Category: English

Just because I took a bite of last night’s leftovers. My sister suddenly had a revelation, staring at me as if she’d discovered something groundbreaking: “Do you really think this is safe to eat?” I glanced down at the ribs Grandma had cooked last night and nodded, somewhat bewildered. [No sympathy for those who bring trouble upon themselves!] [If you’re so fond of leftovers, just go ahead and eat yourself into oblivion!] Later, I realized I was the troublesome sister in a kind of melodramatic story, quietly enduring hardships. And my sister played the role of the bold, independent heroine who respected the destiny of others. Then, later still, my sister cried, admitting she wasn’t as carefree as she seemed, and realized her mistakes. The whole family stopped indulging her. “Do you really think this is safe to eat?” My sister’s serious gaze startled me, making me glance at the braised ribs on the table. Grandma had specially made them for us after our night classes. At the time, my sister said she wasn’t hungry, and I was too embarrassed to eat much, so I just had a tiny taste. But today, I was famished and couldn’t resist having a piece as soon as I got home from school. They were delicious! So I nodded enthusiastically at my sister. “It’s perfectly fine to eat; otherwise, it would just go to waste.” As soon as I said that, some strange text appeared before my eyes: [Are you that into leftovers?] [A prime example of getting what you deserve! Endless hardships await!] [The heroine shouldn’t bother, let her eat herself into trouble!] I noticed a mischievous glint in my sister’s eyes. Was she upset that I didn’t share? Feeling guilty, I pushed the plate towards her. “Don’t worry, Sis, I’m not hogging it all. You should try some too; it’s really tasty.” Normally, a single plate of ribs wouldn’t be enough for the two of us to argue over. But today, my sister Nora Johnson just scoffed. “I’m not eating. If you like it, have more.” [The heroine is so cool!] [Let go of the need to help, respect others’ paths.] [With a sister like this, she should face her own consequences!] Nora’s lips curled into a satisfied smirk. She looked like a proud victor, standing above me with a dismissive smile. I clearly saw her swallow a few times, yet she insisted she wouldn’t eat “such things.” After I finished the last piece of rib, a translucent progress bar suddenly appeared in front of me. “Heroine’s Independence: 98%, almost there!” [Why only 98%?] [From a tough background, the system task is indeed challenging.] I looked around, puzzled, deep in thought.

My name is Nora Johnson, and my sister Nora Johnson and I are twins. We are eleven years old and in the sixth grade. Our parents run a small family business locally and often come home very late. Like today, they didn’t return until I had finished my homework, opening the door under the night sky. “Nora, Nora, come see what Mom and Dad brought you!” I put down my pen and dashed to the door, exclaiming: “It’s a complete set of [Haikyuu!!]” Many classmates in my class love this manga, but the original comics are too expensive. We could only borrow them and piece together the story. My family’s conditions aren’t great, so my parents suddenly bringing back so many comics… “Your dad got these from a junk collector, only cost a hundred bucks. The old man even thanked us profusely!” I was overjoyed and couldn’t wait to pick up a book, flipping through it eagerly. [What junk collection, isn’t it just scavenging?] [Who knows what bugs have crawled over these things from such a place.] [Poor heroine! Her original family is too tough, none of them can stand in the spotlight.] “Nora, come and share with your sister, you two can trade as you read.” Only then did Nora slowly walk out from the room, disdainfully saying: “They’re filthy, I don’t want them.” Mom’s smile froze instantly, and the atmosphere in the house turned cold. I hurriedly hugged the comics to my chest. “Nora doesn’t want them, so they’re all mine?” [The heroine said no, and you’re really not shy about it?] [Damn, such a petty person.] [I’ve never seen anyone so selfish, and you’re supposed to be her sister!] Nora’s lips held an indescribable smile, arrogantly shrugging her shoulders, waving dismissively at me. “Just a pile of junk, take it all!” Mom and Dad frowned. They couldn’t quite understand why the usually well-behaved and sensible Nora suddenly said such things. Dad reminded us of a few chores, then turned to start massaging Grandma. Grandma’s varicose veins were getting worse, and even after several visits to the hospital, there wasn’t much improvement. Dad specially learned a set of massage techniques from a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, and no matter how late he returned, he would massage Grandma for two hours every day. He often taught us to value filial piety and virtue, and to be grateful from a young age.

The next day was Sunday. Due to a holiday adjustment, we only had one day off this weekend. I was too excited last night, using a flashlight under the covers, reading [Haikyuu!!] late into the night. As usual, Mom and Dad left early for work. By the time I woke up naturally, Grandma was already busy in the kitchen. “Nora, you’re awake, come eat an apple, I’ve washed it for you.” Grandma’s wrinkled face showed the kindest smile in the world. I rushed to the sink to wash my hands, took the apple Grandma handed me, and took a bite. “Grandma, this apple is so crunchy!” Nora from the other bedroom also came out. Because she insisted on not eating the lunch leftovers Grandma had taken out of the fridge last night, her stomach was already growling. She walked over to the table with a cold face and casually picked up an apple. Grandma smiled and said: “Nora, eat this one, it’s tastier.” I saw Grandma holding an apple she had just washed. The apple was big and red, with glistening water droplets on the surface. It must be something Grandma bought fresh from the market this morning. [This old hag is trying to trick the heroine again?] [A rotten apple will give you cancer!] [Heroine, don’t eat it, nothing good can come from the old lady’s hands!] Seeing these unsightly words, I slowed down my apple-eating speed. Nora’s eyes darted around, and she knocked the apple Grandma handed her to the ground. “I don’t want it from you!” Grandma was stunned, staring blankly at the rolling apple on the floor, her cloudy eyes losing focus. Now I was sure that Nora could see these strange words too. Not only could she see them, but she cared a lot. Seeing Grandma’s shocked and saddened expression, my heart skipped a beat. I quickly picked up the apple, chuckling: “Sis doesn’t want it, so this apple is mine too!” Grandma’s eyes finally regained some clarity. She looked at me with a loving smile. Nora gave us a disdainful glance, then went to the sink to wash the apple she was holding and took a bite. From the sound of it, I knew it wasn’t crunchy. It definitely wasn’t as good as the apple Grandma gave me. [Damn, is there anything edible in this house? The heroine’s apple is all wrinkled!] [My dear girl, what did you do to deserve being stuck here, sobbing…] [Rotten apple, let her heartless sister eat herself to death!] I saw Nora’s face full of resentment, her lips drooping down in grievance.

Since I can remember, Mom and Dad have been leaving early to work and returning late at night almost every day. The responsibility of taking care of us sisters has always fallen on Grandma’s shoulders. As we sisters grew older, Grandma also aged. Mom and Dad often reminded us to learn to help Grandma. In the past, my sister would help me wash and pick vegetables for Grandma. But today, she lounged on the sofa, her legs crossed high. [Seriously, it’s only ten in the morning and they’re already busy, just like my grandma!] [No way, no way, does anyone really think girls should go to the kitchen to help?] [This sister is really annoying, no sympathy for those who bring trouble upon themselves, eat more if you can.] Lines of words floated in front of me, and even a fool like me could understand that some of them were cursing me. Facing these baseless insults, I bit my lip in grievance, tears welling up in my eyes. “Oh no, there’s so much oil here.” Grandma’s voice called from the kitchen, and I quickly shook off my emotions, running over to see what was happening. I found Grandma standing in front of the stove, shakily removing the oil collection box from the range hood. I knew this was where the smoke from frying accumulated. Over time, the smoke condensed into grime, stored here. Grandma’s hands and feet weren’t as nimble as they used to be. Clearing the oil box caused her to spill the grime on the floor, which she had to clean up slowly. I’m eleven now and can help Grandma with a lot of things. A few months ago, the oil box was also full of grime, and I helped Grandma clean it. At that time, Grandma ruffled my hair, praising me as her well-behaved and sensible little granddaughter. “Quick, Nora, the oil’s about to drip onto the floor!” With the experience from last time, Grandma decided not to add to the mess and called me to help directly. I dashed to the stove and quickly took the sticky oil box from Grandma’s hands. After all, I’m Grandma’s obedient, sensible, and adorable granddaughter! But I ran too fast and didn’t notice the shock and anger in Hazel’s eyes. The oil box was really dirty this time. Even I accidentally spilled a few drops of dirty oil. “It doesn’t matter if it spills on the floor; I’ll wipe it clean with a cloth,” Grandma said, smoothing things over with a smile. “Later, I’ll make cola chicken wings for you two sisters, something I learned from Mrs. Wong’s daughter-in-law.” “Wow, Grandma, you’re the best~” My exaggerated reaction made Grandma laugh heartily, and my spirits lifted too.

Grandma’s cooking has always been superb, and today’s cola chicken wings were especially delicious. “Hazel, why aren’t you eating?” Chicken wings are expensive, and Grandma doesn’t eat them herself, yet she keeps piling food on our plates. But Hazel’s bowl already had three chicken wings, and she hadn’t picked up her chopsticks. Grandma walked over to Hazel, coaxing her like a child as she ruffled her hair: “Hazel, be good, eat your meal.” “If you don’t like cola chicken wings, I’ll make little drumsticks for you tonight.” [Laugh out loud, this family really isn’t afraid of dying!] [Let them eat themselves to death, and they still want to pull the heroine down with them?] [Cola chicken wings are just concentrated cola, adding oil smoke, stacking buffs here?] Hazel’s already upset expression completely broke down when she saw the words [oil smoke]. She abruptly stood up from her seat, pushing away Grandma, who was coaxing her to eat. “Eat, eat, eat, if you want to eat, eat it yourself!” “I’d rather starve than eat what you make, don’t try to trap me!” Grandma was caught off guard, stumbling backward and falling to the ground. I was shocked, quickly dropping my chopsticks and running to Grandma. “Grandma, are you okay?” Grandma looked pained, her body curling up, unable to speak from the pain. I tried to help her up, but I wasn’t strong enough, and Grandma remained painfully on the ground. “Heroine’s carefree score: 99.9%, target about to be reached! Target about to be reached!” The familiar electronic voice sounded again. I suddenly looked up and saw Hazel’s satisfied smile. Grandma was pushed down by her, yet she could still smile! I was furious, yelling at her: “Hazel, what’s wrong with you, why did you push Grandma!” She glanced at me disdainfully, sneering: “Don’t think I don’t know what you people have done. If you want to die, don’t drag me along!” What have we done? I was so angry I was seething. Mom and Dad work hard outside, and Grandma takes care of us sisters at home devotedly. What else could we be doing? The words I was about to ask her to help with were swallowed back forcefully. I clenched my teeth and ran to the neighbors for help. “Oh my, what’s happened to Auntie?” Granny Wong staggered in, followed by her daughter-in-law, Aunt Fiona, and a few other neighbors who heard the commotion. Seeing Grandma collapsed on the ground, Aunt Fiona wanted to help her up but found Grandma almost unconscious from the pain. “No way, it might’ve hurt the bone, we have to go to the hospital!”

Aunt Fiona calmly called 911 and then phoned my parents. At Grandma’s age, a fall isn’t a small matter. On the other end, my dad was worried sick. “Yesterday during the massage, the old lady’s condition was improving, how could she suddenly fall!” “Please help look after her, I’m coming home right away!” After hanging up, the neighbors started discussing all at once. “Yeah, isn’t Old Jackson massaging Auntie every day?” “More than just massaging, Old Jackson is so filial, taking the old lady to see many doctors!” “Old Jackson will be heartbroken when he gets back.” I saw a trace of fear finally appear in Hazel’s ever-fearless eyes. But she quickly adjusted, suddenly covering her mouth and crying. “Waah… Grandma just gave me a few chicken wings, why did sister push her…” The originally anxious neighbors turned their eyes to me in unison upon hearing Hazel’s words. [A counter against the heavens, absolutely hilarious!] [Villains need to be dealt with by evil measures, see if they dare bully the heroine again!] In a corner where others couldn’t see, Hazel flashed a victorious smile at me. I widened my eyes, angrily shouting: “You didn’t want to eat Grandma’s cola chicken wings, so you pushed her!” Hazel’s smile became cunning: “Grandma’s chicken wings smell so good, why wouldn’t I want to eat them? Waah, sister, why are you like this to me…” Hazel’s crying face like a pear blossom in the rain made the neighbors frequently glance at me. “Ella, this girl seems so well-behaved usually, how could she become so selfish.” “Which kid isn’t selfish nowadays, do you think it’s still like our times?” “At the old lady’s age, a random fall could lead to fractures, it’s really a sin!” I clenched my teeth, unable to withstand the overwhelming opinions. Soon, I heard the sirens of an ambulance. The neighbors quickly made way, and the doctor squatted in front of Grandma with a medical kit. To prevent secondary injury, they didn’t act recklessly and chose to perform a simple check and first aid with instruments and medicine first. At this moment, I finally saw Dad’s figure at the door. Before I could voice my full grievance, another figure rushed ahead of me, flying into Dad’s arms. “Dad, I’m sorry…” Hazel’s tears flowed down. “I shouldn’t have eaten sister’s chicken wings, or she wouldn’t have lashed out, taking her anger out on Grandma, waah…” Dad was stunned. Before he could speak, a vigorous and unyielding old voice echoed in the room: “I’m just an old lady who fell, not dead yet!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295743”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

