Category: English

# I did everything I could to take care of him after his accident, hoping he’d regain his memory. When I found out I was pregnant, I thought it might bring him back to me. I showed up at the private lounge with the ultrasound report in hand, ready to tell him. But before I could step inside, I overheard his laughter. “Ethan, you really nailed it with this fake amnesia thing,” one of his friends said, cracking up. “Not only did you shake off Anna, but you’re back with your dream girl.” “Right?” Ethan replied, chuckling. “I had no idea Anna could be so clueless. After the accident, she’s been running herself ragged looking after me. She has no idea I’ve been faking it the whole time.” The group let out a roar of laughter. “Man, I thought she’d get the hint and leave, but nope. Still clinging to me like she always has. She’s been like that since we were kids—impossible to shake off.” … The next day, at a business gala, I met his so-called “dream girl,” Natalie. Ethan introduced me to her as “just a friend’s little sister.” Natalie gave me a condescending smile and quipped, “Ethan, your friend’s sister looks so much like me back in college.” That’s when it hit me. All my clothes, my makeup, even my hobbies—I had unconsciously molded myself into a copy of Natalie. The realization was like a knife to the chest. I stepped out of the gala and called my brother. Afterward, I went straight to the hospital and scheduled the procedure. “Nick,” I said over the phone, my voice trembling, “I’ll come home. I’ll get married.”

There was a heavy silence on the other end of the line. Then came Nick’s worried voice. “Anna, what did Ethan do to you?” The ache in my chest grew unbearable. I fought back tears and forced a laugh. “What could he do? He doesn’t have the guts. Besides, there’s nothing between us anymore.” I paused, taking a shaky breath. “I came here to get better, and now that I’m healthy, it’s time to come home.” “And… I miss you, Mom, and Dad,” I added softly. Nick let out a light laugh, trying to sound casual. “Took you long enough. You’ve been away for years, and now you’re suddenly homesick?” I didn’t respond. My breathing grew uneven. Nick quickly changed his tone, coaxing, “Alright, alright. I didn’t mean it like that. I’m glad you’re coming back. We’ve all missed you like crazy.” “Besides,” he added with a teasing lilt, “the White boy’s still willing to marry into our family. Once you’re married, you’ll be back home with us. How perfect is that?” His warm, familiar voice was enough to break me. I hung up quickly, tears streaming down my face. … I was a sickly child, in and out of hospitals all the time. Born with asthma, I was sent to live in Springhill, a city with a mild climate, to recover. Our family had been close with the Hayes family for years, so my parents left me in their care. Ethan was seven years older than me, mischievous and carefree. He had a reputation for being a flirt, and my brother constantly warned me to steer clear of him. “Keep your distance,” Nick would say. “Don’t let him get any ideas.” But as time passed, the boundaries blurred. Ethan’s warmth and charm pulled me in, and I fell hard. When I recovered, I insisted on staying in Springhill to study and work, just to be near him. Ethan said he didn’t want to go public with our relationship yet. He worried my family wouldn’t approve of the age gap and promised he’d explain everything to them when the time was right. That “right time” stretched into six years. And now, after everything, I didn’t even know who to turn to.

When I got off the cold operating table, my body felt hollow—just like my heart. The anesthesia dulled the physical pain, but the ache inside was unbearable. Tears slipped down my face as I shakily ripped the ultrasound report into pieces and tossed it into the trash. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. The woman staring back at me looked like a stranger. Straight black hair, a white dress, soft, understated makeup. It wasn’t me. It was her. I used to love staring into Ethan’s eyes, seeing the love and tenderness in them. Now I knew that love had never been for me. He had always been looking at Natalie, even when he looked at me. I swiped on some lipstick to hide my pale lips and walked out of the bathroom. In the hospital hallway, I ran into Ethan and Natalie. They were holding hands, dressed in matching outfits, smiling like they were the happiest couple in the world. Ethan held a piece of paper in his hand. Even from a distance, I recognized it: a pregnancy report. Natalie was pregnant? The thought hit me like a thunderbolt, leaving me frozen in place. “Anna, what are you doing here?” Natalie asked brightly, pulling Ethan toward me. When Ethan saw me, a flash of panic crossed his face. He quickly folded the report in his hand. “Anna, are you feeling unwell again?” he asked, his voice overly casual. Bitterness rose in my throat as I struggled to find the words. Finally, I shook my head. “No, I just ran out of my medicine and came to get more.” “Don’t tell me you’re still taking those vitamins,” Ethan said, smirking. “You know they don’t actually work, right?” I stayed silent. After Ethan’s “amnesia,” I developed severe anxiety. Insomnia plagued me, and I relied on sleeping pills to get through the nights. But I lied to Mrs. Hayes, telling her they were just vitamins—I didn’t want her to worry. I clenched my fists, trying to hold back the wave of emotions threatening to engulf me. “Guess what, Anna?” Natalie said, beaming. “Ethan and I are having a baby!” She placed a hand on her stomach and laughed. “At the gala earlier, I swore I felt the baby kicking. Ethan was so worried he dragged me here to get checked out.” She playfully nudged Ethan, who smiled sheepishly. “You know how it is. The first three months are the most critical, and our baby’s only two months along. Better safe than sorry.” Two months. My baby was two months old, too. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. He had been with me one night, only to crawl into Natalie’s bed the next. How could he so shamelessly have both of us at the same time?

Looking at his guiltless face, at the way his eyes softened with genuine affection for Natalie, I finally understood why everyone said his fake amnesia was so convincing. Because it didn’t require any acting. No lies, no pretense. This was the real Ethan Hayes. When you stripped away the false tenderness he’d shown me, all that remained was the burning devotion he felt for Natalie. Disgust churned in my stomach, and I fled the scene in a daze. The pain was unbearable. Tears spilled uncontrollably the moment I turned away. I went straight to the office and handed in my resignation. I’d always been friendly and well-liked at work, so when my colleagues heard I was leaving, they were reluctant to see me go. They insisted I host a farewell dinner. At the table, I drowned my sorrows in alcohol, drinking until I could barely stand. When I stumbled out of the restaurant, my first instinct was to call Ethan to pick me up, just like I used to. But all I got was a cold, automated voice telling me the number was no longer in service. It sobered me instantly, sending sharp pangs through my chest. How could I have forgotten? I was no longer the person Ethan would drop everything for. I flagged down a cab and returned to the Hayes family home. As soon as I arrived, I saw movers carrying boxes into the house. Curious, I peeked inside. There she was—Natalie, sitting comfortably on the couch, leaning affectionately against Mrs. Hayes while they chatted like old friends. Ethan was sitting beside them, peeling grapes and feeding them to Natalie like some lovesick fool. It was such a picturesque scene. Until I walked in. The moment they noticed me, the warmth in the air dissipated. Mrs. Hayes awkwardly pushed Natalie away and hurried over to me. “Anna, this is Natalie. You must remember her—she’ll be staying here for a few days,” she said, her voice strained. I smiled faintly but didn’t respond. “You’ve been drinking?” Ethan asked, frowning as he stood. His tone was sharp, almost accusatory. I gave a nonchalant hum of acknowledgment. His expression darkened immediately. “How could you drink with your stomach condition? Have you forgotten about your perforated ulcer?” Of course, I hadn’t forgotten. That ulcer had been the result of me drinking excessively to help Ethan close a big business deal. I’d ended up in the hospital, bleeding internally, and Ethan had spent the entire night crying outside the emergency room. I still remembered the way he’d cradled my hands afterward, his eyes full of guilt as he whispered, “Anna, I’ll never let you touch alcohol again.” The memory stung, and my eyes burned with unshed tears. “I forgot,” I lied flatly. Ethan’s shoulders slumped as a flicker of panic crossed his face. He glanced nervously at Natalie before turning back to me. “Natalie’s pregnant,” he said, his tone suddenly stern. “She can’t stand the smell of alcohol. From now on, don’t drink anymore.” I didn’t respond. I simply turned and walked up the stairs. Mrs. Hayes followed me to my room, clearly worried. She sat beside me on the bed, holding my hand tightly, her eyes red-rimmed as though she wanted to say something but couldn’t. I broke the silence for her. “It’s okay. I don’t mind.” She wiped at her tears and cupped my face gently. “I never thought Ethan would lose his memory and forget everything you two had,” she murmured. “But I heard that sometimes amnesia happens because the love was too deep. Maybe Natalie reminds him of you. Maybe he’s with her because, deep down, he thinks she’s you…” Her voice faltered, but she quickly added, “But no matter what, Natalie is pregnant now. The Hayes family has to take responsibility.” A mother always knows her child. Mrs. Hayes wasn’t fooled by Ethan’s act. She knew he was lying about the amnesia. But she was Ethan’s mother. His happiness—and her future grandchild—mattered more to her than I ever could. Still, Mrs. Hayes had always been genuinely kind to me, even in the years I’d spent here. I couldn’t hold it against her. Swallowing the bitterness in my heart, I squeezed her hand and smiled faintly. “Mrs. Hayes, I’m going home to get married.” “Please don’t tell Ethan.”

Mrs. Hayes froze, her face flushing red as she opened her mouth to speak but couldn’t find the words. Finally, she let out a long sigh. “This is all Ethan’s fault… he’s the one who wronged you.” After she left, one of the housekeepers brought in a bowl of ginger soup to help me sober up. The ginger slices were thick and clumsy, clearly cut by Ethan himself. Tears slipped into the bowl as I stared at it. I didn’t take a single sip and poured it all down the toilet. That night, the alcohol and my recent miscarriage left me doubled over in pain. My lower abdomen ached so badly that I could hardly move. With trembling hands, I rummaged through my bedside table for painkillers, but all I found were my sleeping pills—disguised with a label I had written, calling them “vitamins.” From the next room, muffled sounds of passion seeped through the walls. In the darkness, I finally let go of my composure and sobbed into my pillow, my cries echoing through the silence of the night. The next morning, I was jolted awake by the sound of furious knocking. Ethan’s voice shouted from the other side of the door, laced with anger. Confused and half-asleep, I stumbled to open it. Before I could say a word, his hand came down hard across my face. The stinging pain snapped me out of my daze. “Anna! You’re nothing but a selfish, ungrateful brat!” Ethan roared, his eyes blazing with fury. “Why the hell would you send flowers to the house? Don’t you know Natalie is allergic to pollen?!” He threw a bouquet of roses at me, and the sharp thorns scratched my cheek, leaving it burning with pain. The bitterness in my chest bubbled into a swell of anger. I opened my mouth to explain, but Ethan cut me off before I could utter a single word. He shoved me, and I fell to the floor. His eyes were filled with unrestrained hostility. “Pray that nothing happens to Natalie’s baby,” he hissed, “or I swear I’ll make you pay for it.” With that, he stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Lying on the floor, I let out a hollow laugh as tears rolled down my face. I had asthma. I was allergic to pollen, too. Why would I ever send flowers to the house? My breathing grew shallow, and my chest heaved as I gasped for air. My vision blurred, and I struggled to get up. Unable to stand, I crawled toward the bedside table. “Medicine…” I whispered hoarsely. My hand knocked over the vase on the table, and it shattered, cutting my palm as I reached for the drawer. But it was empty. Panic gripped me as I remembered that Ethan had insisted on keeping my medication with him, saying it would be safer if he carried it in case of emergencies. I closed my eyes, overwhelmed by despair. My strength ebbed away, and I collapsed onto the floor. “Anna! Anna!” Mrs. Hayes’s panicked voice broke through the haze as she rushed into the room. When she saw me gasping for air on the floor, she immediately shouted down the stairs, “Ethan! Where’s Anna’s medicine?!” Footsteps pounded closer, and I felt someone kneel beside me. Cool liquid entered my airways, and oxygen slowly flooded my lungs. As I began to breathe again, Ethan’s voice cut through the tension, dripping with disdain. “To force Natalie into a miscarriage, you were even willing to risk triggering your own asthma attack.” He scoffed bitterly. “Anna, I really underestimated how far you would go.” Mrs. Hayes, furious, smacked Ethan hard on the back. “What nonsense are you spouting?!” But Ethan ignored her, grabbing me and tossing me onto the bed like I was nothing. “Natalie just told me that if you agree to be her bridesmaid and hand us the rings at the wedding, she won’t hold this against you.” “Ethan!” Mrs. Hayes cried, horrified, as she tried to push him away. “What are you saying?!” “Fine.” My voice was calm, steady. Both of them froze, clearly not expecting me to agree. My throat was raw, but I forced the words out, one at a time. “I’ll do it.”

