Category: English

Mike Maxwell was famously devoted to his wife, a fact well-known in their circle. For me, he’d turned down a family-arranged marriage and doted on me for three years straight. But then, at his bachelor party, just before our wedding, his first love, the one who got away, asked him, “If I crashed your wedding and asked you to leave with me, would you?” And he, utterly serious, replied, “Yes.” Swallowing my tears, I messaged my best friend, Lexie Thorne, a billionaire heiress. “Can you get me out of here, like, now?” Seven minutes later, Lexie’s car screeched to a halt, tires practically smoking. “I told you, with your looks and personality, you should marry into old money and live the good life. My brother is gorgeous and refined, and my dad is still quite charming. Pick one!” 1 The wedding was just around the corner, and Mike’s best friends had thrown him a wild bachelor party. Everyone in his close-knit group knew how much Mike adored me. If I wasn’t with him, he’d inevitably rush home before ten, regardless of whether anyone else was having fun. So, this time, they’d enthusiastically invited me along. But the moment I stepped inside, I felt an odd tension in the air. Everyone greeted me warmly, yet kept subtly glancing at Mike, shooting him meaningful looks. I had no idea what was going on. Once everyone was seated, a short-haired girl finally arrived, a little late. “Sorry, traffic was a nightmare!” She was tall and slender, her voice clear and cheerful. Mike, beside me, immediately froze. It was the first time I’d ever seen someone’s face betray the precise moment their heart skipped a beat. The girl extended her hand to me, a friendly smile on her face. “You must be the bride-to-be! Nice to meet you, I’m Summer Reed!” The name hit me like a splash of cold water. Suddenly, everything clicked. This was Mike’s first love, the one he’d been infatuated with for five years. They said back then, before he became the composed man he was now, he pursued her relentlessly. Ten thousand roses beneath her window, a hundred feet of fireworks on the beach. His entire youth had revolved around her. But three years ago, she’d decisively followed another guy abroad for college. That’s when I met Mike. At that bar, Mike walked toward me through the hazy lights. I’d only had half a drink, yet I felt utterly intoxicated, practically begging my friends for information about him. When they nudged me in front of him, my tongue tied itself in knots. “I’m Primrose Day. Mr. Maxwell, may I ask your first name?” Laughter erupted around us. Mike, whose brow had been furrowed for months, finally relaxed into a smile. After we got together, Mike poured all his tenderness into me. He remembered every single thing I liked and disliked. No matter how late I worked, he insisted on picking me up himself. Every holiday brought a thoughtful gift from him. He posted about me constantly on his social media, introducing me to every friend and family member. Even his friends started to get jealous. “You’re really benefiting from someone else’s hard work, Primrose. Mike chased the toughest girl, perfected his emotional intelligence, and now you’re reaping the rewards.” Those comments never bothered me. Because they always added that, in looks and personality, I was completely different from that girl. I wasn’t a replacement. More importantly, I felt Mike’s love. After three years of passionate romance, he’d proposed to me with unwavering certainty. I thought our love was finally blossoming into happily ever after. But then, reality delivered a brutal punch. 2 Summer casually settled into the seat beside me. She pulled a bottle of perfume from her purse and offered it to me. “A wedding gift. This scent is incredibly sophisticated; I’ve worn it for seven or eight years.” She smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. I had to admit, she was graceful and charming. Even her wedding gift was for me, not Mike. I accepted it and thanked her. Then she pulled out her phone to add me on social media. “If anyone ever gives you trouble, remember to tell me. Even though Mike and I grew up together, I’m not playing the ‘family’ card. I’ll always have your back!” The friends around us applauded. “Still our fearless leader, Summer! Always so sharp!” Summer paused, then looked past me at Mike, who sat on my other side. “Hey, what’s up with you? Three years and you’ve become a man of so few words?” The others were drinking, gossiping, their eyes glued to the three of us, desperate not to miss any juicy drama. Mike’s ears visibly flushed. He couldn’t even bring himself to turn and look at her. He just held his drink, trying for a lighthearted tone. “Not few words, just… we’re strangers now. Don’t know what to say.” Summer laughed. “Is that my fault for not keeping in touch these past three years?” She raised her glass to him. “Then let’s keep in touch more often from now on?” Mike glanced at me. “My wife keeps me on a tight leash. If you want to connect with me, you’ll have to go through her first.” They exchanged smiles, a silent truce in the air, then clinked their glasses together. Everything was out in the open, no hidden meanings, just straightforward. But for some reason, sitting between them, my chest felt heavy. Maybe it was because, after three years together, I understood Mike’s body language intimately. Tonight, he was incredibly nervous. Drinks flowed, songs were sung, and games were played. As the party wound down, everyone was a little tipsy. Mike lost a round of ‘truth or dare’ to Summer and chose ‘truth’. Summer, who’d been impeccably composed all night, suddenly indulged in a moment of playful mischief. She tilted her head, a tipsy, coquettish glint in her eyes, and asked Mike: “If I showed up at your wedding to stop it, would you leave with me?” The question electrified the already boisterous crowd. “Oh, finally! You two aren’t pretending anymore!” “Yeah, that’s more like it!” “Tell us! Would you go with her?” Mike’s eyes were bloodshot from drinking. He looked at her, emotions swirling within him. Then, with unnerving sincerity, he replied, “Yes.” The crowd erupted. “No way! I knew it!” “Crash the wedding! Crash the wedding! Crash the wedding!” The cheers drew everyone’s attention. I sat between them, feeling my breath catch in my throat, my hands trembling. I didn’t know how to handle the awkwardness. Mumbling an excuse about the restroom, I fled the scene. Holding back tears, I sent Lexie a message: “Can you get me out of here, like, now?” Lexie’s call came immediately. “What happened? Are those jerks bothering you?” “No, just… don’t ask right now. Can you just come pick me up?” I felt on the verge of tears. Lexie’s voice sharpened with urgency, loud as a battle cry. “You wait right there, I’m coming! Ten minutes! No, seven minutes!” “It’s not that urgent, drive safely.” “Don’t tell me what to do!” 3 Seven minutes later, Lexie tore through the streets in her Bugatti, tires practically spitting sparks. The moment I saw her, my composure shattered, tears welling in my eyes. Lexie gripped my hand, her anger barely contained. “What did you jerks do to her?! Mike, are you blind? Can’t you see how upset she is?” Lexie, a billionaire heiress, was fiercely protective and commanded a powerful presence. Her arrival immediately silenced the entire group. Her gaze fell on Summer, instantly turning sharp. “Well, well, if it isn’t you.” Summer stood up and took my arm, a falsely sweet smile on her face. “We were just playing a game. Why are you getting so upset? I’m usually so blunt, this is my first time hanging out with such a delicate girl. I must have misjudged the situation, my bad.” Lexie yanked me behind her. “Don’t touch her! You’re not blunt, you’re just playing dumb!” By now, Mike had sobered up a bit. He rubbed his temples, stood up, and said, “Primrose is tired. I should take her home.” Lexie sneered. “I’m here now, you think we need you? Just keep playing dead.” Everyone stood awkwardly, watching Lexie gather my things. She muttered complaints as she did. “I told you ages ago, with your looks and personality, you should marry into old money and live the good life. But no, you had to go suffer with some nouveau riche. That kind of crowd, all backstabbing and fake, is no place for someone as innocent as you.” Mike’s family also had assets in the high nine figures. Nouveau riche with nine figures… quite a niche insult. But coming from Lexie, no one dared to argue. Lexie finished packing, picked up my bag, and spotted the exquisitely packaged perfume inside. Without a word, she pulled it out and tossed it on the floor. “What outdated garbage. Can’t believe you’d give this as a gift.” The bottle rolled across the floor, coming to a stop by Summer’s feet. Summer’s face fell. Lexie grabbed my hand and headed for the exit. Mike followed, catching me at the door. “Primrose, don’t be angry. In that atmosphere, with her suddenly asking that question, my mind went blank.” I looked into Mike’s earnest eyes and suddenly felt all my strength drain away. “You mean to say, it was your gut reaction, that you truly wanted to be with her?” “Of course not! Primrose, it was just a game. If I’d said no, she would’ve been humiliated in front of our friends.” “You’d rather trample my dignity to protect her feelings?” “I just gave her a polite answer; I’m offering you marriage.” I pulled away from him, a bitter laugh escaping me. “So, I’m the one who profited? Mike, three years together, and I never realized you’re such a master of playing both sides.” Just then, Lexie pulled up, honking impatiently. Mike tried to grab me again. “Let me take you home. We can talk properly on the way.” Lexie frowned. “If you’re so free, why don’t you drive your electric Bentley around as an Uber for a bit and clear your head?” Mike choked. His green-plated Bentley had never felt so humiliating. I opened the car door and slid inside. Looking back at Mike, I said, “Our wedding, let’s call it off. We both need to seriously reconsider things.” 4 On the drive home, I scrolled through my social media feed. I found two posts from Summer. The first: She really isn’t anything like me. But don’t you think that just makes it all the more obvious? The second: If you spent these three years trying to prove I was wrong to leave you, then… you succeeded. The emotions I’d held in all night finally broke free. I sobbed uncontrollably, mourning the three years of genuine affection I’d poured into Mike. I’d believed his unwavering devotion stemmed from love. Instead, it was just a performance for her. I was merely a pawn in their elaborate game. Lexie, being a straightforward person, wasn’t one for comforting words. She preferred direct solutions. “Stop crying. There are plenty of other men out there. Just find a new one. My brother is gorgeous and refined, and my dad is still quite charming. Pick one!” I cried until I was spent, then her words made me laugh. “Lexie, am I useless? Even now, you’re the one who has to stand up for me.” Lexie patted my head. “What foolishness are you talking about? Everyone’s different. My mom passed away early, leaving just us three, and we’re all a little… eccentric when it comes to expressing affection. I was rebellious as a kid and caused a lot of headaches, so I rarely got to be useful. But you, you’re naturally kind, a true angel. Every day with you is a breath of fresh air. And you’re the gentlest doctor with needles in the whole city. When I was hospitalized, I never would have made it through without you by my side, patiently comforting me every day.” Her words were soothing, rebuilding my shattered self-esteem. Lexie said, “Seriously, are you really not considering marrying into my family?” She’d said this many times. Lexie and I met when she was hospitalized. The chief physician was her attending doctor, and I was the assistant. But because I spoke softly and was gentle with injections, Lexie, being impulsive, insisted I become her attending physician. From then on, we formed a deep bond. I was already dating Mike at the time, and Lexie regretted it daily, practically slapping her thigh. “Why didn’t I get sick a few months earlier! Back then, you were single, and there was still hope I could bring you home as my sister-in-law!” The innocent bystander, Lexie’s older brother, Vincent Thorne—who had specifically returned from his vacation abroad to visit her—had his face turn black every time he heard it. Because of her relentless nagging, Vincent and I had a frosty relationship from the start. Whenever we met by chance, I’d awkwardly look down, and he’d awkwardly look away, both of us pretending not to see each other. Not long ago, Vincent returned from his studies abroad and joined our hospital. He even worked in the office right next to mine. The arrival of this cool, reserved, and utterly handsome doctor caused a stir throughout the hospital. Young women would find excuses to walk past his office multiple times a day. Even sick leave requests dropped. As for me, I had to hold my bladder during shifts, fearing I’d run into him too often in the hallway. Seeing my silence, Lexie became excited. “Your quiet means you’re seriously considering it, right? Have you decided? My brother or my dad?” My mouth twitched. “If those are the only two options, I’d rather pick your dad.” Lexie grew even more thrilled. “Great! I actually thought so too! My dad is older, so he’ll pass on sooner, and you can inherit his fortune early. Then we can hire male models every day! My brother won’t do; he’s got a super regular, healthy lifestyle, in peak condition. I’m afraid you wouldn’t outlive him.” Me: “…”

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1 Learning that my wife was once again celebrating another man’s birthday, my heart sank, and I stood on the edge, contemplating taking my own life. The moment I looked up, countless messages materialized in the air. 【Don’t do it, big brother! In the future, that woman will be crawling back to you like a dog!】 【If you die now, you’ll miss the moment she realizes her mistake!】 【If you don’t believe it, in two minutes your wife will text you, telling you to prepare a bath for her return!】 Skeptical, I waited, and indeed, two minutes later, I received a text from my wife. I believed these messages were here to help me reclaim my marriage. So, when my wife returned, I followed their instructions, opening the door with a suggestive red mark on my neck. … The click of the lock sounded, I took a deep breath and opened the door. Evelyn Gardner was supporting a heavily intoxicated Brandon Thorne, her clothes smelling of smoke and alcohol. Her face, habitually cold, prepared to offer an explanation. “He drank too much, I…” “I have plans tonight.” I cut her off before she could speak, my tone soft and calm, interrupting her prepared excuse. She froze. I stepped aside, offering a gentle smile. “Get him settled. Take a shower and get some rest. Don’t worry about the house; the cleaning service will handle it tomorrow.” This string of kind, understanding words, devoid of anger or argument, left her completely stunned. Evelyn’s gaze finally shifted from her initial shock, landing on me. For the first time, she scrutinized me as if I were a stranger. My black shirt, unbuttoned, showcased my well-defined chest and abs, and… the glaring red mark on my neck. Her face instantly darkened. “What is that on your neck?!” Evelyn’s voice held a tremor I hadn’t heard in ages. I instinctively raised a hand to cover it, my eyes darting away, feigning a touch of panic. “Nothing, probably… a mosquito bite.” Without another glance at her icy face, I picked up my phone from the sofa, and, in my crocodile-leather shoes, walked directly past her. “Where are you going?!” Her voice, thick with suppressed anger, came from behind me. I didn’t look back, leaving her only with a dashing, confident silhouette. Once outside, the evening breeze sent a shiver through me. I leaned against the wall, my heart pounding. “Messages, did… did I do that right?” Instantly, a dense swarm of messages surrounded me again. 【Yes! Absolutely! You are my god, big brother!】 【Did you see the shock on that woman’s face? I’m ecstatic!】 【You used to be too desperate in love, spoiling her until she had no idea how good she had it! Making her think you’d never leave!】 【Remember, good men get a badge of honor, bad men get everything!】 I thought of Evelyn’s expression moments ago—both furious and incredulous—a rare sign of concern I hadn’t seen on her face in ages. I became even more convinced that the messages were right. 【Go all out! Big brother, go to a nightclub! Let her not find you!】 A nightclub? I’m such an introvert; I’ve never been to a place like that. But the messages felt like countless hands, pushing me forward. Deafening music, hazy, flashing lights, a swirling mass of bodies on the dance floor. I sat stiffly in a corner, holding a drink for ages without taking a sip. 【Don’t be scared, big brother! You’re so handsome, be confident!】 【Sway to the rhythm! Let yourself go!】 Inspired by the messages and the surrounding atmosphere, I, as if possessed, stepped onto the dance floor. My movements were stiff at first, but slowly, I immersed myself in the music, discovering for the first time how exhilarating dancing could be. When I’d had enough fun, I returned to my booth and finally picked up my silenced phone. The screen blared: Missed Calls (27) Evelyn Gardner. My wife, who had been distant for an entire year, had called me twenty-seven times?! After all, it used to be me desperately calling her, trying to find out where she was. 【Ignore her! Let her hang! Let her taste what it’s like not to be able to find someone!】 Obediently, I tucked my phone back into my pocket, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. Wife, it’s not that I don’t want to answer; it’s that I need you… to fall in love with me again. You’ll understand, won’t you? I partied all night. The next morning, I returned home, exhausted and hungover. The living room light was on. Evelyn sat on the sofa, her eyes bloodshot, empty wine bottles strewn around her feet. Seeing me, she lunged forward, grabbing my wrist, her voice hoarse. “Where were you?!” I smelled the lingering scent of Brandon’s cigarette smoke on her. Seeing my silence, her face was filled with disbelief. “You weren’t like this before! You never stayed out all night!” I raised my eyes, blinking innocently. “What’s wrong with staying out all night?” “Evelyn, we’re both adults. Who doesn’t have their own life?” Evelyn was speechless, blocked by my words. In her bloodshot eyes, for the first time, appeared an unfamiliar unease and a hint of panic. “Isn’t that what you used to tell me?” I tilted my head, smiling purely and harmlessly. “You said you were busy, you said you had to entertain, you said… adults need their own space.” I returned her dismissive words, verbatim. In truth, my heart was pounding, my palms sweating with nerves. 【Hold steady! Big brother! Don’t break character! You are now the mighty Nicholas Thorne!】 【Yes! Fight magic with magic! So satisfying!】 The messages gave me endless confidence. Just then, the master bedroom door clicked open. Brandon Thorne emerged, wearing a black silk robe, rubbing his sleepy eyes, walking out languidly. That robe was my favorite one. In the past, this scene would have driven me to furious madness, leading to an immediate fight. 【The main man is here! High alert! Remember, whoever loses their temper first loses!】 