I had a fever of 39 degrees and asked my wife to take me to the hospital. She dismissed it as a waste of money and told me to just tough it out. I was writhing in pain on the floor when I overheard her on the phone, speaking warmly to someone she cherished deeply. “I got the latest model of the watch. Make sure to wear it for our date today.” “Of course, I have to give you something special. After all, you’re the heir to Lin Corporation. I can’t let you feel wronged.” My heart sank with despair. After a brief pause, I asked my wife for a divorce. She looked irritated. “You want a divorce over something so trivial? Do you even realize how much you earn monthly? What are you trying to do?” “If you want to divorce, fine. But all the marital assets must go to me.” I nodded in agreement. After all, what are marital assets compared to the fact that I’ve only been away for three years, and someone has already usurped my rightful place as the true heir of the Lin family? “It’s just a fever. Drink some warm water, and you’ll be fine. Going to the hospital is just a waste of money.” “Besides, the salary you gave me last month was too little. Our daily expenses are barely covered. If we go to the hospital, we’ll really be out of money next month.” My wife, Phoebe, sighed and gently adjusted the covers for me. In the past, seeing her troubled and concerned expression might have convinced me. But her recent phone call is still echoing in my mind. I looked at her without speaking. Assuming I believed her as usual, Phoebe patted my hair. “You stay home and rest. I’ll go out to buy groceries and make you a nice dinner tonight.” With that, she left without waiting for my response. Before leaving, she sprayed on some perfume and checked her reflection to ensure her makeup and outfit were perfect. Clearly, she wasn’t going grocery shopping but rather on a date. I sat in silence for two minutes, then got up and followed her in a cab. Soon, I saw Phoebe’s car parked in front of a restaurant. She got out and leapt onto the back of a waiting man with a smile. Their natural interaction showed this wasn’t their first meeting. I sat in the car, wrapped in a thick blanket, yet feeling colder than ever. All my lingering doubts were finally answered. No wonder she always complained about the lack of living expenses. No wonder she was hot and cold towards me, even though I tried so hard to please her. No wonder I often saw receipts for men’s gifts in her bag, but never received any myself. … Turns out, in her heart, my place had already been taken by another man. I felt a complex mix of emotions. I paid the cab fare and walked into the restaurant. Phoebe and I had come a long way, and I didn’t want to separate over a misunderstanding. I needed to understand her position. As I entered, I saw Phoebe feeding the man milk tea, using the same straw he had used without hesitation. But I remembered she had a cleanliness obsession and even found my worn clothes dirty. I clenched my fist, intending to step forward when Phoebe spotted me first. “Declan, what are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be resting at home since you’re unwell?” Her expression was tense for a moment but quickly returned to normal. I stepped forward, glancing at the sumptuous meal on the table and the bill next to her. Two people, a meal costing nearly ten thousand. The card used was our joint one. The man beside her wore a brand-new watch on his wrist, and even the cheapest model of this brand costs over fifty thousand. I didn’t respond to her. I just gave a bitter laugh. “No wonder you didn’t want to take me to the hospital. Turns out all the money went here.” Phoebe got flustered, her usual gentle demeanor vanishing as she glared at me. “What are you sneering about? Orion is a friend who has helped me a lot. This is just a way to repay him.” “Instead, why are you, sick and all, following me here for no reason?” Before I could speak, Orion sneered, deliberately showing off his watch to me. “So you’re Phoebe’s useless boyfriend?” “You’re useless, making Phoebe suffer so much. If it were me, I’d be too ashamed to ask such questions and would only blame myself for not giving Phoebe a good life.” I looked him up and down, sneering without a word. “What are you looking at?” He felt uneasy, getting angry, and kicked at me. I quickly stepped back. Orion wasn’t quick enough and kicked the table leg instead. He yelled, and Phoebe immediately supported him, checking his foot without hesitation. “Why is it bleeding?” She frowned and glared at me, “Declan, look at what you’ve done. Apologize to Orion!” I laughed out of frustration. It was just a scratch, yet she made it sound serious. But I’d had a fever for two days, and she only lightly told me to bear it. Knowing what I was thinking, Phoebe snapped, “Can you compare to Orion? He’s the heir to Lin Corporation, someone special, and you’re rough and unrefined. Why are you being so dramatic?” I froze. Heir to Lin Corporation? Before I could react, Orion thought I was scared and raised his eyebrows smugly. “I advise you to listen to Phoebe. Apologize to me now, and maybe I’ll spare you.” “Otherwise…” “Otherwise, what?” I chuckled. As soon as I spoke, Phoebe slapped me hard. Her voice was cold, “Otherwise, we’ll divorce.” I was stunned, ignoring my ringing ears, staring at Phoebe. For a moment, she felt so unfamiliar. Three years ago, after we registered our marriage, she tore up our marriage certificate. I was shocked, but she told me tearing it meant we could never divorce. The person who once insisted on never divorcing now mentioned it first to make me apologize to another man. “I won’t apologize.” I looked at Orion, who was smug, and let out a self-deprecating laugh. “Do you remember? Our marriage certificate was torn.” “Tear it and replace it. Declan, did you really think tearing the certificate meant we couldn’t divorce? How naive are you?” They exchanged a glance and laughed in unison. The laughter was sharp and piercing. I clenched my fists, my voice dry. “Fine, let’s divorce.” “Alright, let’s go to the County Clerk’s Office tomorrow and make it official.” “But don’t forget, we signed a prenuptial agreement. No matter the reason, if we divorce, you’ll have to leave with nothing.” Phoebe replied swiftly. She didn’t seem surprised that I agreed to the divorce. There was even a glimmer of joy in her expression. For a moment, I couldn’t help but wonder if everything she’d done recently, even me following her today, was all part of her plan for our divorce. She’d wanted to divorce me for a long time. And I was just a fool being played. I said nothing, turned, and left. Outside the hotel, I picked up my phone and dialed. “Mom and Dad, I’ll listen to you. I’m coming home to take over the family business.”

When I initially refused an arranged marriage to be with Phoebe, who had saved me, my parents were strongly opposed. They believed that since I would eventually carry the Lin family legacy, I needed a wife who could support me. But Phoebe came from a poor background, hadn’t attended college, and had parents who favored sons over daughters. She didn’t meet the requirements for the Lin family matriarch. They even thought that without money, Phoebe and I wouldn’t last three years. I argued with them, and in the end, we signed a challenge agreement. If Phoebe and I stayed married for three years, they would drop their prejudices and accept her. Just this past New Year, I was smug. But who would have thought it was all wishful thinking? Our marriage ended today. Dad was surprised, “There’s only a week left until three years. You’re giving up now?” Hearing his disbelief, I laughed bitterly. “Stop pretending. You already knew, didn’t you? That person, you sent him, didn’t you?” When Orion claimed to be the heir of Lin Corporation, I suspected my parents were involved. But to my surprise, Dad sounded even more confused. “Pretending? What person?” “Your mom and I are vacationing abroad. We finally have some time off. How could we be involved in your affairs?” I felt puzzled, “Then, do you have a secret son, or did you adopt another child?” “You brat, what secret son, what child!” “I would if I could, but your mom wouldn’t agree. Otherwise, I’d have cut ties with you.” Dad said angrily. I knew he was just venting, so I quickly reassured him. When he heard I wanted to take over the company, he was soon all smiles. But I grew even more confused. Dad had no reason to lie to me. If Orion wasn’t sent by them and wasn’t an adopted child, then what was the deal with the heir of Lin Corporation? My head hurt, and considering my fever, I decided not to think further. “Foolish boy, what nonsense about illegitimate children? You’re my son!” “If it weren’t for your mom’s objections, I’d have cut ties with you long ago,” my dad fumed. I knew he was just venting, so I quickly reassured him. When he heard I was going to take over the company, his mood lifted instantly. Yet, I was more confused. My dad had no reason to lie. If Orion wasn’t someone my parents sent or adopted, then how was he involved with the Lin Corporation as an heir? Feeling a headache coming on, and still feverish, I decided to stop thinking about it for the moment. I returned to the home I hadn’t seen in three years. Thanks to the care of the family doctor and housekeeper, I was mostly recovered by the next day. Remembering I needed to finalize my divorce with Phoebe, I went back to my apartment to collect some documents. As soon as I entered, I heard laughter from the living room. My slippers were missing from the shoe cabinet, replaced by a pair of men’s sneakers. I recognized them as Orion’s. “Orion, you’re incredible. I didn’t expect someone like you to be into gaming,” Phoebe applauded him, then her tone shifted. “But Declan is hopeless. He’s so bad at games that playing with him ruins my appetite.” I found it ironic. Phoebe had always complained about my earnings, prompting me to work tirelessly, even sacrificing sleep. Phoebe, full of energy at home, always insisted I play games with her after work. Wanting to please her, I found time to play, despite her earlier claims that winning didn’t matter, just having fun. Now she was criticizing me for being bad at it. I chuckled and walked into the living room. Orion, wearing my pajamas, sat cross-legged on one side of the sofa, while Phoebe, in matching pajamas, lay with her head on his lap, looking cozy. Upon seeing me, Phoebe hesitated, seemingly wanting to sit up. But quickly, as if remembering our impending divorce, she remained where she was. “You didn’t come home last night? Where were you?” “Probably clearing the path for us. Didn’t expect this loser to be so considerate,” Orion sneered. I glanced at him, ignored the comment, and headed to my room to pack my belongings. Phoebe didn’t seem to mind him calling me a loser and continued enjoying herself with him. Their laughter echoed through the door. I planned to pack my things, finalize the divorce, and leave. But barely two minutes later, Phoebe walked in. I didn’t look up, continuing my task. “You still have this?” Phoebe suddenly spoke. I looked up to see her holding an envelope. After she once helped cover my medical bills, I tried to repay her. But she put the money in an envelope and handed it back with a smile. “I don’t like being repaid. I prefer to be remembered forever.” She got her wish. Since then, I hadn’t forgotten her. Even after marriage, I never touched that money. No matter how broke I was, I wouldn’t use it. “Take it. Once we finalize the divorce, we’ll be completely done.” I said calmly. Phoebe frowned. After a few seconds of thought, she gently said, “We don’t have to get divorced. If you can accept my relationship with Orion, I won’t divorce you.” I was taken aback. Then I laughed and asked, “He doesn’t want to marry you?” “What nonsense are you spouting?” Phoebe was visibly upset and embarrassed. “He dreams of marrying me.” Yet, her face paled a bit, and her tone softened. But there was a hint of disappointment. “But in Orion’s circle, that’s not common. Marriage is usually for alliances.” “Declan, it’s not that I don’t like you. I’m just considering my future.” “With your current salary, you can’t even buy me a house. I’m tired of living in a rental, seeing a future that’s so predictable. I don’t want this life anymore.” Seeing her impatience, I couldn’t help but ask. “You’re giving up on me just for money? Do these three years mean nothing to you?” “What if I told you Orion’s a fake, and I’m the real heir of the Lin family?” Phoebe laughed dismissively. “Stop being ridiculous.” She looked at me with disdain. “Declan, I thought we might stay together because of some feelings. But now you’re lying and slandering Orion.” I didn’t explain. I just found it amusing. We were together for three years, yet she chose to believe another man over me. “I’ve printed the divorce agreement.” “Let’s part ways.” I handed her the divorce papers. For some reason, Phoebe seemed upset but still took the papers, immediately checking the asset division clauses. “You drafted this before. If there are no issues, sign it,” I said. Phoebe had drawn up this prenuptial agreement before our marriage, specifically noting that I would leave with nothing upon divorce. Sadly, I thought it was a joke at the time. After checking, Phoebe signed both copies. I left one with her, took my suitcase, and prepared to leave. “Wait.” After taking a couple of steps, Phoebe suddenly came forward and grabbed my suitcase. I looked at her, puzzled. Phoebe waved the agreement. “Declan, don’t forget. It says you leave with nothing, so nothing here is yours.” I laughed out of frustration. “These are my clothes and personal items, not assets.” “How are they not? Didn’t money buy these things?” Phoebe sneered. “Strictly following the contract, you should strip, not even keep your underwear, unless you pay for them…” I didn’t want to argue, so I took out my phone and transferred money to her. Most of my clothes were cheap, bought from street vendors. They weren’t worth much. But I never kept money on me. Seeing I really transferred the money, she was surprised. “Where did you get the money?” “Declan, are you hiding money from me?” This time I didn’t feel sad about her distrust. I ignored her and left with my suitcase. I had returned home. Why would I need to hide money? All the money would rightfully end up in my pocket. I focused on the family business. Hearing I was home, Mom and Dad were so happy they took a few extra days for their honeymoon. I joined the company. My parents wanted me to take a high position immediately, but I refused. After all, I’d been gone for three years. Even if everyone listened to me because I’m their son, they might not respect me. So I started from the bottom, hiding my identity. Thinking about Orion claiming he’s the Lin heir, I looked into him. But everyone seemed tight-lipped. Eventually, I pieced it together. But I didn’t tell Phoebe. During this time, she posted a lot on social media, and Orion was in every post. They traveled together, dined together, exchanged gifts. Once, she posted a picture on the beach with Orion, dressed lightly. Orion commented inappropriately. Phoebe just replied with a coy emoji. I realized there was no need to say more. Phoebe’s heart was entirely set on Orion, and there was no point in trying. I focused on work. One day after work, I had nothing to do. Since my parents were returning the next day, I wanted to leave a good impression, so I cleaned the executive office. Halfway through, a loud voice came from behind. “Hey, isn’t this Declan, the loser?” I turned to see Orion standing at the door, with Phoebe holding his arm, looking cozy. “Why are you here?” Phoebe looked at me disdainfully, her eyes scanning the cloth in my hand. I wanted to ask the same. Lin Corporation’s security is strict. How did they get in? Before I could speak, Orion laughed exaggeratedly. “Wow, couldn’t find a job so you’re cleaning at Lin Corporation? You know, if you want a good job, I could help. Cleaning is beneath you.” His words were full of sarcasm. Phoebe looked at me with even more disdain. “Declan, I didn’t expect you’d end up like this.” “Orion, help him out. He’s my ex, and I don’t want others gossiping.” Phoebe said softly to Orion. Her attitude towards me was completely different. Orion was pleased and smiled proudly. “Sure, I’m not one to hold grudges. Since you asked for him, I’ll let the past go.” His words dripped with sarcasm. Phoebe’s face showed even more displeasure. “Declan, I didn’t think you’d fall so far.” Orion was pleased and smiled smugly. “But if you want my help, you’ll have to show some sincerity. Declan, kneel down and apologize, and I’ll consider transferring you.” I couldn’t help but laugh at his arrogance. “What are you laughing at?” Orion frowned. I replied, “You claim to be the heir to the Lin Corporation, but your name isn’t on the executive list. If you don’t believe me, check it yourself. The Lin Corporation’s executive list is publicly available.” Phoebe’s eyes filled with doubt, as if she was considering verifying it. Orion’s expression flickered with unease but quickly returned to normal. “It’s just to avoid suspicion.” “Regardless of whether my name is on the list, I’m still my dad’s son.” Hearing this, Phoebe seemed to agree and nodded, dismissing her doubts. “Enough, Declan. Orion is kindly offering to help you. Don’t be ungrateful.” “Kindly?” I sneered, “More like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” Perhaps because I exposed him, a flash of malice crossed Orion’s eyes. Angrily, he grabbed a vase next to him, intending to throw it at me. I immediately recognized it as my dad’s prized antique, which he had spent millions on at an auction. “You’d better put that down, that’s…” Before I could finish, Orion smashed the vase at my feet with a vicious throw. “So what if I threw it? It’s my dad’s stuff. I can do whatever I want with it!” Phoebe gently traced a finger along his chest. “Don’t get upset. Declan’s just a poor soul without parents and doesn’t understand much. Don’t bother with him.” When Phoebe and I were together, I had spun a tale about being from an orphanage, and she promised to keep it a secret forever. But now, she just revealed it. Orion sneered, “No wonder he’s so uncultured. But we don’t take just anyone at Lin Corporation.” He gestured to the security guards nearby. After giving them instructions, the guards nodded and were about to throw me out. “Stop! I’m the real heir to the Lin Corporation!” I said coldly. As soon as I spoke, a guard struck me hard with a baton. The strong electric shock made my whole body ache, and I couldn’t help but scream. “Come on, we’ve seen the real young master countless times over the past three years. You’re just a newbie. If you’re the young master, then I’m the chairman.” The guards laughed loudly, and Phoebe looked at me with even more disdain. Orion insulted me while dragging me toward the stairs. Just then, my dad’s deep voice suddenly boomed from behind. “Are you out of your mind? Let’s see who dares touch my son!” I struggled to turn around and saw my dad looking in my direction, his face stern. Behind him were a dozen people, and I recognized that most of the company’s executives were there. Orion froze at first, then quickly let go of me and stepped forward with a smile. “Dad, you’re back. Weren’t you supposed to return from your honeymoon tomorrow? Why didn’t you…” Before he could finish, my dad slapped him hard across the face. The slap was loud, and he was immediately stunned. “Who do you think you are? You dare to hit my son and then claim you’re related to me?!”