Ethan’s expression flickered with disbelief. After a long pause, he finally muttered, “At least you know your place.” I turned away, burying my face in the blanket, letting my tears soak into the pillow. The wedding was set for three days later. During those three days, I busied myself packing and saying goodbye to friends. Ethan, on the other hand, spent all his time accompanying Natalie as she tried on wedding dresses. One by one, my belongings were removed from the house, leaving the space I once called home emptier by the hour. Finally, I came across the photo album filled with pictures of Ethan and me. Without hesitation, I tossed it into the fireplace. The flames crackled, their light reflected in my eyes. Our memories burned away, turning to ash. “What the hell are you doing?!” I hadn’t even noticed Ethan come back. He lunged toward the fire, reaching into the scorching flames in a futile attempt to save the remnants of the album. But the fire spread too fast. He couldn’t save anything. I watched him coldly. “There’s no point in keeping it.” “What do you mean, no point?!” Ethan’s eyes reddened as he shouted, his voice raw and desperate. “These are our memories!” I let out a bitter laugh. “You must be mistaken. There was never anything between us.” His face fell as he suddenly remembered his supposed “amnesia.” His voice softened, losing all its fury. He reached for my hand, his tone gentle. “I shouldn’t have hit you. Don’t be mad at me, okay?” “It’s fine. Pictures can be retaken,” he added, his voice coaxing. “Even if you’re getting married, you can always stay by my side as my little sister.” He placed a bridesmaid dress on the table. “Natalie asked me to bring this to you. Make sure you look your best tomorrow.” I picked up the bag and nodded. “I will.” The next morning, wedding photos of Ethan and Natalie were displayed on every screen across the city. The dress Natalie wore? It was one I had designed years ago—for myself. I left the bridesmaid dress on the bed, untouched, and wheeled my suitcase to the airport. I didn’t leave a single word behind. As I boarded the plane, I removed my SIM card and tossed it into the trash before turning off my phone for good. As the plane took off, I let out a long breath. Six ridiculous years of my life were finally, completely over.

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**1.** On the first day of filming at the new location, I texted my boyfriend: “Hey, how’s the new set?” To my surprise, the usually reserved him shared: “The new leading actress is pretty clumsy.” “We just rehearsed a scene, and she was so clumsy it gave me a headache.” “Haha, but she’s kind of cute. We’re doing a variety show together next week, so that should be fun.” I looked at my phone with a bitter smile. Trying to sound casual, I replied: “What a coincidence, I fell on set today. The second male lead saw me hurt, and his eyes turned red with worry. He practically carried me to the medical station.” “He wouldn’t leave, afraid I might have broken something, and insisted on going to the hospital with me. It took a lot to convince him otherwise.” “Are all actors this gentle and caring?” He was silent for a long time. Then, he called me frantically: “Hey, I’m sorry. I thought you didn’t care about me anymore. My friends suggested this might make you jealous and care more.” “I made it all up. You did too, right?” Me: “……” Oops, I wasn’t making it up. **2.** On the first day of shooting the new series, Liam led the entire crew to Hengdian World Studios. I habitually texted him: “Hey, how’s the new set?” Honestly, I didn’t expect much of a response. After all, my famous director boyfriend is always so reserved. No matter what I ask, his replies are usually short: “Mm.” “Oh.” “Okay.” When he’s busy, he might just reply with a “1.” But this time, he broke his usual cold demeanor. He sent me a long message: “The new leading actress is quite clumsy.” “We just rehearsed a scene, and she was so clumsy it gave me a headache.” “Haha, but she’s kind of cute. We’re doing a variety show together next week, so that should be fun.” His words were filled with unexpected joy. I never thought I’d hear him call someone cute. Especially another actress. My heart ached, and I felt like crying. **3.** I’ve been pursuing Liam for five years. And doting on him for five years as well. Late nights on set, I brought him hot boxed lunches; When he was overwhelmed with work, I stood by him with coffee near the monitors; Even when he had a fever while editing, I delivered medicine to him. Every time he prepared for a new film, I was the first to audition, even for the smallest extra role. He said he wanted to create a film that would change the landscape of Chinese cinema. So, I pushed myself to the limit, taking on roles back-to-back, improving my acting skills, and finally became the first Chinese Best Actress at an international film festival. Everyone knew I liked Liam. Except him. Until last year, at the company annual meeting, after a few drinks, I gathered the courage to confess. He coldly replied, “Mm.” But that indifferent word excited me for the whole night. I naively thought that once we were official, he’d be more gentle and proactive. Reality slapped me hard. He remained distant. But he’d start sending me bubble tea, bring me food when the film crew’s meals didn’t suit me, and occasionally pick me up after work. I kept telling myself not to ask for too much. That’s just Liam’s nature, and these gestures were already a lot from him. But today, I realized. He isn’t inherently cold; he just hasn’t met someone worth his warmth. I even doubted if he ever liked me. I really like Liam. But I also have self-respect. The year I graduated, my social media account was hacked once. A self-proclaimed “gossip columnist” promotional account screenshotted everything I wrote about my admiration for Liam on my private account and posted it, tagging all mainstream media in the comments section. My secret infatuation was edited into a melodramatic script, paired with exaggerated expressions. Promotional accounts swarmed, reposting it. My comments section was filled with mockery: “An 18th-tier nobody like you thinks you’re worthy of Liam? Look at yourself, he’s a rising director.” “That’s hilarious, Director Liam’s new film attracts top actors for auditions. Your acting hasn’t even started; what are you thinking?” “Give up, Liam would never like someone like you, a pretty face.” Humiliated, I wanted the promotional account to delete the post. But they pushed further, fabricating stories about me buying followers and riding on fame. Public opinion spiraled out of control, and I thought my budding career was over. That day, Liam, at his press conference, tore up that promotional account’s work badge right in front of the cameras. He then looked at the media present, his voice cold: “You think such despicable behavior is professional? I’ve seen enough disgusting tricks.” “And, I fully recognize Olivia’s acting skills and attitude. She’ll become a great actress.” **4.** Since that press conference, no one in the industry dared to target me openly. And because of Liam’s action, I liked him even more. But he was so hard to pursue. I had countless moments of wanting to give up, but he would give me hope just when I was about to. I was like a dog, led on by him, falling for it every time. But today, his different attitude towards another woman became the last straw that broke me. I’m tired. And I’m at peace. With a vengeful sense of sarcasm, I replied with a smile: “What a coincidence, I fell on set today. The second male lead saw me hurt, and his eyes turned red with worry. He practically carried me to the medical station.” “He wouldn’t leave, afraid I might have broken something, and insisted on going to the hospital with me. It took a lot to convince him otherwise.” “Are all actors this gentle and caring?” He was silent for a long time. So long that the smile on my lips began to stiffen. I even began to wonder what he’d reply. Would it be another “1”? After all, he really liked to reply with

Those short ten minutes felt like an eternity to me. Forget it. It’s pointless. I sent him another message: “Liam, let’s break up.” The next second, Liam’s call came in. I just picked up. Before I could speak, I heard his urgent breathing. Then came Liam’s series of anxious explanations: “Hey, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have tested you like this.” “Lately, you haven’t visited the set. I thought you didn’t care or love me anymore. My friends suggested this might make you jealous and care more.” “I made it all up. You did too, right?” Me: “……” Oops, I wasn’t making it up. **5.** That morning, I was filming a group fight scene. I lost my balance during a turn and fell. The injury wasn’t serious. Just some scrapes on my elbow and knee, a little blood. I was about to get up when a boy rushed over. Looking up, it was Ethan, who just finished another scene. He saw the wound on my knee, and his eyes instantly turned red. He carefully helped me up, urgently asking: “Olivia, does it hurt?” “It looks serious. Let me take you to the medical station.” I moved my arm to test it. Just as I was about to say it’s fine, I saw tears on Ethan’s long eyelashes, looking as if he might cry. I was stunned. My gaze involuntarily fell on his face. Ethan’s features were extremely delicate, with fair skin that seemed to glow, and his deep-set eyes hinted at a mixed-race heritage. When his bright eyes turned red, he looked innocent and pitiful, his thin lips pressed tight, making one want to tease him. With him crying, I couldn’t refuse. My heart skipped a beat. I quickly reassured him: “Then, thank you, Ethan.” Before I finished speaking, he picked me up. He jogged all the way, asking if I felt uncomfortable elsewhere. After chatting a bit, I found out we graduated from the same university, him being two years below me. Coincidentally, we attended the same high school too. At the medical station, the doctor said it was just a surface wound and needed disinfecting and bandaging. The doctor had other things to do, so he handed the medicine to Ethan and left. Before I could reach for it, Ethan was already kneeling in front of me. He gently blew on the wound and carefully applied the medicine. Afraid to hurt me, he was very gentle. After finishing, I sat at the medical station to let it dry while he went out. When he returned, he was sweating profusely. Only then did I realize he was worried about delaying the shooting schedule, so he communicated with the director and producer and rearranged today’s shooting sequence for me. He even brought me a hot boxed lunch from outside the set. I was genuinely touched. All along, I’ve been the one chasing after Liam, taking care of others, with few caring for me. I gripped my phone tightly. Intending to exchange contacts and invite him for a meal another day. He didn’t decline, and we added each other on SnapChat. When he raised his hand, I noticed bloodstains on his jacket. It must’ve been from when he held me earlier. I recently discovered that he was worried about delaying the filming schedule, so he took the initiative to talk to the director and producer and even helped me rearrange today’s shooting sequence. He also went out of his way to bring me a warm meal from outside the set—a gesture that deeply moved me. I’ve been the one running after Liam all this time, while juggling my family responsibilities, and rarely receiving such care from others. I clutched my phone, contemplating adding him on social media to perhaps invite him for dinner another day. He didn’t hesitate and added me on SnapChat. As he lifted his arm, I noticed bloodstains on his jacket, likely from holding me earlier. I felt a sense of obligation. Most of our filming outfits are brand-sponsored and quite expensive, so when he escorted me back to the makeup room, I offered to have his clothes dry-cleaned. He agreed promptly, but his smile seemed to carry a hidden meaning. 5. Reflecting on Ethan’s knowing smile and Liam’s puzzled tone on the phone, I felt at a loss. Liam said I had been distant. For the past two months, I’ve deliberately kept my distance. I used to want to be around him every day, but he seldom responded. I’m just a person, and I get tired too. I thought about giving up, but I couldn’t bear to. So, I devised a plan. I mirrored his behavior, gradually cooling off and holding back my concern for him. I stopped staying on set every day, ceased keeping tabs on his social media, and focused on improving my acting and social skills. That way, it wouldn’t hurt as much if I ever decided to break up. But now Liam claims his indifference was all an act, and I couldn’t believe it. I told him so directly. The phone went silent for a moment: “It’s okay if you don’t believe me. I’m downstairs at your hotel—can you come down? I’ll explain in person.” After heading downstairs, he immediately handed me his phone, looking somewhat helpless as he explained: “I wasn’t lying. I’ve actually liked you since you were in the theater club. But I didn’t know how to pursue you, so I followed an industry-famous relationship blogger. He promised that for $998, he could create a custom plan to win you over, guaranteeing success or a full refund if it failed.” “He told me that girls today prefer mature, steady, quiet, and aloof men. They dislike hot-tempered directors like me, so I tried to change. I’m sorry, baby.” “I just didn’t want you to dislike me.” I glanced through his chat history and was at a loss for words. Liam: “How do you act mature and steady?” WarmHerAllDay: “Talk less, keep each sentence under two words, ideally just say 1.” Liam: “Are you serious? Won’t that seem arrogant?” WarmHerAllDay: “What do you know? Mature men are like that. Do you still want to pursue her or not?” Scrolling to the latest conversation, unsurprisingly, it was: Liam: “My baby has been so cold to me lately, what should I do, blogger?! Help me!” WarmHerAllDay: “Send her this message directly. Guaranteed to reconcile.” Me: …… 6. No wonder Liam always felt off to me. When I first fell for him, he wasn’t like this. The reason I fell for him is quite cliché. He’s a renowned genius director, and I was just an ordinary theater club member, not even an extra. Logically, we should never have crossed paths. But one day, I went for an audition at a small, remote theater. I realized things were off only after I arrived, but there was no turning back. A group claiming to be agents targeted girls like me aspiring to break into the industry. If you didn’t sign their unfair contracts, you’d get beaten. I had no other options, so I agreed to hand over most of my income to them monthly. Until one day, I couldn’t pay. After an audition, when I only handed over half the money, the leader’s demeanor shifted immediately. I still remember him holding the cash, snapping it against my face, eyeing me with ill intentions. “I just realized you’re quite a catch. How about this, spend a night with our producer, and we’ll wipe the penalty fee clean. You might even get some good opportunities?” I was terrified and wanted to escape, but they surrounded me. I said I could find a way to borrow money. They didn’t relent, and their gazes grew more unscrupulous. Just when I was in despair, Liam appeared. Without a word, he took on five of them, knocked them down, called the police, and recorded evidence of their crimes. Afterward, he scolded me angrily: “Don’t you know these small theaters aren’t safe?” “In the future, don’t go to auditions alone. It’s not safe.” Later, during a month of auditions, I would always see a figure watching from afar. He wouldn’t speak or show his face. When I looked back, he’d hide. But I knew, with no assistant or friends, I had to go alone. He wasn’t at ease and was protecting me. To thank him, I would leave a strawberry lollipop on the corner stone pillar every time. When I met him on set later, I’d proactively greet him. Back then, he seemed a bit prideful. He’d act reluctant, but his cheeks and ears would turn red as if about to drip blood. He’d even have his assistant bring me food and coffee. Unfortunately, that phase didn’t last long. He said he wanted to aim for international film festivals, and he became cold. After being cold for a long time, I almost forgot that Liam originally had an impulsive and explosive personality. 7. After learning the truth, I felt a bit confused. That’s when Ethan suddenly showed up. He handed me a box of desserts and sweetly called me “Olivia.” Liam immediately became wary. His eyes darted between me and Ethan, his voice impatient: “What are you doing here?” Ethan ignored him and instead tugged at my sleeve, sounding pitiful: “Olivia, is he your boyfriend?” “He’s so fierce. Will he hit me?” I instinctively shielded him behind me. While rummaging through my bag for the script, I reassured him: “It’s okay, he just has a bit of a temper.” When I retrieved his jacket, I realized his room key was still in the pocket. We had arranged for him to pick it up in the evening, but we ran into each other here. Seeing me protect Ethan, Liam’s face darkened even more. He tried to divert my attention by taking his phone from me. “Baby, I’m telling the truth. If you don’t believe me, I’ll message that relationship blogger again.” Then, just as the message was sent, Ethan’s phone rang.