I took a deep breath. Calm. Calmness was the greatest weapon. Brandon saw me, feigning surprise as he covered his mouth, saying in a sickly sweet, breathy voice, “Oh, Nicholas is back? I’m so sorry, I drank too much last night, and Evelyn was afraid I’d stain my clothes, so… she just found one of your pajamas for me. You don’t mind, do you?” Evelyn’s face was also extremely unnatural, and she awkwardly explained, “His clothes were dirty, I just grabbed something.” “Mind?” I chuckled, walking directly up to Brandon, my tone full of reproach, but directed at Evelyn. “How could you give Brandon my old, worn clothes to wear? That’s just so thoughtless.” I took Brandon’s hand, affectionately leading him toward the walk-in closet. Under their shocked gaze, I pulled out a brand new green pajama set from the cabinet and handed it to him. “This one is new, never worn. It suits your skin tone. Go put it on, it looks great.” 【What the hell! Top-tier infuriating behavior! This is killing him with kindness!】 【Brandon’s face has gone green; he thought he was provoking, but big brother just treated him like he was scavenging old clothes! And made him wear green clothes, I’m dying of laughter hahahahaha!】 I ignored their petrified expressions, turned back to my room, changed into a custom-tailored suit, and grabbed some documents, preparing to leave. Passing through the living room, I casually retrieved a crocodile-skin box from the safe in the entryway. “Where are you going?! What are you taking?!” Evelyn finally reacted, grabbing my wrist. I immediately slapped her hand away and opened the box. Inside lay a dazzling sapphire watch. “Oh, this.” I held it up, my tone intimate yet with a hint of chiding. “Remember that ‘collectible Patek Philippe watch’ you bought for eight million the year we got married? It’s… the set you wanted to give Brandon, but never did.” Evelyn’s pupils constricted sharply. I looked apologetically at Brandon. “Sorry, Brandon, it’s not that Nicholas is stingy and won’t give it to you. It’s just that Mr. Williams from the Quantum Group, who wants to partner with Gardner Enterprises, also likes sapphire dial watches. I’m meeting Mr. Williams for dinner today and plan to give this to him to discuss the project.” “Are you insane?!” Evelyn asked in disbelief, her voice trembling. “Have you forgotten how much you cherished this watch?! You wouldn’t even let me touch it back then!” “I’ve had a change of heart.” I looked at her earnestly, my eyes clear. “It’s just a watch. It’ll just collect dust sitting there. It needs to serve a greater purpose, doesn’t it?” I smiled, closed the box, and patted her shoulder. “You two rest well at home. I’m leaving.” With that, I walked out in my leather shoes, not looking back. The moment I got into the car and closed the door, I hugged the crocodile-skin box, my heart aching. After all, this had once been the most precious proof of my wife’s love for me. To give it away like this, to say I wasn’t reluctant was certainly a lie. 【Don’t be sad, big brother! Nothing ventured, nothing gained!】 【If that Quantum project goes through, it could bring at least half a billion in profit to Gardner Enterprises! Won’t it be great to sit back and collect your share as a shareholder?】 【Think bigger picture! You used a piece of jewelry she sullied, and in return gained career and wealth. More importantly, she’ll see you in a completely new light!】 I looked at the messages, took a deep breath, and nodded vigorously. The messages were right. I needed to think bigger. Sacrificing an external item for my career was worth it. When I gave the “sapphire watch” to Mr. Williams, the surprise in his eyes almost spilled over. As expected, the Quantum Group’s collaboration project with Gardner Enterprises was quickly finalized, and I was personally designated as the project liaison by Mr. Williams. In the days that followed, I was constantly busy. I plunged into the corporate world, which I had been away from for three years, absorbing everything like a sponge. Meetings, reports, social engagements… my schedule was packed. 【Go, big brother! Let her see how charming you are when you’re serious about your career!】 【Yes! Ignore her! Women will only slow down your money-making!】 The messages were my strongest support. I could feel Evelyn’s gaze constantly lingering on me, scrutinizing, and with a complex emotion I couldn’t decipher. But I had no time to respond. First, the messages forbade it. Second, I genuinely was very busy. On the night of the celebration banquet, as the project lead, I naturally had to attend with Evelyn. I had a top stylist do my hair, then changed into a custom-tailored white suit. When I stepped out, Evelyn, who was sitting nearby drinking bubble tea, clearly gasped the moment she saw me, her eyes filled with undisguised admiration. I secretly gloated, but my expression remained as cold as ice, merely asking, “Ready to go?” She blinked nervously a few times, then silently approached and linked her arm through mine. Just as we were about to leave, a sickly sweet voice chirped from nearby. “Evelyn, Nicholas, where are you going?” Brandon Thorne appeared from nowhere, holding a glass of dark purple juice. He stumbled, lunging straight for me! The cold liquid splattered all over my white suit, quickly spreading into a large, glaring stain. “Oh! I’m so sorry! So sorry, Nicholas!” Brandon immediately apologized in a panic, his eyes welling up with tears instantly. “I didn’t mean to… I slipped… What can we do? Tonight’s celebration is so important, and you don’t have clothes to wear. You can’t let Evelyn go alone, can you…” He apologized, yet every word was an insinuation. Evelyn was initially shocked, then looked at my ruined suit, a flicker of hesitation on her face. She was silent for a few seconds, then actually spoke. “How about… Nicholas, you go home and change. There’s no time left, I’ll take Brandon to the venue?” 【Don’t agree! Absolutely not!】 【That vile woman! She actually dared to say it! Can’t she still see through this idiot’s tricks?!】 【Big brother, if you listen to her, all your efforts will be wasted! She’ll immediately revert you back to that pathetic doormat she could summon and dismiss at will!】 I looked down at Evelyn’s hesitant yet somewhat entitled face, and without hesitation, swung my hand, delivering a sharp slap.

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Right before the market crashed, I cashed out and moved to Thailand, my fortune already made. The financial news anchor, the one who prided himself on his market analysis, called me in a frenzy, demanding to know why I had bailed. My father called, screaming that I was an ungrateful bastard. But I was calm. “Everything is fate,” I told them. “We are but puppets on its strings.” In my past life, I was a top-tier financial analyst. I predicted a hot stock was about to plummet and immediately warned my friends. But they stormed my house, furious, telling me their investments were trapped, that some were even on the verge of suicide. I was stunned, completely lost as to what went wrong. A friend showed me a video. A beautiful financial news anchor had predicted the same crash an hour before I did. He showed me her other videos; her past predictions mirrored mine, beat for beat. My friends believed I had deceived them, ruined their lives. They ganged up on me, tore me to pieces, and fed me to the dogs. When I opened my eyes again, I was back, one week before the crash. 1 “Mr. Hayes is a true prodigy! Look at all the money he’s made us!” “Yeah, we owe him big time! We’re counting on you to make us even richer, Nathan!” … I blinked, and I was back in the bustling stock exchange. People were swarming me, showering me with compliments, all hoping I’d lead them to another windfall. But these were the same people who had been the death of me in my past life. They called me a once-in-a-century financial genius. Since college, I had studied investing, predicted market trends, and never made a bad call. Any company I invested in was instantly deemed a golden opportunity, and everyone would rush to buy in. I had always enjoyed helping my classmates make money; their joy was my joy. That’s why I became a financial analyst after graduation, to help even more people. My reputation grew, and soon, my presence alone could cause a stampede. But this time around, I finally understood the true nature of human greed. I always warned them, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Know your limits.” I told them I wasn’t infallible. But they never listened. They would liquidate their savings, some even taking out high-interest loans to leverage their bets. In my past life, when I foresaw the crash, I told them to sell everything. An hour later, they were at my door, their faces contorted with rage. “A little late, don’t you think?” one of them snarled. “Anyone who could get out, got out. Your ‘tip’ came too late. We’re all trapped.” “Do you have any idea how much we’ve lost? Jim couldn’t pay back his loans. He jumped off a building this morning!” My college classmate, Mark, held up his phone, his voice dripping with venom. “He tricked us all! He’s no genius! Look at this anchor’s video. She called it an hour before he did. Nathan Hayes has been using his reputation to scam us, playing us for fools!” I was completely bewildered. I spent most of my time analyzing the market; I barely had time to watch online videos. The others pulled out their phones, scrolling through the female anchor’s past predictions. “It’s true! Everything Nathan predicted, she predicted it first, and always earlier!” “We’ve been had! He’s not a prodigy, he’s a fraud!” “He’s the one who ruined us! Let’s kill him!” Their eyes were bloodshot. They didn’t even give me a chance to explain before they tore me apart. Now, hearing their flattery, a chill ran down my spine. My hands and feet turned to ice. 2 “Nathan, what’s wrong? Are you overworked?” Mark noticed my distress and gently pushed the crowd back to give me some space. Remembering what he did to me, my body went rigid. I pushed his hand away. “I am a bit tired. I was thinking of taking a trip to clear my head.” The moment I said it, Mrs. Gable from next door piped up, “Oh, Nathan, can’t you just stick it out a little longer? My son’s starting school soon, and we really need the money!” I was speechless. “Isn’t education free for the first nine years in this country?” She sniffed. “Well, he’ll need to buy a house and get married someday, won’t he?” I felt like I was going to be sick. “He’s not even in school yet. What’s the rush?” She was silenced, but the others chimed in with their own needs—a new house to renovate, tuition for studying abroad, a wife who wanted to upgrade. What did any of that have to do with me? “Uncles, aunts, friends, classmates,” I said, my voice strained. “I’m really not well. I need to rest. We can talk about this after I’ve recovered.” But they wouldn’t let me go, clinging to me, begging me to stay and help them. Just then, my father arrived. Seeing him again brought tears to my eyes. “Dad!” He held up a hand to quiet the crowd. “Listen to me, everyone! He’s my son, and I know he’s been working too hard. Let him rest!” Mrs. Gable was the first to object. “If he rests, who’s going to make money for us?” My father sighed. “But it’s not like he gets a cut of your earnings! I’m his father, and even I don’t have a right to demand anything of him. What right do you have?” “Dad!” I choked out, my heart aching. My mother died when I was young, and it had always been just the two of us. We weren’t rich, but my investments had made us a comfortable sum, enough to live well. But then my father pulled out a medical report, his hand trembling. “Nathan, it’s good you’re back. The doctor says if I don’t get a kidney transplant, I don’t have much time left. Just stay with me for a little while, okay?” I stared at the report, stunned. My father had kidney cancer. I gripped his hand. “Dad! We’ll get you the treatment! We have the money. We can get you a transplant!” “But… but…” His expression was pained, and he stammered, “Some guys invited me to play cards. They said the stakes were small, just a dollar for the first loss, then two, then four, doubling each time. I didn’t think it was much, so I played a few hands… and I lost everything.” My heart sank. He had been conned. It seemed that even if I wanted to walk away, fate had other plans. 3 I admitted my father to the hospital and threw myself back into market research. According to my memory of my past life, a bull market was just around the corner. If I played my cards right, I could make enough for my father’s transplant. Just as I was deep in thought, Mark called. “Nathan, I know you’re still in the game. We’ve been friends for years. Let me in on it. My wife just lost her job, and my son was just born. We’re struggling…” Some people can only share in wealth, not in hardship. The memory of him slandering me was still fresh. But when we were kids, his mother had treated me like her own son. I sighed. “Mark, the market is risky. What if you lose money? With your wife out of work and a new baby… I’m afraid you can’t afford the risk. So just invest a small amount.” “Okay! Okay!” “Precious metals,” I said. “The future is in precious metals. I’m bullish on Zenith.” “Got it! My son will never forget his generous godfather!” He hung up, ecstatic. After the call, I downloaded TikTok. I was curious about the financial anchor from my past life. I had just found her page when she posted a new video. “A little secret for you all… the future is in precious metals, especially Zenith!” I was stunned. That wasn’t what she had predicted in my past life. I quickly checked Zenith’s stock. It was skyrocketing. I frantically tried to buy, but the app was lagging. I couldn’t get the order through. Within minutes, the stock hit its daily limit and trading was halted. My phone rang. It was Mark again. “Nathan, I couldn’t get in on Zenith. Can you give me another tip?” I didn’t believe in coincidences. And in my past life, he was the one who accused me of being a copycat. “Sorry, I need a few days to think.” The moment I refused, his tone changed. “Nathan, I can’t believe you! You’ve already picked another one, haven’t you? Why won’t you tell me? How could you change like this? You’re the only one who’s allowed to get rich?” “But…” Before I could explain, he hung up. In my past life, I couldn’t understand his sudden turn. Now I realized he had changed a long time ago. I just hadn’t noticed. My father, even in the hospital, was thinking of me. He called to ask how my predictions were going. His old friends wanted to invest too, and they would give me a commission. He wanted to ease my burden. Those men had been kind to me when I was a child. I owed them. I remembered several other stocks that had done well in my past life. “A bull market is coming, Dad. We’re definitely going to make money. I think rare earth minerals are a good bet. Tell them to buy rare earth.” “Is there a specific company?” I checked the day’s market. “Solara.” My father praised my intelligence, saying how glad he was to have a son. “But Dad,” I said, changing the subject, “the money from this should be enough for your transplant. After the surgery, we’re out. The market is too risky. If we lose, we can’t afford it.” My father was silent for a moment. “Okay. I know the risks. After the surgery, we’ll move back to the countryside.” “Okay.” I finally understood. Those friends were fake. The only person in the world who truly loved me was my father. I was filled with hope. Once this stock paid out, I would have the money to save him. But something still felt off. I checked the female anchor’s page again. “Time for a new prediction! A bull market is on the horizon, and I think rare earth is the way to go. And just between us, I’m very optimistic about Solara!” A cold sweat broke out on my skin. How could her predictions be the same as mine again? 4 Before I could process it, my father called again. His voice was weak but urgent. “Nathan, I told all your uncles to buy Solara, but we’re all old and slow. None of us could get the order in. Did you manage to buy any?” I sighed. “I couldn’t get in either.” “Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll keep an eye on the market. There will be other opportunities.” “Okay. But what about your uncles? They’re old, they just wanted to make a little extra for their final years. I already promised them…” I thought for a moment. “It’s okay, Dad. I’ll make another prediction for them. But this stays between us.” “Of course! I’m not an idiot. I wouldn’t tell anyone else about a money-making opportunity!” After the call, I was still confused. In my past life, the anchor had never predicted either of these stocks. I scrolled through her old videos, searching for clues. I found a comment saying her name was Miranda Thorne. She used to be a nurse, but she had found a rich old man who could move the market with a single word. I wracked my brain, but I was sure I didn’t know her. My mind was a mess. I scrolled through my social media feed and saw a post from Mark. It was a screenshot of a stock hitting its limit, with the caption: [Asking for your prediction was a courtesy. You’re not the only one who can see the future!] The people I had helped in the past were all liking and commenting. [That little prick Nathan Hayes is so full of himself. We were just being nice asking for his opinion!] [Yeah, he’s nothing compared to our Miranda. She’s beautiful, and her predictions are always spot on!] [What does Nathan Hayes know about predictions? He’s probably just copying Miranda!] … So my death in my past life had been premeditated. But why? What did they gain from it? And why were Miranda’s predictions the same as mine? If Mark had betrayed me, what about my father? I was his only son. Why would he betray me? I pushed the thoughts aside. There were plenty of other stocks that had soared in my past life. This time, I wouldn’t tell anyone. I would buy first. Let’s see if Miranda can predict that. I rewatched her videos. Just like in my past life, she only focused on domestic stocks. But I remembered a few international stocks that had done very well. This time, I would buy all of them. Let’s see her predict that! And even if she did, it didn’t matter. After this boom, I would have enough money for my father’s treatment. Then I was done with the market for good. After buying the stocks, I camped out on Miranda’s page. I was a nervous wreck, my palms sweating as I refreshed the page like a madman. Not even five minutes later, a new video appeared. She was predicting international stocks. She had bought almost every single stock I had, except for one, a junk stock. I sneered. Smart. Even her copying was selective. I had invested the least in that junk stock. The person spying on me must have realized I was testing them. My father’s call came soon after. His tone was sharp, his voice booming with a newfound strength. “Nathan Hayes, what is wrong with you? I ask you for a few predictions, and you say nothing? I have to follow some stranger’s advice? How am I supposed to hold my head up?” “Dad, what are you talking about? I don’t understand,” I played dumb. But he was done pretending. “Don’t call me your father. I don’t have a son like you!” He hung up. The dial tone buzzed in my ear. A wave of desolation washed over me. So my father was just using me too. But it didn’t matter. I was going to be rich. What was family compared to money?