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During college, I spent four years washing Asher’s socks and underwear, and I even booked hotels for him and the cheerleader, helping him win her over. Now, I’m Mrs. Asher, and I’m pregnant with his child. In the Snapchat group, Asher is holding the cheerleader’s daughter in one arm and wrapping his other arm around the cheerleader’s waist. Their gaze in the photo is filled with such affection. On our seventh anniversary, he received a unique gift—the urn of his child. I just finished my prenatal checkup, and everything is normal. I let out a sigh of relief. At the registration desk downstairs, I saw someone familiar. Looking closely, it was my husband, Asher. A woman with long, wavy tea-brown hair, holding a child, reached him before I did. Asher looked down at the woman, pulled her into an embrace, and kissed her. The woman smiled brightly. The man turned around and picked up a little girl. She wrapped her arms around his neck, calling out, “Daddy, Daddy!” I stood there, frozen. Asher had said he would accompany me for the prenatal checkup, but this morning he suddenly claimed he had an urgent matter at the company and couldn’t get away. Turns out, he was accompanying his first love’s child to see a doctor. His first love is back. Freya, the woman everyone admired. Freya clung to his arm, occasionally snuggling her head into his chest like a beloved cat. Asher raised his eyes and met mine, quickly pulling his arm away. “Cora, why are you having your prenatal checkup at this hospital?” “The other hospital was fully booked, so I had to come here. Didn’t you say you had urgent matters at the company? Was it just to accompany them?” The baby in my belly suddenly kicked me hard, and a sharp pain hit. “Cora, listen to me. It’s not what you think. Freya just returned to the country yesterday, her child had a fever, she was too anxious and could only ask me for help. Please don’t make a fuss over a child, okay?” Asher explained with an innocent expression. Freya raised an eyebrow disdainfully, “Oh, the girl who used to wash Asher’s underwear has made it to wife status and even got pregnant. Don’t delude yourself into thinking this will earn his love. You’re just a substitute for me, always have been, always will be!” Asher stood there blankly, letting his beloved maliciously slander me. I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms, leaving marks. Clutching my stomach, cold sweat poured down. “Cora, Cora…” At some point, I passed out. When I woke up again, Asher was gripping my hand tightly by the bed, tears in his eyes, “Thank God you’re awake. Don’t scare me like that, okay?” I avoided his gaze and said coldly, “Leave me alone. I don’t want to see you, just go away!” Asher was slightly taken aback, probably never expecting that someone who was always so compliant could lash out. Asher lowered his eyes, the gentleness in them vanished instantly. “Cora, don’t be ungrateful. I just accompanied an old friend to the hospital! I’m warning you not to act up! I chose to be with you because you were more obedient and sensible than others.” Asher slammed the door and left. How absurd. A man chooses to marry a woman not because he loves her or can’t be without her, but because she’s obedient and sensible. It’s utterly ridiculous. I’ve been in love with Asher for ten years, always trying to be the supportive partner. But in Asher’s heart, there’s always been a space reserved for Freya. Perhaps I should be grateful. I’ve become Mrs. Asher, the wife of a CEO of a public company. I shouldn’t ask for more. Yet I still yearn for his love, for his heart to be solely mine. During college, Freya and I shared a dorm room. Her name suited her well; she had a sweet demeanor, with charming eyes and dimples that would evoke a protective instinct in others. Asher was her instant crush, her dream man. Asher’s features were striking, like a Greek statue, seemingly favored by the divine. His deep-set eyes beneath thick lashes exuded an air of noble aloofness. He was the head of the sports department, and I’d been an athlete since childhood. When I applied for the sports department, he said my passionate speech moved him, and he chose me first. After joining, he would often have me help organize various sports activities. I found not only his appearance captivating but also admired his organizational skills. Under his leadership, many of our department’s large events received high praise from the dean. Asher became a campus sensation, with girls flocking to him like a popular star. He joked that none of those girls compared to being with me. He said being with me was comfortable and different from being with them. Though just a joke, it made me happy for days. Once, my mother was hospitalized and needed surgery that cost a significant amount. My living expenses suddenly dropped, and I was eating only one meal a day. Asher noticed and always invited me to meals, insisting on paying. When he learned about my family situation, he transferred me five thousand dollars without hesitation. That money was half his living expenses for months, yet he gave it to me easily. He survived on instant noodles for over a month. Another time, my roommate bullied me, accusing me of stealing and stuffing tissues into my kettle. That roommate even rallied others to corner me, forcing me to admit and apologize. Terrified, I hid in a corner, crying uncontrollably. When Asher found out, he confronted each of them, ensuring they wouldn’t bully me again. What Asher did made me grow attached to him. I asked why he was so good to me, and he said he couldn’t stand seeing others bully me and instinctively wanted to protect me. I didn’t know if it was affection, but his determined look etched into my heart, and his defense deeply moved me. I’d never felt so cared for, so cherished. Asher was like the warm sun in winter, melting the ice and snow. I even hoped our relationship could develop further. Every time we went out to eat or drink, he liked to bring me along. Asher couldn’t hold his liquor, so I often drank for him. He didn’t know that each time I’d run to the restroom to vomit. Freya and I were roommates, and Asher asked me to help him pursue her. Freya’s beauty was unmatched; I knew I couldn’t compete. Though unwilling, I couldn’t refuse any favor Asher asked. Later, with my help, Asher and Freya started dating. They were the perfect couple, becoming a campus legend. When they went out, they always invited me along. I was the obvious third wheel, carrying bags, saving seats, queuing, and even booking hotel rooms for them. I successfully helped him win the heart of the cheerleader. I even washed Asher’s underwear and socks until we graduated from college. His roommates called me a simp. They said I was a model simp for helping the man I loved chase his goddess. But whenever I was down, Asher would drop everything to comfort me. He’d pinch my cheeks, pat my head, and gaze at me with a smile, saying warm words to cheer me up. He’d order my favorite sweet and spicy dishes. I didn’t like scallions, and he’d pick them out for me. He’d accompany me to watch thriller movies I liked. Even if I was a simp, as long as I could stay by his side, I was willing. When they argued, Asher only confided in me. Asher joked, “Cora, you’re so understanding. Who’ll be lucky enough to marry you?” A warmth filled my heart, and I looked up, “Is it you?” Asher almost choked on his drink, and I quickly patted his back. “Cora, having Freya is enough. But if she had your personality, it would be perfect. You’ll find someone who truly loves you.” I feigned calmness, but my heart stung a little. In senior year, during a campus basketball game, Asher broke his leg. The doctor said he’d need a month in the hospital and couldn’t be left alone. Everyone was busy preparing for graduation. There was an internship opportunity at a big tech company, with only one spot. If you performed well, you’d be offered a full-time position. Everyone in our computer science department coveted this chance, trying every way to get it. But the advisor gave it to me because I consistently had the top grades. But what about Asher? Freya was busy with her thesis and couldn’t care for Asher. For Asher, I turned down the internship. I couldn’t abandon him when he needed me. I researched online about foods that promote bone healing, how to make soups, and how to cheer up patients. “Cora, what’s Freya busy with? Did she ask you to visit me daily? Why doesn’t she come?” “I came on my own. I just want you to recover quickly. Campus recruitment is nearing, and I don’t want you to miss it.” Asher’s expression was complicated, frowning, “But everyone’s busy now, and you’re here taking care of me. What about your own matters? If I caused you to miss an important chance, I’d feel guilty.”

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Title: My Husband Chose His “Sister” Over Me During a Kidnapping ## In the eighth year of my marriage to Lucas, his so-called sister, Sarah, and I were kidnapped together. Lucas, a multimillionaire, showed up with ransom money—but only enough for one person. When forced to choose, he looked at me and said, “Claire, your dad’s wealthy. He’ll come for you. But Sarah only has me.” When I barely escaped and made it back home, the media was already celebrating their so-called “unbreakable bond.” When I finally stumbled back home, the media had swarmed the front of my father’s estate. Cameras were flashing, reporters were everywhere, and they were all focused on Lucas and Sarah. Lucas was holding Sarah tightly, and the reporters were eating up their story of “surviving together through thick and thin.” No one cared that Sarah was just the other woman in my marriage. To them, loyalty in marriage didn’t seem to matter as much as the fleeting thrill of “true love.” When I got out of the car, battered, bruised, and wearing the tattered remains of my clothes, the camera flashes turned their attention to me. My father rushed out with a large blanket, wrapping it around me, desperately trying to shield me from the prying eyes of the press. It didn’t matter. For a moment, I caught Lucas’s gaze. There was a flicker of shock on his face, quickly replaced by disgust. Pain rippled through my entire body, especially my abdomen. It felt like my insides had been torn apart. The pain was so overwhelming that I collapsed, losing consciousness. In my dreams, I was still with the kidnappers. Sarah had already been taken by Lucas. She had begged and pleaded with him not to call the police because the kidnappers had taken compromising photos of her. On the phone, Lucas had reassured her. He promised to bring the ransom money. But when he arrived, he only brought enough for one person. When the kidnappers forced him to choose, he held my hand tightly, his face full of false sincerity. “Claire, your dad’s rich. He’ll come for you. But Sarah only has me. You understand, don’t you?” I didn’t understand. All I knew was that the kidnappers were watching me closely, their eyes lingering on my torn clothes. I was terrified. Tears streaming down my face, I begged him, “Lucas, don’t leave me here. Pay for my release, and I’ll make sure my dad reimburses you!” Lucas lowered his head. “I’m sorry. My company is struggling right now. If I pull this money out, your dad might not help me. I’m sorry, Claire.” And just like that, he pulled his hand away, grabbed Sarah, and left. I didn’t even have the chance to tell him I was pregnant. I was carrying our baby—two months along. But those words would never be spoken. The kidnappers tore off what was left of my clothes, gagged me, and tied me to a post with barbed wire. As I struggled, the wire cut into my flesh, and I felt the life inside me slip away. Meanwhile, my father had no idea what was happening to me. Lucas returned home with Sarah, who was too traumatized to talk about what had happened. She refused to mention anything, and Lucas, my loving husband, didn’t bother to press her. The police couldn’t get any useful information from either of them. Time slipped away as they searched for me. By then, it didn’t matter how much money my father had. I had seen the kidnappers’ faces, and they planned to sell me to Southeast Asia. Luckily, during transport, they let their guard down, and I managed to escape. I crawled through mud, slept in dumpsters, and fought stray dogs for scraps of food. Against all odds, I made it back to the city, where the police finally found me. When my father saw me, he nearly collapsed but managed to steady himself long enough to wrap me in a blanket and carry me away. In my dreams, I saw a little girl with pigtails, wearing a princess dress. She waved at me and called out softly, “Mommy, Mommy, I forgive you.” I ran toward her, desperate, but she only drifted farther away until she disappeared completely. I woke up with a start to find Lucas sitting by my bed. The sight of him made me sick. “Why are you here? Get out. I don’t want to see you.” His face contorted with anger. “We’re married. Isn’t it normal for me to check on you?” Furious, I grabbed a pillow and hurled it at him. “Get out! I never want to see you again!” Lucas’s patience snapped. “You should be more like Sarah. At least she knows how to comfort me. All you do is yell and complain. I haven’t slept for days worrying about you, and this is how you act? You’re so spoiled!” I let out a bitter laugh. He hadn’t slept for days? How could that compare to the pain I endured? Every day, I was electrocuted, whipped, and burned with cigarettes. The kidnappers mocked me, saying my husband didn’t think I was worth the money. “Lucas,” I said through gritted teeth, “your heart must be made of the filthiest, most disgusting stone. You call yourself my husband? What kind of man leaves his wife with a group of violent criminals?” His expression softened slightly, as if he felt a shred of guilt. “You know my company’s cash flow is tight. I don’t come from money like you do. Your dad is rich. And besides, you’re back now, aren’t you? What’s the big deal?” At that moment, the door burst open, and my father stormed in. The second he saw Lucas, he lunged at him, ready to fight. Lucas shoved him away without hesitation. “Dad!” I screamed.