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On the seventh day after my sudden death, I found myself in the underworld, playing poker with the Grim Reaper for seven straight days. After deliberately losing countless hands to him, he finally rewarded me with a bowl of strange green soup. This soup allowed me to be reincarnated into a wealthy family, and I even managed to keep the memories of my past life. But the moment I reached adulthood, I was confronted with a shocking revelation: 18 years later, a girl appeared at my door, crying and claiming that she was my parents’ real daughter. You’ve got to be kidding! Is the life of a young heiress that I worked so hard to secure through immense loss just going to vanish like this? No way! I’ve seen too many cases of mistaken identity! What’s mine is mine, and no one can take it away from me! At the threshold of the Underworld, I engaged in a marathon of 3,000 hands of Texas Hold’em Poker with Death himself. For an entire week, from dawn till dusk, I gambled away all the merits and possessions from my past life. Ultimately, Death, delighted with his winnings, discreetly rewarded me with a mystical bowl of Wealth Reincarnation broth. I was aware that achieving a prosperous new life required patience. Yet, with this newfound destiny, I was set to be born into wealth! As I triumphantly savored the last drop of Death’s concoction, a vision of the future unfolded: eighteen years later, a girl would arrive, sobbing, claiming to be the true daughter of my parents. A chill ran through me. How could this be possible? Could the prosperous fate bestowed by Death truly be overturned? But it was too late. With a wail, I opened my eyes to find not my beautiful, affluent parents but a cunning woman swapping me with the baby in the adjacent basket. What on earth was happening? Was I really being demoted from a Young Heiress to an ordinary child? After she left, a nurse came in for the usual checkup. I began to cry out with all my might. “Nurse, help! I don’t want my destiny to be exchanged!” The nurse quickly sensed something was amiss. She gently cradled me, soothingly cooing, “What’s wrong, little one? Are you sleepy?” No, it wasn’t sleepiness—my entire future was at stake! As she was about to return me to the cradle, my panic intensified. If I were placed back, everything would be lost! At that crucial moment, the Head Nurse entered. “What’s happening? I heard this baby’s cries all the way down the hallway.” Upon seeing me, the seasoned Head Nurse frowned slightly. “This isn’t right. This baby seems much lighter than recorded.” I immediately stopped crying and tried to nod vigorously, hoping she would understand. They swiftly reweighed me and the baby in the next cradle, confirming the switch. The nurse’s legs nearly gave out from shock. “Thank heavens you came in! If this had been overlooked, my career would have been over.” The Head Nurse sighed, still shaken. “You must be careful. This is the Johnson Corporation’s Young Heiress. If anything had happened, do you know how many would be affected? Even the director could lose their job.” As they conferred quietly, the weight on my heart lifted. In both this life and the last, I had never cried so intensely. My fortune is mine, and no one will take it from me.

Returning from the hospital, I looked at the spacious and elegant apartment located in the prime real estate of downtown and laughed heartily. Ah, the joys of wealth! My grandfather named me Nora. I have two brothers. My eldest brother, Asher, is an elite and handsome man, composed and stylish. He took over the family business at a young age and doubled the company’s market value, making him the undisputed CEO. Although he’s reserved with outsiders, he dotes on me, his sister. My second brother, Jasper, is cheerful and outgoing, exceptionally talented. He became a top idol, the kind whose smile makes female fans scream. Despite his carefree demeanor, he’s the one who would cry for his sister. Though their personalities are completely different, they both adore me immensely, eager to present the world’s best things to me. From the day I was born, they played by my crib every day, even saving up their pocket money to buy me snacks and toys. In middle school, when boys bullied me in class, my brothers found out in the morning, and by the afternoon, those boys had been dealt with. Once, even on the day before an exam, just because I threw up during a meal, Jasper sneaked out from a film crew to take me to the hospital and stayed by my side all night without sleep. He returned to filming the next day with dark circles under his eyes. I grew up surrounded by love, hoping this carefree life would last forever. But the nightmare of my eighteenth birthday still came. That day was a display of opulence. At the party, Grandpa handed me the keys to the newest model Rolls-Royce. Asher, in a grand gesture, bought me a villa in the city’s best location, saying it would be my confidence for life. Jasper gifted me a new Hermès bag, personally designed for me by a designer. Mom and Dad shook their heads with a sigh, saying, “You’re going to spoil her!” Asher affectionately patted my head, saying, “So what if she gets spoiled? We have the means to protect Nora for a lifetime.” The atmosphere reached its peak with that statement. I excitedly hugged Asher. Just as I was about to say something, the door was suddenly kicked open by a plainly dressed girl. The luxurious birthday party was filled with political and business elites she would never meet in her lifetime. Those important figures were all smiling, surrounding me at the center. The table in the middle was piled with expensive gifts, and even the necklace around my neck was valuable enough to buy a house in a second-tier city. Jealousy threatened to overwhelm her as she looked at the extravagant scene with resentment and shouted, “I’m the real young lady of the Taylor family! Nora is just a fake!” Adeline had come, after all, on my eighteenth birthday.

My grandfather, my mom, and my two brothers. Immediately, all eyes turned to my dad, and the room felt charged with tension. It was as if just a few glances could cut like knives. He quickly backed away, stammering in panic: “No way! You all know me better than that. Even my assistant is a guy! There’s no way I’m fooling around outside!” I knew exactly who the girl was. I’d seen this drama play out even before I was born. I smirked to myself, thinking, “This old trick? I saw through it in a past life.” I pinched my thigh hard, then burst into a theatrical cry. Tears flowed freely as I exclaimed: “Mom, Dad, are you going to abandon Nora… What did I do wrong to deserve this treatment…” My mom rushed over to console me, flustered: “Don’t cry, sweetheart! Mommy loves you the most. I will definitely find out who this woman is and won’t let you… ah!!” Suddenly, Adeline went berserk and splashed red wine all over my face from the table. I turned my head to avoid most of it, but some still dripped from my hair onto my dress. The once-pristine white hem was now stained red, souring my mood instantly. I gasped, having shifted from fake tears to genuine anger. Never in my life had I been so humiliated! My dad hurried over to check if I was hurt: “Nora, are you alright? Does it hurt?” I shook my head, remaining silent. My dad, filled with fury, glared at Adeline: “Who is this madwoman? I’ve never known you, nor could you be my daughter! How can you come in here, behaving so disgracefully and assaulting people? Is this how your family raised you?” Adeline, startled, approached, biting her lip and trying to cling to my dad’s arm: “No, back then, the nurse mixed up the babies at the hospital. I am your real daughter, Dad!” That one word, “Dad,” was so forceful it sent shivers down my dad’s spine. My mom rushed in, shielding me: “You say you are, but where’s your proof? Besides, with your rough manners, I couldn’t have raised a daughter like you!” My mom, brought up in comfort and luxury, was visibly flushed with anger but maintained her composure, avoiding any foul language. My older brother also stared coldly at her. As the family gathered protectively around me, I suddenly realized something was amiss. Where was my second brother?

Back in those days, I thought years of tranquility had ensured my safety. But now, it dawns on me that the chapter is far from closed. The door swung open again, revealing my second brother, Jasper: “Mom, Dad, you see it too. Adeline is truly my sister. We’ve wronged her enough and can’t continue living in this uncertainty!” I was so shocked I nearly choked on my drink. Jasper, of all people, was the first to turn on me?! Could he be connected to Adeline’s sudden appearance? With someone speaking up for her, Adeline burst into tears, no longer exhibiting her previous arrogance. To an outsider, it might seem I had wronged her: “I’m sorry, Mom and Dad. I got carried away earlier. After enduring such a tough life, finally finding a warm home made me lose my composure…” She spoke while observing my parents’ reactions closely. Mrs. Su frowned at Jasper: “Jasper, what’s going on? Did you know about this all along? Was today’s drama your doing?” Jasper hesitated: “The first time I met her, I noticed the peace talisman she wore. I wasn’t sure, so…” I recalled the time when our identities were switched; he had secretly visited both of us. He had placed a peace talisman around Adeline’s neck, which was now used as proof against me. I was speechless, but Adeline thought my silence was guilt: “See! She has nothing to say! She’s taken my place for so many years; it’s time to step aside!” My parents seemed at a loss, facing such a situation for the first time. Jasper continued to stir things up: “Adeline has suffered so much. I can’t bear to see her unable to even enter the house. Let’s bring her to live with us!” I could hardly believe what I was hearing. This is preposterous! Thankfully, my older brother retained some sense. He rubbed his temples in frustration: “Alright, until we figure everything out, having her move in will only invite ridicule. Isn’t there a villa in the suburbs? Let her stay there for now. Once we investigate, we’ll determine the next steps.” Yet, Jasper continued to defend her: “We’ve wronged Adeline in the past. If she’s seen living elsewhere, wouldn’t that look bad?” My mom softened, biting her lip: “Fine, fine. They’re all my children. Let her stay. But one thing, Nora can’t leave. She’s the daughter I’ve cherished for so many years, and I can’t bear to let her go!” This solution seemed fair enough, but Jasper still wasn’t satisfied: “That imposter has had a good life for years. She’s had it easy!” I looked at him in disbelief. The brother who had loved me for so many years now seemed like a stranger, his eyes filled with disdain and dissatisfaction towards me.

It’s really not my fault. As a child, I was much more mature than my peers because I carried memories from my past life. Whenever our parents scolded Jasper, I was the one who would jump in to defend him. I never thought it would all end up like this. Just as I was about to speak up, my older brother cut off the conversation with a firm, authoritative voice: “That’s enough! She can stay, but there’s no way Nora is moving out. What if something happens to her? She’s just a young girl!” Jasper has always been intimidated by our older brother, so he just cast him a reluctant glance and kept quiet. It would take a week to get the DNA test results. During that time, with Jasper’s assistance, Adeline not only moved into our house but also transferred to our school. On her very first day, news about my background spread throughout the school. Everyone concluded that I was an imposter, an unwelcome fake heiress who would eventually be thrown out. The girls who used to be close to me quietly sided with Adeline, and when they saw me, they’d make snide remarks: “Some people think they can just take someone else’s identity and become a real heiress. But now that it’s been exposed, they still won’t leave. I’ve never seen such thick skin!” The one who spoke had always tried to win my favor, but I had seen her true colors and treated her coldly. I never expected her to hold a grudge. I shot back, “Oh, even my parents can’t tell who’s real and who’s fake. How do you know?” She flushed red, “Your brother admitted it! You’re just being stubborn!” Adeline was smug, having someone to back her up, and looked at me with disdain. Just as I was about to retort, my best friend Lily appeared, took my hand, and gave me a reassuring look. She directly countered, “If you’re ignorant, you should read more. Have you never heard of DNA testing? Until the results are out, she’s still the Taylor family’s young lady. Who do you think you are to speak to her like that?” I looked at Lily, deeply moved. This whole incident revealed who my real friends were and who the fake ones were. I thought to myself, I’ll be friends with her for life. After we drove them away, I leaned on the railing and asked Lily, “Lily, if I really am fake, would you look down on me?” Lily suddenly laughed, “My dear, even if you’re fake, I can still support you! We’re friends for life.” Her words were comforting, but before I could respond, she sighed, “But that Adeline really has issues. She’s not just after your brother but your fiancé as well.” My smile froze instantly. My fiancé… In my rush when I was reincarnated, I forgot about the marriage aspect. Yes, Adeline is determined to make my life difficult, so why would she spare the people around me? But my fiancé and I barely know each other! We were only together because of a so-called family marriage agreement. The most important thing is, before reincarnation, the Grim Reaper showed me my life script. It only mentioned I would marry a gentle person. So when my mom suggested a few candidates for a family alliance, I chose James without hesitation. Although we’ve been apart more than together over these years and there’s no real affection, I’ve always thought our relationship was solid! Has he also betrayed me? Just as I was about to ask for clarification, I saw Adeline strutting over with James, hand in hand, “No need to look for me, here I am.” My eyes widened. The worst outcome had come true. “Why! Haven’t I been good to you?” I blurted out, shocked, looking at James. He showed no sign of guilt, just a cold sneer, “To be honest, I’ve had enough of you. We’re supposed to be engaged, right? But you don’t even let me kiss you. What’s the point of being with you? Adeline, at least, understands me, and with her…” “Stop it!” Adeline hurriedly covered his mouth, a suspicious blush on her face. I instantly understood everything. I never thought she would go so far to take my place! “Nora, do you see it now? Everyone around you prefers me. Why do you still need to stay here?”

