Category: English

Three years ago, my daughter went missing when I took her to the amusement park. My husband Daniel never recovered from the blow. To find Mina, I quit my job and drained our savings. But Mina never surfaced. Overwhelmed by guilt, I sank into a deep depression. The day I jumped from the bridge, ready to end it all, I saw Daniel and his first love. They walked past me, holding Mina’s hand, all of them smiling. When the New Year’s bells rang out, my body was already drifting in the cold current. At that very moment, the girl I had searched for over three years was setting off fireworks by the river. The winter wind stung Sarah’s cheeks. Daniel unwrapped his scarf and drew her into his embrace. He warmed her hands in his, a soft smile on his lips. “The fireworks are perfect this year. If only we could stop time right here.” Sarah lowered her gaze, then slowly laced her fingers with his. “It’s like a dream. Daniel, I never thought we’d be together again…that you’d give up so much for me. I didn’t mean to hide Mina that day. I only wanted to frighten Eliza. I was just…so jealous. Jealous she could be with you. Jealous you had such a perfect daughter.” Daniel’s expression deepened with tenderness. He kissed her forehead and vowed. “No one will ever hurt you again. I may not be able to marry you, but I’ll build you a home. Mina is your daughter. Nothing will ever come between us!” Mina rushed willingly into Sarah’s arms, begging to stay with her forever. A picture of a happy family of three. And I, a ghost forgotten by all, could only watch from the shadows, weeping without a sound. Three years ago, it happened by this same river. I lost Mina because of a call from Daniel. The surveillance footage showed Sarah, Daniel’s first love, was the last person seen with her. Every time I tried to find Sarah and demand the truth, Daniel stopped me. No matter how desperately I pleaded on my knees, he would only shout back at me, furious. “Yes, I loved Sarah once, but that’s in the past! You can’t pin your own failure on her just to avoid blame!” Daniel’s blame only drove my guilt deeper. To find Mina, I quit my job and searched without end. For three years, I crossed half the country and knelt in a hundred churches. I left each time with hope. I returned each time with nothing. The neighbors’ whispers ate at me. My family’s condemnation left me no place to hide. I punished myself, over and over, in penance. Finally, crushed by the weight, I chose death. But now, rushing towards death, I realized Mina’s disappearance wasn’t my fault. Mina wasn’t lost. Daniel had hidden her. My long-dead heart twisted violently. Tears nearly drowned my parched soul. Just as they were lost in their future, a phone call shattered the moment.

My mother-in-law’s sharp voice came through the phone, carrying an almost visceral disgust. “Where’s Eliza? Hiding somewhere? Today is the anniversary of Mina’s disappearance. Oh, Daniel, you’re so brilliant, how did you end up marrying a woman like that…” The familiar accusations stirred distant memories. Years ago, Sarah left Daniel, who came from a humble family, to go abroad. Daniel was devastated, heartbroken for a long time. He even gave up a guaranteed university admission, his only chance to turn his life around. I tried everything to help Daniel get back on his feet, even begging my parents to help him with his career. Back then, my mother-in-law always called me the family’s lucky star, her perfect daughter-in-law for life. But later, Daniel showed his exceptional detective skills, and his career skyrocketed. My mother-in-law’s attitude towards me subtly changed. After Mina disappeared, that subtle malice morphed into deep disgust. Every time we met, it was either verbal abuse or she would get physical with me. For years, Daniel was always mediating between us. I once thought it was his love for me. Now I know it was just a debt of conscience. The incessant accusations made Daniel rub his temples, a headache forming. He glanced at Mina, then instinctively tightened his grip on Sarah’s hand. “Mom, Mina is just missing, don’t say such things. You can’t blame Eliza entirely for what happened back then. She’s been through a lot these past few years, so please, just stop talking.” Seeing Daniel’s half-hearted defense, I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. Even at this point, Daniel would rather let his own daughter be considered “dead.” And his wife bear all the blame. He still wouldn’t reveal the truth or expose Sarah. First love runs deep. His favoritism and protection of Sarah truly knew no bounds. I took a deep breath, trying not to look into his eyes. But some unseen force still compelled me to follow Daniel. The night grew darker. My body had already drifted downstream along the river. Daniel, however, didn’t notice the strangeness behind him. His heart was solely focused on Sarah. Afraid she’d catch a cold from the wind, he voluntarily took her home. Back then, Sarah had gotten into trouble abroad and was deported back home. With a dejected expression, she pleaded with Daniel for help, asking for a place to stay. Facing my objections, Daniel didn’t immediately agree. I never imagined Sarah would hold a grudge and abduct my daughter. Even less did I expect Daniel to help her conceal her crime. Looking back, I had given up almost everything to find Mina. I lost my job and my family fell apart. Missing person ads and search teams each cost me greatly. For this, I mortgaged my parents’ house and sold all my jewelry. Daniel knew the truth and my suffering. Yet when I needed help most, he used our joint assets to buy this villa for Sarah. Then with Mina, he lived here openly with his first love.

I looked around at the exquisite decorations and meticulous furnishings. Every detail was Daniel’s work, proof of his devotion. This man, who at home would drag his feet over changing a lightbulb, had done all this for Sarah. Love and its absence were painfully clear. I stifled my heartache and held back my tears. Then Mina looked up at Daniel, blinking her innocent eyes. “Daddy,” she asked naively, “when are you going to marry Sarah?” “I want her to be my mommy.” Her innocent words pierced my heart like knives. Daniel froze for a moment. He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he turned to Sarah, his expression helpless. “I’m sorry, Sarah.Being with me has brought you only pain” “You’re so wonderful, yet I can’t give you the title you deserve.” Sarah leaned into Daniel’s embrace, slowly lowering her head. “Being with you is enough for me.” “It’s just… my own suffering doesn’t matter.” “I just worry about our child being wronged.” She took Daniel’s hand and guided it to her stomach. “You don’t know how long I’ve waited for this child.” That faint flutter instantly made Daniel’s eyes light up. But before he could speak, his joy was interrupted by an urgent work call. Daniel, always meticulous in his work, never one to be careless. This time, however, he hung up four or five times for Sarah’s sake. Only when he had no other choice did he reluctantly answer. “What is it? Didn’t I say not to bother me when I’m resting!” The other person’s voice was especially urgent. “Daniel, it’s bad news.” “A female body was found downstream. The forensic pathologist’s initial diagnosis indicates the time of death as tonight.” “Command says the timing is sensitive, and to prevent unnecessary panic, they need you at the scene immediately for investigation.” Daniel frowned, saying somewhat reluctantly. “Something came up at home, I can’t go.” Mike’s voice grew more urgent. “Daniel, this is a major case, a matter of life and death!” Daniel’s frown deepened. He seemed to be thinking of a suitable excuse to put them off. But I let out a bitter laugh. Before I died, I had one last struggle. I called Daniel countless times, begging him to come home and stay with me. Begging him to help me search for Mina again. Begging him to just glance at me. But each time, he cruelly hung up. He just told me: “Eliza, you created this mess, now you deal with it.” “Even if you die, don’t cause me any more trouble!” As he wished, I truly died. The ironic thing was, even in death, I couldn’t get him to turn and look at me. Years of effort, years of affection. In the end, it was all so pathetic. Now, a lonely ghost, I could only watch him and Sarah kiss and intertwine. Watching him leave, looking back over his shoulder repeatedly, full of reluctance. And at that moment, by the turbulent river. That bloated and disfigured body, just like that, came into everyone’s view.

A night of washing and compression. Had made the once somewhat delicate face grotesquely disfigured, unrecognizable. Daniel, upon arriving at the scene, instinctively frowned. Then he began his methodical investigation. “No extra footprints at the scene, preliminarily ruling out homicide.” “Multiple wounds on the deceased’s arms, possibly self-inflicted.” “In conclusion, suicide is highly probable.” “The final conclusion will depend on the forensic pathologist’s autopsy report.” At this, Daniel couldn’t help but sigh. “It’s almost a new year.” “What could have driven someone to take their own life at such a time?” His teammate, Mike, also expressed regret. “Yeah, and no family around.” “Such a shame, so young.” “But Daniel, I remember your home is nearby; why did you drive here from the south? Were you spending New Year’s Eve with Eliza, or did you go somewhere else?” Daniel froze, unsure how to answer. He instinctively looked up at the nearby neighborhood. At what used to be our home. Among the myriad lights of homes, the one belonging to him and me never lit up. He opened his mouth but no sound came out. He just turned back, gave Mike a faint glance, and continued methodically with his work. While examining the wrist, Daniel’s gaze briefly lingered on the diamond ring. But in the end, he didn’t recognize me. Then again, Daniel was busy. Busy with work, busy covering up lies for Sarah. How could he remember any details related to me? I was the one who proposed, I bought the ring, I arranged everything in the house. The one who gives the most is always the easiest to overlook. I poured my life’s efforts into this family. In the end, I not only lost my daughter and my love. But also my own life. I sighed softly. When I looked up again, I saw Sarah standing by the roadside, waving at Daniel. Daniel, who usually complained I disturbed his work even when I brought him food. Now ran to Sarah with a face full of pleasant surprise. He turned sideways, shielding her from view, his eyes full of uncontrollable mirth. “What are you doing here in this cold weather?” Sarah smiled as she tied a scarf around Daniel, saying gently. “It’s too late, I was worried about you.” “I made you a cake, remember to eat it when you’re done.” Daniel sighed, a blend of tenderness and helplessness. “You really shouldn’t be here, it’s so… unsettling.” “What if it frightens you or the baby?” Unsettling. He wasn’t afraid of people finding out about Sarah. He wasn’t afraid of hurting me if I knew. The only thing he feared was my corpse staining Sarah’s sight. Tears fell without a sound. By then, Daniel had already led Sarah to a bench nearby and helped her sit. It was as if they weren’t at a crime scene, but had returned to their school days together. The two chatted idly, leaving my body to lie there, all alone. Sarah was the first to speak. “Daniel, I still want a proper status for the child in my belly.” “You’ve seen it yourself, Mina has always been closer to me these past years; I’m confident I can be a good mother.” She eagerly took Daniel’s hand. Her gaze now tinged with a hint of pleading. Daniel was silent for a long time, seemingly reluctant and troubled. “Sarah, you don’t understand.” “Eliza and I have a very complicated relationship.” “Although you’re the one I’ve loved all these years, I… I really can’t divorce her.” “Eliza, Eliza has done so much for me.” The hazy light cast shadows on Daniel’s face. I couldn’t see his expression, but I could understand the grievance and helplessness in his words. All these years, I had been deceiving myself. I believed if I loved him enough, if I was good enough, he would forget Sarah and truly be with me. But the truth was, the ghost of a perfect first love could never be vanquished. I was only ever the convenient Mrs. Daniel. He was grateful for my support, yet resented me for keeping him from his true love. Bound by his career, he couldn’t divorce me, and turned his guilt toward Sarah into a quiet hatred for me. Remembering the distance in Mina’s eyes. Remembering Daniel’s years of weary indifference. I saw, then, how truly pathetic my life had been. I sacrificed my entire life for a family that wasn’t truly mine. I gave my life in vain for someone who didn’t love me. Wind blew, leaves fell, the earth was desolate. For some reason, Daniel’s voice grew somewhat forlorn. He held Sarah’s hand, gently promising. “Don’t worry, I won’t let you or the baby suffer.” “Cars, houses, everything you want, except that one piece of paper – I can give it all to you.” “Sarah, you have to believe, you’re the only one I’ll ever love.” Sarah still smiled, but her smile held an indescribable meaning. “Aren’t you afraid Eliza will find out about Mina?” Daniel froze for a moment, then gently shook his head. “You don’t understand.” “Eliza loves me deeply, and she can’t live without me.” “Even if she knew the truth, she wouldn’t have the heart to blame me.” “I’ve thought it all through. Next month is her birthday; I’ll bring Mina back.” “With our daughter by her side, she won’t have the energy to bother with our affairs.” “By then, I can properly be with you and the baby.” Perhaps it was a flicker of leftover guilt. Or something else. Daniel finally remembered me. But it was far too late. Daniel, I would not wait for your return, or for your confession. A long-silent ringtone sounded from my broken body when his call connected.

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The scholarship student I sponsored stole my earrings. When I demanded them back, my boyfriend, Alex Knight, actually threatened me. “Scarlett is the Summerbrook heiress. Why would she steal from you? Apologize to her now, or I’ll post those pictures of you with that old sugar daddy online.” I looked at his photos. The so-called old man was just Mr. Henderson, my family’s butler. Besides, I was the real Summerbrook heiress. I’d just never told Alex, preferring to keep a low profile. I gave a cold laugh, dumped him right there, and called my assistant. “Terminate all funding for Scarlett Reed. Effective immediately.” Just as I reached the classroom door, I overheard two classmates fawning over Scarlett. “Wow, Scarlett, your earrings are gorgeous! They must cost a fortune!” “Of course! Scarlett’s the Summerbrook heiress. Everything she wears is limited edition!” Summerbrook heiress? Wasn’t that me? Since when did it become Scarlett? Scarlett was a scholarship student who received monthly funds from me. I tilted my head and saw her standing there, chin held high, basking in the praise. A smile played on her lips, and she lowered her voice conspiratorially. “Oh, you two know, but keep it down. Especially around Evelyn. She’s on financial aid. I wouldn’t want her to feel…insecure.” Hearing that, I was speechless. And those earrings…I frowned. They looked exactly like mine. I rummaged through my bag. Sure enough, my earrings were gone. Scrolling through Scarlett’s Instagram, I saw almost all of my missing jewelry featured in her posts. She must have been sneaking them out for photos before quietly returning them. If I hadn’t stumbled onto this, how long would the charade have lasted? Scarlett had built quite a following online. Her bio even declared her the “Summerbrook heiress,” explaining away the different surname as her mother’s. A detailed lie. Having never met her as her sponsor, she had no idea of my true identity. I walked into the room. The moment Scarlett saw me, her face paled. She ducked behind her roommates.

