Category: English

Three years ago, I accidentally witnessed my husband’s scandalous affair with our adopted daughter, who has dwarfism. As a result, Gabriel completely rejected me. Rose, our adopted daughter with dwarfism, locked me in the cellar, chaining me through my shoulder blades until I was nothing but skin and bones. Three years later, Rose fell seriously ill, and Gabriel finally remembered me. He brought a large group of people to search for me, but all traces led to the cellar in our own house. He thought I was still throwing a tantrum. “If you’re willing to personally perform the surgery on Rose, I can forgive you for leaving without a word three years ago,” he said. My voice was hoarse, and when I opened my mouth wide, I could only make a “heh heh” sound. Finally, Gabriel opened the cellar door himself. Only to find me, starved to death. Three years ago, I should have been at work, but I returned home to retrieve an important document I had accidentally left behind. That’s when I discovered my husband’s affair with our adopted daughter with dwarfism. In our mansion, all the servants had been sent away. Our marital bed was creaking rhythmically. Rose, our adopted daughter with dwarfism, was wearing my sexy nightgown, straddling my husband’s lap. “If she knew that you only adopted me to make it easier to sleep with me, she’d probably die of anger.” “Well, she’s so stupid she can’t even tell you have dwarfism,” Gabriel said, looking satisfied as he held Rose. “We absolutely can’t let her find out. I told her I’d love only her for life. If she wasn’t on her period lately, it wouldn’t be your turn, you little minx.” I trembled all over, my eyes instantly turning red. Gabriel and I had been in love for years. Everyone said Gabriel was a good man. When he pursued me, he said, “I want to win your heart and grow old with you.” After we married, he even dismissed all the female servants in the house, even hiring a male housekeeper. All to prove his undying love for me. Everyone said he loved me more than his own life. But only I knew that Gabriel had one exception: Rose. Rose was the adopted daughter Gabriel had insisted on taking in. His exact words were: “Rose was entrusted to me by my war buddy. I can’t abandon her.” I never imagined he would personally “take care” of her in bed. Whenever it came to matters concerning Rose, Gabriel seemed to lose all reason. On our first wedding anniversary, I had carefully prepared a special celebration. But because Rose had sprained her ankle, he left me waiting and personally took her to the hospital instead. Once, when things were getting hot and heavy between Gabriel and me in bed, Rose called, crying that she was afraid of thunder. Gabriel pulled up his pants and went to comfort her. There were many such incidents, but I never thought much of it. I never imagined they had been having an affair all along, and I had been kept in the dark for so long until this accidental discovery. It turns out Rose has a childlike appearance due to her dwarfism. I had been fooled so badly. I thought I would burst in angrily and confront them. But I didn’t. I just stiffly put down the file folder and waited for the two inside to finish. I thought Gabriel would look guilty and ashamed after being discovered, but he was surprisingly calm. “Since you’ve found out, you should treat Rose even better from now on. She’s not really your adopted daughter, so don’t force her to call you mom anymore. If you two can get along harmoniously, I won’t have to go to the trouble of hiding it anymore.” Gabriel looked at me as if everything he had done was justified, as if I had forced him into this. I trembled with anger, almost on the verge of collapse. I pointed at the two of them and said, “How could you do this to me?” Since marrying Gabriel, I had done everything to please him. I even often handled his family business affairs for him, giving him more free time. Out of pity for Rose’s tragic past, I made her nutritious soups every day. But these two had been doing such outrageous things behind my back. “Why are you acting like someone from the old society? Can’t you handle even this much?” “Let’s talk when you’ve calmed down. I’m going on a business trip for a few days.” “I’m afraid you might hurt Rose while I’m gone, so I’ve transferred the house’s security and management rights to her,” Gabriel said with a look of disgust, then put on his coat and left. Only Rose and I were left in the room. She pitifully held a bowl of chicken soup, looking helpless. But I only felt disgust and knocked the bowl out of her hand. “Rose, you make me sick. Is tricking me so much fun?” If I had known earlier that Rose wasn’t really a child, but just a person with dwarfism, I would never have agreed to my husband’s adoption plan. But as I turned away, a flash of malice and cruelty crossed Rose’s face. That night, while I was sound asleep, she snuck into my room and smashed a vase against the back of my head. The once gentle and timid adopted daughter with dwarfism suddenly turned into a powerful brute. With a hideous expression, she grabbed my hair and inhumanly dragged me into the cellar. “You should have just gone along with it. Mia, you’re nothing but an orphan. How dare you give me attitude?” “You shouldn’t have discovered our dirty secret. To keep you from telling anyone, and to make him love me more, I have no choice but to do this to you.” Rose threaded an iron chain as thick as a finger through my shoulder blades, locking me in the cellar. I screamed shrilly, but no one heard me. A feeling of utter despair washed over me. When Gabriel returned from his business trip, he didn’t find me at home. He asked Rose, but got no answer. In the end, he just assumed my disappearance was my way of protesting against him. Gradually, I was forgotten. “Mia, are you addicted to throwing tantrums? Forget it, don’t bother about her. If she wants to run away from home, let her go.” I cried out in my heart: No, I didn’t! Gabriel, why couldn’t you look for me a little harder? I was imprisoned like this for three years, becoming nothing but skin and bones. Rose would occasionally bring me some leftover dog food, just enough to keep me from starving to death. My tongue had been cut out, so I couldn’t say a single word. But recently… I felt confused, blinking my sore eyes. Rose hadn’t given me any food for a long time. My body was extremely weak, all four limbs chained, surrounded by darkness and a foul stench. A bitter smile crossed my mind. Perhaps today would be the day I die. But then Gabriel brought a large team of bodyguards to stand in the courtyard. Pinching his nose, he called out: “Mia, I know you’re hiding in there. If you’re willing to personally perform the surgery on Rose, I can forgive you for leaving without a word three years ago.”

I had been missing for three years, and Gabriel finally remembered me. He thought I was still throwing a tantrum and kept trying to persuade me: “Mia, I won’t agree to divorce you. You’ve been gone for three years, surely you’ve had enough of being willful. It’s time for you to come back.” “Mia, Rose is seriously ill. All the doctors in A City told me that only you can perform this surgery. Please come out and do the surgery for Rose, okay?” My expression was wooden, but hearing these words, I finally showed a hint of emotion. So Rose was seriously ill. Gabriel, you only remembered me now? It’s been three years already? Before marrying Gabriel, I was a highly reputable doctor. After marrying him, I became the lady of his house. Every day was spent taking care of Gabriel and handling messes for his family business. If not for Gabriel’s calls, I would have forgotten that I was once a doctor. I opened my mouth, wanting to shout loudly, wanting to tell Gabriel that I was in the cellar. But I could only make a “heh heh” sound. I had lost my tongue long ago. I began to cry silently, tears wetting my cheeks. Gabriel continued shouting in the courtyard: “Mia, stop throwing tantrums. Rose is our adopted daughter. How can you bear to see her die so young?” I remained silent, my face wooden. What he didn’t know was that Rose had imprisoned me for three years. For three years, I had lived like a dog. Without a tongue, I could only make low whimpering sounds. The interior of the mansion was managed by servants arranged by Rose, so no one had discovered me. Gabriel frowned coldly: “Mia, you’ve gone too far. What kind of tantrum are you throwing? Don’t forget you’re still my wife. All these years, you’ve never fulfilled your duties as a wife.” “Compared to Rose, you have absolutely no sense of responsibility.” He snorted in disgust, comparing me unfavorably to Rose. Gabriel felt a hint of unease. He had investigated his wife Mia’s whereabouts and found that she hadn’t left the city three years ago. In the end, all traces pointed to this cellar. But would Mia, a person with severe germaphobia, hide in a cellar for three years? This was clearly impossible. Gabriel took out a handkerchief from his pocket and covered his nose and mouth, as if something was bothering him. The closer he got to the cellar, the stronger the strange smell became. He called out a few times but heard no response. His impatience reached its peak. “Send a few men to break down the cellar door. I want to see what’s inside that could keep her hidden for three years.” Gabriel sneered, his eyes full of disgust. “Maybe her lover is in there.” With a loud “boom”, the bodyguards went forward to check, but then turned back to report: “Mr. Gu, there’s a specially made iron door inside. We can’t break it down.” Hearing this, Gabriel was stunned, then flew into a rage. As if he had caught me in some wrongdoing. He continued shouting into the cellar: “Mia, I knew you were hiding in there. I never specially renovated the cellar in this mansion. It must be you in there!” “Continue, continue breaking it down. I want to see what Mia’s lover looks like.” He seemed to have completely forgotten that he was the one who cheated first, and instead was bent on catching evidence of me having an affair. I curled my lips, moving the iron nails in my face, causing festering blood to flow out. Gabriel, when you personally see me in this miserable state, will you regret indulging Rose? After a bout of violent demolition, the cellar was opened. Fresh air rushed in for the first time in years. “Mr. Gu, it’s open. But it’s filthy and stinks inside. It doesn’t look like a place where someone could live.” The bodyguard casually glanced around at the entrance. “Do you want to go in and check yourself?” Gabriel frowned, not believing it. He wanted to search the place himself. But just as he was about to step into the cellar… “Mr. Gu, the hospital called. Miss Rose’s condition has worsened.” Gabriel’s face changed dramatically, his voice trembling. “Let’s go to the hospital. Rose’s condition is urgent.” “Mia, you’d better come out voluntarily to perform surgery on Rose, or I’ll never let you off for anything.” His eyes were only for Rose. Even as he left the cellar, he had to leave those harsh words for Rose’s sake. As I heard the footsteps moving further away from me, I became anxious. I started making whimpering sounds with all my strength. Help! Gabriel, I’m just a few steps behind you. Gabriel, if you just turn around, you’ll see me. But having not eaten for days, I quickly ran out of strength to call out. A wave of dizziness completely enveloped me. But Gabriel didn’t notice the commotion behind him at all. Instead, he walked towards the hospital without stopping. My vital signs began to disappear.

As I lay dying, my soul seemed to float above the hospital. I heard Gabriel suppressing his anger. “Mia should be the one dying. Rose is so pitiful, why does she have to get this illness?” Rose lay pale on the hospital bed. Her words implied: “I don’t blame Mia. It’s my fault for doing wrong with Gabriel. She hates me and deliberately poisoned me to cause this illness. I deserve it.” Floating nearby, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. So even as I was about to die, Rose was still throwing mud at me. I was really about to die. Gabriel began to curse angrily: “Mia, you’re so heartless. Rose is just an innocent girl. Just because she has dwarfism, you had to do this to her?” “If you have the guts, keep hiding. Don’t let me catch you, or I’ll definitely punish you severely.” A flash of malice crossed Rose’s eyes as she asked expectantly. “I heard Gabriel went to find many doctors for me. Did you find that reclusive doctor?” Gabriel’s face froze, then he comforted her, patting her shoulder: “Rose, I’ll definitely get that doctor to perform surgery on you.” “I believe in you, Gabriel. You’re the best.” The two were lovey-dovey in the hospital room, not at all mindful of the medical staff. I felt utterly hopeless. Even though Rose had shown me countless intimate photos over the past three years, it was nothing compared to what I saw today. I felt a surge of blood in my heart, a sweet taste spreading in my throat. This was the omen of death. My pupils dilated, and after spitting out a mouthful of blood, I finally passed away. Gabriel rushed back to the cellar entrance. “Bang bang bang.” Violent knocking came from the cellar door. This time, Gabriel opened it himself. His expression was full of disgust, not even trying to hide it. “Mia, it’s been three years. You should have some limits.” For Rose’s condition, even if there was only a glimmer of hope, he recklessly plunged into the cellar. But the cellar was empty, except for various blood-stained torture instruments. And a blood-covered figure that was almost mummified. Nothing else. He walked towards the wooden stake, full of suspicion, cursing as he went: “Mia, what kind of trick are you playing?” But the next second. His expression changed drastically, as if he had seen a ghost. His lips trembled, even his fingertips shaking. The objects in the cellar were old and in disrepair. After the bombing and blasting, the wooden stake was about to collapse. The stake swayed, about to fall to the ground. In that instant, Gabriel clearly saw the face of the blood-covered figure. He scrambled towards the blood-covered figure. His eyes nearly popping out of their sockets: “Mia!”

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My mom is a top lawyer. She defended a murderer, turning a death sentence into an acquittal. She didn’t know the victim was her own daughter. Mom never liked me. She called me a vixen, saying I’d cry to gain men’s sympathy. On my 18th birthday, I went out waiting for the surprise mom mentioned. What I got was a killer. Later, that star lawyer went insane. On my 18th birthday, a message lured me to a desolate mountain. It was from mom. “5 PM, North Forest Mountain. A surprise awaits you.” I was overjoyed, dressing up carefully before heading out. Mom had never liked me and rarely came to see me. When I visited friends’ houses, she’d scold me for being improper, always trying to seduce people. If I wore a pretty dress, she’d say my mind wasn’t right, that I wasn’t focused on studying. When a male classmate gave me a birthday gift, she accused me of being calculating, of harming others. This was the first time mom was giving me a gift. I twirled around, feeling as light as if I had wings. I waited and waited on the mountain, until the last bus had gone. She never came. Was mom tricking me? Maybe something held her up. Footsteps sounded behind me. I turned around, excited. What I got was a demon. I ran desperately in the opposite direction, trying to reach the road for help. Night had fallen. There was no moon, no lights. If only I could move a little quieter, a little quicker, I could surely escape. Get to the road, call the police, seek help. But what about mom? What if she came and ran into him? My phone rang – it was the ringtone I’d set for mom. Damn, I’d been discovered. I silenced the ring and ran with all my might. Mom, don’t come. It’s dangerous here. He pinned me to the ground, a knife tracing inch by inch across my skin. Mud clung to my body, blood splattered onto the soil. The ringtone seemed to start again, then stopped after a while, the screen light fading with it. I died on my 18th birthday. Covered in mud, full of anticipation. My soul floated in the night sky. The pain of being tortured seemed to linger. I felt pulled by some force. Slowly flying towards home.

Mom didn’t like dad. She had a first love. Dad was a somewhat famous painter who fell for mom at first sight. He pursued her relentlessly, forcibly breaking up mom and her first love. Everyone approved of dad, so mom reluctantly married him. After marriage, mom was busy finding cases and handling them. She spent little time at home and often gave dad the cold shoulder. Artists are more sensitive. Dad couldn’t take mom’s neglect. Running away, attempting suicide, even jumping off buildings – he tried it all. At first, mom would rush home anxiously. But cry wolf too many times, and mom stopped believing. Until dad broke down and leapt from a high-rise. Mom’s comment: “Artists, their minds aren’t right.” I was a posthumous child. Mom’s physique was different from most. By the time she discovered me, it was too late for an abortion, so she had to keep me. During that time, because of me, she missed out on many potential cases. She said I was born to collect a debt.

