Category: English

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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My sister and my boyfriend never got along. She didn’t believe that the charming and flirtatious heir would ever settle down for me. Even after my boyfriend proposed, she still tried to stop us from being together. To convince her, I registered a new account to test my boyfriend. Evan’s attitude was as cold as ice, always ignoring my messages. Just as I was secretly feeling pleased, I received a voice message from Evan. He said, “I’ve told you, except for you and your sister, I’m not interested in other women. “Grace, you’re so unsatisfied. Who will fulfill your needs if I get married?” Grace was my sister’s name. Hearing these voice messages, I felt like my entire body had frozen in an instant. In a panic, I pinched my thigh to confirm if this was just a nightmare. Amid the intense pounding of my heart, the harsh reality hit me. Evan and my sister were involved. And I was just a substitute for my sister. But… how could this be? Hadn’t they always disliked each other? My sister always said that Evan, apart from his prestigious family background, was just an utterly useless playboy. Evan, on the other hand, thought my sister was a meddling busybody. Every time we argued, she would try to convince me to break up. My phone suddenly rang with a call, pulling me out of my thoughts. I blankly rejected the call. Evan: [Why didn’t you pick up the phone?] [You’re not crying, are you?] [Come to the Nightshade Villa. I’ll satisfy you properly tonight.] [Don’t worry. Marriage is just a formality.] [Everything Mia has, you won’t miss out on.] [That includes me.] I stared blankly at the screen, a buzzing sound in my ears, feeling as if my body had frozen. Tears uncontrollably streamed down my face. Through my blurry vision, I couldn’t help but recall the first time I took my sister to that villa. Without me guiding her, she easily found the bathroom and the facial cleanser in the storage cabinet. When I checked her phone, I found that she had already connected to the Wi-Fi. She said she had accidentally entered my social account password. Evan’s corgi was incredibly affectionate towards her. She said it might be because it picked up my scent. But the dog totally ignored me, even when I offered a frisbee or a bone. Yet, it wagged its tail happily at my sister, whom it had just met. And at my sister’s house, there were limited edition bags, high couture dresses, and jewelry, just like mine. Some of them were things Evan had asked me to pass on under the guise of trying to please my sister. The rest, my sister said, were gifts from her suitors. I eagerly asked her about them, but she stammered and dodged the question. I thought she was shy, but it turned out she was hiding something. I also remembered when we went shopping and they bickered for my attention in front of me. Several times, the tense atmosphere was suddenly broken by laughter. I naively thought they were making up, happy that their relationship was improving. This pair of shameless lovers had been treating me as just a part of their game, playing me for a fool. I cried until my eyes were swollen and my head dizzy. Grabbing the car keys, I sped towards the Nightshade Villa. Nightshade Villa was Evan’s private club, and now it was hosting the groomsmen’s gathering. Evan was there. To my surprise, my sister was there, too. I stood outside the wall, watching them at the outdoor bar. Evan seemed to be drunk, his handsome face flushed red. He drunkenly held my sister’s neck, whispering in her ear. My sister frowned in disdain but mischievously pulled his tie. The surrounding men teased them with suggestive jeering. Evan, however, playfully swept his bangs back and purposely leaned back, flashing a mischievous grin, having succeeded in his prank.

My sister gasped and collapsed onto his lap. Evan wrapped his arms around her slender waist, kissing her lips under the dim lights of the outdoor bar. The crowd erupted into cheers and whistles. Some people opened champagne to celebrate, while others raised their phones to take pictures. Others laughed and teased, “Evan, you’re marrying Mia the day after tomorrow. Is it really appropriate to get intimate with her sister today?” “Haha, don’t tell anyone. Even if Evan takes care of Grace here tonight, Mia won’t find out.” “This is the Evan I know! Before, you were so obedient to Mia, always acting so devoted and faithful. Turns out it was all just an act? I really thought you’d changed!” Evan finally ended the passionate kiss. He was drunk, exuding a touch of arrogance. He said, “The one I’ve always loved is Grace, from the beginning to the end. But who’s to blame when Grace, this flirtatious woman, refuses to settle down for me?” Evan let out a light laugh, then kissed my sister on the cheek. “Guess I’ll have to settle for second best and be with her little sister. “Mia might not be as wild as Grace in bed, but as far as body and looks go, she’s not bad at all, tsk…” Evan helped my sister stand up and leaned her against the bar to rest. Someone handed him a coat, and he draped it over her shoulders. Someone asked, “Evan, are you going home tonight?” My sister looked up at him, her eyes dazed. Evan bent down, affectionately pinching her cheek. “Mia cares about her sister the most. I’m always second. Now that her sister is so upset, I naturally have to comfort her first.” He waved his hand behind him. “John, send Mia a message saying I’m drunk and won’t be coming back tonight. I’ll pick her up for rehearsal tomorrow.” As tears blurred my vision, my phone vibrated. John had sent a message. John: [Ms. Jones, Mr. Taylor is drunk and won’t be coming back tonight. Please rest early. He’ll come to pick you up for rehearsal tomorrow.]

I stood there for a long time, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Since we were little, my sister and I had always depended on each other. After our parents passed away, we were fostered by our uncle. My cousin constantly bullied me, and my aunt turned a blind eye. I was too scared to fight back, but my sister stood up for me. I didn’t dare to strike, but she was the one to teach them a lesson. In terms of academics, I was smarter than my sister. She didn’t like studying much, so in her senior year of high school, I stayed up every night to help her review, breaking down the material and explaining it to her. I painted a picture of a bright future for her, and we both ended up getting into university in this city. When we graduated, I found out my boyfriend was cheating. Without saying a word, my sister rushed to the hotel and beat up the cheating couple. Later, we shared a bedroom in a rented apartment, both uncertain about the future. Every night, we squeezed into one bed, promising each other that we’d take care of one another once we became successful. “We can’t forget our roots. “I’ll leave you the biggest room when I make it.” Since childhood, I’ve always considered her the most important person in my life. Maybe love for family always has its conditions, but I believed she would love me forever. So, witnessing her betrayal, I didn’t even dare to confront her. The one who once fought for me against the other woman had now become the mistress of my fiancé. My wholehearted trust was met with ruthless betrayal. I left the outdoor bar, the cold moon hanging high in the sky, the night air biting with chill. I remembered the first time I met Evan. At twenty-five, I had become the most renowned jewelry designer in Hamscent. At an international auction, after working nonstop for three days and nights, I nearly collapsed in front of the display booth. It was Evan who caught me just in time. Dressed in a suit, he was impossible to look away from. His gentle gaze made my heart race. Later, I heard he was the heir of a prestigious family and notorious for his flirtations, so I deliberately kept my distance. But to win me over, he gave up all his bad habits and pursued me relentlessly for a whole year. That year, during Christmas, I went back to my rural hometown to visit my seriously ill grandmother. Due to poor signal in the mountains, I couldn’t be reached. Worried that I might be in danger, he drove through mountains to find me. Seeing him in the heavy snow, wearing only a thin shirt, anxiously asking the villagers at the village entrance about my whereabouts, I knew then that I was meant to be with him for the rest of my life. During three years of dating, he always pampered me like it was the beginning. He would fix my hair at jewelry exhibitions, remember every vital day and surprise me, and carefully prepare before introducing me to his family. On every occasion, he proudly introduced me, “This is my fiancée, Mia, the youngest jewelry design master in Hamscent. “Her works have won numerous international awards, and even the royal family has appointed her to design their wedding jewelry. If you want to book her now, you’ll have to wait until next year. “Actually, you’ll have to wait until the year after next! “Because next year, we’re having a grand wedding. We’ll definitely invite everyone!” The love he gave me was perfect, but there was a fatal flaw, making everything fragile and easy to shatter. I went to the hotel alone and cried my heart out.

I kept telling myself that this was just betrayal, just being deceived. The wedding hadn’t happened yet. There was still time. I could run far away, leave this painful place, and stay away from these two. But why should I leave? They were the ones who were wrong. They would pay the price! And I should reflect on my lack of sharp judgment, not on my sincere efforts. I was not at fault. I was fine. The next day, during the wedding rehearsal, I returned to the apartment early. When Evan came to pick me up, I had already adjusted myself. But he still noticed my swollen eyes. “Why are your eyes so red?” He bent down and gently kissed my eyelids. I forced back my disgust and said, “I miss my parents.” Evan smiled, squatting down to help me change my shoes. “Your parents must be happy for you up in heaven.” I stared at the top of Evan’s head, my mind filled with a thousand thoughts. I thought, “Since you can’t be faithful, why choose me? Don’t you know that betrayal is the one thing I can’t stand? When you were having an affair with my sister, did you ever think about how much it would hurt me, how hopeless I would feel when I found out?” I held back those thoughts. Evan always boasted to the others that he would give me the most luxurious wedding the city had ever seen. I was going to turn this grand wedding into a ridiculous farce with my own hands. And Evan would be the saddest clown of all. The rehearsal went on until evening. Before leaving, I asked Evan and my sister to wait for me in the parking lot. I called in the wedding planner. This million-dollar wedding would be led by me and executed by her. After speaking with her, she looked troubled, as if she had something to say but didn’t know how. I acted as though I didn’t see. I knew my request was unreasonable. Such last-minute changes would bring a huge workload. But I had handled many high-society weddings and had dealt with more willful brides than me. Now that it was my turn to be the bride, why couldn’t I be willful just once? The driver was gone when I got into the car. Evan was sitting in the front seat, and my sister was in the back. The silence in the air was suffocating. I looked at my sister’s flushed face and sneered. Every time I saw this scene before, I thought they were just arguing, but it turns out they were sneaking around behind my back… I was really such a fool. I sat in the back seat, tired, and closed my eyes. “Where’s the driver?” Evan answered, “He went to the restroom. I’ll call him right away.” I gave a slight nod. Evan turned around, offering me a cup. The fragrance of coffee wafted through the air. “Are you tired?” he asked softly. Then he turned to my sister, commanding, “Grace, sit in the front.” “No need.” I opened my eyes, grabbed my sister’s hand, and turned to smile at her. I continued, “I still have so much to say to my sister.” Evan frowned, clearly displeased. “What is it that I can’t hear?” I smiled even more deeply, “It’s just some trivial talk, nothing important. If you overhear it, you’ll probably accuse my sister of trying to stir up trouble.” Evan snorted, “Grace, no matter how much you object, your sister and I are getting married now. You need to show me some respect in the future.” My sister seemed to sense something was wrong and didn’t retort like usual. Her expression froze, and she looked at me nervously. Free Point

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## When my father suddenly passed away, he left behind a house, a car, and some cash. To everyone’s surprise, my usually petty and sharp-tongued stepmother only asked for the car and cash, leaving the most valuable asset—the house—to me, my grandfather, and my younger sister. The three of us were completely baffled. It wasn’t until the inheritance paperwork was finalized that I accidentally overheard her inner thoughts. “Don’t think you’ve scored with that big house. The apocalypse is coming, and the freezing cold will kill you all soon enough!” 0“I don’t need the house. It’s too big for just me and Xuxu.” “I’ll take the car and the cash. After this, we go our separate ways.” Her words caught everyone off guard. My grandfather, my sister, and I all froze in place. My father had only been diagnosed with terminal cancer a month earlier. The disease came so quickly that none of us had time to process it before he passed away. During his final days, we called my stepmother countless times, begging her to come back and visit him one last time. But she refused, saying her son, Andy, was preparing for an important middle school entrance exam. She wouldn’t even spare a day to say goodbye to my dad. She didn’t show up for the funeral either. Instead, she took her son on what she called an “educational summer camp”—which was really just a fancy vacation. But now, with everything settled, here she was, suddenly reappearing to claim her share of the inheritance. We braced ourselves for a fight. After all, knowing her personality, even something as small as us having an extra glass of milk would set her off for days. Why was she suddenly acting so… reasonable? Grandpa’s face reflected his confusion. His eyes darted between my stepmother and the documents on the table. She looked radiant, dressed in expensive clothes and wearing jewelry that sparkled under the light. She didn’t look like someone grieving, not even a little. Still, Grandpa spoke again, cautiously. “Ruby, are you sure about this? My son may be gone, but I won’t let you be treated unfairly.” “Whatever’s yours will be yours. We won’t take a penny that doesn’t belong to us.” Ruby waved him off impatiently. “Stop rambling. I just want the car and the cash. I even brought the lawyer with me.” She pulled out a pre-prepared inheritance agreement, signed her name in bold strokes, and shoved it across the table. Grandpa and I exchanged wary glances. We carefully read through the document, checking every word for hidden clauses. To our surprise, it was exactly as she said—she only wanted the car and the cash. The only additional condition was that, after the division, she would have no further ties with our family. No ties? Fine by us. She never treated Grandpa, my sister, or me well while my dad was alive. Now that he was gone, cutting ties sounded like a relief. I signed the document on behalf of the family, pressing my fingerprint onto the paper. Ruby’s face lit up with joy as she grabbed the agreement. “Great! I’ll get the car transferred this afternoon. From now on, we’re done—no more connections, not even a little!” She strutted out of the house, practically skipping. And true to her word, she transferred the car into her name that very afternoon. Though the three of us—Grandpa, my sister, and I—were still puzzled by her behavior, we went ahead and transferred the house into my name. But as fate would have it, we ran into Ruby again as we were leaving the notary office. She was driving my dad’s old, beat-up Jetta, looking smug as ever. “Big house, huh? Sure, it’s nice—if you live long enough to enjoy it.” “Good luck!” she shouted, laughing as she drove off. The car’s exhaust sputtered as it sped away, but amid the fading engine noise, I suddenly heard her voice again, sharp and venomous: “Don’t think you’ve won just because you got the house. I’ve been through this before—I know what’s coming! In a few days, the apocalypse will hit, and the freezing cold will kill you all!” 0

