Category: English

On Christmas Eve, Jack asked me, Emily, who had just won a silver award in the city’s fashion design competition, to design a wedding dress in the most popular 90s style. I thought Jack wanted to give me a surprise on Christmas, perhaps to officially confirm our relationship. So from conceptualization to fabric selection to cutting and sewing, I put my heart and soul into every step. However, on Christmas Day, Jack announced in front of everyone that this dress was a special Christmas gift prepared for his dream girl, Olivia. Even the position I had worked so hard for at the fashion company, Jack took it upon himself to give it to Olivia, who had just returned to the city. I had accompanied Jack for eight years, giving up many opportunities for development, but I couldn’t even keep an official status or even my beloved job position. I decisively decided to respond to that invitation letter from another well-known fashion company that I had been keeping at the bottom of my drawer. [A week later, I reported to the new company.]

Three days later, I received a reply. Looking at the words on the letter that read “We warmly welcome talented designers like you to join us, and look forward to creating brilliance together!”, I couldn’t help but shed tears. I was finally no longer a woman who could only depend on others, I finally had a dream to fight for. Eight years ago, to repay Jack for saving me in an accident, even without a promise, I silently stayed by his side to support his career. Jack was a business elite, and our life together was harmonious and happy. I gave up my own design dreams for him, thinking we could walk through the long years together. But who knew, after Olivia appeared, everything changed. He not only didn’t give me a clear future, but even my position at the fashion company was easily handed over to Olivia who had just returned. Jack walked into the room with Lily, and I hurriedly hid the letter. “What are you looking at?” Jack asked, noticing my reddened eyes. I forced a smile, “It’s a greeting letter from a friend.” “Are you still angry about the job position?” Jack frowned slightly. Lily, though young, already knew how to read the room. Hearing Jack say this, she looked at me with dissatisfaction, “Mom, don’t be so petty, Dad is just thinking about work.” Six years ago, I had been weak after a serious illness. So Jack left Lily in the care of his parents, who weren’t very warm towards me and had been instilling some unfavorable ideas about me in Lily since she was young. So Lily became cold towards me like Jack, only showing warmth when facing Olivia. Jack sighed and gently patted my shoulder, “Lily, go out for a moment.” After Lily left, Jack continued, “Emily, I hope you can understand my decision. Olivia has been through a lot of difficulties outside, she needs this position more to start anew. I’ve known her for a long time, it’s only right to help her.” I lowered my head slightly, avoiding his gaze, “I understand.” My attitude was as calm as water, leaving no room for criticism. Jack looked at me, wanting to say something but holding back, and finally left the room. In the evening, Jack brought Olivia home for dinner. At the dinner table, Jack, who was usually serious, was chatting and laughing with Olivia, as if they were the real family. I silently ate my dinner, unable to blend into their joyful atmosphere, and not wanting to. I remembered Christmas Eve, when I was full of expectations that Jack would give me a special promise. I was so nervous that I couldn’t sleep all night, constantly imagining how I would look standing beside him in a beautiful dress. When Jack first gave me the dress design task, my heart was full of sweetness, and I even added my own carefully designed unique embroidery to the details of the dress. But when I saw Olivia wearing that dress, I was full of shock and anger. That day, Jack and Olivia looked like a perfect couple leaning on each other, and the imported pearl necklace Jack gave her shone softly under the lights, piercing my heart. Colleagues from the company gathered around them, whispering. “The manager really put his heart into it for Miss Olivia, they’re truly a perfect match.” “It seems the manager still can’t forget Miss Olivia, Emily is just a substitute when Miss Olivia wasn’t around.” “That’s right, if it wasn’t for Emily solving a lot of the manager’s life troubles, he would have ignored her long ago. How could she compare to Miss Olivia’s talent and charm!” Those harsh words reached my ears, and tears welled up in my eyes, but my daughter beside me didn’t notice my sadness at all. Suddenly, the spotlight focused on me and my daughter. Jack smiled and waved to Lily, “Come on, didn’t you prepare a gift for Aunt Olivia long ago? Go ahead!” Hearing this, I reached out to hold back Lily, who was eager to run over, “Lily, did you know all along that this dress Mom made was for Aunt Olivia? Did you also know that Dad gave Mom’s job to her?” “Yes!” Lily nodded without hesitation. My nails dug deep into my palm as I tried to stay calm, “Then why didn’t you tell Mom?” Jack kept urging, and Lily forcefully shook off my hand, running happily towards Olivia. I was taken aback by Lily’s action and almost fell. I smiled bitterly, regretting that only now did I see clearly my position in their hearts. At this moment, my only thought was that I no longer wanted this man or this daughter.

Three days later, I received a reply. Looking at the words on the letter that read “We warmly welcome talented designers like you to join us, and look forward to creating brilliance together!”, I couldn’t help but shed tears. I was finally no longer a woman who could only depend on others, I finally had a dream to fight for. Eight years ago, to repay Jack for saving me in an accident, even without a promise, I silently stayed by his side to support his career. Jack was a business elite, and our life together was harmonious and happy. I gave up my own design dreams for him, thinking we could walk through the long years together. But who knew, after Olivia appeared, everything changed. He not only didn’t give me a clear future, but even my position at the fashion company was easily handed over to Olivia who had just returned. Jack walked into the room with Lily, and I hurriedly hid the letter. “What are you looking at?” Jack asked, noticing my reddened eyes. I forced a smile, “It’s a greeting letter from a friend.” “Are you still angry about the job position?” Jack frowned slightly. Lily, though young, already knew how to read the room. Hearing Jack say this, she looked at me with dissatisfaction, “Mom, don’t be so petty, Dad is just thinking about work.” Six years ago, I had been weak after a serious illness. So Jack left Lily in the care of his parents, who weren’t very warm towards me and had been instilling some unfavorable ideas about me in Lily since she was young. So Lily became cold towards me like Jack, only showing warmth when facing Olivia. Jack sighed and gently patted my shoulder, “Lily, go out for a moment.” After Lily left, Jack continued, “Emily, I hope you can understand my decision. Olivia has been through a lot of difficulties outside, she needs this position more to start anew. I’ve known her for a long time, it’s only right to help her.” I lowered my head slightly, avoiding his gaze, “I understand.” My attitude was as calm as water, leaving no room for criticism. Jack looked at me, wanting to say something but holding back, and finally left the room. In the evening, Jack brought Olivia home for dinner. At the dinner table, Jack, who was usually serious, was chatting and laughing with Olivia, as if they were the real family. I silently ate my dinner, unable to blend into their joyful atmosphere, and not wanting to. I remembered Christmas Eve, when I was full of expectations that Jack would give me a special promise. I was so nervous that I couldn’t sleep all night, constantly imagining how I would look standing beside him in a beautiful dress. When Jack first gave me the dress design task, my heart was full of sweetness, and I even added my own carefully designed unique embroidery to the details of the dress. But when I saw Olivia wearing that dress, I was full of shock and anger. That day, Jack and Olivia looked like a perfect couple leaning on each other, and the imported pearl necklace Jack gave her shone softly under the lights, piercing my heart. Colleagues from the company gathered around them, whispering. “The manager really put his heart into it for Miss Olivia, they’re truly a perfect match.” “It seems the manager still can’t forget Miss Olivia, Emily is just a substitute when Miss Olivia wasn’t around.” “That’s right, if it wasn’t for Emily solving a lot of the manager’s life troubles, he would have ignored her long ago. How could she compare to Miss Olivia’s talent and charm!” Those harsh words reached my ears, and tears welled up in my eyes, but my daughter beside me didn’t notice my sadness at all. Suddenly, the spotlight focused on me and my daughter. Jack smiled and waved to Lily, “Come on, didn’t you prepare a gift for Aunt Olivia long ago? Go ahead!” Hearing this, I reached out to hold back Lily, who was eager to run over, “Lily, did you know all along that this dress Mom made was for Aunt Olivia? Did you also know that Dad gave Mom’s job to her?” “Yes!” Lily nodded without hesitation. My nails dug deep into my palm as I tried to stay calm, “Then why didn’t you tell Mom?” Jack kept urging, and Lily forcefully shook off my hand, running happily towards Olivia. I was taken aback by Lily’s action and almost fell. I smiled bitterly, regretting that only now did I see clearly my position in their hearts. At this moment, my only thought was that I no longer wanted this man or this daughter.

Seeing that I was particularly cold tonight, Olivia pretended to be pitiful, pouting and tears welling up in her eyes, “Emily, are you still blaming me for taking your job? I’ll tell the company right now to give the position back to you!” Hearing this, Jack immediately put on a stern face, “What nonsense are you talking about? This position is what I fought for you, how can you say you don’t want it just like that? Emily won’t blame you, it’s just a position. She’s been focusing on family these past few years, work isn’t that important to her.” I couldn’t help but mock myself in my heart, oh Jack, for whom I’ve sacrificed so much, what have you ever fought for me in these eight years? What makes you think I’m willing to be a housewife forever? Lily didn’t even look at me, “Aunt Olivia, my mom only knows how to clean the house, she can’t do anything else. Not like you, you’re so talented. I love the painting you taught me last time! You’re amazing!” Olivia’s cheeks flushed red from the praise of the father and daughter. After dinner, Jack turned to me and said coldly, “You’re a mother now, be sensible. Go clean up the kitchen and wash some fruit for Olivia to eat.” I silently got up and went to the kitchen, not missing the flash of smugness in Olivia’s eyes. Jack was a bit surprised by my compliance, he pursed his lips, but ultimately said nothing. I washed the dishes with ice-cold water in the kitchen, while occasional laughter from Olivia and Lily came from the living room. It doesn’t matter anymore, I’m leaving this place soon anyway. The next day, I got up early and went to the bus station to buy a ticket to Ocean City. Only when the ticket was in my bag did my heart finally settle down a bit. I don’t want to have any more entanglements with the people here, nor do I want to fall into a loveless life again. In this last month, I just want to live as usual, doing what I should do. On my way home, I met Mrs. Lee from downstairs. She looked at me with surprise, “Emily? Didn’t you go to Lily’s school for the parent-child activity? You should go quickly, Lily said this activity requires parents to participate, she must have forgotten to tell you.” I agreed and immediately changed course to Lily’s school. At the school, the children were performing their talents. Lily was also on stage showcasing her dance, I watched with my own eyes as she perfectly completed her performance. I smiled and prepared to go up to congratulate her, but found that she ran straight into Olivia’s arms. Jack stood beside them, putting his jacket on Lily. I don’t know what Lily whispered in Olivia’s ear, but Olivia kissed Lily’s forehead. Then, Olivia and Lily looked at Jack with pitiful eyes at the same time, and Jack bent down with a doting and helpless expression to kiss Lily’s cheek. Olivia and Lily’s smiles were dazzlingly bright. I suddenly felt ridiculous for rushing to school to participate in the activity, the three of them were the real family, and I was just an outsider in their happy life. Jack ruffled Lily’s hair, then ruffled Olivia’s, and inadvertently looked up to meet my gaze. He immediately took his hand off Olivia’s head, scratching his head awkwardly, wanting to say something but holding back. I heard Lily say, “Aunt Olivia, I invited you to participate in the activity without telling Mom, don’t let it slip.” “Shut up!” Jack scolded. At this moment, the three of them realized my arrival. Olivia stood up, about to speak. Lily’s teacher walked over, “Lily’s mom? Didn’t you say you couldn’t come today because you had something to do? It’s good that you’re here, by the way, Lily won a silver award in the school painting competition last time. Come with me to get her artwork and certificate.” I waved to the three of them casually, pretending to be relaxed, and followed the teacher to the office to get the certificate. “Your family is so happy!” the teacher exclaimed. Lily’s artwork depicted the Christmas gathering scene, with two adults and a child standing intimately under the lights, Olivia wearing a beautiful dress, Jack holding Olivia’s arm, looking so happy that it made people envious. I wiped away the tears from the corner of my eye, thanked the teacher, and went straight home. It doesn’t matter, I’ll give my place to Olivia. Three more days, and I’ll be free. Back home, I started packing my luggage. Clothes, daily necessities, the design sketches I drew in my spare time over these eight years…

When Jack brought Olivia home, I had just finished packing. Olivia had tears in her eyes, looking pitiful and saying, “Emily, I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. I rarely participate in such activities, so I begged Jack to take me. I’ll tell the company right now to give the position back to you!” Hearing Olivia say this, Lily quickly explained, “Mom, it’s not like that, it was me who wanted Aunt Olivia to accompany me, it’s all my fault, don’t be angry with Aunt Olivia.” This was the first time Lily had lowered her head and admitted her mistake in front of me, the first time she said so much to explain. Jack stepped forward, pulled me into the room, and hugged me tightly. “Emily, today’s incident is my fault, blame me if you want to blame someone.” How ridiculous, because Olivia participated in Lily’s activity, the three of them are vying to take responsibility, as if I’m an unreasonable person, as if they are the real family, and I’m just an outsider. I broke free from Jack’s embrace and looked straight into his eyes. Jack was still explaining, “Emily, Olivia has had a hard life, she’s been through a lot to get where she is now, she needs this position more to prove herself. I grew up with her, helping her is a matter of sentiment.” Jack was known for being calm and rational at the company, never saying a word more than necessary. But now, for Olivia’s sake, he was willing to explain to me so patiently. “Then why are so many of my design sketches missing?” I asked calmly. Jack was at a loss for words for a moment, then explained in a low voice, “I saw you had drawn a lot before, and that day when you weren’t around, Olivia came to the house and saw them, she really liked them, so I gave them to her for study and reference.” I understood in my heart, but couldn’t even muster any anger, “No wonder Olivia’s design works submitted when she joined the company looked familiar.” Jack suddenly looked ashamed, he hadn’t expected that I knew everything. Even when he belittled me in front of Olivia to protect her face, I knew. Jack stubbornly deceived himself, believing that Olivia’s success was entirely due to her own efforts and perseverance, not mentioning his help at all, and pretending not to know about plagiarizing my works. He only saw Olivia’s hardships, but was unwilling to mention the shortcuts she took. “Emily, I’ve always known you have talent, I hope you can be magnanimous about this incident, Olivia… really needs this opportunity.” There was a flash of struggle and pain in Jack’s eyes, but he was still speaking for Olivia. “Alright. As you wish, I’ll give it all to her.” The position, the works, you, our daughter, I’ll give it all to her.