Her voice trembled with guilt. “Evie, what are you doing here? Didn’t you say you weren’t feeling well and asked me to call you in sick today?” I fixed her with an icy stare and held out my hand. “Give them back.” Scarlett flinched. “What?” A cold laugh escaped me. “Scarlett, give me back my earrings!” Before she could speak, her friends Chloe and Tiffany jumped in. Tiffany shoved me back, her face twisted with disdain. “Are you insane, Evelyn? Those are Scarlett’s.” Chloe echoed like a perfect echo. “Yeah! Those are designer. There’s no way someone on financial aid like you could afford them. Where’s your proof?” I nodded, unfazed. “And does Scarlett have any proof that they’re hers?” Chloe and Tiffany froze, then looked back at Scarlett. Our commotion was loud enough to draw the attention of other classmates, who started gathering to watch the drama unfold. “No way, right? Isn’t Scarlett super rich?” “Then let her provide the proof. Why does she look so guilty?” Scarlett’s face turned ghostly white. She trembled, shaking her head in denial. “I’m not guilty! These are clearly mine, why should I fall into a trap of proving myself? I have the right to refuse to prove anything!” Watching her, I just found it amusing. I was done wasting words. I pulled out my phone and brought up the purchase receipt,complete with detailed photos. A perfect match to her earrings. “Here’s the proof. And one more thing,” I added, my tone icy. “These are limited edition. Each piece has a unique serial number engraved inside. So, Scarlett, why don’t you take them off…and let everyone here check if your number matches mine?” Scarlett, of course, knew they matched. She clutched her ears, backing away repeatedly. Her two bootlicking followers, however, were completely oblivious and kept urging Scarlett to take off the earrings. “Scarlett, just show her already, so she can stop showing off!” These two might be clueless, but the rest of the class wasn’t stupid. They caught on fast. Scornful glances shot toward Scarlett. “I knew it! The real Summerbrooks are known for being low key. No wonder Scarlett kept showing off every little thing she had. She was living a stolen life!” “Liar! And stealing from her roommate! The school needs to expel her!” Tears welled up in Scarlett’s eyes. She frantically looked around, as if searching for someone. I frowned, then heard a familiar voice from the classroom doorway. “What’s going on here?!”

I turned around, momentarily stunned, but quickly registered who it was. I almost forgot, Scarlett’s childhood friend, Alex Knight, was my boyfriend. Alex rushed over, shielding Scarlett behind him. “Scarlett, are you okay? Who’s bothering you?” Alex’s arrival gave Scarlett a surge of confidence. She was no longer as panicked as before. Instead, she firmly insisted it was my fault. “I don’t know why, Evelyn said my earrings were hers…Since she’s your girlfriend, I suggest you rein her in.” Alex glanced at me guiltily after hearing that, then quickly turned his head, refusing to meet my gaze. Seeing his reaction, I understood. He was probably involved in this whole thing. Suddenly, I saw how blind I’d been to ever fall for someone like him. Keeping my expression neutral, I planned to cut Alex’s sponsorship next and find a reason to end things. Then, he launched into a self-righteous lecture. “Evelyn, you’re the one who stole Scarlett’s earrings! I’ve told you again and again. Not only did you refuse to return them, now you’re making a scene, trying to claim they’re yours? This is too much. Apologize to Scarlett now, or we’re through!” Me? What? I let out an angry laugh, about to pull out my evidence. Tiffany suddenly grabbed my arm. “Evelyn, Scarlett has always taken such good care of you, seeing you’re on financial aid. Is this how you treat her?” “Since the evidence is clear, come with me to see the residence advisor! We’ll get the RA to kick you out of our dorm!” Scarlett looked a little panicked. “It’s okay, Tiffany. We’re all friends, no need to report her. As long as she apologizes.” Unfortunately, Tiffany didn’t understand Scarlett’s subtle hint and continued to encourage her. “Scarlett, you’re just too kind, that’s why people take advantage of you! We can’t let this slide this time. We need to let the whole school know what kind of person she really is!” I burst out laughing. “Fine. You want a scene? Let’s go then. Better yet, call the police. Let them investigate whose earrings are whose!” Scarlett knew the truth, and she kept backing away nervously, afraid I’d drag her along. But I wasn’t about to let her escape. I reached out and grabbed Scarlett, only to discover she’d also stolen my necklace. That’s when my anger truly flared. I slapped Scarlett across the face. “Have you no shame?! You stole this necklace too! Do you know how important this necklace is to me?!” It was a gift from my late grandmother. I couldn’t believe Scarlett was so low as to steal even that! Alex quickly pushed me away, tenderly cupping Scarlett’s face. “Enough! Evelyn, you’re going too far! Apologize now! Otherwise, I’ll post those photos of you being a kept woman!” I froze. “What photos?” Alex smugly held his phone up to my face. And that’s when I saw the older man in the picture. It was my family’s old butler. Idiot! I let out a bitter laugh. Ever since I learned that he and Scarlett were both scholarship students I sponsored, I’d been careful to hide my true identity, afraid he’d feel insecure if he knew who I really was. Every time I went home, I was cautious, worried he might see me. And he thought I was a gold digger? Alex’s accusation rippled through the room. Instantly, contemptuous eyes locked on me. “No way! She always dressed so well. Who knew she was a gold digger?” “Ugh, to think we’re in the same class. This is so embarrassing to talk about!” I let out a sharp, angry laugh and slapped him. “Remember, spreading rumors is illegal!” While he was still stunned, I grabbed Scarlett and yanked the necklace from her throat. But as I pulled it free, Alex snapped back. He snatched the necklace from my hand and smashed it to the floor. It shattered instantly. I stared at the broken pieces, stunned. I clenched my fist. “Alex Knight,”I roared,”do you know what that necklace was worth?!” Before, I’d only thought about breaking up. But now, it wouldn’t be that simple!

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Aria POV I’m Aria, notorious in our circle as Hunter’s biggest simp. I practically gifted him opportunities, literally put my life on the line for him on that treacherous mountain. For three whole years, I laid my heart bare, and Hunter was finally starting to thaw. Everyone thought we were destined to be together. But then, he turned around and went official with my distant relative, Chloe. The whole social scene watched me, whispering about how heartbroken I must be. But just as they were clucking their tongues, an anonymous video suddenly went viral online. The clip showed a dimly lit private room, the camera wobbling slightly with movement. The hand of the person filming, tattooed with thorny vines, flashed at the edge of the frame. And there I was, sprawled on the couch, completely wasted. Drunk-me, face flushed, bent down to light a cigarette. The smoke rings blurred the lens. Then, I suddenly looked up, staring directly at the camera, a mocking smirk curving my wine-soaked lips. “Hunter, huh…” I flicked the ash. “His temper sucked, and his skills? Seriously underwhelming. Honestly, nothing to write home about.”

Aria POV I picked up my phone, my head throbbing from the hangover. I’d only just woken up to the video drama. I hooked my fingers around the cigarette pack on the floor, pulled one out, put it in my mouth, and lit it, exhaling a slow puff of smoke. The rush of nicotine made me sigh contentedly as I leaned back on the bed. The screen next to my pillow suddenly lit up. A new message hung in the notification bar, just one concise sentence: “Woke up? Get to Skylight Room A2.” I raised an eyebrow. Hunter… actually reaching out to me again? I’d already prepared myself for us to never speak again. I genuinely liked Hunter, I’ve never denied that. When people called me his simp, it wasn’t an unfair accusation. After all, three years ago, on that rainy night, I was cornered in an alley, taking a few stabs. If Hunter hadn’t happened to pass by and pull me out, I probably wouldn’t be alive right now. Even though back then, he didn’t even spare me a second glance. He just dealt with those thugs and left. But that was the day I fell for him, hard. I chased him relentlessly for three years, even saving his life during an avalanche. Only then did Hunter’s attitude finally start to soften. Just when I thought we were getting somewhere, he suddenly went public with Chloe. Chloe, a distant relative from a troubled background, was practically dumped on my doorstep. I wasn’t bad to her, but I never expected her to scheme against me. I decided to just call Hunter directly. My phone rang a few times, then the call was disconnected. Staring at the ‘call ended’ screen, I paused for a moment, then redialed. This time, the call connected, but there was only silence on the other end, just the faint sound of breathing. “Hunter,” I started. “Got a moment? Can we talk outside…” My words were cut short by a blurry burst of laughter through the receiver. Then, Chloe’s voice chimed in, dripping with undisguised triumph: “Aria, Hunter’s busy with me right now. He can’t come out.” I didn’t get angry. I just smiled. “Really?” “Well, tell him to call me back once he’s done.” Without waiting for another response, I decisively ended the call. My phone landed with a dull thud on the couch as I tossed it aside. I stood still for a moment, then bent down and took a car key from the coffee table drawer. Maybe, just maybe, there was some misunderstanding? Hunter was always so stubborn; I’d just have to be more proactive. I pushed the motorcycle to its limits, the wind roaring past my ears, trying to stop myself from overthinking. Soon I arrived at The Skylight Club. The first floor was a booming party scene, the music deafening. I tossed the keys to a valet and headed upstairs. Just as I was about to enter the room, someone stopped me.

Aria POV Skylight Room A2 was my VIP suite, a gift from my family. It had the best view, overlooking the entire downtown. I saw Hunter eyeing it, and like an idiot, I just gave it to him. Now, I, the original owner, couldn’t even get in. The bodyguard in front of me was a head taller, looking down at me. “Mr. Hunter said, Miss Aria, you’re not allowed in without Miss Chloe’s permission.” I looked at him. “I need Chloe’s permission to enter?” I scoffed, pushing past the bodyguard and kicking the door open. The bustling crowd inside instantly fell silent. Chloe sat in the center of the room, queen bee, accepting drinks handed to her. I grabbed her collar, yanking her from the main spot to outside the door. I stared at the panic-stricken Chloe. “Since when did I need your permission to enter this room?” Seeing her face turn white with fear, I finally let go, turning to walk back into the room. I sat directly in the center, surveying the varied expressions of the people around. “Where’s Hunter?” No one answered. Just as the atmosphere grew tense, someone clapped their hands in the corner. The person was sitting in the darkest spot, almost hidden by the sprawling plants. Hunter stood up. He was dressed all in black today, a tight black sweater clinging to his torso, concealing the tattoos on his neck, only a sliver visible behind his ear. His skin was strikingly pale, and a subtle, devil-may-care smirk played on his lips. “Well, well, Miss Aria. What a display of authority.”

Aria POV The smirk on his lips told me he was angry. But remembering my drunken words from the video, I felt a wave of embarrassment. “Hunter, about that video, I can explain. I was wasted that night, and what I said later…” I stood up, taking a few steps closer to him. “Apologize to Chloe.” My words were cut off. I froze, staring blankly at Hunter. The slight tenderness he once had for me was gone, replaced by utter coldness and mockery. Something was off. Thinking back, from a certain point, he had suddenly grown distant, instead focusing on the ever-demure Chloe. I forced down the surge of anger and hurt, softening my voice: “Hunter, can we talk outside, please?” He acted as if he hadn’t heard me, looking at Chloe, whose eyes were red-rimmed. His voice grew colder: “Last time I’m saying this: apologize to Chloe.” My nails dug deep into my palms. The room was so quiet I could hear the faint music from afar. All eyes were fixed on me, scrutinizing me with various unspoken judgments. I looked at Hunter’s expressionless face: “Why should I?” “Why should you?” Hunter seemed amused, a flicker of scorn in his eyes. “Because Chloe is mine . Who gave you permission to lay a hand on her?” He suddenly grabbed my wrist and pulled. “If you don’t want to apologize with your mouth, then get on your knees.” I stumbled, dragged two steps forward. Before I could react, he pushed down on my knees, forcing them to bend. I trembled, shaking off his hand, and reluctantly lowered my head to Chloe: “I’m sorry.” I’d apologize now; I’d explain to Hunter later… But my apology hung in the air, with no response from Chloe. A few muffled snickers echoed around: “Some hotshot Aria, she’s nothing special.” “Just Hunter’s pet, ready to kneel on command.” Hunter let go of me, leaving me frozen in place. He turned and walked towards Chloe, who was still kneeling by the door, then, to everyone’s surprise, swept her into his arms. He said gently: “Satisfied?” Chloe nestled in his embrace, peering at me timidly. A flicker of triumph, fleeting yet unmistakable, crossed her eyes, then she buried her face in Hunter’s neck, shaking her head slightly. Hunter looked up at me, pointing to the unopened amber liquor on the coffee table. “Drink that yourself,” His voice was completely flat. “Until Chloe is satisfied.”