When I saw my dad hit the ground hard, Lucas finally seemed to snap out of it. “Dad, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to—I didn’t see you there!” He quickly stepped forward, trying to help my dad up, but my dad pushed him away with force. My father glared at him, his voice heavy with anger. “I don’t care if you saw me or not. Get out of here! My daughter needs rest!” Seeing my dad’s fury, Lucas obediently left. He knew full well that even though my family was bankrupt now, my dad’s connections were still far beyond anything he could handle. The moment Lucas was gone, I rushed to help my dad up, but he pulled me into his arms instead. “Claire, don’t be afraid. Dad’s here now,” he said, his voice shaking with emotion. I clung to him tightly and started sobbing uncontrollably. I couldn’t understand—why was I always the second choice? I cried until exhaustion overtook me, and I fell into a deep sleep. The trauma of the past few days haunted my dreams. Strange, nightmarish visions filled my mind, pulling me into a distorted world where I was forced to confront the absurdity of my life. I saw myself as a naïve teenager, hopelessly infatuated with Lucas Rivers, the most popular boy in school. Every class seemed to have someone like him: smart, polite, and effortlessly charming. But Lucas’s life wasn’t as perfect as it appeared. His mother had been a victim of assault, and he was the child born from that violence. Shortly after his birth, his mother was institutionalized for schizophrenia, leaving Lucas to be raised by his grandparents. But they never treated him as their own. To them, he was a painful reminder of the tragedy that had ruined their daughter’s life. My sympathy for him marked the beginning of my own tragedy. We attended an elite class at our school, where half the students were there because of their grades, and the other half because of their family wealth. Lucas, always the top student, was the target of jealousy and bullying. That’s when I stepped in, defending him time and time again. At first, Lucas didn’t seem to care about me. He barely acknowledged my existence. But then one day, I got into a fight with another student who was mocking him. That student shoved me to the ground, and I fractured my wrist trying to break my fall. From that day on, Lucas started treating me differently. He began looking out for me in small ways, and I mistook that for something deeper.

Determined to stay close to him, I worked tirelessly to get into the same college as Lucas. My dad even approved of him. In my father’s eyes, Lucas was a rare talent—someone worth supporting. With my dad’s encouragement, I finally mustered the courage to confess my feelings to Lucas. He didn’t say yes, but he didn’t reject me outright, either. Blinded by my feelings, I convinced myself that we were in a relationship. Lucas had a younger sister, Sarah Rivers. I’d known about her since high school. She wasn’t his biological sister. She was adopted by Lucas’s uncle, who raised her as his own. But what I didn’t know was that Sarah and Lucas had grown up together, and before starting high school, Lucas’s uncle had abruptly taken her away. On the day of our wedding, Sarah suddenly reappeared. She walked into the reception barefoot, covered in bruises and scratches, her blue dress stained with blood. Tears streamed down her face as she looked at Lucas and cried, “I escaped, Lucas. Why didn’t you wait for me?” And just like that, the ring Lucas was about to place on my finger slipped from his hand. That night, my wedding night, Lucas didn’t come home. Instead, he stayed at the hospital with Sarah. I swallowed my bitterness and forced myself to accept it. After all, I was the one who had been chasing him all this time. The next morning, I changed into fresh clothes and prepared to visit the hospital. But before I could leave, my father stopped me at the door. “You’re going to the hospital, aren’t you? Don’t you dare. No daughter of mine will let herself be humiliated like this!” I begged him, tears streaming down my face. By then, I was already in too deep. Lucas had given me just enough attention over the years to fill my head with beautiful memories. I couldn’t let go. When I finally arrived at the hospital, I learned something that shocked me to my core. Sarah wasn’t Lucas’s uncle’s daughter. Years ago, Lucas’s uncle had sent her away because their relationship had crossed the line. They weren’t siblings—they were lovers. Lucas’s uncle had sent Sarah abroad and forbidden her from contacting Lucas, threatening to cut her off entirely if she disobeyed. Sarah had spent years working to free herself from her adoptive father’s control, determined to reunite with Lucas. On the day of my wedding, she had escaped and returned to him. I covered my mouth in horror as I listened to the story, then stumbled back to our empty marital home. When Lucas finally came back, I asked him for a divorce. But he refused. Instead, he insisted on consummating our marriage that night. What followed was a day of physical and emotional torment. Lucas showed no tenderness, and when he was done, he fell into a deep sleep, leaving me alone to cry in the dark. I slapped myself across the face, trying to wake up from the nightmare my life had become. But I couldn’t. So I told myself I’d try one more time. That “one more time” turned into eight years. Eight years of a marriage where I was nothing more than a third wheel to Lucas and Sarah. I was exhausted, drained, and ready to leave. But before I could file for divorce, Sarah and I were kidnapped together. And in that nightmare, I lost the child I had prayed for all those years. When I woke up in the hospital, my father’s hair had turned gray overnight. But soon, an even more devastating piece of news arrived. Somehow, during the beatings and torture I endured, a tumor in my stomach had ruptured. The cancer had spread. At best, I had three months left to live.

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On the day Alexander Hayes’ company went public, he was being interviewed on a TV show. I was in a basement, my body covered in wounds, being tortured by a man. To liven up the atmosphere, the host added a small segment. He asked Alexander to close his eyes and call the top contact on his phone. My phone rang immediately. The man holding me captive tied my hands and put the phone to my ear: “Now that you’ve seen my company go public, do you regret leaving me for money back then?” Alexander’s voice came through. I looked up and saw the man gesturing with a whip. I sneered: “Alexander, how pathetic are you? Give me a million dollars, and I’ll play with you for a while.” Alexander fell silent and abruptly hung up. He didn’t know that when his company successfully raised funds years ago, It was because I had secretly sold myself to another man’s bed. On the day Alexander Hayes’ company went public, he was being interviewed on a TV show. I was in a dark room, my body covered in bruises inflicted by a man. To liven up the atmosphere, the host added a small segment. He asked Alexander to close his eyes and call the top contact on his phone. My phone rang immediately. The man holding me captive put the phone to my ear: “Now that you’ve seen my company go public, do you regret leaving me for money?” Alexander’s voice came through. I looked up at the man threatening me with a whip and sneered, “Alex, how pathetic are you? Give me $100,000 and I’ll play with you.” Alexander fell silent and abruptly hung up. He didn’t know that when his company successfully raised funds years ago, I had secretly sold myself to another man to make it happen. Victor Sullivan got off me with a satisfied look, dressed, and left. I lay curled up on the floor, touching the bite marks on my body. My phone lit up, showing a notification of a $100,000 transfer to my account. I froze, feeling a lump in my throat and a surge of complex emotions. Victor called, telling me to get ready and meet him at a restaurant. I didn’t dare delay. On the way, I wondered why he wasn’t spending Valentine’s Day with his official girlfriend. I waited outside the restaurant for a long time without hearing from Victor. Suddenly, an SUV careened towards me out of control. I closed my eyes, bracing for impact, when a strong arm pulled me into a familiar embrace. His scent was so familiar it made me want to cry. “Emily, are you okay?” Alexander looked down at me in his arms, his voice full of concern. I looked up at his handsome face and those familiar eyes. Five years had passed, and his features had become sharper and more defined. Time seemed to favor him even more. The only thing that had changed was that I was no longer the person he truly cared about. When he realized it was me, his pupils constricted, and he roughly pushed me away. “It’s you?” he said in disbelief. I forced a smile. From his appearance, it seemed he had rushed here straight from the TV show to spend Valentine’s Day with his celebrity girlfriend, Sophia. Sophia appeared nearby in a red dress. Alexander frowned, took off his coat, and lovingly draped it over her shoulders. I lowered my gaze, pretending not to see them, and turned to leave. He suddenly called out coldly: “Aren’t you going to thank your savior before you go?” I froze in my tracks, unable to move. His eyes were filled with hatred and emotions I couldn’t understand as he stared at me. I looked at him coldly, waving my phone, and said slowly: “Alex, my price has gone up. Now it takes $200,000 to get me into bed. Want to give it a try?” He was stunned for a moment, then his eyes blazed with anger. He grabbed my hand tightly, gritting his teeth: “Five years have passed, and you’ve become so disgustingly cheap!” My wrist immediately swelled and hurt. I looked at him mockingly, enunciating each word: “Want to sleep with me? I’ll give you a 20% discount.” Alexander’s expression was shocked, his eyes filled with complexity I couldn’t understand. As he was about to speak, Sophia came over and wrapped her arm around his other arm. “Alex, is this your gold-digging ex-girlfriend?” she asked. She looked me up and down, her tone contemptuous: “You think you’re worth $200,000? You’re really desperate, naming any price. But Alex buys me bags that cost more than that.” “Now you’ve resorted to selling your body to make money. If you hadn’t abandoned Alex for being poor back then, I wouldn’t have met such a wonderful man.” Memories from years ago flooded my mind. Alexander and I met in college. We were each other’s first love, sweet yet bittersweet. Back then, he wasn’t a famous entrepreneur yet. My reputation wasn’t so bad that everyone despised me. We were young and naive, sharing many precious firsts together. Though we argued sometimes, we held each other’s hands firmly, dreaming of growing old together. After graduation, Alexander invested all his savings into starting a business, but was tricked and lost everything. Debts piled up like a bottomless pit, constantly demanding more from us. Alexander’s mother suddenly fell seriously ill, adding to the burden on our shoulders. To pay off the debts, I worked several jobs a day, sharing a single piece of bread with Alexander for meals. We saved every penny we could, but it wasn’t enough to keep up with the mounting interest. Alexander’s mother was admitted to the ICU, and we couldn’t afford a cent of her treatment costs. I watched him fall into despair, even sleepwalking at night wanting to jump off a building. My heart was torn to pieces, and I could barely breathe. Victor approached me, offering to pay for Alexander’s mother’s treatment and help revive his business. The condition was that I become his mistress.

Alexander kissed Sophia’s fingers tenderly, his eyes full of affection. “Heaven opened its eyes. Leaving her allowed me to meet you, someone truly worth spending a lifetime with.” Their intimate gestures stung my eyes, making my chest tighten. I pulled my coat tighter, preparing to leave with a cold expression. As I took a step, Sophia stuck out her foot and tripped me. I stumbled, and birth control pills and condoms fell out of my bag. Alexander instinctively reached out to help me, but quickly withdrew his hand. Sophia covered her mouth in mock surprise: “Why are you carrying these things around?” Alexander’s attention was drawn to the items on the ground. He picked up the birth control pills with a gloomy face, looking at me hatefully. He threw them at me. “Emily Collins, have you no shame? Are you willing to degrade yourself like this for money?” “Is money really that important to you? Important enough to become such a promiscuous woman?” I looked at his tailored suit and the luxury watch on his wrist. Bending down to pick up the items from the ground, I smiled: “Of course it’s important! Why don’t you support my business, Mr. Hayes? Help me earn some more money.” Sophia looked at me with feigned surprise, her eyes gleaming with schadenfreude. “How can you, as a woman, say such things? You have hands and feet, can’t you earn money to support yourself?” “Alex… if she hadn’t left you back then, we wouldn’t have met.” “Her thinking is really extreme. No matter what, she was someone you once loved. Why don’t we help her find a job?” These words reminded Alexander of how I had abandoned him for money when he was in dire straits years ago. Alexander’s face turned cold. “She doesn’t deserve it!” He took Sophia’s hand and turned to leave. Before leaving, Sophia looked back at me, her eyes curved in a smile full of malice and mockery. I stood there expressionless, stuffing the birth control pills and condoms back into my bag. I watched them leave. My eyes began to water, their silhouettes becoming blurry. After a long while, I crouched down, burying my head in my arms. I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes and opened my phone. There were several missed calls from Victor. The wounds on my body still ached dully. Alexander still didn’t know. The funding for his company… I had exchanged my body for it.

Five years ago. Alexander’s mother was critically ill, and we still couldn’t raise enough money for her surgery. Alexander broke down crying, holding his head in his hands. He even considered jumping off a building to follow his mother. After Victor approached me, I came home to find Alexander taking antidepressants like a zombie. I couldn’t hold back my tears anymore and hugged him tightly, crying hysterically. I agreed to Victor’s proposition. To be his caged bird until he got bored of me. Victor was a sadist who enjoyed torturing women in new ways. Whipping and burning became routine for me. I don’t know what kept him interested in me, but he still hasn’t let me go after all this time. It’s been five years now. The scars on my body have only become clearer with each passing day. … I didn’t go back into the restaurant. Instead, I took a taxi home. It had been a long time since I’d been back. When Victor’s official girlfriend wasn’t around, I had to be available to him 24/7. The apartment wasn’t big, but it felt particularly cold and desolate. This was where Alexander and I used to live together, where we dreamed of walking down the aisle together. After I agreed to Victor’s proposal, I pretended I couldn’t bear the hardship anymore and picked fights to break up with Alexander. We had been in love for four years since college. When he went bankrupt, I stayed by his side without complaint, working like a horse to earn money to pay off his debts. We were too clear about our love for each other; he didn’t believe I was someone who only cared about money. I forced myself to break up with him abruptly. To ensure he would have a better life, I had no choice but to do this, even if it meant hurting him deeply. He searched for me everywhere for three months, kneeling before me, crying and begging. Pleading with me not to leave. I cruelly said I was tired of living from hand to mouth. Tired of being by his side, working like a slave to fill his bottomless pit of debt. Tired of being with him, having to split a dollar in half to make ends meet. Tired of being dragged down by his dying mother. I remember how I angrily complained, driving him away. His eyes were red, his lips trembling. The usually proud man bowed his head, his shoulders shaking as he cried silently. I turned away decisively. Long after, I watched him from afar, covering my mouth to stifle my sobs. He lay on the ground, crying his heart out, then got up and left. Someone saw me getting into Victor’s car. After the breakup, I was completely labeled as a gold digger. In the villa, I lay in Victor’s arms. Replaying the heartache of pushing away the person I loved most. I just never thought there would be a day when Alexander and I would meet again. Now, he has risen to a position far beyond my reach, becoming the successful man I had hoped he would be. While I am covered in wounds. I reach out to touch his image on the TV screen. He looks so confident and accomplished. That’s good. My phone rings again. I answer, and Victor’s playful voice comes through. Fear seeps into my bones. He tells me to buy more whips and candles before coming back to the villa to see him. In the evening, the cold is biting. I kneel in front of Victor’s villa wearing thin clothes, freezing. Victor holds a whip, steadily pressing it under my chin, forcing me to look up. He blows out a smoke ring, lifting his eyelids carelessly. “Why didn’t you go into the restaurant? Was it because you saw Alexander?” “You really wasted the surprise I prepared for you.” I clench my teeth, saying nothing. “When the little cat misbehaves, a good beating will teach her a lesson.” The whip cuts through the air, landing on my body. Fresh blood flows onto the ground, my back a mess of torn flesh.