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My sister-in-law, obsessed with becoming a social media influencer, constantly livestreams her pranks on me. If I dare to resist, my in-laws scold me for being ungrateful and accuse me of hindering their daughter’s path to stardom. My husband even resorts to physical violence, telling me to stop making a fuss. For a measly $250 bounty from her viewers, my sister-in-law’s family locks me out on the balcony. Crying, I tell my husband I’m pregnant, begging them not to treat me this way. But upon hearing about my pregnancy, my sister-in-law excitedly urges my husband to keep me on the balcony, claiming pregnant women are more resistant to cold. That night, the temperature plummets from over 90°F to 14°F as a terrifying Ice Age Apocalypse descends upon us. I freeze to death on the balcony. Within a month, the temperature drops to -94°F, and the world is encased in ice. When I open my eyes again, I’ve returned to the day my sister-in-law decided to become an influencer. This time, it’s my turn to sit inside, enjoying hotpot and barbecue while livestreaming their miserable fate!

“Mom, look! My video pranking my sister-in-law got so many views. I need to make more of these,” Lily exclaimed, waving her phone proudly at her parents in the living room. “Once I become famous, I’ll be rich enough to treat you to all the good stuff!” Hearing that familiar voice, I couldn’t help but shiver. Even standing in the sunlight, my whole body trembled. The bone-chilling cold that had seeped into my very marrow in my past life was impossible to shake off. After all, I had been frozen to death! I pinched my arm hard, and the pain finally made me realize I had been reborn. At this moment, my in-laws were praising their daughter for being smart and destined for great things. Martha, my mother-in-law, then glared at me viciously. “You useless girl, did you hear that? You better cooperate with the videos. If you ruin my daughter’s chance at fame and fortune, I won’t let you off easy!” She had said the same thing in my past life. Back then, I had privately asked Lily to change her content. But Lily had gone to her parents in tears, claiming I was jealous of her success. George, my father-in-law, had immediately flown into a rage, calling me a jinx who couldn’t stand to see their family prosper. Martha had pointed at me, yelling that I was worthless and trying to obstruct her daughter’s path to stardom. My husband, Jack, had beaten me black and blue, warning me not to cause trouble. Later, for a $250 bounty in Lily’s livestream, the whole family had locked me out on the balcony. Even when I cried and told Jack I was pregnant, begging them not to do this to me, the family remained unmoved. Lily had excitedly said, “It’s even better that she’s pregnant! Pregnant women are more resistant to cold. Brother, quick, put her on the balcony. More and more people are joining my livestream. I’m about to become a big star!” In the end, they had locked me on the balcony. I had planned to divorce Jack and abort the baby once this was over. That night, the temperature had suddenly dropped from over 90°F to 14°F as the terrifying Ice Age Apocalypse struck. I kept banging on the balcony door, begging them to let me in. My hands were bruised and bleeding, but they still refused to open the door. Desperate to survive, I had tried to break the glass with my body. When the glass cracked, Lily quickly told Jack to move a cabinet to block the door. In the warm interior, Lily had eaten a popsicle in her short sleeves, laughing at me, “Sis, you’re pregnant. What are you afraid of? A little cold won’t hurt you.” With my bloodied fingers clawing at the door, I had begged, “Lily, please, if you leave me out here any longer, my baby and I will die!” But Lily had just pointed her phone at me, telling her viewers, “See, guys? Pregnant women really are tough. Look, my sister-in-law isn’t dead yet.” Lily’s cruelty had chilled me to the bone. Eventually, I had succumbed to exhaustion and died on the balcony, my tears freezing on my face. Thankfully, heaven had taken pity on me and given me a chance to be reborn. Now, it was still a hot summer day with temperatures in the 90s. The cicadas were chirping loudly outside, with no sign of the impending Ice Age Apocalypse. But in just a week, one night, the temperature would suddenly drop from over 90°F to 14°F. After that, it would get colder each day until it reached -94°F, and the whole world would be frozen. The fire of revenge burned fiercely in my heart. This time, I would definitely get my revenge and send this whole family to hell with my own hands!

Pretending to be meek and obedient, I replied to Martha, “Yes, Mom. I’ll cooperate with Lily’s videos.” Martha seemed somewhat surprised by my compliance but still scolded me, “You useless girl, don’t you know it’s time to make dinner? Why are you just standing there like an idiot? Go cook now!” I clenched my fist tightly, reminding myself not to act rashly. Then I walked into the kitchen and started preparing dinner. As we were about to eat, Jack came home. I had just washed my hands and was about to sit down when Jack kicked me. “What are you doing? The supermarket shelves are empty. Go stock them.” Holding back my pain, I agreed and grabbed the keys from the shoe cabinet, heading downstairs without another word. When I got married, my parents had given me a commercial property as part of my dowry, which we had turned into a small supermarket. Since opening the supermarket, no one in this big family had gone out to work. They all relied on this small business for their livelihood. Not only that, but they had dumped the most tiring and dirty jobs of restocking and shelf arrangement on me. To maintain the household expenses, I worked part-time during the day and came back to organize the supermarket shelves at night. So no one knew this supermarket better than I did. After restocking the shelves, I grabbed some sausages, bread, and drinks, and went to the storage room where we kept our supplies. After eating, I called my parents who still lived in the suburbs. Hearing my parents’ voices through the phone again, tears welled up in my eyes uncontrollably. In my past life, after I died, my parents had called me several times but no one answered. Then they had called Jack to ask about me. Originally, Jack had been afraid of being exposed, so he had replied to my parents using my WeChat account, making them believe I was still alive. Later, when the temperature dropped suddenly and the Ice Age Apocalypse came, my parents had asked me on WeChat if I could send them some food. The temperature had dropped too quickly, and they couldn’t buy anything in the suburbs. Lily had seen the chat history and instigated Jack to trick my parents out of their money. So Lily and Jack had conspired together, making up an excuse that I was sick. Lily had even worn my clothes to pretend to be me. My parents had believed them and immediately transferred all their money. After getting all the money from my parents, they had made a video call to my parents, calling them big idiots and fools, saying no wonder their daughter was also a fool. They had told them their daughter had already frozen to death, and even sent photos of my corpse to my parents. This had immediately triggered my father’s heart condition, and he had collapsed. The last thing I heard was my mother’s panicked screams before the video call was cut off.

Thinking of this, my voice choked up as I called out, “Dad, Mom.” My father thought I was upset about something and immediately tried to comfort me, even threatening to come over and beat up Jack. My mother told me to divorce Jack immediately and come back home. I shook my head, saying I wasn’t mistreated. In my past life, my parents had been tragically killed by Lily and Jack. This time, I definitely wouldn’t let these two dogs off the hook! But I also wouldn’t let my parents get involved. They were getting old and should enjoy their retirement peacefully. I would handle everything. My parents still didn’t believe that I wasn’t being mistreated, so I changed the subject and said, “Mom, Dad, can you rent the house next door?” My parents were confused about why I wanted them to rent the house next door. I explained to them that extreme weather would occur in the future, and the previous owner of the house next door was a foreigner. Foreigners naturally liked to dig various basements to store things and use as shelters, so there was a large basement under the house. After the foreign owner left, the house had been listed on a second-hand platform for sale. Because it was in the suburbs, it had been on the market for a long time without any buyers. In the future extreme weather, temperatures would eventually drop to -94°F. By then, having food and drink wouldn’t be enough. A safe shelter would also be crucial. Although my parents didn’t quite believe that extreme weather would occur – after all, it was still blazing hot outside – they still did as I said. After hanging up the phone with my parents, I contacted a moving company. Under the guise of restocking goods, I secretly transported some items from the supermarket storage room to my parents’ place. There was about a week left before the Ice Age Apocalypse arrived. By moving a portion every day during this time, I could empty the entire warehouse without anyone noticing. This time, it would be my turn to sit inside with my parents, eating barbecue around the fireplace while livestreaming the miserable fate of Lily’s family!

By the time I finished all this, it was already dark outside. I had just gone upstairs but hadn’t entered the door when I heard Lily’s coquettish laughter, “Brother, look! This person is as stupid as my sister-in-law.” Opening the door, I saw a harmonious family scene. The whole family was gathered around Lily, like stars revolving around the moon. Lily was the late-born daughter of my in-laws and was extremely pampered. Martha especially doted on Lily, saying Lily was her little cotton jacket. Jack also adored Lily, saying he was Lily’s eternal support and that with him around, Lily didn’t need to get married for her entire life. Hearing the door open, the family looked in my direction. As soon as Martha saw it was me, she immediately put on a stern face and scolded, “You useless girl, what are you standing there for like a door god? You scared me!” Lily held her phone in one hand and a bowl of fruit salad in the other as she walked towards me. “Sis, we forgot to save you some dinner. Here, have some fruit to fill your stomach.” I looked at Lily, who was smiling with ill intentions. In my past life, I had eaten it without suspicion, only to find out the fruit salad contained mango, which I was allergic to. My whole body had broken out in a rash. Lily had laughed loudly while holding her phone, telling her livestream viewers, “Look, guys! My stupid sister-in-law ate it. Look at her allergic reaction.” Martha had laughed along, saying, “Our Lily is so clever, making that useless girl look foolish.” Jack had pointed at me, saying I looked ugly like that. At that moment, my heart had completely turned cold, and I realized I couldn’t stay in this family anymore. I had thoughts of divorce. But soon after, the Ice Age Apocalypse had struck. This time, since they could prank me for a $250 bounty, they could just as easily prank someone else for the same money. I decided to test it out. I pretended to have a stomachache, bending over and saying, “My stomach doesn’t feel good. I need to use the bathroom first.” But Lily insisted I eat before going. I pushed Lily away and quickly ran to the bathroom. Martha cursed behind me, “Lazy people always need to pee.” I ignored Martha’s words because she would soon taste the bitter fruit of her actions. In the bathroom, I took out my phone and entered Lily’s livestream. I directly put up a $250 bounty in Lily’s livestream – to prank her own mother. At the same time, I commented, “Pranking the sister-in-law is boring now. Let’s try something new, like pranking your own mom.” I wanted to see just how much their so-called family affection was worth. Sure enough, the next second I heard Lily excitedly tell everyone, “Dad, Mom, Brother, look! Someone just donated to my livestream. I’m about to become a big star!”

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Title: I Drank Until I Had Stomach Bleeding, My Wife Called Me Weak, So I Quit My Job—and Her Company Collapsed ## While I bent over backward at a business dinner, chugging glass after glass of alcohol to secure a deal, my wife, Lila Vaughn, was busy cozying up to Ethan Blake, feeding him freshly baked desserts and laughing at his jokes. When I struggled to keep up with the client’s unreasonable demands, she watched coldly from the sidelines, her arm linked with Ethan’s, introducing him to influential people in the room. To keep the deal afloat, I forced down bottle after bottle, until I collapsed from stomach bleeding. But instead of showing concern, she clung to Ethan and sneered in front of everyone, “What a pathetic excuse for a man—can’t even handle a few drinks.” What she didn’t know was that the papers I’d handed her earlier, which she signed without even glancing at, weren’t business contracts. They were divorce papers. After the business dinner wrapped up, I stumbled out of the venue, clutching my stomach in pain. Lila hadn’t come out yet, so I called for a rideshare. “What the hell are you doing? Just leaving without waiting for me and Ethan?” I turned around to see Lila storming toward me, her arm still wrapped around Ethan’s. “Are you just going to stand there? Go get the car from the parking lot and pick us up!” she ordered, her tone sharp and commanding. I started to explain, “I’ve been drinking. You should wait—” Before I could finish, Ethan cut me off, smirking. “Hey now, Sam, you’re not upset with me, are you?” Lila shot me a glare. “You’re such a child. Grow up.” Too exhausted to argue, I stayed quiet as the driver I’d called pulled up in my car. Lila and Ethan didn’t hesitate to climb into the backseat, leaving me to sit in the front passenger seat. As the car started moving, my foot brushed against something under the seat. I reached down and froze. It was a used condom wrapper. Ethan noticed my reaction and chuckled suggestively. “Oops, forgot to clean up after the action earlier. My bad.” The driver muttered under his breath, “Kids these days, huh?” Lila didn’t seem the least bit bothered. “Sam, clean it up, will you?” she said offhandedly. I didn’t respond. My face was pale from the stomach pain, and I didn’t have the strength to deal with her. She seemed to forget—or maybe didn’t care—that just moments ago, she’d signed the papers ending our five-year marriage. When I didn’t move, Lila’s expression shifted. She looked at me, almost confused, as though surprised I hadn’t jumped to obey her as I always had. For five years, no matter how unreasonable her demands, I’d never said no. She stared at me for a moment before letting out an exasperated sigh. “Really? You’re throwing a tantrum over something so small? Be a man, Sam.” She leaned back and opened the storage compartment in the backseat. It was neatly packed with medicine—supplies I’d prepared for her over the years because her busy work schedule often left her neglecting her health. She grabbed a box of pills and tossed it toward me. “Here, take this. It’s Ethan’s medication, but I guess it’ll do for you. Stop acting like you’re dying.” I realized she hadn’t ignored my discomfort earlier—she’d seen it. She just thought I was exaggerating to get her attention. I shook my head and refused the pills. She clicked her tongue in annoyance. “Suit yourself. Stop the car!” The driver pulled over. Lila leaned into Ethan with a satisfied smirk, her eyes glancing sideways at me. “Ethan didn’t get enough to eat earlier. You can find your own way home.” “Oh, Lila, you’re the best,” Ethan said, grinning as he shot me a smug look. Lila patted his head affectionately and added, “At least you’re fun to be around, unlike some people.” I didn’t waste my breath arguing. In the past, I would’ve insisted on staying with her, worried that no one else would take care of her the way I did. But this time, I simply nodded. “Alright. Take care.” Then I stepped out of the car and shut the door behind me. Lila sat upright, startled, as if she hadn’t expected my reaction. She opened her mouth to say something, but the door closed before she could speak. I stood by the curb and booked a nearby hotel on my phone. If they wanted to be together, there was no point in me going home tonight.