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James has always been deeply emotional. There was a time when I went to see a girl, and he nearly ran me over with his car. I couldn’t help but ask, “Do you really like her that much?” James replied with a chilling tone, “She would take a bullet for me, would you?” I laughed, “Of course not.” James had been hiding a lover behind my back for six months, and I had no clue. It wasn’t until a week ago, when I was dealing with my period, that he suddenly commented, “You never seem to be in much pain.” I was taken aback, and it dawned on me that this jerk must have someone else who suffers a lot during hers. So I casually remarked, “Dennie has been helping me with some remedies, just a few doses and I’m fine.” James didn’t flinch, just gave a nonchalant “Hmm.” Three days later, I went abroad, and he took that girl to the same place. When the photo reached me, it was too blurry to make out any faces. But James’s radiant demeanor was unmistakable. I’m not shocked that James would cheat. I’m shocked that he’s so invested. What kind of girl could she be? Out of curiosity, I returned to the country without informing James. I had Katy drive me to where James was hiding her. By chance, James was stepping out of his Cullinan, throwing his custom suit into the car, and putting on a cheap jacket. Then he added glasses, ruffled his hair, and picked up a laptop bag. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Is he trying to look like Kevin the programmer?” Katy kept her head down, as quiet as a mouse. Once James was upstairs, I opened the car door. “Wait here, I’ll go check it out.” “Lila…” “What are you afraid of? He can’t kill me, right?” ………… “And he won’t kill you either!”

Anyone would know that once I go up there and confront him, things between James and me could never be the same. Especially these past two years, our conflicts have only increased. Silent treatments, arguments, breaking things—it’s become routine. The most recent was half a month ago. I can’t even remember what sparked it. In the end, I threw a water cup at him. He could have dodged, but he didn’t. Let the blood run down from his forehead, his gaze icy cold. “Do you even resemble the person you used to be?” How absurd. If I’ve changed, hasn’t he changed too? He changes, and it’s justified. I change, and it’s unforgivable? I knocked on the door. James opened it, still wearing that gentle smile, looking inside. “Leave it, I’ll handle it.” He turned back, and the moment he saw me, his smile broke, his gentle gaze turning to ice. “Who is it?” A cute girl peeked out from behind James. Meeting her gaze, I was momentarily stunned. James shifted slightly. “You go inside first.” His deep, serious voice left the girl a bit confused. A smile crept onto my face unexpectedly. I quickly extended my hand. “Hello, I’m James’s colleague, here to discuss some work matters with him.” James glanced at me lightly, acknowledging my excuse. “You stay home; we’ll talk outside.” “Is it inconvenient? Did I disturb Mrs. Xie?” The girl blushed, waving her hands quickly. “No, I’m not Mrs. Xie, we haven’t…” “Not married yet? Then it must be soon. I’ll want a drink at your wedding.” The girl’s face turned even redder, shyly sneaking glances at James. My smile widened. “By the way, I’m Lila, what’s your name?” “Lily, nice to meet you!”

Lily, 19 years old, a student at Harvard, excellent in both character and academics. That’s all the information I could find. The rest was hidden by James. In the end, I still didn’t get into their house. Under James’s extremely cold gaze, I followed him down the stairs obediently. “How did you get here?” ………… “Why didn’t you tell me you returned to the country?” ………… “How long have you known?” ………… James took a deep drag of his cigarette. “What do you want?” I sneered. Finally, we were getting to the point. “What do you think I should do?” James tilted his head, looking at me. “It’s not as sordid as you think between her and me.” “She’s not well, I’m just taking care of her, that’s all.” I let out a casual “Oh.” “What if I don’t believe you?” James’s face suddenly turned gloomy. My warm demeanor disappeared completely. I got out of the car, slamming the door shut. “Lila.” I turned around. The next second, the roar of the engine filled the air. James gripped the steering wheel with one hand. As the car sped toward me, his gaze never left me. Watching my pupils dilate, my body stiffen. The screeching brakes. The car’s front stopped at my knees. Brakes engaged. My mind went blank for a moment, as if a thunderclap exploded in my ears. The car reversed, changed direction, and drove to my side. James looked up at me. “Don’t touch her.” This wasn’t a plea. It was a warning. “Lila, are you alright?” Katy stumbled over, her face ashen, eyes full of fear. As I collapsed, I suddenly understood it wasn’t my imagination—he really intended to kill me.

James was never a saint. He, a middle school dropout, has come this far by being ruthless to others and even more so to himself. When he was six, our deadbeat dad used the excuse of taking me out to secretly meet his mistress. They rolled around in the suite while James watched Tom and Jerry with me in the living room. I didn’t understand why there were those sounds coming from the suite. Curiously, I asked, “Brother, what are Dad and Auntie doing?” He turned up the TV volume and covered my ears. “It’s dirty, don’t listen.” He was only a year older than me but took care of me well. Not because he liked me. His mom told him if he kept me in line, she’d give him a hundred bucks. That was his weekly living allowance. At fourteen, my dad eloped with his mom. My mom set the house on fire. It was James who carried me out of the flames. Half his arm still bears burn scars. He had no money for school, so he dropped out and worked odd jobs. I smashed his place with a baseball bat and paid him two grand. He still didn’t go back to school, instead went far to collect goods. He used his first earnings to buy me a princess dress. That year, I was fifteen, he was sixteen. My mom went hysterical. “Your dad ran off with a whore, and you still want to be with the bastard she bore?” “You’re truly your dad’s spawn; I should’ve strangled you at birth.” I guess I should’ve sided with my mom. But, unfortunately, I was raised by James. In the years my dad was busy cheating, and my mom busy catching him, I lived like an outcast. James didn’t charge me. He might be filthy, but I had to be clean. He could be bruised and battered, but no one could touch a hair on my head. He wouldn’t let me tell anyone about us; he feared he couldn’t protect me. He feared my tears the most, awkwardly wiping them away. Fiercely telling me to hold them back. But later, when I truly stopped crying, he didn’t seem that delighted. “If you cried and made a scene, I’d give in to you.” “Why do you have to be so stubborn with me?”

I spent a day and a half in the hospital. Eric suggested I continue pretending to be out of it. “Alright then, hand me a pack of cigarettes.” “You can’t smoke in the hospital.” “Then I want to check out.” “Can’t you just quit smoking?” “Just like that? I might as well be dead.” Eric rolled his eyes, clearly fed up with me. “What’s going on between you and James?” “Normally, he panics over a scratch. But this time, he hasn’t even shown up.” I let out a cold laugh. “Finally curious enough to ask?” “Bet it was eating you up inside.” Evan burst into the hospital just as I was about to leave, almost running into me. He looked worried, his face a bit pale. “Hey, sis, are you alright?” “What are you doing here?” “Are you hurt anywhere?” “Who told you to come back?” “Where’s James?” “Have you finished what you needed to do?” “I’m going to kill him!” Not a single word I wanted to hear. I kicked his leg. He didn’t dodge, just took it quietly and even bent down to my level. “Sis, I’m sorry.” I gave him a light slap. “Did Katy tell you?” “No, I figured it out myself.” This kid is getting smarter and more capable as he grows. Daring to check up on me, huh? “How’s the situation in the South?” “They can handle it.” He still sounded a bit defiant. “I couldn’t just not come back.” I laughed in exasperation. “Alright, you win.” Evan followed me around, whining like a puppy. And then we ran into James. He looked indifferent, holding Lily’s hand. Guess they weren’t hiding it anymore. Evan froze for a few seconds, then charged forward furiously, but I kicked him back. Eric stood aside, his face changing colors rapidly. What a spectacle. “Lila, are you not feeling well either?” Lily’s innocent voice broke the tension. I smiled at her. “Just a minor issue. What about you?” She seemed a bit embarrassed. “I have a scar, wondering if it can be removed.” I realized, “With modern medicine, it’s not a problem. Pretty girls like you shouldn’t have any flaws.” Lily blushed. “You’re very pretty too, Lila.” James tightened his grip on her hand. “We need to leave, the specialist is waiting.” “Bye, Lila.” As we passed each other, James nodded politely at me. Such a formal nodding acquaintance. On the way back, Evan’s face was as dark as coal. I couldn’t help teasing him. “What, if I hadn’t stopped you, would you really fight James?” “Shouldn’t I?” “Not scared of him now?” He pressed his lips together. “Sis, you should break it off with him.” Ha! Naive kid.

I found Evan when I was twenty, in the hallway. He was eleven then, locked out by his biological father and stepmother. Wearing spring clothes in the dead of winter, shivering with cold, bruises all over. Clinging to my pant leg, murmuring he was hungry. So I took him home, made him a bowl of instant noodles, and added a sausage. Back then, things were tense between James and me. He didn’t want me involved in his affairs, told me to focus on my studies. But he kept getting hurt. I couldn’t stand it. Money, those few bucks, could really be life-threatening. I compromised with my mom, saying I broke up with James and would come home to inherit the family business. She mocked me. But she also knew, the shares my grandparents left were only mine to control. She hated me. But she needed me. She couldn’t do anything to me, so she recorded what I said and played it for James. James didn’t believe it. He believed in me. So he felt incredibly guilty. Guilty for not protecting me. Guilt turned into arguments. From arguing about things to arguing about feelings. Then making up. Over and over. Evan was an accident. I fed him on and off for half a year. James didn’t care, wasn’t bothered. But because he always had a cold face, Evan was afraid of him. Later, Evan’s father found out about our relationship. His murky eyes ogled me up and down, lust clear as day. Evan must have overheard something, he spent his last pocket money on a knife. Scared and desperate. I cooked him a bowl of noodles, took the knife away, told him not to worry about anything. I let the man into my house, tore my clothes, pinned me to the bed. I watched as the woman followed him. They fought, and the man stabbed the woman in the stomach. He fled in panic, taking all the cash from my safe. The newly installed surveillance recorded the whole thing. He was caught, sentenced heavily. To me back then, it was a perfect setup. James said nothing, silently applied medicine to my wounds. After a long time, he spoke. “You shouldn’t have used yourself as bait.” “What if something happened to you?” Those words stuck with me. But there was another sentence, which I understood years later. He said, “You’re filthy, go take a shower.”

When James came back, I was reading in the living room. “Why aren’t you asleep yet?” “Waiting for you.” A rather rhetorical question. He knew I was waiting for him. Just as I knew he would come back. For no other reason than I had Lily’s medical file. James paused while putting down his keys. He took off his tie and sat across from me. “What do you want to talk about?” His calmness was stifling. I looked at him quietly. “What if I told Lily everything?” James looked up, his eyes cold. “I told you, don’t touch her.” “What if I insist? What will you do? Run me over?” “Lila, I won’t hurt you. But I can hurt a lot of people.” That made my face go cold. As I stood up, the book fell to the floor with a dull thud. I picked up a baseball bat. “I won’t touch her.” “An arm or a leg, your choice.” James stood up. After a long stare, he extended his left hand. Without hesitation, the bat came down heavy. I heard the bone crack. James’s face turned pale, a muffled groan escaping. He gritted his teeth, looking at me. “Happy now?” “Get lost.” He cradled his arm, walking out. I couldn’t help but ask, “Do you really like her that much?” James stopped, blurting out. “She took a knife for me, can you do that?” For a moment, the air was completely still. I watched James’s tense back. He turned abruptly. Paler than before. His lips moved. “I…” I just laughed. Leaning back lazily. “Of course not.”