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One month after the baby was born, my wife’s male best friend got drunk. He pointed at my son, sleeping soundly in his crib, and chuckled at me. “Do you know where your son got that heart-shaped birthmark on his arm from?” I shook my head, clueless. Derek smugly rolled up his sleeve, flashing it at me. “Of course, he got it from me! Serena promised me that no matter who she married, she’d have my child first.” He finished, blowing a kiss at my wife. “We tried for three months, and boom! I finally make her pregnant!” I stared at Serena Hayes, my world spinning. For three years, she wouldn’t get intimate with me, insisting on IVF, claiming she was “allergic” to semen. I felt so bad for her, thinking she was going through so much with IVF, that I actually agreed to get a vasectomy. Turns out, all those nights, she was busy conceiving with another man! My hand tightened around the diagnostic report I was holding. I raised my glass to Serena, a cold, bitter smile on my face. Then congratulations to her, for having a son with XYY syndrome.

“Alex Thorne, are you losing it? Do you really have to humiliate me in front of everyone?” Serena awkwardly glanced around the room. She was holding onto Derek, who was still rambling nonsense, glaring at me with fury. She didn’t see anything wrong with Derek’s words. Instead, she thought my reaction was embarrassing her. Derek burped, then leaned his hands on the crib, his eyes glazed over as he admired ‘his masterpiece.’ “What do you think? My sperm quality isn’t bad, right? Look how handsome the baby is.” Serena grabbed Derek’s arm, forcing out an awkward smile. “Derek, you’re drunk. Stop making a scene.” “I’m not drunk! My family’s heart-shaped birthmark is right there on his arm! This is more reliable than a damn DNA test!” Derek shook her hand off, swaying as he jeered at me. “Alex, you should thank me. If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have even had the chance to be a dad.” The entire banquet hall went dead silent, countless eyes burning into us with mocking amusement. I wanted to vanish right then and there. On our wedding night, mid-sex, Serena suddenly had trouble breathing and broke out in a rash. After a hospital visit, she held the report, her eyes red, telling me she was allergic and couldn’t conceive naturally like a normal couple. To comfort me, she added, “Honey, I don’t want to deprive you of being a father. Let’s do IVF.” For three years, I meticulously calculated Serena’s ovulation period every day. I believed her. I loved her so much that I endured the humiliation of sperm donation. I endured the disappointment after countless failures. Even after she successfully conceived, when she cried, saying IVF was too hard and she just wanted a happy family of three with me, I didn’t hesitate. I went and got a vasectomy. My friends called me crazy, said what kind of man would neuter himself for an IVF baby. But I thought it was the most steadfast choice I could make for her. But now, Derek was telling me this child was just a pact between him and Serena. A sharp cramp shot through my lower abdomen. The helplessness and humiliation of lying on that cold operating table yesterday for the vasectomy were still vivid. I gripped my wine glass, searching for even a hint of guilt on Serena’s face. But she just gave me an impatient glare. “Derek’s drunk and talking nonsense, and you actually believe him? Come on, let’s go apologize to the guests, don’t make a fool of yourself here.” She said it so righteously, as if *I* were the one being unreasonable. Derek’s drunken haze seemed to thicken. He reached out, trying to touch Serena’s face. “Serena, always protecting me. God, I fucking adore you.” Serena’s body stiffened, an unnatural blush creeping up her neck. I gritted my teeth, desperately fighting the urge to throw my drink in his face. Derek pulled his hand back, smugly enjoying my reaction. “Alex, don’t flatter yourself. You’re just the chump raising my kid. And I? I’m the one she’ll spread her legs for to have a baby.” With that, he closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair, falling into a heavy sleep. Everyone’s eyes were dissecting me, flaying me alive. I felt like the biggest idiot in the world. And Serena, the woman I’d loved for three years, couldn’t even bother to offer an explanation. She just gripped my arm, her face a mask of cold indifference. “What are you waiting for? Go entertain the guests.” I looked at her composed posture, at her utterly unapologetic face. My heart froze solid. She wasn’t trying not to explain; she simply couldn’t be bothered to.

After the last guest staggered out, the room was a warzone. Serena, still holding onto a babbling Derek, pointed at me with disgust. “Alex Thorne, what is wrong with you? This is a party for our son’s first month, and you’re putting on this sour face for everyone to see? It’s repulsive!” I forced a smile, the wound in my lower abdomen aching more fiercely. “Serena, I just got a goddamn vasectomy for you!” “The doctor told me it’s permanent! I can never have my own biological children again, ever!” I thought my sacrifice would earn me some guilt from her. But she just helped Derek to the couch, then irritably ran a hand through her hair. “So what? It’s just a damn surgery, can’t you stop being so childish?” I was trembling with rage. So, the decision I gambled my entire future on was just “childish” in her eyes. “I’m childish? So, I should be like you, basking in my meticulous care while carrying another man’s baby?” Serena showed no remorse, her tone still utterly righteous. “Alex Thorne, Derek was just drunk. You’re actually taking a drunk man’s bullshit seriously? We have a child now. Can’t we just live a happy life as a family?” “A happy life?” I laughed, a bitter, breathless sound. “Serena, tell me, what happy couple has a wife who uses the guise of ‘allergies’ to trick her husband into IVF, when she’s actually trying to have another man’s baby?” I thought with each push, Serena would feel bad for me, would apologize. But instead, she pushed back, indignant. “Didn’t I suffer too? Wasn’t I in pain? Why are you always bringing up old shit? It’s just a surgery, is it really worth holding such a grudge?” After that argument, my heart was thoroughly numb. I remembered the day I agreed to her request, to get the vasectomy. She cried in my arms. “Honey, you’re so good to me. I swear, I’ll spend my entire life making it up to you.” Looking back now, those tears were probably for Derek. And I, like a clueless idiot, personally sealed my own fate. The silence in the hall was deafening, suffocating. I kicked over a table, the crash echoing through the suffocating silence, and pointed at Serena, roaring. “Get out!” Serena’s hand, wiping Derek’s sweat, froze. She twisted her head, incredulous, her eyes wide with shock. “Alex Thorne, what is wrong with you? Just because Derek said a few drunken words, you want to kick me out? Is that all the trust you have in me?” I laughed, a humorless bark that shook my chest. “You don’t deserve an ounce of my trust.” I ignored her, throwing the baby’s diagnostic report hard onto her. “Let’s get a divorce!” “You and your male best friend can live with the child you two made.” With that, I turned and left without a backward glance. I slammed the gas pedal and sped to the north side of the city, to a place I had never taken her. I’m going to make Serena and Derek pay for what they did!

“Sir!” My former subordinates were already lined up in front of the mansion. The first time I proposed to Serena back then, she didn’t say yes. She just frowned and said, “Your… status… isn’t exactly impressive.” I just smiled, indulging her, and without a word, I stepped back from the Thorne Group, got myself a “normal” job. Everyone called me a lovesick fool, but I just soaked it up, happy as could be. Who cared about being the heir to the Thorne Group? My Serena just wanted a simple, honest life with me. That was pure love, right? Now, it’s clear I was a complete and utter idiot. I practically fell onto the couch, the wound in my lower abdomen throbbing again. “Ace, I need you to do something for me.” “Find all records of Serena undergoing IVF treatments for the past three years. Five minutes.” Ace nodded, then exited to carry out the order. I poured myself a shot of whiskey and downed it in one gulp. “Sir, I found it.” He hesitated for a moment, then continued. “No hospital has any record of Serena ever undergoing IVF treatments. Only routine prenatal check-ups.” My mind went utterly blank. The whiskey glass in my hand crashed to the floor. No records? So, all those times over the past three years, she showed me lab results, acting all happy or heartbroken—it was all a goddamn act? Those needle marks on her stomach, those so-called ovulation-inducing meds—all faked? I was shaking with rage. Then I remembered her allergy excuse. If she didn’t do IVF, then how did she get pregnant? The answer was chillingly clear. The baby was conceived the old-fashioned way, with Derek. “I want you to find every single hotel record for Serena and Derek for the past three years! All of them!” I kicked over the coffee table. “There were many instances, all in hotels owned by us. Also, I unexpectedly found this.” Ace’s voice grew quieter as he handed me the documents. My hands trembled as I took them, growing more horrified with each page. Every single date they went to a hotel was a day Serena told me she was going for a hospital check-up. Serena was using my money to have wild sex with other men, then coming home to tell me the doctors said she still needed “treatment.” And I, the clueless idiot, was pitying her “suffering,” cooking her all sorts of elaborate tonics. The last page of the file had Derek’s medical report. He has AIDS! My stomach lurched, a sickening wave of nausea washing over me. I grabbed the trash can and dry-heaved. “Sir, Derek’s private life is extremely messy. He’s been with dozens of women over the years. Your wife…” Ace patted my back, unable to stop himself. “Don’t you dare call her my wife! She doesn’t deserve that title!” I cut him off, my eyes bloodshot. “Go. Compile all the evidence. They dared to play me for a fool. I’ll make them pay dearly for it!” Watching Ace leave, I slowly calmed down. Suddenly, I felt almost grateful Serena wouldn’t let me touch her all these years, thanks to that… *thing*. It unknowingly saved me. The thought of those two disgusting people still in my house made my stomach churn. I immediately had my assistant contact my lawyer to draft divorce papers, then slammed the gas pedal and sped home.

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The city’s billionaire mogul publicly announced his search for all 100 children born from his past sperm donations. My best friend, Leo Maxwell, knew he was one of them and was thrilled to claim kinship. I, Liam Blackwood, kindly advised him that the mogul was gravely ill, and his search might have ulterior motives. I told him to observe the situation first. Leo listened, holding back from connecting with him. Later, the mogul died, and all the recognized children inherited millions. Leo, convinced I had cost him his fortune, ruthlessly stabbed me to death. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day Leo came to tell me he was the billionaire’s son. I was shaken awake roughly, my body jolting. Opening my eyes again, I saw my best friend, Leo, beaming with excitement by my bed, rousing me. “Dude, you won’t believe it! I’m actually the billionaire’s son!” I felt a dizzying sense of déjà vu, instinctively pulling back, avoiding his closeness. My hand went to my throat. The suffocating memory of Leo, in a fit of madness, plunging a knife into my jugular, made it hard to breathe. Just like in my previous life, Leo wildly gesticulated as he told me his biological father couldn’t have children due to low sperm count. Through some means, the couple acquired high-quality sperm and had him via IVF. And just yesterday, Mr. Sterling Thorne, the city’s mogul, had publicly released his sperm donation information, stating he wanted to find and acknowledge all children who shared his genes. Every child who claimed kinship would gain inheritance rights to his estate. “My genetic information matches Mr. Thorne’s exactly! I’m his son! Liam, should I go claim him as my father or not?” Leo stared at me, his face alight with wild joy. He’d always been a penny-pincher, and in college, his only ambition was to hook up with a rich woman so he could live a lavish life. But rich women rarely lacked male attention, and Leo was usually just a casual fling for them. That’s why, in my previous life, once Leo learned he was the billionaire’s son, he immediately wanted to claim kinship, to fulfill his dream of being a trust fund baby. However, I knew the mogul was gravely ill, and that he had a staggering 100 children born from his sperm donations. Concerned for Leo’s safety, I kindly advised him not to rush. “I heard many wealthy people use sperm donation to cultivate their mobile blood banks and natural organ supply stations. Plus, he didn’t try to find his kids earlier, only now that he’s seriously ill. You should really wait and see.” At the time, Leo had been dismissive. It wasn’t until he heard that several children who had gone to claim kinship had mysteriously disappeared that he gripped my hand, looking terrified, and said, “Thank goodness you warned me in time! Otherwise, I would have been finished!” Yet, it was this same person, who had expressed such gratitude, who later, after failing to charm the wealthy Scarlett Dubois and hearing that the mogul’s recognized children *did* inherit property, blamed me for blocking his path to riches. On my birthday, he lunged at my throat with a knife, stabbing me again and again, his voice choked with hatred: “If you hadn’t stopped me! I’d be a rich kid already! Scarlett wouldn’t have dumped me, and I wouldn’t be living this pathetic life!” “Liam! It’s all your fault! Just die!” But what he didn’t know was this: In my previous life, on the day he killed me, The police had just announced the scam. The mogul’s sperm donation was real, but the claims of kinship were fake. All the recognized children were just lab rats for a medical experiment. The inheritance rights were real, but the mogul’s illness and death were fake. He had already transferred all his assets, simply waiting for the scam to unravel before faking his death. What he left behind wasn’t millions in inheritance, but millions in debt. And I hadn’t had the chance to tell Leo any of this before I died by his knife. The image of Leo’s eyes, brimming with vengeful satisfaction in my memory, overlapped with the fervent gaze of the Leo standing before me now. This time, I offered no more warnings. I just curled my lips into a slight smile: “Congrats.” I chose to respect his destiny.