The next morning, I went to HR and submitted my resignation. “You’re resigning? Did you clear it with your manager?” the HR rep asked. I nodded. When Lila had hired me into her company, she’d casually given me a position with no clear responsibilities. For years, I’d essentially been her personal assistant, handling everything from major deals to minor errands. Technically, I wasn’t even part of a formal department. After completing the paperwork, I returned to my office—only to find Lila sitting in my chair. Her tone was sharp. “Is this how you approach work? Showing up late?” I glanced at the clock. I was three minutes late. “Sorry,” I said simply. “Don’t let it happen again. Just because you’re in a special position doesn’t mean you get special treatment,” she snapped. I chuckled bitterly. Special position? In five years of marriage, no one at the company even knew we were married. Lila had insisted on keeping our relationship a secret, claiming it would protect me from being mocked as a “kept man.” “Understood, Ms. Vaughn. Do you have any instructions for me?” I asked, keeping my tone professional. Her face darkened. “You’re so boring.” I stayed silent, waiting for her to continue. She studied me with a mix of frustration and confusion. “Are you even a man?” I frowned, unsure of what she meant. Her voice grew more agitated. “I spent all night with another man, and you don’t even care? Don’t you have anything to say?” Her tone was petulant, almost as if she wanted me to argue with her. For a moment, I felt a flicker of hope. I wanted to ask her what she meant—if there was something more behind her words. But before I could speak, Ethan’s voice came from the doorway. “Lila, you were too rough last night. These marks on my neck are going to be a problem for today’s photoshoot,” he said with a playful whine. He walked in with the casual familiarity of someone who belonged there, his tone dripping with intimacy. Whatever I had been hoping for vanished. I forced a smile and laughed at myself. How pathetic. Even now, I’m still looking for something that isn’t there. For Lila, I had never been anything more than an inconvenience—someone who took away the life she thought she deserved. Six years ago, my parents died in a car accident, leaving me and my ailing grandfather alone. Desperate to see me settled before his passing, my grandfather pressured Lila’s family into arranging our marriage, using an old debt they owed him as leverage. Lila agreed, but not without conditions. She handed me a contract: “Five years. This marriage ends after five years.” I’d thought that five years would be enough time to win her heart. But one night, after she came home drunk, she broke down in my arms, sobbing. “If it weren’t for you, I’d be married to him by now,” she cried. That was the moment I finally understood. She hated me—not because of who I was, but because I was the reason she couldn’t be with the man she truly loved. I should’ve let go then. Now, it was time to move on. She had found her happiness. It was time for me to find mine.

“You bit too hard.” Ethan Blake’s voice snapped me back to reality. He stood just inches away, his tone anything but friendly as he adjusted the open collar of his shirt, revealing faint bruises and red marks scattered across his skin. The deep purples and blues made it clear that whoever left those marks hadn’t held back. I forced myself to look away, ignoring the bitter sting in my chest. Lila Vaughn glanced at me briefly, then strode over to Ethan. Her fingers lightly brushed the marks on his skin. “Does it hurt?” she asked softly. Ethan chuckled. “Maybe be gentler next time?” She shot him a teasing look, and I quietly turned to leave. “Stop,” Lila called out, halting me in my tracks. “Cover up those marks for him.” “Sure,” I said, reaching for my phone to call in a makeup artist. But Ethan raised a hand to stop me. “No, that won’t work. I don’t trust anyone else. If word gets out, it could damage my reputation.” Lila smirked, pointing to me. “Then you do it. And don’t leave a trace.” … “Alright.” I got to work, carefully concealing the marks. By the time I finished, the photoshoot was about to begin. Since I wasn’t needed to supervise the shoot, I pulled out my phone and texted my longtime friend, Jack Harper. I let him know I was finally quitting and asked him to help me make some connections. Once I got his reply, I set my phone down and looked up just in time to notice a piece of overhead equipment swaying dangerously above Ethan’s head. “Watch out!” I shouted as I dashed forward, shoving him out of the way just as the rig came crashing down. A chorus of gasps erupted around me. Warm blood trickled down my arm, blurring my vision. The chaos around me felt distant and muted. A sharp, searing pain in my arm jolted me back to reality. I glanced down to see my right hand limp at my side, blood gushing from an open wound. I tried to move it, but nothing happened. I turned to check on Ethan. He was sitting on the ground, frozen in shock, his face pale with fear. But aside from a few minor scrapes, he seemed fine. The scene was quickly brought under control, and Lila arrived moments later. The first thing she did was call for her private doctor, her voice frantic. “Quickly, Ethan can’t afford to be hurt!” Her eyes were glued to him as she rushed past me without so much as a glance, completely focused on him. Ethan started complaining about how shaken he was, and Lila seemed genuinely terrified for him. “Are you hurt anywhere? That equipment could’ve killed you!” The air around us grew heavy with silence. A few people cast sympathetic looks in my direction but said nothing. The private doctor finally noticed me and gasped sharply. “This is bad. Why didn’t you say something earlier? You’re bleeding heavily!” Lila finally turned her head, her gaze following the doctor’s to the wound on my arm. Her eyes widened, and for a brief moment, her voice wavered. “Are you mute or something? Why didn’t you say you were hurt?” Her fingers trembled slightly as she subconsciously clenched her fists. She stepped closer, staring at the blood-soaked wound like she couldn’t quite believe what she was seeing. Then, as if snapping out of a daze, she grabbed my hand, ignoring the blood smeared across it. “Sam Carter, where’s your ring?” I glanced down at my left hand. The ring finger was bare, save for the faint indentation of where a wedding band used to sit. I couldn’t understand her anger. It was just a ring—a ring she had never cared for, never worn herself. Why did it matter so much to her now? Gently, I pulled my hand away. “Can you help me get this wound treated?” I asked the doctor. “Sam Carter!” Lila’s voice rose sharply as she frowned at me, her tone filled with frustration. I sighed quietly, ready to explain that I’d lost the ring a few days ago while washing my hands and it had slipped down the drain. Before I could speak, though, Ethan’s voice cut in. “Lila, I don’t feel so good…” She immediately pushed past me, rushing to his side with a look of concern. “What’s wrong? I’ll take you to the hospital.” The doctor quickly bandaged my wound, and I got into the car with them. The entire ride, Lila fussed over Ethan, cradling him protectively. He rested his head against her neck, smirking at me with a look of triumph. Then, as if it were an afterthought, he let out a dramatic sigh. “Ouch, it really hurts.” His tone was loaded with implication. “Honestly, Sam, you’re usually so careful. How could something like this happen on your watch?” Lila’s lips pressed into a thin line as her eyes flicked to the scrape on Ethan’s hand. The moment she saw it, her expression darkened. “Sam Carter, are you being petty?!” she snapped, her voice filled with fury. “If something had happened to Ethan today, I’d make sure you paid for it tenfold!” She glared at me, her tone colder than ever. “Apologize to Ethan. Right now. Or don’t bother coming back tomorrow.”

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I found myself and my sister Nora inside a fantasy novel, tasked with selecting our husbands. In her previous life, Nora, having read ahead, chose the novel’s protagonist, the Tentacle Monster. I was left with the supporting character, the Vampire. Unexpectedly, the Tentacle Monster fell in battle due to a lack of Mental Strength, while the Vampire I picked grew powerful and became the new lord. When I woke up again, Nora had already chosen the dashing Vampire. “I’ll be the Vampire Lord’s wife in your place,” she declared. I tried to hide my smile. If she wanted to be a Blood Pack and endure the depraved Vampire’s torment, I wouldn’t stop her. When Nora took the Spirit Clan’s blood-purifying technique, I realized she had reincarnated as well. Previously, she unhesitatingly chose to marry into the Tentacle Clan, knowing they’d eventually triumph. However, my blood turned out to be crucial for enhancing Declan’s powers, allowing him to counter the silver light waves created by the Tentacle Monster Clan and even increase his attack speed. After we won the war, Declan openly showed affection for me, making others envious. But as victory was within reach, jealousy turned Nora’s eyes red, and she stabbed me with a silver knife. I watched as blood gushed from my chest, and my vision faded. Later, she turned me into a “Human Swine,” trapping my soul for a century, often mocking me, “I am the Spirit Clan Heiress. How dare you compete with me?” Upon waking again, Nora looked down at me after stealing the technique to enhance blood purity. “Sister, only I can be the Vampire Lord’s wife.” Seeing her smug face, I knew she hadn’t realized I had reincarnated too. I nodded obediently, letting her decide everything. Our father, the Clan Leader, spoke with a heavy heart, “Fiona, as the Heiress, you should marry into the Tentacle Monster Clan. You can’t endure the hardships of marrying a Vampire.” I laughed coldly inside. Father always treated us differently. If Nora couldn’t endure the hardship, why should I? The Tentacle Monster Clan had suppressed the Vampires until they were confined to darkness. Eventually, both sides made peace. Our Spirit Clan had techniques to enhance both clans. To survive in this chaotic world, the Clan Leader’s daughter had to be sent for a Political Marriage. We all knew that after the marriage, a new war would begin. On the surface, we remained neutral, but Father leaned towards a Tentacle Monster victory. This Political Marriage was bound to be unfair. Nora quickly reassured Father, “Don’t worry, Father. As the Spirit Clan Heiress, I’ll be fine.” Father resentfully scolded me, “Thank your sister for her concession. Otherwise, how could a concubine’s daughter like you receive such protection?” I could no longer hold back and coldly asked, “I didn’t ask for it. Why should I thank her?” Fiona yelled at me, pulling out a whip and lashing it at me, “Who do you think you are, daring to speak to Father like that? Kneel and apologize immediately!” My back burned, and warm liquid oozed out. Growing up, she would beat or scold me at the slightest conflict, and my father always turned a blind eye. Father pointed at me, cursing, “You’re just like your lowborn mother! If you weren’t useful for the marriage, I’d have killed you long ago!” I bit my lip and stayed silent. Nora, you probably don’t know how much I suffered in my past life. Since you’re willing to endure hardship, I’ll let you. Nora only saw Declan’s public kindness towards me, not realizing he used me to gain the Spirit Clan’s trust. He forced me to cultivate the Spirit Clan’s blood technique, making me produce blood endlessly. He even made my blood into Blood Packs for his generals, successfully destroying many Tentacle Monster bases.