In kindergarten, a boy pulled my pigtails. I cried loudly, inconsolable. Research shows children feel secure hearing their mother’s voice. The teacher called mom. I put my ear close to the receiver. “Crying over such a small pain, useless.” After that, no matter how much it hurt, I held back my tears. I was always well-behaved. Never crying or making a fuss, the most obedient child in class. Best at games, top of the class in studies. The teacher said she’d praise me at the parent-teacher meeting. She called mom: “Mrs. Evans, next Monday is the parent-teacher meeting. Please come.” I was secretly delighted. If mom came, she’d know how great I was. She’d pat my head and even brush my hair. That day at lunch, I hid away a reward candy. This candy was so popular, everyone would eat it right away when given one. The sweet taste would linger in your mouth all day. I wanted to share it with mom. I stared at the shiny wrapper, resisting the urge to unwrap and eat it. I waited through class after class, the candy almost melting in my palm. I had to open my hand, praying mom would come soon. Other kids’ parents all arrived. My seat remained empty. As the meeting was ending, mom walked into the classroom. I stretched out my left hand holding the candy, walking towards mom. “Teacher, this child is sensitive and stubborn. Sorry for the trouble.” I stopped in my tracks, lowering my hand. “Teacher, Lily stole something.” Someone spoke up, pointing at me: “She stole the candy handed out at lunch.” Emily grabbed my left hand, forcing it open. One finger, two fingers, revealing a candy with colorful wrapping. She slapped me: “How did I teach you? Daring to steal.” I wanted to explain that I had saved this candy. Mom’s words made me shut up: “You disappoint me so much.” “Speechless now? No wonder you’re his child, only knowing how to steal and grab.” The teacher tried to explain, saying it’s normal for kids to like sweets. But it was no use. In mom’s heart, I was a child who liked to steal.

To salvage my image, I worked hard, hoping to leave a good impression on mom. Award certificates covered wall after wall, trophies overflowing the cabinet. It didn’t earn a single word of praise, only admonishment: “Even if you don’t do well in exams, don’t forge results or cheat.” I had a natural talent for painting, effortlessly winning city-level awards. I showed my winning piece to Sarah. The painting depicted a mother and daughter. Under the light, the mother gently brushed her daughter’s hair. The warm yellow glow made the scene especially beautiful. I had always longed for mom to brush my hair. Sarah glanced at it, casually putting the painting in a drawer. “Focus on studying. Don’t mess with this nonsense.” “Drawing these things all day, you’ll go crazy sooner or later.” Then she picked up my report card: “Grades have dropped. Can’t find anyone to copy from anymore?” I lowered my head, quietly listening to Sarah’s scolding. Mom didn’t like me painting, so I never showed her my artwork again. Nor did I mention learning to paint. Mom always came to parent-teacher meetings. Some parents, hearing I was a single-parent child with such good grades, grew jealous and were unkind to me. Kids followed suit, mocking me: “Lily is a child without a dad.” They made up a rhyme, surrounding me, singing in shrill voices: “Lily, no daddy, gets bullied, cries to mommy, cry cry cry, what a baby.” I didn’t know how to refute, so I resorted to force to shut them up. I straddled them, punching again and again. They cried, saying they’d never do it again. I believed them and stopped. They flipped me over. A pencil pierced my left hand. The red that flowed stung my eyes. I was sent to the hospital. The teacher quickly contacted parents. Mom arrived, saw my bandaged left hand, and sneered: “Such a light injury, probably healed already. Learning from that useless father of yours.” Some parents saw their kids disheveled, angrily coming to school. Wanting an explanation. The teacher tried to mediate, saying both sides were at fault. The parents realized mom was the recently famous star lawyer and left reluctantly, not wanting to offend her. I watched their retreating figures, incredibly envious. They had adults to back them up. I didn’t.

A black Maybach entered Happy Community. Sarah got out. She had just called me twice – I hung up on one, the other went unanswered. This child, what game is she playing now? She recalled the text she sent earlier. Surely she wouldn’t just stay stupidly on the mountain. It was just a prank. She’s not that dumb. My soul was drawn here by some force. “Mom.” I saw Sarah and flew towards her. But passed right through her back. I realized I was dead. I could never hug mom again. Mom came here to celebrate my birthday? But I’m not home, she won’t see me. Will she be disappointed? I floated outside, a gust of wind could blow me away. I followed mom all the way. In the stairwell, a little girl wearing a birthday hat bounced along. She saw Sarah and jumped to her side. She opened her left palm, revealing a candy. The wrapper gleamed under the light. “Auntie, it’s my birthday today. Have a candy.” Sarah smiled and took the candy, patting her head: “Happy birthday, little one.” Mom had never said happy birthday to me, never patted my head, let alone called me “little one.” “Auntie, look, this is the new dress mom bought me. Isn’t it pretty?” The little girl lifted her skirt, twirling around. Sarah looked carefully and exclaimed: “Like a little fairy!” Mom had never complimented me. Her most frequent words were: “Lily, I’m so disappointed in you.” The little girl smiled shyly: “Auntie, being your daughter must be so happy.” Sarah was stunned. She had a daughter. Her daughter always seemed timid around her, smiling ingratiatingly. Was her daughter happy? I wasn’t happy. The companionship and simple praise I wanted, she never gave me. Sarah continued upstairs, passing a middle-aged woman. She was on the phone complaining: “Nini hasn’t come back to visit in so long. What child doesn’t miss home?” “Nini’s birthday is in a few days. We must prepare well, cook a big feast, let Nini eat her fill.” Today was my birthday too. But I was already dead. Mom could no longer celebrate for me. I could never have mom pat my head or praise me again. I floated dejectedly behind mom. I kept waiting for her to turn around, to look at me once. I chased after light like a shadow in a daydream. Pursuing an endless and hopeless bewilderment. Birthday. Come to think of it, Lily’s birthday was coming up soon. Sarah thought. She came this time to emphasize to Lily that the college entrance exam was approaching. Focus on studying, draw less, and don’t think about boyfriends and girlfriends. She didn’t care about other times, but the exam was important. Can’t let distractions interfere. Finally, she arrived. She knocked, but no one answered. Sarah sent a message, no reply. Called, but no one picked up. Strange. Usually Lily replied to messages instantly. Did something happen? Sarah thought about contacting the property management. The phone rang. It was her son William. “Mom, come back quickly. I’m scared.” “He killed someone.” It was her stepdaughter Emily. Sarah was confused. A voice came through the phone: “Mom, come back first. It’s hard to explain over the phone.”

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The child I carried for nine months and gave birth to with great difficulty on the operating table, bleeding profusely, was given away to James’s childhood sweetheart by my husband before I even had a chance to see them. All because she wanted a child but couldn’t have one due to health reasons. I cried and begged, pleading with my husband to return the child to me. But he impatiently said I was being unreasonable, even calling me a complete shrew. For the sake of his childhood sweetheart, I gave in time and time again, until finally, I didn’t even have the right to see my own flesh and blood. I lost all hope and left the divorce papers. But when the truth came to light, James Carter refused to divorce, crying out desperately: “Honey, our child can’t grow up without a father!” “I’ve given the child to Emma Thompson to raise.” James Carter’s casual statement made me lose all ability to think. Enduring the tearing pain in my lower body, the child I had carried for nine months was given away to his childhood sweetheart, without me, the birth mother, even seeing them once. The pain spreading throughout my body made every nerve tense up. I suppressed my sobs and questioned him, “Is this what you meant by telling me the baby was in an incubator?” It had been over half a month since the child was born. Not only had I not seen them, but he didn’t even have a single photo of the baby! He knew how much I treasured this child. During pregnancy, I gave up my favorite foods and didn’t dare use any oils despite being covered in stretch marks. I even suffered massive blood loss during childbirth, receiving one critical condition notice after another. Is this how he treats me? If I hadn’t pestered him today, I probably still wouldn’t know where the child had gone! “Why are you making such a fuss? She can’t have children due to her poor health, while you’re so healthy. Besides, we’re still young. Once you’ve recovered, we can have another one.” James Carter spoke casually, as if the child was something dispensable. “Have you gone mad? That’s your own flesh and blood. How could you give them away without saying a word?” He looked down at me condescendingly, “Why are you being so unreasonable? The child wasn’t sold or killed. It’s enough that they’re alive and well in this world! Anyone can be a mother, right? Besides, your temper is so unstable, you’re not suitable for raising a child. In comparison, Emma is the perfect choice to be a mother!” My heart felt as if it was being squeezed by a large hand, a dull pain spreading through it. In James Carter’s eyes, anyone could be the child’s mother, except for me. But he knew that when I became pregnant, the first thing I did was buy picture books to read to the baby, saying it was to let them feel their parents’ love. It was also he who begged me to fulfill his wish and satisfy his desire to be a father. But after the child was actually born, he changed his tune, arrogantly accusing me of being emotionally unstable and unfit to be a mother. My emotional instability was all because of him. Who could bear having their own child given away to another woman by their husband? That was the child I had longed for, a piece of flesh that had fallen from my body. Tears fell uncontrollably, like pearls from a broken string. Even so, James Carter didn’t show any sign of softening. Instead, he impatiently said, “Cry, cry, cry. All you know is how to cry. It’s just a child, why are you making such a big deal out of it? You even started crying, how pathetic.” In the past, he couldn’t stand to see me cry. As soon as I showed any sign of distress, James Carter would drop everything to comfort me until I felt better. But now, he didn’t care at all, letting me cry and shout like a shrew.

He closed the door behind him, leaving with a light remark, “Calm down, don’t act like a lunatic. No one likes you like this.” The James Carter from before used to like all sides of me and never found me sloppy. But why did everything change after we got married and had a child? I held back my tears and picked up my phone, intending to distract myself, only to see that Emma Thompson had posted on Ins. It was James Carter holding the baby, gently comforting them. Unaware friends commented below: “Wow! Congratulations, you’ve been upgraded! When are you treating us to a celebration dinner?” “Mr. Carter is truly blessed, a happy family of three.” “Your wife is so kind and generous, which direction should I bow to find such a great partner?” So in their eyes, Emma Thompson and he were the perfect match, a match made in heaven. After giving birth, I ended up paving the way for someone else’s happiness. Is this the childhood sweetheart James Carter told me about, who grew up with him without any ulterior motives? Only a fool would believe that. He went to such lengths to put on an act, coming to the hospital every day to comfort me for a bit, lying that the baby was in an incubator, telling me to pump more milk to store for future use. I was so naive to believe what he said, happily storing milk, fantasizing about the baby growing chubby and healthy, and being discharged from the hospital together. Several times during this period, I asked him why he couldn’t stay with me more. James Carter would say that the baby was still small and needed his father by their side. But the hospital’s incubators are watched over by professional medical staff, when would it be his turn? James Carter used the excuse of accompanying the child, but in reality, he was spending intimate time with Emma Thompson, leaving me alone to wallow in endless longing for my child. I often had nightmares where my blood-covered baby cried heartbrokenly, asking me why I had abandoned them… In the dream, I explained a thousand times, saying I never abandoned them… It turns out there were signs all along. A man and a woman alone together, who knows what they might do. The more dejected I became, the more smug Emma Thompson grew, thinking she had achieved her goal. But I refused to let her have her way. I called James Carter, telling him to bring back the fresh milk, after all, it was my child. No matter how much I hated him, I couldn’t let the child suffer. He was initially unwilling, brushing it off by saying formula milk would do. “Honey, that won’t do. Since we’ve given the child to Emma to raise, we should go the extra mile. I’ve heard that babies fed with breast milk grow up healthier, more obedient, and are easier to take care of. It won’t give Emma any trouble either.” Upon hearing Emma Thompson’s name, James Carter rushed to my hospital without a second thought, afraid that she might suffer in the future. Seeing me so obedient, he seemed to feel a bit guilty and explained to me proactively for the first time, “I’m temporarily staying at her place to help take care of our baby. If anything unexpected happens, I can handle it.” But some things become more suspicious the more you try to explain them. At first, I didn’t think there was anything wrong with James Carter staying at her place, but after his explanation, I immediately understood. What should and shouldn’t have been done, they might have already done it all. I was just kept in the dark, unaware. As he was leaving, he kept looking back, finally hugging me and saying, “We’re still young, we can have more children. But Emma’s health is poor, she can never have children in this lifetime. Let’s just consider this as doing a good deed, accumulating good karma.”

Every word he spoke betrayed his concern for Emma Thompson, his eyes full of pity for her. He talked about how difficult her journey had been, how she was abandoned by her husband and despised by her in-laws for being infertile, finally leaving with nothing. James Carter sympathized with Emma Thompson but never once mentioned how difficult it had been for me. If James Carter truly loved me, how could he have let me get pregnant? Watching me suffer from morning sickness, endure back pain, and experience the terror of massive blood loss. After all, his eyes only had room for Emma Thompson, how could they accommodate me? James Carter ran off quickly, afraid that she would be lonely at home by herself. I missed my child desperately, but when I wanted to see them, I could only watch the videos on Emma Thompson’s Ins until they were worn out. I humbly and pitifully begged James Carter to bring the child to see me, but no matter how much I pleaded, James Carter refused. He only condescendingly sent me a few video clips, which was better than nothing… As long as the baby was doing well, I could bring them home anytime. My body was recovering day by day, and apart from when I provided breast milk, James Carter had little interaction with me. On the day of my discharge, James Carter surprisingly told me he would come to pick me up. But his words were all warnings, “I’m coming to pick you up only because you’re the child’s birth mother. Don’t try any tricks. The baby is being raised very well by Emma Thompson now, they’ve bonded closely. We’ll have another child in the future, and it will surely be as happy and blessed as this one.” I gave him one last chance, packing my things early and quietly waiting for James Carter to come pick me up. But I waited and waited, until the nurses were urging me to leave, until after the hospital had closed, and James Carter still hadn’t come. I signed the divorce papers, left them on the hospital bed, and took a taxi to Emma Thompson’s place. The two of them were holding the baby, feeding them breast milk. The baby was cooing, saying something incomprehensible. My feet felt as if they were filled with lead, unable to move. I masochistically watched the entire scene, my heart pierced with pain. James Carter held our child, making another woman happy, giving her the right to be a mother, while casually tossing aside his promises to me, even completely disregarding them. I returned home, physically and mentally exhausted, looking at the unopened wedding decorations, feeling that everything was extremely ironic. After an unknown amount of time, James Carter called, furiously questioning me, “Lily Evans, what the fuck did you leave those divorce papers for?”

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I’ve spent seven years with Declan, investing all my savings to help him rise from humble beginnings to a prominent business figure. But when his long-lost love reappeared, they flaunted their renewed passion right in front of me. Declan handed her the job, shares, and status she desired, while demoting me to the lowest position, essentially forcing me out. He overlooked one key fact: I am the backbone of this company. Since he’s unfit to lead, I will take charge. I opened the conference room door to find Declan in the main seat, a woman clinging to him like a serpent. Despite Declan’s typical disdain for mixing business with pleasure, he allowed her to toy with his hand, her chest brushing against his arm. The woman was all charm and allure, casting a smug, mocking smile my way. Lydia—I recognized her from a video I’d seen before. The room was packed with shareholders, all eagerly anticipating the spectacle. “Nora’s been left behind. Imagine, after helping Declan build from nothing, she doesn’t even get a share. Think she’ll explode?” “Declan never cared for her. She just looks like Lydia; he only saw her as a substitute.” “……” Wait, Vice President Lydia? Just days ago, Declan was sweet-talking me on Snapchat, and then Lydia showed up at my door. Now, she’s taken my place? Lydia rose, her ten-centimeter heels clicking as she approached, towering over me. The strong perfume made my head spin, and I frowned. “Miss Lydia, have you changed careers?” Feigning ignorance, she waved a stamped document in my face with arrogance. “Miss Nora, starting today, you’re removed from your VP role and reassigned as a designer assistant.” “Monthly salary, two thousand.” “From now on, I’m the sole VP of this company.” She poked my shoulder, leaning in to whisper in my ear. “Little Nora, the company you’ve poured seven years into is now mine.” “And your man is mine too.” “I met with Declan yesterday, and today he held a shareholders meeting. He not only gave me a position but also ten percent of the shares. Tsk tsk, the man you love doesn’t care about you at all.” She chuckled softly. “Either leave voluntarily or stay and be my subordinate.” With that, she pulled out her phone and showed me a video. Silent footage of two naked bodies entwined on what was supposed to be my marital bed. Completely absorbed. Absolutely revolting.