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At my mother’s memorial service, our butler suddenly received undeniable proof of my fiancé’s infidelity. “Miss Scarlett, Mr. Noth’s mistress has given birth to a child!” Arthur Noth offered no explanation. His voice was flat. “Just focus on the service.” The next day, he didn’t attend the memorial. He only called. “I’ve been at the maternity clinic, taking care of her. I won’t be able to make it to the service.” When I didn’t reply, he sighed. “Don’t worry, she and I were just an accident. She doesn’t want to ruin the alliance between the Noth and Weixler families. She just wants to keep the child as a memento.” “But I am the father, and I can’t just abandon my child. After we’re married, I’ll stay at her place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to care for the baby, and come home on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.” My grip tightened, my eyes brimming with tears, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. “Arthur Noth, we’re through. The engagement is off.” He scoffed. “Your mother just passed. Don’t be dramatic.” I hung up without hesitation, then walked straight to his arch-rival. “Marry me, and we’ll bring down the Noth empire. Are you in?” 1. At the memorial service, Lucas Thorne’s eyes widened in surprise. His usually stern face flushed, and he stammered, “Our family tradition dictates a man only marries once. If you marry me, you’ll be mine for life.” Thinking it was a lost cause, I turned to leave, disappointed. He grabbed my hand firmly, his usually wild gaze now solemn. “Scarlett Weixler, be sure about this. There’s no turning back.” I offered a slight smile, nodding with conviction. “Good. No turning back.” Lucas had been my mother’s choice for my future husband, his character, family, and temperament all beyond reproach. If I hadn’t fallen for Arthur, I would have married him. The memorial arrangements were complex, and Lucas helped me with the condolences, dedicating more than half a month to the task. Arthur, during this time, didn’t call once. For those two weeks, every time I opened social media, I’d see intimate photos of him and Holly Lane. They’d be smiling brightly, holding the baby, forming a heart with their hands. The caption: “Our dearest, most cherished family.” I scoffed, a familiar pang of bitterness in my heart. The next second, his call came through. His voice sounded lazy. “The service is over, right? Want to come see the baby at the clinic?” I looked at the dark circles under my eyes in the rearview mirror and spoke flatly. “Arthur Noth, we’re already broken up.” Silence for a few seconds. Arthur mumbled an “Mm-hmm” to himself. “Good. Holly’s been a little depressed after giving birth. Seeing you might upset her.” The tears that had been building for weeks finally fell. My eyes reddened, and I laughed self-deprecatingly. “Arthur Noth, I said we’re broken up. Are you deaf?” He paused, then sneered. “Scarlett Weixler, you’ve been with me for five years, practically worn out. Who else would want you after me?” “I told you this child was just an accident. Why are you clinging to it?” I said nothing. A crashing sound came from his end. Arthur scoffed. “Fine, then. Break up. I’ll wait for you to come crawling back.” The call was abruptly cut off. I returned home to find the lock code changed. Arthur’s phone was unreachable, so I found a random hotel for the night. Waking up, my social media feed pushed a live stream from the maternity clinic. Holly Lane was interacting enthusiastically with viewers, Arthur seated beside her, watching her with doting affection. That gentle gaze, I’d once believed, belonged only to me. The stream had been going for nearly five hours when a fan’s comment scrolled across the screen: “So envious of the streamer, living in a clinic that costs $50,000 a month, with her husband by her side.” “So lucky.” “Sign me up for a husband like that.” Before inheriting the Noth Corporation, Arthur was a decorated military officer. He absolutely detested being in front of cameras. I’d begged him to take a photo with me, and he’d always refused with a cold face. Yet now, for Holly, he was making an exception, live-streaming to a national audience. Holly smiled as she replied to a fan: “He’s just so thoughtful~” Thoughtful? A searing pain twisted in my chest. I smiled, wiping away a tear from the corner of my eye. Arthur had never been a patient or thoughtful lover to me. I remembered one time, I asked him to accompany me to a movie. After much coaxing, he finally agreed. But in the end, he slept through an hour and a half of the two-hour film. When he woke, he rubbed his temples, irritably telling me, “Spending time with you is a waste of my time.” He could be caring, could spend an entire day with Holly. He just couldn’t be caring towards me. 2. Arthur must have recognized my social media ID, because he called me. “You have half an hour. Come to the clinic and collect your mother’s belongings.” By the time I arrived, they had ended the live stream. Holly beamed at me. “Scarlett, you came to see me!” I ignored her, walked up to Arthur, and held out my hand. “Give it to me.” His upward-curved lips flattened, and his face darkened. “Holly spoke to you. Are you mute?” I forced a smile, looking at Holly. “Congratulations, Miss Lane. You successfully seduced my fiancé and bore his child. What’s next, using the baby to secure your position?” Smash! Arthur slammed a teacup to the floor. “If you can’t speak properly, then shut up!” Holly suddenly clutched her stomach, crying out in pain, tears splashing to the ground. Arthur tensed instantly. “Holly, what’s wrong? Where does it hurt?” She bit her lip, her eyes red as she wept at me. “Scarlett, I didn’t want to ruin your relationship with Arthur, but the doctor said this might be my only chance to be a mother. Don’t worry, once I’ve recovered from childbirth, I’ll leave and stay far away, I promise I won’t cling to Arthur.” Then, she looked at the baby in the cradle. “Mommy is sorry, darling, that you were born without a daddy, but Mommy didn’t mean it, I hope you can forgive Mommy…” She sobbed, seemingly overwhelmed with pain and grief. Arthur’s gaze towards me was venomous, his entire demeanor chilling. “Are you happy now that you’ve made her cry?” I scoffed. “Such pathetic acting, and only you find it entertaining.” My attitude enraged Arthur. He ripped my mother’s heirloom pocket watch from his neck, lifted it high, and prepared to smash it. My pupils constricted. “No! Don’t!” He didn’t stop, throwing the watch forcefully across the room. The face shattered on the floor, splintering into pieces. I tripped over a sharp table corner, hitting my leg. A searing pain shot through me, making me gasp. Arthur sneered. “That’s what you get for being disrespectful.” “Get out, stop trying to play the victim here.” Holly cast me a feigned look of concern. “Scarlett, you should get up. Arthur saw you pretend to fall…” I gritted my teeth, glaring coldly at her. Arthur, seeing me dare to glare at Holly, yanked me up from the floor. “Holly has been experiencing engorgement and has many dirty clothes. Go wash them thoroughly before you leave. Remember, by hand.” I wrenched my arm free. “Why should I?” “Because you bullied Holly just now!” Arthur’s face was terrifyingly dark. “You owe her an apology!” I endured the piercing pain in my foot, straightening my back. “You wish!” Arthur’s eyes turned to ice. He shoved me into the bathroom. “Bang!” The door was locked from the outside. “Don’t even think about coming out until they’re spotless!” “Arthur Noth, this is kidnapping!” I rattled the doorknob, screaming, “Let me out!” The door slammed against my hands, making a deafening racket. Outside, there was only silence. My hands were burning, and my foot throbbed with excruciating pain. The room reeked of sour milk and vomit. I sank to the floor, exhausted. Through the door, I heard Holly’s insincere voice. “Arthur, if you treat Scarlett like this, won’t she be angry when she comes out?” Arthur scoffed softly. “What if she’s angry? I’ll just sweet-talk her. Besides, this is her fault. If she doesn’t learn to control her diva temper, who will tolerate her when she marries into the Noth family?” “The Noth family has a military background spanning generations. If it weren’t for the lack of heirs to the Noth Corporation, my mother wouldn’t have me marry a socialite heiress who’s good for nothing but spending money.” Holly feigned worry. “Arthur, if you talk about Scarlett like that, won’t she break up with you?” Silence fell over the room. After a long moment, Arthur’s cool voice, tinged with arrogance, came through. “She won’t.” “As a socialite with no inheritance rights, the Noth family is her best option. Besides, she loves me to death. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’d die for me if I asked her to.” I clutched my chest, unable to believe I was hearing such words from Arthur Noth. 3. Our Weixler family had been merchants for generations, often targeted by unscrupulous individuals from the underworld. Six years ago, my mother and I were traveling abroad when she was taken hostage by thugs. They held a gun to her temple. I screamed until my throat was raw, certain I was about to lose my mother. At the critical moment, a whooshing sound cut through the air. The thug dropped dead instantly. Arthur Noth stood there, a gun in his hand, in military uniform, broad-shouldered, lean-waisted, and decisively saved my mother and me. I saw his true face in the military jeep – exquisite features, a prominent, well-formed nose. It was love at first sight. For that, I pursued him relentlessly for an entire year until he finally agreed to date me. For five years, I was completely devoted to him. My sincere devotion had earned me such heartless scorn. It was truly laughable. The bathroom door was pushed open. Arthur saw me crouched on the floor, pale-faced, and pulled me up impatiently. “I just asked you to wash some clothes. Why are you squatting here, trying to look pathetic?” A wave of nausea rose in my throat. I forced it down, suppressing the urge to vomit as I searched for my mother’s belongings. The pocket watch was utterly shattered, scattered into fragments. I picked up each piece. Arthur’s voice came from behind me: “Once Holly recovers from childbirth, we’ll get married. After the wedding, Holly will live with us.” Holly cast me a grateful look. “Scarlett, thank you for accepting me and the baby. I’ll be so grateful…” I didn’t have time for her drivel. I turned to Arthur. “No need. We won’t be living together. I’m taking my things. Give me the house code, and I’ll have a moving company collect my belongings.” Arthur rattled off a series of numbers, his gaze dismissive. “Such a production, only to move back in eventually.” Holly tugged at his sleeve, speaking timidly. “Arthur, the bedroom…” Arthur’s eyes flickered. He led Holly into my car. “I’ll come back with you, just to make sure you don’t take the wrong things.” Back home, I understood why Arthur was so insistent on returning with me. Scattered across the sofa were intimate adult toys. On the dining table, adult candles. The bedroom exuded a tempting, sensual aura, with handcuffs attached to both the headboard and footboard. In the past few days, I had been busy with my mother’s memorial and hadn’t spent much time at home. Arthur and Holly, however, had clearly indulged themselves fully. I walked into the walk-in closet to find jewelry strewn across the floor. Several designer handbags were also missing from the shelves. Holly, following behind me, smiled faintly, a smug expression on her face. “Scarlett, is anything missing?” She was eager to see me lose my temper. Unfortunately for her, I simply smiled. “A mistress is just a mistress. Always resorting to petty theft.” “You!” Holly’s face flushed with anger, a flash of malice in her eyes. She gasped, clutching her stomach, and sank to the floor. “Scarlett, I haven’t even recovered from childbirth yet, how…how could you hit me…?” Arthur stormed in and helped Holly up. He was furious, swinging his hand and delivering a stinging slap across my face. “Scarlett Weixler, you’ve been a spoiled princess for too long, acting so arrogant!” Arthur hadn’t held back. My face swelled immediately. My temples throbbed with anger, and I nearly lost control. “I didn’t hit her!” He didn’t believe me, yanking me out of the closet and throwing me to the floor. “Get out, go back to your Weixler family. Don’t come back until you’ve learned your lesson!” My mounting rage slowly turned to resentment. I got up, furious, and slapped Holly hard. “Smack!” Arthur, incandescent with fury, raised his hand to strike me. I gritted my teeth, meeting his gaze directly. “That’s the one I hit.” I turned and walked away, once again, foolishly, my eyes welling with tears. Stepping outside, rain poured down, drenching me. I curled up on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. After a long while, I noticed the rain had stopped on me. I looked up to see Lucas Thorne, who had arrived at some point, holding an umbrella, shielding me. He extended his hand to me, his voice laced with unconcealed tenderness. “Scarlett, I’m taking you home.”

