted me aggressively: “James Wilson, how dare you? That’s so much money. Don’t you know the two children in my belly need to live? You… you…” My mother-in-law, hearing that I had invested the money, immediately pointed at me and started cursing: “Oh my goodness, you used to say how good you’d be to my daughter, how you’d take care of our whole family. Now you won’t even take on a loan for her brother? It’s laughable. If my daughter weren’t pregnant now, I’d definitely make her divorce you.” I smiled and took out my phone, showing a pre-prepared program: “Honey, don’t worry. The company’s investment has already received double the profit, at least several million dollars. Look, I have so much money here.” Evelyn immediately took my phone to look. Seeing that the invested money had doubled, her expression changed instantly as she hugged me: “You naughty boy, why didn’t you say so earlier? You made me worry for nothing.” I handed her a bag she had been wanting and smiled: “This is a gift for you, to thank you for enduring the hardships of pregnancy.” I also gave my mother-in-law a handbag, saying: “Mom, I’ve remembered everything you said. This is a token of my appreciation.” My mother-in-law saw that the bag was worth tens of thousands of dollars and immediately beamed with joy. Little did they know, I had already installed voice recorders and trackers in these bags, and surveillance cameras in the house.

Sure enough, as soon as I left for work, my beautiful wife immediately called a man: “Oh, come quickly! I have some great news to tell you. And the baby misses you too.” Not long after, the door opened, and Ryan embraced Evelyn, kissing her: “Baby, what’s the good news? Tell me quickly.” Evelyn, held in the man’s arms, smiled broadly: “You don’t know, that doormat of mine, his investment has doubled. We can make another big score!” Hearing this, Ryan immediately said excitedly: “Really? Then get your mom to tell him your brother has uremia. I have connections here, we can trick him into giving up his kidney, and we can even sell it for some money. Once he’s dead, all the assets will be ours.” Evelyn smiled, covering her belly: “Alright, that doormat is so annoying, always not letting me go out and play. You’re the best, you understand me the most.” Ryan heard this and smiled, hugging Evelyn: “Baby, after all, you married that fool to support my studies abroad. You’ve suffered such a great injustice, I’ll definitely be devoted to you.” Hearing their conversation through the surveillance, I was stunned. The kidney donation in my previous life was fake, it was all a scam by her family to get my kidney. So I had been played for a fool by her entire family. Knowing the truth, I couldn’t help but feel heartbroken. I had given my all, only to be considered a doormat. The child I thought was mine turned out to be her ex-boyfriend’s. I never thought even the uremia was a lie, just waiting for me to fall into their trap. The two in the video were entangled together, but I just laughed coldly. Since that’s how it is, don’t blame me for being too ruthless.

When I got home that evening, I received a call from the hospital. When I arrived at the hospital, Evelyn was sitting up with a rosy complexion. Mrs. Song and Zack were sitting in chairs, with Ryan standing nearby. The atmosphere was tense. As soon as I arrived, Evelyn covered her belly and started crying: “Mom, what’s happening to our family? Dad died early, leaving just my brother and the three of us. My brother is the only son of our Song family, and now he has uremia.” Beside her, my brother-in-law Zack was crying, but his eyes couldn’t hide his smugness. “Yes, sis, brother-in-law, mom, what should I do? I’m about to get married, what am I going to do now?” My mother-in-law was crying, her face full of tears. I suppressed my anger, looking at the family putting on an act before me: “What should we do? Mom, Zack, what can we do now that he’s sick?” Suddenly, my mother-in-law knelt before Evelyn: “The doctor said you’re the most suitable. Please, Evelyn, I only have one son. Just donate one kidney to your brother, just one, okay? Mom is begging you.” In my previous life, hearing this, I immediately pulled my wife aside and said: “Honey, you’ve just gotten pregnant, and it’s twins. You need to think this through carefully.” My wife pushed me away and cried to her mother: “Mom, I agree. Zack is our family’s treasure. I can live without children, but our Song family can’t be without its only son. He’s the one to carry on our family line.” In this life, my wife reacted the same way, crying and saying she was willing to abort the babies and donate a kidney to Zack. Everyone was waiting for me to step up like in my previous life, willing to donate a kidney for the sake of the children and my wife. But to their disappointment, I directly hugged my wife and said to my mother-in-law: “I think my wife is right. We can have more children, but Zack’s life is irreplaceable. I support my wife’s decision to give up the babies to save Zack. I’ll take good care of her, don’t worry. Honey, I won’t look down on you for having only one kidney.” As soon as I finished speaking, my mother-in-law was stunned. My wife, hearing my words, couldn’t help but blurt out: “Honey, that’s not right, you shouldn’t…” Ryan, standing nearby, also looked at me in disbelief: “You… how can you let your wife abort the babies to save her brother?” I put on a pained expression, my voice tinged with helplessness: “You don’t understand. My wife values her mother’s family very highly. If she’s willing to abort the babies and donate a kidney, what can I do? Besides, I support all of my wife’s decisions. We can always have more children, right, honey? When is Zack’s surgery? I need to request time off to take care of you.” My wife, Evelyn, was shocked by my words. She couldn’t help but ask: “I’m going to have an abortion, honey. An abortion, do you understand? Our children will be gone.” I nodded and said: “I understand. Honey, you’re so brave to do this for your brother. It’s truly admirable.” These children aren’t even mine, why should I care so much? Besides, would Evelyn really be willing to abort the children she had with her ex-boyfriend? My mother-in-law and Zack hadn’t expected me to actually agree, and they were also stunned. Unexpectedly, the next second, Zack fainted and fell to the ground.

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On my birthday party, Lucas, my childhood friend and fiancé, brought a girl with him. He said she was strong-willed, resilient, and radiant – his true soulmate. And that a proud and aloof rich young lady like me could never be his future wife. The arrival of this girl disrupted my birthday celebration. But then I discovered she was the sister of a boy Lucas had bullied and disabled in high school. I had been told by Lucas’s friends that he’d been getting close to a girl recently. But I never expected him to bring her to my birthday party. Under the fiery glare of Mr. Thompson, Lucas still said those words: “This is my girlfriend, and my future wife.” The girl he was holding hands with blushed, her eyes shy. She didn’t seem to think there was anything wrong with crashing my birthday party. Mrs. Thompson’s face clouded over. Catching sight of my mother’s darkened expression, Mrs. Thompson rushed forward and pulled Lucas aside. Lucas refused to let go of the girl’s hand, so they were both dragged to a corner of the banquet hall. Mrs. Thompson scolded in a low voice: “What do you think you’re doing?” Lucas glanced at me watching the show and said without any courtesy: “Lily is kind and strong. The moment I saw her, I knew she was my true love. I can’t cater to a snobbish heiress like Rachel.” If it wasn’t my birthday party and I wasn’t the one being embarrassed, I would have applauded for this pair of star-crossed lovers. But the Rachel he mentioned was still me. Whispers and murmurs spread around us, with many people giving me curious looks. They seemed to want to see how I, the pampered heiress of the Deer family, would handle this situation. I folded my arms and tilted my head slightly: “If you don’t want to cater to me, does that mean you’re looking for someone to cater to you?” There was no need for further words. Understanding my implication, Lily’s face turned pale. Lucas reached out and shielded Lily behind him: “Rachel, I know you’re angry that I broke our engagement, but Lily and I are truly in love. Nothing you say will change my mind.” I asked him: “Are you done?” Lucas stared blankly for a moment, then nodded. “If you’re done, then I’m going to cut the cake.” I turned and walked to my mother’s side. Mrs. Wilson, our housekeeper, pushed the cart with the cake closer to me. I picked up the knife, glanced at Lucas, smirked, and viciously cut the little figures on the cake in half. My parents’ friends were tactful. Despite the drama that had just unfolded, they still said things like: “Your Rachel has grown into such a beauty. My nephew is still single, why don’t we have dinner together someday?” As if I had never had Lucas as a fiancé, they dissolved the awkwardness of the scene Lucas had created with just a few words. I smiled slightly, occasionally responding with a word or two. In my peripheral vision, I saw Mr. Thompson angrily slap Lucas. The sound of the slap was so loud that it drew everyone’s attention again. In this tense atmosphere, Lucas grabbed the girl’s hand and left. Before leaving, Lily glanced at me. I felt her face was somewhat familiar. It wasn’t until the party ended and I was about to go to sleep after a rose petal bath that I finally remembered. The girl looked about 80% similar to one of my high school classmates. And that classmate had been bullied by Lucas, eventually becoming disabled and dropping out of school.

Lucas, like me, was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. But unlike his name suggested, he wasn’t a gentle young man, but rather had a violent streak. In high school, a poor student transferred to our class. But on his first day, this boy wore a pair of Air Jordans. For Lucas, Air Jordans weren’t anything special. But he couldn’t stand what he saw as poor people pretending to be rich. So he picked a fight, asking the boy where he got the money to buy Air Jordans, and if he had become a male prostitute. The boy wasn’t one to take things lying down, and immediately punched Lucas. But what he didn’t know was that Lucas’s aunt was one of the school’s shareholders. From that day on, the boy’s school life became a living hell. Lucas had strong backing, and bullying a powerless poor student was a piece of cake for him. The boy realized how powerful Lucas was and didn’t dare to fight back anymore. When Lucas was in a bad mood, he would kick the boy, and sometimes even drag him into the bathroom for a beating. Later, things got serious once when the boy fell down the stairs and became paralyzed. The Thompson family paid a sum of money to send away the poor student’s mother who came to make trouble at school. And Lucas was unaffected, graduating smoothly. I thought I would never see that boy again, but today, Lily’s face stirred my memory. Their faces looked as if they were cut from the same mold.

I asked my mother’s secretary to investigate this “Lily”. Within a day, the information was in my hands. Lily Ho, a barista at a coffee shop, met Lucas at the café. Lucas fell in love with her at first sight, pursuing her madly for several months, spending a fortune just to make her smile, and finally won her heart. I wasn’t so interested in these details, but Lily’s former name caught my attention. Lily’s parents were divorced, and she was given to her mother, taking her mother’s surname. Her original surname was Fung. Turning to the next page of the report, I got the result I wanted. Lily had an older brother named Felix Fung. He was that poor student who had been bullied.

Mr. Thompson brought Lucas to my house to apologize. When Lucas saw me, his suppressed resentment surfaced again: “I just wanted to pursue true love! I don’t like Rachel, why should I be with her?” Mr. Thompson was about to slap him again. I interrupted with a smile: “It’s okay, Mr. Thompson.” Lucas glanced at me: “Don’t pretend to be nice!” “I’m not speaking up for you,” I leaned back on the sofa, “I have suitors lined up from here to New York. If you’re gone, there’s always the next one. Who cares?” Hearing this, Mr. Thompson’s face darkened even more, probably thinking my words were unpleasant. “Lucas, I don’t care if you want to find true love and go against your family, but why did you bring someone I don’t even know to ruin my birthday party?” I looked him up and down. Probably because of the issue with Lily, he looked unusually haggard today, even wearing the same suit from yesterday’s birthday party. You should know that in the past, Lucas always carefully coordinated his outfit from head to toe to maintain his image as a young gentleman. He would never let others see him in such a state. Mr. Thompson apologized first. “Rachel, I’m sorry about this,” Mr. Thompson said, “but I will never allow Lucas to be with that girl…” Lucas, who had always been willful, went crazy upon hearing this: “What right do you have to control my life?” “Because I’m your father!” “I don’t want you to manage me!” Lucas turned and ran. Mr. Thompson’s face turned red with anger: “Do you believe I’ll cancel your credit card?” I laughed so hard my shoulders shook: “Mr. Thompson, Lucas isn’t a child anymore, don’t threaten him with that.” After graduating from university, Mr. Thompson had invested in a clothing company, and Lucas became the general manager. The threat of canceling his credit card couldn’t scare him anymore. Mr. Thompson forced a smile: “This rebellious son, I won’t cover for him anymore.” Lucas was arrogant and self-centered, never considering market demands, just producing whatever clothes he wanted. The clothes he made either violated ergonomics or went against popular aesthetics. The designers in his company often complained bitterly. But he would say: “The clothes I make were never meant for the lower-end market.” His clothing line was ignored as soon as it hit the market. Each time, Mr. Thompson had to dig into his own pocket to cover Lucas’s losses. Lucas’s fragile ego was bruised, and when facing me, he would make excuses: “Those people just have no taste.” To protect his little bit of self-esteem, I never said anything negative.