Leo’s face was smug, as if he could already see his glorious future as a trust fund baby. “Tomorrow, I’m going to the testing agency mentioned in the mogul’s announcement for a blood test. Once I’m a rich kid, I can live anywhere I want!” He glanced around our apartment with disdain, pursing his lips. “When that happens, I’ll have my dad get me a mansion. I won’t be cramming into this run-down, cramped apartment with you anymore. It’s beneath me.” I scoffed inwardly. When Leo couldn’t find a job and had no income, he came begging to share this apartment with me, a very different look on his face then. Moreover, while it was technically a shared lease, Leo hadn’t paid a single month’s rent. He never lifted a finger for any housework, from sweeping and washing dishes to hanging laundry and taking out the trash. Each time, I had to ask him, and he’d begrudgingly do chores, calling it “helping” me. Thinking back on all those years of thankless effort, I wanted to slap myself. It would be great if he moved out. That way, if anything went wrong, he couldn’t pin it on me again. I quickly nodded. “You’re absolutely right! This neighborhood isn’t nearly good enough for your status. Your billionaire dad should get you dozens of huge houses!” “Definitely!” Leo visibly puffed up at my flattery. “And don’t say I never gave you a chance to show your appreciation. Drive me to that testing agency tomorrow.” I raised an eyebrow, quickly declining. “My car’s been in the shop for days. Why don’t you have your girlfriend drive you? Knowing your true identity, you’re not afraid she’d break up with you now, right?” My words hit a nerve with Leo. He’d recently been dating a wealthy woman, constantly showing off designer watches she’d bought him. But he also knew she looked down on him for having no background, and it was just a casual thing. Leo’s unhappy expression instantly shifted back to a smug one. “What can you earn with that crappy hospital job of yours? No common sense at all. Fine, my girlfriend can barely be considered on my level now, so having her drive me and see things for herself might be good.” With that, he strutted back into his room, brimming with self-satisfaction. In my previous life, after his sugar mama had enough of him, she unceremoniously dumped him. He went to her company to cause a scene and ended up encountering her new, much younger boyfriend. This new guy, eager to impress, immediately started punching and kicking Leo, calling him a pathetic loser trying to snag a trophy wife. Back then, I was foolish enough to try and reason with him. But Leo didn’t blame the sugar mama; instead, he blamed me entirely for stopping him from claiming kinship. He believed I had ruined his chance at a wealthy life and swore to never let me go. This time, I wouldn’t interfere with his choices. Watching Leo close his bedroom door, I immediately messaged my boss to request time off and booked a moving company. The next day, while Leo was out, I packed and moved all my personal belongings, leaving only the common area furniture. As for what Leo would do when the rental contract expired, That was no longer my concern. Following the principle of avoiding misery, when you encounter toxic people, distance yourself immediately instead of getting entangled!

After a frantic morning, I finally settled all my belongings into my new place when I received another call from Leo. “I came here for my test today, and they gave me a packet of pills. They said I have to take them all before I can claim kinship. Aren’t you a medical student? Hurry up and check if these pills are safe.” Listening to Leo’s demanding tone, I felt a chill in my heart. Leo used to be like this all the time. Just because I was a doctor, he constantly demanded that I get his relatives priority appointments, even hoping I’d pay for their treatments out of my own pocket. Every time I went out of my way to help them, Leo took it for granted and never even said thank you. “That falls under lab testing, and these pills are from your dad’s Everlife Pharmaceutical Group. If you want a detailed analysis of the ingredients, the testing fee would be at least ten thousand.” At my words, Leo immediately got agitated. “Aren’t you a doctor?! Liam, I considered you my best friend, and you’re talking about money with me now!” I sneered inwardly. Leo clearly felt something was off, so he instinctively came to me for reassurance, so that if anything went wrong, he could conveniently pin the blame on me. As if I’d fall for that again! On the other end of the line, Leo continued, “You won’t even help with something so simple! It’s like all my good deeds were wasted on you! And what about that time I saved you from the fire…” Hearing him bring that up, I dropped the act. “Leo, was it really you who saved me that day?” In junior high, my school building caught fire, and I fell unconscious. When I woke up, only Leo was by my side. He swore then that he had saved me, that I owed him my life, which led me to be at his beck and call for years, repaying his life-saving grace. It wasn’t until my previous life, on my deathbed, that he confessed, “I just couldn’t stand to see you doing well. That year, I deliberately locked you in the classroom, but I didn’t expect you to be so tough… “And since we were in the same hospital room, I decided to let you experience what it’s like to owe me for life!” Silence suddenly fell on the other end of the phone. After a long moment, Leo stammered, “What’s the fun in that, Liam? Is this how you treat me after I saved you? Stop messing around, just test these pills for me.” Listening to his childish words, I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. Actually, in my previous life, Leo had also secretly gone to the testing agency for a blood test, and after getting the pills, he immediately asked me about them. At that time, I paid out of pocket to send the pills to the most reputable and fastest testing agency. Sure enough, we found that the drug had not undergone any human trials. In short, Leo and the others were all lab rats for experiments. This was Everlife Group’s latest research project, marketed under the guise of “blood cleansing,” claiming it could filter harmful substances from the blood. And that elderly relatives could extend their lifespan and prevent aging by receiving blood from younger, blood-related family members. At the time, many of the people who claimed kinship and took this “blood cleansing pill” developed severe blood clotting disorders and organ failure, leading to numerous deaths. Leo, following my advice, didn’t take the pills and narrowly escaped. Afterward, however, he believed it was a necessary screening process by the mogul, that those who died from the pills were simply “unhealthy” children. He was convinced he would be the one to survive and ultimately inherit the fortune. He thought my persistent warnings were malicious and driven by jealousy, preventing him from joining the upper echelons of society. This time, I played along. “If you test these pills, and the mogul finds out, will he cancel your inheritance eligibility?” “Will… will he?” Leo hesitated on the phone. I smiled, calmly preparing to give him another push. “The mogul is your biological father, after all. He wouldn’t intentionally harm you, would he?” Leo seemed swayed by my words. “You’re right! Maybe this is just a test of kinship! He has so many children; he must be using the pills to select the most obedient ones to inherit his estate!” Yes, that’s right. It was indeed to screen for suitable, drug-tolerant lab rats who would eventually become the mogul’s ultimate mobile blood bank and endorsement for the Everlife experiments!

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I spent the night partying naked with three models. The next morning, Katerina, the Godmother, shoved a gun into my hand, her face a storm cloud. “Come back to me, or kill me.” But I just smiled and shot her in the leg. “I won’t kill you, but I won’t forgive you either.” Her eyes scarlet, she collapsed onto the ground, watching as the models and I walked away. All because for ten years, as her right-hand man, I’d helped her seize territory, only for her to choose to marry some college boy instead of keeping her promise to marry me. My crew couldn’t wrap their heads around it, all of them outraged on my behalf. “Sean Murphy fought by your side to build this empire, he was your most effective weapon. Weren’t you always proudest of him? Why are you marrying someone else now?” Katerina snuffed out her cigarette, absently tracing the matching silver ring she wore with Lucas. “Sean? A man whose hands are stained with blood. Every time I think of sharing a bed with him, it makes me sick. How could he ever compare to my darling Lucas?” “But Sean is incredibly shrewd. What if he finds out and breaks ties with you?” Katerina frowned, scoffing. “The entire East Coast is mine now. What’s one man? Do you think the territory will just disappear without him?” Little did she know, I’d heard every word from just outside the door. Tossing the healing salve I’d meant to give her into the trash, I immediately messaged Veronica, her sworn enemy. “Want Katerina’s territory? And her life? They’re yours!”

I was about to arrange a speedboat to leave the island when Katerina tracked me down. “A critical shipment is arriving the day after tomorrow. You’ll need to personally dispatch some of your guys to handle the reception. And clear out your house, I need it!” She commanded in a stern, low voice, but all I felt was a bitter amusement. To marry Lucas, she truly didn’t care if I lived or died. Even if it meant Veronica striking at her stronghold, she’d still send me to risk my life to bring that pretty boy back. She really was crazy in love, wasn’t she? Need my house? Wouldn’t that be for Lucas to live in? I coldly grunted in response. Seeing my flat reaction, Katerina frowned in annoyance. “What’s with the attitude? We haven’t gone public with our relationship because the situation is unstable. Veronica is watching closely, and I can’t let my crew drop their guard just for you.” “Right now, your most important task is to help me escape Veronica’s siege.” Katerina always treated me this way. I used to think it was her way of protecting me, so I fought tooth and nail, strategizing and negotiating tirelessly for her. But now, it all just felt absurd. I placed the speedboat dispatch order in front of her. “No attitude. I’m used to it.” Katerina sensed something was off. A flicker of impatience crossed her eyes, and her pen even tore through the paper as she signed. “Sean! What’s with the sour face again? All I’m asking for is your house! Everything on this island belongs to me, Sean. Even your life. So what makes you think I can’t boss you around?” She tossed the paper in my face. “From now on, don’t bother me with trivial matters like island procurement. I don’t have time for you…” Knowing she’d misunderstood, I didn’t explain. I gave a perfunctory nod, then pushed open the door and left. Looking at the speedboat that would soon be mine, I smiled, a sense of relief washing over me. I’d been with Katerina in this criminal enterprise for ten years. We grew up together, partners I trusted with my life, and even the most intimate of lovers. I’d always dreamed of marrying her. She’d even hinted that once she controlled the entire East Coast, she’d give me what I wanted. But now, I finally realized the truth. It was just my delusional fantasy, and her lie, woven from her exploitation of my feelings. Now, she was marrying someone else. That evening, a squad of heavily armed mercenaries escorted Lucas onto the island. He wore a white tuxedo, his seemingly innocent eyes brimming with smug triumph. “Mr. Murphy has worked hard for the Godmother for over a decade. He’s earned his stripes.” “I’ll definitely get her to promote you, and introduce you to a few more models. A gentleman’s personal life shouldn’t be neglected, right?” “Unlike the Godmother, who can’t wait another minute. She’s marrying me tomorrow. Oh, it’s just…” I tightened my grip on the gun, barely suppressing the urge to blow his brains out. “Let’s go.” I swept him with a cold glance and started to walk away. But Lucas blocked me, pulling a diary from his bag. He gave me a sly grin. “These are all the love notes the Godmother wrote about missing me over the years. It’s too heavy for my bag, so would you mind tossing it for me, Mr. Murphy?” With that, he strutted off. I faced the cold wind whipping against the rocks, my hands trembling as I opened the diary. April 12, 2024: When I risked my life to get her out of that ambush, she wrote: “Lucas, if I survive this, I’ll marry you.” August 5, 2023: When I found out Veronica had ambushed her during a business trip, I stormed the enemy camp alone with two pistols to rescue her. She wrote: “Darling, you smell so good today.” January 24, 2021: When she was arrested by the police, and I decided to take the fall for her, she wrote: “If it were you, I’d never let you suffer like this.” Every word in that diary was a knife twisting in my gut, a raw wound bleeding profusely as if my heart had been ripped out. How many times had I begged Katerina to marry me? She would always kiss my forehead. “Sean, just wait for me.” “I have too many enemies. I’m afraid I haven’t cleared enough obstacles for you. Once I control the entire East Coast, I’ll marry you, okay?” But countless times, my pleas were met with nothing but excuses. Finally, a message popped up on my phone. Two short, powerful words that left no room for retreat. “Deal!” Tapping my phone screen, I still couldn’t resist confirming a few things, so I asked the other side: “August 5, 2023, you were the one who ambushed Katerina, right?” The reply was instant, every word dripping with indignation: “I’m totally innocent, damn it!” “Seriously? So that’s why you chased me for nine blocks with two pistols? It wasn’t me, I swear!” I scoffed at myself. Turns out, Katerina saw me as nothing more than a clown, someone to be toyed with. If that was the case, why should I stay here and let them laugh at me?

After finalizing the details of the rendezvous with Veronica, I walked back, only to overhear Katerina talking with her crew by the yacht. “Godmother, Lucas’s tuxedo has arrived. It’s the bespoke one you bid on at the auction.” “But what if Sean throws a fit and exposes our hideout? We could all be taken down…” Katerina shrugged it off. “I love Lucas, and I’ll only marry him. Tomorrow’s wedding must be peaceful. I won’t allow any mishaps.” “Not even from Sean. I’ll make sure he stays quiet.” “Also, keep your mouths shut. If I hear even a whisper, I’ll feed you to the fish!” Even though I’d already decided to leave, hearing the woman I once loved speak of deceiving me, reducing me to nothing, still left a searing pain in my chest. Back in my room, I packed my things. Aside from my passport and other documents, I looked at the room full of weapons and realized Katerina had never given me anything. She’d only ever thrown weapons at me, telling me to protect her. I’d once asked her for a watch or cufflinks, but she’d said: “Sean, even with a Rolex, you won’t look like you belong in high society. Don’t waste good things.” Yet Lucas’s luggage contained an entire carload of designer clothes and jewelry. Why could he have it all, and I couldn’t? I rummaged through the closet, found my only decent suit buried deep within, put on dress shoes, and tidied my hair. Just then, Lucas barged into my room without knocking. “Sean, you saw the diary, right? The Godmother’s favorite…” His words caught in his throat. He stopped, staring at me, my freshly styled appearance making him pause. When he recovered, he scowled, scoffing. “I thought you’d at least have some dignity and leave when you realized the Godmother didn’t love you.” “But you’re still trying to get her attention? How shameless!” He lunged at me, trying to grab me, but his movements were clumsy, and I easily blocked his hand. “Sean! If you touch me, the Godmother will never let you get away with it!” Lucas shrieked. I crossed my arms. “Thanks for the compliment. I certainly look better than you.” The next second, he dropped to his knees, slapping himself across the face. “Mr. Murphy, I was wrong. I was clueless, wanting to marry the Godmother. Just please don’t ruin the wedding, you can hit me however you want!” Confused, I suddenly felt a powerful kick aiming at me. “Sean! Are you deaf? How dare you lay a hand on Lucas!” Katerina’s furious kick. If it had connected, I’d have been seriously injured. So, what exactly was I to her? Just a loyal hound she kept? A punching bag to toss aside once she’d used me up? I barely managed to dodge it, but my ankle twisted awkwardly, and I winced, forcing myself to look at her through the pain. Katerina quickly helped Lucas up, her piercing gaze falling on me. She looked at my appearance, her eyes softening ever so slightly, but her words remained ice cold. “Sean, no matter how neatly you dress up, you won’t ever be half as good as Lucas in my eyes.” Lucas sniffled, holding Katerina’s hand. “Godmother, Mr. Murphy forced it out of me. I couldn’t keep the secret. I’m so sorry…” Katerina pulled him into a hug, her voice softening. “It’s just a small thing, darling. No one blames you.” I gave a bitter laugh. Only moments ago, she’d ordered her crew to guard the wedding details like state secrets, but once Lucas spilled the beans, it was suddenly “no big deal.” He was utterly fearless around her, completely spoiled rotten. And me? Was I just a fool? “So you’re really marrying him?” I drilled my eyes into Katerina. I desperately wanted to know how she’d explain herself. I’d expected her to at least feel guilty, to panic, to beg me to let go of the past and accept their union. But Katerina merely frowned, unfazed. “Yes, the wedding is tomorrow. You’re allowed to attend, but don’t cause any trouble. Sean, don’t force me to deal with you.” In that instant, my last shred of hope for Katerina shattered. It wasn’t that it wasn’t the right time for marriage, it was just not the right time with me. When it came to Lucas, all the talk of tight situations and being under siege was no longer an obstacle. She could even condescendingly invite me to their wedding, completely unconcerned. How could a person be so heartless? I fought back the burning in my eyes, gritting my teeth. “Get out…” But Lucas pushed his luck. “Godmother, I don’t know many people here. I’d love for Mr. Murphy to be our groomsman, but I’m afraid to offend him…” Seeing her beloved beg so cautiously, Katerina’s expression softened. She turned to me. “Sean, since you already know we’re getting married, being a groomsman shouldn’t be a big deal, right? You won’t mind?” “I don’t want to see either of you! Get out!” My fury finally erupted. I grabbed the baseball bat from the corner and chased them out the door. “Get out!” Slamming the door shut, I collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air. As I struggled, my phone screen suddenly lit up. It was a message from Veronica.