A sharp pain pierced my heart. The man I stood by for seven years turned out to be a scoundrel. The love I invested felt like decaying flesh. Cutting it off would hurt, but pain is temporary—I need to cut my losses. Looking at the smug woman before me, her features did indeed resemble mine somewhat. Lydia, Declan’s “The One That Got Away.” Declan and I were college classmates, each other’s first love. In our second year of dating, I borrowed his laptop and stumbled upon a file named “One day, you will beg me.” We had vowed to keep no secrets from each other. Driven by curiosity, I opened the file. The video showed Declan kneeling with flowers, Lydia standing over him, mocking him. “Declan, look at yourself. Do you think a poor kid from nowhere deserves to chase me?” “Stop disgusting me, get lost! Bother me again and I’ll make sure you don’t graduate!” Lydia grabbed the flowers and smashed them over Declan’s head. Thorns scratched his face, drawing blood. A man dressed like a rich heir kicked Declan’s shoulder, hurling insults, spat at him, and left with Lydia, laughing. Declan remained motionless, head bowed, ignoring the pointing and whispering around him. …… I didn’t finish watching the video. I was in shock. He never mentioned Lydia to me. I never knew the man I loved could be so humiliated. Yet the woman who once despised him now turned back, and the former admirer placed her on a pedestal. I looked at the woman in front of me and couldn’t help but laugh. These days, professional mistresses are becoming VPs, and these old-fashioned shareholders are cheering them on. Indeed, they’re nothing but useless fence-sitters. Time to take action and clear away the nuisances. I reached out and locked her phone screen. “Miss Lydia, I quite admire you.” “As the main character, my title and position were taken by you.” “The thing is, if I resign in anger, I get nothing. If I stay, watching you flaunt your love every day would be more uncomfortable than swallowing a fly.” “Miss Lydia, this must be your most successful affair.”

Lydia’s expression was priceless. The gossiping in the shareholders’ eyes intensified. “Nora, that’s enough!” Declan slammed the conference table hard. Lydia raised her hand to slap me, but I blocked it. “Miss Lydia, is it your dad’s idea for you to cling to Declan now?” After she rejected Declan, she dated several rich heirs, but none lasted. Later, the Lydia family declined, and her father, for funding, made her a kept woman for a married man. But the wife was fierce, and Lydia was beaten to near disfigurement in public. The Lydia family soon went bankrupt, her father imprisoned. Her benefactor’s last act was to cover up these scandals. But I got all the details. Lydia, desperate, found Declan again, not expecting he still saw her as the aloof campus beauty. Lydia’s eyes widened in anger. The next second, she went limp, collapsing into Declan’s arms just in time. She sobbed. “Declan, I know Nora feels wronged, but no matter how angry she is, whether she hits or scolds me, I’ll take it. But she shouldn’t talk about my dad…” “And also, tell her, is it me who interfered or you who has always pursued me…” Declan’s gaze at me was venomous. “Nora, if you don’t understand, let me be clear, we’ve broken up! If you bully Lydia again, I won’t go easy on you!” Then he looked tenderly at Lydia in his arms. “Lydia, I transferred two million this morning to handle your dad’s matter. Don’t worry, your dad’s problem is my problem.” He looked up at me, his eyes cold. “Yes, I’ve been pursuing Lydia all these years. I never liked you.” Lydia wiped her tears and smiled. She glanced at me sideways, one corner of her lips curled, secretly giving me the middle finger. I suppressed the fire in my heart, staring at the stranger before me. “Declan, when my dad needed surgery for his heart condition, we asked you for fifty thousand, and you didn’t give a cent.” “So what if I didn’t? Your dad didn’t die.”

I only found out about this yesterday. Declan insisted on starting a company, refusing to work for others. My family put in five hundred thousand, my parents’ life savings. His family contributed a hundred thousand, making six hundred thousand our startup capital. He claimed I had a talent for design and insisted on starting a fashion design company. I was deeply moved, working tirelessly on designs and sketches every day. But in the second month of the startup, my dad had a heart attack and needed surgery. We called Declan for fifty thousand; he said all the money was invested, not a penny extra. He even said it was my idea. In the end, my mom cried as she borrowed money from relatives, enduring ridicule for sticking to a man with nothing to show for it. Luckily, my dad recovered well after surgery. I couldn’t hold back anymore and slapped Declan hard across the face. “Nora, are you crazy!” Lydia screamed, clutching her face. My fingertips had brushed her cheek. She wanted to hit back but ended up retreating into Declan’s arms, crying and wiping tears. Rage burned in my heart. “Declan, this is what you owe me and my family.” The shareholders sensed trouble and quickly left. Declan’s face was icy. “Nora, I didn’t expect you to be this kind of woman, always yelling and hitting. What’s the difference between you and a shrew? I should have broken up with you long ago!” I laughed in anger. “Long ago?” “Declan, you had a good plan. You insisted on starting a business as a gamble, hoping to win back Lydia.” “Well, you won.” “You got cocky, giving her ten percent of the shares, while I, your partner who started from scratch with you, never received any extra compensation, and you kicked me aside without hesitation.” Declan remained unfazed, calm even when exposed. “Since you know, let me tell you, it’s a good thing Lydia came back. If she hadn’t returned to me, I might have settled with you.” “Indeed, you won.” “You’ve become conceited, casually giving her ten percent of the shares. Meanwhile, I, your partner who built this from the ground up, have endured countless struggles alongside you, yet never received any additional reward. It was easy for you to discard me.” Declan remained unflustered, showing no signs of panic at being exposed. “Since you already know, I might as well tell you. It’s fortunate Lila came back. If she hadn’t, I might have settled for you.” “Nora, even though you’re competent at work, you’re not sharp enough. You’re easy to deceive. A few sweet words from me, and you were willing to work tirelessly for me and the company.” His words struck my heart like a dagger. At that moment, I made a decisive choice. “Alright, thank you for your honesty, Declan. I want to witness your downfall personally.” I turned and left the conference room. Behind me, Lydia’s voice cursed loudly. “Declan, do you think she’ll resign on her own?” “She definitely will! I provoked her on purpose. She won’t get a penny in compensation!”

On my way back to the office, memories of the past seven years of struggle played in my mind. In the early days of the startup, Declan attended countless business dinners, drinking to the point of multiple gastric bleedings and visits to the ER, yet he never secured a single business card from those partners. We pulled all-nighters almost daily. There was a time when my hair fell out in clumps, and my cycle became irregular. The $600,000 vanished quickly, and we ended up owing the bank a lot. Back then, we pretended to be generous, treating people to meals, only to pack up the leftovers as our meals for the next day. To save money, transferring five or six buses was common, followed by a two-kilometer walk back to the company. In the scorching summer, to save on air conditioning costs, the entire office had only one standing fan. That tiny, mold-covered office, barely ten square meters, was our company by day and our home by night. … Those shabby and embarrassing memories didn’t earn us any favors. We were drowning in debt. Until one day, Declan fell into a deep sleep for two days after a drinking binge. I panicked. I stopped frantically sketching day and night and stepped outside. Everything changed. We started making profits and gained a bit of fame. Soon after, partners were knocking on our door for collaborations. We made more money than we could count, the company’s scale grew, and Declan appeared more and more in finance articles. But he never wanted to enter marriage. He never considered personal feelings, granting me a company share, and I received a salary matching my position just like everyone else. Declan & Lila Design Inc. He once said he’d never forget where he started. Turns out, it was just their names put together. Fine, it was all a calculation. But Declan forgot. After all I’ve given to the company, if I can hand it all over to him, I can take it all back. When I reached the office door, I found all my personal items stuffed in a large black garbage bag, carelessly lying there. My desk was now filled with Lydia’s belongings, a full set of makeup, and various snacks. The whole office reeked of her strong perfume. The employees I brought in looked at me with red eyes, angry yet aggrieved. “Don’t be upset. This is a good thing.” I smiled, comforting them. “Nora, that manipulative woman took everything from you. How can you be happy about this?” The young girl closest to me, Amy, wiped tears from her eyes, indignant. I patted her shoulder. “Even fate is on my side.” I explained my upcoming plans to them, and their expressions shifted from anger to excitement and anticipation. “Genevieve, don’t worry. We’ll stick to our roles and do our jobs well.” I nodded, satisfied. Just then, Lydia’s loud, excited voice came, mixed with fawning. “Oh my, Genevieve, you’re here! It’s such an honor for our company!” Through the full-length glass wall, I saw the stern-faced power woman in sunglasses, Genevieve. She was the chairwoman of Eastern Group, known for her decisive actions. Through the glass, Lydia cast me a smug, challenging look. The colleagues’ emotions, which had just calmed down, flared up again. “Nora, you’ve been managing the collaboration with Yu for so long, yet she reaped the final benefits.”

I was unfazed. “Bite off more than you can chew, and you’ll choke. I’m just afraid Ms. Lydia has the appetite but not the digestion.” All the gloom lifted instantly. They understood what I meant and returned to their posts, reassured. I picked up the trash bag from the ground and headed to a corner spot. That was the dusty workspace Lydia gave me. I tidied up my things and sat down to organize the next steps. Not long after, a shadow loomed over me. Lydia leaned on the desk, looking down at me. “I’ve heard you’re mentally strong, Nora. Today, I’ve seen it myself. A man and your job were taken from you, and even a billion-dollar project was snatched by me. Yet, you stayed silent like a dog.” “Are you truly indifferent, or are you hoping to win Declan back?” “Let me tell you, I love stealing someone’s thunder. I couldn’t touch those wealthy wives before, but you’re different. I want you to watch Declan and I enter marriage.” She leaned in closer. “By the way, I’ll send you videos and pictures of us every night, so you can enjoy them too.” “You really should learn how to keep a man.” I couldn’t help but laugh. “Ms. Lydia, are you really proud of your actions? Don’t forget, why your dad ended up where he did. It’s him this time; who knows next time?” “And, wouldn’t it be boring to send those videos and pictures just to me? Why not share them with the whole company?”

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I was born as an illegitimate child after a billionaire drugged my mother. My mother and I have always been ridiculed, even humiliated by my aunt’s family. “You shameless woman, and your daughter is nothing but a bastard.” Unable to bear the insults any longer, my mother took me to seek help from my wealthy father. To our shock, he refused to acknowledge us and even accused us of extortion! “You bitch, I know you’re just after my money. I won’t give you a penny. Take that bastard child and get out of my house!” Not only that, but the billionaire’s son even beat and insulted us, throwing us out onto the street like stray dogs! I endured it all silently, until the billionaire’s son met with an accident, and I became his sole heir! “Mom, I’m home. School ran late today,” I called out as I returned home, but I didn’t see my mother’s familiar silhouette busy in the kitchen. “Mom?” I searched the house but found no trace of her. I decided to check with the neighbors. “Mrs. Zhang, have you seen my mom?” I asked at the neighbor’s kitchen window. “I saw your aunt come by earlier. I guess your mom went out with her,” she replied. My heart sank. My aunt had always been at odds with us, looking down on my mother. Why would they go out together? Sensing trouble, I hurried down the street. Sure enough, I found them in front of a shoe store, locked in a heated argument. “Wendy, stop playing innocent! You’re nothing but a shameless slut. Quit acting like a victim!” My aunt was pointing at my mother, her nose in the air, looking utterly disgusted. “What are you doing?” I rushed forward, shielding my mother behind me, glaring fiercely at my aunt. “Well, well, look who it is. The bastard child herself. Like mother, like daughter. You both make me sick,” my aunt pretended to cover her nose, clearly repulsed by our presence. It wasn’t just my aunt’s family. My grandparents, all of my mother’s relatives – almost none of them liked to associate with us. All because I was born out of wedlock. My mother had just started working when she got her first project with a billionaire named Lucas Wilson. He was a difficult client, and my mother’s project team had to drink with him several times before he even agreed to look at the contract. They thought Lucas just enjoyed drinking, but it turned out he was also a lecher. He set his sights on my mother from day one. During the final drinking session, he had his assistant drug her drink and took her away. What happened next goes without saying. The bastard didn’t even take responsibility afterward. He didn’t even sign the contract! He even blamed my mother, saying she was incompetent. Her boss, being an inconsiderate jerk, fired her on the spot. My mother, still naive and inexperienced, had no way to fight back. She could only return home, devastated. Soon after, she discovered she was pregnant. Accusations and insults came at her from all directions. Everyone thought she had been promiscuous. But she still endured the pressure and gave birth to me, naming me Zoe. “If you want to insult someone, insult me. Leave my daughter out of this!” My mother stepped forward, glaring angrily at my aunt. “Oh, spare me your mother-daughter act. You’re both just trash discarded by men. I was kind enough to offer you a job at the hair salon, and you refused. Now you dare to act high and mighty with me? Know your place!” My aunt rolled her eyes. I let out a cold laugh. “I think you were trying to sell my mother out. Everyone in the neighborhood knows the salon owner is a greedy pervert who’s had his eye on my mom for ages. I bet you got some kind of kickback for this ‘kind’ offer. Don’t insult the word ‘kindness’.” Seeing her scheme exposed, my aunt became even more furious. She pointed at us and started hurling insults like a fishwife. “Zoe, you little bitch! Don’t think you’re innocent in all this. A slut’s daughter is bound to be a man-stealing vixen too. Aren’t you ashamed? How dare you talk back to me? I’m your elder!” “So what if I am a vixen?” I sneered. I’d heard this kind of insult countless times since middle school. It no longer had any effect on me. I looked at my aunt challengingly and said with contempt, “At least I inherited my mother’s good looks. Unlike you – your face could ward off evil spirits if we hung it on the door for New Year’s.” My aunt’s eyes bulged with rage, her face contorted, but she couldn’t utter a single word. “That’s enough, Zoe.” My mother took my hand. She hated it when I insulted myself like this. “Let’s not stoop to her level. Let’s go home.” My mother tried to lead me away, but my aunt, still stinging from my retort, wasn’t about to let us leave. She lunged forward and grabbed my mother’s hair, and the two women began grappling in the street. The commotion drew quite a crowd of neighbors, gathering in small groups to watch the spectacle. “What’s going on? Why are they fighting?” “It’s just more drama from Wendy’s family. Her sister’s come to shame her again.” “Shame her? It’s just the truth. If she hadn’t messed around and had a bastard child, would her sister be this angry? She must be upset about the family losing face.” “Really? Wendy always looks so prim and proper. Who knew she was actually loose behind closed doors? And so careless too!” “Exactly! Her sister comes to make a scene every other day. I heard…” The gossiping neighbors’ cruel words pierced our ears painfully. “Enough!” I rushed forward to separate the fighting women. “Rachel! If you hate us so much, just stop coming around. Don’t take out your frustrations with life on us. We don’t owe you anything!” My voice shook as I shouted at my aunt. This was the first time things had gotten so out of hand. “Bullshit! If I wasn’t standing up for the family, if Mom and Dad weren’t hanging their heads in shame in front of the neighbors, why would I waste my time dealing with trash like you? You loose woman! Shameless!” My aunt spat on the ground, utterly disgusted. “What will it take for you to leave me and my mom alone?” I was tired of arguing with her. They had believed from the start that my mother was in the wrong. At this point, no amount of explaining our innocence would convince them. They’d just think we were making excuses for our “dirty deeds.” “That’s easy.” My aunt looked down her nose at us, fixing her disheveled hair. “Get out of our family. Get out of this neighborhood. Never let me see your faces again. You’re an eyesore!” My aunt’s demands were completely unreasonable. My mother and I were already living hand to mouth. If we left this neighborhood, we’d have nowhere to live. “Impossible! Zoe is still in her first year of high school. This house was given to me by Mom and Dad. Why should I leave?” My mother protested, ready to continue arguing with my aunt. “Fine then. If you won’t leave, I’ll make sure everyone at school knows about this. Let’s see how your daughter holds her head up then. Being called a bastard every day won’t be pleasant, especially one born to such a shameless, loose woman. Don’t come crying when people bully your daughter.” My aunt had found my mother’s weak spot. A few words were all it took to break down my mother’s psychological defenses. “It’s okay, Mom. We don’t want to stay here anyway!” My mother had become very timid after everything she’d been through, but I was different. I was tough, and I wasn’t about to let us face any more abuse in this neighborhood. I accepted my aunt’s unreasonable demand. After this incident, my mother could no longer show her face in the neighborhood. Moving away was our best option. I used the money I’d earned from part-time jobs and what my mother had saved over the years to rent a place outside the neighborhood. It was just a one-bedroom apartment, but it was enough for the two of us. “Mom, we can’t keep living like this. We have to go find that bastard and demand justice!” This was the first time I’d ever suggested confronting Lucas Wilson. He had always been my mother’s worst nightmare, so I’d never brought it up before. But now the time was right. We had to make him take responsibility for what he’d done. “He won’t acknowledge you. That beast probably doesn’t even remember who I am. Why should we go looking for more trouble?” My mother had become very introverted after everything that had happened. She didn’t have the courage to stand up for herself, so of course she rejected my suggestion. “But he’s the one who did wrong!” I stood up, agitated. “Why should we be the ones suffering? We’re being punished for his actions. It’s not fair! We need to get some kind of resolution – money, recognition, even just an apology. There has to be some kind of result!” I had made up my mind. We couldn’t keep being trapped in this whirlpool. If not for myself, then for my mother’s sake, I had to make that bastard pay.