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My brother purchased a reasonably priced three-bedroom foreclosure home to serve as his future marital residence. To our utter disbelief, on the very first day after the ownership transfer when our entire family went to visit the house, the ceiling collapsed, revealing a staggering five million dollars in cash. We were all dumbstruck. After a moment, I suggested we should report it to the authorities, but my brother and parents wanted to keep the money for themselves. My brother exclaimed with excitement, “The house is mine, so the money should belong to me too.” My parents nodded in agreement. I shook my head, saying, “You know how foreclosure homes come about. Keeping this money would be illegal.” “Moreover, we don’t know anything about the previous owner’s background. There could be dangerous implications.” But my brother refused to listen. His eyes were wide and fixated on the cash pile, as if envisioning a bright future. “Sis, you’re just scared! This house is mine now, and everything in it should be mine. This money is like a wedding gift from heaven. Why should I give it away?” He crouched down, frantically gathering the scattered cash into his arms with a sense of urgency and madness, as if fearing it might disappear at any moment. My parents stood by, watching without intervening, their faces reflecting the same greed as my brother’s. Dad frowned, full of internal struggle and reluctance, and spoke slowly, “Sweetheart, we’ve considered your point, but this five million could transform our lives.” “Your brother is about to get married. With this money, he can have a splendid wedding, and we won’t have to worry about the future.” Mom chimed in, her eyes never leaving the money, “Yes, such a sum is rare. We could keep it quietly; who would know?” I watched this scene unfold with a sense of helplessness and sadness. I tried to reason with them again, “Think about it. If this money was legitimate, why would the owner hide it in the ceiling?” “There must be a secret behind this. If we’re discovered, our whole family could be ruined.” But my words seemed to drift away like the wind, leaving no impact. By now, my brother had piled the cash into a heap, pressing it down as if protecting his most valuable treasure. He glared at me, saying, “Sis, stay out of this! I’m keeping this money. If you call the police, don’t blame me for cutting ties.” My parents remained silent, but their expressions showed they sided with my brother. I knew convincing them would be an uphill battle. But I couldn’t just watch them walk into danger. Back at our current home, I searched online for the consequences of not reporting found money in a foreclosure house. I decided to call 911, “Hello, I’d like to report that I found…” Before I could finish, my brother kicked me from behind. I cried out in pain as my phone flew several meters away. My brother quickly picked it up and saw the call was still connected. “Hello? Is there an issue?” “Sorry, sorry, my sister has a mental illness. She called by mistake, sorry for the trouble.” He hung up quickly and turned to me, his eyes blazing with anger. “Are you trying to ruin me? If we lose this money, I’ll jump off a building!” My parents, who always favored my brother, ignored me on the floor after being kicked. Mom quickly took my brother’s hand, gently patting it, “Oh dear, what are you saying? This money is yours, no one’s taking it!” She frowned at me, “Nora, didn’t we agree not to call the police? Can’t you see your brother happy?” The side of my face that was kicked burned with pain as I stood up, still trying to reason with my brother. “I looked it up. This money isn’t ours, and if caught, we’ll face legal consequences.” My brother shrugged impatiently, “It’s just us in the house. As long as we don’t say anything, who would know?” Seeing my continued disapproval, he rolled his eyes, “Mom, Dad, she’s trying to cut off our family’s financial path. I barely have any savings. Now that I finally have money, I can afford Lila’s dowry, but she’s trying to stop me!” My brother was lazy, working sporadically for years without saving anything. He finally got a girlfriend, but her family demanded a dowry of $28,800, plus a house and car, making him hesitant to marry. My parents had to pool all their savings to help my brother with a down payment on a new 100-square-meter house. Unexpectedly, he thought it was too small and fancied a 500-square-meter foreclosure house. So, they didn’t consult me and directly bid for this house. “Lila’s family said if we don’t prepare the dowry in three months, they’ll break us up! Mom, Dad, don’t let her stop me from getting married! Don’t you want grandchildren?” My parents thought he had a point. My brother put my phone in his pocket, “Sis, why don’t you rest at home? After I give the dowry to Lila’s family, you can come out.” He spoke while pushing me into a room. I realized he wanted to lock me up and tried to escape. “Logan, what are you doing? Are you trying to lock me up?” But I was no match for my brother, who was only a year younger than me. Dad hesitated for a moment, but then stepped forward to help my brother push me into the room, ignoring my banging and locking the door without hesitation. “Sis, you’re tired from work, right? Just rest at home for a few days!” He spat, “Don’t think about blocking my money!” I sat in the room, which was a storage room with a makeshift folding bed amidst the clutter. I’ve never had a room of my own, even growing up. I only set this up when I heard my brother bought a foreclosure house and came back to help him check it out. I didn’t have my phone, and my face still throbbed with pain. During the struggle, my wrist and elbow joint were twisted by my brother. I shouted loudly, but no one responded. Until nightfall, the smell of someone cooking wafted into the room, making me dizzy with hunger. Peeking through the crack, the living room was empty. I didn’t want to get involved in Logan’s foreclosure house issue anymore. But the amount of cash was too large, and if discovered, the consequences would be too much for our small family to bear. My parents may be uneducated, but they raised me to this point and sent me to college. I couldn’t bear to see them regret it later. I sighed softly and looked around. Fortunately, it was a storage room where unused items were stuffed. I found a simple ladder and looked out the window, which was conveniently on the second floor. Following my hazy memory, I found Logan’s girlfriend’s house. Luckily, my parents often bragged in our family group chat about Logan finding a pretty girlfriend and even shared her basic information. When I found Lila, she was friendly upon hearing I was Logan’s sister. She politely invited me to sit and made a pot of hot tea. She seemed reasonable; finally, someone who could handle Logan. “Lila, right? I’m Logan’s sister. He’s in big trouble, and I hope you can talk to him.” As his sister, my words were useless, but maybe his beloved girlfriend could persuade him. I explained the whole situation to Lila, hoping she could convince him. But to my surprise, the mention of five million dollars brought the same greed to Lila’s eyes. When I suggested she persuade Logan to report it, she looked at me with disdain. She pushed me away, “Report it?! No way! This is five million! Are you out of your mind?” No wonder she was Logan’s girlfriend; their words matched perfectly. While I tried to persuade her, Lila’s parents curiously gathered around, their eyes shining with interest. After thinking it over, Lila called Logan to confirm the story. After hanging up, she turned and slapped me, abandoning her earlier politeness. “Logan said you can’t stand to see him happy!” I was parched from speaking, and no one appreciated it. Instead, she yelled at me, “Who do you think you are? Used to being the maid, now you want to meddle in Logan’s affairs? It’s none of your business now!” Lila’s parents initially looked down on my family for being poor. But upon hearing about the money falling from the sky, they eagerly called us in-laws. “Logan’s sister, we’re practically in-laws now. What you’re doing isn’t right!” Hearing I wanted to call the police, they forgot all about hospitality, shouting and pointing at me. I spoke until I was hoarse, but it was all in vain. She shouted at me, “Do you think you’re worthy? You’ve been a maid your whole life, and now you want to interfere in Logan’s affairs? This is none of your business!” Lila’s parents initially looked down on my family for not being wealthy enough, but when they heard about money coming our way, they were quick to call me, “Logan’s sister, we’re practically family now, and what you’re doing isn’t right!” When they heard I wanted to involve the police, they abandoned all decorum, banging on the table and pointing at me. Lila grabbed a steaming teacup from the table and hurled it at me. The hot water quickly turned my skin red, and the searing pain made me scream. “Get out of here! Our family’s money is not for you to meddle with!” The three of them kicked me out of Lila’s house. I never imagined that after financially supporting Logan all these years, I would hear such words from them. “I’m doing this for your own good, but if you don’t appreciate it, fine. I won’t interfere anymore!” The injuries and disdain I’ve endured over these past few days far outweigh the struggles I’ve faced in years of working hard. I don’t want to be involved in this mess anymore. I turned and left, returning to the apartment I rented. 4 My busy work schedule quickly made me forget about the foreclosure home. I heard that a few days after I left, my brother moved into the new place. As soon as he moved in, Logan happily threw a housewarming party. He then rushed to propose and get engaged to Lila. The money issue that had delayed them for so long was finally resolved, and they got together. I didn’t attend the engagement party, but I could imagine their greedy faces. Maybe because of the recent influx of people, there was nothing unusual about the house. However, a few weeks later, Logan started hearing strange noises outside his door in the middle of the night. The next morning, before Logan even woke up, there was a commotion outside. “What’s all this noise?” He opened the door and saw several large red letters on the white wall next to the door. The paint had dried, but the drips of red left on the wall and floor looked like blood, creating an eerie atmosphere. “An eye for an eye, what a sin…” “Who would dare buy this house?” “Yeah, my old man said he felt a chill just walking past here.” A few neighbors were gathered in front of Logan’s door, talking amongst themselves. As soon as they saw Logan’s annoyed face, they fell silent. “Who did this?!” They looked at each other, not daring to speak. “Don’t make me check the surveillance. If I catch you, you’re in for it!” Logan knew it couldn’t have been these middle-aged women, but he was still irritated. He slammed the door shut. He thought it was just someone jealous of him for snagging such a great house at half the market price. After leaving some harsh words in the homeowner group chat, he didn’t bother with it anymore. But a few days later, more red paint appeared on the not-yet-clean wall. “Die.” Logan wasn’t too concerned about the word “die.” He thought it was just someone’s prank out of jealousy. A few days later, it appeared again. “Give me back my things!” This time he was a bit worried. He picked up his phone to dial 911 but stopped abruptly. “No, if I call the police, my money will be exposed.” He muttered to himself, then called me. “Someone knows about the money. You should call the police early and have them handle it so they won’t bother you.” I advised him, knowing his stubborn nature wouldn’t listen. He just wanted someone to share his anxiety with. As expected, Logan hung up on me, cursing. “If someone knows about the money and hasn’t come to claim it, it’s not clean money. As long as we hide it and deny everything, what can they do?” Lila and Logan pondered. “Yeah, they’re sneaky and wouldn’t dare call the police, or they’d expose themselves.” The two of them couldn’t wait any longer and took the money to their hometown overnight.

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On our seventh wedding anniversary, I joyfully prepared a table full of my husband’s favorite dishes. But he brought his first love back home. Our five-year-old daughter clung to her hand, nestling close. “Aunt Hazel, you’re so wonderful! My mom only stays home to wash clothes and cook. You’re like a fairy who can do anything.” “Aunt Hazel, can you be my mom?” My heart wrenched, and I staggered backward, shocked by my daughter’s words. My husband didn’t correct her; he just smiled at them. Then he glanced at me standing in the corner with impatience, saying, “Why do you always have that sour look? Our daughter is young and doesn’t understand, but shouldn’t you know better? Go set the table for our guest!” I quietly set the table, trying to muster a smile. “I’m not hungry. You all go ahead.” That night, I saw my husband’s latest Snapchat post. In the picture, he and that woman were holding our daughter, looking blissfully happy. The caption read: “After all the twists and turns, I’m grateful to have you, to have you both. How fortunate.” With tears in my eyes, I liked the post, then opened our chat. “Let’s get a divorce. I’ll let you be.”

The next morning, I returned home to collect my bank card and left the divorce papers on the coffee table. Passing through the living room, I saw the mess they left from last night’s meal. Hazel was sleeping in our bedroom, Sierra clinging tightly to her as if afraid she’d disappear. Declan was sleeping at the edge of the bed. I let out a dry laugh, unable to stop my tears. I took a photo of the three of them with my phone. Declan, a light sleeper, stirred at the sound of the camera shutter. Seeing me ready to leave with my suitcase, he stopped me. “Where are you going with a suitcase so early?” I smiled faintly, “Making room for you all.” Declan was annoyed. “Why are you acting crazy again?” “Hazel just returned from abroad and has nowhere to stay, so I brought her home for a bit. Do you have to be so petty?” I laughed inwardly, realizing the last bit of hope I had for him was gone. “Isn’t City A big enough for hotels?” Declan avoided my gaze. “It was so late, a woman staying at a hotel alone isn’t safe!” “Dad, Mom, why are you fighting again? Can you keep it down? Don’t wake Aunt Hazel!” Our daughter, who was holding onto Hazel, woke up and shouted at me impatiently, covering her ears protectively. Looking at the daughter I carried for ten months, my heart was torn apart, bleeding painfully. Even for a simple cold, I would get up in the middle of the night to take her to the hospital. When she had a fever, I stayed up all night caring for her, making her favorite yogurt melts. I worked tirelessly for days, collapsing from exhaustion for three days before recovering. When did she start hating me like Declan did? Was it when she inadvertently said, “Why can’t my mom make money? She just cooks and washes clothes like a lazy parasite.” But I graduated from a prestigious university, got recruited by a Fortune 500 finance company in my freshman year. In my sophomore year, Declan, then a freshman, pursued me. He wore a gray tracksuit, his eyes enchanting. He held a bouquet of roses under the girls’ dormitory, offering it to me: “Senior, I like you.” “This bouquet is for you. Once you agree to be my girlfriend, I’ll save up to buy you all kinds of flowers, everything you like, and shower you with love, making you the envy of your friends.” His love was pure and intense. I had never dated before and was drawn to him. I accepted his confession, growing to love him more deeply. Gradually, I learned he pursued me because… When I painted, I resembled his ex-girlfriend from the side. But I thought, hearts are made of flesh. If I loved him well, he would be moved. Seven years passed. He said he wanted to focus on his career, so I submitted my resignation to my boss, who had also experienced a memorable love. They agreed to give me a few years to think it over. But I had to create a new plan for their company and launch a business video account, gaining a million followers within three days to avoid paying a penalty. I worked tirelessly for days and succeeded. Thus, I became a dutiful wife. He came home later and later, growing more distant. Initially, he’d give me a reluctant smile. Eventually, only Sierra got a warm smile. Later, he’d stare at his phone late into the night, his smile unwavering. I couldn’t hold it anymore and asked who he was chatting with so late. I caught a glimpse of the note, a heart emoji, and the word “baby.” The other person sent a photo in a sexy nightgown with barely visible text: “When I return, we’ll go to a hotel. You can do whatever you want. Until then, you better behave and keep your bullets safe!” My mind exploded. My blood froze. I thought of his ex-girlfriend who went abroad. He immediately put away his phone with a dark look: “Nora, you eat what I earn, live in what I earn. When have you ever appreciated my hard work?” I trembled, my mind a mess, silently taking his dirty clothes to wash. As I thought of the past, my eyes reddened. The bitterness pressing on my heart began to clear. Some things aren’t sweet when forced. I asked our daughter, “Do you want her to be your mom?” Sierra puffed her chest, looking at me disdainfully: “Yes! Aunt Hazel is so beautiful and buys me lots of dolls and snacks. She’s better than you in every way!” “But if she becomes your mom, I won’t be around anymore.” I still held a tiny bit of hope. After all, she’s my daughter. I’ve cared for her so long, she must choose me. Sierra didn’t care, clinging tightly to Hazel. “As long as I have Aunt Hazel, I don’t need you!” My heart shattered completely. Declan frowned. “Nora, don’t make trouble! You only have the hundred dollars I gave you for groceries. You’ll be back begging for forgiveness within a day. Why bother?” I looked at him, took out the hundred dollars, and tossed it at him: “Declan, Sierra, I don’t need you.” I smiled at them, grabbing my suitcase and walking out the door.