After Mr. Thompson chased after Lucas and left, Mrs. Wilson placed a bowl of noodles in front of me. She nervously wiped her still-wet hands on her apron: “Miss, in our hometown, we eat longevity noodles on birthdays. It means wishing for a long life.” “You ate cake yesterday and went to bed early, so I thought I’d make this for you today.” Mrs. Wilson was hired as a maid when I was born. She had worked for our family for over twenty years, always diligent and never overstepping her boundaries. I took the chopsticks from her hand and put two strands of noodles in my mouth. Seeing that I had finally eaten, Mrs. Wilson relaxed and smiled: “Although it’s a bit late now, but, Miss, happy birthday.” There were tears in her eyes, as if she was looking at someone else through me.

I thought Lily would be patient. But to my surprise, just a week later, she came to find me. My mother had an entertainment company, which she had handed over to me to manage before I graduated. Perhaps one of Lucas’s friends had let it slip. Lily waited for me at the company entrance when I came to work. I glanced at her and walked straight into the company building. Lily followed behind me, looking as if she wouldn’t leave until she talked to me. So I instructed my secretary: “Get a cup of tea for that young lady.” After I finished dealing with some urgent matters, I finally had time to see Lily. Her face was already displeased, but she still didn’t say a word. I laughed at her: “You’re quite patient.” She finally spoke: “Lucas’s card has been canceled by his dad. Can you tell his dad that you voluntarily gave up the engagement, so he’ll unfreeze the card?” I was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing: “Is this how you ask for a favor?” Lily said: “What’s the use of holding onto him? If this continues, he’ll only hate you more.” Seeing that I didn’t respond, Lily played her trump card: “Don’t worry, I’ll just make a quick buck from Lucas and leave. He’ll still be yours in the future.” Lily’s words made me laugh. I asked her: “Are you sure you just want to make a quick buck and leave?” “Isn’t it because Lucas’s card was canceled, making it impossible to pay for your brother’s medical bills, that you came to find me?” “Or are you trying to completely ruin Lucas to avenge your brother?” Lily’s face turned ashen the moment I mentioned her brother, and when I spoke of revenge, she turned pale. The next second, her face flushed red as she slammed the table: “You investigated me?” I shook my head: “I just thought you looked familiar, didn’t expect to dig up something big.” She asked me: “You remember my brother?” In my mind, I recalled the boy who always sat in the back row, his eyes hidden behind long bangs. Probably because his bangs were so long, it was hard to see his face clearly, which is why Lucas couldn’t see the resemblance between Lily and Felix. A tear fell from the corner of Lily’s eye: “Then why didn’t you help him back then? If you had said something, Lucas and the others would have listened, right?” I said: “At that time, Lucas and I weren’t that close anymore. Boys and girls needed to keep their distance. I had other friends to hang out with, and although we were in the same class, I didn’t interact much with Lucas and his group.” “I’m sorry about what happened to your brother.” Lily collapsed onto my desk, sobbing. A moment later, she raised her head, looking at me with tear-filled eyes: “Can you help me?” “Help you with what?” Her eyes turned cold: “Help me bring down Lucas.” “But what’s in it for me?” “You can take over his company. Isn’t that good?” I raised an eyebrow: “That’s not a bad suggestion. After all, who doesn’t like more money?” Lily added: “But after it’s done, you must ensure my safety.” I pondered for a moment, then smiled slightly: “Alright, I’ll make sure you’re well taken care of.”

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The project my wife had been waiting for three years is about to breach the deadline, and she promised me that if it was completed by the end of the year, she would promote me to vice president. But after I worked tirelessly to finish it, she promoted the male assistant, who had been with the company for less than three months, to vice president instead. “Your abilities are impressive, but if it weren’t for him negotiating, the project would have failed long ago.” Everyone thought I would be jealous of the assistant. But instead of getting angry, I smiled and handed over my shares to the assistant. “You’re right. By the way, from now on, you’ll be the company’s new shareholder.” After all, no one knew that the reason the project had been allowed to be delayed again and again was because the client was my father. Without my connections, the so-called big project would be nothing but a house of cards, and my wife would be unable to repay the loans, doomed to a life worse than death. When I tossed the share transfer document to my wife’s assistant, Ethan Bennett, everyone in the company was stunned. For three whole years, many had worked hard on this project, pushing their bodies to the limit. Though I didn’t have many shares, once the project went live and the company went public, those shares could potentially skyrocket tenfold or even a hundredfold. And I, Daniel Parker, so nonchalantly, gave them up. These shares were worth far more than a vice president position. Everyone’s eyes were glued to the share transfer document, except for my wife, Ave Parker, whose face turned ashen. Her carefully applied makeup couldn’t hide the anger. “Daniel! If you’re unhappy with my decision, you could’ve just said so directly! “There’s no need for this behavior, disrupting the company’s atmosphere!” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. Disrupting the company’s atmosphere? She sure knew how to put a label on things. Ever since she hired Ethan, I had become a villain in her eyes. No matter what I said or did, I was always wrong. Now, I had just handed Ethan a huge opportunity, why wasn’t she happy about it? What on earth was going through her mind? I was truly at a loss. Meanwhile, Ethan was clutching the share transfer document tightly, his greed flashing in his eyes before he quickly hid it. Then, he lifted his head, feigning a look of deep concern. “Daniel, are you upset because you weren’t chosen as vice president and think Mrs. Parker is biased? “Please don’t misunderstand. Mrs. Parker doesn’t think you’re incapable. “It’s just that she heard you’re allergic to alcohol, and as vice president, you’d need to attend social events and drink. She was worried it might harm your health. “Everyone knows how hard you’ve worked on this project, and I, as a newcomer, definitely can’t accept these shares. Please take them back.” Although Ethan’s words sounded nice, he showed no sign of handing over the document. Clearly, he wasn’t willing to part with such a juicy prize. As for what he said, it was laughable. Only Ave and I knew about my alcohol allergy. This was clearly a story they had already agreed on! And the idea that because I couldn’t drink, they would let a newcomer with less than three months on the job take the vice president position? Anyone with half a brain would know there was something fishy going on here. But I couldn’t be bothered to argue anymore. Instead, I patted Ethan on the shoulder, speaking earnestly, “Ethan, no, Mr. Bennett, I’m truly grateful for how you’ve considered my well-being. “Having someone as thoughtful as you in the company makes me feel at ease.” I even squeezed his shoulder to show my recognition and approval. At this, Ave finally smiled in satisfaction. “That’s more like it. “Of course, I won’t treat you poorly, such an experienced employee. “Later, at Ethan’s celebration dinner, I know you can’t drink, and I didn’t want to drag you into it, but since you’ve shown such understanding, you can come, too.” Seeing her act like she was doing me some huge favor, I nearly laughed in disbelief. She took the vice president position without a word and now she was acting all nice, thinking she could send me off with a dinner? I smiled with a fake grin and declined. “No need. I don’t eat with jerks. It’s too much of a stomach-turner.” Ave’s smile instantly froze. She slammed the table and yelled, “Daniel! Do you really think you’re that impressive? “If it wasn’t for Ethan’s negotiating skills, this project would have long since been overdue and we’d have been held accountable. What do you think you had to do with it? “Do you want me to fire you?” I looked at her furious expression, feeling no emotion at all, even suppressing a laugh. If she hadn’t insisted on promoting Ethan, causing errors in the data, and pushing the task back over and over, we wouldn’t have reached this point. It was Ethan’s fault. I ended up cleaning up his mess, and now it was being presented as his accomplishment. Her ability to distort the facts was nothing short of brilliant. With that thought, I pulled out the resignation letter I had prepared earlier, slamming it down on the table. “Alright, remember to sign it.” I turned and walked out. Just as I was about to hail a cab downstairs, a red sports car suddenly screeched to a stop in front of me. The window rolled down slowly, revealing Ethan’s smug face. Before I could react, he threw his coffee at me on purpose. The cold wind of winter mixed with ice cubes from the drink, soaking my clothes, making it feel like a thousand needles stabbing me. Ethan looked at me in my miserable state, no longer the humble figure he once was. His face twisted into a sneer. “Look at you freezing and waiting for the bus, Daniel. If you were vice president, it would be so embarrassing to let that get out. “Then again, not everyone has my great drinking skills to drag the client on like this. “Alright, enough talk. I’m heading to the celebration dinner. It’s almost the end of the year, so you can take your time finding a new job.” After saying that, he slammed on the gas and drove off. But as Ethan’s car disappeared, I couldn’t help but smile coldly. No one knew that the project had been allowed to be delayed this long not because of Ethan’s so-called business negotiation skills. Even with his drinking ability, the client wouldn’t be dumb enough to ignore the losses in the billions of dollars. The only reason was one thing. With that thought, I immediately called the client. “Dad, I’ve resigned. The project you gave to Ave’s company can be canceled now.”