I clicked on the message, annoyed, but then froze. “That suit really suits you.” “Take off your shoes and treat that ankle.” I was surprised she knew my ankle was bothering me. Treat it? Just then, a drone flew to the window, dangling a small box. I opened it to find a perfectly tailored red suit jacket and a small bottle of pain relief spray. So she’d known about Katerina’s hideout all along, but hadn’t made a move. I really had found the right ally. After spraying the medicine as directed, I was about to go wash up when Katerina returned. She held a tube of ointment in her hand. “Don’t move, I’ll take care of it.” It seemed to be raining outside; her shoulders were a little damp, but she dried her hands first before carefully massaging my ankle. I was always incredibly sensitive to pain. When I first started fighting for Katerina, even a minor scrape would make me wince. Whenever I got hurt, no matter if her own face was bruised, she would always stay by my side, letting me grip her arm as I endured the pain. Those years, though dangerous, felt secure. But I don’t know when, her presence by my bed vanished. Later, I suffered countless injuries, big and small, but she never gave them a second glance. Now I wasn’t afraid of pain anymore, yet she suddenly came to care for me again. Was it a guilty conscience? Katerina’s apologetic voice drifted to me: “Sean, you’ve lost weight. I’m sorry for neglecting you lately.” “I didn’t tell you about the wedding because I was afraid you’d overthink it. Lucas saved my life, and he’s being hunted because of me. I have to protect him.” “But don’t worry, I won’t touch him. I only love you. Once Veronica is dealt with, I’ll clean everything up, and then we can be together, okay?” She massaged my ankle, and my gaze was fixed on the wedding ring on her ring finger. I looked at her, my eyes filled with despair, and asked: “Katerina, after all these years, did you ever love me?” She paused, then knelt and pulled me into a hug, her voice incredibly gentle. “Yes, I do. I only love you, Sean.” Then, she held a glass of milk to my lips, her eyes soft. “Here, drink some milk and get some rest. If you want to go to the wedding tomorrow, go. I won’t stop you.” But I tasted it. Something had been added to the milk. Enough to knock someone out for a whole day. My throat felt constricted, making it almost impossible to breathe. She was still lying to me, just so Lucas could marry her tomorrow without a hitch. So, her “keeping quiet” meant this. I drank all the milk, a single tear tracing a cold path down my cheek. My heart was as cold as ice. Katerina smiled, a truly genuine smile. I closed my eyes under her gentle gaze. But she didn’t know that after years of fighting for her, suffering sleepless nights, I’d developed a tolerance for these kinds of drugs. A while later, Lucas’s grumbling voice, filled with annoyance, sounded outside the door: “Godmother, you’ve been gone so long, I thought you weren’t coming back tonight!” Katerina’s voice was laced with a laugh, as if she’d just kissed him. “How could I? He’s just a useful shield. Veronica is still watching me, and having him nearby is helpful.” “Veronica is cautious because of him, she won’t go for the kill with me.” Lucas whined. “Stop moving your hands… ugh, you’re annoying~” “Hmm, I just love annoying you…” Katerina’s voice deepened. The sound of rustling fabric followed, as the two of them started getting intimate outside my door. My heart felt like it was being repeatedly crushed by a blunt object, a soul-wrenching agony. I had always been unconditionally obedient to Katerina. Yet she had never shown me such fervent love. “Sean, can you go see my lawyer?” “Sean, my conflict with Veronica has escalated, come support me.” And I would always agree to her every demand, even if it meant risking my life. Finally, they left. I didn’t sleep a wink all night.

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My fiancée let her first love finish inside her, all because he wanted a child to fulfill his mother’s dying wish. She asked me to be understanding of her “kindness,” told me to wait for her to finish that wedding before returning to my arms. But I simply went on preparing my wedding as planned. Because my bride had already been replaced by someone else. A week before our wedding, my fiancée Chloe told me she needed to marry her first love Ryan first, before she could marry me. Apparently, Ryan’s mother had passed away, leaving behind a dying wish for them to get married. “Ryan’s mom always hoped he would settle down. I’m just fulfilling an old lady’s last wish, don’t overthink it,” Chloe explained. But our company had already planned to launch the “True Love” jewelry collection on the day of our grand wedding. She impatiently retorted, “It’s just a billion-dollar project. How can that compare to Ryan’s filial piety? If you’re so keen on making that money, go find someone else to marry.” Faced with her cold words, I understood everything clearly. I turned and dialed home. “Emily, can you help set me up with a new bride?” When I got home, my sister looked shocked. “You’re calling off the wedding?” “No, she’s marrying someone else.” I gave a bitter smile. To be with Chloe, I had fought tooth and nail against my family’s objections to finally get my parents’ approval. We even scheduled the launch of the “True Love” jewelry collection on our wedding day. But now, it was all for nothing. My sister was stunned for a long while before saying, “Then I guess Stella is the only option. Her family’s been pressuring her to get married, and she’s been looking for a match recently.” I frowned. Stella was my arch-nemesis. On my engagement day, she had even cursed that my marriage would fall apart. Who knew her words would come true. Time was tight, so I could only say, “Alright, it’s her then. Can you ask about her intentions? If not, I’ll have to find another way.” My sister spoke quickly, “No need to ask, she’ll definitely agree.” “What?” Before I could ask further, a group of people surrounded me. “Are you Chloe’s fiancé? You’re so handsome!” “Are you here to pick up Chloe after work? You two are so sweet together.” I gripped the steering wheel, lowering my eyes to hide the self-mockery in them. Chloe had introduced me to her colleagues and friends early on. In everyone’s eyes, we were the enviable model couple. But who would have thought, she was about to marry someone else. After saying goodbye to everyone, Chloe got in the car and handed me a toy airplane. “Ryan asked me to give this to you. He said you embarrassed him at the funeral yesterday, so you should apologize when you have time.” The airplane was a miniature version, obviously a freebie that came with buying the real product. I had seen it in Chloe’s online shopping cart a couple days ago. I said flatly, “I don’t want it.” Chloe frowned, “What are you upset about now? You barged into the funeral saying I wasn’t his fiancée and embarrassed him. He didn’t hold it against you and even thought to bring you a gift. How can you be so ungrateful?” The Chloe who used to protect me was gone. Now she cherished someone else. Chloe irritably opened the window for some air. After a while, seeing that I wasn’t going to comfort her, she finally said, “Fine, today’s a good day to try on wedding dresses. I won’t argue with you.” This was the first time she had backed down this year. When we arrived at the bridal shop, the attendant greeted us: “Miss Anderson, the custom wedding gown Mr. Miller designed for you is ready for its final fitting.” But Chloe’s attention wasn’t on the dresses. She was looking down at her phone, her expression slightly urgent. Noticing my gaze, she quickly put away her phone, a hint of apology on her face: “William, something came up with Ryan. I need to rush over there right away. Can you help me pick out a dress? I trust your taste.” With that, she hurriedly hailed a taxi and left, leaving me alone. The attendant came over tentatively and asked, “Mr. Miller, will you be selecting the dress yourself?” I looked away and nodded. Of course I would choose a dress. But not for Chloe. After all, there was a new bride now. I drove home, thinking Chloe would be gone all night. But she returned before dinner. She strode over to me, holding a familiar paper bag. “I drove across town for these. Your favorite double cheeseburgers and chili cheese fries from that 24-hour diner on Fifth.” I looked at the takeout container. The fries were less than half full, and one of the burgers was clearly missing a bite, the cheese congealed where someone had taken a taste. Half an hour ago, I had seen Ryan’s social media post. The photo was of the very meal in front of me. “My wife still remembers to buy me late night snacks. Thanks honey, muah!” I put down the food with a self-deprecating smile, instantly losing my appetite. “I don’t want it. Throw it away.” Chloe looked at me with displeasure, but held back from lashing out. She sat down next to me and complained: “You have no idea how pitiful Ryan was today. My parents went to his place demanding a substantial wedding gift. He was so upset he cried.” “Ryan just got back to the country and doesn’t have much money. I was thinking of giving him the wedding fund from our planning first.” She shook my arm, as if trying to act cute. I looked at her sarcastically, “So I’m supposed to fund your husband’s wedding? The wedding that’s supposed to be ours?”

In the past, I cared so much for Chloe that I would give her anything she asked for and do anything for her. But now she had woken me up herself. Thinking back, ever since Ryan returned to the country, everything she did was for him. She had forgotten that I was supposed to be the one spending the rest of my life with her. My response angered Chloe: “What do you mean by that? You’re not willing? You’d better understand this – Ryan is my best friend. You’d better make him happy, or I won’t marry you!” With that, she stormed out, slamming the door. Feeling frustrated, I went down to the park for a run. After just one lap, I got a call from Stella. Thinking of Stella’s perpetual icy expression, I hesitated for two seconds before answering. “Listen up, Miller. A marriage is a lifetime commitment, not a business deal you can back out of. You say yes, and that’s it. No cold feet.” Stella’s first words were a direct hit, though the typical sharpness was laced with an unfamiliar tension. I stayed silent, and she continued: “Send me your ID first so we can get the marriage license.” “I’m afraid you’ll change your mind.” Stella, you’re acting strange. In my mind, I had already imagined thousands of ways she could use this marriage to torment me. In the end, I could only squeeze out, “See you at the wedding, Miss Hayes.” Just as I finished speaking, Chloe suddenly appeared behind me: “You’re inviting Stella to our wedding? I forbid it!” She glared at me as if facing a formidable enemy: “William, didn’t I tell you not to associate with Stella? Her intentions toward you aren’t pure. If you insist on inviting her to our wedding, don’t blame me for getting upset!” Before I could say a word, she had already laid down her ultimatum. Chloe had always disliked Stella, harboring an inexplicable hostility. When we first got together, she even had a jealous outburst because Stella and I often bantered on social media. After that, I gradually cut off contact with Stella. But she actually said… Stella had impure intentions toward me? I was about to ask further when Ryan suddenly stumbled and leaned against Chloe’s neck. “Chloe, you’re pinching me…” Only then did I notice their intertwined fingers as they walked. Chloe coughed awkwardly twice, but made no move to let go of his hand. Ryan gazed at Chloe tenderly, then turned to me with a helpless expression: “Will, I’m sorry. Chloe and I were just practicing the wedding procedure. Please don’t mind.” “I won’t tell anyone about you hitting me or vandalizing my mother’s grave. But please don’t hurt Chloe. True love can’t withstand tests.” I didn’t want to watch this act, so I turned to leave: “Since you’re so eager, I’ll have someone beat you up tonight and dig up your mom’s grave.” Slap! Chloe slapped me hard across the face. “William, how can you be so vicious?!” Her brows were furrowed, her chest heaving. I’m vicious? She believed someone else’s lies so easily, yet five years of our relationship couldn’t earn me even a shred of her trust. Anger suddenly welled up inside me. I wanted to confront Chloe, but Ryan stepped in front of her: “Will, please. As soon as the wedding’s over, I’ll return Chloe to you.” “Have mercy and don’t hurt the people around me, or Chloe.” As he spoke, he was about to kneel before me. Chloe quickly wrapped her arms around his waist to stop him from kneeling, glaring at me furiously. “William, stop playing your rich boy bullying games!” “You know I hate that the most. If you still want to marry me, stop making trouble!” With that, she warned me not to appear before them again until the wedding. But the very next day, Chloe contacted me herself. She started off with a barrage of scolding: “William, you really went and dug up Mrs. Cooper’s grave. I can’t believe you’re this kind of person!” Utterly confused, I called my assistant to investigate, only to uncover a shocking truth. Ryan’s mother… wasn’t dead.