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My childhood sweetheart of a husband loved to go fishing with his female coworker. For the first three years of our marriage, we fought about it constantly. By the fourth year, I was tired of fighting. I picked up my own rod and tackle box and started leaving early and coming home late, just like him. At first, Ryan didn’t care. Not until he came home late one night and found I still wasn’t back. He panicked. He begged me, promising he’d never go fishing again, that he’d stay home and be a good husband. But I wasn’t interested anymore. After all, the man I had on my line was Crestwood’s newest resident. The billionaire widower, Arthur Kingsley. 1 I’m a lazy person. Too lazy to find a new boyfriend, so I married my childhood sweetheart, Ryan. It was fine at first. Our families knew each other inside and out, and we’d grown up together. He was handsome in a clean-cut way, had never had a serious girlfriend, and I knew him down to the last freckle. Life after the wedding was pretty good. Until his parents, tired of him lounging around, arranged a job for him. In his department, there was this loud, outgoing girl who was always asking him to hang out. It started with dinners and karaoke, but somehow, they got hooked on night fishing, staying out all night long. Here I was, in the prime of my life, left to warm the bed alone night after night. How could I stand it? When I fought with Ryan about it, he called me dramatic. His coworker, Sarah, would always add fuel to the fire. “Oh, Ryan, you should just go home. It looks like the little wifey will die without a man around.” A few of their single male colleagues would snicker along. I ignored them and tried to pull Ryan home, but he shoved my hand away so hard I nearly fell. “Have you had enough?” he snapped. “Can’t I have one single hobby? I work my ass off for you all day, I help with the chores. I do everything you ask. The one thing I want is a little time to myself, and you have to chase me down and start a fight?” A wave of indignation washed over me. “A little time? You haven’t really been home in a week.” His face was cold. “What are you talking about? I come home to sleep every single night.” “At three in the morning! And then you’re up and gone for work, and you spend the entire weekend with them. We barely even talk anymore.” “That’s because you don’t have any friends. That’s not my problem,” he said, his face a mask of annoyance. “Iris, let me tell you something. We’re married, but that doesn’t mean I have to listen to every single thing you say.” Growing up, Ryan had always been gentle and easygoing. He had no bad habits and had never once lost his temper with me. That’s why I had felt so safe marrying him. But now, just a few years in, he’d learned how to fight with me. Seeing that he was impenetrable, I got angry too. I turned and stormed off. From then on, our life together was a battlefield. He hated my constant questions; I hated that he was never home. We started sleeping in separate rooms and stopped speaking altogether. The large house felt as cold and empty as a morgue. My heart was so heavy that I stopped taking care of myself. In three years, I gained a ton of weight, and my face was perpetually etched with resentment. It all came to a head when my best friend, Jenna, came to town on a business trip. When she saw me, she gasped. “Oh my god, Iris, what happened to you? How did you let yourself get like this?” “Like what?” “See for yourself!” She pulled out a compact mirror. Reflected in it was a washed-out, bitter woman with dull, lifeless eyes. I was so shocked I dropped the mirror on the table with a clatter. “Jesus, what is that thing? Jenna, do you think I’m possessed?” I frantically told her everything about Ryan. She pursed her lips, watching me for a long time, as if she didn’t know what to say. “Well?” I poked her impatiently. “Say something! Don’t just stare at me.” Jenna sighed. “It’s just… it’s like getting married turned your brain to mush.” I stared at her, confused. She broke it down for me. “Look, it’s obvious that Sarah girl is bad news. She knows you two are newlyweds, but she’s still dragging him out every single day. And Ryan? He’s playing dumb. You think he doesn’t know he should be home with his wife at night? Of course he does. He just knows that if he leaves you at home, you won’t do a thing about it.” “How is that possible?” I said, baffled. “I’m beautiful. Isn’t he afraid I’ll find someone else?” Jenna raised an eyebrow. “Have you?” I shook my head immediately. “No. My grandma always said you have to be a good person. Once you’re married, you can’t mess around.” “And there you have it,” she said. “You two grew up together. You know him, and he knows you. He is absolutely certain that your moral code would never let you cheat on him.” It was like a lightbulb went on. “Oh. No wonder he’s so confident just leaving me at home.” Jenna nodded sagely. “Exactly. And he was right, wasn’t he? I bet you can count on one hand the number of times you two have been intimate lately. And even with all that, you haven’t even thought about finding another man. You’re a pushover, Iris.” My fists clenched. “That bastard! How dare he!” She sighed again. “Look, I’m not telling you to go do something crazy. But Iris, at any point in your life, you cannot let a man take you for granted like this. You have to love yourself, too.” 2 After Jenna left, I went home. The large house was cluttered with junk I had bought over the past three years to fill the void. Cheap stuff from online, a few dollars here and there, had managed to fill over a thousand square feet. The place looked like a landfill. To Ryan’s credit, even while ignoring me, he still provided for me. He gave me three thousand dollars from his eight-thousand-dollar monthly salary as spending money. His mother would also give me cash on holidays, telling me to go play Mahjong. That was the only reason I put up with the misery for so long. But after talking to Jenna, I knew this couldn’t continue. I was wasting the best years of my life in this miserable haze. I looked at my reflection in the mirror—puffy, with greasy hair pulled back in a messy t-shirt—and took a long, deep breath. I tied up my hair, grabbed a giant trash bag, and started throwing things away. I worked from noon until night, filling eight enormous bags. The house was suddenly half-empty. The high-calorie junk food in the pantry, the cheap clothes in the closet, the low-quality makeup on my vanity, and even our wedding photo—all of it went into the trash. When I was done, I boiled two sweet potatoes for dinner. I’d only taken a few bites when the front door opened. Ryan walked in, followed by the impeccably dressed Sarah. She saw me, and her expression didn’t change. “Oh, you’re home,” she said with a smile. “Yeah,” I replied. “What are you doing here?” “Ryan was saying how great his new fishing rod is. I came to borrow it for a test run.” Ryan didn’t even look at me as he walked past and into the other room. Sarah sat down next to me, her eyes on my sweet potatoes. “Why are you eating this cheap stuff? Trying to lose weight?” “Yeah. I’ve gotten too fat. Thought I’d try.” She giggled. “Well, you know, body type is all in the genes. Some people are just born to be big. Starving yourself won’t help. You should just give up. You have any instant noodles? I can make you a bowl.” She started to get up, but I stopped her. “Don’t bother. I threw it all out.” “Why?” “I wasn’t eating it. It was just going to waste.” A flicker of something crossed Sarah’s eyes, but she just smiled. “Alright then. If you’re that determined to lose weight, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.” She looked up as Ryan came out of the room and walked over to take the rod from his hand. “Wow, Ryan, this rod really is nice. So thin and light. Come on, I’ve rented a pond on the south side for tonight. Let’s go try it out.” Then she looked back at me with feigned guilt. “Oh, I forgot you were here. Is it okay if I go with Ryan?” Ryan didn’t even consider me anymore. He just smirked. “Why are you asking her? Her opinion doesn’t matter.” Three years hadn’t changed Ryan much, except that he had developed a more mature, masculine charm. That, combined with his well-maintained physique and respectable job, meant that plenty of women besides Sarah were interested in him. He was no longer the innocent boy I had married; the way he looked at Sarah now was tinged with a predatory hunger. I watched them, hating myself for letting a man like this turn me into a ghost of my former self. Ryan glanced at me, his expression dismissive. “I’m leaving. Don’t wait up for dinner.” “Okay.” He started to leave, then turned back. “By the way, I’ll transfer you four thousand this month. We got our quarterly bonus.” “Okay.” 3 With the new balance in my account, I went downstairs and signed up for a gym membership. Thankfully, my in-laws had bought a condo in a great building with all the amenities. After a three-month pass, I still had twenty-nine hundred left. I bought a cartful of whole grains, eggs, and fruit and hauled it all home. Then I looked at my messy, overgrown hair in the mirror and, on an impulse, chopped it all off. For the next three months, I was completely focused on working out. Ryan was gone more often than not, but I barely noticed. After losing over twenty pounds, none of my old clothes fit. I asked Ryan for money to buy a few new things, but he wasn’t as generous as usual. He sent me a string of angry voice messages, yelling at me for wasting money, before finally sending me five hundred dollars. Five hundred dollars. If I had married him so I wouldn’t have to struggle, this paltry sum made our entire arrangement feel like a joke. I accepted the money through gritted teeth, my frustration fueling my run on the treadmill. That’s when a man approached me. He was well-dressed and polite, and he asked me out to dinner. I noticed the Rolex on his wrist, and an idea sparked in my mind. That’s right. I married for security, for an easy life. If I wasn’t getting anything out of this relationship, what was the point? It was time to find a replacement. So that night, I went with the man, Mark, to a private fishing farm. It was remote, but the people coming and going all looked wealthy. I didn’t like Mark. He was sleazy, and his eyes kept darting to my chest. Within minutes, the conversation turned to sex. The guy was moving way too fast. He was bad news. My patience wore out, and I got up to leave. Mark grabbed my arm. “Where do you think you’re going? Once you’re in my car, leaving isn’t so easy.” I almost laughed. “This is a civilized society. What are you going to do, stab me?” He wouldn’t let go. “I don’t have to stab you. I have plenty of ways to make you scream.” What a creep. I tried to kick him, but he dodged. I went for his hair, and we caused a commotion. The owner of the farm came over and pulled us apart, dragging Mark to the side. “Hey, man, take it easy tonight. I’ve got a special guest.” Mark scoffed, straightening his shirt. “What kind of guest gets to tell me how to pick up women?” “The chairman of Apex Group. He just arrived. You know his reputation. He doesn’t like noise.” Mark’s face paled. “Apex? You mean Arthur Kingsley?” “The one and only.” “I heard his wife died a few years ago. He moved his whole company to a new city to avoid the bad memories. What’s a widower like him doing out here in the middle of nowhere?” “He’s just trying to relax, get back to nature. Not everyone is like you.” Their voices dropped to a whisper. I got tired of waiting and tried to slip away. Two minutes later, I was completely lost. After several wrong turns, I ended up behind a rock garden. A man in casual clothes was standing there, looking out at the horizon. He heard me and turned his head. Our eyes met, and we both froze. 4 I don’t know why he froze. I froze because… I had never seen a man that handsome in my entire life. To be fair, Ryan was good-looking. But compared to this man, he was nothing. It was his presence, his aura. Just standing there in profile, he made my heart race. I subconsciously licked my lips. “Um…” Arthur Kingsley looked at me. “Yes?” “I… I’m lost. Can you help me?” My brain had turned to mush. It had been too long since I’d seen a man that attractive. His cool gaze swept over me, then he pointed to the right. “That way.” “Oh. Th-thank you.” I was a good distance away before I realized I shouldn’t have just left. This place was in the middle of nowhere. I’d walk my legs off before I got back to the city. But I couldn’t find my way back to him, and if I ran into Mark again, it would be even worse. Just as I was stuck, a car horn beeped behind me. A Bentley pulled up, and the window rolled down. It was him. Arthur didn’t know why he was playing the good Samaritan, but seeing the woman clutching her jacket in the fading light, he opened the passenger door. “Get in. I’ll give you a ride.” I slid into the seat. “Thank you, sir,” I said meekly. Arthur’s eyes darkened for a moment, but he said nothing. He drove in silence. I looked at my phone. It was ten o’clock. Not a single message from Ryan. On social media, Sarah had posted another picture of their group. Ryan was leaning in close to her. Anyone who didn’t know better would think they were a couple. I sighed, wondering if there was any point in continuing this marriage. Without thinking, I turned to the composed man beside me and asked him. Arthur raised an eyebrow. “You’re asking a complete stranger for marital advice?” “Sometimes a stranger sees things more clearly.” He gave a noncommittal smile. After a long moment, he said, “If you’re asking me, I’d say the problem is that you haven’t figured out what you want from life.” I froze. The man was ruthless.

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1 In the fifth year of my relationship with Alice Zinberg, we had another argument. She grabbed her keys and stormed out, once again choosing the silent treatment. I sat quietly on the sofa, fuming for a while, then scrolled through short videos, chuckling heartily. Around 2 AM, I was woken by my phone. Alice’s voice on the other end was icy enough to freeze water: “I’ve been out here all this time, and you haven’t called me once?” It was then I awkwardly remembered she was still out there, wandering in the freezing cold. I apologized, “Uh, why don’t you… just not come back? Let’s just call it quits.” A brief silence fell on the other end of the line after I said that. Then, with a “smash,” the call was disconnected. I was so tired I couldn’t keep my eyes open, so I rolled over and fell comfortably asleep in my warm bed. When I woke up the next day, I heard rustling in the living room. Going out, I saw Alice packing her suitcase. She seemed not to notice me, just silently stuffing her belongings into the suitcase. I stood there, frowning, watching her for a while, worried she might accidentally take some of my things. She finally finished packing, zipped up her suitcase, and then calmly said, “You need to cool down. Let’s not contact each other for a while.” Her words sounded familiar. It seemed like this happened once last year too. We had a huge fight, and she grabbed her keys, intending to leave. I went over and desperately grabbed her. “Why are you doing this again? Why do you always leave me alone? Can’t you just say what you mean to my face? Why are you always avoiding things!” She actually didn’t leave. Instead, she went back into the bedroom. When my emotions had somewhat calmed, I saw her emerge with her suitcase. Her voice was distant and calm, completely unlike my hysteria. “You cool down for a few days, and we’ll talk later.” For the next half a month, she truly didn’t contact me again. All the messages I sent, all the calls I made, vanished like stones in the sea, receiving no response. I was distraught then, crying every day and unable to sleep. In the end, I actually swallowed my pride and sent messages begging for forgiveness. Once it happened, it happened again. Alice discovered that the silent treatment worked exceptionally well on me; I didn’t need comforting and would sort myself out. So, she began giving me the cold shoulder repeatedly. I went from desperately craving a response to gradually learning to self-soothe, step by step. Only I knew how I endured that process. Now, just like last year, she stood before me with her suitcase, her expression blank, seemingly devoid of emotion. She even offered generous advice: “Don’t overthink things. Eat well, work well. You’re not without other things to do besides clinging to me.” I rubbed my sleepy eyes and casually replied, “Okay. Be careful on your way.” Alice’s previously indifferent expression stiffened slightly. Clearly, she hadn’t expected me to even utter a single word of retention. I took two steps towards the bathroom, then remembered something and turned back to remind her, “Did you pack your summer clothes too? Take them with you today if you can, save yourself another trip.” Her face darkened. She didn’t speak, just slammed the door shut and left. My heart suddenly relaxed. It felt good; it was finally over. 2 Today was Saturday. In the past, I would always pester Alice to spend the weekend with me. Later, Alice found her trick against me: whenever we argued, she’d grab her suitcase and leave. And once she left, it would be at least half a month. I was forced to get used to spending one holiday after another alone. From writing hysterical little essays at first to gradually becoming numb and detached, and finally returning to the joyful holiday state I had when I was single and spent time with friends, it only took a year. I cooked myself a steaming bowl of century egg and lean pork congee. After eating, I curled up on the sofa, petting my cat and watching a horror movie. Outside, the weather was gloomy, with a drizzling winter rain. I had the heating on, enjoying my comfortable solitude. As one movie ended, I made myself a hot drink and casually browsed my social media. To my surprise, the first post was one Alice had just made. 【Accompanying Mr. Davis on a business trip】 The accompanying photo was a selfie of her and Leo Davis, arms linked, at the airport. Leo was her university classmate and business partner. They were very close. Every time Alice and I had the silent treatment, it was always them two going on a long business trip together. The first time I found out, I was mentally drained for a long time. I wasn’t sure if they were simply colleagues or if there was something more. Until the second silent treatment, the third silent treatment, Alice, without exception, took Leo on a business trip out of town, leaving me alone at home. I started furiously messaging and calling Alice, demanding to know what she meant, why she always went on business trips when we argued, and always took Leo with her. She usually took an assistant on business trips, so why didn’t she take one with Leo? Three days later, Alice calmly replied with a few words: 【Think what you like.】 