There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone. Then, my dad’s excited shout was deafening. “You’re finally coming around! “I’ve already paved the way for you, but you chose to turn down a position at a global Fortune 500 company and insisted on starting a business at that unreliable little company!” I listened to my dad’s furious rant and awkwardly rubbed my nose. Yes, the reason Ave’s project had been allowed to be delayed repeatedly was because of my dad. The project’s client was actually my father. My dad was the head of the Valora region in his group. Initially, Ave’s company, due to its lack of technical and financial advantages, was on the verge of being eliminated from the market and going bankrupt. I watched Ave every day, troubled and anxious, barely eating or sleeping, and I couldn’t bear it. Unable to watch her hard work go to waste, I proactively asked my dad for help. That was how I managed to secure the project that saved Ave’s company. It was thanks to the group’s investment that Ave’s previously unknown company started getting noticed by clients. Seeing Ave’s company grow and seeing her smile again, I also felt satisfied, working tirelessly. I thought we were building our dreams together, heading toward success. I never imagined that in the end, due to a male assistant who had only been with the company for less than three months, I would be completely discarded. “To keep that project, my bonus is being deducted! “To keep this project moving, I’ve been negotiating with headquarters every day, coming up with all sorts of excuses!” My dad continued to complain on the phone. I couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly. My dad had worked so hard to help me. Though he complained about Ave’s unreliable company, he had always secretly been helping me. He even sacrificed his own bonus just to secure the project for me. And here I was, like a fool, being played by Ave and Ethan. “Alright, alright, I got it, Dad. You’ve worked hard. “Just cancel the project. I don’t want anything to do with them anymore.” My dad quickly agreed. He added, “I’ll introduce you to some of my old friends when you’re back. They’re all industry elites and in the future…” My dad began rambling about my future. I listened, gradually calming down. Ave’s small company didn’t have enough capital, and to keep the project afloat, she had borrowed a significant amount of money. Without my connections, that so-called big project was nothing but a house of cards. She would be unable to repay the loans when the project was invalidated, and she would never recover from it. But right now, I didn’t need to explain it to her. I thought, “When disaster strikes, they will naturally realize who the real power behind this is.” With that thought, I hung up and began packing my things, preparing to sever ties with Ave completely. When I got home, I opened the wardrobe and as I was rummaging through the drawers, a photo album hidden in the corner fell out. In the photo, Ave was youthful and innocent, wearing a high school uniform, and smiling brightly. And standing next to her was a tall, thin boy whose features, surprisingly, resembled Ethan’s! I froze, flipping through the album. At the back of the album was a stack of love letters, with delicate handwriting. The recipient was Ethan. I suddenly understood why, on one occasion, I was just looking for socks in the drawer, and Ave had gone into a furious fit, pushing me out and not letting me in for the entire day. She was afraid I would discover her secret! No wonder, with Ave’s bad temper, every assistant, regardless of their education or ability, was fired after only a few weeks of being yelled at. But Ethan, the rookie, had been promoted and paid generously, advancing fast. It turned out he was her first love from school! Well, that explained everything. I sneered and closed the album, grabbing my nearly empty suitcase and leaving the cold, lifeless home. I sent my luggage home via courier, then called my dad to come pick me up. While waiting for the car, I saw a street vendor selling roasted chestnuts and thought it wouldn’t hurt to grab a quick bite since I hadn’t eaten all morning. But the next second, I ran into Ave and Ethan. At that moment, Ave, with a slightly drunken smile, looked at me smugly. “Hey, weren’t you so confident at the company earlier? Now you’re just standing here, waiting to beg for my forgiveness?” Hearing this, I was speechless. She really had a vivid imagination! I was the one who was unlucky. If I had known, I would’ve just taken a cab and left instead of indulging in my craving. Ethan looked at the roasted chestnuts in my hand with a hint of disdain, then said sarcastically, “Hey, Ave, look at Daniel here, waiting outside in the freezing cold, buying you your favorite roasted chestnuts! “Why not let him go back to the company? After all, Daniel’s got the experience. I can just assist Daniel from now on. “It’s hard to find work at the end of the year. How’s Daniel going to explain being unemployed to his family?” Ave, full of herself, responded, “Fine! But someone like Ethan, such a genius, shouldn’t just assist you. From now on, Daniel, you’ll be running errands for Ethan!” With that, Ave grabbed the roasted chestnut from my hand and took a bite. I was furious, but I snatched the chestnut back and threw it straight into the trash. “Such a self-righteous fool! If someone like you eats this, it’d be a waste of food!” Ave immediately flew into a rage, pointing at my nose and shouting, “You! Who do you think you’re talking to? “Daniel! I want a divorce!” This again. Whenever we had a disagreement, if she couldn’t justify her actions, she would throw out the divorce card to force me into submission. But now… I immediately started laughing and pulled out the divorce agreement I had prepared earlier. “Great! I’ve been waiting for you to sign it!”

“Divorce agreement… You had it prepared already!” Ave’s eyes immediately widened in disbelief. Seeing this, Ethan nearly couldn’t hold back his laughter from the side. After all, he was eager to be together with Ave. With me out of the way, he lost one less competitor. Naturally, he was delighted. But in an attempt to impress Ave, Ethan still pretended to be sincere as he said, “Hey, Daniel, I understand that being humiliated in front of so many people at the company made you feel embarrassed and upset. That’s normal. “But you and Ave just got married, how can you let a divorce be a way of taking out your frustration?” Upon hearing that, I looked at his expression, and a wave of disgust washed over me. I thought, “This guy acts so well. Back at the office, he’d stick to Ave like glue all the time, and now he’s pretending to be the voice of reason.” I pointed toward the nearby courier station. “Fine. I’ve packed my things. Hurry up and sign it. No need to waste our time.” Only then did Ave seem to realize I was serious. But the next moment, she suddenly seemed to remember something and sneered coldly, “Daniel, don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to! “You just see the company expanding now and want to take some of my money, right?” Ave had a smug expression as if she had already seen through all the schemes. “I’ll tell you, the house and the company, everything was notarized before we even got our marriage certificate! “You won’t be getting a single penny from me! “If you want to divorce, go ahead!” Looking at her haughty demeanor, I suddenly understood. No wonder when we were getting our certificate, I wanted to do it on our anniversary and share it on social media, but Ave kept delaying. It turned out, behind my back, that she had already had her assets notarized! What a clever move, cutting at the root! Realizing I wouldn’t be taking anything with me, Ethan could barely hold back his laughter from the side, though he still made an effort to put on a concerned expression. “Yeah, Daniel, even if you’re considering your feelings, at least think about your future. “Now, if you divorce Ave, you won’t have anything left. “Ave is now a rising star in the industry. She has the attention of the industry leader, and her project is about to take off. “With that kind of network, Ave could easily blacklist you with a single word!” I looked at Ethan’s hypocritical face, and my stomach churned. He talked so much, but all he really wanted was to keep me around so he could continue exploiting me. After all, he was just a fraud. Without me managing the work, he would be exposed as the worthless vice president in no time. Then the company’s profits would drop, and Ave wouldn’t be able to protect him. Upon hearing that, Ave crossed her arms, lifted her chin, and looked down at me with a smug expression. “Exactly. I think some people just get too full of themselves after being in the company for so long. “You can’t even handle the projects, and Ethan manages them easily with a meal. “When the client gives their approval, not only will we receive 200 million dollars in funding… “The company might even go public! “Now, do you still think the company can’t go on without you?” She sneered arrogantly as if I were nothing more than a dispensable man. Looking at her self-satisfied expression, I couldn’t help but mock her inwardly. I thought, “She is completely fooled by Ethan’s sweet talk. She’s waiting for a huge investment and IPO? Wait for the company to collapse!” With that thought, I spoke in a cold tone, enunciating every word. I said, “Without my connection, just the fact that you’ve been delaying progress by relying on Ethan, causing delays, and breaking agreements for six months, is enough for Ascend Group to legally cancel the partnership and even seek damages! “And Ascend Group is the industry leader. If their investment credibility is harmed, forget about an IPO… “You might not even be able to get any orders in this industry anymore!” But in response to my warning, Ave merely laughed dismissively, “Your connection? Are you really going to praise yourself so much?” She pointed at me and said with a sharp tone, “You’re just an unemployed bum, who probably can’t even get through the doors of their company. “Why would such a large listed group listen to you?” Before Ave could finish her sentence, a black Maybach slowly pulled up at the gate of the community. Ethan immediately recognized it, exclaiming in shock, “Oh my! That’s the car of Ascend Group’s Valora region head!” Upon hearing Ethan’s words, Ave immediately stood straighter, a smug grin spreading across her face as she looked at me. “Did you see that? “For this project, even the head of Valora region from the industry leader came all the way to my house!” She lifted her chin, her tone dripping with arrogance as if she could already see her bright future ahead. What she didn’t know was that the person inside the car was none other than my father. “Oh, once the company goes public, I’ll be financially free. Then I’ll buy a big villa with Ethan, get some sports cars, and travel abroad, eating at all the nice restaurants! “As for you…” Ave glanced at me. She added with disdain in her voice, “Just wait for unemployment benefits and live on welfare for the rest of your life!” She said that then adjusted her hair, standing respectfully as she prepared to greet the guest. “Mr. Parker, about our collaboration…” But before she could finish, the person in the car ignored her outstretched hand and walked straight to me, pulling me into a hug. “You brat, it’s been a year, and you’ve lost so much weight! “Your mom’s going to say I’m a bad father when she sees you like this…”

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I had a secret crush on Jack Sullivan for seven years. In my previous life, I saved him during his darkest hour. I married him and was willing to be a devoted wife. I let him run my company, allowing him to bask in the limelight. In the end, he stole my money and cheated on me with his soulmate. Later, his enemies kidnapped both me and his soulmate. I thought five years of living together would soften his heart. But he chose to save his soulmate without hesitation, leaving me to be assaulted and killed by the kidnappers. In this new life, I’ve returned to the year when Jack Sullivan hit rock bottom. My car was parked at the end of the alley, just in time to witness Jack Sullivan being chased by several men in black wielding knives. It was exactly the same as in my previous life. I suppressed the complex emotions surging within me. “Uncle Tom, drive,” I said. Uncle Tom cleared his throat, hesitating. “Miss, Mr. Sullivan is up ahead. It looks like someone’s trying to kill him.” I glanced ahead. Jack Sullivan was indeed being chased and had collapsed in front of my car door, covered in wounds. He desperately knocked on the car door, begging me to help him. The door opened. I looked down at him from above. My mind flashed back to my previous life, when I had saved him without hesitation and married him, caring for him devotedly for five years. I had thought true love could be reciprocated. But in the end, I met a tragic death. Coming back to my senses, looking at him now, I still couldn’t help but feel a pang in my heart. His handsome face, even covered in blood, couldn’t hide his good looks. He crawled to my feet, looking up at me with pleading eyes. Weakly, he said, “Mia, please help me. I’ll do anything.” In my previous life, he had begged me just as pitifully. I had taken him in without a second thought. I fed and cared for him, paid ransom to save his brother, and protected him for five years. Thinking it over, I slowly replied, “Alright.” I would save him, but I couldn’t let him dirty my car. I kicked him away. I ordered my bodyguards to protect him. “Uncle Tom, let’s go,” I said. “Miss, isn’t Mr. Sullivan the man you’ve liked for a long time?” Uncle Tom asked. I snorted. “Not anymore.” In my previous life, when I saved him, I didn’t expect anything in return. I only hoped he could like me, even just a little. Unfortunately, it didn’t end well. Back at the mansion, I saw Jack Sullivan curled up in a corner, shivering. He crawled towards me like a dog. I brushed off my pants where he had touched them. Looking at him with disgust, I said, “Jack Sullivan, since you like being a dog so much, why don’t you stay by my side as one?”

Today was the first time Jack asked me for time off. “Mia, I have something to do today. I won’t be able to have dinner with you,” he said calmly over the phone, without any hint of emotion. “What is it?” I asked. “Mia, I may be your husband in name, but I’m still a person. Can’t I have my own personal space?” “You don’t deserve it,” I replied coldly. “If you don’t listen, I can send you back to those people.” He immediately deflated on the other end of the line. In this life, I still saved him, but I had no expectations. I only kept him by my side to torment him. He sighed and answered, “I’m going to see my mother.” “Is that so? You’d better not be lying to me.” When I saved him and brought him back, he had begged me like a puppy. “I’ll do anything you want,” he had said. An idea struck me, and I raised an eyebrow with a smile. “Marry me, so my family stops nagging me.” He agreed. I paid the ransom to save his brother, And at the same time, I bought him for myself. To the outside world, I claimed he was my husband. In private, he was just a dog by my bedside. His enemies still wouldn’t let him go, so he had to rely on me to stay alive. This time, I still bound him to me with a contract. The agreement stated that we would each take what we needed, and after five years when the danger had passed, I would set him free. For these five years, he never left my side for a moment. Whether as a husband or a bedmate, he was impeccable. At dinner time, Jack wasn’t there. The housekeeper had prepared my favorite dishes. I picked up my fork but had no appetite. “Miss, this is the cake Mr. Sullivan asked me to give you before he left. He waited in line for hours to buy it,” Mrs. Liu said, bringing over a slice of cake. It was my favorite flavor, very hard to get. I took a bite with my fork, then threw it straight into the trash. Suddenly, I felt a bit lost. Today was my birthday. Thinking back to my previous life, it was just as lonely a scene. That day, he had gone to see his soulmate, Sophia Williams. As I was lost in thought, my phone suddenly rang. “Hello,” I answered. On the other end was an arrogant female voice.