No wonder Ryan could be so heartless as to dig up his own mother’s grave to frame me. It turns out her death was all a scam. I texted Chloe: “Ryan’s mother isn’t dead. The truth is in the email I sent you.” Whether she looked at it or not was no longer my concern. My flight was booked for three days later. Stella had made the reservation herself. When Chloe came back, she saw me packing. Half my clothes were thrown out, with a small portion being shipped to Seattle. “Why are you packing clothes?” Chloe asked, her expression doubtful. I gave a perfunctory reply: “Moving.” She was silent for a moment, not catching on to anything amiss, and continued on her own: “The Miller Group headquarters are in Seattle. We’ll be settling there after we get married, so it’s good to pack early.” Then she fixed me with a harsh stare. “Apologize for Ryan’s mother’s incident as soon as possible. Don’t make things difficult for me. How about on our wedding day?” With that, she tossed down her phone and went to look for her ID. Today was the day she and Ryan were getting their marriage license. She didn’t come back until late that night. I opened my phone to find a message from Ryan pop up. It was a dim photo of a beautiful woman. In the picture, Chloe was wearing a provocative outfit, looking at the camera. I closed my eyes, my heart still aching despite myself. I forcefully suppressed that feeling and turned off my phone. Late into the night, the phone by my pillow vibrated every hour. Each time it vibrated, it was Ryan sending me provocative videos of him and Chloe. Until early the next morning, when Stella sent me a message. “Mr. Miller, the flowers have bloomed. You may slowly return.” The attached photo showed two red booklets. And a bouquet of vibrant red roses. I hadn’t expected her to still be caring for the plant I had casually given her years ago. Inexplicably, a strange feeling welled up in my heart. I replied with a single word: “Okay.” I put down my phone to pack up my work files on the computer. I didn’t notice when Chloe had returned. She was packing her daily necessities: “I’m moving in with Ryan for a few days. He’s too busy preparing for the wedding on his own. Remember to show up on time for the wedding in two days. Don’t be late.” After saying that, she went on a long explanation about how she was just going to help out normally, telling me not to make trouble again. “Mm, I won’t go,” I said, keeping my eyes lowered. After last night, the last bit of affection I had for her had completely dissipated. Seeing my calm demeanor, a nameless panic swept over Chloe. She suddenly hesitated. But thinking of Ryan’s cloying acts of affection, she loosened her grip on her phone. William loved her so much, what could possibly go wrong? Thinking this, she breathed a sigh of relief and stopped arguing with me, disappearing from my sight. I watched her retreating figure and made a phone call. That evening, a helicopter landed in the square. A man walked up to me: “Mr. Miller, the helicopter you ordered has arrived. It will safely transport you to Seattle in half an hour.” I nodded, then handed him an envelope. “Deliver this envelope to the wedding venue tomorrow. It’s my wedding gift for the bride and groom.”

The next day, I sent Chloe a message right on time: “Congratulations on your marriage!” Meanwhile, at the wedding venue, Chloe was looking anxiously at the entrance, asking her secretary: “Why isn’t William here yet? He was supposed to publicly apologize to Mrs. Cooper today.” The secretary scrolled through the news, frowning: “He probably can’t make it. He’s busy getting married right now.” Hearing this, Chloe froze in the middle of the banquet hall. The wedding venue was decorated with her favorite champagne roses, making the entire hall look like a dream. Below the stage, guests were toasting and chatting. Everything seemed so perfect. Yet Chloe was gripping her phone tightly, staring at the news headline “Miller Group CEO Marries, True Love Collection Officially Launches”. Cold sweat broke out on her palms as she hurriedly dialed the number she knew by heart, only to find no one answering. “How could this happen?” Ryan strode over to her, taking her hand. “Chloe, what’s wrong? Your hands are so cold.” Chloe gripped his hand back: “William… he married someone else!” Ryan took the phone and glanced at it, frowning slightly before smiling: “That’s impossible. Will loves you so much. This must be some kind of business tactic. These businessmen, they’ll do anything for money, even fake a marriage.” “Fake marriage?” Chloe’s panicked expression eased slightly. “Come on Chloe, the wedding’s about to start. Let’s go up,” Ryan said. The officiant stood on stage presiding over the ceremony. Chloe forced a smile back onto her face as she exchanged rings with Ryan and they kissed each other. Just when everything seemed perfect, the doors to the banquet hall were suddenly flung open with a bang. A group of people in black uniforms walked in orderly. Chloe instinctively thought William had come to make trouble. She was just about to put on a smile and confront him when she suddenly froze. Because the ones who entered weren’t William, but a group of uniformed police officers. She immediately panicked and asked, “Officers, we’re all law-abiding citizens. We haven’t done anything wrong, have we?” The lead officer ignored her completely and simply unveiled a document. “Mr. William Miller has filed charges against Ryan Cooper for illegal appropriation of property. The evidence is conclusive. Please come with us.” Chloe was completely flustered. “Officers, what illegal appropriation? That was the wedding fund William gave me. I legally gave it to Ryan.” The officer frowned: “What you call a legal channel is not reasonable in our eyes, and the plaintiff Mr. William Miller does not acknowledge it either.” Chloe argued desperately: “This is just William’s tactic! He’s doing this to ruin my wedding to Ryan!” The officer glared at her coldly: “Miss, please don’t obstruct official duties. Take him away!” As Ryan was taken away, the wedding instantly descended into chaos. Ryan’s relatives loudly gossiped that Ryan’s exorbitant wedding fund had actually come from someone else. How shameless. Chloe’s parents’ faces turned black as the bottom of a pot as they berated Chloe. “You foolish girl, what have you done!” “You gave up a perfectly good golden bachelor to marry a penniless man, and now you’ve lost everything!” Chloe calmed down. “Mom, this is William’s way of forcing me to comply. I’m going to find William now to save Ryan.” She was about to leave when a man blocked her path. “Miss Anderson, this is Mr. Miller’s wedding gift to you.”

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After my husband handed me over to kidnappers, I decided to kill myself. But when I jumped from the rooftop, my husband’s younger brother grabbed me tightly. With an arm nearly torn apart, he dragged me back. He cursed me for being insane, saying that not being chosen wasn’t a reason to die. I pried his fingers open one by one, watching panic and despair flood his face. He didn’t know that as long as I died, I could return to my real home. I was kidnapped along with Nathan’s first love, Isabelle. After trying to win Nathan’s heart for twelve years, he still chose Isabelle over me without hesitation. Nathan quickly untied the ropes binding Isabelle, his eyes full of concern. Beside them, Caleb, imitating his father, was gently rubbing Isabelle’s reddened wrists and blowing on them occasionally. “Aunt Isabelle, I’ll blow on it and make it all better.” The three of them were so lovingly harmonious, completely forgetting about me still in the kidnapper’s hands. Even the kidnapper couldn’t help but mock the scene. “Your husband is lost in his romantic paradise. I guess he won’t come to rescue you. Should I just kill you now?” Watching the two of them escort Isabelle away, the Game System officially declared my mission a failure. The ensuing punishment shocked me unconscious. In my daze, I heard the kidnapper frantically trying to support my collapsing body. “I was just talking tough! Did I really scare her that badly? Oh no, I better get her to a hospital quick. If something happens to her, I’m in big trouble.”

Waking up in the hospital, I confirmed with the Game System in my head: As long as this body dies completely, I can go home, right? After getting an affirmative answer from the system, I moved towards the window. This hospital room was on a high floor, at least 50 feet up. Jumping from here would certainly be fatal. I opened the window and leaped out. An enormous sense of weightlessness hit me, and I instinctively reached out my hand. The howling wind stung my ears. But I wasn’t afraid. In fact, I was looking forward to death. Just a little more, and I would be home – back to a world where someone truly loved me. I closed my eyes, calmly waiting. The next second, the falling sensation disappeared. Someone grabbed my arm forcefully. The momentum of the fall caused my muscles to tear and stretch, sending waves of intense pain from my arm throughout my entire chest. I opened my eyes, feeling like my arm might be broken. The person who caught me was Ethan, Nathan’s half-brother. I looked up at the sweating young man and calmly said, “Let go.” Ethan gritted his teeth and gripped tighter, using all his strength to pull me up. He shouted, “Just because my brother didn’t choose you? You’re jumping off a building for that? Is your head filled with shit?” I reached out, slowly prying his fingers off. “Ethan, if I die, it’ll make you happy, right? So, let go.”

Ethan hated me. Or rather, anyone close to Nathan didn’t approve of me. After Isabelle ran away for love, Nathan married me under family pressure. They were convinced I was a homewrecker who took advantage of the situation. They openly isolated, excluded, and ignored me. Ethan was at the forefront of this treatment. Using his status as Nathan’s brother, he would strut into the family mansion and destroy all the baby’s breath flowers I had planted in the backyard. Knowing I was allergic to cat hair, he encouraged Caleb to adopt a stray kitten. When I disagreed, he suggested Caleb cry about it. The commotion filled the entire living room. Ethan watched from the sidelines, suddenly playing the good guy and taking the high road. “It’s just a little cat. Let the kid have it if he likes it.” Caleb cried even harder, rolling on the ground and mumbling, “Mommy is bad. I want the kitty.” I chased Ethan out along with the cat and patiently explained to Caleb that I was allergic to cat hair, so we couldn’t keep a cat, but we could get a puppy instead. After Ethan’s manipulation, Caleb only had the cat on his mind and wouldn’t listen. He kept hitting me, demanding I give him back the kitten. This created a rift between Caleb and me. Ethan seized the opportunity to continue badmouthing me to Caleb, causing the young child to learn to oppose me. He was like a demon crawling out of hell, turning my life upside down.

I didn’t die. The commotion Ethan caused attracted the medical staff. They worked together to pull me back up. Ethan glanced at me, closed the window, and fell unusually silent. His hands wouldn’t stop shaking, with dark red marks covering his palms and fingertips. “Chloe, I don’t hate you as much as you think I do.” He lowered his head, his bangs hiding his eyes. I thought I heard a hint of guilt in his voice. Just as I was about to dig deeper, Ethan crossed his arms and lifted his head, reverting to his carefree demeanor. He said nonchalantly, “Is this another one of your tricks? Let me tell you, my brother won’t fall for this ‘push and pull’ game. If you keep this up, you’ll only make him sick of you…” Ethan was lost in his own world, chattering away while the medical staff checked the equipment by the bed. Taking advantage of this moment, I once again stepped towards the window and swiftly opened it. Before I could step out, Ethan pulled me back. After two consecutive suicide attempts, Ethan finally realized I wasn’t just seeking attention but truly wanted to die. He pulled me away from the window and, after making sure I was within his control, began to patiently counsel me, his attitude becoming gentler. “Don’t do anything stupid, okay? There are plenty of other men in the world besides my brother. Why are you so hung up on him?” He coughed lightly, his cheeks turning red. “I admit, my brother isn’t a good husband, but you can get a divorce, you know? It’s not worth dying for him. Maybe someone out there is secretly in love with you, and you just haven’t noticed.”

