Category: English

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Caught my husband flirting with a female student again, I lost it and wrecked the house. My mother-in-law criticized me for not being able to handle my husband, and my sister-in-law said I deserved it. I want a divorce. Ethan threatened me with our child, so I endured it for the child’s sake. I never expected I’d endure it for a lifetime. Ethan lived a carefree life while I devoted myself to him, and he passed away peacefully. After a lifetime of toil, my children resented me, and I died alone in a rented room. Then, miraculously, I got a second chance and found myself back before the divorce. I opened my eyes to see my long-dead mother-in-law berating me. “Nora, how dare you destroy my house! Are you out of your mind?” “All he did was chat with a female student, and you act like a wild animal, with no manners.” “You can’t control your husband, but you blame him. Well, you deserve this.” “If you’ve got the guts, get a divorce. My son is a university professor, and you’re just a housewife. Let’s see who wants you after that.” “Mom, don’t worry. She wouldn’t dare divorce him,” my sister-in-law Harper said with a smirk. It was her who had egged my mother-in-law on to slap me. “Still daring to break things? I’ll beat you senseless.” My father-in-law, sitting in his wheelchair, mumbled, “Hit, hit.” I knew he was urging Ethan to hit me. With a swollen face, I turned to see Ethan sitting on the sofa, watching TV. I asked Ethan, “Your mom wants you to divorce me. Do you agree?” Ethan didn’t even look up. “I don’t care. Divorce if you want.” I said, “Fine, I agree to divorce. Let’s go to City Hall tomorrow.” Ethan laughed, “We can divorce, but don’t think you’ll take the child. There are no joint savings, so you won’t get a cent!” Here we go again. I, Nora, used to be fiery. The first time he cheated, I asked for a divorce. But Ethan knew me well, always using the child to threaten me. The child! My mother-in-law was about to say something, but Harper stopped her. They knew the child was my weak spot. Mention the child, and I’d endure anything. But now I don’t care about the child anymore. I feel fortunate that life has given me another chance. This time, I won’t sacrifice my happiness for anyone else. I didn’t say anything, just like before. I got up and went back to the room. “Mom, see? She wouldn’t dare divorce.” I ignored Harper’s words, smirked, and started packing. Actually, it wasn’t my room, it was the small room outside my father-in-law’s. After his stroke, he needed someone around. I thought I’d take care of him during the day. And my mother-in-law would at night so I could rest. But she claimed she had a nerve disorder, couldn’t stay up, and any noise kept her awake. She made me move to the small room to take care of him. I was furious. Ethan slept comfortably in the big bedroom every night. Now I decided, whoever wants to take care of him can. Doesn’t my mother-in-law always say I’m unfilial in the community? Fine, I’ll be unfilial. Let Ethan be the filial son! I quickly packed my bed and moved to the master bedroom. Seeing me move to the master bedroom, Ethan frowned and followed me in. “What are you doing moving in here? What about when Dad needs the bathroom or water at night?”

I threw Ethan’s clothes out, “We’re getting divorced. Your dad isn’t my dad. Whoever’s dad he is can take care of him.” “What’s wrong with you? Haven’t you caused enough trouble?” I smiled, “So what if I’m causing trouble?” He said I was causing trouble. I used to think I really was. Arguing with him was trouble, smashing things was trouble. Not eating was trouble. But now I know, hurting myself isn’t causing trouble. Making them suffer is. See, just moving out of the small room and Ethan couldn’t wait to come talk to me. In the house, Ethan barely spoke to me more than three times a day. Turns out, only by causing trouble can they feel uncomfortable. Ethan left the room with a sullen face. I didn’t care what his family said outside, I changed the sheets and went to shower. Normally, this was the time to pick up the child. After picking them up, I’d hurry to cook. After dinner, I’d clean and then help the child with homework. After homework, I’d bathe the child. Finally, I’d clean, bathe, and medicate my father-in-law. Only when he slept did I have a bit of time for myself. At home, I was like a workhorse. After my shower, I started calculating my savings. I graduated from community college and got married after a few years of work. After marriage, Ethan’s salary went to his mom, and I had to report weekly for grocery money. For money, I had to ask my mother-in-law. Ethan wouldn’t give me any money. But over the years, I wasn’t without income. My English is excellent. Occasionally doing part-time jobs, I’d earn a few hundred each time. I now have over ten thousand in savings. Very little, but after divorce, it’s enough to get by until I find a job. And I don’t have to worry about the house. This house was left to me by my parents, it’s very large. It’s pre-marital property, Ethan can’t take it. When I got married, Ethan brought his parents over, and before Harper married, she lived with us too. Now I realize Ethan probably married me for the house. His family planned to take everything from the start. This time I won’t compromise, I’ll kick them all out. At this moment, my mother-in-law pounded on the door, “Nora, what are you doing inside? The child is about to get out of school, aren’t you going to pick them up? The floor is a mess. Lazy.” I opened the door, “They don’t like me picking them up, let Ethan go.” My mother-in-law shrieked, “Ethan can’t do such things.” “Why not? The child isn’t just mine.” “Fine, don’t pick them up, nobody will.” This is my mother-in-law’s usual trick. I used to see the family not working, got angry, but thinking of the child, I’d give in. I’d silently do everything. This time I wouldn’t give in. Soon, I heard a bang outside the door.