“Miss Coleman, thank you for taking care of my Jack these past five years.” I frowned deeply. “Who are you?” “Never mind who I am. Jack loves me.” Before I could finish, she hung up. I collapsed onto the sofa, my mind replaying the past from my previous life. Jack had been with me for five years, pretending to be devoted to me on the surface, but behind my back, he had long been involved with Sophia Williams. In my past life, I had spent five years trying to make him love me, but failed. This time, I wouldn’t be so foolish. If I couldn’t be happy, no one else would be either. I was the most notorious socialite in Southriver. Dissolute, unrepentant. I had been with countless men, living a life of luxury and pleasure. But they were all just passing clouds. Jack Sullivan was the only one I truly loved. He used to be a young master from a family of equal status to mine, but unfortunate twists of fate had brought him to rock bottom. I dialed Jack’s number. “Where are you?” I asked. His voice sounded tired. “I’m busy.” “Are you with another woman?” I asked, my voice trembling. “Mia, don’t overthink it.” I suddenly became angry, raising my voice, which startled him. “I’m asking you, are you with another woman or not?!” “Jack Sullivan!” He sighed and spoke in a tone I had never heard before. “Mia Coleman, I thought we only had a contractual relationship. My private life is none of your business.” I was both furious and hurt, at a loss for words. “You said it yourself, five years was the limit.” “Mia Coleman, shouldn’t we follow the rules of the game?” In this life, I had treated men’s hearts as worthless. I thought I could play with men as I pleased. But once again, I was slapped in the face by reality. I lowered my voice, adding somewhat pitifully: “Today… is my birthday.” “Could you…” Before I could finish, he hung up. Even in this new life, Jack Sullivan was still just as cruel.

In my previous life, I had investigated Sophia Williams. She was my high school classmate, and we were very close back then. She was the only one who knew about my secret crush on Jack Sullivan. Later, she went abroad to study, and we lost touch. I never imagined she would turn out to be Jack’s soulmate. In this life, as soon as the five-year term was up, Jack stopped pretending with me. He moved out of my mansion overnight, throwing away the ring I had given him. The trash can in his room was filled with gifts I had once given him. Even during our last intimate moment, I was the one who initiated everything. The last thing he said to me was: “Don’t make things difficult for her.” Those five simple words set me on edge. “Are you really that eager to leave me?” I asked. He turned his back to me, his voice low and hoarse: “Mia Coleman, we were never meant to be together.” For many days after he left, I couldn’t sleep. The night was bitterly cold in the early hours. I stubbornly drove out of the mansion. Mrs. Liu heard the commotion and tried to stop me. “Miss, should I call the driver? It’s too late for you to drive alone. Where are you going?” I didn’t know what to say. I cleared my throat. After a moment of silence, I said, “Mrs. Liu, it’s fine. I have something to do.” Mrs. Liu couldn’t persuade me, so she called the driver to follow behind me. At 5:30 AM, I arrived at Jack’s apartment.

I knocked on the door, but there was no response for a long time. I thought he must be sound asleep and was about to leave to find a place to wait. Suddenly, the door opened. “Mia?” Jack opened the door, looking at me in disbelief, his eyes still heavy with sleep. As if on cue, a figure appeared behind him. Sophia Williams, wearing a sexy nightgown, had one hand on Jack’s arm. “Jack, who is it?” she asked, turning to look at me with a meaningful gaze. “Long time no see, I’m Mia Coleman,” I introduced myself. After my introduction, all three of us stood there in awkward silence. “You investigated me?” Jack finally spoke, his tone full of impatience and accusation. I had thought Jack would have a lot to say to me. But his first words were an irritated question. My heart sank. Looking into his eyes, I asked slowly and deliberately: “I just want to ask you one thing: during these five years, did you ever love me?” Sophia’s expression changed. She clung to Jack’s arm affectionately, her voice dripping with sarcasm: “Miss Coleman, Jack has told me everything. You did save his life, and he’s repaid that debt over the years. Now that the five years are up, shouldn’t you let him go?” “Besides, it was just a contractual relationship. Miss Coleman, don’t tell me you actually thought it was love?” “Shut up! I wasn’t asking you!” I raised my voice, startling Sophia. “Jack, look at her. What kind of person is she, bullying me just because she’s rich,” Sophia said, burying herself in Jack’s arms pitifully. “Mia, no, Miss Coleman,” Jack said. “The five-year term is up. We should go to the registry office to finalize the divorce soon.” Without needing to ask further, Jack had made his stance clear. “Fine! Don’t regret it!” I said, leaving in a huff. Behind me, I could hear Sophia’s mocking laughter. “Jack, after all these years, you still have such charm. Looks like I’ll have to keep a close eye on you from now on.” I couldn’t hear Jack’s response as I walked away. I returned home in a daze.

The next day, we went to the registry office to finalize our divorce. I rushed back to the mansion and cleared out everything related to Jack Sullivan. Then I contacted my assistant. “I hear Jack Sullivan is starting a business soon. Cut off his funding sources, remove him from the company, blacklist him in the industry, and have him sign an IOU for the $500,000 we paid to ransom his brother.” “Also, spread rumors that the Williams heiress seduced a married man. Make sure her reputation is ruined.” “Lastly, what’s the latest on the Sullivan family’s old enemy, the Guthrie family?” My assistant replied, “I heard they’ve been looking for Jack Sullivan everywhere.” “Then leak information to the Guthrie family. Let them handle it as they see fit.” After making all the arrangements, I finally lay down on my bed with some peace of mind. My sister rarely called me, but she did today. “Mia Coleman, congratulations on being able to be yourself again.” “Sis, I just got divorced. Is congratulations really necessary?” “Men are a dime a dozen. I’m coming back tomorrow night at 10. I’ll introduce you to some men then.” My sister is my mom’s daughter from her previous marriage. People say she’s just like me, inheriting our mother’s genes. They say we’re unfaithful, fickle, and like to play with men. I’ve become numb to hearing it. As soon as my sister arrived, she dragged me to a bar. She complained about my outfit the whole way there. “Look at you, did getting married turn you into a housewife?” she said. She pulled out a black low-cut long dress from her bag and coaxed me into wearing it. “Now that’s my sister,” she said approvingly. “Mia Coleman, you’re a rich kid. Why act so traditional? You used to be quite the party animal.” I rolled my eyes at her. “Vanessa Coleman, is this how you’re supposed to guide your little sister?” “Haha, don’t tell Mom,” she laughed. In my previous life, when I was Jack Sullivan’s devoted wife, I never went to bars. It was because Jack said he didn’t like noisy places like bars. “I heard there are some pretty good-looking guys here tonight. It’s my treat, I’ve ordered them all for you,” Vanessa said. “Consider it a celebration of your single status, and a belated birthday party.” The memory of eating cake alone on my birthday flashed through my mind, leaving a bitter taste. But I quickly pushed it away. Thinking about that scene really put a damper on things. My sister was hugging two young, handsome guys, laughing heartily. The boy sitting next to me was very shy, but he mustered up the courage to say: “Hello, beautiful. You’re really pretty.” His words were naive, but I enjoyed hearing them.

He clumsily lifted the glass to my lips. I wasn’t paying attention, and the cold liquor trickled down the corner of my mouth onto his well-defined fingers. He shivered, looking at me somewhat embarrassedly. His eyes held an indescribable emotion. In the dim light, his tall, muscular frame was barely visible, but I couldn’t take my eyes off him. As we were leaving, I tossed a business card to the handsome young man. He called out “Big sis!” and waved goodbye reluctantly. “We’ll meet again,” he said. I’ve never been good with alcohol, but tonight I had a few extra drinks. As soon as I stepped outside, the cold wind hit me, and I stumbled. My sister had disappeared with one of the guys, leaving me alone to stumble back to the bathroom. I hugged the toilet bowl and threw up for a while, which cleared my head a bit. A familiar voice came from the next stall. “Sophia, I heard your ex-boyfriend got divorced?” Sophia Williams let out a cold laugh and said: “Yeah, if I hadn’t heard he inherited his grandfather’s hundred-billion-dollar fortune, who would bother with used goods like him?” “True, Sophia, you’ve never been one to use second-hand things.” I stayed hidden in the bathroom stall. In my previous life, I never heard about Jack Sullivan inheriting a fortune. Could he be using this to win back his true love? There was another possibility – the so-called inheritance could be my money. I was such a fool. Thankfully, in this life, I didn’t let him into the company. And I didn’t give him a penny. I only gave him a small allowance each month, out of pity. The gossip continued. Sophia chuckled and went on: “But now there’s a tricky problem. His ex-wife turns out to be Mia Coleman.” “Who? Your high school bestie? I remember she had a crush on Jack Sullivan back then.” “That bitch Mia Coleman, whatever she wants, I have to take it from her,” Sophia said through gritted teeth. Back then, Sophia was our high school beauty queen, stunningly gorgeous even at sixteen. I was quiet and unsociable. She approached me, giving me my only friend in high school. When I liked Jack Sullivan, she encouraged me to persist. Sophia was outgoing and straightforward. She helped me gather a lot of intel on Jack Sullivan back then. At that time, rumors were flying around school that the beauty queen Sophia Williams and the heartthrob Jack Sullivan were getting close, and must be dating.

Everyone said they were a perfect match, made for each other. I had imagined Jack Sullivan might fall for someone else, but I never thought my best friend would also like him. I don’t know how long I stayed in the bathroom, but Sophia and her friend had long gone silent. I stood up and walked out, my feet numb and stumbling. I looked at myself in the mirror, red-eyed and disheveled. I washed my face and prepared to go home. As soon as I walked out the main door, I found the handsome young man from earlier standing at the entrance. “You…” The young man was wearing a sporty outfit and carrying a gym bag. He exuded the sunny charm of a college athlete. “Waiting for you,” he said. As I walked over, my high heel twisted and I nearly fell. “Careful!” The young man caught me just in time. I took out a wad of cash from my purse and handed it to him. He hesitated, then took it and stuffed it back into my bag. “Big sis, no need for money.” I narrowed my eyes slightly and smiled: “Consider it a tip for keeping me company today.” Before I could see his expression, I took out my car keys to open the door. But he snatched the keys from me. “I haven’t been drinking. I’ll drive you home.” I was taken aback for a moment, then pulled out a few more bills from my purse and handed them to him. He took them this time, saying with a smile: “Consider it a chauffeur fee.” He drove very carefully the whole way, occasionally stealing glances at me through the rearview mirror. “Big sis, my name is Ethan Guthrie.” My head was spinning, so I just responded lazily. “Mmm, got it.” I closed my eyes and unknowingly fell asleep. When I opened my eyes, I found myself…

“Where am I?” I rubbed my throbbing temples. A cheerful male voice came from outside the door. “Big sis, you’re awake?” The voice sounded familiar. It was Ethan. He was shirtless, his skin taut, broad-shouldered with a narrow waist. His muscle lines flowed smoothly, and his lean body somehow sported an eight-pack. I was mesmerized for a moment, not even noticing him getting closer. “Big sis, seen enough?” I blushed furiously. “I didn’t expect someone with such a baby face to have such a great body.” Ethan grinned mischievously and pulled me into his arms. “So, big sis, have you decided how you’re going to take responsibility for me?” I panicked, desperately trying to remember what happened last night. Last night I met him at the bar entrance, then he drove me home, and I fell asleep in the car… So why was I here? “Let me help you remember. You fell asleep last night without telling me where you lived, so I had no choice but to bring you back to my place.” “Did we… you know?” Ethan leaned in close, his gaze intense: “What do you think?” My mind was in chaos. Suddenly, I remembered feeling that something was off about the drink last night. Usually, my alcohol tolerance isn’t bad. I shouldn’t have gotten drunk so quickly. “It must have been Vanessa.” I frantically took out my phone and called her. “Vanessa! You set me up!” A lazy male voice answered. “Vanessa is still sleeping. What do you need?” “Damn it…” The call ended, and Ethan, standing in front of me, burst out laughing. “Big sis, you were drugged. Last night was my first time.” “It’s okay if you don’t remember. I’ll help you recall.” Ethan pressed me down beneath him.