For a brief moment, my mind went completely blank. Instinctively, I asked Grandpa and my sister if they had heard what my stepmother just said. They both shook their heads. “She just said, ‘Good luck,’ didn’t she?” “Come on, big sis,” my sister chimed in. “Ruby might be a bit harsh, but don’t take it to heart.” “We’ve got this big house now! Worst case, we can rent it out, move back to the countryside, and live off the rent. It’ll cover our expenses just fine.” She was trying to comfort me, but I shook my head. No. I was absolutely certain I had heard her voice—word for word. I opened Ruby’s social media account and saw her latest post. She had already checked in at the train station. The picture showed her holding two train tickets to Furnace Ridge. The caption was short but chilling: “Who knew you couldn’t fly to Furnace Ridge? Oh well, doesn’t matter. The deep freeze is coming soon—can’t wait to see all you smug city folk freeze to death!” My stomach dropped. Furnace Ridge was one of the hottest places in the country. This year’s summer heatwave had been insane, with surface temperatures there reaching over 140°F. Going to Furnace Ridge in this heat was practically a death wish. But knowing Ruby the way I did, she was far too selfish and self-preserving to risk her life like that—unless… Unless what I’d overheard from her earlier was true. Ruby had really been reincarnated, and in just a few days, the world would be plunged into an apocalyptic deep freeze. I told Grandpa and my sister about my theory, but they both thought I’d been reading too much sci-fi. “There’s no such thing as doomsday,” Grandpa said. “That’s just something people make up for movies and books.” “And how could there be freezing weather when it’s this hot outside?” “Exactly!” my sister chimed in. “Honestly, if it did get cold, it’d probably feel kind of nice after all this heat.” I stayed quiet. She was too young to grasp how terrifying extreme cold could be. A sudden drop in temperature could freeze everything in minutes. A polar vortex could bring temperatures as low as -100°F, turning people, animals, and even buildings into ice sculptures. I couldn’t take any chances. I immediately went online to look for any signs of unusual weather patterns. The results made my blood run cold. • “Reports of Extreme Weather Unsettle Residents: Sudden Temperature Swings Leave Experts Puzzled.” • “City Sees Wild Temperature Shifts—Four Seasons in a Single Day?” • “Man Found Dead on the Streets Overnight—Hypothermia or Something More Sinister?” Each headline made my heart race faster. The more I read, the more convinced I became: Ruby was telling the truth. I couldn’t gamble with my family’s lives. Meanwhile, Ruby’s location updated again—she was now near Furnace Ridge. Her new social media post read: “What’s the point of having a fancy house if it can’t keep you alive? A safe shelter is the only luxury that matters!” My sister was furious. “She’s insane! She’s the one who chose what she wanted from the inheritance. Who’s she throwing shade at now?” But her anger only strengthened my resolve. What I’d overheard from Ruby couldn’t be dismissed as a coincidence. “Better safe than sorry,” I said firmly. “Grandpa, Emily, we need to prepare.” They exchanged uncertain glances but eventually nodded. Ruby’s cryptic, spiteful posts were enough to convince them. “You’re right,” Grandpa said. “It’s better to be ready than regret it later.” 0

We knew one thing for certain: a deep freeze was coming. But how long it would last and when it would arrive—no one could say. “Should we move to Furnace Ridge too?” Emily suggested. I shook my head. Even if Ruby claimed to be reborn, I wasn’t going to blindly trust her judgment. Furnace Ridge might be scorching during the day, but it was still a desert—the temperature would plummet at night. It might not survive an extreme freeze either. Besides, Ruby took all the cash from the inheritance. We didn’t have the money to relocate. “Then let’s sell the house,” Emily said. “A place this big has to be worth a lot, right?” I sighed. “We don’t have time. Selling a house isn’t something you can do overnight.” “And even if we could sell it, what if the freeze hits before we find somewhere else to go?” Grandpa suddenly chimed in, his expression thoughtful. “There’s still the old house back in Cedar Hollow. It’s not much, but it’s got a yard and a fireplace. Back when I worked in the city to put your dad through school, your grandma refused to leave that house. She always said it was the most comfortable place to live.” My eyes lit up. Of course! The old house was partially underground, making it naturally insulated. With a few upgrades, it could be the perfect refuge from the cold. Grandpa brought out his savings, and Emily and I pooled together our college funds and any leftover birthday money. Altogether, we scraped together about $30,000. Armed with that money, we headed straight to the nearest stores. First, we bought construction materials to reinforce the house. Then we got heating supplies—firewood, thermal blankets, and portable heaters. Whatever money was left went toward food, medicine, and emergency supplies. It took us three days to gather everything. We loaded it all into rented trucks and started the trip back to Cedar Hollow. Before we left, Emily hesitated at the door of the big house, reluctant to leave. “Are you sure we shouldn’t rent it out?” she asked. “No,” I replied firmly. The house wasn’t in a great location, so we wouldn’t get much rent for it anyway. Plus, renting it out would only draw Ruby’s attention. I didn’t know why she harbored so much hostility toward us, but I wasn’t about to risk provoking her further. Over the next few days, Ruby kept posting updates from Furnace Ridge. Each one was more smug and self-assured than the last. I couldn’t fathom where she got the confidence to think Furnace Ridge would protect her from the coming freeze. But if the apocalypse really was on the horizon, no amount of gloating would save her. Even if she became the self-proclaimed “Queen of Furnace Ridge,” survival wasn’t guaranteed for anyone. 0

We returned to the countryside with several truckloads of supplies. There weren’t many families left in the village—just a handful of elderly folks scattered about, aside from my grandma. That was actually a good thing. With so few people around, we didn’t have to worry about drawing too much attention or causing trouble. Grandpa explained my theory to Grandma. I thought she’d dismiss it outright, but to my surprise, her reaction was even more intense than ours. “I’ve been having dreams,” she said, her voice trembling. “In them, the world is frozen solid. There’s no food to be found. Chickens, ducks, sheep—all frozen stiff in the fields. People, too—dead everywhere, frozen like statues.” “I wanted to call you kids about it, but I was afraid you’d think I’m just some old woman losing her mind. But now… it seems like the heavens really don’t want to let us live,” she said, wiping tears from her face. I reached out to comfort her. “It won’t be like that, Grandma. Look, we brought so many supplies back with us. As long as we all work together, we’ll get through this.” I had assumed our old house wasn’t very big, but to my surprise, it turned out that our family had once been quite well-off. The property was made up of a series of interconnected underground homes—earth shelters—with over a dozen rooms in total. No wonder Grandpa had insisted on buying construction materials first. Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to make full use of all the space. Under the guise of “renovating the old family home,” Grandpa hired some workers to help us. Thick, tempered glass was installed to seal off every entrance and window, insulating the entire structure. Inside, we added several layers of thermal insulation to keep the cold out. Meanwhile, my sister, Grandma, and I carried in the supplies and organized everything by category. As we filled the rooms, three of the underground shelters were packed floor to ceiling with food, firewood, and emergency items. Seeing all that gave us a deep sense of comfort and reassurance. Grandma had an idea as well. “Since the extra rooms are just sitting empty, why don’t we bring in the chickens, ducks, cows, and sheep from the backyard? And don’t forget the straw and feed, too. If we run out of food, these animals will at least give us another option.” My sister and I got to work. All the land animals were brought into the underground shelters. As for the fish Grandma had been raising… well, they wouldn’t survive the extreme cold anyway, so we gave them to the remaining families in the village. In return, they sent us fresh eggs as thanks. With everything ready, Grandpa sent the workers away. All that was left to do was wait for the freezing weather to arrive. That night, the four of us—completely exhausted—lay in the courtyard, looking up at the hazy sky through the tempered glass roof. None of us could put into words the mix of feelings in our hearts. While we had been working tirelessly, Ruby, my stepmother, had been living in luxury. With the $200,000 in cash she took from the inheritance, she had rented a massive home in the desert. She hired locals to cater to her every need, from cooking to cleaning. She even had someone feeding her meals. It was like she was living the life of royalty. Her social media was full of boastful videos, accompanied by snide, passive-aggressive captions. We were too busy with our preparations to pay her any attention, which seemed to infuriate her. Eventually, she couldn’t hold back and called Grandpa directly to vent her frustration. “You old fool! What are you so proud of? Just because your son got into some fancy college? He still ended up working himself to death for me!” “And even after he’s gone, I’m the one holding all the cash!” “You never respected me when I was in your house. You even tried to meddle in my son’s education! How’s that big house treating you now?!” “By tomorrow, you’ll all be crying and begging me to come save you! But let me tell you, even if you all get on your knees, I won’t lift a finger to help!” 0

Her words were cruel, but I didn’t let her finish. I hung up the phone. People like her weren’t worth engaging with. What mattered more was that night, just as Ruby had predicted, the temperature plummeted. In June, snow began to fall. By morning, the entire world outside had been transformed into a frozen wasteland. We quickly retreated into the underground shelters, sealing the doors and windows tightly. Thankfully, we had chosen tempered glass when upgrading the house. The snow piled up on top of it, but instead of causing damage, it acted as an extra layer of insulation, helping to keep the cold out. Inside, with the fire burning steadily, we were warm and safe. Grandma, however, couldn’t sit still. She went out to the barn, killed a chicken, and brought it back inside with a bowl of its blood. “Unbelievable,” she said, holding up the bowl. “I was only outside for a minute, and this chicken’s blood froze solid before I even got back. I’d guess it’s at least -10°F or -20°F out there.” “More like worse than that!” my sister said, clutching her tablet. She pointed to a news report on the screen. “The news says it’s already -76°F outside.” “Once it gets below -76°F, regular thermometers can’t even measure the temperature anymore. Do you think it’s actually -80°F or even colder out there, sis?” I didn’t know. Looking at the snowdrifts outside—piled higher than a person—it was hard to believe anything could survive out there. Even with the warmth of the fire, the thought of what lay beyond our walls sent chills down my spine. There’s a myth that Medusa could turn people to stone with a single glance. This weather, I thought, could do the same—except it would turn people into ice sculptures instead. “Look at this,” Grandpa said suddenly, handing me his phone. It was a message from Ruby in the family group chat. Apparently, boasting on social media wasn’t enough for her anymore. She had started showing off in the family chat too. The photos she sent showed her lounging in the desert, wearing summer clothes and even lying barefoot in the sand. The caption read: “Is it really that cold? I think the temperature is perfect.” This didn’t make sense. Even if Furnace Ridge was warmer than most places, it shouldn’t be warm enough for sand baths during a deep freeze. For a moment, I wondered if the snow had somehow avoided Furnace Ridge entirely. Then I remembered Ruby’s earlier warnings and felt a strange sense of unease. I immediately opened a search engine and typed “Furnace Ridge.” Within seconds, my screen was flooded with news articles. The most prominent headline read: “The World Becomes a Frozen Wasteland, But Furnace Ridge Remains Untouched!”

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My wife’s childhood friend passed away, but she showed no reaction when she found out. She continued to follow the doctor’s advice and went to the hospital for prenatal checkups, while I accompanied her and prepared things for the baby’s arrival. Just when I thought our family of two would become a happy family of three after the child’s birth, my wife threw our newborn daughter into a fire. She gripped a kitchen knife in her hand and vengefully stabbed me in the abdomen. “This is all your fault!” “He’s loved me since we were kids. What’s wrong with him wanting to be with me?” “If your lab hadn’t had an accident, I wouldn’t have stayed at the company with you and missed his last phone call before he died!” “I don’t want a child with your blood running through her veins. She deserves to die, just like you!” When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day of the lab accident. As I regained consciousness, I saw thick smoke rising in the distance. I realized I had returned to the day of the lab accident. Just like in my previous life, cries for help echoed beneath the billowing smoke. “Help! Is anyone there? Save us!” “I’m going to burn to death! Someone, please!” Hearing these desperate pleas, I quickly pulled out my phone to call 911. But just as the call connected, someone snatched the phone from behind. I turned around in surprise to see Lily glaring at me resentfully. Yet her words contradicted her expression: “Please hurry to the bridge downtown! Someone’s about to jump! You must save him, he’s the most important person to me!” “Don’t worry, ma’am. We’ll make sure he’s safe,” the operator assured her. Once she confirmed emergency services were on their way, Lily threw the phone to the ground. “This time, I won’t let Noah leave me!” she hissed venomously. “Jack, you and your company can just disappear!” Hearing her curse, I realized she had also been reborn. I watched her turn to leave, my fists clenching slowly. But seeing the fire growing more intense, I pushed aside my conflicted emotions. I picked up the phone and quickly dialed 911 again. “Sir, don’t worry. We’ll be there right away!” After hanging up, I didn’t just stand by waiting for help. I connected a fire hose to a nearby hydrant and, without any protective gear, charged into the building. The thick smoke stung my eyes and made me cough uncontrollably. But human lives were at stake! I pushed through the discomfort, dragging the hose towards the heart of the flames. The scorching heat singed my hair. Embers landed on my shoulders, searing my skin. Gritting my teeth, I continued aiming the hose at the fire before me. In my previous life, without Lily’s interference, everyone in the lab building had been rescued. This time, I was determined to save them all again! When I finally heard the sirens of the fire trucks, my tense nerves instantly relaxed. I inhaled a lungful of smoke, choking as I gasped for air. Then everything went black. The next time I opened my eyes, I was lying in a hospital bed. The doctor examining me let out a sigh of relief when he saw me awake. “Mr. Wilson, you’ve been unconscious for days. Thank goodness you’re finally awake!” The balding doctor complained, “Mr. Wilson, we tried calling your wife using your phone, but couldn’t reach her. We couldn’t even get anyone to sign your critical condition notice!” “The other patients admitted with you have all been discharged, leaving just you here without even paying the hospital fees.” “Luckily, we’re a hospital with a conscience. Otherwise, after saving your life, we might have just sent you out!” I forced a smile and repeatedly thanked him: “Thank you so much! I’ll pay the hospital fees as soon as I regain some strength.” The doctor nodded: “You should contact your wife quickly so she can come take care of you.” Hearing this, I felt a bitter laugh rising in my heart. My wife had already thrown herself into another man’s arms. How could she possibly spare a thought for me? Looking at the empty hospital room, I struggled to sit up. I found my phone in the bedside drawer and checked the messages I’d received during my coma. When I opened my social media, I saw a photo Lily had posted three days ago of two people embracing. The caption read: “Thank heaven for giving me a chance to be with the one I love again!” The man’s back in the photo was unmistakably Noah, who had committed suicide in my previous life. My lawfully wedded wife, indifferent to me, was caring for another man while pregnant with my child!