I guessed my mother-in-law left. She wouldn’t be back before dinner. I opened the door to see the living room, apart from the mess, only my father-in-law in his wheelchair. I pretended not to see. I went to the study and turned on the computer. Started looking for a job. My English is truly good. I studied Business Trade in community college and love English, never giving it up. I wrote my resume and sent it to over a hundred companies. After that, I went straight to the bedroom. Laid on the bed and started sleeping. I was too tired, didn’t want to think or care about anything. “Where’s the food, why hasn’t anyone cooked?” “Are you dead, lying at home not cooking, not cleaning the floor.” “Ethan, look at the woman you found, lazy and useless. Lying at home not even cooking. Is she asking for a beating?” My mother-in-law’s voice woke me, I impatiently pulled the covers over my head. “Get up.” Ethan came in at some point. I got angry, sprang up, “What’s wrong with you? Can’t you see I’m sleeping?” Ethan snapped, “Sleep, sleep, sleep, it’s still early. Why haven’t you cooked dinner?” “I’m not eating.” “Not for you, mom wants you to cook, why haven’t you?” I was surprised, “Are you deaf or dumb, I said I’m not eating. Whoever eats, cooks.” “You’re doing this on purpose, what did my mom do to you? Nora, don’t push it!” “I’m pushing, what will you do about it? Divorce me, leave! Go find your precious Grace! Let her serve your whole family.” Ethan took deep breaths, “Fine, don’t cook, let the kids starve.” I rolled my eyes, same old trick, nothing new. While we argued, the two kids came home. Lily and Logan are twins, nine years old this year. Logan saw us arguing as soon as he entered, “Mom, why are you arguing with Dad again? Can’t you be quiet?” Lily nodded, “Yeah, Mom, your voice is so loud. And you didn’t pick us up today.” Ethan sternly said, “Look at your mom, what has she become? Don’t ever learn from her, like a shrew, uncivilized.” I almost choked with anger. I coldly looked at the two I gave birth to. Genes are indeed powerful, Logan and Lily completely inherited the selfish traits of the Ethan family. They always saw me shouting at home, and always stood by Ethan. In the past life, when I was dying, they thought of throwing me out. Not taking me to the doctor. I’ve figured it out, husband and children mean nothing. A husband and children like this, I’d rather not have. I smiled coldly, “Fine, I won’t argue with your dad. Hurry and take him out, I have a headache today. You two don’t bother me.” The two little ones looked at each other, not understanding why I stopped arguing just like that. Every time they see me, it’s during a loud argument at home, and they always take Ethan’s side. In the past, when I was seriously ill, all they thought about was how to get rid of me, instead of taking me to see a doctor. I’ve finally figured it out; who needs a husband and children like this? I’d rather not have them. I forced a smile and said, “Okay, I won’t argue with your dad. Go ahead and take him away; I have a headache today. Don’t come in and disturb me.” The two kids exchanged puzzled glances, not quite understanding why I suddenly stopped arguing. Ethan snapped, “The kids are home, and you’re still in bed? Go make dinner.” I ignored him completely. Ethan shouted, “Nora, didn’t you hear me?” Seeing no reaction, he continued, “Are you deaf? I’m telling you to make dinner. How long are you going to keep this up? I told you, I was just having a normal conversation with a student. Aren’t you being too controlling? What will others think of me?” I got up and motioned for the two kids to come over. When Lily and Logan came, I said, “I’m not arguing right now; it’s your dad who’s yelling. Can you ask him to quiet down? He’s a professor but has no manners. Don’t learn from him; he’s acting like a madman.” The kids looked up at Ethan, “Dad, stop arguing.” My mother-in-law barged in, pushing the kids aside, “What do you two know? Your dad is disciplining his own wife.” Lily got pushed and immediately fell, crying loudly. My mother-in-law sneered at me, “What are you crying for, you worthless girl? Did someone die in the family for you to cry like this?” In the past, I would have rushed to hug Lily and argue with my mother-in-law. But now, I’m not that naive! The kids used to be swayed by her words, forgetting everything from when they were small. They’d tell me to be forgiving. Now, I want to see if they remember her kindness without my protection. Ethan frowned at his mom, “Alright, mom, enough. Go make dinner.” She widened her eyes, “Me? What about her?” Ethan was speechless, “She’s not feeling well today. This time, you do it.” I looked at her coldly. See, if you’re determined enough, you can make anything happen. After she left, Ethan took the kids out. I called after him, “Don’t forget to go to City Hall tomorrow to get the papers.” Ethan turned sharply, “Fine, we’ll go. Just don’t regret it.” That night, I didn’t bother with anything. My mother-in-law clattered around in the kitchen, complaining not just about me but about the kids too. I didn’t help the kids with their homework either, leaving Ethan no choice but to do it himself. Through the walls, I could hear Ethan’s frustrated voice. I found it amusing. Before, when I helped, everyone said I had a bad temper and couldn’t teach well. With Ethan helping, my mother-in-law didn’t dare say a word. Finally, after the kids were bathed, my father-in-law tapped the floor with a bamboo stick. My mother-in-law made it for him; whenever something happened, he’d tap the floor, and I’d go over. Tonight, I certainly wouldn’t. “Nora, hurry up. Your dad made a mess, come clean it up.” “Didn’t you hear me? Are you deaf?” She banged on the door loudly. I stepped out and said coldly, “I’m about to divorce Ethan. I have no obligation to take care of him. Ethan’s the filial one, ask him.” “You heartless woman, Ethan was unlucky to marry you.” I calmly replied, “Regret it? Good, hurry up and divorce. There are plenty of women out there waiting to marry your son.” It felt so satisfying! She couldn’t bear for Ethan to take care of his dad, so she cursed while cleaning up after him, dealing with his mess multiple times. The next morning, I got up and started packing. I heard her complaining in the kitchen, “Son, are you really going to divorce? My old arms and legs were exhausted last night. Who’ll do the chores in the future?” “Mom, don’t worry. I’m just using divorce to scare her. Even after signing, there’s a three-month cooling-off period! She’ll definitely regret it by then. In the meantime, endure a bit, let her know the house runs the same with or without her.” “Once she’s quieted down, she’ll take over these tasks again.” She