Looking closely, beneath his boyish charm, he had a pair of incredibly cold eyes. His facial features were flawlessly handsome, with lips so red they begged to be kissed. Coming to my senses, I found myself breathless from the intimate position. I pushed him away and cleared my throat. “Ahem… Well, we’re both adults here. If you’re in this line of work, let’s just settle up.” I took out a black card from my purse and handed it to him. “This is your payment.” With that, I got up to change my clothes. “Big sis, the name you called out last night, was it your ex-husband?” My heart skipped a beat, and I clenched my fists. “Shut up!” “I don’t mind. If big sis needs me again, just give me a call anytime.” He made a phone gesture by his ear, a faint smile tugging at his lips. As I left Ethan’s apartment, I ran into Jack Sullivan downstairs. I lowered my head and covered my mouth, afraid he’d see me. “Mia Coleman!” He strode over. Dressed in an all-black suit, he exuded an air of aggression. “What are you doing here?” I composed myself and stood up straight. “It’s none of your business.” He grabbed my bag, pulling me closer. “Who said you could stay out all night? Where were you last night?” Jack’s tone was displeased. “Jack Sullivan, we’re divorced,” I said with a cold laugh. “I’m single now. I can stay wherever I want.” “Mia, I know you’re still angry, but can you not misunderstand me? Sophia has been suffering from depression recently and needs someone with her. She doesn’t have any family in the country, so as her…” “As her ex-boyfriend, you should divorce your wife and be by her side 24/7!”

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After marrying Jack Thompson, I gave up my career as a florist for him. He was so considerate that he didn’t want me to have children, so we adopted a baby instead. Until one evening when I came home. I saw his first love in my greenhouse, carelessly trampling the flowers I had carefully nurtured. Jack stood silently beside her. Lily, our daughter, helped her smash the flowers, laughing, “Aunt Emma, if you don’t like them, let’s break them all. I’ve always hated how dirty these things are.” I stared in disbelief at the scene before me. Rows of flower racks had toppled over. The succulent Jack had given me was now completely shattered. The culprit looked up at me, feigning innocence. “I was just making a phone call here and had an allergic reaction to the pollen. Jack and Lily were worried about me, that’s why the flowers ended up like this,” Emma said. “Rose, you won’t be mad at me, will you?” I looked at her neck, which showed no signs of redness. She smirked, her foot still grinding the flower petals beneath her. Jack stood beside her, looking at me coldly, without saying a word. Lily met my gaze and shouted, “Are you really going to make a fuss over these flowers? They’re already broken! Aunt Emma rarely visits, and if she leaves because you’re angry, I won’t let you take me to school tomorrow!” Just half an hour ago, I had gone to pick up Lily from school as usual. The teacher told me she had already been picked up by Jack and a woman. On my way home, I kept wondering who this woman could be. I never imagined it would be Emma Wilson – Jack’s childhood friend and his first love. Years ago, after breaking up with Jack, she had gone abroad. Jack had been depressed for a long time because of her, and then married me – the girl who had loved him for years. My six-year-long unrequited love finally came to an end. Now Emma was back, and Jack was on her side. Even our daughter, whom I had raised, was angry at me because of her. The intimate way she behaved with Jack hurt me deeply. Lily proudly showed off the dress she was wearing. “Aunt Emma, the dress you designed is so pretty! Not like the ugly ones she buys me!” Only then did I notice she had changed out of the dress I had carefully chosen for her. In the past, whenever I picked out clothes for her and Jack, he would coldly refuse them time and time again. And Lily, upon seeing them, would throw them on the ground in disgust, saying they were too old-fashioned. In my ears, Emma was telling Lily about the styles of clothes kids abroad liked. The three of them looked like a perfect family, warm and beautiful. My heart grew colder by the second. I walked past them and crouched down to carefully wrap up the broken succulent Jack had given me. The year Jack and I got together, he learned that I loved plants. He spent time carefully packaging it as a gift for me – it was the first present he ever gave me. I was overjoyed that night and tenderly cared for it ever since. It had witnessed all the years Jack and I had been together. But now it was broken, shattered by Jack’s own hands. My eyes stung with tears. Jack bent down and grabbed my arm, trying to pull me up. “Come on, let’s go eat. What’s broken is broken. I’ll buy you another one later. Emma rarely comes back, don’t make a fuss over this. Be more understanding.” Seeing that I wouldn’t get up, his tone grew harsher: “Rose, why do you have to be so stubborn?” Because of his pulling, my hand was cut by a shard from the flower pot, leaving a bloody mark. After a moment of silence, he stopped trying to help me.

By the time I reached the dining table, they were already eating happily. I froze. Emma was sitting next to Jack, and they were talking quietly. Emma was smiling, while he listened attentively. My mother-in-law saw me and frowned, “You’re a grown woman! Do we need to call you to eat?” I silently sat down next to Lily and picked up my chopsticks, only to find that the entire table was filled with spicy dishes. Emma spoke softly, “Rose, I made these myself. Won’t you try some?” I hesitated, knowing that spicy food often upset my stomach. My mother-in-law rolled her eyes, “So picky.” Once, when Jack and I went out to eat, I had hot pot to please him and ended up in pain all night. After that, he never ordered spicy food again. He would even dilute the spicy dishes for me when his mother complained about my pickiness. I looked up at Jack, my heart filling with hurt. Then Jack put some Kung Pao chicken in my bowl and said coldly, “Eat it. Don’t disappoint Emma.” Meeting his cold eyes, my nails dug into my palms. The cut on my hand from earlier stung even more. I took one bite, and the spiciness churned in my stomach. I put down my chopsticks. Lily, sitting next to me, saw that I had stopped eating. She immediately pouted, “You’re so picky. Aunt Emma’s cooking is delicious. If you won’t eat, then just go hungry.” Emma’s voice trembled, “Mom, Jack, I know Rose doesn’t like me. Maybe I should leave.” Hearing this, my mother-in-law immediately pulled her back to her chair and glared at me. Jack looked up at Emma and said calmly, “Sit down.” Then he turned to me, his voice icy, “If you’re not going to eat, go back to your room.” Lily angrily pushed my bowl and chopsticks away. My heart clenched tight as I turned and left the table. As I closed the door, I heard my mother-in-law complain, “Really, we have to cater to her? Emma, if only you hadn’t gone abroad back then. You would’ve married Jack already, and we wouldn’t have to deal with her.” My hand froze on the doorknob for a second. I didn’t dare listen anymore and quickly shut the door. I lay on the bed, crying. I opened my phone to see a message from my best friend: “Can you believe how shameless she is? She was the one who chose to go abroad, and now she’s back to ruin your marriage!” She attached a screenshot of a social media post. Emma had posted: “It’s so wonderful to see the person I like as soon as I return home. I wonder if he feels the same way about me.” She added a pouty emoji. Below, Jack’s friend had commented: “Don’t worry, Emma. Jack definitely likes you. You have no idea how depressed he was after you left. He even had to marry someone he didn’t love. I feel so bad for him.” “It’s a good thing he doesn’t have kids yet. He once said he was waiting for you to come back so you could have one together.”

I read those words over and over, feeling as if I had been struck by lightning. In our first year of marriage, I had begged Jack repeatedly, saying I wanted to have a baby. When he heard this, he looked terrified and stroked my hair. “No, I’m afraid it would hurt you to give birth. I can’t bear to see you suffer, darling.” At the time, I thought he truly cared for me. Now I realize he simply didn’t want to have a child with me. All these years, he said he didn’t want children. Because of this, his mother would scold me, calling me a “hen that can’t lay eggs” and hurling insults at me to this day. But I loved children, so Jack adopted Lily from an orphanage. At first, Lily was very attached to me. She would cling to me and call me “Mommy” in a sweet voice. Later, when she realized her grandmother didn’t like me, she started disliking me too. Her way of addressing me changed from “Mommy” to a cold “you” and “her”. Jack had tried to mediate at first, but after he got busy starting a company with his friends, he never bothered again. My heart ached, and tears fell in large drops. Jack came in, carrying a plate of food. He crouched down and looked at me, “Stop crying. I was a bit harsh earlier. You haven’t eaten, have something to fill your stomach.” My voice was hoarse as I asked, “You don’t want me to have a baby because of Emma, right?” His eyes froze, and he was speechless. I already knew the answer. Seeing his reaction now, I calmly accepted this reality. I didn’t take the chopsticks he offered. “No need to answer. I’m not hungry.” He looked troubled, “If it’s about the greenhouse, I’ll have someone fix it up tomorrow. There’s no need to throw such a tantrum.” Looking at Jack in front of me, I suddenly remembered how I used to watch him silently. Back then, he only had eyes for Emma and never looked at other girls. After we got married, he seemed cold but would show moments of tenderness towards me. He would kiss my forehead when I was asleep and prepare surprises for our anniversaries. I thought I had finally earned his affection. Now that Emma was back, I realized what I had wasn’t much at all. I didn’t respond to him anymore. I lay down on my side, turning my back to him. He made no attempt to comfort me, just put the bowl and chopsticks on the nightstand and left. After struggling for a long time, I finally messaged my best friend: “Can you help me find a lawyer to draft divorce papers?” I couldn’t sleep that night. Jack slept in the study. In the morning, Lily ran into my room, demanding that I make her breakfast. “If you don’t make me breakfast, I’ll be late! If I’m late and the teacher scolds me, it’ll be all your fault!” I looked at my daughter calmly. Even though she wasn’t my biological child, I had always cared for her wholeheartedly over the years. She often complained about my cooking, saying my fried eggs were too hard one day, or my wraps were tasteless the next. She would pout and say, “I’ve had breakfast made by my classmates’ moms. Why can’t you learn to cook properly?” Unfortunately, my sincere love couldn’t win her genuine affection. I said, “Ask grandma to make something for you. If not, your dad can…” At this, she burst into tears. “Dad! She’s bullying me, she won’t make me breakfast!” Jack immediately came in and picked her up, soothing her gently. Then he turned to me and scolded, “Rose, I thought you had gotten over your anger from yesterday. Are you still targeting Lily? She’s just a child.” I had seen this scene countless times before. Whenever Lily was unhappy, it was always my fault. Jack would always argue with me to appease her. Now I felt powerless. I didn’t answer, just looked at him coldly. He didn’t look at me again, just prepared some milk and bread for Lily, then turned and left with her, closing the door behind them.