Then she disappeared again, not answering a single word. I knew then that there was no need to continue this relationship. I wiped my tears, my hands trembling as I typed a few words: 【Then let’s break up.】 Then I turned off my phone, forbidding myself from going crazy and making a fool of myself, trying to bury myself in work to distract myself. A few minutes later, my phone vibrated. I couldn’t wait three minutes and picked it up to look. It was a message from a work group. Various app notifications. A text from the bank wishing me a happy birthday. It wasn’t until 9 PM that a message with Alice’s name finally popped up. Two short, cold words. 【Whatever.】 I completely broke down, crying uncontrollably on the bed. As I cried, I sent messages accusing her of not loving me at all, meticulously listing all the disappointments and neglect I felt from her, trying to awaken a tiny bit of guilt in her, trying to make her realize she wasn’t fit for this relationship. But everything was, as always, a stone sinking into the sea. It was as if no one was on the other side. Or rather, she didn’t even bother to read a single word. I scrolled through her social media, seeing photos of her having dinner with Leo and clients, a harmonious scene, everyone smiling happily. A bucket of cold water was poured over my head. I clearly saw myself as a struggling, yet utterly pathetic clown. My reason clearly told me that she was not a good partner. I finally stopped sending messages. But life became a blur. I tried hard to act like everyone else, but everything became mechanical and numb. Only when I dragged my exhausted body home, looking at the empty house, could I not help but squat down and cry. I knew she was likely a terrible person. But I missed her terribly. I knew I was incompetent and fragile, but performing as a normal person had already drained all my energy. I indulged in my painful thoughts of her in the darkness. I didn’t know when it would end. Until thirty-six days later, she finally contacted me again. 【Calmed down yet?】 【Still breaking up?】 I stared numbly at the message. The message came too late, no longer stirring my anticipation or excitement. I slowly typed out two words: 【Up to you.】 She sent a voice message. “I brought you a birthday present. I’m coming back now.” Her voice was light, with a hint of laughter. There seemed to be another man’s laughter beside her. That laughter was distinctive—it was Leo’s voice. Even through the phone screen, I could imagine them, fresh off the plane, dusty but vibrant and full of spirit. Unlike me. I was like a dirty, trapped beast in a cage. All my pain and struggles had not affected Alice in the slightest. Everything I felt in this relationship felt like my own sensitivity, my own overthinking, a self-made drama. And Alice, generous and stable, had tolerated me. 3 My thoughts returned to that social media post. There were already several comments below it. A: 【A perfect match, Mr. Zinberg.】 B: 【Nonsense, our Leo is clearly both talented and handsome!】 Alice: 【Good eye.】 C: 【A month-long business trip? Leaving your boyfriend alone at home again? How do you smooth things over? #doghead#】 Alice: 【We’re adults. Do you expect me to be with him all day long?】 C: 【True, men shouldn’t be spoiled.】 Amidst all the trivial comments, a striking one suddenly appeared. Quinn Riley: 【Boyfriends don’t need company, but male partners on a business trip definitely do~】 That “~” conveyed a strong sense of sarcasm. This was the boyfriend of Eleanor Vance, another female partner at Alice’s firm. I’d heard they were supposed to get married this year, but it was already year-end, and there was still no news. Eleanor, his girlfriend, had been on just as many solo business trips with Leo as Alice had. I’d heard that the last time his mother was hospitalized with an illness, he was swamped at the hospital alone, while Leo posted a selfie with Eleanor, cheek-to-cheek, in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. They claimed it was a business trip, but anyone who didn’t know might think it was a honeymoon. Quinn had a huge fight with Eleanor over this. Although they reconciled, their relationship was no longer the same, and marriage hadn’t been brought up again since. When his comment appeared, the previously lively social media feed seemed to hit a pause button; there were no new comments for a while. Just as I was about to scroll away, I saw a new comment pop up. Leo: 【Buddy, don’t be overly dramatic. Is business more important, or your petty little love affairs?】 Leo: 【If you want to marry a rich person and get rich without effort, just be a pretty face, don’t mess things up for yourself.】 Quinn quickly replied: 【Compared to certain people who can’t travel for business without a female partner accompanying them every time, I’m much more independent at work. Who are you calling a pretty face?】 After a ten-minute pause, Leo replied with just two words. 【Nonsensical.】 Ever since Quinn found out Eleanor was always on solo business trips with Leo, he hadn’t gotten along with him. They’d always exchange words, even I had grown accustomed to it. I closed my social media and was about to make dinner when my landlord called: “Hey Adam, your lease is up next month. You’re renewing, right?” I looked around the apartment. A spacious, bright open-plan apartment with the most bustling night view of S City outside the window. Alice had always wanted me to move into her apartment, but I was always worried about the risk of being kicked out if I lived in someone else’s place, so I insisted on living alone. She was very clingy back then; the next day, she showed up at my door with her suitcase, looking pitiful. I had just started working then and didn’t have much money, living in a cramped thirty-square-meter apartment far from the city center. I knew Alice was used to a good life, and I always felt it would be unfair to her to make her live in such a small place with me. So, as soon as I became a full-time employee and got a raise, I gritted my teeth and moved here. It cost almost half my salary every month. “No, I won’t,” I told the landlord. “I’m planning to move to the east side of the city.” That would be closer to my workplace. I also wouldn’t have to leave home at 6 AM every morning to catch the subway. The landlord was a bit surprised: “What’s wrong? You used to say this place was convenient because it was close to your girlfriend’s company.” “Yeah,” I responded softly, kicking my slippers, and chuckled, “We broke up.” The landlord was very sympathetic, comforted me for a while, and then kindly introduced me to a moving company before hanging up. 4 The company was preparing for a live streaming event at the mall recently. I was busy coordinating with my new junior colleagues. The two new colleagues were recent female university graduates, full of energy and enthusiasm, which even invigorated us old hands in the workplace. After coordination that day, the two insisted on dragging me to eat barbecue, saying we needed to relax after so many tiring days. At a roadside food stall, I snapped a photo of the barbecue table, overflowing with food under the dim yellow lights. The two university girls tilted their heads into the shot, smiling cleanly and brightly. The photo frozen, I happily posted it on social media: 【Coordination complete! We can finally enjoy a good weekend tomorrow!】 By the time I got home, it was past midnight. A long-awaited message from Alice popped up on my phone. She had taken a photo of her eating with a client, almost as if she were reporting to me: 【I’ll be back in another week.】 【I brought you a gift.】 I pretended not to see it, disinfected and charged my phone, and placed it by my bedside. In the past, when I was first given the silent treatment, I would panic and furiously message her, just begging for a tiny response. Later, I forced myself, after each of her departures, to try and get used to single life. I gradually stopped messaging her. She, in turn, softened her silent treatment strategy, becoming less completely unresponsive. From sending me one message a month, to calling me every half-month, then weekly, then every three days. What a blessing. This kind of blessing, whoever wants it can have it. After showering and getting into bed, I saw Alice had sent a few more messages. 【What did you do today?】 【Work was tiring?】 【Fell asleep?】 I set her messages to “Do Not Disturb.” Not deleting, not blocking, not responding. I had learned very well from her.

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To save me from a fire, my boyfriend, Tristan, suffered severe burns and went blind. Guilt consumed me. I sold my parents’ house, worked multiple jobs, and saved every penny for his treatments, even enduring broken bones without medical care. Five years later, while delivering food, I saw him, unscarred, sight restored, proposing to another woman, Lila. I overheard his friend say that to buy his expensive medication, I’d been starving myself. Tristan coldly explained that my suffering was revenge: because I reported Lila’s drunk‑driving brother (who killed my parents), he wanted me to despair. He planned to later “recover” and return to me, claiming I’d have no choice but to obey. Holding my terminal cancer diagnosis, I smiled through tears. In a month, I’d be with my parents again. 01 The heavy delivery box dug into my shoulders. It was a familiar pain, one I had endured countless times. But now, it felt as if five years of numbness had been stripped away, and every sensation came rushing back, sharp and agonizing. Every pore in my skin felt like it was being pricked by a needle. The laughter from the private room seeped through the door. “I was at the night market last month and saw Aubrey selling socks from a little stall. A few local thugs were shaking her down for protection money.” “Those creeps were putting their hands all over her, and she just had to bow and scrape. It was pathetic…” Tristan’s friend sighed dramatically. “She used to be the star of the music department. You wouldn’t recognize that proud, aloof girl now.” I gripped the strap of my delivery box, my knuckles turning white. Tristan’s voice was suddenly tense. “Did you help her?” “Are you kidding? Last time I bought a bowl of noodles from her stall, you chewed me out for a month, said I was going to ruin your grand plan. This time, I just watched from a distance… You should have seen it. After those guys left, she knelt on the ground to pick up the scattered socks, and she just started crying. But after she cried, she went right back to selling. Like one of those resilient little weeds that just won’t die.” I remembered that day. The humiliation. The hospital had sent another bill, but I’d just spent everything I had on Tristan’s imported “miracle drug.” I was still three hundred dollars short. For that three hundred dollars, I had swallowed my pride and endured the thugs’ taunts, just hoping I could earn enough so Tristan wouldn’t be kicked out of his premium private room. “Good,” Tristan’s voice relaxed, laced with satisfaction. “If we don’t grind that pride out of her, how will Lila ever let go of her anger? And how will Aubrey ever learn to be humble?” Lila’s soft voice chimed in. “Tristan, honey, maybe… that’s enough? It’s been five years. I’m sure she’s learned her lesson.” “How can it be enough?” Tristan’s tone hardened. “Lila, I know you’re the kindest, most soft-hearted person, but she’s the one who insisted on calling the police, the one who sent your brother to prison. You cried for a whole month. I promised you, for every day your brother suffers in there, she’ll suffer out here. He’s not out yet, so her suffering isn’t over.” “But what if she finds out?” Lila whispered. “So what if she does? She has nothing left. Where can she go except back to me? Besides, Aubrey is too headstrong. If I don’t teach her to bow her head, she’ll just keep getting hurt. One day, she’ll understand I did this for her own good…” My fists clenched, and the chilblains on the back of my hand split open, welling with blood. Tristan, is this your professional code of ethics as a lawyer? He had probably long forgotten that my deceased parents were the benefactors who had funded his education for ten years. I turned, about to ask a waiter to deliver the food for me, when my phone buzzed. [You have 3 orders nearing their delivery deadline. Please complete them as soon as possible.] I fumbled to lower the volume, but the door to the private room swung open. “Is that my delivery?” Lila poked her head out. She froze for a second when she saw me. I kept my head down and held out the bag. “Your order. Please check it.” Lila let out a small, delicate laugh. She reached for the bag, but the moment her fingers touched it, she gasped. “Oh my! Why can’t you hold it steady…” The bag dropped from her grasp. The exquisite pastries inside shattered, splattering cream all over the floor. “Lila, are you okay?” Tristan’s concerned voice grew closer. I quickly pulled a mask over my face and tugged my helmet down low. Tristan wrapped his arm around Lila, pulling her into his embrace. The warm, yellow light of the hallway illuminated his expensive cashmere sweater. His skin was smooth and clear, without a single scar. His bright eyes swept over me, and then away. I stood there, head bowed, not knowing what to do. I turned to leave. But he grabbed my arm. 02 “You damage a customer’s order and think you can just run off? Apologize!” A wave of relief washed over me, immediately followed by a bitter pang. For a moment, I thought he had recognized me. The customer is always right. I bowed again and again, murmuring apologies. I bent down to pick up the ruined desserts. Tristan clicked his tongue. “Lila’s been abroad for five years. This is the one dessert she’s been craving. Now look at it. How is she supposed to eat this?” Lila tugged at his sleeve, her voice soft and sweet. “It’s okay, Tristan… I’m sure she didn’t mean to. It’s just a shame… And my new shoes you just bought me, they’re limited edition, and they got cream on them…” I looked down. A small smudge of cream stained her high-heeled shoe. “According to consumer protection laws, a delivery person who damages a customer’s property is liable for three times the value,” Tristan said coldly. I straightened up, looking at him through the visor of my helmet. For five years, I had visited him in the hospital every single day. I cleaned him, fed him, read him the news. He was “blind,” so he would always trace my face with his hands, from my brow to my jaw, and say with a pained voice, “Aubrey, you’ve gotten so thin.” Now he stood before me, his eyes perfectly fine, and he didn’t recognize me at all. “How much? I’ll pay.” “The shoes were thirty-two hundred… can you even afford that?” Lila whispered. Thirty-two hundred dollars. That was months of my blood and sweat. “And that doesn’t cover Lila’s emotional distress,” another man added, stepping out of the room. “Look, you obviously don’t have the money, and we’re not unreasonable. Just get on your knees, wipe the cream off Lila’s shoe, and we’ll call it even.” His eyes were filled with cruel amusement, as if I weren’t a person, but a dog to be toyed with. I looked at Tristan. He was gently comforting Lila, saying nothing to his friend’s suggestion. My phone buzzed with another deadline warning. If I stayed here any longer, I would lose my entire commission for the day. I closed my eyes, clenched my fists, and knelt. A low chuckle rippled through the room. Head bowed, I used my sleeve to wipe the cream from Lila’s shoe. Suddenly, she flinched back, pressing herself into Tristan’s arms. “Tristan…” she whimpered, her voice thick with tears. “It makes me think of my brother… I wonder how he’s doing in there, if his hands are getting ugly chilblains like this delivery person’s…” Tristan kicked me. It was so sudden I fell backward, and the leg I had broken slammed against the doorframe. A blinding pain shot up from the bone, but I bit my lip, refusing to cry out. “Get out,” Tristan said with disgust. “Don’t stand here upsetting Lila.” From the safety of his arms, Lila looked at me. Her eyes were gleaming with triumph. I pushed myself up from the floor, grabbed my delivery box, and stumbled out of the club. Behind me, his voice was as gentle as if he were a different person. “Don’t cry, Lila. I’m already working on the appeal. We’ll get your brother out of there soon…” The cold hallway wind seeped into my collar. I was frozen to the bone. I finished the rest of my deliveries in a numb daze and returned to the basement room I rented. The smell of mildew hit me as I opened the door. The ten-square-meter space contained a single bed and a wardrobe propped up on bricks. A thick layer of frost covered the windowpane, and the moonlight that filtered through was pale and ghostly. For all these years, I believed I was the one responsible for Tristan’s injuries. To ensure he got the best treatment, the most comfortable private room, I had scrimped and saved, living a life worse than a beggar in a slum. I held up my hands, swollen and red like raw carrots, and pulled a photograph from under my pillow. In the picture, I had just won the gold medal at a piano competition. My parents stood beside me, their faces beaming with pride. Tears dripped onto the photo. Mom, Dad, your daughter was a fool. It took me so long to see the truth. When we’re reunited, you’ll scold me for being so stupid, won’t you? A sharp pain twisted in my stomach. I reached for my painkillers out of habit, but my phone rang. “Aubrey, are you done with work? Why didn’t you come see me today? I missed you.” Tristan’s gentle voice was once my only salvation. Now, it felt like a thorny vine, wrapping around me, suffocating me. I limped into his hospital room. Tristan was once again the helpless patient, his eyes unfocused, his skin a mess of prosthetic scars. He was leaning against the headboard, his head turned toward the door. “Aubrey? Is that you?” Then his expression changed, his voice filled with alarm. “What happened to your leg? Who hurt you?” I stood in the doorway and just looked at him. For a long, long time. Then I walked in and sat by his bed, just