The moment I left, I suddenly felt a sense of relief. It was like the weight on my heart for seven years had vanished. I contacted friends I hadn’t seen in seven years and planned a night out at a bar to start my new life. They all sighed. “We thought you found true love back then, but who knew he was like that!” “Seven whole years, not letting you meet us, saying we’d lead you astray?” “Ridiculous, we went shopping, got facials, did Pilates, how is that bad?” “He made you a full-time housewife!” “Companies lined up to hire you, and he shamelessly said he wanted to develop his career?” “Now he only makes twenty thousand a month! What career is that? Seven years ago, companies offered you the same!” They were indignant for me and relieved I finally escaped the nightmare. After parting with them, I left City A, rented an apartment for myself. I texted Declan, urging him to sign the divorce papers. He didn’t reply but was more active on Snapchat. All posts were with Hazel. Candlelit dinners, strolls, role-playing at home. My daughter sat eating roasted sweet potatoes, her small face beaming with happiness. At that moment, I realized… Love and indifference were so obvious. The romance I longed for was meaningless to Hazel. I blocked Declan on Snapchat and messaged him: “This is adultery, violating morality and the law.” The chat showed typing, then stopped. After a while, he sent: “Realized you need money? Admit you’re wrong, come back and cook for me, Hazel, and our daughter, and I’ll forgive you, like nothing happened.” I laughed out loud. He really thought I was just throwing a tantrum. He thought I couldn’t live without him. Even if he was with his ex, I’d endure it. I replied: “Declan, you seem to forget it’s me who doesn’t want you and Sierra.” No reply came. I had to work from home to care for our daughter and him, turning down stable job offers. I managed to earn three million dollars, planning to surprise them, but it proved to be my own fantasy. I thought he’d be happy to hug me, saying, “You’re amazing, honey.” I feel like I can’t live without him for the rest of my life. Even if he reconnects with his ex, I can endure it. I responded, “Declan, you seem to have forgotten something. I’m the one who didn’t want you and Sierra anymore.” There was no reply. I had to become a stay-at-home wife to care for our daughter and him, so I turned down several full-time job offers and chose to work from home instead. I managed to earn three million dollars, hoping to surprise them, but it turned out I was only fooling myself. I imagined that when he saw the three million, he’d joyfully hug me and say, “You’re amazing, honey.” He’d suggest taking time off work so we could all go on a trip. Even if his ex messaged him, I could pretend it never happened. But… My eyes stung as I mocked my own foolishness. A stone remains a stone; it can’t be warmed. To maintain my routine and stay connected with society, I put on the career suit I had once taken off and started applying to larger financial companies. My resume showed a seven-year gap, and although I graduated from a prestigious university, they were hesitant. However, once they saw my previous work experience, they quickly signed me, fearing I might change my mind. When I returned to my rented place, I saw a familiar Audi parked outside. Declan was there, holding Sierra’s hand, and he didn’t look pleased.

Upon seeing me, he arrogantly declared, “Nora, Genevieve advised me to bring you back home. She said you’re penniless, sulking outside, borrowing money everywhere. You have no job, and in the end, I’ll have to repay all these loans you’ve taken!” I laughed. Yes, in Declan’s eyes, I’m indeed a freeloader waiting for death! How could I have money to rent a place? How could I live without him? Declan frowned, “Why are you laughing? I’ve been generous enough to come and get you. Don’t be ungrateful.” Sierra, unwillingly, added, “Mom, don’t be so unreasonable. Don’t make things difficult for Genevieve!” A pang hit my heart. “Genevieve?” Declan’s gaze shifted, looking slightly uneasy. Sierra pouted, “Why that expression? You’re so lousy, and you won’t let me find someone better to be my mom?” If I had any lingering feelings for my daughter, they disappeared completely now. I didn’t respond to her; I just told Declan, “Sign the divorce papers quickly and stop bothering me.” “What do you mean by bothering!” He was so angry he approached me and slapped me across the face. “Slap!” The sharp sound echoed, and I didn’t react. The employment offer letter I was holding fell to the ground. The name of a top 100 financial company in the country shone brightly. Declan’s gaze fell on it. My head was still buzzing. He picked up the offer letter from the ground, glanced at it several times, then threw it at me. “Nora, I thought you were just incompetent, a parasite at home, and that was it!” “Now you’re even forging job offer letters from top companies?” “Even if you want to prove to me you’re not a parasite, you don’t need to go this far to match up to even a strand of Genevieve’s hair!” He sneered, giving me an ultimatum: “I’m telling you, if you don’t come home, then our home is never yours again!” I shook myself out of it and glared coldly at him. This reaction made Declan feel a bit guilty. After all, I used to be obedient, as loyal as a dog. When he hit me, I just thought of it as marital fun. He steadied himself, “What kind of expression is that? Do you want to hit me? Dare you!”

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The moment I caught Sophia cheating, my world shattered. I thought she might have had her reasons, but it turned out I was just the fool. Later, Sophia realized she had married a monster. She cried, clinging to my legs: “Leo, can we start over?” I looked at her coldly: “Miss Sophia, please have some self-respect. My fiancée wouldn’t like this.” I had been working overtime for a month, all for today’s proposal to my girlfriend, Sophia. Just back from a business trip, I rushed to the store, picked up the pre-ordered flowers and cake, and eagerly pushed open the door. What greeted me was clothes scattered on the floor and intermittent… moans. “Am I better than that loser boyfriend of yours?” “You’re so bad, babe…” My mind went blank. My feet felt like lead, rooting me to the spot. The flowers and cake dropped from my hands without me realizing it. My body suddenly felt hot, blood rushing to my head. I kicked open the bedroom door. The two people engaged in passionate activity on the bed froze. The man reacted first, quickly pulling the blanket to cover his obese body. Sophia was left exposed, her body covered in marks that stung my eyes. Gritting my teeth, I punched the man in the face. As he fell back, I straddled him, venting my anger with my fists. Sophia panicked, trying to pull my arm while yelling, “Leo, stop it! Don’t you dare hit him!” “Please stop, I’m begging you!” “Are you crazy? I’m calling the police!” The man’s face was swollen from my beating. I finally stopped, my eyes bloodshot as I turned to Sophia: “Come out with me.” Sophia hurriedly checked the man’s breathing, relieved to find him still alive. She then followed me to the living room, arms crossed. She sat with her legs crossed, glaring at me angrily: “Since you’ve caught us, I’ll be honest. That man is Nathan, my new boyfriend. Leo, let’s break up.” Suppressing my anger, I asked, “How am I inferior to him?” Sophia didn’t even look up, admiring the sparkling diamond ring on her left hand: “Two years and eleven months, Leo. I don’t want to live in poverty with you anymore.” “You’re poor, he’s rich. That alone is enough for me to choose him without hesitation.” My heart ached. These years, Sophia indeed hadn’t lived very comfortably with me, but I had given her all my monthly salary, offering her everything I had. I softened, pleading with her: “Sophia, do you have some difficulties? Is it just about money? If you tell me, I’m willing to help. I can even overlook this incident.” Time ticked by. After a moment of silence, Sophia finally spoke: “Leo, I’ll be honest with you. Before I was with you, I was already working as a hostess at a club.” “You were good to me, that’s why I chose to be with you. I tried to adapt, but later I realized this wasn’t the life I wanted.” “Those clothes, bags, and jewelry in the room that I told you were fake, they’re all real. And you could never afford these for me.” “Over these years, I’ve been with many men, but none of them wanted to marry me.” She waved her hand, showing me the sparkling diamond ring, “See this? Such a big diamond ring, you could never afford in your lifetime.” As Sophia’s lips moved, my vision blurred. The image of Sophia before me and the memory of the girl I knew rapidly separated. I could hardly recognize her anymore. Sophia and I met in a university club. At that time, I was the vice president of the Astronomy Club, and Sophia joined with her roommate. Back then, Sophia always liked to stick around me, asking all sorts of whimsical questions. I was happy to answer, and gradually we fell for each other. We were like any other college couple, eating together in the cafeteria, walking around the track, cramming in the library together… The campus held so many sweet memories for us. After graduation, I successfully joined a tech company. Sophia said she was socially anxious and didn’t want to enter society too early. I felt for her, so I worked day and night, finally completing a project and getting a bonus. I bought an engagement ring and hid it in her favorite bag. Snapping back to reality, Sophia said coldly: “Leo, for the sake of our years together, just let me go, okay?”

My throat tightened as I grabbed Sophia’s hand: “Are you sure about this?” Before she could answer, there was a rustling sound from the bedroom. Nathan had woken up. Hearing the noise, Sophia turned her head, looking annoyed. She pried my fingers off her hand one by one. The bedroom door opened, and two burly men appeared outside. Nathan, covering his face, looked at me hatefully: “It’s this punk. Beat him to a pulp!” The two men charged at me without a word. At first, I could fend them off, but their assault was too fierce. In a moment of distraction, one of them landed a punch right on my face. I covered my nose, trying to get up, but my head was spinning. I could only lie on the ground as they rained blows on me. Sophia, frightened, cried loudly, hiding behind Nathan and tugging at his sleeve, not daring to look at me. Finally, they pinned my shoulders down, immobilizing me. Nathan walked over, stepping on my right cheek and grinding his foot: “You poor little punk, you dare to mess with me? You must be tired of living.” My mouth was full of blood. I glared at Nathan hatefully but couldn’t utter a word. Nathan was in a good mood. Sophia brought over a first aid kit, tenderly treating his wounds. He looked at me smugly, smiling: “Sophia, you still haven’t answered my question from earlier. Who’s better, me or him?” Sophia smiled flatteringly: “Babe, he never even touched me.” Nathan sneered. Pleased by Sophia’s words, he casually wrapped his arm around her slender waist: “Hurry up and pack your things. We’re leaving.” Sophia nodded obediently and went to the bedroom to pack. Nathan sat on the sofa, smoking and admiring my miserable state: “All these years, you never dared to touch her, and now she’s pregnant with my child. Isn’t that ironic?” “It’s the 21st century, and you’re still playing the pure love game. How outdated.” “To be honest, if she wasn’t pregnant, I wouldn’t want a used goods like her.” “Only you would treat her like a treasure.” … Our rented apartment wasn’t big. Nathan didn’t care that Sophia could hear him packing in the bedroom. To humiliate me, he said all sorts of nasty things. Soon, Sophia finished packing. Dragging her suitcase and carrying her favorite bag, she gave me one last look before swaying her hips and leaving with Nathan. Only after their silhouettes disappeared from sight did the two men release me. I turned over, staring blankly at the ceiling. Countless memories flashed by. Over the years, we had sweet moments and arguments, but I never thought of separating from Sophia. Tears mixed with blood streamed down my face. As night fell, I slowly got up, wiped away my tears, took out my phone, and dialed a number. The call was quickly answered. I bit my lip: “Grandpa, I lost.”

Grandpa is the chairman of Lin Group. In his early years, he caught the wave of private business boom and accumulated a fortune. Since I was little, Grandpa had been very strict with me. He concealed my true identity and didn’t allow me any special privileges. But he also loved me dearly and always respected my decisions. Only on the matter of Sophia did he stand against me for the first time. The day I confirmed my relationship with Sophia, Grandpa called me back home. Grandpa handed me a stack of documents, detailing Sophia’s life experiences and some photos of her entering and exiting clubs. At that time, I was blinded by love. I believed Grandpa was investigating her because of her poor family background, even smearing her name. I had a big fight with Grandpa. I shouted at Grandpa: “All these years, when have I ever disobeyed you? Just this once, I want to make my own choice.” “Sophia isn’t that kind of person. She’s pure and ambitious. It’s normal for young people to go out and have fun occasionally. Even you can’t smear her reputation.” I still remember Grandpa’s disappointed look. He shook his head: “Fine, some paths you have to walk yourself to understand.” “Let’s do this. For the next three years, you can’t tell Sophia about your real family situation. I’ll also stop your cards. For these three years, you’ll be self-reliant. If after three years, your relationship is still as sweet as it is now, I’ll agree to her marrying into the Lin family. Leo, do you dare to take this bet?” I knew this was the compromise Grandpa made out of helplessness. At that time, I firmly believed Sophia and I could make it to the end. I confidently told Grandpa: “Grandpa, in three years, I’ll bring back your granddaughter-in-law.” And so I left. For three years, I didn’t call Grandpa again, only sending greetings during holidays. Grandpa quickly answered the call. He didn’t ask anything, just sighed: “Child, come home. Grandpa is waiting for you.” His voice had aged considerably. Tears welled up again as I thought about how I had argued with Grandpa over Sophia three years ago. I was filled with regret. After returning to the Lin family, I obediently stayed in bed for a month to recover. One day, my phone buzzed. I received a message from my college roommate, Daniel: “Sophia is getting married today. Are you okay?” Hearing the news of her marriage, my heart still rippled a bit: “Yeah, I hope she can be happy.” Daniel quickly replied: “Happy? I don’t think that’s possible. I know this Nathan. He’s nominally the young master of the Chen family, but behind the scenes, the Chen family has long given up on this playboy. He’s nothing but a gambling addict. I’m afraid Sophia’s days ahead won’t be easy.” The Chen family had only started to emerge in recent years. I hadn’t stepped into that circle for these three years, so I indeed hadn’t heard of Nathan. But Sophia had been with me for three years. I couldn’t bear to watch her jump into the fire. After much thought, I decided to go to her wedding venue. At least she had the right to know what kind of person she was about to marry. I asked for the address and rushed to the wedding venue. Luckily, the wedding hadn’t started yet. There was still time. Sophia was sitting alone in the makeup room. Seeing me push the door open, she panicked and quickly locked the door: “What are you doing here? I’m warning you, today is my wedding day. I won’t allow you to cause trouble.” I pressed my lips together: “I’m not here to cause trouble. Just two sentences, and I’ll leave.” At that moment, footsteps were heard outside. She anxiously pushed me behind the curtain, lowering her voice: “Don’t make a sound. If my husband knows you’re here, he’ll be upset.” I grew anxious: “Do you know who you’re marrying? Nathan is…” “Enough, don’t say anymore.” Sophia lost her patience and interrupted me. “Of course I know what kind of person my own husband is. Leo, your clingy behavior is really disgusting.” There was a knock on the door. The lock was turned from the outside but didn’t open. Nathan irritably banged on the door: “Sophia, why did you lock the door? Open up quickly.” Sophia gave me one last warning look, forcefully pulled the curtain to conceal me, and ran to open the door: “Honey, I was just fixing my dress. I was afraid someone might see, so I locked the door.” Through the gap, I saw Nathan grin mischievously and grab Sophia’s bottom before they left the room. Listening to their fading footsteps, I clenched my fists. Disgusting, is it? Sophia, your fate is in your own hands now…

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To make me his wife, Alex ignored his mother’s obstruction and all the criticism from their social circle. He knelt outside his father’s study for three days and three nights, finally moving his father. After our marriage, we were loving and harmonious, envied by many. However, beneath that happy facade, undercurrents were surging. My battle with his childhood sweetheart lasted for a full eight years. During those eight years, I miscarried twice, while the childhood sweetheart was gradually neglected. The struggle between us was so intense it nearly became a fight to the death. But just after Alex took over the family business, he proposed divorce to me and held a grand wedding with another woman – my previously unknown stepsister, Olivia. While I ended up dying miserably in a mental hospital, his childhood sweetheart was pushed off a high-rise by the two of them. My sister Olivia replaced my position, and their glory and happiness seemed to last forever. It wasn’t until the last moment of my life that I suddenly realized that Alex and I were not the perfect match everyone praised us to be. He and Olivia were destined for each other, a truly “perfect couple.”