laughed, “You’re smart. Don’t spoil her, give her face, and she dares to confront me.” Ethan smugly said, “I know. She’s most afraid when I’m angry. Once I get mad, she’s like a quail. This time, we’ll teach her a lesson.” “Listen to you, son.” I sneered, remembering they did this in my past too. They agreed to the divorce, but before reaching City Hall, I feared Ethan taking the kids. I backed out before even getting there. From then on, I was always beneath Ethan. Whenever Ethan cheated, he’d talk about divorce, but by then, I no longer had the courage for it. Ethan saw me sitting on the couch with disgust, “Aren’t we going to divorce? Let’s go!” The kids hadn’t gone to school yet. Hearing about the divorce, they looked shocked, “Mom, are you really divorcing?” I nodded, “Your dad said he’ll take you two with him. So pack up. After the divorce, you’ll move out with him. He has money and will buy you a big house.” Logan eagerly nodded, “I want Grace to be my mom. She’s so gentle, helps with my homework, and always smiles at me, not like mom who’s always strict.” Lily added, “I want Grace too. She’s so pretty, mom’s not pretty. Will I have a pretty mom picking me up from school soon?” I laughed, “Then you should help mom convince dad to marry Grace. You’ll soon have a happy life.” My mother-in-law rushed out, “What? Move out? This is my son’s house; I’m not moving.” Ethan looked annoyed, “Nora, are you really pushing me like this?” “Ethan, how is this pushing you? We’re divorcing. You can’t live in my parents’ house with Grace, right? She won’t be happy seeing traces of me everywhere. You’re a professor; surely you don’t want to take your ex-wife’s pre-marital property, do you? What would people say?” Ethan, with a grim face, came to City Hall with me. I was smiling, standing out among the divorcing crowd. The staff quickly handed me the papers, “Check this agreement. The kids go with the husband; the wife leaves with nothing. No savings, see if there are any issues.” I said, “No problem.” Ethan nodded reluctantly. “What kind of man lets his wife leave with nothing? Disgusting!” Ethan turned and glared at the person. I left City Hall. In 30 days, I’d be completely separated from that family. “You better pack up and move out soon. I’ll pay child support on time.” Ethan said nothing and turned away. Back home, I saw my mother-in-law with a sour face feeding my father-in-law. Seeing me, she put down the bowl, “You still know how to come back? It’s so late. Lazy all day, not even making a meal.” “Auntie, you have hands and feet, can’t you cook yourself?”

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In a car accident, my boyfriend sacrificed himself to save my life. But he suffered brain damage and could no longer stand up. Today, that sultry woman was sitting on his lap. “Even though you can’t stand up, you’re still so amazing.” He panted, “Luckily my little friend wasn’t hurt. Otherwise, how could I satisfy you, you little minx…” Lucas Gray said he loved my innocence the most, but then he lusted after his sister-in-law’s sultriness! I turned to find the doctor. “Have you decided? To transplant brain stem cells to him.” “If the surgery fails, you could lose all emotions.” Later I found out. When Lucas Gray grabbed me during the car accident, he was just using me as a human shield. That doesn’t matter anymore, we’re even now. After I became emotionally numb, he fell madly in love with me, begging on his knees for me to come back to him. 01 Carrying a thermos filled with soup I had made for my boyfriend, I approached his hospital room. But I heard unspeakable sounds coming from inside. “I can’t believe that even though you can’t stand up, you’re still so amazing.” Through the crack in the door, I saw Lucas Gray sitting in his wheelchair. That sultry woman was straddling his legs, their bodies intertwined. “Fortunately, my little friend wasn’t injured,” Lucas smirked confidently. “Otherwise, how could I satisfy you, you little minx?” Scarlett Evans giggled coquettishly, “That stupid girlfriend of yours, as dull as dishwater. She’s definitely not as tight as me…” She licked her lips seductively. “I specially flew to the States for surgery, just for you. You’d better appreciate it properly.” Outside the door, I staggered, almost losing my balance. Lucas Gray had once sworn to me that he had ended things with his late brother’s wife. This morning, he suddenly said he wanted to drink pork rib soup. Now I realized it was just to get me out of the way. He had told me countless times that he loved my innocence the most, but then he lusted after his sister-in-law’s sultriness! I closed the door. Throwing the thermos into the trash can, I turned to see the doctor looking at me with a grave expression. “Miss Collins, are you sure you want to transplant your brain stem cells to him?” The attending physician pushed up his glasses. “This area of the brain has a very complex structure.” He looked at me with sympathy, “If the surgery fails, you might lose all emotions.” I nodded. I begged the doctor not to tell Lucas Gray. On the day of the surgery. The nurse raised the razor, her voice filled with pity. “Pretty girl, how long have you been growing this beautiful hair?” I smiled faintly, “Six years.” Six years ago, I had short hair. Because Lucas Gray once said, “I prefer girls with long hair.” Since then, I never cut my hair again. Now, in just a few minutes, it was all shaved off. “You’re willing to undergo such a scary surgery for your boyfriend. Even I feel scared just hearing about it,” the nurse said, putting away her tools with admiration. “He must treat you very well.” Looking at the ugly bald head in the mirror, I remained silent for a long time. It was quite the opposite. I was the one who had given the most. Lucas Gray, will there be a day when you suddenly remember how good I was to you? And then feel full of regret? As the anesthetic needle pierced my vein, I looked at the dazzling surgical lights and slowly closed my eyes. You saved my life in the car accident, so I’ll help you stand up again. From now on, we’re even. 02 After the surgery, the doctor told me that Lucas Gray would recover soon. But for me, this surgery was a failure. I lost the ability to feel emotions. Six years of love turned to ashes. That night. I sent Lucas Gray a message saying I was going home to visit my mother. A few days later, I returned to the hospital room. I saw Scarlett Evans feeding Lucas soup, their lips almost touching. Once upon a time, Lucas Gray had taken care of me like this when I was sick. But in just a few years, everything had changed. Seeing me arrive, Lucas Gray suddenly pushed her away. He stammered nervously, “Ava, Scarlett said the soup was too hot, so she was just