When words fail, all you can do is laugh bitterly! The laughter erupting from my throat made my entire body ache! Oh Lily, what a wonderful wife you are! I placed the phone on my stomach, trying to calm myself, when I received several payment notification messages. Each of these notifications showed amounts of tens of thousands of dollars. As I was puzzling over the source of these charges, I happened to see a new post from Lily. The photo showed several luxury brand shopping bags and two intertwined hands. The caption read: “So happy to buy clothes for the man I love!” Seeing this photo, a surge of anger instantly welled up from the depths of my heart. I found Lily’s number in my contacts and immediately called her. But after several attempts, she kept hanging up. Five minutes later, she finally answered impatiently: “Jack, make it quick! I’m not in the mood to talk to you!” Suppressing my anger, I asked, “Did you just use my credit card?” Lily replied defiantly, “Yes, I used your credit card. So what?” “As your wife, am I not allowed to spend your money?” I laughed coldly, “Oh, so you still remember you’re my wife! What kind of wife acts like you do?” “Not taking care of her husband lying in a hospital bed, but instead caring for another man!” I demanded, “Did you spend two hundred thousand dollars on luxury goods for Noah?” Lily’s self-righteous voice came through the phone: “So what if I did? You owe him this!” “He died because of you in the last life. Spending some of your money on him now is only right!” Hearing this, I retorted, “That was his choice to jump off the bridge. It had nothing to do with me!” Lily shouted angrily, “How can you say it had nothing to do with you? If I hadn’t been pregnant with your child, he wouldn’t have gotten jealous and climbed onto that bridge to kill himself!” “This is all your fault! If you hadn’t forced your way into my life, I wouldn’t have married you, and Noah wouldn’t have committed suicide in the previous life!” Lily’s words became increasingly irrational. She seemed to have forgotten that she was the one who had actively applied for a job at the company. She was the one who eagerly brought coffee to my office every day. She was the one who deliberately got me drunk and wouldn’t let me leave when I was intoxicated, taking off all her clothes and clinging to me. She was also the one who, wearing a wedding dress and holding a bouquet, proposed to me in front of all the company employees. And she was the one who arranged for her childhood sweetheart to work at the company. Now, the words coming out of her mouth made it sound like I had forced her! Back then, believing Lily’s words, I had entrusted most of the company’s business to Noah, helping him quickly establish himself in the company. Noah became overconfident. Without any training, he entered the research lab on his own! Noah’s actions completely disregarded the lab’s management protocols. Using his limited knowledge of experiments, he mixed two chemicals together. Seeing the flames ignite in the test tube, he boasted about his knowledge on social media. After leaving the lab, he completely failed to extinguish the growing flames. This negligence led to the massive fire! Fearing I would hold him accountable, he staged a suicide attempt. In my previous life, worried that knowing the truth would upset the pregnant Lily and affect our unborn child, I didn’t tell her the truth. Unexpectedly, she resented me for this. She narcissistically believed Noah had climbed onto the bridge to commit suicide because he wanted to be with her. She even threw our newborn child into a fire and stabbed me to death with a kitchen knife! Two lives lost for nothing! Looking back now, I realize how foolish I was!

I said coldly, “Lily, I’m giving you until nightfall to return all the money you spent on Noah to my bank account. Otherwise, I’m going to the police.” “Two hundred thousand dollars is no small sum. The police will definitely investigate.” Lily’s voice carried a hint of anger: “Jack, are you threatening me?” “Well, let me tell you now, it’s right for me to spend your money on Noah, and I absolutely won’t pay you back!” “Then you’ll face the consequences,” I said, and hung up the phone. What little strength I had left my body after that call. My eyelids closed, and I immediately fell into a deep sleep. When I regained consciousness, the sky outside had turned dark. Hurried footsteps echoed in the corridor, rapidly approaching my hospital room. I had just sat up in bed when the door was suddenly kicked open from outside. Lily stormed up to me, her face full of rage: “Jack, I’m not paying you back! I want to see what you can do about it!” Noah, dressed in luxury brands from head to toe, hid behind Lily, secretly gauging my expression. These two held hands tightly right in front of me. “Lily, you’re right. I can’t do anything to you, but I’m a man of my word.” “If you don’t return the money, I’m calling the police right now!” I pulled out my phone, about to dial those three numbers. Seeing this, Lily quickly snatched my phone away. She shouted, “Jack, have you gone crazy?” “It’s just two hundred thousand dollars! You have so much money, what’s wrong with spending some on Noah?” “He was just rescued from the bridge. Why can’t we spend some money to comfort his wounded heart?” I laughed coldly, “Did I force him to attempt suicide?” “What does his sudden desire to end his life have to do with me?” “Why should I spend money on someone who’s constantly trying to cheat on me?” Lily looked at me with a sad expression: “Noah just wants to be with me. He has no ill intentions!” “How can you be so heartless? I was blind to have fallen for you back then!” Hearing these words, the last bit of lingering affection I had for Lily vanished into thin air. I said icily, “Since you regret it so much, let’s get a divorce!” A wife whose entire heart belongs to another man isn’t worth keeping anyway! Seeing the serious expression on my face, Lily was shocked. She cried out in disbelief, “Jack, have you gone mad?” “Don’t forget, I’m still carrying your child!” “If you push me too far, don’t you believe I’ll abort this baby right now?” My expression changed: “Are you threatening me?” “It’s not like you haven’t done something like this before.” Rather than having the child burned alive after birth, it would be better for her to disappear from this world before she can feel pain. Lily caught the deeper meaning in my words. Her expression changed, and she pulled Noah, preparing to leave my hospital room. I called out to Lily’s retreating back: “Wait.” Lily raised an eyebrow triumphantly: “What? Are you going to apologize for what you just said?” “You wish,” I replied. “I wanted to tell you, for the sake of our marriage, if you don’t return the money you spent within three days, I really will go to the police.” Lily glared at me angrily and slammed the door shut. Three days later, the money Lily had spent on Noah still hadn’t been returned to my account. Instead, a news story appeared across major media outlets: “Irresponsible Chemical Company CEO’s Mismanagement Leads to Lab Fire.” The comment section below was filled with tens of thousands of comments and shares, all condemning me as a corporate manager. There was even a social media account fabricating false information, claiming that I often forced employees to work overtime and produce substandard products. It misled the public into believing that this fire was caused by my careless placement of chemical reagents. They even posted photos of company documents, making their posts seem more credible. Suddenly, all major mainstream media were full of criticism against me.

Just as I was pondering who could have fabricated these false news stories, my phone suddenly received a call from an unknown number. Noah’s smug voice came through: “Jack, I assume you’ve seen the news online by now.” “If you want the news taken down, you can’t pursue the money Lily spent on me anymore.” “Moreover, you need to transfer all your shares to me and obey my every command!” I said sternly, “You’re dreaming!” Noah arrogantly replied, “Fine! Since you don’t agree, I’ll destroy the company you’ve built over years!” “When you come begging me for mercy later, it’ll be too late!” Noah threatened viciously. “Don’t worry, I’ll never beg a scumbag like you for mercy!” After I hung up the phone, suddenly many reporters flooded into the room. They pointed their intimidating cameras directly at my face. These reporters, with righteous expressions, held their microphones up to me: “Mr. Wilson, is the information circulating online true?” “Are you prepared to face legal consequences for the aftermath of this fire?” All the reporters before me were asking about the false information online. Lily stood behind them, satisfied with the uncomfortable look on my face. The cacophony of voices made my barely recovered body feel short of breath again. Suddenly, a young woman carrying a bouquet of flowers walked into the hospital room. Her face flushed red as she shouted, “The lab fire had nothing to do with the boss!” “If he hadn’t rushed in to save me, I would have died in there!” She looked at me with reddened eyes and handed me the bouquet she was holding. “Boss, thank you for saving my life.” The girl’s words instantly silenced the hospital room.

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In the fifth year after my suicide, Samuel got himself another woman. Everyone said that she was somewhat like me, both in personality and appearance. But I didn’t think so. I wouldn’t tie Samuel’s tie, and I certainly wouldn’t celebrate his birthday. I only knew how to make his life difficult. Seeing him be upset, I felt happy. Everyone in Lyrendale knew that Samuel hated me. My mother was a high-end masseuse before moving into the Everett Manor. His mother, on the other hand, was the daughter of the Hawke Group’s CEO. He was born into wealth and nobility, completely different from me. From the moment he laid eyes on me, he gritted his teeth and wanted to destroy me. I couldn’t care less about adult matters, but I didn’t owe him anything. In return, I often went out of my way to oppose him. He was bad with words, unable to retort to me, and bound by gentlemanly etiquette, unable to lay a hand on me. So, he would simply grit his teeth and storm off. We continued arguing. My mother and his father passed away. I lost my last support. Finally, he tore off his mask. As soon as I irritated him, he locked me in a small dark room. How could a street kid like me be afraid of the dark? I would shout insults at him through the door, calling him every name under the sun. Maybe he really was angry this time. He pinned me to the door and tore my white dress apart. I struggled to get up from the floor and slapped him hard. He grabbed my wrist, glaring at me with fury. “You’re just like your mother, cheap.” I didn’t cry, nor did my face show any emotion. I stood there, looking down at him. “Samuel, do you think you’re so noble? You’re just a bastard. Bah!” Samuel wasn’t actually a legitimate child of the Everett family. He was the product of his mother’s affair with another man. He didn’t know how I knew. His anger flared, and he grabbed my neck, his eyes bloodshot. “If you say another word, I’ll strangle you.” I could hardly breathe, my face turning red from lack of oxygen. I wasn’t scared at all. In fact, I almost wished he wouldn’t let go. The veins on my neck stood out, and I smiled, my grin was strange. “A bastard…” From behind the door, the sound of things falling and muffled groans echoed. The butler and the servants were used to it, no one paid attention. When the moon was high in the sky, Samuel finally slammed the door and left. I licked my lips. There was a strong, metallic taste of blood. It was Samuel’s. I dragged myself up and barefooted, walked back to my room. The butler was already waiting by my door. She was in her fifties, looking quite kind, but she was completely loyal to Samuel. Such a waste. She handed me a pill and some water. Without even looking at it, I popped the pill into my mouth and swallowed it dry. Her gaze flickered slightly. Holding the water cup, she left. The next day was the Everett Group’s banquet, and both Samuel and I had to attend. My body ached all over. I had slept the whole day and still couldn’t get out of bed. Samuel never knocks. He kicked open my door and leaned against the doorframe, hands in his pockets. “If you don’t want me to go after your friends, get downstairs in thirty minutes.” I threw a pillow at him. “Get lost.” He dodged, casting me a cold look. “Twenty-nine minutes left.”

I eventually got into the car with him. The Everett Group was one of the top corporations in Lyrendale, with businesses spanning tourism, education, real estate, and more. Samuel was very clever, and ruthless when needed, but also skilled at winning people over. As the first heir, he had already entered the company when his father was still alive, eventually becoming the vice president and, naturally, the CEO. Tonight was about promoting his newly launched entertainment company. We entered the venue one after the other. Samuel wore a black suit and gold-framed glasses, standing on stage looking every bit the model businessman, giving a speech. Below, a crowd of well-dressed celebrities and wealthy heirs ogled him like lovesick fans. I felt nauseous, rolled my eyes, and walked toward the outskirts of the venue. The banquet was held at a large estate, which supposedly housed some exotic animals you could only find in a zoo. I wandered for quite a while but still couldn’t find them. “Ms. Parker, are you lost?” I looked up to see a man in a dark green suit looking at me curiously. He was really pale, paler than me. I raised an eyebrow and gave him a faint smile. “Do you know me?” “You’re Mr. Everett’s stepsister. No one in Lyrendale doesn’t know you.” “Are you married?” He was caught off guard, clearly nervous. “No.” I folded my arms, casually walked up to him, and stared at him with a sincere expression. “Marry me. Be my husband. What do you say?” His face instantly turned red, and I bit my lip, holding back my laughter. This guy was amusing. He was pretending to be all pure now. Samuel hated me, yet there were plenty of people rushing to marry me. After all, I was his stepsister and a small shareholder in the Everett Group. I reached out and touched his burning red cheek, continuing my playful invitation. “How about we get a marriage certificate tomorrow? Then I’ll move into your place.” “Sophia!” How boring. Samuel had arrived. The bodyguards behind him escorted the man in the green suit away. Samuel glared at me with disdain and disgust. “Are you that desperate? That’s the second son of the Grayson family, a useless coward. You like him?” I couldn’t be bothered to speak to him. Just as I was about to leave, he grabbed my arm and jerked me toward him with force. His grip was strong enough that I stumbled, almost falling. I broke free, glaring at him. Then I laughed and wrapped my hands around his neck, gazing at him mischievously. “Samuel, are you jealous?” He was instantly enraged. He grabbed my chin tightly, his strength so intense that I thought my bones might crack. “You’re despicable.” That’s all he ever said. It had become so repetitive it was like background noise. Later that night, he locked me in the small dark room again. In the darkness, he couldn’t see my gloomy expression, nor could he see how fragile my heart was. I left several bite marks on his shoulder, and I guess they were painful, because the next day, when I saw him raise his arm, he winced. I was pleased and grabbed my bag, ready to go out and have some fun. The world was small. I bumped into that man again. He was sitting in a booth, holding a woman in his arms and feeding her alcohol. The woman looked like a good girl, someone who wasn’t from our kind of world. I sat down casually, smiling brightly at him. “Hubby, didn’t we agree to get our marriage certificate today? Why didn’t you show up?” The whole room went silent. Lucas was so shocked that he dropped his wine glass, shattering it across the floor into pieces. “Ms. Parker, you… You’re…” I nodded, acting casual. “Yes, we’ll hold a wedding soon. Everyone’s invited, including you, Miss.” The woman bolted, and later I found out that she was a student Lucas had tricked into coming. She was only nineteen, and when I found out, I made sure someone beat him up. He didn’t get out of bed for a month. As Samuel found out, his face was expressionless as he watched me. “You even hit your own husband?” “What’s wrong? Jealous? Do you want to get hit, too?” He puffed out his chest and scowled, calling me despicable again. I raised my hand and poured a glass of water over his head. “My mother was properly married into your father’s family. Got it? If you keep insulting me, I’ll cut out your tongue.”