Once I’d made this decision, I dug through our closet and found the business card my mother had thrown away long ago – the one Lucas had given her during their business dealings. Using the phone number on the card, I tracked down his current home address and found his information online. Looking at the family photo of him with his wife and son, all smiles and happiness, I clenched my fists. How could such a despicable man deserve a happy life while my mother and I endured ridicule and shame from others? Using the money I’d saved from my part-time job, I resolutely bought two train tickets to the city where Lucas lived. “I’m sorry, but you can’t go in without an appointment,” the receptionist politely informed us when we arrived at Lucas’s company building. “Just tell him his daughter is here to see him,” I said firmly. My mother tried to pull me away, but with my stubborn personality, there was no way I was backing down now. “As far as I know, Mr. Wilson doesn’t have a daughter,” the receptionist looked at us uncertainly. “You don’t need to worry about that. Just pass along the message,” I insisted. Seeing that I wouldn’t be deterred, the receptionist contacted the CEO’s office and relayed my message word for word. “What nonsense is this? Since when do I have a daughter?” Lucas clearly wasn’t going to admit anything. “Tell them to wait. I’ll be right down.” The receptionist hung up and showed us to the waiting area. Soon enough, Lucas appeared. He was stocky, of average height, with a weasel-like face that was instantly dislikeable. “Who put you up to this? Trying to extort money from me?” Lucas seemed unsurprised, sitting down with the air of someone above it all. A contemptuous smile played on his lips – he clearly didn’t take us seriously. “I guess with all your affairs, you’ve forgotten your misdeeds from over a decade ago.” I let out a cold laugh, placing the documents about my mother and me in front of him, along with a photo of my mother when she was young. “Open your damn eyes and look carefully. See who we are. Think hard about the dirty things you’ve done!” Lucas hadn’t been taking us seriously, but when he saw the photo of my young mother, the smile froze on his face. “Do you see clearly now? Fifteen years ago, you used a business dinner as an excuse to drug my mother. I don’t need to spell out what you did after that, do I? Do you have any idea how my mother and I have lived all these years? We’re here today to demand justice and settle accounts for all these years!” “Lucas, I never wanted to have anything to do with you again. Just seeing you makes me sick! But the mud slung at me and my daughter over the years has been too much, and it’s all because of you!” My mother and I tag-teamed, our eyes blazing with anger as we glared at the scumbag before us. Lucas suddenly laughed, looking at us mockingly. “It was consensual. Now you’re here trying to get something out of me? How unsightly.” “Who said it was consensual?” My mother shouted, enraged. “You said you’d discuss the contract if I drank that glass of wine. All my colleagues were watching! But you, you beast, you drugged my drink! And now you’re slandering me? You’re despicable!” “Let me ask you this – do you have any proof that it wasn’t consensual? Or any evidence that I drugged you? If not, stop making a scene in front of me! Crawl back where you came from!” Lucas threw the documents at us, snorting derisively. “What if I go to the police?” My mother stood up, shaking with anger as she glared at Lucas. I quickly pulled my mother back, signaling her not to be hasty. Seeing Lucas’s nonchalant attitude, I knew that a wealthy businessman like him must have connections in this area. That’s why he could commit such wrongs without punishment. Otherwise, how could he have kept all his shady business dealings hidden all these years? Someone must have been smoothing things over for him. “We don’t need compensation. Just let me be your daughter officially, take my mother back, and we can put this behind us,” I said, thinking of a better approach. If we could get some kind of recognition and get close to Lucas, how hard could it be to find some dirt on him? “What kind of daydream are you having? Two country bumpkin bitches like you, thinking you can waltz into my family? Take a good look at yourselves and see if you’re worthy! Ridiculous!” Lucas laughed as if he’d heard the funniest joke ever. “So you’re refusing to acknowledge me as your illegitimate daughter?” I asked, my gaze darkening as I clenched my fists. “Since you’ve already called yourself illegitimate, you should stay in the gutter where you belong. Why bring it out in the open and make everyone uncomfortable? Besides, I’m not the one who’ll be embarrassed. I bet your mother’s been called all sorts of names, hasn’t she? Let me guess – a shameless whore?” Lucas taunted us, showing no fear at all. “You bastard! I won’t let you get away with this!” I gritted my teeth and grabbed the glass from the table, smashing it against Lucas’s face. After a series of crashes, Lucas’s face was bleeding, and water had splashed all over the three of us. “You crazy bitch! Do you have a death wish?” Lucas, enraged by my actions, grabbed my hair and glared at me viciously. My mother screamed and rushed forward, but Lucas shoved her to the ground with one hand. “What acknowledgment? I can see you’re just after money. Let me tell you, you won’t get a single cent from me! Take this bastard and get out of my company! Stop making me sick!” Lucas threw me to the ground, looking at my mother and me with utter disgust from his superior position. “What’s going on here? Why are they fighting?” “I heard this woman brought her illegitimate daughter to confront Mr. Wilson, but he wouldn’t acknowledge them. Then they started causing a scene.” “I bet it’s just this woman being promiscuous. So many people try to latch onto Mr. Wilson shamelessly. Who knows if this daughter is even real? How disgraceful.” “And they dare to act so righteous! If I were Mr. Wilson, I’d teach them a good lesson they won’t forget!” Our commotion had attracted the attention of many company employees. They whispered among themselves, their words unspeakably harsh. “Dad? Are you okay? What happened?” A young man about my age came running in from the company entrance, looking worriedly at Lucas’s injuries. I recognized him from memory as Lucas’s son, his legitimate heir. “It’s nothing, just dealing with two bitches trying to extort money. What are you doing here?” Lucas looked at us with disgust before turning to smile at his son. “What are they here for?” Lucas’s son, Max, eyed us maliciously. His piercing gaze made me extremely uncomfortable. “We’re here to demand justice from your father,” I said, seeing Max as another potential breakthrough. I decided to try and work on him. “Do you know how many disgusting things your father has done outside? My mother was one of his victims. He drugged her, had a one-night stand, and I was born as a result. Doesn’t that make you sick? Your father isn’t faithful to your mother. Your family is falling apart!” I tried to provoke Max, hoping to drive a wedge between them. I could see Max’s expression freezing bit by bit. Just as I thought my attack was working, he said something that shocked me to my core!

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My son was overjoyed when he received a scholarship to a prestigious school and couldn’t wait to share the good news with me. On our way to buy him a new computer as a reward, we were suddenly attacked by a knife-wielding thug. In that split second, my son bravely stepped in front of me to protect me. Though I was unharmed, my son was severely injured and rushed to the hospital! With tears in his eyes, my husband said: “Honey, the doctor says our son’s condition is critical. Only you, with your surgical expertise, can perform this operation.” My father-in-law, too, pleaded with tears: “Sunny got hurt protecting you. You have to save him!” My mother-in-law’s body trembled as she nearly knelt before me, begging me to save our son. I extended my hand coldly, revealing a shallow cut on my wrist: “I’m sorry. My hand is injured. I can’t perform the surgery.” “Sunny was so excited about the scholarship that he rushed off to tell you the good news without even packing his things.” “He was fine when he left home. How could he suddenly end up in the emergency room?!” My mother-in-law arrived at the hospital, full of confusion and anxiety, questioning me. Calmly seated outside the hospital room, I replied: “He did come to the company to share the scholarship news with me.” “He wanted to celebrate with a meal, and as we reached the restaurant entrance, the thug charged at me.” “Sunny pushed me out of harm’s way with all his strength to save me. I was unharmed, but he was gravely injured.” Upon hearing my account, my mother-in-law burst into uncontrollable tears. My father-in-law sighed deeply: “This child has always been so brave and devoted. In a life-or-death moment, he valued your safety above his own.” Despite his deep sorrow, my husband Declan tried to comfort me: “Don’t blame yourself too much.” “Sunny has always been close to you. He did this to ensure your safety. As long as you’re okay, he can endure this.” Declan’s voice was gentle, and his concern was sincere and deep. Hearing this, my father-in-law nodded and added: “Yes, Hazel, Sunny has always been close to you. You have to stay strong and not let him worry.” My mother-in-law blamed herself, “It’s all my fault. I should have been with Sunny.” “If I were there, I wouldn’t have let anything happen to either of you, even at the cost of my life!” Even though Sunny is their beloved child and they know he’s in critical condition because of me, they suppress their grief to comfort me, not putting any pressure on me. Seeing their concerned faces, I remained silent.

During the rescue, critical condition notices kept arriving. Sunny’s situation was extremely severe. As everyone anxiously waited, the attending doctor emerged from the operating room with a grave expression. He walked straight to me and urgently said, “Dr. Hazel, the patient’s condition is very dangerous. We’ve done everything we can.” “You’re a surgical expert. If you perform the surgery, there’s a slim chance of survival for the patient!” Hearing this, my father-in-law immediately pleaded with me: “Hazel, Sunny got hurt saving you. You can’t let anything happen to him!” My mother-in-law wiped her tears and added, her voice trembling: “Yes, Hazel, Sunny is still so young with a bright future ahead. You have to save him!” Declan looked at me earnestly: “Honey, Sunny’s life is in your hands.” The three of them placed their hope in me, their eyes filled with worry and pleading. But I calmly extended my hand, showing the shallow cut on my wrist, and said: “Sorry, my hand is injured. It’s not convenient for me to perform surgery.” My refusal left everyone stunned. The attending doctor was bewildered: “Dr. Hazel, it’s just a small cut. It won’t affect the surgery at all!” “The patient is in critical condition. Every minute of delay could be fatal for him.” Hearing this, my mother-in-law anxiously cried, pleading with me: “Hazel, the doctor said your injury doesn’t matter. Sunny’s situation can’t wait. Please go save him!” My father-in-law, with tearful eyes, said to me: “Hazel, Sunny is your biological son. He risked his life for you. Are you really going to watch him die on the operating table?” Declan looked at me with worry: “Hazel, are you hurt somewhere else?” With that, Declan started examining me carefully, as if convinced there was something I wasn’t saying. But I remained indifferent and replied coldly: “No need to check. Thanks to Sunny saving me in time, I’m completely fine.” Hearing this, Declan became agitated: “Then why won’t you save Sunny? Don’t you know how sensible and loving he is?” “The first thing he said when he got the scholarship was that you would be proud of him, so he couldn’t wait to tell you.” “He risked his life to save you, and now you’re leaving him to die?!” Even the usually gentle Declan couldn’t hold back his anger. My mother-in-law frowned, confused, and said: “Hazel, you’re the most important and admired person in Sunny’s heart. He studied hard and got the scholarship to make you happy.” “He protected you with everything he had. How can you abandon him at such a critical moment?” My father-in-law, devastated, pleaded with me: “Yes, if Sunny knew that the mother he always looked up to didn’t care about his life and death, how desperate would he be?” I looked at the three of them, who were heartbroken, and responded earnestly: “The hospital has a rule against performing surgery on direct relatives.” “I can’t break hospital rules.” “I can’t do this surgery.”

After saying this, I didn’t wait for their reaction and got up to leave. “Dr. Hazel, is the hospital rule more important than your son’s life?” “If even you don’t help, the patient really has no chance of survival!” The attending doctor called after me, trying to stop me. But I remained indifferent and resolute, leaving without looking back. As I reached the hospital entrance, my in-laws and Declan caught up with me. My mother-in-law knelt in front of me, begging: “Hazel, I’m begging you. You can’t leave. If you leave, Sunny has no hope!” Her public kneeling drew the attention of people around. “Isn’t that Dr. Hazel, the surgical expert? What’s going on?” “I heard her son got stabbed by a thug trying to save her, and now she’s leaving him to die while her family begs her!” Hearing the story, those present were filled with righteous indignation: “I never expected Dr. Hazel, who seemed so responsible with patients, to be so cold to her own son?” “She was probably just putting on a show before. How can she truly care for patients if she’s so heartless to her child?” “Exactly, what kind of mother leaves her child to die? She’s no different from a demon!” “Even a tiger wouldn’t harm its cubs. It’s a pity her son, so filial and brave, risked his life to save such a cruel mother!” The crowd’s curses flew, and they all branded me as a villain. Even those patients and families I had helped before, who respected me, now looked at me with disdain and disgust. Amidst the crowd’s gossip, my father-in-law, wiping tears, spoke to me earnestly: “Hazel, I can’t believe you’re really such a cold and heartless person.” “When you gave birth to Sunny, you almost died from a difficult labor but kept telling the doctor to save the child.” “You said this child was more important than your life and that you’d do anything as long as he survived.” “Sunny is the child you risked your life for. You wouldn’t just stand by and watch him die because of you, right?!” With tears streaming down his face, my father-in-law looked at me with eyes full of pleading and hope. But I remained unmoved, just quietly watching him without saying a word. Declan, seeing my indifference, became increasingly anxious, his voice rising: “Hazel , lying in that operating room is your son, who protected you with his life!” “Are you really going to be so heartless?!”