cooling it down for me…” I watched as a drop of saliva trickled from the corner of his mouth. I didn’t break down as he had expected. I just nodded calmly: “Mm, I believe you.” I really didn’t care anymore. I came this time to break up with him. At that moment, Scarlett Evans quickly snatched the documents from my hand. They were Lucas Gray’s medical records and treatment information. She casually flipped through them, reading aloud. “New drug trial report… Warning: there may be certain risks.” “Patients participating in this project will be rewarded $10,000 by our institution—” Hearing this, Lucas Gray suddenly propped himself up. His voice was low and trembling. “A-va Col-lins!” “I trusted you so much that I even let you sign the surgery consent form.” His eyes stared at me intensely, as if trying to see through me. “For money, you actually let them use me as a guinea pig?” “I’ve already given you so much money over the years, and you’re still not satisfied!” Hearing him say this, I suddenly realized— Every time Lucas Gray slept with another woman, he would send me a gift. After his last tryst with Scarlett Evans, In less than half an hour, he had his driver bring me the latest Hermès bag. And the spare room at home, Was already full of various gifts he had sent… I bent down to pick up the papers Scarlett had dropped. “If that’s what you think, then this is the answer.” “Let’s break up.” I looked up at him calmly. Lucas Gray took out a black credit card and threw it at my face. “Isn’t this what you’ve been after all along? Money?” A cruel smile spread across his face. “Don’t worry, I won’t let your six years go to waste.” “Take the money and get out!” I didn’t take the card, nor did I offer any explanation. I looked at him deeply one last time, then turned and left. A few days later. I saw Lucas Gray again. It was in a video my best friend forwarded to me. “Isn’t this your boyfriend?! How did he end up on the Forbes Billionaires List? He’s so famous now, did you know?” I texted her back. “I’ve already broken up with him.” Emma quickly sent me a voice message. I heard her speak reluctantly, “Ava, there’s something I’ve never told you—” That day, she came to the hospital to see me. She overheard a conversation between Scarlett Evans and Lucas Gray. “That stupid girl still thinks you saved her” “You actually pulled her over to use as a human shield” “Unfortunately, our Mr. Gray had bad luck and still got injured” Now, my friend’s voice was filled with pain. “But I saw that you two seemed so in love, I wasn’t sure if she was just talking nonsense, so I didn’t say anything…” Thinking back. When I woke up after the accident and cried while thanking Lucas Gray. That unnatural expression that flashed across his face. I sat motionless in the chair for a long time. Gently stroking the ugly scar on my head with my fingers. Now, I knew everything. And I didn’t feel even a bit of heartache. Lucas Gray still doesn’t know. My brain stem cells have already been transplanted into his brain. That tiny piece contains all my love. 03 In the hospital lobby. Unexpectedly, I ran into Lucas Gray, who was also there for a follow-up. He had his arm around Scarlett Evans, staring at me intently. “It’s only been a short while, Ava Collins, and you’ve turned into this ghost-like state.” I replied to him without any emotion. “I’m fine, just getting by.” The surgery’s side effects left me with excruciating daily headaches. I had become so thin I looked like a skeleton, as if I might fall apart at any moment. The day we broke up, Lucas Gray instantly deleted all our social media posts from the past six years. And I could no longer remember. What it felt like to be in love. This handsome couple attracted the attention of passersby. He walked closer to me. “If you need money, you can come work as a maid at my place.” He narrowed his eyes, looking me up and down as if assessing my value. “Better than hiring a stranger—” Lucas Gray turned to look at Scarlett Evans. “Why not hire an ex-girlfriend we know well? Right, baby?” She gave a coquettish smile. “That’s right. Since I’ve been with Lucas, we’ve had to change the bedsheets five or six times a day.” Leaning against Lucas Gray, she deliberately pressed her chest against him. “You have no idea how vigorous he is now that his legs have healed…” My head felt like it was being pierced by countless steel needles. Looks like I’ll need to get more medication. I frowned as I spoke. “I’m not interested in your private life. You can go have sex right now if you want, feel free.” My voice was calm and emotionless. “But please don’t block my way, thank you.” I stepped aside and walked straight ahead. Scarlett Evans was furious with embarrassment. “Ava Collins! You ungrateful bitch, how dare you!” “I wasn’t finished talking, where do you think you’re going!—” She reached out frantically to grab my hair. But she could only pull off my wig. The entire wig fell into her hand. Scarlett Evans was stunned, frozen in place. A girl nearby pointed at me, her face full of naive malice. “Mommy, look! That lady has no hair, she looks like Caillou!” The little girl’s mother quickly covered her mouth, “Shh, don’t talk about others like that.” Everyone around was shocked, staring at me. But I didn’t yell or make a scene. Looking at the wig, Lucas Gray seemed dazed. “Ava, are you sick? Why did you shave all your hair off…” That was the hair Ava Collins had grown for him for six years. Countless nights, he had inhaled the fragrance of her hair as he gently held her in his arms. Now, her head was completely bald. This was the Ava he remembered as being so beautiful— At this moment, Lucas Gray was visibly shaken. “Ava, if you’re in trouble, you can tell me.” “I’m willing to give you any amount of money for treatment.” His heart was full of regret and self-blame for not noticing her condition earlier. Lucas Gray’s anxious expression was reflected in my emotionless pupils. I spoke calmly, “You’re overthinking it.” “The hairdresser said it could sell for $200, so I let him cut it off.” My voice was as cold as a winter wind. Since he thought I was a gold digger, I might as well let him keep thinking that way. After speaking, I turned and left without looking at their complicated expressions. Scarlett Evans swayed her slender waist. She took Lucas Gray’s hand, cooing coquettishly. “Forget about that ugly woman, Lucas. It’s almost your turn to be called.” For some reason, Looking at the alluring beauty before him, Lucas Gray only felt annoyed. At this moment, his mind was filled with images of Ava Collins, refusing to leave. His entire heart was moved by her. What was happening to him?