Sophia is Victor’s cousin, and she’s about to get engaged to Alexander. Victor forces me to accompany him to the engagement party. I see Alexander wearing a white custom-tailored suit, looking dignified and handsome. Sophia is in an elegant gown, graceful with every step. They stand side by side, a perfect match of talent and beauty. Everyone is praising how well-suited they are for each other. I shrink beside Victor, my fingernails digging into my palms. My heart silently shatters into pieces at this grand engagement party. Victor looks over, leading Alexander towards me. “Cousin, where’s your fiancée? Why did you bring this kind of… unsuitable woman to my engagement party?” Sophia pouts. Victor glances at me and Alexander, raising an eyebrow: “Just bringing my little bird out to see the world. After all… she won’t have many chances to see such things in the future.” Alexander remains silent, his knuckles white as he grips his wine glass. Sophia teases, then suddenly stumbles, knocking over the red wine I was holding for Victor. It spills on her dress. She yells angrily: “You did that on purpose! You’re trying to ruin my engagement party!” I look up at Victor. He smirks, sipping his wine and enjoying the show. Alexander stares at me intently, his lips pressed tightly together. Sophia glares at me hatefully. She raises her arm and slaps me, knocking me to the ground. “You slut! Waiter, throw her out!” Sophia shouts furiously, her eyes blazing with anger. I fall to the ground awkwardly, as people gather around, whispering. A flash of pain crosses Alexander’s eyes, and he involuntarily takes a step forward, but then sees Victor pull me into his arms. His eyes darken, and he clenches his fists, stepping back. Victor helps me up, gently tucking a stray hair behind my ear. His eyes flick to the crowd, where an elegant woman stands… his fiancée. He lets go of me and walks over to her with a bright smile: “Darling, you came too?” The woman ignores him, and he hurriedly follows after her. The hall suddenly falls silent, as if time has stopped. Everyone looks stunned. All eyes turn to me, filled with curiosity and mockery. They whisper among themselves. “So she’s not Mr. Sullivan’s hidden fiancée, just a mistress!” “She looks familiar… Isn’t she the gold-digging ex-girlfriend who abandoned Mr. Hayes?” “She deserves this. Now it’s her turn to be abandoned by Mr. Sullivan. Karma really does come around…” Someone throws their red wine at me, and others follow suit. Sophia’s friends grab my hair, wanting to get revenge for her. I remain silent, letting them bully me. My eyes are dull and lifeless. A few rich playboys approach with wine glasses, trying to grab me. “You’re pretty good-looking. I heard you’ll sleep with anyone for money. How about spending the night with me?” The crowd laughs, and the atmosphere turns vulgar. Alexander’s face darkens as he steps forward to remove their hands. “$500,000 as a down payment. Come with me,” he says. The hall falls silent once again. Sophia’s face turns sour as she glares at me and Alexander. “Have a drink with me,” Alexander continues slowly.

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During the year-end performance review, all the achievements that should have been mine were credited to the new intern. Thinking of my mother in the ICU, I was beside myself with anxiety. I went to argue with the manager, but he just said, “Know your place. Who are you to compete for credit with the daughter of the company’s owner?” When I vented to my friend, she turned around and printed out our chat logs, plastering them all over the company. My boyfriend also complained that I was making a scene, saying I wasn’t acting like a respectable woman. He then went off to become the new intern’s lapdog. My mother, waiting for money for her treatment, ultimately missed the best window for treatment and passed away. In a fit of rage, I quit on the spot, and suddenly they all panicked. To motivate employees for one last push at the end of the year, the company had hinted early on about generous year-end bonuses. Not only was there no cap on the bonus amount, but the top salesperson would also receive additional rewards. My colleagues had already started congratulating me, saying this year-end bonus was surely mine. I couldn’t wait to share this good news with my boyfriend. Just as I opened my phone, his call came through first. “Babe, I heard from Jennifer that your company’s year-end bonus is really high this year.” “Yes! With this money, my mom’s surgery—” Before I could finish, William hastily cut me off. “That’s great! I’ll tell my parents right away that I’ll bring you home to meet them during the New Year.” Hearing my boyfriend’s words, I was overjoyed. I never expected such double happiness today. William and I had been dating for ten years, and we were certainly at the age to discuss marriage. But every time I brought up meeting his parents, he would brush it off with various excuses. “It’s almost New Year’s, and this is your first time visiting my family. You must prepare some nice gifts for my family! That’s the only way my parents will agree to you marrying into our family.” “I’ve already thought about what gifts to buy. You don’t need to buy anything too expensive. For my mom, I mean, our mom, buy a Hermès handbag.” “Dad doesn’t have many hobbies, he just loves to drink. A bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label wouldn’t be too much, right?” “And for my little brother, he’s just a kid, he doesn’t like much. Just buy him a phone, I’ll send you the link.” Before he finished speaking, a payment link popped up. It was for the latest iPhone 1TB Pro Max version. His tone grew more and more excited, while I became increasingly calm. First of all, the year-end bonus wasn’t even confirmed yet. My mom had been in the hospital for over half a year, waiting for money for her surgery. He knew about this situation. Now that he heard I might get a year-end bonus, not only did he not think about helping with my mother’s treatment, but his mind was full of how to spend this money for his own family. When I heard him say he wanted me to buy a phone for his month-old brother, I finally couldn’t help but interrupt him: “The year-end bonus hasn’t been decided yet, and you know my mom’s situation. The doctor—” “What about your mom?” Almost instinctively, William interrupted me again, immediately switching to his usual impatient tone: “Whatever’s wrong with your mom, you’re going to marry into my family in the future. Buying gifts for my family is the same as buying gifts for your family, isn’t it? How can you show favoritism from the start?” “I know it wasn’t easy for your mom to raise you, and your mom is important, but isn’t our future important too?” “Do you know how many times my parents have tried to persuade me to break up with you? Do you know how many people are lining up to go on blind dates with me?” “If you’re not willing to buy these small gifts, how can you say you love me! Let me tell you, if you can’t come up with these things this year, we’re breaking up.” With that, he hung up the phone without giving me a chance to explain. When I tried to call back, I found that my number had been blocked.

Looking at the disconnected call, I was momentarily lost in thought. I had mentioned my mother’s illness to him more than once in the past six months. His reaction today clearly showed that he had long forgotten about my mother’s hospitalization, or perhaps he had never really remembered it at all. It would be a lie to say I wasn’t disappointed. Composing myself, I had just returned to the company when Jennifer White, the department intern, approached me. She was the “Jenny” my boyfriend had mentioned earlier. We had only eaten together once before, and I didn’t know when they had exchanged contact information. They were even close enough for him to call her Jenny. Jennifer’s expression was full of embarrassment, but her words were full of entitlement: “Sis, Manager Johnson said that the follow-up on the Quinn contract you’ve been handling will now be taken over by me.” Hearing this, I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. The deal with Mr. Quinn was almost at the final stage, it could be said that it only needed a signature. Suddenly changing the person in charge at this point undoubtedly meant that all my previous efforts would become nothing more than paving the way for someone else. Despite this, when I spoke, I still took a roundabout approach, not intending to expose her directly. “You haven’t been involved in the early stages of this deal, so you might not be familiar with the relevant details. If you want to learn about closing deals, I can take you through the process from the beginning next time.” Before I could finish declining, a male voice interrupted. “What’s so difficult about this? You’ve already prepared the contract, and the signing date is set. Just let Jenny go and sign it, and the deal is done.” “Mia, the company still recognizes your abilities. It’s the end of the year, so give the newcomers a chance to close a deal. You have so many resources, what’s wrong with sharing one with Jenny?” “Besides, your deals are ultimately company resources. You’ve already been given the top salesperson position, don’t be so stingy about one or two small deals.” “You’re already at that age, almost thirty, about to go home to get married and have children. Holding onto these resources won’t do you much good, why not appropriately share them with your colleagues?” These words were almost no different from outright robbery. In just a few short sentences, he had brushed off all my previous efforts. He even tried to use moral coercion to make me hand over the resources I had carefully maintained. I didn’t follow his lead, but quietly reminded him: “Manager Johnson, if nothing goes wrong, this deal will be the biggest one of the year. Everyone is counting on this deal to sustain us through the first half of next year. If anything goes wrong, I might not be affected, but I’m afraid the company can’t afford to wait.” He knew very well what Jennifer was capable of. She was clearly just a connection who had been stuffed into the company to idle away her days. Let alone not having closed any deals in her year here, she had even messed up quite a few deals for her seniors. As a result, everyone later discussed collaborations like thieves, avoiding her. Now that I think about it, it’s the end of the year, and seeing her performance was too poor to account for, they just randomly found a scapegoat in the company to hand over resources to her, letting her reap the benefits without effort. But they had picked the wrong person. I wasn’t some pushover they could bully at will. He could sacrifice me to pave the way for Jennifer, but I didn’t believe he would dare risk sacrificing the collective interests of the company. Sure enough, hearing this, Manager Johnson’s expression showed some hesitation. When he spoke again, his tone had changed: “Alright, alright, everyone disperse. I understand the situation.” “Mia, you’re right, this deal is indeed very important. How about this, you prepare and personally go on a business trip to visit Mr. Quinn’s company again. This will show our sincerity. Time is of the essence, you should leave today.” “Jennifer, come with me to my office.” With that, he waved his hand to disperse the crowd and led Jennifer into his office. Although the sudden 180-degree turn was puzzling, at this point, I could only comply. I thought the matter was over, but I had underestimated how shameless they could be. After just a few days on the business trip, while I was still out of town, I saw a notice in the company group chat.

In the announcement, a large portion of my performance had vanished into thin air. And Jennifer, who hadn’t closed any deals before I left for the business trip, suddenly jumped to second place in performance. Just as I was about to question the finance department about how such a low-level mistake could occur, Jennifer’s call came through first, her tone full of smugness: “So this is all the great top salesperson Su can do after working hard for a year. Looking at the performance, it’s not much more than mine, is it?” “You don’t need to thank me too much, after all, I still left you two months’ worth of performance.” “I’m not exaggerating, but you’ve spent a year drinking and schmoozing with clients, and you only managed to bring in a few million in deals. That’s pretty useless.” “Did you call just to say this?” I interrupted her, barely containing my anger. “Oh, I almost forgot. Manager Johnson was worried you might not see the notice, so he specifically asked me to call and remind you. He said if anyone thinks there’s a problem with the performance data, they need to discuss it with him in person. The time limit is only today, no exceptions.” It wasn’t until I heard this that I realized what they were up to. Clearly, they knew that today was the day I was signing the contract with Quinn Corp. Even if I found out about this as quickly as possible, I wouldn’t be able to get back today. This meant I could only choose between the past half year’s performance and the contract with Quinn Corp. “Is he so determined to do this that he’s not afraid I’ll just quit altogether?” My voice was trembling with the immense anger that engulfed me. Hearing this, Jennifer laughed as if she had heard a joke: “Do you have the luxury to quit?” “Don’t forget your mom is still in the ICU.” “If you don’t get any money, be careful you might not even have enough to buy a coffin for your mom.” With that, she sneered and hung up the phone, leaving me standing there in shock. That’s right, my mother was still in the ICU. I could afford to wait, but she couldn’t. Starting a dispute with them now was clearly not a wise choice. I hurriedly signed the contract and caught the earliest high-speed train back to the company to prevent any further complications. They could transfer my performance to Jennifer, which meant they might do even more shameless things. But I didn’t expect that as soon as I got back to the company, before I could even hand over the contract, a figure darted out and, without a word, slapped me across the face. When I saw who it was, I could no longer contain my anger: “Jennifer, what are you throwing a tantrum about now? It’s not enough to steal my performance, you have to add insult to injury? Do you think people won’t get angry just because they don’t show it? Do you take everyone for a fool?” “Using your performance is doing you a favor. Many people are begging to give me their performance, and I don’t even want it.” “You act like you’re so noble. What right do you have to publicly insult me! It’s just because you saw the announcement and couldn’t accept it, so you used such a despicable method to humiliate me!” “I earned my performance with my own abilities! If you have the ability, why don’t you earn it back yourself!” Hearing her baseless accusations, I couldn’t help but laugh: “I publicly insulted you? Do you have any evidence? Coming up and hitting someone without rhyme or reason, is this your idea of class?” More and more people were gathering around, and although they didn’t show it clearly, they were obviously curious to see which of us would come out on top. “Evidence? This is the evidence!” Jennifer threw a stack of papers in my face. They were clearly my comments about her being a connection. Although it was just stating facts, the tone was naturally not very nice given that my performance had been stolen. Surprisingly, the record of messages spanned an entire year, organized chronologically, including even my casual complaints when Jennifer first joined the company. Every comment I made about Jennifer was taken out of context, with all praise and acknowledgment hidden, leaving only my negative evaluations of her. But I was certain that I had never disclosed these chat logs. Looking up, I saw that there were still many papers that hadn’t been torn down from the surrounding walls, with groups of people standing in front of them, observing. “Jennifer, I advise you to use your brain. Thanks to you, I’ve just returned from a business trip and haven’t even had time to do the handover. Where would I find the time to compile your glorious deeds and paste them all over the company?” “If you had any sense, you’d know that instead of picking a fight with me, you should go check the security cameras to see who the real culprit is!” “At the very least, you should find someone to clean up this garbage. Otherwise, in less than half a day, your and Manager Johnson’s glorious deeds will be spread throughout the entire company.”