Moreover, Declan was extremely sinister. When in a bad mood, he would lock me in the dark, dreary basement of the Castle to torture and vent his anger. In this life, since Nora chose Declan for me, I was finally free. The next day, the wedding entourage arrived. The Vampire Clan brought a flying carriage, surrounded by a sea of flowers, to welcome Nora. Declan stood imposingly in front of the carriage. In a flash, he teleported to Nora, looking like a perfect couple. Declan’s alluring, pale face and deep features were indeed captivating. “A Vampire loves only once in their lifetime. I, Declan, promise the Spirit Clan I will never marry again.” Amidst the cheers, Nora looked at me triumphantly, gripping Declan’s hand tightly. “Cora, you must be so jealous of me.” I looked at Fiona expressionlessly. She had no idea her hard days were just beginning… I closed my eyes, recalling the days when a slight offense would lead to a beating. The dungeon filled with torture tools had pierced my fingers and knees. If I hadn’t seen his true nature in my past life, I might have been fooled by Declan’s pretense. Fortunately, later on, I refined my blood to the purest level, benefiting the entire Vampire Clan, so they dared not torture me anymore. Refining that technique required sleeping on an ice bed daily. Nora, pampered since childhood, would never work so hard. The Tentacle Monster Clan only had a simple Spaceship. I was summoned inside without any ceremony. In the dark spaceship cabin, eight black tentacles spread out like a giant flower with shiny black nodules. I screamed in fear. The tentacles quickly retracted, revealing a man’s strong, handsome features. His black, bright eyes studied me. “Did I scare you? I’ll keep the tentacles away in the future.” I looked at Asher. His gaze was icy, completely different from Declan’s sinister nature, but his eyes held no emotion. It seemed true that the Tentacle Clan didn’t understand love. I shook my head quickly, “It’s okay. Do whatever makes you comfortable. No need to accommodate me.” The tentacles weren’t that scary. I was just nervous about boarding the spaceship. Looking at Asher’s handsome features, I wondered why Nora always called him ugly in the past life. Maybe she only saw his tentacle side. “Leader, let’s perform the Soul Contract ceremony.” Asher nodded, extending a tentacle towards me among the clan members. I shrank back in fear, warily watching him. “Don’t worry. It won’t hurt much.” I obediently closed my eyes, feeling Asher’s tentacle slide into my clothes, wrapping tightly around my waist, smooth and slippery. Another tentacle explored my chest. Finally, the tentacle adhered to the soft part of my chest, causing a tingling sensation. A strong white light shone from my chest, and the clan members exclaimed, “This girl’s Mental Strength is so strong! A rare talent in a thousand years!” “Yes, with her, our victory is assured.” The tingling made my legs weak, and I collapsed, but Asher’s strong arms caught me securely. His eyes were as deep as a pool, unreadable, but he gently carried me to the rest cabin, preparing Spirit Clan food for me. If you need anything, just call me. “Bad news! Clan Leader, the Vampire Clan broke the peace treaty and attacked multiple bases during the Political Marriage!” I knew the events from the previous life were unfolding early, and Fiona must have revealed the Tentacle Clan’s plans. In the original story, Declan’s sneak attack severely damaged the Tentacle Monster bases, and Asher nearly died in the battle. Luckily, Asher survived, biding his time, growing stronger, and eventually conquering the Vampire Clan. However, after we entered the story, my blood helped the Vampires resist the silver light, making them invincible. Thinking of this, I grabbed Asher’s hand, “I have Spirit Stones to help you. Let me go with you.” Asher glanced at my hand holding his, nodded slightly, pulling me into the transporter, and we arrived at a base. The base was swarming with bat minions from the Vampires, feasting on the Tentacle Clan. The Tentacle Clan members were turning to stone due to lack of Mental Strength. I tried using the Spirit Stones but couldn’t activate them. “I suddenly can’t use my power!” I shouted anxiously to Asher, who seemed to sense my mental state. But Asher had already joined the battle with his eight tentacles. I watched him worriedly. Though the Tentacle Clan had strong combat abilities, they heavily consumed Mental Strength. Without my support, he wouldn’t last long. Sure enough, he soon fell due to lack of Mental Strength. He was captured by the Vampires, and I was tied up too. We were taken back to the Castle, where Fiona lay seductively by Declan’s side, enjoying the scene. She looked at me smugly, “Sister, how do you like the effect of the Spirit Dissolving Powder I gave you? It’s your own fault for being careless, deciding the outcome from the start.” I remembered the time Fiona tampered with the Spirit Stone while I chose the technique. But only Father had the Spirit Dissolving Powder, so was he involved too? My heart sank, feeling betrayed by Father. I saw Asher’s worried gaze. Was he concerned about me? Perhaps our Soul Contract made him empathetic towards me. Declan studied me, sniffing my neck, smirking, “How about you both serve me?” Fiona quickly cooed, “Isn’t having me enough, my Lord? I am the Spirit Clan Heiress!” I recalled the moment I was selecting a cultivation method, and it struck me that Fiona had meddled with the Spirit Stone. However, only my father possessed the Spirit Dissolving Powder. Could he be a part of this conspiracy too? My heart sank, as if I had plunged into an abyss of cold despair. I couldn’t fathom that my father would scheme against me this way. Looking up, I caught Asher’s gaze filled with concern. Was he worried about me? Perhaps our Soul Contract allowed him to share in my emotions. Declan hovered close, a smirk on his lips, “How about both of you serve me?” Fiona quickly feigned innocence, “Isn’t having me enough, Lord? After all, I am the Spirit Clan Heiress!” I knew she wasn’t trying to help me; she was simply afraid I’d take the position of the Lord’s wife from her. Declan laughed fiercely, pulling Fiona close and biting her neck. She whimpered in pain, and he pushed her aside with disinterest, wiping his mouth. “Maybe Cora’s blood is more to my liking?” Fiona hurried to defend herself, “I’m the Spirit Clan Heiress, with a pure bloodline. Cora’s blood is a mess and would weaken your power.” Declan raised an eyebrow, unconvinced, and carried Fiona into the bedroom. Soon after, sounds of passion echoed from within. Declan imprisoned us beneath the Dungeon, waiting for his chance to develop a weapon against the Tentacle Clan. In a past life, Declan was aware that the Tentacle Clan couldn’t be killed, only sent into a dormant state. Once revived by sufficient Mental Strength, their resurgence would be inevitable. But back then, Fiona refused to sacrifice herself as the book instructed to revive the Tentacle Clan, insisting on returning home. “I am the Spirit Clan Heiress; how could I become exhausted and frail?” Asher fought to grant Fiona her freedom, only for her new lover to extract information from her and betray the Tentacle Clan’s base location, leading to its downfall. The Tentacle Clan often remained in stasis pods, making the base’s secrecy vital. While I was confined in the Dungeon, I discovered a massive ice bed filled with girls from my Spirit Clan. Fiona had incited Declan to capture my people to practice this cultivation method for her gain. I shook my head with a bitter laugh. Oh, Fiona, don’t you realize? Our ancestors branded this cultivation method, and only those of royal blood could master it. Every glory demands a price. So why do you, as the Heiress, believe you are inherently noble? Declan visited the Dungeon one day, ordered my clanswomen to be cut for their blood, but spat it out in disgust. He called Fiona over and kicked her face with his foot. “Didn’t you claim this method would purify the blood? Why is it still the same?” Fiona frowned, inspecting my clanspeople like livestock, muttering that it couldn’t be true. Watching this betrayal filled me with trembling rage. I always thought she was merely spoiled and willful, but I never expected her to betray her race in this manner. As fury consumed me, a pair of warm hands enveloped mine. I looked up to meet Asher’s compassionate eyes. It felt as though he was silently reassuring me, “Cora, don’t worry, I’ll get you out soon.” I was taken aback. His Mental Strength was depleted; how could he save me? Fortunately, as I channeled my power, I realized my Spirit Power had recovered by eighty percent. Even without a Spirit Stone, my strong Mental Strength could support Asher in our escape. Sadly, the other girls couldn’t be saved. After they left, Asher seized his moment, using all his strength to unfurl black tentacles, wrapping around me to break through the siege. He intended to sacrifice himself to help me escape, warming my heart. In a past life, Nora manipulated his innocence to lead him to his demise. I must protect his pure heart this time. I seized the moment, quickly cutting my finger, letting blood drip onto the Spirit Stone. The Spirit Stone instantly emitted a dazzling light, flying toward Asher. He immediately became agile, his tentacles powerful, slaying enemies left and right. My Mental Strength was formidable due to my Heaven Clan bloodline, more potent than the pure Spirit Clan, capable of maximizing the Spirit Stone’s power. Yet, the Spirit Clan always valued pure lineage as the noble standard. Asher glanced back gratefully at me, then plunged into battle. I steeled myself, cutting my wrist, letting more blood flow to the Spirit Stone. Asher could then fight ten at once, sweeping through the enemies. I watched him with relief but fainted from overexertion. In my daze, I felt someone securely catch me.

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On our wedding night, my wife wore a carefully chosen nightgown, waiting for me in bed. I grabbed my robe and quickly finished my shower. But then, on the bathroom shelf, I noticed her phone ringing. Driven by curiosity, I picked it up. A pinned group chat with seven members immediately caught my eye. The latest message, sent by my wife just five minutes ago, was a photo of her in the shower. [Although I’m married now, you’re all still my darlings. As usual, here’s a little treat for you to enjoy.] The replies from six different men in the group flooded the screen with gloating and cheers. Monday: [Ellie’s figure is looking better and better!] Tuesday: [Ellie still loves us so much!] Wednesday: [Tonight was supposed to be my turn with Ellie. That lucky bastard stole it from me!] Thursday: [Ellie, did you miss me today?] Friday: [Ellie, see you Friday at the usual spot!] Saturday: [Ellie, let your husband take Sundays, okay? One day each! How generous of us!] The disgusting messages flooded my vision, yet a strange sense of exhilaration rose in my chest. The wife I had personally chosen didn’t disappoint me at all!

I slipped her phone into my pajama pocket and quietly walked into the bedroom. On the newly made bed, covered with a fresh wedding bedding set, my wife, Eleanor Dixon, lay on her side against the bed sheets. Her legs were exposed. “Honey, come on! I’ve been waiting for you!” I said nothing, my brows tightly furrowed. Eleanor didn’t seem to notice anything unusual about my expression. She playfully urged me to hurry over, her face brimming with impatience. “You know we’re married now, hurry up! “What are you standing there for? Honey, it’s our wedding night! Every second of tonight is precious!” I stared at Eleanor, barely containing the fury boiling within me. So she did remember it was our wedding night. And yet, she still found time to send “treats” to her group of male admirers. Eleanor sat up on the bed, her pretty face quickly showing irritation. “Keith, it’s our wedding night. Why the long face? You’re being ridiculous!” Her audacious tone pushed me over the edge. “Ridiculous? Me? “Can you explain who those men in the group chat are? And those photos you personally sent?” As I spoke, I pulled the phone out of my pocket and tossed it onto the bed. Eleanor’s face visibly froze. She quickly grabbed her phone and opened WhatsApp. Sure enough, she saw the replies from the other members. “Keith, you went through my phone?” She didn’t address my questions. Instead, she threw another accusation at me. I laughed bitterly to myself. My wife was always like this. The moment she got caught red-handed, she would immediately try to shift the blame, as if that could erase her wrongdoing. I glanced at the wedding photo on the bedside table. Those celebratory images now felt painfully ironic. Everything screamed “happily ever after” and “a lifetime of bliss,” but to me, it all seemed like a façade covering something unspeakably ugly. “Ellie, as a normal man, I can’t just sit back and watch my wife’s naked photos being commented on by other men! “It’s late tonight. Tomorrow morning, we’ll get a divorce.” At the mention of divorce, Eleanor rushed over and hugged me. “Honey, we just got married today, how can we get divorced tomorrow? “What would our friends and family think? “I can explain those group messages. “Honey, you know how exhausting my work is. I’m always swamped with company matters. “Last week, at my friend’s birthday party, I just happened to add a few waiters to my contacts. “Those guys in the group are just joking around. Don’t take it seriously. I swear there’s nothing going on. Please trust me, okay?” I tried to push her arms away, but she clung to me tightly, refusing to let go. With our height difference, I looked down at her tear-streaked, delicate face. For a moment, I felt a pang of pity. “Jokes? Since when do jokes involve sending naked photos to a group chat?” “Honey, I was confused for a moment and didn’t think it through. It’s my fault. Please don’t divorce me. “I’ll delete the group chat right now and never talk to them again!” She picked up her phone and exited the pinned group chat on her own. “Honey, I love you so, so much. Please forgive me this once. Don’t divorce me, okay?”

Eleanor’s voice was choked with sobs as she buried her face in my chest, much like a pitiful, wronged kitten. I could feel a distinct warmth spreading across my chest. I knew her tears had soaked through my pajama top. I raised my hand to wipe the tears from her face. Some of my anger subsided, and my tone softened noticeably. “Alright, Ellie, stop crying.” “Then you won’t divorce me, right?” Her tearful, wide eyes gazed up at me, perfectly angled for maximum effect. Of course, I knew this was all part of her carefully calculated performance. After a long pause, I finally said the word she had been waiting for. “Alright.” After freshening up again, Eleanor became even more proactive, inviting me to consummate our marriage. However, her enthusiasm was quickly interrupted by a work-related call I pretended to receive. Using overtime as an excuse, I spent the entire night in the study instead. The next morning, Eleanor seemed to feel a pang of guilt. My bank account received an extra one hundred thousand dollars. She was fond of using money as an apology, and I, naturally, was happy to accept it. In the following days, Eleanor tried her best to please me. She would either prepare breakfast early in the morning or bring back gifts after work. One evening, I came home late due to work. As soon as I entered, I saw Eleanor’s busy figure in the kitchen. She had prepared an entire feast. Seeing me, she affectionately asked me to wash my hands and join her for dinner. Normally, such tasks were left to the housekeeper. But now, in an effort to win me over, she had taken it upon herself to cook. At the dinner table, Eleanor kept adding food to my plate and even suggested making up for our wedding night. “Honey, don’t sleep in the study tonight, okay?” I silently calculated the timing in my head and agreed. After dinner, I carried Eleanor back to the bedroom. The room was filled with a pleasant aroma from a lit scented candle, and flower petals were scattered across the bed. Eleanor had meticulously prepared everything, determined to win me over. The atmosphere grew heated as I leaned over Eleanor, my hand trailing along her waist and moving downward. Suddenly, a warm, wet sensation spread across my hand. Eleanor’s period had arrived. She seemed to realize it too and hurried to the bathroom. After a while, she came out of the bathroom, wrapping her slender arms around mine and speaking in a voice as soft as water. “Honey, my period came.” I affectionately patted her head and got up to make her some hot cocoa in the kitchen. In the kitchen, I dropped a sleeping pill into her cup. After drinking the cocoa, Eleanor quickly fell asleep. I tucked her in and casually picked up her phone from the bedside table. When I opened WhatsApp, the group chat I had seen before was indeed gone. Her contact list now had me pinned at the top, while the rest of the messages were all work-related. Switching seamlessly to her secondary WhatsApp account, I found the familiar seven-person group chat again. The latest message had been sent that morning. In it, Eleanor reminded the group. [I’ve been busy pacifying my husband. Once tonight is over, I’ll be yours again!]

Eleanor clearly couldn’t bear to part with her six lovers. Feigning ignorance, I put her phone back where I found it. The next morning, I packed a few essentials into a suitcase and prepared to leave the house. Eleanor stopped me at the door, calling out to my retreating figure. “Honey, why are you packing your suitcase?” I turned back and looked at her, my tone calm. “I’ve taken on a new project and might be on a business trip for a week.” Eleanor’s gaze was filled with reluctant affection as she spoke softly. “Then, honey, make sure to bring me back a gift when you return, okay? I’ll be waiting for you!” I nodded and left with my suitcase. Inwardly, I promised her a very special gift. Leaving the house, I hailed a cab and went straight to a hotel. At the front desk, the receptionist asked for my driver’s license to check me in. As I handed over my license from my wallet, an old photograph inside accidentally fell out. The receptionist returned both my license and the photo after processing my details. “Sir, you dropped this photo.” I took the photo and thanked her politely. “Sir, you and the lady in the photo make a beautiful couple.” I didn’t respond, turning instead to the elevator to head to my room. After a week at the hotel, I picked up my spare phone and sent a message to a familiar contact. [It’s time.] Before long, my computer screen lit up with a live mirror of Eleanor’s WhatsApp account. The seven-person group chat was still pinned at the top. The man labeled “Monday” was the first to speak. [Ellie hasn’t contacted us in a week. Don’t you miss us?] [Ellie, did you forget about us?] Eleanor’s reply came almost instantly. [You’re all my darlings. Of course, I missed you!] The other men quickly chimed in. Tuesday: [But it’s been ages since you sent us anything nice, let alone met us. Did you forget about us?] Eleanor: [I didn’t! Don’t worry. I’ll see you all tomorrow.] Wednesday: [But tomorrow’s Sunday. Ellie, who are you meeting? You promised your husband gets Sundays!] Eleanor: [My husband’s on a business trip. He won’t be back anytime soon. Don’t worry. I’ll see you tomorrow.] Friday: [Ellie, can we all meet tomorrow? After all, if you see just one of us, the rest will get jealous. Why not make it a group gathering?] The group echoed their agreement enthusiastically. Eleanor finally relented and sent the time and hotel name in the chat. It was the very hotel I was currently staying at.