I watched them leave, sighed deeply, and turned to pack my suitcase. As I was packing, I found a knitted toy that had fallen into the trash can. It was a knitted doll, a parent-child project assigned by Lily’s school. The fabric was now dirty. After Lily told me about this assignment, I had spent three nights working on it, my hands full of needle pricks. But all I got in return was Lily’s look of disgust. “This doll is so ugly. Your taste is really old-fashioned. I’m too embarrassed to show it to my classmates.” My heart sank a little more. When I came back to my senses, it was already noon. My best friend had sent over the divorce papers. As I held those thin sheets of paper, I heard Lily’s laughter from the doorway: “Dad, Aunt Emma designed a project for me today, and I won first prize! All my classmates were so envious.” Jack praised her, “You like her so much, how about making her your godmother?” Lily hugged the exquisite doll tightly, excited, “Yes! I love Aunt Emma the most. If she were my mom, my classmates wouldn’t make fun of me for having an old-fashioned mom anymore.” Earlier, I had been worried that she might cry without a project to submit. Now I realized my concern was unnecessary. I laughed quietly, watching their happy faces as my heart sank to the bottom. I threw the dirty doll back into the trash can. This action caught their attention. Jack came over and saw the doll in the trash. He looked troubled. Those nights, he had seen me staying up late to sew it by hand. He spoke, “Rose, stop being difficult. If it weren’t for Emma today, she wouldn’t have won the prize.” Ever since Emma returned, all I heard was her name. I suddenly felt irritated. Under Jack’s weary gaze, I took out the divorce papers. I said softly, “I’ve already signed. It just needs your signature.” From the corner of my eye, I saw Lily’s face light up. It stung a little. Jack didn’t understand, “You want a divorce just because of yesterday? Didn’t I apologize to you last night?” “It’s not just that. I’m tired now.” All these years, because of Lily and Jack’s mother, I had bottled up all the hurt inside. Now, because of his first love Emma, all the pain and exhaustion exploded. Lily excitedly ran to his side, tugging at his sleeve. “Dad, I heard from my classmates that divorce means you won’t be together anymore. Does that mean Aunt Emma can come over more often?” Jack gently scolded her, and she fell silent. I picked up my suitcase, intending to leave, but he grabbed me. His dark eyes fixed on me, “If you’re going to be this impulsive, I’ll sign today, and you’ll have nothing to do with Lily anymore.” I nodded firmly and shook off his hand. As I opened the door, I felt an unprecedented sense of relief. I heard Lily’s confused voice, “Dad, haven’t you always liked Aunt Emma? I saw your old photos together the other day.” As the door locked behind me, I pulled my suitcase away, never looking back.

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I died on the operating table. My father personally strapped me to it. To transplant my heart to my half-sister. In a private hospital, on a cold operating table. Looking at the chilling surgical instruments, I cried out loudly, “Dad, please, let me go.” But with my hands and feet restrained, I couldn’t escape. A sharp pain shot through me. The doctor wanted to anesthetize me, but my father stopped him. “No need for anesthesia, just take out her heart directly.” I stared at him with wide eyes, hardly believing this was my father. I watched as the doctor slowly cut open my chest, each incision feeling like a slow execution. “Ah!” The pain made me scream involuntarily. “So noisy,” my father said impatiently. Then he stuffed a dirty, smelly rag into my mouth, mixed with disinfectant. The pungent smell instantly filled my nostrils. “Much quieter now.” After saying this, he ran to the other side. Speaking softly to the person lying on the bed, he said, “Melody, soon daddy will give you a healthy body.” Finally, unable to bear the excruciating pain, I passed out. With a strong sense of injustice, I found myself reborn to the day they came to pick me up.

When my parents came to get me, I was doing construction work. There was no choice. The orphanage had many children, and the town rarely provided subsidies. We could barely eat enough. To take care of them, the older children went out to work early to earn money. Children without parents not only had to support themselves but also had to support the younger brothers and sisters who depended on them. “There’s a car parked at the entrance, and the two people who got out look very rich. I wonder what they’re here for.” “That car, I’ve heard my son talk about it. It costs several million.” The voices of my coworkers drifted into my ears. I remembered that in my previous life, they stood not far from me. The woman was on the phone, I didn’t know what she was saying. Occasionally she looked over here, and I saw the dislike in her eyes. Yes, she disliked me. That was my first impression. The man walked over to me: “Are you Lily Song?” I looked up, confused: “Yes, sir. Is there something I can help you with?” Then I slowly lowered my head. Standing in front of them always gave me a sense of inferiority, as if I was filthy and would taint them. In my previous life, I was so happy to find my parents that I didn’t notice the deep disgust in their eyes. This time, something seemed different. From a distance, my mom ran over. Ignoring the sweaty, smelly odor on my body, she hugged me. “Child, I’m sorry. Mom has finally found you. This time, Mom will be good to you.” I was stunned and confused. The plot wasn’t supposed to develop like this. What the hell is going on??? “I’m sorry, did I scare you?” She took a step back and bent down to speak softly. “No, no,” I stammered, wondering what new trick this was. “I’m your mother. I’m here to take you home.” Then she took out a clean, pretty handkerchief and wiped the sweat from my forehead. As she wiped, she said with concern, “Lily, you’ve been through so much. Will you come home with Mom?” But in my previous life, she only wanted to touch me after I had cleaned up. What was going on now? “No,” I pushed her away and said frankly.

My father, who had slowly approached, heard what I said. His face immediately turned displeased: “We are your legal guardians. You have to come with us.” I sneered: “But I’m already an adult.” He became even more forceful: “The fact that I came to get you is already giving you face. Today, you’re coming back whether you like it or not.” Seeing the situation, my mom stepped in: “Old Lin, how can you talk like that? Lily is just unfamiliar with us. You should speak to her nicely.” Well, well, so you know I’m not familiar with you. “Look, you’ve scared the child so much she’s at a loss.” It’s you who scared me, okay? After all, in my previous life, my mom would only echo whatever my dad said, and she didn’t take the initiative to talk to me the whole way. If they strongly wanted me to go back, this would be easy. “If you want me to go back, it’s not impossible.” “Give me five million dollars, and I’ll go back with you.” My mom agreed very quickly: “Okay, okay, as long as you’re willing to come back with us, money is not an issue.” Only my dad was indignant, his face full of displeasure. Just wait, there will be more things to make you unhappy in the future. So, they agreed to give me five million dollars. In this life, with this money, I could help my family at the orphanage and search for my sister. I went back with them to the home I had longed for in my previous life but despised in this one. As soon as we entered the house, Melody Lin was waiting for me. The first move in my previous life was to frame me. I wonder if it would be the same today?

Because my mom’s brother had an emergency, both my parents left, so a servant brought me in. “Sister, you’ve suffered so much. Welcome home.” “Melody, who is she? Does any beggar have the right to enter your house?” “How can someone like that deserve to be called your sister? It’s so dirty.” Just like in my previous life, it wasn’t just Melody Lin who greeted me, but also her friends and their foul language. On the surface, it was a welcome party for me, but in reality, it was a humiliation party. Mrs. Thompson couldn’t stand it anymore: “Young Miss, this is the Elder Miss.” Before Melody Lin could open her mouth, her little follower was eager to perform: “What kind of Elder Miss is she? Look at her clothes, she’s just a smelly beggar.” I looked at myself too. Indeed, the sweat had dried, and the white marks were even more obvious on the black clothes. My pants, shoes, and the edges of my clothes were all dusty. I smiled slightly at Mrs. Wilson: “It’s okay, Mrs. Wilson. You can go about your business. I can handle this.” But this didn’t affect my desire to go crazy. I turned to those who had just spoken and let loose a barrage. “Don’t look down on beggars. If you had to be one, you’d probably starve to death.” “I haven’t stolen or robbed. I earn my money honestly and cleanly. What’s it to you?” “And whether I’m her sister or not is none of your business. Did I eat your rice?” “Yes, I’m a bit dirty, I admit it. This is proof that I can earn my own money. What about you? Who are you without your parents?” This time, I didn’t want to be like in my previous life, where I would just cry a little in frustration, pretend nothing happened, and meekly continue to serve them tea and water. The number one follower was furious: “You, you’re completely unreasonable.” “I can be even more unreasonable. Do you want to hear?” Melody Lin first coughed lightly twice, proving herself to be weak and pitiful. Her eyes were red, as if tears could fall at any moment. She had a congenital heart disease and was born with a weak body. “Sister, I’m sorry. My friends are all just looking out for me. They didn’t mean any harm. Please be the bigger person and forgive them.” Look at that, every word stabbing at your heart. First saying you have no friends, then saying my friends didn’t mean it, and finally, if you don’t forgive, it becomes your fault. However, I didn’t want to give any face at all: “Right, they didn’t mean it. They meant it.” “Why should I forgive you just because you apologized?” “Since you know what they said hurt me, why didn’t you stop them earlier, instead of coming to play the good person afterward?” “I’ve seen gossipy old ladies who talk less than you.” As expected, she rolled her eyes and fainted.

I quickly supported her. Still wanting to play this trick, I looked down at her with a smile. My hands weren’t idle at all. I had prepared two needles in advance, which were now pressed against her waist. “Melody, what’s wrong with you?” “Hey, you dirty tramp, why are you bullying Melody?” “She’s fainted, quick, call 911.” Taking advantage of the moment when her friends took over, I suddenly jabbed. She screamed and jumped up, instantly full of life and vigor. Completely gone was the weak and delicate feeling from before. “Is everyone having a good time?” Accompanied by the voice, my parents walked in. The opposing camp immediately started tattling on me in front of my face. The one who called me a beggar pointed at me and said, “Uncle, Auntie, she bullied Melody and scolded us.” Meanwhile, Melody stood to the side, her eyes brimming with tears. Slap! My father took a quick step forward and slapped me. “Serves her right,” someone muttered. “Who taught you to bully your sister?” The accusatory words followed. My mom came to her senses, pushed my dad away, and rushed over to hug me. “What are you doing? Hitting the child without even finding out what happened?” I let go of my mom’s hand and stared at him with blazing eyes. “What right do you have to hit me? Since you dare to hit me, I’ll hit her.” Another slap, and a clear handprint appeared on Melody’s face. Seeing that she was about to pretend to faint again. I leaned close to her and whispered, “If you dare to fall down, I’ll stab you to death.” Let’s see if you wake up or not then. Melody stared at me with wide eyes, even forgetting to cry. My dad wanted to hit me again, but my mom held him back. In my previous life, I was framed and even accused of stealing. There was no evidence. No one spoke up for me, and my dad badmouthed me to my mom. Even my mom let it happen, thinking I should be properly disciplined, allowing my dad to whip me. This time, has my mom changed?

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On my 18th birthday, I was tossed overboard 18 times like a worthless dog by a young master. And all of it—just to make his first love laugh. Outside the morgue. My mom clutched the $180,000 they handed her, smiling through her tears. In an instant, she transformed into their new “stepmother” and “mother-in-law.” Unbelievable. The woman I had endured endless humiliation to support—the fragile, helpless, eternally sick woman—turned out to be the long-lost first love of one of the wealthiest tycoons. But my mother’s hunt had only just begun. My mom is a lunatic. When I was little, she could still scrape together some money to raise me. But after I turned 15, her condition worsened, and she was sent to a psychiatric hospital. From then on, I dropped out of school and started working to support her. I never knew my father. When I asked, she’d either have a meltdown, destroy everything in sight, or hurt herself while screaming that he was dead. Eventually, I stopped asking. At the hospital, my mom spent her days playing the role of a rich heiress, claiming to be the unattainable first love of every high society bachelor. She even roped in other patients to act out ridiculous soap opera dramas with her. She had no idea. To keep her fed, clothed, and comfortable in that hospital, I had become nothing more than a plaything for the rich men.