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In the seventh year after losing my sexual function, I found my wife in another man’s bed. She didn’t even bother to get off him. She looked at me with mockery and said, “Only with him do I feel like a real woman.” When I was completely disheartened and decided to divorce her, I unexpectedly made contact with the version of her from seven years ago—through a diary. Words started popping up in the diary one by one. “You’re Liam? You want to leave me?” “Impossible, how could you be Liam? He’s standing right next to me!” “Who are you really? How can you appear in my diary?” Three questions appeared out of thin air. I was so startled I dropped the diary. It took two minutes for me to calm down. Looking at the words, I picked up the pen and replied: “I really am Liam, 30-year-old Liam.” “And I know you’re 17-year-old Chloe. The future you will betray me. So, 17-year-old you shouldn’t get close to me either.” The diary suddenly went quiet. This was a magical notebook that I found in the attic while packing my bags. It happened a few days after my 30-year-old wife, drunk for the thousandth time, called out Mason’s name and said she regretted marrying me. She said if she had married Mason instead, she could have been a mother by now. When I opened it, I saw it was full of 17-year-old Chloe’s love and devotion to me. Growing up, because of my looks, I always had many admirers. But because my parents divorced early, I never had much hope for love. No matter who confessed to me, I always refused: “I’m sorry, I just want to focus on my studies. I’m not interested in dating.” Until I met Chloe. Unlike others, she pursued me relentlessly from middle school to college. After facing rejection after rejection from me, she only became more determined. She even participated in a dangerous car race just to win a watch I liked. Seeing her nearly lose her life, I finally opened my heart. When I discovered this notebook could update in real-time, I realized it was connected to 13 years ago. But when I remembered that two months ago, when I went to find her, I heard her and her new assistant passionately making love on the couch in her CEO office. And that person was Mason, our high school classmate and her former neighbor and childhood friend. At that moment, the beautiful memories of the past were shattered by the cruel reality, becoming nothing but bubbles. Since then, I hadn’t communicated with the girl in the diary. Because I knew that no matter how passionate the love recorded in the diary was, it would eventually be betrayed. Just as I was bitterly printing out the divorce papers I had prepared long ago, signing my name stroke by stroke, ready to fulfill what I had said before – if she betrayed me, I would disappear from her world forever – I heard the jarring sound of paper being torn in the diary. “Impossible, I love him!” The pen tip, carrying the girl’s emotions, carved into the paper stroke by stroke, “I’ve loved Liam for six whole years, how could I possibly betray him.” “You must be lying to me, you can’t possibly be Liam! Who are you really?” “Tell me, are you Mason?” Through the diary, I could almost see 17-year-old Chloe’s angry and stubborn expression as she spoke of vows she would inevitably break in the future. Back then, her love was pure and determined. Of course, she couldn’t have imagined that at 30, she would become so cruel and heartless. I picked up the pen to reply, when suddenly the door was pushed open. The wind that came in flipped the pages of the diary. I calmly closed the diary. 30-year-old Chloe came in and started rummaging through drawers and cabinets. In the past, every time she came home, she would excitedly jump into my arms, nuzzling me like a little kitten. Sometimes when I pushed her away because I was ticklish, she would cling even tighter, her big eyes sparkling as she whispered sweet nothings that made me blush. But now, her gaze didn’t even linger on me for half a second. After searching for nearly ten minutes without finding what she wanted, Chloe finally turned to me in frustration and demanded: “Liam, have you seen the family heirloom my mom left me?” “I’m pregnant, and I want to give the heirloom to Mason, to bless our family of three.” Family of three?! My heart suddenly ached. On our wedding day, in front of all the guests, she had personally handed the heirloom to me for safekeeping. Chloe’s brother was very dissatisfied, “Sis, Mom’s heirloom was meant for you to give to your baby. Everyone knows your husband is useless now, why give it to him?” 13 years ago, I had an accident that injured my body, leaving me unable to have children for life. No one had ever dared to mention this in front of Chloe, but on our wedding day, her brother pointed it out in front of everyone. The atmosphere instantly became extremely awkward. Everyone focused their gaze on me, starting to whisper. I turned away in embarrassment, but Chloe held me even tighter, slapping her brother across the face and declaring publicly, “Even if Liam can’t have children, he’s the only one worthy of keeping the heirloom. He is the only man for me, Chloe.” At that moment, I was grateful I had bet on the right person. For five years of marriage, I had carefully preserved it. But now, I laughed bitterly and pulled out the ring engraved with the words “Peace and Safety” from the drawer. Chloe snatched it, smiling happily, “Finally found it! After the baby is born, I want Mason to put this on him personally.” Only then did she deign to look up at me, the coldness in her eyes unconcealed. “My mom said the heirloom needs to be put on by the child’s father to be effective. Now that I’m pregnant with Mason’s child, this ring should be in his care.” “Today I still need Mason to accompany me for a prenatal checkup, so I have to go now. I’ll celebrate our wedding anniversary with you when I get back.” At the door, she suddenly stopped, glancing at me with a look of condescension. “Don’t worry, even if Mason and I have a child, you’ll still be the nominal father. You’ll always be my husband.” Giving a slap followed by a sweet gesture was her usual trick in recent years. Watching her leave happily, I smiled bitterly. She says I’m her husband, but she’s having a child with another man. Opening the diary again, I saw another line had appeared: “Because I was waiting for your reply, I missed getting the spot in front of him.” I immediately picked up our graduation photo and was shocked to find that 17-year-old Chloe’s position had indeed changed. I couldn’t help but hold my breath, my hand trembling uncontrollably. Could the Chloe on the other end of the diary change the future? Chapter

Before I could come to my senses, another line quickly appeared in the diary, “If you really are Liam, then tell me, where am I standing in the graduation photo?” I immediately replied, “You’re standing in front of Mason.” The diary went quiet again. After waiting for a minute with no reply, I picked up the pen and wrote stroke by stroke with force. “Chloe, please leave my life.” “Why? If you really are Liam, don’t you know I like you?” The last question mark was written with such force that it tore through the paper. “Like? It’s because of your ‘like’ that the day after the graduation photo was taken, I was stabbed by people Mason sent, leaving me unable to have children for life!!” “And now at 30, you’re pregnant with his child.” With each word I wrote, the memories of the past became clearer. I had tried everything to forget these memories, but countless nights, I was awakened by these painful memories, unable to sleep. It had become my inescapable nightmare. 13 years ago, Mason begged Chloe to stand in front of him, but she refused. Chloe firmly stood in front of me, saying not only now, but in the future when we take wedding photos, she would stand with me. The girl’s passionate confession made my ears turn red. But the next day, an enraged Mason found a dozen thugs to corner me in an alley. When Chloe arrived after hearing the news, she saw me covered in blood and cried uncontrollably. She carried me on her back, even though I was half a head taller than her, and stumbled frantically towards the hospital. To save me, she donated half her blood, but although I survived, I suffered severe damage, permanently impairing my ability to have children. Chloe held me and cried her eyes out, swearing she would marry no one but me and never let me be hurt again. But I never imagined that now she would cheat on me with Mason, the mastermind behind my injury, and even get pregnant with his child. “Chloe, promise me, if you like me, leave my life.” “As far away as possible! Can you do that?” “I’m begging you!” After waiting for a long time without a reply, I collapsed on the sofa with the diary, unknowingly falling asleep. In my dream, I saw 17-year-old Chloe running desperately in a dark alley. Her face was panicked and anxious. A strong wind blew a flower pot off the balcony, jolting me awake to see that night had fallen outside. 30-year-old Chloe hadn’t returned all night, not even a phone call or a text message. But Mason’s social media was updated every ten minutes, a total of 30 posts. The first one was Chloe putting the family heirloom ring on his finger. The second was Chloe and him flipping through a dictionary, choosing a name for the baby. The third was him lying on Chloe’s belly, happily listening to the baby’s movements. …… Each post had likes and blessings from friends in the comments. “Congratulations to Chloe for finally becoming a mother.” “I told you Chloe wouldn’t stay faithful to Liam, but you didn’t believe me.” “How could Liam ever be good enough for our Chloe? Mason and our Chloe are truly a perfect match, made for each other.” Chloe had liked every post. Perhaps deep down, she felt the same way. Exiting the social media app, I lay on the sofa feeling dizzy and drowsy. In my dream, 17-year-old Chloe finally ran out of the alley. What met her eyes was me being pinned down and beaten by a group of thugs, with 17-year-old Mason pulling out a knife, about to stab me. “Liam!” The next second, Chloe’s eyes turned red, and she rushed forward like a madwoman. Her thin body trembled uncontrollably, but she still picked up a brick from the roadside with all her might and started smashing the lead thug’s head again and again. The other thugs swarmed her, stabbing her dozens of times. Chloe paid no attention, tightly gripping the blood-stained brick, using her last ounce of strength to smash the lead thug’s head open, screaming at the others with a ferocious expression. “Come on if you’re not afraid to die!” Those thugs were intimidated by her do-or-die attitude and fled in panic. Only when their figures had completely disappeared into the alley did Chloe collapse powerlessly in front of me, shaking uncontrollably. When our eyes met, she smiled proudly, “Liam, I told you I’d give my life for you, now do you believe me?” “Chloe! I don’t need this!” “Leave me!” I shouted her name in anger, instantly waking up, tears already overflowing. Looking at myself in the mirror, with bulging veins and goosebumps all over my body, I didn’t know if it was from fear or cold. Looking down at the diary in my arms, I felt my mind was in a fog, unable to distinguish if this was a dream or a memory. Pulling up my shirt, I suddenly froze, quickly feeling my lower abdomen with my hand. Chapter

The scar that had been with me for 13 years was gone. Tears burst forth. Opening the diary again, I saw several more lines had appeared, but this time they were crooked, as if I could see the weakness of the person writing. “Liam, I saved you.” After calming down, I calmly replied with one sentence. “This is what you should have done.” If it weren’t for her ‘like’. If it weren’t for her ‘like’ that she would inevitably betray in the future. How would I have been targeted by Mason, losing my dignity as a man? Yet at 30, she had a child with the mastermind who hurt me, hurting me again. The words in the diary appeared staggeringly, the strokes not very clear, as if written with great effort. “Liam, I’m willing to do anything for you, tell me what else you need me to do?” After 17-year-old Chloe wrote down the last question mark, I replied, “I’ve already said, leave my life.” “Completely disappear from my sight, don’t use your love now as a weapon to hurt me in the future.” Once, when everyone mocked me for not being a man, it was Chloe who firmly held my hand, gently soothing my shattered self-esteem. It was because of her love that I was not afraid of any mockery, ridicule, or vicious curses. So when she let go of my hand and stood among those who mocked me, I was instantly on the verge of collapse, even considering ending my life. It turns out that being hurt by the one you love is a thousand times more painful than physical disability. You could say, the more she loved me before, the more pain she caused me later. This heart of mine, already hurt by her, will no longer beat. The sound of forceful writing suddenly came through, each word sinking into the paper, almost piercing through it. “That’s impossible!” “Liam, do you know? Every time there’s an extracurricular activity, you always like to stand under the second basketball hoop on the playground to play ball. I deliberately take a 5-minute detour every day just to see you once. Just seeing you makes me feel so happy.” “Once during a basketball game, I heard you were injured. I was so anxious that I skipped class for the first time to buy medicine for you, afraid you’d suffer for even a second more…” “And…” I interrupted, “I know, I know all of this you’re saying.” “There was also once… when I fell in the bathroom, you brought me medicine, blushing.” The diary suddenly paused for ten seconds before replying, “You know all this? How do you know?” “Since you know everything, why do you say I’ll betray you?” There was a sentence she didn’t write, but I’m sure I know she was muttering to herself, how could I betray you when I love you so much. I could imagine the shock and confusion on 17-year-old Chloe’s face right now. “I know these things because the future you told me. You told me everything one by one, and said you deeply regretted doing these things.” Chloe had said that she should have listened to advice back then and not married a man like me who couldn’t give her “happiness”, resulting in her enduring five years of humiliation. She had also said that she should have just let me starve to death back then, saving me too early led to me not only being ungrateful for her great kindness but even becoming more and more arrogant. She always boasted about her “great achievements”, and then did whatever she wanted in our marriage, until now having a child with someone else. Tears fell on the diary, blurring the words. Afraid of damaging the diary and not being able to change the past, I hurriedly tried to wipe it off, but I used too much force and accidentally tore the paper in half. In my panic, I suddenly found that everything in front of me had changed into a hospital ward. In front of me was a 17-year-old girl with thick bandages wrapped around her abdomen. Her face was pale, her brows furrowed in pain from the wound. 17-year-old Chloe covered the blood-stained bandage with one hand, struggling to write a reply with the other, muttering under her breath. “Liam, don’t worry, I’ll take good care of you until I become your wife…” She looked serious and determined, as if doing something of utmost importance. Just as she wrote this, 17-year-old Chloe seemed to sense something. Her hand suddenly stopped, and when she looked up, our eyes met. “Liam?” At that moment, those clear eyes like spring water, which had long disappeared from my memory, appeared in front of me again. Her slightly dry lips parted, but before she could speak, a sudden burst of phone ringing came through. Looking around, I saw the house was in a mess. All done by 30-year-old Chloe. The phone rang sharply. It was a call from 30-year-old Chloe, her tone commanding, “Come to the coffee shop downstairs from the company right away, Mason and I have something to tell you in person.” At the same time, several lines appeared in the diary. “Trust me, okay? I would never do such a thing.” “I like you so much that even if you want to take my life, you can.” A girl’s affection, as pure and beautiful as cherry blossoms. Always feeling that vows would become the most beautiful flowers, as long as they stayed by their loved one’s side, they would never wither. I gripped the pen tightly in my hand, my eyes downcast. Fine. Since you don’t believe me, I’ll let 30-year-old you tell you yourself. Chapter