The newly established entertainment company under the Everett Group produced a dark horse. A young actress in her twenties. Her name I didn’t catch, but she was quite good-looking. My friend said she kind of resembled me. I nearly choked on my coffee at the thought. “Well, that was fine until you said that. You might have ruined her future.” “You and Samuel are still at odds, huh?” “When have we ever reconciled?” She sighed, clearly helpless. That evening, the butler told me Samuel wouldn’t be back for dinner. I was thrilled and ate two large bowls of food, still not satisfied before heading upstairs. In the middle of the night, Samuel stumbled into my room. He must have been drunk. I could smell the alcohol on him. Annoyed, I pulled the blanket tighter and told him to get lost. After a while, when no sound came from beside me, I turned around to find he had actually left. It was strange. He actually followed what I said. The next day, the butler informed me Samuel was sick, with a high fever. I was focused on painting my nails. “Get a doctor if he’s sick. What do you want me to do about it? I’m not a doctor.” I wasn’t concerned about his well-being. I still went out to find some fun. A week later, he returned from the hospital. They say people look a little more haggard after getting sick, but he didn’t look any different. His complexion was still perfect, his gaze still cold. He saw me painting and scoffed, “You have no artistic talent in your genes, so stop pretending to be sophisticated. It’s just a waste of time.” “You’re right, I am wasting time. Who told the bar to be closed during the day?” “You go to bars often?” This time, it was my turn to scoff. I put down my brush and turned to look at him. “Aren’t you the one who sends people to follow me every day? How come you didn’t know I go to bars? Your employees are terrible. You should fire them.” He was holding a cup of coffee, but with the other hand, he pulled out his phone and actually fired someone. I continued painting, satisfied. That evening, I wore a very revealing dress and went to the most chaotic bar, the kind where you could find all sorts of shady characters. I found the most conspicuous spot and sat down. It didn’t take long before a thug came over to strike up a conversation. His outfit was hard to describe, but I didn’t mind. I happily drank with him, one cup after another. Then, I dizzily stumbled into his arms. He happily held me, one arm around me while he pulled out some loose change to pay. Afterward, he led me to a small alley behind the bar. My feet slipped, and I nearly fell a few times, but he kept lifting me up. “Handsome… Where are we going?” “Of course, to the next round.” I grinned foolishly and cheered, “Next round, yay!” He put me against a wall. My vision blurred, and I looked up at him. He started undressing, but clearly, the quality wasn’t great. His zipper got stuck, and he was so impatient that he tore it open. I winced as if feeling sorry for him. “Your clothes are broken.” “Clothes are nothing compared to you. It’s fine!” He lunged at me. I stared at the streetlight above, my mind calm. Suddenly, the man stopped moving. I instinctively glanced to the side. My heart sank. Samuel strode over, his bodyguards pulling the unconscious man away. I sat against the wall, watching him. “You really know how to ruin my fun.” My self-destructive demeanor infuriated him. He violently yanked me up, and I struggled, hitting him with my hands and feet. “Let go! Damn it, let me go!” My hair had come undone, and the straps of my dress were nearly falling off, exposing a large part of my shoulder. Samuel took off his suit jacket and draped it over me, his gaze sharp. “You’re the daughter of the Everett Group. Don’t be like your mother!” I slapped him across the face. “Samuel, didn’t I tell you never to mention my mother again?” I slapped him with all my strength, and his head jerked to the side. He touched the side of his face where I had slapped him and suddenly smiled. Then, with a quick motion, he slapped me back. My balance faltered, and I stumbled backward, crashing into a trash can before falling to the ground. How the hell did this bastard grow up? He really had some strength. He hit me so hard that I couldn’t get back up.

The next time I woke up again, I was in the hospital. After asking the nurse, I found out that I had been unconscious for three days. No wonder I was so hungry. Samuel, with dark circles under his eyes, pushed open the door and walked in, looking a bit haggard. Just seeing him annoyed me, so I turned my head, not wanting to pay him any attention. After all, I was a patient now, and I’d lose in a fight. He stood by the bed, staring at my back. “Did you do this on purpose? “Sophia, was this intentional? Say something! “If you don’t speak up, I’ll have someone dig up your mother’s ashes and scatter them.” I shot up, pointing at his nose, cursing him as everything from calling him inhumane to worse came out. He wasn’t angry, still asking if it was on purpose. What the hell was he talking about? “You’re pregnant. Two months along.” I wasn’t surprised at all. I slowly replied, “You know? I bet you’re happy now. You’re going to be an uncle.” His expression was awkward and carried an element that was hard to decipher. “Do you even know what you’re saying?” I sighed, didn’t say anything, and lay back down, pretending I wanted to rest. Samuel sat down on the sofa. He said coldly, “I’ve fired those old servants and replaced them with new ones. You’ll stay there from now on, and you’re not allowed to leave.” I sat up again, holding back the urge to curse him. “Are you out of your mind? Since when can you arrange my life? You really think you’re the uncle now?” “You know exactly who I am to him.” He stared at me deeply, still full of disdain and contempt. The day I was discharged from the hospital, Samuel came to pick me up himself. I shoved his hand away when he tried to open the car door for me and got in from the other side. At the manor, just like he said, there wasn’t a single familiar face left, including the butler. He had also stationed a few bodyguards around the house. I cursed him incessantly, feeling like a prisoner. As time passed, the actress who looked like me officially announced she was dating Samuel. Watching the smiling girl on TV made me feel sorry for her. Samuel, that bastard, really? Later, Samuel had to stay abroad because of the company’s overseas branch issues. I was so happy that I could dance. That night, I couldn’t sleep, so I threw on a coat and decided to go outside to watch the stars. It was deep into the night, and as I slipped and thought I was about to fall on the lawn, a strong arm suddenly caught me. In the darkness, his eyes were so bright. He didn’t look that old, with a fresh and innocent face. I adjusted my clothes and looked him over. “Who are you? I didn’t see you during the day.” “Ms. Parker, my name is Ethan James. I’m on the night shift.” I really didn’t expect bodyguards to have different shifts. “Do night shifts pay more?” Ethan shook his head, looking sincere. “I’m not sure, actually.” He was much more interesting than the day shift bodyguards, at least he could talk like a normal person and didn’t look at me like I owed him money. After that, I started chatting with him from time to time. One day, we were talking happily when Samuel’s call came in. He used my mom to threaten me to pick up the phone. I suppressed my disgust and answered the call. Samuel seemed to be holding back his anger. “I found out, you didn’t take the medicine, did you?” I instinctively didn’t want Ethan to hear this, so I moved a little further away. “What medicine are you talking about?” “Sophia! You know exactly what I mean.” I looked up at the bright moon. It was just as bright as the first night I stayed in the manor. I smiled lightly, “Mr. Everett, don’t you think it’s a bit too late to realize this?” Samuel must have been furious. He was always the one scheming against others. Who dared to scheme against him? “Let’s make a deal. You let me go, and I’ll never appear in front of you again. You can stay the high and mighty, untouchable Mr. Everett.” “What if I don’t agree?” “Well, I think many media outlets might be very interested in Mr. Everett’s personal life.” “Sophia, you really are disgusting!”

Disgusting? I just wanted to leave. Was my mother disgusting? She just wanted to earn a living. I was only seven years old at that time. My mother was still working as a masseuse. It wasn’t exactly a clean profession, but she made a living with her hands. Samuel’s father came and happened to see my mother. He said my mother resembled his first love, and whether my mother agreed or not, he forcefully brought her into his manor. My father came looking for her, he died in a car accident on the way back. I became a child without a father, unable to find my mother, and wandered the streets every day. Later, my mother agreed to all of his father’s demands, on the condition that I be brought over. His father, happy, immediately sent someone to find me and bring me to my mother. I lay on a lounge chair, looking at the stars, not knowing which star was my father or my mother. The night wind was so cold, and I began to cry. Ethan stood beside me and said nothing, handing me a handkerchief. I looked at the handkerchief and let out a laugh. I thought, “What era is this, and there are still people using handkerchiefs? Ridiculous.” I held the handkerchief and wiped away my tears, suddenly remembering that my mother used to like using handkerchiefs, too. She said it was convenient and clean. I looked up at Ethan. He was still the same, not looking at me, standing upright, his appearance youthful. Samuel had been gone for more than a month. One day, the butler took me to the hospital for an examination. I asked Ethan to come along, and he hesitated, seemingly thinking it wasn’t in line with the schedule. I gave him a look. “Come on, I’m the employer. You should listen to me, not the schedule.” He thought for a moment and then followed me into the car. Honestly, I hadn’t seen such a silly person in a long time. The results of the examination were normal, and during the process, I received a call from a friend. She asked me to go out and have fun, and I lied, saying I was abroad. She scolded me for not being a good friend because I went out to have fun without inviting her. I didn’t know how to explain, so I hung up in a hurry. I hadn’t been out for a long time, and the world outside seemed so much more exciting. There was a café next to the hospital, and despite the butler’s objections, I went in for a cup of coffee. Coincidentally, I ran into Samuel’s girlfriend. She must have recognized me, and when she saw me, she smiled brightly and walked toward me. “Ms. Parker, I didn’t expect to see you here.” I was very thin, and with the loose clothes I was wearing, no one could tell I was pregnant. I nodded at her, not wanting to engage in any conversation. She seemed oblivious to my attitude and followed me, Ethan blocking her. She looked at me in confusion, looking a bit pitiful. “Ms. Parker, may I have a word with you?” I reluctantly let her sit across from me. She really talked a lot, and I was dizzy from listening. I got up to go to the bathroom to calm down, and when I came back, she looked a bit embarrassed. “I’m sorry, Ms. Parker. Have I talked too much?” I politely shook my head. Her face looked pale, and she seemed quite nervous. “I thought you might find me annoying.” I drank my coffee in one go, stood up, and excused myself. Getting into the car, I felt a dull pain in my lower abdomen. At first, it was just a simple ache, but soon it felt like something heavy was pressing down on me, pulling my whole body downward. It hurt so much that I started to sweat cold beads on my forehead. “Ethan…” He didn’t respond. I thought, “Right, he’s a bodyguard, how could he sit with me?” The driver in front was also separated from me by a soundproof curtain. I curled up in the seat like a shrimp and then rolled onto the floor. I held my abdomen, my hand trembling uncontrollably, the pain so intense that I couldn’t utter a single word. Then I realized something sticky was constantly coming out from my body. I touched it, and it was blood. A lot… of blood. I never knew I could bleed this much, nor did I know how much longer I had left. Would I die like this? Maybe that would be for the best. I’d already had enough of life.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295576”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #浪漫Romance #魔幻Magic #励志Inspiring

During the first month of our relationship, my girlfriend was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and her therapy sessions cost ten thousand dollars each month. I sacrificed my rest, working tirelessly washing cars and delivering takeout, just to support her in battling her illness. But then, while working a car wash job that paid a thousand dollars, I saw the door of a Ferrari open. My girlfriend, who was supposed to be at therapy, stepped out, looking shocked when our eyes met. “Donna? What are you doing here?” I took a step back, staring at the red Ferrari in front of me, feeling disoriented. Despite the bright lights of the store, it was as if I had been plunged into darkness. I’d never even touched a luxury car like this before. “Dan, please listen to me,” Donna said, grabbing my hand anxiously. “I left late this afternoon… I took an Uber because I wouldn’t make it to the hospital in time.” Normally, when she pleaded like this, I’d relent. But not now. I looked at her outfit. The purple silk dress she wore looked expensive, like it was made just for her. I glanced at the nearby red Ferrari and smirked inwardly. Who uses a luxury car for Uber rides? Unable to muster the strength to argue, I looked at Donna, my hands falling to my sides helplessly. “Is this amusing to you, Donna? A young lady who spends a thousand dollars on a car wash, pretending to be poor around me, and won’t even buy a pack of sanitary pads?” My chest tightened, a wave of bitterness washed over me as memories surfaced, causing my heart to ache. “You really fooled me. A thousand dollars! I have to wash eighty-five cars and work an entire week to earn that much.” The most absurd part was that before work, I had prepared a surprise for Donna. I had just received my paycheck last night and bought a silver ring with tiny diamonds because every time we passed the jewelry store, she’d gaze at it longingly. I never imagined that the cost of washing her car would surpass the price of that ring.