… 04 I had previously quit my good job as a teacher to take care of Lucas Gray. Now it’s really difficult to find a new job. Those debt collectors come to my house every day, cursing and yelling. To pay off the huge medical debt, I took a part-time job as a bar hostess. Wearing a revealing dress, I accompany middle-aged men drinking in the hall. The more the customers drink, the more commission I can earn. But now that I’m emotionally numb, I don’t care about others’ judgmental looks. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to do this job at all. Today, A drunk customer mocked me without restraint. “Hey, big-chested girl, bring me a dozen beers!” When I was serving the drinks, he deliberately knocked over a glass, splashing alcohol on my clothes. He glanced at me sideways, waiting for my reaction. Unfortunately for him, I had lost most of my emotions, and my face remained impassive. The old man suddenly grabbed my clothes, his face leering as he reached for my chest. “Oh my, I’m so sorry, beautiful. Let me help you clean that up—” Unexpectedly, “This is my girlfriend! Get lost!” Lucas Gray suddenly appeared, throwing a hard punch. For so many days, Ava Collins’ face had been constantly appearing in his mind. Her trembling shoulders when she cried, her radiant smile, those loving eyes… But he never expected, To see her about to be groped by an old man in a bar. In front of him, Lucas Gray reached out to adjust my exposed neckline. That careful, treasuring manner. In our six years together, it was the first time I had seen him like this. His eyes were slightly red, almost pleading. “Ava, you used to be a teacher, how can you do such a degrading job…” But I sat there unmoved. Like an outsider. He suddenly grabbed my hand, with an uncompromising forcefulness: “Get up, come with me!” The commotion we caused made people around us start to whisper and point. “What kind of drama is this? Trying to save a fallen woman?!” I interrupted him. “Lucas Gray, aren’t you bored?” I glanced at him and pushed him away forcefully. “I still need to work and earn money. I’m really busy. Don’t come looking for me anymore.” This gaze was ice-cold to the bone. He couldn’t see a hint of affection for him in Ava Collins’ eyes. His heart began to ache intensely. Having been a playboy for years, Lucas Gray had seen all kinds of beautiful women. But he had never felt heartache for a woman before… He shook his head, impossible, this must all be an illusion caused by the alcohol! As if to prove that Ava Collins meant nothing to him— His eyes sharpened, “Fine, you want to sell alcohol to make money?” “Waiter, bring me 50 glasses, and you drink them all!” “If you finish them all, I’ll give you $50,000!” Our eyes met, one cold, one hot. Seeing Lucas Gray’s fierce expression, I smiled faintly. “Alright, as you say.” This deal was worth it. With this money, I could pay off all my debts. 30 glasses, 40 glasses… The clear liquid slid down my throat, my stomach churning violently. “Stop fucking drinking!” Lucas Gray reached out to snatch the glass from my hand. “Ava Collins, stop it right now!” But I held onto the glass tightly, pouring the last one into my mouth. My stomach was as swollen as if I were nine months pregnant. Those endless debts… could finally be over. At that moment, My calves began to spasm uncontrollably, and I stumbled forward— I distinctly heard Lucas Gray’s sharp intake of breath. But that hand was ultimately half a step too late. My head hit the coffee table hard, right where I had the surgery. My body convulsed as if electrocuted! I lay on the ground, foaming at the mouth… The sudden turn of events threw the entire hall into chaos. Some people screamed, others hurriedly dialed 91 Emma Thompson, my best friend who had come to check on me, desperately pushed through the crowded people. She snatched me back from Lucas Gray’s arms. “It was Ava who transplanted her brain cells to you!” She slapped him hard: “She’s already barely living like a human. What more do you want? Do you have to take her life too?!!”

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On Valentine’s Day, Mia Parker and I were caught in a dangerous hostage situation. The captor made Lucas choose between us. Without hesitation, he chose to save me. But Mia lost her life as a result. Since then, Lucas has grown increasingly cold towards me. When I ate cake on my birthday, he said: “You can still celebrate your birthday, but Mia will never come back.” When I put on lipstick, he remarked: “You still have the heart to prettify yourself, while Mia’s clothes were torn in her final moments.” Overwhelmed with guilt, I spent a fortune on weekly counseling sessions for Mia’s sake. But later, I discovered: The so-called hostage situation was entirely orchestrated by Lucas. The money I spent became the down payment for their new home together. My hands trembled uncontrollably as I stared at the endless stream of messages. Lucas’s contact name for Mia stabbed at my heart. “Wifey” Those two words felt like a stinging slap, leaving me dizzy and disoriented. It made me feel like a fool for the past two months. Realizing Lucas was about to finish his shower, I quickly wiped away my tears and put his phone back. To hide any signs of crying, I even touched up my makeup with some foundation. But it turned out to be unnecessary. Lucas didn’t notice my tear-stained face. Instead, he mocked: “You still have the heart to put on makeup? What’s the point of looking pretty when Mia can never come back?” I froze, feeling as if my entire body was being crushed by pain. Seeing my lack of response, Lucas impatiently urged: “Let’s go, don’t keep Mia waiting.” My heart ached again, and the tears I had just managed to stop threatened to fall once more. This year’s Valentine’s Day was the most unforgettable day of my life. That day, Mia and I were caught in a hostage situation together. But the captor said: “The ransom can only save one person.” My wrists were bound by rough rope, and my eyes were red from crying countless tears. Mia was terrified too, shaking uncontrollably. Lucas, without hesitation, called out my name. As Lucas’s wife, I should have been happy about his unwavering decision. But later, the captor chose to end it all with Mia, both plunging into the sea. From then on, Mia’s name became my nightmare. Lucas, guilt-ridden for failing to save Mia, grew increasingly distant towards me. He refused to sleep in the same room with me. “Seeing you reminds me of Mia. I’m sorry, but I just can’t handle it.” I couldn’t even show a hint of relaxation in his presence. On my birthday, when I just wanted to eat some cake, Lucas publicly knocked over the cake and accused me: “How can you think about eating cake? Mia died because of you. How can you be so heartless?” But Mia’s death wasn’t my fault at all. I was a victim too.