I rolled my eyes, not intending to deal with her any further. Although I didn’t know who was behind this, I wasn’t stupid enough to think they were on my side. They just wanted to see Jennifer and me tear into each other, while they sat back and reaped the benefits. But clearly, Jennifer hadn’t figured this out. She continued to see me as her enemy and kept attacking: “No matter who posted it, aren’t those your own words?” “How can you have the guts to say it but not to admit it? You’re trying to shift the blame to someone else?” “Do you really think I’m that stupid, that I don’t know who did this? Security informed me immediately, it was Rachel who posted these large posters.” “Ask anyone in the sales department, who doesn’t know that you and Rachel are the closest? Do you dare say you’re not the mastermind behind this?” Hearing this, I was stunned. Even Jennifer knew that Rachel and I were the closest partners, which was enough to prove that our relationship wasn’t close enough for her to throw me under the bus. I had considered countless possibilities, but never thought it could be her. But thinking about it, I’m not one to gossip, and I had only said these things to one person, and that was Rachel. Who else could have such clear and complete chat records if not her? The only thing I couldn’t understand was why she was targeting me. “Why target you?” A woman’s voice asked the question in my mind. I turned to see it was Rachel. “Guess who was forced to give up their contract that was about to be signed after you refused White and Manager Johnson’s request that day?” Hearing her question, I finally understood. The day I left to sign the contract, Jennifer and Manager Johnson were still in the office, so I hadn’t paid attention to what happened afterward. I didn’t expect that when they didn’t get a satisfactory answer from me, they turned their target to someone else. In just a few days, so much drama had unfolded, it must have been difficult for them. “But you’re right about one thing, what kind of deal could that idiot sign? It was already at the final stage, just needing a signature to seal the deal, and she actually managed to fail the signing.” “What’s even funnier is that after failing, she still took my performance, saying it was compensation for her not successfully signing the contract.” “Do you know why I came to the company today? I came to pick up my resignation letter. They found fault with me because my performance didn’t meet the standard, and fired me.” “And all of this is thanks to you, Mia Sullivan. What’s the big deal about sharing a bit of your performance with her! Why should I pay the price for your stubborn refusal! You’re just a stupid top salesperson, what’s so great about that! Everything that’s happened to me is your fault!” Looking at Rachel’s angry expression, I felt a wave of helplessness. Clearly, we were both victims, yet she blamed everything on me, who was equally oppressed by them. The weak only swing their swords at the weak, completely failing to see that it was Jennifer and Manager Johnson, who abused their power, who were the real culprits behind this tragedy. “Implicated by me? Without Mia Sullivan, there would be a Lisa Sullivan, a Sarah Sullivan, or maybe you would have been the top salesperson! What led to this result was never colleagues unwilling to give way, but as long as there are useless colleagues like this and leaders who only know how to curry favor with their superiors! Everyone will be a sacrifice!” Faced with my colleague’s backstabbing, I could no longer hold back. I wanted to vent all the grievances I had suffered these past few days. Just as I was about to continue, my phone suddenly rang: “Hello, is this Ms. Sullivan? Your mother’s condition has suddenly deteriorated severely. The situation is very critical. We hope you can come to the hospital as soon as possible.”

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The new neighbor has a habit of exposing himself. He often strolls through the hallway in nothing but boxer shorts. We’ve confronted him, reprimanded him, even filed complaints, but nothing has changed. Eventually, he boldly began sunbathing naked on the balcony. Our balconies are adjacent, and when my wife saw him, she was so shocked she cursed him out. This only seemed to boost his confidence. So, I personally marched him to the police station. It was over two kilometers. I escorted him, and he strutted along, drawing the curious stares of onlookers. Finally, we both felt a sense of resolution. Returning from a business trip, I instantly recognized the new neighbor from Apartment 603, Jude, by his boxer shorts. Round face, slightly balding, pale skin, a bit chubby with no muscle, and only wearing gray boxers. While not outright scandalous, it was definitely not appropriate for public spaces. No wonder my wife had been complaining about him lately. He was blocking the doorway of Apartment 601, insisting on helping the resident carry her cat litter inside. 601 is home to a somewhat shy girl who usually speaks softly. She was terrified, shaking her head and waving her hands frantically, repeatedly yelling, “No, no, no…” But Jude wouldn’t take no for an answer. He clutched a corner of the cat litter bag and pushed against the door, already halfway inside. “Why be so formal with me? Neighbors should help each other.” He laughed in a sleazy way, “Once we know each other better, I’ll grill some sausages for you.” “Oh, don’t overthink it, I mean the ones I cook myself.” The girl was on the verge of tears. I couldn’t stand it anymore, so I called out, “Hey, generous neighbor, how about helping me? My hands are sore, and I can’t carry my stuff.” Both turned to look at me. The girl’s eyes lit up so brightly that I almost lost control of my expression. Jude looked me up and down, frowned, and snapped, “Who are you? Needing help with that little load, are you even a man?!” I didn’t appreciate that. I walked over, let go, and my heavy travel bag crashed onto his foot. He yelped, forgetting the cat litter and the door, hopping around clutching his foot. The girl seized the moment, grabbed the 40-pound bag of cat litter, and dashed inside. As the door closed, a tremulous “Thank you” reached my ears. I smirked. Lifted my less-than-40-pound luggage. Hmm, my hands weren’t sore at all.

I turned to head home, but Jude grabbed my collar. “You think you can just walk away after injuring my foot? No way…” I freed myself, turned, and again let my luggage drop—this time on his other foot. Sadly, he dodged too quickly, and it only hit his grimy slippers. Gross. “Why should I stick around? I’m not interested in your grilled sausages.” He got angrier, “What’s your name? Who’s your family? Pay up! Apologize! Or I’ll call the cops.” “Go ahead. Complaining about a little bump like that—are you really a man?” His face fell. He raised a hand to hit me. I quickly stopped him, “Wait.” I dragged him toward our door, making sure we were in view of the surveillance camera, then offered my face. “Go ahead, hit me. Each slap is at least $2000. The harder you hit, the more you pay. I’m just short a bit to get a new car.” I closed my eyes, ready to enjoy a little “Indian massage.” But nothing happened. Jude’s forehead vein throbbed as he gritted his teeth, “Don’t you have any shame? You hit me first.” I rolled my eyes, “Got proof? If not, don’t go accusing people. I’m a model citizen.” There are only three households on this floor. There’s no surveillance outside his door, and the girl wouldn’t help him. Plus, if it came to it, he’d have to answer for harassing a woman. As we argued, the elevator opened. My wife had just come home from work. “Hey, honey!” Jude’s eyes went wide, darting between us. “You have a husband?” “You’re from 602?” It was obvious. Why was he surprised? Jude suddenly snapped, “What gives? You’ve been flirting with me?” My wife was baffled, “Are you nuts? When did I ever flirt with you?” “You smiled at me, wore skirts I like, showing arms and legs, if that’s not flirting, what is?” “Looking like a seductress, you’re clearly up to no good. Good thing I have self-control…” Before he could finish, I slapped him hard, “You filthy mouth, I’ll mess you up.” Holding his face, he suddenly looked excited, “There’s a camera, you’ll have to pay.” “It’s mine. I could erase it.” He quickly backed off. Under my glare, his 5’7″ frame seemed to shrink further. He snapped, “You’ll see,” and fled. As his door closed, the door of 601 creaked open. The girl thanked us repeatedly and insisted on giving my wife a bag of fruit. After hearing the whole story, my wife was furious. “That filthy pig is disgusting. Wandering around with a sewing kit, spewing filthy jokes at every girl. It’s so bad the girls in our complex are scared to go out.” “Yeah, but people have tried reasoning, scolding, even the property management mediated, but it’s useless. Like he said, his actions are immoral, but not illegal. Even if reported, it’s just a slap on the wrist. We can’t do anything.” The girl sighed, “I’m really scared. I might stay with my best friend for a while. You be careful too. You’re big and imposing, but he might try something sneaky. As the saying goes, better to offend a gentleman than a villain.” I nodded innocently. But I was thinking: He’s a villain, but I’m no gentleman.

The next day, Jude installed a camera. But it was as shameless as he was. So, I decided to have a friendly chat. I knocked on his door. “Hey, Mr. Grilled Sausage. Your camera is pointing right at our door. That’s an invasion of privacy. Fix it today, or I’ll call the cops.” Jude opened the door in his gray boxers. The little hole on the right cheek was just like yesterday. Oh, still the same pair, huh? He blew up, “Who are you calling ‘Grilled Sausage’? The name’s Jude, and I’m strong!” He thrust his hips, but all I saw was his belly jiggling. I didn’t bother arguing, “Got it, your grilled sausage has a strong ego.” “But that’s not the point. The point is, fix the camera!” He craned his neck up at a 45-degree angle, “I’ll install my camera however I want. It’s a public area. Who puts private stuff at the front door? You can’t just make stuff up. I went to middle school!” “If you don’t like it, copy me. I’ll keep my camera on you. What can you do?” He tried closing the door, but I blocked it. “You sure you won’t fix it?” He stood firm, “Yeah!” “Smash it if you want. I’ll just install another. If you break it, you’ll pay. I won’t lose.” “Okay, don’t regret it.” I suddenly let go, the door slammed, pinching Jude’s hand. His scream was like a pig being slaughtered. It was music to my ears. After years of dealing with civilized people, life felt dull. This guy’s amusing. I’m… looking forward to it.

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I secured a million-dollar deal for the company, but my wife ended up giving all the credit to her assistant, Theo. She said, “Theo is new here; cut him some slack. Don’t be so petty.” Later, during the company retreat, she even chose to share a couple’s suite with Theo. Theo, looking quite smug, said, “I’m not feeling well and need Mr. Declan to be nearby when I soak in the hot spring.” “Mr. Declan is so generous; he won’t be mad, right?” My wife looked at him affectionately and said, “Don’t worry about him. If he’s so petty, then I misplaced my feelings!” I texted my parents: [No need to invest; this company is corrupt.] Nora pulled Theo to face me and impatiently said, “Hand over the key card for the couple’s suite. I’m taking Theo to the hot spring.” Theo clung to Nora’s arm, giving me a challenging look. Anyone watching would think they were the married couple. “Thanks, Mr. Declan. Ms. Su and I will definitely enjoy ourselves!” I stood up and handed him the key card. As he took it, he bumped my shoulder. I lost my balance, staggered back, and painfully hit my side on the table corner, crying out in pain. But Nora didn’t look back. “Theo was burnt out over this project and finally sealed the deal.” “He’s the company’s hero, so Ms. Su should treat him well.” The Sales Director, Ethan Johnson, said to me, as if warning me. But the contract was signed because I had lengthy negotiations with our partners and promised them many benefits under my parents’ company’s name. Only then did they agree. Theo, on the other hand, was just serving tea and water. How did he become the hero? Even the Tech Director, Logan Carter, backed Theo: “Yeah, he’s been exhausted these days and needs a rest.” “Mr. Declan, don’t disturb him, prepare some good food for him tonight!” Seeing everyone side with Theo left me cold-hearted. When Theo first joined the company, they were all on my side. I lost my appetite and returned to my room. Just as I got back, Nora called. “Theo has a headache, quickly go buy him some medicine! You have five minutes to bring it to our room.” I replied icily, “I’m not going.” Nora got angry: “If it weren’t for you stirring up trouble during the day, Theo wouldn’t be so upset with a headache.” “Just buy the medicine and consider it an apology, or else I…” I hung up the phone and lay down to sleep. Nora and I married as soon as we were of legal age. We grew up together. She gave up better schools for me, just to stay together. She said, “I want to be with Declan Chen my whole life, never apart!” We were inseparable for half our lives. Every first of mine was with her. Our relationship was natural, no confession, just a proposal. During the proposal, at my favorite beach, she handed over all her assets to me, even wanting to transfer her family’s shares. She left nothing for herself. “Declan Chen, what’s mine is yours. We’re one, never to part.” But shortly after the proposal, Nora’s family went bankrupt. I secretly paid her tuition fees. She became sensitive, less patient with me, easily irritated, and lashed out at me. Then she met Theo and spent most of her time with him. They dined and traveled together, leaving no place for me. We had planned to start a business after graduation, but she ignored my wishes and made Theo her assistant. I thought as we fought for the company, she’d recall our synergy. But now, she’s already forgotten me. The retreat was planned here because a month ago, she casually mentioned celebrating here if we sealed the deal. But now, it’s Theo sharing the hot spring with her. Tears flowed down to the pillow as I removed the ring from my finger and tossed it in the trash.

When I woke up, it was already evening. I had planned to have barbecue at night. When I got to the barbecue area on the lawn, my colleagues had already started. The only seat left was by Nora, so I had to sit there. “Where’s your wedding ring?” As soon as I sat down, Nora questioned me. “Threw it away.” After I said that, Nora slammed her chopsticks on the table. “Enough! Since when did you become so unreasonable?” “I just spent a day with Theo and you give me attitude!” “He’s not well, what’s wrong with helping him more? Why are you so heartless?” After Nora spoke, Ethan chimed in, “Yeah, Theo’s right, Declan Chen, you’re just not generous enough.” “You wouldn’t even get Theo headache medicine.” “If I hadn’t been thoughtful and brought some, Theo would’ve suffered!” Theo acted all pitiful, leaning against Nora, rubbing his eyes. They all looked at me with disdain, like I was the town pariah. “Enough, let’s not let Declan Chen ruin our mood.” Logan brought a tray of grilled meat over to Theo. “Theo, eat up, don’t let irrelevant people upset you, your health is important.” Nora patted Theo’s head to comfort him, “Alright, Theo doesn’t want to see you. Go buy him a cocktail, he loves it.” “Come back and drink three cups as an apology!” I left my seat, but not to buy drinks. I went to get my own dinner. I bought a burger and sat by the fountain plaza outside the lawn to eat. The fountain show was beautiful, easing my heartache a bit. I got a text from Nora, asking why I hadn’t bought the drink. She forgot I’m allergic to alcohol and never bought it. When I was at the table, there was never alcohol. That was because Nora protected me, ensuring I never saw alcohol and asked others not to drink around me. I blocked Nora. “What are you doing here, why haven’t you bought the drink?” I looked up, it was Theo. “If you want a drink, buy it yourself. What, got no money?” I said, provoking Theo. He pointed at me angrily, “Isn’t your money from Nora? Who do you think you are?” “I just need to beckon, and do you know how much Nora will give me?” “Do you believe it? Soon Nora will kick you out!” I nodded, “I believe it! You better make her divorce me soon.” So it was about money. I wanted to see if Theo would still stay with Nora once she was left with nothing. Seeing I wasn’t angry, he was displeased, sneering. Then he grabbed me suddenly, loudly saying, “Mr. Declan, don’t be mad, it’s my fault!” Then he pushed me hard, and I fell backward into the fountain. The overwhelming suffocation made me feel near death. I feared water, couldn’t swim. I once wanted Nora to teach me, but she said with her around, I’d never be in danger. But now I was in danger, and she didn’t care. A female colleague saved me, pulling me from the water. After regaining consciousness, I looked at Nora comforting Theo from a distance. I made up my mind. “Declan Chen! You’re ruthless! Theo apologized, yet you pushed him!” “Stop pretending to be pitiful by jumping in the fountain! Why did I marry someone like you?” I trembled, getting up from the ground: “If that’s the case, let’s divorce!”