Donna often curled up in my arms at night, saying I was the only one who truly loved her, even more than her own parents. In countless nights, exhausted from working tirelessly to pay for her medical bills, those words kept me going. But now, as I look back, my struggle to save up ten thousand dollars, standing on blistered feet at the car wash, seems laughable. After all, the Donna before me was dressed head-to-toe in designer brands, with the scarf around her neck alone costing over ten thousand dollars. “I worked so hard to earn money so your condition could improve sooner. I even ended up in the hospital from exhaustion. Didn’t you know that?” Tears blurred my vision. Donna’s indifferent expression began to crack, her eyes shimmering with tears. “I’m sorry,” she said. On my birthday, she gave me a handwritten letter. Under the dim light, tears of emotion blurred my eyes. Reading her words, I promised myself to cherish her for life. But now, seeing the Ferrari in front of me, I felt drained of all strength, and I dropped the pressure washer. I took off my gloves, threw them at her, and headed for the door. Donna caught up to me, pulling me back. “Dan, I’ll make it up to you, don’t be mad. This is all my fault…” Before she could finish, the car door opened again, and someone stepped out. The air filled with the smell of tobacco, and a voice slowly became clear. “Donna, what’s going on? Why are you talking so much with a car washer?”

Donna froze, her expression stiffening. We turned to see a man in a white shirt, smoking, leaning against the car door. Donna hurried over to him, “Brother, why are you out here? I’m almost done, go back inside…” But the man didn’t seem to care. He pulled Donna aside, holding a cigarette between two fingers, and walked toward me. His thin lips curled into a mocking smile, asking, “Car washer, do you remember who I am?” I rubbed my eyes, taking a long time to connect the person in front of me with the face in my memory. “Jessica?” “Oh, you remember. I thought you’d forgotten.” Jessica’s almond eyes curved, and he naturally pulled Donna into his arms. His smile was exactly the same as it was a year ago. I met Jessica last year while delivering takeout to make ends meet. He was one of my customers. Because I was five minutes late, he poured a whole bowl of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall on me. Jessica observed my expression, as if confirming my memory. He placed a large hand on Donna’s shoulder, pretending to be surprised. “Donna, you went too far. I just complained about an annoying delivery guy, and you actually dealt with him for me. Amazing…” Jessica glanced at me and couldn’t help but laugh. “Playing with this fake noble Dan is just like playing with a dog.” Donna’s expression was unnatural. I covered my eyes, holding back tears. My rough palm rubbed against my eyelids, and my heart felt as if it were being cut. Those moments I thought were genuine were just seasoning for their wealthy couple’s relationship. Hardworking ordinary people like me were like stray cats and dogs to them, ignored and kicked aside when they were in a bad mood. So I didn’t want to stay any longer. I wiped the tears spilling from my eyes and turned to leave. Jessica suddenly raised his voice, asking me, “Dan, do you know why Donna told you she has bipolar disorder?”

I abruptly halted, uncertain of what he intended to say. A heavy silence hung behind me, followed by an eruption of deafening laughter. The voice, however, clung to me like a ghostly whisper around my neck. “It’s because I told her your only sister died by suicide due to bipolar disorder. The moment Donna says she has bipolar, you become a fool and obey her every word. And guess what, hahaha, you really worked yourself to the bone for her!” A surge of heat flooded my mind, my blood boiling and rushing to my head. By the time I regained my senses, I was already striding towards Jessica, repeatedly swinging my fist at his face. If I could forgive this, I might as well become a saint. My chest heaved as I grasped Jessica’s collar: “Playing poor, huh? Pretending to be sick, huh? Enjoy mocking other people’s wounds, huh? No wonder your parents cheated, no wonder your dad doesn’t care and your mom doesn’t love you, you scumbag. Today, I’m going to beat you until your own mother can’t recognize you!” During the year I spent with Donna, whether our feelings were genuine or not, we shared our pasts. So, I knew their social circle was emotionally detached, with parents mostly preoccupied with their own lives, leading to psychological issues in these young people. I understood their pain and knew where to hit where it hurt the most. Before they could react, I slapped Jessica several times. The moment Jessica mentioned my sister Rachel with a smirk, the rational thread in my mind snapped. She was the last piece of purity in my heart, and I wouldn’t allow anyone to tarnish it. Seeing Jessica about to fight back, Donna ran over, crying, and pulled me away. He gasped for air, spitting out blood. “You’re a lunatic car washer daring to hit me! You’re really insane! Donna, call Rose and have her bring people over to handle this…” Jessica’s expression was vicious, but Donna clung to his arm, pleading, “No… Blame me, I’m the one who owes him too much.” She fumbled to pick up her bag and searched through it. After a while, she found a card and handed it to me with her head down. “The password is the day we got together. I put some money in there—it’s a small compensation for you.” I clenched my fists, my words as sharp as knives: “Hope you two lock yourselves away.” With that, I took the card from her hand and walked away.

The card had $1.2 million. I withdrew the cash and went to another bank next door, eventually securing a decent annual interest rate. I put $200,000 on WhatsApp, and $1 million in the bank. In this 30-square-meter one-bedroom apartment, Donna’s things were everywhere. Although this place wasn’t small, it was quite remote. If it weren’t for Donna, I wouldn’t have rented it. Initially, I didn’t want to move in so soon with Donna, whom I had just started dating a month ago. But because she claimed to have bipolar disorder and feared being alone, I let my guard down. Even now, I can’t distinguish whether my feelings for her were out of love or guilt after learning she had the same illness as my sister. Maybe I thought by doing this, I could finally untie the knot in my heart. Speaking of which, she had a lot of stuff—couple mugs, matching outfits, and couple pillows, all bought by me. But seeing them everywhere was truly annoying, so I decided to pack them all into trash bags. I stared at the trash bags in the corner, my gaze slowly overtaken by the blackness, and gradually relaxed as I fell asleep. I dreamt of that afternoon again. I was coming home from work when I heard police and ambulance sirens. The sharp wails almost burst my eardrums. I stood among the crowd, watching my sister being carried onto a stretcher. The red dress she wore was as bright as blood, staining her pale wrists red. Her face was as white as jasmine, her long eyelashes drooping, just like when she used to wait for me to come home but fell asleep. But this time, she would never open her eyes again, never run over and sweetly say that her brother was finally home. A week later, I walked, step by step, towards my sister’s new home, holding an urn. My sister, she wouldn’t be coming back.

Tears soaked my pillow. I woke up crying, staring into a pair of glowing eyes in the dark. “Who are you?!” I screamed, turning on the bedside lamp, and the woman instinctively covered her face. It was Donna, still wearing a mask, holding the trash bag tightly in her arms. I rubbed my eyes, regretting not changing the password for the rented room. The couple mugs, pillows, and clothes I packed into the trash bag that afternoon were still there, hugged by her. “What are you doing with those?” Donna clutched the bag tighter, silently lowering her head. “Every piece here is a memory of ours. I can’t let go…” “Even worthless things catch your eye?” Sitting up in bed, I looked around for anything important. Now that we had broken up, I could just move out. Donna held the bag, fingers lightly stroking it, her voice filled with grievance and disappointment: “Dan, I know you don’t believe anything I say, but I truly only have you in my heart… No one has ever loved me as wholeheartedly as you do. I can’t live without you.” I shook my head, chuckling bitterly. The events of the afternoon played out like a cruel joke. “Enough, did you love me so much that you flaunted your affection with Jessica in front of me? Should I be cheering you on?” “Jessica wanted to drive to your place! I couldn’t stop him… And even if I was with him, I just made a mistake anyone could make. Can’t you forgive me a little?” Her words were laughable, and as I laughed, tears fell. The year I loved her most, I worked 13-hour days and could only afford one meal a day. Life’s abyss chewed me up until only bones remained. Thinking I could help her cure her bipolar disorder was sweet in my heart. “I can’t tolerate your deceit. The moment the lie was exposed, you became a thorn in my heart. Pulling it out will only make it bleed. But Donna, did you ever think that by using my sister’s situation to get close to me, you trapped yourself too?” “What are you talking about?” I didn’t respond, silently opening the door and waiting for her to leave. Her face turned pale, as if stung by my indifference. She clutched the bag tighter and walked towards the door. “Don’t joke about bipolar anymore. Your so-called joke might make it harder for real patients to face their condition.” Like Rachel’s tragedy, it would happen again. After a while, Donna nodded lightly. Then she pointed to the jewelry box on the nightstand, still remembering that ring. “Can I have this?” “Jessica will buy you a better one.” “I only want the one you gave me. Dan, we were so happy before. Do you really not want me anymore?” Her voice was soft, with a hint of desperation. I heard her muffled sobs, saw her trembling shoulders. I never imagined that Donna, the young heiress, would one day ask for my help. Knowing her pride and seeing her defeat didn’t bring me any joy. I just stood there silently. Understanding my refusal, she quietly took the ring before leaving. Donna’s eyes turned red as she looked at me. “Love me one more time, okay?” “No.”

After Donna left, I poured myself a glass of water. I took a few sips, and my mind started to wander. I kept refreshing my phone screen, flipping between different apps, but nothing seemed to make sense. Then, I noticed a flood of red notifications on my account. When I clicked to check, I discovered a slew of direct messages: “Loser, if you’re being ridiculous, go get help. Why are you bothering someone else’s girlfriend?” I frowned and clicked on the links. Someone had posted photos of me with Donna online, showing me delivering breakfast and gifts to her. Donna’s face was blurred, but mine was clearly visible. The post accused me of harassing the wealthy CEO Jessica’s girlfriend and demanded a public apology. As I scrolled down, my hand holding the glass began to tremble slightly. There were hundreds of comments criticizing me. “This guy looks decent but does such shameless things. Appearances can be deceiving.” “Don’t you see? He’s obviously trying to latch onto a rich girl to avoid struggling for years. But going after Jessica’s girlfriend is like hitting a brick wall.” A wave of dizziness hit me, and the cup slipped from my hand. The ceramic shattered on the floor, breaking into several pieces. I crouched down, desperately trying to piece it back together, but it wouldn’t return to its original form. This cup was a birthday gift from Rachel, the year she passed away, and she had made it herself. Rachel and I were twins. When we were ten, our parents died in a car accident, leaving us with only twenty thousand dollars. No relatives wanted to take us in; we were like unwanted burdens, tossed around in disdain. So, after graduating junior high, I started working to support my sister, eventually helping her attend a prestigious university. The cup had a white and blue gradient, and the little stars on it were crafted by Rachel’s hands. “Bro, I made this cup for you with my own money. Do you like it? My brother is so handsome, this fresh color suits you best! I will work hard to become successful and buy more and better things for my brother. I won’t be a kid who worries you anymore!” Her eyes sparkled, and I pinched her chubby cheeks, nodding with affection. Rachel, it’s alright. With your brother, you can always be a kid. At the bottom of the broken cup, there was some writing. After piecing it together, I found the number “907.” When Rachel gave it to me two years ago, there was no writing on the bottom. She must have added it later. I held the ceramic pieces, thinking for a moment, and then my gaze fell on the corner where my sister’s suitcase was. I slid the numbers, and with a click, the lock opened. Inside the suitcase, there were only four items: a pair of white ballet shoes, a photo of her practicing ballet, a journal, and a cell phone she used before. I gently touched the cover of the journal with Rachel’s name on it, picked it up, and opened it carefully. Starting from the beginning, the earlier entries were just daily records, including which boys confessed to her at school. Rachel was born with curly chestnut hair, a small, doll-like face. She even received an offer from a director. But perhaps because our parents left us so early, even with all the admiration she received from others, she never dared to face it directly and only opened her heart in her journal. After starting university, Rachel, who had practiced ballet since childhood, was recommended by the school to participate in major competitions. Each spin and jump on stage made her shine like a star. I smiled as I read the entries, but my smile froze when I saw a particular line. Because my sister mentioned Jessica’s name.

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My husband knows that I can be reborn every time I die. So after that landslide, he didn’t hesitate to cut out my heart to save his true love. When he received my emptied body from the doctor, he said, “You’ll be fine after a nap.” But what he didn’t know was that it was my last chance to be reborn. Ryan Quinn carried my lifeless body into the underground room of the Search and Rescue (SAR) Team base. My internal organs had been removed, leaving only an empty shell. My face, however, was rosy, as if I were just sleeping. He skillfully opened the cryogenic equipment, his movements clean and precise. As he placed me inside, his hands were steady, without even a hint of hesitation. “Sleep for now,” his voice was terrifyingly calm. “Didn’t you say that dying doesn’t matter?” Yesterday was our wedding anniversary. I had prepared a table full of delicious food at home and bought his favorite red wine. Seeing him come home on time for once, I was as happy as a fool. When the phone rang, he had just picked up his wine glass. It was his deputy calling: “Captain, Bella got caught in a landslide while patrolling the mountain area. She’s trapped inside…” His hand trembled, and the wine glass fell to the floor, dark red liquid splashing onto my new dress. “How badly is she hurt?” His voice was already hoarse. “It’s serious, her internal organs…” He didn’t wait for the other person to finish. He grabbed his jacket and rushed out. I caught his hand, “I’ll go too. I can help.” He turned back to look at me, his eyes complex, not with concern, but as if he were calculating something. At the scene, Bella had already been rescued, but her heart was severely damaged and urgently needed a transplant. He looked at the unconscious Bella on the stretcher, his fingers trembling. It was a panic I had never seen in him before. Then he looked at me. His eyes were bloodshot. “I’m sorry,” he said. Before I could understand what he meant, I felt a sharp pain in the back of my neck. As I lost consciousness, I saw him nod to the doctor. They had prepared for this all along. Miraculously, as I was pushed into the operating room, it was as if my soul floated out of my body. I felt myself hovering in mid-air, witnessing everything. I saw him standing right next to the operating table. As the surgeon’s scalpel cut open my body, he watched without expression, his eyes showing no ripple of emotion, as if this body was nothing more than a tool to be disposed of at will. “Her organs are in good condition, and the match is compatible,” the doctor’s voice seemed to come from far away. “It’s enough to save Bella.” I watched as my heart was taken out, placed in an ice box, and sent to the adjacent operating room. He followed the ice box out, not even sparing me a final glance. After putting me in the cryogenic equipment, he sat nearby dealing with documents, occasionally looking up at me. I floated in front of him, wanting to see if there was even a hint of guilt in his eyes. But his gaze passed through my soul and fell on his phone – it was a message from the doctor: The surgery was very successful, she’s recovering well. He smiled with relief, casually tossed my medical record aside, and left the underground room. The part of the medical record that was open clearly stated: “Organ donor – voluntary donation.” He didn’t even bother to make up a lie, thinking I would wake up soon anyway. But what he didn’t know was that this time, I really wouldn’t wake up again. Because the chance that allowed me to be reborn had already been used up the last time I saved his teammate.