When I opened my eyes again, it was at the moment my body was about to fall into the cold water. “Miss, be careful!” The waiter’s alarmed cry broke the tense atmosphere. In that split second, I had no time to think. I instinctively grabbed the man next to me, pulling him down with me. “You…” I was about to speak when I suddenly realized that this was none other than the dream man of those noble young ladies – the eldest son of the Moore family, Ethan. We fell together into the flower pond. I held onto him tightly, our bodies entangled in the water. After being rescued, I still clung tightly to his waist. I hadn’t forgotten that I was wearing a strapless dress, which had slipped down during the struggle in the water. I could only use his body to cover myself. He didn’t push me away, his eyes full of surprise. I forced myself to stay calm, looking around at the giant crystal chandelier and the men and women in suits and dresses mingling with drinks in hand. Unbelievably, I seemed to have returned to Mrs. Moore’s birthday party from that year. At that time, my stepsister had led me to the pool and pushed me towards the deep end with her own hands. In my past life, I was saved by Alex after falling into the water. We fell in love at first sight. Mrs. Moore left the party in anger. Her original intention was to use the party to let her son get to know Emily Thompson, the daughter of the Thompson family. But I had cut in, becoming a thorn in her side. After I married Alex, she humiliated me even more, calling me a shameless woman who seduced men. In the end, she often invited Emily to visit our home. For eight years after the marriage, Emily and I fought openly and covertly, both ending up hurt. Instead, it was my cunning and treacherous stepsister who reaped the benefits. But now that I’m living a second life, everything can still be changed. Starting from this moment of falling into the water, I will rewrite my destiny. I whispered softly to Ethan: “I’m sorry.” He could have stayed out of this, but was dragged in by me for no reason. The crowd gathered more and more. I covered my face and cried, while Alex and my stepsister stood among them, their faces terrifyingly dark.

I noticed the exchange of glances between them. At that moment, I suddenly realized how foolish I had been in my previous life. Olivia’s mother, Rachel, was originally my mother’s best friend, but she had an affair with my father while my mother was pregnant. Rachel was skilled in bed, captivating my father completely. In comparison, my mother came from a noble family. My father often complained that she was too reserved and not fun enough, so he became even more blatant about mentioning Rachel, putting her on a pedestal. As a result, the Young family became the talk of the town. My father lost face completely and became even more disgusted with my mother and me. But my mother was kind-hearted. Despite her resentment towards Rachel, she never did anything to harm the innocent child. Olivia was clever and likable from a young age, winning people’s hearts. My mother, worried that Olivia’s illegitimate status would make her a target of bullying at school, asked me to treat her like a real sister. My grandfather repeatedly and firmly demanded that my father cut ties with Rachel, while Olivia knelt at the threshold with tears in her eyes, begging my mother for mercy. In the end, the incident was left unresolved. Rachel remained as a mistress outside, while Olivia stayed with my mother, living with me. Before my wedding to Alex, Olivia knelt at my feet, begging to go with me, even if just as a maid to take care of me. We never expected that all of this was an elaborately set trap.

Like father, like daughter. Olivia took this crooked path even further. She had been secretly involved with Alex for a long time. Because the difference in status was too great for her to enter the Moore family’s door, she used me as a stepping stone. When I often lost my rationality due to mental issues, she would appear all dressed up, throwing down a divorce agreement and a stack of money at my feet, as if dismissing a beggar. “Sister dear, I kindly asked for mercy on your behalf and even left you some cremation money. You should thank me.” I looked at her coldly. That smug look of hers was exactly like her mother’s, as if cut from the same mold. We were too naive, forgetting that some people are rotten to the core. I couldn’t die like this. If I left, my mother would have no one to rely on. “I want to see Alex!” “Hehe, I really don’t understand why you insist on living. Don’t you know? Your mother, our Mrs. Young, has long since died of illness.” Her face was twisted, her words sharp, with a mix of pity and mockery. I suddenly looked up, grabbing her throat, “What nonsense are you talking?” My eyes were almost bulging with blood. The servants rushed forward to pull me away. The butler slapped me without a word. My hair was disheveled, and half of my face swelled up. She wasn’t satisfied and slapped me hard again. “You think your grandfather’s gone, those useless uncles of yours could still protect your mother?” She grabbed my hair, forcing me to look at her. I knew all about my father’s little tricks. As soon as my grandfather passed away, he couldn’t wait to bring Rachel home, quickly taking control of the family affairs. But I never imagined he could be so heartless towards my mother. Back then, he was just a penniless college student. It was my mother who took a liking to him at first glance. My mother threatened to go on a hunger strike, and my grandfather had no choice but to let his precious daughter marry him. She nurtured him carefully and gave him connections and resources, which finally allowed him to become the chairman of the Young Group. After I married Alex, the messages my father sent became like death warrants, not caring about my well-being, but forcing me to humble myself to seek benefits for him. In the end, as the Young Group gradually grew stronger, he married his mistress and his daughter became Mrs. Moore. What about me? What about my mother? We were just stepping stones for this couple to climb up.

The anger in my heart was like a flood about to burst its banks. At this critical moment, my mother arrived just in time, wrapping a scarf around me and helping me up, shielding me. Mrs. Moore was usually kind and didn’t show me any bad attitude. She just asked the waiter to carefully help Ethan leave. Mrs. Moore’s face was long with mockery, as if blaming me for ruining her party just to climb the social ladder. Back home, my father stormed in, not caring about my weak condition, and immediately started scolding me. “You little brat, have you gotten too bold? How dare you go after the Moore family’s son? Do you really think you can turn from a sparrow into a phoenix?” He paced back and forth in the room, unable to contain his anger. My mother stood up to try to persuade him to leave, but he pushed her away violently, nearly causing her to fall. After my father left, my mother sat by my bed, holding my hand tightly, tears glistening in her eyes. The news of me falling into the water and being saved by Ethan spread quickly in our circle. Everyone was waiting to see me embarrass myself. A daughter of a small group wanting to marry into the Moore family was simply a daydream. Since falling into the water, Ethan had been running a high fever and was bedridden. I sat on the bed, full of guilt. It was my fault he got hurt. This was not my intention at all. The guilty should be punished. Involving an innocent person made me restless and unable to eat or sleep. Fortunately, three days later, Ethan’s fever broke and he gradually regained consciousness. I, who had never believed in Buddha before, silently said “Amitabha” in my heart. That day, my father suddenly summoned me to the front hall. “Quick, this is Aunt Lin.” My father’s words pulled me out of my daze. I suddenly looked up and saw the elegant and dignified Mrs. Moore sitting in the hall. She pulled me to her side, held my hand, and looked me over carefully, a satisfied smile appearing on her face. “Let’s set the wedding date for the middle of next month. It’s an auspicious day.” I was stunned and didn’t react. After she left, my father talked to me all night in the study, repeatedly instructing me to think of the family. So, I became engaged to Ethan just like that. According to Mrs. Moore, as soon as he woke up, he knelt before his parents and begged to marry me. Logically, given my family’s status, it would be impossible to connect with the Moore family. But when the Moore couple saw their son struggle back from the brink of death, they were moved to tears and agreed on the spot. Mrs. Moore even calculated mine and Ethan’s birth dates, saying we were a match made in heaven, and that he woke up because of the good luck I brought. I didn’t believe in these things. It was clearly me who almost harmed him.

After dragging on for a few more days, the Thompson family’s precious daughter cried at home, refusing to marry Alex no matter what, saying she just wanted to stay at home with her parents. The Thompson family had always doted on this daughter. Since she was unwilling, they simply decided not to marry her off and directly rejected Mrs. Moore’s suggestion for the two to spend more time together. This really angered Mrs. Moore. She smashed a bunch of precious treasures in her rage. I was puzzled. Everyone knew Emily had liked Alex since childhood. Mrs. Moore had been grooming her as a future daughter-in-law from early on. Why did she suddenly change her mind? I heard that Emily accidentally hit her head on a table corner and was unconscious for several days. When she woke up, she seemed like a completely different person, avoiding Alex like the plague. I couldn’t help but have a bold thought: could it be that she had also been reborn? I needed to find an opportunity to meet her and verify my idea. Coincidentally, she seemed to have the same intention. So we met in the Thompson family’s small garden. As soon as I saw her, I knew that the person standing in front of me was no longer the same Emily. We had fought for eight years, and I knew her thoughts better than my own. “You’ve come back too.” She looked at me, her eyes no longer filled with jealousy and hatred, only tranquility. I silently handed her the high-grade spring tea in my hand, without saying a word. She gently rotated the teacup in her hand, “There’s something you should know. Your child wasn’t harmed by me. It was Alex and your dear sister who did it together.” The teapot I had just picked up crashed to the ground with a loud bang. I had gone mentally unstable because I had been pregnant twice, but both ended in miscarriage. At that time, I had some suspicions, but the pain of losing a child was too heavy, leaving me no time to investigate. I only knew to blindly seek revenge. Although Emily loved to compete for attention, she wasn’t essentially bad, just a spoiled young lady. “Your child was actually poisoned by that bitch Olivia.” “What you don’t know is that after you, I was also pushed off a building by them, smashed to pieces. They even spread rumors saying I committed suicide out of guilt for causing your miscarriage.” Killing two birds with one stone, using my child to get rid of both of us. After Emily’s death, the Thompson family gradually declined. Alex’s father had long been wary of the Thompson family and simply crushed them completely. “You still need to enter the Moore family. Soon, I’ll make her go down to accompany you,” I said. In this life, I won’t fight alone anymore.

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When the apocalypse struck, the world changed drastically. My best friend Lily and I became rare female survivors among humans. After being captured, I was chosen by the Fire Zombie King, who had awakened fire abilities. Within a year, I gave birth to a gifted little Zombie Prince. As time passed, our territory expanded, and the Fire Zombie King became a powerful ruler. I became the most revered woman in the post-apocalyptic world. Lily, on the other hand, ended up with the Water Zombie King, who had awakened water abilities. It wasn’t long before other Zombie Kings killed him and seized his territory. She became a captive again, suffering greatly as she was passed between several zombie groups. In the end, I rescued her. But instead of being grateful, she became insanely jealous and pushed me off a high-rise building. I pulled her down with me as we fell to our deaths. When I was reborn, I found myself back on the day when the survivors were being divided as spoils of war. Lily eagerly threw herself at the Fire Zombie King, whose face was covered in flame-like tattoos. Seeing her malicious smile, I couldn’t help but grin as well. Finally, I could escape that hellhole, and there was even a fool jumping right into it! …

The sound of zombies growling filled my ears as I suddenly woke up, realizing I had been reborn to the day we were captured by the zombie horde. At that moment, Lily ran past me quickly, heading towards the tall Zombie King covered in flame-like tattoos from head to toe. “Choose me, Fire Zombie King! I can bear your children!” she exclaimed. I was stunned. She really dared to say that despite their height difference being nearly double! In my previous life, she was terrified of the Zombie King who was twice her height. When the Fire Zombie King looked our way, she didn’t hesitate to push me forward. This time, she wasn’t afraid of getting in bed with him? She even dared to throw herself at him! Meeting her malicious gaze, I suddenly realized that she must have been reborn too, just like me. Back then, after Lily went with the Water Zombie King, it wasn’t long before his group was devoured by other Zombie Kings. She was passed between several zombie groups, treated as a plaything by the Zombie Kings, and tortured until she was barely recognizable. In the end, I saved her. I never expected that she would become insanely jealous behind my back and push me off a high-rise building when I wasn’t paying attention. After being reborn, she wanted to seize the initiative, thinking that if she snagged the Fire Zombie King, she could become the most revered woman in the post-apocalyptic world. I laughed inwardly. Did she really think being a Zombie Queen was that easy? The Fire Zombie King seemed interested in her forwardness. He picked her up with one hand and placed her on his shoulder. “I’ll take this one,” he said. Lily used to be a dancer, so her figure and face were indeed attractive. I just wondered if her body could handle what was coming. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and she looked at me with a smug expression. She mouthed, “This good life was meant to be mine all along. Now it’s time for me to take it back.” Leaving aside her confidence, I really had no intention of competing with her. She only saw the glamorous side of my life, not knowing how difficult it was behind the scenes. I smiled at her slightly. If she wanted to jump into the fire pit, I’d let her have this “good life”! We used to be best friends, and after the apocalypse hit, this airhead relied on me to survive until now. I never said anything, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t know about her little tricks behind my back. She would secretly skimp on my food and push me to the front when zombies attacked. Her excuse was that I knew martial arts and could protect myself better. In the post-apocalyptic world, we had lost all our relatives and only had each other, which is why I always tolerated her behavior. Under my protection, she enjoyed the benefits while secretly envying and scheming against me. Now she even wanted to steal my chance at survival and let me die in her place. She even gestured towards the Water Zombie King, saying, “I have a friend, Chloe. She’s healthy and can bear children. Water Zombie King, choose her!” Her eyes were filled with urgency, as if she couldn’t wait for me to experience all the suffering she had endured.