The next morning at 9 a.m., Eleanor posted a picture of her outfit in the group chat. She was wearing a tight black pencil skirt, with a hint of cleavage peeking out from her top. Paired with black stockings and red-bottomed heels, her seductive figure was fully on display. Then, Eleanor shared what she had brought in her bag. Two boxes of 16 condoms. The group chat exploded with excitement. Monday: [Ellie, still spoiling us as always!] Tuesday: [Don’t worry, Ellie, we’ll make sure to take good care of you today. You’ll have no complaints.] Wednesday: [I still don’t understand why you married that useless husband of yours. We’re the ones who truly love you.] Eleanor: [Of course, you guys are my true loves. The marriage was just to deal with my mom, so she’ll give me more money for my babies!] Eleanor: [But honestly, the husband I picked turned out to be a good choice. Even if he finds out about you guys, so what? I’ll shed a couple of tears, act cute, and that dumb fool will forgive me.] Eleanor: [I could tell right away how obsessed he was with me. I knew he was a simp!] Friday: [It’s still all about Ellie’s charm!] Friday: [Let’s not mention Ellie’s simp of a husband. We’ll head to the hotel and wait for Ellie!] Twenty minutes later, someone posted a room number in the chat. [Crescent Hotel, Room 502.] I couldn’t help but laugh as I saw the room number. What a coincidence, it was next door. Not long after, I heard shuffling noises from the adjacent room. Then, the distinct sound of high heels echoed. It was Eleanor’s footsteps. At the hotel room door, Eleanor casually told the others to wait while she took off her high heels and left them outside the room. Once she entered, loud voices from the next room filled the air. I picked up my phone, found her contact, and called her, but she didn’t pick up. I tried calling her on WhatsApp, but after a few rings, there was still no answer. The noises from the neighboring room quieted down, so I stopped calling Eleanor. Instead, I flipped through my contact list and dialed Eleanor’s mother, Claire Avery’s number. When she picked up, I urgently said into the phone, “I think Ellie’s in danger. You need to come to the hotel with your relatives. “I suspect she’s being threatened by someone and might be trapped!” There was a brief silence on the other end before Claire started to panic. “Keith, what are you talking about? What happened to Ellie? Explain clearly!” “Now is not the time to explain! You need to hurry over with the relatives. The sooner, the better! I’m going to Crescent Hotel Room 502, so hurry!” Without giving Claire a chance to respond, I quickly hung up. I opened the door, and sure enough, I found Eleanor’s high heels in front of the neighboring room. She always couldn’t wait. From inside the room, bursts of laughter, followed by moaning, crying, and pleas for mercy, could be heard. Maybe it was just my imagination, but I thought I heard Eleanor shout, “Daddy!” But my wife’s father had been dead for years. I looked at the high heels at the door and, without hesitation, dialed the phone number. “Hello, I’d like to report something! There’s prostitution going on at Crescent Hotel, Room 502!”

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To avoid the relentless marriage pressure, I told my parents I lost my job and had racked up a huge debt, figuring no one would want me then. I didn’t expect to be disowned and kicked out that same night. “We don’t have a daughter who brings such shame to our family!” “Get out, get out, get out! If debt collectors come knocking during the holidays, how are we supposed to face anyone?” “Angel, you’re an adult now. You need to take responsibility for yourself. We’re too old to bear this burden for you.” Should I tell them it’s their son who’s in debt, not me? Chapter As New Year approached, the marriage pressure calls became more frequent. “Daughter, you’re already in your late twenties. What are you going to do if you don’t get married soon?” “Your elementary school classmate, I forget his name, already has two kids!” “How can your father and I hold our heads up? People think there’s something wrong with our daughter! If you don’t marry, your brother will struggle to find a wife too!” “Listen to me, your aunt set you up on a blind date. The guy is honest and doesn’t talk much! He’s really good! You have to meet him when you come back for New Year, got it?” “There are also other men introduced by relatives. I’ve lined them up for you. It doesn’t matter if they’re good or bad, as long as someone wants you! Otherwise, in a couple of years, even the guys at the village entrance won’t want you!” By the end of the year, it was almost like clockwork, four calls a day, perfectly timed with meals. Colleagues who witnessed all this were secretly mocking me: “Is your family breeding livestock?” “Even for breeding, you’d want a strong one to ensure the quality of offspring. Your family… not even the village guys?” I was blushing from the ridicule. My manager’s gaze was also becoming strange. With my limited work experience, I guessed they either wanted to make me more compliant or suspected I was about to get married and become unsuitable for work! I was both restless and angry! I’m only 23, in the prime of my youth! At the beginning of the year, I joined a big company. Every day, my parents would call me with workplace survival tips like “be diligent, serve tea and clean up, give gifts, sweet talk, and use connections.” After being overheard, I was ridiculed and became a minor office joke. At the end of the year, because of countless marriage pressure calls, I became the office laughingstock again. I walked to a quiet corner, and another call came through. “Stop pressuring me! I’m only 23!” I ruffled my hair in frustration and pleaded into the phone with a tearful voice. “I was just negotiating a business deal! Your calls ruined the cooperation, and I’m about to get fired and held accountable!” “The deal was worth millions! Are you going to compensate for that?” “Stop calling.” The marriage pressure call ended. My mom didn’t say anything. Before I realized it, she hung up with a “ding.” I was stunned for a couple of seconds, then exhaled a breath of relief, finally able to enjoy some peace. Days passed without any marriage pressure calls, and I was in a great mood, even eating two extra bowls of rice. “Finally got through it!” I packed up my things, ready to head home. “Next year is a new year, with new gossip. Everyone will forget.” I comforted myself. Chapter

When I got home, it was dinner time. “Dad, Mom, Brother,” I greeted each one. Seeing my brother and his new girlfriend was a bit of a surprise. “Hi, hi, I’m Angel, Jack’s sister. Make yourself at home!” They seemed surprised to see me, their chopsticks frozen in mid-air, and the atmosphere felt a bit tense. “What’s up? Didn’t I text you that I’d be home today?” I looked at my silent family, feeling a bit strange. “No, uh, my phone broke, didn’t see it.” My mom awkwardly smiled, pointing with her chopsticks. “You’ve eaten, right? We’re halfway through our meal, you… want some more?” I looked at the leftover food, a bit helpless: “I sent the message to the family group chat.” My dad’s face darkened, frowning as he scolded me: “Just come home, it’s not a big deal!” “Daughter.” My mom quickly stopped him and then hesitated to stop me from getting more dishes. “Yeah? What is it?” “Well, Mom’s phone broke, and I’m getting old, don’t understand these electronic products. Can you buy me a new one?” “Sure.” I didn’t catch any hidden meaning and agreed readily. Since I started working, they’ve often asked me for gifts. She finally showed a smile and went to get me some dishes. “Daughter, it’s good you’re back. We all missed you!” “While everyone’s free for the New Year, I’ve arranged for you to meet your aunt and a few other men introduced by relatives. One every hour! Just check them out, pick one, and aim to get married this holiday.” “You’re still young, you have choices. Wait a couple more years, who will want you then?!” I was so shocked that I dropped my food, the beef roll falling back into the hot pot, quickly picked up by my brother, who glared at me. “This year? Are you kidding?” Seeing their serious expressions, I put down my chopsticks and addressed a reality check about marriage. “Marriage requires a lot of preparation, especially financially.” “For example, how much are you expecting in dowry? How much are you giving me as a bride price?” My mom gave me a pinch of cabbage, giving me a playful look. “You young people love shortcuts, hoping to get rich through marriage! Cars and houses will come in time! Don’t fuss over these! A reliable man is what matters most!” My dad’s face was grim, displeased with my questions. “We’re not selling our daughter, why ask for benefits? You want people to gossip about us?” My mom quickly filled his glass, soothing him. “Listen to Mom, money isn’t important in life. When your dad and I got married, we didn’t care about these things. We had nothing but still made it work.” Seeing I wasn’t moved, she began tearfully lamenting how hard it was to raise me, and how not getting married would be an eternal shame, leaving them restless forever. I got fed up with the pressure, recalling the words that made them quiet before, ready to use the same trick. “It’s not that I don’t want to get married, but marriage involves living together, buying a house, a car, having kids, needing a stable financial base, right?” “Before… you kept calling at inappropriate times, ruining several contracts, and now I’ve been fired. The client is demanding compensation, and I’m in debt by millions. Who would dare marry me? Marry me and share my debt?” The familiar tense atmosphere returned, broken by my dad slamming his chopsticks down. “Who are you trying to fool? You agreed to buy the phone for your mom without hesitation, how can you be in debt?!” “Don’t think we don’t know your little schemes!” “You just don’t want to get married! How are we supposed to hold our heads up in the village?” I stared in disbelief. Were they testing me from the start, setting a trap? No way, we’re family, right? I shook my head, pushing the odd thought away. “Take out a loan! If you’re deep in debt, what’s one more? If you’re covered in lice, you won’t feel itchy!” I said casually, trying to continue eating, but my brother blocked me, so I gave up, not caring anymore. “Anyway, I’m deep in debt now! No job! Anyone who marries me is unlucky! Definitely can’t get married!” “My focus next year is to find a good job, then work for promotions and raises! Be filial to you, alright?” “As for marriage, I’m not considering it for now. Don’t rush me. I’ll marry when I find the right person!” They stared at me, seemingly confirming the truth of my words. Finally, after a moment, my mom clutched her chest, trembling, and began crying again. My image of being obedient and honest since childhood was deeply ingrained, so they probably believed me. But what they didn’t know is once someone starts working, they learn to tell little lies with ease! Watching my mom cry, I felt at a loss. Is not marrying at 23 such a big deal? Is it worth crying over? “So you’re blaming us…” “You want us to pay your debts?” My mom pointed at me, crying as if she was about to faint. “How did I give birth to such a debt-collector?!” Chapter

“I…” Before I could finish my sentence, my dad took a deep breath, threw back a shot of baijiu, and slammed the glass on the ground, asserting his authority as the head of the family. “Impossible! Don’t even think about it!” “Other people’s children go out to work and earn money to support their families. But you? You’re like a failure! Not only didn’t you make money, but you also ended up owing millions!” “I don’t have such a disappointing daughter!” His harsh words left me stunned. Pointing to myself in disbelief, I asked, “Me? Disappointing?” I finally understood what they were implying. They thought I wanted them to help pay off my debts? But the debt isn’t real! Even if it were, shouldn’t a family face hardships together? “What if it was my brother Jack who was in debt?” I asked, not giving up. My dad’s face darkened even more. “Don’t even think of comparing yourself to your brother! He’s the pillar of our family! After a hundred years, everything we have will be his. Don’t even dream of getting a penny!” “Besides, your brother wouldn’t do something like that!” Jack had been looking uncertain, but hearing this, he immediately raised his head proudly. I found it absurd. They say a father’s love is conditional, while a mother’s love is selfless. Could my mom be this heartless too? My mom clutched her chest as if she couldn’t breathe. “What do you mean? Are you blaming us?” “We’re urging you to get married for your own good, so there’s someone to take care of you! If you can’t secure a contract, it’s because you’re not capable!” “If we made a mistake, it’s in raising you too well, making you arrogant! You couldn’t see your place and insisted on working in the big city!” “If you’d dropped out and worked early on, you’d already be married, and you wouldn’t have all these problems!” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. In middle school, they wanted me to drop out and work. It was my teacher’s home visit that brought me back to school. I worked hard, finished college with scholarships and part-time jobs. I always thought we were poor, as they always said, raising me was a huge favor. Until last year, when they suddenly took out two million yuan to buy Jack a house. That’s when I realized we weren’t poor; they were just poor to me. By then, I was financially independent, so I didn’t dwell on it. After all, we’re family! My mom continued, “Daughter, you made this mess, you should clean it up yourself! We’re old, how can you bear to let us suffer with you?” Suffer? I’ve never made them suffer. As she bragged, when she was seven months pregnant with me, she was still working hard. I was quiet and obedient. When she argued with my grandma and accidentally fell, I was born with a “splash.” She wanted to earn money and have another child, so she barely raised me, leaving me with my grandparents. They fed me rice soup. Once I started school, being diligent and sensible, I never caused them any trouble. When I was two, my brother was born, and I helped take care of him like half a nanny. Suddenly, I wanted them to suffer a bit. Tears started flowing uncontrollably. “I’m not asking for much. Didn’t Jack prepare 188,000 yuan for his wedding? Lend it to me for now. I’ll pay it back after the Lunar New Year, double!” I gritted my teeth, looking at them hopefully. 188,000 yuan is definitely within their reach. As long as they say “yes,” I’ll repay it double next year! I wasn’t sure what I was fighting for. Maybe this would prove they saw me as family! Chapter

“Angel, what do you mean?” Jack, who had been silent, jumped up excitedly. “Who do you think you are? Do you deserve it?” I looked at him in shock, unable to believe the sweet brother on the phone could become so vicious. “I’ve wanted to say this for a long time. So what if you owe debts? Just ask for more benefits!” “Go ask around, how many college students are there in our area? We endured hardships to send her to college, wasn’t it for this? Why are you being so pretentious?” He shouted at my mom, then looked at me smugly. “You probably don’t know yet, right? Aunt found you a match whose wife just died, leaving him a big inheritance!” “You did pretty well, worth some money! He’s willing to pay 188,000 yuan to marry a college graduate!” “Don’t look so shocked, as if you’re innocent! You’ve worked so hard studying, trying to please mom and dad, isn’t it to find a better husband? If not to attract a man’s attention, why work so hard?” I was furious and slapped him across the face. Before high school, I spent all my vacations on him, teaching him homework and life lessons. In high school, I spent more time studying and working part-time, always buying him snacks and gifts when I had extra money. The effort I put into him wasn’t any less than what my parents did. His words hurt me more than my parents’ schemes. “He’s your brother, how can you hit him?” My mom shrieked, raising her hand to hit me. I dodged quickly, avoiding her hand, but tripped over a chair and fell to the ground. Jack seized the opportunity to kick me in the stomach. The girlfriend he brought home was so scared she dropped her chopsticks, quietly standing up and heading for the door. I curled up, in pain all over, unable to believe these were my family, who claimed to love me and have my best interest at heart! My dad approached, and I thought he was going to help me up. I propped myself on my arms to get up, only to see him looking down at me arrogantly. “Lock her in the room, let Aunt come to pick her up tomorrow.” My heart went cold, finally recognizing the truth. This isn’t my home, and they’re not my family. I bit down on Jack’s hand, drawing blood. He used his other hand to choke me. “You dare hit me! You’ll marry whether you want to or not! That’s your fate!” “If you refuse, I’ll break your legs!” I grabbed his hands, trying to loosen his grip, but I couldn’t match his strength. Asphyxiation set in, and my head started spinning. Tears blurred my vision, and I saw my mom leaning on a chair, crying harder than I was. “Enough! It’s a holiday, don’t you find this unlucky!” “Once you’ve vented, that’s it. We’re still waiting for her to bring in benefits!” I finally got a moment to breathe. “Wait!” “You can’t lock me up…” My dad, impatient, was about to kick me again. I covered my head and shouted, “I said the debt is real!” “They’re already here, right at the village entrance!” “They have knives and axes!” “Let me go, I’ll lead them away!” “Otherwise, none of us will survive tonight!” He paused, looking at me mockingly. “If you’re going to make something up, at least make it believable!” I struggled to look up. “Listen!” My voice was hoarse from the choking, like a ghost. Chapter On my way back, I saw people at the village entrance, smashing things. I wanted to watch but was worried they’d wait too long for me at home, so I quickly asked what was happening. “What else? Debt collecting!” “It’s a good time to collect debts during the holidays!” There are many who drink and gamble in the village, losing a car over the New Year is common. I’ve known that since I was young. But collecting debts during the holidays, this was a first for me. But it doesn’t matter to me, I just want to get away! They’re not family; they’re demons!