My ability to be reborn was real. Three years ago, before I was pulled out as the sole survivor of that plane crash, the system informed me that I had gained three lives. The first time, I used it on myself, allowing myself to survive that plane crash. Ryan was the SAR team leader who came to investigate the accident. He was tall, wearing a dark blue uniform with straight shoulder lines. Standing in front of the plane wreckage, he was surrounded by an aura of coldness, like a general who had walked out of an old photograph. I was shivering on the stretcher when he turned his face towards me, his well-defined jawline tense. When those pitch-black eyes swept over me, it felt like they could see through to my soul. “Don’t be afraid,” he said, “You’re safe now.” His voice was deep and pleasant, like warm water slowly being poured into my heart. At that moment, I was smitten. The system said that if I maintained a three-year marriage with my destined person, I could stay in this world forever. Looking at this stern man before me, I decided to take a chance. This was the first time that 28-year-old Lily Hart had ever been so determined to want something. Ryan looked to be in his early thirties, very tall, with a lean and muscular build from years of training. He walked with a special rhythm, probably due to his military background. Every time I passed by the SAR team, I could recognize his silhouette at a glance. I started to approach him as an ordinary person. I would bring coffee to the SAR team every day and prepare late-night snacks for the team members working overtime. I knew I was like a desperate groupie, but I didn’t care. They said Ryan never accepted anything from women, but he took my coffee. He was always polite and gentle, but he always kept his distance from me. The people in the SAR team felt sorry for me, saying I couldn’t see reality clearly. “Captain Quinn never gives hope to any woman. Don’t waste your efforts.” But what I didn’t tell them was that every time I pretended to lose my balance, he would always be the first to steady me. He would tell me to be careful, but his hand would linger. Until one day, I heard him on the phone calling a woman “Bella,” his tone affectionate. It turned out to be his former deputy team leader, Bella White. They were said to be childhood sweethearts. Bella was very beautiful, and everyone said they were a perfect match. I should have known better and given up. But at that time, I still had two lives left. Young and reckless, I thought I could always make it through three years. If I had known earlier that the second life would be used to save his teammate, and the third life would be ended by his own hands, I would have stayed far away from him from the very beginning. But alas, love is blind when you’re in it.

Bella had been Ryan’s partner since their special forces days. Everyone in the SAR team knew that they were once the most outstanding sniper and spotter. On the battlefield, a spotter and a sniper need to be in perfect sync to complete their missions. So after retiring from the military, Ryan and Bella joined the SAR team together, working in perfect harmony as if they were one person. I once secretly looked through Ryan’s old photo album. In the photos, Bella wore a uniform, her eyes bright and spirited, exuding a charm that ordinary people like me could never achieve. And Ryan stood beside her, looking down at her with such gentle eyes. Later, people in the team told me that Ryan had pursued Bella for five whole years. From boot camp to special forces, from training grounds to battlefields, everyone thought they would end up together. But in the end, Bella still rejected him. “We’re not suitable for each other. You deserve better,” she said. She said this just before a mission, and Ryan still loaded her bullets for her. They remained the best partners, as if nothing had happened. But in the dead of night, Ryan would practice shooting alone on the training ground until his fingers bled. Later, Bella voluntarily applied for a transfer to a remote SAR branch. On the day she left, Ryan stood outside the airport, watching her silhouette disappear into the security check. His fingers unconsciously fiddled with the ring he had never given her. The team said that was the most lost and dejected they had ever seen Ryan. I met Ryan six months after Bella left. At that time, he was like a dead pond, even his smile was cold. But I didn’t care. Young and impetuous, I thought time would wash away all the past. “He’s never had eyes for anyone else. You think he’s being gentle? That’s just his professional habit. Not just you, even those Instagram models who send him flowers, beautiful women, he smiles and accepts them, then throws them away as soon as they leave.” That’s what an old team member once told me. They couldn’t stand seeing me running to the SAR team time and time again, kindly warning me not to embarrass myself. But I didn’t believe them. I told myself that the past was in the past. Even if I was just continuing someone else’s story, I accepted it. Even the on-duty nurse at the SAR team couldn’t bear to watch anymore: “Lily, why don’t you understand? Ryan goes to the border to see Bella every year without fail. They may be separated by mountains and rivers, but their feelings are deeper than every day you spend by his side.” I really didn’t understand. I didn’t understand why Ryan would accept my pursuit, why he would marry me. Thinking back now, perhaps from the day I used my second life to save his teammate, he had already been planning something.

The rescue that changed everything happened in my second year of knowing Ryan. Heavy rain caused a landslide, burying an entire village. Ryan led the team at the forefront, with his lifelong friend Leo Sanders covering the rear. No one noticed the massive boulder teetering overhead. “Ryan!” Leo’s voice cut through the curtain of rain. The moment Leo pushed Ryan away, the boulder came crashing down. “No!” Ryan rushed towards the rubble like a madman, held back by three team members. Back at the SAR team compound, he knelt in the rain, his whole body shaking like a wounded animal. It was the first time I had seen him lose control. Ryan, who was always calm and composed, could actually be driven to such despair. Leo was Ryan’s brother in all but blood. They had grown up together, joined the military together, entered the special forces together, and later retired to join the SAR team together. Their relationship was closer than real brothers. When Leo was rescued, his heart had already stopped beating. The doctor said that even if they could save him, he would need a heart transplant, and the treatment would cost at least five million dollars. “Please, you must save him,” Ryan gripped the doctor’s hands, his voice hoarse. “I’ll find a way to pay, no matter how much it costs.” But he had only recently retired from the military, and his salary was mostly going towards his mortgage. His teammates pitched in, a thousand here, ten thousand there, but they only managed to gather half a million. I watched him pacing back and forth in the hospital corridor, his eyes bloodshot as if he hadn’t slept for days. “It should have been me,” he kept saying. “Why did he save me?” At that moment, I felt like I was suffocating from heartache. I couldn’t hold back anymore. “I can donate my heart,” I pushed open the door and walked in. “My tissue type is a perfect match for Leo.” Ryan jerked his head up. “Are you crazy?” His voice was raspy. “You’ll die!” I smiled at him and whispered in his ear: “Trust me, I have a superpower. I won’t die.” He still didn’t agree, but I went ahead with the surgery behind his back. Not only did I donate my heart, but also my liver and kidneys to a rich man’s daughter. The wealthy man transferred five million dollars to Ryan’s account. Three days later, I woke up. When I opened my eyes, I saw Ryan keeping vigil by my bedside. He hadn’t slept for three whole days. Dark circles under his eyes, yet he stubbornly refused to leave. “You’re awake,” his voice was hoarse as he carefully held my hand. “Does it hurt?” It was the first time I had seen him so gentle. Leo recovered quickly, and Ryan started visiting me in the hospital frequently. He would peel apples for me, help me drink water, his gaze so focused it made my heart tremble. Sometimes when I was asleep, I would feel someone gently kissing my forehead. He began to tell me his stories, about the fun times training with Leo when they were young, about the rigorous tests in the special forces, and about how much he feared losing important people. When he said these things, his eyes were gentle, but there was also something in them that I couldn’t quite understand. Later, he proposed to me. I nodded, tears streaming down my face. He kissed away the tears on my face and held me tight. After that, I applied to join the SAR team as a contract nurse, so I could be by his side. It was at this time that Bella was transferred back to the main team.

The day Bella returned, the entire SAR team was in a frenzy. She stood in front of the headquarters building, her military posture still impeccable, her pretty features now enhanced with a touch of mature charm. Ryan stood by the window on the third floor, watching for a full ten minutes. I stood behind him, seeing his hands tremble slightly. “Bella is truly a force to be reckoned with,” the team members gossiped. “She’s done great things at the border these past few years. I heard she even saved an entire village.” At the welcome party that night, Bella raised her glass to Ryan: “Captain Quinn, thank you for your care.” Ryan rarely got drunk, but that night he did. With reddened eyes, he said, “Welcome back.” Just these simple words made the entire table fall silent. Everyone knew how many years he had held back those words. I sat to the side, watching them smile at each other, suddenly feeling a sense of foreboding. From that day on, Ryan started staying out late. He said he was preparing for some important rescue mission, but I knew he was helping Bella refamiliarize herself with all the equipment. I would make dinner and wait for him, but he’d say he was in a meeting. Yet colleagues told me they saw the captain taking Bella out for dinner, the two of them talking for hours. When I asked where he’d been, he would come over and kiss my forehead: “I was going over work with Bella. Don’t overthink it.” But I clearly saw his phone light up on the coffee table, a message from Bella. He instinctively turned off the screen, then held me tighter. He became increasingly gentle, so gentle it made me anxious. Every day he would bring home my favorite desserts, comfort me when I couldn’t sleep, and even took time off on my birthday to be with me. As if afraid I would overthink things, he started showing how much he cared for me in front of others. Sometimes in front of Bella, he would deliberately put his arm around me and kiss my forehead. But Bella’s smile was strange, as if she was watching a show. Was he trying to reassure me, or make her jealous?

A few months later, Leo, whom I had saved, finally passed away. The complications came too suddenly, and by the time they were discovered, it was too late for treatment. I clearly remember that day, Ryan kneeling by the hospital bed, holding Leo’s hand and saying, “I’m sorry, Leo. I failed to protect you.” After that, he started having insomnia. Sometimes he would wake up in the middle of the night and hold me tightly. “If only we had discovered the complications earlier,” he said, his eyes cold. “If only we could have saved him sooner.” I thought he was blaming himself, but I didn’t notice the resentment in his eyes when he looked at me. In his heart, if my ability to be reborn could have been used more timely, perhaps Leo wouldn’t have died. Days passed like this. I started having frequent nightmares, dreaming of Leo standing by the hospital bed asking me, “Why didn’t you save me earlier?” Ryan would hold me when I woke up startled, comforting me softly. But those kisses seemed to lack the warmth they once had. Until our wedding anniversary. I had just set the table when the emergency call came in. There had been a major landslide in the mountain area. Bella had led the advance team but was trapped inside. We rushed to the hospital. The doctor said, “Extensive internal organ damage. We need to transplant immediately.” I saw Ryan’s hands shaking, but his eyes were eerily calm. He turned to look at me with an expression I had never seen before. At that moment, I finally understood why he had been acting strange lately. But it was too late. “I’m sorry,” he said. As the anesthetic needle pierced my neck, I saw tears in his eyes. “You said you couldn’t die,” his voice was soft. “Bella’s different. She won’t survive a second time.” As I was pushed into the operating room, I heard him talking to the doctor: “Take the heart first.” As the scalpel cut into my body, I remembered what Leo had once said: “Ryan values loyalty, but once he’s set his mind on something, he’ll stop at nothing.” In fact, since Leo’s passing, Ryan had been calculating how to use my ability to be reborn. He was waiting for an opportunity, waiting for a reason to convince himself. And Bella was the perfect reason. The surgery was successful. My soul floated in the hospital corridor, watching two people being wheeled out of the operating room. One was Bella, with a stable heartbeat. The other was me, my body emptied. “Bella’s saved,” the nurse said. “The transplanted organs are in good condition.” Ryan breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes red-rimmed. He held Bella’s hand, keeping vigil for an entire night. I floated beside him, watching him tuck Bella in. His hands were steady, as if afraid of hurting her. Afterwards, he stood facing the window for a long time. “You’ve suffered,” he said, his voice hoarse beyond recognition. Who was he talking to? After I had died once to save Leo, he had kept vigil over me in the same way, saying the same words. But now, the body that had been pushed into the morgue didn’t even have a heart. “Captain Quinn,” the on-duty nurse called out to him, “What should we do with Ms. Hart’s remains?”