My mom was beautiful and statuesque. Even the fragments of her beauty I inherited were enough to make those rich boys lose themselves. But between wealth and poverty lies a chasm called class. While my peers were busy enjoying their youth and burying themselves in books, I was on my knees, pouring drinks and laughing at jokes for some trust fund brat. I met Manhattan’s golden boy, Logan Carter, at one of those parties. One of the young heirs sneered, “If you can make Logan laugh, I’ll give you $10,000.” Ten grand—just loose change to them—was three days’ worth of my mom’s treatment. The doctor had said her condition was curable, but the cost of medication was astronomical. I had no choice. I wanted her healed. I wanted to go back to school. I wanted to sit in a bright, clean classroom like everyone else my age. But that dream could only come true if I kept her alive. I’d already heard stories about Logan Carter before I met him. Back in high school, he had fallen in love with a girl who rejected his passionate confession and moved abroad. Heartbroken, he hadn’t smiled since. How dramatic and precious, I thought. I’d never met his first love, Serena Brooks, but I imagined she was the kind of pure, perfect girl who lived in the daydreams of every teenage boy. So when I washed off my makeup, tied my hair into a ponytail, and put on a school uniform to stand before Logan, something unexpected happened. He cried. That was the night I made my name. I became Serena Brooks’ replacement—the little bird Logan Carter kept in a gilded cage. For three years, he made me dress like her, talk like her, laugh like her. He played games with me, confessed to me, and showered me with the kind of care I thought only existed in fairy tales. I thought Logan Carter was my salvation. But when Serena came back, everything I’d built crumbled to dust. On my 18th birthday, he cast me into the freezing depths of despair.

Logan Carter didn’t break his promise. He threw me a grand birthday celebration on his yacht—a party fit for royalty. “Baby, I’ll always protect you, no matter what…” he whispered as he knelt before me, holding a ring. Surrounded by the cheers of onlookers, he was just about to slip the ring onto my finger when a sob shattered the moment. Serena Brooks. Her sudden appearance caught me completely off guard. For three years, I thought I’d smoothed over Logan’s heartbreak and carved out a place for myself in his life. I even allowed myself to fantasize that their story had ended. But when Serena cried and threatened to jump overboard, Logan didn’t hesitate. He sprinted to her side, wrapping her in his arms as the crowd erupted into applause. I stood frozen, my entire body growing cold. All I could hear were the jeers around me: “She’s just a pathetic toy. What makes her think she could compare to Serena?” “A whore who’s happy with a few grand—let’s see how many splashes she can make!” Before I could identify the voices mocking me, someone shoved me into the ocean. Icy water flooded my nose and mouth as panic gripped me. They pulled me out, only to throw me back in again. Over and over, I was dragged to the brink of death. And Logan Carter? He didn’t stop them. Instead, when he saw Serena laugh at my humiliation, he joined in. He personally threw me overboard, like I was nothing more than a dead dog. On the 18th time he hurled me into the freezing waters, as Serena’s radiant smile lit up the night, I finally surrendered to the embrace of death.

The party on the yacht didn’t stop just because I sank to the bottom of the ocean. It wasn’t until dawn broke that they finally sailed away from international waters. I used to love the freedom and vastness of the sea. But now, floating on its endless expanse, I found myself longing for my mom. Days later, my broken body was discovered by a fishing boat and eventually sent back to the States. At the morgue. For the first time in three years, I saw my mom. She looked so much better now—her health had improved dramatically, her condition stable after years of care. The doctors had even said that she might soon be able to leave the psychiatric facility and try living like a normal person again. But now, as she stumbled out of the morgue, she was a hollow shell of the woman I’d nurtured back to health. Gone was the vibrant spark she wore while playing her dramatic heiress roles at the hospital. Her lifeless eyes and vacant expression made it seem like she was teetering on the edge of another breakdown. Calm on the surface, but I could feel the storm brewing inside her. Mom. My mom. Please, please don’t lose yourself now. If you fall apart, then everything I endured will have been for nothing. “Mrs. Parker, our deepest condolences. This $180,000 is a small token from us on behalf of Nia. Please, we hope you won’t refuse it.” Serena Brooks appeared, arm linked with Logan Carter, as if they hadn’t just orchestrated my death. Their audacity made my ghostly fury burn hot. How dare they? How dare they show up here with money to insult my mother like this? Serena held a paper bag filled with crisp, blood-red bills, shoving it toward my mom’s trembling hands. My mom blinked in confusion, raising her head slowly. “And… you are?” “We were Nia’s friends,” Serena said, dabbing at her dry eyes with a tissue, pretending to be overwhelmed by emotion. “We’re heartbroken over what happened. Please, Mrs. Parker, you have to stay strong for her sake.” She forced the bag of money into my mom’s hands again, her fake concern dripping with malice. I was seething, my ghostly rage flaring. Mom, don’t take it! That’s blood money! If she accepted it, the case would be buried for good.

But the next second, my mother took it. I watched in agony as her slender fingers closed around the bag. In the corner of the room, I noticed someone discreetly snapping photos of the scene. “Such kind children,” my mom mumbled. Her voice was flat, and her smile didn’t reach her vacant eyes. She gripped the bag tightly, muttering, “Thank you… thank you so much…” Serena’s lips curled into the faintest hint of a sneer, a flicker of disdain flashing in her eyes. My anger surged. She shivered as if feeling the cold touch of my wrath. Logan quickly made an excuse to leave. “Mrs. Parker, please take care of yourself. We’ll be going now.” My mom stood frozen, clutching the money as though it anchored her to this world. Her lips moved silently, whispering something I couldn’t make out. “Logan, I’m scared,” Serena said softly as they walked away, her voice trembling with mock vulnerability. “Do you think she’ll find out the truth?” “Don’t worry,” Logan replied, his tone dismissive. “Even if she does, it won’t matter. She’s crazy. No one would believe anything she says, and it’s not like she has any proof.” “You’re so good to me, Logan.” “You’re the treasure I thought I’d lost forever. If I’m not good to you, who else would I be good to?” “You’re terrible!” she laughed, lightly swatting his arm. “But I have to admit, I was surprised. Her mom’s so elegant—she reminds me of some old Hollywood star. Good thing Nia didn’t inherit too much of that. Otherwise, you’d have forgotten all about me ages ago.” “Impossible,” Logan said, leaning closer to her. “You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.” Their words sliced through me like knives as they walked straight through my ghostly form, oblivious to my presence. I was useless in life. Now, I was just as useless in death. I couldn’t protect myself. I couldn’t protect my mom. “Wait.” My mom’s voice broke through the silence. Logan froze, turning back to her. She stared at him intently, her gaze locking onto his face as though searching for something. “Logan Carter…” she said slowly, her voice trembling. “What’s your connection to Charles Carter?”

Logan Carter blinked in surprise. “Mrs. Parker, you know my father?” My mom snapped out of her trance-like focus and shook her head, mumbling under her breath, “No… no… I don’t know him. I don’t know anyone…” “She really is crazy,” Logan muttered, exchanging a smirk with Serena Brooks. Relieved, they turned and left. “$180,000?” “Hah!” “Charles Carter once begged me to have lunch with him for more than $180,000. Logan’s even more pathetic than his father.” Beneath the curtain of her long hair, the corners of my mom’s mouth curled into a slow, sinister smile. That predatory glint in her eyes—it was like watching a hunter preparing for the kill. I had no idea how my mom managed to get released from the psychiatric facility, but she did. I followed her back to the rundown apartment we used to call home. She spent hours methodically sorting through my belongings, rifling through my phone, and piecing together every humiliating detail of my life. She didn’t flinch, didn’t cry. Her expression was blank the entire time. When she stumbled across a few moments of happiness I’d recorded on my phone, she even chuckled softly to herself. “What an idiot,” she muttered. Excuse me? Mom, do you even hear yourself right now?! After sitting in eerie silence for an entire day and night, she suddenly got up, grabbed the $180,000 she’d accepted, emptied the last few thousand dollars I had in my savings, and stormed off to the designer boutiques downtown. By the time she was done, she’d blown all the money except for enough to buy a hamburger. This woman is insane! Even back when Logan Carter treated me like a princess, I never dared to spend money so recklessly. Two pieces of chiffon sewn into a cocktail dress—was that supposed to be more important than her medication or basic necessities? Did she think she’d die if she didn’t have the perfect hairstyle or high heels? She’s almost 40 years old, still clinging to some delusional dream of being a high-society debutante. I wanted to shove her right back into the psychiatric hospital so she could act out her soap opera fantasies there. “Silly girl,” she sighed later, as if lecturing me. “You know, men’s money is meant to be spent. If you don’t spend it, someone else will. And if you’re not careful, that money might just come back as the knife in your back…”

She’d been rambling nonstop these past few days, always throwing in little jabs at me. Her words hit so hard I almost wanted to come back to life just to argue with her. But every time I cooled off, I had to admit she wasn’t entirely wrong. Take now, for example. She strutted into the most exclusive club in the city, head held high, and booked the largest VIP diamond suite like she owned the place. Then, without batting an eye, she ordered eighty male models to fawn over her. She was sitting there like a queen, completely ignoring the fact that she had less than $10 left in her pocket. Because of her, I got to indulge in a bit of luxury myself, though I couldn’t help stressing over how she was planning to get out of this mess. Places like this didn’t operate without the backing of some serious power players. When she finally decided she’d had enough fun, she got up to leave, acting like nothing had happened. Predictably, a group of bouncers appeared to block her path. I floated above them, hopping mad. But my mom? She didn’t even blink. She sipped her wine gracefully, raised her chin, and said, “Go get your boss. Let’s see if he’s brave enough to take my money.” Mom, are you out of your mind?! This wasn’t the hospital—no one was going to humor her delusional high-society theatrics here. If she didn’t leave now, she was going to get herself killed. And sure enough, things escalated quickly. Word spread that someone was causing trouble in the club. Soon enough, Ryan Cole—one of the rich heirs who’d once paid me to amuse Logan Carter—showed up with a group of lackeys, making a big scene. “Do you even know where you are?” Ryan sneered. “Other than Logan, the last idiot to pull a stunt like this ended up six feet under, and that was 18 years ago!” “Logan hasn’t even been coming around since that whole Nia Parker mess,” one of his friends added with a groan. “This place has been so boring without him.” “Shut your mouth!” Ryan snapped. “Serena said no one’s allowed to mention that bad-luck ghost anymore. Keep your lips sealed about what happened in international waters, or you’re dead!” As they bickered, my mom sat in the middle of the room, perfectly composed, swirling her wine. At the mention of my name, her eyes narrowed dangerously. Before Ryan could say another word, she smirked and raised her glass toward him. “Kid,” she said coolly, “I’m not here for you. I want to see Liam Cole. Three minutes. That’s all I’ll wait.” Ryan’s face darkened with rage. But then, as he got a closer look at her, he froze. His anger evaporated, replaced by a flicker of fear. Without a word, he pulled out his phone and rushed to the corner of the room to make a call. I watched as he glanced nervously at my mom, his expression a mix of panic and disbelief. “Dad,” he hissed into the phone, “that lady from 18 years ago—the one who skipped out on her bill and started a fight—she’s back!” Excuse me?!