The cold wind stung my face as I secretly wiped away a tear. Lucas, being tall, took large strides and soon left me behind. “Can’t you walk faster? Don’t you want to spend this money?” Hearing his impatient tone, I swallowed the questions I wanted to ask several times. Two months ago, on the seventh day after Mia’s death, Lucas met a spiritual advisor somewhere. The advisor said: “Mia’s life shouldn’t have ended. Now, due to unfortunate circumstances, her soul is trapped. If no one prays for her, she might have trouble reincarnating.” Hearing this, my heart sank. I secretly glanced at Lucas’s reaction. As expected, he was moved. Lucas, who once told me in college that he was an atheist, believed the advisor’s words. He unhesitatingly took out all his savings to pray for Mia. But because he was unemployed, he didn’t have much money. The advisor had said: “For a soul that died unjustly like Mia’s, you need to ensure weekly prayers for at least half a year.” One thousand dollars each time, I didn’t know how much money this half year would cost. “Mia’s death is partly your responsibility too. You won’t just stand by, will you?” Seeing my hesitation, Lucas complained: “Do you really want to see Mia unable to reincarnate? Aria, people have hearts of flesh. I can’t believe you’re so heartless.” So, I sold all my jewelry. I used my entire monthly salary for the prayers. But Lucas was still unsatisfied. “This money is only enough for a few months. How can it last half a year?” I wasn’t without temper. Mia’s death wasn’t my responsibility either. “Honey, we can’t just think about this. We need to consider our future too, right?” “Besides, I really don’t have any extra money now.” “Do you want me to sell our house?”

Hearing my anger, Lucas softened his tone. He said gently: “Of course we can’t sell this house.” At that time, I really thought he was considering our future. But it wasn’t until I saw his chat history with Mia that I realized. His future didn’t include me at all. This house we bought when we got married was in Lucas’s name. So he didn’t want to sell it. He planned to live there with Mia after getting rid of me. As for the money for Mia’s prayers, he had his eye on the house my parents left me. “Didn’t your parents leave you an old house? Why don’t we… sell that one?” I disagreed. Lucas then became upset, accusing me of being heartless. He started drowning his sorrows in alcohol every day, refusing to come home. During that time, I felt like our family was about to fall apart. Under pressure, I finally agreed and listed the old house online. … “The prayer session is complete. For this time’s payment, let’s do a bank transfer, shall we?” The advisor, like many times before, chanted a bunch of things I couldn’t understand. After about half an hour, the prayer session was considered complete. Lucas immediately nodded, signaling me to pay. I took out my phone, remembering the chat history I had seen. “This woman is so stupid, she believes everything you say?” “I didn’t expect her to be so obedient, doing whatever I tell her to.” “Honey, how long until we can be together for good?” “Just wait a bit longer. Once that old house is sold and we get the money, we’ll have the startup funds for our new home!” Thinking back to those words now, I wasn’t as heartbroken anymore. I just felt disgusted. My love for Lucas had become his tool to exploit me. How ridiculous… Seeing that I hadn’t transferred the money yet, Lucas grew anxious. “Honey, what’s wrong? Hurry up and pay, the advisor is waiting.” “You don’t want Mia to become a wandering ghost, do you?”

“Mia grew up in an orphanage without parents. She finally made it to her twenties, only to die in her prime…” Usually, hearing these words would have made me feel guilty. But now, I only had one thought in my mind: “Serves her right for being an orphan!” I smiled and replied: “I really can’t come up with the money these days. Why don’t you pay for it this time, honey?” Hearing this, Lucas was stunned, his face darkening. “What do you mean? Aria, if you don’t want to pay, just say so. Why lie?” I didn’t know why Lucas was so sure I still had money. So I showed him my SnapChat balance, which I had already transferred out earlier. “I’m not lying, I really don’t have any money left.” “You pay this time, and I’ll give you the money back when the house sells, okay?” Hearing about the money from selling the house, Lucas’s face instantly lit up with a smile. He waved his hand, speaking in an affectionate tone: “Honey, what are you talking about? What’s mine is yours, and what’s yours is mine, right?” Hearing this, I almost laughed out loud. But I managed to hold it in, not revealing anything. When it was time to go back, Lucas suddenly received a phone call. If I wasn’t mistaken, it must have been from Mia. Sure enough, after hanging up, Lucas pretended to be troubled and said: “Honey, one of my buddies got drunk. He needs me to help take him home.” I smiled faintly, thinking of Lucas’s childhood friends. The first time I met them, they called me “sister-in-law.” I thought it was just them being friendly. But later I found out that every time Lucas brought a girl to meet them, They would all jokingly call her “sister-in-law.” Even when Mia and I appeared together at a dinner party, Lucas’s friends made a few teasing remarks: “Lucas, which one should we call sister-in-law now? Haha!”