The moment she pushed me off that building in my previous life, any friendship between us ceased to exist. I rolled my eyes and, before the Water Zombie King could speak, I chose his second-in-command. “Can I go with your deputy?” I asked. The Water Zombie King was simple-minded and physically strong, not particularly attractive – more like a chunk of iron. But he valued brotherhood and wouldn’t compete with his subordinates for women. He just asked me innocently, “Oh? Why choose him over me?” Pretending to be scared, I carefully replied, “Because… your deputy’s size matches mine better.” Hearing this, the Water Zombie King burst into laughter. “Too big for you to handle, huh? Haha, alright then, you can go with my second-in-command!” Well, of course! Mismatched sizes would be torture – I knew that from experience! The deputy in the Water Zombie King’s group was a newly recruited wandering powerhouse who had made great contributions in the recent raid on another zombie group. His physique hadn’t expanded too much due to the zombie transformation. He was only slightly taller than a normal human, not quite two meters tall. His appearance was also close to human, except for the purple-gold patterns covering his face, which weren’t too frightening. The more human-like appearance a zombie had after transformation, the more humanity they retained, and the higher their intelligence. I had studied these elite zombies in the groups before. His abilities were no less than those of other Zombie Kings. If he hadn’t been schemed against and injured, pursued to death by other zombie groups, he would have had the chance to become a ruler in his own right. I’d had enough of the life of being a plaything and barely surviving. Men couldn’t be relied upon, and zombie men even less so. This time, I wanted to forge a new path for myself. Those zombies who retained part of their humanity understood and all chuckled softly. The deputy’s face darkened. After all, no man would feel proud about being chosen because he was smaller. He was rough with me, throwing me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. His sharp claws even tore the skin on my thigh. After smelling the blood, he perversely stuck out his tongue and licked it, the sensation ice-cold. I suppressed my nausea and tried to calm myself down. I had endured worse things before; this was nothing. Lily looked at me with contempt and mockery in her eyes, as if she was looking at a dead person. Well, from her perspective, the deputy I chose now wasn’t even as good as the Water Zombie King she had initially ended up with. She probably thought I couldn’t escape the fate of becoming a captive again and suffering the same tragic end as she had. Too bad, I wouldn’t be as stupid as her. With her walnut-sized brain, what could she think of besides relying on others to survive? This city originally had four Zombie Kings, but after today, only three remained. Now it was divided into three parts, occupied by three Zombie Kings. The remaining survivors were also divided into three groups, with men and women separated. The men became blood bags and food, while the women became playthings and tools for reproduction. After turning into zombies, their fertility rate greatly decreased, making surviving human women highly prized. It had been over a year since the apocalypse began, and there were very few women left among the survivors. The deputy was very displeased with me because of that twisted comment about his size. I didn’t know how he would deal with me. Their base was a former five-star hotel, now occupied by the Water Zombie King as his stronghold. I was thrown onto a soft bed. It had been so long since I’d slept on such a comfortable bed that I almost dozed off. The man – no, the male zombie – with purple tattoos on his face pressed down on me aggressively. “You said our sizes match, right? Let’s test that out and see just how well we match!”

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My childhood friend said he was under too much pressure from studying for his graduate school entrance exam. He coaxed me into having sex with him. After that, he became insatiable and entangled with me for an entire year. I found him too straightforward, so I laughed softly and said, “When pursuing a girl, remember to send flowers.” He kissed me repeatedly and murmured in agreement. Until the day the most beautiful girl in our department confessed to him, my childhood friend asked to meet me. “Help me choose a bouquet later. You girls have similar tastes.” “I’m sure Sophia will like whatever you pick.” Turns out, he knew that a confession should start with a bouquet of flowers. When I heard Jack say he accepted Sophia’s confession, the air around me seemed to freeze. Whenever he mentioned Sophia, he couldn’t hide the smile on his face. I’ve known him for many years, but this was the first time I’d seen this expression. I mumbled my responses, afraid that if I said too much, he would notice the strange tone in my voice. “Emily, are you about to cry?” he asked teasingly, deliberately raising his voice. My hands trembled slightly as I clutched the hem of my shirt. Jack knew me very well. He could even capture my emotions from the slightest facial expression. In front of him, I couldn’t lie. But I still tried to be stubborn this time. “I’m just tired from all the stress lately.” “That’s perfect then. Come with me to the flower shop to choose a bouquet. It’ll help you relax.” Hearing him say “relax” still touched a nerve in my heart. Every time Jack coaxed me into spending the night, he would use this as an excuse. He couldn’t hide the joy in his voice: “You’re both girls, so I’m sure Sophia will like whatever you pick.” Sophia was the most beautiful girl in our department, pretty and pursued by many. But I never knew Jack was interested in her too. So what was I… “Jack, what about me?” I asked, biting my lip. He was silent for a few seconds, his face darkening. When he spoke, his expression was serious: “Emily, don’t tell me you took this seriously.” “You’re a friend I grew up with. Wasn’t this just about mutual benefits?” His tone was calm, but his words cut deep. I had taught him to give flowers when dating a girl. In the past, he always forgot. It turns out, those who truly care don’t need to be taught. He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, smiling mischievously: “You’ve lived in my house for so many years, people see you as my sister.” “Who could accept being with their own sister? If I did that, would I even be human?” These words were like a bucket of ice water, leaving me feeling cold. I stared at the ground, not letting my tears fall. “The exam is coming up soon. I need to do more practice questions.” With that, I hurriedly returned to my dorm.

I thought Jack saw me as his girlfriend. We rode Ferris wheels together, watched sunsets together. He took me to Norway to see the Northern Lights. He would also passionately kiss me at the moment the sun rose. Saying all sorts of romantic vows. Jack said I was his sister. But every time he took me out overnight, in the heat of the moment, he would call me “wife.” It turns out, in Jack’s eyes, this was just a game. From beginning to end, I was the only one who fell for it. The sound of the phone interrupted my thoughts. “Emily, have you been crying?” Aunt Sarah noticed something was off. I immediately snapped out of my memories. My reflection in the mirror showed a tear-stained face. I quickly wiped it clean. “I’m just under a lot of pressure lately and caught a bit of a cold.” She finally relaxed: “Remember to take your medicine. If you’re really not feeling well, have that Jack boy take you to the hospital.” I agreed to everything she said. Mentioning Jack, Aunt Sarah seemed to remember something: “Oh, Emily, have you told him about going abroad after your exams next month? He’s not going to be reluctant to let you go again, is he?” The year my parents passed away, Aunt Sarah had planned to take me abroad. It was Jack who tugged at my clothes, begging me to stay. He said they had many rooms in their house, and I could live in any of them. His home would be my home. He was willing to be my family. I was moved by those words and refused Aunt Sarah’s offer. Now, considering my future, Aunt Sarah once again invited me to go abroad and develop my career with her. I had planned to tell Jack about this today. I had even written a full page of thoughts a week ago. Planning to give it to him today along with my decision. “Don’t worry, Aunt Sarah. We’ve all grown up now. We won’t be as stubborn as we were when we were kids.” “What about you, Emily? Will you miss him?” Every time I chat with Aunt Sarah, I always end up mentioning Jack without realizing it. How could she not see through the signs of a young girl’s first love? Aunt Sarah has been developing her career abroad for many years, and our relatives have always kept their distance from me as an orphan. Once I leave this time, I probably won’t come back. Thinking that time can wash away everything, I felt more at peace: “I’ve already contacted a famous art teacher abroad. Apart from studying, I’ll be able to keep you company.”

While I was doing practice questions, my roommate suddenly exclaimed, “Emily, quick, look at the campus social media!” Before I could react, the content on her phone was already in front of my eyes. In the video, Jack was kneeling on one knee with a bouquet of flowers: “How could I let a girl confess first? Sophia, will you be my girlfriend?” He looked nervous and shy, causing the people around to scream, calling him a true romantic. But just last night, he had used the excuse of dinner to ask me out, pinning me against the hotel door for a deep kiss. Promising to send me flowers. Now it seems, all of that was just empty promises after he was satisfied. “Sigh, I thought Jack liked you before,” my roommate pulled her chair next to mine, looking regretful. “He always called you whenever he went out, prepared gifts for you on holidays and birthdays. Now you’re telling me I was wrong about their relationship?” I forced a smile, holding back the tears that were about to fall. My fingertips dug into my palms. If my flesh hurt, maybe my heart wouldn’t hurt as much. In the evening, while buying food at the cafeteria, I happened to run into the couple holding hands. I instinctively lowered my head, wanting to get away from them quickly. “Emily, why are you running so fast?” Jack grabbed my collar, pulling me back. “Why didn’t you reply to the message I sent you this afternoon? I was just about to look for you.” He looked particularly handsome today, even his hair was impeccably styled. When he looked at the girl beside him, his eyes were full of light. “This is my girlfriend, Sophia. Call her sister-in-law.” Over the years, I had grown used to him introducing me to others as his sister without blood ties. But I couldn’t bring myself to call her “sister-in-law.” Seeing no reaction from me, Jack suddenly raised his hand to pinch my face: “What are you spacing out for? Are you not giving your brother face?” Our eyes met, and he saw the humiliated tears in mine. Jack’s hand froze. The look he gave me was a bit flustered. Before, when a classmate from another class confessed to me, I didn’t know how to respond. Jack had just returned from playing basketball and saw the scene. He put his hand on my neck and pinched my face. What did he say back then? “What are you spacing out for, Emily? Do you need me to reject him for you?” The boy asked him what right he had to decide for me, what business was it of his. “What business? He chuckled lowly, “We live together.” “I have quite a few photos of Emily drooling in her sleep on my phone. Want to see?” The night after chasing that boy away, Jack used the excuse of reviewing lessons. He pressed me onto the bed and kissed me all night. He pinched the necklace on my neck, warning me in my ear, “Emily, we grew up together.” “I won’t allow you to be distracted from me.”

“It’s okay, Jack. We’re all classmates. If she can’t say it, let it be,” Sophia tugged at his sleeve. Jack finally returned to normal, letting out a long breath: “I was too hasty. We’ll wait for her to say it in the future.” I pursed my lips, tightening my grip on the lunch box. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back first.” In my heart, I thought silently. Jack, there won’t be a future. Sophia’s voice came from behind: “Come sing karaoke with us later. It’s Jack’s treat. You’re his sister, it wouldn’t be right if you didn’t come, right?” I thought Sophia invited me to learn more about Jack. I didn’t expect my thoughts to be so simple. Jack was chatting with others, and Sophia sat down next to me. From the moment we entered the private room, she had been very enthusiastic towards me. “Emily, I heard you and Jack are childhood friends. You two make such a good-looking pair, why didn’t you consider getting together?” She even linked arms with me, making it impossible for me to avoid the topic. “Jack has always seen me as a sister. He wouldn’t be with his sister.” I wanted to dispel Sophia’s concerns, after all, they had just gotten together and lacked a sense of security based on trust. But she persisted, her tone somewhat provocative: “Are you saying you have unrequited love for my boyfriend?” “Ah, no…” I opened my mouth, but didn’t know how to refute for a moment. “Jack, that necklace on your neck looks pretty nice.” Jack had already sat down next to Sophia, handing her a piece of fruit. “Oh, this is something my parents got from a temple when I was little. They said it could bring protection.” “You like it?” Sophia stopped his motion as he was about to take it off, nestling coquettishly in his arms: “I just thought Emily’s necklace looked like a couple’s set with yours. But never mind, she must wear it every day because she likes it…” Jack looked at me, his gaze sweeping across my neck. “Emily, give me your necklace.” Without waiting for my reaction, he reached out to take it off. “We’re all family now. Since Sophia likes it, consider it your welcoming gift to her.” I instinctively leaned back, avoiding his hand that was about to touch me. He was stunned for a moment, but his eyes quickly filled with anger: “Are you being disobedient? Don’t forget, this belongs to our family. I have the right to take it back.” The noise around us suddenly stopped. Everyone turned their gaze towards me. “Jack, what are you saying? That necklace was from when Emily had a high fever for three days, and you cried and begged your parents to take you to the temple to get it for her.” The person speaking was a friend who grew up with us. Jack seemed to suddenly realize something and instinctively withdrew his hand. “I just thought we’ve all grown up now and don’t need its protection to be okay. Never mind… I was wrong. If you like it, keep it.” “No need. I’ll give it back to you now,” I pulled off the protection necklace from my neck. “Now I don’t owe you anything anymore.” He stared at the necklace in his hand, frozen in place.

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