like always. “Tristan, you can’t see. How did you know I hurt my leg?” 03 The alarm on his face froze for a fraction of a second. Then, he naturally reached out, his hand fumbling in the air. “I heard your footsteps. They were uneven… one heavy, one light. Aubrey, you always walk so quietly, like a little cat.” He turned his head, his expression full of pain. “Did you injure your leg?” I lowered my eyes. “It’s nothing. I just took a bad fall.” “How could you be so careless?” He grabbed my hand, his thumb stroking the chilblains on my skin, his voice thick with self-reproach. “Aubrey, this is all my fault… If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have to work so hard. I’m just a burden to you…” I had heard those words for five years. Every time, I would fall into his arms and cry, telling him, “You lost your sight for me. It’s my duty to take care of you for the rest of my life.” Now, I just felt like a clown. I pulled my hand from his and handed him the glass of water from the nightstand. “While I was out delivering today, I heard a story.” “It was about a man who pretended to be paralyzed for five years, just to test if his girlfriend truly loved him. The girl sold everything she had to pay for his treatment. When she finally found out the truth, she jumped from the hospital roof.” Tristan’s hand paused. The water glass hovered in mid-air. After a long moment, he placed it back on the nightstand. “Why… why are you suddenly talking about that?” “I just wanted to ask you.” I leaned closer to his scarred face. “You’re not pretending, are you?” His entire body went rigid. The eyes that had played the part of a blind man for so long trembled for a split second. His lips moved, but no words came out. Before he could speak, I laughed. “If you were, that would be wonderful. I would rather you be healthy.” Seeing the complex emotion flash across his face, the pain in my stomach flared again. A metallic taste rose in my throat. I rushed to the bathroom. The moment the door closed, I braced myself against the sink and vomited a mouthful of blood. The red mixed with stomach acid, burning my throat. I turned on the faucet, washed away the evidence, and splashed cold water on my face. The person in the mirror was skeletal, with sharp cheekbones and sunken eyes. A breathing corpse. I could hear him on the phone, his voice low. “Are you sure? He’s being released on the 28th of next month?” “Good, that’s great! Lila will finally get to see her brother… Okay, I understand. I’ll be there to pick him up myself.” He hung up. I pushed the door open and walked out. He looked up, his face glowing with excitement. “Aubrey, the doctor just called!” “He said there’s a new technology from overseas. They can do the skin grafts and the eye surgery at the same time. The surgery is scheduled for the 28th of next month!” He was trembling with excitement, reaching a hand out towards me. “Aubrey, I’m going to get better! I’ll be able to see you soon!” I took his hand, watching the realistic ecstasy on his face. “That’s wonderful… that’s just wonderful…” he repeated, over and over. I looked down at him, my eyes stinging. One month. Lila’s brother gets out of prison, and he gets “cured.” Five years. He really was a man who kept his promises. My punishment would not be one day longer, or one day shorter. It was just a shame I wouldn’t be there to see it. Tristan’s hand fumbled by the bed and picked up a piece of paper. My body went completely still. It was my Do Not Resuscitate form. 04 But Tristan didn’t even glance down. He maintained his blind persona, his gaze fixed on a point in the distance. “What’s this?” he asked softly. I looked at his charade of a face and gave a bitter, internal smile. “It’s your latest bill.” He pulled me into his arms. “Aubrey, when I get better, the first thing I’m going to do is buy back the piano you sold.” He stroked my hair, his voice a gentle murmur. “And we’ll have a wedding. You’ll look so beautiful in a wedding dress.” I managed a stiff smile in his embrace. Tristan, the future you’re promising… is one I can never reach. There is no future for us. I left the hospital and went back to my basement room. I pulled out a dusty cardboard box. Inside were the notebooks Tristan had made for me when he was my father’s student and tutored me. There were photos we had taken together, one for every day of our early relationship. And the nine hundred and ninety-nine handwritten letters he had sent me. I sat with the box in my lap for a long time. Finally, I struck a match. The flame licked at the edges of a photograph. His smiling face curled in the heat, then turned to ash. I opened my banking app and looked at my remaining balance. It was just enough to buy a small plot for myself, next to my parents. Just as I was about to close the app, my phone rang. “Ms. Aubrey? This is the Phoenix Crest Cemetery management office. Would you be able to come by? There’s an urgent matter.” My heart clenched. I grabbed my jacket and ran out the door. When I got to the cemetery, I could see a group of people gathered around my parents’ grave. Several workers with shovels were pointing at the headstone. “What are you doing?!” I screamed, sprinting towards them and throwing myself in front of the grave. “This is my parents’ grave! What do you think you’re doing?!” Lila stepped out from the crowd. “Aubrey, perfect timing,” she said with a gentle smile. “My little Sheldon passed away, and a mystic told me this plot has the best energy to ensure he has a good reincarnation. So, I bought it.” She paused, her smile widening. “Oh, by the way, Sheldon was my pet turtle.” “You’re lying!” I trembled with rage. “I never sold my parents’ grave!” Lila calmly pulled a document from her purse and unfolded it in front of me. “Look closely. A transfer agreement. In black and white.” My eyes fell on the signature at the bottom, and I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. Tristan. I knew his signature like the back of my own hand. For five years, I had signed countless bills, medical disclosures, and surgical consent forms for him. He claimed he couldn’t see, so I signed on his behalf. But for the documents that required his personal signature, I would guide his hand, tracing each letter. This signature… he wrote it himself. I remembered. The year my parents died, I was only twenty, and I knew nothing. It was Tristan who handled everything—the funeral, the cemetery plot, all the paperwork. I was so grateful then, I thought he was the best person in the world. It turned out, he had been “arranging” everything for me from the very beginning. I lunged for the paper. Lila stepped back, and several men immediately grabbed me, pinning me to the ground. They shoved my face into the dirt, the cold, earthy smell filling my nose and mouth. Lila took out her phone, dialed a number, and put it on speaker. “Tristan, honey…” “I want to bury Sheldon’s ashes at Phoenix Crest, but she’s blocking the way. What should I do?” Tristan’s voice came through, clear and crisp. “Lila, you’re just too kind. That’s why people take advantage of you. You need to be firm when it counts, or every stray cat and dog will think they can stand in your way.” Lila cooed a sweet reply. She turned on the video camera and pointed it at me. “How about this. You apologize, say you were wrong, and I’ll have them stop. What do you say?” My face was buried in the dirt, my eyes burning. “I… was wrong.” “Louder, I can’t hear you.” “I WAS WRONG!” I screamed with every ounce of strength I had left. Lila smiled with satisfaction and waved the phone. “See, Tristan? She apologized. Did I do a good job?” “Perfectly,” Tristan’s voice was laced with amusement. Lila put her phone away and sauntered off with her entourage. I lay on the ground, staring at the grave, which was now a chaotic mess of overturned earth. Tears mixed with the dirt on my face. After a long time, I climbed to my feet. With my bare hands, I began to push the soil back into place, handful by handful. From this day forward, this grave would not only hold my parents. It would also hold my heart, which had been tossed aside like trash. The day of Tristan’s “surgery” arrived. “Aubrey, when I come back from this surgery, I’ll be able to see you. Once I’ve recovered, I promise I’ll make up for these five years.” He got into the car that was taking him to the “airport,” and it drove away. He wasn’t just taking my lying lover with him. He was taking the last flicker of life from my body. The pain in my stomach was getting worse, a twisting, churning agony. I leaned against the wall and slid to the floor. I took out my phone and recorded a video of myself. “Tristan, in the next life… don’t let me ever meet you again.” I hit send. The phone slipped from my grasp. My vision blurred. In my last moments of consciousness, I thought I saw someone standing in a bright light, reaching out a hand to me. Mom, Dad, are you here to take me home?

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1 After graduating from college, my billionaire parents, claiming it was for my own good, signed me up for an overseas youth volunteer program. With a noble air, they arranged for the staff to send me to the most arduous location. Later, a new virus broke out in Niger, where I was stationed, causing countless deaths and injuries. Flights back home became impossible to find. I called my parents, begging them to help me return, but received only cold mockery: “Adam! You need to remember, you are an international volunteer now. This is your moment to shine and contribute!” “Don’t expect us to pull strings for you. You can only come back when the volunteer group returns!” “We’re very busy. Don’t keep calling us unless it’s important.” Helpless, I had no choice but to call my childhood friend. But even this last shred of hope was shattered by her utterly indifferent voice. “What? Do you have to be superior to everyone else? Everyone else can stay, but you can’t? Isn’t that what you told Aiden before?” “A malicious person like you deserves to stay in such a disgusting place and rot!” With that, she hung up the phone and pressured the agency, completely cutting off my hope of returning home. Everyone in the volunteer group eventually found ways to return home, leaving me with no one to turn to for help. In just two days, I contracted the supervirus. On the brink of death, I was rescued by a medical aid team dispatched by the government. I sat numbly in the temporary ward, awaiting treatment, when I saw a post from my foster brother, Aiden, on his social media. 【Grateful to my loving parents! They heard I was bored, dropped their work, and took connecting flights to accompany me on a trip abroad~】 I didn’t make a scene as usual. Even though I knew Aiden had done this on purpose, I just posted a sarcastic smiling emoji in the comments section. In the temporary ward in Niger, I was alone in a small room, waiting to receive treatment. A nurse, wearing a full isolation suit, walked in and hooked up my IV. The silence in the ward was broken by the continuous ringing of my phone. Recognizing the caller on the screen, I pressed the answer button with trembling hands. “Adam, do you have any humanity left?!” “Do you know how many times Aiden has been sad because of your comment! He’s your brother, how can you be so malicious!” I looked at my legs, growing weaker each day from the virus, and spoke with a bitter laugh. “What’s wrong with a comment? I just didn’t want to offer blessings. Is that such a heinous crime?” “Sometimes I really wonder, maybe you guys made a mistake back then. Maybe Aiden is your biological son, and I’m the one who was adopted!” A moment of silence fell on the other end of the line, then a familiar female voice finally spoke. “Adam, you’ve misunderstood your father and mother.” “Our family always goes on a trip during the summer break, and you’re volunteering now, so…” “When you come back, your father and mother can go with you again, okay?” My face felt as if it had been slapped hard. My lips trembled for a long time before I spoke with a self-mocking laugh. “Is that so?” “Do I deserve it?” My father’s angry roar suddenly echoed. “What’s the point of talking to such a rebellious son!” “I’m his father! Do I need his permission for what I do? Tell him I’m giving him one last chance. If he doesn’t apologize properly to Aiden, then he can reflect in Niger for the rest of his life!” After a string of harsh words, the call was abruptly cut off. The self-mocking smile on my lips hadn’t even had time to fade before I was engulfed by sadness. Yes, these were my parents. Didn’t they know the situation in Niger? International news reported it daily; even children knew how terrifying the supervirus was. But they simply didn’t care. Because the son they cared about most was always by their side, protected perfectly. In their minds, Aiden was obedient and sensible, while I was barbaric and unreasonable. So, as soon as I graduated from college, they went to great lengths to sign me up for the overseas youth volunteer program, and then self-righteously told the person in charge that I had voluntarily chosen to go to the most difficult place. Niger’s environment had been reported on the news many times; it wasn’t just poverty, but also many unknown viruses, and going there and never returning wasn’t impossible. They knew everything, yet they still insisted. If I showed even a hint of resistance, I became the “ungrateful,” “overbearing and pampered” prodigal son in their eyes. Under my parents’ daily high-intensity cold pressure, I reluctantly had no choice but to go. When I first arrived in Niger, the harsh environment and rough food, every single thing was unbearable. But all of that could be overcome. It wasn’t until the supervirus outbreak, when statistics showed the infection mortality rate was as high as seventy percent, that I truly felt a sense of fear. Recalling the despair of having no one to turn to for help, an unknown surge of anger welled up in my chest. Impossible. I wouldn’t apologize. I would never bow down, not in this lifetime. 2 The day the medical team returned home. I was dressed in the highest level of protective gear, dragging my luggage, looking disheveled as I exited the station. I brushed past Aiden, who was wearing custom-made clothes. “Mom, Dad, you’re both so wonderful! I said I wanted to go out and have fun, and you both dropped all the company’s business to accompany me.” A familiar, gentle male voice, etched in my memory, responded with a laugh. “You silly boy, you’re our precious son. It’s just a small wish, your dad and I will definitely do our best to fulfill it.” “Haha, silly child, no matter how busy Dad is with work, are you not more important?” “As long as you’re safe and healthy, your dad and I will be completely satisfied!” The voices weren’t loud, but they struck me like thunder, making me stop dead in my tracks, standing foolishly in place. My entire body felt cold to the point of numbness, as if even my blood had congealed from the sudden drop in temperature. Only then did I truly understand. When my parents said they had no time to help me, they were actually reserving that time for Aiden. In their eyes, my life was less important than Aiden’s travel plans when he was bored. For so many years, I had compromised countless times, without bottom, just to get my parents’ attention, yet I still couldn’t compare to Aiden. In the year Aiden was adopted, the company flourished, rising to become a top-tier enterprise in H City, and my mother also received good news about a pregnancy. But compared to the company’s booming success, the child seemed less important. From then on, Aiden was declared the Miller family’s lucky star by my father, believing that good fortune would follow if he was treated well. From a young age, I was indoctrinated with the idea that I must always yield to my brother. Until one time, during a primary school final exam, I came home with an award for being first in my grade, only to be met with a slap from my father. Because Aiden had run home crying, saying I looked down on him. No matter how I explained, in their eyes, I was just making excuses, bullying Aiden because I was the Miller family’s biological son. From then on, Aiden tasted the sweetness of manipulation, and I lost my parents. My relationship with my parents became increasingly strained and distant, all because of Aiden’s provocations. My memories stopped abruptly there. Dr. Lee, beside me, patted my shoulder. “Adam, what’s wrong? Is there something bothering you?” I forced a smile and shook my head, pretending nothing had happened. Reality was already starkly clear. Until I boarded the plane leaving home, I had still held onto hope, believing that family bonds were unparalleled. But this near-death scare made me realize that, in my parents’ eyes, I truly was expendable. 