I walked back to my room alone, took a shower, and went to sleep. I woke up from the heat in the middle of the night, realizing I had a fever. I called the front desk for help, took fever medicine, then fell asleep again. When I woke, my colleagues had already checked out, no one told me. I called my parents to send a car for me. But they came themselves. Falling into their arms was the only warmth I felt. “Dad, Mom, I’m returning to work at our family company tomorrow.” “And I’ve decided to divorce. Please find a lawyer for me.” Mom patted my back to comfort me: “Alright. We support you! Kick out someone who went bankrupt.” “We’ll make her suffer with a flick of a finger.” “I’ve already prepared an office for you! Our family’s is always the best!” After a few days of rest at home, I got a call from Logan. He said the partners were visiting the company, urging me to hurry. Thinking it was my last deal, I wanted to wrap it up well, so I went. But it was a trap. As soon as I entered the office, Nora tossed the divorce papers on the table, glaring at me. “What do you mean!” So the lawyer acted quickly, it was already written and sent. “Of course, it means divorce, just sign.” Nora grabbed the papers and tore them up. “What about the company after we divorce?” After a few days of rest at home, I received a call from Logan urging me to hurry to the office for a partner’s inspection. I thought it was the last deal I had closed and wanted to wrap it up properly, so I went. But upon arrival, I realized it was a setup. As soon as I walked in, Nora tossed a divorce agreement on the table, glaring at me. “What is this supposed to mean?” The lawyer had been quick, and the papers were ready. “Obviously, it means divorce. Just sign it.” Nora picked up the agreement and tore it to pieces. “What about the company after the divorce?” “After the divorce, my family will withdraw their investment. The company will be yours alone.” Nora was silent for a moment, then took my hand and pushed me into a chair. “I know you’re upset, but hear me out first.” Just then, Theo entered the office. “Declan, I’m here to apologize today.” He suddenly knelt down, “It’s all my fault. I didn’t know my place. I’ll stay away from Nora in the future!” Tears began to flow as soon as he started speaking. Ethan and Logan seemed to have it well-timed, coming in with tissues to wipe his tears. “Declan, don’t go overboard! Theo’s not well, and you’re making him kneel.” Nora quickly went to help him up, and the three of them settled him on the couch. “Alright, he’s apologized, so stop making a fuss.” “Get back to work and don’t let Theo do your work!” She was just concerned about her precious Theo. I ignored her words and started packing my things from the desk. But Ethan and Logan wouldn’t let me go. They snatched my things from my hands and threw them on the floor. “Why can’t you appreciate what’s being done for you!” Seeing the shattered glass tower on the ground, my heart broke as well. This souvenir was bought when the core team of the company visited a temple together. Back then, Ethan and Logan were new hires, laid off by their previous company, which also unlawfully took their research. I helped them reclaim their project and found professors to mentor them, enabling them to win awards. They had promised at the temple that they would never forget my kindness if the company ever took off. But now, they didn’t even see me as their boss. My desk was a mess, the water cup was shattered, and the floor was covered in glass shards. Ethan stepped over the shards to drag me in front of Theo. “If you’re leaving, hand over the key to the company’s archive room to Theo!” I couldn’t resist her pull and stumbled forward, tripping and landing on the glass shards. Pain shot through my body, and I cried out but was too stunned to move. Nora instinctively wanted to help me but was held back by Theo. “Declan’s not even bleeding. You don’t need to go.” My pants were black, and the glass shards had pierced my thigh, with blood already trickling down my leg. Without seeing my wound, Nora said, “Declan, stop pretending!” Theo stood in front of Nora, making Ethan and Logan pin me to the ground. “Nora, let me teach him a lesson so he’ll listen!” With that, he slapped me across the face a dozen times. I struggled desperately but couldn’t fight off two grown men holding me down. Nora watched from the side, still scolding me: “Admit your mistake quickly, or I won’t be soft-hearted!”

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My childhood sweetheart, Jack, is the director of one of the most expensive plastic surgery clinics in the city. He always complained that my nose wasn’t high enough, my lips weren’t full enough, and my eyes weren’t big enough. “I can do the surgery for you for free anyway,” he would say. “Lily, don’t you want to be more beautiful?” I never cared, believing that what my parents gave me was the best. After a car accident, my face was completely ruined. My husband finally got his chance. He reconstructed my face to look like the love of his life. 0 After the car accident, I lay semiconscious on the operating table, and the last thing I heard was: “Quick, bring that photo over here.” “Make sure the patient’s face after the surgery looks exactly like the one in the picture.” A nurse hesitated and said: “The patient hasn’t regained consciousness yet. Is it okay to do plastic surgery directly?” A voice I knew all too well spoke up. “It’s fine, she’s my wife. I’ll decide what her second face will look like.” I woke up from the excruciating pain all over my body. What I heard was the noisy beeping of machines and my husband’s voice. He excitedly said, “Lily, you’re awake! You’re finally awake!” “Do you know? You’ve been in a coma for nearly three months.” I looked around in confusion. As my memory returned, I realized I had survived a car accident. At this moment, I felt that my face was wrapped in bandages. It hurt so much. I asked Jack desperately: “Honey, what happened to my face? Is it disfigured?” His eyes reddened, and he nodded painfully. “After your car accident, the vehicle exploded immediately. It’s a miracle you survived. But your face…” Jack trailed off, seemingly unable to continue. I pleaded, “Can I see what I look like now?” “Okay, you’ve recovered enough now.” He slowly, carefully unwrapped the thick bandages for me. With trembling hands, I held up the mirror. The face reflected in it shocked me to my core. This, this was clearly the face of the pianist he adored! Every line, every contour, matched that person’s face perfectly. At this moment, The way Jack looked at me was full of fascination and intoxication. As if he was admiring the most perfect work of art in the world. It gave me chills. Eyes wide, I screamed in horror: “Jack, what have you done to me?!” “Why? Why do I look exactly like Emma Rose?” He looked pained, gripping my shoulders tightly, and said: “Lily, that accident completely destroyed your face.” Then, he spoke with difficulty. “To restore it, I tried everything I could and did my best to make you look beautiful through plastic surgery.” “I know this is absurd…” “Maybe I’ve watched her performances too many times, and I couldn’t help but reshape you to look like her during the surgery.” In the past, my husband often flew to watch Emma Rose’s performances. He never missed a single one, whether at home or abroad. Even if it meant missing our son’s first birthday party. Even if it meant missing my mother’s funeral, leaving me to bear everything alone… And I simply thought he was just a fan, trying my best to understand him as his wife. At this moment, my hands trembled uncontrollably as I clawed at my face. My nails dug deep into the skin, wanting to peel off this face that didn’t belong to me. Seeing this, Jack quickly pounced on me, using all his strength to control my hands. “Lily, can you just pretend you’re her twin sister?” “I promise I’ll love you more and give you everything you want.” He held me in his arms, his tears soaking my clothes. “Just don’t leave me…” That night, I slept deeply. I had no idea that he was intimately holding Emma Rose, standing by my hospital bed. “You like my son Tommy very much, don’t you? In a few years, when he gets used to this face, I’ll let you be his new mom.” “How could I let you go through childbirth? This is an opportunity for you to become a mother painlessly.” 0

A week later, I was discharged from the hospital. My husband wanted me to rest well at home. He made soup for me every day, cooked meals, and did physical check-ups. He not only picked up and dropped off our son at school but also took care of all the housework. I was happy to see this change in him. I reached out my right hand, gently stroking my cheek. If this new face could make me receive so much love, I would try hard to adapt to it. Even if every time I went to the bathroom in the middle of the night, Looking at this unfamiliar face in the mirror, It was like wearing a creepy mask. One afternoon, I needed to use the computer to look up some information. I saw that Jack’s document account was still logged in. Among them, there was a blank document that stood out among a pile of work files. I opened it, and inside was a record of the girls he had known before. The first one was Emma Rose’s profile, along with her photo. It detailed her likes, birthday, and so on. And at the bottom was written: [In heaven, in my heart, just not by my side] My body suddenly froze, as if electrocuted. I quickly scrolled down to view the profiles of other girls. [Looks very similar, hard to control] [Voice identical, too ugly] [Can play the piano, bad temper] Finally, at the bottom, I saw my photo. I couldn’t believe my eyes, staring at those words as if trying to see through them. [Name: Lily Grant] [Body shape most like hers, suitable for marriage] My heart instantly sank to the bottom. I always thought I was his true love, the only one in his heart. No wonder his favorite position was to hug me from behind… Every time I wanted to lie on my back in bed, he would make me turn around. He always said gently, “Lily, your back is the most beautiful.” “Don’t be shy, let me admire it for a while.” I closed my eyes and bit my lip, the taste of blood filling my mouth. I took out my phone and called my secretary: “How’s the investigation on that car accident going?” The secretary told me that the parking lot’s surveillance had been damaged. But the dashcam in my car had picked up a fragment of sound. However, the sound was broken. Only “don’t blame me” and “bomb” could be clearly heard. It had been sent to technicians for restoration. It would take at least 72 hours to recover a small part. The secretary sighed, “Ms. Grant, although the hope is slim, we’ll do our best.” I sent Jack’s recording to him. “Use this audio clip for matching.” I looked at the date, today is February 10th. [Countdown remaining: 3 days] 0

Somehow, Jack was particularly proactive today. He came home very early and went to take a shower as soon as he got home. Soon after, he came out, his body exuding the fragrance of bath products. Wrapped only in a towel, revealing his muscular abs. Jack carried me to the bed, his voice somewhat cautious. “Lily, shall we have another child?” I was stunned. For the past few years, whenever I suggested having a second child, he always made excuses. With a hint of confusion in my voice, I responded, “Why bring this up suddenly?” “You’ve always been unwilling before.” Then he leaned down close to me, gently caressing my cheek. “You know, after this car accident, I feel like I’m the luckiest man in the world, successfully snatching you back from the hands of death.” “I’m afraid that when we’re old, our son will be lonely without siblings to keep him company.” Tonight, his tenderness in bed was irresistible. My heart was shamefully softening. Perhaps he had realized that I was the woman most suitable to spend his life with. After a night of intimacy, Jack gently got up and went to the bathroom to shower. I picked up my phone to check unread messages, my fingers sliding across the screen, my mind still savoring the intimacy we just shared. Suddenly, a message popped up: [Your VIP notification just posted a tweet.] “Emma Rose: Thank you to my loyal fan of ten years who bought 2 million digital copies of my album for me. I’ve received your enthusiasm, and this money will be donated to a charity foundation in both our names. I hope my music will become more valuable because of this.” The comments below were updating quickly: “Emma is so kind, no wonder I’ve been a fan for so long.” “A full two million copies of the album! My God, that’s over 20 million dollars!” I opened her new album, and the sound came out from the speaker. Such beautiful music, yet it stabbed into my heart like a sharp knife— That music was exactly what my husband had played on the stereo while we were intimate just now. Just now, I had been so moved by Jack’s sudden romantic gesture. My nails dug into my flesh, unable to suppress the overwhelming hatred. [Countdown remaining: 2 days] 0

In the afternoon, I was lying at home reading a book. Suddenly, my best friend sent me a message saying she saw my husband on a date with a woman. I quickly changed my clothes, put on a mask, and hurried to the marked location. It was an elegant café. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, I immediately saw the familiar figure. Jack was holding her hand with such adoration. He bowed his head reverently, constantly kissing those hands that had played countless melodies. “Don’t worry, tomorrow’s concert will go smoothly. I’ll be sitting in the front row watching you perform.” Emma Rose smiled gently, even her smile was so elegant. “Jack, I knew you would come to every performance.” “With you in the audience, I feel very secure.” Jack embraced her: “Darling, I’ve prepared a surprise for you, I’ll tell you after the concert is over.” “Get a good rest tonight, call me if you can’t sleep.” He drove Emma Rose home, and I followed closely behind in a taxi. To my surprise, Jack came down shortly after sending her up. The time was so short. Not enough time for him to do more to betray me. However, it wasn’t until the evening that I understood the reason for all this. The unfamiliar scent on Jack’s body told me: He simply didn’t want to tire her out, he came back to exhaust me instead. That night, he hurt me a lot. He had pure love with his ideal woman. Yet he played cruel games with me, his childhood sweetheart of over twenty years. At this point, I finally understood. True feelings can change in an instant, love cannot be begged for. [Countdown remaining: 1 day] The next day. Jack took me to the concert together. I was also curious about what gift he would give to Emma Rose. I have to admit, hearing the music played by my husband’s lover. No matter how beautiful the melody, to me it was like a saw cruelly cutting through my body. After the concert ended, Jack told me to go home first by myself. I agreed verbally but secretly followed behind him. My footsteps were light, but my heartbeat was heavy. From inside the dressing room came their voices. I saw Jack’s eyes full of deep affection as he solemnly handed her a stack of papers. “Emma, this is my gift to you.” Emma Rose took it and flipped through it, asking: “What do you mean by giving me two medical reports?” He slowly leaned forward, pointing at the words on the report: “This is my medical report, and Lily’s pre-pregnancy check-up.” “You’ve always wanted a baby, right? But I can’t bear to let you go through childbirth, it’s too painful. And pregnancy would affect your global tour schedule.” As he spoke, he gently stroked the back of her hand with his other hand. “So we just need to implant our fertilized egg into Lily’s womb, and she will take good care of our baby.” Emma Rose was stunned for a moment, her brows furrowed: “Wouldn’t that be very risky?” At this point, the corners of his mouth turned up, revealing a cruel smile. “Don’t worry, I’ve arranged everything – the hospital, the doctors. As for that stupid woman, she’ll be too happy to have a child for me to suspect anything.” “Everything is prepared, just waiting for your consent.” Jack’s body leaned slightly forward, his face full of anticipation, waiting for the answer he most desired. I stood motionless like a statue outside the door. Silently listening to the whole process. The scene before me was truly sickening. My teeth bit down hard on my lower lip, almost drawing blood. Jack, are you even human anymore?! My womb will never be the sinful cradle for your child. With such humiliation and pain, I just wanted to escape this terrible place immediately. I turned and left, melting into the crowded crowd, slowly walking home. At some point, the mask on my face was squeezed off by the crowd. The fans next to me, who had been excitedly chatting, suddenly caught sight of me and uncertainly called out: “Emma Rose! Is that you?” But quickly, he shook his head, denying himself: “No, how could she be here, and Emma isn’t this short.” I quickly lowered my head, trying to use my hair to completely cover this face of mine. As soon as these words were spoken, several fans around gathered over, one of them couldn’t help but swear: “Holy shit, how does this woman look exactly like Emma Rose!” They all cast strange glances at me, taking out their phones to photograph and video me. Some even suddenly became enraged, grabbing a bottle of mineral water and throwing it at my head. “Where did this bitch come from, trying to imitate our idol’s face, so disgusting!” The moment the bottle hit my head, I felt dizzy. “I’m not, I didn’t…” I opened my mouth, but my voice got stuck in my throat, unable to defend myself. A young man with dyed yellow hair rushed over, slapped me hard, and said viciously: “How dare you imitate her!” Then, someone else threw their drink at me, instantly soaking my clothes. Those strangers, driven by emotion, instantly turned into demons, angrily punching and kicking me. It wasn’t until security guards hurriedly arrived that they managed, with great effort, to disperse these people who had lost their reason. In the early hours of the morning, standing on the empty street, I wiped away the blood from the corner of my mouth. Just then, my phone rang. I numbly answered the call from my secretary. “Ms. Grant, the original audio matches 98.99% with the voice you sent over.” “Hello? Ms. Grant, are you still there?”