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My Best Friend is a Serial Cheater and Now She’s After My Fiancé She smugly treats us like prey, thinking she can trample all over me. Little does she know, the moment she set her sights on us, I had my gun aimed at her. My best friend called, asking to stay at my place for a few days. The reason? She was caught cheating by her husband. I was a bit surprised. “Weren’t you always so careful before? How did you get caught this time?” Vanessa Hughes’ tone was lazy, showing no signs of the tension or embarrassment one might expect from being caught in the act. “I got wasted that night and hooked up with some young stud at a bar. Didn’t think it through and brought him home… Derek said he was on a business trip and wouldn’t be back, who could have guessed…” Vanessa’s husband, Derek Lee, was from a business marriage arrangement between their families. I’d met Derek before. He always looked prim and proper in his crisp suits, the very picture of an upper-class elite. To outsiders, his marriage with Vanessa seemed like a childhood sweethearts’ fairy tale romance, but in reality… The couple played their own games, as long as they didn’t bring it home, anything goes. Once, right after Vanessa had finished a steamy session with her gym trainer at a hotel, she called me to come find her. She was holding a blurry, secretly taken photo. It showed Derek’s profile and a girl who looked like an innocent college student. Vanessa, holding a glass of wine and looking tipsy, sneered at the photo— “Look at his poor taste. After all these years, he still goes for these innocent types…” Vanessa said that men, when they have nothing, are infatuated with women at the top of the pyramid. But once they have everything and have seen it all, even the grandest parties bore them. Then they start to prefer ordinary, down-to-earth women, wanting to settle down with a good wife. Unfortunately, Vanessa was never that type of woman. No matter how alluringly she dressed herself up, able to make countless men lose their minds with a wave of her hand, she couldn’t move Derek’s heart. Derek rarely even looked at her when he was home. Vanessa asked me to pick her up, but I replied, “I’m still at work. How about I ask my fiancé to pick you up?” Vanessa made a confused sound. “You have a fiancé? Since when?”

Lucas and I met at work. He’s my boss, originally from a rural background, graduated from a prestigious university, and climbed his way up to the middle class through his own abilities and skills. I’ve already met his parents, and they really like me. They said I looked like a good, well-behaved girl at first glance, perfect for marriage and family life. Lucas didn’t say anything at the time because his reason for choosing me was also that I was suitable for marriage and family life. I sent Vanessa a photo of Lucas and me, explaining— “We met six months ago. I wanted to wait until our relationship was stable before introducing him to you. We’re about to get engaged.” The photo was taken at a company event. Lucas was wearing a white shirt, looking handsome and reserved. He looked like the male lead in a campus drama, touched by sunlight and the scent of fresh grass. Vanessa teased languidly, “Hiding such a catch, afraid I’d find out?” I laughed, “Don’t joke around. He’s my fiancé, we’re about to get married. You wouldn’t go after him, would you?” Lucas bought a three-bedroom apartment in the city, with a down payment of several hundred thousand dollars, and he’s still paying off the mortgage. Since we’re about to get married, we moved in together. Now that Vanessa was coming, I naturally had to let him know first. When he heard Vanessa was coming to stay, Lucas seemed a bit annoyed: “Vanessa? That wild friend of yours?” Vanessa’s love for partying was well-known in our friend circle. Lucas used to always tell me to cut ties with Vanessa, saying he didn’t want me to have a “party girl” as a best friend. I could only coax him, saying, “Vanessa might be wild when it comes to relationships, but she’s been really good to me. I don’t care what others say about her, I can’t be ungrateful and let her down. If her husband doesn’t mind her partying, what can we say as outsiders?” Lucas drove to pick up Vanessa, but it wasn’t necessary. Vanessa had her own car, a Maserati worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. She had several in her underground garage and chose whichever one she felt like driving. She even took a photo of Lucas next to her car and sent it to me. Seeing that photo, my heart skipped a beat. Vanessa’s way of showing interest in a man was simple: she’d shower him with money and resources, as if seeing a man covered in things she bought was a way of claiming ownership. That mentality was more like decorating a trophy with luxurious and exquisite things. Had she… really set her sights on Lucas?

When I got home that evening, Lucas was cooking in the kitchen. He was tall and well-built, with gentle features and a calm, scholarly air about him. Wearing an apron, he looked just like the perfect house husband. Vanessa was sitting barefoot on the living room couch, scrolling through her phone while munching on an apple. Perhaps because she was a guest in our home, her makeup was more subdued than usual. Instead of her usual sexy, glamorous look, she appeared fresh and delicate. Her custom-made bag from France sat on the coffee table, seeming to fill the air with the scent of expensive perfume. Seeing me come in, she looked up and gave me a sweet smile— “You’re back? Your fiancé is a great cook. I just had a taste, and it’s quite good…” To be honest, facing Vanessa now made me nervous and uneasy. She was too beautiful, with the kind of confidence that comes from being raised with privilege and luxury, constantly rubbing against my insecurities like sandpaper. If she had really set her sights on Lucas, what were my chances of winning? On the first night, she didn’t interact with Lucas at all, keeping the conversation centered around me. Our dinner talk mostly revolved around work. When Vanessa learned that Lucas was currently in charge of a project, her eyes suddenly lit up. She looked at Lucas with a meaningful smile and said, “I know the boss of your business partner. Since you’re Emily’s fiancé and you just cooked me a delicious meal, I’ll help you out. It’s just a matter of putting in a good word.” That night, Vanessa stayed in the guest room while Lucas and I returned to the master bedroom. Vanessa had voluntarily offered to help with his project, and although Lucas didn’t show much reaction on the surface, I could tell he was pleased. He came out of the bathroom after a shower and casually said to me, “Your friend seems alright.” I was sorting out his clothes for the next day when I heard this. I looked up at him, a bit at a loss for words. Lucas seemed to realize something and added, “Don’t worry, your friend’s type… I can’t handle that.” I finally managed a smile and walked over to hug Lucas, but he pushed me away— “We have a guest today, it’s not convenient. Besides, shouldn’t you go keep your friend company?”

Lucas and I had agreed to go look at wedding dresses, but he stood me up. The reason was that Vanessa had taken him to meet the boss of the business partner. Their discussion went very well, and they even had lunch together at a restaurant. Thanks to Vanessa’s help, the project that had been giving Lucas headaches for months was signed smoothly. Lucas told me he wanted to buy a gift to thank Vanessa and asked for my opinion. I thought for a moment and said, “Vanessa has had everything since she was little. No matter what gift we buy, she won’t think much of it.” But Lucas said, “You’re her best friend, shouldn’t you at least know what she likes?” I fell silent for a moment, observing Lucas’s slightly expectant expression, and finally said, “Vanessa decided to help because of me. Even if someone needs to thank her, it should be me. You don’t need to worry about this, I’ll handle it.” Lucas didn’t say anything more and went back to his study to work on the new project. That night, Vanessa didn’t come back until nearly dawn. She was drunk again, carelessly holding her bag, stumbling on her high heels. The strong smell of perfume and alcohol hit us as she came in. Because she couldn’t stand steady, Lucas reached out to support her, and she fell into his arms. I walked into the living room with a cup of hot water, just in time to see this scene. Lucas looked up at me, awkwardly pushing Vanessa away and standing up to avoid suspicion, saying, “You take care of her.” Lucas and I helped Vanessa back to the guest room. Vanessa had a habit of randomly taking off her clothes when drunk. Her high heels were thrown at the door, and she was uncomfortably writhing in the bed, raising her hand to toss her bra under the bed. I turned to look at Lucas, who was looking at me awkwardly, seeming a bit at a loss. I then noticed that at his feet lay Vanessa’s lacy panties. Lucas stiffly averted his gaze and said mildly, “You look after her. I’ll go rest first. Call me if you need anything.” After Lucas left, I turned to look at Vanessa sleeping. She was always like this, able to have the love of many people from the moment she was born. Like a proud princess, under everyone’s care, she would pluck the exquisite flowers in the garden, then disdainfully trample them underfoot. Those things cherished by others, she would crush into mud without a care. She would still be that princess loved by everyone.

Lucas began to work overtime frequently and even go on business trips, causing our wedding date to be postponed. He said the new project he was in charge of was extremely urgent and had to be completed before the new quarter. However, Vanessa posted a photo on social media, claiming that Lucas, who was supposedly very busy on a business trip out of town, was accompanying her on a stroll along the Bund. Lucas’s explanation for this was— “I was meeting with Mr. Li, the boss of our business partner. Vanessa happened to be there too. Remember she helped me get the project last time? So I invited her to dinner as a thank you. After dinner, I was just walking her back to her hotel, that’s all. Don’t overthink it…” I didn’t overthink it, because I knew this was Vanessa’s declaration of war against me. Or rather, it was her smug way of showing off and giving me a warning. She wanted to tell me that she had set her sights on my man, and there was nothing I could do about it. On the fifth day of Lucas’s business trip, Vanessa posted another photo on social media. It was a picture of a hotel room. Through a narrow gap in the curtains, you could see the blue coastline outside. Coincidentally, the city where Lucas was on his business trip, the hotel he was staying at, also had a view of the sea. I tried to video call Lucas, but he hung up. He said he was dealing with work matters and couldn’t talk at the moment, but he’d call me back later. About two hours later, Lucas finally returned my video call. In the frame, he had already showered, his hair still wet. Lucas and I were in the honeymoon phase of our relationship. Before we lived together, we used to video chat every night. He was a reserved and distant person, always keeping others at arm’s length, but with me, he showed a rare boyish side. He liked to cling to me, using that whiny and tired voice, as if he was showing his vulnerability and trying to please me. Every time, we would chat until around 10:30 PM. Only when I reminded him to go to sleep because he had work the next day would he reluctantly end the call. But now, as the clock struck 9 PM, he said he was tired and wanted to go to bed early. Looking at his handsome face in the video, I held back the pain in my heart and wished him goodnight. After hanging up, I sent a message to Vanessa’s husband, Derek Lee. It was the photo of Vanessa and Lucas out together. After a long while, I finally received Derek’s reply— “That’s her business. She can do whatever she wants. It has nothing to do with me.”

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To protect his illegitimate child, Lucas pushed me down the stairs when I was in late pregnancy. He left me bleeding profusely and rushed to the hospital with that illegitimate child. It wasn’t until I was sent to the operating table that I learned the truth. He forced me to give birth to this child, just to save the life of his and Amber’s illegitimate child. Poof— A mouthful of fresh blood gushed from my mouth, staining Amber’s face. Before losing consciousness, all I could hear was Amber’s panicked screams. And those words mercilessly revealing the truth about why Lucas made me pregnant and give birth. When I woke up again, I was in the operating room of the hospital. The lights above me swayed back and forth, stinging my eyes. My limbs felt like they were being gnawed by ants. I could constantly hear the doctors discussing around me. Intermittently, not very clearly. The gist was that I might die on this operating table due to excessive blood loss. And the child in my belly would never have a chance to be born into this world. Tears flowed uncontrollably from my eyes. I wanted so badly to grab the doctor’s hand and beg him to save me, to save my child. But I had no strength. I could only let them cut open my belly and take out the baby that was originally nurtured there. Then my body was like a rag doll, being turned over and stitched up by the doctors. Until finally I heard a “beep”, and the doctors stopped their actions. And my consciousness began to gradually leave my body. Looking at the tiny body placed beside the operating table, my heart felt like it was being pricked by needles. After all, he was once expected to be born. The doctors kept calling Lucas’s phone again and again, but couldn’t get through. And I just watched numbly, unable to stir up any ripples in my heart. I don’t know how long it took, but finally someone came to deal with my and the baby’s bodies. It wasn’t my legal husband, the father of the child, Lucas. But Amber, with tears in her eyes but a smile on her lips— My own elder sister. She took away my baby with the organ donation consent form signed by Lucas. As for me, she only left a sentence “Contact the crematorium to cremate as soon as possible, to avoid the family’s grief” before leaving without looking back.