I looked at them, speaking seriously: “I’m truly powerless.” I once again refused, decisively. This shattered the hope in Declan and my in-laws’ eyes instantly. The emotions of the onlookers were completely ignited. They hurled the most vicious curses and insults at me. Some even took out their phones, filming me, starting live streams. They accused me of all sorts of evil deeds to a wider audience. Suddenly, every live stream was condemning me. Whether or not I should save my son became a trending topic online. “If she wanted to save her son, she would’ve done it by now. Why wait until now?” “Exactly. Look at her indifferent face. It’s obvious she’s heartless!” “If not for the live stream, I couldn’t have imagined a mother like this exists.” “Her son is dying to save her, and she’s acting like nothing’s wrong. It’s disgusting!” The internet was filled with curses against me. The angry crowd threw fruit peels and paper scraps at me. I stood, like a lamb to the slaughter, amid a pile of trash, enduring endless insults. “She could have saved her son long ago if she had wanted to. Why wait until now?” “Exactly, just look at her cold expression. She clearly lacks any compassion!” “If I hadn’t watched the live stream, I wouldn’t have believed there could be such a mother.” “Her son is on the brink of death trying to save her, and she acts completely unfazed. It’s repulsive!” The internet was flooded with insults targeting me. Angry onlookers hurled fruit peels and scraps of paper in my direction. I stood there, overwhelmed by the barrage of insults, feeling utterly helpless. Declan’s emotions were at their breaking point. The tenderness and affection in his gaze were gone, replaced by unending anger. “Hazel, I’m asking you one last time. Are you going to save Sunny?” Declan was livid. His bloodshot eyes looked ready to burst. Yet, I remained calm and resolute: “I won’t sacrifice my career for personal reasons.” Slap! No sooner had I finished speaking than Declan, unable to restrain himself, slapped me hard across the face. “So your so-called career is more important than your own son’s life?!” “Hazel, I refuse to stand by and watch Sunny die in the operating room.” “Today, you must save Sunny!” “If anything happens to Sunny, I’ll make sure you join him!” With those words, Declan roughly dragged me towards the hospital’s operating room. His parents followed closely behind. The crowd applauded, and live-stream cameras captured every moment. In the live stream comments, viewers were thrilled to see Declan finally take a stand. The entire scene was buzzing with excitement. However, as Declan dragged me to the operating room door… The doors suddenly opened. The attending physician emerged, sighing deeply: “The patient couldn’t be saved. He’s already gone.”

In the stunned silence, my son’s body was wheeled out. Declan and his father rushed forward, crying out in grief. My mother-in-law spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed. Meanwhile, I silently took out my phone and dialed the police: “Hello, I’d like to report a crime.” “My son was murdered.” Before the person on the other end could respond, Declan stormed over and knocked the phone from my hand. Gritting his teeth, he accused: “Hazel, you still have the nerve to call the police?” “You killed our son.” “You upset my mom so much she spat blood.” “Are you satisfied now?!” Declan’s veins bulged on his forehead, his voice booming. His eyes bore into mine with an unprecedented fury. My father-in-law, supporting his weakened wife, spoke with tears and a trembling voice: “Hazel, how could we have trusted someone as heartless as you?” “What did we do to deserve this from you?” “Our family was destroyed by you!” His words were full of genuine sorrow and regret. Having me as a daughter-in-law felt like his life’s greatest shame. Seeing Declan and my father-in-law so outraged, the crowd also joined in. “This woman killed her own son and still has the nerve to call the police?” “Is she trying to have herself arrested?” “How could someone so heartless have such awareness?” “It’s sickening. Why isn’t it her who’s dead?” The people were furious, hurling angry curses at me. The live stream comments scrolled rapidly with unrestrained condemnation, cursing me to hell. With everyone hating me because of my son’s death, they all wished I’d just disappear. But under their resentful gazes, I looked at Declan and his parents, their eyes red from crying. I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. Seeing this, Declan’s brows furrowed, struggling to contain his anger, he asked in a low voice: “What are you laughing at?” “Our son is dead, and you can still laugh?” My mother-in-law, after catching her breath, looked at me weakly and said: “This is a sin!” “My poor Sunny, how did he end up with such a cold-hearted mother?” “How did our family end up with such a heartless daughter-in-law?” “Your own son died, and as a mother, you can still laugh.” She was heartbroken. For Sunny and for the misplaced trust. Seeing her heartbroken and angry face. I just laughed: “Stop pretending.” Hearing this, Declan grew even more furious: “Pretending?” He pointed at our son’s body, full of resentment: “Sunny’s body is right in front of you. He died saving you, and you didn’t shed a single tear. You think our grief is just an act?” “Hazel, you’re a heartless monster!” “You don’t deserve a son as good as Sunny!” Declan’s anguished roar resonated with the onlookers. Everyone stopped being silent and began to scream insults at me. The live stream comments were unrelenting, showing the deepest malice. Facing all those eyes wanting to tear me apart, I smiled. I did something that shocked everyone… In the eyes of the entire audience, I raised my hand and slapped Declan hard across the face. Slap! The crisp sound of the slap made the noisy scene fall silent. Everyone looked at me in disbelief. Nobody expected that the accused villain, me, would dare to strike first and slap Declan publicly.

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My wife buried my daughter alive. All because her “first love’s” son stabbed my daughter with a knife, and I slapped him in anger. To retaliate, my wife broke my daughter’s leg, threw her off the seventh floor, and then buried her alive in the backyard. When I confronted her in despair, she screamed hysterically, “He’s just a child! How could you be so cruel? Do you even realize you knocked out one of his teeth with that slap?” Later, after I found my daughter’s body, she cried and begged me not to divorce her. But I could never love her again. My daughter was killed by her own mother. She took her last breath inside a dark, suffocating box, alone. And I was miles away, on a business trip, completely unaware that the little girl I cherished more than anything in this world had already left me forever. Late that night, after finally wrapping up work, I picked up my phone to call her. But as soon as I unlocked my phone, I saw several missed calls from her. There were also multiple voice messages. My heart immediately sank. A wave of fear surged through me. I quickly called her back, but no one answered. I told myself not to overthink it, to stay calm. But when I opened her voice messages, her trembling, tear-filled voice pierced through the silence: “Daddy, why aren’t you back yet? Daddy, I don’t feel good. Please come save me.” “Daddy, I can’t breathe… Daddy…” “Daddy…” Her voice grew weaker with each message, and my chest felt like it was being crushed. I called my wife, Jessica, in a panic, but she kept rejecting my calls. Frustrated, I opened her social media account and saw her post: she was having dinner with her “first love.” Unbelievable. If Jessica hadn’t promised to take good care of my daughter, I would never have left her at home while I went on this business trip. Little did I know, leaving her behind was the worst decision I had ever made. The hour-and-a-half plane ride back felt like an eternity. I prayed desperately for time to move faster, terrified that every passing second might take my daughter further away from me. When I finally arrived home, I burst through the door, only to find Jessica tucking her “first love’s” son, Ethan, into bed. She looked startled when she saw me, her expression guilty and uneasy. “Why are you back so soon?” she asked, feigning nonchalance. Her demeanor sent a wave of panic through me. “Where’s my daughter? Where’s Lily?” I demanded. Jessica swallowed hard, her voice rising defensively. “She’s been asleep for hours. And honestly, Ethan is your stepson now, and I’m your wife. Why is that little brat the only person you ever care about?” I glared at her, my eyes burning red, and her insolent tone faltered. She immediately stopped talking. Frantically, I searched every room in the house, but Lily was nowhere to be found. Her desperate cries for help echoed in my mind, fueling my growing desperation. “Jessica, where is she? What did you do to her?” I shouted. At that moment, Ethan rubbed his eyes and sat up in bed, yawning. “Why are you making such a big deal about that brat?” he muttered. “Last time you slapped me, Jessica said she’d teach her a lesson to make me feel better. So this is all your fault.” His childish tone carried an innocent cruelty that made my blood boil. I turned to Jessica, disbelief and fury coursing through me. “All this because I slapped him? You used my daughter to ‘make him feel better’?” Jessica, realizing the truth was out, dropped her pretense. She crossed her arms and sneered. “Well, you shouldn’t have hit Ethan. He’s just a kid, and now he’s missing a tooth because of you.” “So yeah, I taught Lily a lesson. She’s my daughter; I can do whatever I want with her. And if you keep making a scene, you’ll never see that little brat again. I can’t believe she had the nerve to tattle on me to you.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Jessica was Lily’s mother, yet she was defending someone else’s son while treating her own daughter like trash. My vision turned red with rage. I grabbed Ethan by the collar and snatched a fruit knife from the coffee table, pressing it against his neck. “Tell me where Lily is,” I growled, “or I’ll make sure he’s buried next to her.” Jessica screamed in terror, begging me to put Ethan down. Finally, she broke under the pressure and pointed toward the backyard. “She wouldn’t stop crying, so I locked her in a box. Now put Ethan down, or I swear to God—” Her words blurred as I turned toward the window. The backyard was quiet, illuminated by the soft glow of the porch light. But there was no box in sight. Then my eyes landed on a freshly dug mound of dirt. A chilling realization gripped me. “You buried her alive in that box,” I said through clenched teeth. Jessica opened her mouth, but I didn’t wait for her response. There wasn’t time to waste. Saving Lily was all that mattered now.

When I clawed through the foul-smelling dirt with my bare hands, what came into view was a box, tightly locked. My fingers trembled as I fumbled with the latch, and when I finally managed to pry it open, my worst nightmare unfolded before me. My daughter—once so full of life—lay inside, her pupils dilated, her tiny face pale and bluish. I couldn’t believe it. Just days ago, she was fine, smiling, laughing. And now, she was gone. Carefully, I lifted her lifeless body from the box. Her once-bright face would never smile at me again. At the hospital, the doctor shook his head regretfully. “She passed away several hours ago. It seems an asthma attack was the cause.” I sat there, trembling, unable to process the words. Flashes of her face—a face so full of life—filled my mind. She was only five years old, taken from this world by the very person who should have loved her the most: her own mother. It was all because of Jessica. I called her over and over, my fury building with each rejection. Finally, after ignoring me for what felt like an eternity, she answered. Before I could say a word, her irritated voice snapped through the receiver. “Gavin, what the hell is wrong with you? Calling me nonstop—don’t you realize I’m busy calming Ethan down?” “It’s your fault he’s so upset. If he has nightmares tonight, I’ll make sure you pay for it.” Then the line went dead. I stared at the phone in silence, the dial tone echoing in my ears. At that moment, I realized the truth I’d been too afraid to admit until now: Jessica never loved our daughter. What kind of mother would call her own child a “brat”? Jessica, a doctor of all things, had betrayed everything her profession stood for. Knowing full well that Lily had asthma, she trapped her in a dark, airless box, leaving her to suffocate to death. Rage burned through me, threatening to consume me whole. Guilt and grief crushed me like a mountain, making it impossible to breathe. Memories of the day I left for my business trip replayed in my mind, sharp and vivid. Lily had grabbed my hand, her tiny fingers clutching mine tightly as she looked up at me with tear-filled eyes. “Daddy, do you really have to go? Can’t you take me with you?” She hugged her little stuffed bear, her innocent face full of hope. I’d crouched down to her level, holding her close, hesitating as her words gnawed at my heart. But Jessica had quickly swooped in, pulling Lily into her arms. “Lily, Mommy’s here to take care of you. Let Daddy focus on work so he can buy you all those pretty clothes and new toys, okay?” “Gavin, don’t worry. I’ll take good care of her,” Jessica had reassured me with a smile. Despite an uneasy feeling deep in my gut, I left. I convinced myself it was safer for Lily to stay home with her mother than to travel with me. After all, Jessica was her mom. But now, staring at my daughter’s lifeless body, I realized just how wrong I had been. Jessica didn’t just fail to protect Lily—she sacrificed her. All because I slapped Ethan, the son of her first love. And why did I slap him? Because Ethan had stabbed Lily with a knife. Jessica didn’t care. She buried our daughter alive just to “defend” her ex’s precious son. I had been such a fool to believe her promises, to think she wanted to make things right. Sitting in the hospital waiting room, I broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. I had failed my daughter. I had handed her over to Jessica. I had sent her to her death.

I sat in the hospital all night. It wasn’t until the sun rose the next morning that I finally moved, my body stiff and aching. My daughter was gone. The only thing left for me to do was give her a proper burial. But just as I was about to leave, the doctor called me back. In the waiting room, he held my daughter’s death report in one hand, hesitating as he glanced at me. “There’s something you should know about your daughter’s injuries,” he said cautiously. A heavy weight pressed against my chest. My voice came out hoarse and broken. “What do you mean? What injuries?” The doctor sighed, clearly troubled. “Your daughter didn’t just have knife wounds. Her body was covered in bruises, all caused by external force. And I suspect there may have been internal damage as well…” I didn’t hear the rest of what he said. The words knife wounds and bruises echoed in my mind, stabbing into me like daggers. In that moment, it felt like I’d fallen into a frozen abyss. How much pain had she endured before she died? A memory suddenly surfaced—before I left for my business trip, I had hidden a small camera inside her stuffed bear. I’d done it out of worry, wanting to keep an eye on her while I was away. That bear had been her favorite, the one she always hugged tightly to her chest. My hands trembled as I removed the memory card from the bear and inserted it into my laptop. At first, the footage was normal. My daughter was smiling, clutching her bear, and waving goodbye to me. But as soon as I left, Jessica’s entire demeanor shifted. Her face turned cold, and she shoved Lily to the floor without a second thought. Her sharp movements made it clear—this wasn’t the first time. I watched as my daughter, so small and obedient, picked herself up and quietly retreated to her room. My chest tightened, guilt tearing me apart. How could I have been so blind? How could I have left her in Jessica’s care, never realizing how cruel her own mother was behind my back? Suddenly, Lily’s cries pulled me out of my thoughts. “Mommy, I’m sorry! Please don’t hit me! I won’t say I’m hungry anymore!” “Shut up, you little brat!” Jessica snapped. “Cry again, and I’ll throw you out the window. Believe me, I will.” The next thing I heard was Lily’s muffled sobbing. Jessica wasn’t done. She grabbed Lily roughly by the arm, dragging her out of the room and shoving her into the car. Inside the car sat Jessica’s first love, Mark Hayes, and his son, Ethan. “Why did you bring that little nuisance along?” Mark complained. “You know her dad’s just going to lose it again. Last time he hit Ethan just because the kid scratched her with a knife. A knife! And all over one stupid tooth.” I clenched my fists as I watched, rage boiling inside me. Scratched her with a knife? Lily’s hand had needed stitches—several of them. Jessica smiled apologetically, trying to calm him down. “Don’t be mad, Mark. Gavin loves that little girl too much, so I thought I’d bring her along to help you blow off some steam. You can do whatever you want with her.” “I just didn’t want things to escalate between you two again. You know how impulsive that orphan is—he doesn’t think before he acts.” Mark laughed, satisfied. “Ah, you always know how to please me, Jess.” He pulled her closer by the waist. And then, as if their casual cruelty wasn’t enough, they came up with a plan to “teach Lily a lesson.” Their method? Tying a rope around her waist and dangling her off the seventh floor of the building. The camera shook as the footage captured the horrifying scene. Lily’s screams filled the air. “Daddy! Mommy! Help me!” But no one helped her. When they finally pulled her back up, she had fainted from terror. Ethan, however, wasn’t done. He grabbed her by the hair, climbed on top of her, and said in the most innocent tone imaginable, “Jessica, I saw on TV that people get buried alive sometimes. The sound they make is so funny. Can I bury her in the ground?” For a moment, Jessica hesitated. But then she smiled, indulgent and sweet. “Sure, honey. Go ahead.” How could she? I watched in horror as they stuffed my crying daughter into a box and carried her to the backyard. The sounds of laughter mixed with Lily’s desperate cries for help. The camera caught everything—her fear, her pain, her hopelessness. Tears streamed down my face as I stared at the screen, my body trembling. In her final moments, my daughter must have felt nothing but despair. She must have called me again and again, hoping I would save her. But I wasn’t there. I couldn’t save her.