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In the seventh year of my relationship with Ethan Shaw, his long-dead first love “came back to life.” He reunited with her and spent every day by her side. The once arrogant Ethan would now bend down to tie her shoelaces when no one was looking, and his eyes would turn red with concern when she pricked her finger. At that moment, I knew my relationship with Ethan had come to an end. I boarded a plane to leave, but that flight crashed later that night, with no survivors among the hundred-plus passengers. When Ethan heard the news, he went mad, holding my clothes and crying day and night with regret. But what he didn’t know was that I never got on that plane. I had just finished showering when I received a text from Ethan’s best friend. “Sis, Ethan’s had a bit too much to drink. Could you come pick him up?” The location was a bar they frequented. Ethan had taken me there before, but I didn’t like such noisy environments, so more often than not, I just went to pick up a drunk Ethan. I replied, “Sure, I’ll be right there.” I quickly changed and headed out. At the bar, someone led me to the VIP room on the top floor. The decor was luxurious, and only the rich and powerful could access the top floor. The door to the room was slightly ajar, but instead of the expected noise, it was eerily quiet inside. Suspicious, I pushed the door open. Suddenly, there was a “pop,” and confetti rained down from above. Soft music filled the air, and the floor was covered with heart-shaped candles. I looked up to see Ethan standing not far away, holding a bouquet of red roses and gazing at me lovingly. “Natalie, will you marry me?” He walked towards me, one step at a time, then knelt on one knee. He took out a ring from his pocket and held it up to me. The friends in the room started to cheer, chanting in unison, “Say yes! Say yes!” My eyes welled up with tears. I had imagined this scene countless times. Him in a suit, holding roses, walking towards me, proposing in front of our friends, with their blessings. We had walked this path for seven whole years. “I wi-” Before I could finish saying “I will,” this romantic atmosphere was shattered by the sound of breaking bottles. The room was dimly lit, and we heard a waiter frantically apologizing. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to.” “What kind of clumsy waiter did they hire? Just fire them already,” someone grumbled, scaring the waiter so much that they fell to their knees. “Please don’t fire me. I’m sorry. How much was the wine? I’ll pay for it. Please don’t report this to the manager.” Not wanting to be too hard on the waiter, I quickly said, “It’s okay, you don’t need to pay. You can go now.” But they didn’t move, just kept crying on their knees. After a while, it started to get annoying. The commotion soon reached the manager’s ears. He didn’t dare delay and came running, knowing he couldn’t afford to offend the VIP guests. “I’m terribly sorry, gentlemen. It’s our fault. All the drinks in the room tonight are on the house.” The manager was very polite, bowing and apologizing as soon as he entered. We were all easy-going and not short on money, so a few bottles of wine weren’t worth making a big fuss over. But some of Ethan’s friends loved to play around. They opened a bottle of beer and put it on the table, smirking at the waiter. “Drink this whole bottle, and we’ll let it go. In fact, I’ll even give you a thousand bucks.” The female waiter was about to refuse when the manager scolded her, “Lily, drink up and apologize to these gentlemen.” “What did you say her name was?” Ethan, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up coldly. His voice was trembling slightly. Someone turned on the lights, and everyone gasped. Because the waiter’s face was identical to Ethan’s “deceased” first love.

“Lily? You’re Lily? Are you human or ghost?” someone who knew Lily exclaimed. I didn’t know Lily, but I had heard about her history with Ethan. While everyone was still questioning whether Lily was real or not, Ethan suddenly pushed me aside and rushed over to her. It happened so suddenly that I lost my balance and fell to the ground, my palm landing directly on some broken glass. Blood immediately started flowing. “Is it really you, Lily? How are you here?” Ethan’s eyes were red as he held Lily tightly in his arms, completely ignoring me on the side, injured. The pain in my heart was far more lethal than the pain in my hand. “Bro, your girlfriend is still here,” the guy who had been joking earlier reminded Ethan quietly. To everyone’s surprise, Ethan then picked up the bottle of beer from the table and smashed it over the guy’s head without hesitation. “Get your medical expenses from Shaw Corp. As for our previous business deal, consider it void.” His eyes were filled with coldness. Though he didn’t spell it out, everyone present could hear the warning in his tone. The man had just been giving Lily a hard time, and Ethan was making an example of him, showing that even after seven years, Lily’s place in his heart remained unshakeable. No one in the room dared to speak, and no one came to help me up. Lily had been kneeling where there was broken glass too, and now her knees were bleeding. Without a word, Ethan took off his jacket and draped it over Lily’s shoulders. Then, in front of everyone, he put his arm around her waist and picked her up. Lily curled up in his arms, her slender body shaking with sobs, evoking sympathy from those around. This intimate scene was like a knife twisting in my eyes. He left in a hurry, only giving me a calm glance and saying flatly, “Lily’s hurt. You can go home by yourself.”

After getting bandaged at the hospital, I returned home and sat on the sofa until three in the morning before Ethan finally came back, with Lily in tow. He carried Lily straight upstairs, completely ignoring me on the sofa. “Ethan, put me down. Your wife is still here,” Lily reminded him softly, and only then did Ethan pause and look over. “Your knee just got bandaged. Don’t move around,” Ethan patiently coaxed Lily, and afraid of upsetting her, he added, “We’re not married yet. She’s not my wife.” He distanced himself from me completely, his indifferent expression as if he had never known me. The romantic proposal scene from yesterday seemed like a dream I had. I looked up at the two of them. They looked like a loving couple, while I was the intruder, out of place. Suppressing the pain in my heart, I smiled softly and said, “Ethan, I accepted your proposal yesterday.” Ethan’s body stiffened, and he looked troubled. Before, he had been afraid I wouldn’t accept his proposal. Now, he was afraid that I had accepted it. He didn’t answer me immediately. Instead, he lowered his gaze and gently comforted Lily in his arms, “Be good. I’ll take you to your room to rest first. I’ll handle things here.” Throughout all this, he never once looked at me, either out of guilt or disgust. I think he must have been disgusted with me. Ethan wouldn’t feel guilty; he would only blame my existence for interfering with his freedom with Lily. After a while, Ethan finally came down from upstairs and sat across from me. We once had countless intimate moments, but now it felt like an entire galaxy separated us. “What’s the deal with Lily?” I asked. “Natalie, let’s not rush into the wedding,” he said softly. I knew why, but I still asked, “Because of her? Are you planning to marry her?” “Lily’s not in a good emotional state. I’m afraid of upsetting her. She’s suffered a lot these years, and I want to make it up to her.” Although I already had the answer in my heart, hearing Ethan say it out loud still made my heart clench painfully. Tears welled up uncontrollably. I’m not the cool, calm protagonist from a novel. I’m just an ordinary person who cries and becomes hysterical when faced with betrayal from the one I love. “Ethan, why are you doing this to me? You feel sorry for her, but do you feel sorry for me? We’ve been together for seven years! The wedding invitations have already been sent out, and now you want to postpone our marriage for her? Should I step down and give the bride’s position to her?” “Natalie! Keep your voice down. Lily is still sleeping. This has nothing to do with her! It’s me who wants to make amends!” Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose, looking extremely impatient. My emotions exploded, and I raised my hand to slap Ethan. But before my hand could land, a small figure rushed forward and stood in front of Ethan. I couldn’t stop in time, and that slap landed hard on Lily’s face. I had put all my strength into that slap. It made Lily cry, and it also shattered the years of love between Ethan and me.

“Slap!” Almost instantly, Ethan raised his hand and slapped me hard. The taste of blood spread in my mouth, and the ringing in my ears momentarily drowned out Ethan’s curses. I only saw him protectively shielding Lily behind him. “Natalie, have you gone mad? How could you become like this? You’re acting like a shrew!” I heard this sentence clearly. I stood there, stunned, holding my face and staring at the man before me. This man, who once protected me like a precious treasure and wouldn’t let even a hair on my head be harmed, had now hit me for Lily’s sake. He drove me to madness, silently watched me go mad, and then stood on his high horse to accuse me of being a shrew. But he forgot that it was once my goodness and innocence that had attracted him. “It’s my fault. It’s my appearance that caused discord between you. Ms. Chen, if you have any grievances, take them out on me. It has nothing to do with Ethan. He’s a good person. I shouldn’t have appeared,” Lily cried in Ethan’s arms, repeatedly apologizing to me. She was naturally pure-looking, and even after all these years, her crying face still looked pitiful and heart-wrenching. “Don’t cry, Lily. It’s not your fault,” Ethan gently kissed away the tears at the corners of her eyes, patiently comforting her. “No, it’s my fault. Ethan, I shouldn’t have survived. It would have been better if I had died seven years ago.” The incident from seven years ago had always been a painful memory for Ethan. He shook his head and held Lily tightly in his arms. “Natalie, you should move out for now. Lily can’t take any more shocks,” Ethan said to me seriously after comforting Lily. His eyes were filled with countless emotions, but love wasn’t one of them. “Ethan, let’s break up,” I sighed lightly. I thought Ethan would try to stop me, but when I said those words, he visibly relaxed, his whole demeanor becoming more at ease. “As you wish. Don’t regret it later.”

I moved out of Ethan’s place that very day. Ironically, after seven years, everything I could take with me fit into a single suitcase. As compensation, Ethan gave me a villa in the East District. I didn’t refuse, but I didn’t move in either. Instead, I immediately put it up for sale. That area was prime real estate, and the house attracted many potential buyers as soon as it was listed. In the end, it sold for over a million dollars. With that money, I rented an apartment in a remote neighborhood far from the city center. On the first day I moved in, I installed a hidden camera at the entrance. I knew it would come in handy someday. Since I left Ethan, he and Lily have been constantly trending on social media, either caught kissing on the streets late at night or showing affection in public. Even I, the ex-girlfriend, was dug up by netizens. Some sympathized with me for wasting seven years, some mocked me for being a homewrecker, and others envied me for getting a huge breakup settlement that would set me up for life. But the buzz came and went quickly, and it didn’t affect me much either way. Ethan called me a few times in between, but I put my phone on silent and deliberately didn’t answer. I didn’t expect him to show up at my doorstep. The door was being knocked so hard it seemed like it might break. I irritably opened it to find Ethan standing there with a dark expression. “Natalie, you’re getting bolder. You sold the villa to live in this dump?” “We’ve broken up. Where I live is none of your business, is it?” These days, I’ve slowly come to accept the fact that I’m not loved, and facing Ethan, though there’s still pain inside, I’ve become much calmer. “If I hadn’t gone to the East District to look for you, I wouldn’t have known you sold the house the day we broke up! Natalie, have I ever let you want for money in all our time together?” He specially came to find me, it seems there’s something important. “Is there something you need? If not, please leave. This dump is too small to accommodate your majesty.” I made a move to close the door, but Ethan stopped it with his hand. “Next week, I’m planning to hold a press conference to announce my engagement to Lily. But I hope you can be there to make a statement that we broke up due to incompatibility, and it has nothing to do with Lily.” I couldn’t help but laugh, and as I laughed, tears started to flow uncontrollably. He made me feel like a joke. Asking me to make a statement to justify their relationship, did he hit his head, or did I? “Ethan, I really want to know, in these seven years, did you ever love me at all?” If there was even a moment of love, he wouldn’t keep stabbing my heart like this over and over again. Ethan was silent for a long time. Finally, he looked at me apologetically, “Natalie, I tried. I just couldn’t fall in love with you.”

In the end, I didn’t go to the press conference. That day, all major platforms were live streaming the event. Ethan appeared on screen in a suit, holding Lily’s hand. In the time since I last saw her, Lily had transformed completely, looking exquisite and beautiful in a haute couture dress. A handsome man and a beautiful woman, plus the first love storyline, moved everyone present with their touching love story. I turned off the TV and threw on a jacket, planning to go downstairs for something to eat. Although where I lived wasn’t as upscale, there was a street food alley right downstairs, full of local flavor. I ate and drank my fill before leisurely heading home. The facilities in my neighborhood were old, and the street lights usually flickered. Today, they had given up working altogether. I’m quite afraid of the dark, so I quickened my pace. Just as I reached the entrance of my building, a dark figure blocked my way. I shone my flashlight on him – it was Ethan’s good friend, the one who had his head smashed at the bar that day. “I’ve been waiting for you for a long time, Natalie,” he said. The wound on his head hadn’t healed yet, looking particularly horrifying in the darkness. I took a few steps back. “How did you know I was here? What do you want?” I didn’t have much interaction with the people around Ethan. They were wary of him, so they usually just called me “sis” for show when we met. Only this man would let his gaze linger on me unscrupulously. He smiled lecherously, approaching me step by step. “Of course someone told me your address. Sis, oh no, Natalie, I’ve always liked you. Now that you’ve broken up with Ethan, why don’t you be with me? I don’t mind picking up his used goods.” My stomach churned, and I almost threw up everything I had eaten earlier. “I’m sorry, but I think I’m going to be sick. Could you please stay away from me?” Instead of backing off, he came closer, even reaching out to touch my face.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295695”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #魔幻Magic #重生Reborn