Thinking about it now, it really is true that birds of a feather flock together. The funny thing is, I actually thought Lucas was different from them. “What about me then?” I looked at Lucas, suddenly curious about how he would answer. This place was far from the city center, and it wasn’t easy to get a taxi. Lucas clearly hadn’t considered this problem and was taken aback for a moment. “Why don’t you… wait here for a bit? I remember seeing a few cars when we came.” The early spring wind in River City was strong, sometimes stinging the face like a slap. Right now, my face felt like it was burning. For a moment, I felt like I had never really known Lucas at all. Where was the Lucas who used to tie my shoelaces, bring me breakfast without being asked, and proposed to me in public without caring about others’ opinions? I tried hard to hide my emotions that were about to break down, my voice trembling slightly: “Can’t you give me a ride? The wind is too strong here, I’ll get cold if I stand for too long.” In the past, if he heard I was cold, Lucas would immediately take off his coat and give it to me. But now, he chose to remain silent. After a while, Lucas spoke with a hint of reluctance: “But my buddy said he’s in the next city district, it’s not on the way.” If a person doesn’t love you, they can think of a thousand reasons to refuse you. The car drove away, kicking up dust that got in my eyes, causing a few tears to fall. I stood in the wind for two hours until a private car passed by. The kind-hearted driver agreed to take me back to the city. The driver was speeding, and while waiting at a red light, I saw that familiar license plate through the window. So even the “not on the way” was a lie. Lucas, is there anything true left in your words? At that moment, overwhelming emotions swept over me, and tears silently slid down my cheeks.

“Stop crying. It’s not worth it for a man.” The female driver handed me a couple of tissues. Though her tone was cold, I could feel her kindness. Actually, in those two hours, more than just this one car had passed by. It’s just that the other drivers were all men. Before I could even ask, some of them would ask with a smirk if I needed a ride. I got scared and quietly moved to the side. Until this female driver appeared. The kindness of a stranger moved me more than Lucas’s cheap and fake love. “Thank you.” I wiped my tears and asked curiously: “How did you know it was because of a man?” The female driver sneered: “Because seeing you so lost reminds me of my past self.” Later, we exchanged names. I told Rachel: “The driver of that white car is my husband, but he’s probably going to see another woman now.” Rachel looked at the direction of the car with disdain and asked: “Do you need me to help you?” … As I had guessed, Lucas was here to see Mia. Using my money, she had checked into the best hotel in River City. Lucas knocked on a room door with familiarity, and then out came the face I would never forget. “Honey, you’re finally here!” Mia was wearing a revealing nightgown that barely covered her thighs. She threw herself into Lucas’s arms and whined: “You still smell like that bitch, it’s so disgusting!” Hearing this, Lucas smiled indulgently: “Then what does Mia suggest we do?” Then, the two exchanged knowing glances. They started kissing passionately while entering the room. “Disgusting!” Rachel cursed, then said firmly: “Sister, I’m definitely going to help you with this! I can’t stand seeing scumbags hurting innocent people!” I thanked her, and then we went to the front desk together. After showing my marriage certificate, the front desk didn’t give us any trouble and immediately pulled up the surveillance footage of the two entering and leaving the hotel together.

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On the day of the company’s annual meeting, Nora brought in a man and announced to everyone that he was the new Vice President. Instantly, all eyes in the company turned towards me. Manager Liam looked at me with a smirk: “Ms. Anderson, Ethan has been with the company for so many years. Why wasn’t he promoted?” Nora casually replied, “Ethan is a cornerstone of the company and performs best at the grassroots level.” I knew Nora was confident that I wouldn’t object or leave her. Seeing the new Vice President, I understood why. He looked just like Nora’s college flame who tragically passed away. Suddenly, I felt drained. I tore off my ID badge and tossed it in front of Nora. “Ms. Anderson, I’m done here.” “Ethan, what do you mean by this?” Nora’s voice carried a hint of displeasure, her brows furrowed. But with many employees present, she had to keep her composure and asked me patiently. I could sense her looming anger. At this moment, everyone in the company looked at me with amusement, some even snickering. They were all waiting for a spectacle. Nora handed my ID badge back, her tone softening slightly. But to me, this was the biggest concession she could give. “Theo is just here in name. Theo and I are old acquaintances. I’m merely having him stay for a while. In time, you can apply for the Vice President position when the opportunity presents itself.” “We’re all adults. There’s no need to throw a tantrum.” However, I was already disillusioned and replied firmly. “No, Ms. Anderson, I’m really done.” Nora’s face turned dark instantly. She seemed unprepared for me to publicly embarrass her. Theo noticed and immediately spoke, his tone carrying a hint of humility and compromise. “Ms. Anderson, Ethan truly is a key figure in the company. With me suddenly being placed here, people might have unspoken reservations. I’m willing to start from the bottom and leave the opportunity to someone more capable.” But hearing Theo’s humble tone irritated Nora even more. She quickly interrupted, “Theo, stop being modest. No one is more suitable for this position than you. My placing you here proves you deserve it. Anyone with objections can come to me.” After Nora’s declaration, my colleagues naturally dared not object, all expressing their support for her decision. Then, Nora impatiently turned to me: “Ethan, I’ve said what I needed to. If you’re willing to work, then work. If not, then leave.” I gave a cold smirk. I always knew she had less patience with me than with others, even less than with a new intern. Before I could respond, Nora continued. “Theo, sit beside me. Let’s officially start the annual meeting and introduce you to the department heads.” Suddenly, I felt like a forgotten fool, standing there, unsure of my place. Yet I could feel the subtle gazes around me, filled with either sympathy or mockery. Without hesitation, I took off my wedding ring and placed it on the conference table, then turned and left. “Ethan! If you walk out of this conference room, don’t bother coming back!” Nora’s voice echoed behind me, laced with anger. I ignored it and walked straight out of the conference room. As soon as I stepped out, a few colleagues came over, pretending to persuade me. They probably already knew everything from some inside source. “Manager Ethan, at our age, isn’t staying employed more important than anything else?” “Middle-aged and unemployed—it’s a tough world out there, especially for someone like you, who’s the technical backbone of the company. With fresh graduates everywhere, who would dare hire you? I’m just being candid, don’t take it personally.” I looked at their insincere faces, their words implying that Nora gave me this job, and without the company or her, I was nothing. I paused briefly, and the meeting was ending behind me. I heard laughter congratulating Nora on getting rid of a “pest,” some even suggesting she kick me out of the marriage too. I looked back at this toxic company and its utterly insincere faces. Feeling only exhaustion, I let out a deep sigh.