Watching Amber take away my baby, I hurriedly followed. Thinking of that organ donation consent form, I rushed in front of her like a madwoman. What was she going to do with my child? What was she going to do to my child! I hysterically tried to take back my child, but I could only pass through Amber’s body, touching nothing but emptiness. She came to Lucas’s side, and right in front of him, directly handed the child to the doctors in the operating room. Throughout this process, Lucas didn’t even raise his head. The lights in the operating room lit up again, and I rushed towards it with a heavy heart. But the scene inside made my eyes bulge with anger. My baby was again placed on the cold operating table. Those people were cutting open his chest, but not to save him. They mercilessly cut open his chest to take out that tiny heart, and then carefully placed it on the illegitimate child next to him. The scene before my eyes was like being doused with a bucket of cold water and thrown out in the bitter cold of winter. My whole body trembled. A murderer, a third party, an illegitimate child! How dare they transplant my child’s heart! How dare they! “Stop! You bunch of devils!” “Don’t treat my child like this! Stop it…” I screamed, I roared. I was so angry I wanted to destroy everything here. But I was powerless. I could only watch helplessly as they took the heart and then harvested all the usable organs from my baby. In the end, that poor child was thrown in the corner like a broken doll. No one cared anymore. It wasn’t until someone congratulated Lucas saying the young master’s surgery was successful that I pulled away from my angry and sorrowful emotions. I suddenly rushed in front of Lucas, punching and kicking him, wishing I could tear off his skin with my own hands. Both of them inside were his children. But why treat my baby like this? Why let him leave with such a mutilated body? Is it because he hates me? But the one who has the least right to hate me is him, Lucas. We’ve known each other for over twenty years, I saved him from dire straits, and in the end, I met with such a tragic death! I really hate him so much!

For some reason, after that day, I could no longer leave Lucas’s side. I could only float within his range of activity. Perhaps my hatred was too intense, Lucas would occasionally unconsciously turn his head to look in my direction. “Was that child properly buried?” “Don’t worry, Huai. I’ve already found a place with excellent feng shui, and even invited a master to perform rites. It’s enough to do right by him for coming here.” After saying this, Amber gently leaned on Lucas’s shoulder and cried mournfully: “It’s just a pity for my Henry, who has been fighting with illness for so many years. Now he’s finally overcome his suffering.” “Huai, we’ll be happy as a family of three from now on, right?” This time, Lucas rarely didn’t go along with Amber, and spoke on his own: “After all, we owe that child. In the future, on holidays, you should burn more paper money for him.” A flash of impatience crossed Amber’s eyes, but she still pretended to comply. “Alright, I’ll do as you say.” Lucas responded, then asked: “How is… Zoe? She didn’t make a fuss this time?” Amber’s face went blank for a moment, then she quickly said: “You know Youyou’s temperament. So after she woke up, no one dared to tell her about the child.” Observing Lucas’s expression, Amber tentatively said: “She did shout about wanting a divorce a few times after waking up. But Henry’s condition wasn’t good at the time, so I forgot to tell you.” Sure enough, hearing Amber’s words, Lucas’s face, which had shown some guilt, once again showed anger. “Why does she think she can force me to marry her when she wants, and I have to obediently listen to her arrangements when she wants a divorce?” He picked up his phone, ignoring Amber’s attempts to stop him, and strode out of the ward. I was forced to follow him once again to the place where I had died tragically. Watching Lucas stumble around the obstetrics department like a headless fly. He kept grabbing doctors and nurses in the corridor asking: “Which ward is Zoe in?” Everyone looked at him with confusion, as if looking at a mental patient, saying there was no patient called Zoe here. Lucas felt uncomfortable being looked at like this, and turned to leave with a frustrated face. Watching Lucas’s back as he left without hesitation, one of the young nurses who had been stopped suddenly slapped her forehead, finally remembering where she had heard the name “Zoe”. She angrily called out to Lucas’s back: “Pah! What a scumbag! His wife died from massive bleeding, two lives lost, and he only comes to the hospital to look for her after the seventh day of mourning. What kind of person is he!” Hearing the young nurse’s words, Lucas suddenly turned back. His eyes were as sharp as swords, shooting towards the nurse who had spoken: “What did you say? Say again who died?” The young nurse, seeing Lucas’s fierce look, was frightened. But she still stood up, trembling as she said: “It’s that Zoe, she died from difficult labor that night. Her husband couldn’t be contacted, in the end it was her sister who contacted the crematorium, and she was directly cremated.” “They didn’t even notify anyone else to see her one last time.”

Lucas’s expression stiffened for a moment, but quickly returned to normal. He called Amber to inquire. “Maybe Youyou found out about the child, couldn’t accept it for a while, and is still angry with you. That’s why she got the young nurse to act with her to fool you.” “If Youyou really died, how could you, as her husband, not know?” Lucas hung up the phone and returned to Henry’s ward, filled with anger. Just as he was about to speak to Amber, the phone in his pocket rang. Seeing the words “Wife” flashing on the phone, he sneered coldly. While feeling relieved, his anger surged. “You love playing dead? Then go die for real!” Then he violently smashed the phone against the wall, shattering it to pieces. “Wah… Dad is so scary… wuwu…” “Huai! Henry is still sick, why do you have to make such a big fuss about something!” Amber, under the guise of comforting and holding Henry, took the opportunity to slip the phone hidden behind her back under the mattress. Lucas, seeing Henry crying with a red face, and Amber haggard from taking care of the child, was immediately overwhelmed with guilt, replacing his anger towards me. He stepped forward to take Henry, gently coaxing him. Only when the little one in his arms fell asleep did he gently place him back on the bed. Looking down at Henry’s sleeping face, Lucas lightly kissed his forehead. Then he slowly said to Amber: “Every time I see Henry, I think of that child. I don’t even dare to look at him. Even though I once looked forward to his birth.” “Although Zoe is willful and ignorant, that child was innocent.” “Huai, I know you feel guilty about her and that child, but it’s not your fault!” “You were just trying to save one of the two children as best you could.” Amber slowly wrapped her arms around Lucas’s waist, burying her face in his chest. “I know you have feelings for Youyou. I won’t force you to divorce.” “But in the current situation, it’s really not appropriate to let her know the truth, and Henry needs you now…” “Huai, let me be selfish just this once. Before Henry is discharged, don’t go back to find her, okay? Just take pity on us, mother and son.” “After Henry is discharged, if Youyou doesn’t like it, we’ll leave and never see you again.” Lucas’s arms around Amber suddenly tightened, and he lowered his head to urgently kiss Amber. He blocked the words of leaving from her mouth.

I floated above them, laughing at Amber’s fabricated words. If she really wanted to leave and let me be with Lucas, she wouldn’t have appeared in front of me with her illegitimate child when I was in late pregnancy. The scene before me was really disgusting. Before I could turn to leave, Amber’s phone rang. I looked at the flashing “Mom” on the screen, and couldn’t help but feel a twinge in my nose. I wonder how mom is doing. We had promised to visit her together with Lucas, but I had broken that promise forever. The sudden ringtone interrupted their intimacy. Although Amber was impatient, she still answered the phone gently: “Mom, what’s wrong? Huai? He’s here…” Lucas took the phone, sounding much more respectful. “Mom…” “Lucas, are you really not coming to see Youyou off?” “Mom, Henry just had surgery, Chen Chen can’t take care of him alone, I can’t leave. Since Youyou is already with you, I’m relieved…” “Moreover… moreover, Chen Chen and Henry are also your daughter and grandson, you shouldn’t be partial…” Hearing Lucas say this, mom’s voice suddenly became hysterical: “Lucas! Are you still human? Today is the seventh day after her death, even if you don’t come to see Youyou, what about the child? He’s your flesh and blood too…” Lucas’s hand gripping the phone suddenly tightened, his voice hoarse as he opened his mouth: “Mom, I…” “Don’t call me mom!” Mom’s sharp crying came through the receiver. “The thing I regret most in my life is listening to Youyou back then and adopting you! Causing my Youyou to die, two lives lost…” “Since you won’t come, then don’t come anymore in the future.” “From now on, you have nothing to do with Youyou anymore. I won’t even carve your name on her and the child’s tombstone.” Mom hung up the phone after saying this. Lucas stood there motionless, holding the disconnected phone, while I was anxious. I wished I could fly to mom’s side and comfort her. I didn’t know how mom, who was staying well in the nursing home, found out about my death. But I guess it had something to do with Amber. Hearing mom’s desperate voice, my heart hurt more than being dismembered. Seeing Lucas still standing there motionless, I angrily punched and kicked him. I wished I could drag him to see my mom. “What’s wrong, Huai? Did something happen to mom?” It wasn’t until Amber spoke that Lucas suddenly came back to his senses. “Mom said… Zoe is dead.” “What nonsense are they talking about! How could that troublemaker Zoe possibly be dead?” Lucas suddenly rushed out of the ward, slamming the door so hard it shook. He didn’t consider Henry who had just had heart surgery at all. I floated beside him, constantly praying, hurry up, walk faster! Don’t let Amber call him back again! But just as Lucas’s figure was about to disappear, Amber’s heart-wrenching cry came from behind: “Henry!”

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On my birthday, my dad gave me a car. I posted about it on social media to show it off a bit. But when my boyfriend’s father saw it, he came over pointing at me and yelling: “What’s a girl buying a car for? What a waste of money!” “Hurry up and sell that car, and give the money to my son!” I was stunned. Was something wrong with this man’s brain? What business was it of his if I bought a car? But to my shock, he actually rushed at me trying to grab my car keys! And that wasn’t all. When I wouldn’t give them to him, he started demanding I pay his son a “gene usage fee”! That’s right, a “gene usage fee”! I was furious and immediately posted the video of this online. Netizens were speechless. [Is this old man some kind of clown?] [Today I learned what true shamelessness looks like!] [This old man’s face is thicker than the Great Wall!] [First time hearing such a ridiculous reason, I’ve learned something new!] I had been with Ethan for two years. This was our first New Year as a couple, so I bought gifts and went with Ethan to his family home, hoping to gain his parents’ approval. Who knew that as soon as Ethan’s father saw me, his face darkened: “My son finally comes home for once, and you have to come drag him down!” I bit my lip, not wanting to argue on New Year’s, and could only force a smile: “Uncle, these are gifts I brought for you…” “Tsk, what a bunch of useless junk,” Ethan’s father didn’t even look. “All flash, no substance!” He turned to Ethan and said: “At least my son is filial, bringing back good cigarettes and alcohol. Much more practical than the trash you brought!” I almost laughed from anger. I had brought high-quality tea, supplements and health products. The cigarettes and alcohol Ethan brought were bad for his health. Which gifts were really more practical? But out of respect for him as an elder and Ethan’s father, I held my tongue and didn’t argue. Instead, I rolled up my sleeves and went to the kitchen to help make dinner. I thought, if I help out, surely he’ll see my good qualities? However, I still underestimated how shameless Ethan’s father could be. After dinner, he looked me up and down before asking: “I hear your family is quite well-off?” I pressed my lips together and nodded. “How many properties do you own? What brand is your car?” Ethan’s father asked. I frowned, feeling annoyed, but still answered: “I’m not sure how many properties, the car is just the one I drive now.” “Oh,” Ethan’s father seemed disappointed. “Well, that’s not bad.” Before I could feel relieved, he asked: “So what do your parents do? High salaries?” Suppressing my irritation, I replied: “Their salaries are decent. They have formal jobs.” Ethan’s father nodded, finally stopping his questions. I thought that was the end of it, but the next second, Ethan’s father said: “I hear you and our Ethan have been dating for a year?” I nodded. “When do you plan to get married?” Ethan’s father asked. I frowned: “That depends on both people’s wishes. It can’t be decided unilaterally.” “So you’re not planning to marry yet?” Ethan’s father instantly became angry. “Why are you stringing my son along!” I was speechless: “How am I stringing him along? Isn’t your son involved in this too?” Ethan’s father sneered: “My son is such a good catch, girls are lining up for him! You’d better hurry up and marry him while he still has some interest in you. Otherwise, you’ll be crying with no one to hear you!” “Besides…” he looked me up and down, “With your conditions, you should consider yourself lucky to have my son!” I was so angry I could barely breathe. Pointing at the door, I shouted: “What do you mean by that!” Ethan’s father crossed his arms, looking at me with disdain: “You’re two years older than my son, your education isn’t as good, and your job isn’t as good. If that’s not marrying up, what is?” I glared at him, wanting to smash the teacup on the table into his face. “And…” Ethan’s father’s eyes shifted, “If you’re willing to sell your car and transfer the money to my son, I suppose I could reluctantly agree to you two being together.” “Hah,” I was so angry my hands were shaking. “Sell my car and give your son the money? Keep dreaming!” Ethan’s father frowned, looking at me with contempt: “It’s just a car, what’s the big deal? With my son’s conditions, good girls would be lining up for him.” “I’m only agreeing to let you be with my son because you have some looks. Otherwise, you think you’d be able to step foot in our house?” I was so angry I wanted to flip the table: “I don’t care about stepping foot in your house!” “Hey, don’t speak too soon.” Ethan’s father waved his hand. “My son is great in every way. His only flaw is that his genes are too good.” I was stunned for a moment, not understanding: “What?” Ethan’s father said matter-of-factly: “My son has good genes, he’s strong in that area too. When you’re together, if you get pregnant, that would be a premium product!” “I didn’t create this for free, you need to pay our family a gene usage fee!” I forced a smile, holding back my anger: “Uncle, you must be joking.” Ethan’s father’s face darkened: “Who’s joking? I’m serious!” “Hurry up and sell the car, transfer the money to Ethan!” “When you two are together, all the money should be managed by Ethan. Your money is my money, my money is still my money!” “Your car should be for Ethan to drive. You should buy Ethan a car, that’s the right thing to do!” I really couldn’t listen anymore! I was shaking with anger. This person was simply unreasonable! I grabbed my bag and turned to leave, but Ethan’s father was still shouting behind me: “I’m telling you, our Ethan’s genes are very good!” “His sperm motility is much higher than average. Being able to have his child is your good fortune!” “You should be paying our Ethan a gene usage fee!” I was completely speechless. I had always thought that even though Ethan’s conditions were average, he was at least an educated person, so his family shouldn’t be too bad. But I never imagined his family would be like this! To say such things, what kind of upbringing did they have!