When the video ended, my mind went completely blank. How naive I had been. I never imagined Jessica would go so far as to toss our daughter off the seventh floor just to please Mark Hayes. Such cruelty. Such inhumanity. How could people like them even dare to call themselves parents? Furious, I stormed back home. When I opened the door, I found the three of them—Jessica, Mark, and his son Ethan—standing in the kitchen, happily making dumplings together. They laughed at some joke, their heads leaning close to one another, the picture of a harmonious “family.” My daughter had died a horrific death, and yet Jessica had the audacity to stand here joking and laughing with another man. She didn’t even notice I’d come home. The rage inside me erupted. I marched over to Mark, grabbed his head, and slammed his face into a bowl of flour. Then I punched him square in the jaw. “Keep making your damn dumplings!” I shouted. Ethan saw his father being beaten and tried to intervene, but I slapped him so hard he stumbled backward. My bloodshot eyes burned with fury as I turned my fists on both father and son. Jessica stood frozen in shock. It took her a moment to react, and then she screamed, “Gavin, are you insane?! How dare you lay a hand on Mark!” But her voice was nothing more than noise to me at that point. Mark cried out in pain as I pummeled him relentlessly. His smug face swelled up like a pig’s head. Grabbing a handful of his hair, I slammed his head against the floor, over and over, until his body went limp. Just as I turned my attention to Ethan, Jessica grabbed a ceramic bowl and smashed it against the back of my head. The sharp, searing pain made me pause as blood trickled down my forehead. I blinked, slowly turning to look at her. I had almost forgotten—there was still one more guilty party in this house. A twisted smile spread across my face as something dark and primal awoke inside me. Jessica backed away in fear, but I lunged at her, pinning her to the floor. I slapped her hard across the face, the sound echoing through the room. “Lily was your daughter! Your own flesh and blood! Why did you do this to her? Why?!” I roared, my voice breaking with anguish. Even now, I couldn’t understand how Jessica could be so heartless, so monstrous toward her own child. Jessica sobbed and wailed beneath me. “I didn’t do anything! She wouldn’t listen, so I disciplined her. What’s wrong with that?” “She’s my daughter! I can do whatever I want with her!” I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. “She was your daughter, Jessica! How could you turn her into a punching bag for someone else? She was only five years old, and now she’s dead because of you!” “All because I slapped Ethan, you took your revenge on Lily? You let her die for that?” Jessica’s expression twisted into hysteria as she screamed back at me. “What else was I supposed to do?! Ethan is just a child! How could you be so cruel and knock out one of his teeth?” “And besides,” she continued, her tone turning venomous, “Mark said it was fine to lock Lily in the box for a few hours. But now look at you—storming in here like a lunatic and beating us up. When you end up in jail, just wait and see what I’ll do to that little brat of yours.” “She was just a lying little parasite! Always twisting the truth and tattling. So what if she’s dead? It’s not a big deal. Just bury her and be done with it!” Her words shattered whatever was left of my spirit. Even now, Jessica refused to acknowledge Lily’s death. She continued to defend Mark and his son, as if their lives were worth more than our daughter’s. In that moment, I realized everything—my trust, my love, my family—had been nothing more than a cruel joke. Lily and I had both been nothing more than pawns in their twisted little game.

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The day we were supposed to get our marriage license, Chloe Baker abandoned me to take care of her childhood sweetheart, Zack, who had threatened to slit his wrists. I called her to say I was feeling awful, but she was only impatient with me: “Zack is seriously hurt. Why don’t you have any sympathy? Why don’t you just say you’re dying too!” I didn’t argue against these venomous words, Because I really didn’t have much time left. I was planning to tell her today, But now I suddenly don’t want to. I will continue to be good to her, And then die in front of her on the day she loves me the most. On the day I was diagnosed with stomach cancer, I waited all morning outside city hall for Chloe Baker’s call. “Mia, let’s get our marriage license another day.” “Zack is really sick, he can’t be without me.” I sat numbly on the steps outside city hall, staring at the medical report in my hand. “Can’t someone else take care of him? A nurse, a part-time caregiver? Doesn’t he have any family?” I couldn’t help but feel anxious. I would never have asked such direct questions before. Sure enough, there was silence on the other end of the phone. The next second, a weak male voice suddenly appeared in my ear. “Chloe, can you feel my forehead? Do I have a fever?” The rustling sound of clothes rubbing against each other pierced my ears like needles. I couldn’t help but shout loudly, “Chloe Baker, do you still want to get married or not?” After a moment of confusion on the other end of the phone, she spoke with impatience. “I’m just checking Zack’s temperature, don’t overthink it.” My stomach suddenly burned with pain, “Chloe, I’m sick too. I need you too.” Her voice was very low, accompanied by footsteps and the sound of a door closing, tinged with irritation. “Zack is seriously hurt. Why don’t you have any sympathy? Why don’t you just say you’re dying too.” My body couldn’t help but tremble. I couldn’t hold back anymore. Covering the mouthpiece, I hugged the trash can by the roadside and threw up. I vomited until I was shaking, until there was nothing left to throw up. Maybe I was silent for too long. Her voice became shrill. “Mia Gray, I hate the silent treatment the most. If you’re going to be like this, I need to reconsider whether we should get married.” Before I passed out, I wanted to explain something. But the phone went dead with a beep. I collapsed next to the flower bed.

In my hazy state, I returned to the days I used to spend with Chloe Baker. I thought Chloe was my salvation. We were indeed very sweet once. When I worked overtime, she would keep me company in the office. When she started her company, I provided funding and office space. As her work got busier, I put aside my own work to be her temporary nanny and assistant. Two years after graduation, I thought everything was falling into place naturally, and I proposed to her for the first time. I spent three months preparing for this proposal. It ended in failure just because of Zack’s one sentence, “I’m back.” It was then that I learned Chloe had a childhood sweetheart, who was also her first love.

When I woke up, I was in the hospital. A kind person had sent me here and thoughtfully called my top contact. So when I opened my eyes, I saw Chloe Baker. She was frowning, with a hint of worry. Zack was right next to her. “Thank goodness, Mia, you’re finally awake. Chloe and I were so worried about you.” He stepped forward, thoughtfully blocking Chloe’s view of me. “But, I heard Chloe say you were the 2-mile run champion in college. How did you suddenly faint! And coincidentally, the person who saved you happened to call Chloe.” I glanced at Chloe, and a flicker of suspicion also passed through her eyes. I laughed self-mockingly. After all these years of giving my all to this relationship, I hadn’t even earned a shred of her trust. My tone was cold, “I heard you faint at the sight of blood, so is that why there’s conveniently only such a small wound on your wrist?” When Chloe was on the phone with me, I thought it was a serious injury. Now looking at it, there was just a small scrape on his wrist, not even a scar, just a red mark. Chloe rolled her eyes at me. “Zack is different from you. He’s an artist and values his hands the most. Even a small injury would affect his performance.” For the first time, I felt like Chloe had become someone I didn’t recognize. “Is it as serious as when I broke my hand for you?” He’s an artist, but I used to be one too. She used to say my hands were precious too. But to me, she was the most precious. In our junior year, we went on a plein air painting trip. She encountered a criminal in the middle of the night, and I stepped forward, holding onto the criminal without letting go, allowing her to escape. But my hand was broken as a result, leaving me with aftereffects, unable to feel the delicacy of a brush in my hand anymore. At that time, she was full of guilt towards me. She told me that no matter whether I could create good artwork in the future, I would always be the greatest artist in her heart. I remember every word she said. But her? She’s probably forgotten.

Chloe’s face turned ugly, “Everything you did for me was voluntary. I just said a few words, and you want to bring up old scores to emotionally blackmail me?” I suddenly felt very tired. When she scolded me in front of others, saying I was reaching above my station, I thought if only I tried a little harder. When she flirted with other guys, I thought it was because I wasn’t capable enough to make her look up to me. Later, when my career took off and I finally had the qualifications to be with her, she was sometimes aloof, sometimes sweet-talking. I thought it was because I hadn’t given her enough sense of security, so I wanted to give her everything I had. In the past, no matter how she treated me, I could always find a reason. But this time. I couldn’t find one. If she knew I was going to die, what would her attitude be? Would she have even a hint of regret? How long would she regret? After the regret, would she think she could finally be with her childhood sweetheart openly? My stomach hurt badly. I wasn’t resigned to dying like this. Even if just for a moment, I wanted her to feel the same pain I felt.

I lowered my eyelashes slightly, my voice low, showing a vulnerable appearance. “I’m sorry, you know I love you, that’s why I don’t want you to leave me.” There were feelings between Chloe and me. Not just because I was devoted enough to her, but also because my looks were good enough. I had the kind of appearance she liked, neither too dark nor too fair, with a good balance of gentleness and masculinity. Sure enough, her expression softened a bit. I seized the opportunity to add fuel to the fire, almost on the verge of tears. “We were so close to getting married.” “I don’t want to force you, but if you don’t have me in your heart, then let’s just go our separate ways, and I’ll never bother you again.” Humans. A species that likes to take advantage but will tell everyone they don’t care. Chloe obviously couldn’t escape this trait. She enjoyed my gentleness and possessed my emotions. She liked the sense of achievement of being unique in my world. But she was unwilling to admit this. However, she wouldn’t be willing to let me give up my investment in her either. Moreover, she had also invested some feelings in our relationship, more or less. Even if not much. She also felt she had given something. Sunk cost would make everyone feel they had lost out. She panicked. For a moment, I couldn’t tell if she was sincere or not. Her eyes were red, and she angrily rebuked my words, “What do you mean? Who said you could go your own way and leave me?!” I stared at her unblinkingly, took a deep breath, and turned to look out the window. My stomach was throbbing with pain. So was my heart. For a moment, I couldn’t distinguish between my own sincerity and pretense. “Chloe Baker, I’ve waited too long, I don’t want to wait anymore.”

Chloe eventually said some nice words to me. She said it was just bad timing before, and when she had time, she would go get our marriage license with me. Before she could finish speaking. Zack suddenly fainted. I watched his eyelashes flutter slightly as he closed his eyes, wanting to say something. The woman who had just made promises to me a second ago was now anxiously holding another man. She was shouting, “Doctor, help…” I couldn’t say anything anymore. Zack was carried away by the doctors. Chloe followed closely behind, pausing at the door and turning back. I unconsciously gripped the bedsheet tightly. Had she decided to stay and keep me company? Her voice was dry, “Mia, you probably just have low blood sugar. Now that you’re awake, go home early. Zack hasn’t been well these past few days, and only I understand his physical condition. I’m not comfortable with others taking care of him.” I see. I nodded understandingly. Hearing my voice, word by word. “Mm, this is just a minor illness for me. You go ahead, I’ll wait for you at home.” She breathed a sigh of relief. “I knew you would understand me.” With that, she left without looking back. Soon, I also got up to leave. The doctor stopped me, looking left and right. “You’re already in the late stages of stomach cancer, you must be hospitalized immediately. Where’s the family member who was just beside you?” I looked at him calmly. “That was her, my soon-to-be wife. She’s gone to take care of her ex-boyfriend.” The doctor looked embarrassed, but I didn’t care. “Doctor, I understand that this disease can’t be cured even if I try. Forget it.”

I went to the jewelry store to pick up the custom-made ring I had ordered. This ring was designed by Chloe and me together. It even had the initials of our names “MG&CB” engraved on it. Chloe didn’t like those rings that the store clerks said were uniquely designed by designers. She dragged me along to design it, and the jewelry store crafted it. Her eyes reflected my image, her smile dazzling, “This isn’t just a wedding ring we exchange at our ceremony, more importantly, when we wear this ring in the future, we’ll be able to think of and feel each other’s presence.” “After we’re married, wearing the ring will mean we won’t be lonely whether we’re by each other’s side or not, so it can’t be casual.” She held my hand as we drew designs, again and again. At that time, I thought her so-called childhood sweetheart wasn’t really important. Otherwise, why would she accept my proposal in the second week after my failed attempt? I was about to call a ride-share to go home. While waiting for the car, Zack and Chloe entered the jewelry store next door. He was teasing her, and her face was flushed. It seems the doctors at the hospital I went to were really skilled, there wasn’t a trace of illness on him. I was frozen, unable to move. It wasn’t until the ride-share driver called that I suddenly came back to my senses. “I’m sorry, something came up. I won’t be going.” Like a thief peeking at others’ happiness, I hid in a corner outside the window where they couldn’t see me. I found a store clerk at the entrance and gave her $50. After they came out of the store, I went in. She looked me up and down sympathetically. “Are you that woman’s boyfriend? That guy brought the woman to pick up a ring, said it was designed when they broke up.” “The woman was so touched she cried, she said she always knew he had designed a ring for her back then, it’s a rose, with their name initials.” “The woman asked the man if it was because she accepted Mia Gray’s proposal that he was stimulated into taking action…” I listened to this entire $50 worth of conversation like a wooden puppet. So, the idea for the ring came from Zack. She must have calculated it all when designing the ring. Even if Zack didn’t react after the proposal. One day, this ring would also stimulate Zack, reminding him of their loving relationship. She had always hoped Zack would never forget her, hoped Zack would regret. Accepting my proposal was just part of her plan to win Zack back. My heart turned to ashes. The last bit of love I had for Chloe Baker disappeared.

I made dinner at home and waited for her to return. As usual, I wore a gentle smile. I put Chloe’s bag on the rack. “You must be tired from accompanying your friend. I’ve made your favorite dishes.” She half-closed her eyes, enjoying my shoulder massage. On the dining table, the dishes were arranged neatly and cleanly. I smiled with narrowed eyes. “Chloe, do you remember what I said to you when I proposed the second time?” “How could I forget, you said you would never let me down, or else you’d die. You were too harsh.” “Then do you remember what you promised me?” “Huh?” “You said very seriously that if you ever let me down, you would never have peace for the rest of your life.” She seemed a bit dazed, avoiding my eyes. “Really? Did I say that? I can’t seem to remember clearly.” I chewed the meat bite by bite, smiling broadly. “It’s okay if you forgot, as long as I remember.” “Why are you bringing this up?” “Nothing, I was just thinking, you’ll definitely love me for a lifetime, right?”