3 Due to the after-effects of the supervirus, even after returning home, I couldn’t go directly home. The medical team arranged for me to receive follow-up rehabilitation treatment at the hospital. Dr. Lee, seeing my continuous silence, thought I was homesick. He put one arm around my shoulder, gently reassuring me. “It’s alright, Adam. We’ve actually achieved a significant victory against this virus. See, you’re doing well now, aren’t you?” “And your leg needs better treatment to recover.” “If you’re homesick, I can help you talk to your family. We can do a video call so you can see them.” Hearing the caution in his voice, my eyes welled up slightly, but I couldn’t bring myself to refuse. After sending the address to Dr. Lee, I was assigned to a Level 1 isolation ward. A live video call was open on my phone. In the camera, Dr. Lee stood smiling at the entrance of my family’s villa. After confirming the house number, just as he was about to knock, he heard the sound of a car engine from outside the garden. My parents and Aiden got out of a black luxury car. The three of them were smiling sweetly, looking like a loving family. My father paused when he saw Dr. Lee. “You are?” Dr. Lee’s gentle voice came through the phone: “Hello, are you Adam’s parents? I’m Dr. Lee, from the medical aid team to Africa.” “It’s like this, a supervirus outbreak occurred in Niger, which you should all be aware of.” “Adam, while volunteering in Niger, unfortunately contracted…” Dr. Lee’s words were cut short by my father’s furious roar. “Enough! What kind of stunt is Adam pulling now?!” “Does it mean that what I say no longer matters?” “I don’t care if you’re a cat, a dog, or an actor Adam hired. Please tell that rebellious son that our Miller family has no room for deserters!” “My stance is still the same. He’s only allowed to return home when the entire national volunteer team has withdrawn!” The voice on the other end was slightly distorted, but the anger in the reprimand was clearly discernible. I looked at my father’s flushed face in the video and couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. Really, he thought too highly of me. Hiring an actor? He actually thought of that. If I truly had that capability, I would have cut ties with them long ago. Dr. Lee seemed stunned by the sudden outburst of anger, stammering for a while before speaking again. “No, no, I… I’m not an actor, I’m really a doctor from the city hospital, and a member of this medical aid team to Africa…” “Enough! I don’t want to hear any more of your lies!” “No matter what tricks Adam is playing, I will not budge on letting him come back!” “What supervirus, how ridiculous! Tell him, even if he dies, he better die honestly in Africa and not come back to defile our eyes!” With that, he didn’t wait for Dr. Lee’s response, tightly pulling Aiden by the hand, then strode purposefully into the house. With a loud bang, Dr. Lee instinctively covered the microphone of his phone. But with such a loud sound, how could I not hear it? Even though I had told myself a thousand times not to have any more expectations for the Miller family, not to rely on anyone anymore, at this moment, the world before my eyes still involuntarily twisted. My fingers trembled slightly as I put down the phone. I knew it all too well. They clearly knew that all I ever wanted was just a tiny bit of concern that parents could give. But even that little bit, they were so stingy with. After experiencing life and death, I should have given up on this fake family affection long ago. 4 After the examination and treatment reports came out, several specialists immediately gathered around me for a consultation. Although no one told me the detailed situation, from their fragmented conversations, I still gathered some information from the nurses’ chats. “Oh, what’s wrong with the young man in bed 37? He’s all alone, looks quite pitiful.” “I heard he was a volunteer in Niger, got infected there. Luckily, he ran into our hospital’s treatment team.” “But… although the virus problem is solved, the complications…” “Tsk, tsk, the follow-up treatment costs a lot too!” I looked at my bank card balance on my phone, feeling colder and colder the more I looked. Since high school, I had lived in the school dormitory, and my monthly allowance was always five hundred dollars, as suggested by Aiden. He claimed it was for my own good, fearing I would go astray if I had too much money, yet he himself squandered twenty thousand dollars a month on living expenses. But five hundred dollars was a luxury for a teenager, barely enough to fill my stomach. Even if I only dared to order the “poor student’s meal” in the cafeteria, I could only save enough money for cheap toilet paper each month. After entering college, while others were enjoying their long-awaited freedom, I was already rushing between three part-time jobs a day. After graduating from college, before I even had a chance to work, I was sent abroad by my parents with nothing. The little more than a thousand dollars left in my bank account was what I had saved from part-time jobs and work-study programs during school. This meager amount of money, how could it possibly cover the exorbitant medical fees? From the doctors’ words, I learned that not only did I need treatment for complications, but the subsequent rehabilitation costs were also significant. With no other options, besides my parents, I couldn’t think of any way to raise enough medical funds in a short amount of time. That afternoon, despite the doctors’ strong objections, I resolutely completed the discharge procedures. 5 Upon arriving home, my finger pressed against the door lock, but there was no response. I had to knock loudly. Soon, the front door opened, and Aiden looked at my disheveled appearance with some surprise. “Adam, why are you back?” I gave him a cold glance, offering no response, and dragged my suitcase past him into the house. But just as the front door closed, a remote control flew straight at my face. Unable to dodge, I felt a sharp pain on my forehead, and blood streamed down my cheek. “Why are you back?! Didn’t I already say you’re not allowed to return without permission! What methods did you use, where did you get the plane ticket?!” My father’s voice was filled with barely contained rage. “And you had the nerve to send someone to lie to me, saying there was a virus outbreak in Niger! Full of lies, utterly depraved!” “How can you be so useless! Why can everyone else persevere, overcome difficulties, but not you! Are you more precious than others?” “Look at your brother! How are you in any way comparable to Aiden! When will you finally stop causing me trouble?!” I looked up, wiping the blood from my face with my sleeve, my expression blank, but inside I found it laughable. Even now, he thought I had used underhanded means to return home without permission. The path from the front door to the living room wasn’t long, but it was certainly long enough for them to notice my already limping leg. Yet, from beginning to end, everyone in the family offered me only rebuke and disdain. If it weren’t for needing money for treatment, I think I probably wouldn’t have stepped foot in this house again. I struggled to drag my suitcase, wanting to go upstairs to my room to rest. Aiden, however, followed me, his face full of concern, trying to grab my luggage. “Adam, are you okay? Are you feeling unwell somewhere? Let me help you take your luggage to your room, okay?” Although his words sounded caring, his hand was tightly twisting my pinky finger, pulling it upward with all his might. The biting pain made me instinctively swing my hand to shake him off. Aiden, following the force, landed on his bottom, his face full of disbelief, an expression of hurt spreading across his features. “Adam! Are you… are you misunderstanding me? I just wanted to help you.” “Yes, I know you’ve always looked down on me. I’m just an adopted son of the Miller family; you’re the biological son.” “But, but I grew up in the Miller family. I’ve always considered you and Mom and Dad my closest family!” He spoke with increasing agitation, his voice growing louder and louder, until finally, he seemed to collapse to the floor from exhaustion. My father fumed, his already angry expression instantly turning crimson. But from my perspective, Aiden’s face, hidden beneath his arm, was clearly smiling. “Rebellious son! You ungrateful child!” “How dare you compare yourself to Aiden! How are you in any way comparable to Aiden! When you were born, I should have strangled you!” “To spare me from being infuriated to death now!” 6 Ignoring the theatrical farce, I limped back to my room. My body, not yet fully recovered, was weak, and all I wanted was to lie down and sleep soundly. But as soon as I opened the door, my entire body jolted awake as if by an electric shock. In my bedroom, all my personal belongings were piled in a corner like trash. Aiden’s piano, music stand, figurines… occupied every corner of the room. Even the bed was covered with his clothes. “Oh, I’m sorry, Adam. See, I was in a hurry and forgot.” “Mom and Dad bought me a new master-grade piano. To make space for my darling, I had to put the old piano in your room for now.” “Adam, you wouldn’t be so stingy, would you!” Aiden’s voice carried a hint of provocation. Even when he leaned in close to me, the malice in his eyes was clearly visible. Seeing that I didn’t respond, he took another step closer, whispered softly into my ear: “Why did you come back? You don’t actually think there’s still a place for you in this family, do you? Now, in Mom and Dad’s eyes, they only have one good son: me.” “Silly brother, I advise you to be smart and leave on your own, or don’t blame me for getting my hands dirty!” Watching Aiden’s smug expression, I was so furious I gritted my teeth. In that moment, anger surged through my brain. I dropped my luggage, grabbed Aiden, and threw him to the floor, starting to hit him. Aiden was stunned for a moment, then began screaming. “Help, help! Dad, Dad, come save me!” “I’m sorry, it’s all my fault, I won’t do it again, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” “Waaah, please, Adam, let me go, I’ll never occupy your room again, ahh!” A wave of cloying sweetness made me feel nauseous. Just as I was thinking of giving up and giving him a few more slaps, a voice roared: “Enough!” A figure behind me threw themselves onto Aiden, shielding his body. “Adam! How did you become like this?! If you want to hit someone, hit me! Your brother is innocent!” “Waaah, what did Aiden do wrong!” “It was Mom who saw you weren’t home, so she temporarily lent your room to him.” My mother wept profusely, her tears falling like rain. With one hand, she shielded Aiden, and with the other, she didn’t forget to check his injuries. Just then, a large hand viciously seized my raised fist, dragging me from the floor and roughly throwing me against the wall. “You little bastard! Now you dare to defy your elders, even raising your fist at your own mother! You’re nothing but an animal!” As those words landed, the light in my eyes completely died. Was this house truly still my home? The curses uttered by my own father were the most venomous curses in the world. My body trembled with pain, but I didn’t pause, shakily getting back to my feet. My left hand, having collided with the corner of the wall, was already fractured and deformed. But I felt no pain whatsoever. Now, I just wanted to leave this place and never come back.

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To marry me, Alexander knelt for three days and nights, enduring his family’s brutal judgment. But on our fifth anniversary, I received a video of him in bed with someone else. It was clearly filmed in secret. The girl in the video lay on her back, a pillow propped under her hips. The frame shook for a few seconds before steadying. Then I heard that familiar voice. “Legs up. Ten minutes. It helps with conception.” That night, I handed him the divorce papers. Alexander’s eyes were red as he tried to explain. “The family needs an heir, Serena. It’s been five years, and you haven’t gotten pregnant. I was out of options.” “Please, don’t divorce me. I promise you, I’ll break it off with her right now.” Looking at the lattice of scars that still marked his back, my resolve softened. For the next three years, he was a model husband, constantly updating me on his whereabouts to put my mind at ease. Until the day I flew a thousand miles to surprise him on a business trip. And found him with a woman and a child in his arms. 1 “Daddy, can you stay with me a little longer this time?” The boy was about two years old, a cherubic little thing. Alexander knelt, pulling the child into a tight hug. “Of course. Daddy promises.” The woman, Jessica, immediately knelt beside them, gently pulling the boy back. “Sweetie, you can’t be demanding. You’ll make things hard for your daddy.” A shadow of guilt flickered in Alexander’s eyes. The next second, he covered the child’s eyes with one hand and leaned in to kiss her. When they parted, a glistening thread connected their lips for a moment. “Jess,” he murmured, his voice thick, “you’re always so understanding.” “Don’t worry. As long as you stay hidden, as long as you don’t make a scene in front of my wife, I’ll take care of you.” His voice was a low rumble as he nuzzled his nose against hers. My heart seized in my chest. The positive pregnancy report in my hand crumpled as my fist clenched around it. Alexander and I had once been that tender, that passionate. I knew that look in his eyes. He was aroused. I should have thrown the door open right then. I should have screamed at him. “You said you broke it off with her! Why did you lie to me? Don’t you know? I’m pregnant, too!” But I didn’t. I turned in silence and walked away. I went back to our home in Westwood, as if I had never been there at all. One day passed. Then two, then three. Alexander didn’t come home on schedule like he usually did. It wasn’t until a week later that he finally appeared, looking tired from his travels. “Babe, did you miss me?” I just stared at him, searching his face for any crack in the facade. But his dark eyes reflected only me. He looked as if I was still his entire world. Then my gaze fell to his neck. There, on the pale skin, were two stark, crimson marks. I reached out, my fingertip lightly touching one of the marks. “Alexander, what’s this?” I asked softly. He stiffened, his eyes darting away. “Probably a bug bite…” “It’s spring,” I said, cutting him off. “An allergic reaction, then,” his voice grew steadier. “I was at the construction site, and the wind was kicking up all kinds of dust. You know how sensitive my skin is. The slightest thing makes it red.” He took my hand, his tone sincere, his eyes clear. But I didn’t believe him. I looked straight into his eyes. “Is there anything else you have to tell me?” Alexander had always adored children. He was the sole heir to the Prescott Group, the future of the family. Outside the walls of our life, his illegitimate half-brother was circling like a vulture, waiting for him to fail. He needed a child. And yet, he had defied all that pressure to marry me, a woman who struggled to conceive. He had been so devoted, so loyal. So I, in turn, offered myself up as a sacrifice. I had tried countless remedies to get pregnant. Cold needles, one after another, piercing my skin. The medicine was bitter, the injections agony. But while I was dreaming of nothing but a child… He already had one. Now, all I wanted was the truth. “Serena, I love you,” Alexander said, leaning down to kiss me lightly. “I love you so, so much. It’s carved into my bones.” 2 He was lying to me again. My phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number. “Ms. Serena, since you already know, can you please give Alexander back to us? A child can’t grow up without a father. I’m begging you, just let us be a family.” It was followed by a picture of a ring. I instinctively touched my own bare ring finger. Our engagement ring. I must have dropped it by accident, right outside the door of their villa in Brookhaven. But the ring wasn’t the only thing I had lost. My hand, holding the phone, began to tremble uncontrollably. Seeing my expression, Alexander immediately tried to look at my screen. “Babe, what is it? Did someone… text you?” I locked the phone and looked up, meeting the poorly hidden anxiety in his eyes. “No one. It was what you just said. It makes me sick.” I forced a smile, my eyes swimming with tears. “You love me,” I scoffed, “but that didn’t stop you from sleeping with someone else.” Pain flashed across Alexander’s face. He pulled me into a crushing hug. “I’m sorry, Serena. I know I hurt you. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you, being good to you.” He thought I was talking about three years ago. I shoved him away and ran for the bathroom, doubling over the toilet and heaving until my stomach was empty. Alexander’s face went pale. “Serena, you’re thinking about it again.” He clutched his hair, looking utterly broken. “Can’t you just forget it? We decided to start over. Please, stop hurting yourself like this, stop torturing me with it.” He staggered towards me, reaching for my hand. “Let’s just move forward, okay?” I stared down at our joined hands. After I chose to forgive him, I could never stop my mind from wandering whenever we were intimate. His hands had touched that woman. His lips had kissed her. His body had been entangled with hers. The thought alone was nauseating. I was disgusted by his betrayal. But I was even more disgusted with myself for taking him back. Again and again, I would be sick. And he would jam his fingers down his own throat, forcing himself to be sick with me. Each time, he would end up a wreck, his eyes red and his face a mess, kneeling on the floor and clutching my hand. “I’m sorry, it’s all my fault,” he’d plead, over and over. “Serena, forgive me. Please, stop thinking about it…” Just like he was doing now. He looked so pitiful. And so detestable. I ripped my hand from his grasp. “Don’t touch me. You’re filthy.” Ding. Buzz. Both our phones chimed at the same time. “Ms. Serena, you can’t have children, and you’re not getting any younger. How much longer can you hold on to your position as Mrs. Prescott? Why not leave with some dignity? His heart has been with me for a long time. Do you need proof?” In the next instant, Alexander gripped his phone tightly. “Serena, there’s an emergency at the Brookhaven office.” He wouldn’t meet my eyes. He turned, grabbing his jacket. “I have to go right away. You should get some rest.” He didn’t have time to soothe me. Because on the other end of the line, Jessica was pregnant again. And their child was crying his little heart out. “Mommy, don’t get rid of the baby sister! Daddy, come back!” 3 On my phone, a flood of new messages was pouring in. On my birthday, Jessica had a high fever. Alexander stayed with her in the hospital room all night, holding their son. When I went to the chapel on Serenity Peak to pray for a child, he was with her at the old cathedral in Brookhaven, praying for a protection charm for theirs. Last New Year’s Eve, I went to the family estate alone, enduring a lecture from his mother in the library. He was at their villa in Brookhaven, setting off fireworks with her. In every moment of my loneliness, Alexander chose her, betraying me. The opening riff of my ringtone, a heart-wrenching ballad, tore through the silence. It was my doctor. “Serena, your uterus was damaged in the past, and the lining is very thin. For the first trimester, you need absolute rest. No major emotional swings. Bed rest is best. This might be your… your last chance to be a mother.” I laid a hand on my still-flat stomach. It felt like the whole world was closing in on me. My body moved before my mind could think. I ran out the door after him. But all I saw was the taillights of his car disappearing down the street. My hand trembled as I dialed his number. After a few long rings, a robotic female voice answered. “We’re sorry, the number you have dialed is currently busy…” He had rejected my call. At the same time, Jessica sent one last screenshot. It was a message Alexander had just sent her. “Jess, I promise you, I will handle everything. When you have this baby, I’ll give you and our children a real home. Wait for me. I’m on my way.”