On my birthday, my father gave me a car. I happily posted on social media to show off: “Thank you Dad! You’re the strongest and best dad I’ve ever seen!” Ethan liked the post but didn’t say anything else. But that evening, he suddenly called me: “You bought a car?” I nodded: “Yeah.” “How could you buy a car!” Ethan sounded unhappy. “Weren’t we saving money to buy a house and get married?” I was stunned for a moment before explaining: “This was a birthday gift from my dad, I didn’t spend money to buy it.” “You still should have refused!” Ethan frowned. “You don’t even know how to drive, it’s a waste to buy one. It would be better to have your dad transfer the money to me for investment!” “Or…” he hesitated, “You could sell the car and transfer the money to me.” I almost laughed from anger: “Is something wrong with your brain? Asking me to sell the car and give you the money?” Ethan looked serious: “Yeah, you don’t know how to drive anyway, it’s a waste to buy one. Might as well give it to me to do something more useful!” “Besides…” he paused, “A man should be the head of the household. The family finances should all be managed by the man!” I sneered: “Do you live by the ocean? Trying to control everything?” “I don’t agree. Give up on that idea!” I said and hung up the phone. I thought that was the end of it, but the next day, Ethan’s father actually showed up at my door! “Bang! Bang! Bang!” The deafening knocking was accompanied by Ethan’s father’s loud voice: “Come out! You come out right now!” I looked through the peephole and saw it was Ethan’s father. I didn’t want to open the door. Outside, Ethan’s father was still shouting: “I’m telling you, don’t try to hide from me, I know you’re home!” “Come out right now! Let’s get things straight!” Afraid the neighbors would hear and gossip, I had to grit my teeth and open the door: “What do you want!” Ethan’s father snorted: “When I’m not around, you try to drive a wedge between Ethan and me, huh!” I frowned: “When did I drive a wedge?” “I heard all about it!” Ethan’s father looked disdainful. “Just asking you to sell the car and transfer the money to my son, and you whisper in my son’s ear that his father is no good!” I laughed angrily: “I said his father is no good, is there a problem with that? Do you think you’re good?” “Furthermore…” I paused, “Why should I sell my car and give your son money? Your son hasn’t said anything, and you’re already trying to call the shots!” Ethan’s father frowned: “My son is a man, men need to save face, of course he’s embarrassed to ask you for money!” “Hah.” I sneered, “He’s too embarrassed to ask, but you’re not?” “And…” I glared at him, “This is my own family’s money, I can spend it however I want. What business is it of yours!” Ethan’s father snorted: “You’re with my son, so you’re part of our Gu family! Your money is Ethan’s money, Ethan’s money is my money!” “I can’t manage it? Who else can manage it!” I was shaking with anger: “How can you be so shameless!” “I’m warning you…” I pointed at his nose, “If you don’t leave, I’m calling the police!” “Go ahead and call!” Ethan’s father said disdainfully, “Let’s see if you dare!” “You think I don’t dare?” I was so angry I took out my phone and dialed 110. To my surprise, Ethan’s father snatched my phone, smashed it on the ground, and stomped on it twice: “Go ahead and call! You believe I won’t smash your car too!” “Give me the keys!” He held out his hand. As he spoke, he reached out to grab my keys. I was completely stunned. How could this person’s face be so thick! He was actually trying to rob me! I struggled desperately, shouting: “Let go of me! Let go!” “Give me the keys!” Ethan’s father stared at me with bloodshot eyes. I was terrified, crying and dodging. Fortunately, the police arrived quickly and took Ethan’s father away. That day, Ethan never showed up. The only time he called, it was to criticize me for treating his father that way, saying I was making a big deal out of nothing. I angrily argued with him: “Your father came to my house, smashed my phone, and tried to steal my car keys. What’s wrong with me calling the police!” “You know if I had been a second later, he would have wrecked my house!” “That’s my dad!” Ethan’s voice came through the phone. “If you don’t respect my dad, you don’t respect me!” “Hah.” I was shaking with anger. “What kind of robber’s logic is that!” “Ethan, let me tell you…” I said through gritted teeth, “We’re done!” I thought that after breaking up with Ethan, this matter would be over. But Ethan’s father came looking for me again. He would call to curse at me from time to time, or wait outside my company to ambush me, saying I wasn’t good enough for his son, that I was shameless, and that I still wouldn’t listen to him and sell the car to give his son money… Even more terrifying, he actually brought up the “gene usage fee” again.

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I accidentally saw a “mistress registry” in the company group email. Next to my husband Ethan Parker’s name was his childhood sweetheart, the same age as him. In the evidence column, there was a screenshot of a chat. The childhood sweetheart asked him: “How long has it been since you touched that old lady?” He replied: “Don’t mention it. Now when I look at the company’s interns, I find them so youthful and vibrant.” “But when I go home and face her wrinkled face, I always feel there’s an elderly odor.” I’m already thirty-six, eight years older than him. But I don’t think I’m old yet. After coming to my senses, I decisively handed him divorce papers. Without me, his older sister figure, charging ahead, Ethan Parker lost his job and dignity, and reluctantly tried to keep me. I pinched my nose and said mockingly: “Why is there a smell of poverty here?” When I saw that “mistress registry”, Ethan Parker was playing games in the study. I placed the warmed milk beside him, reminding him to drink it soon. He impatiently said: “I know, you go rest first.” I casually scrolled on my phone, the page stopping right on his name. Olivia Quinn’s name was prefixed to his. And for several rows after, there was all kinds of substantial evidence of her being his mistress. My gaze focused on the words “elderly odor” for a long time, until my hand was almost numb. My heart ached, and my mind went blank. Until a game ended, Ethan Parker cursed softly and reached for the milk. But he accidentally spilled it. The milk spilled all over me. Ethan Parker finally had time to look up at me: “You haven’t left yet?” He frowned, his eyes showing a hint of disgust: “Tsk, what a strong smell. Go take a shower quickly.” The three words from the chat screenshot instantly became sharp arrows in reality. They pierced through the void, stabbing fiercely into my chest. In a daze, I suddenly realized a problem. Ethan Parker hadn’t touched me for a very long time.

When I closed the study door. The girl he was playing with maliciously asked: “She’s been waiting for you, does she want to… with you?” Ethan Parker instinctively looked back. Probably afraid I would hear. The door was left with a small gap, I stood where he couldn’t see me, and heard him say: “Can you stop disgusting me on purpose? Just thinking about that smell on her body makes me lose my appetite.” The girl’s mocking laughter was like sharp knives, cutting me to pieces. She continued to ask: “You’re not even thirty yet, why suffer with her? Just get a divorce.” “Forget it,” Ethan Parker hesitated. I thought he still couldn’t bear to part with me. Who knew he would say pityingly: “She’s almost forty, an old woman. Who would want her besides me?” My breathing became irregular, and my hands started trembling uncontrollably. I ran to the bathroom in a panic, looked up, and found my face had already turned pale. Ethan Parker didn’t notice anything unusual. But in the past, if I just sneezed once, he would make a fuss, take my temperature, and make chicken soup for me. Afraid I would be even slightly uncomfortable. When did he change? It was after I turned thirty-five. In this year and more, we rarely communicated. I always thought I was too busy with work and neglected him. I never imagined that his disgust had shown signs long ago. No longer turning on a lamp late at night, waiting for me to come home. No longer holding my waist intimately, calling me “babe” when things got passionate. No longer taking every little thing about me to heart, fearing to be negligent. It’s hard to imagine that this man, who now thinks I smell like an old person and is disgusted with me in every way, Once fought with his whole family, was kicked out of the house, to be with me, a woman eight years older than him, still firmly holding my hand, never giving up. At that time he said: “I don’t care what others think, you’re the best in my heart.” “Whether you’re twenty, thirty, or forty, fifty, in my heart, you’ll always be an eighteen-year-old girl.” “Even if the whole world disapproves of us, I still want to be with you.” “Let me take care of you for life, okay?” I raised my hand to smell myself. Because I was taking medicine to regulate my body, I could only smell a very faint scent of Chinese herbs. Like a string suddenly snapped, I took all the perfumes from the cabinet and sprayed them on myself. The perfume bottles fell to the ground, the broken pieces flew up, leaving a bright red wound on my leg. Blood flowed profusely. The entire bathroom was filled with a suffocating strong fragrance. Ethan Parker pushed open the door: “Rachel, what did you break?” He didn’t even notice that my leg was bleeding profusely, but just complained: “It’s so stuffy, clean it up quickly! It smells terrible!” But that was perfume. It doesn’t stink. At that moment, I suddenly realized. Ethan Parker just didn’t love me anymore. Why should I punish myself for his lack of love?

In the six years of marriage with Ethan Parker, I had always been known as a strong career woman to outsiders. And he rightfully enjoyed the “material” benefits that I, as the older one, contributed more to this relationship. I didn’t intend to let Ethan Parker take away a penny of the “marital property” I had worked hard to earn. Getting actual evidence of his affair became particularly important. To my surprise, Ethan Parker’s social circle was shockingly clean. The only one he was entangled with was his childhood friend he had known for many years. Olivia Quinn.

In the past, we had arguments because of Olivia Quinn. Although I was older than him and more mature, when it came to matters of the heart, I also had a jealous side. Olivia Quinn was young and beautiful, and had known Ethan Parker for many years. Their relationship was very deep. Sometimes, there would be actions that crossed the line. One particularly intense argument with Ethan Parker was because during a trip together, Olivia Quinn accidentally sprained her ankle. Ethan Parker carried her on his back without a second thought, leaving me, his girlfriend, far behind. Afterwards, Ethan Parker found it very hard to understand. He said: “Olivia is just like a sister to me.” “I carried my own sister when she was hurt, there was absolutely no other meaning to it.” Even Olivia came to apologize to me: “Rachel, don’t misunderstand. Ethan and I are just buddies. If we could be together, we would have been long ago, why wait until now?” In the end, it turned out that I was making a fuss over nothing. I stopped paying attention, and that argument became the longest cold war between Ethan Parker and me. In the end, he waited for me outside my company building for a day and a night. I worked overtime all night, and early the next morning, I met him at the entrance with his eyes red from staying up all night. He came up to me, gently tugging at the hem of my clothes, and pleaded in a low voice: “Don’t be angry anymore, babe.” “I promise, I’ll keep my distance from Olivia in the future.” “Okay?” After that, I rarely saw Olivia appear in front of me again. Little did I know, they had been keeping in touch privately all along. In fact, the girl he was playing games with last night. Was Olivia Quinn.

After staking out for half a month, I finally saw the latest chat records between Ethan Parker and Olivia Quinn on the iPad. They had arranged to meet at a hotel in the neighboring city. That day was Olivia Quinn’s birthday. I sat in a rented Volkswagen, watching Olivia Quinn link arms with Ethan Parker not far away. They were eating the same ice cream cone. Olivia Quinn’s face was full of arrogance: “Would the old lady eat the same ice cream cone with you?” Ethan Parker looked embarrassed: “Walking on the street, people think she’s my mom.” “Who eats the same ice cream cone with their mom at this age!” They entered the hotel together. The room number was 606. I travel frequently for work and have a gold membership on the hotel APP, with VIP discounts for accommodation. But my assistant always helped me book rooms, I rarely logged in myself. So Ethan Parker felt safe enough to use my account to book hotel rooms. It was only after calling customer service and asking them to restore the deleted booking records that I discovered Ethan Parker had booked rooms more than ten times in the past year and a half. Each time in his words was a so-called business trip. I sat in the Volkswagen for about twenty minutes, smoking two cigarettes. Estimating that enough time had passed, I finally dialed the police. Imitating the online procedures for catching cheaters, I calmly informed the person on the other end of the phone. “Hello, I want to report anonymously.” “There’s group prostitution happening in room 606 of XX Hotel.”

When I entered the room, Ethan Parker was shirtless, trying to explain. “I’m just playing games with my friend, what’s the problem?” The police officer sneered: “You play games without clothes on?” “Well, the informant is here. Please come with us to the police station to make a statement.” Ethan Parker hadn’t seen me yet, and was already furious: “Which psycho—” As I walked around the police officers. He met my eyes. At that moment, he completely panicked, his eyes full of disbelief: “You- why are you here?” I lit another cigarette, scanning him from head to toe. Fortunately, Ethan Parker was wearing shorts. But they must have been hastily put on when he was caught. After all, they were on backwards. The pockets were in the front. I couldn’t help but sneer. Ethan Parker fiddled with his drawstring, and after the initial panic, he quickly regained his composure. He quickly explained: “Rachel, today is Olivia’s birthday.” “We had arranged to meet some friends at the hotel to celebrate her birthday.” “We just arrived early, don’t misunderstand.” As he spoke, he deliberately took out his phone to show me the group he had created with his buddies. The group name was “Princess Olivia’s Birthday Party”. Six or seven men, but only Olivia was a woman. “I know you’ve never liked Olivia much, so I didn’t dare tell you. We even arranged it in the neighboring city.” I calmly finished my last drag of the cigarette, extinguished it, and said flatly: “Ethan Parker, do you remember what day it was yesterday?” His eyes first flashed with confusion. Then, he suddenly panicked. Of course he should panic. Because yesterday was my birthday.

It was when I got on the high-speed train to the neighboring city that I suddenly saw the date on the calendar and remembered. Yesterday was my birthday. It had already passed. I hadn’t remembered, and neither had Ethan Parker. Before I turned thirty-five, for every one of my birthdays, Ethan Parker would thoughtfully prepare gifts for me. From small things like a pen or a bouquet of flowers, to big things like a diamond ring or a wedding dress. At thirty-six, everything was gone. All that was left was the “elderly odor” that people found disgusting all over me. I smiled self-mockingly, suddenly realizing that when I thought of those three words again, I no longer felt so breathless with pain. This is probably the advantage of dating an older woman. All emotions are processed internally. But, you won’t get away with taking advantage of me. Love is just a game, I can play it, and I can lose it. “I’ve been so busy lately, I really forgot…” When Ethan Parker stepped forward urgently, trying to explain, I gently waved away his hand. I said in a contemptuous tone: “Ethan Parker, you’ve saved quite a bit of money using my VIP membership to book hotels over a dozen times, haven’t you?” “After the divorce, remember to transfer that money back to my card.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295498”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #魔幻Magic #惊悚Thriller #励志Inspiring #校园School #重生Reborn