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When my daughter was in critical condition following a car accident, my wife was at the wedding of her “idealized past love.” I called her, and she yelled at me: “I’m just attending Oliver’s wedding! Can’t you stop being so petty? You even made up a lie about Ella being critically injured in the hospital!” At that moment, her “idealized past love” chimed in: “Mr. Ethan, if you want Wanqiu to come back, just say it. My matters aren’t urgent, but don’t jinx the child with false stories!” My wife angrily hung up and blocked my number. I gripped the bedsheet so tightly that my knuckles turned white as I watched my child, still unconscious. It dawned on me that it was time to end this marriage. The day after moving out of the ICU, my wife, Lily, unblocked me and called. “Oliver had something come up. Come pick me up from his place!” She spoke as if it was a given, with an air of inevitability, making it seem like it was my fault for making her wait even a second longer. For seven years, I had followed her every instruction without question. But this time, on the way to pick up our daughter, I got into a car accident, and Lily was still at her “idealized past love’s” wedding. Looking at my barely recovering body and thinking of our child still in the ICU, I hung up the phone. I dragged my weak body to the hospital waiting room and sat silently, praying for my child. When Lily finally arrived, she looked furious. She stormed over to me, her eyebrows furrowed, and shouted: ” Ethan Johnson, what’s your problem? I told you to pick me up, and you dare hang up on me?” She paused, her glare intensifying, “Are you pretending to be sick to get away with this?” I tried to speak, but pain shot through my injured organs, so I just bowed my head and silently endured. Seeing my silence, her eyes flared up even more as she continued: “Do you know how long I’ve been working non-stop for the company?” “I brought you into the company to share my workload, not to slack off and then increase my workload when you get home!” I looked at her, full of disappointment. She didn’t know how I tirelessly worked on various technologies to ease her burden, developing patents to earn money. After endless effort, I finally brought her company to the verge of going public. But Lily stubbornly believed the company’s success was solely her doing, and I was just a parasite leeching off her and her company. “Feeling guilty now?” “Do you have any dignity as a man? Can’t you learn something from Oliver Johnson?” After barely managing to ease the pain in my organs, I finally spoke: “I understand. It won’t happen again.” Hearing that, her anger subsided a bit, and she commanded me as if I were her subordinate: “Then why are you still sitting here? Don’t you know I came straight from the airport? Hurry up and drive me home so I can take a bath.” “And what about our Bao’er? You left her alone at home. What if something happened?” But after waiting a while and seeing I was still sitting in the hospital chair, her suppressed anger erupted again: “I told you to get up and drive me home. Are you deaf? What’s wrong with you now?” I restrained my emotions, looked at her coldly, and said in a low, steady voice: “Lily, tell me exactly what you’ve been doing with Oliver Johnson these past few days.” Her body stiffened, as if a sensitive nerve had been struck, and she angrily retorted: “What do you mean? I’ve explained it to you countless times. I just helped him prepare for his wedding. What else could I do?” I didn’t reply, just took out my phone, opened Oliver’s Snapchat, and turned the screen towards her. On the screen, she was wearing a bright red wedding dress, standing gracefully on a stage draped in festive red, her face full of emotion as she reached for the dazzling diamond ring Oliver Johnson was giving her. The comments were a flurry of congratulations on their marriage from friends and family. And during our most vulnerable moment, my wife was standing at another man’s wedding in a bridal gown, becoming someone else’s bride. When she saw the photo, her pupils quivered, and her angry expression froze for a moment. But only for a second. Then she burst into a rage: ” Ethan Johnson! Are you done? I’ve known Oliver Johnson for thirteen years. I was just taking some photos for him. Who is as dirty-minded as you, spying on me?” Her eyes showed a hint of grievance, each word sincere. Once, I would have believed her without hesitation. But now, I just found it ridiculous. Noticing the coldness in my expression, she softened her stance and tone. She seemed to want to appease me, gently pulling on my arm, and kissed me softly on the corner of my lips, speaking tenderly: “Okay, stop overthinking. Let’s go home. Bao’er is waiting for us.” “Either way, leaving Bao’er alone at home isn’t good.” But as she leaned over to pull me up, a bright red wedding invitation fell out of her open bag. I instinctively bent down to pick it up, and when I saw the names on the invitation, my pupils shrank. The groom was Oliver Johnson, and the bride was Lily!

Her pupils also shook, panic spreading in her eyes like a tidal wave. “Johnson, listen to me. This was just to help Oliver cover up with his family. It’s a fake marriage; don’t overthink it.” She said anxiously, her voice trembling slightly. I listened, expressionless, to her flimsy excuse, feeling as if an invisible hand squeezed my heart, causing it to ache. So, she went over there to be his bride! And she calls it a fake marriage? Maybe, compared to this, our so-called marriage was the real farce. Ethanch things had happened repeatedly before. Whenever I brought it up, all I got from her were accusations. This time, I silently put the glaring red invitation back in her bag, my movements mechanical and slow. Seeing my actions, her face darkened, anger surging once more. ” Ethan Lin, we’ve dated for three years, married for four, and you still don’t trust me?” She raised her voice, eyes full of anger: “Oliver and I have a clear conscience. Nothing happened. I was just helping him fake a marriage to fool his parents.” “Besides, he’s an executive at the company, and our most valuable asset. What’s wrong with me caring about him?” I hadn’t said anything, yet she was already on the defensive, desperately trying to justify and conceal. My throat felt dry and itchy, and I couldn’t help but speak: “Lily, did you know?” “While you were becoming another man’s bride, Bao’er and I were in a car accident. Bao’er is still in the ICU!” Hearing this, her anger flared even more, glaring at me and shaking her head: “Do you have to make a fuss just because I took care of Oliver? Now you’re even cursing our child. Are you even a man? You make me sick!” With that, she shoved me hard. I was already weak, and couldn’t withstand her push. I staggered backward, falling to the ground. I couldn’t get up, my bandaged wounds feeling like they were tearing apart, blood seeping through. But seeing me like this, she thought I was acting, and became even more furious: “Still pretending? Are you trying to force me to lose my temper?” “Don’t forget who provides for you. Reflect on your mistakes and come to me when you realize them!” “And if you curse Bao’er again, I’ll make sure she never acknowledges you as her father!” After that, I watched her storm off in her high heels. I struggled to get up, holding my bleeding wound, sweat beading on my forehead. She probably thought I’d go begging for forgiveness once she got angry. The hospital corridor was empty and cold, exuding a chill. I could only watch Bao’er from afar in the ICU, my lips murmuring: “Bao’er, let’s not have a mom from now on, okay?”

The wound reopened, and I had to find a doctor to re-bandage it. When I tried to pay for the medication with my card, I was stunned to find that all the money had been transferred out. At that moment, it felt as if my heart had been hollowed out too. I shook my head and smiled bitterly. Over the years, to give Lily Johnson a sense of security, I had given her full control of my paycheck, keeping only $3,000 for monthly expenses. Even though I spent countless days and nights buried in research, developing valuable, money-making patents for the company—patents that I registered under the company’s name without any compensation—I never complained. All our business partners were attracted by my patents, choosing to work with her company because of them. But now, after all my efforts, all I had in return was this agonizing wound and an empty bank account. Dragging my weary body, I slowly sat back down in the cold hospital corridor, silently enduring the pain of the wound. Not long after, my phone rang. The caller ID showed Hazel Johnson, Lily’s closest friend. As soon as I answered, a barrage of criticism came through: “What’s wrong with you? Are you even a man? How dare you argue with Lily? After all these years she’s supported you, do you have any shame?” The people around Lily never thought much of me, Hazel especially. To her, marrying Lily was like winning the lottery. Before I could respond, Hazel arrogantly commanded: “We’re at the Starlight Nightclub. She’s drunk. If you don’t come to pick her up in ten minutes, Oliver will take her home!” In the past, such a threat would have sent me into a panic. But now, it just seemed absurdly amusing. “Oliver is there too?” Hazel’s tone became even more disdainful: “You think everyone is as useless as you? Without Oliver, Lily’s company wouldn’t have grown so fast.” “How did you get so lucky to marry Lily, and yet you still dare to give her attitude? Look at yourself in the mirror. Do you even deserve to be her husband?” Her words were merciless, and then I heard a familiar laugh on the other end. “Mr. Ethan, don’t worry. I won’t take advantage of the situation. I’ll make sure Lily gets home safely. After all, she’s my bride.” After a big fight with me, she went to drink with her first love. This was the woman I’d cherished for so many years. I had forgotten she had already become someone else’s bride behind my back. I couldn’t be bothered to continue the conversation and hung up the phone. Hazel was relentless, calling several more times until I finally blocked her number.

Later that night, the doctor urgently informed me that Bao’er needed surgery and I had to pay the fees. But all the money in the bank account was frozen by Lily. Remembering the safe at home, I recalled the savings book I had stored there. In a panic, I rushed back home, only to find the house brightly lit. “Lily, thank you for pretending to marry me to keep it from my parents.” “It’s just that my parents want to see our marriage certificate…” Oliver’s voice came from inside the house. Then Lily replied in her soft voice: “Oliver, don’t worry about that. I secretly divorced Ethan Johnson a while ago. We can get the marriage certificate tomorrow morning.” “Once Uncle and Auntie see the certificate, they won’t suspect anything.” Standing at the doorstep, hearing their conversation, I felt like I’d been struck by lightning, frozen in place. Bao’er was still lying in the ICU, needing a life-or-death operation. But Lily was planning to marry her first love Oliver? What hurt me even more was that I didn’t even know we’d already divorced! I thought my heart had long since gone numb, but the stabbing pain spread uncontrollably from within. I forced myself to suppress the grief, trembling as I unlocked the door. “Jing… Johnson, why are you back?” Seeing me suddenly return, Lily’s face turned pale. Ignoring her, I went straight to the safe, retrieved my savings book, and left. Watching my lonely back, Lily’s heart skipped a beat. She bit her lip and ran after me. At the entrance of the community, Lily grabbed me, looking at me with pleading eyes: “You understand, don’t you? This is all for the company. Without him, the company wouldn’t be this big. Once I pacify Oliver, I’ll divorce him and remarry you.” “Didn’t you always say you wanted to honeymoon in Phuket with me? Once I get the marriage certificate with Oliver, let’s all go together, okay?” I looked at Lily seriously and said: “Lily, since we’re divorced, there’s no need to continue…” Before I could finish, Lily’s expression turned cold: “Why are you so petty, always hung up on this divorce thing?” “ Ethan Johnson! You’ve been living off me, and Oliver is the backbone of the company. Do you think you can compare to him?” Seeing me silent, Lily became angrier: “It seems you haven’t realized your mistake. Don’t bother coming back to work at the company!” “I’m warning you, if you keep bothering me and Oliver, forget about getting back together!” I opened my mouth, full of things I wanted to say, but only one word came out: “Okay.” Even at this point, haven’t I realized the truth? Hearing my obedient response, Lily smiled in satisfaction and hurried back to Oliver. I turned away, lowering my eyes, and took out my phone. I dialed a number: “Hello, is this the Patent Office? I’d like to reclaim my patents.” As dawn broke, I went to the company to process my resignation and prepare to reclaim my patents from the company with the help of the Patent Office. Unexpectedly, I bumped into Lily and Oliver, just returning from City Hall. Lily’s face, once full of smiles, now frowned in annoyance: “What’s your problem? Why are you still causing trouble here at the company?” Seeing me silent, she berated me again: “How many times have I told you, aren’t you tired of this? Are you just here to ask for money again?” “Look at you, always burying yourself in your worthless research. You’re like mud that can’t be shaped! Look at Oliver; he just secured another big deal for the company.” “But let me be clear, the profit from this deal—you won’t get a cent. Even if you beg on your knees, there’s no chance!” Oliver, however, smiled calmly: “Lily, it’s my responsibility.” “Mr. Ethan, if you’re sincere in apologizing, I can arrange a security job for you.” Lily looked at me, frowning as she continued to scold: “Did you hear that? Hurry and apologize to Oliver. You’re of no value to the company, and keeping you is just charity!” Ring, ring… Lily picked up her phone, her expression growing even more smug, and said: “See? Thanks to Oliver’s skills, it’s probably another collaborator wanting to partner with us.” But the call was from the company secretary, whose panicked voice came through the receiver: “Ms. Lily, there’s trouble! The Patent Office is here, and they want to reclaim our patents!” “The collaborators have found out too. They said if we don’t resolve the patent issue, we owe them a penalty fee of 300 million dollars!”

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My ex-husband died in a tragic accident at sea, and I was branded as a widow-maker. Even my grandfather issued a statement severing ties with me. In my despair and loneliness, I nearly lost my life. The icy sea water chilled me to the bone, but Lucas Lee saved me and gave me love. On our wedding night, I was shocked to realize he was my ex-husband’s brother, but it was too late to change my mind. After three years of trying, I finally got pregnant. He rushed back from across the ocean overnight to celebrate with me. In my fifth month of pregnancy, he conspired with his cousin: “Brother Lucas, can you really keep your promise and switch our babies?” “Of course. From then on, our child will inherit the Gray family’s vast fortune.” “What about your child with her?” “That bastard is lucky to be alive. Two layers of protection couldn’t stop it!” “Send it to an orphanage. Stella Gray is just my brother’s leftovers! The child she bears doesn’t deserve to be in my sight!” Is that so? Then neither the child nor the man needs to stay.

After three years of trying, I finally got pregnant. I had taken so many fertility drugs. Lucas was worried about me and said it didn’t matter if we couldn’t have a child. Little did I know that while I was desperately trying to conceive, he was doing everything he could to prevent it. The day after I found out I was pregnant, Lucas was overjoyed. He even rushed back home overnight to celebrate with me. He had a scratch on his arm that he claimed was from a stray cat, telling me not to worry. Now everything made sense. A month ago, Lucas brought his pregnant cousin Chloe back home. He said Chloe was further along than me and had more experience. My mother-in-law had even thrown Chloe a birthday party at our house. At the time, Chloe was Mrs. Lee’s precious goddaughter, while I had to stand and massage Mrs. Lee’s shoulders. Pregnancy brain made me stupid for three years. I even treated Chloe like a sister and took care of her. I clenched my jaw and fists, a mix of anger and despair nearly suffocating me. I tried to calm myself, steadying my trembling body as I carefully returned to our bedroom. “Stella seems to be asleep. Lucas, I want you,” I heard Chloe say outside. “Chloe, you’re pregnant!” Lucas protested. “You asked me to help you yesterday!” Chloe retorted. Their conversation continued, accompanied by the sound of rustling fabric. Tears instantly filled my eyes. I covered my mouth as if it could stop my body from shaking. What did I mean to him? A wave of nausea hit me. I rushed to the toilet and vomited uncontrollably, as if trying to expel all the blood and tears from my body. I sat back against the wall, gasping for air. Hot tears had already filled my eyes, ready to burst forth. Which pain was worse – being betrayed by my husband or losing him? I had experienced both, yet couldn’t compare. I thought of my late husband, Marcus. You must think I deserve this, right? You said I was heartless and arrogant. But in this marriage, I’ve suffered for so long. I dialed the number for a private hospital. “Ms. Gray, terminating a five-month pregnancy can cause severe damage. You may never be able to conceive again,” the doctor warned. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve made up my mind,” I replied firmly. A child should be born into a loving, happy family. If not, it’s better not to come into this world at all. The lawyer answered quickly, promising to prepare the divorce papers as soon as possible. Of course, that woman had to leave immediately too. Drowsiness overtook me. When I woke up, I found Lucas holding me, his hand resting on my swollen belly. This familiar, warm gesture was just like before. In the past, I would have turned and nestled into his chest, thinking I was embracing love. For a moment, I was confused, but then I smelled a woman’s perfume on him and vomited again. It caught him off guard, even getting on his clothes. Lucas woke up startled but didn’t get angry. Instead, he quickly grabbed a towel to wipe my face and body. He frowned with concern, looking just like before. As always. My heart ached. But it was all fake – his acting was too good. I felt sick again and rushed to the bathroom. He followed urgently, saying, “This little troublemaker! Stella, are you okay? Should we go to the hospital?” My stomach churned again. The physical and emotional pain was overwhelming. My eyes were bloodshot, tears pooling but not falling. How could I have fallen for this deep façade before? If he didn’t love me, why didn’t he just say so? I couldn’t show any signs of suspicion. I had to play along: “There are too many people in the house. The baby and I find it noisy. Can you ask Mrs. Zhang to take Chloe to stay somewhere else?” Lucas indeed showed some impatience. My heart was in my throat. If he had revealed his true face earlier, I wouldn’t have had to keep up this act. But after some thought, he compromised: “Alright, you and the baby are the most important. But Mrs. Liu needs to stay to take care of you. I’d be worried otherwise.” The words I had prepared got stuck in my throat. If I hadn’t found out, how long would he have kept up this charade? Outside the room, I could hear Lucas and Chloe arguing. Chloe even pushed open the door: “Sister-in-law is so clever. Even while pregnant, she can manipulate Lucas into kicking me out!” “Of course, sister-in-law’s baby is precious. Mine is just a bastard without a father!” “They say the grass is always greener, but for Lucas, it’s the opposite.” I clenched my fists, feeling a lump in my throat. Lucas’s face darkened: “Chloe, don’t be unreasonable!” Chloe immediately fell to the ground, clutching her belly and crying: “If you kick me out, where can I go? I can bear the mistreatment, but should my baby suffer too?” Lucas’s face turned grim. Finally, he turned to me: “How about we move to your hillside mansion? The scenery is nice there too.” Unexpectedly, in the end, I was the one who had to leave our marital home. I packed up with Mrs. Liu and left the place where we had lived for four years – three years of getting to know and loving each other, four years of marriage. In these seven years together, can you tell me when your heart changed? As I was packing and moving out, Chloe was happily moving her things into our master bedroom. I’m sure Lucas saw it, but he didn’t stop her. A knot formed in my chest. He made the mistake, yet I found myself reflecting on my own actions. What made this woman so worthy of his care that he would ignore me? Women in love are foolishly worthy of scolding, including myself.