“Vivi… is it really you, Vivi?” Liam Cole, the elusive and powerful owner of the club, came stumbling out from the private floors below in less than two minutes. He practically fell to his knees in front of her, looking as awestruck as a loyal dog seeing its goddess. My mom, however, remained completely indifferent, her expression calm and unreadable. She leaned down, gently pinching his chin, and said three sentences: “Tell Charles Carter he has half a day to clean out the pests in his family.” “Your younger generation… they need better discipline.” “Oh, and remember what I told you years ago? Keep gambling, and you’ll end up at the bottom of the river.” Liam, visibly shaken, nodded frantically, agreeing to everything she said. He even begged her to stay in the presidential suite of the five-star hotel next door, all in the hopes of earning one approving word from her. As we left the club, my mom gave Ryan Cole, Liam’s son, a faint, enigmatic smile. I swear I saw the color drain from his face like the sky was falling. If that wasn’t bizarre enough, less than an hour later, Charles Carter himself—the legendary business mogul of the East Coast—showed up at the hotel. And then, to my utter disbelief, the man knelt before my mom with tears in his eyes, holding up an enormous diamond ring. “Vivi, will you finally marry me?” My mom accepted the ring, but her response was as cold as ever: “No marriage license. No public announcement. No shared bedroom.” “Anything you want!” Charles said desperately. “As long as you stay with me, I’ll agree to it all.” I stared, completely dumbfounded. So, it turns out all those over-the-top dramas my mom had acted out in the psychiatric hospital, with her “haughty heiress” persona? They weren’t just an act. And all those high-society characters she mentioned? They were real. Once the shock faded, an uncomfortable weight settled in my chest. If my mom was this capable, then why had she spent years holed up in a rundown apartment, raising a child alone and eventually losing her mind? If any of these powerful people had known about her struggles, would I have still suffered through all those humiliations? Would I have ended up dead at 18? The tangled relationships and the bitter irony of it all made me want to laugh. And yet, here she was, about to become Charles Carter’s kept woman. Just another gilded bird in the Carter family’s cage.

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Lucas hates me for killing his sister. He’s told me more than once to go die. “Sophia, you should be the one who’s dead. How dare you continue living?” That night, I fulfilled his wish and tried to end my life with an overdose of sleeping pills. Later, when he learned of my death, he knelt beside my body, clutching my hand tightly. “Sophia, I was wrong.” “Please don’t play such a cruel joke on me.” I died. As Lucas wished, I finally paid for his sister’s life with my own. After taking an overdose of sleeping pills, I slipped into unconsciousness, my life slowly ebbing away. Fortunately, I passed away in my sleep. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself floating in the air, surrounded by a group of medical staff in scrubs and white coats. The sheets were stained red, a sight that was deeply disturbing to anyone who saw it. Yes, I was the one who called the ambulance. I didn’t want my body to be discovered only after it had started decomposing. Moreover, I was alone in this world, with no family to notice if I was gone. After the doctor confirmed that I couldn’t be revived, he pronounced me dead on the spot. Upon identifying me, he sighed softly, looking regretful. “Another poor soul.” “I wonder if she has a loved one who will come to claim her body.” A loved one. At first, I thought I had one, but later I realized I was wrong. He didn’t love me at all. He hated me and wanted me dead. So now, I’ve fulfilled his wish and left this world. Looking at my cold, pale body, my mind began to wander. Lucas, how will you feel when you hear about my death?

My soul left the hospital and floated to Lucas’s house. The lights were on in the luxurious townhouse, and the TV in the living room was playing, but Lucas’s attention was clearly not on it. He was frowning, his eyes fixed on the phone he was gripping tightly, seemingly hesitating about something. Finally, as if he had made up his mind, he dialed a number. As the busy tone became more frequent on the other end, his patience gradually disappeared. He angrily hung up and threw the phone onto the floor. Lucas had always been impatient, so I wasn’t particularly surprised to see him act this way. But what he said next shocked me. “Sophia, how dare you not answer my calls? Are you trying to provoke me?” After saying this, as if still not satisfied, he swept everything off the coffee table onto the floor. The sound of shattering was jarring, but he seemed oblivious to it and continued smashing things. “Sophia, don’t think you can escape my sight like this. I’m telling you, the only way I’ll let you go is if you die!” Hearing these words, I felt a tightness in my chest. Lucas, as you wished, I’m already dead.

Actually, Lucas didn’t always hate me this much. He used to be good to me, even promising that he would love only me for the rest of his life. I still clearly remember the scene when he got down on one knee and proposed to me on my birthday. He said, “Sophia, marry me. Let me spend the rest of my life loving you. Let’s spend our days together happily. I’ll make sure you’re happy every day, with a smile always on your face.” Back then, his world revolved around me. I truly believed I had found the love of my life. But I never imagined that a car accident would turn our world upside down. On the day I found a job after graduating from college, Lucas’s sister Lily suggested we go out for hot pot to celebrate. I couldn’t refuse her kind offer, so I happily agreed. But at that intersection, a large truck suddenly came hurtling towards us. When I woke up again, I was in the hospital, and I was told that Lily had lost her life in the accident. The doctor told me that Lily had used her body to shield me from the truck. She died saving me. Those few short words made me lose my only best friend in this world, and on the same day, I lost Lucas’s love. To this day, I can’t forget the sight of Lucas, his face pale, kneeling on the ground when he heard the news. I tried to apologize to him. But he ignored me. He even violently pushed away my trembling hand when I tried to hold his. And then, I heard him say the most vicious words he had ever said to me. “Sophia, why couldn’t it have been you who died?” From that day on, he began to torment me, ensuring that the rest of my life was no longer filled with laughter and joy, but instead with constant suffering. I know he hates me. And he has every right to hate me. So even now, I’m grateful that he didn’t see me in my final moments.

To be honest, I can understand Lucas’s hatred towards me. He and Lily grew up in a single-parent family. After their mother passed away, they only had each other to rely on. Lucas was very smart. When he graduated from college, he secured a job offer from a well-known tech company based on his abilities. After working for two years, he earned his first pot of gold and used it to start his own small company. Over the years, under his management and operation, the company gradually got on track. I witnessed all his hard work. So when we were together, I would always make him hangover soup when he drank too much, clean him up, and change him into fresh pajamas so he could have a good night’s sleep. I would also make various stomach-friendly soups for him at noon every day, worried that he might skip meals due to his busy work schedule. His work was so demanding, so I wanted to do what I could to help him. Under my careful care, Lucas’s quality of life visibly improved. Even Lily would sometimes envy him for having such a caring girlfriend. And every time this happened, Lucas would plant a deep kiss on my cheek to show his love and gratitude. I thought this was what a peaceful life looked like. Back then, I naively believed that the rest of my life would continue to be this happy. So when Lucas hated me, I could understand. Because I hated myself just as much for letting Lily die.

With his phone broken, Lucas vented his emotions and then returned to his room. He simply thought I wasn’t answering his calls, never imagining that I was already dead. Looking at his face, red with anger, I couldn’t help but recall the first time he ever got angry with me. It was the first time I returned to the Lucas family home after being discharged from the hospital following the accident. When he saw me walk in from outside, he looked at me as if I were his mortal enemy. He rushed up to me and violently threw everything I was carrying out the door. “Sophia, how dare you come back here!” “Sophia, don’t forget that you killed my sister with your own hands. How dare you continue to live here so comfortably?” His words were like salt on my already wounded heart. My emotions, pushed to the brink by his constant pressure over the past few days, were about to explode. My hands clenched into fists at my sides, and for the first time, I shouted back at him. “Lucas, if you hate me so much, why don’t you just kill me? Wouldn’t it be better to kill me to pay for your sister’s life?” “Do you think you’re the only one suffering? Have you seen my pain? If I could, I wish I had never met you two in this life!” The sharp sound of a slap brought me back to my senses. My cheek quickly became hot, and the ringing in my ears cleared my mind. I had almost lost control again. Afraid of going crazy again, I pushed him away and ran out the door frantically. Only to find that once I left the Lucas family, I had nowhere to go. In the end, with no other choice, I spent a few nights under a bridge. The cold November wind was biting, and I wore nothing but a thin jacket. Shivering from the cold, I couldn’t help but remember the sudden drop in body temperature due to blood loss on the day of the accident. That feeling was very similar to death. Just when I thought I would freeze to death on the streets, Lucas appeared before me again, his face gloomy. He yanked me up from the ground. I thought he might be concerned about me, but the first thing he said was, “Sophia, dying like this would be too easy for you. You should experience what it’s like to suffer a fate worse than death.” Hearing him say this to me, I looked at him in disbelief. At that moment, I suddenly felt that the Lucas standing in front of me was so unfamiliar. So unfamiliar that it was as if I had never known him at all. “Sophia, don’t even think about escaping from me, because I will watch you experience an unbearably painful life.” “You owe Lily, and you should repay it with your life.”

After Lucas finished washing up, the doorbell of the townhouse suddenly rang. Standing at the door was Emma, Lucas’s childhood friend who had grown up with him. I had known that Emma liked him ever since I started dating Lucas. As the front door opened, Emma, dressed in an elegant cocktail dress and looking impeccable, appeared before Lucas. Unlike me, she always seemed to have a cheerful demeanor, as if she could bring endless joy to people. Not only that, but she also knew how to cheer Lucas up. For instance, now she sensitively noticed Lucas’s irritable mood and began to patiently comfort him as she sat beside him. “Lucas, don’t be angry. It’s not worth getting upset over someone like that.” Lucas glanced at her, then expressionlessly took the candy from her hand. “You’re right. It’s not worth getting angry over such a despicable person. She doesn’t deserve it.” Yes. I don’t deserve it.

“Lucas, you shouldn’t talk about Sophia like that. Maybe she’s just upset about what you said to her, that’s why she’s not answering your calls.” “Why don’t I try to talk to Sophia for you?” Hearing these words, my soul floating in the air couldn’t help but sneer. Doesn’t Emma find this two-faced act exhausting? If I hadn’t truly seen the dark side of her heart, I could never have imagined that a person could be so different behind closed doors. Hearing Emma’s words, Lucas smiled slightly at her. “Emma, you’re always so understanding. Sophia usually treats you so poorly, yet you’re still here defending her to me.” “We’ve known each other for over twenty years, and you’ve become increasingly gentle and considerate. I was truly blind to have fallen in love with a vicious woman like Sophia back then.” “Emma, ever since Lily left us, you’ve been by my side, taking care of me, accompanying me through this difficult time. I really should thank you properly. If it weren’t for you, I honestly don’t know what I would have done.” Emma’s hand slowly grasped Lucas’s. “Lucas, don’t say such formal things to me. You know you’re the one I’ve always liked.” Their eyes met, and I saw Emma start to lean towards Lucas. She tilted her head slightly and kissed the corner of his lips. Lucas’s body stiffened for a moment, but it was only for an instant. Then he took control, his hand pulling her waist to make her sit on his lap. His fingers held the back of her head, deepening the kiss. The quiet environment was filled with the continuous sound of their passionate embrace. A wave of nausea suddenly rushed to my head. I covered my mouth, afraid that I might throw up in front of them the next second. The two of them continued to be intimate on the couch. I could clearly see a flash of triumph in Emma’s slightly open eyes. That look reminded me of the expression of satisfaction she had when she bullied me behind closed doors, making me kneel before her. The memories I thought had died came rushing back to attack me.

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