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It was eleven o’clock at night. I had just locked my car when a crimson warning flared before my eyes. 【WARNING! Your husband, who is currently in a divorce cooling-off period, is about to kidnap you, broadcast your nude photos across all platforms, and then dismember you, throwing your remains into the sewer!】 【This gold digger, who shamelessly exploited love and money, now wants a divorce and a share of assets. She deserves this retribution!】 I was utterly bewildered. I’m just a single working woman; where would I get a husband? Before I could even react, a pair of cold hands suddenly tightened around my neck. “Run, why don’t you? Aren’t you trying to get a divorce?” In a daze, I was dragged and thrown into a black van. In the darkness, cold handcuffs clamped onto my wrists. … The moment the car door slammed shut, those hands clamped down on my throat. A wave of suffocation instantly sent my heart racing, my whole body trembling uncontrollably. “Sweetheart, I’ve been so good to you. Why do you insist on a divorce?” I used every ounce of strength I had, speaking in broken gasps. “Look, mister… you’ve got the wrong person! I’m not married, and I’m not your wife!” “You bitch, what are you blathering about?” My words completely enraged him, and the grip on my throat tightened even further. 【Is this woman insane? Lying through her teeth! She’s in a divorce cooling-off period with her husband and dares to say she’s not married!! Her husband has rage issues, saying this is a death wish!】 【If she quickly withdraws the divorce petition and softens her stance, she might survive!】 The crimson subtitles scrolled rapidly, making my heart clench. Despite my overwhelming sense of injustice, breathing became increasingly difficult. I dared not argue further and pleaded, “Please, let go of me! We don’t have to divorce, everything can be discussed! Just release me first, let’s talk!” The man paused, his hands loosening slightly on my neck. “Are you serious? You’re not lying to me?” “Absolutely not!” I quickly pressed on, gasping, “I was foolish before, overlooking your kindness. You’ve always been so attentive to me, working hard to support us, accommodating my every whim. I shouldn’t have impulsively filed for divorce…” I racked my brain, uttering insincere words, and thankfully, the man’s hands slowly released my throat. I slumped onto the seat, gulping for air, my back already drenched in cold sweat. He remained silent for a moment, then moved to sit in the empty seat opposite me. But even in the darkness, I could still feel the murderous intent in his eyes. I hadn’t eaten dinner, having worked late, and my emotions were running high. Suddenly, my blood sugar dropped. Feeling dizzy and lightheaded, I couldn’t hold on any longer and pleaded, “I… I have low blood sugar. Could I get something to eat?” As soon as the words left my mouth, the man abruptly stood up. I froze, startled, curling up into the corner of the seat. He leaned in close, his rough fingers abruptly hooking my chin, forcing me to look up at him. The sudden, intimate proximity made my heart pound. What was he going to do? Was he going to strip me and take nude photos? Or simply dismember me? I clenched my fists, trembling uncontrollantly, not daring to breathe loudly. “You better not try any tricks with me.” With that, he finally released my chin. At that moment, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. Watching him get out of the car and walk to the trunk, for a fleeting second, I considered opening the door and escaping. But realizing I had no strength left, I quickly abandoned the idea of saving myself. The man unlocked my handcuffs and handed me a bag of bread. I wolfed it down, thinking he had finally calmed down. But just as I was about to take another bite, he abruptly snatched the bread away. The next second, he grabbed my hair, glaring at me fiercely. “I’ve been so good to you, giving you everything you asked for. Why did you still trick me, betray my feelings, and steal my money?” A sharp pain shot through my scalp. I quickly squeezed out a sob, feigning remorse. “I’m sorry! It was all my fault, I was foolish and made a mistake! I swear I won’t do it again, never!” The man finally calmed down, sitting back in the opposite seat. My taut nerves relaxed slightly, but the cold sweat on my back hadn’t dried. 【This guy yelled about revenge, but when it came down to it, he’s a total softie! His love-struck brain is beyond saving!】 【This woman has some tricks up her sleeve, she’s got the guy wrapped around her finger again! If she doesn’t mention divorce, he’ll probably treat her like a queen. It’s true love!】 The subtitles continued to fan the flames. But I didn’t even know who this man was; I was caught in this messy situation unjustly. “You keep saying you love me, but do you really know me? Look closely, who am I?” The man looked up, a cold, obsessive glint in his eyes. “Sarah Miller, the only daughter of the Miller family. I saw you in an alley when I was ten, and I’ve never forgotten you. Your waist is 24 inches, hips 35 inches, you’re a Cancer, you love sweet and sour food, can’t stand cilantro, are afraid of the dark and spiders, need hot ginger tea during your period, and always curl your feet against the wall when you sleep.” He described these minute details perfectly, and I was utterly bewildered. 【This guy is so devoted! He’s been waiting for this woman for fifteen years!】 【He knows even her smallest habits inside out! Let’s see how this gold digger tries to deny it now!!】 The subtitles scrolled furiously, and my mind was a jumbled mess… “Some things… even I don’t remember clearly.” Had I crossed into the wrong world? Or was there really someone with the same name as me who was involved with him? But why would someone slander my reputation, making me bear the ignominy of being a ‘gold digger’? I couldn’t just die without clearing my name; I had to explain! “I’ve never been married, you’ve definitely got the wrong person! A check of the marriage registry would show I have no marriage records whatsoever! My cloud drive contains everything from the past five or six years—my private photo albums are all of my daily life, not even a single photo with a man. My chat logs are only work-related with colleagues, or daily reminders from family. I’ve never had any romantic interests, let alone been engaged to be married or gone through a divorce!” As soon as the words left my mouth, the subtitles exploded before my eyes. 【Oh my god! Is this girl crazy? A knife at her throat and she’s still arguing!】 【Help! Does she think she can turn the tables with just her words? Doesn’t she see who she’s up against?!】 【I’m speechless, I don’t understand this move! Is she really not lying? But who would believe that?!】 But the man suddenly leaned over, snatching my phone from my pocket. His fingers rapidly scrolled across the screen, a fleeting flicker of doubt in his eyes. He then found my cloud drive and opened my private photo album. A sliver of hope had just risen in my heart, thinking he was finally going to believe me. But the next second, he suddenly let out a low chuckle, then angrily threw my phone away and savagely clamped his hands around my neck. “Do you take me for a fool?” “I… I didn’t…” 【This woman is too bold! Still trying to lie, even when the truth is practically staring her in the face.】 【The guy definitely won’t spare her now, will he? Stupid and wicked, still arguing now, she’s leaving herself no way out!】 【I bet a bag of chips this woman won’t survive tonight! Everyone, watch and see!】 Each subtitle made me crumble. “You really got it wrong! I don’t know who stole my information to impersonate me! I don’t even know you, why won’t you believe me? Why…?” Who could be so vicious as to frame me like this? Even if I die and become a vengeful spirit, I won’t let that person go! 【This girl’s hysteria doesn’t seem faked. Could someone really be impersonating her?】 【Oh my god! Is she being used as a scapegoat? The fake one played him, and the real one is taking the fall!】 【But how can marriage be faked? The guy’s face went green when he saw her phone, he must have seen something, right?】 【This drama is interesting! Am I the one who transmigrated, or is this woman the one who did? Waiting for the truth to come out!】 The man suddenly released his grip on my throat. I slumped back into the seat, gasping for air. “I really don’t know you, and I’ve never been married. You’ve definitely mistaken me for someone else!” Before I could finish, a sharp, cramping pain shot through my lower abdomen. I looked down and saw that my dress was soaked with a large patch of blood. Embarrassment instantly flooded me. I frantically covered it with my hand, wishing I could disappear into the floor. 【Holy crap! Her period just came at the perfect time! This woman is lucky! The guy’s probably going to feel bad for her, right?】 【I bet you! This guy won’t be able to lay a hand on her for a while. Next thing you know, he’ll be rubbing her belly!】 I endured the pain, not holding out any hope. This man had just been so menacing; how could he possibly care about me? But the man glanced at my flushed face and the hand covering my dress. Without a word, he suddenly started the car and drove out of the garage. The subtitles instantly flooded the screen. 【Help! Is this man actually going to buy brown sugar water? This thoughtfulness is so unexpected!】 【He was played by a woman and he’s still so protective of her, this guy isn’t losing out at all by being deceived!】 【The ultimate combination of a love-struck fool and a simp! This guy is beyond saving! The more I watch, the more annoyed I get!】 The car stopped in front of a coffee shop, and the man pushed open the door and got out. Not long after, he returned with a hot ginger tea, which he handed to me. I stood frozen, a mix of emotions swirling inside me. But before I could react, he drove to a convenience store, came back with a pack of sanitary pads, opened the car door, and took my arm. “I’ll help you to the restroom.” “I can manage myself,” I quickly refused, feeling deeply uncomfortable with such intimacy. But he didn’t let go, insisting on supporting me. He even took off his jacket and wrapped it around my waist to cover the stain, his movements clumsy but filled with care. 【Oh my god! This is too much pampering! What kind of spell did this gold digger use to trick this guy like this?】 【It was supposed to be a kidnapping, how did it turn into taking care of her period? This guy is something else!】 After I came out of the restroom, clutching the warm ginger tea in the car, my mind was in a whirl. But I was certain of my own character; even if I had amnesia, I would never toy with someone’s emotions. Yet, I was equally sure I hadn’t lost my memory, and everything before me felt bizarre. Could there truly be another woman in the world who looked exactly like me and was married to this man? But why would she try to smear my name? I closed my eyes, furiously racking my brain. The next second, I abruptly opened them. I knew why! Inside the car, the man and I sat opposite each other, in a long silence. I decided not to tip my hand just yet. The cramping in my lower abdomen grew more intense; I couldn’t bear it any longer and whispered, “Could you recline the seat a bit? I want to lie down for a while.” As soon as the words left my mouth, he reached out and adjusted the button, and the seat slowly tilted back. Before I could thank him, a jacket, still warm from his body, was placed over me. “Is the pain bad? I’ll go buy painkillers.” Countless question marks appeared on the subtitles, presumably expressing utter exasperation at the man’s “simping” behavior. “No need, thank you.” I quickly declined, a mix of emotions churning within me, but still felt compelled to explain. “I truly am single, I’ve never been married, and I don’t know you. Maybe… there’s someone else in this world who looks exactly like me, and she’s the one you’re involved with.” The man lowered his head, his fingers stroking his phone case, but didn’t respond. I dared not say more, and the car fell silent again. A while later, he opened his phone’s photo album. A glance from the corner of my eye, and I was instantly stunned. Every photo showed a woman who looked exactly like me, smiling intimately as she linked arms with him. But I was certain it wasn’t me. “We’d only been married for less than a month when you suggested living separately, always abroad, only communicating by email. You only contacted me when you needed living expenses!” He suddenly spoke, his voice tinged with an indescribable weariness. “I thought you were just throwing a tantrum, but I never imagined…” My heart jolted, and I finally pieced things together. The woman impersonating me had never truly spent time with him, merely maintaining an “online marriage.” And she had constantly been asking this man for money—not just living expenses, but also insisting on investments. In just one month, she had already swindled over a million dollars from him. No wonder the man was so furious; defrauding him was despicable enough, but she had also been constantly deceiving him emotionally. Just then, my phone suddenly vibrated. The screen displayed “Olivia.” I hadn’t seen her in over a year, and I’d heard she’d been sick. Why was she calling me now? Had something happened to her? I desperately wanted to answer, but the man immediately looked at me with alarm. “She’s my best friend! Don’t worry, I won’t say anything to her.” The man hesitated for a few seconds, then released my wrist. I answered the call, about to say, “I’m going to sleep, I’ll contact you later!” when Olivia’s voice preempted me: “Honey! The doctor I introduced you to has agreed to meet! Hurry up and finalize the divorce, don’t get tangled up with that lunatic, he’s not worth it!” I was instantly stunned, a surge of anger rising within me. “What are you talking about? When did I get married? Where are these divorce papers?” “Oh, come on, stop pretending!” Olivia’s tone carried a hint of mockery. “I know you don’t want to mention that psycho! Marrying him is a stain on your record! But don’t worry, I’ll find you someone better in the future! Leaving him is a new beginning, don’t dwell on it!” “I didn’t…” I still tried to argue, but the man suddenly snatched my phone, abruptly ending the call. The next second, he grabbed my hair, violently pressing my head against the car wall with enough force to make my scalp tingle. A flurry of dense subtitles instantly exploded before my eyes. 【Holy crap! Isn’t this ironclad proof? Even her best friend said so! How can this woman still argue?!】 【Serves her right! She’s still playing innocent at a time like this, it would be against all reason not to dismember her now!】 【No wonder she could trick the guy, she had someone advising her from behind! This best friend is quite something, not plastic, but genuinely helping with bad deeds!】 【I originally thought she was innocent, but now it seems she’s just a good actress!】 My eyes reddened from the pain, and I stammered out an explanation. “It’s not like that! I don’t know why she’s saying that! I really haven’t gotten married, and I didn’t ask her to introduce anyone to me!” “Still trying to deny it? Your best friend admitted it herself, how long do you plan to lie to me?” “I’m not lying to you!” Tears streamed down my face in desperation. “Olivia is lying…” Suddenly, a glaring red line flashed in the subtitles. 【When I was working abroad, I heard a plastic surgeon mention something similar! A woman had surgery to look like her best friend, then used her friend’s identity to trick a man out of his money! When the truth came out, she got away scot-free, and her best friend was the one who suffered!】 【There’s such a thing!! Quick, tell us more!】 But at this moment, the man suddenly pulled out a dagger and pressed it against my carotid artery. Just as the blade was about to pierce my artery, another red subtitle furiously scrolled across the screen. 【Holy crap! I remember now!! This plastic surgery girl, Olivia, bragged at a party abroad that she got surgery to look like her best friend, Sarah Miller, and would definitely hook the attractive man, Leo Evans, who had a crush on Sarah!】 【Olivia was full of envy and resentment towards her best friend. She meticulously planned it out, first deliberately distancing herself from Sarah, claiming she was going abroad for medical treatment, but secretly going to a plastic surgery clinic to transform into Sarah. The two friends already looked somewhat alike. After the surgery, Olivia used makeup to become Sarah’s spitting image, and began to deceive Leo! Leo didn’t suspect a thing, mistakenly believing Olivia was Sarah, and poured all his heart and money into her!】 【I’ve seen this story in novels! This is the first time in real life! This woman, Olivia, is truly malicious!】 I froze in place, my blood running cold. All those seemingly harmless details I had ignored now linked together into a complete chain of conspiracy. Olivia had been my inseparable best friend since college; we’d shared every joy and sorrow. I’d always considered her my closest confidante, never once thinking to guard against her. I remembered two years ago when she suddenly told me she was going abroad for medical treatment. She even borrowed my ID, claiming it was to help me obtain an international medical license. I agreed without much thought. After she returned, she always borrowed my clothes and frequently asked about my habits. For instance, I don’t eat cilantro, I’m afraid of thunderstorms, and I drink warm ginger tea during my period. She even grilled me about my little habit of curling my legs in my sleep. She also deliberately mimicked my makeup and speaking style. At the time, I simply thought she genuinely liked my aesthetic. Looking back now, that was all her premeditated groundwork! 【Here’s the kicker! Olivia is the illegitimate daughter of the Miller family, Sarah’s half-sister!! Olivia’s mother seduced Sarah’s father years ago, trying to use the child to secure her position, but even after the child was born, the Miller family never acknowledged her!】 【No wonder the two of them look somewhat alike! That explains everything! She was a parasitic sister masquerading as a best friend all along!】 【Jealousy truly distorts people beyond recognition! Her own mother shamelessly destroyed another family, and she followed suit. To steal her sister’s life, she even changed her face—what else is she capable of?!】 【Sarah is too pathetic! The best friend she poured her heart out to harbored such malicious intentions, she truly was unlucky in her choice of friends!】 【Thank goodness Leo had a change of heart and didn’t act! Otherwise, Sarah would have died such an unjust death!】 The cruel truth shattered my perception repeatedly! “Olivia, I won’t let you get away with this!” But the dagger in Leo’s hand remained pressed against my neck. Just as I was wondering how to explain, Leo’s eyes suddenly reddened. My heart gave a violent jolt, and I boldly guessed that he, too, could see the subtitles. The next second, the dagger slipped from Leo’s hand. He actually knelt down directly in front of me. “I’m sorry… I almost hurt the person I love most. I was foolish, deceived, and nearly killed you by mistake.” “You’re not wrong, Olivia is! She transformed herself to look like me, used my identity to scam a marriage and money, and had us all running in circles.” “You go now, we can involve the police later. I’ll definitely help you get justice; I won’t let her off easy!” “Calling the police would be disadvantageous for you. After all, you did commit kidnapping. If Olivia insists on pressing charges, you’ll also be implicated.” Leo was stunned, his eyes instantly welling with emotion. He bent down and picked up the dagger from the floor. “Then I’ll kill her myself and avenge you! A vicious woman like that doesn’t deserve to live!” “Don’t be impulsive!” I quickly grabbed his wrist. “It’s not worth ruining your life for a wicked woman like her. Her evil deeds will be exposed eventually; we don’t need to sacrifice ourselves in this way.” Leo stared at my hand holding his, his gaze gradually softening. “Okay, I’ll do whatever you say.” The subtitles on the screen suddenly refreshed: 【??? This development is a bit off! How did these two suddenly develop such chemistry?】 【What chemistry? They’re giving off major couple vibes, okay!】 【Help! Just a moment ago they were at daggers drawn, now it’s getting kind of sweet?】

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