I am Nora’s so-called husband. Over the years, this identity has felt like an invisible net, binding me tightly in this relationship, leaving me breathless. Our story began in college, where I was her junior, studying finance alongside her. My father was once a driver for Nora’s family, practically family after years of service. A few years ago, he saved her father in an accident. This act of gratitude led Nora’s father to bind us together before he passed, hoping we would marry. At that time, Nora was still grieving the loss of her long-cherished college love, who also passed in an accident. In those difficult days, I was by her side, helping her out of her darkness bit by bit. Perhaps out of gratitude, or perhaps out of uncertainty about the future, she muddled through and agreed to the marriage. However, we never registered the marriage, nor did we consummate it. Whenever I tried to bring it up, Nora would use the excuse of the company being in a growth phase and outright reject me. I once thought that her agreeing to the marriage meant she had some feelings for me, that my companionship and efforts during those days might have quietly moved her heart. Later, I compromised, turning down many offers from big companies, and joined Nora’s company as a technical manager right after college, initially to help stabilize her company and because I feared chaos after her father’s death, wanting to support her. Revealing our relationship wasn’t my intention, but it turned me into a thorn in my colleagues’ eyes. I worked diligently at the company, attentive at home, hoping my actions would eventually win her over enough to look at me. However, it wasn’t until Theo appeared that I finally understood some hearts are like cold stones, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t warm them. I packed up my things and left the company. As soon as I stepped out of the office building, I pulled out my phone and submitted a resignation application, which the HR manager promptly approved. I could almost envision Nora’s cold smile upon learning about my resignation. But now, none of it mattered. I returned to the house that colleagues gossiped about as a “cohabitation” place. In reality, it was just a rental arrangement. After a final glance at the familiar decorations, I quietly packed my few belongings, ready to leave. On the way to my new place, I suddenly craved a drink and bought a few bottles. I ended up drinking myself into a stupor, lamenting the years I wasted, but also toasting to my newfound freedom. In my haze, I suddenly heard a voice. “Hey, what’s going on? Why are you lying on the floor?” “Are you feeling unwell anywhere?” I rubbed my aching temples, sobered up a bit, and saw a young girl handing me a glass of water. I hesitated, confused. “Who are you?” She seemed surprised by my question, tucked her hair behind her ear, and smiled. “Didn’t the landlord tell you? I’m the previous tenant of this place, just coming to pick up some things I left behind. Hi, I’m Daphne.”

I frowned in response, opened my phone, and sure enough, saw messages and several voice calls from the landlord. I must have been too drunk to notice them. Through our conversation, I learned Daphne had just quit her job too. Watching her youthful, spirited pursuit of freedom, I felt genuine envy. When she learned I had just lost my job and ended a relationship, seeing the mess of empty bottles, she immediately spoke up. “Ethan, how about we go see the ocean together! We hit it off so well, and we’re both newly unemployed, let’s celebrate our freedom!” “I’ve been wanting to go to the beach! My friends don’t want to go with me, so you should come!” I looked at her face, unable to remember the last time I wanted to see the sea. But isn’t life about living for those fleeting moments? Now that I’m unemployed, what’s there to fear? At least I won’t starve. So, we went to the neighboring city to see the ocean. Watching the waves wash over the sand and recede, I felt a rare sense of calm and began talking with her. Daphne was naturally friendly, probably because she was recently a graduate, still lively and unburdened by years of workplace scheming and fatigue. We talked from dawn till dusk, watched the sunset over the sea together, and her youthful dreams amazed me. We decided to visit the neighboring city to see the ocean together. As I watched the waves ebb and flow on the beach, I felt a rare sense of calmness wash over me, prompting me to start a conversation with her. Daphne was naturally sociable and full of life, possibly because she was a recent graduate and hadn’t yet been jaded by the workplace’s stress and competition. We talked from dawn till dusk, watching the sunset over the sea together. Her youthful dreams were truly remarkable and inspiring. “Ethan, I believe people shouldn’t be stuck in the past. When I first saw you, you were sprawled on the couch in the living room, reeking of alcohol. I thought you were trouble, and it scared me.” She fondly recounted the humorous incident of finding me that day, and I laughed along. It suddenly dawned on me that my entire marriage felt like a burden. Since graduation, my life had been monotonous, revolving mostly around work and Nora. During the day, I worked at the company, and at night, I took care of Nora. She never appreciated it, and her unpredictable moods often left me anxious. Nora regretted marrying me soon after our wedding. When I eagerly asked about getting our marriage certificate, she doused my enthusiasm with cold indifference. She maintained our relationship only out of obligation to her father’s last wishes. The house was a shrine to him, cluttered with photo frames that were glaringly intrusive. Whenever I moved anything, even while cleaning, she would explode in anger. The ongoing tension took a mental toll on me. Looking at Daphne’s youthful face, I let out a bitter laugh and started sharing my life story. I’m not someone who easily opens up about my pain. Partly because I’m a grown man and partly because the relationship was so complex, I didn’t know where to begin. I couldn’t even recall my feelings for Nora anymore. But Daphne was patient. She listened to my hesitant story from start to finish. After speaking with her, I suddenly felt a sense of relief. After returning home from our trip, we prepared to part ways. We returned to the apartment, and Daphne began packing her belongings. There was a small appliance that took some time to disassemble. Watching her busy figure, I felt grateful for the conversation we had. Daphne still had her dreams and freedom to pursue. I was just a passerby and friend in her life. But I was thankful she listened and offered advice. Who would have thought that upon entering the apartment, we would find a group of unexpected guests? Leading them was Nora’s bodyguard. He nodded politely at me and spoke. “Mr. Ethan, Miss Nora requests your return.”

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