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After a heated argument, Lucas stormed out and got into a car accident, losing nearly three years of his memories. He forgot everything about me and reverted to his former playboy self. In an attempt to jog his memory, I kept reminiscing about our past together. But he just irritably shooed me away. Until I saw him passionately kissing Zoe, the girl who used to bully me. I decided I didn’t want him anymore, but he frantically held me and said: “Ava, I’ve regained my memory. You can’t leave me.” I rushed to the hospital, where Lucas’s friends stood at the door, looking at me with hesitation. I didn’t pay much attention to them and burst into the ward. Lucas was laughing and chatting with his friends. I approached him, took his hand, and with teary eyes and a choked voice, I said: “Lucas, I’m sorry. Let’s not fight anymore.” Lucas raised an eyebrow and looked at me with a cocky attitude: “Miss, isn’t it a bit forward to hold hands when we’ve just met?” I froze, staring at Lucas in disbelief. His friend awkwardly spoke up: “Sis, the doctor said Lucas has amnesia. He’s lost the last three years of his memories.” My heart tightened. Three years – that’s exactly how long Lucas and I had known each other and been together. So, he remembered his childhood friends but had forgotten only me. I felt a pang in my heart. If we hadn’t argued that night, he wouldn’t have driven off in anger. Hearing his friends address me, Lucas chuckled: “Don’t tell me you’re my girlfriend? I don’t like girls like you.” I knew that three years ago, Lucas was wild and arrogant, speaking without regard for others’ feelings. I didn’t want to argue with him, planning to settle accounts after he regained his memory. I forced a smile and said: “It’s okay, I’ll help you remember me again.” Lucas’s friends tactfully left the room. I sat on a nearby chair and asked softly: “Are you hungry? Have you eaten?” Lucas looked down at his phone, his tone cold: “No! You can leave if you have nothing else to do.” I blinked and continued, undeterred: “Lucas, do you remember our first anniversary? You made a cake yourself but forgot it was an ice cream cake. When we opened it that night, it had all melted, and you hugged me and cried for a long time.” Lucas smirked at his phone: “Childish.” I pressed my lips together and continued: “And on your birthday, you insisted on hiking to see the sunrise, but a sudden rainstorm trapped us on the mountain for a day and a night. We had no food, and I caught a fever. You were so worried you even thought about how we could die together.” Lucas’s body tensed, then he turned away, ignoring me. I grew a bit annoyed: “Lucas! Even if you’ve lost your memory, I’m still your girlfriend! You should at least show some respect!” Lucas turned his head, lifting his eyelids to glance at me indifferently: “Then let’s break up.” I looked at him, shocked, feeling a bit hurt: “Lucas! You’ll regret this when you regain your memory.” Lucas chuckled twice, then turned away, ignoring me again. I was angry too, and left the room with tears in my eyes. During our first month together, he couldn’t resist going to a bar with friends and staying out all night. When we argued about it, I mentioned breaking up. He, who had been full of anger, immediately hugged me with teary eyes and said pitifully: “Ava, it was so hard for me to win you over, how can you talk about breaking up so casually? I’ll change in the future, please don’t mention breaking up again, okay?” But now, with his memory loss, he casually mentioned breaking up. It seems that Lucas, having lost his memory, had reverted to the person I used to dislike. I walked out of the hospital but ultimately couldn’t bear to leave him. I bought him a bowl of soup and returned to the hospital. Just as I reached the door, I heard him on the phone with his friend, arranging to meet at a bar later. I hurriedly pushed the door open, my brows furrowed and my voice filled with anger: “Lucas! You’re not even healed yet, why are you going to a bar!” Lucas had just changed his clothes and looked at me impatiently: “Why are you so controlling? Didn’t I say we’re breaking up? Don’t you understand?” With that, he pushed past me and walked out, ignoring my attempts to stop him. The hot soup spilled on my hand, instantly causing it to redden and swell. I took a deep breath, constantly reassuring myself: Lucas has lost his memory, he used to treat me well, I can’t give up on him. Worried, I followed him to the bar. By the time I arrived, a woman was already sitting next to Lucas. She was his former type – sexy and alluring. He had one arm around her shoulder and was raising a glass with the other, toasting to his survival. I walked over and stopped his hand as he was about to drink, saying seriously: “Lucas, even if you’ve lost your memory, you should still take care of your health, right?” Lucas irritably ran his fingers through his hair, his tone impatient: “Why are you so annoying? Like a nagging housewife!” His friends looked at each other, not daring to speak. Lucas pulled the woman closer, holding her in his arms, and said with a smirk: “Since you don’t want me to drink, but this bottle is already open, someone has to drink it. How about this – if you finish it, I’ll go back with you.” The sour feeling in my heart was unbearable, and tears welled up in my eyes: “Lucas, I have alcohol intolerance.” In the past, when one of his friends tried to force me to drink at a gathering, he smashed the bottle on that person’s head and protected me as we left. Now Lucas looked at me expressionlessly. I sniffled, picked up the bottle from the table, and gulped it down. Lucas’s eyes darkened, and his palm tightened slightly. After finishing the last sip, I couldn’t help but cough, tears involuntarily flowing. Lucas muttered “boring” and left with his coat. I rubbed the ache in my chest and took a taxi to the hospital for an IV. I spent the whole night on an IV drip, with not a single message from Lucas. Lying on the hospital bed, staring at the ceiling, I wondered what to do if Lucas never regained his memory. Three years ago, I was being followed on my way home from work late at night. In a moment of crisis, Lucas noticed the suspicious person and rushed over to chase them away. I thanked him, trembling all over, and he took the opportunity to offer to walk me home and asked for my contact information. In the days that followed, Lucas began to pursue me openly. I knew the gap between us and didn’t dare dream of marrying into a wealthy family. But for me, Lucas gradually changed from a wild playboy into a gentle and caring good man. As we spent more time together, I couldn’t help but fall for him. After we got together, Lucas spoiled me to no end.

Early in the morning, I returned home in a daze. Lucas had just finished showering, with a towel around his waist, drinking water in the kitchen. Hearing movement at the door, he glanced at me lightly. I smelled an unfamiliar fragrance in the house and walked into the bedroom with a grim face. In the bedroom, the messy sheets and the intimate atmosphere in the air clearly showed that he hadn’t been alone last night. Lucas leaned against the dining table, raising an eyebrow as he watched me. “Slap!” I walked over and slapped him directly. Lucas’s expression froze for a moment, then he looked at me angrily. I tried hard not to let my tears fall, my voice choked with sobs: “Lucas! I spent the whole night on an IV drip at the hospital. And you brought a woman back here to fool around!” Lucas rubbed his face and sneered coldly: “First, you chose to drink that alcohol yourself. Second, this is my house, I can bring whoever I want back here.” I trembled all over, looking at him in disbelief, unable to believe he would treat me like this. Tears finally broke free, falling one by one, and I couldn’t help but sob. “Lucas! How can you do this to me? Aren’t you afraid I’ll really leave you?” I lowered my head, pulling at Lucas’s sleeve, my shoulders shaking violently, my voice breaking: “Aren’t you afraid you’ll regret treating me like this when you regain your memory?” I didn’t notice Lucas’s other hand slightly raised and then quietly lowered again. He pulled his sleeve from my grasp and tilted my chin up indifferently: “If you insist on staying here, you’d better learn to mind your own business and not interfere where you shouldn’t.” With that, he returned to the bedroom and closed the door. I leaned against the wall, slowly crouching down, burying my head and whimpering. Three years ago, Lucas always had women around him. So at that time, I thought he was just temporarily interested in me and didn’t want to get too involved. But to reassure me, he kept his distance from all other women. He basically stopped going to bars and nightclubs. His friends all joked that the player had finally settled down. He would proudly reply: “That’s because I didn’t meet Ava earlier.” In our two years together, he always respected me and never crossed the final line. Now, he had returned to being the player he once was. Lucas, if you regain your memory, will you regret it? After that day, Lucas and I fell into a cold war, and I moved to the guest room. Lucas had already forgotten me, and these days he was even less willing to pay attention to me. I stubbornly shut myself in my room, leaving for work before dawn and only returning after he had gone out. That day, I received a message from an unknown number: “If you want to know the truth about Lucas’s memory loss, come to Moonlight Villa.” I frowned, wondering if there was more to Lucas’s amnesia. I got ready and took a taxi to Moonlight Villa. This was the villa of Lucas’s friend. They liked to throw parties and gatherings here. Before I got close, I could hear the cheers and laughter of men and women coming from the back garden of the villa. I walked over and looked inside through the fence. Lucas was sitting on a lounge chair with a cigarette in his mouth. His friend handed him a bottle of alcohol and said: “Our Lucas is still the best! Pretending to have amnesia and fooling Ava completely.” Lucas took a sip of alcohol, his tone somewhat proud: “I behaved myself for three years for her, what’s wrong with letting loose for a while?” I trembled all over, my throat dry as I stared at Lucas. Pretending… to have amnesia? Of course, this way Lucas could be his old player self without any guilt. After he’s had enough fun, he can still tell me he had amnesia and ask for my forgiveness with a clear conscience. My eyes stung, and everything in front of me began to blur. With a light blink, tears rolled down. “Lucas, aren’t you afraid of taking it too far and Ava really breaking up with you?” Lucas took a deep drag of his cigarette, looking smug: “She won’t leave me. Ava may seem indifferent to everyone, but I know once she’s committed to someone, she won’t easily change her mind. Besides, she’s an orphan, where else could she go without me?” I clutched my chest, tears uncontrollably pouring out, my heart pounding so hard I could barely breathe. I had shown him my most vulnerable side, and it became the sword he used to attack me. I grew up in an orphanage, longing for someone to love me while also being wary of anyone who got close to me. So when I decided to be with Lucas, I really intended to spend my life with him. But Lucas, since you understand me so well, you should also know that I hate deception the most. At that moment, a girl ran over and hugged Lucas. Lucas picked her up and jumped into the swimming pool, kissing her passionately in the water. The others on the shore kept cheering them on. Lucas released the girl in his arms, panting heavily. When I saw her face clearly, my pupils constricted, and my mind went blank. I stared at the girl, pale-faced and motionless, afraid I had mistaken her identity. How could Lucas do this! He hadn’t lost his memory, he knew that girl! That girl was Zoe, the one who had bullied me in high school. After I started dating Lucas, we accidentally ran into her at a mall once. She came over smiling and greeted us, but her eyes kept drifting towards Lucas. I coldly pulled Lucas away. After we got home, Lucas noticed something was wrong with me and kept asking why. When I told him, he hugged me tenderly, comforting me with a choked voice. Seeing how familiar they were now, they probably had been in contact much earlier. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly at myself for thinking I could really make a player change his ways. Lucas, this time… I really don’t want you anymore. I wiped the tears from my face haphazardly and turned away resolutely.

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At my birthday party, Ethan couldn’t stop praising his friend’s model girlfriend. Then he turned to me as I was eating cake, his words dripping with sarcasm: “Stop eating! You’re as fat as a pig!” “When are you going to lose weight?” “The wedding dress I ordered for you only fits someone who weighs 187 pounds!” In that moment, I didn’t want to marry him anymore. At my birthday party, Ethan’s friend Jack brought a gorgeous model girlfriend. Her skin was like porcelain, with a waist you could wrap your hands around. When they walked in, all eyes were on her. Even the usually serious Ethan couldn’t help but stare. Jack boasted proudly: “This is Lily, my girlfriend. As you can see, she’s obviously a model.” The crowd erupted in cheers and teasing. “Jack, who knew you had it in you to date such a beautiful girl!” “Be honest, did you trick her somehow?” Jack laughed, his eyes challenging as he looked at Ethan sitting next to me. “You guys are joking. How could I compare to Ethan? His girlfriend is a graduate student.” Ethan’s face immediately darkened. He and Jack were childhood friends, growing up in the same neighborhood. Their elders had always compared them. Ethan’s family was in politics, he had good grades and a steady personality. Jack’s family was in business; he was a troublemaker who relied on his family’s money. So in all the comparisons growing up, Ethan had always come out on top. But this time… Ethan gripped my hand and stood up, his smile stiff: “There’s no point in comparing. What’s best is what suits you.” “By the way, which university does your girlfriend attend?” Now it was Jack’s turn to be embarrassed. He opened and closed his mouth without saying anything. Lily stepped in: “I started working after high school, I didn’t go to college.” With those words, the atmosphere in the room froze. Ethan’s friends all came from good backgrounds. Even those with poor grades were sent abroad by their parents to study and came back with a shiny degree. Luckily, at that moment the waiter came in pushing the cake, breaking the awkward silence. Everyone started singing “Happy Birthday” in unison. Oh right, I was the star of the day. After I made my wish, Ethan eagerly started cutting and distributing cake to everyone. He especially cut the biggest piece for Lily. Lily waved her hand: “I need to maintain my figure, I can’t eat sweets.” Ethan sighed: “You’re already so thin, it’s okay to eat a little sometimes.” But Lily still politely refused with a smile. Strangely, Ethan seemed glued to that spot, taking a long time to return. The cake in front of me gave off a sweet aroma. Thinking about how I had been on a diet for a month, avoiding all my favorite foods, just waiting for my birthday as an excuse to indulge a little. I couldn’t resist using my finger to scoop up a bit of frosting. Just as I put it in my mouth, Ethan turned around as if he had radar and glared at me. “Weren’t you on a diet? Why are you still eating! You’re as fat as a pig!” “When are you going to lose weight?” “The wedding dress I ordered for you only fits someone who weighs 187 pounds!”

Being yelled at in public, I was stunned for a few seconds. A friend next to me smoothly tried to defuse the situation: “Ethan’s just joking, he said he likes you best when you’re a little chubby.” “You guys are getting married soon? Congratulations!” Ethan also realized his reaction was over the top. He walked over and held my hand, his tone softening: “Mia, I didn’t mean it like that. Didn’t you say you wanted to lose weight recently? I’m afraid you’ll regret it after eating.” I held back my anger, not wanting to make a scene. After everyone left, I looked at him with cold eyes: “Ethan, do you think I’m fat?” With the stress of grad school, I had gone from about 130 pounds to 165. It’s easy to gain weight, but hard to lose it. Ethan avoided the question, handing me his phone which showed a weight loss meal plan. “I just got this from Jack’s girlfriend. If you follow it, you’ll definitely lose weight.” So that’s why he was sitting there for so long. I let out a cold laugh. “Ethan, you do think I’m fat. You’re embarrassed to be seen with me in front of your friends.” “That model girlfriend who’s 5’9″, I can’t compare to her.” Ethan softened his tone. “It’s all for your own good. We’re getting engaged next month, don’t you want your once-in-a-lifetime engagement to be perfect?” “That wedding dress is custom-made, it’s too late to alter it now.” “Besides, didn’t you ask me to keep you accountable?” Thinking about it, I had put in a lot of effort to fit into that wedding dress. But his attitude just now still made me feel uncomfortable. I couldn’t quite put my finger on why. After comforting me a bit more, Ethan drove me home.