When I arrived at the coffee shop, I saw Mason feeding Chloe an egg tart. He glanced at me, a challenging smile in his eyes, “You’re here, bro. Quick, control your Chloe, she insists I feed her.” “I was planning to leave first, but Chloe said the baby keeps wanting to find daddy after getting pregnant, so I had to stay a bit longer.” “Oh, I’m so sorry, I forgot you… probably can’t experience the feeling of being a father anymore.” In the past, I would definitely have been angry and felt inferior. But now, I just treated it like a dog barking nonsense. I looked at Chloe and asked calmly, “What’s the matter?” Chloe sweetly chewed the last bite of egg tart Mason fed her, her eyes full of adoration. Then when she looked at me, her eyes were cold, “Liam, let’s get divorced.” “My child with Mason is about to be born, I want to give the baby a complete and healthy family.” She sneered: “I don’t want him to be told his dad can’t…” Halfway through her sentence, it was as if something entered Chloe’s brain, making her suddenly clutch her forehead and hiss in pain, her expression agonized. Shaking her head, she muttered in confusion, “Can’t have children?? Why would I say that?” Seeing her reaction, I could guess what happened. After 17-year-old Chloe took the knife for me, my body was completely healed, and this memory appeared in 30-year-old Chloe’s head. But soon, she stopped pondering. Instead, she raised her head, still looking at me with that unfamiliar and cold gaze. “Liam, I feel you’re not as good as Mason, so let’s get divorced.” Hearing her emphasize again. My hand holding the hot coffee gently rubbed the scalding cup, but my heart was ice cold. You see, people who want to leave will never leave because of just one reason. Without one, they’ll always have another. “Okay, divorce, but on one condition.” I pushed the diary in front of her, lowering my voice, “You have to write in it yourself, ‘Chloe doesn’t love Liam.’” Chloe looked at the diary, then raised her eyes to look at me, her gaze surprised and curious, yet full of mockery. “So, is this how you’re trying to keep me?” “Liam, who didn’t make some passionate vows when they were young? Those were all just nonsense I said in a moment of anger to trick you. Did you really believe them? How ridiculous.” The corner of my mouth lifted in self-mockery, I lightly tapped the diary with my finger, “If that’s the case, then write it.” Chloe hesitated for a moment. After a moment’s hesitation, she picked up the pen and wrote those eight words in one go – Chloe doesn’t love Liam. After writing, Chloe said coldly, “If you’re still not convinced, I’ll write it two more times.” Before I could speak, she wrote it twice more in front of me, clean and decisive. I looked at the diary, there was no reaction on it. But I knew, the other end must be able to see it. Picking up the pen, I quickly signed my name on the divorce agreement she had prepared. Standing up, I was about to leave when Mason called out, “Bro, wait a minute, I have something to say to you.” Then he asked Chloe to go get something, saying it was a gift he bought for the baby. Chloe nodded gently, then gave me a warning look before getting up and leaving. Mason suddenly snatched my diary, flipping through it with a mocking smile, “Is this Chloe’s diary? I heard she used to always write about liking you in it, what a pity…” “So what if she liked you in the past? If she could really love you forever, would I even exist?” “Do you know how much she adores me? Every year on your birthday, your wedding anniversary, after sleeping with you, she would come to me.” “She had so many requests, we’d use up several boxes every time. The next day her legs would be weak. We left marks in her car, her office, even your marital home.” I clenched my fists in anger. But the next second, Mason punched himself first, falling to the ground with a scream. The sound was so loud that Chloe hurriedly ran back, looking anxiously at Mason lying on the ground, “What happened? What’s going on?” Mason covered his face and turned away, “It’s all my fault. I betrayed bro, so he got angry and hit me.” “Chloe, please don’t be mad at him.” Chloe suddenly glared at me, her eyes full of disappointment. “Liam, I never thought you were this kind of person!” I was about to explain when she suddenly stood up and forcefully grabbed my neck, her eyes bulging with rage, “If I had known you were such a petty man, I wouldn’t have taken that knife for you back then. I should have let you die!” I laughed bitterly at her words. See, Chloe? Even though I told you that in the future you would use these things to hurt me at the drop of a hat, you still haven’t changed. “Chloe, your true colors are really disgusting.” The diary in my hand fell in front of her. 30-year-old Chloe picked it up, shouting at me with disgust in her eyes. “You think you can keep me with this piece of junk?” “Every time I see the words in it, I’m reminded that I once loved you, and I only feel ashamed.” “Give it back to me!” Chloe dodged my hand and grabbed the diary, suddenly tearing it to shreds. “You want it? Here!” The next second, she tore the diary to pieces in front of me, casually tossing them away, “There you go!” I sat stunned on the ground, looking up to see the shredded diary floating down like snowflakes. I suddenly started laughing, laughing louder and louder. It’s over. Now, everything is truly over. Seeing me laughing there, Chloe finally exploded, “Mason was almost disfigured because of you, and you’re still laughing!” Her blood-red eyes suddenly filled with murderous intent. She grabbed the knife for cutting steak from the plate and lunged at me. But the expected pain never came. One drop, two drops… Warm liquid dripped onto my face, accompanied by the smell of blood. I opened my eyes to see the knife right in front of me, tightly gripped by a slender hand. Following that hand, I saw 17-year-old Chloe appear in front of me… Her abdomen wrapped in bandages, her eyes red with anger, surprise, disbelief, and finally despair as she looked at 30-year-old Chloe. Her right hand tightly gripped the sharp blade. Blood dripped from her palm onto my eyes, blooming like a brilliant poppy.

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My husband cheated on me. On the way to file for divorce, we got into a car accident. Before he died, he was still yelling at me, “You were the desperate one, practically climbing into my bed when you were seventeen!” When I opened my eyes again, I was seventeen, back in the basement apartment where we’d eloped. This time, I took one look at him and turned to run. But to my surprise, he’d been reborn too. And he grabbed me, refusing to let me go. At twenty-nine, my seven-year marriage to Jake Miller had finally become a sick joke. On the way to the divorce lawyer, I was crying hysterically in the car, pointing my finger at him. “Jake Miller, are you even human? I suffered with you since I was seventeen, and now that things are good, you just turn around and find some fresh-out-of-college intern? Did a dog eat your conscience?” Jake gripped the steering wheel, that sickening smirk plastered on his face. “My conscience? Ava Reed, we’re two sides of the same coin. You were the one who wanted to elope with me. You practically jumped into my bed at seventeen. Now you’re playing the innocent victim?” I was trembling with rage, just about to lunge and scratch his face when a blinding white flash erupted directly ahead. The out-of-control truck speeding toward us slammed into our car like a rampaging beast. Excruciating pain, darkness, then an absolute void. When I next regained consciousness, it was the smell of damp mold that choked me awake. I groggily opened my eyes and saw sunlight filtering through a tiny, palm-sized window, dust motes dancing wildly in the golden beams. The walls were plastered with old newspapers, so cramped it was suffocating. The tiny full-sized bed beneath me was covered in a faded, pilled pink piglet sheet that looked like it belonged in a thrift store. I stared for a long moment, then lifted a hand to touch my face. My skin was taut, free of fine lines, full of youthful collagen. I was seventeen again. Back then, I thought this place was paradise, a love nest where love alone was enough. Now, it barely looked better than a dog kennel. I still can’t believe how incredibly stupid I was back then, leaving a sprawling villa for this dump. Jake was an orphan, raised on the wrong side of the tracks, a wild card with a reputation for a quick temper and even quicker fists. He was notorious in our area, a real hell-raiser. My family, on the other hand, was well-off. My parents were both high-level professionals, always had my life mapped out, treating me like their little princess. By all accounts, Jake and I were like two parallel lines, never meant to intersect. The trouble started that snowy day. I was walking home from school, passing through a dead-end alley, when I saw Jake being beaten by a group of guys. After they scattered, I saw him lying in the snow, wearing only a thin black hoodie, a chilling red stain spreading beneath him. I was young then, and too soft-hearted. I should have run, but my feet felt rooted to the spot. On a strange impulse, I dialed 911, and even took off my down jacket to cover him. “Hey… are you okay?” He struggled to lift his eyelids, his eyes startlingly dark. “Aren’t you scared of me?” I stammered, “We go to the same school. Fighting is bad. You shouldn’t fight anymore.” He scoffed, ignored me, and closed his eyes, pretending to be unconscious. I foolishly squatted there, shielding him from the wind and snow until the ambulance arrived. I even used half a year’s worth of my allowance to cover his medical bills.

I thought that would be the end of it. But a few days later, Jake swaggered into our classroom. Amidst a chorus of gasps, he slapped a wad of crumpled bills onto my desk, a dangerously handsome smirk on his face. “Here’s the money from the other day. Thanks, good girl.” He walked out, and just like that, I became the notorious bad boy’s rumored girlfriend. My friend tugged at my sleeve, shrieking, “Ava, are you crazy? That’s Jake Miller! I heard he’s involved with gangs, maybe even killed someone! Stay away from him!” Some girls who loved drama crowded around. “Hey, you actually know Jake? Can you get me his SnapChat? He looks so hot on his motorcycle!” I was completely bewildered. On the way home from school, a motorcycle roared and cut me off. Jake took off his helmet, revealing those signature dark, narrow eyes, and whistled at me. “Get on. I’ll take you for a ride.” His gang of friends behind him started jeering. “Jake, this chick looks too plain. Boring.” “Yeah, the ‘It Girl’ from the tech school is where it’s at. Short skirts, big boobs, long legs – now THAT’S hot!” My face turned white with fear. Like a startled rabbit, I lowered my head, scurried around his bike, and ran. The sound of their raucous laughter followed me. Back then, I truly hated him. I thought he was a lowlife, from a completely different world than mine. But Jake was thick-skinned. He blocked me every day, and I couldn’t shake him. Until one day, I stayed late for detention and encountered a drunk harassing me in the alley. Just as I was despairing, Jake suddenly appeared, like some kind of guardian angel, kicking the drunk a good six feet away. He took off his jacket, still warm from his body, and wrapped it around me, his voice unusually gentle. “Don’t worry, I’ve got you.” That night, he followed me all the way home, watching until I was safely inside. That night, a tiny crack formed in my seventeen-year-old heart’s defenses.

Young love, it came on like a hurricane, fast and fierce. Jake and I started dating, and, predictably, we were caught by a teacher, and our parents were called. My parents were furious. They locked me in the house, forced me to break up with him, saying I had no self-respect, that I was ruining my life. But back then, my mind was only on Jake. For the first seventeen years, I’d lived like a puppet on a string, docile and obedient. Jake was like a hammer, shattering the glass bubble of my life, dragging me headfirst into a raw, dangerous, yet strangely captivating new world. He took me skipping class to bars, snuck me out to a hilltop to watch the stars at midnight, and awkwardly tried to feed me medicine when I caught a cold. For the sake of “love,” I jumped out of my second-story window and eloped with Jake. At the train station, he held me tight, his heart hammering like a drum against my chest. He asked, “Ava, are you scared of suffering with me?” I looked up, my eyes full of light. “I’m not scared!” “Good! I, Jake Miller, swear that if I ever betray you in this life, I’ll die a miserable death!” Those vows sounded so sincere back then. The days that followed were indeed hard. We lived in a cramped basement apartment, ate instant noodles, and huddled together for warmth in the winter. He’d pick out the only fried egg for me and warm my icy feet with his stomach. We were desperate to make something of ourselves. Jake was sharp and ambitious. He caught onto several hot trends early, and his business took off like a rocket. I, too, transformed from a sheltered girl who’d never lifted a finger to a fierce business partner, fighting side-by-side with him. We moved out of the basement, into a penthouse, and eventually, a standalone villa. The day he proposed, he rented every digital billboard in the city, and fireworks lit up the sky all night long. I honestly thought that was our happily ever after, that we’d live the fairy tale ending forever. Until that young female intern, Chloe Peterson, showed up. She was young, vibrant, and her adoring gaze was exactly like mine had been all those years ago. Jake fell for her. Fights, silent treatments, throwing things—eventually, it all devolved into mutual destruction. The lovers who once shared everything became enemies who wanted nothing more than to tear each other apart.

I was lost in thought when the door suddenly pushed open. Eighteen-year-old Jake walked in, his eyes locked on me. There was no youthful adoration in them—only a shocking complexity: the weariness and resentment of someone who’d survived a storm. Just one look, and I understood. He’d been reborn too. And he knew I had been reborn. In this small room, once filled with sweet memories, the air hung thick with unspoken tension, almost tangible. “Um…” Jake cleared his throat, his voice rough. “Earlier in the car… I was just so furious I didn’t think before I spoke, okay? I didn’t mean those terrible things I said.” Looking at him, I suddenly found it absurd. Years ago, in this very room, he had held me and said, “Ava, I’ve put you through so much. I promise I’ll give you the best of everything in the world.” I believed him then, truly. Just as I believed him when he called me “desperate” in the car before we died. The love was real, and the hate was real too. Time truly is a cruel thing; it can turn a precious gem into a worthless stone. We sat at opposite ends of that narrow bed, neither of us speaking. “Ava, since we’re both back…” Jake was about to say something when a frantic pounding on the door interrupted him. I got up to open it. The moment the door swung open, I froze. Standing outside was my mom, Sarah Reed. The woman I remembered as always elegant and put-together now had messy hair, eyes swollen shut, and a sickly, grayish complexion, like she’d aged ten years overnight. She grabbed my wrist in a vice grip that made me wince. “Come on! You’re coming home with me right now!” Memories instantly overlapped. In my previous life, it was at this exact moment that my mom found me here. She cried and begged me to come back, promising that if I did, everything from before would be forgiven. But I was still so stubbornly naive, like I was under some kind of spell. I wrenched my hand free, yelling that I loved Jake and would never marry anyone else. My mom trembled with rage and slapped me hard across the face. “I wasted all these years raising you! You’d throw away your own mother for a boy?” Finally, completely heartbroken, she left, tossing one last remark over her shoulder: “From now on, I’ll pretend I never had a daughter!” From that day until I died, we never saw each other again. Later, when Jake became wealthy, I brought gifts hoping to mend our relationship, but my dad threw me out—gifts and all. It was the biggest regret of my life, a pain that haunted me every single night. Now, my mom’s voice was raw. “Ava, if you come home with me now, our family can still be whole. But if you insist on staying with this deadbeat, then just pretend I’m dead! Pretend I never gave birth to you!” She continued to spout harsh words, but tears streamed down her face. I looked at her familiar yet strangely aged face, my eyes stinging. How long had it been since I’d seen my mom? My stubbornness in my past life had brought me nothing but ruin and total alienation from everyone I loved. I turned my hand and squeezed her calloused one, gently cutting her off. “Okay, Mom. I’ll come home with you.” My mom’s sobs abruptly stopped. She stared at me wide-eyed, like she couldn’t believe what she’d heard. “What did you say? You… you’ll come home with me?” She’d clearly braced herself for a huge fight and hadn’t expected me to agree so easily. Jake, who had been sitting on the bed, spun around, staring at me with utter disbelief.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “334702”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #重生Reborn #现实主义Realistic