When we moved to the hillside mansion, Lucas didn’t come with us. “Chloe has it tough. I’m going to help her move her old things over. I’ve called the moving company for you,” he said. Every little thing felt like a dull knife cutting into my flesh, breaking my heart. The hillside mansion was where I lived before marriage. As soon as I entered, I saw the large decorative painting Lucas had made. It depicted a newly developed tourist area with cherry blossoms in full bloom. He said he wanted to capture my most beautiful moment. The floor-to-ceiling glass cabinets along the walls were filled with rare items he had collected for me from around the world. Now, they all seemed painfully out of place. “Mrs. Liu, please find someone to lock all of these in the small room,” I instructed. After finishing unpacking, the doorbell rang. It wasn’t Lucas. “Sister-in-law, this place is much more comfortable than your marital home. You must have been wanting to move out for a while!” Chloe said as she entered. I ignored her and continued eating my dinner, though it now tasted like sawdust. “What’s wrong?” Lucas asked as he came in carrying bags. Before I could speak, Chloe quickly said, “Lucas, you were worried she’d be hungry, but she didn’t even wait for you to start eating. Sister-in-law even thanked me. If it weren’t for me, who knows how long she would have stayed in that small house.” I was completely stunned. Then I saw Lucas’s face turn from red to black. The marital home was Lucas’s first major purchase after his career took off. It was proof of his hard work. He hated when people looked down on him. I tried to find words to explain, but Lucas grabbed me forcefully: “Come on, let’s go out to eat!” His grip was strong, and I couldn’t break free. Despite my pregnant belly and slippers, he dragged me out, ignoring my cries of pain until he shoved me into the backseat of the car. He believed Chloe. He was furious. What was left for me to explain? The red marks on my wrist were glaring, bringing a numb pain that spread to my heart. Suddenly, a violent crash rang out, forcing the car to stop. That’s when I realized I was bleeding. The pain intensified. But I heard Chloe cry out: “Lucas, it hurts! Ah! My baby!” Lucas’s forehead was bleeding too. The panic in his voice was real: “Stella, are you okay? Let me help you out!” How could this be? How could he care about me? “Lucas, save me,” Chloe’s words snapped Lucas out of his daze. He swiftly and efficiently carried Chloe out, hailed a cab to the hospital, and never looked back. Though my body was in pain, a smile crept onto my face. Don’t be so conceited, Stella Gray. A kind passerby, unable to bear the sight, took me to the hospital. The concerned doctor frowned and asked, “Where’s your husband?” Coincidentally, a nurse changing shifts was chatting: “Did you see that? If you want a husband, find one like Mr. Lee just now. We told him his wife and child were fine, but he still insisted on having them admitted. He didn’t even care about the blood on his own head.” “Ms. Gray, you need surgery to save the pregnancy. We can’t delay any longer,” the doctor’s words brought my attention back. My body, numb with pain, along with my heart, finally calmed down completely. “No need. I don’t want this child anymore,” I replied.

The surgery was quick. By the time I was settled in the hospital room, my phone was still ringing non-stop. I simply put it on silent. My lower abdomen still had a slight curve, but only I knew the child was gone. I touched my belly, feeling incredibly sad. When Lucas found me, he was extremely anxious. Seeing me touch my belly, he let out a sigh of relief. He instinctively reached out to touch my abdomen, like a caring father. The pain below felt like a knife cutting through me. I avoided his touch: “The baby is gone.” The relieved smile on Lucas’s face froze, which seemed particularly ironic to me. He rushed into the doctor’s office, questioning and angry, then returned dejected. “I’m sorry,” he said. I saw his eyes were slightly red, but I only admired his acting skills. It was too real, real enough to fool even himself. After he left, I called my grandfather to tell him about the miscarriage and my plans for divorce. Grandfather was silent for a while, but finally agreed to my request for a leave of absence from work. As soon as I hung up, Mrs. Lee entered the hospital room and slapped me across the face: “You bring bad luck! Why don’t you just die!” “It’s fortunate Lucas and Chloe are okay, or you’d have to pay with your life!” My already weak body felt even worse. I gritted my teeth and sat up, glaring at her angrily. Mrs. Lee was about to strike again, but Lucas rushed in and stopped her raised hand, scolding her: “Mom! What are you doing?” “The baby is gone. It’s all my fault!” he exclaimed. His protection and acting were like needles to me. Each time it happened, another needle stabbed me. The pain made it hard to breathe. Mrs. Lee grabbed him and berated him outside: “She was your brother’s woman. I’ve tolerated her for too long!” “Do you really want to spend the rest of your life with her?” Lucas, reminded of his brother, immediately filled with hatred: “Of course not. Once I get the Gray family’s assets, I’ll divorce her!” After acting for so long, he seemed a bit reluctant to leave now. No, that’s not it. Lucas said he was working overtime at the company for several days in a row, but he was actually taking care of Chloe. She was completely unharmed, yet she clung to Lucas, asking him to push her wheelchair around the hospital garden. She would look towards the window of my hospital room, and sometimes I could catch her challenging gaze. Chloe had provoked me several times without getting a response. Just before I was to be discharged, she couldn’t resist coming to find me: “Some people can even tolerate their husband’s infidelity.” Who could tolerate that? I sneered, not responding. Should I still try to fight for him? The pain below and my body full of wounds were the answer. “Stella Gray, you think you’re so great just because you have some money? Just you wait!” Chloe huffed as she left. I received a notification of a credit card charge – a $200,000 jewelry purchase. Only then did I remember I was still supporting my mother-in-law. I informed the bank and had the card reported lost and replaced. Coincidentally, the lawyer told me that the analysis of our respective assets was complete, and the divorce agreement could be given to me within three days. Three days. Alright, just three more days. I was just feeling happy about leaving soon when Mrs. Lee’s text message made me feel like I’d fallen into an ice pit. “We’re hosting Chloe’s birthday party at home tomorrow. As her sister-in-law, you can’t be absent.” “It’s not too much to ask you to contribute some money as her sister-in-law, right? $500,000. Remember to transfer it to me.” “Be there at 5 PM sharp. You wouldn’t want tomorrow’s guests to know you brought bad luck to your husband and then married his brother, would you?” Mrs. Lee had been holding this over me for three years. Marcus’s death was already a wound in my heart. The deceased are gone, and I didn’t want to discuss it further with his family.

When Lucas came to pick me up, the doctor refused to discharge me: “Postpartum recovery is crucial. Your husband should understand this.” Lucas showed no concern: “She’s not that delicate.” My bleeding hadn’t stopped, and hearing this from outside the door, I felt my heart grow cold. Once, when I accidentally cut my finger while peeling an apple, he caught my gasp over the phone. He immediately stopped work and rushed home, carefully bandaging my finger: “A wife is meant to be pampered.” How many years has it been since then? On the way back to the family home, I spoke up: “Your mother asked me for $500,000 yesterday. I haven’t given it to her yet.” Lucas had always been unwilling to lose face in front of me. He cleared his throat awkwardly: “I’ll give it to her later.” I nodded and closed my eyes, pretending to doze off. The old house was adorned with red roses, transforming the once simple courtyard into something resembling a wedding venue. Chloe wore a white tulle dress, holding pink roses. When she saw Lucas, a beautiful blush spread across her face. “That must be Lucas’s wife. Why does she have such a gloomy face at her sister-in-law’s birthday? She’s so pale, it’s creepy.” “I heard she had a miscarriage and is still in postpartum recovery. How could she look well?” “Ugh, and she still came? Is she afraid Lucas will dislike her and prefer Chloe?” The coldness in my heart intensified. Unable to hide the pain in my abdomen, I found a place to sit and rest. As soon as I sat down, Mrs. Lee called me over, surrounded by the gossiping women from earlier: “I’ve found a folk remedy that will help you get pregnant again quickly.” The women around her inquired curiously. “From 5:30 until the end of the party, you’ll wash dishes in the kitchen. The more dishes you wash, the more sincere your heart. I’ve bought plenty of extra dishes just for this.” Chloe and Mrs. Lee’s faces showed mocking smiles. From start to finish, it was just a ploy to humiliate me. I bit my lip hard enough to taste blood. The humiliation was unbearable. As I turned to leave, Mrs. Lee suddenly spoke: “Did you all know about Stella’s ex-husband?” I stopped in my tracks, clenching my fists. The pain in my palms reminded me to remember this humiliation. The kitchen was full of servants preparing for the birthday party. They weren’t surprised to see me and collectively sneered. The sink was already piled high with dishes. They pushed me to wash in a basin on the floor. People clearing tables threw oil-stained dishes directly into my basin, splashing dirty water onto my head, face, and clothes. Seeing my miserable state, Chloe covered her mouth and laughed loudly: “Remember to be sincere!” When Lucas passed by with a friend, his friend frowned: “Isn’t that your wife?” I didn’t look up, my hands busy non-stop. I only heard him say: “No, you’re mistaken.” The winter water was freezing, and the pain below persisted. At that moment, I froze. Those words echoed around me like a spell. My heart sank to the depths. Two tears fell straight down, indistinguishable from the oily water. “Hurry up and wash! You’ll be in trouble if you don’t finish!” The curses shattered what was left of my dignity. At the banquet, Lucas presented a gift to Chloe. Chloe blushed shyly, embracing Lucas as if he were her whole world. I stared at the perfect couple, lost in thought. When he proposed, Lucas promised to protect me for life. In our first year of marriage, Mrs. Lee treated me like her own daughter. In our second year, when Mrs. Lee gave me a hard time, he firmly shielded me. In our fourth year of marriage, another woman was carrying his child. My heart turned to ashes, no longer stirred by anything. As the guests began to leave, there were fewer and fewer dishes. Lucas rushed to the kitchen and helped me up. My hands were red from the cold, but I still had the strength to slap him. He didn’t dodge. The sound was crisp. He even held my hand to his chest: “Why are your hands so cold!” That moment of warmth couldn’t thaw my heart. I held my head high, not letting tears fall, and laughed softly: “Lucas, you’re so contradictory.”

I thought I was strong enough, but the moment I finished speaking, tears streamed down my face. As my emotions erupted, Lucas panicked like a child. He held me tightly in his arms, begging softly: “I was wrong, I was wrong. Stella, Stella, let’s start over.” He no longer wanted to deceive himself. He no longer wanted to act. His wife was innocent. Before I could push him away, Chloe appeared and forcefully separated us. She was hysterical, her eyes brimming with tears, as if she were the wronged wife catching her husband in the act: “Lucas, what about us? What about our child?” “Have you forgotten? You never liked her. You dated her, married her, only because she’s the Gray family’s daughter!” “You love me! We’ve been in love for eight years!” “Back then, you saved her only because…!” “Enough, Chloe, you’ve gone mad. I’m calling the driver to take you home right now!” Lucas rushed over to cover her mouth. Shame, anger, fear – for the first time, I saw so many emotions on Lucas’s face. What was there to hide? I already knew all of this. But I never expected that I was the other woman. At this point, I lost all strength. Seven whole years. I never imagined I had fallen into an elaborately designed trap. A man from humble beginnings marrying into wealth for money, abandoning his loyal wife. How cliché. I admit I married the wrong person. I loved the wrong person, and I’ll change that. My heart ached intensely. Marriage is a gamble, and I had lost completely. Lucas finally got Chloe into the car and locked her inside. The driver took Chloe away.

In the instant Lucas turned to run back to me, I saw the hatred in Chloe’s eyes. “Stella, Chloe was talking nonsense. Don’t take it to heart.” “Everything she said was a lie.” “I’ve neglected you too much. For your birthday, how about we go on vacation to England?” Lucas reached for my hand as he spoke, but I dodged, barely managing to stand. The disgust on my face was undisguised. When he looked at me, his breath stopped for a moment. At that moment, Attorney Zhou called: “The agreement has been delivered to your home.” My body, which had been on the verge of collapse from exhaustion, found new strength. I smiled sweetly, suppressing my disgust to hold his hand that I had just avoided: “The Starry Sky development agreement is ready. Let’s go home and sign it.” The Starry Sky development had been Lucas’s passion project for the past year. He wouldn’t suspect anything. Perhaps my acting was convincing, as Lucas’s face showed joy at being accepted by me. Lucas silently reflected on his actions. He vowed to prepare a grand birthday trip for me and fulfill all the promises he had once made. This vision of the future made him sign two documents without noticing anything amiss. The moment the divorce agreement was signed, I was free. From that moment, the Gray family, including its assets, had no connection to Lucas Lee. Lucas finally noticed the changes in the hillside mansion. He suddenly felt uneasy: “Stella, where’s the painting I made for you?” “I sent it for touch-ups.” He reminded me – those things should have been burned long ago. If he could act, so could I. Lucas’s phone kept ringing. After silencing it, his expression turned sour. He spoke up: “Chloe might have some issues. I’ll go check on her and come right back.” I nodded. Lucas thought I was jealous: “If you don’t like it, I won’t go.” I sneered and turned back to the bedroom. Behind me, Chloe’s distinctive ringtone sounded, clear and persistent. Then, the door opened, and he left. Stella Gray, it’s all over now. A tear fell, and my heart ached. I sent the divorce agreement to my grandfather. The rest would need his help to tie up loose ends. I quickly packed my bags and headed to the airport. On his way to find Chloe, Lucas had already planned what to say to her. Five million dollars was all he could give her. Using half of his savings for a new life seemed fair to both of them. Lucas also contacted an overseas travel agency to prepare a grand birthday trip for me. But Chloe clearly wasn’t satisfied. She cried and made a scene. Her emotional outburst even led her to the hospital. Lucas couldn’t make it home, but not wanting me to worry, he called me. He called again and again, but no one answered. For some reason, he felt an overwhelming sense of unease at that moment. He quickly sent his assistant to the hillside mansion. “Mr. Lee, it’s not good. Mrs. Lee is gone!”

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