Back in my dorm room, there was a birthday cake on the table from my parents. The card urged me to eat well and take care of myself. Seeing this, tears inexplicably fell. Looking at my chubby figure in the mirror, I sniffled and decided to give the cake to others. I only kept the little chocolate figurine made to look like me. The next morning, Ethan was waiting at the bottom of my dorm building as usual. As I walked over, I noticed his hands were empty and his face was gloomy. “What’s wrong? Where’s breakfast?” Since I started dieting, Ethan had been calculating the calories for my two meals a day. To encourage me, he ate the same meals. Ethan replied with a hint of sarcasm: “You ate chocolate last night. That one piece of chocolate is equal to a whole day’s calories. You shouldn’t eat anything today.” “If you can’t commit to losing weight, just tell me straight. I’ll return the wedding dress right away!” With that, he walked off on his own. Leaving me standing there bewildered. How did he know? I chased after him, grabbing his hand to explain. “Ethan, I did keep a piece of chocolate, but I didn’t eat it. I can go up and show you if you don’t believe me!” Seeing my sincere attitude, Ethan didn’t say anything more. He looked me up and down, hand on his chin in thought for a moment, then surveyed me again. He exclaimed: “I know what you’re missing now!” “What?” “A goal.” Saying that, he took my phone and fiddled with it for a while. When he handed it back, the lock screen had changed to a photo of a slim model. “Mia, look at her every day and imagine your body will be like hers after you lose weight.” “After our engagement party, we’ll go to the Maldives for vacation. By then your body in a bikini…” As Ethan vividly described the scene, I suddenly felt like he was a stranger. It reminded me of when we went to a water park. He insisted I wear a skimpy bikini and wanted to show me off to his friends. It was only after my repeated refusals that he finally gave up. His reluctant expression at the time… I suddenly felt nauseous and interrupted his fantasy: “Ethan, I just remembered I have something to do. I’m leaving first.”

Over the next few days, Ethan seemed obsessed, sending me photos of different models every day. The implication was encouragement. Once when I opened the chat, I saw he had quickly deleted a photo. Though he deleted it fast, my sharp eyes still caught that it was Jack’s girlfriend. A woman’s intuition told me this wasn’t an accident. One day, I saw a timed alarm on Ethan’s phone. It was a reminder for him to attend a classmate gathering that night. I deliberately asked him: “Do you have plans tonight?” His expression froze: “My advisor wants me to attend a meeting tonight to discuss the topic for the next paper.” I smiled without exposing him. However, shortly after he left, I suddenly received a text from an unknown number: [Ethan is in Room 306 at the Grand Hotel.] After hesitating for a long time, I decided to go take a look. Through the crack in the door, I saw Ethan. He had dressed up specially and was wearing the shirt I bought him. He used to complain it was too flashy and refused to wear it, but now he was happily wearing it? It was supposed to be a classmate gathering, but most people had brought their girlfriends. Jack had his arm around Lily as he sat next to Ethan: “Where’s your girlfriend?” Ethan downed the drink in front of him: “She’s busy with school, no time to come. Not like your girlfriend who can be with you all the time.” His expression was very dejected. Anyone who didn’t know better would think he’d been dumped. Jack patted him on the shoulder with a smile “Looks like dating a genius means being alone a lot. You might as well be like me and find someone without much education. Give her a few thousand a month to keep her, and she’ll stick to you like glue.” “It’s impressive to bring a grad student girlfriend out, but girls with too much education have too much autonomy. It’ll be hard to control her in the future.” Listening to this speech from outside the door made me want to vomit. Satisfying themselves by putting women down. I thought that no matter how much of a jerk Ethan was, he wouldn’t be like that. I waited for his rebuttal. But Ethan’s words made my heart go cold. “You have a point. Why don’t you have your girlfriend introduce someone to me?” Jack clearly hadn’t expected this answer. After freezing for a few seconds, he patted his chest and promised: “Leave it to me!”

Almost simultaneously, I pushed open the door and entered. Seeing me, Ethan hurriedly stood up, his tone nervous: “Why are you here?” I walked over and questioned him: “Didn’t you say you were going to a meeting?” Embarrassment flashed across Ethan’s face, but he quickly recovered: “The advisor had something come up and cancelled. Since there was a classmate gathering, I came here.” The others noticed something was wrong and tried to help cover for him. Only Jack seemed eager to watch the drama unfold. “Well well, sister-in-law is so busy with school but still came to check up on him?” “I can vouch for Ethan, he definitely hasn’t cheated. You can rest easy.” I looked at him and said sarcastically: “A fine man like you, why act as a pimp?” “Your family spent so much money to send you abroad to study, and this is what you learned?” Jack angrily stood up, about to retort, but I glared at him: “If you say one more word, don’t blame me for spilling your secrets and letting everyone see what kind of person you really are!” Jack was at a loss for words. But Ethan was unhappy. “Mia! Where did a graduate student like you learn such vulgar language? Stop embarrassing me here! Come home with me!” I laughed coldly and looked at him “You shamelessly asked someone to introduce you to a girlfriend, and you have the nerve to talk about me?” “I was just joking! What evidence do you have against me?” I looked around at everyone. They all avoided eye contact, afraid of taking sides. Heh, truly a bunch of fair-weather friends. Just then, Lily suddenly stood up and said timidly: “Ethan, I just sent you the WeChat contacts of some models that meet your requirements. Remember to check.”

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Both Ethan Lewis and I were given a second chance at life. We were reincarnated on the day he was supposed to propose to me. This time, he let go of my hand and turned to embrace Olivia Taylor tightly. I suddenly remembered that in our previous life, on our way to file for divorce, we had a car accident. As he lay dying, the name he murmured wasn’t mine, but a regret. “If I could start over, I would definitely choose Olivia Taylor. Only with her do I feel truly alive…” If that’s the case, then I’ll fulfill his wish. But later, he knelt before me, begging for us to start over. February 14th, Valentine’s Day. Ethan Lewis had invited all our mutual friends and classmates. On the school’s field at night, he had arranged countless flowers and balloons to form a huge setting. Tonight, Ethan was going to propose to me. Ethan and I had been dating for four years, agreeing from the start to get married after graduating from college. So today, Valentine’s Day, was the day Ethan would propose to me. Of course, besides this reason, there was another person’s existence that prompted me to choose this day. Olivia Taylor. She was two years our senior, the lead singer of a band, and quite a popular figure on campus. She had fallen in love with Ethan at first sight during a school anniversary celebration and had been pursuing him passionately ever since. Countless gestures of goodwill, bringing him breakfast, writing love letters, making appearances on Valentine’s Day, Christmas, and even his birthday. Ethan would always coldly send her away. But this woman was relentless. Her unwavering devotion annoyed Ethan to no end. Finally, unable to bear her persistence any longer, Ethan hinted to me that he wanted to propose, hoping to completely dash Olivia’s hopes. In my previous life, when Ethan proposed to me, Olivia was standing in the crowd. She wore a white mini dress, a crown on her head, her gaze intense and sincere. “Ethan Lewis, I like you! If you don’t have a girlfriend, can you give me a chance?” “I promise I won’t be inferior to her!” How did Ethan respond back then? He smiled gently yet firmly, gazing deeply at me, one arm tightly around my waist. “I’m sorry, but I won’t let anyone else be my girlfriend.” “Rachel is my only girlfriend.” “Please don’t bother me anymore in the future.” His voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear enough for the three of us to hear. Olivia was stunned, while I was deeply moved. But this time, the situation was completely reversed. Ethan held Olivia tightly, not even sparing me a glance, his tone calm and resolute. “I’m sorry, Rachel. I think our relationship was just a mistake.” “In the future, please don’t bother me anymore.” Almost the exact same words, just directed at a different person. My heart suddenly twisted in pain, but my face remained calm. I looked at Ethan, his cheeks slightly flushed with excitement, his eyes carrying a hint of guilt that was hard to notice. But he didn’t let go of Olivia’s waist. I nodded, turning to face the crowd. “Everyone, thank you for coming today.” “But I’m afraid the proposal has to be canceled.” “Ethan has just broken up with me. Although I don’t know when he changed his mind, since he’s said it, we should respect his wishes.” After saying this, I looked back at Ethan, my gaze lingering on Olivia for a moment before moving away. “Ethan, I respect your choice.” “From today, no, from this moment on, we are officially broken up, and we won’t have any relationship in the future.” “I wish you happiness.”

Ethan gave me a deep look, then turned and left with Olivia. They walked side by side, Olivia’s head slightly tilted, resting on Ethan’s shoulder, one hand tightly clasped with his, the other pointing in some direction. “Olivia, don’t you have a concert next month?” “Yes, you must be in the audience to hear me sing.” “Okay.” “And next March, let’s go to Provence together to see the lavender fields.” “Okay.” “In the future, wherever I want to go, you’ll accompany me, right?” “Yes.” Ethan smiled, looking at Olivia adoringly, as if she was a treasure he had lost and found again. Watching them walk away, I let out a soft sigh and turned to walk in the opposite direction. I called my roommates, asking them to meet me at our usual bar. “Don’t ask what happened, don’t try to comfort me, and don’t feel sad for me.” “I’m treating you to drinks. Tonight, we’re not leaving until we’re drunk.” After downing glass after glass, my roommates patted my shoulder, wanting to say something but holding back, finally just letting out a sigh. “Rachel, try to cheer up. Ethan isn’t worth this.” I shook my head and drained another glass. “You’re wrong. I’m actually very happy.” “I’m finally free of him.” Ethan and I were childhood sweethearts, from families of similar status. Our parents always thought we were a perfect match and that we would definitely marry in the future. We didn’t disappoint our parents’ expectations. Elementary school, middle school, high school, we were always in the same class until college when we finally separated. He was a year younger than me. As a child, he was quite proud but also very kind. In elementary school, when older students tried to steal my money, he rushed up to fight them, ending up pushed to the ground with a scraped arm. Back then, our agreement was to start dating after college graduation and get married after that. But after we actually got married, everything seemed to change. Every day was filled with mundane chores, struggling to make a living. Life gradually became dull, and Ethan started to feel that this kind of life was meaningless. Later, Olivia became a pop singer, performing at various small venues. She didn’t earn much, but it was enough to get by. Her vibrant and passionate image deeply attracted Ethan, and he began to actively approach Olivia. At first, Olivia maintained boundaries, but faced with the active pursuit of the boy she had liked for so many years, how could she refuse? So everything naturally fell into place. Once, I went on a business trip for a month. When I came back, I found out they had been intimate more than once. I was thunderstruck, but Ethan was nonchalant. “I married you because you wanted to get married. What more do you want?” “I’ve never been to a bar, never been to a concert, never watched a movie or had a candlelit dinner in my entire life.” “You never do these things with me, and now you won’t let others do them with me?” “From now on, let’s each do our own thing. Don’t interfere with me, and I won’t bother with you. But if you dare to hurt my Olivia, I won’t let you off easily!” I was already too tired to argue with him. After a while, I proposed divorce. Of course, Ethan didn’t agree. I insisted, and finally, he compromised. He sarcastically said, “The two and a half months I’ve been with Olivia have been happier than all the happiness in my previous half-life combined.” “Rachel White, you said you’d give me happiness, but you can’t.”

After drinking I don’t know how many glasses of wine, I felt a bit dizzy. I stood up unsteadily, intending to go to the bathroom. On the way, I passed by a private room with the door not fully closed. The voices coming from inside made me stop in my tracks. “…That Rachel White, I’m really sick of her. She’s as stiff and boring as a piece of wood.” “Olivia, you’re so much better. You’re beautiful, interesting, and know how to talk. You can give me the life I want.” “I only like you, Olivia.” “Ethan, I like you too.” I pushed open the half-open door. The people in the room instantly fell silent, all turning to look at me. Ethan saw me and froze for a moment, then frowned and said, “Rachel White, didn’t we already break up? Why are you still haunting me?” Olivia sat beside him, looking at me with a half-smile, then raised her head and kissed Ethan. “Did you see that?” “He’s my boyfriend now.” “If you dare to keep bothering Ethan, don’t blame me for being unkind.” I looked at the two of them expressionlessly. “Don’t worry, I won’t pick up trash again.” “Ethan Lewis, I hope you can always maintain today’s choice.” After saying this, I turned and walked out of the private room. I had only taken a few steps when I accidentally bumped into someone while turning around. “Ouch—” The man was wearing a burgundy open-collar shirt. His skin was fair, and under the colorful lights of the bar, he looked exceptionally handsome. He clutched his chest where I had bumped him, opening his phoenix eyes wide to look at me, seeming a bit surprised. “Rachel White?” “Did you really break up with Ethan Lewis?” Jason Chen, the young master of the Chen family from the north of the city, whom I had met once before. I nodded, “Yes, I’m single now.” Jason blinked, his expression seeming to become more lively. “Then… are you interested in dating now?” I stared at his handsome face for a moment, not answering his question, but instead turned to walk towards the bathroom. But before I had taken two steps, I heard a “thump” sound behind me. I turned to look and saw Jason almost fall to the ground. I quickly walked over and reached out to steady him. Jason waved his hand, “I’m fine…” Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly vomited. The strong smell of alcohol spread through the air. I sighed, resigned to supporting his arm and walking towards the bathroom. The warmth from Jason’s body transmitted through the thin layer of fabric to my skin. His skin was very fair, almost transparent under the lights. Up close, I could see faint freckles on his face, which added a touch of wild beauty. Perhaps it was the effect of the alcohol, but I suddenly felt my body grow hot. Jason leaned softly against me, lifting his head, his phoenix eyes hazy and confused. “Rachel White, you still haven’t answered my question.” “Do you want to date me?” “I like you, I want to be your boyfriend.” My gaze slid upwards, landing on his slightly parted lips. The next second, I raised my head and kissed him.

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